Tag: romance

BONUS REVIEW: One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London

BONUS REVIEW: One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Dial Press in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Bea Schumacher, plus-sized fashion blogger with over 600,000 Instagram followers went viral thanks to a blog post about the most recent season of Main Squeeze, a reality dating show. Bea called out the show’s lack of diversity, especially the fact that the women were all rail thin when two-thirds of the women in the country wear a size 14 or larger. When the show’s ratings tanked, the producer was fired and his assistant, a woman, was promoted.

And the new producer, Lauren, knows exactly how she wants to improve the show. One of the cornerstones of her plan is to get Bea as their star for the spring season.

Bea is nursing a broken heart. And she’s all too aware of the cruelty of the world, especially on the internet. Putting herself center stage on Main Squeeze would open her up to scathing, hurtful and vile responses online. But this opportunity would also help build her notoriety. She knows she won’t find love, but she’s willing to go through the motions so America can see that everyone – no matter their body type – deserves a chance at love.

Review

This is a jam-packed contemporary romance with a lot to say about love, self-acceptance, and diversity. It plays out just like a reality dating show, so The Bachelor fans will feel right at home. There are great interludes with tweets and group chats and news articles that help tell the story and also serve as something of a palate cleanser between scenes from the show. Chris Evans even gets to steal the spotlight a few times! It’s delightful.

There’s so much to enjoy here. I can think of so many characters and scenes I adored. Bea’s family and the show’s trip to their home in Ohio was pivotal – and hilarious! There are many laugh-out-loud moments, and some swoon-worthy ones, too. Aside from Bea and some of her suitors, Allison, Bea’s stylist from the show was my favorite character. In the crazy reality TV world, she was a constant delight and source of support for Bea.

One of the significant threads of the book is Bea’s weight – how she feels about her body, the hoops she jumps through to live her life as a plus-sized woman, and the fact that total strangers feel entitled to comment on her body. There are some gross, rude moments in this. And some offensive ones. Sadly, there are also triggering ones. And every awful bit is true. These things are really said – often by total strangers, usually men – to women online. The author does a great job of working that reality into Bea’s experience. They don’t overshadow the larger love story, but they inform it at key moments.

I was thrilled with the ending, although I was frustrated at times with the love story as it played out on the show. The reading experience was just like watching a reality dating show on TV. I had my favorite suitors, and I didn’t like anything or anyone who made Bea’s journey to love difficult.

There’s a lot to enjoy here – romance, reality TV, social commentary on issues like body image/body confidence/weight, family, friendship, fashion, etc. There are lots of examples of diversity in the story, both in race and in sexual identity (lesbian, bisexual, asexual, gender nonconforming). I felt like the author did a good job weaving these pieces naturally into the story. They never felt forced. The real world reflected in the novel. If you enjoy reality TV and/or contemporary romance, be sure to check this one out! (Language, sex, LGBTQ+, TW: Rape threat/online harassment, verbal abuse/harassment)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

 

 

REVIEW: A Sweet Mess by Jayci Lee

REVIEW: A Sweet Mess by Jayci Lee

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this from Netgalley and St. Martin’s Griffin in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Comfort Zone, Aubrey’s bakery, is her life. It’s popular with the locals and with out-of-towners who stop in on their way somewhere else or place orders. In fact, the shop is doing well enough that Aubrey is planning an expansion and a move to a new location.

Landon was only in town because of a blown tire. He had been travelling to do a restaurant review before leaving the country for a month for work. Now he has no review, and he’s in this tiny town for the night. He essentially does two things during his short stay – hook up with Aubrey after a couple drinks in her friend’s bar and buy a chocolate cake from a local bakery.

Instead of getting Aubrey’s shop special chocolate cake, her teen sales girl sold Landon a specialty cake for a kid’s birthday party. Landon was NOT a fan. He never met the baker, but he needed a replacement review. He felt he had a duty to warn customers, so he blazed the baker and Comfort Zone. And Aubrey’s business dried up.

Landon doesn’t find out about the cake mix up until it is too late to change anything. Out of guilt and a sense of responsibility, he invites Aubrey to be a guest on a cooking show he’s producing.

