“So long as I have the will to live…” I swallow hard, fingers digging into his skin, and I murmur against his lips. “There’ll always be a way.”
W
“So long as I have the will to live…” I swallow hard, fingers digging into his skin, and I murmur against his lips. “There’ll always be a way.”
Where There's a Will is trauma, heartbreak and devastation. If There's a Way is comfort, love and healing. That's not to say that this book is all rainbows and butterflies and there aren't moments of pure pain (there are), but where the first book resembles a dark abyss, this one is the light at the end of the tunnel.
Will, Waylon, Ivy, Mason, Shawn, Jeremy, Reggie. These characters have taken up residence in my heart and I've grown quite attached to them over the course of these two books. They're deeply flawed, but that's what makes me love them even more. I find it easier to empathise with flawed characters because even if I don't always agree with their actions, I can at least understand where they're coming from. And there were moments when I wished these characters had acted differently to spare me the heartache, but this is their story and I wouldn't have it any other way.
「Everything good that has happened, happened just ten miles up the road, in some small, middle-of-nowhere town. It’s where I met my best friends growing up. It’s where I found a family of my own—not one I was born into, but one I fell into. 」
Will and Way's healing journey was tough, the road to their HEA wasn't easy, and they're not quite there yet, and I love that. I know it sounds weird, but I love how realistically their healing journey is portrayed. It's not linear, their problems aren't magically solved, their traumas aren't erased and they're still going to have bad days. But they are actively trying to get to a better place and that's what matters. They're more solid than ever, stronger and ready to face anything as long as they have each other. I'm very, very proud of them.
「 “My burden is loving you, but not letting myself have you, because I’m fucking petrified nothing will ever be enough to keep you. And I can’t live with that. I literally cannot live with the idea of losing you, Waylon. So there you fucking have it. I’m not just scared, I’m petrified.” 」
This book had many painful moments, but it was also full of happy moments. I giggled. I swooned. I felt anger and despair. I cried and I laughed. I. FELT. IT. ALL! I wish I could erase my memory of these books, just to read them again for the first time.
ˏˋ꒰Will Foster, the sunshine boy ꒱ˎˊ
This time the roles were reversed and Will was the one pulling back while Waylon fought hard for them. Even though I was so angry at times because Will's actions hurt Way, I'm glad he didn't rush into a relationship with him without first making sure Waylon wanted it, was willing to fight for it. After having his heart crushed, Will needed reassurance. And I'm so proud that for once he put himself first and didn't allow Way to hurt him again, no matter how hard it was to stay away.
「 “Every day,” he whispers against my lips a second later. “I’ll prove to you every day I’m not going anywhere. Even… even if it gets to be too much sometimes, I’ll always, always find my way back to you.” 」
ˏˋ꒰Waylon McAllister, the grumpy bear. ꒱ˎˊ
Oh, how my heart aches for this boy! Way's character arc was beautifully done. I cannot tell you how many times my heart almost burst at how proud I was of this boy for not giving in to his demons, his self-loathing. Instead of running away from it all, instead of throwing his happiness away, he fought hard for it. He tried and tried and tried. Every single day. Even when he wanted to give up, he never stopped fighting. He did everything he could to be better, not just for Will, but for himself. And I love him for that.
「 Against my chest, the blunt edges of his nails dig into my skin, and I kind of want to tell him to just do it. Rip my heart out. It’s already his anyway. 」
Will and Waylon fought hard for their happy ending. They bared their souls to each other, showing every scar, every insecurity, every fear. They communicated their feelings so well, it was beautiful to see. They proved to each other that what they have is forever. Their love is messy and angsty and all-consuming, but it is strong. It is brighter than the sun. Will is the sunshine to Way's darkness and they complement each other beautifully. The urge to talk about every little thing that makes their relationship so dear to me is overwhelming, I love them very much.
「 “Christ, man. That’s gotta be what this is, right? This feeling… like I’m being ripped apart from the inside out. Like I’m dying. Like I… like I literally can’t breathe from it.” My voice catches, breaking off like glass. “All there’s left in me is… is you, and I don’t even know if that makes sense. But it’s you. It’s always been you.”」
The found family in this series is precious. Even though this duet focuses on Will and Way, we still get to see a lot of the other characters and I love how realistically the friendships are portrayed. Nothing is perfect. There were moments where they grew apart, too focused on their own pain to see how much a friend was hurting, but that's real life. It happens. But everyone is trying to get better and that's the most important thing. I just want the best for them.
