4.5 stars -- Another fabulous beta read!!
DAMN!! Like holy crap people. I was curious about this book from the first moment Ms. Higginson hinted at the blurb in her street team. I mean, seriously...how can you not be intrigued by that?? It was both everything I was expecting and totally took me by surprise all at the same time.
This may be a slightly different genre for Ms. Higginson, but she brings her epic voice with her to each of the characters. Honestly, for me it doesn't matter what genre she writes, I know I'm going to fall in love. Her characters have snark and sass and heart and depth. And the voice of the BOOK even screams Rachel Higginson. There's just something about the way she writes that gets to me every time, and she got me this time too. When you're having to talk yourself out of highlighting Caroline's conversation with a Cherry Coke bottle, you know you're in trouble.
I'm neither a lover nor hater of past/flashback chapters. But I can honestly say that they worked amazingly well in this story. They were scattered about in such a way that we learn just enough to tantalize and give us glimpses at both past events and the past incarnations of our characters. They melded with the storyline perfectly for me. And if I'm being honest, my favourite chapters were the past chapters. There's just something about young Caro and Sayer (and Frankie and Gus) that had me hooked. And I can't tell you how many times I was on the edge of my seat.
The present chapters actually provided a contrast in pacing. While the past chapters felt quick, the present chapters were a bit more introspective at times for Caroline. Occasionally that didn't work for me, but I felt like the pace picked up in the second half of the book, and it was a ride right to the end. And can I just remind everyone that this is a DUET. So, you know...try not to be too surprised with the ending. I wasn't.
The relationship between Caroline and Sayer was SUPER strange. And I knew it had to be. Honestly, I was wondering how Ms. Higginson was going to be able to pull it off. I mean, from the blurb we know that she was in love with him, and we also know she's now frightened of him...so I was curious how she was going to pull off convincing me of both of those emotions. And I was a bit concerned with how *I* would feel about Sayer as a result. But I honestly shouldn't have worried, Ms. Higginson makes it all work out in the end. I won't give anything away, but I both loved him and was occasionally disturbed by him. Which is a strange feeling to have for a hero.
Caroline was just everything I love in a Higginson heroine. Which is not to say she's a cookie cutter of any of her previous heroines, but she was flawed and frustrating and brave and sassy and all those things that I somehow end up loving.
Can I give props to secondary characters too? From past characters (Frankie and Gus) to present characters (Juliet, Francesca, Maggie, and Jesse) to evil characters, they all just added their own something to the story.
And now we wait. In agony. You have no idea how hard it is for me not to beg and plead for hints. But honestly? I prefer to wait and devour the whole thing instead of ruining it. I'll just keep chanting February, February, February....
OR
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Top reviews from other countries
Eileen R (Bangor Belles)
Exceeded ALL Expectations !!!!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 9, 2017
Sandra Loves Reading
Absolutely brilliant!!!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 16, 2017