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fuzzywilson's review
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Grief
Moderate: Forced institutionalization and Abandonment
Minor: Alcohol
galleytrot's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
READ: Sep 2023
FORMAT: Audio
BRIEF SUMMARY:
In this contemporary romance, Seven is rescued from an extremely compromising situation the newest roommate of the house, and once Molly proves his worth by keeping the whole ordeal to himself, Seven responds in kind. Molly has had nothing but bad luck with men and dating, no matter how he fine-tunes his parameters towards older, mature men who are more likely to want to settle down; so, Seven decides to take him on a series of mock dates to give pointers and tips over what Molly might be doing wrong. Dating for real is completely out of the picture due to house rules and personal boundaries, and the last thing Seven wants is to drag sunshiny Molly down to his and Xander’s level of dysfunction, but attraction doesn’t always care about rules and boundaries.
ENTERTAINMENT VALUE: 4.5 / 5⭐
Listen: fake dating tropes have been worn pretty thin, and the progression of them is always obscenely predictable. This book largely conforms to those expectations, but it’s also surprisingly refreshing in some ways. For instance, throughout the early ‘mock’ dates, Molly and Seven both are pretty diligent at sticking with the pretense of date-coaching and not making it weird for each other by insinuating more is going on. Molly is genuinely enthusiastic about learning, and they legitimately come up with some helpful takeaways from their time together. That predictable blurring of lines isn’t immediately present from the start.
Seven doesn’t do steady boyfriends, and he is clear about his boundaries from the get-go. He wears his past trauma as a shield without apology, and he is a package deal with his foster brother, Xander. Seven and Xander are nearly inseparable, and any romantic interest would have to understand and accept the nature of their deep but platonic bond before Seven could entertain the barest hint of the possibility of a relationship. Not to mention, in his eyes, Molly it too bright, too bubbly, too undamaged to ever be saddled with a broken and jaded ass such as himself, and he doesn’t even fit in the parameters of Molly’s dream man anyhow, so it’s all a moot point.
Molly may never have experienced childhood abuses or traumas or dysfunctional families, but he does have his own valid history of hurt. Instead of expressing the negativity inside of him, it’s easier to let the world see the happy, well-adjusted Molly that they want to see and not step on anyone’s toes. What he wants more than anything is to date a loyal and devoted man to eventually settle down with, but he can’t seem to stop striking out, even when he tries to select for older, respectful men who should ostensibly want the same thing. It isn’t until Seven points out that the men might not be the problem when Molly realizes the common denominator for his disaster dates is himself.
TECHNICAL / PRODUCTION: 4.25 / 5⭐
So I was vibing with this story pretty strongly for the majority of it, right on up until the very end. The inciting possibility that got Seven to pull his head out of his ass and choose happiness made me want to get up and walk right out of the room. I mean, I get it, I do. Caveman brain go, “He mine, no share,” and there is no reason I shouldn’t believe his response isn’t realistic, but... it’s not exactly the romantic response, is it? When absolutely nothing else is enough to persuade him, but once he realizes Molly could choose tosleep with his date , that is what gets him to fly into grand gesture mode? It left a bit of a bad taste in my mouth, if I’m being honest.
So I was vibing with this story pretty strongly for the majority of it, right on up until the very end. The inciting possibility that got Seven to pull his head out of his ass and choose happiness made me want to get up and walk right out of the room. I mean, I get it, I do. Caveman brain go, “He mine, no share,” and there is no reason I shouldn’t believe his response isn’t realistic, but... it’s not exactly the romantic response, is it? When absolutely nothing else is enough to persuade him, but once he realizes Molly could choose to
Aside from this baffling choice, I really did very much enjoy this story. The chemistry between our leads was kind of through-the-roof leading to extremely enjoyable spice, and that’s been true of any book I’ve read with James’s involvement. And for all that I hate to admit it, Molly’s struggles and choices all hit obscenely close to home for me. Short of some key differences, he basically is me, except I don’t have a Seven or Xander or Agatha of my own and, rest assured, I am suitably jealous.
THOUGHTS - OVERALL: 4.5 / 5⭐
My library recently put up a plethora of Saxon James audiobooks and I am pretty excited to start digging into more of them. I am also very interested in the continuation of this series. The roommates of this household are all uniquely interesting and flawed individuals, and I want to read more about them. I kind of wish this book was longer than it is, just to spend more time with the characters.
This book has representation for gays and bisexuals. There is otherwise little else in the way of diversity.
The following elaborates on my content warnings. These may be interpreted as spoilers, but I do not go into deep detail.
This book contains: sexual harassment/exploitation (non-consensual photography); mentions of child abuse; mentions of abuses within the foster care system; past infidelity; medical anxiety, panic attacks; alcohol use; misogyny; past child abandonment; and, strongly-implied past sexual abuse.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Abandonment
tamke's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content
Moderate: Mental illness
Minor: Child abuse, Infidelity, and Sexual assault
chambersaurusrx's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Mental illness
Minor: Child abuse, Infidelity, and Sexual assault
Medical anxiety (secondary character)laura_rheads_too_much's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Child abuse, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, and Abandonment
so_many_books's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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? Yes
4.75
Not Dating Material, the second book in the Accidental Love series, follows another love story among the residents of Big Boned Bertha, a home for misfit artists.
I was excited for this book because both main characters, Molly and Seven, wormed their way into my heart in previous books where they were side characters.
The story is a simple, easy read that gives you all the warm and fuzzy feelings.
Molly moves to Seattle and in with his college friend and 5 other roommates. He wants to start over after selfishly embarrassing himself with a man. He's ready to find his forever person, but it seems like no one really wants him.
Seven is one of the roommates, along with Xander, his best friend. They went through some serious trauma in the foster system and bonded for life. Their friendship is Seven's priority, and he cannot imagine a life when there is a place for anyone else. Even if he subconsciously really wants to be loved.
The premise is fun and easy. Seven helping out Molly with dating advice so the other man can find a love story. And we all know how fake/practice dating usually turns out.
Their friendship and love developed so seamlessly, and naturally, it was comforting to read. Their story flowed freely, and I breezed through the whole book in a day.
I liked that the story also touched on more serious topics and the long-lasting effects that trauma can leave on a person. Check the trigger warnings!
It was a comforting romance story, nothing extra or unusual, but comforting. I loved reading it. It gave me a little piece of happiness.
I was excited for this book because both main characters, Molly and Seven, wormed their way into my heart in previous books where they were side characters.
The story is a simple, easy read that gives you all the warm and fuzzy feelings.
Molly moves to Seattle and in with his college friend and 5 other roommates. He wants to start over after selfishly embarrassing himself with a man. He's ready to find his forever person, but it seems like no one really wants him.
Seven is one of the roommates, along with Xander, his best friend. They went through some serious trauma in the foster system and bonded for life. Their friendship is Seven's priority, and he cannot imagine a life when there is a place for anyone else. Even if he subconsciously really wants to be loved.
The premise is fun and easy. Seven helping out Molly with dating advice so the other man can find a love story. And we all know how fake/practice dating usually turns out.
Their friendship and love developed so seamlessly, and naturally, it was comforting to read. Their story flowed freely, and I breezed through the whole book in a day.
I liked that the story also touched on more serious topics and the long-lasting effects that trauma can leave on a person. Check the trigger warnings!
It was a comforting romance story, nothing extra or unusual, but comforting. I loved reading it. It gave me a little piece of happiness.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content
Minor: Child abuse, Infidelity, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship