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Gray Springs University #2
Bittersweet Always
Toby Hawthorne was an enigma.
One I didn’t factor into my college plans.
I wasn’t looking for love.
I wasn’t not looking for it either.
And in that state of in-between, he found me.
Unaware of the battle he fought everyday, I fell fast.
By the time I found out, it was too late.
Because I wanted everything.
Every broken, lost part of him.
I knew I couldn’t fix him.
I could only love him.
But I should’ve known better than to think that was enough.
Warning: This book contains sensitive subject matter.
Each book in the Gray Springs world can be read as a standalone.
One I didn’t factor into my college plans.
I wasn’t looking for love.
I wasn’t not looking for it either.
And in that state of in-between, he found me.
Unaware of the battle he fought everyday, I fell fast.
By the time I found out, it was too late.
Because I wanted everything.
Every broken, lost part of him.
I knew I couldn’t fix him.
I could only love him.
But I should’ve known better than to think that was enough.
Warning: This book contains sensitive subject matter.
Each book in the Gray Springs world can be read as a standalone.
ebook
First published May 2, 2018
1156 people are currently reading
2989 people want to read
About the author
Ella Fields
30 books5,947 followersUSA Today and international bestselling author, Ella Fields, resides in Australia with her husband, two children, and furry critters.
A lover of chocolate, magic, and words—she enjoys exploring the sharper sides of love in varying genres of romance.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellafieldsa...
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/authorellafields/
Newsletter: http://bit.ly/2Amt3FL
A lover of chocolate, magic, and words—she enjoys exploring the sharper sides of love in varying genres of romance.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellafieldsa...
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/authorellafields/
Newsletter: http://bit.ly/2Amt3FL
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 469 reviews
May 6, 2018
MY REVIEW can also be found on my blog:
KITTY KATS CRAZY ABOUT BOOKS
’BITTERSWEET ALWAYS:’ Is the second book in Ella Field’s ‘Gray Springs University’ series.. This is Pippa James and Toby Hawthorne’s story.
I for one was ecstatic when Ella announced that she was going to take us back to Gray Springs University to get to know Pippa and Toby more and hopefully to spend more time with Daisy and Quinn which we did do and I loved every minute of my time with these past characters.
Pippa is Daisy’s best friend and roomie that we all met and fell in love with in ‘Suddenly Forbidden Book#1.’
What you see is what you get with Pippa, she tellS it how she sees, it, she doesn’t mince her words or beat around the bush and every now and then she’ll even swear like a sailor, she’s strong, fierce, and dependable.
When Toby set his sights on Pippa he was relentless, he moved in swiftly and swept her off her feet.
You invaded something inside me the minute I saw you, and you haven't left since.
Toby isn’t perfect, his thoughts are ugly and downright messy, he’s imperfectly broken and unpredictable, and unstable, when he’s high on life you’ll swoon like the rest of us, his one liners, his love he has for Pippa is undeniable, but when he hits his lows along with Pippa your heart just breaks into the smallest smithereens of imperfectly broken pieces. I couldn't fix him, I could only love him.
I think Ella handled this subject with the upmost sensitivity and with as much respect as possible, so beautifully written, as some of us know living with or being raised by a person with a mental illness can be downright scary, it can leave everlasting scars on you, but with the right medication and help that is offered like we read with Toby they can live a normal, healthy fulfilling life.
I want to be with you always. I want to crawl underneath your skin, live inside the life that runs through your every vein, and consume your every thought. I want you to breathe me, to inhale the thoughts of me, and for you to exhale anything that stops me from overtaking every part of you. I want...To do to you exactly what you've done to me.
I can honestly say that I’ve never read a book like ‘Bittersweet Always’ before, it’s unique, it’s raw, it's real, and beautiful in it’s entirety. All the feels in the world, a slow burn that took over my heart, swooning moments, giggling moments, sad moments, ugly moments and all the moments in between..
May 15, 2018
4.5
After I read Suddenly Forbidden, I made a vow to read every book Ella Fields decides to write. That story gave me the feels the way few others do, and quite simply, it blew me away. Even the secondary characters had an impact on me. I needed to know their story, and I was ecstatic when I found out I was going to get it.
Pippa's life was greatly affected by her father's mental illness. The last thing she would ever want for herself is to fall in love with a man like him, but that's exactly what she does. Is Toby worth the risk?
Toby and Pippa's journey has lots of ups and downs. It's raw, real, and emotional. The pain the characters experience hit me right in the heart. I understood their struggle, and I rooted for them the whole way through. If you are someone that suffers from mental illness or love anyone that does, I think you will empathize even more with the characters.
Bittersweet Always is beautifully written, heartbreaking, and heartwarming all at once. The romance is intense, and the story is captivating. If you're a fan of the author or contemporary romance in general, I recommend this one to you!
After I read Suddenly Forbidden, I made a vow to read every book Ella Fields decides to write. That story gave me the feels the way few others do, and quite simply, it blew me away. Even the secondary characters had an impact on me. I needed to know their story, and I was ecstatic when I found out I was going to get it.
Pippa's life was greatly affected by her father's mental illness. The last thing she would ever want for herself is to fall in love with a man like him, but that's exactly what she does. Is Toby worth the risk?
Toby and Pippa's journey has lots of ups and downs. It's raw, real, and emotional. The pain the characters experience hit me right in the heart. I understood their struggle, and I rooted for them the whole way through. If you are someone that suffers from mental illness or love anyone that does, I think you will empathize even more with the characters.
Bittersweet Always is beautifully written, heartbreaking, and heartwarming all at once. The romance is intense, and the story is captivating. If you're a fan of the author or contemporary romance in general, I recommend this one to you!
Want to read
May 4, 2018LIVE at 99¢! | AMZ US | AMZ UK |
Stand-alone
LIVE at 99¢! | AMZ US | AMZ UK |
Blurb:
Toby Hawthorne was an enigma.
One I didn’t factor into my college plans.
I wasn’t looking for love.
I wasn’t not looking for it either.
And in that state of in-between, he found me.
Unaware of the battle he fought everyday, I fell fast.
By the time I found out, it was too late.
Because I wanted everything.
Every broken, lost part of him.
I knew I couldn’t fix him.
I could only love him.
But I should’ve known better than to think that was enough.
Books in Gray Springs University series are stand-alones:
Book 1: Suddenly Forbidden
Book 2: Bittersweet Always
Book 3: Pretty Venom
Stand-alone
LIVE at 99¢! | AMZ US | AMZ UK |
Blurb:
Toby Hawthorne was an enigma.
One I didn’t factor into my college plans.
I wasn’t looking for love.
I wasn’t not looking for it either.
And in that state of in-between, he found me.
Unaware of the battle he fought everyday, I fell fast.
By the time I found out, it was too late.
Because I wanted everything.
Every broken, lost part of him.
I knew I couldn’t fix him.
I could only love him.
But I should’ve known better than to think that was enough.
Books in Gray Springs University series are stand-alones:
Book 1: Suddenly Forbidden
Book 2: Bittersweet Always
Book 3: Pretty Venom
April 27, 2018
It’s not easy writing about a sensitive subject as mental illness is because it varies from person to person. Ella Fields handles it with respect and care. I have to applaud her for how she chose to write about and incorporate it into the story. She succeeded beautifully thanks to the two characters Pippa and Toby.
Their story resonated with me thanks to their authenticity. They felt real and so did their friendships with Daisy, Quinn, Pippa’s family and Toby’s father. The emotion was palpable throughout the entire story. It was an emotional and at times heartbreaking ride.
Toby’s struggle with anxiety and his thoughts was depicted flawlessly and with an honesty that made the scenes even more powerful. Pippa is the kind of heroine I love. She’s so strong and also admits when she’s weak and scared. She has witnessed mental illness first hand because of her father. It’s different this time around cause she loves Toby and is left powerless to watch him spiral out of control. It was excruciating to watch her struggle with what to do and the right thing to do.
I rooted for Toby and loved him so much. His pain was real and ugly. I felt it and I sympathize with him. His and Pippa’s love is new and intoxicating. They’re young and enjoying each other at the same time struggling with navigating through Toby’s behavior and severe mood swings just waiting for him to finally break and hit rock bottom. One thing that was never an issue was their love for one another.
Support is so damn important. Toby and Pippa have an abundance of that and I love how that came across from start to finish. I loved their friendships with Daisy, Quinn and the football team. Pippa’s relationship with her mother and Toby with his father were highlights too. I felt their love and support unconditionally from them all.
The epilogue was superb and ended the story spectacularly. I’m on a high and again in awe of Ella Fields. So different from her previous book Suddenly Forbidden and I couldn’t be happier. Bittersweet Always is riveting, raw and truly beautiful. Ella Fields masters any genre effortlessly and Bittersweet Always is proof of that.
5 BadAssDirtyMyHomeStars
I received an arc
Their story resonated with me thanks to their authenticity. They felt real and so did their friendships with Daisy, Quinn, Pippa’s family and Toby’s father. The emotion was palpable throughout the entire story. It was an emotional and at times heartbreaking ride.
Toby’s struggle with anxiety and his thoughts was depicted flawlessly and with an honesty that made the scenes even more powerful. Pippa is the kind of heroine I love. She’s so strong and also admits when she’s weak and scared. She has witnessed mental illness first hand because of her father. It’s different this time around cause she loves Toby and is left powerless to watch him spiral out of control. It was excruciating to watch her struggle with what to do and the right thing to do.
I rooted for Toby and loved him so much. His pain was real and ugly. I felt it and I sympathize with him. His and Pippa’s love is new and intoxicating. They’re young and enjoying each other at the same time struggling with navigating through Toby’s behavior and severe mood swings just waiting for him to finally break and hit rock bottom. One thing that was never an issue was their love for one another.
