A review by abbyluvsfrogs444
Second First Impressions by Sally Thorne

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This is pure joy in a book. I absolutely love it. And reading it a second time made me realize that it's even better than I remember, and therefore deserves a rating increase to five stars. 

"It is luscious to make a young man run for his life." 

"I'm starting to notice that he always checks to see if I laugh at his jokes. When I smile, he lounges back in his seat and eats grapes like life is grand."

"He is a fresh coloring book and I'm a neat, tidy girl who thoroughly stays between every line."

"His lip lifts in amusement. 'Now you're making me feel pretty.'
'As if you need little old me to pump up your ego.'
'Oh, but I do.'"

"Teddy looks back into my eyes. 'Don't seduce Ruthie if I don't plan on sticking around, because she's a tender treasure that must be protected at all costs.'"

"'He lives to make you laugh. That's a direct quote.'"

"He picks me dahlias from the bank of the lake. Sure I planted them so they're sort of mine already, but he doesn't know that. He drew red lipstick hearts on my rehab tortoises. He swept the leaves from the courtyard. Gingersnap cookies, still warm from the Parlonis' oven.
My favorites have been the little artwork he's created for me on the backs of receipts and menus. I'm the blank space in between Hawaiian Supreme and Mega Meatlovers, he drew a girl in a bathtub. I'm gonna design you the perfect tattoo, it's just taking a while. He's a beautiful black cat, dropping feathers and ivy leaves on my doormat. He's given me nothing but kindness, friendship, and the diamond sparkles in his tortoiseshell eyes. In my tiny universe, he's showered me in riches."

"I use my fork to pull a single french fry out of the stack and I blow on it. He leans over and bites it off my fork, because of course he does.
'I forgot we share everything.' I'm being sarcastic, but he just smiles, all satisfied."

"Everytime I glance up, he's smiling at me, his cheek resting plumply on his fist. The smattering of freckles across his nose are cinnamon-sweet. I'm in a pleasurable dream. He has a white haze of light around his head."

"Talking about this only feels possible because Teddy is such a good listener. It's what I've always liked best about him. His expression is always changing as I speak. His face softens with sympathy or pinches with concern, his eyes flaring with surprise or loyal outrage hardening his brow."

"Everytime I get him to grin, it feels like I've won something."

"'I prayed for peace, quiet, certainty. And it's you. I'm in love with you.'"

"I woke up wrapped in Teddy. He tipped my face toward a ray of daylight on my pillow to describe the exact brown of my eyes, before hopping out of bed to make me tea."