Scan barcode
katebrownreads's review against another edition
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Child abuse, Chronic illness, and Sexual content
Minor: Alcoholism
the_vegan_bookworm's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
This collection of 3 short stories set in the Marysburg universe has its ups and its downs.
Story 2, featuring Poppy and Simon, was adorable and peak grumpy x sunshine slash opposites attract. I had a lot of fun reading it!
In contrast, Story 1 was not great. It waxed poetic about grief (seemingly endlessly), but it struggled to say anything really meaningful about it. Plus, Griff's lusting after Candy during her intense periods of grief comes off so creepy and predatory in my opinion.
Story 3, featuring Elizabeth and James, was fine but under-baked. It could have been fleshed out much better but just felt rushed to get into the romance and chemistry between the two.
I was also disappointed by the fact that all of the MMC were thin men (though references to James seem to suggest he may be fat, it's not explored at all). Dade explores fatness well in her other works, but I'd like to see that extended to all her characters instead of just her FMC.
Story 2, featuring Poppy and Simon, was adorable and peak grumpy x sunshine slash opposites attract. I had a lot of fun reading it!
In contrast, Story 1 was not great. It waxed poetic about grief (seemingly endlessly), but it struggled to say anything really meaningful about it. Plus, Griff's lusting after Candy during her intense periods of grief comes off so creepy and predatory in my opinion.
Story 3, featuring Elizabeth and James, was fine but under-baked. It could have been fleshed out much better but just felt rushed to get into the romance and chemistry between the two.
I was also disappointed by the fact that all of the MMC were thin men (though references to James seem to suggest he may be fat, it's not explored at all). Dade explores fatness well in her other works, but I'd like to see that extended to all her characters instead of just her FMC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Alcoholism and Alcohol
thisreadingcorner's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Minor: Death and Grief
thefatpaperback's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
This is a collection of three novellas—each is about 100 pages long. They are sweet stories, as the title suggests. I especially liked the 2nd and 3rd novella.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer
Moderate: Addiction, Death, Death of parent, and Murder
mariakureads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
3.5
I bought this when I bought the previous two of the series and I was just so excited to start it over the weekend that I didn't realize till too late that it was a collection of novellas, unlike the previous two that were full novels. That's on me for not reading the blurb but I was too excited to read about Candy Albright after seeing snippets of her in the aforementioned books.
Each story has just the right amount of witty dialogue, shared feelings, consent and so many feels. I can't express enough how much I love that Dade has these stories centering on older women and men. She describes them as respectful and professional in their work but also never goes to far into detailing their appearances aside from what's needed in the storyline or in the moment of a conversation between characters that their body shapes are never an issue or the focus of a problem.
The first story, <b>Sweetest in the Gale</b> had me crying. It hit a bit close to home and I'm glad that Dade gave Candy a moment. It was a bit sad, a bit wistful, and full of fluffy romantic moments.
The second, <b>Unraveled</b> had me laughing at reading such a snobbish and buttoned up MC fall in love with a woman his complete opposite and realizing that nothing is absolute much less so black and white. It was a quick story filled with the wit and humor I expected of Dade, but it was all from the Hero's POV which felt different as most of her stories alternate but still not bad.
The third and final, <b>Cover Me</b> had my favorite trope, marriage of convenience! I don't care how many times I read this trope, I love the interpretations of each and in this case a long standing friendship becomes more when one is in need and the other is all too wanting to help out and in doing so, both realized that they want more out of their marriage than convenience. This was I think the shortest of the three so not too much pining or the fantastic banter I was hoping for but still a good read that had me cheering on both characters.
Each story has just the right amount of witty dialogue, shared feelings, consent and so many feels. I can't express enough how much I love that Dade has these stories centering on older women and men. She describes them as respectful and professional in their work but also never goes to far into detailing their appearances aside from what's needed in the storyline or in the moment of a conversation between characters that their body shapes are never an issue or the focus of a problem.
The first story, <b>Sweetest in the Gale</b> had me crying. It hit a bit close to home and I'm glad that Dade gave Candy a moment. It was a bit sad, a bit wistful, and full of fluffy romantic moments.
The second, <b>Unraveled</b> had me laughing at reading such a snobbish and buttoned up MC fall in love with a woman his complete opposite and realizing that nothing is absolute much less so black and white. It was a quick story filled with the wit and humor I expected of Dade, but it was all from the Hero's POV which felt different as most of her stories alternate but still not bad.
The third and final, <b>Cover Me</b> had my favorite trope, marriage of convenience! I don't care how many times I read this trope, I love the interpretations of each and in this case a long standing friendship becomes more when one is in need and the other is all too wanting to help out and in doing so, both realized that they want more out of their marriage than convenience. This was I think the shortest of the three so not too much pining or the fantastic banter I was hoping for but still a good read that had me cheering on both characters.
Content Warnings
Minor: Cancer and Death
candidceillie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Fatphobia, Sexism, Terminal illness, and Death of parent
More...