This book is the fourth one I’ve read by the writing duo, Christina Lauren, and I’d say it’s my favorite out of the bunch. What stands out with this rThis book is the fourth one I’ve read by the writing duo, Christina Lauren, and I’d say it’s my favorite out of the bunch. What stands out with this romance novel is the premise is so darn intriguing. Part of the fun in reading this book is contemplating whether your genetic code might be the key to finding your soulmate.
Single mom Jess Davis works as a freelance statistician. She's only been on a few dates since the birth of her young daughter, Juno. Jess and her friend, Fizzy, frequent a neighborhood coffee shop. A handsome man they have nicknamed "Americano" comes in to place an order every day. They finally talk to him one day and that's when they find out his name is Dr. River Pena and he works for the DNA-based matchmaking company, GeneticAlly. Basically a group of scientists compare your genetic code to other test subjects and have a point system that indicates how likely you are to be a good match. The higher the points, the better odds a long term romantic relationship could be successful. If Jess submits her DNA to the company, what could happen? Will she find a good match?
The concept of this DNA based matchmaking company is fascinating and it makes you wonder if something like this is in our future. For the most part, the science stuff in the story is easy to understand on a basic level. You certainly don't need to be genius to get the gist of it.
At one time or another most of us have given some thought to the term soulmate and whether that special someone is truly out there. And that's why this premise works so well because its combining science with that natural curiosity. What if it were this easy to find the love of your life? It would significantly reduce all that time spent on awkward or downright horrible first dates as the science is essentially giving you a heads up as to who will pair up best with you.
I enjoyed the story and thought the characters had good chemistry. However, it felt like something was missing which prevented it from being an awesome read. River wasn't a fully fleshed out character in my view. I think there was more to tap into when it came to him. To be honest, this is just teeny tiny criticism as this is a nice romance novel I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to other readers.
I received an advance digital copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher. All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion. ...more
Based on the pretty book cover and after reading the publisher synopsis, I had a hunch this book would be a fun and light read. And guess what? I was Based on the pretty book cover and after reading the publisher synopsis, I had a hunch this book would be a fun and light read. And guess what? I was correct. It was exactly the type of book I needed to help pick me up out of the doldrums.
Sophie Breeze is a professional bridesmaid for hire. She's not exactly a wedding planner but she does provide much needed assistance to the bride as she plans her special day. As it would be embarrassing if people found out you paid someone to be in your bridal party, the bride and Sophie keep that secret amongst themselves and instead pretend they have been friends for years.
Sophie has been hired by Lady Victoria Swann for the society wedding of the year. Lady Victoria's daughter, Cordelia, is getting married and the nuptials are guaranteed to get a lot of press. Cordelia however, is dead set against hiring Sophie and sets out to make her job as miserable as possible so she will quit. Is Sophie up for a challenge? Also, is the saying "always a bridesmaid, never a bride" true?
I think the book is best classified as chick lit as it is full of humor and there's some romance. The page count is not quite 400 pages and perhaps a few things here and there could have been trimmed down but for the most part is was a quick read. Sophie is one of those great at just about everything type characters but she didn't come across as annoying. She's a likeable character and you root for her to successfully pull off Cordelia's wedding. As for Sophie's love life, I enjoyed watching that develop as well.
I'll admit I had a big, cheesy grin on my face when I finished this book. Always nice to end a book on a positive note. If you are a fan of books written by Sophie Kinsella, you should check this one out.
I won a free advance copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway. All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion. ...more
The Love Proof is truly a gem of a book. It's a unique story and the fact it incorporated my least favorite subject in high school, physics, in a way The Love Proof is truly a gem of a book. It's a unique story and the fact it incorporated my least favorite subject in high school, physics, in a way that was actually interesting to me is nothing short of a miracle. We are in the early days of 2021 but I'm confident this book will be among my favorite reads of the year. For what it's worth, I don't give out 5 star ratings all that often.
It's fair to say Sophie Jones is a genius, and now that she is enrolled as a student at Yale, the physics department is thrilled because they believe she has the potential to unlock some of the mysteries of the universe. However, after she meets fellow student, Jake Kristopher, they both realize they have a deep connection. Soon they are spending every free moment together. And for Sophie, being in love means there's not as much motivation to find answers to the long asked questions in the world of physics.
Feel free to read the publisher synopsis if you want more details of the plot. Personally, I had an incredible reading experience because I didn't know much about the story ahead of time and so I got to watch everything unfold naturally rather than having a heads up. And my desire for other readers to discover this book for themselves is why I really don't want to get into specifics about all of the things I loved about the story and the characters. I will say the writing is smart and life's burning questions about love and time and their relation to physics were presented in a way that even little old me could understand.
Take a chance on this one. I'm not sure if the material will hit every reader with the same intensity as it did for me, but judging by many of the other early reviews, I'm certainly not the only one who thought this was a powerful story. Let Sophie and Jake into your life, and see what happens.
Thank you to Atria Books for providing me with an advance copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion. ...more
With the stress of everyday life, I'm always game for a fun read and this book certainly fit the bill. The writing style reminded me of Sophi4.5 stars
With the stress of everyday life, I'm always game for a fun read and this book certainly fit the bill. The writing style reminded me of Sophie Kinsella but with more colorful language and some uh, detailed bedroom scenes. I loved the message of the book which is go out and do things for yourself and quit worrying what other people think.
It's been awhile since Noni and her long-term girlfriend, Joan, broke up. Noni has come to the conclusion she needs to make some big changes in her life in order to truly be happy. She's going to stop overthinking things and instead just do what feels good in the moment. Hmm... doing everything she wants. What could go wrong and what could go right?
I'm thankful the author chose to feature a bisexual main character as the representation in fiction still remains woefully low. Noni has an active sex life and there are some scenes that are graphic and might turn off some readers. (pun intended) We all have our opinions on romance novels and the steam factor. Personally, I thought it fit in well with the context of Noni being a sexually liberated woman.
