One with You

I knew this book was getting 5 starts after I was about 47% of the way through it. Then, they introduced a major new element to the plot around pg. 220, which had me a bit shocked as they already had so much going on between FMC +MMC.

One of the elements I loved the most in this book was Gideon’s growth. Because of its intensity, it contributed to the overall development his relationships, romantic and familial.

Romantically, they worked through the employment issues he caused, his nightmares, him understanding how and why his fears and anxiety impact him the way they do. This results in major realizations, which happen to be the domino he needed. He gained the ability to acknowledge AND understand how and why to actions speak louder than words, then embracing those actions.

Gideon’s familial relationships also were impacted by his personal growth and self-awareness. One quote that embodied this is:

There was grief, a profound anguish that burned in my chest. And resignation. A clarifying, terrible acceptance. But it weighed on me so much less than the desperate hope I'd harbored: that one day my mother would love me enough to accept the truth. That hope was dead.

Though detaching himself from his mother allowed him to accept and acknowledge his stepfathers (similar) actions. He realized what that said about him as a man stepping into that father roll as an adult; starting steps to healing their relationship as he wasn’t aware of the horrors Gideon faced as a child. And it was SO good to read about it. I’ll say it again, I loved this book so much.

HOWEVER, writing an huge event that caused extreme distress to the plot with only 100 pgs. left in the book had me pissed beyond belief. I was racking my brain to figure out wtf they were going to do in 100 pgs. that would leave me satisfied and content with its ending. Let me give you a hint, they actually did a good job wrapping it up. But I’m ngl, I gained the full closure in the authors note with:

and yet now that Crossfire is over, I know Eva and Gideon are ready and able to go forward with their lives on their own. Whatever help they needed from me, they don't require it any longer.

what the hell happened to this series? it all seemed to fall apart at the end of the 3rd book. i would say, i think this book started strong but the end felt rushed to me. maybe it's because i completely skipped the section after eva's mom died and he simply didn't tell her. i wasn't about to sit here and read through any justification the author was gonna fabricate for that. that's wild. the 4th book was forgettable. this should've been the 4th with the complimenting side stories properly fleshed out.

Isinya bercerita muter2 kehidupan Eva & Gideon setelah berpisah sementara untuk membangun kepercayaan lagi. Ada tragedi & rahasia terkuak menjelang akhir buku, yg sayang sekali gk diceritakan lebih lama krn itu bisa menjadi kekuatan buku ini. Fakta tentang kehidupan masa lalu ibu Eva semestinya bisa dieksplorasi lagi krn menurutku itu justru hal terbaik dr buku kelima ini.
Sebenarnya bisa diakhiri dgn lebih baik lagi.

An epic finale that went beyond my wildest dreams, each word heavy with meaning, each scene a crucial puzzle piece in a picture that kept coming together with striking force until the very last page, leaving me literally quivering in its aftermath. I remain incapable of letting go of Gideon and Eva just yet as I slowly come to terms with all the unexpected, touching turns in their story, but I am smiling through my tears, grateful for the way this book truly honoured them for the iconic characters they will forever remain in my eyes. Bravo!

“I'm that guy for you, Eva. Every milestone, angel. Every rite of passage . . . everything. And you're that girl for me.”