I have no idea where I heard of this book, but I'm so glad I found it because I thoroughly enjoyed it! Maggie has been kind of floating through life, I have no idea where I heard of this book, but I'm so glad I found it because I thoroughly enjoyed it! Maggie has been kind of floating through life, trying to figure out what she wants to do, when her college friend asks if she wants to manage her bookshop while she's on maternity leave. Maggie isn't much of a reader but she needs a job, so she moves across the country for this. The town, Bell River, is famous because it's where the author Edward Bell used to live, and everything in town is geared to bring in tourists who are interested in Bell himself. Even the bookshop is prohibited from selling books that were published after Bell's death. Unfortunately, those are the books people want to buy, and the bookshop isn't doing too well. In an effort to bring in more business, Maggie decides to start secretly selling contemporary books, host literary events, and befriends almost everyone in town in the meantime.
This was such a fun book to read! I loved the description of the town and all the people who lived there. It felt like such a tourist attraction but shown from the perspective of those who live there. Maggie was so intrepid, and I absolutely loved her idea for secret literary events to bring in business. It made all the attendees (and me, as the reader!) feel like they were in on a secret. I totally want these literary events to be held near me because they were absolutely brilliant! The characters in here felt so real, and the romance that develops between Maggie and one of the men in town was believable and sweet. I also really enjoyed reading about the rivalry (for lack of a better word) between Maggie and one of Bell's descendants, who was committed to preserving Bell's legacy at all costs. This storyline added a hint of mystery and intrigue to the book as well, rounding it out even further.
I am so surprised this book doesn't only have rave reviews because I thought it was just so fun! I would heartily recommend this to anyone looking for a very fun and entertaining story that feels grounded but also makes you feel like you're going away on vacation to a small town somewhere with a really lovable set of characters. I'm looking forward to reading more by this author!...more
4.5 stars. Anna is divorced with two kids and writes a column for a local paper. She has no interest in dating, but with her office rival vying for he4.5 stars. Anna is divorced with two kids and writes a column for a local paper. She has no interest in dating, but with her office rival vying for her column space and a company takeover meaning jobs will be cut, she offers to write a dating column with a twist: her kids will pick out the men for her to date.
This was such a fun story! I’d read a book by this author before and remembered liking it; this one did not disappoint and makes me think I should check out some of her other books. The story was super cute, and the humor in here was really spot on. I couldn’t help but smile throughout the book and thoroughly enjoyed some of the situations that Anna found herself in. There was a lot of personal growth in here, showing Anna coming to accept her life and move from being kind of resigned to what’s happened to her to feeling like she actually is enjoying herself, gaining a lot of self-confidence along the way.
The men her kids picked out for her to date were all different and entertaining. While the main love interest was obvious from the start, it didn’t lessen my enjoyment of the journey it took to get there. There were some common romance tropes in here that could have felt tired and overdone, but the writing in here sparkled enough that the characters still felt like they had depth and complexity that turned them into real people instead of just characters in a book.
I finished this book wanting more and feeling pretty happy because the book was such a feel-good story. Every time I put it down, I was excited to pick it up again. For anyone looking for a lighthearted romance with characters that feel real and interactions that make you smile, this is a good book to check out! ...more
4.5 stars. It's been a while since I've read any sort of chick lit, and it's been even longer since I've read one I've enjoyed this much! This novel i4.5 stars. It's been a while since I've read any sort of chick lit, and it's been even longer since I've read one I've enjoyed this much! This novel is set in an alternate version of our world, pretty much the same except people don't get married, they get "signed" - sign a seven-year contract that can be renewed if both parties agree. Kate is nearing the end of her first contract and still madly in love with Jonathan. Things couldn't be going better, except for the fact that she's a law school grad searching for employment as an attorney. Then Jonathan breaks the news that he doesn't want to renew their contract, completely throwing Kate for a loop and forcing her to take the one lawyer job offered to her, the one she never wanted, practicing "signing law." Her career could be better, but at least she's employed, and her social life is in a tailspin. Jonathan seems to regret his decision and wants to win her back, and Kate's also being pursued by Adam, a guy known for being a "contract killer" - someone who only pursues signed women; now that Kate is single, he's not interested in her, but he is interested in being friends.
This was a really fun read! I loved the spin on modern life that the author put in here, grounded enough in this world that I could completely relate to everything, but with an interesting twist on the practice of marriage versus "signing." The majority of the book was focused on Kate's love life, which was continually interesting and entertaining, but there were also other plot lines that I really enjoyed. I loved the friendship between Kate and her best friend, the relationships between Kate and her parents, and I especially loved the way Kate kinda gets thrown into her new job and is trying to learn the pitfalls of signing law. Kate was a relatable main character and I found her charming; even she was continually amazed of what had become of her life, which was fun.