Noni is a likeable character and while the book is full of humor, you do get background info on a few tough things she's had to deal with in life. The only thing that slightly bugged me was Noni had the ideal personality for this "I do what I want. I choose me." type journey. She's outgoing and it's easy for her to make friends in just about any situation. When everyone seems to think you are awesome, that has to give you a boost in confidence and allows you not to worry as much about other people's opinions. I think the story would have been more interesting if Noni had a quiet and shy personality. Don't get me wrong though, I really did enjoy this book a great deal.
Recommend for anyone who needs a reminder that life is short so you might as well do what makes you happy.
I won a free copy of this book from the publisher but was under no obligation to post a review. All views expressed are my honest opinion. ...more
I'm kicking myself for not jumping into this series sooner as I really enjoyed this third book. Great humor, interesting characters, and steamy chemisI'm kicking myself for not jumping into this series sooner as I really enjoyed this third book. Great humor, interesting characters, and steamy chemistry between the two leads. I will definitely go back and read the first two novels featuring Eve's sisters. For those of you who have read the other books, I'm sure you will be glad to know Eve's family does pop up here and there in this one.
Eve Brown tends to bounce from one thing to another and her parents have had enough. They are going to cut her off financially with the hope she will get her act together. She interviews for a chef's position at a bed and breakfast but after clashing with the owner, Jacob Wayne, she doesn't get the job. And then disaster strikes when she accidently hits Jacob with her car. He'll be out of commission for a bit and Eve, feeling guilty, tries to help out at the B&B. Jacob likes to be in control and being forced to sit on the sidelines is not exactly his idea of a good time. With Eve taking over what could go wrong? Or perhaps the other question is what could go right?
I'm always game for an opposites attract romance. And I did like a specific thing Jacob and Eve had in common. (I'm trying to be vague as it's not something covered in the publisher synopsis.) I appreciate Eve was not as clearly defined as Jacob in this aspect but the author explored it just a bit. It's amazing how no matter how old you are, you keep learning things about yourself. I did find myself identifying with Eve in that regard.
I almost feel obligated to mention this book has some graphic love scenes. I read romance novels quite often and the steam level in this one is about as high as it can get, in my opinion. To each their own, but I thought it worked well in the context of the story and characters.
A romance with a ton of humor and characters that you couldn't help but root for. I found myself smiling a lot while reading as the story and characters were so much fun.
Thank you to Avon Romance for sending me a digital copy as part of a giveaway. All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
With the craziness of this year, I have found myself seeking out cute and charming stories more than usual. This book provided a pleasant, escape fromWith the craziness of this year, I have found myself seeking out cute and charming stories more than usual. This book provided a pleasant, escape from reality type of reading experience. The two female characters had good chemistry and it was fun rooting for them to find happiness.
Darcy and Elle are set up on a blind date by Darcy's brother, Brendon. The date is a bit of a disaster and the two go on their separate ways. That is until Darcy decides to tell Brendon she hit it off with Elle and they are now dating. A bit of a spur of the moment idea but this will hopefully get Brendon to stop playing matchmaker. Elle agrees to go along with the whole fake dating scheme because now she can bring her as her date to her family's Thanksgiving dinner. Maybe now Elle's family won't look at her as such a disappointment if she is "dating" someone like prim and proper, Darcy. This fake relationship might actually turn out to be mutually beneficial in more ways than one.
The story uses the popular trope of "let's pretend we're dating" and it's best to just roll with it rather than analyze it to death. Darcy and Elle are opposites in terms of their personalities. Elle is more of a free spirit, with her head up in the stars, so to speak. Darcy on the other hand is a practical, do everything by the book type of person. In spite of their differences, they really made sense together.
Definitely recommend if you are in the mood for a good romcom! And I am very happy to learn the author has a book in the works featuring a character from this one.
Thank you to William Morrow for providing me with a copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
I don’t normally read many books with time travel plots but this one had Jane Austen landing in the 21st century looking for love and that’s 3.5 stars
I don’t normally read many books with time travel plots but this one had Jane Austen landing in the 21st century looking for love and that’s just too neat of a premise to pass up. I was hoping for a cute and enjoyable read and thankfully that was the case here.
At the age of twenty-eight years old, Jane Austen hasn't been lucky when it comes to finding love. She would be content writing all day but her mother doesn't approve and forbids it. A single woman making a living as a writer just didn't really fly back in the 1800s. In her search for love, Jane ends up time traveling to the 21st century. Well, best of luck to you, Jane!
I've read a few of Jane Austen's books but I honestly didn't know much about her. Obviously with a time travel plot, this book is a work of fiction. However, this author does bring in some known facts about Jane so there's a bit of a historical fiction vibe as well. Whatever genre you want to place the book in, I do think the author came up with a creative story. This book has also motivated me to seek out nonfiction books about Jane Austen as well as catch up on her other novels. It's always cool when one book sparks interest in others.
The story follows a few characters besides Jane. I enjoyed the book but I do have mixed feelings on whether certain characters enhanced the story. I can't help but wonder if the romance would have been stronger had more attention been devoted to it rather than Sofia's career. I appreciate the author wanting to bring a lot of things to the table but unfortunately not everything felt fully fleshed out.
Might not have been a perfect read but I did have a good time reading this one. This is a nice story to sit down with after a hard day.
I received a free copy of this book from William Morrow. All views expressed are my honest opinion.
By the end of the first chapter I had already fallen in love with the main character. One of the great things about reading is sometimes you just totaBy the end of the first chapter I had already fallen in love with the main character. One of the great things about reading is sometimes you just totally click with a fictional character even though you might not have much in common with them. Felipe is someone worth knowing and I strongly encourage all the young adult fiction fans to give this book a look.
Felipe is 17 years old and lives with his single mother in Brazil. He gets picked on at school for his weight so he is thrilled a school break is coming up so he doesn't have to deal with the bullying for awhile. His mom drops a bombshell on him when she informs Felipe that Caio, the kid his age in their apartment building, will be staying with them while his parents are on vacation. Felipe has a major crush on Caio and now he is expected to share a bedroom with him for two weeks? Hmm... this should be interesting especially since Felipe is shy when he's around Caio.
