Reverse (The Bittersweet Symphony Duet)

In my review of Drive I referred to Author Kate Stewart as a seasoned cardiologist piecing our broken hearts into scarred masses that reside behind our breastbones. Someone, in that thread, referred or insinuated that her books border on psychological thriller. So continuing in the vein of medically aligned specialties, let's call Stewart a psychological warfare specialist, shall we? Granted, I have only the Ravenhood and now Bittersweet duology under my belt to make such a bold accusation, but if we're saying I feel personally attacked by the weapons of mass destruction she holds in her arsenal, I think 6.5 volumes of her work are enough to lay such claim boldly and loudly. Stewart outs herself not even seeing a future for a second book after penning her conclusion to Drive leaving us heartbroken for Nate and in total love with Stella and Reid's happy ever after. But to come up with the brilliant idea of gutting both Stella and Nate's relationships through their children - I think that is the definition of psychological warfare. No, her readers aren't her only victims. Her characters are directly in the line of fire. No one is spared from devastation as Kate sits behind her keyboard penning attack after attack against our emotional state of mind. A distinct difference between Ravenhood and this duology (and a half) is I went into the Ravenhood being outright told it was going to cause me emotional damages. And so I held off reading it until I needed that level of trauma. I knew nothing but that I was about to be mercilessly gutted. I didn't get any of that going into the Bittersweet duology. I was assuered tears and an emotional roller coaster. And it's exactly what I got. But I had no doubts Stella and Reid would get their happy ever after, just as I was 100% sure Stewart wasn't going to leave Natalie and Easton hanging even though putting them through the ringer without care to their poor battered and bruised hearts. But what I really think I got out of this book is the hidden gem that is the 5 year gap between stories. Don't get me wrong. Drive was nothing less than a 5-star read for me. But between Drive's 2017 publication date and Reverse's 2022 publication, she wrote and published all 3 main novels of the Ravenhood series (Flock, Exodus, The Finish Line). You can really see her growth as a writer and story teller. Her lines were so much deeper and definitely more refined for Natalie and Easton's story. I could have never read a single word of Drive, and I would still be able to experience the full whirlwind of emotions that must have taken place within those pages because of how well expressed it is in Reverse. Given my neurospicy brain, I tend to do a lot of skim reading when an author gets too wordy in their expository pasages, finding far too many authors tell instead of show. But I can say hands down I have read every word cover to cover inside each of the novels I have read penned by this talented woman. Many of them multiple times over because I need to relive the moments over and over. Stewart tells us little and shows us everything so spectacularly that it’s spellbinding, captivating. Crushing and healing all in the same moment. If I had to give another kudos to Stewart for Reverse, I would have to add that she says the words that need to be said instead of using a miscommunication trope to throw us off. The banter is amazingly on point - exactly what I both want and need the words to be - exactly the conversation I would have if I were sitting in the character's shoes. So few authors really get that right - and it's a huge pet peeve of mine in reading. But every time these character's speak in love, hate, hurt, or fear the words are absolutely perfect.