There wasn't so much a love triangle in here as it was simply Kate trying to figure out what she wanted out of life and being so confused by the signals everyone sent her way. I liked the chemistry in here, but it was tempered with a healthy dose of female friendships that kept things interesting. My only real complaint is that it ended on a cliffhanger and now I have to wait for the sequel to be released in January to find out what happens next! I'm usually not a huge fans of books that don't have a resolution at the end of them, since I feel cheated out of the ending, but the rest of this book was just so fun and kept me thoroughly entertained, so I'm overlooking that.
Merged review:
4.5 stars. It's been a while since I've read any sort of chick lit, and it's been even longer since I've read one I've enjoyed this much! This novel is set in an alternate version of our world, pretty much the same except people don't get married, they get "signed" - sign a seven-year contract that can be renewed if both parties agree. Kate is nearing the end of her first contract and still madly in love with Jonathan. Things couldn't be going better, except for the fact that she's a law school grad searching for employment as an attorney. Then Jonathan breaks the news that he doesn't want to renew their contract, completely throwing Kate for a loop and forcing her to take the one lawyer job offered to her, the one she never wanted, practicing "signing law." Her career could be better, but at least she's employed, and her social life is in a tailspin. Jonathan seems to regret his decision and wants to win her back, and Kate's also being pursued by Adam, a guy known for being a "contract killer" - someone who only pursues signed women; now that Kate is single, he's not interested in her, but he is interested in being friends.
This was a really fun read! I loved the spin on modern life that the author put in here, grounded enough in this world that I could completely relate to everything, but with an interesting twist on the practice of marriage versus "signing." The majority of the book was focused on Kate's love life, which was continually interesting and entertaining, but there were also other plot lines that I really enjoyed. I loved the friendship between Kate and her best friend, the relationships between Kate and her parents, and I especially loved the way Kate kinda gets thrown into her new job and is trying to learn the pitfalls of signing law. Kate was a relatable main character and I found her charming; even she was continually amazed of what had become of her life, which was fun.
There wasn't so much a love triangle in here as it was simply Kate trying to figure out what she wanted out of life and being so confused by the signals everyone sent her way. I liked the chemistry in here, but it was tempered with a healthy dose of female friendships that kept things interesting. My only real complaint is that it ended on a cliffhanger and now I have to wait for the sequel to be released in January to find out what happens next! I'm usually not a huge fans of books that don't have a resolution at the end of them, since I feel cheated out of the ending, but the rest of this book was just so fun and kept me thoroughly entertained, so I'm overlooking that....more
After getting dumped by her long-time boyfriend, Gemma does a love-cleansing spell with her sister and aunt and wishes that she'd never met her now-exAfter getting dumped by her long-time boyfriend, Gemma does a love-cleansing spell with her sister and aunt and wishes that she'd never met her now-ex. The next morning, she wakes up to discover that she never dated him, he doesn't know who she is... but also, her life is completely different and her best friend, Dax, also doesn't know who she is, since she'd met him the same night that she'd met her ex. Other than Dax not knowing her, Gemma's life seems to be going fairly well, but she can't handle a world without her best friend, so she gets to know him from the start all over again, and this time she actually falls for him. Soon, she doesn't know if she even wants to get back to her original life.
This novel was a lot of fun! I really liked the characters and the story. It was fairly predictable, but the journey it takes was still entertaining to read. The author did a good job keeping the story moving and making the characters very likable. I enjoyed the slight bit of magic in here to kick the story off, but the rest was firmly rooted in reality. I enjoyed Gemma's friendship with her sister and aunt, and I also liked the interactions between Gemma and Dax. While this wasn't the best book I've ever read, it was a solid debut and I look forward to reading more by this author in the future!...more
Sophie doesn't want to get married after discovering that his fiancé has cheated, but she can't call off the wedding without ruining her dad's career,Sophie doesn't want to get married after discovering that his fiancé has cheated, but she can't call off the wedding without ruining her dad's career, since her fiancé's dad is her dad's boss. So she hires an "objector" to show up at the wedding and object to it, calling out her fiancé's cheating. This way, she has a "real" reason to break it off without it affecting her dad's job. Later, Sophie runs into Max, the objector, and they hit it off. She starts working side by side with him as a female objector for hire, and the two start to fall for each other.
I expected this to be a breezy, light read, and it was. The story was cute, the characters were cute, and the story, while not especially realistic, was also cute. I was entertained while reading this, although I wish the story and characters had both had more depth to them. The plot in here felt incredibly thin, so it often felt like I was just reading a string of scenes about the two characters instead of the scenes moving the plot along anywhere. The whole objector business was kind of dumb, and I wasn't fully sold on what was keeping Sophie and Max apart (mostly her belief that love doesn't exist).