As someone who is painfully shy, I totally related to Felipe's dilemma of finding it difficult to carry on a conversation with Caio. I loved the discussions Felipe had with his therapist on the subject and how to set goals to make it a bit easier in the future. It might sound strange for the outgoing and talkative folks, but having somewhat of a game plan before starting a conversation can be very helpful for those of us who tend to get tongue tied when speaking to people we aren't completely at ease with yet.
One of the things I loved about this book is it captured those awkward teen years quite well. You don't necessarily have to be an overweight, gay teenage boy from Brazil to relate to much of what Felipe is going through. I think that's an age in which you have a pretty good idea of the person you want to be, but you might not have the inner confidence to really project that out into the world yet. I haven't set foot in a classroom for two decades, but reading this book brought me back to all that teenage angst.
One of my favorite YA reads in recent memory. A great balance of humor and heart.
I received a free copy of this book but was not obligated to post a review here. All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion....more
This book had the charm of a Hallmark Christmas movie but the steamy love scenes were definitely not something that will ever be shown on that channelThis book had the charm of a Hallmark Christmas movie but the steamy love scenes were definitely not something that will ever be shown on that channel. I know graphic love scenes aren't every reader's thing so I figured it's best to give you fair warning. If you are fine with all that, the story is pretty cute and worth a read.
After the death of his parents, Leo gave up on some of his dreams to take care of his little sister, Gabby. Working as a cab driver, a princess hitches a ride after speaking at the United Nations. Yeah seriously, Princess Marie of Eldovia is an actual princess even if you haven't heard of her home country. She's in NYC to help save her country's economy from going down the tubes. Princess Marie needs to get to another location ASAP and Leo is there to provide the transportation. She then offers him a job of taking her around to her other appointments while she is in town. Can you figure out where this might be headed? Probably, but it sure is nice to see how it all plays out.
I don't really want to analyze the story to death because its not meant to be some deep, thought provoking novel. It's supposed to be a fun, fairy tale romance which it certainly was for me. Leo and Princess Marie had good chemistry which is my number one requirement for romances.
If you don't mind a romance with the heat cranked up a notch or maybe a hundred notches, this book is a certainly a good pick. It looks like this is the first book in a planned series with book number 2 featuring two of the characters who played minor roles in this story.
Thank you to William Morrow for providing me with a copy! All views expressed are my honest opinion. ...more
I've read quite a few books with second chance romance plots and I'm impressed the author came up with an interesting setup for Little Wishes3.5 stars
I've read quite a few books with second chance romance plots and I'm impressed the author came up with an interesting setup for Little Wishes. I enjoyed the story and characters but wish it had left more of an emotional impact. It fell a bit short in that department.
Fifty years ago Elizabeth Davenport fell in love with Tom. However, they did not end up together due to certain circumstances. Once a year, a gift and a note that begins with "I wish..." is left on Elizabeth's doorstep. Forty nine years of gifts and wishes left by Tom but he doesn't stick around to ever talk to Elizabeth. Well this year, he fails to leave anything so Elizabeth becomes concerned that something might have happened to Tom. So she sets off to London hoping to reunite with her first love. The story alternates between the present day and 50 years ago when they first met, or got to know each other is a better way to phrase it.
The publisher synopsis goes into more detail and going into this book I thought it might be a tearjerker story. Now whether or not I would cry due to happiness, sadness, or a little bit of both, I was unsure, but I was eager to find out. There were some good moments in the story and I liked the characters but I don't think this book reached it's maximum potential. The bare bones were laid out for something incredible and it just didn't reach that level.
Part of the problem is the story followed Elizabeth both in the present day and in the past for a long time. All of the sudden, you start getting Tom's perspective as well. While I liked hearing his version of events, I also like consistency and believe he should have been added early on in the story. What's even worse is very, very late in the game a third character is thrown in the mix which seemed to be added at the writer's convivence just to wrap up the story. That's one of my reading pet peeves as it comes across as the easy way out for the writer. Figure out how to tell the rest of the story with the already established voices, please!
Don't get me wrong, I liked the book. It just didn't wow me. That's okay as a pleasant read is better than nothing at all.
Thank you to William Morrow for sending me a copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion....more
I am a big Sophie Kinsella fan and have read the majority of her books. I actually prefer her standalone novels over the Shopaholic series. So of courI am a big Sophie Kinsella fan and have read the majority of her books. I actually prefer her standalone novels over the Shopaholic series. So of course I was excited to get my hands on a copy of this book. Unfortunately I wouldn't place this one among my favorites but everything came together quite nicely by the end so at least I finished it on a positive note.
Ava lives in London, and signs up for a remote writers' retreat in Italy. Attendees are encouraged to not share their real names with the other writers and to avoid giving out other personal info. So Ava goes with the flow and chooses to go by the name Aria. Pretty easy and she'll never see these people again anyway. Well... she hits it off with a guy going by the name "Dutch" and they have a nice little romance at the retreat. But now its time to pack up and go back home. While "Aria" and "Dutch" seemed like a perfect match in Italy, they also didn't know anything about each other's past. When forced back to reality in London, do these two have a legitimate shot at love?
I'll admit by the end of the 1st chapter I was already getting nervous about this one. Things did start to pick up once Ava was at the writers' retreat but my first impressions about the characters were pretty spot on. As the story progressed Ava became more and more annoying, and don't come after me dog lovers, but her dog Harold got on my nerves as well. I probably share way more personality wise in common with Matt, aka Dutch, than I do with Ava so that could factor into my opinion as well. (Honestly though, I think poor character development was the main reason I struggled at times with this book)
The good news is at the very end I finally "got" Ava and understood what others saw in her. And the same thing applies to her group of friends. Had they clicked sooner with me in the story, this would have been a much better read for me. Much of what I love about what this author brings to the table didn't shine through until the last few chapters. I do think a below average Sophie Kinsella novel is still better than about 80 to 90% of other books in the chick lit genre. And I got to end the book with a smile on my face which is always a good thing.
