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emerald2's review against another edition
1.0
This was hard to finish and truly one of the worst books I've read this year. This reads like a BuzzFeed article that goes on for 150 pages.
Seems to not understand several concepts: gold star lesbian, the word bombshell, basic Spanish, anything about people past stereotypes, parental rights, gay marriage being illegal in Indonesia, commas, dogs.
Seems to not understand several concepts: gold star lesbian, the word bombshell, basic Spanish, anything about people past stereotypes, parental rights, gay marriage being illegal in Indonesia, commas, dogs.
bridge_to_narnia's review against another edition
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
The premise of the story started out messy: Darcy is forced into road-tripping with her estranged mother a week before her wedding by her guilt tripping MIL, while just having been confessed to by her best friend Chloe (who is her fiancé’s brother). This sounded like a great relationship drama with a (hopefully) cathartic ending where problems are worked out and resolved. This is not that.
We get a few good chapters of character building, where it really starts to showcase the relationship and personalities of Darcy and Marja (her mother), whenMarja shoots a man and reveals that she has turned on the cartel and they will be taken into witness protection. From then on it’s a combination of cartel attacks, some Marja relationship drama, some Darcy - Marja relationship drama, some Darcy - Chloe - Michael relationship drama and then all of the above. With it all ending the book with Michael trying to baby trap Darcy, who says fuck being childfree, it’s a piece of Chloe as well, let me just change my whole life for this. Nothing feels resolved and it gives the vibes that everyone is pretty much stuck in the ending the received.
For what it’s worth, with how the author write, what I had assumed was the story (as per the summary on the back of the book), could have been a really book. Figuring out her relationship with her mother and seeing how it affected her relationship with Eloise (her MIL, that became a mother figure to her when she and her mom were estranged because she latched onto the first nice mom she found through her friend) and how that affected her relationship with Michael (her fiancé), whom she has been steamrolled by on most major decisions, but didn’t feel like she could push to hard as it would damage her new pseudo-family relationships and possible leave her isolated, especially from her best friend (who knew the whole time that Michael was scum, especially because he purposefully “threatened” her with his sway over Darcy, but chose not to tell Darcy in case she decided Chloe was in love with her — which she was). This dynamic has very interesting connotations and could take up a book (maybe two) with just getting Darcy into therapy to realized she own worth and be able to stand up for herself. This is book I was promised and not given. There is plot and not progress in the relationships and tbh I only kept reading because I thought there would be, but no, just plot points no character growth.
We get a few good chapters of character building, where it really starts to showcase the relationship and personalities of Darcy and Marja (her mother), when
For what it’s worth, with how the author write, what I had assumed was the story (as per the summary on the back of the book), could have been a really book. Figuring out her relationship with her mother and seeing how it affected her relationship with Eloise (her MIL, that became a mother figure to her when she and her mom were estranged because she latched onto the first nice mom she found through her friend) and how that affected her relationship with Michael (her fiancé), whom she has been steamrolled by on most major decisions, but didn’t feel like she could push to hard as it would damage her new pseudo-family relationships and possible leave her isolated, especially from her best friend (who knew the whole time that Michael was scum, especially because he purposefully “threatened” her with his sway over Darcy, but chose not to tell Darcy in case she decided Chloe was in love with her — which she was). This dynamic has very interesting connotations and could take up a book (maybe two) with just getting Darcy into therapy to realized she own worth and be able to stand up for herself. This is book I was promised and not given. There is plot and not progress in the relationships and tbh I only kept reading because I thought there would be, but no, just plot points no character growth.
Content Warnings
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Biphobia, Bullying, Death, Drug use, Gun violence, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, and Classism
This book has deep topics in it, but everything is still giving beach book vibes. Nothing is too deep and still feels removed. The most emotionally connected TW was the bullying Darcy faced as the poor (unacknowledged bastard) child of her (groomed) Mother in school. But again it was all told not showed. So, we know Marja cried about the bullying and that made Darcy start working on making herself invisible, but we don’t feel much about it.paulaortuno's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
tashaxkate's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I loved this book until the last 1/4 or so. The good part of the book was paced well, suspenseful and gripping. After that it felt rushed, anticlimactic and honestly disappointing. As a child free person by choice it makes me mad when child free by choice characters just give that up immediately as if the right person just changes your mind. I also don’t like how Darcy jumped from Michael to Chloe without any thought or break. It was like once the decision had been made like it was simple and smooth and it felt unrealistic to me. however for all that pisses me off there the majority was great and I did like the end 3 pages to wrap up the characters story
Content Warnings
Minor: Infidelity, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, and Pregnancy
kay_1's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
annebo91's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
3.0
natlohhh's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
2.0
This was an okay read until the last quarter. Then I very much did not like this book.
Literally nothing irritates me more than a character who is vehemently and emphatically childfree throughout the entire book and just has a 100% about face and suddenly wants one.
playswithstring's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
librar_bee's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-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
ckreads28's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
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? Yes
4.75
4.75 out of 5: I love the way this book breaks the 4th wall so much. It really pulled you into the stakes of this book. I loved the sapphicness, the messiness of family. The one thing I didn't love is the "fiance's sister" trope even if said fiance is an ass. If you love the show Ginny and Georgia this book is for you.