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Truthfully, Yours
Rules are set in stone… but life is meant to be improvised.
Charlie did not think things could go this wrong… Yet here she is, in Scotland, thousands of miles away from home, after having publicly called out one of the actors of her favorite show for being ableist at a convention... and of course, it went viral. The one silver-lining? Her best friend signing her up for a work stay program at an independent bookstore in Scotland, where she’ll be able to live in the owner’s apartment for the next three months. What Charlie does not realize is that she’s one good golf club swing away from chaos.
Enter Page, or Jamie Mahone, as the fans of StarVerse know him, the unfortunate co-star to the actor who started all this. Page did not for one second imagine that surprising his sister one night would lead to a good headache and a handful of trouble. Stuck in the same apartment, they must not only fight their immediate dislike of each other but also their attraction to one another. Their solution?
Flatmates rules!
1. The apartment stays clean, and we stay out of each other’s respective rooms.
2. If one of us feels uncomfortable, we need to tell each other.
3. Flatmates don’t fall for flatmates.
After all, Charlie is the show’s number one public enemy, and Page cherishes his privacy above anything else, so giving in to the rising attraction between them would be a bad idea… Right?
Charlie did not think things could go this wrong… Yet here she is, in Scotland, thousands of miles away from home, after having publicly called out one of the actors of her favorite show for being ableist at a convention... and of course, it went viral. The one silver-lining? Her best friend signing her up for a work stay program at an independent bookstore in Scotland, where she’ll be able to live in the owner’s apartment for the next three months. What Charlie does not realize is that she’s one good golf club swing away from chaos.
Enter Page, or Jamie Mahone, as the fans of StarVerse know him, the unfortunate co-star to the actor who started all this. Page did not for one second imagine that surprising his sister one night would lead to a good headache and a handful of trouble. Stuck in the same apartment, they must not only fight their immediate dislike of each other but also their attraction to one another. Their solution?
Flatmates rules!
1. The apartment stays clean, and we stay out of each other’s respective rooms.
2. If one of us feels uncomfortable, we need to tell each other.
3. Flatmates don’t fall for flatmates.
After all, Charlie is the show’s number one public enemy, and Page cherishes his privacy above anything else, so giving in to the rising attraction between them would be a bad idea… Right?
381 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 6, 2024
37 people are currently reading
4729 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 129 reviews
February 19, 2024
me *throws this book at people*: it's my baby
Read
January 24, 2024I’m so proud of my friends for writing such wonderful stories 🩷
February 6, 2024
Caden could place a soggy dishrag in front of me and I would hail it as a work of genius, such is my adoration for her.
Truthfully Yours, however, is no soggy dishrag. (Feel free to quote me on that)
Swoony, funny, and full of heart, I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed this stunning book. Page and Charlie have my whole heart, and seeing them approach each other with such kindness and empathy, even when they didn’t understand one another so well, was a true joy to read.
I need everyone to read this so that I can scream about it better without fear of spoilers.
Truthfully Yours, however, is no soggy dishrag. (Feel free to quote me on that)
Swoony, funny, and full of heart, I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed this stunning book. Page and Charlie have my whole heart, and seeing them approach each other with such kindness and empathy, even when they didn’t understand one another so well, was a true joy to read.
I need everyone to read this so that I can scream about it better without fear of spoilers.
Read
February 13, 2024This book is a love letter to the neurodivergent and disabled community. We are not alone in this world. Thank you, Caden!
✨anxiety rep
✨autistm rep (own voices)
✨scotland setting
✨celebrity
✨forced proximity
✨character driven
Truthfully, Yours is this author's debut book and I cannot wait to see what she writes next! Page is an actor on a very popular sci-fi show and Charlie is a fan of said show. But the love she has for the show winks out when one of Page's co-stars says some ableist things while on an interview panel. Charlie stands up for herself and her community, but many people view her as attacking the actor. Page is mortified about the whole thing, and is shocked when months later he finds Charlie living in his sister's apartment in Scotland. She was hired to work at the bookstore his sister owns, and they are now forced to live together since they both don't have anywhere else to go. So the two of them are navigating living with a basic stranger on top of their pent-up tension.
I had a grand time reading this. I loved the representation specifically. You could tell that Caden Armstrong put her real thoughts and feelings about the neurodivergent and disabled community into this. I loved learning about these characters and everything that made them unique humans
.
I received an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
✨anxiety rep
✨autistm rep (own voices)
✨scotland setting
✨celebrity
✨forced proximity
✨character driven
Truthfully, Yours is this author's debut book and I cannot wait to see what she writes next! Page is an actor on a very popular sci-fi show and Charlie is a fan of said show. But the love she has for the show winks out when one of Page's co-stars says some ableist things while on an interview panel. Charlie stands up for herself and her community, but many people view her as attacking the actor. Page is mortified about the whole thing, and is shocked when months later he finds Charlie living in his sister's apartment in Scotland. She was hired to work at the bookstore his sister owns, and they are now forced to live together since they both don't have anywhere else to go. So the two of them are navigating living with a basic stranger on top of their pent-up tension.
I had a grand time reading this. I loved the representation specifically. You could tell that Caden Armstrong put her real thoughts and feelings about the neurodivergent and disabled community into this. I loved learning about these characters and everything that made them unique humans
.
I received an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 5, 2024
This was such a wonderful romance full of queer and disabled representation!
Read this if you like:
🩷Scotland
🩷Cute bookstore in a cute Scottish town
🩷Autism and anxiety representation
🩷Queer representation
🩷Scottish actors 👀
🩷Fighting ableism
🩷Enemies to lovers
🩷Nerd culture & fandoms
🩷a cinnamon roll a love interest
🩷Grumpy cats
Thanks to the author for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
Read this if you like:
🩷Scotland
🩷Cute bookstore in a cute Scottish town
🩷Autism and anxiety representation
🩷Queer representation
🩷Scottish actors 👀
🩷Fighting ableism
🩷Enemies to lovers
🩷Nerd culture & fandoms
🩷a cinnamon roll a love interest
🩷Grumpy cats
Thanks to the author for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
February 7, 2024
I knew I had to read this immediately when it came out, and I'm glad I did. This book is perfect for everyone who read and loved Queens of Geek by Jen Wilde and has since grown older and crossed over into adult romance. It also reminded me a lot of Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade.
February 17, 2024
Caden Armstrong's Truthfully Yours is a small-town romance centered around the relationship between bookseller Charlie James and actor Jamie Page McAllister.
I technically went into this book blind since, after reading the blurb, I was confused because it made no sense.
I wasn't really feeling the book from the start. After reading a few chapters, I felt no chemistry or tension between Page and Charlie. Also, there was a script at the start of each chapter, which I skipped because it was so pointless. Very much gave IEWU vibes of when Lily would write to Ellen.