Support is so damn important. Toby and Pippa have an abundance of that and I love how that came across from start to finish. I loved their friendships with Daisy, Quinn and the football team. Pippa’s relationship with her mother and Toby with his father were highlights too. I felt their love and support unconditionally from them all.
The epilogue was superb and ended the story spectacularly. I’m on a high and again in awe of Ella Fields. So different from her previous book Suddenly Forbidden and I couldn’t be happier. Bittersweet Always is riveting, raw and truly beautiful. Ella Fields masters any genre effortlessly and Bittersweet Always is proof of that.
5 BadAssDirtyMyHomeStars
I received an arc
May 2, 2018
“I loved her. I loved her like I’d never loved anything else before, and with that kind of love, comes a price. I was under her skin the same way she lived in mine. I beat in her heart the same way she controlled the tempo of mine".
I feel like a broken record saying this, but I’m going to say it again anyway: This author just has a way with her words that forces you to sit up and take notice. You’re caught off guard with them and even though you’re not fully prepared of what’s to come, you sit back and enjoy it because you KNOW that it’s going to be good.
It’s no secret that I have not been so patiently waiting for this story to come out. I practically had my tits put on auction just to read this and based on the looks of certain faces, no one had any “Buyers Remorse" just yet. From the moment I read Suddenly Forbidden, I knew I had to read more about Pippa and Toby’s relationship. It was going to be complicated, messy, and downright heartbreaking at times and my heart was ready for that. Or so I thought.
We’ve all heard that saying: “You can’t help who you fall in love with”. Well those words have never been more true than when Pippa met and fell in love with Toby. The attraction was automatic and boy did it show! The sexual chemistry was bleeding off the pages with this one, but that didn’t make the story for me. It was the love. Painful at times, with a feeling of exhaustion and despair, this love went far and beyond.
“I want you to breathe me, to inhale to thoughts of me, and for you to exhale anything that stops me from overtaking any parts of you. I want….. his breath stuttered, head rising to rest his forehead on mine. “To do to you exactly what you’ve done to me".
There’s no need for me to go into further details about this story but what I will say is that I truly adored these characters. Yes, loving them was exhausting at times and quite honestly the beginning felt extremely slow for me, but once I sat back and really looked at the bigger picture, I understood why it was done this way. I didn’t agree with everything but I knew one thing for sure: Cody and Pippa's relationship needed time and as individuals, we needed to see their growth and I appreciated the author for doing that.
This is a must read book for 2018 and if anyone tells you otherwise, kindly smack the **** out of them.
July 30, 2018
★ 4 “You’re my disaster” stars!!! ★
Por diversos motivos, eu adiei o máximo que pude pra ler esse livro. Vi em resenhas que era uma história abordando um tema mais complexo e delicado.
Sempre que leio livros dessa autora eu fico com sentimentos conflitantes em relação aos personagens e justamente por isso fui deixando de lado, porque eu realmente gostei da Pippa e Toby no livro anterior...
Porém, resolvi deixar meus medos de lado e encarar a leitura, senti que era o momento certo pra conhecer a história dos dois... e que alívio foi descobrir que meus receios foram em vão.
Eu adorei esse livro!
Meu coração se partiu inúmeras vezes ao acompanhar a difícil e dolorosa trajetória de Pippa e Toby, pude sentir cada emoção que ambos vivenciaram. Tive vontade de pegar no colo, consolar e dizer que tudo ficaria bem. Senti uma conexão bem forte por eles, torci, chorei, sorri e suspirei junto...
A autora, na minha opinião, conseguiu desenvolver o tema de forma apropriada e não apenas superficialmente. Isso foi o que mais me agradou, porque esse assunto deve ser abordado e discutido com mais frequência. Principalmente nos dias de hoje onde ficamos sabendo de tantos casos semelhantes, onde infelizmente, alguns não têm final feliz.
Eu confesso que senti um pouco de dificuldade no início da leitura, pelo simples fato de que a história segue na mesma linha de tempo do livro anterior. Sendo assim, houve momentos que me deixaram com a sensação de estar “relendo” a história anterior, só que contada com outra perspectiva. Porém, isso foi breve e logo consegui me envolver na trama.
Outro ponto que me incomodou levemente é que, pra mim, algumas situações se arrastaram demais, a resolução poderia ser mais rápida. No entanto, levando em consideração toda a trajetória e a história como um todo, é também compreensível e aceitável o tempo que levou.
Bittersweet Always não foi uma leitura fácil e justamente por esse motivo tornou-se uma história maravilhosa e marcante. Carregada de emoção, sentimento e superação... terminei este livro ainda mais apaixonada por esse casal e respeitando ainda mais as pessoas que viveram/vivem situação semelhante!
Ps: Estou bem ansiosa e mal posso esperar para ler a história do Callum! <3
“You invaded something inside me the minute I saw you, and you haven’t left since.”
Por diversos motivos, eu adiei o máximo que pude pra ler esse livro. Vi em resenhas que era uma história abordando um tema mais complexo e delicado.
Sempre que leio livros dessa autora eu fico com sentimentos conflitantes em relação aos personagens e justamente por isso fui deixando de lado, porque eu realmente gostei da Pippa e Toby no livro anterior...
Porém, resolvi deixar meus medos de lado e encarar a leitura, senti que era o momento certo pra conhecer a história dos dois... e que alívio foi descobrir que meus receios foram em vão.
Eu adorei esse livro!
Meu coração se partiu inúmeras vezes ao acompanhar a difícil e dolorosa trajetória de Pippa e Toby, pude sentir cada emoção que ambos vivenciaram. Tive vontade de pegar no colo, consolar e dizer que tudo ficaria bem. Senti uma conexão bem forte por eles, torci, chorei, sorri e suspirei junto...
A autora, na minha opinião, conseguiu desenvolver o tema de forma apropriada e não apenas superficialmente. Isso foi o que mais me agradou, porque esse assunto deve ser abordado e discutido com mais frequência. Principalmente nos dias de hoje onde ficamos sabendo de tantos casos semelhantes, onde infelizmente, alguns não têm final feliz.
Eu confesso que senti um pouco de dificuldade no início da leitura, pelo simples fato de que a história segue na mesma linha de tempo do livro anterior. Sendo assim, houve momentos que me deixaram com a sensação de estar “relendo” a história anterior, só que contada com outra perspectiva. Porém, isso foi breve e logo consegui me envolver na trama.
Outro ponto que me incomodou levemente é que, pra mim, algumas situações se arrastaram demais, a resolução poderia ser mais rápida. No entanto, levando em consideração toda a trajetória e a história como um todo, é também compreensível e aceitável o tempo que levou.
Bittersweet Always não foi uma leitura fácil e justamente por esse motivo tornou-se uma história maravilhosa e marcante. Carregada de emoção, sentimento e superação... terminei este livro ainda mais apaixonada por esse casal e respeitando ainda mais as pessoas que viveram/vivem situação semelhante!
Ps: Estou bem ansiosa e mal posso esperar para ler a história do Callum! <3
“I was under her skin the same way she lived in mine. I beat in her heart the same way she controlled the tempo of mine.”
May 3, 2018
Everyone knows I am a HUGE fangirl of Ella Field's books. Her stories always deliver the emotions I need in order to fall in love with her characters - for them to stay with me long after I close the book. Bittersweet Always has this in spades.
Up til now Jared has been my favourite character from this author. My beautiful, complicated, dirty mechanic 😍 Sorry Jared but Toby has stolen your spot. He's as infuriating as he is endearing and it just made me love him more. A complex character that had me yelling at my Ipad one minute and smiling a dopey smile the next. He's haunted by demons that not everyone will understand and that makes him not your average romance alpha - I for one, am soooo okay with that.
My love for Pippa started in Suddenly Forbidden when we realised she was the kind of fierce friend every woman needs in their life. In this book you still get her humour and her wit, but you also see her depth and her strength. She's tested and she proves exactly who she is and what she will and will not tolerate.
This story explores difficult subjects not often covered in romance and it does it beautifully. What happens when the person you love, doesn't know how to love themselves?
Pippa and Toby together are everything you want in a NA romance - they're passionate, hilarious and heartbreaking. This one's not your usual college story and that makes me very happy. I love stories that don't follow the formula. Not all love stories are easy. Some hurt. Some don't work out the way you expect. And some work out better than you could ever imagine.
I cannot wait for everyone to meet these two - I have so much love for this extraordinary, brave, smart and funny read. So much love ❤️❤️❤️
I beta read this book.
Up til now Jared has been my favourite character from this author. My beautiful, complicated, dirty mechanic 😍 Sorry Jared but Toby has stolen your spot. He's as infuriating as he is endearing and it just made me love him more. A complex character that had me yelling at my Ipad one minute and smiling a dopey smile the next. He's haunted by demons that not everyone will understand and that makes him not your average romance alpha - I for one, am soooo okay with that.
My love for Pippa started in Suddenly Forbidden when we realised she was the kind of fierce friend every woman needs in their life. In this book you still get her humour and her wit, but you also see her depth and her strength. She's tested and she proves exactly who she is and what she will and will not tolerate.
This story explores difficult subjects not often covered in romance and it does it beautifully. What happens when the person you love, doesn't know how to love themselves?
Pippa and Toby together are everything you want in a NA romance - they're passionate, hilarious and heartbreaking. This one's not your usual college story and that makes me very happy. I love stories that don't follow the formula. Not all love stories are easy. Some hurt. Some don't work out the way you expect. And some work out better than you could ever imagine.
I cannot wait for everyone to meet these two - I have so much love for this extraordinary, brave, smart and funny read. So much love ❤️❤️❤️
I beta read this book.
May 5, 2018
Growing up, Pippa James knows it so well how a mental instability can affect a persons life and the people around him.
From the outside, Toby Hawthorne looks like any college jock: handsome and cocky. Inside him is a different story. Beyond his fun and beautiful exterior is a battle that he fights everyday without knowing if one day he'll ever win.
