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btwnprintedpgs's reviews
1246 reviews
Temper by Layne Fargo
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Although Malcolm Mercer is at the center of the story, this book is told from two POVs - Kira's and Joanna's. These women talk about their dreams and how those dreams will become a reality with this show and yet in every other thought, there lives Malcolm, controlling everything somehow without truly having a voice in the narrative.
This story was intense and nerve-wracking and unlike any thriller I've read before. Full of feminine rage, these two women feel like they've put in their dues and it's time the world paid up. It was all such a mindf*ck and I'm still thinking about that final scene. What a ride.
TW: violence, injury detail, alcohol consumption, domestic abuse, sexual content, alcohol abuse, blood, murder; mentions infidelity, pregnancy, vomiting, adult/minor relationship, miscarriage, attempted suicide
This story was intense and nerve-wracking and unlike any thriller I've read before. Full of feminine rage, these two women feel like they've put in their dues and it's time the world paid up. It was all such a mindf*ck and I'm still thinking about that final scene. What a ride.
TW: violence, injury detail, alcohol consumption, domestic abuse, sexual content, alcohol abuse, blood, murder; mentions infidelity, pregnancy, vomiting, adult/minor relationship, miscarriage, attempted suicide
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Blood
Moderate: Alcohol, Domestic abuse, and Alcoholism
Minor: Infidelity, Pregnancy, Adult/minor relationship, Miscarriage, Suicide attempt, and Vomit
Sleep Like Death by Kalynn Bayron
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
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? No
4.0
Sleep Like Death was an easy read. I feel like I flew right through it despite it being 350 pages. It's very much a slow burn of a book, and, though it talks of Eve being the queen's fury, there isn't as much action in it as I thought there would be. That being said, it was the dark and twisted fairytale I had expected, so it was a good time overall.
A huge part of the story was definitely the relationships between a parent and their child. Eve with her mother, Claude and his kids, Nova even. It was largely about what we are willing to do for those we consider kin and the expectations we have for each other as a result. I loved that there were various depictions of parenthood, but I especially loved Claude and his kids.
I found some of the twists surprising and I enjoyed the adventure we go on with Eve as she attempts to vanquish the foreboding Knight. I do wish there had been more action, but I liked how the retelling shakes out and the changes that were made to fit this new story.
As a whole, I enjoyed Sleep Like Death. I found the world building interesting and Kalynn's way of storytelling straightforward and easy to comprehend. I'm now considering going back to the rest of the books to see how they all fit into this larger world, and I look forward to seeing how all of these stories come together in the end!
TW: death of an animal (hunting), blood, violence, torture, injury detail, death, mutilation, death of a parent, death of a child, grief; mentions suicide, pregnancy
ARC gifted by Bloomsbury Books US via bookinfluencers.com in exchange for an honest review.
A huge part of the story was definitely the relationships between a parent and their child. Eve with her mother, Claude and his kids, Nova even. It was largely about what we are willing to do for those we consider kin and the expectations we have for each other as a result. I loved that there were various depictions of parenthood, but I especially loved Claude and his kids.
I found some of the twists surprising and I enjoyed the adventure we go on with Eve as she attempts to vanquish the foreboding Knight. I do wish there had been more action, but I liked how the retelling shakes out and the changes that were made to fit this new story.
As a whole, I enjoyed Sleep Like Death. I found the world building interesting and Kalynn's way of storytelling straightforward and easy to comprehend. I'm now considering going back to the rest of the books to see how they all fit into this larger world, and I look forward to seeing how all of these stories come together in the end!
TW: death of an animal (hunting), blood, violence, torture, injury detail, death, mutilation, death of a parent, death of a child, grief; mentions suicide, pregnancy
ARC gifted by Bloomsbury Books US via bookinfluencers.com in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Torture, Death of parent, Child death, and Grief
Minor: Animal death, Suicide, and Pregnancy
Road to Ruin by Hana Lee
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
reflective
tense
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? No
5.0
Five stars. Easy five stars. I feel like Road to Ruin came out of nowhere. I'd heard nothing about this book until this tour and I can't imagine why. A fast-paced, diverse, dystopian fantasy full of magic, monsters, complex relationships, and love, this book is brimming with everything I love about early 2010 dystopian fantasies.
