Barbara Samuel

Twenty Year Old Book Holds Up Well. First off, to be clear: This new (2024) edition is an updated and revised (with apparently *some* new content) version of a book originally released over 20 years ago. So some of you may have already own/ have read this, and I know there are at least some out there who "only read new releases". But for everyone *else*... this is still a damn good story, 20 years later.

In at least some ways, it is actually a callback to a different era, the era of RENT when friends dying of AIDS was still a major zeitgeist moment and a reality for many, particularly many in urban areas. (I say this because growing up in the exurbs of Atlanta in the era the book was originally published, this just wasn't a reality that was seen much in my area.) This plotline provides both some of the gravitas of the book - addiction being the primary other source - and the meetcute - the male lead is the brother of the friend dying of AIDS.

The romance side of the book is also well done, granted with a lot of lust and pent up sexual frustration as its start and with quite a bit of bedroom action (not always in the bedroom) throughout - once things get going there. Which, again, will be a turn off for some and a selling point for others.

Ultimately, this is a story of a lot of flawed individuals making their way through life as best they can in the situations they find themselves, and this is where the story particularly shines.

Very much recommended.… (more)

1.5 rounded up for that pretty cover.

I just do not understand the hype around this one. The plot felt silly - who fakes a death when they aren't on the run? I didn't reallh like Josie. I thought the sub plot about the murder and the house distracting. I didn't really care about Simon and his drama either.

I did like Kit. I liked how guarded she was and how she slowly let go of some of her worries and fears as the book progressed. She developed as a character and it made the story at least interesting. The rest, meh. Not my thing.… (more)

This cover is so interesting, I wanted to love this one. Story of sisters - as they struggle to find themselves in the world and what they want to do and how to grow up. Also we have the POV of the aunt that raised them. I wish I'd loved one of them - enough to feel drawn in to the story and really hooked. But I just couldn't find it. I found the story interesting but I didn't love it. I found some of the drama over the top and I was done with one of the sisters really early on, so it was a struggle to keep going. I wish I'd loved it more.

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.… (more)