Having said that, I must say that the little fanfiction author updates at the start of a few chapters were hilarious and brought back fun memories of my time spent reading on Wattpad.
There was also a third-act breakup, which I typically love, but I wasn't happy with how Page ended things. Or the ease with which Charlie went back to him.
To be honest, given the tropes, representation, and adorable cover, my inability to grasp the blurb should have been my first hint that I wouldn’t enjoy this as much as I had anticipated.
*Thank you to the author, Caden Armstrong for providing me with this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.*
I technically went into this book blind since, after reading the blurb, I was confused because it made no sense.
I wasn't really feeling the book from the start. After reading a few chapters, I felt no chemistry or tension between Page and Charlie. Also, there was a script at the start of each chapter, which I skipped because it was so pointless. Very much gave IEWU vibes of when Lily would write to Ellen.
Having said that, I must say that the little fanfiction author updates at the start of a few chapters were hilarious and brought back fun memories of my time spent reading on Wattpad.
There was also a third-act breakup, which I typically love, but I wasn't happy with how Page ended things. Or the ease with which Charlie went back to him.
To be honest, given the tropes, representation, and adorable cover, my inability to grasp the blurb should have been my first hint that I wouldn’t enjoy this as much as I had anticipated.
*Thank you to the author, Caden Armstrong for providing me with this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.*
Read
March 10, 2024
April 19, 2024
“I love your truth. All of you.”
(generous) 3 Stars but it's more like 2.75 stars tbh
(very very very late) ARC REVIEW
Sighhhhhhhh It’s not a good sign when I audibly cheer because I’m glad a book is over. Don’t get me wrong, there were so many aspects of Truthfully, Yours that I enjoyed (which I’ll discuss in this review )but something was just missing for me. Armstrong’s work is promising which is why I’m open to reading more of her work but I didn’t like this as much as I hoped, which is disappointing because this was an anticipated release.
What I liked
The mixed media at the beginning of chapters
Fanfic, script scenes from the show, YT video transcripts, fan reactions on social media and the character art (in the form of online posts) were such a unique touch! . Not only did I feel like it developed the MMC’s fame, his TV show and the nature of his fanbase by showing instead of telling, but it was also something that I looked forward to in each chapter.
Commentary on ableism on a macro and micro scale
Our FMC Charlie is autistic and the book goes into great detail about her experience of being diagnosed later in life, and how her disability affected her relationships (both platonic and romantic) as well as her work life. This theme was also explored by depicting the effects of ableism and misogyny on a macro scale (with the producers on the show akin to Star Wars backing up an ableist actor )
Slight commentary on class, white privilege and Queerphobia
The MMC, his best friends ( a queer woman of colour and bi white guy ) and the narrative criticised the systems of racism, ableism, Queerphobia and misogyny not only in society but also in the film industry.I thought was fascinating (and I’ll touch on this later ) but I would have enjoyed this book way more if it were in a different genre and focused on the side characters and the show (Starverse) itself.
Secondary Characters
By far my favourite part of this book was Paige’s relationship with his best friends (and cast mates,) Theo and Sandhya. I was the most engaged in the story when they were present than at any other point. I could feel their love and protectiveness for each other, I truly adored them. Which is great… until you remember that this is a romance book, a romance book where I felt almost nothing about the main relationship.
What I wasn’t a fan of
Underdeveloped characterisation and chemistry
It's been months since I read this and I can recall almost to nothing about these characters. To be frank they were quite forgettable. I remember relating to Charlie and liking Page but their chemistry wasn't electric or interesting. Some moments were swoon-worthy but I couldn't tell you what they were. Their love was told to the reader and I just didn't believe it.
Pacing
The book started off pretty strong with us diving straight into the what, why, who and how of Charlie and what caused her to move to Scotland -temporarily. However, after the set-up, the story moved at a glacial pace. Instead of It reading like a tension-filled, simmering slow burn, nothing of substance happened. When we got to the part where they decided to start hooking up ,it felt so unearned so much so that when the main guy said
“I think you want me to fuck you Charlie”
I was shocked because it came out of NOWHERE. That was disappointing because the components were there to make the overwhelming tension hot and palpable but the execution was jarring and underwhelming.
Lack of real consequences in the third act
Throughout the story the Starverse show runners -typical old rich white men - were built up to be the main opposing force to Paige and Charlie's relationship. However, after the third act conflict's resolution, there turned out to be no real stakes. The characters and the narrative itself seemed to have a good grasp on the corrupt nature of Hollywood show producers. I understand that Armstrong picked the resolution they did to maintain the Happily Ever After convention of romance books but I think there could've been a more interesting and clever option that would show that Charlie and Page's actions had consequences. At the end of this arc, I was like "Really? then what was all of that for"
Overall Truthfully yours was a fine debut . It had so much potential to be an amazing book but ultimately fell flat.
(generous) 3 Stars but it's more like 2.75 stars tbh
(very very very late) ARC REVIEW
Sighhhhhhhh It’s not a good sign when I audibly cheer because I’m glad a book is over. Don’t get me wrong, there were so many aspects of Truthfully, Yours that I enjoyed (which I’ll discuss in this review )but something was just missing for me. Armstrong’s work is promising which is why I’m open to reading more of her work but I didn’t like this as much as I hoped, which is disappointing because this was an anticipated release.
What I liked
The mixed media at the beginning of chapters
Fanfic, script scenes from the show, YT video transcripts, fan reactions on social media and the character art (in the form of online posts) were such a unique touch! . Not only did I feel like it developed the MMC’s fame, his TV show and the nature of his fanbase by showing instead of telling, but it was also something that I looked forward to in each chapter.
Commentary on ableism on a macro and micro scale
Our FMC Charlie is autistic and the book goes into great detail about her experience of being diagnosed later in life, and how her disability affected her relationships (both platonic and romantic) as well as her work life. This theme was also explored by depicting the effects of ableism and misogyny on a macro scale (with the producers on the show akin to Star Wars backing up an ableist actor )
Slight commentary on class, white privilege and Queerphobia
The MMC, his best friends ( a queer woman of colour and bi white guy ) and the narrative criticised the systems of racism, ableism, Queerphobia and misogyny not only in society but also in the film industry.I thought was fascinating (and I’ll touch on this later ) but I would have enjoyed this book way more if it were in a different genre and focused on the side characters and the show (Starverse) itself.
Secondary Characters
By far my favourite part of this book was Paige’s relationship with his best friends (and cast mates,) Theo and Sandhya. I was the most engaged in the story when they were present than at any other point. I could feel their love and protectiveness for each other, I truly adored them. Which is great… until you remember that this is a romance book, a romance book where I felt almost nothing about the main relationship.