I didn't hate this book, and I enjoyed it enough to finish, but I was definitely underwhelmed by it. There needed to be a stronger plot, more urgency in the writing, and better developed characters. This felt like it was based off a cute premise... but then that was it. ...more
Justin and Emma don't know each other but they each feel cursed: after they break up with someone, the next person they meet turns out to be their souJustin and Emma don't know each other but they each feel cursed: after they break up with someone, the next person they meet turns out to be their soul mate. Justin posts about this on Reddit, and Emma contacts him due to her similar lot in life. They get to chatting and decide that they should meet in person and date each other for a short time, since then hopefully they'll each go on to meet their soul mates. When they do meet, however, it's clear that they are a better connection than either expects, but with Emma leaving soon for a job in another state, it's unclear if a relationship that was supposed to be just for the summer could actually last.
I feel like this author's books just keep better and better. She did a great job writing this, and I was absolutely sucked in from the very beginning. The characters were all well developed and believable, the issues they each faced were realistic and understandably affected and shaped their outlook on life, and the story was so engaging throughout. It's also fun to have these books set in the same "world" so there were cameos of people from previous books, giving the reader updates on their lives. No, you don't need to read previous books in this "series" to enjoy it, since they each feature a new main character and are self-contained, but it does increase the enjoyment because you get more out of it!
One thing I really appreciated about this book is that there was depth to both the plot and the characters. What could have just been a breezy read with superficial problems keeping the main characters apart was actually a really thoughtful read with serious issues and hardships that were faced by people in the ways they were capable of. I think perhaps this is what sets her books apart from others in the same category: the complexity and thoughtfulness.
I had such a hard time putting this down because I just fell for all the characters and wanted to see them improve the parts of themselves that needed it and find happiness and contentment. This was somehow both an easy read and a very heartfelt one. Emma and Justin were such good main characters, and I loved both their points of view. I also really loved the friendships in here and the depiction of toxic relatives and the way this affects others. I'm so excited to read whatever this author comes out with next!...more
Jordy is a rich kid who's now famous because his sister married a prince. He's set to be the star of a new reality show called Second Chance Romance wJordy is a rich kid who's now famous because his sister married a prince. He's set to be the star of a new reality show called Second Chance Romance where a bunch of his exes gather and fight to compete to date him (again), the assumption being that they loved him before he was famous so maybe this is where he'll have the best luck finding love again now. Maya is an ex he dated for almost a year; they broke up because he cheated on her and then dumped her. She's eager to be on the show because she wants revenge. Skye is the girl he cheated on Maya with, who didn't know he had a girlfriend, and she's agreeable to going on the show because she feels like things with Jordy were left unfinished. Once on the show, the two girls get to know each other, fall in love with each other, and start thinking that they can take Jordy down together.
This was a lot of fun to read! I hadn't heard of this book before it was nominated for the Goodreads Choice Awards, and I'm glad I picked it up because it was so engrossing. I loved the story and could absolutely see this kind of show (with some kind of "Jordy" as the hero) getting televised. The reasons all the women had for going on the show totally made sense, and I found it so entertaining to read about all the behind the scenes happening of this ridiculous reality show.
The characters were very entertaining as well. The narration alternated between Maya and Skye, and I really liked both their takes on everything going on. Maya's narration was especially entertaining when she described Jordy, since she was so eager to point out all his flaws to the reader and it was done in a very entertaining manner. Skye was a little less endearing to me, mostly because I didn't get quite as solid of a feel for her personality and found her to be a mix of overly trusting and naive or overly guarded.
The main draw of this book for me was the story about the reality show and how that would end up. Jordy really was a self-absorbed tool and I wanted him to be exposed. It was infuriating to see how much his image was able to be cultivated and fed to the public as a stand-up guy, yet he was feeding all the women/contestants nothing but canned lines and making snide comments that would never be aired. I liked the way the women banded together behind the scenes and how each of them had a reason for being there. It felt fairly authentic, aside from the fact that I felt like a real reality show would have had more cameras behind the scenes than there seemed to be in this book, which would have prevented a lot of the secret scheming and heart-to-hearts from happening. That said, I really enjoyed this overall and was continually eager to get back to reading this every time I set it down. Definitely an entertaining read!...more
2.5 stars, mostly because I didn't hate finishing this despite the book not being especially great. Dorie, Julia, and Ellis are childhood friends now 2.5 stars, mostly because I didn't hate finishing this despite the book not being especially great. Dorie, Julia, and Ellis are childhood friends now in their 30's who rent a house at the beach one August to spend time catching up. Ellis recently got laid off and is now stressing about her life while also somewhat fighting her attraction to their new neighbor. Julia is a former model who is scared to commit to her longtime boyfriend. Dorie is hiding secrets of her own too, such as the fact that her new husband isn't perfect for her after all. They meet another woman, Maryn, who's coming through town and desperate for a place to stay after leaving her abusive husband, so they invite her to join them in their house too so everyone can save some money. As the month goes on, they try to support each other and learn everyone's secrets.
