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clara01's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I really wanted to love this book but I was slightly disappointed with it. I found the constant mood changes in the book made it quite hard to read. One minute it's jokey and lightheaded and the next very depressing.
Surprisingly I didn't warm to Claire's character much, I think it's because there wasn't much to her other than her love for Gibsie. I thought Gibsie was written really well, he's such a complex character and it really came across. I was also disappointed with Lizzie's character, I really wanted to like and understand her but the constant bickering (and bullying) was just too much.
I think my favorite parts of the book were any time the Lynch siblings, Aiofe and Johnny were mentioned.
I wish the book had less filler chapters and got to the actual gritty part a lot sooner. It felt like reading a lot of silly chatter and Claire and Gibsie go round in circles on whether they should be together or not. Then around 100 pages to the end of the book a major incident is revealed. I think with certain topics there should be time to make sure it's covered properly and I don't think it was given that. It really threw me because I wasn't expecting it and then within a couple short chapters it had already been wrapped up and swept under the rug.
Surprisingly I didn't warm to Claire's character much, I think it's because there wasn't much to her other than her love for Gibsie. I thought Gibsie was written really well, he's such a complex character and it really came across. I was also disappointed with Lizzie's character, I really wanted to like and understand her but the constant bickering (and bullying) was just too much.
I think my favorite parts of the book were any time the Lynch siblings, Aiofe and Johnny were mentioned.
I wish the book had less filler chapters and got to the actual gritty part a lot sooner. It felt like reading a lot of silly chatter and Claire and Gibsie go round in circles on whether they should be together or not. Then around 100 pages to the end of the book a major incident is revealed. I think with certain topics there should be time to make sure it's covered properly and I don't think it was given that. It really threw me because I wasn't expecting it and then within a couple short chapters it had already been wrapped up and swept under the rug.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Child abuse, Grief, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, Death, Rape, Bullying, Toxic friendship, Death of parent, and Mental illness
Moderate: Self harm, Panic attacks/disorders, and Suicide
Minor: Violence, Alcohol, Vomit, Blood, and Addiction
zoeblackmon's review
dark
emotional
funny
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This book is really heavy with major trigger warnings. I cried a lot at the end. It was slow at first but picks up in the second half. Gerard deserves the whole world on a platter ❤️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
h_gall's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
So far this has been my least favourite in the series. The first half of the book was so slow I almost gave up. It starts to pick up half way through and then the last quarter is an absolute whirlwind. It ended well but was more graphic than I was expecting especially compared to previous books in the series. An overall solid read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Rape, Self harm, Suicide, Bullying, Death, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, and Child abuse
alexis_michelle's review
emotional
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
My heart actually breaks for Gibsie and everything he went through. I really wish we could’ve gotten another book about him and Claire because I would’ve loved seeing them healing together.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Rape
Minor: Suicide
jehntooch's review
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Chloe Walsh absolutely breaks our hearts again with Taming 7. We finally get Claire and Gibs story (childhood friends to lovers), find out how not okay Gibsie is, and see Claire step into her own.
I felt it wrapped up pretty quick and really thought at even 95% that they would get 2 books (like Shannon and Johnny, and Joey and Aoife.)
What kept this from being a 5 star read for me:
1. How everyone lets Liz get away with her behavior and how Shannon kept excusing it by saying things along the line of ‘hurt people hurt people and she’s not a bad person’. Shannon should want to stop abuse in all forms…
2. Gibsie keeping that secret to himself and letting his stepbrother Mark get away
3. Hugh appearing to emotionally cheat on Katie with Liz
4. How abruptly it ended without really ending, while setting the stage for another book (focused on Hugh I assume since it was two Lynch books and then it’ll be two Biggs books)
I felt it wrapped up pretty quick and really thought at even 95% that they would get 2 books (like Shannon and Johnny, and Joey and Aoife.)
What kept this from being a 5 star read for me:
1. How everyone lets Liz get away with her behavior and how Shannon kept excusing it by saying things along the line of ‘hurt people hurt people and she’s not a bad person’. Shannon should want to stop abuse in all forms…
2. Gibsie keeping that secret to himself and letting his stepbrother Mark get away
3. Hugh appearing to emotionally cheat on Katie with Liz
4. How abruptly it ended without really ending, while setting the stage for another book (focused on Hugh I assume since it was two Lynch books and then it’ll be two Biggs books)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Pedophilia
emilynied's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I'm honestly having a really hard time with this review. One one end I think it's a four simply because I love this world and these characters so much, but on the other end, I do think that it has a lot of flaws that I normally wouldn't overlook in a regular story. First of all, I love how deep we delved here with Gibsie (or Gerard) as a character. I was worried he wouldn't be able to step into the main character role but there is so much beneath the surface of the MMC's goofy, fun-loving best friend. His backstory is so so sad and I think it informs so much about his character. I love Claire and her loyalty and I really really enjoyed her POVs. I could not stop reading this book, I finished in in like a single day.
The problem with this book is that it goes in circles, many many times. There's probably about ten scenes in this book that end up with the same conclusion, with Gibsie and Lizzy storming off and the rest of the crew left in the crossfire. It got repetitive and kind of exhausting at times, considering no advancements in the plot would be made. Lizzie is an interesting character that I'm hesitant to say I dislike (considering we don't have her POV yet) but man, Chloe Walsh really wants to make us hater her, doesn't she? I'm so curious to see where this series is going to go, and so sad that Claire and Gibsie only get one book (also I'm angry at that too, WHY??) Anyways, I still love this world.
The problem with this book is that it goes in circles, many many times. There's probably about ten scenes in this book that end up with the same conclusion, with Gibsie and Lizzy storming off and the rest of the crew left in the crossfire. It got repetitive and kind of exhausting at times, considering no advancements in the plot would be made. Lizzie is an interesting character that I'm hesitant to say I dislike (considering we don't have her POV yet) but man, Chloe Walsh really wants to make us hater her, doesn't she? I'm so curious to see where this series is going to go, and so sad that Claire and Gibsie only get one book (also I'm angry at that too, WHY??) Anyways, I still love this world.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Child abuse, and Sexual violence
amh219298's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Mental illness
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, Self harm, Cursing, and Rape
Minor: Alcohol, Panic attacks/disorders, Drug abuse, Blood, Death, Child death, and Addiction
abbierose12a's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
4iimee's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This wasn’t my favourite of the series and it would pain me to put it less than 4 stars because my heart broke in every way possible for Gibsie. BUT The story wasn’t what I expected for Claire and Gibsie - they deserved so much more
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Child death, Sexual assault, Child abuse, and Death of parent
yeahok's review
slow-paced
3.75
This series is like the TV show Derry Girls, but with super heavy topics. I mean really heavy and it just breaks your heart for these kids. There were some laughs though and this book has a happy for now ending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Child death, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, and Bullying