There once was a girl clever and good, who tarried in shadow in the depths of the wood. There also was a kin4 ⭐️ An intriguing gothic fantasy romance
There once was a girl clever and good, who tarried in shadow in the depths of the wood. There also was a king - a shepherd by his crook, who reigned over magic and wrote the old book. The two were together, so the two were the same:
The girl, the King...and the monster they became.
WHAT TO EXPECT: ✨ ya/new adult paranormal fantasy romance ✨ gothic medieval-esque world ✨ Elspeth is one of the 'infected' and shares her mind with the 'Nightmare' ✨ Ravyn is the captain of the king's army and hunts the 'infected' ✨ reluctant allies to lovers ✨ fake engagement ✨ forced proximity ✨ insta-lust ✨ slow burn ✨ 1/5 spice (one open door scene that's quick and mostly fade to black) ✨ secrets and lies ✨ magic has a price ✨ high stakes
My Thoughts:
An intriguing gothic paranormal fantasy with a dash of romance.
Positives:
I enjoyed the gothic vibes. The world and magic system was fresh and interesting. The court politics were fascinating to watch unfold. I like the side characters and am excited to see what happens to each of them in the Next books.
Negatives:
I thought the plot twits/reveals were never surprises thanks to the obvious foreshadowing. So many things could have been avoided or solved if the Nightmare had just been forthcoming with Elspeth, which made his withholding information feel like a weak plot device. Elspeth overreacted towards Ravyn a lot, which came across as annoying and immature. The romance, while I liked it, was very insta-lust and I didn't quite believe the development and depth of their connection.
-
Again, I did think it was a solid read but everyone was raving about it so I guess I’m a little disappointed that I’m not obsessed. Don’t get me wrong, I really like the gothic vibes and dark medieval-esque world. And the characters are interesting. I just thought this book would have a bigger impact on me. Maybe book 2 is better and solidifies this as a top tier series? Please tell me if book 2 makes this series better or worse ...more
WHAT TO EXPECT: ✨ contemporary romance ✨ he's a retired pro baseball player trying to figure out what to do next ✨ she's his best friend3.5 ⭐️ Cute story
WHAT TO EXPECT: ✨ contemporary romance ✨ he's a retired pro baseball player trying to figure out what to do next ✨ she's his best friends little sister who no one ever takes seriously ✨ childhood unrequited crush ✨ sort of grumpy x sunshine ✨ fake dating ✨ 3/5 spice ✨ found family ✨ third act breakup ✨ HEA ✨ TW: trauma from nasty divorce, emotional abuse from parents
My Thoughts:
I liked the story! I expected to be annoyed with Georgie since she's younger and has been in love with Travis for years and is a literal clown, but I found her dedication and loyalty and carefree attitude endearing and sweet. I was rooting for her and her happiness the whole time. Travis however, was a jerk at first and it was annoying how, even though he wanted Georgie, he was so blind by his past or the fact it was his best friend's sister. The tension between them was hot though!
The biggest ick for me though was the absolutely cringe dirty talk and the unnecessary third act breakup. Seriously, if they had just talked like adults, it never would have happened.
But regardless, I had a good time listening to the audiobook and am excited to listen to the next book....more
3.5 ⭐️ A fast-paced romantasy set within an intriguing world.
***This review contains spoilers***
"It's not the times you don't need saving that I'm3.5 ⭐️ A fast-paced romantasy set within an intriguing world.
***This review contains spoilers***
"It's not the times you don't need saving that I'm worried about. It's the one time you'll need it, and there will be no one to do it."
WHAT TO EXPECT: ✨ forbidden romance ✨ witch x witch hunter ✨ enemies to lovers ✨ insta-lust ✨ best friend’s brother ✨ fake courting / dating ✨ he courts her because he suspects she's a witch ✨ she dates him for information to help free a witch prisoner ✨ brothers love triangle ✨ loss of virginity ✨ size difference ✨ .5/5...more
2.5 ⭐️ Started out strong but by the end, I just didn’t like it.
"Every male in there will want to fuck you, and every woman will want to be you." "Beca2.5 ⭐️ Started out strong but by the end, I just didn’t like it.
"Every male in there will want to fuck you, and every woman will want to be you." "Because I'm with you?" "Because they know you're mine."