This book was a setup for the bigger series but still had it's own full chaotic plot. We have Jin, the courier, and her sparktalent; Reena, a shieldcaster and a princess trying to escape a sexist and classist city; and Kadrin, the Talentless prince of what was viewed as a refuge for Talentless refugees. I loved all three of them as we get to know them through both the main plot and the letters Reena and Kadrin send each other. Full of action and betrayals, the main plot was a wild ride.
That being said, the setup was no less interesting. I enjoyed hearing about Reena's research into the Talented versus the Talentless, the mana pools, and the overall world building we were given. It all felt so organic and effortless, and there was a wonderful balance between that and the main plot. I loved Screech, too, and how there was a peek into the lore of the world's monsters, which I'm sure we'll explore in the future.
This book also tackles some bigger issues, including race purity, sexism, classism, and environmentalism. Similar to the world building, it's not in your face, but it's also a huge part of what triggers the plot and the exploration of it was really well done.
I will say, if you were a fan of the 2010s dystopian craze, this book will definitely be for you. This gave me that buzzy reader feeling I've been chasing for the last while and I love it! This book isn't even out yet and I'm now anticipating it's sequel!
TW: death, murder, blood, injury detail, blood, violence, alcohol consumption, kidnapping, sexism, classism; mentions death of a parent, incest
Plot: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
World Building: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Pacing: 5/5
Overall: 5/5
GoodReads Rating: 4.72/5
eARC and FC gifted via Colored Pages Book Tours by Saga Press via Simon and Schuster in exchange for an honest review.
This book was a setup for the bigger series but still had it's own full chaotic plot. We have Jin, the courier, and her sparktalent; Reena, a shieldcaster and a princess trying to escape a sexist and classist city; and Kadrin, the Talentless prince of what was viewed as a refuge for Talentless refugees. I loved all three of them as we get to know them through both the main plot and the letters Reena and Kadrin send each other. Full of action and betrayals, the main plot was a wild ride.
That being said, the setup was no less interesting. I enjoyed hearing about Reena's research into the Talented versus the Talentless, the mana pools, and the overall world building we were given. It all felt so organic and effortless, and there was a wonderful balance between that and the main plot. I loved Screech, too, and how there was a peek into the lore of the world's monsters, which I'm sure we'll explore in the future.
This book also tackles some bigger issues, including race purity, sexism, classism, and environmentalism. Similar to the world building, it's not in your face, but it's also a huge part of what triggers the plot and the exploration of it was really well done.
I will say, if you were a fan of the 2010s dystopian craze, this book will definitely be for you. This gave me that buzzy reader feeling I've been chasing for the last while and I love it! This book isn't even out yet and I'm now anticipating it's sequel!
TW: death, murder, blood, injury detail, blood, violence, alcohol consumption, kidnapping, sexism, classism; mentions death of a parent, incest
Plot: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
World Building: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Pacing: 5/5
Overall: 5/5
GoodReads Rating: 4.72/5
eARC and FC gifted via Colored Pages Book Tours by Saga Press via Simon and Schuster in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
Moderate: Classism, Kidnapping, Sexism, and Alcohol
Minor: Incest and Death of parent
How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
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? No
3.5
This book was a mixed bag for me. The beginning was a five-star, the middle was a three-star, and the end was a five-star again. So I'm landing on a 3.5 for this book as a whole.
I found Helen so relatable. There was one part in particular that was so familiar. She talks about picking up her feelings and putting them aside for others, which made her more fragile as an adult. That was 100% me in university. It got to the point where I was so damn depressed, emotionally repressed, and unable to process my own feelings that I was crying on a daily basis without a full understanding of my own feelings. Some of the stuff her parents say to her felt like they'd been pulled from my life. That side of things was written to perfection.
