SYYA > Recent Status Updates

Ok, cool, whtv. It’s fine.

Yet, this is somehow worse because my expectations were raised and all I want to do is go back to Ursula’s childhood and have her relationships developed instead of spending so long on who Sylvie is and her viewpoint. ‘Worldbuilding’? I guess so, but I don’t know enough about our protagonist despite seeing near all her childhood and I’m so annoyed (at the moment) (this might change)

I’m mildly irritated and my brief “wow I really like this book I’m looking forward to the rest” has turned to “ugh I’m back at the start, learning irrelevant stuff that will only become relevant to me later on, but in a very tedious and repetitive way.”

Who the fuck is Jimmy, first of all. Secondly, as said before, I currently don’t care enough about Millie for the update on her life, job and marriage to be relevant. I don’t know anything about her personality or relationship to Ursula. She’s just one of the five daughters next door!

Ursula and Teddy started to have their relationship develop FINALLY a few pages ago, with a sweet “I love you anyways” and their father returning home, but turn the next page and we’re post WWII, nearly thirty years later. It’s such a sudden and vast change I’ve almost gotten mental whiplash, and whilst I like the way the book is written this is unfortunately a huge downside to the format.

Huge time jump now, and I’m actually kinda sad the narrative has pushed forwards so fast. Before, we spent lots of time within her childhood and characters were developed each rebirth, but unfortunately this set up makes for moments to be more fleeting and seem underdeveloped in the short term.

I like this part of the book. Ursula seems more active and preventative, and I enjoy the fact that it doesn’t always go to plan. She has to die multiple times and change a different thing each time for the outcome, slowly working it out and learning from her past experiences without explicitly knowing that they are in fact past experiences. Slow start but I’m enjoying myself now.

Teddy just died, I’m liking this book a bit more. Not because a child died, but because it feels like the plot is actually moving along and actions are becoming more consequential. It took a while, but I’m getting a bit happier with this. STATUS UPDATE: not too bad, glad I’m carrying on instead of dropping it.

But yeah, definitely not for me so far. I’m only finishing this because of my school coursework, otherwise I probably would have dropped this by now.

The writing style isn’t that bad, I’ve changed my mind. She’s a decent writer. This book is DEFINITELY not for me, though. I understand what it’s going for, and it’s not executed poorly at all, but it’s not..interesting. I’m not invested in any of the characters. It’s more of a recounting of events and I don’t see much that lets the characters open up to me.

I get it now. I’m quite enjoying it, however I don’t really like the way the author writes..(gulp)

Am enjoying so far, am also very confused.

Arran died LOLL ok I guess this is gonna be common isn’t it? Anyways i haven’t read in like a month (schoolwork) so im updating as I remember stuff. I like the thing with the little kid and the lid staying behind in the store, they seem like really interesting storylines. If that kid cycling died I’m gonna be SO PEEVED THO! He better be like last one standing yk like only survivor he deserves it.

so yeah, second book wayyy better! This one lowkey ass imo (in terms of the romance and dynamics) but it sets up the other books so I don’t mind it too much. If I didn’t read the epilogue and go “ooh bodyguard x princess dynamic?!” then I literally would not have continued the series.

anyways Alex sucks, and I don’t remember much about Ava. I don’t think I was too annoyed by her actions except that pool scene. I don’t remember much else about that. The story itself was okay. OH! But the miscommunication trope near the end pissed me off and lowkey made me hate Alex SO MUCH. I like that Rhys fought for Bridget (in a reciprocated way)

btw possessiveness is a bit more ok for the second book, because CONTEXT MATTERS GUYS! He is a BODYGUARD. It was his JOB. And after that it was literally because ppl were flirting with his girl he was officially with- official as in between the two of them- so he kinda had more of a right. Yk? Like a bit OTT sometimes but Bridget never actually had a problem with it (except when she was drunk) whereas Ava often did

In short: insufferable rich attitude of Alex (briefly touched on) + his possessiveness that Ava hates and reprimands him for and is just overall creepy

I sent probably hundreds of videos and audios of me on the brink of tears because this book was stressing SO MUCH. Like so much stupid shit so I would rant to my friends about it and how much I hated this book and couldn’t wait for it to be over (tears in my eyes, voice cracking)

Writing this four months later, after the fact! I just read the second book and thought “maybe I just hate the book now bc I prefer the second one so much more,” so I returned to read my updates! Alas, no, I seemed to not enjoy it towards the middle or end. In fact, I HARDLY updated on this one and I do in fact vividly remember why.

so yeah, like a solid 8/10 and I probably would read it again! I love these two, actually.

but yeah 100% prefer this book and just preferred the princess x bodyguard dynamic anyways to a simple grumpy x sunshine rich CEO type deal (I do love grumpy x sunshine though, it’s just the rich CEO dynamic thing I URGHH go back and read my other updates on Twisted Love)

Sexual tension btw, i was talking about sexual tension. Still very invested in the relationship and loved it the WHOLE TIME!! yet again not really a point I thought “oh there is such an easy fix” or “oh my gods just communicate” ykwim? Rhys is also just way more likeable as a ML, which is odd because he has similarish traits to Alex who I lowkey despise.

I feel like they could’ve had sex a lot less, like the author only expresses their love for each other through sex bc once they have it once (properly) they have it SO OFTEN and there’s no longer that same tension and stuff because they become careless and just fuck everywhere

anyways this was way better than the first and I actually enjoyed a romance book the first time in my life?? I was REALLY invested in their relationship tbh so this was a cool change

I loved the ending I didn’t get pissed off by either Bridget or Rhys at any point actually (Ava and Alex PMO A LOT.) There was also less sex (phew) and the tension felt more built up / genuine for me? Idk how to explain it like it was more satisfying

anyways I kinda prefer this book the dynamic is WAY CUTER and Rhys is a way better guy

for a second I litro thought they were cousins btw