Take a photo of a barcode or cover
635 reviews by:
ourxstorybegins
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was cute! I think we had some missing development in this that made it hard to ever feel fully in. There were a few times where our FMC ran into an abusive ex and while I don’t want DETAILS about that, something just felt off about it? I don’t know.
On the flip side, every time we got to a spicier scene I ended up skimming cuz it felt like there was too much flowery language. Aside from those issues, the story itself and the characters were cute and it was overall a fun little read! I could’ve just used more in some areas and less in others (I love a Star Wars reference I really do but by the time we got to her dressing up as Leia I was TIRED).
I had fun, but I also probably won't read another book by Meadows unless I'm super intrigued by the storyline or something.
On the flip side, every time we got to a spicier scene I ended up skimming cuz it felt like there was too much flowery language. Aside from those issues, the story itself and the characters were cute and it was overall a fun little read! I could’ve just used more in some areas and less in others (I love a Star Wars reference I really do but by the time we got to her dressing up as Leia I was TIRED).
I had fun, but I also probably won't read another book by Meadows unless I'm super intrigued by the storyline or something.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death
Minor: Emotional abuse, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship
RE: Toxic Relationship/Emotional Abuse: Millie has an (emotionally? It's never completely clear but that's the vibe) abusive ex-boyfriend who makes multiple appearances in this book in an effort to force himself back into her life. Details of the relationship are hinted at, but not explicit. Being around Finn's parents in one scene trigger the panic that came with being with that boyfriend.
emotional
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
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
Yo why did I not know this book was going to be sad??? I cried a non-zero number of times while listening to this audiobook and I was not prepared for that. The love story between Neevah and Canon is just...beautiful? It was such a good balance of serious and lighthearted scenes. We had a solid romantic storyline, but the plot regarding filming the movie as well as Neevah’s relationship with her mom and sister were also so stinkin good? This was longer than what I’m used to in a romance novel, but there also wasn’t a moment in the book where I felt like something should’ve been cut out. The hype makes SO much sense for this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Racism, Sexual content
Moderate: Infidelity, Death of parent
emotional
funny
medium-paced
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
OH MY GOSH I spent so much of this book freaking out because it is just SO messy?! We’ve got a married but separated couple who discover each other at the same singles retreat. Oh, and the husband’s ex-girlfriend who’s still pining for him is ALSO at this retreat. The wife ends up connecting with the retreat’s bartender but also the owner of the hotel?! And both of their best friends are there and are having their own will-they-won’t-they moment. And the married couple is still so obviously in love with each other that every time they try to make a different connection it is all for nothing lol. OH AND! The retreat is over around halfway through the book and since they STARTED broken up we don’t have to worry about a third act breakup!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Pregnancy
Moderate: Miscarriage, Violence
Minor: Sexual assault, Vomit
Re Sexual Assault: There's a scene where the FMC is groped and threatened by a stranger at a party. Another character comes in and stops things before it goes too far.
Miscarriage occurred twice in the past with FMC/MMC; when FMC becomes pregnant in the book, there is fear of a repeat.
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
fast-paced
Long story short: this wasn't for me.
I really enjoyed the romance and was rooting for them the whole time, but there was a lot of misogyny and homophobia (with a sprinkle of transphobia???) that just made this ultimately not worth the read. More details on that in the CWs
I really enjoyed the romance and was rooting for them the whole time, but there was a lot of misogyny and homophobia (with a sprinkle of transphobia???) that just made this ultimately not worth the read. More details on that in the CWs
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Homophobia, Infertility, Lesbophobia
Minor: Rape, Self harm, Transphobia, Suicide attempt
Re self-harm/suicide attempt: one of the brothers is in a relationship with a woman where it's mentioned that she's attempted suicide and there are a couple times where jokes are made that involve suggesting someone will "slit their wrists"
Re Homophobia/Lesbophobia/Transphobia:
How in the hell did there manage to be transphobia in this book without any trans people existing?! So, Jessika is a lesbian and her entire character is just the predatory lesbian trope. Do people like that exist? Sure. But considering she's the only queer character in the whole book, it's not exactly the best look. Major spoilers follow: She's "in love" (???) with this woman who's had her sights set on Lequay for years, but this woman is straight. Jessika spends this WHOLE BOOK trying to convince this girl that she doesn't need a man, to the point that she ends up being the person who set up Lequay and is the reason he ended up in jail for a while. And when he finds out, we get this absolute gem:
"I didn't like to kill females, but Jessika had that shit coming. Shit, was she a fucking female anyway? I wasn't about to consider her ass one. She ate the same shit I did in the bedroom."
Like...what was even the point? To question whether or not someone is a woman simply because they...are attracted to other women? Lequay's whole thing is that he "doesn't have beef" or "doesn't kill" etc etc women, but he could've simply said that hey, she was trying to ruin his life so he was going to kill her. Instead, he went this route and it was really gross.
Misogyny: Majorly from the actual bad characters (like Art) but also! before they meet each other in person, I'm not sure how many times exactly we get Lequay talking about how much he hopes Scotland's not ugly, but that number is definitely in the double digits. Literally this dude is talking about her voice getting him turned on and then he's like "HOPE SHE'S NOT AN UGGO". Like looks are important I get it but damn, chill out. Good news, she's hot, so everything is fine there lmao. It was just very much giving "all of these feelings will be null & void if she's not hot" which gets into weirdness about women and worthiness etc etc.
emotional
funny
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
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
THISSSSSS is what I’m talking about! This is a second chance romance between two people who met when they were 12 and became middle/high school sweethearts and only broke things off thanks to one of the worst fathers on the planet???? It was so fun seeing Kai come out of his shell after the first two books, and one thing Natasha does so well is incorporating the friends and family of the main characters and this was no exception. Also definitely the spiciest of the three books so far.
I simply do not vibe with Kim Staunton and I KNEW THAT going in but tried to listen to it anyway. Will do the ebook at some point but I cannot do this as an audio
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
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
Okay okay okay okay okay so here’s the thing. I’m giving this 3 stars because Natasha’s writing is still so good and it’s not her fault she managed to figure out every. single. one. of my romance pet peeves. In case you also have these pet peeves: Nina is giving “omg I’m so quirky cuz I love movies and graphic tees” vibes. There are MULTIPLE Harry Potter References (like chill). And there is a “you’re not complete until you’ve found the person who completes you” conversation. NOW ALLLLL THAT SAID, Nina and Isaiah are lovely and Jada and Logan (Nina’s siblings that she takes care of) are some of my favorite fictional children HANDS DOWN.