The premise in here was perfectly fine but the book itself was pretty dumb. The dialogue often felt stilted or like they were recapping stuff for the reader's benefit, and they rarely sounded like normal thirty-something women would. I have no idea how old the author was when this was written, but everything about this felt like it was written by someone twice the age of the main characters imagining what women in their 30's sounded like and the problems they had in life. Also, one of the characters was named "Dorie," which makes her seem like she's at least 60.
The story in here was fine but not a lot happened. I like reading fluffy books and I like stories about female friendship, so this could have been a lot of fun. Unfortunately, it felt like nothing ever happened in this book and it was instead all just them talking with filler material or revealing what were supposed to be amazing secrets but were mostly just kind of ho hum. The romance in here was also mediocre. It speeds along quickly despite them not having much chemistry and the guy seeming like he's not fully over his ex. There's even a scene where she goes to his dirty apartment and helps clean up. Seriously, what?? I didn't relate to any of the characters and so much of what happened felt either cheesier than it would have been in real life (such as Maryn and her abusive husband) or contrived for the sake of the plot (such as meeting Maryn and almost immediately inviting her to move in with them). It was also extremely predictable. On the plus side, this was indeed an easy read and I finished it quickly....more
Nora is a screenwriter mostly known for cheesy romances that air on The Romance Channel (a Hallmark-ish channel). After her deadbeat husband takes offNora is a screenwriter mostly known for cheesy romances that air on The Romance Channel (a Hallmark-ish channel). After her deadbeat husband takes off and leaves her finally feeling free, she writes a serious screenplay about the fall of their relationship, which sells for a lot more than her usual scripts and gets made into a movie filmed at her own house. The star of the movie, Leo, asks if he can stay there for a little while longer, and the two of them end up falling in love. But then of course things don't keep going as smoothly as they should, due to his job and Nora doesn't know if she can go back to writing cheesy romance scripts when she can't get over Leo and doesn't know if they have a future.
This was a bit of a weird book in that the plot was really thin and the romance wasn't especially well developed for a book that's supposed to be a romance! I kept waiting for something big to happen, but basically the story just goes on, everyone lives their lives, and Nora and Leo quickly realize they're in love with each other. There was no massive build up to it, but you knew they were going to get together because it's that kind of book; however, they got together fairly early on, so I wondered what would happen in the rest of the book. Turns out, not a whole lot. Life continues to go on, the two have a ridiculous misunderstanding that leaves them both feeling hurt and keeps them apart. The whole thing could have (and SHOULD have) been cleared up with a simple communication, but of course they don't talk because that would make things too believable and normal. Instead, the reader's left to wonder what went wrong between the two and wonder why they aren't asking the other what happened or actually, you know, communicating like adults. When it was finally resolved, the reasoning was pretty dumb and it went from 0-100 in the space of a day.
I did read the full book and it was a quick, easy read, so that counts for something. I didn't hate it enough to toss it aside despite a lot of this seeming like wish fulfillment. But it also wasn't great by any means, and if you're looking for an easy read, a cute romance, or just a fluffy happy read, there are a lot of books that are a lot better than this. If you hate books where a single conversation would clear up a miscommunication and nothing is the slightest bit believable (even the opening: she sells her script and they are paying her extra to film it at her house?!?), this is for sure a book to skip. ...more
Cassandra is having a terrible day: her boyfriend breaks up with her, she's fired from her job, she's having issues with her roommates, and when she gCassandra is having a terrible day: her boyfriend breaks up with her, she's fired from her job, she's having issues with her roommates, and when she goes to console herself with her favorite bakery muffin, they're out. She's clearly autistic but has not been diagnosed as such and struggles to adapt to these changes, or really any change, and also struggles to relate to other people. She then discovers that she has the ability to travel back in time, so she uses this power to go back and try to keep her relationship together and keep her job, and every time something doesn't go right, she rewinds and tries it again. But it's difficult to keep track of all the different realities she's lived, and she also soon discovers that not everything can be fixed and that perhaps she's working to change the wrong things about her life.
This was a really sweet and entertaining book! I enjoyed Cassandra as a main character and loved the way her outlook on life was depicted. I could totally imagine her feeling overwhelmed by little things, and although I didn't relate to her inability to read social situations or struggling with certain decisions, I completely understood where she was coming from and her day to day issues that vexed her, while also confusing her about why she didn't process things the same way as others. The author did such a good job portrayed her experience and outlook, and it was really engrossing to read about. She wasn't necessarily the most likable main character, especially when she overreacts to minor things, but I sympathized with her nonetheless and was rooting for her throughout.
The plot in here was fairly simple, but it was done so well and kept me reading. On the surface, it seems like it's mostly about Cassandra trying to keep her boyfriend, but it felt much deeper than that, since it went into Cassandra's own personal history and other issues that she'd been struggling with throughout her life. There was also a healthy dose of Greek mythology sprinkled throughout here, which surprised me but worked for the plot and showed Cassandra's focus on it.
