Those Who Wait

03 · Reader evidence

What the evidence says

What readers repeatedly liked

• Complex Characters. Reader praises the great character depth and detail in the book; Secondary characters are described as fantastic, including a brother, friends, parents, and a former President grandmother who serves as a terrific mentor; Character flaws make the story feel more human. Supported by 4 sources (source 432, source 10894, source 10895, source 10896).
• Emotional. The story evokes strong feelings in the reader, who describes feeling the character’s pain deeply enough to need pauses to breathe; Book delivers all the feels; Reader cried when the book was over. Supported by 4 sources (source 431, source 432, source 10895, source 10896).
• Likable Lead. Both main characters are loved; Sutton is lovely and earnest in an enchanting way, and Charlotte is driven but unknowingly sweet; Reader found both main characters very likable; Sutton is easy to like. Supported by 3 sources (source 10895, source 10896, source 11642).
• Well Paced. The pace is described as quick and coherent with organic narrative flow; Book feels addictive and not too long despite its length; Book does not feel long despite its length. Supported by 3 sources (source 431, source 10895, source 10896).
• Strong Chemistry. Reader is obsessed with the book and calls the TWW couple their favorite; Amazing chemistry between the leads; The leads are praised for having a good combination of friendship, romantic, and sexual chemistry. Supported by 3 sources (source 10894, source 10896, source 11642).
• Friends To Lovers. The relationship grows from a carefree friendship into an inescapable need, described as excellent; The reviewer calls it a stellar friends-to-lovers romance. Supported by 2 sources (source 431, source 10895).
• Strong Narration. Reader says the audiobooks are fantastic; Lori Prince’s narration makes the book even better. Supported by 2 sources (source 10894, source 10896).
• Explicit Heat. The author is praised for weaving in spice well; The sex scenes are praised as well written. Supported by 2 sources (source 431, source 11642).
• Explicit Comparison. When You Least Expect It is described as a thousand times better than Those Who Wait; Reader prefers When You Least Expect It as their favorite romance novel over Those Who Wait, which they struggled with; The Snowball Effect is praised as a fun book that readers preferred over Those Who Wait, with better character dynamics. Supported by 2 sources (source 10896, source 11642).
• Explicit Recommendation. Reader recommends When You Least Expect It as the author’s stronger work; A reader recommends the alternate ending Midnight Rain for those who enjoyed the book. Supported by 2 sources (source 10896, source 11642).
• Emotional Intimacy. Sutton understands Charlotte in a way no one else does after overcoming initial miscommunication; Caroline and Hannah’s relationship is praised as feeling real and substantial due to their being older, more established, and warier of the initial coupling. Supported by 2 sources (source 10895, source 11642).

What readers repeatedly flagged

• Weak Prose. Editing glitches include repeated words and several long-winded sentences; Writing feels juvenile at some points; Writing leaves a lot to be desired, feels like fan fiction, with too much unnecessary exposition. Supported by 3 sources (source 10895, source 10896, source 11642).
• Flat Characters. Characters reduced to one who blushes and one who smirks; Sutton and Charlotte feel like fandomized character tropes rather than real people; Sutton is seen as unrealistically awkward and one-dimensional, with characters feeling like prototypes rather than real people. Supported by 2 sources (source 10896, source 11642).
• Repetitive Prose. Writing is described as super repetitive; The writing is criticized as unnecessarily descriptive, repetitive, and formulaic, with excessive name usage and repeated tics like breaths and eyebrow quirks; The excessive use of the word ‘darling’ is called out as the worst part of the book by multiple readers. Supported by 2 sources (source 10896, source 11642).
• Weak Plot. Book fails to hook the reader, who wanted to skip pages and was bored by the end; Plot lines are called flimsy and not justifying the length of the books; The book is criticized for lacking any sense of community, with the two women never thinking about anything other than each other. Supported by 2 sources (source 10896, source 11642).

Where reader reactions differ

• Weak Prose. Editing glitches include repeated words and several long-winded sentences; Writing feels juvenile at some points; Writing leaves a lot to be desired, feels like fan fiction, with too much unnecessary exposition. Supported by 3 sources (source 10895, source 10896, source 11642).

Individual observations

• Weak Narration. Lori Prince’s narration of Those Who Wait is criticized, particularly for how she reads Regan and Charlotte’s voice, and for cringe-worthy crying and spicy scenes.
• Character Growth. Sutton lacks character growth; Sutton discovers her strength through the relationship.
• Beginner Friendly. Enjoyable as reader’s first sapphic romance.
• Easy Comfort Read. The book is described as mediocre and formulaic but still enjoyable enough for some readers, with one reader too far in to DNF despite not loving it.
• Strong Prose. Reader fell in love with the author’s writing style through this book.
• Found Family. Vibrant supporting characters champion both protagonists.
• Plot Holes. The reviewer questions why Charlotte never discusses being in the closet with her brother and his politician boyfriend despite their relevant experience.
• Predictable Plot. The reviewer notes the storyline is pretty traditional, though it feels fresh in execution.
• Dual Pov. Reader loved having both characters’ perspectives.
• Humorous. Sutton’s awkwardness is funny and relatable.

Reader sources

1. thelesbianreview.com – Independent review
2. lesbrary.com – Independent review
3. Reddit discussion
4. judeinthestars.com – Independent review
5. Reddit discussion
6. Reddit discussion