WHAT TO EXPECT: ✨ urban paranormal romance ✨ san francisco setting ✨ vampires, humans, witches/familiars ✨ Julian: billionaire vampire who's being forced to marry ✨ Thea: struggling artist (cellist) and human ✨ forbidden romance ✨ insta-lust ✨ fake dating/engagement ✨ age gap (22 and 400+) ✨ virgin FMC ✨ 2.5/5 ...more
I mean, it's just a few lies and a fake relationship. Nothing bad ever came from that.
WHAT TO EXPECT: ✨ paranormal 3 ⭐️ This was a fun omegaverse story
I mean, it's just a few lies and a fake relationship. Nothing bad ever came from that.
WHAT TO EXPECT: ✨ paranormal / shifter romance ✨ contemporary setting ✨ omegaverse ✨ doctor MCs ✨ she needs a boyfriend, he needs a mate ✨ fake dating ✨ co-workers ✨ grumpy x sunshine ✨ strangers to friends with benefits ✨ he falls first ✨ 7 year age gap ✨ teasing banter ✨ 3/5 spice ✨ "you can take it", "good girl" ✨ lack of communication because fear of rejection ✨ third act breakup ✨ groveling ✨ HEA
My Thoughts:
For anyone who isn't familiar with omegaverse, this is a great place to start. If you're not familiar with the concept at all, just do a quick google search for an explanation.
What I liked:
I really enjoyed the beginning of this story. Mackenzie and Noah are both doctors but rarely work together, so they're essentially strangers. She's very approachable and friendly while Noah is serious, standoffish, and known as the Boogeyman of Denver. These two are total opposites and it wasn't apparent how they'd be a match at the beginning, but as the story progresses and they get to know one another, Mackenzie thaws his cold heart while Noah makes hers burn. They're both a little awkward around each other at first, which was super realistic considering the situation. And they end up developing a genuine friendship, which I thought was sweet. They're romance was sweet, but of course, it was also very spicy.
There's a total of 6 explicit sex scenes that go on for quite a few pages, so this is for the smut lovers. And if you're wondering about the type of smut, just know it has a lot of the usual omegaverse stuff: scenting, praise, knotting, licking, biting, and chasing. All very primal. And even though these two are shifters (they can turn into wolves), don't worry, they only do it as humans.
What I didn't like:
There’s not a lot going on besides the romance, so once they’re together I started losing interest. Sure, there's some drama with Noah being outed as an alpha by a mysterious person, who is revealed at the end. But, that side plot was predictable so the reveal wasn't a surprise. So around 60% of the story when the romance is established, I ended up skimming a lot of the non dialogue just to see how it all ends.
The third act breakup was also very predictable. It was also incredibly frustrating because none of it would have happened if Noah had just talked to Mackenzie, but he got scared(?) and decided to make choices for the two of them even if he knew it would make them both miserable. It was a dumb decision.
However, I will say the groveling and makeup sex afterwards was satisfying; so at least the story ended on a high note.
Priya was a random, annoying friend. All she ever did was ask Makenzie about her sex life with Noah and it just got really weird after a while.
Thank you Netgalley for providing an eARC and Berkley Romance for providing a physical ARC in exchange for an honest review! As always, all opinions are my own.
Favorite Quotes:
"Once you go know you'll . . . want for . . . not." _______
"Oh my God. You made a joke! Was that your first one? Are you hurt in any way? "Always a delight, you are." _______
"I'll make sure you can never catch me." "Oh, I will catch you." "You think so?" "I do. I'm not letting you get away from me, Mackenzie." _______
"That's the funny thing about love, Noah. It's terrifying, and there are no guarantees. We don't fall in love because it's a sure thing. We fall in love because our hearts don't speak the same language as our brains. Your heart doesn't have that little voice that worries about what-ifs. It sees something good and it goes all in. Sometimes you just have to listen to your heart more than your head." _______
"Only you could hook up with the biggest asshole we've ever met and turn him into a house husband." _______
"Mackenzie, I - I'm finding there isn't much I don't like where you're involved." _______
Mackenzie Carter is in my skin now. She lives in my blood. Without ever intending for it to happen. . . my pretend mate became the very real woman I'd like to spend the rest of my life with. _______
"When I'm with you . . . I don't feel like I'm just going through the motions in life. When I'm with you . . . I feel like I'm actually living. _______
"I can grovel for the rest of my life." "I'm going to be a pain." "It's fine. I'm an expert at being insufferable." "And I'm going to get scared." "I can be there to make sure it doesn't last." _______...more
"Fake dating always leads to true love. Fact. I don't make the rules."