「 Will, the person who my heart beats for. The guys I call brothers. My cousin who’s always been more like a sister—just like the one whose ghost walks these paths. The one we came here to celebrate, along with her twin brother…They’re my family. Blood might be thicker than water, but us? We’ve got thorns. 」
I'm so excited to read the next duet, but I'm a little nervous about it because of things I can't reveal so as not to spoil anything. I think it's going to be even messier and more angsty than this duet, but I trust that the author will treat the story with love and care.
I know I have a novella to read, and Will and Way will appear in the next books, so this isn't a farewell, but it still feels like I'm letting them go. I could read more books about them, I don't think I'd ever get tired of them. They’re my precious boys.
Definitely recommend this duet, especially if you like angsty, hopeful romances with found family, but be sure to check the trigger warnings as this is not an easy read....more
₊˚⊹ ᰔ "I don't deserve your forgiveness," he replied, voice thick and gruff. "But I will earn it. Because whatever comes our way, from here on out, I'l
₊˚⊹ ᰔ "I don't deserve your forgiveness," he replied, voice thick and gruff. "But I will earn it. Because whatever comes our way, from here on out, I'll be right beside you." He nuzzled my nose with his before pressing a kiss to my lips. "Because in this version of forever, we get the happy ending, Molloy."
When I finished this book, I spent some time staring blankly at a wall, tears running down my face, wondering how the hell I was going to move on. Dramatic, I know, but this book did something to me, it made me feel things I didn't know I could feel, it left an imprint on my soul in a way that very few books have. And now I feel like a part of me is missing, these characters gave me something precious, but they also took something away. A piece of my heart was left behind, hidden in the pages of their story.
Reading redeeming 6 felt like someone took my heart out of my chest, stomped on it, crushed it between their fingers, smashed it to pieces, and then tried to put the pieces back together so it would fit back into my chest. It was a painful, agonising experience. This book hurt so damn much, it's one of the most painful, soul-crushing, devastating books I've ever read in my life. Reading Joey and Aiofe's story, experiencing everything they went through, was pure torture. My heart broke for them and I sobbed so many times, it felt like someone was cutting me in half.
I can't even begin to explain how deeply connected I feel to Joey and Aiofe, to say that I love them is not enough. Their story changed something in me, they touched me in a way that very few characters have, and I'm forever ruined by them. Just as their lives are intertwined, I feel as though my life is intertwined with theirs, and there's a bond between us that will never break.
Redeeming 6 takes place in the same timeline as Binding & Keeping 13, so some of the events we see in those books, everything involving Joey, is covered in this book. If my heart ached for him in those books, it was completely shattered here. It explains everything that happened to Joey so well, all the times he went missing and all the breakdowns. The facade he put on to pretend that everything was fine is ripped away and we get to see how completely broken he really is.
╰┈➤ Joey Lynch
Joey, my Joey. Words are not enough to tell you how much I love him, how proud I am of him. Joey is too good for the world, he has a heart of gold, a heart filled with so much love. It physically hurt me to read his pov, because if he wasn't doing well in the previous book, he's crumbling in this one, barely holding himself together. If it wasn't for Aiofe, I know Joey wouldn't have survived. He'd be lying in a ditch somewhere, overdosed. She was the only one who saw the real him, who saw all his parts and accepted them and loved them.
₊˚⊹ ᰔ "I'm not another girl who needs something from you. I'm the girl who wholeheartedly wants you. I'm the girl who wholeheartedly loves you. The hurler. The mechanic. The boy. The protector. The asshole. The lover. The addict." Sniffling, I added, "All of your versions. All of your shapes and colors. I accept them all."
The portrayal of addiction was so realistic. Chloe wasn't afraid to show all the ugly, raw, disgusting parts. It was devastating, it hurt so much to see Joey fall deeper and deeper into his bad habits, to see how addiction slowly took over his life, consumed his soul, until he was nothing but a shell. And he kept justifying his vices, finding excuses, looking for ways to reassure himself that it was the only thing that could help keep his demons away. I hate his parents so much, I don't care that Marie was also a victim, she was the one who hurt him the most. I said this in my review for saving 6, but Marie was the one who broke Joey's soul. He loved her so much, he did everything for her, and she never loved him the way he deserved. She only called for him when she needed rescuing, she never treated him like a son. She didn't deserve him at all. I hate the way his parents got into his head, how they made him feel useless and undeserving of love. How they made him feel like he'd never break out of that cycle, that he'd be doomed to repeat their mistakes forever.
