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God, I don't even know what to say about this book. These beautiful, lovely characters in this heartbreaking world recovering from colonization and war just took me by complete surprise. While it took me while to really make time for this book (though not to get into it, it had me hooked from the first chapter), I'm so glad I finally pushed my other books aside to just read and enjoy this.
This book was so wonderfully crafted in so many ways, I could spend paragraphs commending each aspect of it. The characters were so well fleshed out, from their motivations and personalities to how that impacted all of their decisions. There was growth that actually fit the characters as well, with the characters becoming stronger and kinder as the novel went on but never straying from who they are at the their core. Their backgrounds were also just all heartbreaking in their own ways, and seeing these characters work through that and find each other was just, amazing.
I also just couldn't get over the world this was set in. There was so much going on, with the magic and the current political atmosphere, but it blended together so well. I want a book set in each of these countries, delving into their traditions and their magic. There was just so much here without there being too much. The politics also just made for a really fantastic world, and I loved the dynamic of the character's together as they navigated those politics together.
The writing here was also lovely. Great descriptions yet not too long, too dragging. Witty dialogue, but not in a way that tries too hard. It all came together to make something good great, and the words used to tie everything together made me cry sometimes. I'm seriously just in awe sometimes.
I can't wait to see what this author does next (and check out his other work). I really hope he writes more in this world, though I also greatly appreciate that this story wrapped up here, as it did.
This book was so wonderfully crafted in so many ways, I could spend paragraphs commending each aspect of it. The characters were so well fleshed out, from their motivations and personalities to how that impacted all of their decisions. There was growth that actually fit the characters as well, with the characters becoming stronger and kinder as the novel went on but never straying from who they are at the their core. Their backgrounds were also just all heartbreaking in their own ways, and seeing these characters work through that and find each other was just, amazing.
I also just couldn't get over the world this was set in. There was so much going on, with the magic and the current political atmosphere, but it blended together so well. I want a book set in each of these countries, delving into their traditions and their magic. There was just so much here without there being too much. The politics also just made for a really fantastic world, and I loved the dynamic of the character's together as they navigated those politics together.
The writing here was also lovely. Great descriptions yet not too long, too dragging. Witty dialogue, but not in a way that tries too hard. It all came together to make something good great, and the words used to tie everything together made me cry sometimes. I'm seriously just in awe sometimes.
I can't wait to see what this author does next (and check out his other work). I really hope he writes more in this world, though I also greatly appreciate that this story wrapped up here, as it did.
“That's why people shouldn't get too hung up on labels. Sometimes I think that's part of what we do wrong. We try to make things make sense, even when they're never going to.”
Beneath the Sugar Sky advances on the story of McGuire’s other two short novels in the Wayward Children series. This one brings a combination of old and new characters on a quest through many of their own worlds, giving readers a glance into the myriad of magics and societies that these children have visited.
It’s been a while since I’ve read this short novel now, but the lyrical worlds and vibrant characters are still ones I remember vividly in my mind. While the other novels in this series have so far stayed fairly “stationary” considering the adventure aspect of them, Beneath the Sugar Sky takes readers on tour of the variety of worlds available in the Wayward Children series, many worlds we’ve seen described by children/teens who have visited them.
The plot of this book is fairly interesting, like all the rest, but once again didn’t feel like that was the true focus. It was still fantastic and fun to follow but was overshadowed by the luscious writing, intriguing characters, and endless worlds once again.
The writing was flawless and lyrical, as I’ve come to expect from this series. It manages to truly speak on life while hiding it under the guise of silliness and wonder, weaving an intricate sort of tale. It ends up making this book extremely ‘quotable’, in a sense, while also making it enchanting to read. Beneath the Sugar Sky is all you’re thinking about while you’re reading it, and a lot of that is thanks to the immersive world Mcguire is able to create through her writing.
