This is going to be a tough review to write.

I had high expectations and I love Carian Cole's writing. I am a huge age gap fan and I thought I was going to love this. The idea behind this was great, the problem was the execution.

Before I come off as unsensitive and unfair, this book did deal with several disorders that are serious and I believe Carian approached them in a very delicate matter, and as much as I appreciate that, I believe there is such a thing as too many traumas in a single book.

Let's start with the fact that we are not presented with any trigger warnings, which I believe to be a mistake, this book should have some clear labels so people know it deals with: ptsd, depression, drug abuse, an eating disorder (AFRID - avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder), anxiety, compulsive hoarding and addiction.

All In a single book. I am all for books dealing with real issues, and adding clear warnings these issues are going to be dealt with and well represented, which they were, but she added SO MANY of them that I felt like I was reading a hypochondriacs' diary.

We had over 37 chapters of our main character developing and dealing with every medical issue out there, she even got her wisdom teeth removed (random) and I feel like Carian relied so heavily on the "he takes care of me when I am sick" narrative that it not longer sounded reasonable, it just sounded forced.

With all due respect to every person who has ever dealt with any of these issues, and I know they are all corelated and can bring everything else to the mix. I myself have someone in my family who was a hoarder and have recovered from a eating disorder as a teen, but this didn't bring me any comfort.

It was the most exaggerated trauma dump I have ever experienced in my life since I've picked up a Colleen Hoover book.

All of these items, as sensitive as Carian was with them, just made so their entire relationship was built on a pity foundation. They did not have any chemistry, no intimate development and zero tension.

The idea was so great: he helps a young girl in need, offers to marry her so she can use his insurance and get treated, and they fall for each other in the process, but holy sh!t how many times can you make a character go to the hospital for 300000 different reasons in a single book?

It was long, repetitive and so heavily manipulated that their entire relationship felt like it was built on a lie, on another toxic-needy-dependent level.

I understand where she wanted to go with it but I just don't see it... I don't feel it. Their connection just wasn't there. Honestly, she wasn't just delicate with these issues, she was too delicate.

I understand facing these issues in a dark romance story where you can actually show how heavy these disorders actually are, but mixing this with a contemporary teenage like romance made everything feel heavily unbalanced; their relationship, the disorders, everything was either downplayed or overplayed.

It just wasn't for me, sorry.

Don't Kiss the Bride - Likewise Book Reviews

13 Reviews