₊˚⊹ ᰔ "The worse shit gets in my life, the louder the voice gets, louder and louder and louder, until it's literally screaming in my head, and I can't focus on anything other than doing the one thing that I know that will quieten it down." "Self-medicating." She swallowed deeply. "Losing yourself"
Joey's journey in this book was so painful, but also so beautiful to follow. He almost gave up, he got to a point where he didn't see why he should keep trying when it felt like he was ruining everything and everyone around him. The fire scene and the bridge scene crushed me, I can't even describe how I felt when I read them. But that moment was necessary. And what happened after that slowly put my heart back together. It just saddens me how rushed everything was after that, I know this book is big, but I wish it was even bigger. I wanted more, to see Joey adjusting to his new life, to his new family, to get more light-hearted, sweet moments.
₊˚⊹ ᰔ "Nobody who knows the real you could ever hate you," I whispered, wiping a tear from his cheek. "If you could only understand how much you mean to those children, how much they adore you, appreciate you. If you could only see yourself through their eyes..." I exhaled shakily. "You are so important to so many people."
╰┈➤ Aiofe Molloy
What a queen! Aiofe is an icon and I'll always love her. I admire her so much, she's so strong and brave. What she went through, what she saw? Anyone else would have broken down, left and never come back. But she stayed, she never left Joey. And yes, there were times when their relationship was so unhealthy, when Aiofe's love for Joey clouded her judgement and she let him slip back into his bad habits because she thought that was the only way to keep him in her life. But it was that love that saved him, and I'm so glad she never gave up on him and never stopped loving him.
₊˚⊹ ᰔ "No. You don't get it. You are the love of my life," I bit out, catching his chin and forcing him to look at me. "What I feel for you? How deeply I love you? It's fucking insane, Joe. So, yeah, I'm going to do the right thing for you every time, whether that pisses you off or not, because I want you here with me. On planet earth. For a long time."
My only complaint about the book, apart from the rushed ending, is that Aiofe didn't shine as brightly as she should have. For the most part, she didn't feel like a main character. I love Joey so much, and focusing on his story was so important, but Aiofe is wonderful, she's one of the best female characters I've read about, and she deserved to stand on her own and not just be a side character in Joey's story, especially since she's the main character in his life. I feel like Aiofe has so much potential that hasn't been explored. She's an eighteen-year-old girl whose life has been turned upside down, and I think more time should have been spent exploring her feelings and her traumas. Yes, because she goes through something horribly disgusting in this book and it is barely touched on.
I feel so connected to her, like her mother said, she's so warm, she's got a beautiful light in her. She's so kind and loving and resilient and I wish she'd been given more focus.
₊˚⊹ ᰔ "You are warm, Aoife. That poor boy never stood a chance with you, did he? Not when everything he's never been given flows from you like a waterfall."
╰┈➤ Joey & Aiofe
₊˚⊹ ᰔ "Then let me be very clear about it," he replied, reaching up to cup the side of my face. "It's you, Molloy." He tipped my chin up, forcing me to look at him. "It's you." "Don't say it if you don't mean it." "It's you," he repeated gruffly, fingers tightening on my waist. "I pick you. Every single time."
My ride or die. Stud and queen. Nice legs and nice everything. I love them unconditionally. Their love is so strong and raw and real. I love finding couples that make me believe in soul mates, in the notion that if you're lucky, there's someone out there whose fate is intertwined with yours. Joey and Aiofe really are mirrors, what one feels, the other feels. Their connection is so strong and so deep that it can be felt in everything they do and say. Their love can conquer anything and that is exactly what happens in this book.
₊˚⊹ ᰔ "We're mirrors, Joe," I told him, taking his hand and placing it on my cheek. "Everything you feel for me is reciprocated. It's mirroring back at you."
I love that nothing in this book is romanticised and we see that love, no matter how powerful, is not enough to cure addiction or depression. Joey tried to get clean for Aiofe, but it didn't last long because these things don't work that way. He couldn't rely on Aiofe to help him get better, he needed professional help. She wasn't supposed to fix him. But she loved him through it all, and that was the greatest help she could give him. She was his guiding light through the dark path he had to walk before he could get better. Their love never changed, even with everything they went through - all the painful moments, all the times they were hurting - their love remained the same. It even got stronger. And that's why no one could ever make me doubt their love for each other.
