If Only by Angela Marsons (ARC) - Starting June 15th 2021

[Danique]

Find love. Have a baby. Ditch the mother-in-law from hell. Three best friends, each wishing for the one thing they want the most. But what if they’re searching for happiness in all the wrong places?

Cher is head over heels for her new boss. He’s gorgeous, smart and funny but he barely even notices her except to ask for a coffee refill. How can she get him to see that she’s the perfect girl for him?

Sarah is longing for a baby with the man she loves. The only trouble is David is already married. Will he finally leave his wife so they can be together?

Deb should be looking forward to her wedding with lovely fiancé Mark but with her mother-in-law from hell Margie taking control of everything, will her dream day turn into her worst nightmare?

So, when one summer evening, over several glasses of wine, Cher, Sarah and Deb stumble across an old book on Sarah’s shelf and drunkenly decide to cast a wishing spell, they don’t think for one minute that it will come true. It’s just three best friends having a laugh and throwing some herbs around the garden. Or is it?

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

hey, when will you be starting this one? I think I'll only be able to get to it around the end of this month, though I just got approved for the audiobook so I might start even later (I'm already listening to three audiobooks right now, I don't think my brain can take any more XD)

[Danique]

Trisha wrote: "hey, when will you be starting this one? I think I'll only be able to get to it around the end of this month, though I just got approved for the audiobook so I might start even later (I'm already l..."

Hahaha relatable ;) I've just started it, I'm not sure what I think of it yet though. Audiobook might be better lol

[Danique]

12%
(view spoiler)[ I’m sorry but how desperate can a person be??? Geez, I really don’t like Sarah, I’ve never met a more desperate person in my life. It’s so obvious that David is just stringing her along; hell he might not even have a wife and kid, but just many other women. Just give up on him already.

It seems like Cher will probably end up with that Dan guy, he seems a lot nicer than the guy she’s into at least.

Deb seems like the best out of them all; but I don’t get why she doesn’t just not answer the phone? I would’ve told my mother in law off like 30000 times already. What a bitch, making them reschedule the wedding like that; I would’ve said ‘well too bad it’s already planned and booked so you’ll miss it bye’
Okay no that's not true, confrontations scare me so I would've probably run for the hills, but still XD (hide spoiler)]

[Danique]

16%
I'm really not that into the story (yet - I hope), argh
(view spoiler)[ Well I can already exactly see where this is going to go. Cher wanted her boss to fall in love with her; that old guy (Mr Williams?) is her actual boss right? So he’ll fall in love with her instead of Michael. Dan is definitely nicer though.
Sarah wished for David’s child; so she’s getting his actual child? Deb wished Maggie would just disappear; so she’ll go missing. Dang it, can’t believe it’ll all go wrong ugh. (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

I got through the first two chapters of this, but the second chapter was... O_o NOPE I did not want to read that. I don't think I'll continue this now, I'll restart this with a fresher mind in July, this is just not working right now.

[Danique]

I’m not going to lie, I absolutely hate the book so far and I have to force myself to keep reading 😭 I’m still hoping that it’ll get better..

[Danique]

24%
(view spoiler)[ So far its not really going the way I thought it would. I thought there would be actual magic and them getting their wishes..? I like Deb, don’t really like the other characters so far, but the fact that Mark made her dance YMCA was damn funny😂 (hide spoiler)]

[Danique]

35%
(view spoiler)[I hate how Cher keeps defending Michael while he’s a dick wtf? I seriously don’t get her love for him while she doesn’t even know him. It’s frustrating how Dan keeps trying to ask her out but is interrupted every time. She’s so desperate that it grosses me out; the way she thinks that michael is obviously SO in love with her, why on earth would you think that??? He barely even spoke to you wtf. I hate how negative she’s to Dan, it makes no freaking sense that she’s being such a bitch to him??? Ugh I don’t know if I’ll be able to finish this book, every single character annoys me so much & they are all such superficial whiny teenagers (even though they’re supposed to be way older) aaaargh!!!! (hide spoiler)]

39%
(view spoiler)[ It honestly surprises me that David actually wanted to tell Bianca, I thought for sure that he was stringing Sarah along. Sarah is being very insensitive though; he just ended his marriage and she’s acting like a child because he doesn’t want to have sex right now??? Chick, give him space to adjust. (hide spoiler)]

[Danique]

65%
(view spoiler)[ I feel like it’s getting better, I don’t really mind the story as much anymore. Although Sarah is still way too desperate for my liking, I like that she’s now writing again and not just sulking and sitting around moaning about David.

I am so glad that Deb FINALLY spoke up against Margie, damn that woman is infuriating! And I’m also really glad that Mark is on her side in this, I was scared that he would side with his mother over everything but I’m so glad that he doesn’t! And now Deb got the job!!! I was definitely rooting for her, yay! (hide spoiler)]

[Danique]

73%
(view spoiler)[Cher is still freaking annoying though. It’s so obvious that Michael isn’t legally handling the scenario with his old assistant and just making up the reprimands; and STILL Cher defends him?? Damn, get out of his ass! Ugh, just stay with Dan please because he’s so much better! I have a feeling that she’ll realize that and show people the handwritten notes that Michael made; the ones she said she destroyed. But seriously, what on earth is she thinking with him meeting her parents?? How weird is that dude😂

Huh??? She parks her car next to Michael’s; but it was mentioned before that she didn’t have a car??? Damn I’m confused.
Upddate: Never mind, it was her bike. But seriously what the hell was she thinking asking Michael to come to her parents like that? How stupid are you to ask a guy that’s your boss and you have literally spoken like 10 words to, to come meet your parents??? Damn Cher, way to be desperate. (hide spoiler)]

[Danique]

Finished
(view spoiler)[ I might have squealed at the Dan confession, I’m way too invested in him. I love this guy😭 I’m so glad Cher finally sees him aaaah!!

