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peachani's review against another edition
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Racism, Body shaming, Outing, Medical content, Alcohol, Classism, Pregnancy, and Suicide
thenextbookdilemma's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I previously read this as a stand-alone and now, upon completing the series that this spins off from, I decided to do a re-read!
Work For It takes place after Hibbert’s Just For Him series (JFH), following the story of side character Olumide. I have included mini snap-shots of the JFH series and a full review of Work for It because I quite simply adore it.
I will start by saying that I finished this book this morning and immediately burst into tears—the ending of this book is hard fought and to see two beautiful and struggling men reach for happiness with both hands just sent me into the teary abyss.
Ahem.
This is a story of two men who have been told all their lives, in different ways, that they don’t matter, or that they are not good enough. And this is the story of how they both work to reclaim themselves and their self worth.
Olu. Olu is the dazzling side character seen in the JFH series. He is charming and irreverent but he has lost himself. Olu must work through decades of family-inflicted self-loathing and self-esteem issues while also trying to process a horrible act of betrayal that has left him entirely untrusting of others. I was with Olu in his desperation to return to his former self, to be unchanged by the emotional violence inflicted upon him. And I laughed and cried and cheered him on as he realized it doesn’t always work that way, but maybe his new self can still be happy and deserving of love.
Griff. GRIFF. The town pariah, a big soft bear of a human who is ignored and ostracized until he is useful to others. I want to burn it all down for this man. Yet despite years of being mistreated, he still manages to be one of the sweetest and most considerate MCs and his internal work of rejecting negative self-talk/thought is beautiful and precious. Griff is blazingly vulnerable with Olu and y’all, it broke my heart wide open (and maybe Olu’s too). Griff also learns the hard lesson of letting go of the things that no longer serve you.
The growth these two characters experience, together and individually, is so incredibly important and lovely. I cannot recommend it enough.
Work For It takes place after Hibbert’s Just For Him series (JFH), following the story of side character Olumide. I have included mini snap-shots of the JFH series and a full review of Work for It because I quite simply adore it.
I will start by saying that I finished this book this morning and immediately burst into tears—the ending of this book is hard fought and to see two beautiful and struggling men reach for happiness with both hands just sent me into the teary abyss.
Ahem.
This is a story of two men who have been told all their lives, in different ways, that they don’t matter, or that they are not good enough. And this is the story of how they both work to reclaim themselves and their self worth.
Olu. Olu is the dazzling side character seen in the JFH series. He is charming and irreverent but he has lost himself. Olu must work through decades of family-inflicted self-loathing and self-esteem issues while also trying to process a horrible act of betrayal that has left him entirely untrusting of others. I was with Olu in his desperation to return to his former self, to be unchanged by the emotional violence inflicted upon him. And I laughed and cried and cheered him on as he realized it doesn’t always work that way, but maybe his new self can still be happy and deserving of love.
Griff. GRIFF. The town pariah, a big soft bear of a human who is ignored and ostracized until he is useful to others. I want to burn it all down for this man. Yet despite years of being mistreated, he still manages to be one of the sweetest and most considerate MCs and his internal work of rejecting negative self-talk/thought is beautiful and precious. Griff is blazingly vulnerable with Olu and y’all, it broke my heart wide open (and maybe Olu’s too). Griff also learns the hard lesson of letting go of the things that no longer serve you.
The growth these two characters experience, together and individually, is so incredibly important and lovely. I cannot recommend it enough.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Homophobia
Minor: Suicide
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