₊˚⊹ ᰔ "You hurt yourself and that's the same thing," I choked out. "Because when you hurt, I hurt. When you burn, I go down in flames with you. We're entwined, Joe. We're mirrors. Don't you get that by now?"
I felt their connection from the first moment they met in saving 6, I could almost see the a thread tying their souls together. They have so much chemistry and the tension between them is so fiery. I love their banter and how they tease each other, there were scenes in this book that made my heart soar. Their love was so intense sometimes that it hurt me, but it also healed me.
₊˚⊹ ᰔ "All those years back when we were in first year." His lips brushed mine once, twice. "I've loved you since then." Another kiss. "From the first time I laid eyes on you, sitting on the wall with your blonde hair blowing around your face." His tongue snaked out, teasing mine. "I just didn't know it then."
I won't go into detail about these characters, but I must profess my undying love for Edel, John, Trish, Tony, Johnny, Shannon, Lizzie, Claire, Gibsie, Casey, Taghd, Ollie and Sean. I love them so much and they were amazing to Joey and Aiofe. A special shout out to Lizzie and Gibsie for what they did, I don't think they know how much they helped Joey.
I never know when to shut up when I'm writing reviews for books I love, so this is already so long, but I'll just say one more time that this book means the world to me. Joey and Aiofe have become one of my favourite couples of all time and I'll never forget their story. I look forward to catching any crumbs I can from them in the next book. Hopefully Claire and Gibsie's book will be set in the present timeline (I’m so excited to read their book!).
₊˚⊹ ᰔ It was her It always had been. It always would be. The girl from the wall.
"For keeps?" I breathed. He kissed my shoulder. "For keeps?”
[Fair warning, this review is long]
I know I've only read two books, but I can already say t"For keeps?" I breathed. He kissed my shoulder. "For keeps?”
[Fair warning, this review is long]
I know I've only read two books, but I can already say that this series is going to join my list of all time favourites. I am deeply in love with the characters in these books and their story, I feel so connected and attached to them and it's surreal to think that I have once again opened the doors of my heart and welcomed another found family. What can I say, I have a thing for broken souls and a lot of love to give them ...more
Sometimes a book can change your life. It's hard to explain that to someone who doesn't read, or who has never felt their heart bend so strongly to
Sometimes a book can change your life. It's hard to explain that to someone who doesn't read, or who has never felt their heart bend so strongly toward a story that it might just snap in two. Some books are a comfort, some a reprieve, others a vacation, a lesson, a heartbreak.
Maybe it's just like going back to visit a home that isn't yours anymore. Maybe you don't have the key, but someone lets you in anyway, and you sta
Maybe it's just like going back to visit a home that isn't yours anymore. Maybe you don't have the key, but someone lets you in anyway, and you stay awhile, and it feels so good just to be somewhere you once belonged.
1st reread [08/24]: I love this book so much! ...more
And though it had taken slow, painful time, I knew who I was without him. I was more than the girl, the King, and the monster of Blunder's dark, twistAnd though it had taken slow, painful time, I knew who I was without him. I was more than the girl, the King, and the monster of Blunder's dark, twisted tale. I was its author.
"How many loves do you get in a lifetime? That's a question I've wondered before ... If you ask The Sun, I've had far too many, and in some ways that'"How many loves do you get in a lifetime? That's a question I've wondered before ... If you ask The Sun, I've had far too many, and in some ways that's true, I have. But actually, I've only had two great ones."
♾️★
╰┈➤ this is a spoiler-free review, but I just want to say that I do touch on a topic that’s connected to something that happens at the end of The Long Way Home. Although I don’t say exactly what it is, please tread carefully if you haven't read the previous books
Into the dark. I think in many ways this series is a journey into the dark - the darkest parts of humanity. The ugly side, the things we keep buried because they frighten us or embarrass us. But this book, more than the others, ventures deep into the darkness of the mind. It's different, heavier, it's soul-shattering and heart-breaking in a way that the other books weren't. As much as there is love staining every page, there is grief, so much grief, and it lingers until the end. Sometimes it lurks in the shadows, easy to ignore, sometimes it grabs you by the throat and squeezes the air out of you, and you can't breathe. And it hurts, so much so that I lost count of how many times I cried so hard I could barely read.