WHAT TO EXPECT: ✨ small town romance ✨ a not so2.5 ⭐️ Sadly, this was not for me.
"Fake dating always leads to true love. Fact. I don't make the rules."
WHAT TO EXPECT: ✨ small town romance ✨ a not so meet cute ✨ she’s a big influencer from Boston ✨ he’s a small town fisherman in Nova Scotia ✨ city girl x small town guy ✨ dislike to lovers ✨ grumpy x sunshine ✨ fake engagement ✨ forced proximity ✨ opposite attract ✨ 2.5/5 spice ✨ third act breakup ✨ HEA ✨ POC rep - FMC is Chinese ✨ cameos from characters in previous books ✨ TW: death of parent, death of family member, grief, depression, estranged parent, family strife, near drowning,
*There are some slight spoilers in this review so read at your own risk*
My Thoughts:
After reading the previous books, Set On You and Exes and O's, I was really excited about Melanie’s book. And while the premise is fun, I was ultimately disappointed.
This type of story has been done so many times and I was bored with how it was done here. So here's the thing, I really did like the premise of a high maintenance, big city influencer going to a small town where she's roped into becoming the fake fiance of a grumpy fisherman who lives in a dilapidated inn. However, this really gave me It Happened One Summer Vibes by Tessa Bailey. And while, yes, I know the details of the stories are different, it just didn't feel that original to me.
My biggest issue is that I didn’t really like either MC, nor was there any chemistry between them.
First, let's talk about Melanie. She is just so overly dramatic. For example, she has a phobia of spiders (and any other bug really), and the way she would react was childish. There's a moment where she's freaking out about a spider and says "the eight-legged monster can't escape and plant eggs in my face." I have phobias and I know there isn't always logic to them, but surely a grown woman can realize spiders do not plant eggs in human faces. Also, her referencing horror movies 10 times throughout the story was overkill. We get it, she would not survive a horror film scenario. Again, she's just being dramatic.
Now, onto Evan. Look, I really tried, but I just did not like him. He's a grumpy fisherman who plays guitar and struggles with grief. That's his whole personality. He was such an asshole and the reasoning wasn't good enough. And his anger and irritation towards Melanie felt so forced. I also didn't understand why he softens towards her eventually. Because she's 'charming'? The girl who legitimately says she doesn't connect with people and has a hard time making friends and has a resting bitch face is . . . charming? Doesn't make sense. I feel like this story would have been better if we got his POV.
There was no chemistry between Evan and Melanie. It's all 'I hate you' for the first few days and then when he takes her to go hiking, they actually talk to each other like regular human beings and suddenly, everything changes. What? This guy was such a fucking asshole and now, because he got you to open up (which you never do) you go, hmmmm maybe there's more to this guy. No babe. No. And even when they talk, there's no spark. It's just conversations anyone would have with someone they're spending time with. I did not feel any chemistry.
At the end of the day, these characters were just too opposite from one another and mean to believe that in a week, they went from immensely disliking each other to lovers. And by lovers, I mean feeling like they were 'the one'. Their relationship is just so ridiculous and far-fetched.
The Whaler family was fine at first but then it got weird. They're way too in each other's business. But what gave me the ick was when Evan and Melanie do the deed, and then shortly after the family comes into the room, sits on the edge of the bed while they are naked and sweaty, and proceeds to chat with them. WHAT??? So gross . This family has no boundaries, oh, and they hold massive grudges. I would legit be running for the hills if this is the family of the guy I was screwing. Sorry, but dysfunction isn't cute or charming.
Melanie's child stalker was so creepy and should have been left out of this story. This twelve(?) year old lives in her building, is in love with her, follows her around, stalks her IG, writes her poem, and tries to flirt with her. And what was weird is that while Melanie also finds this creepy, she puts up with it and sometimes find amusement with his infatuation. Someone makes a joke about how she might need a restraining order against him but then she laughs about it. But really, it's not funny. It's weird. This kid is so inappropriate. I would ignore this kid and have a serious conversation with his father where I'd threaten to get an actual restraining order against him.
