syndi3's review against another edition
Free copy of Kindle edition is received from Netgalley
DNF
I am surprise that I can not finish this book. The blurp promising a good story. Rom com. When I start reading it, its just.... blah. I can not connect with any of the characters. The writing is also off for me. It can not make me interested to keep going.
I stop reading around 70% of the book.
DNF
I am surprise that I can not finish this book. The blurp promising a good story. Rom com. When I start reading it, its just.... blah. I can not connect with any of the characters. The writing is also off for me. It can not make me interested to keep going.
I stop reading around 70% of the book.
momalwaysreads's review
4.0
Wes and Emma have been friends for a few years, and it works because neither of them has attempted to take it further. But when Wes offers to let Emma stay with him while her apartment is being repaired, the two are forced to look more closely at their feelings.
I really liked this book and love a good friends to lovers trope! I thought the relationship between Wes and Emma progressed naturally, and although it was easy to get the timeframe confused at times, I'm glad it was stretched out over a longer period of time rather than being a quick progression.
The only thing I didn't love was how quickly Emma accepted her feelings for Wes at the end. I think for as much as she was fighting it the rest of the book, it would have been nice to see more into her thought process as to why she so suddenly agreed that all was well. I'm not saying I didn't love the ending, just that I wish there had been a bit more into her decision. Aside from that one little thing, though, I loved the book and can't wait to read more in the series!
I really liked this book and love a good friends to lovers trope! I thought the relationship between Wes and Emma progressed naturally, and although it was easy to get the timeframe confused at times, I'm glad it was stretched out over a longer period of time rather than being a quick progression.
The only thing I didn't love was how quickly Emma accepted her feelings for Wes at the end. I think for as much as she was fighting it the rest of the book, it would have been nice to see more into her thought process as to why she so suddenly agreed that all was well. I'm not saying I didn't love the ending, just that I wish there had been a bit more into her decision. Aside from that one little thing, though, I loved the book and can't wait to read more in the series!
thatbookishbrunette21's review
4.0
Decidedly By Chance was a delightful, sweet, laugh out loud and sexy friends to romance story. Stina Lindenblatt has skillfully created real characters that you want to get to know, including the perfect blend of side characters who provide the story with additional humor and warmth. There was little angst in this story and though Hannah’s fears caused some conflict, it was minor, allowing the book to maintain its lightheartedness.
Overall, this was a sweet and fun read with emotional depth and great characters. If you enjoy a low drama and heartfelt romance, this is the book for you. This is the fifth book in the By the Bay series but can be read as a standalone.
I received an ARC copy of this book through NetGalley and the publisher and voluntarily read and reviewed this book.
Overall, this was a sweet and fun read with emotional depth and great characters. If you enjoy a low drama and heartfelt romance, this is the book for you. This is the fifth book in the By the Bay series but can be read as a standalone.
I received an ARC copy of this book through NetGalley and the publisher and voluntarily read and reviewed this book.
lianareadsblog's review against another edition
4.0
I finally had a chance to read one of the author’s books as I have her on my TBR list for a while now.
This story is the fifth in the series but I think it can be easily read as a stand-alone.
I loved the idea of a single mother by choice and how she found love in an unexpected way. All the ups and downs that a couple are going through when these situations are coming in their way, are very real and it made for a great story.
Looking forward to more books by the author.
This story is the fifth in the series but I think it can be easily read as a stand-alone.
I loved the idea of a single mother by choice and how she found love in an unexpected way. All the ups and downs that a couple are going through when these situations are coming in their way, are very real and it made for a great story.
Looking forward to more books by the author.
romancereadingreactions's review
3.0
I really enjoyed the concept of this story, it's something pretty unique that I haven't seen too much of before! However, I think it could have been improved by being about 50 pages shorter, or maybe by putting those 50 pages toward something other than Hannah's repetitive self-doubt/hesitations. There was minimal conflict in this story, and most of the time it felt like Hannah dragging her feet was the only thing stopping them from being happy, and that got very annoying to read. (Also wow, pot calling the kettle black when she told Wes he should talk to a therapist. She wasn't wrong, but this story would have gone way differently if everyone had a good therapy session, holy crap!)
