Status Updates From Recovery (Salvage Stories, #2)

DNF

DNF

The brushstrokes were so skilled the addition looked as real as the photo. “How did you know what I looked like back then?”
“I called every salvage yard in Minnesota until I spoke to a cranky old guy. He sent me some pictures.” Owen turned so he could make eye contact. “Thought you said that guy Coop didn’t like you? Sure looked like you were one of his kids in all the photos he sent.”

LOWKEY SOBBING

I would not sneeze at a sequel about Owen. (Though I’m all maxed out on grief for now, so it would have to be several years in the future to give him time to heal from Belle’s passing).

The hits just. keep. on. coming. I don’t even know that I would classify this as hurt/comfort... it’s all just hurt, in varying waves. And it’s not poorly written or anything, its just... even if Daniel’s character was perfectly fleshed out, I’m still not sure I’d enjoy this enough to ever want to reread it. He’s supportive but... at the end if the day I don’t think this is a romance. Just hurt/hurt

This book is so stressful 😭 To take stock we’ve got: Jamie’s abuse via neglect childhood, his mom’s alcoholism, his alcoholism, his rape (never on page in this one, thank god), his guilt over Gabe & family, Belle’s cancer & imminent death, Alec’s alcoholism, Owen’s self-blame for said alcoholism and Belle’s past abruption that killed the baby, and now Grace’s abruption. Just... too much sad

I was worried about that 😭 Poor Jamie, please let this not take him down an alcohol tailspin

This feels more like Owen & Alec’s story as they struggle to repair their fraught father-son relationship before Belle passes. And while I get that Jamie is playing a major role in that, I feel like I’m losing his sense of character in the shuffle. And I’m not really learning much about Daniel either, aside from his support of Jamie. Who he still barely know. It’s like there’s too much plot, not romance

Given how much Jamie was a part of Gabe’s story, I’m kind of struggling with how much Gabe isn’t a part of Jamie’s. Gabe’s been absent except for one text message and a handful of stray thoughts on Jamie’s part. I think it’s supposed to show that Jamie is finally learning to stop leaning so heavily on Gabe but there’s an in-between between co-dependence and utter absence. Where’s their friendship?

Cheated a little bit and searched the ebook text for “funeral” to see if Belle’s going to die before I get too worked up / attached. Confirmed. Ugh. Cancer plots are a bitch. I... am not sure how much I’m going to be able to focus on the romance in this one, what with Jamie’s rape trauma, his alcoholism, and Belle’s death already all on the table in the first few chapters. This is going to be... heavy.

1. At least Jamie is aware enough to be like ‘no serial killer vibes’
2. If I didn’t know from the back cover copy that Daniel was Jamie’s love interest, I would be shrieking ‘LISTEN TO GABE’S VOICE, THAT’S YOUR CONSCIENCE / SELF-PRESERVATION SPEAKING.
3. I genuinely do not understand how he does not have PTSD in situations with strangers like this??

“Come with me?” His whisper, directly into Jamie’s ear, induced shivers.
Jamie wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “I guess I could. Just for a while.”
Daniel’s astonished smile & “Really?” sealed the deal for Jamie. That smile was the opposite of predatory, more surprised than serial killer. Jamie tuned out the memory of Gabe’s voice, telling him not to put his trust in strangers ever again

Unmm. Daniel is coming off as very... pushy and almost creepy so far. I would have taken a covert picture and texted it to my friends “in case I’m murdered, this guy probably did it”-style by this point if I was Jamie, tbh

"...I had to get through the bad days without a crutch and the good days without letting my guard slip.”

“Grace tried to hold back tears. They seeped out no matter how tightly she closed her eyes..”
Same girl. Same.
Could somebody pass the tissues please??

Kinda awkward that the guy I wanted to kick outta the way in the last book is the star of this one...but I’m ready for your story Jamie. Here we go.....

Who's the jackass that put on mascara today? *raises hand*

Oh fuck. No. Just OMG!!!

I am NOT crying over a sandwich.
I lied.
I am totally crying over a sandwich.

So in love with Daniel. OMG! He is amazing and the art talk with Owen was just, yup. I Love that man.