In terms of learning more about the setting/worlds that exist, this book seemed to push the bounds of the other two. The bouncing from world to world lets readers truly see the strong and strange differences between all these lands and our own. Additionally, it also works to add on to the basis of the other two by revealing more of how these worlds work, the spaces between these worlds, and how to jump between them.
The main character was one new to us, Rini. She’s from a world of water and mermaids and feels like an outcast in a world where she can no longer move so gracefully and is once again judged for her weight. While I liked her, I didn’t seem to like her quite as much as our other narrators so far, who I felt more mature and less whiny in similar situations. However, this didn’t impact my reading too much, as Rini wasn’t the only focus of the novel. We see a lot of old favorites, most from Every Heart A Doorway, and the story itself links closely to the plot of the first novel.
Overall, I quite loved this next installment in the Wayward Children series and the journey it took me on this time around. I’ll definitely be reading the next one soon!
Reread review: I think I liked this one even more on the reread too. Surprisingly I had actually forgotten a lot of the details of this one, so it made the reread even more worthwhile! Overall I like the switch back to a larger cast, and I loved seeing all the different worlds we jumped through. Confection was especially cool to see, especially alongside the discovery of reason existing alongside nonsense. It made the story both interesting on a singular level as well as intriguing for the series world as a whole! I can't wait to read book 4 and get some new content again though, there's just something extra special when the story is brand new.
Beneath the Sugar Sky advances on the story of McGuire’s other two short novels in the Wayward Children series. This one brings a combination of old and new characters on a quest through many of their own worlds, giving readers a glance into the myriad of magics and societies that these children have visited.
It’s been a while since I’ve read this short novel now, but the lyrical worlds and vibrant characters are still ones I remember vividly in my mind. While the other novels in this series have so far stayed fairly “stationary” considering the adventure aspect of them, Beneath the Sugar Sky takes readers on tour of the variety of worlds available in the Wayward Children series, many worlds we’ve seen described by children/teens who have visited them.
The plot of this book is fairly interesting, like all the rest, but once again didn’t feel like that was the true focus. It was still fantastic and fun to follow but was overshadowed by the luscious writing, intriguing characters, and endless worlds once again.
The writing was flawless and lyrical, as I’ve come to expect from this series. It manages to truly speak on life while hiding it under the guise of silliness and wonder, weaving an intricate sort of tale. It ends up making this book extremely ‘quotable’, in a sense, while also making it enchanting to read. Beneath the Sugar Sky is all you’re thinking about while you’re reading it, and a lot of that is thanks to the immersive world Mcguire is able to create through her writing.
In terms of learning more about the setting/worlds that exist, this book seemed to push the bounds of the other two. The bouncing from world to world lets readers truly see the strong and strange differences between all these lands and our own. Additionally, it also works to add on to the basis of the other two by revealing more of how these worlds work, the spaces between these worlds, and how to jump between them.
The main character was one new to us, Rini. She’s from a world of water and mermaids and feels like an outcast in a world where she can no longer move so gracefully and is once again judged for her weight. While I liked her, I didn’t seem to like her quite as much as our other narrators so far, who I felt more mature and less whiny in similar situations. However, this didn’t impact my reading too much, as Rini wasn’t the only focus of the novel. We see a lot of old favorites, most from Every Heart A Doorway, and the story itself links closely to the plot of the first novel.
Overall, I quite loved this next installment in the Wayward Children series and the journey it took me on this time around. I’ll definitely be reading the next one soon!
Reread review: I think I liked this one even more on the reread too. Surprisingly I had actually forgotten a lot of the details of this one, so it made the reread even more worthwhile! Overall I like the switch back to a larger cast, and I loved seeing all the different worlds we jumped through. Confection was especially cool to see, especially alongside the discovery of reason existing alongside nonsense. It made the story both interesting on a singular level as well as intriguing for the series world as a whole! I can't wait to read book 4 and get some new content again though, there's just something extra special when the story is brand new.
I was expecting a lot from this book (definitely one of my more hyped debuts of 2020), and it honestly met all those expectations.