What's even weirder, is that Melanie has her breakthrough moment of realizing she wants to be with Evan while having a heart to heart with this child! Seriously? Melanie doesn't open up to people ever but she's going to talk about her love life with a child stalker? WTF? I just . . . I don't understand why this kid needed to be in the story AT ALL.
I was a full time travel influencer and photographer for six years, so I’m very familiar with that world, and there were a lot of things that happened that weren’t 100% realistic or didn’t make sense.
1. Melanie getting an offer for an all expense paid trip would not have been a shock. She has 500k followers. If anything, she would have laughed at the offer because someone with her amount of followers would be getting paid an insane amount on top of the free trip. No lie, influencers with 500k followers charge anywhere between $5,000 - $10,000 per post (depending on engagement)! So yeah, her getting a free trip and being excited about it is ridiculous.
2. Melanie decides to stay in Cora's Cove because paying for another flight would have been too expensive. But I'm here to tell you that flights from Boston to Halifax would not be more expensive than staying at an Airbnb for an entire week. In all honesty, it probably would have been more expensive.
3. When Melanie moves Evan's boat equipment for the shot. I know there are influencers who might do this without asking but the fact she asked, he said no, and still decided to move it didn't seem realistic to me.
4. Melanie canceling her work trip to just stay with Evan did not make sense. She says she needs this job, but this hard working girl is going to throw that all away for some dick? No, this doesn't align with her character.
I also want to note that the writing itself was perfectly fine. The story was easy to follow and well-written. However, I did end up skimming a lot of the non-dialogue just because I had lost interest in the characters and overall story
Thank you Netgalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review! As always, all opinions are my own.
Favorite Quotes:
I'm not sure if he wants to choke me out or give me a swift kick to the shin. Probably both. _______
Turns out, being fake engaged to Evan sucks, but kissing him isn't half bad. _______
There's beauty in holding on . . . as long as you're not trapped in the past. _______
"You're never alone in this world while I'm in it, Mel." _______...more
3 ⭐️ A rom-com with depth but it didn't sparkle like other Emily Henry novels
In the best of times, it's inadvisable to start lusting after your roomma3 ⭐️ A rom-com with depth but it didn't sparkle like other Emily Henry novels
In the best of times, it's inadvisable to start lusting after your roommate, and we are nowhere near the best of times.
WHAT TO EXPECT: ✨ Michigan setting ✨ small town romance ✨ Daphne is a librarian who's been dumped by her fiance for Mile's ex ✨ Miles is a bartender who's girlfriend dumps him for Daphne's ex ✨ living with your ex fiance's new fiance's ex ✨ roommates to best friends to lovers ✨ opposites attract ✨ forced proximity ✨ fake dating (sort of) ✨ 2/5 ...more
"You once told me you thought you were a lot of nots. I want you to know that to me, you're everything."
WHAT TO EXP4 ⭐️ This was so stinking cute!!!!
"You once told me you thought you were a lot of nots. I want you to know that to me, you're everything."
WHAT TO EXPECT: ✨ Pacific Northwest setting ✨ small town romance ✨ he’s a big city chef struggling with burnout ✨ she’s a small town teacher who finds happiness in the smallest things ✨ grumpy x sunshine ✨ instant attraction ✨ friends to lovers ✨ slow burn ✨ fake dating ✨ adorable banter ✨ 2/5 ...more
WHAT TO EXPECT : ✨ Small town romance ✨ Bodyguard x flower shop owner ✨ Practice dating ✨ Friends to lovers ✨ Insta - lust ✨ Virgin FMC ✨ Bad bDNF at 25%
WHAT TO EXPECT : ✨ Small town romance ✨ Bodyguard x flower shop owner ✨ Practice dating ✨ Friends to lovers ✨ Insta - lust ✨ Virgin FMC ✨ Bad boy MMC ✨ Zero spice / closed door
Why did I DNF?
I HATED the female lead, Annie. This grown woman is sooooooooo annoyingly childish. She legit calls the MMC “a stingy butt munch" . . . Are we five fucking years old??? Also, she doesn't swear, which I'm 100% okay with. However, what I'm not okay with is the fact she has a No Swear Notebook where her and her siblings put a tally mark every time they swear. . . It just made me cringe. Oh and she has panties and pajamas with bananas on them…yeah.
AND THEN, Annie complains how everyone only sees her as an innocent angel even though she's created this persona for herself! I mean, when you’re a quiet, mousey 27 year old virgin who doesn’t curse and you make insults like a child…yeah, of course people will perceive you that way. What the fuck do you expect?