What I wasn’t a fan of
Underdeveloped characterisation and chemistry
It's been months since I read this and I can recall almost to nothing about these characters. To be frank they were quite forgettable. I remember relating to Charlie and liking Page but their chemistry wasn't electric or interesting. Some moments were swoon-worthy but I couldn't tell you what they were. Their love was told to the reader and I just didn't believe it.
Pacing
The book started off pretty strong with us diving straight into the what, why, who and how of Charlie and what caused her to move to Scotland -temporarily. However, after the set-up, the story moved at a glacial pace. Instead of It reading like a tension-filled, simmering slow burn, nothing of substance happened. When we got to the part where they decided to start hooking up ,it felt so unearned so much so that when the main guy said
“I think you want me to fuck you Charlie”
I was shocked because it came out of NOWHERE. That was disappointing because the components were there to make the overwhelming tension hot and palpable but the execution was jarring and underwhelming.
Lack of real consequences in the third act
Throughout the story the Starverse show runners -typical old rich white men - were built up to be the main opposing force to Paige and Charlie's relationship. However, after the third act conflict's resolution, there turned out to be no real stakes. The characters and the narrative itself seemed to have a good grasp on the corrupt nature of Hollywood show producers. I understand that Armstrong picked the resolution they did to maintain the Happily Ever After convention of romance books but I think there could've been a more interesting and clever option that would show that Charlie and Page's actions had consequences. At the end of this arc, I was like "Really? then what was all of that for"
Overall Truthfully yours was a fine debut . It had so much potential to be an amazing book but ultimately fell flat.
Want to read
November 29, 2023Love the blurb, love the cover, looking forward to read this!^-^
March 20, 2024
4.25/5
« I like your truth. »
He loved it.
This book made me feel so so seen, with all the different representations.
Especially that the main character has autism :’). I’ve read books with characters having autism, but never the main character, and it never got rlly talked about. Which in this book was obviously very different.
This book made me realise of how so many things are the same for others w autism, that I thought was just me being ‘weird’ but it’s actually for others aswell.
« Suddenly, you have to explain yourself, and then you deal with how so many people arenit educated about your disability and how shit societis fot people like you. Then, you have to work through your own internalized ableism because we all have it. »
I also got diagnosed at 16 and just turned 20 while I’m writing this review. And in the book got talked ab, that it is actually very normal to get diagnosed this late on. And also of how it is so much ‘easier’ explaining certain things now that I know I have autism.
« Her entire life had been a bit confusing up until she'd been diagnosed a few years ago with autism spectrum disorder.
Before the diagnosis, she had never had the words to explain her feelings, which had led to a lot of misunderstandings and ended friendships. »
Bcs before in school, people always used to call me shy and quiet and saying I never ‘smiled’ or some other shit, which made me rlly depressed, and I never felt understood even by my ‘friends’.
« How did you explain that your brain seemed to shut down, words hard to form, after a five-minute call? Or how you always felt like you were on the outside of a group conversation, looking in like a spectator? How did you describe why you couldn't sleep because of a small (vet extremely annoying) noise or because the texture of the sheets felt wrong? How did you put into words how you felt as if there was something seriously wrong with you? »
The fact I sometimes fr thought what a lazy piece of shit I am, bcs of how I saw EVERYTHING as a task. Even just brushing my teeth or washing my hair, took so so much energy from me.
In this book it got explained as an autistic burnout, and Idk but I felt like, I am not alone in this thing anymore.
But this book makes me wanna cry with how good it understood me, without even knowing I exsist.
« Autistic burnout had hit her hard; struggling to get out of bed, appetite completely gone, unable to even shower some days because water on her skin felt too overstimulating, and not able to communicate it all because talking was simply too hard. She was just starting to crawl her way out of it. »
Anyway sorry for the yapping ab myself, let’s talk ab the book now fr.
So I could fr talk for days ab this book, but I’m gonna try to have it short, bcs I have many many quotes I wanna include.
Her wearing headphones :’). Her bestfriend is litt reminding me so hard of my bestfriend from Germany hehe. I wish I could meet her so bad and live together😩. Anyway I loved how Page tried searching things up and stuff to understand her better.
Killian can die idc. Same for those two others that I dont even remember their names off bcs Idc anyway. Fk them.
« self-hatred that had developed over her life. »
The explanation of selfhate/selfableism, was also something I only thought ab. About how I hate that I have autism. And fr wished I was normal. And the main character struggling with this selfsabotage aswell made me feel seen yet again.
« It was moments like these that Charlie hated most: when she knew people wanted her to say or do something, but she didn't know what. Lavla was aware Charlie was autistic, and she hadn't said anything bad; but even though Charlie really liked Layla, it took a bit longer than a week for Charlie to know if someone was actually saft. Too many times, she'd jumped into a friendship headfirst and been burned when people didn't want to understand her autism. »
I rlly loved the fanfic/newspaper/.. thing at the beginning of each chapter haha.
I also would love to see a book about Callum (single dad?) and Page his sister.
LONG LIVE GANDALF THE WHITEEE. lmao I fr loved that there was a cat included bcs I LOVE cats (especially mine🫶🏻).
Also love love loved that she reads, and he even build a bookshelf and got all her books moved to there😩🙏.
Before I forget, I also wanna talk ab his anxiety, and what happend with him in the past. With his father and twin sister dying, and him obviously seeing his mom in grief. I am so so happy his mom got to heal a bit more and has a great man by her side now.
The part where Page just broke down in lilian her arms BROKE ME.
Same for when Charlie broke down in her bestfriends arms🥹.
Also the fact Page noticed such small but important things ab Charlie. Like his ringtone,..
He did his first ever interview, just to finally speak up ab what happend, for Charlie, for his cousin, and for everyone else.
« But sometimes, his emotions shut down fully when he was anxious, making it seem like he didn't care... when in fact, he cared deeply. »
Also Page and his two collegues/friends are just goals fr. They alway have eachothers sides, and they rlly care ab one another.
Fking hate her brother, and also kinda her mother. How her brother litt took the side of Killian is just crazy.
Also the dedication in this book, just made my heart so happy :’).