I was provided an advance digital copy by Netgalley and the publisher. All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion....more
A lighthearted romance is what I needed coming off a previous read that was mentally draining. Thankfully this one really was a cute and fun story. MaA lighthearted romance is what I needed coming off a previous read that was mentally draining. Thankfully this one really was a cute and fun story. Maybe not perfect, but definitely good enough.
Josh's life is a bit messy right now as his girlfriend broke up with him and he lost his job. And with the loss of income, he has to move back in with his parents. Obviously, he didn't plan on any of this stuff to happen but he starts questioning how he makes decisions. Figuring his life can't get any worse, he comes up with the crazy idea to let a coin flip determine his fate. Anytime he is forced to make a choice, he let's the coin do it for him. Hmm... will the coin steer him wrong when it comes to his dating life or will it give him a better shot at finding true love?
Even though it is a bit kooky, I really liked the premise for the book. It might seem like the whole flipping a coin is a bit of a cop out when it comes to making tough decisions, but it can force you out of your comfort zone as well. Most of us could use a push now and then to take a chance even if it's a bit scary. I know I can think of specific examples in my life in which I did the opposite of what I wanted to do and it worked out great.
It's not very often I read a straight romance told entirely from the male's perspective. What made this book a unique read is the author took his time showing where Josh was at in his life rather than just jumping right into the romance. It didn't follow the standard formula in which you know right away who is going to be the one Josh has his eye on. I'm not saying Josh was a perfectly developed character but at least there were other things explored in his life like his friendships and the trivia nights.
As a light and easy read, I really enjoyed this book. I recommend this one if that's what you are in the mood for too.
Thank you to the Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance digital copy! All views expressed are my honest opinion....more
A cute romance and an attention grabbing first sentence to start off the book. Normally it takes me a few chapters before I have decided whether or noA cute romance and an attention grabbing first sentence to start off the book. Normally it takes me a few chapters before I have decided whether or not to stick with a book, but not with this one. That first sentence hooked and reeled me in.
Lana Montgomery works for the Montgomery Group which is owned and run by her wealthy family. She is determined to get her luxury condominium project up and running in one of her favorite places in the world, Moose Springs, Alaska. The locals though aren't too thrilled with her plans.
Rick Harding is a business owner in town and has a bit of a crush on Lana. Not exactly a smooth talker as he gets painfully shy when he is around her. Lana might benefit from his help in changing the public's perception of her. The book falls in the romance genre, so need I say more? Minus the story line brought up in the opening sentence of the book, this one has Hallmark Christmas movie written all over it.
I hadn't read the first book in the series before tackling this one and I kinda regret it. I'm not saying this book can't be read as a standalone novel, but I do feel like my reading experience would have been enhanced had I known some of the characters that make appearances in this one like Graham and Zoey, beforehand. Felt like I was missing out just a tiny bit.
The book had a sweet romance but Lana and Rick's chemistry wasn't exactly off the charts. They were nice, decent characters though. They just didn't have the "it" factor or whatever it is that my favorite fiction couples seem to possess. This is the type of story that I can enjoy while I am reading it but it doesn't make the memorable read category.
I do have a slight gripe about the word "dearest", which according to my Kindle search was used 42 times in the story. Get a new word, Lana! It was extra weird and quite frankly irritating when the character would say it to someone she barely knows.
I received an advance digital copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher. All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
If I came up with a list of my favorite current day authors, Taylor Jenkins Reid is on it for sure. Having read her recent books, I'm now working my wIf I came up with a list of my favorite current day authors, Taylor Jenkins Reid is on it for sure. Having read her recent books, I'm now working my way back in her catalog. While One True Loves has many of the elements I love about her writing, I do think her writing talent has grown from the time this book was first published. It was a good book and I enjoyed it, but I wouldn't put it in the awesome read category.
The story kicks off with a terrific opening line. I didn't bother reading the publisher synopsis for this one ahead of time so I didn't have a heads up to the basic plot. Let's just say after reading the first sentence, my jaw dropped and then I smiled because I knew I was in for an interesting read. If you have enjoyed other books by this author, take a chance and go in blind.
This book is probably best classified as a romance. Now here's the part of my review where you might think I'm crazy but by the time I finished the book I thought it had a similar type vibe to the television show, Grey's Anatomy. Now granted I have not watched that show in years, but I think both the book and show have moments that really touch your heart. But there's also some cheesy dialogue thrown in which you might cringe at but also kinda love at the same time. I think both serve their purpose well in giving you what you want. So yes, this book isn't a perfect read, but it didn't have to be in order for me to enjoy it.
I liked the premise for this romance as it centers around the world of fanfiction. I don't really read fanfiction myself, but I do think it i3.5 stars
I liked the premise for this romance as it centers around the world of fanfiction. I don't really read fanfiction myself, but I do think it is a neat creative outlet for writers. While this romance wasn't among my favorites this year, there were many things I enjoyed about the characters and story.
Marcus Caster-Rupp is the star of a hit tv show and he secretly posts online fanfiction he has come up with featuring his character on the show. April Whittier is a fan of the show and identifies most with the character named Lavinia. April also likes to write fanfiction and she and Marcus have frequently communicated online with each other. Only they don't know the real identity of the other person because they go by their usernames. After online trolls mercilessly mock April's plus-size appearance, Marcus asks her out on a date. And Marcus does make the connection between April and his best buddy online being the same person. He has the hots for her but he is afraid to tell her he is actually the fanfiction writer she has been chatting with for awhile.
So first of all, this is a very steamy romance. Lots of descriptive bedroom scenes if you know what I mean. Marcus and April do have good chemistry in that department.
There's always going to be an obstacle or two in any romance but the whole not telling a person you have been chatting it up with them online for years is pretty flimsy. I read a similar romance plot earlier this year and it worked better because the characters were teenagers. Marcus is almost 40 years old and so you do have to just roll with it even if you think his reasoning is pretty lame.