The MMC was generic and boring. Being tattooed, ex military, and emotionally unavailable doesn't automatically make him an interesting love interest. And honestly, there's no way in hell this man who is well-traveled and 'super hot', who has dated models around the world and jumped out of airplanes, is going to fall for such a lame FMC. It doesn't make sense.
Plus, there's ZERO spice, so even if you think 'you know what, maybe I can put up with the bad because there's smut', you'd be wrong.
This story was just very surface level with boring characters and after 100 pages I just couldn't do it anymore. I know I'm in the minority here because EVERYONE raved about this book. But, I don't know what to tell you....more
"You have bewitched me body and soul, and I love you three times. Please tell me my hands are cold s4.25 ⭐️ Hilariously fun! An absolute joy to read!
"You have bewitched me body and soul, and I love you three times. Please tell me my hands are cold so we can get on with our lives already."
WHAT TO EXPECT: ✨ sarcastic, hopeful bartender / tax accountant FMC ✨ charming, witty landscape architect MMC ✨ one-night stand to friends to lovers ✨ dating apps ✨ 'who can find love first' bet ✨ fake-dating (at the end) ✨ one-bed trope ✨ open door romance with minimum details ✨ snarky banter ✨ amazing flirting ✨ eventual jealousy ✨ omission of feelings ✨ love confessions in the rain 'The Notebook" and "Pride and Prejudice" style ✨ dual pov
I read Lynn Painter's Mr. Wrong Number and thought it was cute, but I wasn't necessarily eager to read this one until a friend of mine gushed about it, saying it is now her favorite contemporary romance! So I requested an ARC on NetGalley, and thank goodness I did because The Love Wager was an absolute freaking delight! You know a book's good when it makes you laugh out loud so many times and ultimately pulls you out of a reading slump. So if you're questioning if you should read it, this is your sign to do so!
My Thoughts:
I absolutely adore Jack and Hallie. Even though they are great characters on their own, I can't think about one without the other. Together, they just make sense. There is no Jack without Hallie and vice versa. They really do complement and complete each other. They see the other for exactly who they are, and not only do they accept the other's uniqueness, they love it. Jack and Hallie are the definition of soulmates, and I would die for them.
The one-night stand to friends to lovers romance. I'll admit, I wasn't sure how on Earth this was going to work, but Lynn Painter did it beautifully! Not only do these two have so much romantic chemistry, but it's made abundantly clear that their friendship is just a strong. Even though they had a one-night stand, they really were just pals after, and it was entirely believable in my opinion. It was fun watching them banter and develop a sweet friendship that turns into love.
Some of the best snarky and flirty banter. Seriously, I cannot tell you how many times I laughed out loud. Their text messages in particular were great! Here's an example:
Jack: Wow. He seems nice? Is that where the bar is set - at nice? Hallie: What's wrong with nice? Jack: Nothing. I mean, I'm sure you cannot LIVE without getting railed by a "nice" guy. Hallie: Eww can you explain the particulars of what getting "railed" entails? It sounds . . . torturous. Painful. I think you might be doing it wrong. Jack: HAL. Hallie: I'm mocking the terminology and THAT IS ALL.
The sex scenes may not be very descriptive, but they are still sexy. One of the things I didn't love about the first book was that these scenes were usually only two paragraphs long and extremely light on details. While they still aren't explicit, they are much longer and happen more often, so I was happy about that!
The only reason this isn't getting 5 stars for me is that I didn't 100% jive with the author's writing style. There's absolutely nothing wrong with it. I just sometimes had to pause midsentence to reread a sentence more than a handful of times, which disrupted the flow of the story for me. It could be because this was an ARC, so it wasn't fully edited either.
Overall, The Love Wager is a rom-com you should read if you're looking for something charming, comical, light-hearted, and romantic. I'll definitely be buying a copy for my library.
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing an e-ARC copy in exchange for an honest review! As always, all opinions are my own....more
✨DNF at 30%✨ Don't let the hot guy on the cover fool you
Have you ever been listening to a teacher or lecture, and you wanted to fall asleep but force✨DNF at 30%✨ Don't let the hot guy on the cover fool you
Have you ever been listening to a teacher or lecture, and you wanted to fall asleep but forced yourself awake? That's what it felt like reading this book. And this year, I decided that if I feel like I have to force myself to read a book, I'm DNFing. It's not worth my time to read something subpar when I could be reading something exceptional.
