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cmj's review against another edition
Kedelig helt usandsynlig kedelig.
Og det bliver hele tiden gentaget med de samme tl karakterer og der er so far ingen kemi eller udvikling
Rating 0.5⭐️
Og det bliver hele tiden gentaget med de samme tl karakterer og der er so far ingen kemi eller udvikling
Rating 0.5⭐️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Addiction, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, and Physical abuse
koistyfishy'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
5.0
5 Homecoming Stars ⭐
Spicy Level: 🌶️🌶️.5/5
Firstly, I couldn't write a review half as good as my twinsie which was the reason for me adding this book to my TBR...Do yourself a favour and go read her review here.
I knew from the first chapter that I was a goner and would fall for this book, and fall hard. Never mind the fact that the narration and performance by Samantha Brentmoor and Teddy Hamilton were superb; the entire story just melted my heart in a way that is very difficult to explain.
Juliet... was an utterly broken, poor sweet darling who is so incredibly hard and belittling to herself. She never allowed herself to be truly happy, punishing herself for being "bad." It was agonizing to read how Danny, Donna, and the Pastor seemed to walk over her so easily, and she would remain meek with a smile on her face. This perception caused her to take forever to realize that Luke’s disdain was not a commentary on her worth but on their actions.
I used to think I didn’t have any triggers; I mean, I read some of the darkest and most depraved books out there, with seriously blurred lines of what is acceptable. In many cases, those books often enter into realms of "this is messed up."
BUT, this is the book I battled to complete and then didn't want to finish because then it would be over, and I wouldn't be able to experience it for the first time again. I struggled with this story as I found myself in a constant state of sobbing my heart out. There are so many aspects of Juliet’s story mirrored in my past, and it was not something I was expecting to be faced with. Her self-deprecating, self-degrading, and defeated internal dialogue that I know I can’t judge her for because it sounds exactly like mine at times.
Juliet’s story meant so much to me, and while I might not be special or the only one who feels this way, there is a small aspect of her story we share. Yes, there were slight differences between them, and they might not have happened the same, but the underlying theme and underlying feeling we both felt were the same—the guilt and blame for situations that are not her fault but still carry the burden and blame as if it were. There is just something about a book that can validate and articulate all your insecurities in a way you have never been able to fully articulate yourself.
I love Luke. While he is very much a man of few words, when he does choose to speak, he does so with reason. He spent his life wanting the one thing he couldn't have, but that didn't stop him from fighting for it and standing up for Juliet when no one else would.
Overall, I do see some problems in this that not everyone would appreciate; there are heavy elements of actual and emotional cheating. We don't see much of Luke in the present, and when he does talk, his actions of wanting to be with Juliet and how they just fall into sleeping together didn't line up fully as there wasn't much build up—he felt a bit distant to me, both as his older self and who he was in the past as they never seem to have a conversation, there is just distant pining.
But that lack of emotion is made up of all the emotions or emptiness that Juliet feels. So yes, I know some things could be better, and I know not everyone will love this. I, however, did because it was just what my heart needed to hear.
▶ Dual Timeline
▶ Boyfriends Best Friend
▶ Forbidden Love
▶ Second Chance Romance
▶ Celebrity Romance (Surfer and Singer)
▶ Forced Proximity
▶ Found Family
Spicy Level: 🌶️🌶️.5/5
Firstly, I couldn't write a review half as good as my twinsie which was the reason for me adding this book to my TBR...Do yourself a favour and go read her review here.
I knew from the first chapter that I was a goner and would fall for this book, and fall hard. Never mind the fact that the narration and performance by Samantha Brentmoor and Teddy Hamilton were superb; the entire story just melted my heart in a way that is very difficult to explain.
Juliet... was an utterly broken, poor sweet darling who is so incredibly hard and belittling to herself. She never allowed herself to be truly happy, punishing herself for being "bad." It was agonizing to read how Danny, Donna, and the Pastor seemed to walk over her so easily, and she would remain meek with a smile on her face. This perception caused her to take forever to realize that Luke’s disdain was not a commentary on her worth but on their actions.
I used to think I didn’t have any triggers; I mean, I read some of the darkest and most depraved books out there, with seriously blurred lines of what is acceptable. In many cases, those books often enter into realms of "this is messed up."
BUT, this is the book I battled to complete and then didn't want to finish because then it would be over, and I wouldn't be able to experience it for the first time again. I struggled with this story as I found myself in a constant state of sobbing my heart out. There are so many aspects of Juliet’s story mirrored in my past, and it was not something I was expecting to be faced with. Her self-deprecating, self-degrading, and defeated internal dialogue that I know I can’t judge her for because it sounds exactly like mine at times.
Juliet’s story meant so much to me, and while I might not be special or the only one who feels this way, there is a small aspect of her story we share. Yes, there were slight differences between them, and they might not have happened the same, but the underlying theme and underlying feeling we both felt were the same—the guilt and blame for situations that are not her fault but still carry the burden and blame as if it were. There is just something about a book that can validate and articulate all your insecurities in a way you have never been able to fully articulate yourself.
