Head Above Water

[1.5] i want to preface this review by saying the descriptions of grief here are some of the best i've read and the prologue will instantly have you at full alert, buzzed to discover just what the heck happened between the mcs to lead up to that heart-wrenching moment in time.

however, from beginning to end, i can't deny feeling like this story would've worked better sans the romance. i didn't—couldn't—buy their relationship from the start when the few brief glimpses at their lives growing up together showed only examples of them antagonizing each other, and not even in necessarily teasing or endearing ways.

at least in Cannon there was a subtle sense of responsibility as the older stepsibling, but i was never under the impression that they cared enough for each other to warrant the profound love born out of grief that the prose made it out to be. there's plenty of mourning and self-torment bleeding between the lines, but by the time they're unable to resist and find themselves feverishly canoodling with each other out of a strained desperation with still very little resolved between them, i was too busy questioning where Cannon's sudden compelling need to attend to Easton's every need came from.

with no heartfelt connection or startling chemistry to back up the romance element, the whole narrative began to feel forced, the emotions fell through, and my enjoyment plummeted.

i had a tough time rooting for the mcs too. Easton starts off as a petty kid going for the low blows (which as the youngest sibling myself, we are wont to do