Let it be stated for the record that I am not this book's target audience, and I am aware of that. This is a YA contemporary romance about a teenage hLet it be stated for the record that I am not this book's target audience, and I am aware of that. This is a YA contemporary romance about a teenage high school student. I am a 24 years old adult. I graduated high school seven years ago. Maybe I would have liked this book seven year ago. Then again, a good and enjoyable book should be good and enjoyable at any age. Unfortunately, I didn't very much enjoy this one the way I'd hoped.
As the title might imply, this book a girl (Ellie) and her hot British boyfriend (Will). She got into an exclusive study abroad program for high achieving and intelligent students, despite being neither high achieving or academically intelligent, and spends the entire trip chasing after Will, a British guy she lied to about everything, from her name to the fact that she's not a college student. Ellie then spends a good portion of the book failing classes because instead of studying, she's pretending to be interested in Will's hobbies. She then spends the other part of the book wondering if maybe she like her friend, Dev, instead.
Basically, this book is about a young girl who only thinks about boys.
I can't really tell you much about Ellie's personality. She like making fairy gardens, which is cute and I like that she had a hobby she's passionate about. Other than that, I can't tell you much. She was willing to hide everything about herself so a hot British guy would like her. Ellie's boy focused mentality didn't change or grow until the very end of the book. And even then, she she was still technically thinking about boys.
And I just wasn't feeling it.
Another issue I had was that this book felt long. Physically, it's a fairly short to average length novel, only 336 pages. But reading it felt eternal. And there's nothing worse than when a book you aren't loving feels like it goes on forever. Every time I put it down I almost forgot to pick it back up.
In the end, I didn't really enjoy this one. I don't have much else to say.
**I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.**
It's not often that this happened, but every once in a while I'll read a book that makes me happy to read. This was one of those books.
I enjoyed everIt's not often that this happened, but every once in a while I'll read a book that makes me happy to read. This was one of those books.
I enjoyed every second of reading this. It felt like a true rom-com and it was exactly what I needed to read to lift my mood.
I instantly fell in love with Evie and Roane and everyone else in that little English village. It made me want to pack up my things and fly to England and have an adventure all my own.
I liked the writing and plot and was definitely a fan of the romance.
One downside is that the book was predictable, then again, all contemporary romance novels are. There's only so much novelty that can come of two people falling in love.
Also, certain things were rushed, but I honestly didn't even mind it. I loved the characters and the town and all the different personalities in it. Now I really want Violet and Lucas to have a story. I was so invested in those characters that I would gladly read a book just about them.
Overall, I really enjoyed this and completely recommend it to any romance readers.
**I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.**...more
I've come to the realization that I love Abby Jimenez. I love her characters so much. Her other book, The Happy Ever After Playlist was one of my favoI've come to the realization that I love Abby Jimenez. I love her characters so much. Her other book, The Happy Ever After Playlist was one of my favorite books I read last year because of her characters, Sloan and Jason. And Kristen and Josh were so great in this one as well. My rating is more due to the fact that the book did get repetitive with the whole, 'i love you but can't be with you' thing it had going on. I also didn't love the way it was all resolved at the end. Still, it was so great to read this one.
I read this book in one sitting, after making the mistake of starting it at around 10pm at night. Needless to say, I got very little sleep. I paid minI read this book in one sitting, after making the mistake of starting it at around 10pm at night. Needless to say, I got very little sleep. I paid minimal attention at my work meetings, I was so tired. And I regret nothing!
The moment I saw that this book was written by Sarah Hogle, I knew I had to read it. She wrote one of my favorite romances, You Deserve Each Other, as her debut novel so I had pretty high expectations for this one. And let me tell you, while I didn't hold the same weight in my heart as her first book, I was definitely not disappointed.
This story follows Maybell, a sweet, compliant, and unassertive woman who just inherited her great aunt's massive estate. Unfortunately, she is made coinheritor with Wesley, her great aunt's caretaker, and estate groundskeeper. Even more unfortunate for her, Wesley is a quiet, grumpy man who barely speaks and avoids contact at all costs. And, as the way romance novels work, these two must overcome their individual shyness and learn to fall in love with both each other and themselves. And I loved every second of it.
Let me just tell you, Wesley was my absolute favorite. This man just needs a hug. Or maybe not. He'd probably have a full-on panic attack if someone other than Maybell gets within two feet of him. Still, he was so shy and nervous all the time that I couldn't help but feel bad for him. Despite his shyness, once he started getting more comfortable he was so incredibly kind and charming.
