Emotional and raw.

Emotional. All consuming. Unputdownable

“You should’ve gone after your heart, not your fears.”

5 FOR EVER STARS ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This story was emotional, raw and messy.
It’s a hurt so bad kind of story, but still had a balance of humour- sometimes surly, sometimes dark and sometimes corny.

Everlynne’s journey gripped me for the start until the very end. A traumatic loss can change so much and this story captured the full devastating on not just one individual- but families, friendships, relationships…

Admittedly, I did get frustrated with Ever’s choices at times- her actions, her self imposed guilt, and fear to live was a theme for most story but IMO it wasn’t overdone so as to put a downer on the story.

I mean there was Loki and Pippa and Renn!

I’ll be real here: I struggled with some of LJ’s more recent releases being too hallmark-y but this book took me back to the time when I first discovered her writing.

I enjoyed the audiobook narration, and it was good to have the read and listen option which I used for the latter half.

Side note: This book might not be for everyone but it was everything and more for me.

I don’t think these TW are spoilers (as I still haven’t read the blurb- I just knew I wanted to read this book)

TW: loss, grief, love triangle (? Cheating)

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Beautifully woven story

gorgeous book about love, loss, beginnings, endings, and fresh starts with lots of angst and heart.

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Really enjoyed it

I rally like today book. Unlike the hot holes series the male characters did not come across as sex pests. Like the main character and her meant to be.
Was drawn out a bit to long for me though.

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Wonderful book

This is an amazingly angsty book with the most beautiful love story. I suggest you go in blind for the best effect. I loved it! 😍

The narration was perfect!

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the story

loved it so much, it is one of my favorite romances, along with Ugly Love

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Spook depressing

This was way too painful to get through. I utterly detested Everly, and wanted to b!tch slap her hard. The pace was so slow and the book so long and sad, depressing I almost dnf it. Be prepared suffer here, as the fmc deals with grief, guilt and depression, making one bad decision after another. There is a lot of drama, trauma, sadness and a lot of spice too.
I thought the name had to do with technical being a bit gothic, but is actually just the mmc surname. Not worth it unless you want to feel like cutting your wrists.
The narration was good and Cassandra ' s voice was perfect for the depressing time of the book.

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Like running on a treadmill in front of a white wall

Avoidance. It ruins potential. It is a painful curse.

It is the theme throughout this book. It is also present in the writing.

Everlyn avoided everything and everyone in her life. Stubborn cowardice, perhaps? Convenient excuses or mythological beliefs? Whatever the reason, her story was sad even at the end. Why? It should’ve been a happy ending… Because reading a book that is 99.9% about a deeply flawed life and the hurt it causes along the way, doesn’t allow the grand gesture in the end to heal the scars that I am sure are left behind on Joe’s heart. It doesn’t absolve Ever. That said, I don’t think Ever or the author wants her to be absolved. Yes, there is the Ever after, but I almost don’t believe she deserved it. So, I am left conflicted.

The author also avoided new ideas, imaginative evolution and her characters’ growth. Instead opting to write in a safe way. The soap opera way. Where the two loves never really get to be together, so that the reader continues to long for that happily ever after. Attempted teasing. This would’ve been a much more interesting story if the author didn’t use avoidance to manufacture emotion. Unfortunately, the story was very long and filled to the brim with delays and circular circumstances. It dulled my love and emotion for the characters and their story. It was like running on a treadmill, wishing it would end. Rather than running in the hills and enjoying the glorious surroundings. The author avoided Ever’s ability (and she had it in her) to make assertive steps and stop her self pity. This avoidance lead to a book that is far from imaginative and inspiring. Instead it was predictable cover to cover.

The white wall in front of the treadmill stayed constant throughout.

Stereotypical. Predictable end-to-end. Frustrating. Manufactured tension.

As such, neither Ever nor LJ Shen really evolved.

That said, the characters are vivid and the descriptions good. But it is the Grave of enjoyment.

The mantra of this book:

“I am in love with you but we cannot be together.”

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