Did I stay up all night to finish this book? Yes. Like, no joke until the sun came up, then took a few hours’ to nap. I loved book one, but it pales in comparison to this one. Omfg. I read like a chapter, then sat the book down for a day because of life responsibilities. But when I picked it up and actually got into it omfg. When I say I couldn’t put it down, I’m not exaggerating. I kept saying, “I will just read until this time.” Then it would get to this time, and I would be like, “But this is happening. I can’t just stop yet.” So I will read until this time. Let’s just say this continued until 5:30 a.m. Yes, 5:30 a.m. FFS! WHEN I FINISHED THE BOOK! This book hurt so bad. There was a point I almost went to bed and updated my status as I hate/loved this book. I was honestly having an emotional crisis at one point because of this book. I haven’t hurt this bad since Exodus. BUT for different reasons, BTW, so don’t think I’m giving spoilers. I’m not. This book honestly takes your heart and repeatedly rips it up. Anyways. Angst? Ha! New definition of angst. I thought, “I knew angst… I didn’t.” Only one couple has ever compared. I do NOT regret waiting anymore to read this series. There is no way I could’ve handled it that soon after The Ravenhood. Will I be waiting to touch more books again by Kate Stewart? Probably. Idk if any others hit as hard as this series does. I was warned of this series before reading it. Needless to say, I do LOVE it. It is an amazing book. It hurts so good. The characters are amazing. Is it spicy? Yep. Is it long? Yep. Does it focus more on the “rock star” life than book 1? Yes, but you will understand once you’re reading it. It is a true rockstar romance. It focuses on book 1’s couples and kids. So you really need to read book 1 first. Their story really plays a HUGE part in this book. If you are someone who is emotionally moved by Kate’s books like me, you might need to get some tissues for the tears. Just saying. Also, I did listen to the audiobook while reading. It’s a duet and done so well. The passion. Omg. Just yeah. I love it. This contemporary romance is book 2 in The Bittersweet Symphony Duet. The romance in this book is a forbidden romance. The book is spicy with descriptive open door spicy scenes. Natalie finds emails detailing a secret love her dad Nate has tried to keep hidden. True to her journalism background, she has to get to the bottom of it at any cost. The cost she didn’t expect, though, was losing her heart to the one person she wasn’t ever meant to, Easton. Our love has the possibility to destroy both our families, or it can destroy us instead. This was an all consuming and heart wrenching read.

Can not stop till you complete reading the stories and see HOW these unfold. Great capture of emotions and situations. Love these books. 10/10.

I laughed and I cried. One of my all time favourite books, and favourite series. Kate Stewart is a master manipulator of emotions. I love Stella's story from Drive, but I especially love how it all came together with Easton and Natalie in Reverse. If only I could read /listen to this series again for the very first time!