This book has been on my TBR for ages and received high praise from BookTok and Bookstagram, so my expectations were high. Sadly, it did not live up to the hype.
It had all the elements to a contemporary romance I could want: - NYC setting - grumpy x sunshine trope - marriage of convenience - forced proximity - he's a handsome, smart and rich lawyer - she's a hard working, sweet coffee shop owner
Unfortunately, the story was slow moving, unnecessarily wordy, and incredibly cliche. The characters are boring. There's ZERO romantic chemistry. And what even is the plot? In the words of American Idol ex-judge, Randy Jackson, "It's a no from me dawg"....more
3 ⭐️ Loved the first half, but the second half lost me
"I'm broken." The hopeless way she said it made tears pinch from my eyes.
"We're all a little bro3 ⭐️ Loved the first half, but the second half lost me
"I'm broken." The hopeless way she said it made tears pinch from my eyes.
"We're all a little broken, Briana. We are a mosaic. We're made up of all those we've met and all the things we've been through. there are parts of us that are colorful and dark and jagged and beautiful. And I love every piece of you. Even the ones you wish didn't exist."
WHAT TO EXPECT: ✨ fake dating romance ✨ co-workers / doctors ✨ anxious, cinnamon roll hero ✨ depressed, kind heroine ✨ both are recovering from a recent breakup/divorce ✨ exchanging letters ✨ miscommunication ✨ so much angst ✨ dual POV ✨topics addressed: anxiety, depression, infidelity (cheating ex), divorce, miscarriage, family member with kidney failure
This review is hard for me to write because the things I loved about the story make me want to give it a higher rating. But the things I disliked are what's making me leave it as is. I was full-on in love with this story for probably the first 50% to the point I was sure I'd be giving it 5-stars. But around the 50% and onward mark, I noticed things I didn't quite like.
What I liked:
Jacob. I loved everything about this man. He's so sweet, understanding, considerate, and caring. He's also incredibly self-aware and manages his anxiety in a healthy way. Jacob isn't perfect, but he tries his best to be. If he does something wrong, he'll try to fix it. If he's hurt someone, he'll apologize. He's so selfless he even donates his kidney to a stranger! He's also got a beautiful home, a sunroom filled with plants, and a three-legged dog! Where do they make men like him??? Jacob is one of the most loveable male characters I've ever come across while reading, and I want him to be happy in this fictional world. ...more
5 ⭐ If you're a fan of Emily Henry or Catherine Walsh, read this book immediately!
"I've got you. Always." "You do. I've got you too."
WHAT TO EXPECT: ✨ f5 ⭐ If you're a fan of Emily Henry or Catherine Walsh, read this book immediately!
"I've got you. Always." "You do. I've got you too."
WHAT TO EXPECT: ✨ friends to lovers ✨ grumpy x sunshine ✨ she's a comedian and he's her manager ✨ fake dating ✨ forced proximity ✨ age gap (10 years) ✨ single dad ✨ mutual pining ✨ missed chances ✨ friendly banter ✨ flashbacks ✨ dual POV ✨ deaf representation ✨ ...more
3 ⭐️ perfect to listen to if you want something ridiculous and funny (audiobook review)
I don’t usually do audiobooks, but overall, this was a fun book3 ⭐️ perfect to listen to if you want something ridiculous and funny (audiobook review)
I don’t usually do audiobooks, but overall, this was a fun book to listen to. It was almost like watching a dumb, high-drama TV show. The characters and the situation are ridiculous, but I enjoyed the story and the romance.
WHAT TO EXPECT: ✨ billionaire romance ✨ pretty woman retelling (she's not a prostitute just unemployed) ✨ dual POV ✨ instant attraction ✨ contracted fake engagement and pregnancy ✨ resisting each other to lovers ✨ age gap ✨ forced proximity ✨ smut
As I already said, I enjoyed the overall story. I'm a fan of the billionaire and fake dating, or in this case fake engagement, romance. The story kept me entertained while I listened during my workouts and walks.
The smut, I actually thought it was pretty hot. There are quite a few sex scenes that got me feeling all sorts of things (the shower scene ...more
2.5 ⭐️ Disappointed because I wasn’t expecting a sad, angsty Emily Henry book
"Our love is a place we can always come back to, and it will be waiting, 2.5 ⭐️ Disappointed because I wasn’t expecting a sad, angsty Emily Henry book
"Our love is a place we can always come back to, and it will be waiting, the same as it ever was. You belong here."