I love Luke. While he is very much a man of few words, when he does choose to speak, he does so with reason. He spent his life wanting the one thing he couldn't have, but that didn't stop him from fighting for it and standing up for Juliet when no one else would.
Overall, I do see some problems in this that not everyone would appreciate; there are heavy elements of actual and emotional cheating. We don't see much of Luke in the present, and when he does talk, his actions of wanting to be with Juliet and how they just fall into sleeping together didn't line up fully as there wasn't much build up—he felt a bit distant to me, both as his older self and who he was in the past as they never seem to have a conversation, there is just distant pining.
But that lack of emotion is made up of all the emotions or emptiness that Juliet feels. So yes, I know some things could be better, and I know not everyone will love this. I, however, did because it was just what my heart needed to hear.
▶ Dual Timeline
▶ Boyfriends Best Friend
▶ Forbidden Love
▶ Second Chance Romance
▶ Celebrity Romance (Surfer and Singer)
▶ Forced Proximity
▶ Found Family
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, Gaslighting, Infidelity, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Physical abuse, Death, Homophobia, Cancer, Pedophilia, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Suicide
anniereads0714's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Death of parent, Cursing, Terminal illness, Suicide, Misogyny, Death, Classism, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, Abandonment, Violence, Sexual violence, Cancer, Bullying, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Infidelity, Homophobia, Grief, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Eating disorder, Domestic abuse, Religious bigotry, Rape, and Mental illness
metalynn's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
ich hab literally nichts von dem buch erwartet, das cover hat mich eigentlich so gar nicht angesprochen, vielleicht fand ich es deshalb so gut. tbh ich dachte es wir genau so schlecht wie twisted love und so sachen die ähnliche cover haben, aber omg das buch war insane. die themen die behandelt wurden haben mich so mit genommen & ich hab lange nicht mehr so viel geweint bei einer romance. bin so begeistert, einfach weil ich lange nicht mehr so einen guten roman gelesen habe - ich kann’s nur weiter empfehlen für leute die gerne moderne romane lesen :)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Abandonment, Death, Eating disorder, Rape, and Suicidal thoughts
anovelglimpse's review against another edition
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
The Summer We Fell was filled with so many things I dislike in romance novels, and yet I LOVED this book. I know that is probably a weird statement to start with, but it's true. It also shows just how good a writer Elizabeth O'Roark is.
Flashbacks are normally the death of a romance novel for me. Not the case here. This book alternates between the past and the present. It worked with this story because neither timeframe was less interesting than the other. Normally I don't care about the past in books where flashbacks are used. I want more time with the couple in the future. This time I was on the edge of my seat waiting to find out what happened in the past to create the dynamic between Juliet and Luke in the present. I also think it helped that both were told from Juliet's POV.
Juliet was a character who was struggling. She had so much she should have been grateful for, but those things also hindered her. Due to circumstances (that may be triggering to some), she found a family with Danny and his parents. Juliet was trying to make what his family wanted for her enough, but Luke arriving home from college with Danny for the summer changed her perspective. She was conflicted about everything, and I felt bad for her. She made some choices that I hated.
Luke's support and encouragement of Juliet warmed my heart. She needed someone in her corner, and he knew how to be that person. He also made choices I hated, but I had a lot of respect for him otherwise. I wish I could say more about Luke, but we really only see him through Juliet's eyes. This is one of the rare times I won't say I wish I had his POV. I mean, I probably wouldn't have disliked having it, but the impact of the story from Juliet's lone POV hit hard.
As for the romance... There was A LOT going on here. O'Roark somehow managed to combine second chance, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, and forbidden love all into one romance. Each of those tropes on their own lean towards angst and drama. Imagine all the emotions with them combined. There's a lot of tension involved. I tend to shy away from high levels of angst in my romance reads, but O'Roark's stories and characters make me want to continue no matter how tense things get. Especially since I loved the possibilities for Juliet and Luke. They saw in each other things everyone else looked past, and I truly felt their emotional connection and chemistry.
The side characters in this book had a ton of impact on the story. There were friends, church members, and adversaries who either lifted Juliet up or brought her down. There were evil family members who brought pain. Most importantly there was Danny, Donna, and the pastor who "saved" Juliet from a bad situation.
The Summer We Fell was such a complex romance. There are so many other things I want to say, but they would end up spoiling the book for you. I guess I'll just say it wasn't a comfortable read, but it was an addictive one. Be sure to check the trigger warnings before you read because there are several.
You can find this review and others like it at A Novel Glimpse .
Flashbacks are normally the death of a romance novel for me. Not the case here. This book alternates between the past and the present. It worked with this story because neither timeframe was less interesting than the other. Normally I don't care about the past in books where flashbacks are used. I want more time with the couple in the future. This time I was on the edge of my seat waiting to find out what happened in the past to create the dynamic between Juliet and Luke in the present. I also think it helped that both were told from Juliet's POV.