I loved this book. It was highly addictive I could not put it down. I was thinking about this book ALL day and night. I did not want to do anything else but read. I had a book hangover when I finished which I did not expect and started to re-read a few days later. I have never re-read a book in such a short amount of time. Now onto the spoilers. The start of the book followed Natalie and Easton as we saw their instant connection and watched their relationship blossom. The relationship between these two is beautiful. Going for drives, exploring Seattle together, showing each other their passions. It was such a joy to see. They got to know each other on such a deep and meaningful level so early on. Easton really opened up which shows the significance considering he is a very private person. I mean, Easton playing for her in public which he had never done. Showing her his album when he hadn't even shown Stella yet, the person whose opinion was most important to him. Natalie and Easton's automatic connection really shines through. Then we went on to see the beautiful moment where they tell each other they love each other for the first time during Easton's concert where he sang hypnotise. This moment for me paralleled the emotional scene in Drive where Reid was singing to Stella and the beautiful heart-wrenching moment they shared. I was lucky enough to see my first live concert in almost three years (due to Covid) while reading this book and it really put me in that moment. I could imagine the way they felt from the atmosphere and imagined Natalie backstage and them running to the other. I was really lucky to be able to experience this. Then we saw them get married and make plans for the future. Unfortunately, that's where everything started to fall apart. The moment the parents all found out was rough. So rough, it felt like everyone turned on them and they had no one supporting them. I of course expected there to be hurt but all the parents put their feelings first and completely neglected the way that Natalie and Easton felt about each other and didn't care about the relationship between them. It was painful. Even Stella, who went through so much pain and caused pain with her own love story, gave no thought for Easton's. Maybe it was naïve of me but I found it unexpected for everyone to try and dismiss Natalie and Easton's love and break them up. The part where Natalie says to Holly and Damon you can be mad but I need you to forgive me now- it hurt. She needed support from someone, anyone apart from Easton. I thought Natalie would freak and distance herself from Easton but she held firm in the fact that they would get through it TOGETHER. Unfortunately, that wasn't a resolution she stuck to. I felt as though Easton was the one putting in everything and I really felt for him throughout this book. Some of Natalie's decisions just made me say "oh come on girl wake up". But like she says at the end she didn't realise how badly she was neglecting him and not nurturing his love. She went through a lot of pain as well. The Superbowl scene. This is a perfect example of Kate's brilliant mind and ability to tie things together and make things so much more impactful. Nate watching Easton and the Dead Sergeants play Drive. The version of Drive that was used in the playlist was utterly PERFECT for this scene. Man, I really felt that moment. Telling Natalie to not let go of his hand (because Stella let go of his hand) like WOW, I didn't pick that up at first. But I think that's the nature of Kates' books, you could read it a hundred times and still pick up a new detail or see something from a different perspective after each read. This was heart breaking too because this was the moment that Nate finally came around. I think this was when he realised that Natalie and Easton were truly in love and what they felt for each other was soul-deep. Nate seeing this moment and reflecting on the past, was able to put himself in Natalie and Easton's shoes and for the first time truly think about their connection. As well as the similarities of Natalie and Easton's situation to what he had watched unfold between Reid and Stella. That even though Natalie and Easton were in love, it didn't mean that Nate would lose Natalie. Unfortunately, this is when Natalie decides to sign the divorce papers (god damn it). The angst of this book was a LOT. At one point I was like I don't know how much more of this I can take. When Natalie incorrectly assumed Easton was in a new relationship so she started dating someone else, I wish she had just picked up the damn phone and talked to him. Then you get to the scene where Easton shows Natalie, Stella's original script for Drive. That moment in the car before they leave each other. I just wanted to scream. Easton was trying so hard, and told her that what they had was so special and it was worth fighting for. It was obvious she had so much she wanted to say but instead said they should be friends. When Easton signs the divorce papers and she says my supernova passed me by, what a punch in the guts. Natalie watching the video of Easton singing The Dance, I could physically feel his pain in that scene. In Mexico, I am so glad that Natalie was the one to put everything on the line. Earlier on in the book, I knew that she was going to have to be the one to open up and fight, because she was the one restricting them. Easton was always so open with her but after being knocked down so many times he started to lose hope and I don't blame him for not continuing to put all his feelings out there. When Easton says he needed to see her fight for him I very much agreed with that statement. When Easton heard Natalie say that she had to break Nate's heart by making Easton her number one priority, it was such a relief. Easton hearing that phone call and knowing that she didn't know he was listening allowed him to get all of Natalie's true feelings and was so important for them reuniting. "Married or not, I want the chance back to uphold those vows. I want the chance to be the partner you deserve. I want you to take me back." "What took you so f****** long. I told you where to find me. I told you I'd be right here where you left me. It's not too late, Beauty. and with you, it was never going to be." What