QUOTESSSS;
« She'd spent most of the morning hyped up on caffeine able to take in all the noises and lights, but her brain was now, starting to tire as sensory overload took over. She needed some quiet, especially if her brain was going to be bored out of its mind sitting in line for four hours. »
« she did, every time she put down a book, especially a romance. But she had learned early on that people never acted how she expected them to, and in the end, they always left. »
« How could she have the time to run a business when she barely had the time to take care of herself? »
« Do we have a non-romantic in the house? »
« No, we have a realist. »
« And there had be too many instances over the years where she had given people the benefit of the doubt and had gotten burned. Badly. »
« Before she had been diagnosed, everyone had been hurt by her actions, but afterwards, her parents had taken time to understand everything. To realize that her need to pull away wasn't because she didn't want to spend time with them or be around them. They'd tried. »
« But in her experience, it was better to assume the worst about someone and be surprised than to assume the best and be hurt again. »
« That was one thing she'd always had trouble with discerning whether or not someone thought of her as a friend. »
« And now that she saw her reaction, a reaction that very clearly meant he did matter to her in some way- that he had some kind of power over her emotions she wanted to crawl in a hole and never come out. »
« but she always analyzed the different conversations she'd had that day to see how she would respond now or if she could have responded differently. »
« You know what I mean. In the past, it's only taken a few weeks for someone I'm with to realize that I'm too much work or too hard to deal with, and that's when they leave. If it isnt after a few weeks, it happens eventually. Even with friends. »
« It was easy for Charlie to get stuck in her own head at times, anxiety making it hard for her to ask people about their own hobbies and more about themselves. »
« Charlie sometimes felt like friends were one of the hardest things for her to understand. She never knew if someone considered her a close friend or if they were just acquaintances. »
« It was nice, a feeling she wasn't quite used to being from a family that was never this affectionate. She and her parents said they loved one another, but the hugging, the light kiss Page put on his mother's cheek, the way his stepdad patted his shoulder... It was all so hew. »
« And I know you want to protect Charlie, too. But sometimes, in our protecting the ones we love, we get so single-minded that we don't see when we are hurting them. »
« I like your truth. »
He loved it.
This book made me feel so so seen, with all the different representations.
Especially that the main character has autism :’). I’ve read books with characters having autism, but never the main character, and it never got rlly talked about. Which in this book was obviously very different.
This book made me realise of how so many things are the same for others w autism, that I thought was just me being ‘weird’ but it’s actually for others aswell.
« Suddenly, you have to explain yourself, and then you deal with how so many people arenit educated about your disability and how shit societis fot people like you. Then, you have to work through your own internalized ableism because we all have it. »
I also got diagnosed at 16 and just turned 20 while I’m writing this review. And in the book got talked ab, that it is actually very normal to get diagnosed this late on. And also of how it is so much ‘easier’ explaining certain things now that I know I have autism.
« Her entire life had been a bit confusing up until she'd been diagnosed a few years ago with autism spectrum disorder.
Before the diagnosis, she had never had the words to explain her feelings, which had led to a lot of misunderstandings and ended friendships. »
Bcs before in school, people always used to call me shy and quiet and saying I never ‘smiled’ or some other shit, which made me rlly depressed, and I never felt understood even by my ‘friends’.
« How did you explain that your brain seemed to shut down, words hard to form, after a five-minute call? Or how you always felt like you were on the outside of a group conversation, looking in like a spectator? How did you describe why you couldn't sleep because of a small (vet extremely annoying) noise or because the texture of the sheets felt wrong? How did you put into words how you felt as if there was something seriously wrong with you? »
The fact I sometimes fr thought what a lazy piece of shit I am, bcs of how I saw EVERYTHING as a task. Even just brushing my teeth or washing my hair, took so so much energy from me.
In this book it got explained as an autistic burnout, and Idk but I felt like, I am not alone in this thing anymore.
But this book makes me wanna cry with how good it understood me, without even knowing I exsist.
« Autistic burnout had hit her hard; struggling to get out of bed, appetite completely gone, unable to even shower some days because water on her skin felt too overstimulating, and not able to communicate it all because talking was simply too hard. She was just starting to crawl her way out of it. »
Anyway sorry for the yapping ab myself, let’s talk ab the book now fr.
So I could fr talk for days ab this book, but I’m gonna try to have it short, bcs I have many many quotes I wanna include.
Her wearing headphones :’). Her bestfriend is litt reminding me so hard of my bestfriend from Germany hehe. I wish I could meet her so bad and live together😩. Anyway I loved how Page tried searching things up and stuff to understand her better.
Killian can die idc. Same for those two others that I dont even remember their names off bcs Idc anyway. Fk them.
« self-hatred that had developed over her life. »
The explanation of selfhate/selfableism, was also something I only thought ab. About how I hate that I have autism. And fr wished I was normal. And the main character struggling with this selfsabotage aswell made me feel seen yet again.
« It was moments like these that Charlie hated most: when she knew people wanted her to say or do something, but she didn't know what. Lavla was aware Charlie was autistic, and she hadn't said anything bad; but even though Charlie really liked Layla, it took a bit longer than a week for Charlie to know if someone was actually saft. Too many times, she'd jumped into a friendship headfirst and been burned when people didn't want to understand her autism. »
I rlly loved the fanfic/newspaper/.. thing at the beginning of each chapter haha.
I also would love to see a book about Callum (single dad?) and Page his sister.
LONG LIVE GANDALF THE WHITEEE. lmao I fr loved that there was a cat included bcs I LOVE cats (especially mine🫶🏻).
Also love love loved that she reads, and he even build a bookshelf and got all her books moved to there😩🙏.
Before I forget, I also wanna talk ab his anxiety, and what happend with him in the past. With his father and twin sister dying, and him obviously seeing his mom in grief. I am so so happy his mom got to heal a bit more and has a great man by her side now.
The part where Page just broke down in lilian her arms BROKE ME.
Same for when Charlie broke down in her bestfriends arms🥹.
Also the fact Page noticed such small but important things ab Charlie. Like his ringtone,..
He did his first ever interview, just to finally speak up ab what happend, for Charlie, for his cousin, and for everyone else.
« But sometimes, his emotions shut down fully when he was anxious, making it seem like he didn't care... when in fact, he cared deeply. »
Also Page and his two collegues/friends are just goals fr. They alway have eachothers sides, and they rlly care ab one another.
Fking hate her brother, and also kinda her mother. How her brother litt took the side of Killian is just crazy.
Also the dedication in this book, just made my heart so happy :’).
