I think…. Okay I’ll just say it. this is the best contemporary romance I’ve read so far.
Okay yeah, maybe I haven’t read alotof them, but enough to know most of them struggle to even brush my standards.
Wanna know my standards?
Both love interests arelikable.
The girl doesn’tconstantly whine.
The girl isn’t such a *tough girl* that she has no emotions or cares about no one whatsoever (or there isn’t a character arc for her becoming a caring, etc. person).Truly, this critique applies to every book out there, and I’m especially looking at YOU, YA.
If it’s supposed to be funny,it makes me actually laugh
A plot that doesn’t revolve around MISCOMMUNICATION
Their chemistry is somagnificent,the writer doesn’t need a kiss to show it (there can still be a kiss, obviously, but it should reflect their emotional/personality compatibility… not create it)
(And my personal standards are it’s not spicy and doesn’t have incessant and/or flippant language)
So guess what: this book met those standards and exceeded them.
Hannah isfreaking awesome.She’s a martial artsqueen,she reads people’s body language like a book, she’s so smart at her job of being a bodyguard. She struggles with workaholism (but honestly.. this was relatable to me so Igotit) and forgiving other people and herself, but her character arc in this was sweetly done. She does care, though— and that’s what I like about her. The book starts after she’s just lost her mom and she goes through a breakup— and I think that was a well done way to start the story, as it showed Hannah is a woman whodoescare a lot, about people and relationships, and she’s not this cold-hearted bodyguard figure. Also- her inner monologue is SUPERB. Her wit is delicious, I eat it for breakfast.
And Jack…. ahhh just discover him yourself. his character subtly unfolds into someone beautifullll. I loved how Katherine Center gave him the personal conflict and internal struggles that she did, I think they played out well in the story.
Their chemistry is. So. Good. The BANTER. The LOL moments. The cute fights over little things. Also, I’ll just say… PIGGYBACK RIDES. Adorableeeee Also Jack’s mom and dad were incredible people, simply put.
Only objections:The external conflict (not the inner, emotional or relational conflict, but the one involving Jack’s threatener) was a little ridiculous… and honestly I was here for that, until the ending, when it was… Idk, it wasn’t bad it was just kind of odd how it played out. Like, it supposed to be dramatic or inspiring maybe, but instead it was just kind of ridiculous, so I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to take it seriously.
But, it did not affect my opinion of the romance or dim the entire book. The resolution was sooo sweet, and the last words were yes, a little cheesy, but also so beautiful and I was here for it.
This is a little more than just a romance. Its themes weren’t anything profound… but they were there, as a simple and straightforward reminder. This is about losing love, finding love, defining love. Love is forgiving the people who ask for it, and forgiving yourself. Love is not about looks or fake or money. Love is in the little things, the smile lines, the worry creases, the stupid jokes, the peaceful walks. Even if Center didn’t attribute this kind of love to a reflection of God’s love, this book truly does grasp and reflect at beautiful love as much as it can.
In short:I devoured it. It warmed me from the inside out. It was freaking adorable without being cringey, and romantic without beingsteamy.I laughed more than I remember laughing at a book for a long time… and Imight’veshed a few tears too.
If this sounds like something YOU want to read, please pick this book up right now...more
PROS: entertaining, fast-paced, with a twisty plot that unravels from one thing to another. I loved how author3.5
good soup, but not anything impactful
PROS: entertaining, fast-paced, with a twisty plot that unravels from one thing to another. I loved how authoring was incorporated into the plot! And I enjoyed Cosimano’s writing style, it fit the book very well (and I’m definitely learning adult contemporary writing is far better than YA contemporary!). Language occasional, romance closed-door (though there is only a bit of romance really). Also, the Finlay-and-Vero dynamic was EVERYTHING.
CONS: Finlay makes some morally questionable and reckless decisions that the entire plot revolves around, and it doesn’t seem like she truly regrets them (you really have to view this book as a lot of entertainment, not with any profound or inspiring meaning). I also found the book to not deliver well on its promise to be “funny”. It could be calledhumorousbecause some of the dialogue between characters gave me a chuckle, but this read to me as a contemporary novel with suspense and mystery elements (not a comedy in any way)....more
update, reflecting back: not as memorable asthe Bodyguard,and one of my main memories is main character was tooupdate: why is Wes exactly my type:)
update, reflecting back: not as memorable asthe Bodyguard,and one of my main memories is main character was too whiney. 4 STARS. Still good though, I think.
_____ original review:
can we all agree:contemporary romance never fails to disappoint 89% of the time.
but this book.... IT ACTUALLY DID IT RIGHT. ______
4.7 STARS ••••••• -- JUST ADORABLE ✅.The cringey, the sweet, the heartwarming, the frustrating, and the beautiful. All of it was here and it stirred into a pot of cuteness and warmth i don't want to forget the feeling of...more
This book was unlike anything else I’ve ever read. It is a visual, moving, and personal dive into the4.5 STARS • IMPACTFUL, INTROSPECTIVE, MYSTERIOUS
This book was unlike anything else I’ve ever read. It is a visual, moving, and personal dive into the perspective of a person struggling with schizophrenia, without glorifying it or making it graphic. I loved reading in Caden’s perspective. The boy has someseriouslyprofound thoughts and imaginative tales that impacted me.
>>>>> Trigger warning: suicide.go to end of review for details. >>>>>
I knocked off half a star is because the book was hard to get into at first for me, and I didn’t understand the point of the second storyline (it flips between Caden in real life and Caden in his head, on a ship). But by the last 100 pages, Neal Shusterman truly linked the perspectives together in a subtle way that made the book much more suspenseful.
This book has something inside it for just about everyone.If you have struggled or are struggling with mental health, or you know someone personally who is, PLEASE pick up this book without hesitation (though read triggers below just in case please!!). If you are like me, and haven’t personally struggled with mental health, you will probably still like it! I related to some of what Caden went through — loneliness, losing friends, disassociating. I also loved how he observed people and would notice things before they said them, because I do that too!! Plus, Caden’s unexpectedly profound observations will make anyone stop and think about life.
Also — I think it’s important to say, just so you know you aren’t in for a heartbreaking book that will ruin your week —- this book has a good, positive ending:)
Next time you’re in the mood for something impactful, thoughtful about a topic that’s greatly relevant to today’s culture— Pick up Challenger Deep.
TW // suicide- one character describes trying to kill herself, another kills themself (see spoiler below if you need more detail about the severity), mental health, frequent mentions of medication, brief mention of abuse. CW// brief inappropriate mentions of assorted things. I forget exactly what they all are, but there is this time one kid says, “God would never give us more than we could handle” (which is already a misleading statement), and Caden basically replies, “he does to the people he really, really hates.” Caden “lies in bed” with a girl, but nothing happens, it’s purely just to comfort her. (view spoiler)[One girl in Caden’s therapy group repeatedly vents about killing herself after her uncle abused her, and describes pressing a knife to her throat. One of Caden’s friends kill himself; the method of how he did it are briefly described and Caden is more depressed for a few days and thinks about whether he would conclue he could kill himself. He concludes he never would.(hide spoiler)]...more
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