missjenthelibrarian's Reviews (240)

Reread about a year later and I still feel the same way about it, including giving it the same exact rating 😅

It still takes a while to get into this story. Its slow-to-medium pace, plus gradual character development and world building make me wonder if this would’ve been better off as a 6th novella included in The Assassin’s Blade 🤔 

Still entertaining and a great setup for the rest of the series (even if you follow the publication order and read this book first!)

🎧 reading the audiobook helped me finish this reread in about 24 hours

4 stars — an emotional and realistic portrayal of navigating some of life’s hardest struggles.

This is not a light, fluffy romcom. It’s a deeply impactful story about love in all its forms. 

—— BRIEF SYNOPSIS
Samantha and Xavier have an incredible first date that they’ll never forget, but their individual issues make it nearly impossible to pursue a relationship after their instant connection. As they try to move on, they each deal with things that make them reflect on what’s ok to let go and what’s worth the struggle.

—— STORY ELEMENTS + BOOK STRUCTURE
This book includes several heavy topics, as well as compelling characters that drive the story forward. It shows how the characters strive to achieve their dreams and hold onto their self-worth amid family tensions and obligations. 

Each chapter alternates between Samantha’s and Xavier’s perspectives. Abby Jimenez does an excellent job of accurately illustrating the internal conflicts of people in their positions and getting the reader to deeply connect with them.

—— REASONS TO READ THIS
This realistic portrayal of how unbearably difficult life can sometimes get and the fight to overcome that feeling makes this a significant story that validates people’s experiences with all sorts of hardships. 

It’s heavy from the very beginning, so if you’re reading for an escape, I don’t recommend it. 

But if you’re in an emotional state where you can read about other people’s problems, then look into what this book is about because there are a lot of serious topics (I don’t feel like the TWs are major spoilers for this story). 

Basically, if you’re looking for a book that’ll make you cry the way The Notebook makes you cry, this is the one for you 😭

—— PERSONAL THOUGHTS
As heavy as the plot is, I wanted to see the story through to the light at the end of the tunnel, even though I had no idea how that light would look 😅 There are plenty of heartwarming and heartbreaking moments, plus a few shocking twists. Overall, it’s a gripping story, just not in a fun, romcom way 😂 

🎧 I loved this audiobook duet by Christine Lakin and Matt Lanter! I hope they duet more audiobooks together 🩵

4.5 stars — such a crazy, suspenseful thriller that kept me entertained from page 1!

You do not have to be into astrology to enjoy this story, but if you are, you’ll absolutely love it more. There are so many interesting dynamics and personalities among this group of main characters that even though I didn’t love them all, I was fully invested in their stories. 

📖 Thank you to Atria Books for providing an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

🗓️ Available now!

5 heartbreaking stars 😭❤️‍🩹

stay tuned for my full *spoiler-free* review — I just need the night to process 😣

🎧 perfect narration by Jefferson White

2.25 stars — if I held book olympics, this one wouldn’t have even medaled 👀

While I appreciate the documentary style of storytelling and the extensive research that Layne Fargo clearly conducted, this story is WAY too long. I had high hopes for this and originally thought it’d be an entertaining story, but it’s full of unnecessary details and annoying, repetitive drama that eventually had me feeling indifferent towards the characters. 

The dual timelines cover the present-day documentary about Kat and Heath’s relationship from childhood sweethearts to champion ice dancers and Kat’s perspective of it all. It feels weird to call this a sports “romance” because the “epic love story” the synopsis describes is more of a toxic relationship. 

I know that so far, a lot of people who’ve read this book absolutely love it. But this just wasn’t for me and I’m disappointed that it didn’t live up to its potential nor my expectations. I wouldn’t exactly tell people not to read this, but it’s not my first choice for a book recommendation. 

🎧 The only reasons I didn’t DNF this are because I was reading the audiobook while doing other things, the narrators did a phenomenal job, and I eventually bumped it up from 2x to 2.75x speed

4.25 stars — a quick, yet thought-provoking story about discovering your worth and learning to navigate all types of relationships: romantic, platonic, familial, and spiritual

This book’s many inspirational moments and lovable characters make it a heartwarming story that you won’t want to put down. It’s told from Sarah’s POV in dual-timelines, one of which shows her relationship with her high school sweetheart, Caleb, as well as the progression of her mom’s ALS. 

Despite the heavy topics that this story examines, it’s also filled with funny dialogue and relatable situations. The banter is sometimes cringy, but the entertaining dynamics between all of the characters make up for it. 

There’s a lot of excellent character development that shows the benefits of stepping outside of your comfort zone and being honest about what you want from life and others. I highly recommend this for anyone who feels stuck, stagnant, or at crossroads in any aspect of their life. 

📚This is an interconnected standalone, so it’s not necessary to read Out on a Limb beforehand, but I agree with Hannah Bonam-Young’s note that reading Out of the Woods second will make it more enjoyable.

⚠️ Check the TWs (contains only moderately triggering content)

🎧 I read the audiobook in less than 24 hours and absolutely loved Victoria Connolly’s narration of it!