Maybell was equally kind and charming. I loved her coffee shop AU. I loved how kind-hearted she was, even if it got her in trouble. She is a character that deserved better than what life had given her in the past. I wanted to give her a hug too. She was genuine and sympathetic and so full of optimism. All she wanted was to be loved and cared for. Maybell was truly the perfect match for someone like Wesley.
I find that I quite like the way Sarah Hogle writes relationships. There is always some sort of misunderstanding or unnecessary amount of drama in these types of novels that ends putting a strain on the relationship. Thankfully, Sarah doesn't do that to us. Every obstacle is faced with calm understanding from both characters. Everything that might have been dragged out by most other novels for the sake of tension, was resolved quickly by talking and being there for each other. Both characters were kind and mature and understanding.
That being said, if you're a fan of the drama and tension that contemporary romance novels offer, this might not be for you.
If you like slow-burn romance with two sweet and loveable main characters, I highly recommend it
Now to what I didn't fully love.
There wasn't anything I didn't like, per se. It's that I wanted more. While both characters were wonderful, they didn't have the spark Naomi and Nicholas had in her first novel. Then again, Maybell and Wesley are nothing like Naomi and Nicholas, so, I suppose that can't be helped.
Still, I greatly enjoyed this novel. It was worth the lack of sleep. If you liked You Deserve Each Other, then you'll be sure to like this one as well.
**I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.**
Far cuter than I expected it to be, although looking at that pink cover full of adorable illustrations, I had a feeling it was goOk, so this was cute.
Far cuter than I expected it to be, although looking at that pink cover full of adorable illustrations, I had a feeling it was going to be cute. I was genuinely smiling half the time I was reading. It's been so long since a book made me smile, I was starting to lose hope! This was exactly the rom-com type novel I needed, and it came up at the perfect time.
This book is, obviously, a love story. It follows Caleb, who is helplessly in love with his best friend, and Evie, who is entirely unaware that her best friend, Caleb, is helplessly in love with her. So, when the new kid in school, Leo, shows interest in Evie, and shockingly enough, Evie shows interest back, Caleb is determined to make her see him as something more than just a friend.
And let me tell you, I loved Caleb. He did some questionable things, like not tell Evie his identity in the competition chat, but he also never pushed Evie into anything she didn't want. Caleb fully supported Evie and her decisions, even if those choices didn't include him. I also loved the dynamic between the two. Having grown up together their whole lives they knew each other better than anyone else. Their relationship was rock solid until the end, and I am glad that no forced drama came in between that.
Aside from the cuteness of the plot, this book also dealt with many interesting topics. I really liked Evie and watching her overcome her anxiety and panic attacks. Her problems aren't all magically solved by the end of the novel, but she is learning to manage, and it was wonderful to read about.
Another thing this book touched on was the roles of women and religion in STEM. Evie faced a lot of quiet criticism and scrutiny for being a brilliant mathematical. Many times her ability is doubted and ignored due to her being a woman. And yet, she never becomes discouraged by this and continues to be brilliant despite everything. Then there is Bex, who is religious and scientific and holds both sides of herself in equal parts. I love so much that this book so full of science and mathematics, and a pragmatic and skeptical main character also showed a religious character without being demonizing.
Lastly, I think this book did a good job showing Evie's relationship with her controlling, fearful mother. Evie's mother sees her as someone who needs to be taken care of. In her mother's mind, Evie must be guarded and medicated to be kept safe. It was interesting to see their dynamic and understanding that while her mother loved Evie, she was hindering her daughter's growth.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and totally recommend it. Do be warned, if this is a triggering subject for you, this book talks about a lot of anxiety and panic attacks.
**I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.**
This is the third book in this series and so far, I am absolutely loving them. These books just feel so honest, the characters feel so real, their strThis is the third book in this series and so far, I am absolutely loving them. These books just feel so honest, the characters feel so real, their struggles so valid and realistic. It truly is a pleasure to read about the Bergman family and their love stories.
This particular book follows the oldest Bergman sibling, Freya, as she and her husband Aidan try to desperately bring their marriage back from the brink of collapse. And I gotta say, I really like romance novels told from the point of view of married couples. As much I live for the angst and the drama of two people getting together and falling in love, there is something so wonderful and interesting about a love story that happens after the 'happily ever after'.