I didn't like all of the fanfiction writing excerpts or movie script parts that were inserted into the story but some of them were good. I did like how both characters had interesting backgrounds and how their childhoods really did shape them as individuals. It gave the story some heart which is always nice.
Might not have been a perfect read, but it was a cute romance and I would definitely read another book by this author.
Thank you to William Morrow for sending me an advance copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion....more
Normally I don't have a problem jumping into the middle of series having not read the previous books. I struggled with this book as a standalone as itNormally I don't have a problem jumping into the middle of series having not read the previous books. I struggled with this book as a standalone as it constantly felt like I was a beat behind while I read. Even by the time I finished this book I still didn't feel like I completely understood one of the characters. This is a simple romance novel, it should have been an easy read but it turned into a frustrating one.
Bethany Castle has put her dating life on hold as she attempts to strike out on her own in the real estate business and flip a house. Wes Daniels is new in town and gets on Bethany's nerves but he knows how to use a hammer so he will be helping Bethany out with the house. They will also be competing against Bethany's brother on a competitive reality show called Flip Off to see which team can do the best renovation. Again, Bethany has put her dating life on hold. Hmm... this is a romance novel, let's see how long that lasts.
Bethany and Wes had good chemistry. If you are looking for a steamy read, look no further as I consider myself a seasoned romance reader and a couple of their scenes made me blush. So the romance elements of the story worked well in my opinion.
The character I had a hard time with was Bethany. I didn't really get her personality and it seemed like most of her character development happened in previous books. If you are a fan of the other books in the series, I would imagine this would be a good read for you. But coming in without having any background info, was a challenge and that shouldn't have been the case. Needed a little more setup so both old and new readers could fully enjoy the story.
With that being said, I would like to go back and read the first two books as good chemistry is my number one requirement in a romance novel and the author definitely demonstrated in this novel that is one of her writing strengths.
Thank you to Avon Romance newsletter and Netgalley for providing me with an advance digital copy!...more
Wow, I thought this one was even better than the first book in the series. Do you absolutely need to read Waiting for Tom Hanks before readin4.5 stars
Wow, I thought this one was even better than the first book in the series. Do you absolutely need to read Waiting for Tom Hanks before reading Not Like the Movies? Well no, but I think the reading experience is enhanced quite a bit if you do as Chloe and Nick have somewhat of a role in the first book even if they aren't the featured romance.
Chloe Sanderson is stretched pretty thin. She works at a coffee shop, is attempting to complete her degree, and frequently checks in on her dad who is suffering from early onset Alzheimer's. She definitely has no time for romance. (wink, wink) Her best friend, Annie, was so inspired by the sparks she saw flying between Chloe and her boss, Nick, she wrote a romantic comedy about the two of them. With the movie premiere coming up soon, Chloe is starting to see Nick in a different light. Is is possible the right person for her was standing in front of her the entire time? But he's her boss so it's probably best to have a strictly work relationship with him. Besides, those fairy tale romances only happen in the movies, right?
I loved the humor in this book and Chloe was so likable that it was so easy to root for her happiness. What was interesting to me is she isn't obsessed with romantic comedies like Annie but the author still was able to sneak in quite a few movie references into the story. So if that's one of the things you enjoyed about the first book, rest assured they are in this one too.
I thought Chloe and Nick had amazing chemistry and loved the back and forth wisecracks. Based on their interactions in the first book, I had high hopes for them in this book, and I do feel the author managed to deliver. The only teeny, tiny criticism I have is the story lost a bit of momentum towards the end. I thought Annie got that great big moment in her book, but in some ways Chloe's felt lackluster. Not saying it's bad though, more just it was the weak spot in an otherwise terrific book. Definitely one of my favorite romances I have read over the last few years.
I'm glad I finally got around to reading a Sandra Brown book because she's been an author on my to read list for awhile now. Thick as Thieves was exacI'm glad I finally got around to reading a Sandra Brown book because she's been an author on my to read list for awhile now. Thick as Thieves was exactly what I was in the mood for, a solid romantic suspense novel. It's the type of book that is nice to sit back and unwind with after a long stressful day.
Twenty years ago, a store safe with a sizeable chunk of cash was emptied out in a heist. Four people were in on the crime and within hours one person was dead, one in jail, one in the hospital, and one person went missing. Joe Maxwell hasn't been seen or heard from since and he is suspected of murdering his accomplice for the money before splitting town. Two decades later, his daughter, Arden, moves back to her hometown of Caddo Lake, Texas and hopes she can finally get answers to her father's disappearance. Little does she know, the man she wants to hire to remodel her home, Ledge Burnett, was a rebellious teen at the time of the heist and... was one of the accomplices. In Ledge's defense he has been trying to follow the straight and narrow path and do good ever since the night of the crime.
I gotta say the mystery aspects were done well as I had a general sense of the direction the author was headed but she did have a few tricks up her sleeve. Wanting to know what happened to Joe was just one of the reasons the story held my interest. The other reason is I enjoyed the love/hate chemistry between the two lead characters. All in all, a fun book to read.
I received a free copy of this book from Grand Central Publishing. All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion. ...more
I think reading a few reviews before I started this one helped as I had a heads up this book wasn't going to be a strong enemies to lovers ro3.5 stars
I think reading a few reviews before I started this one helped as I had a heads up this book wasn't going to be a strong enemies to lovers romance so I was able to change my expectations a bit. And while there were some definite issues, overall my feelings are more positive than negative about the book.
Melody Joo has recently landed a job as a video game producer. This is her first time working in the industry and her job is even more difficult given how sexism runs rampant at the company. Melody is joking around one day with a female co-worker about a video game concept she came up with involving male strippers fighting for survival in a post-apocalyptic world. Well, the boss overhears the conversation and decides the video game concept should be a top priority project for the studio and puts Melody in charge. The project could make or break her career. Assigned to Melody's team is Nolan MacKenzie, an intern who just happens to be the CEO's nephew.
