This book was very mid. I’m taking a bit of a break from fantasy and this one was very lackluster to welcome me back to the genre. It was well writtenThis book was very mid. I’m taking a bit of a break from fantasy and this one was very lackluster to welcome me back to the genre. It was well written and there was really not an issue with the writer style or anything like that but the story itself was very blasé and the two main characters had zero chemistry. I wasn’t rooting for them at all, and the story was off from a perspective. I’ve read plenty of enemies to lovers and I think of the series by Stacia Stark, where it starts out similarly where the main character is very, very harsh with the female main character the two come together in a very realistic way it felt very natural. Where is this, it went from like 0 to 60 very quickly and I didn’t feel natural at all and I think aside from the pacing you know there’s this whole Midsomer games thing and she’s gonna be stuck there for six weeks. There’s a lot that the author could’ve chosen to show us that she didn’t like all the time of them spending Time together on the roof talking about things getting to know another we’re just told that that happens we don’t get to see any of that instead we just get oh I spent 12 days working on 12 hours working on a raft and we spent the whole week in the Forge together like that’s what we get instead, so we don’t really ever have a chance to truly bond with the charactersbut again, I think my biggest issue is the end of break ups and I think maybe part of this conflict is a little bit realistic. I’m granite these two have known each other for a very short period of time and so it would be easy to doubt another. I have a difficult time accepting that she would go back and live in this place with him after everything they put her through I mean they threatened with locking her up and they were so quick to turn on her and then oh this old lady gives this guy a kick in the ass, and then that suddenly makes him see things clearer and trust her, and she just forgives him and forgives the town people. I mean, that lesbian couple the Drew because they were afraid she was gonna hurt them and then next thing you know they’re all like oh hey what’s up like nothing happened and it was just totally ridiculous and preposterous and honestly, they shouldn’t have settled there. They should’ve moved to some other place together and he shouldn’t have turned on her. It should’ve been everyone on her and separated them and he had to fight to go get her instead of him, doubting her so dumb....more
Look, I will be the first one to admit that I am probably a crap writer a crap creative writer. I don’t enjoy it. It’s stressful. I wish I could do itLook, I will be the first one to admit that I am probably a crap writer a crap creative writer. I don’t enjoy it. It’s stressful. I wish I could do it, but I just can’t, but I always knew and I still think I would make an incredible editor and that’s what I really feel like this book needed Now I love the writers style and this is my second book of hers that I’ve read and I really like her style. It’s enjoyable. She writes well there. Nothing weird or quirky about her writing style but this story kind of is the female character seemed a bit crazy and I can get if maybe she was trying to be portrayed as eccentric. However, she just really came across as crazy. You know she had a crush on the sky and, the crush was so intense. She thought she was in love with them. Wish you know based on what we knew, but I don’t see how she could’ve been in love with him because they hardly interacted. She seem crazy and she moved away because she changed her whole life because of that, she didn’t change jobs like she freaking moved out of state anyway so that kind of the background that happened off page was a little bit too complicated and unnecessarily so it could’ve been streamlined and I feel the story could’ve been so much more powerful if it was just a matter of, hey they happen to be former coworkers and Now they were working together again and oh my gosh, he’s completely different from what I remember and how he used to be. I didn’t feel there was need for her to have abandoned her relocated and plus one of the odds that they’re both gonna wind up on this small island off of Texas it just seemed you know and plus because we didn’t get his POV I kept expecting Him to say I moved her because of you but that’s not what happened so I mean I’m sorry it was a little too far-fetched. It just would’ve been so much more believable if they just change schools like within the same area or something like that or if they were living somewhere that wasn’t quite so remote And then plus on top of it, he left Portland or wherever they were and then he went to Baltimore and then he came to Galveston Island. I mean too much going on and the book suffered from a single POV. I thought it was really weird that he didn’t acknowledge her, especially when we come to finally later on that he had a thing for her back when they worked together together, but she didn’t seem interested in him. I mean you know we didn’t get his POV. We only got her POV so a lot of that stuff felt like it was coming out of left field, and then to pick him up from his doctors appointment I don’t know it just really could’ve benefited from some serious editing without her having this crush on him they could’ve just been former coworkers. She both happened to work together again and oh my gosh, he’s completely different and she, you know starts connecting with him that way and if we’ve gotten some of his POV so we would know that he felt that way too and honestly wouldn’t even need to know. They didn’t even need to like originally have all these feelings for each other that it could’ve developed naturally over the course of this story enough time passed over the school year that they could’ve organically developed feelings for each other, so you know there was intriguing stuff about them with him being shot in a school shooting her and her epilepsy like that was enough that was enough. We didn’t need all this other stuff that really took away from the book if it wasn’t so enjoyable to read I would’ve rated it lower, even though it was frustrating to read because, I felt like those things didn’t really bring much to the story and then to get kind of towards the end and him telling her what he did how he felt about her more probably I’ll probably give her one more chance...more