My favorite thing in this book was the characters. All of them were so great and I love their entire family. But more than that, it was how the characters felt human to me and not just two-dimensional caricatures. We got to see more of the siblings in this one than in the previous two books and I am really glad about it. I really want to read about Viggo and Oliver when their time comes.
But enough about them, let's talk about Freya and Aiden. Their relationship wasn't perfect, of course, that's the whole point of the novel. And yet, they were so perfect for each other. The love the two held for each other was so obvious and so strong and while it did take a couple of hits, it never broke and it never left.
One of my least favorite things in romance novel is the unnecessary conflict for the sake of conflict. I am glad to say that this book did a great job of making the conflicts seem realistic and reasonable.
Another thing I hate in romance is when all the blame for the falling out is put on one character, while the other cruises by. Thankfully, this book had none of that either. Both Freya and Aiden are flawed and both had a hand in their marriage failing. They both had to work on their relationship and both learn to depend on the other when they needed it most.
Another thing I loved about this book is how it went about certain topics such as anxiety and body image.
Aiden suffers from anxiety and it has a prominent, negative effect on his life. That said, he is not defined by it. And yet, his anxiety is such a driving force for all of his actions and it is written in such an honest way. I like that the author also went into the less talked about effects of anxiety, and how it isn't always a wave that comes and goes, but a dark cloud that constantly looms above you as you live your life, building up until it finally pours down.
I also like the mention of Freya's concerns with body image. She wasn't defined by her body or her thoughts about it. In fact, she mentions feeling like she isn't allowed to simply be and simply have the body she does. The world expects her to aggressively love herself and show it, or else they'll think she hates her body and is trying to lose weight.
I think the author did a great job of representing all the character's struggles in realistic and sensitive ways.
Overall, I really enjoyed this one. I am looking forward to reading more about the Bergman's and can't wait to see what other adventures they'll go on. Plus, I have been waiting for Axel and Rooney's story since reading Only Ever You, so I'm definitely excited about that one.
Also, let it be known that I read this in one day. I am so thankful that I work from home because I completely ignored all my responsibilities while reading this.
Do be warned, this book has a character that experiences severe anxiety, in case that might be a trigger for any of you.
**I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.**
This was my first Jenn Bennett book. After years of eyeing her novels on the YA shelves of libraries and bookstores, I finally decided to pick this onThis was my first Jenn Bennett book. After years of eyeing her novels on the YA shelves of libraries and bookstores, I finally decided to pick this one up and it didn't disappoint. I really enjoyed reading this one, and yet, I question, did I really though?
Starting off with the things I liked, let me just say that I really enjoyed the writing. I also really liked the characters, especially near the end. I love seeing different family dynamics in books and it was interesting to see the function and dysfunction of Josie's family. I really liked seeing the mother/daughter relationship between Josie and her mother unfold. I also just generally liked Josie and Lucky as people. I liked them but didn't love them. I don't know what it was but I wanted more from them, especially Lucky. I wanted more emotion. More backstory. A reason for him being the way he is and why he feels the need to take the blame for everything and be seen as a failure.
Plot-wise, I felt like not mu h actually happened. And yet, a lot did? There was a lot of unnecessary events that happened, in my opinion. There was a lack of communication between the characters and nothing bothers me more than miscommunication as a plot device to start up conflict. That being said, I was definitely here for the romance part of the plot. I shipped it.
Overall, I think the book was fine. I simply wanted more from it. This isn't a book that will be memorable for me. By the end of the year in a month and a half, I probably won't even remember the character's names. That being said, I'm certain that a lot of you would really enjoy this, especially if you're a big fan of YA contemporary romance.
**I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.**
I read this book in one sitting. Let's just put that out there. After too many episodes of Criminal Minds, I needed something light and cute and this I read this book in one sitting. Let's just put that out there. After too many episodes of Criminal Minds, I needed something light and cute and this was exactly that.
That said, I didn't necessarily love this novel. Don't get me wrong, I definitely liked it. But, I had expected to like it more.
If you haven't read the synopsis of this book, it's the basic plot of Groundhog Day. After making a questionable decision on the last day of her Christmas vacation, and hearing news that she and her found family might not be able to continue their holiday tradition, the main character Mae, makes a wish. She asks the universe to show her what is going to make her happy. Next thing she knows, she's traveled back in time, and Christmas vacation has just begun. And so it goes, as Mae tries to change everything she considered a mistake to break the loop and find what makes her happy.