And I’m so damn glad that Sarah kicked David out; finally! Although I must say I’m kinda annoyed with the fact that Chelsea got what she wanted through ruining Sarah’s computer lol, someone needs to teach that kid a lesson. I felt the heartache when she lost all her stuff on her laptop, damn, my worst nightmare.

I'm glad they all had a happy ending and the magic thing was mentioned one more time, although I kinda feel like the blurb was a bit decieving. (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Danique wrote: "12%
I’m sorry but how desperate can a person be??? Geez, I really don’t like Sarah, I’ve never met a more desperate person in my life. It’s so obvious that David is just stringing her along; hell ..."

(view spoiler)[I felt the same! Like he was such an asshole to her wife, I feel like he must have had many other women too! Haha, I wanted Deb to start talking back much earlier, but I'm the same, I don't want any bad blood unless I've been like seriously wronged XD (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Danique wrote: "16%
I'm really not that into the story (yet - I hope), argh
Well I can already exactly see where this is going to go. Cher wanted her boss to fall in love with her; that old guy (Mr Williams?) is ..."

(view spoiler)[I could see her falling in love with Williams, though I wanted Dan pretty bad ;) Yep, all their wishes are coming true, predictably not like they wanted them to XD (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Danique wrote: "24%
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[You know what, I had had the exact same expectation. this turned out to be fiction, and not even a little fantasy or magical realism, and I, for one, was disappointed.

Same, I only like Deb a lot, the others get on my nerves a lot. (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Danique wrote: "35%
[spoilers removed]

39%
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Both of them are such desperate women, like how much do you have to delude yourself to be happy. I was so irritated with both of them, and while I could still see a little where Sarah was coming from in this, Cher was being unbearably awful> Dan doesn't deserve her. (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Danique wrote: "65%
I feel like it’s getting better, I don’t really mind the story as much anymore. Although Sarah is still way too desperate for my liking, I like that she’s now writing again and not just sulkin..."

(view spoiler)[I had the same thought, around halfway through it got more bearable. I liked that Sarah was writing too! That was really the only plus for me for her. Same, I was so FREAKING HAPPY that he actually took her side and was a really good supportive fiance, I could see it all going bad if he didn't, but I'm so glad he did. (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Danique wrote: "73%
Cher is still freaking annoying though. It’s so o..."

(view spoiler)[I KNOW RIGHT!!?!??! HOW MUCH DOES ONE HAVE TO DELUDE THEMSELVES TO NOT SEE SOMETHInG SO FREAKING OBVIOUS
EXACTLY, what kind of woman asks someone she doesn't even know very well, someone who makes you doubt their integrity, and then behaves like an asshole, TO HER PARENTS!??!?! (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Danique wrote: "Finished
i..."

(view spoiler)[Same!!! I loved Dan, he was my only character in this besides Deb and Mark that I liked, and while that whole scene with him was nothing compared to the usual swoon worthy romances I read everyday, compared to the rest of this book it was heaven.

EXACTLY Chelsea was a real spoilt brat, why does literally no parent except Dan actually control their kids and not let them be such bullies?!?! I was really hoping there was some surprise backup somewhere, or she knew someone else, an expert maybe, that could salvage her work :/

The blurb was definitely deceiving, it toned down everything in this book that nauseated me, and the worst part is that the netgalley blurb didn't even mention most of this stuff that turned out to be awful. Like, nowhere does it mention that Sarah was after a married man. I honestly would never have requested this if that was mentioned. Only the GR blurb mentions that. (hide spoiler)]

[Danique]

Trisha wrote: "Danique wrote: "35%
[spoilers removed]

39%
[spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

I agree, (view spoiler)[ Dan was great and honestly deserved a lot better (hide spoiler)]

[Danique]

Trisha wrote: "Danique wrote: "73%
Cher is still freaking annoying though. It’s so o..."

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ YES!!! I don't understand holy crap, I'm sure I can be delusional too in my crushes, but I'd never do something like that XD (hide spoiler)]

[Danique]

Trisha wrote: "Danique wrote: "Finished
i..."

Same!!! I loved Dan, he was my only character in this besides Deb and Mark that I liked, and while that whole scene with him was nothing compared to the usual swoon..."

(view spoiler)[ yeah, exactly!! The blurb was really misleading, I don't like women going after married men either, so I hated that that wasn't mentioned on NetGalley! (hide spoiler)]

[Bayan]

I'm super late but I just got to start this, seems very very intriguing honestly!!

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Bayan wrote: "I'm super late but I just got to start this, seems very very intriguing honestly!!"

Ah, hope you enjoy, and I really hope you don't find te first half as bad as I did