REVIEW >> Across From You

Good afternoon, all!

After taking a week for family vacation to a beautiful beach out of state, we have returned! and I have another review for you today.

Tell me, do you prefer the beach or the mountains??

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Across From You
Two Worlds #1
Chani Lynn Feener

| February 22nd, 2022

Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Young Adult, Young Adult Fiction, Romance

{GoodReads}

Charlie Saxe grew up in the seedy underbelly of Umbra before she was adopted and allowed to live in the palace. Since then, she has been training for years to be able to infiltrate an Equivalent high school, a task she needs to succeed at in order to make her adoptive father proud. Everyone in her world knows about the existence of the parallel universe Equivalent, but only trained soldiers are allowed to go there. After all her hard work, she refuses to let anything get in her way, including the inappropriate crush she happens to have on her target, Kav Kavanaugh.

However, when the only thing she can do to keep him safe is illegally sneak him into her world, Charlie is forced to put her personal needs aside. Counterpart is run by a monarchy, and she and Kav must help her King uncover a mole within the palace before Kav can return home. As the two of them grow closer, Charlie makes contact with the boy she left behind in Umbra, and discovers a conspiracy theory against the king that could change everything she thought she knew and believed in.

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WARNING: Possible Spoilers!

THE BASICS

As it has been quite a while since I've actually read this one, I am relying on my memory & the notes I took a couple years ago... So, please bear with me if you have also read this one, and feel I've missed something worth noting. ;]

I wanted so badly to give this one a 5-out-of-5 stars! The world-building was absolutely incredible, the characters were so complex, and the story was FASCINATING.

Buuuut...

the "mild" language, coupled with some definitively spicy scenes, were a bit distracting for me---hence the loss of a star. (More on those categories following.)

That said, as mentioned above, the world-building was so imaginative! It was set in a parallel universe: Equivalent, being basically Earth, and Counterpart, the mirror world where Charlie hails from---and which is governed by a monarchy. I enjoyed the action, the story, and the mystery!

VIOLENCE

A gunfight & car chase leaves a couple guys wounded and some bodies behind. One man favors an arms, and another clutches his own arm as blood drips from it. A character shoots a stun ring, catching a baddie in the neck. Men are shot & dropped instantly. Baddies jump a guy in an alley and he yells at his team to escape.

A scuffle ensues between a girl & some bullies---she beats them down through agility & surprise, saving another girl from them in the process, but comes away with a bloody head, bruises, etc.

A squad of soldiers break down an apartment door, storming into the room and taking control.

SPIRITUAL CONTENT

None that I recall.

LANGUAGE // ALCOHOL & DRUGS

A booming bar serves all kinds of alcoholic beverages. At one point, Kav sips a small shot glass of clear liquid and Charlie orders a round of the same (only to find out it was water).

Another location is featured in an extremely wealthy nightclub.

/ / /

Several usages of "piss," "pissed," "s---," "sh---y"; numerous exclamations or mutterings of "hell," "d---," "half-a--," "a--," "a--hole," and "bada--," to name some.

An "F-you" message to the royal insignia seems obvious by a particular rebel's choice of clothing.

ROMANTIC CONTENT

Early into their relationship, Kav pushes Charlie against a wall as a baddie arrives on the scene--in the shadows it would look like they were in an intimate embrace, but [of course!] it effectively keeps them from being spotted.

An impulsive, quite passionate & intimate kiss takes place... she's taken aback and freezes for a brief moment before responding in kind & taking control of the kiss herself---tongue included. Bodies pressed against each other, and continues until a call interrupts. (Oh darn.)

Another kiss later on with more tongue exploring... and bodies pressed close. Continues for a bit.

At one point, they are lying together in bed snuggling. Chatting follows and eventually they roll over so that she is beneath him. And, of course, more kisses.

CONCLUSION

As always, my opinions are always my own.

If you can handle this level of spice, not to mention the level of foul language as well, and if you enjoy good world-building with complex characters, then give this one a go! As I said previously, I wanted so badly to love this one!!! But I have a standard I do my best to follow, and while it is not often I review spicy books, I appreciate full-content reviews and hope to deliver my own to assist other like-minded readers. :]

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3.5 OUT OF 5 STARS