The writing, while not quite up there with my favorites, was just lyrical enough to carry the fairytale/myth style of this story well. It was also still practical and simple enough to generally understand what was going on, even in fight/action scenes. It definitely, when combined with the story itself, made some scenes hit quite hard, and I loved the style it gave to the book as a whole.
The setting/island is also wonderful, and there's so much left still in this world to discover. The dynamic of witches and normal residents of the island was interesting, as both seemed to need the other while not actually liking the other all that much. The way the mainland existed in the story as well left a lot to be explained while still providing a strong reason for all these people staying on an island intent to drown them, meaning there weren't that many holes for the world building. Additionally, the magic system was also fascinating while also just making sense. There wasn't just one way of using magic, and instead the methods were a mix of all the cultures that had fled to the island (almost like a shared language can come out of many groups being forced together, there were still distinct traits from each original magic tradition but it all started to blend together well).
I also just loved the characters/romance/relationships in this novel. All felt full and intriguing, whether it be familial or romantic. The main focus was on Eva and Lina, of course, and while I loved where their paths led them and how they dealt with each other, the dynamic between Eva and Marcin or Natalia as well as between Lina and Finley were deep too. It wasn't just a flat sibling or friend relationship, all of them had variation. Lina didn't purely love Finley, her brother, or hate him, but almost both at the same time, and it felt authentic and reminiscent of real life frustrations and emotions with siblings. The same can be said of Eva and her relationship to her (now dead) sister Eva, and her long time friend Marcin. All of this just strengthened the overall story, as it is these relationships that motivate the characters.
All in all, definitely put this book on your tbr and preorder it! It hits all the boxes: witches, f/f romance, strong sibling relationships, etc.!
The writing, while not quite up there with my favorites, was just lyrical enough to carry the fairytale/myth style of this story well. It was also still practical and simple enough to generally understand what was going on, even in fight/action scenes. It definitely, when combined with the story itself, made some scenes hit quite hard, and I loved the style it gave to the book as a whole.
The setting/island is also wonderful, and there's so much left still in this world to discover. The dynamic of witches and normal residents of the island was interesting, as both seemed to need the other while not actually liking the other all that much. The way the mainland existed in the story as well left a lot to be explained while still providing a strong reason for all these people staying on an island intent to drown them, meaning there weren't that many holes for the world building. Additionally, the magic system was also fascinating while also just making sense. There wasn't just one way of using magic, and instead the methods were a mix of all the cultures that had fled to the island (almost like a shared language can come out of many groups being forced together, there were still distinct traits from each original magic tradition but it all started to blend together well).
I also just loved the characters/romance/relationships in this novel. All felt full and intriguing, whether it be familial or romantic. The main focus was on Eva and Lina, of course, and while I loved where their paths led them and how they dealt with each other, the dynamic between Eva and Marcin or Natalia as well as between Lina and Finley were deep too. It wasn't just a flat sibling or friend relationship, all of them had variation. Lina didn't purely love Finley, her brother, or hate him, but almost both at the same time, and it felt authentic and reminiscent of real life frustrations and emotions with siblings. The same can be said of Eva and her relationship to her (now dead) sister Eva, and her long time friend Marcin. All of this just strengthened the overall story, as it is these relationships that motivate the characters.
All in all, definitely put this book on your tbr and preorder it! It hits all the boxes: witches, f/f romance, strong sibling relationships, etc.!
This was definitely the most heartbreaking so far :( I wasn't the biggest fan of Lundy from the first book, I felt she was almost a bit too? harsh to the students about getting to go back through their doors, but after reading this I totally get why. She was selfish in trying to have both worlds but at the same time, I can't fault her for it.