What lost me was the romance. She spews venom at him, she gives him a panic attack, then nothing happens, she has a sex dream, and suddenly they're doing it everywhere. It was not the vibe for me and came out of left field. The build up felt like an attempted montage of nothing that should've been comraderie where there was none. They lacked the communication I needed to buy into their relationship and that was a huge disappointment. Even at the end of the day, I didn't fully understand their love for each other and why it should've worked. This felt the same for most of Helen's and Grant's outside relationships. There never felt like there was a foundation of something stronger than convenience or a passing moment at a bar or cafe. I wanted more substance there, and never got it.
I'm keeping this book because I felt seen by it, but I think that my least favourite part of this romance was the romance, so I don't quite know what to do with that. All in all, I see why people love it, but I also see why people didn't.
TW: death of a sibling/child, car accident, panic attack, sexual content, alcohol consumption, grief, drug use, suicide
ARC gifted by HarperCollins in exchange for an honest review. Audio ARC gifted by Libro.fm in exchange for an honest review.
I found Helen so relatable. There was one part in particular that was so familiar. She talks about picking up her feelings and putting them aside for others, which made her more fragile as an adult. That was 100% me in university. It got to the point where I was so damn depressed, emotionally repressed, and unable to process my own feelings that I was crying on a daily basis without a full understanding of my own feelings. Some of the stuff her parents say to her felt like they'd been pulled from my life. That side of things was written to perfection.
What lost me was the romance. She spews venom at him, she gives him a panic attack, then nothing happens, she has a sex dream, and suddenly they're doing it everywhere. It was not the vibe for me and came out of left field. The build up felt like an attempted montage of nothing that should've been comraderie where there was none. They lacked the communication I needed to buy into their relationship and that was a huge disappointment. Even at the end of the day, I didn't fully understand their love for each other and why it should've worked. This felt the same for most of Helen's and Grant's outside relationships. There never felt like there was a foundation of something stronger than convenience or a passing moment at a bar or cafe. I wanted more substance there, and never got it.
I'm keeping this book because I felt seen by it, but I think that my least favourite part of this romance was the romance, so I don't quite know what to do with that. All in all, I see why people love it, but I also see why people didn't.
TW: death of a sibling/child, car accident, panic attack, sexual content, alcohol consumption, grief, drug use, suicide
ARC gifted by HarperCollins in exchange for an honest review. Audio ARC gifted by Libro.fm in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Car accident
Moderate: Alcohol, Suicide, Grief, and Drug use
The Second Chance Year by Melissa Wiesner
adventurous
emotional
funny
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? It's complicated
4.0
This book definitely landed more in contemporary lit fic than it did in romance. While there is a romantic undertone, a lot of this book is our MC Sadie trying to figure out life.
I'm not generally a time travel girly or a holiday season reader, but I did like how this book really drove home the message that sometimes things happen for a reason. As Sadie starts her Second Chance Year, she starts to fold herself up and hide her true feelings in order to stop rocking the boat, because that's what resulted in the Very Bad Year.
I'll be honest, I liked her Second Chance Year. It might not have worked out the way she planned it, but she learned so much more through it and the finale felt all the more satisfying. It felt earned, even though she had to really go through it in order to get there.
The one thing I wish we had more of was Sadie actually talking through her feelings more, whether through her own narrative or a longer conversation with her friends/family. It would have made the bonds stronger and given us a bit more foundation for her relationships.
All in all, a solid read full of found family, chaos, and letting go of expectations.
TW: sexual harassment, sexual assault, sexism, alcohol consumption, racism; mentions death
eARC gifted via NetGalley by Forever in exchange for an honest review.
I'm not generally a time travel girly or a holiday season reader, but I did like how this book really drove home the message that sometimes things happen for a reason. As Sadie starts her Second Chance Year, she starts to fold herself up and hide her true feelings in order to stop rocking the boat, because that's what resulted in the Very Bad Year.
I'll be honest, I liked her Second Chance Year. It might not have worked out the way she planned it, but she learned so much more through it and the finale felt all the more satisfying. It felt earned, even though she had to really go through it in order to get there.
The one thing I wish we had more of was Sadie actually talking through her feelings more, whether through her own narrative or a longer conversation with her friends/family. It would have made the bonds stronger and given us a bit more foundation for her relationships.