Juliet was a character who was struggling. She had so much she should have been grateful for, but those things also hindered her. Due to circumstances (that may be triggering to some), she found a family with Danny and his parents. Juliet was trying to make what his family wanted for her enough, but Luke arriving home from college with Danny for the summer changed her perspective. She was conflicted about everything, and I felt bad for her. She made some choices that I hated.
Luke's support and encouragement of Juliet warmed my heart. She needed someone in her corner, and he knew how to be that person. He also made choices I hated, but I had a lot of respect for him otherwise. I wish I could say more about Luke, but we really only see him through Juliet's eyes. This is one of the rare times I won't say I wish I had his POV. I mean, I probably wouldn't have disliked having it, but the impact of the story from Juliet's lone POV hit hard.
As for the romance... There was A LOT going on here. O'Roark somehow managed to combine second chance, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, and forbidden love all into one romance. Each of those tropes on their own lean towards angst and drama. Imagine all the emotions with them combined. There's a lot of tension involved. I tend to shy away from high levels of angst in my romance reads, but O'Roark's stories and characters make me want to continue no matter how tense things get. Especially since I loved the possibilities for Juliet and Luke. They saw in each other things everyone else looked past, and I truly felt their emotional connection and chemistry.
The side characters in this book had a ton of impact on the story. There were friends, church members, and adversaries who either lifted Juliet up or brought her down. There were evil family members who brought pain. Most importantly there was Danny, Donna, and the pastor who "saved" Juliet from a bad situation.
The Summer We Fell was such a complex romance. There are so many other things I want to say, but they would end up spoiling the book for you. I guess I'll just say it wasn't a comfortable read, but it was an addictive one. Be sure to check the trigger warnings before you read because there are several.
You can find this review and others like it at A Novel Glimpse .
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship
Moderate: Infidelity
Minor: Sexual assault, Death, Rape, Physical abuse, Grief, and Death of parent
morriganlefaye's review
dark
emotional
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? Yes
4.0
This book made me feel so sad and hopeless almost until the end.
The story unfolds from two different points in time and I just wanted to know, what the hell happened back then and I just wanted to hug Juliet and tell her that everything's gonna be all right.
The HEA felt very earned, even though I'd have loved, if there was mention of some therapy at any point, because these two need it
The story unfolds from two different points in time and I just wanted to know, what the hell happened back then and I just wanted to hug Juliet and tell her that everything's gonna be all right.
The HEA felt very earned, even though I'd have loved, if there was mention of some therapy at any point, because these two need it
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Infidelity
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Grief, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
sdupont's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Wow! I read this book on a whim after skimming a brief excerpt and I am so glad I did. This book really delivered. I don’t think I’ve read a book that was so angsty, the tension and chemistry between the characters was so palpable. I loved Luke, he was so quick to defend and support Juliet. Bad boy energy but only to have your back? Hot! My heart broke for Juliet it really felt like she traded one caged life for another. The b-plot felt a little rushed at the end. I could not put this book down, I absolutely recommend it to anyone looking for an angsty second chance forbidden romance!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Eating disorder, and Infidelity
Moderate: Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, Death, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Minor: Alcoholism, Drug use, Abortion, Suicide, and Pregnancy
erinkabez's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
5.0
Thank you to Elizabeth O'Roark and Literally Yours PR for providing me with an advanced ebook copy of The Summer We Fell for me to read and review. What an intense tidal wave of emotions! (Pun intended) This book sucked me in from the very first chapter and I couldn't read fast enough! I was totally sucked in and just had to find out what would happen next. The little clues and pieces of the puzzle that O'Roark wove into the story along the way were masterfully done and the slow reveal of each character's personality was done with superb timing. The multiple timelines was done beautifully and was very easy to follow and interweave the events and emotions of the past and present. This story is simultaneously powerful, tearful, heartbreaking, romantic, enraging and uplifting. There are so many shocking moments revealing each characters personal truth that I felt a bit like I was on a roller coaster of emotions right there with each one of them. This one is definitely a must read for all readers of romantic suspense!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Physical abuse
romancewithem's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
This was so good, I love a good duel timeline story and all the peices of the past slowly dropping into place to understand the present
This book took me on an emotional rollercoaster and will need a couple of days to process what I just read
Juliet often finds herself in shitty situations and does what's expected of her and what she thinks is the best. Whilst Luke keeps coming along and is wanting her to actually do her best and encouraging her to do that and I love him for that
I wish is that we got a little bit more of their HEA and experience it a bit more after the journey we went on in this book
CW: cheating
- 'its always been you'
- second chance
- duel timeline
thank you to Valentine PR for letting me read and arc of this book
This book took me on an emotional rollercoaster and will need a couple of days to process what I just read
Juliet often finds herself in shitty situations and does what's expected of her and what she thinks is the best. Whilst Luke keeps coming along and is wanting her to actually do her best and encouraging her to do that and I love him for that
I wish is that we got a little bit more of their HEA and experience it a bit more after the journey we went on in this book
CW: cheating
- 'its always been you'
- second chance
- duel timeline
thank you to Valentine PR for letting me read and arc of this book
Content Warnings
Moderate: Physical abuse, Death, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, and Rape
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