docrobreads's Reviews (2.62k)

hopeful mysterious reflective tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated
emotional funny hopeful reflective tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This surprised me in the best way. I knew going in that it was book 2 in a quartet, so I felt like I was bracing for a mid-story effort. However, even though there are still so many questions that need to be answered, I was enthralled by the pacing and info drops. Max is my favorite damaged baby, but Landon and Kingston are their own brand of yum. I hope Quinn knows how lucky she is. 😏
emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated
dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I joke with my friends that if a book makes me cry, it automatically gets 5 stars. If crying is the litmus test, then this book would get 100 stars. 😍 I basically spent the last 40% with tears quietly streaming down my face. This was beautiful. Hard, but beautiful. Take the content warning at the beginning very seriously, because Sara is pulling ZERO punches. This entire quartet has been fantastic, and the way she brought it full circle was astounding. If you've thought about adding these books to your TBR, stop thinking, and just do it. It'  worth every minute you spend in this world and with these characters. 💖 Also, it's hot af. 😏😝
emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

There is something special about the stories that Holly June Smith writes. She has a knack for dialing in on the right emotional beats at the exact right time, to give the reader the ability to stay in the moment with the characters. I adored Megan and Ollie. 🥹 Their banter, their drive, their emotional intelligence - everything was there, along with a very real ticking clock and the ensuing chaos that comes from a romance with a time limit. And look: the face mask. 🤣🤣 That's all I'm gonna say about that. And I also love an MMC who has a legit - ahem - appendage, and takes care of their partner in a believable way. I have loved the entire Sunshine Book Club trilogy, but this one might be my favorite. 😍