Ella Fields writes stories that crush and mend you. She creates heroes that you will love but will also hate. And she pens heroines you will look up to because of their strength and kindheartedness. This author has that power to draw out so much emotion in your heart. You won't even notice she's breaking you because she does it so slowly and so good!
Bittersweet is a New Adult romance, yes, but the author was able to blend it with a topic that everyone needs some understanding of: mental illness. This book will open your hearts and your minds to the challenges of having a mental illness and loving a person who has it. I thought it was too sweet of a read until I reached the 30% mark. The barricades of my heart weren't ready when Ella shot emotional missiles one after the other.
But before you become afraid to read this, I'm telling you now... don't be. This might be an emotional rollecoaster of a book but it has one of the most beautiful HEAs. And Toby, I swear that he will make you love him so much you will forget he's broken.
May 10, 2018
I was so excited for Toby's book when it was announced, I knew he had a story and a half to tell and did he ever! Ella Fields sure took on a difficult subject with mental illness and she did it with sensitivity and respect without trying to lighten or downplay Toby's issues or miraculously "healing" him.
Pippa's a fabulous heroine and just what Toby needed. I've read so many NA books where the characters irritate the hell out of me with the juvenile drama, not so in Bittersweet Always. Not even the seperation bothered me, it was essential and pivotal to the story for Toby to be able to heal and grow.
Although Bittersweet Always is a lot heavier than Suddenly Forbidden I really liked it, way more than I thought I would when I first started it.
4.5 stars
Pippa's a fabulous heroine and just what Toby needed. I've read so many NA books where the characters irritate the hell out of me with the juvenile drama, not so in Bittersweet Always. Not even the seperation bothered me, it was essential and pivotal to the story for Toby to be able to heal and grow.
Although Bittersweet Always is a lot heavier than Suddenly Forbidden I really liked it, way more than I thought I would when I first started it.
4.5 stars
May 3, 2018
*ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review*
5 "More than okay" Stars!!!!!
"I want you to breathe me, to inhale to thoughts of me, and for you to exhale anything that stops me from overtaking every part of you. I want …" "To do to you exactly what you’ve done to me."
I'm saying this right here, right now. Toby Hawthorne has cemented himself deep down to the narrow of my bones as one of my most favorite Hero's ever written.
There are absolutely no amount of words I can write to do this book justice. None. Zero. Zilch. My words will pale in comparison to Ella's. Her words. My gosh her words. They weave and seep and live in the depths of all of you. Everything. You feel every single emotion when reading her books. Her stories, they take a hold of you that there's nothing you can do but be consumed. Reading Ella's words is an experience. It's intoxicating and it'll leave you wanting more.
Bittersweet Always is a book packed to the brim with emotions. It'll have you smiling and feeling giddy, but then it'll have you clutching at your chest. You will hurt and most definitely cry. This story is raw and so real. Bittersweet Always is a book that'll touch your soul on such a deep level and leave a permanent mark on your heart.
Ever since Toby was introduced in Suddenly Forbidden I knew he would be a character I would never forget. I wanted more of him. I desperately needed his story. I was patiently, not so patiently waiting for his and Pippa's book. And now that I've read their story, it's one that'll always hold a special place in my soul.
"Kissing Toby felt like more than kissing. It felt like I was being burned, slowly incinerated until I thought I’d burst."
Pippa was a character that stole my heart. She was everything good. She had the most purest heart. The way she puts others above herself showed just how selfless she is. Her caring way in being there for Toby no matter what, spoke volumes. But sometimes it wasn't enough, and in so it was heartbreaking.
"You invaded something inside me the minute I saw you, and you haven’t left since."
Toby was a character that broke my heart, but at the same time healed it. Reading how he lived with mental health and how he tried dealing with it was difficult. The demons that live within his head have Toby self-destructing. Doing things he wouldn't normally do, only to try and find relief. Though the one person who can somewhat quiet the storm living within his head and calm him, is Pippa.
Pippa and Toby were two characters that'll put you through the ringer. You will experience the lowest of lows, but also the highest of highs. Their love is unlike any other. They're beautifully imperfect, but their souls are perfectly made to love the other. Pippa and Toby captured my heart and I don't want it back. I will never forget these characters or their story. They'll forever live in my heart.
"But even among all the chaos, my soul will always recognize yours."
Ella. Oh Ella, Ella, Ella. I thank my lucky stars the day I came across Corrode. Since reading that book you automatically became one of my top favorite authors. And I am so grateful because my life would be incomplete without your words. I can't wait for everything else you write. I'm almost positive those books will also be my favorite just like Bittersweet Always and all your other books before that.
HIGHLY, HIGHLY, HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK AND ALL OF ELLA'S BOOKS!!!!!
5 "More than okay" Stars!!!!!
"I want you to breathe me, to inhale to thoughts of me, and for you to exhale anything that stops me from overtaking every part of you. I want …" "To do to you exactly what you’ve done to me."
I'm saying this right here, right now. Toby Hawthorne has cemented himself deep down to the narrow of my bones as one of my most favorite Hero's ever written.
There are absolutely no amount of words I can write to do this book justice. None. Zero. Zilch. My words will pale in comparison to Ella's. Her words. My gosh her words. They weave and seep and live in the depths of all of you. Everything. You feel every single emotion when reading her books. Her stories, they take a hold of you that there's nothing you can do but be consumed. Reading Ella's words is an experience. It's intoxicating and it'll leave you wanting more.
Bittersweet Always is a book packed to the brim with emotions. It'll have you smiling and feeling giddy, but then it'll have you clutching at your chest. You will hurt and most definitely cry. This story is raw and so real. Bittersweet Always is a book that'll touch your soul on such a deep level and leave a permanent mark on your heart.
Ever since Toby was introduced in Suddenly Forbidden I knew he would be a character I would never forget. I wanted more of him. I desperately needed his story. I was patiently, not so patiently waiting for his and Pippa's book. And now that I've read their story, it's one that'll always hold a special place in my soul.
"Kissing Toby felt like more than kissing. It felt like I was being burned, slowly incinerated until I thought I’d burst."
Pippa was a character that stole my heart. She was everything good. She had the most purest heart. The way she puts others above herself showed just how selfless she is. Her caring way in being there for Toby no matter what, spoke volumes. But sometimes it wasn't enough, and in so it was heartbreaking.
"You invaded something inside me the minute I saw you, and you haven’t left since."
Toby was a character that broke my heart, but at the same time healed it. Reading how he lived with mental health and how he tried dealing with it was difficult. The demons that live within his head have Toby self-destructing. Doing things he wouldn't normally do, only to try and find relief. Though the one person who can somewhat quiet the storm living within his head and calm him, is Pippa.
Pippa and Toby were two characters that'll put you through the ringer. You will experience the lowest of lows, but also the highest of highs. Their love is unlike any other. They're beautifully imperfect, but their souls are perfectly made to love the other. Pippa and Toby captured my heart and I don't want it back. I will never forget these characters or their story. They'll forever live in my heart.
"But even among all the chaos, my soul will always recognize yours."
Ella. Oh Ella, Ella, Ella. I thank my lucky stars the day I came across Corrode. Since reading that book you automatically became one of my top favorite authors. And I am so grateful because my life would be incomplete without your words. I can't wait for everything else you write. I'm almost positive those books will also be my favorite just like Bittersweet Always and all your other books before that.
HIGHLY, HIGHLY, HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK AND ALL OF ELLA'S BOOKS!!!!!
May 27, 2018
3 Stars
Overall Opinion: This was enjoyable. I had the distinct feeling that I had read this before though. The only thing I can come up with is that we have a lot of overlapping events from the first book, Suddenly Forbidden. I didn't like that aspect of it tbh. I felt a strong sense of dèjá vu enough that I kept on searching for what book it was that I had read before. I never found it, so I really do think it was just the first book in the series -- but it was definitely an annoying feeling. Otherwise, I enjoyed these characters. I always like books that have a disordered mc, so this didn't disappoint. I wouldn't say that I was left feeling unfulfilled with the ending, but I definitely wanted more! Overall, an enjoyable read, but it won't be making its spot on my favorites shelf.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Pippa and Toby's story. They meet at a college party, and Toby is instantly obsessed with Pippa and pursues her. After some cat and mouse, Pippa gives in and they start a relationship. Pippa is shocked to find out that Toby is on medication for a mental disorder, and because of her father's struggles with mental illness she is weary about continuing the relationship. There are some big life struggles and changes made, some sad moments, and some sexy times...and they get a HEA ending.
POV: This alternated between Pippa and Toby's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good for the most part. I did feel like the ending was rather abrupt though, but I never skimmed.
Instalove: No, but instalust and strong connection. In the grand scheme of things, they probably do move fast -- but it isn't what I would typically label "instalove".
H rating: 4 stars. Toby. I liked him. He was a mess, and he definitely behaved badly for a little while -- but I forgave him and was rooting for him in the end.
h rating: 4 stars. Pippa. I liked her. She was caring, tough when she needed to be, and loyal.
Sadness level: Low/moderate. I teared up a few times, but I never needed any tissues.
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW/OM drama: No
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: Yes
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This had a cute epilogue with what I would call a HEA ending . The ending did feel a little abrupt though, and even though it did address some things in the epilogue, I still had some unanswered questions.
Safety: This one should be either Safe or Safe with exception for most safety gang readers depending on personal preferences.
Overall Opinion: This was enjoyable. I had the distinct feeling that I had read this before though. The only thing I can come up with is that we have a lot of overlapping events from the first book, Suddenly Forbidden. I didn't like that aspect of it tbh. I felt a strong sense of dèjá vu enough that I kept on searching for what book it was that I had read before. I never found it, so I really do think it was just the first book in the series -- but it was definitely an annoying feeling. Otherwise, I enjoyed these characters. I always like books that have a disordered mc, so this didn't disappoint. I wouldn't say that I was left feeling unfulfilled with the ending, but I definitely wanted more! Overall, an enjoyable read, but it won't be making its spot on my favorites shelf.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Pippa and Toby's story. They meet at a college party, and Toby is instantly obsessed with Pippa and pursues her. After some cat and mouse, Pippa gives in and they start a relationship. Pippa is shocked to find out that Toby is on medication for a mental disorder, and because of her father's struggles with mental illness she is weary about continuing the relationship. There are some big life struggles and changes made, some sad moments, and some sexy times...and they get a HEA ending.