WHAT TO EXPECT: ✨ new england beach house setting ✨ second chance romance ✨ fake dating (ex fiances pretending to still be engaged) ✨ friends to lovers ✨ one-bed ✨ forced proximity ✨ open door romance with minimum spice ✨ flashbacks / dual timeline ✨ single pov ✨ found family ✨ friend group drama ✨ angst, sadness, heartbreak ✨ miscommunication ✨ omissions of feelings ✨ HEA ✨ tw: breakups, mental health, depression, perfectionism, burnout, high expectation parents, sick parent, death of a parent
My Thoughts:
This is a hard one for me to rate, so I’m settling on 3-stars for now.
Let me preface this review by saying I am a HUGE Emily Henry fan! So much so that I own multiple copies of all her books as hardcovers, paperbacks, and Uk editions. I love her stories and I was so excited to get an ARC. But sadly, I didn’t like this one very much.
On one hand, this was well written, the storyline about friendship was lovely, and there’s a lot of depth to each character.
However, because of the title and fun cover, I went in expecting a fun, heartfelt rom-com. Instead, I got a sad, painful, grief-filled story that feels more like women's fiction than romance. It read more like a depressing Colleen Hoover book but without the sex. Any sort of positive experience I had while reading was fleeting and replaced with angst due to the nature of the story. I only felt reprieve during the flashbacks of the main couple when they were happy together. The rest of the time, I anxiously waited to learn what caused the breakup. But they don’t discuss their breakup (which was due to a lack of communication and the MMC making stupid assumptions) or get back together until the last 10% of the story, and even that isn't fully settled till the last few pages. Was this a bad story? No. I think Emily Henry is a talented writer, and this one dove deep into mental health, what it means to find yourself, and how friendships change. But this book was marketed incorrectly, which set the wrong expectations and ultimately made this read a disappointment.
But now that I know what to expect, I'm going to do a re-read to see if my rating/review changes. Stay tuned.
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing an e-ARC copy in exchange for an honest review! As always, all opinions are my own.
From now on, dark cliffs, wind racing through hair, cinnamon paired with clove and pine - all of it will only mean Wyn Conner to me. A door has opened, and I know I'll never get it shut again. Regency era or not, in a lot of ways, he ruins me.
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"Will we still be friends after this," I'd whispered, and he smiled as he told me, "You've never been just a friend to me."
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"I tried so fucking hard to let you go, to let you be happy, and when I see you, I still feel like - like you're mine. Like I'm yours. I got rid of every single piece of you, like that would make a difference, like I could cut you out of me, and instead, I just see everywhere you're supposed to be."
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"Love means constantly saying you're sorry, and then doing better."
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"I love you," he says into my mouth, and I wish I could swallow it, like that would let me keep that sound forever, this moment forever.
My nose burns. My voice crackles. "Don't say that."
"Why not?" he whispers.
"Because those words don't belong to me anymore."
"Of course they do. They belong to you before I ever saw you. They belong to you in every universe we're in, Harriet."
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Want is a kind of thief. It's a door in your heart, and once you know it's there, you'll spend your life longing for whatever's behind it."
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I'd rather have you five days a year than anyone else all the time I'd rather argue with you than not talk, and whether we're together or we're not, I'm yours, so let's be together, Harriet.
WHAT TO EXPECT: ✨ strong, capable bodyguard FMC ✨ hunky, sweet movie-star MMC ✨ fake-dating ✨ city girl ends up 3.5 ⭐️ Cute bodyguard, fake-dating romance
WHAT TO EXPECT: ✨ strong, capable bodyguard FMC ✨ hunky, sweet movie-star MMC ✨ fake-dating ✨ city girl ends up on a ranch ✨ client to friends to lovers ✨ one-bed trope ✨ emotional baggage ✨ crazy stalker drama ✨ fun banter ✨ zero spice
I liked the story. It was fun, sweet, and had some exciting moments near the end.
While there were some heavy topics (death of a family member, past childhood trauma/parental alcoholism), they didn’t weigh down the story, and it remained light-hearted for the most part.
