Again, I set out to savor this book and instead read the whole thing the day I got it from the library.
I loved these characters in all their flawed gAgain, I set out to savor this book and instead read the whole thing the day I got it from the library.
I loved these characters in all their flawed glory. Well, actually, Justin seemed pretty damn perfect. But Emma had tons of issues, and I loved them both.
I also have to admit I enjoyed seeing Amber unleash the crazy, and I was really impressed with Neil. I still wouldn’t want to date him myself, but he’s come a long way from how awful he was to Alexis.
I loved the sweet, practical love between the main characters, and I loved that the author didn’t trash the story with misunderstandings or the “I’ll protect you by dumping you” trope. This is similar on the surface, but it’s not the same.
Having just gone through being sick myself and needing someone to take care of me, Justin is the ideal. Not only did he show up, get her the help she needed, and stay with her, he also got her drinks, took care of other things, and cleaned. Heart eyes!!! My experience was not like this, so it was nice to live it in the book at least.
The one with Jacob and Briana is still my favorite of all time, but this book is a close second. More, please! ...more
This was a weird book with a lot of themes and threads that didn’t fully come together for me. She was so spiky, but he made her soft. He’s a rabbi, bThis was a weird book with a lot of themes and threads that didn’t fully come together for me. She was so spiky, but he made her soft. He’s a rabbi, but he still wanted wild sex with a former sex worker. I don’t know. It all just seemed unnecessarily extreme, and the distances never really came together convincingly. And then they each gave a terrible lecture and then everything was suddenly happy ever after. I guess I didn’t find the love 100% convincing, and I don’t find the resolution 100% convincing either....more
Strong characters I really like, having adventures in a cool and well-drawn world. I read this all in one sitting, and I want more. I need the next epStrong characters I really like, having adventures in a cool and well-drawn world. I read this all in one sitting, and I want more. I need the next episode NOW!
Merged review:
Strong characters I really like, having adventures in a cool and well-drawn world. I read this all in one sitting, and I want more. I need the next episode NOW!...more
Fascinating, depressing story. It’s so sad (and relatable) that all of these women who had so much to offer were so starved for connection and attentiFascinating, depressing story. It’s so sad (and relatable) that all of these women who had so much to offer were so starved for connection and attention that they put up with all this crazy shit, sometimes for years!
It makes me feel a bit less stupid for staying in some of my bad relationships. Hey, at least those guys were real! But even so, I found myself getting impatient with these women for putting up with so much for so long.
I wish there was some way the person behind Ethan could be stopped, but I don’t think there is. ...more
**spoiler alert** This author has written one of my favorite books… and she also wrote this one.
I’m at 59%, and so far, it’s just been a lot of tedio**spoiler alert** This author has written one of my favorite books… and she also wrote this one.
I’m at 59%, and so far, it’s just been a lot of tedious, repetitive anticipation that these two will have sex. Oh, but she mustn’t, because then she’ll get attached, and he’s obviously just another wounded baby bird! Oh, but how can she resist, because he’s hot and charming? Repeat ad nauseam.
I’m seriously considering DNF’ing. I do not care about either of these boring shell characters, and I really don’t care if they ever have sex or not.
… Ok, they just had sex and it was the worst. The author kept saying “his organ” over and over like it was some kind of bad writing drinking game. Oh, and the guy roared like a lion when he came. I am not making this up.
… Why do we need to hear on and on about how pretty this chick is not? Does the author think all her readers are ugly and this is aspirational?
And why the fuck does he keep calling her “little girl”??? So creepy!
… Ok, this guy is a big stupid selfish coward, and if this author thinks he can redeem himself with only 6% of the book left, she’s nuts.
… Wait a minute, was all that stuff about Ellie not being pretty because she’s half black? That’s super offensive. I can’t believe they published this. ...more
**spoiler alert** I wanted to savor this book, but I just fell into its world and didn’t want to leave. Having already read the sequel, it was fun to **spoiler alert** I wanted to savor this book, but I just fell into its world and didn’t want to leave. Having already read the sequel, it was fun to meet Daniel and Alexis and watch their love story unfold. The premise of this one didn’t grab me as much as the next book, and the rich girl/poor boy thing didn’t really do that much for me, but I still love how this author creates characters and brings them and their world to life. I had this from the library for two weeks before the next person who has it on hold, and in that time, I read it three times plus I reread the second one. This book was a really nice companion while I had pneumonia. The second one is still my favorite, though.
One thing I found a little over the top was how helpless Alexis was in day-to-day life. Can you really become an ER doctor without ever learning how to use a broom or peel a potato or trip a circuit breaker? I guess, if you’re rich enough. It seems like authors like to make female main character helpless, like it makes them cute or something. So many of them seem to be proud not to be able to cook. To me, that’s just sad. But I liked that Daniel taught her all kinds of stuff so she could become a more fully functional human being, and she realized not knowing how to do anything was keeping her disempowered, so she did the learning and growing required to correct it. It was pretty hilarious when Neil walked in on her fixing the garbage disposal.
Which reminds me, the other thing about this book is that Neil is the same kind of bad ex as my most recent ex. It was useful to me to walk with Alexis through leaving the garbage he used to say to her behind, and rebuilding her self-esteem and self-worth. That was probably the most valuable part of this book for me. But probably the part I enjoyed the most was when she randomly showed up and doctored whatever townspeople needed it.
The idea that this big-deal hospital would totally agree to create its first two satellite locations in whatever random boony places the two Montgomery offspring happened to fall in love, especially when one was two hours away and one was in f’ing Africa, seemed pretty unbelievable. But whatever. Yay, happy ending!