POV: This alternated between Pippa and Toby's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good for the most part. I did feel like the ending was rather abrupt though, but I never skimmed.
Instalove: No, but instalust and strong connection. In the grand scheme of things, they probably do move fast -- but it isn't what I would typically label "instalove".
H rating: 4 stars. Toby. I liked him. He was a mess, and he definitely behaved badly for a little while -- but I forgave him and was rooting for him in the end.
h rating: 4 stars. Pippa. I liked her. She was caring, tough when she needed to be, and loyal.
Sadness level: Low/moderate. I teared up a few times, but I never needed any tissues.
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW/OM drama: No
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: Yes
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This had a cute epilogue with what I would call a HEA ending . The ending did feel a little abrupt though, and even though it did address some things in the epilogue, I still had some unanswered questions.
Safety: This one should be either Safe or Safe with exception for most safety gang readers depending on personal preferences.
August 8, 2018
4.5 stars!
This series is getting better and better! I thought book one was the packed with angst, well, seems Ella Fields had more in store for us. Even though I was anxious to read book 3 I knew I couldn’t do it without reading Pippa and Toby’s story.
What a story it was! I love loved that the situation was so different from Daisy/Quinn but with the same feels you get from this author. The depth of this book went beyond especially knowing the serious issues Toby was dealing with. I thought Pippa was brave for taking a relationship with Toby after the history she had with her dad.
I think dealing with your first year of college is hard enough, but then you fall in love and it’s a complicated kinda love so I definitely felt for both MC. Pippa felt hard for Toby and she tried to be understanding and supportive as much as she was able. Toby, I did have my moments where I was mad at him, but not for long because what he was dealing with was not easy. I was so proud of him when he finally won the battle against himself and seek the help he need it.
I’m definitely becoming addicted to the emotions this author makes me feel when reading her books. Oh and the back story of Pippa’s parents was so interesting to say the least, especially, during some eh interesting encounters. 😉 can’t wait to read book 3! ♥️
This series is getting better and better! I thought book one was the packed with angst, well, seems Ella Fields had more in store for us. Even though I was anxious to read book 3 I knew I couldn’t do it without reading Pippa and Toby’s story.
What a story it was! I love loved that the situation was so different from Daisy/Quinn but with the same feels you get from this author. The depth of this book went beyond especially knowing the serious issues Toby was dealing with. I thought Pippa was brave for taking a relationship with Toby after the history she had with her dad.
I think dealing with your first year of college is hard enough, but then you fall in love and it’s a complicated kinda love so I definitely felt for both MC. Pippa felt hard for Toby and she tried to be understanding and supportive as much as she was able. Toby, I did have my moments where I was mad at him, but not for long because what he was dealing with was not easy. I was so proud of him when he finally won the battle against himself and seek the help he need it.
I’m definitely becoming addicted to the emotions this author makes me feel when reading her books. Oh and the back story of Pippa’s parents was so interesting to say the least, especially, during some eh interesting encounters. 😉 can’t wait to read book 3! ♥️
“Loving him would always be bittersweet, but I knew then that the sweet would always outweigh the bitter”
June 11, 2018
3.5-4 ★'s
“I will not fall victim to the undertow, for I am unsinkable.”
After reading Suddenly Forbidden, I was really curious about Toby. He was really intriguing...I just had no idea how much his life would overwhelm the story.
If you've read the first book, then you've already read about Toby and Pippa meeting and getting together. The beginning of the book is a bit redundant if you've just finished the first book like I did but it's probably a good review if it's been awhile. I just wanted more of them, more of them being together and more of them falling in love.
The drama intensifies at the twenty-five percent mark and even though I knew what was coming, I was shocked at Toby's behavior. I was shocked at how he treated everyone but especially Pippa.
There's a lot of time dealing with Toby's situation. I enjoyed getting his POV but it was hard to read about too. Most people are touched by this issue in some way so it's hard to not be affected.
Fortunately, there is hope as Toby works through things and gets help. I liked that there wasn't an auto-fix for him and Pippa, I just wish I felt their connection more. I'm still deciding if I liked the connection between Toby and Pippa's Dad or if it was a bit weird.
I really enjoyed getting more Quinn and Daisy in this book. It was great to see how much they were there (still) for Toby and Pippa.
I thought the epilogue was great...another ten years in the future (must be the magic number).
Book three, Pretty Venom, is up next. No release date at this time and no blurb but I'm hoping for Renee and Callum...that was a helluva bomb that was dropped and I'm dying for more!
“I will not fall victim to the undertow, for I am unsinkable.”
After reading Suddenly Forbidden, I was really curious about Toby. He was really intriguing...I just had no idea how much his life would overwhelm the story.
If you've read the first book, then you've already read about Toby and Pippa meeting and getting together. The beginning of the book is a bit redundant if you've just finished the first book like I did but it's probably a good review if it's been awhile. I just wanted more of them, more of them being together and more of them falling in love.
The drama intensifies at the twenty-five percent mark and even though I knew what was coming, I was shocked at Toby's behavior. I was shocked at how he treated everyone but especially Pippa.
There's a lot of time dealing with Toby's situation. I enjoyed getting his POV but it was hard to read about too. Most people are touched by this issue in some way so it's hard to not be affected.
Fortunately, there is hope as Toby works through things and gets help. I liked that there wasn't an auto-fix for him and Pippa, I just wish I felt their connection more. I'm still deciding if I liked the connection between Toby and Pippa's Dad or if it was a bit weird.
I really enjoyed getting more Quinn and Daisy in this book. It was great to see how much they were there (still) for Toby and Pippa.
I thought the epilogue was great...another ten years in the future (must be the magic number).
Book three, Pretty Venom, is up next. No release date at this time and no blurb but I'm hoping for Renee and Callum...that was a helluva bomb that was dropped and I'm dying for more!
May 1, 2018
This is an emotional NA love story that deals with love in college and mental health issues. Love that wasn’t on the radar but when it happens it takes over and has a mind of its own. Pippa and Toby are two forces of nature. One that is true to herself and the other who is not because of his illness.
The course of this story is a sweet college romance. A football player meets his roommates ex-girlfriend’s roommate..... and it’s infatuation, it sweet, it’s humorous, it’s volatile, and it’s complicated. The complication comes because both Pippa and Toby have internal issues and their relationship can’t be completely true and forthcoming.
It’s hard being in college, stack mental health problems, a love relationship and not being truthful..... Toby is a train wreck waiting to happen. It’s heartbreaking, gut wrenching and you can’t help but want to jump in the story and wrap him in hugs. Meeting Pippa helps him like no other, but she can’t fix him, it’s Toby that must do his own fixing.
Pippa is a spit fire. Love takes a hold of her and doesn’t let go. It’s not how she saw her life but things happen for a reason. She knows Toby has issues but doesn’t know the extent of his issues. She herself isn’t a stranger to mental health issues. She’s strong, resilient, and loyal.
There is also a wonderful secondary cast of characters. Friends who support and champion Pippa and Toby. It makes for a cozy story set in a college atmosphere. But mostly, it’s a story that opens the struggles of mental health on the young and how difficult it is to navigate without professional help. A story that will tug on your heartstrings but make you smile in the end.
*advanced copy provided by author in exchange for an honest review*
April 25, 2018
If I could rate this book with a million stars I would.
There are a plethora of reasons that people read books or what it exactly is they are searching for when they read a book. It could be the cadence in the authors writing style. It could be the subject matter. It could be to remind them of a certain memory. It could be to escape. The reasons are infinite. Yet, good or bad they leave us with a feeling. It might not always be a good feeling but for that moment it elicited an emotion of some sort. This book invoked all of that and so much more. I will not lie, this book, had me loving it, hating it, loving it… until the very end when I truly LOVED it. I read very fast, but I had to stop myself and re-read several sections twice. I needed to process all my feelings. This book made me feel bipolar. I had my feelings of jubilance and then I had my heart crushed by what felt like a two-ton boulder. This author took me on a journey that transcended anything I thought I was going to experience.
There seems to be a certain stigma associated with mental health. Too often it is brushed under the rug and not talked about or it is misunderstood. It is a shame. This book touched so very close to home for me. My son deals with many of these same issues and I used to struggle with why he cannot make his mind stop. The author illustrated how this affects people. Not only from the person who must live with someone with a mental illness and the ramifications that come with it but also with the actual person living with the debilitating disorder itself. She didn’t sugarcoat it. She didn’t make it something it wasn’t she was on point and portrayed it with such clarity and grace that it made me clutch my heart.
Pippa. Sweet holy hell this girl. I knew I loved her when we first met her, but those glimpses of a fiery, sassy, and strong girl were NOTHING in comparison to who we get in this book. She experiences so many ups and downs that she herself probably felt like she was living in the stages of a manic episode and the subsequent crash. Moments that she never knew when they would occur and feeling like her entire life was her walking on eggshells. I loved that she was steadfast and always sensing when Toby was teetering,
"You okay?” Long seconds ticked by before he answered. “Not right now, but maybe tomorrow.” He kissed my hair, inhaling deeply, “but even among the chaos, my soul will always recognize yours.”
Even when she was hurting, you could sense how much she cared, “ I forgive you for putting me through hell, for making me think the worst. What I can’t forgive is your silence.” When I desperately needed sound, no matter how low or infrequent the volume.”
