notabookseller's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Thanks to NetGalley and Montlake Publishing for sending me a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. Can’t Resist Her is now available for purchase and at your local libraries.
Summer and Aiko had a Cinderella-esque meet-cute at their senior prom but quickly lost contact with each other (pretty easy when only one of them knew who the other was); over a decade later they find each other again and decide to pursue a relationship with their respective one who got away. However, in a Shakespearean turn of events, they quickly find themselves on opposite sides of the major redevelopment plan for their own alma mater.
I absolutely adore the premise of this story and its execution; seeing how Summer and Aiko’s dual relationships with each other play out simultaneously is very entertaining to watch and incredibly well written; one minute, they’re thirsting after each other in the middle of a bar and the next they’re facing off live on the local news. These women are funny and complex and you can’t help but root for them.
One thing that didn’t sit right with me throughout the story was the overt descriptions of literally every food item that appeared in the book. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good food moment, but in this particular book it just felt so forced and out of place and I just could not look past it. Aiko does this with both food and buildings, but she works in architecture so when she has moments describing the buildings they visit and why they are the way they are it makes sense and it feels much more natural (and it happens far less frequently). This doesn’t take anything away from the story at all, but it doesn’t add much to it either; instead it just affects the reading experience.
Another moment I had an issue with was the introduction of the relationship conflict and doubt outside of the whole Romeo + Juliet-ness of the situation; it was like someone exhaled and somehow that knocked down an entire sandcastle. Come on, have a little faith in your girlfriend, she deserves better than that. However, when it was time to call people out, people were *called out* and I loved it.
All in all, this was a fun, romantic, spicy sapphic read perfect for anytime of year (although, Summer and Aiko’s relationship could melt an igloo).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol and Cursing
Minor: Homophobia and Lesbophobia
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