All in all, a solid read full of found family, chaos, and letting go of expectations.
TW: sexual harassment, sexual assault, sexism, alcohol consumption, racism; mentions death
eARC gifted via NetGalley by Forever in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, and Alcohol
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Death
The Bookbinder's Guide to Love by Katherine Garbera
Repetitive prose, immediate dislike of the MMC. DNF 10% in.
TW: HP reference, sexism
TW: HP reference, sexism
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism
HP reference
The Takedown by Lily Chu
challenging
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
3.5
Whew, that was too relatable, oof. RTC
This book was relatable to the point it felt like a personal attack, and I both resent being called out and also applaud Lily Chu for it.
Dee is a Diversity and Inclusion consultant, Teddy is the heir of a huge fashion business, and chaos ensues when Teddy's family business is thrust in the spotlight for terrible D&I practices (in that there wasn't really any D&I). The main plot was hard to get through - the micro-agressions, white privilege, and outright racism - it was a wild storm. However, so many great conversations came out of it and it was a huge undertaking on Chu's part to write about and shine a light on some of these issues.
The personal attack was Dee's family. The way they sweep everything under a facade of toxic positivity and general avoidance. It was a bit too real at times, and I commend Chu for really hitting me where it hurts. So much of my family was reflected in this book and it was an oof. Dee's growth through it was amazing, even though it takes her a while to fully settle into it (relatable, as well).
While I liked Dee, I loved Teddy. He was my favourite part of the story. Lily Chu always makes her men so real and outside of the conventional "manly man" template. Teddy is a fashion designer who loves art and isn't intimidated by a smart woman and he's almost entirely green flags and I love him for it. He and Dee really click and seeing their relationship with each other develop and grow was a lot of fun, despite the growing pains.
The book was a ride and while I definitely didn't like confronting some of my own issues as I read it, a book where you see yourself reflected and your experiences shared is really a testament to Chu's ability to write real and relatable characters. That ending also was so vindicating, my goodness!
Rep: biracial MCs, bisexual secondary character
TW: toxic positivity, biphobia, racism, micro-aggressions, racial slurs, bullying, sexism; mentions fatphobia, cancer, death of a parent
eARC gifted via Colored Pages Book Tours by Sourcebooks Casablanca via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book was relatable to the point it felt like a personal attack, and I both resent being called out and also applaud Lily Chu for it.
Dee is a Diversity and Inclusion consultant, Teddy is the heir of a huge fashion business, and chaos ensues when Teddy's family business is thrust in the spotlight for terrible D&I practices (in that there wasn't really any D&I). The main plot was hard to get through - the micro-agressions, white privilege, and outright racism - it was a wild storm. However, so many great conversations came out of it and it was a huge undertaking on Chu's part to write about and shine a light on some of these issues.
The personal attack was Dee's family. The way they sweep everything under a facade of toxic positivity and general avoidance. It was a bit too real at times, and I commend Chu for really hitting me where it hurts. So much of my family was reflected in this book and it was an oof. Dee's growth through it was amazing, even though it takes her a while to fully settle into it (relatable, as well).
While I liked Dee, I loved Teddy. He was my favourite part of the story. Lily Chu always makes her men so real and outside of the conventional "manly man" template. Teddy is a fashion designer who loves art and isn't intimidated by a smart woman and he's almost entirely green flags and I love him for it. He and Dee really click and seeing their relationship with each other develop and grow was a lot of fun, despite the growing pains.
The book was a ride and while I definitely didn't like confronting some of my own issues as I read it, a book where you see yourself reflected and your experiences shared is really a testament to Chu's ability to write real and relatable characters. That ending also was so vindicating, my goodness!
Rep: biracial MCs, bisexual secondary character
TW: toxic positivity, biphobia, racism, micro-aggressions, racial slurs, bullying, sexism; mentions fatphobia, cancer, death of a parent
eARC gifted via Colored Pages Book Tours by Sourcebooks Casablanca via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, Bullying, and Sexism
Moderate: Biphobia
Minor: Death of parent, Fatphobia, and Cancer
When Among Crows by Veronica Roth
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
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? No
4.0
Now I need a printed version of this book on my shelf. Atmospheric, emotional, and fantastically woven together, I need this novella injected into my veins.