Toby. Holy Mary, Joseph, Gabriel, and Jesus. This guy. He gives me all the shiny squirrel feelings. Anger, disillusionment. Frustration. Swooning. Fanning myself. Toby loved Pippa so unconditionally that it made my heart hurt.
“" You feel that?” I asked quietly. “Your heart?” “No,” I said, flattening her palm over the beating organ in my chest. “Your heart.” Don’t mind me as I am clutching my heart as it beats at double rhythm. I will be fin in a minute. I am not crying. You are crying.
I needed him to get better and I needed them back together like I need air to breath.
“No one would love her like I would. They wouldn’t know the shape of her heart, the texture of her skin, and the color of her smiles as vividly as I did.”
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!?! The color of her smile?!?! The imagery of that line. Just send in the mortician now. I am dead. Cause of death, Ella killed me with love in its simplest form. All the beauty-- Ugly warts, heartache, and all.
This book told a story that portrayed that love is anything but perfect. There must be a balance of sorts. There must be a darkness to the light, and pain to go with joy because without it we never get to have those moments where we can truly appreciate it or ultimately fight for it. It is in those defining moments that it becomes bittersweet.
I will also say there were a couple twists at the end that have me itching to have the next book in my hands ASAP. My interest was piqued in the first book but especially more with that hook from out of left field. Thank you again for all your words, Ella. I count down the days until your next release as if it was a Festivus miracle. Kudos on another stellar book. Move over Felix, you have been replaced.
There are a plethora of reasons that people read books or what it exactly is they are searching for when they read a book. It could be the cadence in the authors writing style. It could be the subject matter. It could be to remind them of a certain memory. It could be to escape. The reasons are infinite. Yet, good or bad they leave us with a feeling. It might not always be a good feeling but for that moment it elicited an emotion of some sort. This book invoked all of that and so much more. I will not lie, this book, had me loving it, hating it, loving it… until the very end when I truly LOVED it. I read very fast, but I had to stop myself and re-read several sections twice. I needed to process all my feelings. This book made me feel bipolar. I had my feelings of jubilance and then I had my heart crushed by what felt like a two-ton boulder. This author took me on a journey that transcended anything I thought I was going to experience.
There seems to be a certain stigma associated with mental health. Too often it is brushed under the rug and not talked about or it is misunderstood. It is a shame. This book touched so very close to home for me. My son deals with many of these same issues and I used to struggle with why he cannot make his mind stop. The author illustrated how this affects people. Not only from the person who must live with someone with a mental illness and the ramifications that come with it but also with the actual person living with the debilitating disorder itself. She didn’t sugarcoat it. She didn’t make it something it wasn’t she was on point and portrayed it with such clarity and grace that it made me clutch my heart.
Pippa. Sweet holy hell this girl. I knew I loved her when we first met her, but those glimpses of a fiery, sassy, and strong girl were NOTHING in comparison to who we get in this book. She experiences so many ups and downs that she herself probably felt like she was living in the stages of a manic episode and the subsequent crash. Moments that she never knew when they would occur and feeling like her entire life was her walking on eggshells. I loved that she was steadfast and always sensing when Toby was teetering,
"You okay?” Long seconds ticked by before he answered. “Not right now, but maybe tomorrow.” He kissed my hair, inhaling deeply, “but even among the chaos, my soul will always recognize yours.”
Even when she was hurting, you could sense how much she cared, “ I forgive you for putting me through hell, for making me think the worst. What I can’t forgive is your silence.” When I desperately needed sound, no matter how low or infrequent the volume.”
Toby. Holy Mary, Joseph, Gabriel, and Jesus. This guy. He gives me all the shiny squirrel feelings. Anger, disillusionment. Frustration. Swooning. Fanning myself. Toby loved Pippa so unconditionally that it made my heart hurt.
“" You feel that?” I asked quietly. “Your heart?” “No,” I said, flattening her palm over the beating organ in my chest. “Your heart.” Don’t mind me as I am clutching my heart as it beats at double rhythm. I will be fin in a minute. I am not crying. You are crying.
I needed him to get better and I needed them back together like I need air to breath.
“No one would love her like I would. They wouldn’t know the shape of her heart, the texture of her skin, and the color of her smiles as vividly as I did.”
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!?! The color of her smile?!?! The imagery of that line. Just send in the mortician now. I am dead. Cause of death, Ella killed me with love in its simplest form. All the beauty-- Ugly warts, heartache, and all.
This book told a story that portrayed that love is anything but perfect. There must be a balance of sorts. There must be a darkness to the light, and pain to go with joy because without it we never get to have those moments where we can truly appreciate it or ultimately fight for it. It is in those defining moments that it becomes bittersweet.
I will also say there were a couple twists at the end that have me itching to have the next book in my hands ASAP. My interest was piqued in the first book but especially more with that hook from out of left field. Thank you again for all your words, Ella. I count down the days until your next release as if it was a Festivus miracle. Kudos on another stellar book. Move over Felix, you have been replaced.
April 25, 2018
WOW...OK...What to say now...I waited for their story when i met them in Suddenly Forbidden!!Toby..well Toby he seems like a funny laid back guy but he have so many demons in his mind.I loved him from the beggining but sometimes i wanted to punch him..Pippa is a very strong young lady..I don't know what else to write.This books is EVERYTHING!!!Well done again Ella!!
May 14, 2018
OMG...loved this one !! Review to come soon ;)
4,5 stars !!
4,5 stars !!
May 3, 2018
IT'S LIVE!!!! And it's 99c for a limited time!!!!
US | UK | CA | AU
Bittersweet Always is hands down my #1 favorite book of the year. It was heartbreaking and beautiful and everything I didn’t know I needed. Toby and Pippa’s book needs to be read by everyone! Don’t even question me on this. One-click this baby the second it’s live. Ella gracefully tackled a subject a lot people would rather not talk about, and because of that I loved this book so much more.
Pippa was the perfect heroine. I loved every thought and action made by her. I fell HARD for this girl….
And when she hurt, I hurt. Boy, did I hurt! *glares at Ella*
And there there’s Toby. I loved this guy so damn much it was borderline creepy. Every word out of his mouth either made me laugh or cry. His thoughts were messy and difficult to read but that’s what made him feel so real. I wanted to reach into my kindle and hug him. Just look at how precious this man is…
He’s a rare hero and I’m thankful I had the chance to read his story. I didn’t know when my heart was going to pick itself up off the floor and glue itself back together. I honestly had to make sure I had a pulse during certain scenes. This book. It hurt. I’m not going to lie. But it’s AMAZING. All the heartache will be worth it. Ella Fields knows what she’s doing. ;)
Bittersweet Always is hands down my #1 favorite book of the year. It was heartbreaking and beautiful and everything I didn’t know I needed. Toby and Pippa’s book needs to be read by everyone! Don’t even question me on this. One-click this baby the second it’s live. Ella gracefully tackled a subject a lot people would rather not talk about, and because of that I loved this book so much more.
Pippa was the perfect heroine. I loved every thought and action made by her. I fell HARD for this girl….
“Because, just as most people who hadn’t had a taste of something rare and exquisite wanted, I wanted to fall in love someday. To ignore the consequences and let go when the right person came along.”
“Kissing Toby felt like more than kissing. It felt like I was being burned, slowly incinerated until I thought I’d burst.”
“This boy, this man. The way he looked at me, touched me, and made me come undone. It was like nothing else I’d experienced before. And I realized then that all he was, every single part of him, made it this way. Made it something you’d be lucky to encounter once in a lifetime.”
“What I feel for you is beyond love. It’s vast, endless, and it’ll always hold me prisoner.”
And when she hurt, I hurt. Boy, did I hurt! *glares at Ella*
“I knew you had your demons, Toby, and I know it’s got to hurt, but I never thought you’d let them hurt me too.”
And there there’s Toby. I loved this guy so damn much it was borderline creepy. Every word out of his mouth either made me laugh or cry. His thoughts were messy and difficult to read but that’s what made him feel so real. I wanted to reach into my kindle and hug him. Just look at how precious this man is…
“I should’ve asked her something by now.
What do I ask her? Stay with me because I think I’m a little obsessed with you?”
“Let me touch your lips with mine.”
^^^ THIS LINE KILLLED ME IN THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE!!!!!!
“I want you to breathe me, to inhale to thoughts of me, and for you to exhale anything that stops me from overtaking every part of you. I want…” His breath stuttered, head rising to rest his forehead on mine. “To do to you exactly what you’ve done to me.”
“Pippa was like a red Skittle, the last one among a sea of bullshit flavors.”
“You okay?”
Long seconds ticked by before he answered. “Not right now, but maybe tomorrow.” He kissed my hair, inhaling deeply. “But even among all the chaos, my soul will always recognize yours.”
“No one would love her like I would.
They wouldn’t know the shape of her heart, the texture of her skin, and the color of her smile as vividly as I did.”
“I loved her. I loved her like I’d never loved anything else before, and with that kind of love comes a price. I was under her skin the same way she lived in mine. I beat in her heart the same way she controlled the tempo of mine.”
He’s a rare hero and I’m thankful I had the chance to read his story. I didn’t know when my heart was going to pick itself up off the floor and glue itself back together. I honestly had to make sure I had a pulse during certain scenes. This book. It hurt. I’m not going to lie. But it’s AMAZING. All the heartache will be worth it. Ella Fields knows what she’s doing. ;)
May 7, 2018
... "even among all the chaos, my soul will always recognize yours." He kissed my hair again. "Never doubt that, no matter what."
Good Heavens! Bitterweet Always is the kind book you just want to hug so tight and basked all the feels from deep within and wont let go. Toby and Pippa's journey ripped my bruised heart open, stomped on it and fixed it beautifully. It was utterly heartbreaking but I love every moment of it. It was an eye opener. I was touched and moved right through the core! Gah! I love it! I really do.
