somewhat mixed feelings - i loved the first 75% of this and thought the last 25% was a bit weak. HOWEVER, the more i reflect on it, i think my expectasomewhat mixed feelings - i loved the first 75% of this and thought the last 25% was a bit weak. HOWEVER, the more i reflect on it, i think my expectations were for a more bleak, adult ending, and this is really suited for YA! i’m excited to share this with teen patrons! ...more
Thank you to Delacorte, NetGalley, and Holly Jackson for the ARC!! Holly you will truly always be famous.
Holly Jackson is an autobuy author for me, whThank you to Delacorte, NetGalley, and Holly Jackson for the ARC!! Holly you will truly always be famous.
Holly Jackson is an autobuy author for me, which is a delight for me as a reader, but also means my expectations for her are set QUITE high! Luckily, she always lives up to them. This is a fun and wild ride. I didn't like it as much as Five Survive, which I thought was darker and more intense, and I didn't find this one quite as inventive as some of her other work. However, I really just couldn't down. It's so compulsively readable, and the characters at the heart of the story are really lovable (even if Bel does make some... insane decisions at times). I wish this had wrapped up a tad less neat, but overall... You have done it again Ms. Jackson. 4.5 stars! ...more
Because I have a feeling everyone's been keeping a secret, a this-would-forever-change-the-romance-novel-world-if-it-got-out kind of secret -- that thBecause I have a feeling everyone's been keeping a secret, a this-would-forever-change-the-romance-novel-world-if-it-got-out kind of secret -- that the very best parts happen after the book is over.
I truly will read Rachel Lynn Solomon's grocery list - especially if that grocery list features Rowan and Neil, two very, very special characters.
This is a charming sequel that somehow manages to be even better than the first book. Following Rowan and Neil through the lens of a long-distance relationship was a very sweet way to revisit these characters. This felt like catching up with old friends, and brought back all the nostalgia of those butterflies of a first love. Rowan's adventures in Boston were great to read - it was cool to watch her go through many relatable struggles, like wondering what your career path is meant to be or if you'll ever really make friends in college. Her arc felt very, very real to me. And I am SO glad that this one was dual POV, because Neil's story is beautiful. New adulthood is HARD. Mental health struggles, dealing with trauma from an absent or abusive parent, changing your mind about things you thought were set in stone... all of that is real and so important to include in YA and New Adult stories.
I love the way that this book discusses sex, and I wish I had had a book like this to read when I was a teenager or when I first became sexually active. No matter how many romance novels you read, nothing replaces good communication with your partner, and that's so so so important for stories geared towards teenagers to illustrate.
Another thing I love about this story is the way in which it illustrates that there's more to a love story than just the meet-cute. Real love, and real relationships, are about what happen AFTER those characters are together. Rowan and Neil experience a tremendous amount of growth not just together, but individually. They are deeply comfortable with each other, and that comfort level allows them to fall even further in love. The flames of a deeper, committed relationship are simply more enduring - and here, they are just so rewarding to read about.
It's not always about those huge moments. It's the tiny details, the ones that remind you the other person is caring about you, even when you're not the best at caring for yourself.
I love the way that this sequel illustrates how being in a loving and secure relationship can inspire both partners to take risks and embrace changes with confidence, knowing that they have unwavering support. This beautiful story reassures us that when you are in the right relationship, love grows and changes as we do. I'm so grateful we were able to get to spend more time with these characters, and move beyond their Happy For Now into real, adult Happily Ever After territory.
The one constant is the two of us, simply doing our best, the way that we always have. Together.
Thank you to Rachel Lynn Solomon, Simon & Schuster, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is out 6/4!
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finally reading my "in case of emergency (don't know what to read next and nothing is hitting), break glass (read this book)"
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THANK YOU FOR THE ARC RACHEL LYNN SOLOMON!!! YOU WILL ALWAYS BE FAMOUS!!!...more
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Review Copy in exchange for my honest review! This was a really wonderful YA read. Super hauntinThanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Review Copy in exchange for my honest review! This was a really wonderful YA read. Super haunting and emotional. ...more
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