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ihateprozac's review against another edition
4.0
I loved how this blended enemies to lovers in a way that felt like a second chance romance, because they both fucked up and completely misinterpreted things back in high school!
This was really cute, really steamy, and surprisingly didn’t annoy me given that I’m not into books about podcasters (or celebrities, influencers, vloggers etc). I do wish we’d gotten more of Jed’s job though, because this was verrrrrry Lola podcast heavy.
And my GOD was the third act breakup infuriating. Thankfully it only lasts about 5 pages, but the trope drives me up the fucking WALL.
This was really cute, really steamy, and surprisingly didn’t annoy me given that I’m not into books about podcasters (or celebrities, influencers, vloggers etc). I do wish we’d gotten more of Jed’s job though, because this was verrrrrry Lola podcast heavy.
And my GOD was the third act breakup infuriating. Thankfully it only lasts about 5 pages, but the
Spoiler
”I got a job interstate and am not even going to let you have a choice in the relationship ending”kalie626's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
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
4.0
stillhurtingolive's review against another edition
3.0
I know it was integral to their story but if a man ever proposed to me at a high school football game, I’d say no. But maybe I’m just from the north.
bee_thebibliophile's review against another edition
3.0
Heading back to Green Valley is always a good time and Lola and Jed’s story was no different. While it was a quick read in one of my favorite story settings, I found myself wanting more.
Lola Landry a little lost after losing her job in New Orleans and having to move back to Green Valley to live with her aunt. She’s working as a waitress and hosting and producing a dating podcast with her best friend Marly to keep her marketing skills sharp for when she finds her next dream job. Lola’s a planner in every sense of the word who struggles to give up control and is always thinking five steps ahead instead of living in the moment. Her goals have always been to be successful and she thinks the only way to do that is to leave Green Valley and work for an impressive company, something that really bothered me. Her pride and selfishness really turned me off to her as a character and her deception on dates for her podcast made me like her even less.
Jedediah (Jed) Lawson is a Green Valley firefighter who was a high school and college football star and ended up giving it all up to take care of his family. He makes dinner for his dad every night, tutors his niece every week, picks his other niece up from daycare every Wednesday and takes his grandma to the grocery store monthly on a Friday night. He’s the sweetest, most caring guy, so genuine and passionate - I loved him so much. Jed’s been interested in Lola since their freshman year of high school and now that she’s back in town, he’s made it his mission to make up for lost time and make her his.
These two had a lot of history to overcome before getting together. They’re kind of enemies but there’s lots of chemistry simmering under the surface. Jed always had his mind set on Lola, even when Lola was completely oblivious to his interest. Once Lola gets out of her own head and sees the truth in Jed’s intentions, these two are sweet together. But I hated Lola’s insistence on leaving Jed out of her decisions, keeping him in the dark and hurting him by taking his opinions completely out of the equation. It ended up working out for them but Lola’s pride really got in the way of their relationship and caused a lot of unnecessary heartache.
I really didn’t love the concept of Lola and Marly’s podcast - it felt really disingenuous that Lola would go on dates with men and then throw them a curveball at the end that it wasn’t ever serious for her and she wanted to use them to create podcast content. My heart hurt for Jed when he found out that’s what Lola was thinking about when she said yes in the first place, but I loved that he was a good sport and turned it into a challenge.
After loving the first book in this series, Parks and Provocation was just alright for me. I wanted more about Jed’s work at the fire department, not just using it as a plot device to show Lola she’s interested in him or showing how serious her feelings were after he got called to a scene. I enjoyed going back to Green Valley and Jed’s sweet manliness, but Lola just wasn’t for me.
Lola Landry a little lost after losing her job in New Orleans and having to move back to Green Valley to live with her aunt. She’s working as a waitress and hosting and producing a dating podcast with her best friend Marly to keep her marketing skills sharp for when she finds her next dream job. Lola’s a planner in every sense of the word who struggles to give up control and is always thinking five steps ahead instead of living in the moment. Her goals have always been to be successful and she thinks the only way to do that is to leave Green Valley and work for an impressive company, something that really bothered me. Her pride and selfishness really turned me off to her as a character and her deception on dates for her podcast made me like her even less.
Jedediah (Jed) Lawson is a Green Valley firefighter who was a high school and college football star and ended up giving it all up to take care of his family. He makes dinner for his dad every night, tutors his niece every week, picks his other niece up from daycare every Wednesday and takes his grandma to the grocery store monthly on a Friday night. He’s the sweetest, most caring guy, so genuine and passionate - I loved him so much. Jed’s been interested in Lola since their freshman year of high school and now that she’s back in town, he’s made it his mission to make up for lost time and make her his.