I also just loved the world here, and how it clashed with the dynamics of our own world. It was fascinating to see Lundy's mindset and view of life change as she kept going back and forth, and also seeing her loyalty to Moon was great too. This honestly completely changed my view of Lundy, and I can only feel sympathy for her now. I wish I could say we see more of her later, but we unfortunately already know the ending to this story :(
Spoiler
Her family actually missed her and wanted her back after her disappearances, and tried to change to be better, to allow her to fit more fully. At the same time, the Goblin Market is where she grew into herself and made lasting relationships. Having to choose between that, especially when thinking you were so sure before, would be impossible.I also just loved the world here, and how it clashed with the dynamics of our own world. It was fascinating to see Lundy's mindset and view of life change as she kept going back and forth, and also seeing her loyalty to Moon was great too. This honestly completely changed my view of Lundy, and I can only feel sympathy for her now. I wish I could say we see more of her later, but we unfortunately already know the ending to this story :(
This book was 1000% a cover buy and I'm not ashamed to admit it. Then, when I actually read the synopsis, I was hooked in by the idea of a fashion competition combined with hints of Mulan! Most of the time the books don't really fit those comparisons, but I have to admit Spin the Dawn hit close to both.
There's a lot I loved about this book, even if it didn't necessarily grip me as much as some recent reads. Admittedly, this may have been my growing boredom with first person POV, as I've been liking the distance between narrator and characters + the writing style that often accompanies that. But honestly, this book had a LOT going for it in terms of characters, world, magic, etc.
This book was actually quite a refreshing read, especially the more that I read it. While it takes a lot of its beginning from the story of Mulan (a daughter pretending to be a son to protect the father from a forced job that would probably kill him), the story quickly develops into its own. There weren't a lot of cliche tropes, and it definitely didn't feel like anything else I had read before! The magic system was fascinating in its uniqueness (almost similar to genies in some sense but then also not fully!). Additionally, the politics were far from clear cut, unlike a lot of recent fantasy novels where it's clear which side should prevail by the end of the series. Like, I honestly have no idea where this series is building to overall because there's no clear idea of who so far is "right."
The main character was also so far from the normal YA fantasy MC's lately. She wasn't some super badass, somewhat cold/sarcastic, and a diamond in the rough. She was a lot softer and less cunning than most, but it fit the story well, and she wasn't a weak character by any means either. She had her strengths, and she knew how to play them well, and picked up quickly on what she should share and what she should hide. This ability to learn is showcased really well throughout the story too, sometimes in a heartbreaking way. You really see the change that the story forces on Maia, and the character she grows into because of it. I'm honestly really excited to see what happens to her in book 2!
There were a few things that made my enjoyment 4 stars rather than 5, but the more I think on the book now, the more minor they feel. The first I already mentioned, the first person POV. I also wished the competition itself lasted a lot longer, as it seemed to be over so quickly, and with it, we lost a lot of the fashion design for a while too. The magic and beauty of what Maia could create was always wonderful to read, so the middle portion of the book lost a bit of its luster because of the lack of it. There were also moments where I wasn't as into the romance, though for the most part I did really like the pairing, and I always liked the characters individually!
Overall, I think a lot of people will enjoy this read, and I cannot wait to see what happens next!
There's a lot I loved about this book, even if it didn't necessarily grip me as much as some recent reads. Admittedly, this may have been my growing boredom with first person POV, as I've been liking the distance between narrator and characters + the writing style that often accompanies that. But honestly, this book had a LOT going for it in terms of characters, world, magic, etc.
This book was actually quite a refreshing read, especially the more that I read it. While it takes a lot of its beginning from the story of Mulan (a daughter pretending to be a son to protect the father from a forced job that would probably kill him), the story quickly develops into its own. There weren't a lot of cliche tropes, and it definitely didn't feel like anything else I had read before! The magic system was fascinating in its uniqueness (almost similar to genies in some sense but then also not fully!). Additionally, the politics were far from clear cut, unlike a lot of recent fantasy novels where it's clear which side should prevail by the end of the series. Like, I honestly have no idea where this series is building to overall because there's no clear idea of who so far is "right."