No one can know about their personal connection. They’re both professionals. They can keep their distance. But Landon will have to be on set for his job. And they are sharing a villa during the taping.  And their connection is electric whenever they get close to one another. How will this ever work?

Review

This was great! I loved the characters in this. Their predicament was intriguing. Their chemistry was fierce. There’s terrific back-and-forth, will-they-or-won’t-they tension for ages. And I loved the resolution.

Fans of Hallmark movies should check this out. While there’s more heat here than you will find in a Hallmark movie, the layout of the story will feel familiar. It follows similar beats. The fall-apart moment near the end is just what you would expect if you’ve watched as many Hallmark movies as I have. But the characters and the resolution help this stand out from the crowd. I loved how this one wrapped up.

The food descriptions in the book will leave your mouth watering. There’s only one recipe in the book, which is a shame for those who like to try new recipes. Everything in this sounded amazing.

Don’t miss this yummy contemporary romance with excellent characters. The setting is great; the family and friends we get to meet are fantastic as well. I loved the strong women in this book! Be sure to check it out. (Language, sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

BLOG TOUR: Puppy Kisses by Lucy Gilmore

BLOG TOUR: Puppy Kisses by Lucy Gilmore

Posted on by Jaymie

Welcome to the Blog Tour for book 3 in the Forever Home series, Puppy Kisses. [I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.] This book will release next Tuesday, June 30, 2020.

 

Summary

It started with a car chase and a lie.

Dawn and Zeke had stolen – rescued – the puppy from an abusive owner who chased them with a shotgun. Their high-speed getaway caught the attention of the sheriff. Zeke was about to lose his license, and Dawn’s flirting was doing no good. So she said the puppy was a service dog in training for Adam.

Zeke’s brother, Adam, went along with the story once he put most of the pieces together. He’d do almost anything for Dawn, not that he’d tell her that. But once the sheriff was gone and the local vet had checked out the puppy, Adam was attached and refused to let her go.

Dawn had been rescuing the puppy for herself. She had other animals at the kennel that would work as a service animal for Adam. Training the right puppy – and getting her rescued puppy back – would be a great excuse for spending more time with Adam. She didn’t know why he insisted on pushing her away. They were combustible when they were together. She would just have to keep pushing until he saw the potential they had together like she did.

Review

This was a great addition to a fun series! The characters – both human and canine (and bovine!) – are terrific. The dogs in this book are especially delightful. I adored Uncle from his first appearance. And I laughed every time Adam called the new puppy Methuselah.

There are lots of laughs in this book. I loved the snappy dialogue between the various characters. The animals added great humor to this too, especially the rogue cow.

Adam and Dawn are fascinating protagonists. Dawn is so in-your-face for most of the book, yet a lot goes unsaid between her and Adam. Both of them could have avoided some conflict with better trust and communication as well as fewer assumptions. Adam gets some benefit of the doubt on the communication pieces because his visual impairment means he misses any visual cues from Dawn’s facial expressions or body language that might have clued him into her true feelings. Dawn is also working through some identity things as the person she wants to be and the person people assume she is don’t always line up.

There was a moment at the end of the book that seemed to be headed one way and then absolutely didn’t go where I thought it would. Which was fine – it was a great shift. But it didn’t feel resolved by the end, which left me feeling off-kilter going into the great epilogue. This was the only blip in a thoroughly delightful story. I have enjoyed this whole series from the start. Be sure to check out book one, Puppy Love (♥♥♥♥) and book 2, Puppy Christmas. (You can read my review of Puppy Christmas here.) I would love to read more books with these characters if the series is going to continue or spin off in any way. Each of the three sisters have had a book, though, so I’m not sure if there will be more Forever Home stories in the future. (Language, sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

 

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If you have enjoyed one of Lucy Gilmore’s books before, or if you want to know more about her, you can explore her website here.  While you are there, you can see the other names she writes under and check out those books as well. It looks like she has plans for some new stand-alone puppy-related romances coming in 2021! I even picked up a few books from her other pen names, thanks to the website. Be sure to check it out!

As part of the Blog Tour you can enter a giveaway for copies of the first two books in the series!  You already know I loved them. Check out the giveaway here.