In such a short time, this story built a rich, paranormal underbelly within modern-day Chicago; made me care immensely about its characters and get emotional over them; and tied together the fates of three people who seemingly have nothing in common other than being relative outsiders within their communities. I loved the writing and the depth we got from the characters despite the format of the story (or because of the format of the story?). The mythological depth was also well done - not too info dumpy, but enough that you understand each class/race so that you care and you can follow.
Am I back in my Veronica Roth era? Who knows. But I am now a huge fan of this book.
TW: death, mutilation, violence, murder, injury detail, alcohol, blood; mentions death of a parent, death of a child
eARC gifted via Edelweiss by Tor Books in exchange for an honest review.
In such a short time, this story built a rich, paranormal underbelly within modern-day Chicago; made me care immensely about its characters and get emotional over them; and tied together the fates of three people who seemingly have nothing in common other than being relative outsiders within their communities. I loved the writing and the depth we got from the characters despite the format of the story (or because of the format of the story?). The mythological depth was also well done - not too info dumpy, but enough that you understand each class/race so that you care and you can follow.
Am I back in my Veronica Roth era? Who knows. But I am now a huge fan of this book.
TW: death, mutilation, violence, murder, injury detail, alcohol, blood; mentions death of a parent, death of a child
eARC gifted via Edelweiss by Tor Books in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcohol and Blood
Minor: Child death and Death of parent
Not Like Other Girls by Meredith Adamo
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
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? It's complicated
5.0
Y'all aren't ready for this book, holy honk. I want to scream for so many reasons. The emotional roller coaster this had me on - one moment I'm laughing, the next I'm crying, the next I'm fueled by righteous rage. The fact that this is a debut novel had me absolutely floored, because it didn't feel like that for a second. Anyways, it's 1:30AM, so full RTC.
---
This book is about broken and toxic friendships, the "not like other girls" moniker and all it's connotations, a girl disappearing, sexual assault (including rape, revenge porn, and more), and how those we love can let us down. Though these are all hard subjects to read about, Meredith Adamo makes it easy.
Jo is a firecracker of an MC. She's an outcast, at odds with her old friends, but doing the best she can with what she has. She's one of those characters you like from the start - her witty inner dialogue, her strong and distinct voice, her growth as she starts to better understand and reframed her narrative, everything about her draws you in from the start. She had true main character energy, to the point where it felt like other characters were trying to strip her of it and make her secondary to their story, and yet they never succeed.
Though Maddie goes missing, the story is really centered around Jo. We get to see Jo grow as a character, both through her inner narrative and her healthier relationship with friends, family, and Hudson. Despite the darker side of her story, I found her new friendships wholesome; the banter sweet, funny, and realistic; and her own voice a great way of adding levity to the whole situation. It's all done in a way that's tasteful, but I also laughed way more than expected.
At the end of the day though, I feel like I got sucker punched by this book. Some parts just felt like such a dose of reality, or felt so poignant, that I would literally gasp. There's one line especially (taken from the ARC, but if it's removed from the final copy, I will cry) where Jo asks someone, "When did I stop being a person to you?" I felt all the air leave my lungs cause oof. It makes more sense in context, but even on its own it packs a punch.
This book will make you laugh, cry, get mad, and scream in righteous fury, but you'll be glued to the pages throughout. Once I met Jo, I couldn't leave her story or her world. An absolutely amazing debut, Meredith Adamo is one to watch!
TW: rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment, sexual content, bullying, kidnapping, drug use, alcohol consumption, injury detail, violence, adult/minor relationship; mentions infidelity, death of a parent, death via car accident
ARC gifted by Bloomsbury US via BookInfluencerDotCom in exchange for an honest review.
---
This book is about broken and toxic friendships, the "not like other girls" moniker and all it's connotations, a girl disappearing, sexual assault (including rape, revenge porn, and more), and how those we love can let us down. Though these are all hard subjects to read about, Meredith Adamo makes it easy.