Ella Fields has become one of my favorite author the moment I read Suddenly Forbidden. With the hype going on about her book, who am I to just pass it? Out of curiousity I devoured her works and devoured I did even with her new realese - Bittersweet Always. Lawd have mercy but the emotional roller coaster I had with Toby and Pippa's tale was epic in all proportions. It was love in it's purest and ugliest form. The good, the bad, the magic...everything and the in betweens was woven with precision that it felt so real and alive.
Yes, I may not have any direct connection to someone just like Toby but I felt him. I felt his struggles that I just want to hug him so tight and give him all my love. Reading his POV shred my heart to pieces and I adore him so much. His character is something I never thought I would love but god, how I did love him to the very core of me. He made me laugh, swoon, cried and love. He was an epitome of a perfect boyfriend flaws and all. I want him and I sooo need him. Pippa on the other hand, was hands down one of the strongest heroine I have read. I love her and her big heart. Together, they created love unconditionally. The highs and the lows of it had my heart beating faster and faster. It even paused for a while I thought it was ripped out in my chest. The angst was killing me. But their love, god.. their love.. it made me feel alive!
Overall, I highly recommend this book. This is emotional and heart stopping journey at it's best. I could not turn the pages fast enough!" With Ella Fields' brillant delivery, you will surely fall in love with Tobes and his Pip-squeak. I am sure I did. I love them both. And to read it, with Ella's writing poured with so much emotion, lawd have mercy but Bittersweet Always, slayed!
September 4, 2019
Inhalt: "Bittersweet always" ist der zweite Band der "Gray Springs University"-Reihe. In diesem Band geht es um Pippa und Toby. Sie lernen sich auf einer Party kennen. Sie findet ihn anziehend und mysteriös. Als sie langsam herausfindet, was sein Geheimnis ist und wie er eigentlich ist, wird dies zur Belastungsprobe ihrer Beziehung. Kann sie ihm helfen? Haben die beiden überhaupt eine Chance zusammen? Schließlich ist Toby genau der Typ Mann, von dem sie Abstand halten wollte..
Meinung: Das Cover gefällt mir ganz gut. Es passt sehr gut zu den Covern der anderen zwei Bände. Die Schrift finde ich wie auch schon beim ersten Buch total schön. Der Titel passt sehr gut zum Inhalt. Auch dieser Band wurde von Nina Bader übersetzt. Negativ sind mir leider die vielen Rechtschreibfehler aufgefallen. Der Schreibstil war sehr gut und flüssig zu lesen. Bei dieser Geschichte waren meine Hoffnungen und Erwartungen groß. Ich habe Pippa vom ersten Moment an im ersten Band geliebt. Auch Toby fand ich auf Anhieb sehr interessant. Vielleicht waren meine Erwartungen zu hoch. Auf jeden Fall hat mich dieser Band enttäuscht. Es war nicht schlecht, aber es konnte mich nicht so packen wie der erste Band. Das lag vielleicht daran, dass die Geschichte anfangs zeitgleich zum ersten Band spielt. So sind einige Szenen und Gespräche nicht wirklich neu. Dadurch zog sich das Ganze anfangs etwas. Wie auch schon der vorherige Band, wird auch dieser aus der Sicht der beiden Hauptprotagonisten erzählt. Tobys Sicht war für mich anfangs etwas gewöhnungsbedürftig. Bei mir sind da leider nicht so viele Gefühle rüber gekommen wie erwartet. Insgesamt haben mir besonders am Anfang die Gefühle und die Entwicklung ebendieser zueinander gefehlt. Eventuell liegt das daran, dass die bekannten Szenen aus Band eins hier eher in ein bisschen abgekürzter Form kamen und der Schwerpunkt eher auf Pippas Familiengeschichte und Tobys Krankheit und Gedanken liegt. Mit der Zeit habe ich mich an Tobys Sichtweise gewöhnt und fand sie dann auch besser. Ich finde es gut, dass Ella Fields so ein wichtiges Thema in einem New Adult Buch verarbeitet. Leider ist es heute noch viel zu oft ein Tabuthema, dabei treten psychische Krankheiten immer öfter auf. Die Idee hat mich auf jeden Fall überzeugt, aber die Umsetzung nicht ganz so. Meiner Meinung nach gab es zu viele Themen. Das hat zu ziemlich viel Drama geführt. Leider hat mir insbesondere bei Pippa die Charakterentwicklung nicht so gut gefallen. Von der lebensfrohen und gutgelaunten Pippa aus Band eins ist leider nicht so viel übrig geblieben. Natürlich geht so eine Familiengeschichte und Liebesbeziehung nicht einfach an einem vorbei, aber ich finde es schade und nicht gut, dass sich Pippas Charakter so verändert. Natürlich ist das nicht Tobys Schuld. Seine Charakterentwicklung fand ich sehr interessant und auch realistisch.
Natürlich kann man sich in diesem Band auf ein Wiedersehen mit Daisy und Quinn freuen. Auch andere bekannte Gesichter tauchen hier wieder auf. Callum ist uns ja auch schon seit Band eins bekannt. Auch er taucht zwischendurch auf und wird Hauptprotagonist des dritten Bandes sein. Renee lernen wir hier auch schon ein bisschen kennen. Besonders der Moment im Krankenhaus hat mich extrem neugierig auf ihren Teil werden lassen. Ich kann es kaum erwarten ihn zu lesen und hoffe, dass er wieder so stark wie Band eins sein wird.
Fazit: Zwar kann man die Bücher unabhängig voneinander lesen, aber ich würde definitiv dazu raten zuerst den ersten Band zu lesen, um sich mit dem zweiten Band nicht zu sehr zu spoilern.
Auch wenn das Buch einige Schwächen hatte, konnte es mich sehr gut unterhalten. Das Thema war interessant und hat einen guten Einblick in das Krankheitsbild gebracht. Es lohnt sich auf jeden Fall die "Gray Springs University"-Reihe zu lesen.
Meinung: Das Cover gefällt mir ganz gut. Es passt sehr gut zu den Covern der anderen zwei Bände. Die Schrift finde ich wie auch schon beim ersten Buch total schön. Der Titel passt sehr gut zum Inhalt. Auch dieser Band wurde von Nina Bader übersetzt. Negativ sind mir leider die vielen Rechtschreibfehler aufgefallen. Der Schreibstil war sehr gut und flüssig zu lesen. Bei dieser Geschichte waren meine Hoffnungen und Erwartungen groß. Ich habe Pippa vom ersten Moment an im ersten Band geliebt. Auch Toby fand ich auf Anhieb sehr interessant. Vielleicht waren meine Erwartungen zu hoch. Auf jeden Fall hat mich dieser Band enttäuscht. Es war nicht schlecht, aber es konnte mich nicht so packen wie der erste Band. Das lag vielleicht daran, dass die Geschichte anfangs zeitgleich zum ersten Band spielt. So sind einige Szenen und Gespräche nicht wirklich neu. Dadurch zog sich das Ganze anfangs etwas. Wie auch schon der vorherige Band, wird auch dieser aus der Sicht der beiden Hauptprotagonisten erzählt. Tobys Sicht war für mich anfangs etwas gewöhnungsbedürftig. Bei mir sind da leider nicht so viele Gefühle rüber gekommen wie erwartet. Insgesamt haben mir besonders am Anfang die Gefühle und die Entwicklung ebendieser zueinander gefehlt. Eventuell liegt das daran, dass die bekannten Szenen aus Band eins hier eher in ein bisschen abgekürzter Form kamen und der Schwerpunkt eher auf Pippas Familiengeschichte und Tobys Krankheit und Gedanken liegt. Mit der Zeit habe ich mich an Tobys Sichtweise gewöhnt und fand sie dann auch besser. Ich finde es gut, dass Ella Fields so ein wichtiges Thema in einem New Adult Buch verarbeitet. Leider ist es heute noch viel zu oft ein Tabuthema, dabei treten psychische Krankheiten immer öfter auf. Die Idee hat mich auf jeden Fall überzeugt, aber die Umsetzung nicht ganz so. Meiner Meinung nach gab es zu viele Themen. Das hat zu ziemlich viel Drama geführt. Leider hat mir insbesondere bei Pippa die Charakterentwicklung nicht so gut gefallen. Von der lebensfrohen und gutgelaunten Pippa aus Band eins ist leider nicht so viel übrig geblieben. Natürlich geht so eine Familiengeschichte und Liebesbeziehung nicht einfach an einem vorbei, aber ich finde es schade und nicht gut, dass sich Pippas Charakter so verändert. Natürlich ist das nicht Tobys Schuld. Seine Charakterentwicklung fand ich sehr interessant und auch realistisch.
Natürlich kann man sich in diesem Band auf ein Wiedersehen mit Daisy und Quinn freuen. Auch andere bekannte Gesichter tauchen hier wieder auf. Callum ist uns ja auch schon seit Band eins bekannt. Auch er taucht zwischendurch auf und wird Hauptprotagonist des dritten Bandes sein. Renee lernen wir hier auch schon ein bisschen kennen. Besonders der Moment im Krankenhaus hat mich extrem neugierig auf ihren Teil werden lassen. Ich kann es kaum erwarten ihn zu lesen und hoffe, dass er wieder so stark wie Band eins sein wird.
Fazit: Zwar kann man die Bücher unabhängig voneinander lesen, aber ich würde definitiv dazu raten zuerst den ersten Band zu lesen, um sich mit dem zweiten Band nicht zu sehr zu spoilern.
Auch wenn das Buch einige Schwächen hatte, konnte es mich sehr gut unterhalten. Das Thema war interessant und hat einen guten Einblick in das Krankheitsbild gebracht. Es lohnt sich auf jeden Fall die "Gray Springs University"-Reihe zu lesen.
July 12, 2018
Honest to goodness, how does Ella do it. I want to know, I need to know how she manages to once again captivate my heart, bring me to tears and yet I keep coming back for more. That is what her words do to me. I know it will hurt, I know I will be broken and I know she’ll patch my heart back together and send me on my way like she didn’t just squeeze it to pieces. (She’s secretly evil you know). Bittersweet Always is no exception, she has set the bar high with everything she’s written before this and she continues to exceed my expectations.
