Top positive review
5.0 out of 5 starsPerfect perfect perfect
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 June 2023
This was absolutely everything to me and I don’t know how I’m meant to just move on with my life??? It’s blown every other Elsie book out of the water for me and I don’t know how she’ll ever top this. theowinter are it for me i love them sm and I will hear a bad word about winter 😭😭😭
When I heard the tropes for Reckless, I was a little scared because accidental pregnancy/secret baby is not a trope I really enjoy all that much. But I thought if anyone could pull it off and make me like it, it’s Elsie and boy was I right. This book was phenomenal and I wish I had a Time Machine so I could go back to before I read it and read it again for the first time.
Everything about this book is perfect to me. I knew Theo and Winter were gonna put up a good fight to become my faves but the way they knocked it out of the park? Incredible. I did a Heartless reread just before this and was like yes, this is the best book in the Chestnut Springs series but Reckless really said okay bet.
It’s funny, it’s sweet, it’s spicy 🥵 but it’s also so emotional and relatable.
Daddy Theo has been living in my mind rent free since I finished it. I am down so bad for him. Everything about him is just incredible. The way he cares for his people, the way he gives Winter and exactly what she needs. The way he DEFENDS HER and stands up for her like no one has ever done 😭😭😭
"Watch your tone when you're talking to the mother of my child." My wife, who?
I also really loved the aspect of seeing the sunshine boy have his down moments and watching his insecurities fight through his confident and happy exterior. The way he felt like an interloper in their lives after he found out was actually heartbreaking 😭
Winter has my whole heart. I love a cold exterior woman who deep down cares a lot and Winter has joined the club of my faves. Being inside her head absolutely broke my heart. Her need for constant reassurance and needing to hear how people feel called me out so much.
The way Theo understood her and gave her exactly what she needed was out of this world incredible and I loved their dynamic so much. He’s acts of service and words of affirmation displays were EVERYTHING.
The cameos from the other characters filled my heart with such joy and Harvey is still the MVP, what a guy. Chestnut Springs is absolutely one of my favourite fictional places and Elsie is the queen of small town romance, I won’t hear otherwise. The way she builds up her worlds and characters is incredible.
I think there will be a few people who will miss the point of this and not understand Winter, and to that I say sorry because not getting to fully experience the wonder of this book is a damn shame.
In conclusion, this book was everything, my new favourite in the series and everyone needs to read it immediately!
I can’t believe we only have one book left in the series but I’m so excited to finally read Beau’s story! The teaser in the back of Reckless has me 🤭 like I called his love interest from the MOMENT she appeared in the CS series!
Audiobook thoughts
I did my audiobook reread literally as soon as I finished reading because I just wasn’t ready to leave theowinter. The audiobook is PERFECT! Joe and Savannah really were the perfect narrators to bring Theo and Winter to life. The book translated perfectly to audio and this will absolutely be one that I listen to multiple times. I will say that it is absolutely not office appropriate. The scene in the closet at the wedding actually had me bright red at my desk and paranoid everyone could hear what I was listening to. Would absolutely recommend reading by audio if you’re an audiobook girlie!