Everyone moves around me these days like I'm made of glass. Like one wrong look and I'll shatter. Little do they know that it's too late... All of me already is all shattered. A mosaic of cracks and agony.
Grief is a funny thing, although there's nothing funny about it. It comes in waves and you may think you're fine, but then one day, out of nowhere, it comes back in full force and you realise it's never gone. It'll be with you forever, like a phantom pain, and it'll pop up when you least expect it. I guess what I'm trying to say is that grief is not something that just goes away, but once you accept it, you learn to live with it. And for me, this book takes us on this journey of acceptance.
So there is grief and heartache, but there is also love and friendship and beautiful reminders throughout this book of what it means to live. That at the end of all things, nothing else matters but love.
How many loves do you get in a lifetime? Fuck. It's undeniable now, isn't it—? I've had too many. None of them are the same, none have felt the same, and all of them I loved incredibly differently.
Jessa poured her heart and soul into this book and I'm forever grateful for the beautiful ending she gave Parks and Beej. Embarking on this adventure with them has been wild, they've made me angry like no other characters, made me want to rip out my hair and punch walls, but they've shown me that love really is the most powerful force. I've never felt more connected to them and I've never loved them more, which is bittersweet since this is the end of their story. It's going to be so beautiful to revisit their books one day, because now that I have a deep understanding of these characters, it's going to be like reading their story with new eyes.
"A love like ours—? Are you joking?" I give her the magic smile. "We're what the poems are about" —give her a little poke in the ribs— "they'll write TV shows about how much I love you."
Jessa has such a beautiful understanding of humanity. That's what makes this series so raw and real, because as wild and dramatic as it can be, if you look deep enough, it's a realistic portrayal of the messy and dysfunctional side of being human. The characters aren't perfect, and it's just as easy to love them as it is to hate them. But what Jessa does well is show you all sides of their story. You don't have to love them or agree with their actions, but if you finish the book thinking these characters are one-dimensional, horrible people, it means you've failed to understand them. The character development they go through isn't linear, but isn't that what happens in real life?
That's been this year for me. I've hated it, fiercely for the most part—but then, is this not just the human experience? Shoved into this impossibly deep lake of loss and losing, barely keeping your head above it, then drowning in it, choking on it, somehow surviving against all odds and then reemerging a little bit reborn.
I think this book is the one with the best character development in the series, and what I love most about it is that by the end you can clearly see that there's still a lot of room for these characters to grow, which is just a testament to how we're always changing and evolving throughout our lives.
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ Magnolia Parks
It’s where I live now. All alone in my mind, just wandering further and further into the dark that is the absence of her.
I connected so deeply with Magnolia in this book. I've always loved her, even though she drives me crazy and can be quite silly and naive, but I felt like there was a barrier preventing me from really getting to know her. Magnolia has always cultivated a perfect image, and it's funny that although we feel so close to the characters, because of the way the book is written, it's as if Magnolia has been hiding parts of herself in the previous books. And here we finally get to travel into the darkest depths of her mind and bear witness to her insecurities and fears. And she never felt more human to me, so vulnerable and fragile in a way that touched a deep part of my soul. It all makes sense now, and of course her actions can't all be attributed to trauma, but it's so much easier to understand everything she's done.
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ BJ Ballentine
What do I have to show for this life? Her. It's her. Loving her. That's all I've got.
His character development is amazing! He was his best self in this book, and yes, sometimes he made me angry because he kept some things from Magnolia, but I understand why, he just didn't want to burden her and make her feel worse. But I'm glad he wasn't afraid to talk about his traumas, he was very vulnerable. It broke my heart to see him feel so powerless to help Magnolia and make her feel better, but he did the best thing he could have done - he got her into therapy. I'm so proud of him, he's worked so hard and tried his best to become a better person. I'm also happy that Beej finally realised his worth and his outlook on life is so beautiful. I love him so much.
And we laughed, and charted each other's bodies down to our cores, maps of places that were familiar and yet new, and the night was good, and my heartAnd we laughed, and charted each other's bodies down to our cores, maps of places that were familiar and yet new, and the night was good, and my heart was full, and I was happy, so happy, to fall in love on a night like this, where I felt like I had finally caught the moon, and more.
rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
What an enchanting and heartfelt story. This book has such a unique premise and filled me with all the cosy feelings that only a story with magical elements can provide. Time is such a fascinating concept and I loved how the author played with it, it made for a very whimsical and lovely story.