The main character was also so far from the normal YA fantasy MC's lately. She wasn't some super badass, somewhat cold/sarcastic, and a diamond in the rough. She was a lot softer and less cunning than most, but it fit the story well, and she wasn't a weak character by any means either. She had her strengths, and she knew how to play them well, and picked up quickly on what she should share and what she should hide. This ability to learn is showcased really well throughout the story too, sometimes in a heartbreaking way. You really see the change that the story forces on Maia, and the character she grows into because of it. I'm honestly really excited to see what happens to her in book 2!
There were a few things that made my enjoyment 4 stars rather than 5, but the more I think on the book now, the more minor they feel. The first I already mentioned, the first person POV. I also wished the competition itself lasted a lot longer, as it seemed to be over so quickly, and with it, we lost a lot of the fashion design for a while too. The magic and beauty of what Maia could create was always wonderful to read, so the middle portion of the book lost a bit of its luster because of the lack of it. There were also moments where I wasn't as into the romance, though for the most part I did really like the pairing, and I always liked the characters individually!
Overall, I think a lot of people will enjoy this read, and I cannot wait to see what happens next!
I once again find myself loving literally the entire book but hating the way Clare chooses to end it/what she ends it on. (Especially considering it'll be at least a year until this situation RESOLVES ITSELF). It's really hard not to dwell on how it ended right now, and it's kinda tarnishing how I'm currently thinking about the book overall unfortunately. However, I'm going to try to explain my feelings for the book as a whole without letting that ending ruin it all!
This cast is absolutely wonderful, like I'm pleasantly surprised Clare has once again managed to make a group of Shadowhunters as unique and interesting again. I loved them almost from page one, they're just so dramatic yet fleshed out at the same time, and I'm here for it. I honestly have reasons to love every single character, though I definitely have some favorites right now. Clare is also leaving a lot open right now in terms of relationships, but I have theories!!
I also really like the focus of this series, so far at least, as well. We're really getting back into demons again (which is nice considering TDA was mainly internal politics + fairies, and TWP will probably follow a similar path), and it just feels like we're going back to basics again. We're hearing more about the Princes of Hell, Lilith, and all the demons we started to really know in TID and TMI. I honestly can't wait to learn more about all the realms too, since that'll shine more of a light on some of the plots of the other series as well. It's also interesting to see how James and Lucie, and their demon blood, plays more and more of a role in the story and lore of the world, and I'm curious where that all is going to lead to!
I'm just... really frustrated by that ending though. Like honestly, Clare always leaves the characters in increasingly worse spots at the ends of her book, but this was more frustrating than annoying. Almost all of the sudden drama was actually nice and kept me hooked for the next book, except for
Overall, I'm dying for the sequel already and only slightly angry at Clare right now :))
This cast is absolutely wonderful, like I'm pleasantly surprised Clare has once again managed to make a group of Shadowhunters as unique and interesting again. I loved them almost from page one, they're just so dramatic yet fleshed out at the same time, and I'm here for it. I honestly have reasons to love every single character, though I definitely have some favorites right now. Clare is also leaving a lot open right now in terms of relationships, but I have theories!!
I also really like the focus of this series, so far at least, as well. We're really getting back into demons again (which is nice considering TDA was mainly internal politics + fairies, and TWP will probably follow a similar path), and it just feels like we're going back to basics again. We're hearing more about the Princes of Hell, Lilith, and all the demons we started to really know in TID and TMI. I honestly can't wait to learn more about all the realms too, since that'll shine more of a light on some of the plots of the other series as well. It's also interesting to see how James and Lucie, and their demon blood, plays more and more of a role in the story and lore of the world, and I'm curious where that all is going to lead to!
