Lotus: A Love Story

*Look up trigger warnings: kidnapped survivor, SA, pedophile,Twenty two years ago on Fourth of July, a child went missing, and his name was, Oliver Lynch. For many years, no one knew what happened to Oliver, as the years went by, everyone assumed him to be dead, until one day out of the blue, a man found on the side of the road turned out to be Oliver, the missing boy. For Sydney, she was reunited with the boy she was best friends with when they were kids. Now, Oliver tried to acclimate to his new surroundings, people he use to know, and overall coming to terms with the reality of his life. Through the many obstacles, Oliver and Sydney reconnected and rediscovered friendship, and more together.The way the story began really put me right into the story in terms of Oliver’s circumstance. Early on, the book gave little bits and pieces of what happened to Oliver and how he was trying to adjust to being back home. For Sydney, it was a big deal since for the longest time, she believed Oliver was dead. In a way, it was like Sydney ( as well as Gabe, Oliver’s stepbrother) were getting a second chance with Oliver.I can say with the uttermost certainty that from the beginning, I instantly fell in love with the story, Sydney and Oliver. Oliver’s story was unique in the sense that not only was he held in captivity for so many years, but seeing him back with the people he use to know and love was fascinating to me. I also loved Oliver’s sweet, shy, quiet personality. Oliver was definitely reserved (especially considering he believed the world was over) and I admired his thoughtful observations around him. For someone, who wasn’t use to being around other people, Oliver could pick up on small social cues to clue him in on how people were feeling like most of the time he recognized when things made Sydney sad or happy. If you love the “soft boy” trope, you will definitely love this book (among other reasons to love the book). While Oliver had to adjust to his new freedom, he had to learn about new things such as, technology, his surroundings, and even in things he didn’t expect to learn about… such as matter of the heart. Oliver started to feel “tingly”/ unexpected feelings around Sydney little by little in the story. Since Oliver was inexperienced, Sydney guided him through that to help him understand. Oliver wasn’t completely clueless in terms of intimacy, but there were still things he learned that he didn’t know about. Oliver was endearing and the epitome of innocence despite all that he went through. I admired his bravery and trying new things. I just also couldn’t get enough of Oliver and him being such an absolute sweetheart!Sydney was an equally lovely character and I admired her. While Sydney could only empathize on what Oliver went through, she always made sure he was comfortable, and he had more of a support system besides just his brother, Gabe. I thought Sydney was sweet, fun, independent, and thoughtful, as well as strong in her own right. Seeing the connection between Sydney and Oliver go from being reunited and reconnecting to friendship to romantic was beautiful, and it had me swooning, smiling, but also a little bit sad due to Oliver’s past of being held in captivity.The romance between Oliver and Sydney was beautiful and yet also had its moments of sadness. Seeing how close Oliver and Sydney became once he came back was sweet since because, with Sydney being reunited with Oliver, they reignited their friendship, and it allowed Oliver to feel happiness that he hadn’t experienced in such a long time. The chemistry between Sydney and Oliver was equally passionate and omg the tension between those two was WOW! Like you could tell while reading the looks they shared across the room or them being close to each other while watching a movie was filled with so much want and desire for one another. Oliver definitely fell under the category of “falls head over heels for her”. Meanwhile, Sydney not wanting to hurt Oliver tried keeping him at arms length despite how much she truly wanted more with him, but also her inner fears were what initially caused her to not fully commit with Oliver in the beginning half of the story. Meanwhile, I’m over here reading like, “GIRL I WILL GLADLY TAKE OLIVER! GIMMIE!”Amongst the romance, I also loved seeing the playfulness, teasing, and bits of flirting between Sydney and Oliver. In a way, it kind of felt like a slow burn with the amount of tension that slowly built up between Oliver and Sydney to the point that when they finally reached their limit, and couldn’t deny nor keep their hands off each other… it was literally GAME OVER! Or more like GAME ON! WOOOOO! Not to mention when Oliver said things like, “I ache for you, Sydney.” GIRL MY OVARIES DANG RIGHT EXPLODED! Oliver is officially top tier in every aspect of book boyfriend material! He went from being so shy to letting know Sydney what was up in the bedroom! I mean come on, Oliver himself even said he was a fast learner, and he DEFINITELY LIVED UP TO IT!Throughout the story, Oliver underwent a transformation of coming into his own person, and genuinely finding happiness amidst all the lingering trauma he was still faced with. So to see Oliver smiling, laughing, making jokes with Sydney or just engaging in conversation was beautiful to see. Oliver and Sydney were equally fascinating characters in that there was more to them that meets the eye. I found them both to be not only charming and lovable, but also multilayered characters that went beyond their initial introductions.The plot twist was good, although the truth was revealed, it was still sad and traumatizing for those involved. Along the way I had my suspicions, and thought, “oh maybe I’m wrong and I was just seeing things”, but I guess I got it right in the end. I won’t say exactly since I don’t want to spoil it, but if you’ve read the book, I think you’ll understand when I say that a certain character seemed suspicious to me, and even other clues in the story seemed suspicious as well. Looking back now, and putting all the pieces together as well as a certain chapter, it all created an interesting plot twist, and a gut punch to the truth. Once the plot twist was revealed, I couldn’t stop myself from putting the book down, I NEEDED TO KNOW THE TRUTH! Then with the danger escalating, my anxiety started to pick up, and omg I was at the edge!This was such a beautiful, sad, and emotional book that had me hooked from the very start. Oliver’s story was harrowing and sad and yet through it all, he managed to overcome his obstacles, and heal himself. Sydney equally had her own fears to work through, but with being reunited with Oliver it was such a heartfelt connection that was amazing to watch unfold. The meaning behind the title blew me away, and it was so significant that I can’t believe I didn’t notice it. I loved the depth and heart in this story, and even through the dark topics, it was created a fascinating story. The ending was perfect, especially with the epilogue! I’m always a sucker for epilogues, and I was so overjoyed to see how despite all the hardships, that Oliver and Sydney came out stronger on the other side and got their happy ending.