Clementine has heard stories about her aunt's magical apartment, but it's not until she is transported seven years into the past that she believes them to be true. She meets Iwan, an aspiring chef with dreams in his eyes, and they're instantly attracted to each other. The timing isn't ideal, and her aunt has always told her not to fall in love in this apartment, but the heart is a very difficult thing to control.
I thought I was in for a cute love story, but this book was much more than that and spoke to me in many different ways. It's a story about timing, new beginnings, personal growth, change and grief. It's about family, friendship and love. And, as cliché as it sounds, it's mostly about life. The various ingredients that make up this story were whisked together to create a very realistic portrayal of life. It's bittersweet, like lemon pie.
Clementine is a very likeable character and I found myself relating to her a lot as she navigated through her feelings and past memories, trying to figure out what could bring meaning back to her life. The portrayal of grief was so beautifully done and so realistic that I could feel everything she was feeling and it broke my heart. I've found that I love books that deal with heavy subjects, but still offer the security of a warm hug. Life is hard and bad things happen, but through it all, love endures and the good memories remain, and that's comforting.
Iwan is so sweet and funny and, oh, he was so easy to love (and his nickname for Clementine is adorable). The romance that developed between him and Clementine was so endearing, it made me so emotional to see all the different ways they were connected, like there was an invisible string tying their lives together. I wanted a little more of the romance aspect of the story at the end, but it was still very well done and the author did a good job of balancing all the different elements of the story.
This story just felt so magical to me, the author's writing is beautiful and evoked such strong feelings. I feel a very deep connection to this story and it's another book that has taken root in my heart.
There was something just so reassuring about books. They had beginnings and middles and ends, and if you didn't like a part, you could skip to the next chapter. If someone died, you could stop on the last page before, and they'd live on forever. Happy endings were definite, evils defeated, and the good lasted forever....more
And then we end—we end where we started. Just us. All six of us.
♾️★
This series has changed my life in so many ways. It is a gift and one that I'll cherAnd then we end—we end where we started. Just us. All six of us.
♾️★
This series has changed my life in so many ways. It is a gift and one that I'll cherish forever. I've read and loved many books in my life, I've been reading since I was a little girl, but this series and the Core Six have impacted me in a way that very few books have. It has reached the top spot of books that make me who I am - it's the "forever ingrained in my heart and soul, cut me and I bleed this, bury me with these books" type of love. And I wouldn't have it any other way. The Addicted / Calloway Sisters series is home, comfort, family, love and friendship, it's every moment, good or bad, that makes life worth living. And I have had the time of my life sharing life with Lily, Lo, Rose, Connor, Daisy and Ryke ...more
Nothing can stop our souls from singing. Nothing can stop our spirits from shrieking. So whatever anyone says, whatever anyone thinks-I've lived so veNothing can stop our souls from singing. Nothing can stop our spirits from shrieking. So whatever anyone says, whatever anyone thinks-I've lived so very long. I've been in love. I've been free. I'd like to think, no matter where I go, I can still be found. Just look up. I'll be there. That’s where I'll be. Every time the sun shines down, maybe you'll think of me.
There are rare people who will fuel the fire inside of you, who will awaken a dormant passion, who will challenge you, who will push you and better yoThere are rare people who will fuel the fire inside of you, who will awaken a dormant passion, who will challenge you, who will push you and better you. She alone is my rarity.
I expected many things from this book, but I didn't expect it to take me on such an emotionally heavy journey. I feel like Kiss the Sky touched the surface of Rose and Connor's relationship, but Fuel the Fire dives deep into it. Their souls are laid bare for us to see, and as silly as that may sound to some, I feel lucky to have witnessed this side of them.
Rose and Connor have always been the pillars of this family, the ones everyone else turns to when they need help solving a problem. They're responsible, strong, reliable. Even in the midst of chaos and ruin, they remain stoic and ready to face anything. I always felt they were a bit like gods, so following their journey in this book was incredibly bittersweet. Seeing them so vulnerable, so incredibly human and fragile, broke my heart, but it also made me love them even more. I'm incredibly proud of my favourite geniuses. I continue to be in awe of the Ritchie sisters and their ability to write about such real characters. The world may not see them that way, but Rose and Connor are so selfless and the things they did to protect their family are more than enough to prove it. They would go to the ends of the earth for the people they love.
