ADORABLE. my first ever painter book. i will say that this definitely gives gilmore girl vibes which i LOVED. i have never had that feel in a book before. some of the plot points were a bit more cringe than i could handle but what the hell, it’s a cheesy romance book so how mad can you be about that. will definitely be checking out better than the movies

this book wins the award for the most precious protagonists in fantasy. for those looking for enemies to lovers bc of how it’s marketed, i hate to announce that they are barely rivals lol. regardless, a sweet love story that unfolds soooooo beautifully through those letters.

i do think the book could have done more to expand on the gods and the war. the writing felt like it simply relied on the setting being there rather than going into the guts of it all. the myth with dacre and enva was almost just glossing over it so the world-building could have been more solid. but again, maybe the next one focuses more on that? so we’ll see!

this book was not how i expected it to be at all. the writing is haunting in a way that fully contradicts the “simplicity” of how mellor words everything. it was messy, real, and just so so filled with intention.

but as much as i wish i could say that i LOVED this book - bc i truly tried to - the last third of the book just fell short for me. after spending so much time with each sister’s self destructive means for majority of the novel, i needed so much more than the rushed epilogue.

oh my god. i already loved the first book but this??????? knocked it out of the park. are you kidding me! the separate storylines and the reveal of how they connect was incredibly satisfying. i adored the characters even more. and ugh the betrayal, secrets, and twists? perfection

my very first backman novel but most certainly not the last. this book had slowly gouged a literal gaping hole in my heart and filled it with the most memorable characters in life. i loved the love portrayed here and am so grateful to have had the chance to read such a raw perspective. the writing is incredible, no bells and whistles needed, just pure human spirit.