Swearing, Sex

Lesbian Rep, Black Rep, Gay Rep

Hello, hello everyone! It’s been a minute since I actually read this novel, but I wanted to try my hand at reviewing again. Let’s see how I do! I am also trying my hand at the CAWPILE review method that I found on Instagram but was created by Book Roast! Here is the link to her video about CAWPILE here:

I don’t think there was a character in this book that I really didn’t care about, maybe except for Cherisse’s ex, which I honestly don’t remember his name right now. Mostly because he was a total jerk and I really didn’t feel like giving any more of my time or attention to his life. But every other character that we get to encounter that are a part of Cherisse’s and Keiran’s life, I would love to read more about them in their own novels. To me, this is what made them memorable for me and made the book worthwhile for me.

It’s been a while since I have read this book so I’m trying to go based off of my flawed memory, but I really loved everyone.

I may not be familiar with how life is on Trinidad, but it really gave me island vibes. Honestly, it reminded me of being back home on Hawaii or Guam. Yes, I know that all islands have different vibes and personalities, but the way that Peltier wrote this story, it felt like anyone who has ever grown up on an island or ever experienced island culture would feel this. It was such a nice taste of home that it actually made me miss home! I won’t cry about it anymore, but I definitely can’t wait to see the rest of the stories that Peltier will create in this series. Hopefully her other books as well will take place in the same universe.

If I didn’t like Peltier’s writing, I don’t think I would have enjoyed it as much as I did. I did listen to this book, and I have to say that the narrator was absolutely amazing and made the story so much more enjoyable for me. I still would have loved it regardless, but she really brought it to life in the best way. I didn’t find any fault in the writing.

Miscommunication – or lack of communication – seems to be a regular trope all around the place so I can’t really fault it. But sometimes it really does irk me that the only reason why someone would either not want to be with another person or breaks up with them is due to miscommunication. I also don’t mean the whole animosity and whatnot between Cherisse and Keiran that their relationship started off with, but the whole reason why Cherisse wouldn’t mess with Keiran in the first place. I definitely don’t want to say anything about it because that would be a spoiler.

I’m pretty sure I was listening to this book whenever I could! Even when I was supposed to be reading another book for work. That’s how much I loved it, and honestly I wished that I could create a romance book club with my library so that this could be the first pick! Then I would get to read it again for “research” when I need to come up with discussion questions! See, it’s perfect I tell you! I was so into this book that I didn’t want to put it down at all, and even though I got through this so quickly, I wish that it didn’t end.

I felt like all of the characters acted the way they should have, if they were logical people. Because not only were they logical people, but they were humans with emotions that don’t always react with clear and concise logic. So basically, they acted the way that I would have reacted to certain situations if I was the one in them. Maybe there were some things that were over the top for me, but that’s because my personality isn’t that big, which sucks because I would love it to be bigger.

I adored this book. I enjoyed the crap out of it. Really, that’s all I have to say about it. It was amazing. I plan on reading and listening to it again next year or something. Maybe I can make it a yearly thing or something. That’s how much I enjoyed it.

• WOC Reader
• Andy
• Myo
• CW
• Hal