Dhawyreads

Review of an advance copy received from author

The Perfect Story is a character-driven romance following a free spirit and a homebody in a small town called Beaver Creek. Nora is used to exploring new places, moving to new cities, and meeting people without getting attached. Meanwhile, Justin can’t seem to imagine his life without work, his comfortable home, his grown kids, and his bunnies.

Not only are they attracted to each other after an unexpected meeting at the library, but their connection is also brought together by Nora’s project with the town newspaper to write articles about Beaver Creek. As a descendant of the town’s founder, Justin naturally becomes the right person to help her. Giving her information, showing her important places around town, and sharing stories that make Beaver Creek what it is.

The story’s atmosphere is light and easy to read, with a pacing that’s neither too slow nor too fast. The only thing heating up their love story is Nora’s untethered lifestyle, as it goes against Justin’s wish to find a lasting love after spending the past twenty years as a single dad. But even then, the conflict never carries too much weight or becomes overly dramatic.

This book is such a simple read that it doesn’t need a lot of words in my review. Not because it’s boring or anything like that, but because it’s just cozy, easy, sweet, and enough to be described in one word.

Relaxing.

I love relaxing reads, especially after pages of books that turn me into a detective lol. Sweet stories like this are definitely good companions when you’re cooling down from a heavy, complex read.

Oh, one more thing that makes this book hard to forget.

It’s Justin’s son!

He doesn’t appear often, but whenever he does, he somehow becomes the funniest character.

I laughed so much when he casually pointed out that his dad had been showering a lot more ever since Nora came around. He literally announced it in public, y’all. Imagine, just imagine being Justin at that moment.

Review of an advance copy received from author

Aww, what a sweet, sweet read about healing, hope, and home. A very slow, slow-burn romance that becomes easier to enjoy because of Olive, Madison’s daughter. Her presence is so prominent in the best way possible, as her cute behaviors and little drawings slowly break down the walls around both Madison’s and Seth’s hearts.

I was in awe of Madison’s and Seth’s chemistry once they finally let their guards down and allowed themselves to be free. But I have to admit, Olive stole a bigger piece of my heart. I love that little girl! 💙💙

If I had to share one disturbance in my reading experience, it would be the chapter length. The chapters are really short. Most of them narrate just one single moment. Some chapters could have been merged together so the story wouldn’t reach 50-ish chapters.

Not that there’s anything wrong with having 50-ish chapters. There really isn’t. But when readers see that many chapters, they automatically expect something more complex. They start imagining an eventful small town romance packed with layers of conflict and extended drama after the main characters decide to love one another, while this story is actually way simpler than that.

But overall, I truly enjoy reading this book. I love how it emphasizes that home doesn’t always come from a house. Sometimes, home comes from people. And this story delivers that message beautifully.

———

The story takes place in a small town called Wisteria Creek.

When a violent storm hits the town, Madison’s house is badly damaged. The ceiling collapses. A place built through years of hard work and hope for stability, both for herself and her daughter, is suddenly no longer safe to live in.

Madison is forced to stay in her best friend’s older brother’s guest house.

Yes, that Seth.

An architect who spent his childhood teasing her. A teenager who later kept his distance. And now an adult who quietly watches over her with care.

Madison never wants anything to do with Seth again. Ever.

Until circumstances leave her with no other choice.

But through long evenings, quiet conversations, and soft moments created by a storm and forced proximity, something between them slowly shifts into love.

Beneath the broken sky, Madison begins healing from all the heaviness she has been carrying alone. She learns to let love challenge her fears. No more worrying about being left behind like she was by people she once depended on.

Meanwhile, from the main house, Seth watches Madison and Olive and slowly realizes something too. He doesn’t have to hide behind his work forever. He doesn’t have to bury his feelings because of a betrayal from the past. And he is allowed to love a woman and a little girl at the same time if that’s what his heart truly wants.

We already know how the rest of their story goes.