I don't think this book is for everyone, since the narrator is definitely different from your standard main character, but I really enjoyed this. I've been pondering the ending ever since I finished this and wondering what happened next. It did end on a solid note; it just also left things a little nebulous so the reader can have hope about what's to come. Very enjoyable read overall!...more
After Cassie loses her job, she is desperate to find something that allows her the flexibility to finish school and its required labs. She can't find After Cassie loses her job, she is desperate to find something that allows her the flexibility to finish school and its required labs. She can't find anything promising and doesn't want to reactivate her OnlyFans account... but then she comes across an ad seeking a nanny, a position that comes with great pay and includes room and board. Although the girl, Sophie, has run off previous nannies, she quickly loves Cassie. The dad, Aiden, is incredibly hot and Cassie finds herself fighting attraction to him. She soon realizes that Aiden isn't completely a strange; he was previously her biggest fan on OnlyFans and has no idea it's her because she always wore a mask and wig and used a fake name. Eventually, Cassie and Aiden both acknowledge their attraction to one another and Cassie struggles with how to tell Aiden about their shared history and how it might affect whatever's budding between them.
I expected this book to be a fun, light read. It met my expectations in part, but it wasn't nearly as compelling or romantic as it seemed like it would be. Cassie was almost too perfect in parts, and it wasn't believable how quickly she won over Sophie nor did she seem to possess especially impressive nannying skills. There was a scene where she introduced Sophie to Shrek and they watched all three movies on a single weeknight. Aiden also wasn't super believable. He was a head chef at a restaurant and fairly well-off from this, but he couldn't make good pancakes at home and this was a running joke because Cassie had to make pancakes for them all regularly, something that also endeared her to Sophie. All of this stuff felt so convenient and simplistic.
The "romance" between Cassie and Aiden was mostly them ogling each other from afar. When they finally acted on their attraction, it was the start of many, many sex scenes that featured lots of dirty talk from him. I felt like I was reading Fifty Shades of Gray or something. I wish there had been more actual chemistry between the two or that I could see what would actually attract them to each other and keep them attracted to each other aside from their looks, but that was seemingly it.
The rest of the characters in here were fairly weak as well. I liked Cassie's friend/former neighbor Wanda, but everyone else didn't seem especially fleshed out. The drama in here, aside from Cassie debating how to tell Aiden about the OnlyFans thing, mostly revolved around Sophie's aunt, who wanted more time with Sophie and immediately disliked Cassie because she disliked everyone who was around Sophie. But of course Cassie slowly won her over! The drama felt kinda manufactured, even though it wasn't entirely unrealistic. And of course the crux of the book came with an unbelievably stupid decision, manufacturing drama between Cassie and Aiden, and I couldn't help but sigh continuously.
If you're looking for some romance that's more erotica than anything else, this might be something you'd enjoy. I wish it had been a bit more complex or interesting. I unfortunately found this mostly tired and lazy without much depth, chemistry, or even interesting/believable characters. I finished it mostly because I was on a plane, but I did end up skimming parts because I just couldn't handle how tedious it was. ...more
3.5 stars. Hallie decides she needs to become a full adult: find a real relationship, get her own apartment, etc. When she goes on a dating app to mee3.5 stars. Hallie decides she needs to become a full adult: find a real relationship, get her own apartment, etc. When she goes on a dating app to meet suitors, she sees Jack, a guy she recently met at a wedding and had a fun, if awkward, night with. They chat a little and she makes it clear she's not interested in a relationship with them, but they get along well enough that they keep talking and decide to make a bet about who will find their true love on the app first. Both use this bet as incentive to keep dating others, but of course they slowly grow interested in each other and don't want to admit it, even when they go to a wedding together and pretend to be dating, unsure why they didn't want to actually date in the first place.
I read the author's first book in this series and liked it but didn't love it. I feel the same about this one. It was entertaining but not amazing and hit so many stereotypical romance tropes. Hallie and Jack were perfectly fine main characters, but I never fully got a sense of either of their personalities aside from their witty banter. I also was vaguely annoyed throughout the whole book because their reasons for not being together were just so dumb and felt more contrived than anything else. I didn't fully believe either of their reasons for not wanting to be with the other, and it often felt like they were only not together because the book needed to keep them apart. They each always seemed one step away from telling the other how they felt... but then something would happen and they'd decide they couldn't say anything.