I'm just... really frustrated by that ending though. Like honestly, Clare always leaves the characters in increasingly worse spots at the ends of her book, but this was more frustrating than annoying. Almost all of the sudden drama was actually nice and kept me hooked for the next book, except for
Spoiler
James having the bracelet on again. It's just honestly really frustrating, from a reader's point of view, because it's insanely obvious that the bracelet is the one doing the mind control stuff/creating loyalty and love to Grace. However, at the same time, it's also obvious that literally no one else is going to guess it for a long time, and that combined with the sometimes heavy handed "hints" from Clare to the reader is just getting annoying. It also just sucks because the bracelet obviously flattens James as a character, not only do his friends see his "Mask", but the readers do as well...Overall, I'm dying for the sequel already and only slightly angry at Clare right now :))
If I had to give a rating for the first 30-40% of this book, I probably would've rated it 4 or 5 stars. Overall, it's still an extremely enjoyable book, there were just too many things bugging me as the book dragged on, and they became more and more present. Obviously, I'm alone in a lot of these, but I still felt them all the same.
First, I felt like the plot itself didn't match up to the setting/characters of the novel, or the expectation I had going in. It felt almost borderline fantasy at moments as it went deeper and deeper into the alchemical side of things, and it just seemed to click with the setting oddly to me. It honestly also wasn't even a problem until it was revealed that I love my fantasy, but it just didn't seem to fit here, and there really was only the smallest of bits of it.
I also didn't find the romance was balanced well in the book. We have a lot of it in the beginning: lots of tension, pining, 'almosts', but then suddenly the book cuts back a LOT for the sake of plot. Logically, when one is fighting for their life, romance sometimes falls to the wayside, but honestly the romance was the main reason I was enjoying the book from the beginning anyways, so it just lessened my enjoyment a lot. I also just thought the overall end of the romance, was tied up rather quickly at the end, and I was just a bit dissatisfied with that.
The book also started just generally dragging for me at points. This was probably due to the length and the focus on the plot in the later parts of the book (as I wasn't a fan of it), but I still found myself just listening along, hoping we could get to the point of some things a little bit faster.
Honestly though, I did really like these characters, and the audiobook definitely heightened the experience. Monty and Percy were generally super cute as a couple and I love how the two seemed to grow off each other. I also really liked Felicity, and might be tempted to read her novel next, but we'll see. Characters can't be the only good thing in a book though, so for that reason, I can really only give this a 3.
First, I felt like the plot itself didn't match up to the setting/characters of the novel, or the expectation I had going in. It felt almost borderline fantasy at moments as it went deeper and deeper into the alchemical side of things, and it just seemed to click with the setting oddly to me. It honestly also wasn't even a problem until it was revealed that
Spoiler
there was an actual magic cure all to all ailments created, and then it just went too far into fantasy for me.I also didn't find the romance was balanced well in the book. We have a lot of it in the beginning: lots of tension, pining, 'almosts', but then suddenly the book cuts back a LOT for the sake of plot. Logically, when one is fighting for their life, romance sometimes falls to the wayside, but honestly the romance was the main reason I was enjoying the book from the beginning anyways, so it just lessened my enjoyment a lot.
Spoiler
Plus, I kept thinking of, weeks passed and Percy and Monty, after somewhat getting on the same page, haven't kissed or done anything in those weeks? No moment to slip away? It just... felt odd.The book also started just generally dragging for me at points. This was probably due to the length and the focus on the plot in the later parts of the book (as I wasn't a fan of it), but I still found myself just listening along, hoping we could get to the point of some things a little bit faster.
Honestly though, I did really like these characters, and the audiobook definitely heightened the experience. Monty and Percy were generally super cute as a couple and I love how the two seemed to grow off each other. I also really liked Felicity, and might be tempted to read her novel next, but we'll see. Characters can't be the only good thing in a book though, so for that reason, I can really only give this a 3.