REVIEW: The Boyfriend Project by Farrah Rochon

REVIEW: The Boyfriend Project by Farrah Rochon

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Forever in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Samiah’s mind was on her date later that night with Craig when her sister first mentioned the Twitter post. Someone was live tweeting her first date with a guy. As the tweet thread continued, Samiah started to feel sick. The woman was obviously out with Craig. He was using the reservation she had gotten for them for this other date. He had told her something came up and made plans with her for later that night.

By the time Samiah got to the restaurant to confront Craig, there was a third woman there. Craig had “catfished” all three of them. Samiah lit into Craig, and other diners caught it on video. It went viral. At least she gained a friendship with the two other women. That was the only positive from the whole mess. Now the ladies have sworn off men for awhile and are going to spend time on themselves and things that matter to them.

Then Samiah meets Daniel, the new hire at work. He’s smart, compassionate, and gorgeous. Even though she said she was going to take 6 months off from dating to focus on herself and a project she’s been wanting to dig into, Daniel is too tempting to keep pushing away. But Daniel is keeping a secret. And after her experience with Craig, that is something that will devastate Samiah if it ever comes out.

Review

This was delightful! It’s a fun romance between two great characters. I was fascinated by Daniel’s real job. And Samiah is an ideal protagonist – smart, a great friend, and a leader who knows her field and her value. Together, they were explosive.

But what made this different from some of the other tech-based romances I’ve read lately (The Right Swipe, Can’t Escape Love) is the mystery that Daniel is working on throughout the book. It’s an ever-present background issue. There’s nothing for the reader to figure out, though, no culprit to find. It’s not the focus of the story, but it’s still a fascinating layer to the whole. I loved it.

It’s clear early on that Samiah’s new friends are leading women waiting to tell their own stories, sort of like the Central Park Pact series, which I loved. And the epilogue in this book does double duty for wrapping up Samiah and Daniel’s story as well as teeing up the next book in the series. And you can sign me up for that right now! This was so good, I won’t hesitate to snatch up the sequel the minute it debuts. Contemporary romance fans as well as geek/tech romance fans should not miss this one! (Language, sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

BONUS REVIEW: Storing Up Trouble by Jen Turano

BONUS REVIEW: Storing Up Trouble by Jen Turano

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Norman was on the train because he was returning home to Chicago after presenting on his scientific research in New York.

Beatrix was on the train because she was going to Chicago to live with her Aunt Gladys after being arrested – twice – in New York at marches for Women’s Suffrage. That, along with some other issues, led her mother to advise Beatrix to get away from the city for awhile.

The thieves were on the train because they were trying to get Norman’s research as well as whatever money and trinkets they could take from the passengers. When they tried to steal Beatrix’s purse, she stood up to them. She and Norman ended up fleeing on horseback – well, Beatrix was on horseback – and reporting the thieves when they got to the next train station.

That should have been the last Norman and Beatrix saw of each other. They had growled and bickered at each other for most of their flight from the robbers. But Norman could not stop thinking about Beatrix. He took runs through her aunt’s neighborhood hoping to see her. He tracked her down at her department store job. And while his social skills generally left something to be desired, he was starting to grow on Beatrix.

Then the thieves found Norman and Beatrix in Chicago. They were not out of danger yet.

Review

This was a delight from the very first page. I adored the entire cast of characters, from Beatrix and Norman to Norman’s family and friends to the women Aunt Gladys was housing and helping. I would happily spend several more hours with these characters!

This book was hilarious! I laughed, out loud, so many times. The bickering was fantastically funny. The writing here is so sharp – not only in the humor but also in the character development and the emotional descriptions.

I loved that both Beatrix and Norman got to tell their parts of the story. That let me in on their thinking and growth as Beatrix saw working conditions for women and as Norman saw himself and his relationships honestly and clearly for the first time. Norman has a Sheldon-esque quality at first (Sheldon, from The Big Bang Theory). He’s brilliant and awkward. My favorite part of the book, aside from the laughter, was Norman’s growth over time.