My complaints aside, the book was entertaining. The author recognized that some of the stereotypical tropes were included in this book; for example, when they're fake dating (one trope) and discover that their hotel room only has one bed (another trope), the the main characters even acknowledge that this is a situation that crops up in romance novels and movies. It didn't make it any more believable, but I think I would have rolled my eyes even harder if it hadn't been addressed. The story was engaging and although I obviously knew how it would end, it kept me reading on to find out what more would happen on the journey to the ending. ...more
4.5 stars. Briana is an ER doctor who's hoping for a promotion and worried that the new doctor, Jacob, is going to steal it from her. She's also stres4.5 stars. Briana is an ER doctor who's hoping for a promotion and worried that the new doctor, Jacob, is going to steal it from her. She's also stressed out in her personal life, worried about her brother who needs a new kidney and still bitter about her divorce, which is closed to being finalized. She and Jacob have a bad interaction to start, and he's dealing with his own issues (mostly severe anxiety), so he apologizes for his actions through a really kind letter. Briana realizes he's not as bad as she originally thought and writes him back. As they continue to get to know each other, Briana realizes that he's actually a really kind person, especially after she discovers that he's offered to donate a kidney to her brother, and she wants their friendship to develop into more but doesn't think he feels the same about her.
Books by this author are always so fun to read, and I think this was her best yet! I loved the characters in here, the writing was perfect, and the plot was simple but really well done. Briana and Jacob came to life almost immediately. I loved the flaws that each had, and they were written in a way that made their personalities spring to life, flaws and all, and helped me get a sense of the struggles they had while still endearing me to each of them. The narration alternated between the two, and I enjoyed having a peek inside each mind. The plot, as mentioned, was simple, but somehow it never felt like it was dragging or like there was any filler material. I really enjoyed the way the story kept moving forward and all the interactions they had with each other and with their friends and families.
This was such an engaging book to read. The romance was so well done, and everything felt very grounded in reality. I did get annoyed with Briana more than once at parts where she jumped to an understandable but of course wrong conclusion and responded with anger or withdrawal. Of course with any book like this, there will be some drama due to misunderstandings, so that's almost expected, but near the end she reacted in ways that weren't due to misunderstandings but were just due to her being stubborn or angry. It was perhaps realistic, given her backstory, but it was also annoying. Still, I did enjoy the story a lot and the journey it took from start to finish. There were certainly overly common tropes in here (fake dating, for one), but this was done so well that I didn't care. Anyone looking for a well-written romance should enjoy this!...more
Remy is a drummer who still plays shows with his brother, with whom he was in a semi-popular band, but mostly makes a living as a studio musician. He'Remy is a drummer who still plays shows with his brother, with whom he was in a semi-popular band, but mostly makes a living as a studio musician. He's offered the opportunity to go on tour with Vivi Swan, a Taylor Swift-like musician embarking on a world tour. He's unsure about leaving his brother, but he knows that working with Vivi is a great opportunity that will help launch his career as a music producer. Vivi is a mega star who's adored by her fans yet has a reputation for writing breakup songs about everyone she dates. One night, thanks to a mixup with the buses, Remy and Vivi find themselves on the same bus and she ends up asking him to help produce her next song. The two of them get to know each other more as the tour goes on, and what started as a business relationship develops into something more.
I don't know what I expected from this book; perhaps something akin to Taylor Swift fanfic. And this did fit that bill. Yet I also enjoyed this way more than I expected to. It's been a long time since I've simply enjoyed reading a book as much as I liked this! The characters were well drawn, the setting was nicely researched and sprang to life, and the story was so much fun and so sweet. I had such a good time reading about this world and about the people that I both was excited to finish to book yet also didn't want to leave. The author did such a great job putting this together and turning what must have been a "what if..." question while reading entertainment news into something utterly engrossing and compulsively readable.
My only minor complaint about this is that I feel like the conflict between Vivi and Remy was resolved a bit too quickly and smoothly instead of feeling like it was earned and a bit more believable. I feel like I often have complaints about the crux of a novel and how things either are too slow or too quick to resolve. In here, I feel like the pacing was perfectly fine but it was a slightly too seamless and not fully believable. Still, this is a minor quibble overall and the rest of the book was so enjoyable that I can't complain that much. I have no idea if the author is planning on a sequel to this book, but I would definitely read one because this was positively delightful!...more
Nina lives a very orderly life. She works at a bookstore, plays on a trivia team, and enjoys quiet time with her cat. Then she gets word that her fathNina lives a very orderly life. She works at a bookstore, plays on a trivia team, and enjoys quiet time with her cat. Then she gets word that her father, who she never knew, has died and included her in his will, which leads her to meet a huge extended family who all live locally and are (mostly) excited to meet her, whether she’s ready for it or not. On top of that, she finds herself attracted to someone on a rival trivia team and he seems to like her too, which confuses her and makes her suddenly complicated life even more confusing.
This book was recommended to me, and I could easily see why from the very beginning. The writing in this book was very engaging, with a quirky touch that I liked. Nina was a good main character, and I enjoyed watching her life go from quiet and orderly to super busy and complex. The new family members were entertaining, although I didn’t think I saw quite enough of them (and some of them were basically there in name only), and I liked Tom, Nina’s love interest. It was quite fun watching everything unfold.
