Scan barcode
jennp28's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
More great curvy-girl MC vibes from Olivia Dade. This one gets intense for some bits in the middle there. Definitely check the content warnings if mental health is an issue for you. But thus story does a good job of weaving a love story around a crisis - there’s no magic fix, no loving someone enough to make it better, just acceptance and support. Some great romance tropes thrown in there and you have a pretty enjoyable (if emotional at times) read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Grief and Child death
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
brookey8888's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I really enjoyed this! I really appreciated the depression representation and thought it was handled well. Athena was such a wonderful character and just unapologetically herself. Matthew was the sweetest ever and was so cute. Their romance was so sweet as well. I liked the small town vibes and the friendships. This was also really funny had times, but had some more serious moments.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Child death, Abandonment, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, and Mental illness
samchase112's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Mental illness, and Grief
Moderate: Abandonment, Child death, and Death
Minor: Medical content and Suicidal thoughts
monicalaurette's review against another edition
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
No one with a good heart is a failure.
Hi my name is Monica and I am a very big fan of Olivia Dade and literally broke my buying ban to get this book. The concept I was not fully sold on but I knew Dade's writing would be enough for me to enjoy it and it WAS!
Athena and Matthew were both so complex individuals and together were able to fit into the little spots left by their lives and the people around them. I wanted more of their journey but excited to see who else comes into Harlot's Bay and earns a place in my heart.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Mental illness
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, and Medical trauma
Minor: Child death
purplepenning's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
I was iffy on this one until an emotional support chicken made an appearance in a used bookstore. Then I was somehow all in.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Abandonment, Chronic illness, Grief, and Sexual content
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Child death, and Panic attacks/disorders
bookphenomena_micky's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.0
Headlines:
Trope ick
MH rep
Character depth
There is lots I liked about this book and then things like context, trope and timings that I struggled with in this new series starter from Olivia Dade. My heart pretty much sank when I started reading this and realised we were going to have a kind of love triangle involving two brothers. It's more complex than that with engagements, break-ups and houses but still it was somewhat icky to me from the off.
What saved this book and kept me reading were the individual characterisations of Athena and Matthew (even though I struggled with them together). I really liked both characters and the depth with which they were crafted. The depression representation was very good but do not talk to me about the timing of the connection in relation to this depression...
The friendship between Matthew and Athena was worth the read but I didn't like much about their sexual connection. I couldn't stand the other brother and the debacle of the houses was meant to be quirky but seemed so unlikely to me.
So as you can see, such a mixed bag but I will give the next one a go.
Thank you to netgalley for this eARC.
Trope ick
MH rep
Character depth
There is lots I liked about this book and then things like context, trope and timings that I struggled with in this new series starter from Olivia Dade. My heart pretty much sank when I started reading this and realised we were going to have a kind of love triangle involving two brothers. It's more complex than that with engagements, break-ups and houses but still it was somewhat icky to me from the off.
What saved this book and kept me reading were the individual characterisations of Athena and Matthew (even though I struggled with them together). I really liked both characters and the depth with which they were crafted. The depression representation was very good but do not talk to me about the timing of the connection in relation to this depression...
The friendship between Matthew and Athena was worth the read but I didn't like much about their sexual connection. I couldn't stand the other brother and the debacle of the houses was meant to be quirky but seemed so unlikely to me.
So as you can see, such a mixed bag but I will give the next one a go.
Thank you to netgalley for this eARC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Child death
craftylibrarian10's review against another edition
emotional
funny
fast-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
5.0
All hail Olivia Dade, Queen of the spicy rom-c0m. In this book, I laughed, cried, and got super turned on. And, that's just Olivia Dade. I have come to absolutely worship at her way with words. She writes plus-size women who are sexy AF. Not in spite of being bigger, but because they are just freaking sexy. Athena and Matthew are a truly unlikely pair. I honestly found myself asking how will these two actually be able to be together without burning down their whole worlds first. Then, I found myself questioning if it were possible for someone to be a 48 year old pediatrician and basically completely inexperienced and still f**k like that??? Well, Olivia Dade made it so. I will read everything she writes. 5/5- will re-read again (possibly already re-read certain parts...)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death and Suicidal thoughts
heydebigale's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
CW: clinical depression, suicidal ideation, death of a 1 year old off page and in the past, but relatively detailed.