Wow! Buku science fiction yang lumayan padat, tapi eksekusinya agak nggak banget menurutku.
Ceritanya tentang anak bernama Todd Hewitt yang otewe jadi laki-laki dewasa. Dia hidup di Prentisstown, sama dua orang pengasuhnya yang juga laki-laki. Di Prentisstown, semua penghuninya laki-laki yang bisa dengar pikiran satu sama lain akibat kuman kebisingan.
Todd ini nggak sekolah, karena pelajaran baca tulis di Prentisstown bisa jadi masalah. Semua buku di sana sudah dibakar walikota. Tapi, Suatu hari, para pengasuhnya ini malah nyuruh Todd kabur. Bekalnya? Buku.
Anak nggak bisa baca tapi dikasihnya buku. Disuruh pergi jauh sendirian, pula. Terus gimana dia bisa kabur dengan strategi yang tepat? Gimana dia bisa melawan semua rintangannya?

Well, aku bilang buku ini padat karena issue yang dibahas buanyak layer-nya. Ada penjajahan, pembodohan, manipulasi, keserakahan oleh pemimpin setempat, sampai ketidaksetaraan jender.
Aku suka banget penggambaran liku-liku ataupun rintangan kuat buat si Todd, yang nggak tampak seperti tahu bulat digoreng dadakan. Aku sebagai pembaca beneran merasa dibuat kehabisan napas. Dan satu lagi, jangan lupakan penggunaan pisau yang nggak jadi-jadi, ya. Kalo kalian baca bukunya, pasti bisa merasa tergemes-gemes kesel sama Todd gara-gara itu.

Kalo bicara kekurangan, kekurangan pertama ada di gaya penulisannya. Repetisi bertaburan di sana-sini. Awalnya pening kepalaku bacanya, meskipun emang sih, lama-lama terbiasa juga. Tapi perasaan, anak polos nggak mesti diidentikkan sama pengulangan kata yang segitu buanyak, deh.
Selanjutnya, mari kita ngomongin alur. Alurnya lambat sekali. Terkesan buang-buang page. Dari kacamata pembaca awam aja tuh kelihatan, beberapa bagian bisa banget dipersingkat.
Latar belakangnya si Todd, tokoh utama, diceritainnya overly detail sampek elek dalam satu bagian. Padahal, andai kata lebih disebar ke beberapa bagian cerita, pasti jadinya bagus banget.
Selanjutnya, pemilihan sudut pandang. Kurang kaya perspektifnya kalo hanya diambil dari sudut pandang Todd, anak kemarin sore yang masih polos + kurang pengetahuan. Seharusnya, ada juga sudut pandang dari Ben, salah satu pengasuh Todd, yang sedikit tapi ngena. Yang nggak banyak dimunculkan, tapi bisa memuaskan pembaca dengan penjelasan tipis-tipis versi orang dewasa soal chaos-nya Prentisstown buat masa depan Todd.
Alternatif lainnya, munculkan sudut pandang cewek pintar luar angkasa yang ikut nemenin Todd berpetualang. Jadi kita nggak hanya mengenal cerita ini dari keruwetan si Todd aja gitu, lho.
Dan yang terakhir, ada wisdom di buku ini yang bilang selalu ada harapan. Selalu ada harapan di ujung jalan katanya. Aku tuh terus terang mikir, apa ya gunanya wisdom ini dimuncul-munculin segala?
Soalnya gini, sepanjang cerita, tokoh Todd dibuat apes terus. Nggak satupun harapannya bisa jadi nyata. Kesannya, wisdom selalu ada harapan itu cuma aksesori aja supaya ceritanya tampak meaningful. Implementasinya nol besar.

Mungkin itu aja yang bisa aku ulas. Setelah namatin buku pertama dalam seri ini, juga mengamati semua kekurangan dan kelebihannya, jujur aku nggak terlalu tertarik lanjutin baca buku-buku yang lain dalam seri Chaos Walking ini. Aku move on aja, deh.