My only real complaint about this book is that it felt quite short. There was so much covered in here (trivia competition, family secrets, budding romance…) that everything got only a very brief time in the spotlight. I wanted more of everything. As it was, it felt like only the surface was scratched on each subplot and so many opportunities were missed to further develop or deepen the characters or stories. But, I still did like this book; it just felt too short and didn’t have quite enough of anything. ...more
Florence is a ghostwriter for one of the most successful romance authors out there, but after a bad breakup, she no longer believes in romance and canFlorence is a ghostwriter for one of the most successful romance authors out there, but after a bad breakup, she no longer believes in romance and can't seem to finish the last book in her contract. She asks for another extension from her handsome new editor, who says no, and then suddenly has to leave New York to return to her family home due to a death in the family. She hasn't been in a decade because her family owns a funeral home and she can see ghosts, and although she's missed the place, she is uncomfortable because everyone knows she'd once claimed to see ghosts. And then things get even more complicated after her new editor shows up as a ghost that only she can see, and she doesn't know what he needs to finish his business on earth.
I've read some of the author's YA books and really enjoyed them, so I figured this would be the same kind of cute, fun story that would keep me hooked. Unfortunately, this was not the case. The writing was fine, but the story continually lagged and I found Florence a fairly weak main character. She was whiny, her requests were rather ridiculous (for example, she asks her editor if she can turn in her requested romance novel without a happily ever after... she honestly thought this would be approved?), and she completely lacked self-esteem and self-respect. It was hard to root for her.
I liked the underlying ghost story in here, but there was zero chemistry between Florence and her editor, aside from her noting how handsome he was an kissing him once before going home, so having an entire plot revolving around their relationship didn't seem to work. He didn't have much personality and seemed to just wander around perpetually confused. Since Florence was also wandering around confused about her gift seeing ghosts and trying to squelch it, I sighed instead of swooning. I just didn't care. Also, the main issue she had with coming home and the reason she hadn't seen her family in years was because she'd once solved a murder by talking to ghosts and had an article written about her in the local paper, which made Florence super insecure and think that no one believed her. So when she comes back, she treats her family terribly and doesn't want to tell them the reason; they in turn treat her with the same awkwardness.
There was potential in here. The premise was cute; the execution was not. I had to stop reading about a third of the way in because I was just so annoyed and not enjoying it at all. I'm giving it two stars instead of one because I liked the premise and the writing was decent. But overall, this was disappointing and unenjoyable. It surprises me that this was written by the same author of some YA books I've enjoyed and would read more of! Who knows, maybe this was written by a ghostwriter like Florence who requested to write something entirely new and got approved for it. ...more
3.5 stars. Jess is a single mom who's given up on romance. When she hears about a new matchmaking company that claims to be able to find your soulmate3.5 stars. Jess is a single mom who's given up on romance. When she hears about a new matchmaking company that claims to be able to find your soulmate using a new DNA test, she submits a sample and it comes back with an unheard-of 98% match for her. Unfortunately, she already knows the guy, River, who's the founder of the company and thinks he's a jerk. She has no intention of pursuing the match but the company is about to go public and they think this could be great publicity, so they offer to pay her to get to know River and see if she likes him and do a few interviews along the way. Naturally, River turns out to be more than what she imagined and Jess starts thinking there may be something to this soulmate matching after all.
This had a cute premise and nice spin on a very tried and true plot of two people who hate each other at first growing to fall in love with each other. I went into this book expecting a cute, light read and I was not disappointed! The characters were entertaining, the interactions were cute, and the writing kept the story continually moving forward. Jess and River had unique personalities, and there was great chemistry between them. I also liked the fact that most of the drama was in their own heads and they were both actually quite nice people, which made their interactions even better. I also liked the dynamic between Jess and her best friend, Fizzy, who was a bit much to read about at first but seemed to mellow out a bit as the book went on.
Aside from needing to use your imagination to buy the idea of DNA tests predicting how well you will match with someone, my only real complaint about the book is that the requisite drama near the end (because of COURSE not everything can go completely smoothly or else there wouldn't be a novel!) seemed a tad manufactured and not fully believable. I had a hard time buying the drama and accepting it as realistic. However, the book as a whole was fun and if you're reading this for a lighthearted romance, it won't disappoint, as all the right ingredients are there! ...more
Franny and Hayes are two strangers who meet on the subway when her dress gets caught in the subway door and rips; he rescues her from embarrassment byFranny and Hayes are two strangers who meet on the subway when her dress gets caught in the subway door and rips; he rescues her from embarrassment by offering his jacket before leaving. Someone caught their encounter on video and posts the video online, sparking the viral hashtag SubwayQTs. Franny is mortified, especially because it came on the heels of an especially bad day where she'd just been laid off, and Hayes isn't thrilled either due to his awkwardness and introverted nature. They meet up again when interviewed about the encounter on TV, and then they begin running into each other regularly around the city, gradually both realizing that they're falling for each other.