And as you can imagine, with this being a book about repeating the same days over and over, it got a bit repetitive. But, bear with me, because it wasn't even the loop that was repetitive for me (although I admit, I'm not a huge fan of time loops). The repetition came from the character's actions in the individual time jump. Mae and Andrew's entire romance felt repetitive and that was annoying.
My other issue with the book was that it had a lot of telling and not enough showing for my personal taste. I love the family dynamic of the story and all the characters that have come together to be such a lovable and close unit. But, near the beginning, we get a character literally go on for multiple pages explaining who each of the characters is, their relationship to each other, and basic descriptors of their lives, all in a long string of dialogue. It felt pretty forced, exposition wise.
Then there was the romance. We are told that Mae has been in love with her childhood friend, Andrew for the past decade. But I didn't really see why. Their families only ever get together for Christmas and Fourth of July weekend, so when exactly did they fall in love? Where is the undeniable chemistry between the two? Where is the proof that the two of them have been secretly in love, other than being told that they are? Especially from Andrew's part, where are the signs that he's ever had any feelings for Mae?
I wanted more! More romance and tension and cuteness!
And yet, despite my complaints, I enjoyed reading this.
It was a quick, fun read full of great, likable characters. Benny was perhaps one of my favorite parts of the entire story, so there is that. I also liked the writing and general storyline and definitely think that a lot of people are going to absolutely love this book. I just wasn't one of them.
**I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.**
I think this was my favorite in this series so far. And yet, I think I'm not going to continue the series. I don't have the patience for them.
I was soI think this was my favorite in this series so far. And yet, I think I'm not going to continue the series. I don't have the patience for them.
I was so excited about the friends-to-lovers story. It's one of my favorite tropes in romance novels. And honestly, the romance part was pretty good. I liked the two main characters, Alexis and Noah, and liked their friendship. I was rooting for them all the way.
If only the story would have just focused on their romance instead of going into a bunch of other convoluted story tropes as well.
As far as couples in this series go, Alexis and Noah were my favorite. They were two genuinely nice, interesting people. But dear God, Alexis spent a good portion of this book being naive to the point of losing brain cells!
A random woman tells Alexis that they're related and that her absentee dad, who Alexis has never met, but who's known about her for years, now needs a kidney, and Alexis could be the one to save his life. And Alexis doesn't even stop to question it! She asks for no proof of what they're saying. She doesn't investigate her supposed father (Noah has to do it because she can't be bothered), she doesn't even ask for DNA evidence that she is, in fact, related to these people. She takes one day to process, and is ready to freely give an internal organ!
Then that same family has the nerve to treat Alexis like trash? The woman who is kindly giving her kidney to a man that doesn't deserve it, and whom she doesn't even know?
The author was clearly trying to send the message that organ donations are good things, and I get it. She's right. Donations save lives. I just couldn't' deal with it. The entire medical drama portion of this book annoyed me because it felt like borderline coercion. Imagine only making contact with your long lost family member when you happen to need an organ donation from them. I was hoping the entire time that Alexis would tell that entire family to fuck off and leave her, and her kidneys, alone. But then, maybe I'm just a horrible person?
Now let's talk about the book club. In general, I like the book club guys. They're a funny bunch, for the most part. The scene at the spa had me laughing out loud. But, I also have so many problems with the guys. First, they're extremely preachy. They didn't even seem like real human beings at times. They were versions of men than women want to read about. They say all the things women would want men to say and do all the things women would like men to do. Which, to be fair, books don't have to be realistic, and who doesn't like an idealized version of the world?
The boys were feminists to the core and they won't let you forget it. And that brings me to one other problem I had. Like in the previous two books, everything is the man's fault. Everyone cheered Alexis for making her move on Noah, but when Noah stopped to make sure that it was consensual and that Alexis wasn't just doing this because she'd been having a stressful day and he didn't want to feel used by her, all the guys call Noah an idiot for making her feel rejected! Then, they scold him for not confessing his feelings right away (Alexis didn't verbally confess either, mind you), and for not having the right words, and not knowing how to deal with the complex emotions he's feeling! WTF!
Lastly, can The Russian please be a real character? I've talked about this when I reviewed the previous novels. The man is a caricature created for comedic relief, and it's not that funny. They don't even refer to him by his name, he's just The Russian! Imagine if he were Indian or Nigerian and they only referred to him by his country of origin, gave him an empty yet comically exaggerated personality, made him the butt of all the jokes, and made it seem like he was less intelligent than everyone else. That'd be controversial, no? But I guess it's funny because he's white?