This book was sooooo good! Aside from June First, I'm glad Sydney got her own story. From her childhood into adulthood, her best friend Oliver's abduction had haunted her mostly her whole life. She searched for him but end up empty handed. Then one day, he reappeared in her life again but it wasn't rainbow and sunshine. He was able to escape from his 22 yrs of captivity. When she saw him, she couldn't believe that he was alive and physically there in front of her. But one look into his eyes, all she sees is a hollow, empty, and haunting eyes that forever changed his life during his captivity. My heart broke for Oliver. He was stripped away from his adolescent life at the age of 8. Surviving over two decades by drawing comics to keep him motivated to live everyday when he was trapped in the basement by his captor. He written the word Lotus 🪷 on his hand but he doesn't know what it signifies. He would draw the characters in his cosmic book from his childhood memory to display what had happened during those times. However, most of his memory has been suppressed because during his captivity. However, Sydney and Oliver's stepbrother Gabe helped him to get his back life on track and to be as normal as he can be but no matter what, he will never be the same. As reading towards the end of the book, everything will be revealed the reasons for Oliver's captivity, what lotus means, and how both Sydney and Oliver healed from the painful & haunted childhood memory that forever scarred both of their heart.

∞ stars!Oliver Lynch must be protected at all costs 🥹---“I’m right here, with you, and I’m still holding onto your heart. Please don’t ask me to give it back.”Lotus is the story of Oliver Lynch, a little boy who was kidnapped on the Fourth of July and held captive for over two decades. Sydney Neville, his childhood best friend and next-door neighbor, never gave up hope of losing him. The news of his abduction left her traumatized and since then, continues living her life with a guarded heart. Twenty-two years later, Oliver is found alive. He's coming home.This heartwarming story was filled with friendship, love, compassion, trauma, and so many swoon-worthy moments. There is so much to learn about Oliver's past and your eagerness to learn will hold you captive (no pun intended) throughout the story. Jennifer Hartmann has an amazing ability to create such a beautiful story and her characters blew me away.I absolutely adored Oliver. He's the sweetest and purest cinnamon roll to fall in love with. What an amazingly brave and strong man to have survived living in a basement with no human contact (other than his captor) and still be so gentle, kind, and caring. His innocence and the way he took things literal was hilarious and adorable. Sydney is fun, quirky, and her love for 90's nostalgia never cease to make me smile. She helps him acclimate back into today's society, a world he thought was wiped out of humanity. Oliver, in turn, helps her liberate herself from the fears that made her afraid to lose him all over again.These two are wonderfully crafted characters who endured traumatic experiences when they were younger. We're able to see the growth and development as individuals and as a couple. Their relationship doesn't feel rushed or forced, allowing them to rebuild a foundation of their friendship before love begins to set in. While these two may have physically been separated for twenty-two years, they were both very much in each other's hearts.Once you know the meaning behind lotus, you will ugly cry.Childhood friends to lovers will remain superior in my eyes.