There's a lot going on in this story to the point in which it is overwhelming. At times it felt like the story meandered from one thing to the next without a clear focus. Good intentions by the author to bring substance with some relevant issues but it left some aspects underdeveloped. Eliminating some of the minor plot points like the ride share dilemma that was pointless or anything to do with the wedding might have helped a bit. And to be honest the interactions with her Korean American parents didn't seem to work well either in the story.
So while I do have some complaints, I thought the video game aspect made this book unique. And even though the plot wasn't heavy on the romance, at least there was some chemistry between the two characters. I think this makes a better fiction read than romance. I always appreciate the chance to read something different and at least the writer mixed things up a bit. Just because the end result wasn't perfect doesn't mean I didn't find value in reading the book.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher but was not obligated to post a review here. All views expressed are my honest opinion. ...more
Some books just hit all the right notes. I don't know if I've every used the term "swoonworthy" in one of my reviews but I'm going to bust it4.5 stars
Some books just hit all the right notes. I don't know if I've every used the term "swoonworthy" in one of my reviews but I'm going to bust it out now. This was one of those reading experiences in which I caught myself multiple times with a big, cheesy grin on my face because I loved the characters and their chemistry. Other than a teeny, tiny part of the ending I thought was unnecessary, this was a perfect read.
Samantha Casey is a librarian at an elementary school. When the time comes to hire a new principal, Samantha is stunned to learn her former co-worker, Duncan Carpenter, will be filling the position. She had a huge crush on Duncan at their old school but never confessed her feelings to him. Unfortunately Principal Duncan is a lot different. While he used to be a lovable goofball, he is now so obsessed with rules and regulations, it's like he's a dictator. Well, this should be an interesting school year.
If I had to pick my favorite romance novels of the last year or so, this one ranks pretty high up there on the list. Everything just seemed to work and I felt invested in the characters. However, while I liked Duncan, it would not shock me if other readers have a completely different opinion of him. To be a good read this genre for me is really dependent on how well I like the two leads and whether I buy into the fact they belong together. I couldn't help but root for Samantha and Duncan to find happiness. The author did a good job giving them interesting backstories so even if you aren't quite as enamored with them as I was, this still is a decent read.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for providing me with an advance digital copy in exchange for an honest review!...more
I'll admit the reason this book initially caught my eye was learning the character was from Normal, Illinois as I am very familiar with the town. I enI'll admit the reason this book initially caught my eye was learning the character was from Normal, Illinois as I am very familiar with the town. I enjoy reading books in the YA genre so I figured might as well give this one a shot. A decent read but not exactly memorable.
High school student Maddie McPherson is ready to leave her hometown of Normal, Illinois and move on to bigger and better things. She's landed a pretty cool summer internship at a sports marketing firm in Chicago. She is assigned a pretty big project as she will be working with teenage soccer star, Gabriel Fortunato, to develop content for his social media presence. And of course working together so closely, Maddie gets to really know Gabriel. Are they going to maintain a strictly business relationship or could it develop into something more?
By far the thing I loved most about this book was the fact it featured women working in what most people would consider a male-dominated industry. I'm glad the author had most of the plot revolving around sports marketing and working with athletes as I found it fascinating. Might not have been entirely realistic Maddie was given certain responsibilities given her age and inexperience, but I just rolled with it.
Unfortunately, I thought the romance elements of the story were somewhat lackluster. There was nothing significantly wrong with the two characters, it was more I just didn't pick up on a ton of sparks between the two of them. Thankfully there is a nice balance so it's not like the romance dominates the story.
I received an advance digital copy from Netgalley and the publisher. All views expressed are my honest opinion. ...more
It didn't take me long to fall in love with the story and the main character. Emmie was a character who I felt protective over and couldn't help but rIt didn't take me long to fall in love with the story and the main character. Emmie was a character who I felt protective over and couldn't help but root for her to find happiness. I caught myself smiling more than once while reading and that's always fun when you find your own happiness in a book. Such a refreshing read and very much needed in my life right now to kinda recharge my weary batteries.
When Emmie Blue was a teenager she wrote a note and attached it to a balloon. She let the balloon go and it went on a journey of over 100 miles before it was found by a boy her age. (Well, exactly her age as they share the same birthday.) Lucas wrote Emmie letting her know he found her balloon and thus started their friendship. The book opens up with Emmie and Lucas celebrating their 30th birthday. Emmie is in love with Lucas but has not shared her feelings with him.
The premise for this one with the balloon is just so beautiful and really made the book extra special. At first it was difficult to grasp why a woman couldn't just come clean to her best friend and express how she felt. However, once you get a little more backstory on Emmie it makes more sense why she might have been reluctant to make a move.
There's so many other things I want to write about in my review but I don't want to give away the plot. I will say though that Emmie is a pretty well developed character and while there is certainly some lighthearted moments and humor, there is also some serious subjects that are explored in the story. This isn't what I would call a fluffy read but I didn't find it to be emotionally draining either. The author just found a nice balance. I highly recommend checking this book out.
Thank you to Atria Books for sending me an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!...more
I wasn't quite sure if I would like this one given it features a reality dating show plot and I'm not into watching those types of shows. Tha3.5 stars
I wasn't quite sure if I would like this one given it features a reality dating show plot and I'm not into watching those types of shows. Thankfully I did enjoy this book and I'm sure part of that is due to the fact the main character was fairly easy to root for as opposed to some of the vapid contestants on shows like The Bachelorette/The Bachelor.
Bea Schumacher is a popular plus size fashion influencer. When the producer of the reality dating show, Main Squeeze, asks Bea to star on the next edition, she decides to go for it even though she has no intention of falling in love with one of the contestants. She figures if she just plays along for the tv audience it will be good for her career and encourage body positivity. Bea has already had her heart broken before, why set herself up again for more heartache?
I thought the author came up with a unique romance. Normally as a reader you know fairly early on who is the love interest and from there it follows a predictable formula of some obstacles along the way before the whole happily ever after. But with this story, you had Bea's crush as well as 25 contestants that might win her heart. I also wondered if the author was going to set it up for Bea to pull a Kelly Taylor (please, someone get that reference). So there were many possibilities and it was quite a ways into the story before I had a good idea about where things were headed.
