Yes! That’s what I’m talking about; I got my reading mojo back and really sunk my teeth into Did I Mention I Need You?
Towards the end of last year I read Did I Mention I Love You; the first book in the DIMLY series. You may remember that I had mixed feelings about the book because I really liked the main characters, but had some other niggles. However, I’m pleased to report that I flat out loved Did I Mention I Need You and my previous annoyances are no longer.
We pick up a year after the end of DIMILY (I know I could copy and paste, but I’m being lazy and abbreviating) and Eden is excited about the prospect of heading to New York for a few weeks because:
- A: it’s New-freaking-York (I doubt that’s correct use of hyphens)
- B: Tyler is living there
From the get go, you know there’s only one way this is going to go:
- Eden will cheat on Dean, and Eden and Tyler will get back together
- The whole stepsiblings thing will be an issue (a non-issue for me)
- Family and friends will probably find out
Aaaaand that’s exactly what happens. DIMINY was never going to be anything but predictable due to the storyline, but that doesn’t make it a bad story at all. Don’t get me wrong, a predictable book can be a bad book, but that just wasn’t the case here. Estelle Maskame sucked me into Eden and Tyler’s lives and I feel like I actually know both of them. I am unequivocally hooked on their lives.
It was nice to explore New York through Eden’s eyes, and it’s made me really want to go back. I must also add that my shoe-envy over Eden’s white Converse finally gave me something to spend a gift card on. (Thank you Estelle, you terrible enabler, you.)
Some characters from the first book make an appearance, though no where near as much as in the first book. We also meet two new characters, who I really grew to love and I think they’re stronger and more interesting supporting characters than the supporting characters were in the first book.
I don’t think it’s a spoiler for me to tell you that Eden and Tyler end up getting back together, and there are mixed reactions to their relationship when people find out. Of course, Dean is less than thrilled and despite that I couldn’t help but want Tyler and Eden to be happy.
For me, the step sibling thing hasn’t really been an issue because they weren’t raised together and don’t live together as siblings. Of course, both in real life and in the book, there are mixed reactions to that and it was interesting to see how it unfolded.
And the ending. THE ENDING! Estelle is a cruel lady. I re-read it a couple of times because I couldn’t believe what happened. I need to know when the third book is coming out because it is one of the cruellest cliffhangers I have ever encountered.
Did I Mention I Need You is exactly what I needed after the past couple of books I read didn’t really do much for me. Estelle had me hooked from the first page and I kept turning the page to find out what would happen next. It was one of those books that you groan about having to put down, and end up thinking about the characters in between reading and after you’ve read the final word.
In short: A gripping forbidden romance-fueled angst-fest set in New York.
What was the last book you read that had you absolutely hooked?
*I received a free copy of Did I Mention I Need You in exchange for an honest review – this does not affect my opinion and I would never fangirl about something I didn’t honestly enjoy.
So glad you’re back in the reading groove! (Is that a thing?) I finished Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult today and it left me reeling. Now I’m in that really nice space of choosing which book to read next.
It is definitely a thing because I was most certainly out of my groove for the past couple of weeks, but now I’m back. I love that – when you finish a great book, and you don’t know what to read next and you’re exploring everything.
It is definitely a thing because I was most certainly out of my groove for the past couple of weeks, but now I’m back. I love that – when you finish a great book, and you don’t know what to read next and you’re exploring everything.
Well this sounds a bit saucy! I’m really into women’s fiction at the moment – I read You Had Me At Hello a few days ago and whilst it wasn’t the best, it just kept me reading. I don’t know how or why, but I was desperate to find out what happened at the end.
Dannie x
Haha, it is a little bit. It’s not particularly graphic, but many sexual tension, such angst.
I 100% agree that just because a story is predictable doesn’t mean it’s bad. After all, if that were the case we wouldn’t have any teen movies or rom-coms and there are soooooo many of those that I adore – even as someone who has spent most of my life studying story and its structure. Anyone who says otherwise is just a snob.
I haven’t read the first book in this series but it sounds like it could be a fun, quick read for when I can concentrate on something heavier.
You’re spot on there – there would hardly be any new books / movies if we always had to have something new and original.
I’ve never heard of either of those books but they sound quite fun, and with a bit of a taboo twist too, to make it interesting. I’ll have to have a look on Amazon and see what I can find
I didn’t think the first book was as good, but it’s still a fun, fast read.