This is book three of the American Heiresses series, but it’s the first one I have read. I have wanted to read these since the first book released early in 2019. They are now at the top of my TBR list, along with everything else the author has written. I don’t feel like I missed anything in reading this story first. There are some references to the characters in the other books, but this story stands well on its own.

The faith pieces in the book are light, but felt a little clunky and forced to me. The last one especially felt out of rhythm with the rest of the story. But I refuse to let anything distract me from the delightful experience of reading this novel. This is one I will immediately buy so that I have my own copy to re-read as often as I want. This was immensely enjoyable, and I highly recommend it!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Say Yes Summer by Lindsey Roth Culli

REVIEW: Say Yes Summer by Lindsey Roth Culli

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Delacorte Press in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. ]

Summary

It hit her in the middle of her speech. Rachel Walls, valedictorian, looked around at her graduating class and realized most of the people in front of her probably had no idea who she was.

Rachel’s high school years were focused. Determined. Disciplined. But what did she have to show for them besides this moment as valedictorian and her admission to her dream college? She has one friend at school. She knows her classmates from their social media accounts and hallway chatter and gossip, not from real life.

When her best friend leaves for a summer music program, Rachel’s “social life” dries up. Her big weekend plans include decluttering her room. That’s where she finds her grandmother’s book A Season of Yes! It looks and smells ancient, but the underlined passages catch Rachel’s eye.

What if, instead of isolation and self-preservation, Rachel started to say yes to the opportunities in front of her?

Yes to a party.
Yes to a friend.
Yes to a dip in the pool.
Yes to a roller coaster.
Yes to flirting.
Yes to Clayton Carville.

Review

This was cute and fun. I liked Rachel and her family and friends. I thought the identity crisis was perfect – Rachel’s ready for college, there are unknowns ahead. Graduation kicks off a season of reflection. And in this case, Rachel is second guessing her choices in life so far.

It’s also not uncommon for college students to try on a new identity. That’s what Rachel does here – she tries on the identity of a person who says yes. And it’s mostly good for her. She rediscovers an old friend. She has a couple small adventures. And she gets to explore some romantic possibilities.

The downside is that in her haste to say yes and change things up, Rachel forgets about wisdom and discernment. And that leads to trouble. And as in most great young adult literature, she starts to learn from it.

I enjoyed the journey with Rachel and her friends. Fans of contemporary YA, contemporary YA romance, and fans of love triangle stories should check this one out. (Language, underage drinking)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: The Trouble With Hating You by Sajni Patel

REVIEW: The Trouble With Hating You by Sajni Patel

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing/Forever in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Liya thought she was having dinner with her parents. Not her favorite activity thanks to her father’s constant disapproval. But she expressly told them she was not in the market for a husband. She wanted no part of some matchmaking dinner engineered by her parents.

Then Jay and his mom came to the door.

In her fury, Liya ended up slamming right into Jay, knocking them both to the ground, as she tried to escape. He probably thought she was rude – or crazy – but his opinion doesn’t matter. She’s not going to have to see him again.

But she does. When she should be celebrating a new promotion at work, she discovers her company is going under. They never mentioned the lawsuits or other issues during her interview. And the lawyer who’s been brought in to determine if the company can be saved? Jay.

And he’s furious that Liya ran out and was so disrespectful to his mother. He’s heard all sorts of rumors about Liya at church. She’s sassy and hard headed. Almost impossible to get along with. And she clearly wants nothing to do with him. So why does his heart race like that when he gets in verbal sparring matches with her?

Review

Tons of rich, emotional content in this contemporary enemies-to-lovers romance! Liya is a complex, complicated character. She’s fun and loyal with her friends, protective of her mother, and respectful of Jay’s mother. But at the same time she has no patience for gossipy aunties. And she’s openly hostile to the trash-talking men at her church. Her hostility is a shield, but Jay sees through some of that when he finally starts really paying attention.

Liya doesn’t make a very good first, second, or third impression with Jay. And he’s willing, after all that, to write her off. But his true character comes through when she’s too vulnerable to be hostile or protective. And that gives them a chance.

The author has a note right at the front of the book that indicates there are references to sexual assault in the book. Sensitive readers should know that going in.