6+++ stars.
This book is a bit messy but so so so good.
I love that Olivia Dade often writes stories within stories. In the spoiler alert series we got fanfic. In this series we get monster erotica and it’s so much fun.
The monster erotica book club was SUCH A GREAT SCENE!! Olivia Dade is a queen!!!!
Take the CWs seriously for this one, but Dade writes with extreme care for her readers.
6+++ stars.
This book is a bit messy but so so so good.
I love that Olivia Dade often writes stories within stories. In the spoiler alert series we got fanfic. In this series we get monster erotica and it’s so much fun.
The monster erotica book club was SUCH A GREAT SCENE!! Olivia Dade is a queen!!!!
Take the CWs seriously for this one, but Dade writes with extreme care for her readers.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Self harm
mabellene's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Mental illness, and Grief
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Suicidal thoughts
kaitrates's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.5
Y'all it BREAKS my heart to rate this as such. This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2024 and Olivia is one of my favourite authors. Alas, this one didn't work for me. 😭
I seem to be in the minority of this opinion, at least amongst my circles. Which makes me happy because, again, I really wanted to love this one!
Don't get me wrong: there's a lot of good here! There's fantastic depression rep, fun hijinks involving monster erotica and murder dolls, among other things, delicious sex scenes (including an absolutely obscene-in-the-best-way number of times he goes down on here), and great family, both found and otherwise. I'm high key jealous of Athena's family.
What really hindered my experience is the fact that I didn't buy that these two would become so close so quickly. There were so many scenes I loved...but couldn't believe (e.g. the bathtub scene was so beautiful but the ease with which she let him in surprised me). To go from one extreme (hate) to another (love) so quickly...it didn't work for me. As another example, I was shocked when they exchanged ILUs...and not in a good way. It didn't feel earned.
I also felt Athena and Matthew's characterisations were inconsistent. For example, the speed with which she came out of her depressive spiral. It felt more like her personality completely changed (valid and so real) in a blink (where I struggled)
Lastly, I think I wanted this to either be messier (e.g. Athena use Matthew to get back at Johnny but they fall in love...i'm talking PEAK mess) OR ditch the messiness of Matthew and Johnny being siblings.
I will absoluely keep reading Dade's works. I think about so many of her books (Ship Wrecked, 40-Love) on a regular basis. But this one won't stay in the rotation, sadly.
I seem to be in the minority of this opinion, at least amongst my circles. Which makes me happy because, again, I really wanted to love this one!
Don't get me wrong: there's a lot of good here! There's fantastic depression rep, fun hijinks involving monster erotica and murder dolls, among other things, delicious sex scenes (including an absolutely obscene-in-the-best-way number of times he goes down on here), and great family, both found and otherwise. I'm high key jealous of Athena's family.
What really hindered my experience is the fact that I didn't buy that these two would become so close so quickly. There were so many scenes I loved...but couldn't believe (e.g. the bathtub scene was so beautiful but the ease with which she let him in surprised me). To go from one extreme (hate) to another (love) so quickly...it didn't work for me. As another example, I was shocked when they exchanged ILUs...and not in a good way. It didn't feel earned.
I also felt Athena and Matthew's characterisations were inconsistent. For example, the speed with which she came out of her depressive spiral. It felt more like her personality completely changed (valid and so real) in a blink (where I struggled)
Lastly, I think I wanted this to either be messier (e.g. Athena use Matthew to get back at Johnny but they fall in love...i'm talking PEAK mess) OR ditch the messiness of Matthew and Johnny being siblings.
I will absoluely keep reading Dade's works. I think about so many of her books (Ship Wrecked, 40-Love) on a regular basis. But this one won't stay in the rotation, sadly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Child death, Abandonment, and Sexual content
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts