Eloise is a very relatable character for those who suffer from anxiety. Her reactions to situations are realistic and I felt my heart soar and drop with her as I read. I absolutely adore Austin and his upbeat personality. The two of them clash throughout the story but Austin doesn't give up. I also love Marianne's character and that it shows how someone who was so famous can be lonely too. She's fun, witty, and energetic and adds to the comedic relief of the story while maintaining a serious tone. The premise is rather cute with Aldo and Regan agreeing to have six conversations to see what they learn about each other, something right in Aldo’s wheelhouse as ‘ for Aldo, to love something was to study it; to devote every spare thought to understanding it.’ Yet there is a darkness lurking just beneath, something that might not be immediately evident in the blinding glare of meet-cutes and warm infatuation but still casts shadows they choose to find intriguing instead of alarming. Though Blake does capture the way in the falling-hard stage you tend to feel everything reminds you of that person, akin to learning a new word and seeing it everywhere: Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher/author for providing me with an E-Arc of this book. The following is my honest opinion * And then… it got worse. The writing became a little too self-indulgent. It took on that fake-deep/Jared Leto/tumblr circa 2014 tone. It started feeling pretentious.

Aldo, a math wizard, obsessed with hexagons teaches at U of Chicago. He lives a pretty straight edged life, always trapped in his own thoughts, compulsive. He's honest, complex, and unique. There was nothing worse than being predictable. Nothing smaller than feeling ordinary. Nothing more disappointing than being reminded she was both. Where do I even start?? The mental health representation and genuineness and realistic nature of this book is top tier. This book felt like a hug and fresh air to me. I really enjoyed how Amelia Diane Coombs portrayed the main characters, in particular Eloise, her mental health battle and her coping mechanisms. I felt Eloise in my bones. I relate to the struggle so much and just seeing her growth throughout the book was amazing. Coombs portrayed the story in such a way that it felt as if I was talking to Eloise and hearing the story from her myself. It was beautifully written.I received an ARC from the publisher through Netgalley. These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.** I could study you for a lifetime, carrying all of your peculiarities and discretions in the webs of my spidery palms, and still feel empty-handed.” This was one of the best sexual tension books I’ve read in some time. This novella was hot and full of desire. Ira & Naomi had nothing but time and they sure used is wisely.

Pond” examines a father’s conflicted feelings about his twenty-something daughter who is autistic and little more than a child herself when she gets pregnant during an unsupervised moment at her day care facility. The grandchild, who is completely healthy and normal, makes his affection for Martha more complicated. Burton’s relationship with Martha and with his grandson reveals itself as something more than he had supposed in the wake of a near disaster. There would be times, particularly at first, when Regan would attempt to identify the moment things had set themselves on a path to inevitable collision.’

BookBrowse Review

I'd like to thank Simon & Schuster for sending me an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! What I really liked about this book compared to the first one in the series was the depth of the characters. You could feel the excitement when Claire discovered a new artifact you lived her discovery with her. With Jake you felt how grounded the farm made him you felt his to the animals and the pleasure and joy he felt in this slower paced world. The intricacies of the stories in Alone With You, seemingly easily put together, are also a testament to the acuity of the author’s perception. She is as skilled an observer as she is a writer, and the two combine to create these incredible adventures into the darker side of human nature while managing at the same time to remain delightfully lighthearted. The father who hit his son in anger; the friend who sleeps with her roommate’s boyfriend; the mentally challenged young woman impregnated by Down syndrome patient: these actions are treated like burdens to be carried rather than over-the-top melodramatic events. In an era of sensationalism, it’s quite refreshing.

but on the other hand, i cant stop thinking about this? as unlikely as it sounds given the negatives i just listed, there are some true moments of beauty in this. most of them coming from aldo and how his brain works. the way he views the world and describes how things fit mathematically is really quite something. i could listen to him talk about bees all day long. i can’t even put into words how much i not only loved this book but connected to it. olivie puts into words the thoughts and feelings i feel that i myself can’t find the words for. how tf can someone write something so captivating?!? This book was an incoherent mess (intentional I know) that deserves an incoherent mess of a review. Here we go.

My first book from this author and I absolutely loved it! It is very easy to read, super cute interactions with characters and a very relatable main character. There is also the issue in which medication and therapy are painted as obstacles to true love or feeling anything at all. She says so at some point - that if she was on medication still, she couldn't/wouldn't have loved Aldo. I find this deeply troubling but look, books are not real life, we can't extrapolate...but I can't help but dislike this theme of the book.