Both Jay and Liya bring significant baggage into the story. And those situations are huge enough to derail the healthiest couple. There’s a lot for them to work through. And I was here for all of it. The final conflict in the story – and the subsequent wrap up – was an emotional powerhouse. My heart was racing, and I was hanging on every word. I though the ending was faithful to real life – no miracle endings. It was satisfying, although I would have happily taken an epilogue to see how things played out later. (Some language, CW: sexual assault)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Hadley Beckett's Next Dish by Bethany Turner

REVIEW: Hadley Beckett’s Next Dish by Bethany Turner

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this from Netgalley and Revell in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Hadley was one of the last two contestants on America’s Fiercest Chef. She was going head-to-head against Max Cavanagh into the final round. And that’s when Max fell apart. He was drinking heavily, and he treated Hadley poorly. By the time the show was over and the winner was announced, one of the judges was wearing Hadley’s final dish.

It’s no surprise then that Max disappears for a few months, and his TV show on the Culinary Channel is put on hiatus.

It’s a huge surprise, though, when Max shows up at Hadley’s house to apologize.

Max seems sincere. He’s been in rehab. He’s sober. And he’s embarrassed by his behavior towards Hadley. Could the change be real? Or is this just a ploy to get her to agree to being on Renowned with him.? The show has never highlighted two chefs at once before. But putting Hadley and  the old Max together in a kitchen would be ratings gold! It’s less clear what new and reformed Max might be like, if he can even hold on to the changes he is trying to make in his life.

Review

I became a Bethany Turner fan after reading the spectacular The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck. But she has solidified that status with this book’s story and characters as well as a West Wing reference and a shout out to Aaron Rodgers in the acknowledgements. I have her second book, Wooing Cady McCaffrey, on my TBR shelves.

I enjoyed Hadley and Max’s story. The cooking scenes were so well written – fun and engaging without being technical or dry. And the cooking was a great backdrop for exploring the characters and their dynamic together. I was a little sad there were no recipes in my review copy. The foods sounded scrumptious.

I read this in one sitting. I was captivated by Max’s efforts to be a better version of himself. It was realistic because it wasn’t easy. His first instinct after all these years was to be critical and argumentative and demeaning. I loved watching how his relationship with Hadley helped him grow and learn a different way to be.

The Christian elements are subtle. I was thrilled that the faith pieces weren’t overwrought or wedged awkwardly in. But I would have liked more from the faith angle. For me this is more “clean” romance (meaning no sex scenes) than a blatantly Christian romance.

Fans of contemporary romance and romcoms – especially those who enjoy enemies-to-“lovers” stories – should check this one out. The faith pieces are light enough I don’t believe they will push away any reader who might be disinclined to read a faith-based story.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

BONUS REVIEW: Girl Gone Viral by Alisha Rai

BONUS REVIEW: Girl Gone Viral by Alisha Rai

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Avon Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Katrina King values her privacy and anonymity. Privacy protects her from people who would use her for their own gains. Like the guy who kidnapped her a few years ago for a big ransom from her rich husband when he had been alive. Or like her father who manipulated her as a teen so he could make money off her in her modeling career.

Katrina thought the conversation with the guy at the café was fun. Harmless flirting. Then she found out someone at the café had taken pictures of their interaction. They were shared online along with a fabricated story of new love. And it went viral. Now Katrina is terrified that someone will recognize her and her carefully constructed life will crumble.

Jasvinder, Katrina’s bodyguard, was with her at the café. He questioned the wisdom of chatting with a stranger. He couldn’t have predicted what happened, though. But now that it has, he can offer Katrina an escape. Jas takes her to his family’s farm where no one will see her or recognize her. Sure, it means he will have to face some family issues that have been building lately. But at the same time, Jas has some issues from his own past chasing him down. Katrina isn’t the only one who could use an escape.

But the close quarters on the farm threaten to expose the feelings they’ve each been reigning in tightly. She’s his boss. He’s her bodyguard. There’s no space for romance between them.

Review

This was so good! This is a sequel to the delightful The Right Swipe, and part of the Modern Love series.

I loved the characters in this! Katrina has been living quiet and small, drawn protectively in on herself. But that couldn’t protect her from a random stranger in a café with a cell phone and an imagination. The situation pushes her to decide how she wants to live her life. Does she want to continue to live small and sheltered?