One of my favorite quotes, which I don’t have the exact words for, was Bri saying, “Imagine being a whole-ass doctor, and your family is like, ‘why are you such a disappointment?’” That’s the long and short of it. Alexis’s dad is a cartoon villain, and her mom is a wuss....more
**spoiler alert** This was a well-written book, and I cared about the characters. Some parts seemed kind of dumb, like why would the guy kiss her at a**spoiler alert** This was a well-written book, and I cared about the characters. Some parts seemed kind of dumb, like why would the guy kiss her at a party at the hospital. Was he trying to lose his job and his license? And she’s going to show up at Chip’s wedding, really?
But mostly what impressed me was how breathtakingly awful all these people kept being to her.
And yet, it was still a pretty enjoyable book. ...more
This book was really good. The author brought all the characters to life and made them so real and so lovable in the midst of all their flaws. Even RoThis book was really good. The author brought all the characters to life and made them so real and so lovable in the midst of all their flaws. Even Rocky, the main character and narrator, is bitchy and unhinged but I feel a lot of fondness for her.
The weird thing about this is I’m supposed to relate to Rocky. I’m only six years younger than she is. But I was still reading her, feeling like she might help me understand what it’s like to be my mom.
The difference is, this family was so companionable. Even when the daughter is like “Mo-o-om!”, it still feels like it’s mostly in a loving way, and when they get some one-on-one time, it’s clear they’re close.
Between Rocky and her husband, same thing.
My family doesn’t feel like that.
Has this book helped me understand my mother? I don’t know. Maybe. Either way, I sure enjoyed reading it. ...more
**spoiler alert** Back in high school, Helen’s sister committed suicide by jumping in front of a car. That car was being driven by Grant, the homecomi**spoiler alert** Back in high school, Helen’s sister committed suicide by jumping in front of a car. That car was being driven by Grant, the homecoming king. But apparently there wasn’t more to that story, just chance, a small town, and really bad luck.
Now at 32, Helen’s book is getting made into a tv series and Grant is one of the screenwriters.
At first, she’s all hateful and bitchy to him, and she’s still doing the high school nerd, no social skills, can’t get along with anyone thing. But then the show runner makes them all go camping together and someone gives her a pot gummy on a hike. The fact of being included enough to be offered the gummy is a turning point for her. She suddenly feels like she belongs after all. And then the pot loosens her up, and that helps, too. Things start working with the writers.
She also lets go of being an asshole to Grant, and over a very long time, they fall in love. But oh no, what will they do about her parents? They’d never be ok with her dating the boy who killed her sister!
I mean, it is awkward certainly. But eventually they find out he’s working on the show and they have their meltdown. Then they find out she’s been dating him and have another. So I’d figure, well, that sucked but we got through it. Might as well admit we love each and let this become a real thing now. But instead she breaks up with him and they have a series of “I’ll never see/speak to you again!” ultimatum incidents. I found that all so unnecessary. But then they do get back together after all, and after all that fuss, there’s no more solution to the parent problem than “they’ll just have to deal with it.”
In that way, this book really failed to come together, as far as I’m concerned. But I did enjoy the writing. And the characters, once they got the sticks out of their asses. I’d read more by this author.
I’d say my favorite part of this book was the writers’ room once they all started clicking and became friends. It was really fun to see how they all worked together. It made me a bit envious of having a team like that. ...more
I don’t know, man. So much drama. I know romance novels believe only relationships with all this sturm und drang are passionate enough to be true loveI don’t know, man. So much drama. I know romance novels believe only relationships with all this sturm und drang are passionate enough to be true love, but maybe they’re really just unhealthy.
I was glad to see these two grow up a good bit, but I’m still not convinced they’re a good idea together. ...more
Really dislike the setup for this book and then the mmc doubled down on it when he had the chance to come clean. Also, both of these characters are suReally dislike the setup for this book and then the mmc doubled down on it when he had the chance to come clean. Also, both of these characters are such pains in the ass. Having already read the third book in the series, it was cool to see what led up to it. That and the dog are the main things I liked about this book. ...more
This is one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. I thought Ru was like 80 at first, though, based on her voice. Instead she’s probably in her 2This is one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. I thought Ru was like 80 at first, though, based on her voice. Instead she’s probably in her 20s by now. She’s definitely young enough to consider a car from the 90s an old car.
I’m not sure I buy that that’s what it’s like to be a genius, but maybe it is.
Anyway, I loved the interactions and the way all these different strangers helped her and Gabe in various ways. They obviously knew they were runaways, but they helped them with all kinds of little things and practicalities. I loved that.
I also enjoyed seeing Ru grow beyond just being a “freakishly smart” brainy-brain, become more of a whole person, and put her intelligence into context. And I loved the bond with Gabe.
This is a sweet story, and I’ll definitely be reading more from this author. ...more
For someone who reads a lot, this chick sure is dumb. The whole book was dumb but sweet—good for anxiety reading but not much else. Maybe it’s time I For someone who reads a lot, this chick sure is dumb. The whole book was dumb but sweet—good for anxiety reading but not much else. Maybe it’s time I start reading better books....more
This book just goes to show that “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” is only a heuristic, and sometimes it fails disastrously. The titThis book just goes to show that “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” is only a heuristic, and sometimes it fails disastrously. The title character of this book is probably on the autism spectrum, and she does unto others what she would have done unto her—often with no explanation. People don’t understand her intent and end up feeling hurt or offended. It’s really sad because she’s a great person once you get to know her, and she spends her whole life trying to do good. All the misunderstandings around her death were so sad. ...more
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