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kourtneycrouch's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Child abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment
samdan07's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
Graphic: Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, and Toxic friendship
witcheep's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The MMC Rafael is a millionaire grumpy single dad who is afraid to let anyone close anymore. He has been hurt too many times in the past by those he considered dear to him. Now he struggles to have a realtionship even with his son, and keeps everyone else at arm's distance to hide his struggles. Letting new people is even harder because of all the stacked up trust issues he has gained through is trauma.
Loneliness might be temporary, but heartbreak?
That emotional damage can last a lifetime.
Ellie is the nanny to Rafael's child Nico. She is a hopeful romantic and a songwriter, but is afraid to go after her dreams in the music business, because she has past trauma of doing just that and getting exploited and disregarded. That trauma hinders her love life as well, because her trust is waning.
"We can want a lot of things, but it doesn't mean anything if we don't put in the effort to make any of it happen."
The romance between Rafael and Ellie is a delicious slow burn. Both of them struggle with admitting to even themselves how smitten they are with each other. They take steps forward, but also backtrack and make mistakes; e. q. they struggle with trust issues, mental health struggles, and the power imbalance in their work situation mixing with the relationship/situationship they begin to give in to.
"Things were never going to work out. You didn't value me or my time enough, while I valued your family way too much. It would only get worse with time, so you firing me just sped up the process."
The key is that they are willing to work on their own issues as wel as, eventually, they are open with communicating their feelings and needs with each other. That lets them find out how right they could be for each other.
"The one does exist, but not in the way you thought I meant, like some soulmate or something cosmic. To me, the one is someone willing to do everything in their power to be the person you deserve, not because they are fated to love you but because they choose to."
This constant working on themselves and helping each other with that process made me feel, at times and in the best way possible, like I was reading a sneaky self-help book that lets you see a process of therapeutic healing of someone you care about. Seeing how determined both Ellie and Rafael are to work through their past traumas affecting their current behavior and to become better versions of themsleves makes me feel very hopeful. The book is full of insightful quotes you could frame to get motivation to work on yourself as well, and I love how they are so ingrained in the character's personalities that it comes across truly compassionate.
Graphic: Mental illness, Self harm, and Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide, Violence, and Death of parent
hjb_128's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, and Abandonment
Moderate: Death, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
iida_a's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Self harm and Sexual content
Moderate: Body horror, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, and Alcohol
turtleswift01's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Mental illness and Self harm
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Child abuse and Infidelity
worldofv33's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Self harm, Sexual content, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Mental illness and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Toxic friendship
paperbacksandsnacks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
When I tell you I sobbed reading this, I’m literally not joking and I have photographic evidence. Both the mc’s have such sad pasts/childhoods. When they started opening up to each other and revealing what life used to be like for them my eyes were a waterfall 😭. Because of this, I would heed CW’s as I can see this book being incredibly triggering for some. The way they both lean on, and accept each other in spite of and because of their pasts is so beautiful I literally am emotional now even thinking about it.
The romance was a slow burn but it made sense for the characters and I didn’t find it too slow. There was a constant note of tension between them for the whole book which was delicious. When the spice comes it's 100% worth the wait. Communication was always great, and it was a very adult relationship. No third act breakup which for me is always a positive too.
Ellie and Nico are my fave duo. Can’t be convinced otherwise. The love between them was beautiful and I loved that element of the story so much.
It has jealousy, pining, childhood crush, found family (kind of), single dad, enemies to friends to lovers, cute kid, tonnes of animals, mh rep, nicknames, and slow burn deliciousness.
Overall this was a heartwarming romance about two people who defied odds. Survived and fought for what they want and found it in each other. This isn't really that lighthearted though as there are some serious themes. So please bear that in mind.
Graphic: Child abuse, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Abandonment
ga_bby4's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Mental illness, Self harm, and Grief
Moderate: Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Child abuse, Infidelity, and Death of parent
leonie555's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, and Toxic friendship