There were many reasons to like Bea. However, at times I did find her mildly irritating. She could be hypocritical in some situations and I did enjoy it when she was called out by other characters. She at least had some self-awareness though and it's not like I need every character to be perfect to enjoy a story.
Recommend if you are in the mood for a cute romance with some substance as well as some laughs.
I won a copy of this book as part of LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program but was not obligated to post a review here. All views expressed are my honest opinion.
I liked the idea behind this one as corporate social media wars are definitely a relevant topic in today's times. I mean just look at the fre3.5 stars
I liked the idea behind this one as corporate social media wars are definitely a relevant topic in today's times. I mean just look at the frenzy over Popeye's chicken sandwich after their back and forth quips with competitor Chic-fil-A. And while at times while reading this book, I struggled with some of the business aspects of the story, I did like the two main characters and thought they had good chemistry together. Overall it was, well, a cute read!
Not too long ago Big League Burger was just a small hamburger restaurant in Nashville owned and run by Pepper's mom and dad. It seemingly found success overnight and quickly added new locations, and is now one of the top fast food franchises in the country. Even though Pepper is busy with school and swim team, she also helps run the social media accounts per the request of her mom. (but shh, it's a secret as the rest of the world doesn't need to know the online voice of Big League Burger is just a teenager)
Jack feels like he lives in his twin brother's shadow but he still always tries to do the right thing by helping out at his parents' deli. He is livid when Big League Burger rips off the recipe for his family's grilled cheese sandwich with special sauce. This means war. Twitter war, to be specific, as he's going to use the deli's Twitter account to give Big League Burger a piece of his mind. Shenanigans ensue and Pepper and Jack are going to spend a lot of time trying to one up one another. But maybe there's also time for a little romance too!
So it's probably going to sound like I have more complaints about this book than anything, but I really did like the story. The biggest problem for me was trying to just go with the story and not take it too seriously rather than question how realistic it was that a teenager was running a social media account for such a gigantic company. Jack's situation made more sense because it just was a mom and pop operation. In general I had a difficult time understanding Pepper's mom as it was hard to get her motivations at times. Many of the questions I had regarding her end up being answered by the end of the story, but in some ways it felt like it was too little too late.
I liked how the story alternated between the perspectives of Pepper and Jack and thought they were pretty well-developed lead characters. It truly is mind boggling how much of a role social media plays in our lives now versus when I was a teenager and the internet was just becoming a mainstream thing. Overall, the author did a good job writing a modern, young adult romance.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an advance digital copy in exchange for an honest review!...more
This turned out to be an okay read, but I was hoping for more. There were elements of the story I liked and others I didn't. I think the the biggest pThis turned out to be an okay read, but I was hoping for more. There were elements of the story I liked and others I didn't. I think the the biggest problem for me was I wasn't all that interested in Alex although I'm not quite sure why that was the case. He just kinda fell flat and I actually would have preferred if the story would have followed Isa the entire time instead of alternating between her and Alex. I was way more invested in her family life rather than her romantic life.
High school students Isabelle Warren and Alex Rosario first meet while riding on the subway train. And despite the fact they live in NYC with a population of I don't know how many millions of people, they keep running into one another on the same train. What are the odds? (actually pretty good when you are reading a romance) Isa is half Cuban and has dreams of becoming a dancer. She comes from a wealthy family, but her home life isn't all sunshine and rainbows. Dominican-American Alex isn't living a life of privilege like Isa. His father is controlling and wants Alex to excel in sports, however Alex wants to be a poet.
So this is one of those slow burn romances that takes place over the course of a couple years. While I thought both Isa and Alex were likable people, I was pretty indifferent about the romantic aspects of their relationship. For me this worked as a better straight up fiction story rather than a romance. I give the author credit for giving the story some substance instead of just churning out a fluffy teen romance. Both characters had interesting backstories, but I do wish I would have clicked better with Alex. In no way am I saying he was a poorly written character, it's more of a case of as a reader you aren't always going to connect with every character in a book. Had I cared more about him, this probably would have been a much better read for me.
I appreciate the author's attempt to explore serious subjects in this young adult romance. If that is the type of thing that interests you and/or you like stories with diverse characters, you might want to check this one out.
I won a free copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway but was under no obligation to post a review. All views expressed are my honest opinion.
The two main characters in this book are pretty likable people. However, I just could not buy into the romance. I needed something more. Mayb2.5 stars
The two main characters in this book are pretty likable people. However, I just could not buy into the romance. I needed something more. Maybe angst. Pining away for each other. More conflict. Something to liven the story up because it was dull.
Jess is close to 30 years old and has just moved to London. She'll be staying in a Notting Hill home at a fraction of what it would normally cost to rent. One of her four roommates is Alex, a man who has given up a career in law to study to become a nurse. Jess feels an instant attraction to Alex and feels disappointed when she finds out he is hooking up with their other roommate, Emma. Well, the lease is for a year, this might be an awkward living situation.
Do not be fooled into thinking this is a holiday read because even though December is in the title, this is a story that follows both Jess and Alex over the course of a year. The Christmas season isn't that big of a factor in the story so you can read it anytime during the year.
The story starts off with promise as it was obvious Jess was attracted to Alex and it seems he feels a bit of a spark between the two of them as well. There appears to be a good conflict right off the bat with Alex sleeping with the other roommate but somehow the story just loses steam and quite frankly is pretty boring. I'm not that picky when it comes to romance novels, I basically just want the lead characters to have good chemistry. Alex and Jess liked each other but there was hardly any excitement and nothing that had me rooting for them to get together. Perfectly nice, normal people but it was a pretty dull look into their lives.
This one just didn't work for me, and it was a disappointment to say the least because I had really been looking forward to reading it. Maybe other readers will have better luck with this book.