Rose and Connor are unlike any other couple I've read about, they're in a league of their own. I adore their mind games (and bedroom games), their witty banter, the way they keep stimulating each other's brains, the conversations in French (I'm going to miss them terribly), all the snarky comments. Their love is beautiful and strong and real.
Rose is a force of nature, a volcano ready to erupt, a lioness ready to kill anyone who dares hurt her family. She always presents a cold and fierce exterior, but she has the kindest heart. It's easy to assume she's always fine because she's so strong, but she has insecurities and fears like everyone else. She cares so deeply and there were many moments when I wanted to hug her and let her cry on my shoulder ...more
Lily and I—we may have started our relationship as pretend. But for as long as I can remember, our love has always been real.
rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
[This iLily and I—we may have started our relationship as pretend. But for as long as I can remember, our love has always been real.
rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
[This is such a long review, but I feel like I could talk about these characters for the rest of my life and never run out of things to say]
This series is a gift and the way my heart has clung so desperately to these characters never ceases to amaze me. I started reading these books in July and never imagined they would become like a home to me. I wish I had started this series earlier, but I truly believe it found me at the right time. I will treasure Lily and Lo in my heart forever and will never be able to explain how much they've helped me. Every day when I think I'm not strong enough to face whatever comes my way, I'll think of them and I know in my heart that it will make me stronger.
"I knew from the beginning that we'd be addicted after all." His amber eyes bore straight through me. "I just didn't know whether we'd be at a better place than we were before.”
Lily and Lo may not be perfect characters, but they are perfect to me. They have always been the beating heart of the series. I know they are deeply flawed, but that is what makes them human and so real to me. Nobody can convince me that they're not real people. Their growth has been wonderful to witness throughout the series, and it's even more evident in this book. To say I'm proud of them is not enough. I'll always be rooting for them! I feel like a weight has been lifted off my chest because I believe now more than ever that they can face anything. They're stronger than ever and the best thing is that they finally believe in themselves.
Before I go into more detail about Lily and Lo, I have to say that this is more than just a story about romance and addiction, it has always been about family and friendship and this book is proof of that. The bond between the core six is so beautiful and I loved seeing the growth in each character's relationship, we got so many amazing moments between everyone and it was so wholesome and tender but also hilarious at times, the banter these characters have is unmatched. I love this found family so much! ...more
It's odd, how quickly life can change, isn't it? How one little thing like typing a letter can open a door you never saw. A transcendent connection. It's odd, how quickly life can change, isn't it? How one little thing like typing a letter can open a door you never saw. A transcendent connection. A divine threshold. But if there's anything I should say in this moment -when my heart is beating wildly in my chest and I would beg you to come and tame it is this: your letters have been a light for me to follow. Your words? A sublime feast that fed me on days when I was starving.
reread (December 2023): this book deserves a million stars ...more
It's the great undoing of my heart as I know it. She's made herself at home, kicked off those fucking cerulean heels, put her feet up on my left rib. It's the great undoing of my heart as I know it. She's made herself at home, kicked off those fucking cerulean heels, put her feet up on my left rib. Over the mantelpiece she hung her own portrait up herself, that little minx. Best painting Ive ever seen, too. Better than any woman anyone has ever painted in the history of time, a face I'd win battles for. A face I'd lose anything for. Even her.
rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
This book was, in fact, the great undoing of my heart. I'm still processing everything that happened and I don’t think I’ll ever recover ❤️...more
I'll wear it like a badge of honour forever that he loved me first, that he loved me at all. Have you ever had a love like that
reread (January 2024): I'll wear it like a badge of honour forever that he loved me first, that he loved me at all. Have you ever had a love like that
reread (January 2024): I’ll never forgive Jessa for what she did. The ending of this book is brutal, it hurts so much and of course I sobbed again ...more
⋆⁺₊❅. When terrible things happen, most people become waves, but some people become rocks. Waves are tossed back and forth when the wind comes, but th
⋆⁺₊❅. When terrible things happen, most people become waves, but some people become rocks. Waves are tossed back and forth when the wind comes, but the rocks just take a beating, immovable, waiting for the storm to blow over.