**spoiler alert** What can I say oh my gosh, Peter and Selena I freaking love these two. I love the story paper. First of all she’s tall second of all**spoiler alert** What can I say oh my gosh, Peter and Selena I freaking love these two. I love the story paper. First of all she’s tall second of all. She’s like an independent woman and I love the found family and how she’s all like. I don’t wanna get married, but then obviously she starts Developing this attraction to Peter and vice versa. The only downside is they met off page and I don’t think this book is part of a series or anything, and that is what kind of sucks is that they already knew each other and there were some references to their interactions with one another at other events or what not and we didn’t get to see that you know I wanna follow them on their journey from start to finish so you know especially when a story is enjoyable is this one is it could’ve been so much more like I’m giving four stars but Really honestly this is kicked off a regency romance kick for me. The right style was great. The characters were interesting and captivating. The romance was sweet and had the right amount of spice even if I think that it was maybe not entirely realistic for the era, I don’t know. I have not actually researched it myself, but the two of them were hot together and plus she was really forward anyway forward thinking meaningwith the library she created and all of that and it was just great how he unconditionally supported her how much she wanted him to get custody of his brother and sister it was just I loved it. I loved it. I didn’t want to end it was so good....more
Even though I wasn’t crazy about the two main characters in the first book, I wanted to read the second one. I was really kind of on a roll with RegenEven though I wasn’t crazy about the two main characters in the first book, I wanted to read the second one. I was really kind of on a roll with Regency Romance but this one didn’t really hold my attention. It just felt like a redo of the first book I mean another small petite woman and you know come on. I don’t wanna read two of those in a row. How about something different, this book was a DNF for me...more
I had to DNF this book. The premise seemed so cute. They kind of had a one night stand or they just hooked up one time and then whatever five years laI had to DNF this book. The premise seemed so cute. They kind of had a one night stand or they just hooked up one time and then whatever five years later they reunited and surprised you have a kid now I read another book recently with the similar prep premise And that one was executed well because we got to read the hook up. We got to see that initial reaction here we didn’t get to see that we’re just like immediately dumped to the story five years later and you know I mean time passes and because we didn’t get that kind of prologue. It just felt really weird to me That, they see each other at this barbecue and she goes to leave and he’s just acting so familiar with her and they hadn’t seen each other in five years. I mean I don’t just felt weird on top of that. There were like 5000 characters from the very first page, I was constantly like going back to pages trying to remember, who was that? Who was that person? It was just way too complicated...more
Why did I read those two stars? I think really the main thing for me. It was the author style. This was another author who took unnecessary lines to pWhy did I read those two stars? I think really the main thing for me. It was the author style. This was another author who took unnecessary lines to provide details that were completely irrelevant to the story like I think there was one scene where and maybe I’m confusing this with another book because I have read so many recently, but I really think it happened in this book where he cooked for her. Yes it was definitely this one he cooked for her and she’s like I took this to the island and then I took this to the island and then I took this to the island like where they were sitting to eat, and I’m like I don’t need all of those details Because those details do nothing for the story and this was one to where she didn’t use contractions so the characters whether they were speaking or is there in her monologue it felt very unnatural felt very robotic and I’m like OK. It’s gotta be that there is like a minimum requirement I mean I’m an English major. OK OK I know the tricks to meet the number of words or the page requirements, and not using contractions is the easiest way to meet a word count requirement and the story suffers if the people aren’t talking like humans then what’s the point it was very distracting on top of that was like I was skimming over the stuff with like her dad and everything like I didn’t really care about that like I really just wanted to read about her and Levi and their interactions the other stuffso you know two star bordering on one and a half stars Which is disappointing because I love the idea of this black cat like I haven’t read many black cat stories, but I love that instead of the guy being brooding and dark, and all all that stuff I love the girl to have some edge and not be all like oh I’m blonde and have dreams of unicorns and rainbows and hearts in my eyes and I mean puke all that sunshine I hate that crap...more