QUOTESSSS;
« She'd spent most of the morning hyped up on caffeine able to take in all the noises and lights, but her brain was now, starting to tire as sensory overload took over. She needed some quiet, especially if her brain was going to be bored out of its mind sitting in line for four hours. »
« she did, every time she put down a book, especially a romance. But she had learned early on that people never acted how she expected them to, and in the end, they always left. »
« How could she have the time to run a business when she barely had the time to take care of herself? »
« Do we have a non-romantic in the house? »
« No, we have a realist. »
« And there had be too many instances over the years where she had given people the benefit of the doubt and had gotten burned. Badly. »
« Before she had been diagnosed, everyone had been hurt by her actions, but afterwards, her parents had taken time to understand everything. To realize that her need to pull away wasn't because she didn't want to spend time with them or be around them. They'd tried. »
« But in her experience, it was better to assume the worst about someone and be surprised than to assume the best and be hurt again. »
« That was one thing she'd always had trouble with discerning whether or not someone thought of her as a friend. »
« And now that she saw her reaction, a reaction that very clearly meant he did matter to her in some way- that he had some kind of power over her emotions she wanted to crawl in a hole and never come out. »
« but she always analyzed the different conversations she'd had that day to see how she would respond now or if she could have responded differently. »
« You know what I mean. In the past, it's only taken a few weeks for someone I'm with to realize that I'm too much work or too hard to deal with, and that's when they leave. If it isnt after a few weeks, it happens eventually. Even with friends. »
« It was easy for Charlie to get stuck in her own head at times, anxiety making it hard for her to ask people about their own hobbies and more about themselves. »
« Charlie sometimes felt like friends were one of the hardest things for her to understand. She never knew if someone considered her a close friend or if they were just acquaintances. »
« It was nice, a feeling she wasn't quite used to being from a family that was never this affectionate. She and her parents said they loved one another, but the hugging, the light kiss Page put on his mother's cheek, the way his stepdad patted his shoulder... It was all so hew. »
« And I know you want to protect Charlie, too. But sometimes, in our protecting the ones we love, we get so single-minded that we don't see when we are hurting them. »
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Want to read
December 20, 2023Autistic, bi, and anxiety rep?! Absolutely sign me up!
February 15, 2024
Truly a love letter to late-diagnosed neurodivergent women. 💖
Oh I loved this so much. 😭 Autism rep in romance is truly few and far between, and Charlie's character was special to read. There were so many little passages and moments that made me feel seen in a way I've never experienced before. To see her advocate for herself every step of the way, even when it was hard, was healing.
And PAGE treating her with such respect! He's the blueprint, the standard. Seriously y'all, if he's not educating himself on your disability, changing his ringtone when he notices the sound grates on you, and falling in love with you while you infodump about manatees, YOU CAN DO BETTER 👏🏻
Not to mention, the small Scottish coastal town setting was swoon-worthy. CASTLE RUINS. Say less. And I totally loved that the beginning of every chapter begins with some sort of funny tweet, article headline, fanfiction author's note, or text stream. It added a lot to this little world and made it feel more immersive.
Overall, the book could tend to get a bit repetitive, and at times the writing felt a bit clumsy. However, the story more than made up for it in my opinion! I truly can not wait to see what Caden Armstrong does next.
Thank you to the author and BookFunnel for the eARC.
Oh I loved this so much. 😭 Autism rep in romance is truly few and far between, and Charlie's character was special to read. There were so many little passages and moments that made me feel seen in a way I've never experienced before. To see her advocate for herself every step of the way, even when it was hard, was healing.
And PAGE treating her with such respect! He's the blueprint, the standard. Seriously y'all, if he's not educating himself on your disability, changing his ringtone when he notices the sound grates on you, and falling in love with you while you infodump about manatees, YOU CAN DO BETTER 👏🏻
Not to mention, the small Scottish coastal town setting was swoon-worthy. CASTLE RUINS. Say less. And I totally loved that the beginning of every chapter begins with some sort of funny tweet, article headline, fanfiction author's note, or text stream. It added a lot to this little world and made it feel more immersive.
Overall, the book could tend to get a bit repetitive, and at times the writing felt a bit clumsy. However, the story more than made up for it in my opinion! I truly can not wait to see what Caden Armstrong does next.
Thank you to the author and BookFunnel for the eARC.
January 28, 2024
I super enjoyed reading Truthfully, Yours 🩷 A smalltown romance with autism, queer and anxiety rep, yes please. Also, I'm weak for a "And they were roommates" trope!
I loved Charlie as a MC, she felt very relatable as a Neurodivergent girly myself. Seeing her know how to manage senory issues and overstimulation was really empowering for me.
Page! First off, great anxiety representatation. I completely get the wanting to stand up to something but being too anxious to do it mentality and I loved seeing him grow from that. Also, he's blond, Scottish and wears glasses, 10/10.
Without going into it, I really enjoyed the spice in this, Page was super sweet and understanding to Charlie's senory issues.
I want to besties with all the side characters. They were so fun, I will pay good money for spin offs.
I think my only real negative was the dislike/annoyance felt a little forced, but it did give way to bonding and learning about each other, so not the worst.
Overall, this was an amazing book, I loved Charlie and Page as their own characters and as a couple, I highly recommend picking it up.
Thank you to Caden Armstrong and BookFunnel for the E-ARC of Truthfully, Yours.
I loved Charlie as a MC, she felt very relatable as a Neurodivergent girly myself. Seeing her know how to manage senory issues and overstimulation was really empowering for me.
Page! First off, great anxiety representatation. I completely get the wanting to stand up to something but being too anxious to do it mentality and I loved seeing him grow from that. Also, he's blond, Scottish and wears glasses, 10/10.
Without going into it, I really enjoyed the spice in this, Page was super sweet and understanding to Charlie's senory issues.
I want to besties with all the side characters. They were so fun, I will pay good money for spin offs.
I think my only real negative was the dislike/annoyance felt a little forced, but it did give way to bonding and learning about each other, so not the worst.
Overall, this was an amazing book, I loved Charlie and Page as their own characters and as a couple, I highly recommend picking it up.
Thank you to Caden Armstrong and BookFunnel for the E-ARC of Truthfully, Yours.
February 2, 2024
3.5⭐️ this was SWEET!! I can’t put my finger on it but I felt so cozy while reading this even though it touches on heavy topics such as ableism. I really enjoyed getting to know the characters and the book store setting in a small town in Scotland was perfection! I liked the progression of the MCs relationship it was a fun (and steamy 🤭) journey.
The book had some moments with pacing and editing issues such as having chunks of dialogue being repeated back to us from another characters POV which was unnecessary. And I really enjoyed getting to know the side characters (I feel an inter connected series coming) but we were hit over the head so many times how Callum and the MCs sister might have something going on… we get it.
Overall this was a good time and I look forward to reading more books from this author!
The book had some moments with pacing and editing issues such as having chunks of dialogue being repeated back to us from another characters POV which was unnecessary. And I really enjoyed getting to know the side characters (I feel an inter connected series coming) but we were hit over the head so many times how Callum and the MCs sister might have something going on… we get it.
Overall this was a good time and I look forward to reading more books from this author!
January 29, 2024
I would die for Charlie & Page
February 26, 2024
Thank you to the author for gifting me an. ARC in exchange of an honest review!
Truthfully, Yours was such a cute, wholesome and warm story!
I absolutely LOVED the neurodivergent and queer representation. It was extremely healthy and so refreshing! I liked how the author handled sensitive topics in a healthy, respectful way. it truly felt like a warm, firm hug.
