Kate Canterbary

Re-read 05/2022

Thus concludes my re-read of The Walshes (not counting the novellas this time around).

When I first read this series, Riley's book was my favorite and upon re-read that still stands. What an adorable, goofball, sexy, hot mess of a man. He is deeper than his appearance and more mature and sensitive to his surroundings than his siblings give him credit for. There is angst and a bit of EEEK! nervousness activated when the book starts but STAY WITH ME it is worth it get let that eeek-ness unfold >>>>> The book begins with Riley having a sex dream about Lauren, who he has been in love with since first meeting her. This became known in the last book and is explored more in this book. FYI Riley never acts out on this longing for Lauren so do not fret too much. I think this longing makes sense and contextualizes Riley's depth and shows us how emotionally intelligent he really is. . . something he is never really given credit for Alex, Riley's love interest, is a doctor who is still recovering from a break-up that messed up not only her personal life, but her professional one as well. The good doctor, Nick Acevedo, gets Riley and Alex together so they can fake date their way out of the rut they're both in.

This was such a rewarding re-read.

CW: the Walsh family has a history of mental, physical abuse (and SA) from their deceased father. They also watched their mother die. Each sibling has their own way of living with that trauma so please take care of yourself!… (más)

Reread 04/2022 Sam and Tiel’s story still made me feel all the things. Upon reread, however, I found how Sam was written to be a little uneven. I dislike how the term manwhore was used - less whorephobia plz thanks. I think there may have been a better way to talk about how Sam relied on anonymous sex as a reaction to his upbringing - that was a missed connection imo. I was very moved when reading Sam going to his mother and baby sister’s gravesite to clean it. The trauma the Walsh children experienced watching their mother die, then compounded by Angus’s wrath is a thread that weaves throughout these stories. And it could have been a little tighter with Sam’s story.

These damn Walshes! I did not expect Sam's story to put me in all the feels. The transition from man-whore to lovey-boyfriend seemed like it would be a ridiculous concept, but the backstory of Tiel and Sam are so well-developed and I truly believed their love story. Ahh, I cannot get enough of this family!… (más)