This was kind of the second meta-romance I’ve read in a row (the first being Unromance by Erin Connor). The set up is the two M3.75 stars, rounded up.
This was kind of the second meta-romance I’ve read in a row (the first being Unromance by Erin Connor). The set up is the two MCs are rivals in a MFA writing program - he’s grumpy litfic, she’s sunshine romance. They bicker, it escalates, and given the choice of being kicked out of the program OR cowriting their final project (a novel), they choose the latter. It ends up being a romance that will eventually take a tragic turn, to satisfy both of their writing interests.
There was a lot I liked about this - the bickering is top notch, and Aidan’s sadboy background was very sympathetic (his dad is a real piece of work); Rosie’s family is cute, as are her group of grad school drinking buddies.
What didn’t work for me as much was the sex scenes - not because I’m a prude or whatever, but Aidan’s bedroom personality was just a huge turn off for me personally. A little too much “baby” and “good girl” stuff for my taste - no shame at all if it’s your thing, but it kind of left a bad taste in my mouth and generally squicked out. I just had a hard time reconciling bedroom-Aidan with the Aidan from the rest of the book?
The final conflict was extremely obvious from the beginning, so that predictability was a bit of a let down. The final third of the book kind of lost steam for me overall. I did enjoy the overall vibe and all the parts of them falling for each other while trying to pretend it wasn’t happening. Overall, this was fun and sweet. It reads on the younger side of romance from that that usually I read these days, and that could certainly explain some of my disconnect. ...more
This was a really cute meta-romance! Sawyer is a romance writer under deadline facing the worst writer’s block AND a sneaking suspicion that love is bThis was a really cute meta-romance! Sawyer is a romance writer under deadline facing the worst writer’s block AND a sneaking suspicion that love is bullshit. Mason is a die-hard romantic who needs to keep a low profile to stay out of the tabloids before he launches a new career move. When they have a fated meet-cute in an elevator, they challenge each other to sway each other to their side - Sawyer will ruin all the romance tropes for Mason, and Mason will try to disprove her love-is-bullshit position. The results are funny, sweet, and steamy! A holiday setting in Chicago was a fun location, and there is a solid cast of secondary characters of friends and family. Cute, funny, and sexy - everything I’m looking for in a romance!...more
Eeeeeek! This was a super tense one-sitting read for me! So scary, such a tightly wound story that covers some heavy concepts in not too many pages. IEeeeeek! This was a super tense one-sitting read for me! So scary, such a tightly wound story that covers some heavy concepts in not too many pages. I may never be able to stop at a gas station in the middle of the night ever again, though!...more
I stayed up way too late devouring this one! Loved the multiple POV structure and dual past/present timeline, and shorter chapters kept the story flyiI stayed up way too late devouring this one! Loved the multiple POV structure and dual past/present timeline, and shorter chapters kept the story flying by. At first you might be thinking - what do all these people have to do with each other?? But just wait - all is revealed, but maybe not the way you were thinking! I loved the moody Pacific Northwest setting (shoutout for scenes on a ferry!). If you want to just lose yourself in a super tight story of whodunnit, family ties/shackles, identity, with just a littttttle bit of magic - pick The Body Next Door up immediately and tell your family and friends you’ll see them in a few days. :)...more
This was ok. I wanted to like it more, but it felt like it spent a lot of time hopping through planetary port3.5 stars, rounding up because I want to.
This was ok. I wanted to like it more, but it felt like it spent a lot of time hopping through planetary portals, building a world, but I never felt like I really clicked into the setting or to the characters. There is potential there for sure, but I think it would have played better as a full novel, with more room to breathe. The ending felt very rushed. But if you want a short jaunt around a galaxy with folks chasing the MC for reasons, a funny AI helper named Bugs, and just a little bit of getting to know all the varied alien species in the universe, check this novella out....more