I liked the focus around family, whether it was a found famiky for Charlie or a biological family for Page. It was incredibly heartwarming to see the various ways you could love someone and how each was celebrated.
My nerdy-sef was extremely pleased with all the fanfic, fandom aspects of the story. I loved the script, nods to fanfiction and conventions this book had and I almost wished we had more.
My favourite part though, was that the story too place in Scotland. Scotland is a character of its own here and and I just loved all of the mentions of the country and its landscapes as well as the small-town vibes. I felt like I was there, discovering the town along Charlie and I applaud the author for making me travel.
I didn't give this book five stars because I think I had trouble with the pace. Some parts of the story were tentative and a little clumsy and dragged on unnecessarily at times. I think the book could have done with fewer pages in some parts. I also didn't really like the way a situation was handled in the end but the epilogue made up for my slight annoyance.
Overall I would highly recommend this book for its representation, gorgeous descriptions of Scotland and adorable characters (and spicy scenes)!
Truthfully, Yours was such a cute, wholesome and warm story!
I absolutely LOVED the neurodivergent and queer representation. It was extremely healthy and so refreshing! I liked how the author handled sensitive topics in a healthy, respectful way. it truly felt like a warm, firm hug.
I liked the focus around family, whether it was a found famiky for Charlie or a biological family for Page. It was incredibly heartwarming to see the various ways you could love someone and how each was celebrated.
My nerdy-sef was extremely pleased with all the fanfic, fandom aspects of the story. I loved the script, nods to fanfiction and conventions this book had and I almost wished we had more.
My favourite part though, was that the story too place in Scotland. Scotland is a character of its own here and and I just loved all of the mentions of the country and its landscapes as well as the small-town vibes. I felt like I was there, discovering the town along Charlie and I applaud the author for making me travel.
I didn't give this book five stars because I think I had trouble with the pace. Some parts of the story were tentative and a little clumsy and dragged on unnecessarily at times. I think the book could have done with fewer pages in some parts. I also didn't really like the way a situation was handled in the end but the epilogue made up for my slight annoyance.
Overall I would highly recommend this book for its representation, gorgeous descriptions of Scotland and adorable characters (and spicy scenes)!
March 28, 2024
I rarely struggled so much trying to understand sentences. I couldn't focus on anything because I had to re-read whole paragraphs twice or more. The writing was clearly not meant for my attention span. I gave up at chapter five.
March 28, 2024
I am oh so very jealous of everyone who managed to get through this book, unbothered (I'm assuming) by how badly it is written. I admire your strength, fellow readers. I tried hard but in the end I couldn't do it 😔 there was a distinct lack of cause-effect and logical connections throughout (linguistically and narratively) and I was simply unwilling to fill in the blanks myself. The disbelief wasn't suspending :/ normally I'd be willing to entertain the notion that this is a skill issue on my part, but the writing was abysmal enough that the thought didn't even cross my mind. DNF'ed around page 70
Oh and btw the throwaway line about "everyone needing a bit of romance" in ch3 that went entirely unchallenged? For a book with a queer main character, and considering the sensitive reading this book went through... that line of dialogue was unneeded and lowkey arophobic. I'm out!
Oh and btw the throwaway line about "everyone needing a bit of romance" in ch3 that went entirely unchallenged? For a book with a queer main character, and considering the sensitive reading this book went through... that line of dialogue was unneeded and lowkey arophobic. I'm out!
February 27, 2025
it was good but the last few chapters felt rushed, tbh
January 30, 2024
rep: anxiety (mmc), Autism (fmc)
This book was just too cute. Literally so many factors that I absolutely loved. I mean a celebrity romance with neurodivergent main character, wonderful anxiety representation and takes place in a bookstore!!! Sign me up!
Page and Charlie, in my opinion, were wonderful main characters! Charlie felt so real and relatable. She’s open and honest about her disabilities and honestly this book kind of felt like a glimpse into what it’s like to be neurodivergent, obviously, everyone is different. Every one has different experiences that help shape them. This just felt like a very vulnerable way of showing a neurotypical person what it’s like to have Autism. I feel like it made readers understand how Charlie felt so well, and touched on things that were so specific and true that it just hit home so well.
Page was equally adorable I was equally able to relate to his anxiety and his struggles with mental health. I do think it played a major role, and it was discussed and represented so well. I loved how he was able to understand Charlie. He appreciated her for who she was, and took into consideration her sensory needs before she even addressed them. They had a very tender and sweet relationship throughout the whole story, and I am honestly really happy with everything in this book went together.
As much as I loved our main characters, I also really love the side characters. I thought the family aspect was super strong, and I would love to read a spinoff about honestly all of them and get a littleee more of Charlie and Page.
Overall, this felt like a love letter to neurodivergent people, and/or people with anxiety but I truly think everyone will be able to relate to this book in some type of way. Highly recommend this amazing debut!!
*Thank you so much Caden Armstrong ans BookFunnel for an e-ARC, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions above are 100% my own!*
This book was just too cute. Literally so many factors that I absolutely loved. I mean a celebrity romance with neurodivergent main character, wonderful anxiety representation and takes place in a bookstore!!! Sign me up!
Page and Charlie, in my opinion, were wonderful main characters! Charlie felt so real and relatable. She’s open and honest about her disabilities and honestly this book kind of felt like a glimpse into what it’s like to be neurodivergent, obviously, everyone is different. Every one has different experiences that help shape them. This just felt like a very vulnerable way of showing a neurotypical person what it’s like to have Autism. I feel like it made readers understand how Charlie felt so well, and touched on things that were so specific and true that it just hit home so well.
Page was equally adorable I was equally able to relate to his anxiety and his struggles with mental health. I do think it played a major role, and it was discussed and represented so well. I loved how he was able to understand Charlie. He appreciated her for who she was, and took into consideration her sensory needs before she even addressed them. They had a very tender and sweet relationship throughout the whole story, and I am honestly really happy with everything in this book went together.
As much as I loved our main characters, I also really love the side characters. I thought the family aspect was super strong, and I would love to read a spinoff about honestly all of them and get a littleee more of Charlie and Page.
Overall, this felt like a love letter to neurodivergent people, and/or people with anxiety but I truly think everyone will be able to relate to this book in some type of way. Highly recommend this amazing debut!!
*Thank you so much Caden Armstrong ans BookFunnel for an e-ARC, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions above are 100% my own!*
February 1, 2024
4.5 ⭐️
As a queer, AuDHDer I have never felt so represented in a book before.
The female protagonist, Charlie James, is bisexual, late-diagnosed autistic and navigating life as a disabled person in her early twenties.
Caden has beautifully depicted the inner workings of Charlie’s autistic brain and through this enemies-to-lovers romance has tackled important topics such as ableism, privilege & trauma in such an effortless way.