I won a free copy of this book in a giveaway but was under no obligation to post a review. All views expressed are my honest opinion....more
I'd been wanting to read a Christina Lauren book for awhile now so when I saw this one at the library I decided to finally take the plunge. I3.5 stars
I'd been wanting to read a Christina Lauren book for awhile now so when I saw this one at the library I decided to finally take the plunge. I had a few problems with the writing but overall I did enjoy the book. I definitely am interested in checking out other books by the writers. (Yes, Christina Lauren is actually a the combined pen name of two writing partners.)
Macy Sorensen's life appears to be in order as she is working as a pediatric resident at a hospital and is newly engaged. However, she has never truly gotten over her first love, Elliot Petropoulos. Something happened years ago and she hasn't seen or talked to him since. She unexpectedly runs into Elliot one day and that brings up a whole lotta feelings. He was her best friend, her everything but he also broke her heart. Looks like Macy must fully confront the past if she wants to truly move on. The book alternates between Macy as an adult and Macy as a teenager.
I didn't know until after I was already done with the book that the authors write Young Adult fiction as well. I thought adult Macy lacked maturity at times. It's quite common in women's fiction to have a main character who has a messy personal life but something about her just seemed different. I really don't know how to describe it other than I think their YA background came thru too much in the adult Macy.
Overall I did enjoy the story and I did like Macy and Elliot's interactions with each other, both as teenagers and as adults. There was a bit of a fan fiction type vibe to their love story in that it could be cheesy at times and melodramatic. However, there were some good touching moments in the book which made it a worthwhile read. This was probably more of a 3 star read but once I got all the background info on the big, bad, terrible thing that happened years ago, it went a long way into helping me understand Macy as a character so I bumped the rating up a half star.
Maybe not quite at the same level as some of my other favorite romance reads but it still held my interest and I look forward to checking out more books by Christina Lauren....more
This is one of my favorite romance reads of 2019. I just had so much fun rooting for the two characters to get together and thought they had 4.5 stars
This is one of my favorite romance reads of 2019. I just had so much fun rooting for the two characters to get together and thought they had really good chemistry which is so key in a romance novel. I thought the premise for this one was pretty clever as the two characters share an apartment but have never met because of their different work schedules. They communicate with notes left around their flat and text messages.
Tiffy Moore is fun and has a bit of an outlandish style. She is also out of an apartment and having a hard time getting over a recent breakup. Leon, works the night shift and is in desperate need of some extra cash to help his brother out. He decides to get a roommate for his one bedroom flat. He enlists his girlfriend to interview potential roommates and feeling not threatened at all by Tiffy, she selects her to live with him. Given the flat only has one bedroom, Tiffy and Leon will be using the same bed to sleep in but because of their different work schedules and with Leon spending the weekend with his girlfriend, they will never be around each other in person. (This sounds like a completely weird premise, but trust me, the author somehow makes this work). With brief notes left in the apartment for one another, they somehow start to develop a friendship. And well, I guess you will just have to read the book to find out more.
It didn't take long for me to really get into the story and characters. It's like everything just clicked right away and I could just sit back and enjoy where the story was headed. While I would say overall the story takes on a lighthearted tone, there are some serious issues explored, mostly in regards to Tiffy's relationship with her ex. It's one of those enjoyable reads with a little bit of substance to elevate it from just another generic romance.
Very happy to have read this one! Highly recommend this book if you love a good romance....more
This is the 2nd book in the Uptown series but it can easily be read as a standalone novel. This is a cute romance with the story revolving around a coThis is the 2nd book in the Uptown series but it can easily be read as a standalone novel. This is a cute romance with the story revolving around a community garden. I definitely enjoyed the book but it's not the type of story that is memorable. Basically if you are the type of reader who is always reading a romance novel, this is a safe choice. However, if you only occasionally read something in the genre, I think there are better ones out there for you to pick from.
Space is a valuable commodity in New York City and Magda Ferrer has been tasked with selling her uncle's home and a lot nearby. Magda is eager to prove herself in her new career field which unfortunately means upsetting the people who have been using the lot as a community garden. Tyson Yang finds himself in the middle of all this and wants to help his friends keep the garden. Looks like Magda and Tyson will be going toe to toe. (among other things, wink wink)
So Magda and Tyson had good chemistry which is such a necessity in a romance novel. Their romantic scenes are a bit hot and steamy, so if that's not your thing, maybe take a pass on this book. I liked how the author chose to use a community garden as part of the plot because it added something different to the story. This was a really quick read which might be part of the reason it just doesn't feel like there's substance to the story. It's one of those books in which I don't really any complaints but I'm not going to say it's a must read either.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an advance digital copy in exchange for an honest review!...more
I rarely read historical romances so it was nice to switch things up for a change. I did love how the author incorporated the women's suffrag3.5 stars
I rarely read historical romances so it was nice to switch things up for a change. I did love how the author incorporated the women's suffrage movement in England into the storyline. I also thought the two lead characters had good chemistry together which is my main requirement in a romance novel.
The year is 1879 and Annabelle Archer has just been accepted into the University of Oxford. A pretty big deal considering she will be among the first group of female students ever to attend the prestigious school. She is part of the women's suffrage movement and a key mission of the group is to recruit men of important stature to help with the cause. Annabelle has been tasked with persuading the Duke of Montogomery, Sebastian Devereoux, to go against the queen and lend support to the suffrage group. As if this wasn't going to be challenging enough, Sebastian also doesn't seem to think very highly of Annabelle. Or does he?
Given I typically read only contemporary romances, I have to say I really enjoyed how the time period enhanced the story as it provided even more obstacles for the two to overcome on their way to romance. Without getting into spoilers I do like how the author addressed the differences in their social classes and how that would have been a huge issue back in Victorian England. While I definitely enjoyed the romance elements of the story I did like how it feel like I was getting some history bits thrown in there as an added bonus.
One of my small criticisms of the story is I felt the ending was rushed. Some more development there would have been greatly appreciated.
Overall, a good romance that I feel comfortable recommending to anyone who loves the genre.
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