Burned from Both Ends

The characters are credible and mostly fun (except when they’re not). One missed opportunity was having Sawyer reappear & get ousted, but I’m not the author. She kept it focused on community instead.

The story was good and the author did a good job of getting to know the people in the town. Alyssa needed to take a break after a bad break up. So she decided take a trip to visit her friend and getting to know the community. Jade is very independent and very loyal to her friend Cat. Jade and Alyssa get along great but their is attractive between each however there some elements why these two are not together quickly. A nice read.

I received an ARC of this book and I am voluntarily leaving a review. This book was a delight from cover to cover. Seabrooke has once again created a diverse cast of characters with rich characterization and very realistic flaws. We have Alyssa, an optimistic and friendly woman from the city seeking refuge from a bad relationship in a small town, and Jade, who believes herself a hermit but cares too much about people to really be one. Their chemistry is very believable, and Alyssa dropping right in the middle of major drama into Jade's (and now Alyssa's) closely-knit friend group creates a very realistic conflict for our heroines to overcome. The book itself is a rollercoaster. Its a rom-com one moment, in the next chapter it is a smoldering bodice ripper and it will become a horror story about being a pariah in a small town next. Seabrooke weaves it all masterfully and delivers an amazing story about self-worth, about daring to be happy and about learning to communicate not only with your partner, but with the people we love. (And the supporting cast? Amazing, as usual. They have their own lives and their own storylines that are just as riveting as the main one and would by themselves carry any other book. Cat in particular, the character whose dilemma sets in motion a lot of the conflict of the book, downright steals the show) All in all a great read, a must if you like romantic comedy and books with a zany and realistic cast of characters (and who doesn't?).

First off, as expected, the writing is stellar. Descriptions, both of characters and locations, are incredibly well done, and the phrasing and voice is clear and compelling throughout. As typical of a Lily Seabrooke book! Overall I enjoyed the story, and really liked the two main characters. Alyssa, the bubbly one (who reminded me of a real life friend, Alisa!), was adorable, though there were a couple times that she reacted in a way that felt a little out of character, almost as if it was tweaked to add more drama/miscommunication. There were also a couple plot points that didn't resolve in a satisfactory way for my wants, especially regarding the main "antagonist", if you will. I will say, though, that usually I am NOT a fan of the miscommunication trope, but honestly it was done in a way that I did not mind in this story! Definitely worth a read, and if you loooove your drama this could easily be a top tier for you. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Burned from Both Ends begins as a sharply observed small-town romance, where good intentions give way to emotions far more complicated than anticipated. Lily executes this masterfully, as always. She creates an environment we fold ourselves into. The tension that is bubbling beneath every interaction—jealousy not merely present, but palpable, keeps us on the edge of our seats and has us invested in the dynamics so much that we take sides. Set within a vividly drawn queer small town alive with personalities, secrets, and just the right amount of innocent deception, the novel is populated by characters who are colorful, nuanced, and delicious—each one adding depth and intrigue to the drama and the central spicy romance. What begins as a carefully orchestrated plan soon unravels into something far more compelling: a love story shaped as much by vulnerability and longing as by the chaos of a scheme gone wrong. Another triumph from this wonderful artist!. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.