I highlighted so many passages that gave me goosebumps of recognition and brought tears of joy to my eyes…
“Because true silence, the silence her brain needed, didn’t exist.”
“Words were hard to come by, and it felt like, every time she talked, she was pulling the syllables out of her mouth with a wrench”.
“How did you tell your mother that her touch seemed to physically hurt, even though five minutes ago it was fine? […] Or how you always felt like you were on the outside of a group conversation, looking in like a spectator? […] How did you put into words how you felt as if there was something seriously wrong with you?”
“Charlie had learned early on that whenever she put herself out there too early with friendships or relationships, she always ended up screwing them up somehow”.
“There was so much sudden, unfiltered joy on her face that it knocked the breath out of him. Her face lit up, her eyes shining, even in the darkness surrounding them”.
“Once again, she hadn’t read the room. Once again, what she had believed to be true hadn’t been true at all.”
*thank you Caden Armstrong and Bookfunnel for the ARC copy in exchange for an honest review *
As a queer, AuDHDer I have never felt so represented in a book before.
The female protagonist, Charlie James, is bisexual, late-diagnosed autistic and navigating life as a disabled person in her early twenties.
Caden has beautifully depicted the inner workings of Charlie’s autistic brain and through this enemies-to-lovers romance has tackled important topics such as ableism, privilege & trauma in such an effortless way.
I highlighted so many passages that gave me goosebumps of recognition and brought tears of joy to my eyes…
“Because true silence, the silence her brain needed, didn’t exist.”
“Words were hard to come by, and it felt like, every time she talked, she was pulling the syllables out of her mouth with a wrench”.
“How did you tell your mother that her touch seemed to physically hurt, even though five minutes ago it was fine? […] Or how you always felt like you were on the outside of a group conversation, looking in like a spectator? […] How did you put into words how you felt as if there was something seriously wrong with you?”
“Charlie had learned early on that whenever she put herself out there too early with friendships or relationships, she always ended up screwing them up somehow”.
“There was so much sudden, unfiltered joy on her face that it knocked the breath out of him. Her face lit up, her eyes shining, even in the darkness surrounding them”.
“Once again, she hadn’t read the room. Once again, what she had believed to be true hadn’t been true at all.”
*thank you Caden Armstrong and Bookfunnel for the ARC copy in exchange for an honest review *
February 14, 2024
Place any romance with good neurodivergent representation in front of me and I will just gobble it up and this book was no exception!!
March 17, 2024
ive really been struggling to feel lovable due to my autistic traits. having a main character of a romance book who is just like me was so so so special. thank you for this book 🩷
February 13, 2024
i couldn’t put this down omg
February 18, 2024
"Truthfully, Yours" by Caden Armstrong is a small town romance set in Scotland, and it follows Page and Charlie. I didn't really enjoy this book, it was just kind of okay. I really really struggled to feel any sort of connection between the main characters, and I also struggled to connect with them individually. The book had cute elements, but for me, the relationship between the main characters didn't really feel believable. There was a lot more telling than showing in the book, and it was almost like the author didn't provide enough evidence that the characters actually fell in love, so although the two confess their love to each other in the book, the "love" just didn't feel believable to me.
I also felt like there was a lot of repetition of unnecessary things in the book. Another thing that really annoyed me was that you could tell that the author was setting up for the next book in the series by constantly talking about another set of characters and their relationship to one another. I normally don't mind this, but they were talked about and hinted at excessively.
With all this being said, I can see why people would enjoy this book, so definitely still read it if the blurb interests you! I just don't think it was for me.
Thank you to the author for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I also felt like there was a lot of repetition of unnecessary things in the book. Another thing that really annoyed me was that you could tell that the author was setting up for the next book in the series by constantly talking about another set of characters and their relationship to one another. I normally don't mind this, but they were talked about and hinted at excessively.
With all this being said, I can see why people would enjoy this book, so definitely still read it if the blurb interests you! I just don't think it was for me.
Thank you to the author for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
February 12, 2024
3.5
I loved this book. I got my diagnosis two years ago at 27 years old and I love seeing romcom books with an autistic protagonist. The plot was great.
I don't give it a higher rating just because a few things that were more about editing stuff and some things got a little repetitive. But as a whole and considering it's a debut novel it's really great. Amazing autistic representation.
I loved this book. I got my diagnosis two years ago at 27 years old and I love seeing romcom books with an autistic protagonist. The plot was great.
I don't give it a higher rating just because a few things that were more about editing stuff and some things got a little repetitive. But as a whole and considering it's a debut novel it's really great. Amazing autistic representation.
February 4, 2024
》ARC Review: Truthfully, Yours 《
This debut by Caden Armstrong was so lovely and heartwarming to read. Truthfully, Yours does an exemplary job in making readers feel not only seen but welcomed in being exactly who they are. The title for this one is perfectly chosen, as it is a book filled with truths: some hurt, but some heal, and along the way creates a romance to fall in love with.
》The Leads《
I loved Charlie. Being in her shoes presented to me a perspective that broaden my knowledge in which I faced much of my own ignorance. Autism is part of who Charlie is, and unfortunately ableism is something she faces by others far too often in life. Seeing her work through who she is while seeing how others have deeply hurt her for that, was at times hard to face. But I’m glad I was there to face it with her, because I learned so much from Charlie— with plenty more to learn.
Then there’s Page. While Charlie was my learning experience, Page was my very relatable mirror. Minus the whole stardom thing, ha! I understood to my bones the anxiety he faced, the why he protected himself from opening up too much to others, the way he at times retreated within himself. I felt that. I understood that. I just about cried seeing an author create a character like Page that so deeply resonated with me.
The leads in these books are so real, so vibrant, so true.
I also want to say how much I appreciated how vividly described every single character, lead or supporting, is in this book. The author leads no ambiguity about appearance of each, and personally I think that’s incredible positive and inclusive.
》The Romance《
It did take me a moment to feel the chemistry between the leads, there are assumptions and miscommunication standing between them when they initially meet, but once that’s worked through, their love story takes off so sweetly (and hotly, whew!). I enjoyed seeing these two not just fall in love, but open up so vulnerably with one another.
》The World-Building《
Not only is there a fabulous setting in this story (gorgeous Scotland), but the plot is expanded with details that I thought brought a terrific layers onto story.
Ahead of every chapter were snippets of written fanfic, social media posts, interview excerpts, and so on. I though that was an interesting plot device to both expand upon the story but also bring real world experiences to further resonate with readers.
Typically, I am not fond of pop culture references in books. I find they can age quite quickly and poorly. To my total surprise, I ate up every single pop culture reference in this one! I mean, Star Wars Rebels was referenced?!?! My feet were kicking in the most joyful, nerdy delight! I loved every reference— it made me feel seen, truthfully, allowing me to embrace the nerdiness.
