From the Bookshelf of Q&A with Josh Lanyon…

Mummy Dearest (The XOXO Files, #1)

Josh Lanyon

Start date: November 1, 2022

Finish date: November 30, 2022

Discussion: Quarterly Rereads

Why we're reading this: This will be our Josh reread for November 2022 for the theme of autumn.
[close] This will be our Josh reread for November 2022 for the theme of autumn.

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Quarterly Rereads

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last updated Mar 12, 2024 06:31PM

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What Members Thought

Oct 08, 2011 Paola rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favourite

To say that I highly enjoyed Mummy Dearest would be an understatement.
The MCs, their chemistry, their witty banter, both the light-hearted and the more serious parts which worked seamlessly together, the fresh and fast-paced dialogue all concurred to make this a very enjoyable read, light-hearted without being shallow. And the ancillary characters were also very well drawn and made memorable.
The way the relationship between the central characters develops seems so natural, even considering the s To say that I highly enjoyed Mummy Dearest would be an understatement.
The MCs, their chemistry, their witty banter, both the light-hearted and the more serious parts which worked seamlessly together, the fresh and fast-paced dialogue all concurred to make this a very enjoyable read, light-hearted without being shallow. And the ancillary characters were also very well drawn and made memorable.
The way the relationship between the central characters develops seems so natural, even considering the short time span actually covered by the story. Drew’s dissatisfaction with his current partner Noah is slowly revealed, as is his realisation of not being appreciated for who he is, and all this creates a believable scenario in which the attraction between Drew and Fraser can develop, with all its serious and goofy/comical elements that make this story so entertaining.
I agree with some reviewers saying that among the things in Fraser that conquered Drew were Fraser’s playful (though not shallow) side, his not taking himself and people around him too seriously.
I was not in the least bothered by discussions held about whether Drew (view spoiler) But I think there's more to Noah that meets the eye, and would like to see it explored a bit more in a future book in the series :).

Once again, Josh has crafted realistic and likeable characters, with strengths and weaknesses that are not only believable but also ‘mixed up’ in such a way as to avoid obvious clichés. Fraser is not just an apparently shallow / celebrity Hollywood type, we gradually discover him to have a hidden sweet and generous nature, that I hope we will see more of in future. And Drew is revealed to be much more than a serious professor with relationship and self-esteem issues of his own: thanks to Fraser his lighter and more fun side have a chance to emerge, and - even more than that - it’s thanks to Fraser that he can again feel appreciated and treated as an equal in a relationship.

And I’ve never laughed so hard at seeing two drunken characters interact in the way Drew and Fraser do in this story. Their banter and comic timing is priceless.

I’m so glad Josh is planning a series with these characters, because I look forward to more with Drew and Fraser, no matter how wacky and improbable the adventures they’ll stumble upon. They make an excellent team together, and not just as a romantic couple.

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Mar 19, 2012 Sarah rated it it was amazing

Liked this book very much. Josh Lanyon has a gift for creating characters so real that you start to become attached to them. The more JL books I read the more I've come to appreciate his writing style. He is just such a master at his craft. ...more

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