This book was, of course, quite predictable in many ways; after all, it's a romance, so you know they're going to end up falling in love despite not liking each other at the beginning. The more important factor in these kind of books is how entertaining the story is along the way. In here, there were parts that were fun and other parts that were just ho-hum. Franny and Hayes felt like fairly stock characters, without anything special to endear me to them over, say, any other character I've read about in a similar book, but the author did do a nice job writing their chemistry together, so I could easily believe that they were interested in each other. On the other hand, the obstacles they faced along the way were primarily of their own making, which was rather annoying to read, especially near the end when there was (as usual) a Big Event that caused tension in their burgeoning relationship. It got a bit ridiculous in the end, and I rolled my eyes more than once at how most of the drama was just Franny being high maintenance and wanting Hayes to chase after her instead of them, you know, talking things out.
The novel jumped between Franny's and Hayes's perspectives, which was fun, although their actual narratives didn't seem all that different. I liked some of the friendships they each had and the interactions there, which was fun to round out the book.
Overall, this was a perfectly fine rom-com with lots of love being shown to New York City, but it didn't entirely stand out from other similar novels and there wasn't anything in it that actually made me laugh. Not bad to read, but not amazing, especially since I wasn't fully sold on why their chance encounter enthralled the internet and the resulting obstacles were more fabricated than realistic. However, if you're looking for a cute summer read, this might fit the bill....more
Alexis is a woman who's always felt pressure to live up to her family's expectations, following in their footsteps and being tied to a hospital her anAlexis is a woman who's always felt pressure to live up to her family's expectations, following in their footsteps and being tied to a hospital her ancestors founded, hopefully as a world-renowned surgeon or the like, but she's content as "just" an ER doctor. Outside of town one night, she meets a guy named Daniel, who's a talented carpenter and incredibly kind, but he's also almost a decade younger than her and would not fit into her world at all. Still, the chemistry between them is palpable and before either of them knows it, they're spending almost every weekend together and falling in love. Alexis knows this has to be a short-term thing; he can't leave his small town, and she can't leave the city, where they've each built their lives. Thinking about trying to choose between her stressful life and her sole escape from it with him is causing her even more stress, and Alexis has to figure out what's actually important to her.
This author does such a great job creating characters who are believable and relatable, and this was no exception! I think her characters get better with each book, and it's fun because all of the books are set in the same "world", with occasional references to characters from previous books. I'm amazed by how fresh and new each book feels while also providing me with a sense of returning to a familiar world that I've briefly been away from.
As with the previous books, this features dual narrators, bouncing back and forth between Alexis and Daniel. I really liked them both! They each felt like fully realized characters and people I'd like to know in real life. I could also easily understand the issues that were keeping them apart: why Alexis felt so much pressure to live up to her family's expectations, how much she wanted to help others, and of course the fact that the two really did seem to come from different worlds that offered the other a brief escape with the question of whether it could really last long-term.
This was such a fun story to engross myself in, and it was really well written. Every time I put the book down, I looked forward to picking it up again and finding out what would happen next. It's a romance, so of course you know from the start that they're going to end up together, but the questions of how it would work and what would need to be done in order to make this work kept the story interesting and made me want to continue reading! For anyone looking for a sweet world to be a part of, I'd definitely recommend checking out this author's books. This might have been my favorite one yet! I'm looking forward to the next....more
I'd read the previous two books in this series and picked this one up, hoping for something light and fluffy. This book is the story of Maria and PeteI'd read the previous two books in this series and picked this one up, hoping for something light and fluffy. This book is the story of Maria and Peter, two actors on the massively popular Gods of the Gates series (basically a Game of Thrones-ish show) who spend their time trying to ignore their chemistry after an ill-fated fling before they knew they'd be costars, but once the show ends, they finally let their guards down despite the fact that a future doesn't seem possible.
I had a hard time getting into this book. I don't know if I wasn't in the right mindset to read this or if it just wasn't what I wanted to hold my attention. When the book opens, there's a lot of explosive chemistry between the two main characters, but this quickly evaporates once the show starts filming, and they spend the bulk of their time ignoring each other while also being secretly attracted to the other. Perhaps their lack of real interaction made me feel a little bored. I'm not sure. But after a handful of chapters like this, I stopped caring and realized I shouldn't finish this since I wasn't enjoying it.
This wasn't bad by any means, but it didn't hold my interest for whatever reason. The writing was fine, the story was fine, and the series has been fine. If you've read the previous two books in this series, you'll likely still want to pick this up and hopefully you'll enjoy it more than me!...more