The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! š
notsobinaryart's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Very cute easy read! Love the concept and how relaxing and chill the book was. I wouldnāt come into it looking for super deep plot, or big character and internal questioning or changes. Iām a sucker for a lighthearted romance, but the book being a bit more surface level made this a less memorable option for me.Ā
Better Than Fiction had a big pet peeve of mine in the first chapter or two, which was using slang abbreviations in the internal monologue. I can forgive that in dialogue, but it feels forced to say super informal abbreviations like āobviā while reading the text.
An additional issue I experienced is we donāt learn much about the love interest as a person, other than the fact heās an author, hot, and obsessed with the main character immediately. No friends, family,Ā hobbies, or flaws to be seen other than the third act breakup, which is less of a character flaw and more of a one time thing.
If you want a light, easy read with low amounts of thinking, this is a good book for you! Love the side characters, love how even with stressful topics like grief and family trouble that it never feels too heavy.
Better Than Fiction had a big pet peeve of mine in the first chapter or two, which was using slang abbreviations in the internal monologue. I can forgive that in dialogue, but it feels forced to say super informal abbreviations like āobviā while reading the text.
An additional issue I experienced is we donāt learn much about the love interest as a person, other than the fact heās an author, hot, and obsessed with the main character immediately. No friends, family,Ā hobbies, or flaws to be seen other than the third act breakup, which is less of a character flaw and more of a one time thing.
If you want a light, easy read with low amounts of thinking, this is a good book for you! Love the side characters, love how even with stressful topics like grief and family trouble that it never feels too heavy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol and Grief
Minor: Abandonment, Death, Vomit, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting
beepbeep101's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Sexual content, and Grief
Moderate: Infidelity
Minor: Emotional abuse, Racism, Alcohol, and Vomit
bookishjae's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Minor: Death, Alcohol, and Vomit
kfmcf's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
First off - this cover is gorgeous. I know that isn't super important but it's a big reason I picked it up.
I want to like this one more than I did. I think the FL was relatable and her struggles with her grief and understanding of her grandmother post-passing are the most interesting part of the boom.
I think the biggest failing of this book is the development of its other relationships, namely with the ML. Jasper has no, and I mean 0, personality. He is just big and hot and he is immediately smitten with Drew to the point where it's confusing and unbelievable. Also they're supposed to have this bucket list deal but we never really get to see Drew falling in love with reading or even responding to that half of the deal. A lost opportunity imo. Also the third act break up and reunion were forced af, oy.
Also, the relationship with her half sister also felt like a wash. Daisy was really interesting but had the depth of a wading pool. I think having both Elsie and Daisy together just got too busy. I think having Dani be the friend and cutting Elsie would have tightened it up (even though I did *like* Elsie).
The Dirty Birds were alright but I got them all mixed up.
All and all I didn't mind the book as a light lit read but as a romance it was lacking.
I want to like this one more than I did. I think the FL was relatable and her struggles with her grief and understanding of her grandmother post-passing are the most interesting part of the boom.
I think the biggest failing of this book is the development of its other relationships, namely with the ML. Jasper has no, and I mean 0, personality. He is just big and hot and he is immediately smitten with Drew to the point where it's confusing and unbelievable. Also they're supposed to have this bucket list deal but we never really get to see Drew falling in love with reading or even responding to that half of the deal. A lost opportunity imo. Also the third act break up and reunion were forced af, oy.
Also, the relationship with her half sister also felt like a wash. Daisy was really interesting but had the depth of a wading pool. I think having both Elsie and Daisy together just got too busy. I think having Dani be the friend and cutting Elsie would have tightened it up (even though I did *like* Elsie).
The Dirty Birds were alright but I got them all mixed up.
All and all I didn't mind the book as a light lit read but as a romance it was lacking.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Grief, Death, and Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Alcohol and Vomit
toffishay's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
A really cute read. The characters are fun, but a little flat. That holds true for the side characters and our main duo of Drew and Jasper. I would have liked a dual POV because Jasper ends up being really perfect and so the drama at the end feels more contrived because he wasn't presented with really any flaws or perspective before the third act breakup. And then the reason for the breakup was weak, which some readers might enjoy because it made it really easy for them to get back together at the end. The sex scenes were really good though :) And there are some beautiful descriptions of nature for the outdoorsy types.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Sexual content
Moderate: Abandonment and Alcohol
Minor: Classism, Vomit, and Death
rissaandherbooks's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
This was pitched to me as Young Adult, and it most definitely is not. I still found it really enjoyable, though. Very, very cute.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Sexual content
Moderate: Grief and Death
Minor: Alcohol and Vomit
_alyssar_'s review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Death, Sexual content, and Grief
Minor: Vomit, Alcohol, and Cursing
headinthepages's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
I thought this was the perfect set up for a book loving romance reader.
I loved the legacy behind the bookshop and liked the imperfect, realistic family dynamics.
I have to say I definitely preferred the first half, it was engaging and I enjoyed the dialogue and character interactions, but in the 2nd half the relationship felt a little rushed and 2 dimensional. I didnāt love the sex scenes - they felt a bit rushed.
And the ātwistā was predictable (which is fine) but also rushed, like no built up, just sort of an information dump.
I did enjoy the book overall and would definitely read this author again, I just wish those few things were tweaked and it would have been an amazing reading experience for me.
I loved the legacy behind the bookshop and liked the imperfect, realistic family dynamics.
I have to say I definitely preferred the first half, it was engaging and I enjoyed the dialogue and character interactions, but in the 2nd half the relationship felt a little rushed and 2 dimensional. I didnāt love the sex scenes - they felt a bit rushed.
And the ātwistā was predictable (which is fine) but also rushed, like no built up, just sort of an information dump.
I did enjoy the book overall and would definitely read this author again, I just wish those few things were tweaked and it would have been an amazing reading experience for me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Gaslighting, Grief, Cursing, Death, Sexual content, Abandonment, and Toxic relationship
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