This book is a DNF for me. I got maybe 20 pages in and had to stop. I like the idea of the reverse age gap but the guy was right away like so crude anThis book is a DNF for me. I got maybe 20 pages in and had to stop. I like the idea of the reverse age gap but the guy was right away like so crude and shit and then of course the female main character is only like 2 feet tall and I just don’t have it in me and the writing immediately was just like a turn off like the style the tone of it the voice of the characters and if you don’t hook me in immediately like I don’t know, I’m not gonna stick with it in this, alienated me pretty quickly...more
This book was not for me I DNF’d this book a few chapters into it. I wanted to like it and I’ve been pleasantly surprised by some hockey romances of lThis book was not for me I DNF’d this book a few chapters into it. I wanted to like it and I’ve been pleasantly surprised by some hockey romances of late but this one I just couldn’t stomach it. There was something about the two characters they weren’t really connecting for me and I just I couldn’t keep reading it I had no interest....more
**spoiler alert** Oh my gosh, I just finished this book this morning and I just thought for sure. OK I’m on this good streak of reading books that I’m**spoiler alert** Oh my gosh, I just finished this book this morning and I just thought for sure. OK I’m on this good streak of reading books that I’m liking and enjoying and not wanting to throw across the room. Is it gonna end with this one and the cover left me a little bit skeptical and it was misleading I really thought based on the cover that the girl was gonna be like this little mistress or whatever and she kind of was, but that wasn’t I mean, that wasn’t really her personality like you know she wasn’t afraid to get her hands dirty or whatever it was more about. She lived a very kind of structured life so I feel like the book cover does not paint her in the best light and kind of is a little bit misleading But this book definitely reminded me of that movie. I think it’s called how to stay single or how to be single or something like that anyway, there are a bunch of different stories happening in that movie and there’s one in particular where this girl strikes up a friendship with the bartender same exact premise like she’s working on her dating profile and everything and it was really it was really just like that and that was that’s one of my favorite stories in that movie. The rest of the movie is kind of take it or leave it but that’s one of the two stories in that movie that I like, and the girl in the movie you end up finding that person who complements her not completes her whatever Their line is in the book and you know she ends up fighting this guy. I mean they’re perfect for each other. They’re both the right amount of crazy and meanwhile the bartender like realizes he’s totally in love with her whatever and anyway she does not end up with the bartender well I knew this book was going to deviate from that. Obviously you were gonna end up together we know that going in, but it’s all a matter of how are they going to get there and this was a very pleasant Surprise. You know we know about we know what she’s about like she’s a very straightforward character. We know what she wants for herself and that changes throughout the course of the book which I think is normal characters grow and evolve that is very normal. He was not quite as flushed out as I maybe would’ve liked, you know we have this idea this big Burley bartender whatever and he is not a womanizer but he’s just very casual when it comes to relationships that you know the characters even kind of dress that at one point like I think Holly remarks how she’s never even seen him date and so whatever casual means She doesn’t necessarily know you know he starts out being in a relationship, but it is just very very casual so his progression was a little bit more interesting because I guess him being upfront about I will committed relationships are not for me. I don’t ever want to get married I mean, it never sounded like he was making excuses. He was just being upfront about his wants and what he wants for himself and all of that felt real but then I guess, he came about to spend time with her like I guess and the way he interacted with her it was just I don’t know. I didn’t quite match up. I don’t know. I didn’t feel quite as natural and now as the story progressed and the two of them developed a real friendship that felt very real, but like after they ran into each other at the park and then she goes chasing after him, you know, I don’t know. I just wish we had kind of gotten that from her perspective so I could understand her thought process because with that being from his perspective, I just felt a little weird you know he leaves her in the park. He goes to work and then suddenly she’s trying to get into the bar early before open all for her to ask him, will you be my coach you know I just would’ve much rather have had that from her perspective so I could’ve followed her train of thought and seen how she Arrived at that idea but we didn’t get that so it just felt a little forced. You know the author had to force these two to be in a situation so that they could develop this friendship