In the end, I have to admit, I actually liked the romance portion of the book. Everything else ranged from meh to annoying. I don't think this series is for me. If there are more books, which I don't doubt there will be, I won't be reading them.
Rating: 2.75/5
**I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.**
So... this was part of a series. I did not know that when I requested the book. But, it's ok. You don't have to read the previous two books to understSo... this was part of a series. I did not know that when I requested the book. But, it's ok. You don't have to read the previous two books to understand what's happening, although I assume that doing so would provide a lot more background and character information. Still, I managed to get through this one without issue. I think the author did a great job of filling in the reader on all that happened in the previous books without it being overwhelming or detracting from this novel.
Another thing the author did well was write in a plain way that was easy to follow. The characters were likable enough, although sometimes their dialogue made me question some things (but more on that later). The plot is fairly straight forward. As I previously mentioned, not having read the previous books didn't present a problem.
That said, I did have some issues with the novel.
My issue with the romance was that although the two characters had decent chemistry, they dated for a literal month. Four weeks! That's it. And they barely interacted before that! I just can't believe that they were in love to the point of going against all tradition and royal custom, willing to anger and alienate all the people that depend on them, for the sake of their relationship.
Another issue I had was with the small inconsistencies that were revealed through dialogue for the sake of a laugh or a cute moment. The one that comes to mind is the use of the word 'ghosted' in the book. Christian uses that word twice at the beginning of the novel, once to claim that his doctor 'ghosted' him (chapter 1), and again to say his father 'ghosted' him (chapter three), as they were both avoiding him. Several chapters after that, he and Mallory have a conversation in which she uses the word 'ghosted', and suddenly Christian doesn't know what that strange American colloquialism means and Mallory has to explain it to him (chapter six).
You can't have it both way! Either he knows things or he doesn't! And it happens more than once!
In general, the book was a quick read. I didn't get too invested in the characters, but it wasn't bad. I had several issues with it but I suppose it was overall, ok. I'm not interested in reading anything else in this series. Life is too short to be reading books that you think of as simply OK.
**I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.**...more
This book is marketed as The Unhoneymooners meets The Hating Game, and never has a comparison been more accurate. This book is exactly what happens ifThis book is marketed as The Unhoneymooners meets The Hating Game, and never has a comparison been more accurate. This book is exactly what happens if those two books got together and had a child. Unfortunately, the child just didn't live up to the greatness of its parents.
Still, it was a generally good read.
RTC
**I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.**
Before reading I saw some people compare this book to Red, White, and Royal Blue and I got nervous beThis book. Go read it. You'll like it. I promise.
Before reading I saw some people compare this book to Red, White, and Royal Blue and I got nervous because I really didn't like that book (sorry, not sorry). Still, curiosity won out and I decided that I simply had to read it. And I'm so glad I did because not only was this book kind of hilarious, but it was just plain good!
My favorite thing about this book was the characters. Simply put, I loved them. Every single one of them. The main two, Luc and Oliver, of course, but also all of their friends and all the side characters. Everyone was so likable. So fun to read about. So wonderfully well written!
Luc was such a fun narrator. To be honest, his life is a mess and I fell in love with him. He was sarcastic, salty, and a little mean. He was also sad, lonely, and a little tragic. On top of that, his inner thoughts were hilarious. I laughed too many times while reading, and when I wasn't laughing I was grinning like a madwoman at everything he thought and said.
Oliver who was honestly, just as sad, lonely, and a little tragic, was also equally as great. I just wanted to shield them both from the harsh realities of their world because neither of them deserved the crappy parents and horrible circumstances they were dealt in life.
Both are dealing with issues of self-perception and self-worth. Luc has spent years in a spotlight that always casts him in a twisted light and he has come to believe about himself all the horrible things the world perceived him to be.
Meanwhile, Oliver has spent his life being held to a standard he can never achieve, causing him to feel inadequate, and like he's always falling short of something, despite striving so hard to seem perfect. And yet, when they two get together they see the best in each other. They see all the parts that they hide from the world and learn to love each other, and especially themselves, despite their many flaws.
Throughout all other this, the characters, especially Luc, have such wonderful support systems. Luc's friends were such a great group, always having his back. I would have loved to see more of them. Oliver's friends seemed great too but we see far less of them as the book is from Luc's POV. Then there was Luc's mom, whom I loved. His dad was trash, but his mother was everything!