I’m so happy that Ella took us back to Gray Springs University to spend more time with Daisy, Quinn and most importantly Pippa and Toby. My love and affection for Pippa began when we met her in Suddenly Forbidden and my girl crush only intensified with every page in BA. She is fierce, strong, says what she means and means what she says. The girl is loyal to a fault, stands up for her friends and family without batting an eye. On the flip side, we get a glimpse of her insecurities and vulnerabilities. Through it all she’s the same funny, witty, sassy Pippa we’ve come to grow and love.
Oh Toby, one minute I was falling for your pushy ways and in the next you were breaking my heart. I loved how he set his sights on Pippa and didn’t give up until he wormed his way into her life. He wasn’t shy about his feelings for her. He was sexy every step of the way, but beneath it all there was a storm brewing. He’s haunted, by his past and a mind that doesn’t want to quit. His thoughts are on a constant loop and Ella portrays the effects of his mental illness with honesty and sensitivity. I think we all know love can be messy, but fighting through the tough times to come out on the other side can be the best reward of all.
I loved Pippa and Toby as a couple. Their passion and intensity is felt through their entire journey. Their love is intoxicating and all consuming, every moment with them was a treat and I enjoyed every minute of it. Bittersweet Always is honest, real and painful. It’s also a beautiful love story that isn’t like others and that’s what makes this a 5 Star read. You may not realize it that the time, but Ella doesn’t give us what we expect, she gives us what we need. Once you take this journey with her, there is no going back. I for one, could not be happier that I’ve hitched my ride to her beautiful storytelling. I will keep coming back for more!
I’m so happy that Ella took us back to Gray Springs University to spend more time with Daisy, Quinn and most importantly Pippa and Toby. My love and affection for Pippa began when we met her in Suddenly Forbidden and my girl crush only intensified with every page in BA. She is fierce, strong, says what she means and means what she says. The girl is loyal to a fault, stands up for her friends and family without batting an eye. On the flip side, we get a glimpse of her insecurities and vulnerabilities. Through it all she’s the same funny, witty, sassy Pippa we’ve come to grow and love.
Oh Toby, one minute I was falling for your pushy ways and in the next you were breaking my heart. I loved how he set his sights on Pippa and didn’t give up until he wormed his way into her life. He wasn’t shy about his feelings for her. He was sexy every step of the way, but beneath it all there was a storm brewing. He’s haunted, by his past and a mind that doesn’t want to quit. His thoughts are on a constant loop and Ella portrays the effects of his mental illness with honesty and sensitivity. I think we all know love can be messy, but fighting through the tough times to come out on the other side can be the best reward of all.
I loved Pippa and Toby as a couple. Their passion and intensity is felt through their entire journey. Their love is intoxicating and all consuming, every moment with them was a treat and I enjoyed every minute of it. Bittersweet Always is honest, real and painful. It’s also a beautiful love story that isn’t like others and that’s what makes this a 5 Star read. You may not realize it that the time, but Ella doesn’t give us what we expect, she gives us what we need. Once you take this journey with her, there is no going back. I for one, could not be happier that I’ve hitched my ride to her beautiful storytelling. I will keep coming back for more!
July 3, 2018
Release Date: May 4, 2018
Genre: New Adult, College Romance
Actual Rating: 4.5 stars
First, let me start off by saying that I love how Ella Fields tackled adolescent mental health issues in this book. Many tend to stay away from these issues within their novel either because they don't know if readers will connect with the characters or simply because they don't know enough about said issues. That's fine of course, authors should write what they know and what they are comfortable with. Ella Fields on the other hand DOES tackle these issues within Bittersweet Always and I think she does an amazing job with it. Not only did I connect with EACH character, but I felt compassion and riveted because of it. Bravo!
For those who haven't had the pleasure of reading book 1 in this series (https://amzn.to/2KES2M4) don't fret! Each of the books can technically stand alone. The characters from the previous book ARE secondary characters to this one, but they don't play a big enough role to make this one unreadable on it's own. Of course, I recommend book 1, but you can read in any order.
This is a new adult, college romance novel. It's an emotional love story between two individuals who are clearly meant to be together yet, something begins to slowly get in their way of an HEA. Unfortunately, this thing is a mental health issue, on that has the capacity to do a lot of damage to both their relationship and their individual lives. Readers will go on this journey with Pippa and Toby as they struggle not only with young love, but nearly debilitating issues that cause a heap of troubles and feelings that can stand in their way.
For those who love new adult, college romances, this is a must read book/series. You get the feel of the college experience, the feel of young love, and a whole lot of sexiness in between! There are emotional parts of course but they don't take up the entire story. I very much recommend it!
Genre: New Adult, College Romance
Actual Rating: 4.5 stars
First, let me start off by saying that I love how Ella Fields tackled adolescent mental health issues in this book. Many tend to stay away from these issues within their novel either because they don't know if readers will connect with the characters or simply because they don't know enough about said issues. That's fine of course, authors should write what they know and what they are comfortable with. Ella Fields on the other hand DOES tackle these issues within Bittersweet Always and I think she does an amazing job with it. Not only did I connect with EACH character, but I felt compassion and riveted because of it. Bravo!
For those who haven't had the pleasure of reading book 1 in this series (https://amzn.to/2KES2M4) don't fret! Each of the books can technically stand alone. The characters from the previous book ARE secondary characters to this one, but they don't play a big enough role to make this one unreadable on it's own. Of course, I recommend book 1, but you can read in any order.
This is a new adult, college romance novel. It's an emotional love story between two individuals who are clearly meant to be together yet, something begins to slowly get in their way of an HEA. Unfortunately, this thing is a mental health issue, on that has the capacity to do a lot of damage to both their relationship and their individual lives. Readers will go on this journey with Pippa and Toby as they struggle not only with young love, but nearly debilitating issues that cause a heap of troubles and feelings that can stand in their way.
For those who love new adult, college romances, this is a must read book/series. You get the feel of the college experience, the feel of young love, and a whole lot of sexiness in between! There are emotional parts of course but they don't take up the entire story. I very much recommend it!
April 28, 2018
I suck at reviews. Half of the time I don’t think I make any sense at all. But I really want to try to write an eloquent review for Bittersweet Always — keyword: TRY 😂
How do I find the right words to express how much I loved Bittersweet Always? Is it even possible?
I literally just finished this book minutes ago and I’ve been trying to figure out how to review this book, but I’ve been rendered speechless.
Ella’s writing and storytelling is exquisite. A gift to us romance readers. I think I highlighted half the book. Each book seems to get better and better. This author can do no wrong in my eyes.
Trust me when I tell you this story is going to take you on an emotional rollercoaster!!!! One minute you will swoon and think everything is fine and the next, your heart is taking a serious beating.
Bittersweet Always ruined me in the best way possible. Toby and Pippa’s story is raw, real, not always pretty but still beautiful nonetheless. A must read!
How do I find the right words to express how much I loved Bittersweet Always? Is it even possible?
I literally just finished this book minutes ago and I’ve been trying to figure out how to review this book, but I’ve been rendered speechless.
Ella’s writing and storytelling is exquisite. A gift to us romance readers. I think I highlighted half the book. Each book seems to get better and better. This author can do no wrong in my eyes.
Trust me when I tell you this story is going to take you on an emotional rollercoaster!!!! One minute you will swoon and think everything is fine and the next, your heart is taking a serious beating.
Bittersweet Always ruined me in the best way possible. Toby and Pippa’s story is raw, real, not always pretty but still beautiful nonetheless. A must read!
April 10, 2018
Loved it! Ella Fields’ most angsty emotional book yet!
Advanced beta copy received by author.
Advanced beta copy received by author.
April 30, 2018
A heartwrenchingly beautiful read from Ella Fields. Toby and Pippa's story kept me enthralled from the beginning... And by that I mean from when we first meet them in Suddenly Forbidden.
I thoroughly enjoyed this amazing story. She managed to discuss issues that in today's society aren't discussed, and made them easier to understand. I applaud her strength in writing it!
There was a great balance of emotions. Angst, happiness, sadness, love, and anger with the perfect amount of humor & steam. As with all of this author's books, the writing style is so phenomenal that I actually felt like I was there and watching these characters lives.
I love Toby and Pippa's relationship... I felt they balanced each other beautifully and they grew wonderfully in their own right.
Your heart will be bruised and battered by the end of this story, mine is... But it is so worth it. More worth it than any other book she's written.
I absolutely, HIGHLY, recommend this amazing book.
I thoroughly enjoyed this amazing story. She managed to discuss issues that in today's society aren't discussed, and made them easier to understand. I applaud her strength in writing it!
There was a great balance of emotions. Angst, happiness, sadness, love, and anger with the perfect amount of humor & steam. As with all of this author's books, the writing style is so phenomenal that I actually felt like I was there and watching these characters lives.
I love Toby and Pippa's relationship... I felt they balanced each other beautifully and they grew wonderfully in their own right.
Your heart will be bruised and battered by the end of this story, mine is... But it is so worth it. More worth it than any other book she's written.
I absolutely, HIGHLY, recommend this amazing book.
April 27, 2018
OH MY!!! Ella has outdone herself on this one. I have loved everyone of her books in their own way but this one is my hands down FAVORITE!!! I may eat my words on this one day as I know she will be writing more beautiful words in the future.
I can't tell you how long I had a serious UGLY cry when reading this that I had to stop, even though I wanted to power through, to clear up my eyes. Toby and Pippa are I just have no words how much I loved them.
I am at a loss of words to give this book justice in a proper review. My heart was bursting and breaking throughout the book.
Ok I will stop rambling but this book was AWESOME and I can't wait for everyone to read this and if you have not read any of her other books, you will be in for a treat when you do.