so the beginning was a little when it came to that aspect of it Really developing that real friendship. It was very enjoyable and there was an attraction there, but I really appreciate how kept reminding herself like look. He’s been very clear about what he wants and wants or not an alignment with each other. I have to keep myself in check like I really an even when there was a point where it seemed like who is she talking to? I forgot who she was talking to and she was like huh so maybe he could come around and want what I want but then she was like no I mean I just really I just feel like that was so healthy like her having that awareness you know was very very refreshing and the two were heading towards this inevitable conclusion, you know, we know they’re gonna end up together And it just the more they realized you know it was gradual, but it was also inevitable and it felt natural. I mean it really did feel natural and I also appreciated that their whole inter monologues mean yeah they did remark about like how gorgeous they thought the other person was or whatever but it wasn’t like man. I’m looking at her and my dick instantly gets hard. I mean, there’s none of that, my work computer microphone is not on anyway I appreciate that it was. This was a romance or whatever I appreciate that because sex out of the equation just really allowed the focus to be on these two characters and their growth and that’s I think what the main objective of the story was so if you’re looking for smart, this isn’t it but it was a very cute story, and I liked following Holly on her journey of really figuring out what it is. She wants as opposed to trying to be what everyone else wants and above all else I appreciated that there was no break up and said it was like OK I’ve gotta go be Crystal clear about how I feel and they did thatdidn’t break up or anything like that and there wasn’t any of that here which was very refreshing and made it so much more enjoyable...more
The premise of this book is so cute and another one I really liked it probably really closer to a 3 1/2 stars than three now granted I kind of felt liThe premise of this book is so cute and another one I really liked it probably really closer to a 3 1/2 stars than three now granted I kind of felt like the writer style was a bit simpler. Maybe she doesn’t have as much writing experience I’m not quite sure how to describe it, but it felt like it was maybe written by someone who is a bit younger maybe someone who Just doesn’t have as much writing experience. That’s the only way I can think of to explain it that being said I didn’t feel like I was reading a book written by a middle schooler. The characters were written well I got distinct impressions of their personalities and who they are and their families. Aiden and Olivia really are so cute together the way she’s so much of a dork and not maybe not a dork but she’s just a real person. You know she’s not like perfect and I mean whatever she’s just real. She’s like a normal person, and I really thought that was refreshing and, I was very curious about how these two were going to meet in the middle at the end and I’m not too crazy about how they “” compromised at the end I really feel like they should’ve gone with what Olivia offered to work remotely as much as she could or what not as opposed to him what I mean he gave up his fellowship or he transferred. I just feel like if he is transferring to another fellowship or whatever was an option all along why was this even an issue for them that’s why I get frustrated is it feels like he gave up the most and what he end up doing it just felt too convenient and I didn’t like that. That’s definitely kind of the main reason why I didn’t read it as higher or higher than I did otherwise really like the 20 and there was one other thing, a huge kind of type or continuity error so at the beginning of the book, she’s on this date with Ethan the younger brother and she says he’s 23 then there’s an interaction between Olivia and Aiden. They’re talking about his brother, I don’t know Aiden is talking about his brother and he says he’s 26 and I’m like what the heck I even went back to the beginning of the book to make sure I read it correctly like maybe Olivia honestly just got it wrong but then further on in the book Aiden himself says that his twin younger siblings are 23 years old so continuity error there and that’s is the kind of thing it just like sticks in my head. It takes me out of the book takes me out of the story aside from the writer style and I’m trying to think of some examples of that I’ve gotten so bad about highlighting things and books and probably because I read so much and usually so much of what I’ve been reading lately as crap like it’s not worth my time but now I am kind of kicking myself a little bit because I wish I had highlighted examples to illustrate my point about the writer style again. It wasn’t like I felt like it was written by five. You know it was just a little on the inexperienced side at the same time it was enjoyable. I like the characters I kind of think the mothers was like a little annoying. I mean, I don’t know I guess maybe that’s what it’s like for some people, I don’t know I mean fuck that shit like don’t in my life and I think it was like the author really like kind of true Midwestern tendencies and what do I mean by that so this girl who grew up in the small town then she moves to Seattle. She’s obviously very progressive. She’s very liberal. She’s very open minded and she comes back home and that is a contrast with her father so I thought it was interesting that was handled I mean again this is a romance book. This is not a book meant to like be will winning