
Part of the List A Novel
Reviews

3.5 Oh my word stars from me. So conflicted about this one. It's a beautiful(ish) story unlike all other the Xavier Neal books I have read so far. On one hand, I LOVED the overcoming severe adversity side of the story (Bailey's issues). On the other hand, I HATED that side of it. (view spoiler)[Because at the end of the day although they got together the adversity overcame them not vice versa. (hide spoiler)] This is fiction, makebelieve, I know this, but it's a sad depiction of something that I am sure still happens in some homes in these contemporary times. However, the love that the H & H have is beautiful, not just between themselves but for all of their loved ones. I loved the connection between Thomas, (big) Emma, their parents, and Kennedy's parents as well as with Kennedy and Bailey themselves. (But their struggles with these connections later on in the story felt real to me and reminded me of some of my own experiences). And (little) Emma was just a pint-sized purple loving bonus. Big happy families are not just made with blood. I have to be honest though. I feel cheated. For a number of reasons. These are the reasons that I didn't rate the story higher. 1) I totally agree with another reviewer that this just can't be a standalone story. Although the ending is complete as it were, the story just feels unfinished to me. 2) And also, Ms. Neal I wish to make a formal complaint to you about (big) Emma. Why oh why oh why oh why... you get the drift?! (view spoiler)[I would have loved to have seen the fun and quirky Emma playing with and giving (possibly naughty) advice to her small namesake niece (hide spoiler)]. 3) And to return to the beginning, I, like Kennedy, fell for a 15-year-old Bailey who bonded with babies. This happened in the first paragraph of the book. Men (esp. boys) who are open in their tenderness with small children and small animals have a huge place in my heart, and I would have liked to have seen more glimpses of this part of Bailey as he got older. (view spoiler)[He somewhat reminded me of Carl Grimes from The Walking Dead TV show and how much he loves his baby sister... but that is a whole other topic. (hide spoiler)] But, meh, I realize I want that for purely selfish reasons lol. 4) The ending... please make that reversible somehow in the sequel. Please. Pretty please. With big gorgeous flowers on??? (less)