Really well written - it felt like Lara was telling you the story while you worked next to her waiting to hear what was next. While it was slow and methodical, it still had my attention and interest strongly.

I think some of it was more relatable to me too because I’m a mother of 3 teenage/preteen girls, so much of it felt like I could empathize or hear my girls respond in kind, or feel what Lara did towards them or about how they’d receive her story.

There were a number of times I thought I had figured some things out only to find I had it wrong, so pleasantly surprised by the unfolding of it and hidden nuggets in the story.

All in all some great life truths in it about choices and family, in addition to the story itself. And it was a nice look at a during-pandemic period in the present timeline. Most books it seems since 2020 have either ignored the pandemic entirely or just glossed over how it as - in the past, and now moving on... And I get it - it’s not the easiest period to write a story about or in, but I think this was done really well, making it a relatable backdrop after living thru that year, but not making it the focal point

Loved that alongside a good romance novel, Iris’s and Ekon’s stories had significant depth as they wrestled with questions of identity, worth, disappointment, and forgiveness as well. I think it’s something most people could relate to and held such great truths in response. It was well written and hard to put down as well.

Very Hallmark-Movie-ish. Some parts of Daffy being really poor with boundaries (Leslie Ann; Thomas and Blinky) were a little annoying, but it was cute story nonetheless. I will say… the names Gus and Daffy? Every time I read Daffy’s name I pictured Daffy Duck. And Gus felt like a dopey name. Just didn’t lend to a great mental picture for me of the characters but that’s just my weird opinion.

I realize I am SUPER late to the party on reading this for the first time. So many good nuggets in this - difficult ones, but thought provoking for sure. As much as so many things in the book with the horrendous accusation, mistreatment, injustice towards Tom Robinson, and prejudice towards black people in general, was common place in the Deep South (and elsewhere), the progression many of the characters made in realizing their immorality was hopeful and helped restore your faith in humanity a little. I know it’s a small point in the book but it’s shocking to me how so many people saw Hitler’s inhumanity and depravity but didn’t see their own at home. And the innocence, grace, and sense of justice and honesty that children like Jem and Scout have is telling. It’s amazing how much clearer kids can see people for who they are sometimes.

Excellent. From the get-go I was sucked in and couldn’t put it down without thinking about it all over again. Pretty sure I loved this one more than the first book.

The combination of suspense, action and romance was a fantastic one, and one that J’Nell did an amazing job of writing. I felt what the characters felt, was hoping for them, cheering for them (or railing against their enemies), and on the edge of my seat on how they were going to all pan out.

I thought the PTSD portions were really well done, and the fight of Ivy for Jack and not letting him go was incredible. I felt like it was realistic and both heartfelt and heart wrenching at the same time. Really loved this one a lot.

So fun following the thread of notes between the kids that put their families back together.

Really enjoyed this one. Hard to put down and not wholly predictable all the time. Loved both Cormac and Marion and some of the mystery in the story as well as the romance.

It took a ridiculous amount of time for me to figure out what in the world was going on and who was who. Then the entire book was about an enormous amount of self preservation and family dysfunction - and not funny or ironic or oh-that’s-so-exaggerated-but-looking-at-it-like-that-makes-it-hilarious dysfunction. Like mean and uncaring and really unfortunate dysfunction. The kind that makes you cringe and want to save the one getting picked on or put down from the rest of their family. Did not enjoy it at all.