These two had a lot of history to overcome before getting together. They’re kind of enemies but there’s lots of chemistry simmering under the surface. Jed always had his mind set on Lola, even when Lola was completely oblivious to his interest. Once Lola gets out of her own head and sees the truth in Jed’s intentions, these two are sweet together. But I hated Lola’s insistence on leaving Jed out of her decisions, keeping him in the dark and hurting him by taking his opinions completely out of the equation. It ended up working out for them but Lola’s pride really got in the way of their relationship and caused a lot of unnecessary heartache.
I really didn’t love the concept of Lola and Marly’s podcast - it felt really disingenuous that Lola would go on dates with men and then throw them a curveball at the end that it wasn’t ever serious for her and she wanted to use them to create podcast content. My heart hurt for Jed when he found out that’s what Lola was thinking about when she said yes in the first place, but I loved that he was a good sport and turned it into a challenge.
After loving the first book in this series, Parks and Provocation was just alright for me. I wanted more about Jed’s work at the fire department, not just using it as a plot device to show Lola she’s interested in him or showing how serious her feelings were after he got called to a scene. I enjoyed going back to Green Valley and Jed’s sweet manliness, but Lola just wasn’t for me.
sianny's review against another edition
4.0
sweet and spicy
Lola has temporarily moved back to her hometown of Green Valley, following the downsizing of her workplace. She’s always been a planner, and is somewhat embarrassed by having to start over again.
So when she accidentally locks her keys in her car, and has to be rescued by none other than her high school nemesis, Jed, she’s mortified. Why couldn’t he at least have gotten ugly or fat over the years? And why is being and, daresay, flirtatious?
I really enjoyed Cross’ writing style as I’ve never read one of her books before, and the cast of characters was a winning combination of sweet, cheeky, fun, caring, and haaawt!
I absolutely adored Marly as Lola’s best friend. Lola could be pretty uptight and unyielding at times, and Marly was the perfect naughty balance for her.
Jed was adorable in how fast he fell. And how he just accepted the truth in the depth of his feelings for Lola was lovely.
And I liked the fact that it wasn’t the hero messing things up this time, and the heroine had to do the grovelling.
Yes, there were a couple of minor discrepancies early on, such as the number of dates Lola had been on, but once I got into the story I’d pretty much forgotten about them.
Lola has temporarily moved back to her hometown of Green Valley, following the downsizing of her workplace. She’s always been a planner, and is somewhat embarrassed by having to start over again.
So when she accidentally locks her keys in her car, and has to be rescued by none other than her high school nemesis, Jed, she’s mortified. Why couldn’t he at least have gotten ugly or fat over the years? And why is being and, daresay, flirtatious?
I really enjoyed Cross’ writing style as I’ve never read one of her books before, and the cast of characters was a winning combination of sweet, cheeky, fun, caring, and haaawt!
I absolutely adored Marly as Lola’s best friend. Lola could be pretty uptight and unyielding at times, and Marly was the perfect naughty balance for her.
Jed was adorable in how fast he fell. And how he just accepted the truth in the depth of his feelings for Lola was lovely.
And I liked the fact that it wasn’t the hero messing things up this time, and the heroine had to do the grovelling.
Yes, there were a couple of minor discrepancies early on, such as the number of dates Lola had been on, but once I got into the story I’d pretty much forgotten about them.
hammock_and_read's review against another edition
5.0
Dang this one is smooth flowing - fun- cute- sweet- steamy and makes you wish you had a Jed back in high school, that would come back into your life. Jed is as they say nowadays a cinnamon roll book boyfriend- sweet and just perfect - don’t let that hot sexy firefighter cover make you think he is all icing, he is also spicy hot. Lola comes home to Green Valley after losing her job but has a plan to leave even after Jed comes back into her life. Lola has also started a podcast about dating which brings in her BFF Marly and brings in the laughing parts.
I just loved this book and found out this is Cross’s first contemporary romance and well its written like her 100th, so go read this! Also, she does an amazing job for the smartypants world fans of bringing in characters and settings which were all special nuggets of gold- but this could be read as a stand alone and it would still be wonderful! Also, loved all the fire talk
5 stars
4 steam
I just loved this book and found out this is Cross’s first contemporary romance and well its written like her 100th, so go read this! Also, she does an amazing job for the smartypants world fans of bringing in characters and settings which were all special nuggets of gold- but this could be read as a stand alone and it would still be wonderful! Also, loved all the fire talk
5 stars
4 steam
aduchene's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This was a fun “fake-dating” ish, high school almost sweethearts, one that got away read. I just got a little bummed by the ending, because women almost never seem to get it all…their dreams “change”. I especially enjoyed the humor of all the moments and the date podcast.
annika142's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-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? It's complicated
4.0
farhana101's review against another edition
4.0
A super cute small-town read, with second chance romance, childhood enemies to lovers. LITERALLY ALL THE BEST TROPES IN ONE.