If someone were ever to write my life story, I would want it to be Fredrik Backman. He makes the most mundane, boring moments in life seem like something worth telling. This is the fourth book of his I've read and I don't think I'll ever stop being in awe of how beautifully he understands humans, how they behave, think and feel. His writing exudes sensitivity and empathy, it's raw and vulnerable and I really think that's the main reason why I find it so easy to relate to the characters he writes. Every time I finish one of Backman's books, I feel like something inside me is changed and the story is sure to leave a mark on my soul.
⋆⁺₊❅. It's so easy to get people to hate one another. That's what makes love so impossible to understand. Hate is so simple that it always ought to win. It's an uneven fight.
The Beartown series is an amazing testament to the power of community. How easily people can come together to fight for what they believe in and defend their town and their people, but also how easily a community can rise up against something that threatens it. Love and hate go hand in hand, but as Backman says in this book, hate is so much easier to feel, and it often ends up winning. It's an unfair battle.
Us Against You takes us through the aftermath of the events of the first book. We see not only how the community deals with what has happened, but also what each character goes through and how much it has affected their lives. But we also get to see how they move forward. Since I strongly believe that this is one of those series that it's best to know little to nothing about before reading it, I won't go into detail about the plot and each character.
⋆⁺₊❅. It’s hard to care about people. Exhausting, in fact, because empathy is a complicated thing. It requires us to accept that everyone else’s lives are also going on the whole time. We have no pause button for when everything gets too much for us to deal with, but then neither does anyone else.
I love the way Backman writes the books in this series. He's constantly switching points of view and you'd think that would be confusing, but it's not. It makes so much sense and we get to see how certain events affect each character. I also think it's brilliant how he keeps giving us little hints of what's going to happen in the future, because it keeps you glued to the pages, wanting to get to the moment he's talking about. It's cruel, because so many times I felt so anxious, but it's definitely a great way to keep the reader hooked. No matter how emotional this book was, and there were many times when I was sobbing like a baby, it was so hard to put it down.
The characters in this series are probably the most human characters I've ever met. You could tell me they were real people and I'd believe you. They're so complex and raw and relatable. Just like in real life, there are no villains or heroes. They're just people, sometimes they're good, sometimes they're bad, sometimes they're both at the same time. The way they're written makes it so easy to understand their actions, even if I don't always agree with them. That's just proof of how talented Backman is. Although I won’t talk about each character individually, I must profess my undying love for Benji. He's the best!
⋆⁺₊❅. Perhaps one day he’ll find words for that feeling of being different. How physical it is. Exclusion is a form of exhaustion that eats its way into your skeleton. People who are like everyone else, who belong to the norm, the majority, can’t possibly understand it.
I think everyone should read Backman's books, especially this series. There's always something to learn and it's a great way to practice empathy. To put yourself in someone else's shoes and see that most things aren't black and white. We mostly live in the grey area and being a good person doesn't guarantee that you'll always do the right thing.
⋆⁺₊❅. The complicated thing about good and bad people alike is that most of us can be both at the same time.
I do recommend checking trigger warnings as this series deals with some very heavy, sensitive issues and it's incredibly emotionally draining.
જ⁀➴ more quotes:
Culture isn't just what we encourage but what we allow to happen.
They run only where there are lights. They don’t say anything but are both thinking the same thing: guys never think about light, it just isn’t a problem in their lives. When guys are scared of the dark, they’re scared of ghosts and monsters, but when girls are scared of the dark, they’re scared of guys.
The best friends of our childhoods are the loves of our lives, and they break our hearts in worse ways.
Death does that to us, it’s like a phone call, you always remember exactly what you should have said the moment you hang up. Now there’s just an answering machine full of memories at the other end, fragments of a voice that are getting weaker and weaker.
Anxiety. It’s such a peculiar thing. Almost everyone knows what it feels like, yet none of us can describe it. Maya looks at herself in the mirror, wonders why it can’t be seen on the outside. Not even on x-rays— how does that work? How can something that bangs away at us so horribly hard on the inside not show up on the pictures as black scars, scorched into our skeletons? How can the pain she feels not be visible in the mirror?
It's so easy to think that what we post online is like raising your voice in a living room when it's actually more like shouting from the rooftops. Our fantasy worlds always have consequences for other people's realities.
when politics work in our favor we call it “cooperation,” and when it favors others we call it “corruption”
That's the problem with dreams: you can get to the top of the mountain and discover that you're scared of heights.
The worst thing we know about other people is that we're dependent on them. That their actions affect our lives. Not just the people we choose, the people we like, but all the rest of them: the idiots....more
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