Couldn't connect with the characters
924863
~I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Inked Rainbow Reads Review Team~
3 stars for this M/M
I didn't read the first book, so I might have been missing some back story but I could understand what was going on without feeling lost. However, I couldn't connect with these characters. There was a lot of jumps in time. They would be going thru something and then it would say "several weeks later", just made me disconnect with the story and characters even more. With these two being into BDSM and having been in it for a long time I just couldn't understand the lack of communication on both Jesse and Wills part, open communication is a must and there wasn't much of that. Besides not being able to connect with the characters I just thought the book was a bunch of filler. The accident that is mentioned in the blurb of the book doesnt happen until the 40%-50% into the book and then the author just brushes over the recovery of each character. Others will probably enjoy this book, especially if they liked the first book but it wasn't for me and I will probably pass on the next book that is set six years into the future.
2108604
I gave this book a chance because it had been recommended to me on multiple occasions, but after reading it, I don't understand the draw. The author switches between 3 narratives and falls short in getting me to connect with any of them. They didn't feel real to me. I constantly found myself bewildered by the actions of these characters. None of them heroic or admirable in any sense, constantly making bad choices and becoming victims in their own poorly chosen romances.
1587503
I think a good book draws you in, and unfortunately I just couldn't get into this series. I was unable to connect with the characters and found my attention wandering. The writing itself wasn't bad, but personally it just wasn't my thing
4631532
Though I've enjoyed Connie Willis books in the past (Doomsday Book is great!), and found the premise facinating, I had a difficult time enjoying this book.
Mainly I think this is because I never felt connected to the characters--even our main character's motivations were never clear to me. That is, I understood what her purposes were, but I didn't feel in her character why they were so important to her. The other characters felt more like plot devices. They were convenient to move the story forward, but I didn't see their purpose beyond this. I didn't see how they were important to the main character, or if they had any motivations of their own.
Given the above, it seemed like the story dragged out forever.
4584779
I know I'm not in the majority here, but I really couldn't connect with the characters like I'd hoped to. It just wasn't for me. Not the type of story I usually go for. I really wanted to get into it like so many did but I just couldn't.
4972506
If this book wasn't free I wouldn't have read it.  I couldn't connect with any of the characters especially the main character.
2736565
I had heard so many good things about this book, so I was excited to begin listening to the audio book. From the blurb, reviews, and awards I expected the book to be filled with endearing characters, profound coming-of-age wisdom, and lots of feels. Unfortunately, this book just didn't work for me that way.

I found it very hard to connect with or feel anything for the majority of the characters. I sympathized with the issue of finding yourself as a teenager and growing into who you are truly meant to be, but at the same time I never walked away from a reading session thinking, "Wow that was intense!" or feeling my heart ache because of all the overwhelming emotion spilling off the page. Maybe I just wasn't the target audience.

The writing itself felt overly simplistic at times given the subject matter. This book is targeted at late teens I would assume, but the dialog and descriptions oftentimes felt more middle grade fiction than young adult fiction.

The one thing I can say this book conveyed particularly well was the joy and intimacy of the friendships we develop as young people. The way Dante and Ari are able to just be with one another, comfortable and happy and doing nothing, the trust that develops between them--those kinds of relationships are once in a lifetime and I was grateful to be reminded of the times in my life when I had that through these two characters.

Overall, this book was just okay for me. The expectations I had for it were just too high. I wanted more meaningful insights, more profound realizations, characters I could easily connect with, amazing dialog. These things were missing, and the story definitely suffered for it. I would recommend this book to fans of coming-of-age fiction, lgbtq fiction, and stories with heavy emphasis on the importance of friendship.
3410273
I received an ARC at no cost from the author for an honest review.
I really wanted to like this book. However, I just couldn't get into it. I didn't connect with the characters and I honestly didn't feel bad for them. I also felt for their ages they seemed a bit childish. It was pretty fast paced but not much detail. This story was a great idea but I feel it could have been executed better.
2185527
I cannot give a thorough review of this book because I could never get into it. I found the story line to drag and was unable to connect with characters.
2092010
I found this book very confusing.  I never got a great sense of what the connection was between the two main characters, especially what drove them to meet every week for 11 years. I also found it very odd that supporting characters (including the cardiologist's daughter and best friend) were so accepting of this relationship.  I then thought that the plot development about the wife and mistress (don't want to be too specific for those who have not yet read the book) was completely unrealistic.  I simply couldn't buy into their friendship and can't imagine a circumstance under which such a friendship would occur in real life.  Certain details (as with the pineapple) seemed as if the author just wanted to find a way to fit an anecdote into the novel, instead of figuring out what would really happen to these people.

In short, it is clear to me that the review appearing just before mine is by someone connected to the author (perhaps an editor or an agent?).  At any rate, this book was entertaining but not relatable.
1060781
Unfortunately, I could not connect to the characters or the story. Adventures is the first book in the series, meaning the novel ends abruptly, leaving the reader with more questions than answers. The main reason for my lack of connection is the way the author composed the novel. There is a lot of description in long paragraphs that seem to drag on, taking away from the action. Celine includes numerous details on the characters, which normally I prefer, but with all the details coming one right after the other, it is a lot of information to absorb. This can be said of the dialogue too. Some paragraphs fill up nearly a whole page with no breaks. This is a pet peeve of mine and something that distracts me from the story. This writing style is evident in the beginning when the senators have a lengthy discussion on a specific amendment. This lost my interest quickly, as I found it boring. These discussions occurred several more times throughout the novel, repeating a lot of opinions and information. Another flaw in the writing style is the language used. It seems as if it should be written for a younger audience, with the sometimes immature language used by characters in high positions. However, the material includes senate proceedings and amendment discussions that would indicate a slightly older audience. The discrepancies were distracting and didn't keep me engaged in the story.

Overall, this story was not for me. The writing style is not one I personally connect to and therefore I found myself rushing through the book to get to the end.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel for free in exchange in for my review. I was not obligated to give a positive review, and all thoughts are my own.
836731
This might just be me, but I really just couldn't relate to the characters and the dialogue they had.  The two main characters have very different personalities than I do, and perhaps that was my issue?
2531658
The book was slow moving and I couldn't relate as well to the characters in this book. At times, it was difficult to follow if I had to interrupt my reading.
3377555
I was really hoping to like this book, but unfortunately it wasn't for me.  I couldn't finish it---I just kept confusing the different characters and subplots.  Part of my problem was that I could only read it in fits and starts---twenty minutes here, fifteen minutes there, an hour here, and then a day or two missed.  And the problem with that is that this book is full of endless complex and nuanced characters, each with his or her own little important peccadilloes, and thus really does require focus and dedication.  I kept mixing people up, forgetting who was who, and what their different roles and traits were.

What would have helped me is this:  a list of each character with a little explanatory paragraph about who they are, what their characteristics are, and what their role is.  Also, a glossary of terms might have helped, because half the time I didn't know what was really going on.

Of course, had I devoted a lot more conscious energy to the book, and read it in a much more serious and dedicated way---as I'm sure many people do---I'm sure I could have sorted this out, and probably would have loved the book, but my reasons for reading it were different.  I read it as relaxation material---nothing requiring much from me.  Alas!
4314417
I thought that the story could have been ok, but, unfortunately, I made no real connection with the characters.
4403481
I had a hard time getting into it.  So I didn't finish it.  I just couldn't relate to the main character, so it's just not for me.
4746226
I had a really hard time connecting with the characters. I know other people have liked it, and it's written well, but I just could not get into it.