pull surprises or anything like that, but I did think it was interesting. How the author incorporated that you know what it also kind of reminded me of that book the wedding date I mean, that was another long-distance thing I mean these two people are just a couple hours apart. It’s really not that bad. It’s really not that big of a distance, so they were together I really thought they were so cute in the fact that they both kind of things for each other which we got that impression we knew that about him going into it, but we didn’t really know that so much about her because the book starts with that prologue from his perspective so I didn’t think it was until like later on when it comes to that she kind of always had a crush on him or whatever I like I think that would’ve been better suited introduced very early on like I can’t believe I am on a date with the younger brother of my high school crush but I don’t think she said anything like that so anyway I feel like when things like that are introduced later and in a story it lacks credibility and these are just like the collective minor things that led to my three 3 1/2 star rating but I liked the friendship she had I mean I liked the scene of her and her friend like drinking the margaritas and then she’s like I’m gonna be sick and her throwing up outside or whatever the grand gesture was like super cheesy and over the top. I did have a hard time kind of picture, Aiden you know singing and sync to her but at the same time I kind of get it too but anyway, I enjoyed it and I think the resolution when her niece is in the hospital and yeah, I mean sometimes it does take big things like that to make you really realize like gosh I’m being freaking ridiculous like this is not a huge thing to overcome, like let’s just work it out and so that gave them both the shift and perspective that they needed andi enjoyed it...more
**spoiler alert** OK, I just took a quick peek at some other peoples reviews and man. They are so different from mine. I feel like I am super super pi**spoiler alert** OK, I just took a quick peek at some other peoples reviews and man. They are so different from mine. I feel like I am super super picky. I particularly do not care for these hockey romances. I think they are stupid and over the top and just ridiculous I’ve read so many awful ones that I on the whole really Avoid them but what made me read this one? I don’t know. I think this one came up in an Insta my Insta feed and it was something about the heroin being awkward or something like that that had been mentioned and that made me want to read it and you know I wasn’t disappointed. I rated this three stars. I don’t know my really be 3 1/2 stars for me I mean OK here’s what one thing I didn’t like and maybe this is realistic, but there was just a lot of Talking and I don’t know it was just a bit crude sometimes in my opinion I don’t think I’m a prude. I really don’t think I’m approved but do people really talk that way I mean I don’t know. Is it a guy thing? Is it what people imagine guys to talk about? I don’t know, but There were just too many things about like degrading ways that they talked about women and it wasn’t like they were calling them sluts. I don’t think I mean the kind of the villains in the story did that but like the main hockey players, you know, it’s just a little too much virgin on objectifying women and you know I just don’t think that’s anything, we want to endorse or include in a book, but it was. It was bordering on that in my opinion this is coming from someone who literally just read a book where the guy slut shams the mother of his child and calls himself a pussy for crying so in my opinion, this book wasn’t misogynistic, but anyway, I like the female main character. She has this trauma this abusive relationship that she came out of and she’s not like you you know let’s be real the typical women that you see gravitating towards athletes she’s You know not wearing 5 inch heels. She’s not wearing dresses that show everything you know she’s not wearing a full face of make up all of the time I mean, she just seems like a very real person that to me made her very approachable and made her empathetic in my mind. now, some reasons why I may be rated this three stars instead of four I really just kind of come down to again what I mentioned earlier about how crude things were, but other than that you know, I don’t know. I enjoyed it, but when I finished it, I wasn’t like oh my gosh I love it so much. I was like oh I really like that you know yeah maybe it was a little awkward that it started out as fake dating and then transition to forbidden romance, which I saw someone mentioned that, and one of their reviews and you know honestly it can be kind of distracting if you’re switching tropes midway, but I also kind of appreciated the fact that these two characters developed very real feelings for each other, and they didn’t drag out their acceptance of that you know I hate when things drag out unnecessarily so yeah it started out as fake dating and how much of the fake dating they really do. He kissed her at a coffee shop. He met up with her after class she may be went to some parties you know was I feel like it was very minimal what she did from a fake dating standpoint oh yeah, she posted a picture or whatever and then they developed these real feelings for each other despite their best intentions and denying it, they were just like OK we’re gonna go with it and I kind of appreciate that and I saw someone else comment about every single comment about your hair down hair is down you look so amazing or whatever and you know I don’t know maybe that is unrealistic but at the same time when you’re used to