I really love how these books all weave together a larger story while also focusing on one character's journey. It's a great way of really captivating the reader and really making them feel invested in a way that many other stand alone's have a hard time doing.
Placing Jason's story in with Ben, Tim, and Jace's, made me feel more connected to the story and made me care so much more about it. It's strong story telling.
I loved Jason as a character and really enjoyed his addition to the series. I thought he was a strong and fleshed out character with a great arch and growth throughout the book. Bell does a great job of writing complicated characters that never feel one dimensional. I loved how romantic Jason was from start to finish and how much love played a role in his development, as I saw a lot of myself in him.
I said in my last review of Something Like Autumn, that I felt like something would be missing without Jace, and I was so happy that Bell found a way to still include Jace in a realistic way. His spirit was still in the story, and I truly thought that was so perfect. It was also great to further Ben and Tim's story that much more this time through Jason's eyes.
The only downfall for me was that Jason's love stories felt a little rushed. I wish there had more time spent on each showing the developing feelings and relationships, to make them feel just a little more believable. Both seemed like they barely courted before that four letter word popped up, which I don't remember really happening in the previous love triangle.
Still, what Bell does best is explore love in different ways, and I loved reading and falling just as hard as Jason was in his journey. I'm nothing if not a romantic, and Bell knows how to captivate me!
The best part, unlike with the previous books, this one ends exactly how I was hoping, so I feel a little vindicated since I didn't get my wish with the last books. Although I will say with each subsequent book after Summer, through each different characters eyes, I have fallen more and more in love with Ben and Tim's relationship, so even though I will always be team Jace, I can now finally say I approve of Ben and Tim.
I think overall this was a great addition to the series, and I have no intention of stopping until I have read them all! I think that as an end to the "Seasons" portion of the "Something Like..." series, this was a really great end, and in being so a really great transition to the next set of characters that Bell will write about. I love Ben, Tim, and Jace, and while I hope that they pop up still in some capacity, I am really excited and anxious to begin a new journey with a set fresh of faces.
I'm curious if anyone can replace Jace as my favorite, and I have a strong feeling the answer is no. Only time and more Something Like books will tell. ( )