This was a great read. I love that the twists were twisting. Lots of heavy topics but I really enjoyed it.
MVP's for the supporting characters. If not for them I might not have finished because Poppa was starting to piss me off. That being said the growth was nice. But those supporting characters, carried me through this book and I went willingly. It could be my family issues talking but they were the real treat. Overall a nice book thank you for the read and Happy Black History Month.
3.7 Stars
The characters developed really well from the first book. I'd say this is a 3.7 because it seems like the wrap ups for inconvenient plot points were a little messy, but overall, it's a really nice book. I appreciate the fact that the FL got some balls and stopped being a doormat. While ML just got to be a blood thirsty, I'll burn the world for her lover boy.
One of the best books I've read in a while
The characters are breathing people. It's like being a fly on the wall that just so happens to get an inside peek at the thoughts and feelings of the people involved. In a book with so much trauma, this isn't a trauma story. It really is a love story and overcoming of so many traumatic things. I cried, laughed, and blushed in all the right places with the amazing pacing that seemed effortlessly to guide you through the scenes.
I hope Hendricks gets a happily after that's as beautiful as this one was. I hope Soledad gets better than her excuse for a partner.
Trigger Warnings
-Grief or loss of a child & loved one (while not happening on the page, it is referenced and relived from different angles)
-Mentions and Hints of Self Check-Out
-Semi Rebound Dating
-Teenage Rebuttles
There could be others, but these are the only ones that came to mind for me that might make me not read something... that being said, if you are willing to look at the book, it handles all of these amazingly. So far, it's been my favorite book I've read this year. I can't wait to read what else the author has.
Best in the series so far
The best banter by far in comparison to the first two books. I almost didn't finish it because of the Cinderella situation at the start, but that was such a small portion of the book. It was Benedict's condescending statements that really had me trudging through. That being said, it wrapped up relatively well if feeling a touch rushed. Overall, though, I enjoyed the book and think it's a solid 3.8. It's not a full 4 stars because of my 2 hangups above. As always, don't read the second Epiolog if you don't wish for spoilers in the books to come.
I'm definitely reading the next one, but I'm pulling my hair out at this cliffhanger. Even though so many characters got their own POV, I didn't think I was missing or needing more input from any one character. It had a good pace that kept me interested and engaged.
Removal of Consent
The way that they each removed each other's ability to fully consent to life altering decisions ruined the end of the book for me. Ps don't read the second epiolog if you wanted to see this without spoilers for books to come.
Nice
Overall, it's a nice book. No extra wows or whistles, but the world building makes me wanna read more in the series.
Liked the idea
I really liked the premise of the story, but the pacing really threw me off. I felt like there were times when I got whiplash and other times where it was drawn out. If not for the whiplash, a solid 3 stars.
Pacing a bit slow
The world is beautiful, but I found the pacing dragged out at times. Overall, it was a very lovely read and something I will probably continue with.
It was okay
The leads were a bit annoying but overall a decent book. I will probably read the next installment as the world building is quite lovely.
I'm in love
I love how healthy these relationships are. Mental health, boundaries, understanding, and pure love are all on point. Every main character adult of consistency is such a devoted parent, yet a person outside that. Watching them all navigate the struggles to maintain the sometimes warring needs or wants of parenthood and personal needs and desires are heartwarming, thought-provoking, and self-healing. I love Judah. He's an amazing male lead. I didn't think I needed to see dad's that did more than the bare minimum until I started this series, and now I can't go back. Reading, seeing, and feeling a man love his children to the extent that the male leads in this series do was everything. I can't wait to see what my favorite sassy Hendrix's love life has in store for us. Until then, I think I shall be going into the back catalog to see what other gold Kenndy Ryan has put forth.
Miscommunication around 74% Killed my like for the book
Another decent book falls into that miscommunication troupe that kills books for me. After what happened, I don't believe that they do love each other. Just toxic, bruh, and the wrap-up mediocre at best to express it away.
A slow start
The book had a much slower start than I thought it would be, but I'm hoping that slow start was to do a bunch of world building and leg work for the second book. I'm a bit mad at the rushed tie up at the end. I was about 71% of the way through before it was starting to pick up the pace past a skip. So, having less than a single chapter to tie up loose ends was a bit unsatisfying even with the promise of a book two.
Cute and Sweet
I've been loving the entire series. Every couple has their story and the cove and it's inhabitants are dears. Can't wait to see the next one.
It was nice
While the relationship is timeline wise, moving fast, it doesn't feel rushed. I like the interactions between our FL and ML, but I'm mad at that cliffhanger because it's messing up my reading list order.
Mmmmn
I wanted to rate it a bit lower, but 2 stars was too low. It could just be because I'm pissed at how stupid our ML was at the end, but overall, I really enjoyed the book, so a solid 3 stars seems appropriate. It's not reinventing the wheel, but it's a very easy read. I love the world building for all of these books, which has got me coming back for more.
Cute Story
Cute fun read. The end was a little rushed in my opinion but still put a little bow on the tale.
3.5 For me
It would have been a 4 if the FL wasn't a pushover the entire time. I enjoyed the individual accounts on looking into their inner darkness and finding each other. I'll for sure check out the second one to see how the loose ends get tied up.
Lovely Story and around a 3.8 for me in score. In comparison to the show, I like it immensely better for Penelope and Colin. In the book they are a lovely couple who gets to renew what they know about each other since becoming adults in their own rights. I do wish there was more of a build up for the switch from invisible sister to love interest but otherwise pretty decent. I like the self reflection in this one as the characters themselves are aware when they are being boorish and are able to work through that. I also appreciated Lady Danbury's and Penelope relationship and would have loved to have seen that in the series as well. If Like me you didn't like Penelope and or Colin in the show you may be able to at least better appreciate them in the books, as they are a very different kind of character in the story. I also appreciated the small peek at how Lady Whistledown came to be was nice as I have always been curious. I'm actual upset at Colin for ruining a more extensive story of how that whole situation came to be.