In the end, I enjoyed this book so much. Reading for me is a hobby. I do it because it makes me happy and so, that's what I look for in books. And this book accomplished that. This book just plainly made me happy while reading. For that alone, I recommend it. I am now very curious to see what the author's other books are like.
**I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.**
Hey, go read this book! It was so cute!!! I smiled so much! I was so happy while reading!
I requested this ARC on a whim. The cover looked cute and I Hey, go read this book! It was so cute!!! I smiled so much! I was so happy while reading!
I requested this ARC on a whim. The cover looked cute and I figured, why not? And I am so glad that I did because this book was all kinds of cute. It was also a very quick and easy read which I completely devoured in one sitting.
My favorite thing about this book is how it is both the epitome of a fluffy romance and yet touches on so many deep and realistic topic. Marcus and April are adorable together and I shipped it from the very first time I even saw the cover. But they are also people dealing with emotional abuse from their respective parents and upbringings. They are both dealing with how the world perceives them due to their physical images.
Everyone (even his parents) thinks Marcus is a dim-witted pretty boy with no emotional or intellectual depth, who has nothing to offer the world other than his looks. Everyone (even her parents) sees April as unattractive due to the fact that she is a plus-sized woman. Everyone is then constantly wondering if Marcus is only pretending to like her since they cannot wrap their minds around the fact that they could end up together.
It was great to see these things discussed between them. It was even better watching the characters develop into people that no only loved each other but also loved themselves and believed in their own self-worth.
I especially liked the way that April was portrayed as a confident woman who didn't much care what the world thought. It wasn't the power of love the suddenly turned her into a strong woman, she was always strong, Marcus just makes her happier.
Overall, I had a great time reading this and I look forward to reading more of the author's books. I smiled so much while reading this book. It was the kind of book that just makes you happy to read, you know? Also, this is getting a sequel starting Marcus' best friend, Alex. I knew from the moment he was introduced in the story that he was getting his own story (titled Slow Burn, coming out June 15th, 2021).
In the end, I totally recommend this for a quick, cute, and generally good read.
**I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.**
First, let me say that this was so much better than I originally thought it would be. I admit that I almost quit reading this book at the start. I wasFirst, let me say that this was so much better than I originally thought it would be. I admit that I almost quit reading this book at the start. I was not at all a fan of the main character, Danyal, in the first few chapters. He appeared to be extremely shallow and kind of annoying and I was not feeling it. But, I kept reading. And you know what? I am so glad I did because I ended up greatly enjoying this book and ended up really rooting for his character to succeed.
Danyal has a lot of growth throughout the novel, learning to have confidence in himself, as well as learning what it truly means to be in love and be happy. He ended up being way different than he appeared to be in his opening lines, which had him shamelessly trying to flirt with a girl and failing at it.
This is a YA romance so let's talk about love. Personally, I really liked the romance aspect of the story between Danyal and Bisma. At the beginning, Danyal doesn't pay much mind to Bisma as she is not the idealized woman of his dreams. That said, he also does not act dismissive and disrespectful to Bisma either, always treating her with the kindness and respect she deserves. I also liked that their relationship developed organically over time as they learned more about themselves and each other.
Aside from it being a romance, this book touches upon a lot of other important and sensitive topics.
I liked how Danyal focused his essay on Churchill on the causes and horrific effects of colonialism and how history obliterates the sins of its heroes and how that is an issue that has negative consequences even today. I learned things about Winston Churchill that I'm sure none of us who attended western schools were taught. Like the fact that Churchill had a hand in creating the man-made famine of 2-3 million Indians in Bengal.
Another thing I liked was the use of religion in the novel. I am not Muslim, so I have very little knowledge of the accuracy or effective way in which Islam is presented in this novel. But, I did enjoy the way religion was a casual part of the character's lives, at least in a general way. As someone who does identify as religious, it was refreshing to see young people in novels accept and respect aspects of their religions and be complacent with them. For example, the fact that the main character Danyal was a virgin and alright with being one because that is what his religion called for. I also liked how not every one of his religion was on the same level of faith, for example, Intezar who was certainly not a virgin because he did not adhere to that part of his religion, or Sohrab, who was extremely religious. I think it made everything seem much more complex and real, which I really enjoyed. Although, I don't necessarily like it when people who fully commit to their religion or belief, regardless of what that religion is, are depicted as being fanatics or like they're boring and doing too much.