I can't tell you how long I had a serious UGLY cry when reading this that I had to stop, even though I wanted to power through, to clear up my eyes. Toby and Pippa are I just have no words how much I loved them.
I am at a loss of words to give this book justice in a proper review. My heart was bursting and breaking throughout the book.
Ok I will stop rambling but this book was AWESOME and I can't wait for everyone to read this and if you have not read any of her other books, you will be in for a treat when you do.
May 3, 2018
5 GRACEFUL BITTERSWEET STARS!! Ella Fields is such a graceful author with her words. She can take a sensitive subject and turn it into a beautiful story. Toby and Pippa story is tough, but will touch your heart with all the feels. Their story had my smiling, crying, mad and OMG moments. This series has been phenomenal and this is my favorite book ever by this author. Please do yourself a favor and 1-click this book. I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.
May 16, 2018
“Let me touch your lips with mine.”
We're five months into the year and many great stories have been published. I fell in love with many of them. Unexpectedly but unashamedly. Bittersweet Always is, without question, one of them.
Ella Fields delivers an emotionally raw and heartfelt story so wonderfully and beautifully. Bittersweet Always ignited my heart, shattered it into tiny pieces and repaired it haphazardly, only to destroy it again. Over and over.
In Suddenly Forbidden, I admired Daisy's roommate Pippa, a fierce friend and intelligent young woman. And oh how easy it was to fall in love with Toby, Quinn's roommate and teammate, with his flirtatious charms and seeming easygoing attitude.
“I knew you had your demons, Toby, and I know it’s got to hurt, but I never thought you’d let them hurt me too.”
Many novels attempt to explore mental illness, which is often stigmatised and generally an overall difficult subject for society to approach. Some authors succeed in this exploration; others simply don't, but Ms Fields conquers this issue with integrity and honesty. She doesn't sweep mental illness under the figurative rug, but she also doesn't sugar coat it. Bittersweet Always is raw. Real.
Both heart warming and heart wrenching.
Ms Fields writing is intoxicating and flawless. It is eloquent, with every word written across the pages having significant importance and meaning. It will seep deep into your bones, weave its way through your psyche. You will feel every emotion through her words, her descriptions, but especially through her amazing characters.
"I want you to breathe me, to inhale to thoughts of me, and for you to exhale anything that stops me from overtaking every part of you. I want…” His breath stuttered, head rising to rest his forehead on mine. “To do to you exactly what you’ve done to me."
When we were introduced to Toby Hawthorne in Suddenly Forbidden, I knew he would create an interesting story. He is complex; he is human. Demons haunt Toby, pushing him towards a dangerous path of self destruction and self hatred. His inner struggles and turmoil are handled with utmost respect and empathy, making every scene powerfully represented.
Pippa is an amazing character. A fierce friend to Daisy and the light to Toby's darkness, she is forgiving, selfless and mature despite her young age. Having watched her own mother suffer from loving someone with mental illness, Pippa is scared to experience something as heartbreaking.
She will learn through firsthand experience love isn't easy. And that's one of my favourite things about Bittersweet Always. Its realistic and brutally honest representation of relationships, what it truly means to love someone, especially someone who cannot love their self.
I absolutely adore Pippa and Toby's story. It is beautiful; both heart warming and heart wrenching; pure, honest but also dark, terrifying. It is real. Passionate. Intense. They have an intoxicating, all consuming love. Ms Fields is an amazing story teller who handles every sensitive topic with poise and grace. You cannot fault her ability to write.
Gray Springs University:
1. Suddenly Forbidden ★★★★★ | 2. Bittersweet Always ★★★★★ | 3. Pretty Venom
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December 8, 2018
"Because life will happen. Happen with it, but ... don't let it change who you are."
Bittersweet Always is bitter and sweet and everything in between. It's bittersweet perfection.
"How well do you really know someone? You don't."
To be honest, I didn't cry while reading this book. But sitting here, trying to gather my thoughts and feelings about it, tears are welling up and goosebumps are spreading, only from thinking about this soul-touching deep story from Pippa and Toby.
"You're worth it all. And hopefully one day, you'll see that. See yourself the way I do."
I knew - because we already met Pippa and Toby in Suddenly Forbidden - that their book will touch a very sensitive and tough topic. What I didn't expect was that Ella made this feel so damn real. Ella, the way you wrote Toby is beyond exceptional! Being in his mind, I felt his struggle deep in my bones as if it was my own storm and war I was fighting to silence the voices.
"...Love him but never forget to love yourself more."
Pippa is one of the strongest heroines I've ever met. It was an honor to be at her side while she discovered how strong she really is. Sadly because being strong was the only choice she had. But it's exactly situations like this that forms us into something greater. It takes an insanely strong character to never give up on the person you love and to always believe in him.
"I will not fall victim to the undertow, for I am unsinkable."
Pippa and Toby's lovestory is about two young people falling in love. But they not only learn to love and accept each other with everything there is but they also learn to accept and love themselves for what they are. They learn how to be strong for themselves and the other, at an age where you actually shouldn't worry about such things, where you should live carefree, enjoying life.
"I was under her skin the same way she lived in mine. I beat in her heart the same way she controlled the tempo of mine."
But fate had other plans for Toby and Pippa. And even though it was tough to read and a more than rocky road they had to pass, they (well actually Ella) created an epic lovestory. Reading this book made my heart ache constantly, I sighed a lot, sometimes I had to pause to let things think in. Every emotion found its way under my skin and stayed there, even after the last page.
"You are what I want. And what I need is for you to love me loudly again. What I need is all of you."
Intense, touching, raw, sensual, real. That's what Bittersweet Always is to me. Ella created a lovestory around the sensitive topic of mental health issues that touches your heart and the core of your soul deeply. I wish I could pour my feelings for this book into this review as Ella poured her heart into this book.
"Loving him would always be bittersweet, but I knew then that the sweet would always outweigh the bitter."
I highly recommend reading this book, experience first hand what I tried to describe here in this review. I'm pretty sure, reading this book won't disappoint you. Ella has a way with words like Ed Sheeran has with his music: They create magic.
"We stared, and we breathed each other's breaths. And when the flames climbed, melting me into a mush of sensation, he was right there, burning with me."
Bittersweet Always is bitter and sweet and everything in between. It's bittersweet perfection.
"How well do you really know someone? You don't."
To be honest, I didn't cry while reading this book. But sitting here, trying to gather my thoughts and feelings about it, tears are welling up and goosebumps are spreading, only from thinking about this soul-touching deep story from Pippa and Toby.
"You're worth it all. And hopefully one day, you'll see that. See yourself the way I do."
I knew - because we already met Pippa and Toby in Suddenly Forbidden - that their book will touch a very sensitive and tough topic. What I didn't expect was that Ella made this feel so damn real. Ella, the way you wrote Toby is beyond exceptional! Being in his mind, I felt his struggle deep in my bones as if it was my own storm and war I was fighting to silence the voices.
"...Love him but never forget to love yourself more."
Pippa is one of the strongest heroines I've ever met. It was an honor to be at her side while she discovered how strong she really is. Sadly because being strong was the only choice she had. But it's exactly situations like this that forms us into something greater. It takes an insanely strong character to never give up on the person you love and to always believe in him.
"I will not fall victim to the undertow, for I am unsinkable."
Pippa and Toby's lovestory is about two young people falling in love. But they not only learn to love and accept each other with everything there is but they also learn to accept and love themselves for what they are. They learn how to be strong for themselves and the other, at an age where you actually shouldn't worry about such things, where you should live carefree, enjoying life.
"I was under her skin the same way she lived in mine. I beat in her heart the same way she controlled the tempo of mine."
But fate had other plans for Toby and Pippa. And even though it was tough to read and a more than rocky road they had to pass, they (well actually Ella) created an epic lovestory. Reading this book made my heart ache constantly, I sighed a lot, sometimes I had to pause to let things think in. Every emotion found its way under my skin and stayed there, even after the last page.
"You are what I want. And what I need is for you to love me loudly again. What I need is all of you."
Intense, touching, raw, sensual, real. That's what Bittersweet Always is to me. Ella created a lovestory around the sensitive topic of mental health issues that touches your heart and the core of your soul deeply. I wish I could pour my feelings for this book into this review as Ella poured her heart into this book.
"Loving him would always be bittersweet, but I knew then that the sweet would always outweigh the bitter."
I highly recommend reading this book, experience first hand what I tried to describe here in this review. I'm pretty sure, reading this book won't disappoint you. Ella has a way with words like Ed Sheeran has with his music: They create magic.
"We stared, and we breathed each other's breaths. And when the flames climbed, melting me into a mush of sensation, he was right there, burning with me."
April 28, 2018
I'VE BEEN PUT THROUGH AN EMOTIONAL WRINGER! But by God it was the best emotional wringer ever. It was pure, pure bliss.
Pippa and Toby: their first meet:
'My dad said there are moments in your life that simply smack you upside the head. Knowing, as he called it, was when you felt it. Trust it, he’d said. It’s telling you something.'
This book evoked all the emotions. OMG I can't even tell you how much I loved this book. It was just...OMG I can't even form the words! I wanted to commit violence, then burst into tears, then cuddles, omg I wanted to give all the cuddles, and I am not a cuddler!
I'm not ashamed to say this book nearly broke me! This author never fails, like ever. Each and every time a fabulous, fanbloodytastic read.
Pippa and Toby: their first meet:
'My dad said there are moments in your life that simply smack you upside the head. Knowing, as he called it, was when you felt it. Trust it, he’d said. It’s telling you something.'
This book evoked all the emotions. OMG I can't even tell you how much I loved this book. It was just...OMG I can't even form the words! I wanted to commit violence, then burst into tears, then cuddles, omg I wanted to give all the cuddles, and I am not a cuddler!
I'm not ashamed to say this book nearly broke me! This author never fails, like ever. Each and every time a fabulous, fanbloodytastic read.
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