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geminimarsss's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Rafael and Ellie were cool too, I guess 😏🌺
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Death of parent, and Abandonment
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
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
kendra_taylors_version'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
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Alcoholism and Drug use
liabl_28'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
4.0
i think out of all the Lauren Asher couples, they're the healthiest one, but the most fucked up and
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Alcoholism, Infidelity, and Panic attacks/disorders
hapalyn'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
3.75
Graphic: Self harm
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Alcoholism and Drug abuse