Status Updates From Unsticky

“We’re not objectionable. We’re broken. It’s like we have all these jagged edges that scare other people off, but when we’re with each other, our jagged edges fit together and we’re almost whole.”

This book is encoded in my DNA. I love them I love them I love them.
They both never thought they were good enough, but they always were, especially for each other.

“I’m sorry.”
“You don’t apologise. Not ever.”
“…But I am sorry that I can’t change, be the man you want me to be. I’m sorry that I’m driving you away. Sorry that I’ve screwed this up in such a spectacular fashion. And I’m so sorry that I’ve hurt you.”

This man ran through the rain to get back to her, I’m sold

“She couldn’t sleep on her own any more. That was bad it had got.
Vaughn was fast asleep when Grace crept into his room. […] She carefully slid under the duvet and curled up against him. Vaughn stirred but his body knew she was there on some deeper level, because he turned over, made room for her and his arm slipped around her waist, drawing her closer and closer until he sighed and stopped moving.”

🥹

“I just want you to know that I’m very glad we found each other.”
Grace liked how he’d phrased it. Because they had both been alone and a little bit broken. Then they’d bumped into each other and something had finally stuck.
“Don’t know about you, but I was so sick of feeling lost.”

I’m so tender about them there aren’t words for it

The little ways they bend for each other and Vaughn’s shame and regret for his behaviour and worrying about her when she stayed out and being protective and hating himself when she was being sick and them knowing all the little things about the other, and the worst things, and accepting each other anyway. I can’t. They are oil and water and yet it works. They fit. Love changes you.

“Despite their differences, because of their differences, they were a perfect mismatched set. Two sides of the same tarnished penny.”

Him saying she’ll take a guest room because she fidgets too much in bed before they both then fall asleep together and neither of them mention it??? Giggling and kicking my feetttt 🤭

“I’m not good enough, not ever. I’m not worth anything. And sometimes I feel it so much, like there’s this big hole inside me and I don’t know how to fix it”

Oh.

Maybe only five other books have ever hit as good or better than the scene when Vaughn sees Grace’s flat. I have never forgotten it and I read this 17 years ago.

“How are you?”
“Like I just have a cold instead of pleural pneumonia. I’m dying for a cup of tea.”
“I’ll make it. You go and sit down.”
“Please let me make the tea. You won’t dunk the bag enough times.”
“You’re definitely feeling better.”

I love them. In all their complex, unhealthy and flawed glory.

“I just want to go home,” Grace whispered, but home was across an ocean and wasn’t really a home, just a place where she slept.

The show don’t tell is superb.

“You promise you won’t get mad if I can’t come?”
“Well we’re not leaving that huge bed in the other room until you do, so let’s hope there’s twenty-four-hour room service.” 🫦

Workaholic blew off important work events to spend the entire day making her come so hard that her world shattered and reshaped itself by his hands and mouth long minutes later.
The reread is phenomenal.

“Show me what you do when you’re alone. So I’ll know for next time.” 🫠
~
“I’m going to make a note in my blackberry. ‘Make sure Grace comes every time we have sex.’”
~
Vaughn calling her and TAKING NOTES on what gets her off and doing it over the phone so as not to embarrass her and them actually flirting and him making a fashion joke I can’t! I was feeling unsure but I do love them so so much.

“You barely touched your dinner.”

The dichotomy of his attentiveness toward her versus their dysfunctional relationship is fascinating. I can feel how cold the pages are and yet it’s raw and honest. I truly think this is not a romance for most of the book, but that’s what then makes the romance hit so good. It feels genuine, it feels earned. That tonal change will be like crack to me I know it.

“There aren’t enough incentives in the world to persuade anyone to put up with me seven days a week.”
“Are you really that bad?”
“Yes I am.”

Okay but this foreshadowing of them living together is everything

“The buses had carried on trundling past the window, someone had laughed in the corridor, the sun had continued to shine, even though something inside of Grace had been smashed into little pieces. So, really, no matter how scary Vaughan was, he couldn’t break her. She was already broken. In a way the joke was on him, because he was buying damaged goods.”

Sigh, it’s me

They take their tea the same way, milk with two sugars. Adorable.

“They talked about the weather because they were English people abroad.”

I’ve missed books set in Britain SO MUCH actually

Barely started and iPods have been mentioned. Take me back please I’ll be grateful this time

Rereading an old favourite because I need to be brought back to life.