seeing someone dress very athletically I mean, think about how she was dressed like very neutral very conservative always wearing a hoodie. Her hair is always worn the same way when you see someone who changes their parents like that can really make a big difference but anyway I didn’t find that to be distracting or annoying or anything like that I don’t know. I’m surprised it’s so many people didn’t like it or didn’t finish it. I really thought it was cute. I like the two characters and again I hate romances and I normally hate guys who think that they’re like God‘s gift or whatever and I don’t know these two characters just turned out to be kind of I don’t know real. I’m using air quotes. I mean think about it. He develops real feelings for her. He accepts it and yeah you know I feel like they kind of played up that he broke up with his long-term girlfriend and then he was sleeping around like mad but then there’s just one kind of comment towards the end where his buddy says yeah that wasn’t really the best lifestyle for you or that never really fit you. That’s not really who you are and I just kind of felt like that was thrown in there a little bit at the end, kind of Maybe explain or justify why he’s so willing to be in this committed relationship with her so I feel like the author could’ve done a little bit more to give us indications whatever that wasn’t really who he was or whatever but honestly, you know them, both kind of reaching those compromises at the end And him getting advice from his dad I thought was really refreshing and a healthy way to kind of resolve things and honestly the biggest issue I had with this whole book was the female main characters name like I just I had to pretend like that wasn’t even her name it was the most bizarre stupidest name I’ve ever had in a book for a female character...more
OK, I am just as surprised as some of you that I am reading this for stars I went through many many months of reading crap and really trying to find gOK, I am just as surprised as some of you that I am reading this for stars I went through many many months of reading crap and really trying to find gems in the rough so to speak and anyway this book came up in my Insta feed and I was immediately hooked by The plot of a one night stand, and then she shows up with her daughter who needs emergency surgery and the doctor is the biological father absolutely intrigued by that now I thought this story was very sweet. It felt Tric and that the were both dealing with baggage in life has baggage, no matter how well adjusted everyone has baggage that they bring to a relationship and I certainly understand where Aubrey is coming from being left by her mother And the impression that can leave on someone especially at that young of an age and I did Aubrey and Isaac and I personally thought they had very cute chemistry. It was really sweet. I was kind of shocked that she was 21 and he was 30 when they had the one night stand and I understand he had to be kind of older because he’s an established doctor and that takes years to get to that point And so when they meet again, the ages feel a little bit more OK but again I was kind of shocked to realize that there was a nine year age difference 21 and 39. I mean there is a big difference there but you know whatever that, make it or break it, the only other thing that I thought was kind of odd was how the author transitioned and overall the book was I thought well written I enjoyed their story, but yeah, some of those transitions were kind of odd and maybe it was how the book was formatted on Kindle. I don’t know, but it was like, the book starts out with Aubrey breaking up with her boyfriend at the time and then next thing I know she’s talking to her friend and they’re going out to some bar. I was just a really weird transition and I was like wait a second you know who is this guy I mean it really right and I was like confused at first is the main of interest or what so some of those things were you know poorly executed, but it wasn’t enough to like take me out of the story I was able to keep going like I just kind of adjusted to the writer style eventually but on the whole, I really enjoyed this particular tail. The idea is just so romantic I mean this cute little family and how much he loves them and wants to be there for both of them. I mean come on anyone who comes from a broken family like that is a very romantic idea and no time do I recall ever thinking it was like really stupid or cheesy or anything like that I do wish that there had been a little bit more and what I mean by that is more I don’t know deeper interactions between them like when Aubrey was sick I thought her POV was very interesting especially when his mom came over but I do wish we’d gotten some of his POV maybe the whole story would’ve been better honestly they both had so much going on. It would’ve been difficult to have it from just one point of view, but there were some instances where I wanted more of his point of view or or vice versa and just more interactions with them on a deeper level there was some, but it could’ve been just a little bit more and then I would’ve made the book next level but I personally enjoyed their chemistry. I thought they were cute. I was rooting for them to be this happy little family and then of course it turned out that way, but I enjoyed following them on their journey....more