I enjoyed seeing the character growth of both Jack and Hannah. They had a lot of big things to work through and did that on their own and together. I love how they were there for each other as friends, and it was sweet watching them blossom into something more.
Jack’s mom, Connie, is my absolute favorite! I wish we got even more scenes with her!
Jack and Hannah were cute, but I wasn’t 100% convinced of their chemistry. He mentions how ordinary and plain she is to his brother, but then when she confronts him about it, he’s like, “yeah, and I like that about you.” But that’s not really a compliment. We want the love interest to find the MC attractive in some capacity, but he never says anything to that degree. It’s also brought up 3 different times (by her ex, Jack, and Jack’s fake celebrity girlfriend) that she’s nothing special, which rubbed me the wrong way. Idk I would have liked for them to have some sort of obvious physical chemistry or at least have it mentioned a little.
But, the best part about these two was Jack’s teasing and their banter! It was so stinking cute and made me smile. ☺️
The pacing was sometimes off for me. It was hard to get into at the beginning because one bad thing after another kept happening to Hannah, and she was constantly complaining about her work assignments. But once she got to the ranch, things picked up for me. So around 25% of the book. And I know some people said the ending came out of nowhere, but I thoroughly enjoyed it! Nothing like a little conflict during the last 10%!
Overall, this is a cute romance I’d recommend if you want something fun and quick to read....more
I really liked Giana and Clay and the sex-ploration aspect of the story. And as someone who was a 19-year-ol3.5 ⭐️ A sweet and sexy fake dating story
I really liked Giana and Clay and the sex-ploration aspect of the story. And as someone who was a 19-year-old/sophomore virgin in college who had ZERO experience prior besides kissing, I can tell you that Clay’s approach would have been the dream. ...more
3 ⭐️ It had its moment, but I didn't connect with Declan and Iris like I wanted
"There's nothing I won't do to earn my inheritance. Remember that when 3 ⭐️ It had its moment, but I didn't connect with Declan and Iris like I wanted
"There's nothing I won't do to earn my inheritance. Remember that when you forget this is only a game to me."
Terms and Conditions is an easy, entertaining read with great banter and angst. Honestly, this book got me good in that department. I felt like my heart was being ripped out of my chest a few times. For that alone, I was drawn to finish the story.
However, there were a few things that hindered my enjoyment.
The overall premise was a stretch. Forcing Declan to get married and have a baby or else he won’t receive his multi-billion dollar inheritance is ridiculous. I'm not sure if this actually has ever happened, but it feels far-fetched. And honestly, I could overlook that if there was any explanation as to why that is what his grandfather stipulated in his will. But that doesn't happen.
I enjoyed the first half of the book more than the second. Once Declan and Iris get married, I couldn't really tell you much about what happens next besides they live together, have a few tense moments, Declan realizes he loves Iris, and Iris fights her heart. The details are blurred together.
I truly didn’t feel much chemistry between Declan and Iris. I think this story heavily relied on the boss/employee relationship to persuade you it was love all along versus actually showing us real moments of connection. And when Declan finally realizes he wants Iris, it seemed out of the blue because he didn't have a lot of internal struggle leading up to that conclusion. It was like a switch was flipped, and he suddenly decided he wasn't pretending anymore. And maybe that's what happened, but I would have liked to have seen Declan analyze these feelings more.
Not a lot of spice compared to the first book. Not sure this really hindered my enjoyment, but it let me down. I loved the sexual tension and smut in The Fine Print, so I had high expectations for this one.
The drama at the end seemed like a weak plot point. I get that there needed to be one final conflict that drew Declan and Iris apart before they ultimately decided their marriage was real, but the drama with his father/Mr. Yakura and the fight with Iris seemed out of the blue. I also didn’t believe that Declan, the king of being cool and collected, would lose his cool like that with Iris…and then nothing is resolved with his father or Declan becoming CEO. I'm comparing this again to The Fine Print, but I liked how that story focused on Rowan and Zahra’s romance while also showing amazing character growth that translated to their work performance.
Cal was the best part of this story! I adore him and am curious to find out what happened between him and Alana!
Overall, this was an entertaining read and a good addition to the Dreamland Billionaires Series. But unfortunately, I just didn't connect with the characters, which ultimately led to a lot of confusion surrounding the romance and plot. If there were more moments where Declan reflects on his feelings, his decisions would have made a lot more sense, and I would have enjoyed the story more....more