Wes was amazing, Everly was so adorable, and I loved all of the side characters! I really just wanted to see more of everyone being happy and together!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided to me through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to the author and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book and I'm sorry for the delay in my reading/reviewing; it's been a bit of a year!
Wes was amazing, Everly was so adorable, and I loved all of the side characters! I really just wanted to see more of everyone being happy and together!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided to me through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to the author and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book and I'm sorry for the delay in my reading/reviewing; it's been a bit of a year!
lindseysreads's review against another edition
2.0
What I didn't like:
- characters lacked personality
- story wasn’t that unique/lacked a little more depth
- characters lacked personality
- story wasn’t that unique/lacked a little more depth
wildmadi12350's review
3.0
Very cute and simple book! Everly was definitely my favorite character, so cute. I didn’t read the series in order, this can be read as a stand-alone.
jemifraser's review
Stina Lindenblatt knows how to make you feel all the feels!
There is a ton of emotion in this story and it pulls you from page to page as you hope for Hannah and Wes (and Everly!) to figure out what they want and need. As always the secondary characters are full of life and great foils for the leads. Another great read!
There is a ton of emotion in this story and it pulls you from page to page as you hope for Hannah and Wes (and Everly!) to figure out what they want and need. As always the secondary characters are full of life and great foils for the leads. Another great read!
ley2003grad's review against another edition
5.0
I voluntarily received this book for an honest review!
I love Wes and Hannah. They have such a cute story. Everly and LB(little bean). It had to confess your feelings to someone when your afraid to be hurt. Which you have been hurt before in the past and especially by family, the ones who are suppose to love you the most!
This story has moments of intense feelings of love but at the same time self doubt. That doubt is something we all endure and this story will show you a little bit of how to over come.
Such a sweet family oriented story.
I love Wes and Hannah. They have such a cute story. Everly and LB(little bean). It had to confess your feelings to someone when your afraid to be hurt. Which you have been hurt before in the past and especially by family, the ones who are suppose to love you the most!
This story has moments of intense feelings of love but at the same time self doubt. That doubt is something we all endure and this story will show you a little bit of how to over come.
Such a sweet family oriented story.
sgarrett27's review against another edition
4.0
Decidedly by Chance was the first book that I’ve read by Stina Lindenblatt and is the fifth book in the By the Bay series.
It can be read as a standalone, which is how I read it, but references other couples from earlier in the series.
This book was a really cute and beautiful contemporary romance. It’s the story of Hannah and Wes. Hannah is a paediatric nurse and Wes is software designer who have been friends for two years. Hannah decides that she wants to have a baby but goes the route of insemination rather than the traditional way.
Wes has always thought Hannah was beautiful and always wanted to see if there was more between them. But when his brother and sister-in-law tragically die in an accident and he becomes guardian to his three-year-old niece, Everly, things change.
Wes and Hannah both believe that they don’t have the time for a relationship but when events push them together, feelings start to develop between them.
I truly enjoyed reading this book and really can’t wait to read more in this series.
It can be read as a standalone, which is how I read it, but references other couples from earlier in the series.
This book was a really cute and beautiful contemporary romance. It’s the story of Hannah and Wes. Hannah is a paediatric nurse and Wes is software designer who have been friends for two years. Hannah decides that she wants to have a baby but goes the route of insemination rather than the traditional way.
Wes has always thought Hannah was beautiful and always wanted to see if there was more between them. But when his brother and sister-in-law tragically die in an accident and he becomes guardian to his three-year-old niece, Everly, things change.
Wes and Hannah both believe that they don’t have the time for a relationship but when events push them together, feelings start to develop between them.
I truly enjoyed reading this book and really can’t wait to read more in this series.