a heart wrenching moment. I absolutely loved Easton's character he was phenomenal. The way he spoke about life, his own experiences and Natalie were beautiful. Natalie frustrated me at times but I got her. She spent her whole life working towards something for Easton to come and knock her off course. She unintentionally neglected him to later come to the realisation that things didn't turn out the way she thought. Yes, she achieved her dream of editor in chief of Austin Speaks, but without Easton what did it really mean. That maybe life isn't so simple, things don't always go as we expect them to and dreams can change or evolve to include other things or people. These two really went through it but I love them together. The way they speak to each other and feel about each other is something you feel deep within you. " I will never regret us, Beauty, because.... I can't recall any other time in my life where I was so blissfully happy." " We're as close as two people could ever be, we're one." "As you've said all along, our parent's story isn't ours. But in one major way it is- because like theirs, our love is timeless." "He deserves a woman who's just as protective of him and of his heart. A woman who will fight just as hard for him as he did for her. I'm sorry if I ever made you feel like anything less to me than my supernova." There are too many lines to mention, all I will say is that you feel their connection soul-deep. The epilogue being from Nate's point of view was something I saw coming (cue epilogue from the parents' perspective in reluctant romantics). Seeing the moment of Reid and Nate watching Natalie and Easton together dancing was absolutely beautiful. When Nate sees Easton whisper to Natalie and sees her smile "impossibly brighter" was such a beautiful moment. Seeing their soul-deep connection from an outside perspective was so beautiful. Seeing the fact that Nate contacted Reid to put a plan to get Natalie and Easton together was so important. To know that they could put what happened between them in the past and work together to ensure the happiness of their kids. Especially considering the negative role they played at the start. I understand that the book ended where it did because things were resolved and Natalie and Easton were back together. But due to how much we had to go through to get there I would have loved another small chapter or scene of them sometime in the future. Honourable Mentions: Benji is a raven. OH MY GOD. I am so intrigued. I would read literally anything in the world about the Ravenhood, I was so glad that she incorporated this into the story. I want to know more. How did he get initiated/discover the Ravenhood. I am so intrigued! Also, Benji and his commitment issues. How he cried when Ben and Lexi got back together for the long run (FINALLY) pulled on my heartstrings. Plus being in the Ravenhood, another blockage to his relationship with Rian? *Sigh* Why do our ravens go through such struggles. Room 212, Method, and the unintentional crab scene from Never Me Easter eggs. Love it! Joel, I love you! Hope you find your woman. Addison seemed really cool and genuine, I liked her a lot. The relationship between her and Nate was so special as well. Even though the interactions that we saw between Nate and Addison were short, I felt the depth of their relationship and found them a better match than Nate and Stella in Drive. How Nate drew up divorce papers without Natalie's consent or knowledge. He is so lucky she forgave him for that, if I was in her shoes I don't know if I could. But it speaks to Natalie's character and how important her dad is to her and how much she loves him. Seeing LL and what he was going through and why he did what he did. Also how Reid saw himself in LL. Kate has the ability to make you empathise with her characters no matter how you feel about them at the end. The ability to make people so raw, multifaceted and complex (which humans are but we can sometimes forget) is a very real talent and something she does amazingly. I could tell there was going to be an accident of some sort, with the way the seatbelt was always mentioned. The consequences of this moment, sigh. I want to say thank you, Kate, for not making Natalie and Easton spend years apart while trying to find their way back to each other, it would have killed me, those months in between were plentiful enough. Of course the playlist and how the songs aid the story. I felt even more moved and immersed in the story by the song choices this time around than in Drive, brilliantly done. I think that was especially due to how Easton was touring and how he always did a cover song as his encore. I genuinely loved that idea so much, it really spoke to Easton's character as well. Playing tribute to the music that impacted him as well as giving us insight into his current emotions, was beautiful and made the playlist so much more impactful because I felt everything from him. Also, can we talk about the significance of the song Drive. The title of Stella's book, the journey she takes home to Reid. Easton and Natalie's drives to nowhere as a way to spend time with each other. Easton named after a member of the cars. The Superbowl scene. SO MANY LAYERS. I don't know how she does it. "Stella can replace the F in Fate with N'- genuinely hilarious. Lastly, thank you Kate for taking us on this extraordinary journey, and I hope everyone else is given the opportunity to find their own supernova out there. The End.

Loved the first book Drive and you need to read that first to understand Reverse properly. Reverse is the story of Drive's characters offspring and Stella, Reid and co. play a part in this story too. I don't want to say much about the plot because I don't want to spoil anyone's enjoyment. What I will say is that Ms Stewart managed to weave her story and characters with such heartfelt depth, that the nearer I got to the end, the slower I read because I didn't want it to finish. Usually, when I finish a book I am eager to start a new story with new adventures to lose myself in, but this time I just wanted to take my time thinking about this book. Really resonated with me and I highly recommend. Congratulations Ms Stewart, good work. P.S. Very much enjoyed the music too.

Älskar!!