A história da Syd e do Oliver ganhou meu coração, minhas lágrimas e muitas risadas. A escrita da autora é fluída e muito prazerosa. Tem trigger warning então é melhor dar uma olhada ⚠️ Os hots são bons, mas poderiam ser melhores. E o plot é um dos melhores que li esse ano

5🍭🍭🍭🍭🍭This book… wow. Such strong topics and the main feeling I got was love.Love being bien in diversity between friends, brothers, even kidnappers that after all, were capable of loving.Oliver is an amazing creature. And Sydney is the perfect match.Every single character was endearing and I loved the book. 💜My advice? Jump straight into it. And enjoy!

I'm a bit reeling after this story that wasn't what I expected at all.Lotus is not as dark as I thought it would be, but rather a love story, sweet, sometimes raw, with darker elements.At first, I liked Syd, her energy, and her playfulness. As the story unfolded, she started to annoy me, with reactions that had me screaming. Oliver is a survivor, a fighter who warmed my heart all along. He held the book and the plot with his brother, Gabe.While the boys had me completely smitten, the female characters keep getting on my nerves.I still don't understand Clem's silence.The storyline, in itself, took a direction I liked but the intrigue surrounding Oliver's past felt quite forgotten for a too large part of the book, a part that dragged and dragged. I didn't care at all for Oliver's or Syd's other dates. That felt like a lot of heartache for nothing.My other complaint is that several quotes sounded familiar.All in all, although the meaning of Lotus was brilliant, my mind wandered during a good part of the book. The writing of Mrs. Hartmann is endearing but the execution failed to bring out the thrill that would have immersed me entirely into the tale.

Another beautifully told story, wonderful characters and wagons of emotions to last for a while. I absolutely recommend if you like this author.

I only read Still Beating from Jennifer Hartmann and was ready to get my heart broken and fixed in this book. I can tell you - LOTUS is not like that. It is super emotional and there is a mystery involved but it's not a dark book like Still Beating.22 years ago Oliver went missing on the night of 4th July celeberation, since that the life of none of them have been the same.Sydney - Life is not easy for her, she has fun and gets involved with others, but Sydney has never entered a real relationship. Somehow she can't commit. After Oliver suddenly reappears one day, her strong feelings for him come back, which she has tried to close for years due to the supposed loss.Oliver - After living a lie for 22 years he must now acclimatize and come to terms with the new world, technology and his family/friends who have moved on. It is absolutely understandable that this is not easy. Oliver is an incredibly intelligent and super sensitive man. He finds it difficult to get involved with anyone other than Syd, since she has always accompanied him through his comics. Hes and incredible sweet soul who you want to hug all the time. ❤️The main story is learning to came back into his old life with Oliver and seeing his progress and his sweet soul trough Syd's eyes. The last third also involves learning what really happend the night Oliver got kidnapped....😯“One person’s suffering shouldn’t take the joy out of something others may find pleasure”Besides the MC and their family we will meet again with Cora and Tabitha from Still Beating, which I really liked, that these haunted souls meet each other for support.I got teary eyes I found out the meaning of Lotus at the end of the book. 😅😅Read if you like:- emotional contemporary drama romance- childhood-friends-to-strangers-to-friends-to-lovers- crime mystery- slow burn- family drama