**spoiler alert** I really cannot believe that I’m reading this book for stars only because I hardly ever give out four star ratings and I’ve been on **spoiler alert** I really cannot believe that I’m reading this book for stars only because I hardly ever give out four star ratings and I’ve been on this terrible terrible terrible reading slump meaning everything I’ve been reading lately has been crap but this book was a very pleasant surprise. I think I saw it suggested in my Insta feed And I was at first shock to see it was like 518 pages long or something like that and finished it in one day I mean, I finished it in one day when I finished it I was like wow I have nothing really to complain about there was a little bit of spice. There were just a couple of scenes and I was OK with that. It felt very very natural and it wasn’t like the whole book was just a bunch of smut which I so burnt out on reading books like that, this story was very much a journey about getting to know these two characters and their flaws and what they perceived to be their flaws and then really building this relationship and building this friendship and yeah, there’s this kind of immediate attraction. I like how the author describes it as them snagging on each other like zippers or something like that And it wasn’t so much is like oh yeah cause her body is so hot and as soon as I saw it made my dick twitch like I hate reading shit like that and it wasn’t about that at all I mean, they found each other attractive, which I kind of think you have to There has to be some attraction there, but that wasn’t really ever the driving force and even though they both commented on how good looking, they found the other person to be just never ever felt like that’s solely what this was all based on, and that they only became friends because they thought the other person was hot. No was just so much more about who they were as people And so yeah is presented as very handsome and good looking guy. He’s also very much a dork I mean he’s described as a class clown and that makes him very relatable very real and same with her. Yeah I mean she’s gorgeous or whatever but I like how he describes her is stunning, I just think that is a very underutilized word and I like that he used that word when he thought about him to himself but then also when he told her what he thought of her, but it ended up being more than just that it was stunning to him and ended up being more than just about her. Looks it also encompass her as a person And was very enjoyable to read really hard pressed to think of things I didn’t like about it. I love the single dad trope. I thought he’s a good dad. I like his interactions with his ex-wife and it was just very enjoyable and you know there’s gonna be angst. We know that there’s this conflict because she’s leaving at the end, but it was a journey for her. She had to accept that Can change and I think it’s her sister who says to her have you ever thought that you deserve more so very very interesting I thought it was a very nice way to analyze family dynamics, family baggage and not have it be this huge depressing thing you know maybe her relationship with her mother was tied up a little too neatly at the end with that letter, but in someways, she kind of came to realizations on her own like I think she was talking about it with Emily Realizing that my mom did try to make up for her shortcomings when I was younger, and it was her dynamic with that I helped her make these connections and or make these realizations about her mother, and even though there were a lot of characters involved and never really felt like there were too many characters and sometimes all gripe about or not like books where the book is just all about the two main characters And they have these best friends, but there’s hardly ever any interaction with those best friends so those relationships don’t feel real and Cliff had his sister and he had his friend Lars and I like the interaction he had with his sister and Lars too but part of the growth of this relationship between Cliff and Michelle is that they become each other‘s best friends so that’s why there’s not necessarily so much of her talking to her sister or anything like that because they’re constantly going to each other with everything This is a true friends to lovers story I mean yes there’s that initial attraction. I mean there is that attraction there but everything is based on friendship first it felt so real and so authentic you know the only thing you might be why aren’t you giving it five stars while I can’t remember the last time I gave something five stars but the only only criticism I have Might still be the timeline you know as I was reading it I was thinking over and over this is just like a hallmark movie. It’s just like a hallmark movie, but why are those Hallmark movies like trash because the timeline is said over the course of like three days and suddenly they’re like oh I love you. You’re the love of my life and that never feels realistic, and even this story that transpires over the course of three or four months it feels still rushed. Sometimes you know I guess maybe if you spend that much time with someone feelings like that can really truly develop. I do prefer a three or four month story timeline as opposed to a month or less which so many of these are the case but You know I still feel like it could’ve been stretched out a little bit more you know maybe they didn’t really need that that conflict at the end of her thinking she’s going back to Seattle but again it’s such a small thing because the whole story really did feel very organic with how much time they spent together and everything I mean, they were together constantly so it did feel pretty believable and probably the best thing is that the female main character Michelle is 5 foot nine, which is only a couple inches shorter than me so hey, I’ll take it so even though Cliff was like really tall or whatever it was a relief that she wasn’t some 5 foot two child...more