》To Sum it Up《
I felt so seen reading this one, and I think so many readers will. For one reason or another, there is so much to relate to when reading Truthfully Yours. And I wholly embraced it.
Thank you to Caden Armstrong and BookFunnel for providing me an arc in exchange for an honest review.
This debut by Caden Armstrong was so lovely and heartwarming to read. Truthfully, Yours does an exemplary job in making readers feel not only seen but welcomed in being exactly who they are. The title for this one is perfectly chosen, as it is a book filled with truths: some hurt, but some heal, and along the way creates a romance to fall in love with.
》The Leads《
I loved Charlie. Being in her shoes presented to me a perspective that broaden my knowledge in which I faced much of my own ignorance. Autism is part of who Charlie is, and unfortunately ableism is something she faces by others far too often in life. Seeing her work through who she is while seeing how others have deeply hurt her for that, was at times hard to face. But I’m glad I was there to face it with her, because I learned so much from Charlie— with plenty more to learn.
Then there’s Page. While Charlie was my learning experience, Page was my very relatable mirror. Minus the whole stardom thing, ha! I understood to my bones the anxiety he faced, the why he protected himself from opening up too much to others, the way he at times retreated within himself. I felt that. I understood that. I just about cried seeing an author create a character like Page that so deeply resonated with me.
The leads in these books are so real, so vibrant, so true.
I also want to say how much I appreciated how vividly described every single character, lead or supporting, is in this book. The author leads no ambiguity about appearance of each, and personally I think that’s incredible positive and inclusive.
》The Romance《
It did take me a moment to feel the chemistry between the leads, there are assumptions and miscommunication standing between them when they initially meet, but once that’s worked through, their love story takes off so sweetly (and hotly, whew!). I enjoyed seeing these two not just fall in love, but open up so vulnerably with one another.
》The World-Building《
Not only is there a fabulous setting in this story (gorgeous Scotland), but the plot is expanded with details that I thought brought a terrific layers onto story.
Ahead of every chapter were snippets of written fanfic, social media posts, interview excerpts, and so on. I though that was an interesting plot device to both expand upon the story but also bring real world experiences to further resonate with readers.
Typically, I am not fond of pop culture references in books. I find they can age quite quickly and poorly. To my total surprise, I ate up every single pop culture reference in this one! I mean, Star Wars Rebels was referenced?!?! My feet were kicking in the most joyful, nerdy delight! I loved every reference— it made me feel seen, truthfully, allowing me to embrace the nerdiness.
》To Sum it Up《
I felt so seen reading this one, and I think so many readers will. For one reason or another, there is so much to relate to when reading Truthfully Yours. And I wholly embraced it.
Thank you to Caden Armstrong and BookFunnel for providing me an arc in exchange for an honest review.
February 9, 2024
I've honestly never read a book that made me feel more validated as a neurodiverse woman. And I think it's so special that this story exists. I fell in love with the characters and the world, and can't wait to go back for the sequel! I read this book in under 24 hours, and I'm sure I'll feel the same way about Caden's next project.
With all self published books I read, I try to give as much feedback as possible because I know there's not a huge company doing that for me. Please take the criticisms to come as me wanting to see this author grow and continue writing, and not anything malicious. That's definitely not my intent.
I think the biggest thing that threw me off in this novel were the spicy scenes. It seemed almost half done. Almost like the author was nervous when writing them, and so they missed some important "how did they get here" or "what position are they in" moments. It took me out of it a bit. They also seemed a bit rushed. Honestly, though, that last part could just be more personal preference than anything.
I think other than that large thing, really the only issue I saw in this book was that on my Kindle, it formatted oddly sometimes. There were really odd paragraph changes that I knew weren't intentional and some sentences that repeated themselves. I'm not sure if that's a me issue or a book issue, but it might be good to look at :)
Overall, I am so so excited to see what Caden has in store, and honestly want to thank her for making me feel so seen, and showing people what the bar is in neurodiverse relationships. Gorgeous story and incredibly well done.
With all self published books I read, I try to give as much feedback as possible because I know there's not a huge company doing that for me. Please take the criticisms to come as me wanting to see this author grow and continue writing, and not anything malicious. That's definitely not my intent.
I think the biggest thing that threw me off in this novel were the spicy scenes. It seemed almost half done. Almost like the author was nervous when writing them, and so they missed some important "how did they get here" or "what position are they in" moments. It took me out of it a bit. They also seemed a bit rushed. Honestly, though, that last part could just be more personal preference than anything.
I think other than that large thing, really the only issue I saw in this book was that on my Kindle, it formatted oddly sometimes. There were really odd paragraph changes that I knew weren't intentional and some sentences that repeated themselves. I'm not sure if that's a me issue or a book issue, but it might be good to look at :)
Overall, I am so so excited to see what Caden has in store, and honestly want to thank her for making me feel so seen, and showing people what the bar is in neurodiverse relationships. Gorgeous story and incredibly well done.
January 27, 2024
Truthfully, Yours by Caden Armstrong
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
emotional funny hopeful medium-paced
Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
I loved this book so so much, Charlie was relatable & Page was just perfectly human, flawed, and sweet. I love them both, and I absolutely adored how their relationship blossomed. It was so natural and believable, and I love how they approached one another with empathy, honesty, and kindness. I’m so happy I received an ARC and got to read this first.
As someone who was diagnosed with autism in her late 20s, reading about Charlie and her struggles was like reading my own experience. I cried multiple times. This felt cathartic.
I’m so happy with the ending to this story, and that there was a character development of both her’s and Page’s character that not only felt believable, but was practical, and with how they end up together ❣️
I wish I could reread this again for the first time! Highly recommend.
Content Warnings
- Graphic: Sexism, Panic attacks/disorders, and Ableism
- Minor: Child death, Grief, Car accident, and Death of parent
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
emotional funny hopeful medium-paced
Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
I loved this book so so much, Charlie was relatable & Page was just perfectly human, flawed, and sweet. I love them both, and I absolutely adored how their relationship blossomed. It was so natural and believable, and I love how they approached one another with empathy, honesty, and kindness. I’m so happy I received an ARC and got to read this first.
As someone who was diagnosed with autism in her late 20s, reading about Charlie and her struggles was like reading my own experience. I cried multiple times. This felt cathartic.
I’m so happy with the ending to this story, and that there was a character development of both her’s and Page’s character that not only felt believable, but was practical, and with how they end up together ❣️
I wish I could reread this again for the first time! Highly recommend.
Content Warnings
- Graphic: Sexism, Panic attacks/disorders, and Ableism
- Minor: Child death, Grief, Car accident, and Death of parent
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