Definitely not my favorite of the series so far, but I did still enjoy it somewhat! I always loved the dynamic of Jack and Jill a lot, and loved The Moors, but this story just seemed to be missing the magic of [b:Down Among the Sticks and Bones|31450908|Down Among the Sticks and Bones (Wayward Children, #2)|Seanan McGuire|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1473685781l/31450908._SX50_.jpg|47411892]. More attention was paid, however, to Jack's OCD and Kade's gender identity, which I found a nice change, as while it was always something discussed, it never went this in depth. I didn't like how all the characters appeared in this novella, however, as while I really liked Sumi in this one, Cora felt a lot more negative and judgmental in this book, and was overall painted in a more negative light. It was odd because she was really growing on me from [b:Beneath the Sugar Sky|27366528|Beneath the Sugar Sky (Wayward Children, #3)|Seanan McGuire|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1494436031l/27366528._SY75_.jpg|47413798], and this felt like a sudden shift, especially when she kept I think I'm also just starting to realize that the books that focus on one world and a traveler or two going to said world are more my style, though I love the ensemble novellas still too.
I also felt like the story was lacking a little in comparison to others. There was a lot of build-up but things seemed to resolve fairly quickly and as expected, like with. I'm also just sad at how Eleanor is progressing too, I understand she's getting old but she seemed a lot less accepting and understanding in this book?
All in all, this installment doesn't make me love the series any less, but it was a bit of a letdown.
Spoiler
picking holes at Jack's world, OCD, etc. which felt odd because she was picked at a lot in her childhood + she was in a world just as weird as well?I also felt like the story was lacking a little in comparison to others. There was a lot of build-up but things seemed to resolve fairly quickly and as expected, like with
Spoiler
Jill just dying and Jack bringing back her mentor, etc. I was also surprised that no one knew found their door home yet.All in all, this installment doesn't make me love the series any less, but it was a bit of a letdown.
Just gonna start this by saying that I recommend reading/listening to this in one day if possible, because this probably would've been a 5 star read had I done that! I instead broke it up over a night and the following afternoon and the book just lost some of its magic because of that (it's happened with other romances in the same way for me). It's probably due to the fact that my first session of reading involved most of the build up plus the tension finally breaking, so there was less of the 'good stuff' waiting for me in the final sitting.
Overall though this book was so cute!!! I was seriously just, full on smiling through most of it. I honestly loved both POVs equally, since both Max and Lina had such an interesting cast of characters surrounding them, and so much going for them beyond just the romance. But of course, the romance itself was adorable too, from the early on pranks to the later on deep conversations. There was honestly no flaw in their relationship that made it feel false or problematic to me, and I loved seeing the pair grow throughout the story through knowing each other.
Can I also just commend the other relationships in this story? I was blown away by the positive male friendship Max had with Dean, and loved how he could actually rely on his friend to be there for him in even an emotional capacity. (Also, just the male POV having a strong friendship out of the relationship was great, as often the male love interest seems to only really have the woman to rely on for emotional support). Lina's family, the interweaving of Brazilian culture throughout the story, was also really well done, and Sosa perfectly balanced worrying about letting your family down while also entirely loving them. It was all just so positive and wholesome!
Honestly, just read this book guys. It's cute, wholesome, while also having some deep conversations about women feeling forced to hide their emotions and sibling rivalries (and their lingering consequences).
Overall though this book was so cute!!! I was seriously just, full on smiling through most of it. I honestly loved both POVs equally, since both Max and Lina had such an interesting cast of characters surrounding them, and so much going for them beyond just the romance. But of course, the romance itself was adorable too, from the early on pranks to the later on deep conversations. There was honestly no flaw in their relationship that made it feel false or problematic to me, and I loved seeing the pair grow throughout the story through knowing each other.
Can I also just commend the other relationships in this story? I was blown away by the positive male friendship Max had with Dean, and loved how he could actually rely on his friend to be there for him in even an emotional capacity. (Also, just the male POV having a strong friendship out of the relationship was great, as often the male love interest seems to only really have the woman to rely on for emotional support). Lina's family, the interweaving of Brazilian culture throughout the story, was also really well done, and Sosa perfectly balanced worrying about letting your family down while also entirely loving them. It was all just so positive and wholesome!
Honestly, just read this book guys. It's cute, wholesome, while also having some deep conversations about women feeling forced to hide their emotions and sibling rivalries (and their lingering consequences).