In the end, I really liked this book. It made me laugh on multiple occasions. I listened through parts of the audiobook and really enjoyed the narrator as well. He did a fantastic job at reading and really perfecting Danyal's humor. I would totally recommend this one, especially as an audiobook!
**I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.**
This book was so cute. And so sad. And also good. Y'all should read it.
I went into it expecting your basic, run of the mill love story. And while thosThis book was so cute. And so sad. And also good. Y'all should read it.
I went into it expecting your basic, run of the mill love story. And while those are sometimes a bit cliche and a bit predictable, I love those. Those stories make me happy. This story though was something a little deeper. Something a little sadder and a little more emotional. But worry not, it made me happy anyway.
The first thing you should know is that this is a romance novel. Obviously. But, it's also a novel about two people dealing with grief over the losses they've had. And sometimes they ways in which they grieve aren't pretty. They grieve in tragic, harmful ways that prevent them from living their lives to their fullest potential.
This is a love story. And it is a story about learning to let go. About learning to live life and let love grow. About forgiving yourself and about finding happiness even after all seems lost.
And most importantly, it is a love story where love does overcome obstacles, but it does not remove them. I hate stories where things like depression and anger and PTSD are magically disappeared when a character finds a significant other. This novel didn't attempt to do that. It showed that despite having all the love in the world, sometimes you need more. Sometimes you need professional help. And you always need to want to make the change for the better.
In general, the book was well written and full of complex and interesting characters. It had a compelling plot and mentioned touched upon some very important topics such as racism, death, and toxic masculinity. And it did all that while serving up a really cute love story.
Annika and Daniel were both great. I loved their interactions and I also loved the inclusion of their Indian heritage. All the side characters were also great, especially the Annika and Daniel's siblings who obviously cared for their family so much.
Rating:3.75
**I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.**
Romance novels have slowly become my go-to genre and I'm not mad about it. Unfortunately, this book just wasn't it for me.
I always feel bad giving twoRomance novels have slowly become my go-to genre and I'm not mad about it. Unfortunately, this book just wasn't it for me.
I always feel bad giving two-star reviews. I only ever give one-star reviews to the worst of the worst and give three stars to everything that was alright but not that great. So, two stars always hang somewhere in the middle all awkwardly and it makes me feel bad. But, here we are. A two-star review of a book that I had some problems with, didn't really manage to entertain me but wasn't by any means a horribly written novel.
My favorite part of any story is always the characters. In romance novels especially. Unfortunately, I didn't quite like these characters the way I wanted to. While the characters as individuals are fine enough, this is a romance novel and as such, I excepted a little more romance. Instead, the characters spend most of their time apart, doing their own things, making their relationship seem a bit shallow and insta-loveish despite the fact that they've known each other for a while. And while I'm all for a slow burn, having the characters take so long to come together made the story drag, in my opinion.
On top of not getting the romantic experience I expected, I didn't care about the things happening outside of the romance. I wasn't invested in Chris' problems with his father, or in Everly's problems with just about everything else.
One thing I did like was the representation of Everly's anxiety. I feel like not many novels, especially romance novels, focus on mental health like that. Sadly, this was not enough to make me love this novel.
In the end, this just wasn't the book that I was looking for. That doesn't mean it won't necessarily be the book for you. As I said, it wasn't horrible, I just wasn't all that entertained or drawn in by it. So, I cannot in good conscience say I necessarily recommend this one. Still, I hope you like it if you decide to give it a shot.
**I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.**
this book has ALL the tropes and I'm here for it! they got stuck in an elevator! and there was fake dating! AND THERE WAS ONLY ONE BED!!!!!!!!!!
at ththis book has ALL the tropes and I'm here for it! they got stuck in an elevator! and there was fake dating! AND THERE WAS ONLY ONE BED!!!!!!!!!!
at this point, contemporary romances are currently fueling my will to live through 2020. unfortunately, this wasn't what I was necessarily looking for. I think went into this looking for a rom com and this wasn't exactly that.
while this book is romantic, and is occasionally comedic, it's less a rom com and more so a story of self-discovery as the main character, Laurie, grows and develops and learns to seek out her happiness. everything else felt secondary in the novel, and while that is not necessarily a bad thing, it wasn't what I picked up the book for. I came here for the romance. for the drama. and I didn't get it how I wanted to.
that said, you might like this book well enough. it really all depends what you're looking for in the novel. ...more
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