Jas is suffering from events in his past, too. He gets by, but doesn’t really live. He stuffs his feelings down deep which protects him for awhile from the pain. But it also cuts him off from relationships that could bring him a lot of joy.

I loved the inner work each of them does in the course of the story. I was frustrated early on, feeling like I was missing vital backstory. It’s been awhile since I read book one, and I thought I might have forgotten some things. But I think the backstory was just doled out slowly. It felt like it was too slowly in the beginning for me, but it all becomes clear over time.

The viral photo/story felt like a plot device moreso than a major part of the story, at least to me. It moved Katrina and Jas to the farm which pushes them to deal with their individual issues while also addressing the feelings between them. And I was completely okay with that plot device. The character development was the star of the book for me. Fans of the first book should not miss this one. If you missed book one, somehow, be sure to pick that up, too. (Language, sex, LGBTQ+, TW: Anxiety/panic attacks)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

REVIEW: You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle

REVIEW: You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and G. P. Putnam’s Sons in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Naomi and Nicholas have been together for almost 2 years, and their wedding is just around the corner. You’d think Naomi would be feeling deliriously happy or nervous or excited. But what she’s feeling is trapped. Boyfriend Nicholas and Fiancé Nicholas feel like two different people.

Naomi feels like she’s pretending all the time. Then Nicholas acts superior,  like he “knows” her so well, which makes everything feel fake because he only knows the things she displays. She has to rely on a secret document on her computer to remind her of his good qualities.

Everything Naomi has wanted for the wedding has been vetoed or overruled by Nicholas’ controlling mother. She picked Naomi’s gown and her maid-of-honor. It’s hard to be excited about a wedding that will reflect nothing of what you wanted. Naomi says she’s moving forward with the wedding, “40% because I love him and 60% because I’m too afraid to call it off.”

But in an emotionally charged moment, Naomi realizes Nicholas is just as unhappy as she is. In fact, some of her recent misery is his doing! They both know whoever calls the whole thing off will become the villain in their break up story. AND they’ll have to pay for all the ridiculously expensive (and non-refundable) choices his mother has been making for the wedding. But now that Naomi sees Nicholas’ behavior for what it is – trying to push her to call things off – she’s is NOT backing down.

It. Is. On.

Review

The beginning of this was miserable for me. I don’t do well with stories where a character is being railroaded or manipulated and doesn’t stand up for themselves. While Naomi has some spark in her own mind and in her thinking, none of it comes out of her mouth. She and Nicholas are both miserable. And reading about their misery was miserable for me.

And then Naomi catches on. She realizes Nicholas is trying to make her miserable so she will dump him. He gets to be the victim, and she will have to deal with his mother and paying for the wedding she has foisted on them. Then the story started to get interesting. But….

Now here I have to be honest. It has been my intention since I started this blog in 2016 to not post negative reviews. When I have read other books from publishers that weren’t a good fit for me, I told them so and didn’t post a review. I put another book into the schedule and moved on. But this quarantine/virus situation has seriously impacted my reading. I don’t have something else to put into this spot. And at the halfway point through this book, I just had to stop. I couldn’t read any more.

The writing is good. There are funny moments. But this is like the antithesis of books I enjoy. The one-upsmanship in the pranking started to border on immature and hateful. I started to feel like maybe Nicholas wanted to make a go of this relationship and was trying to draw Naomi out, but she refused to entertain that thought. My frustration with her at the beginning, where she had no boundaries or gumption to stand up for herself, became sympathy, but that ebbed away and became annoyance. I didn’t like Naomi, and I was cheering for Nicholas to be rid of her. And she’s the point-of-view character. It just wasn’t working for me.

I’ve read plenty of reviews that found this delightful. There ARE right readers for this book! But I am not that reader. I want warm stories, inspiring stories, and hopeful stories – especially right now. I can only handle so much of a prank war. I rarely find them funny in real life. But I know there are readers that will love to watch this couple dig through this season in their relationship and will care deeply to find out what happens on the other side.  If that is you, you should definitely check this one out! (Language – content for the first half of the book only)

No rating.