Review #452
I gave this contemporary romance, by Abby Jimenez, a 4.5/5 stars. This is more of a “real” and deep feeling romance where it’s not all sugar coated and superficial. I appreciate the realistic mental health representation and advocating for therapy. Maddy deserves a huge applause for best friend in this universe.
Emma and Justin started chatting through Reddit because he made a post asking if he’s the asshole for naming his ugly rescue dog after his ex-best friend for revenge.
Apparently they’re connecting due to the same curse of being luck charms to those they date. When they break up, the next person the person finds ends up being their long term soul mate.
The pre date questionnaire is spectacular
“Try and find a way to reject him on this date… Tell him no. See how he reacts. Or beat him at a game… You can tell a lot about a guy by how they deal with getting their asses handed to them.”
At Chapter 10 I convinced my sister to buddy read it with me since she has her own copy. I’m confused how I got a paperback when it seems as if everyone has a hardcover.
The exit interview is spot on perfection.
Ugh I hate that the satisfaction of their job is dependent on how Emma’s mom behaves.
“I became an island-and the island is small. I don’t need anyone… It’s actually comforting to know that I have this ability to need no one. It feels like a super power. Like I’m untouchable.”
“Unhealed trauma is a crack [in the ice]. And all the little hard things that trickle into it …
settle. Then when life gets colder, that crack gets bigger, longer, deeper. It makes new breaks. You don’t know how broken someone was or what they were trying to do to fill those cracks.”
Benny and Brad are the best ❤️
Halfway, I’m enjoying reminiscing about the Mall of America in Minnesota that I’ve been to 3x in the past as a kid.
I like how Justin has hope but I also feel like he’s asking a bit too much of her.
The vomiting scene was quite stressful since I’ve been sent to the ER 4x for that same problem.
Chapter 32 was a big turning point but at this point she doesn’t ‘deserve’ him… but I need a more appropriate word there.
Justin doesn’t have any flaws… kind of a problem
“Sometimes I feel the seasons could come and go and come and go, a hundred years could pass, or a thousand, the ground could collapse under us, this house could crumble and go back to the earth, and we would still be standing here frozen in time, because every second I’m with you is eternal. I’ve never felt anything like it.”
There were a few moments that felt preachy and I wanted it to wreck me more than it did but maybe I’m heartless like Emma, lol. Also, I wanted more time to pass than 6 months. It felt a little quick to have such a drastic transformation.
These are all standalones within the ‘same’ friend group. So who gets the next story?