Jo is a firecracker of an MC. She's an outcast, at odds with her old friends, but doing the best she can with what she has. She's one of those characters you like from the start - her witty inner dialogue, her strong and distinct voice, her growth as she starts to better understand and reframed her narrative, everything about her draws you in from the start. She had true main character energy, to the point where it felt like other characters were trying to strip her of it and make her secondary to their story, and yet they never succeed.
Though Maddie goes missing, the story is really centered around Jo. We get to see Jo grow as a character, both through her inner narrative and her healthier relationship with friends, family, and Hudson. Despite the darker side of her story, I found her new friendships wholesome; the banter sweet, funny, and realistic; and her own voice a great way of adding levity to the whole situation. It's all done in a way that's tasteful, but I also laughed way more than expected.
At the end of the day though, I feel like I got sucker punched by this book. Some parts just felt like such a dose of reality, or felt so poignant, that I would literally gasp. There's one line especially (taken from the ARC, but if it's removed from the final copy, I will cry) where Jo asks someone, "When did I stop being a person to you?" I felt all the air leave my lungs cause oof. It makes more sense in context, but even on its own it packs a punch.
This book will make you laugh, cry, get mad, and scream in righteous fury, but you'll be glued to the pages throughout. Once I met Jo, I couldn't leave her story or her world. An absolutely amazing debut, Meredith Adamo is one to watch!
TW: rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment, sexual content, bullying, kidnapping, drug use, alcohol consumption, injury detail, violence, adult/minor relationship; mentions infidelity, death of a parent, death via car accident
ARC gifted by Bloomsbury US via BookInfluencerDotCom in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Rape, Bullying, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Kidnapping, Drug use, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Adult/minor relationship, and Violence
Minor: Car accident, Death of parent, and Infidelity
Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez
challenging
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
tense
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? It's complicated
5.0
Your honour, I love them.
This book was an emotional roller coaster. I loved Emma's empathy and how it changes others around her throughout the story, but also how she had to learn how to keep that while also keeping her peace.
There were a lot of familial issues touched on here. An incarcerated parent, a sibling turned guardian, parental neglect, a child parenting their parent, and that's not even the full list?? As such, there's a lot of reflection on who these characters are, who they can be, and how they can be together when so many factors are pulling them apart.
The mental health discussions, the humour, the strong friendships, and the heartwarming romance all came together to create a beautiful book. The way this connected back to Part of Your World was so surprising, and I barely caught it since it's been so long since I read the previous companions. Just for the Summer was fantastically interwoven into the series and the world's coming together was so perfect. I'm so happy to see how far Abby Jimenez has come with her writing and can't wait to see what she thinks up next!
TW: abandonment, parental neglect, incarcerated parent, alcohol consumption, mental illness, child abuse, emotional abuse, vomit, depression, PTSD; mentions suicide, death of a parent, car accident
This book was an emotional roller coaster. I loved Emma's empathy and how it changes others around her throughout the story, but also how she had to learn how to keep that while also keeping her peace.
There were a lot of familial issues touched on here. An incarcerated parent, a sibling turned guardian, parental neglect, a child parenting their parent, and that's not even the full list?? As such, there's a lot of reflection on who these characters are, who they can be, and how they can be together when so many factors are pulling them apart.
The mental health discussions, the humour, the strong friendships, and the heartwarming romance all came together to create a beautiful book. The way this connected back to Part of Your World was so surprising, and I barely caught it since it's been so long since I read the previous companions. Just for the Summer was fantastically interwoven into the series and the world's coming together was so perfect. I'm so happy to see how far Abby Jimenez has come with her writing and can't wait to see what she thinks up next!
TW: abandonment, parental neglect, incarcerated parent, alcohol consumption, mental illness, child abuse, emotional abuse, vomit, depression, PTSD; mentions suicide, death of a parent, car accident
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Mental illness, Child abuse, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Vomit and Alcohol
Minor: Suicide, Car accident, and Death of parent