Scan barcode
rickosborne's review
emotional
slow-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? Yes
4.75
This was absolutely delightful. I appreciated the handling of both FMCs. Megan had big golden retriever energy, while Lena's anxiety and OCD were handled well.
Rep: FMC of Indian descent with anxiety attacks and OCD
Sex:two R-rated scenes, one delightfully imperfect
Tags: #DualPOV #FamilyIssues #FearfulNeutralPair #ForcedProximity #GoldenRetrieverMC #ImperfectSex #Neurodiverse #NuisanceEx #StructureMeetsWhimsy #ThirdPersonPOV
Rep: FMC of Indian descent with anxiety attacks and OCD
Sex:
Tags: #DualPOV #FamilyIssues #FearfulNeutralPair #ForcedProximity #GoldenRetrieverMC #ImperfectSex #Neurodiverse #NuisanceEx #StructureMeetsWhimsy #ThirdPersonPOV
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia
qraveline's review
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia and Sexual content
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Toxic relationship
wickedregal's review against another edition
3.0
So... I didn't love it, but I also didn't hate it. At first I honestly was sitting there thinking "what am I exactly reading?", because nothing really happened for the first 50% of the book. I kept waiting, thinking "Okay this is when the chemistry starts, right?" **crickets** okaaay... Just, nothing was happening. It simply seemed to be a day in the life of these two random people, and while that is okay to an extent... an entire half of a book of nothing? I get it. Lena has OCD, she's been hurt by her ex which has made her a bit bitchy. Understandable. Megan, a clumsy sweet girl, also hurt by her ex, and is a bit taken back by Lena's bitchiness. Great okay we got this... no? So we're just going to repeat different things to point out the OCD and then the clumsy. **taps foot** Is anything going to happen? **sighs**
So I was beginning to give up completely on this book, but at the same time, something kept me wanting to read more in hopes of finding it. Even when a situation made them have to live together for a bit I thought okay here we go yes... and frustratingly, no. At first... but then it finally picked up and it happened about half way through the book. Christmas day with Megan's family. I'm like okay so that's a step in the right direction. Sweet, here we... go... and no. UGH! Frustration abounds. But at least we have at this point something to yell at, like one does at the tv when you're just like "OMG!! They like you, you like them, just..." **tires to smoosh them together** Everytime you think they're getting there... Lena's doubts and inner turmoil rears its ugly head and she retreats. But if you understand or have been in Lena's place, you get it and by this point you're fighting for her to fight for herself and her happiness. Well that or you just want to slap her.
Basically bottom line of my review. First part, I didn't care for, not enough things to keep me loving it. But I enjoyed the last part of the book. More emotion, more work with relations, just more everything. Which is why my review is split down the middle and given a solid 3. The book isn't the greatest but it isn't the worst. I enjoyed it enough by the end and did end up liking both Lena and Megan.
So I was beginning to give up completely on this book, but at the same time, something kept me wanting to read more in hopes of finding it. Even when a situation made them have to live together for a bit I thought okay here we go yes... and frustratingly, no. At first... but then it finally picked up and it happened about half way through the book. Christmas day with Megan's family. I'm like okay so that's a step in the right direction. Sweet, here we... go... and no. UGH! Frustration abounds. But at least we have at this point something to yell at, like one does at the tv when you're just like "OMG!! They like you, you like them, just..." **tires to smoosh them together** Everytime you think they're getting there... Lena's doubts and inner turmoil rears its ugly head and she retreats. But if you understand or have been in Lena's place, you get it and by this point you're fighting for her to fight for herself and her happiness. Well that or you just want to slap her.
Basically bottom line of my review. First part, I didn't care for, not enough things to keep me loving it. But I enjoyed the last part of the book. More emotion, more work with relations, just more everything. Which is why my review is split down the middle and given a solid 3. The book isn't the greatest but it isn't the worst. I enjoyed it enough by the end and did end up liking both Lena and Megan.
elvang's review against another edition
3.0
I appreciated how the author showed the impact cultural differences can have on a character’s personality. We know Lena suffers from OCD and wow, that is well spelled out. What made this story more than just another inclusion by a writer of a person of colour to impress a broader audience was how effectively other Lena’s life was shown to be from the usual WASP perspective. Well done.
I also appreciated how effective the author was at pointing out what a doormat poor Megan and her low self esteem proved to be. She’s a nice person who has suffered at the hands of family and friends yet maintains her sunny disposition. As crusty as Lena was portrayed, I think her strong personality was needed to show Megan she could be stronger around others. That said, Lena didn’t win any points for constantly lashing out at Megan. This romance was a hard sell.
Too bad about the cover. Ylva needs to find a cover designer who’s read a draft of the book to know that the clumsy oafish Megan and voluptuous Lena do no match the characters portrayed. And lose the cat. It’s false advertising.
ARC received from publisher for review.
I also appreciated how effective the author was at pointing out what a doormat poor Megan and her low self esteem proved to be. She’s a nice person who has suffered at the hands of family and friends yet maintains her sunny disposition. As crusty as Lena was portrayed, I think her strong personality was needed to show Megan she could be stronger around others. That said, Lena didn’t win any points for constantly lashing out at Megan. This romance was a hard sell.
Too bad about the cover. Ylva needs to find a cover designer who’s read a draft of the book to know that the clumsy oafish Megan and voluptuous Lena do no match the characters portrayed. And lose the cat. It’s false advertising.
ARC received from publisher for review.
lariissand's review against another edition
4.0
I don't know why people are so bitter about this book. It's actually a quite nice, mindless, funny story. It's not like you pick this up expecting angst and a super well elaborate plot. There's some character development without unnecessary hurt and they actually talk about their problems. Some light reading for a cold morning.
loveinpanels's review against another edition
4.0
Caveat on this rating here that I’m not sure that the author was the right person to write about a British Indian woman’s experience with homophobia from / being disowned by her parents.
theamandashelby's review against another edition
5.0
I was very surprised by the ratings and early reviews of this book. I loved the book. I really enjoyed the characters. I always enjoy characters more when they have flaws/quirks. I connect so much more with them. I also love diverse characters. I wish more publishers would work at including more diverse characters in their novels. I read a lot of books but I nearly always love YLVA books. For me this book checked a lot of my favorites off, diverse characters, not cookie cutter or formulaic romance, romance was slow and required work, had internal conflicts and external conflicts to overcome, secondary characters were likeable (I could have used more of this), and I overall enjoyed the writing style and story. For me this was a win.
alicelover_1's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
3.0
nonbinaryknight's review against another edition
5.0
4.5/5
The reviews for this book seem to be all over the place. Personally, I loved it.
I probably would have given it a 5/5 instead of a 4.5/5 if the beginning part didn’t feel like it dragged on to me.
This book was kind of exactly what I was expecting and better than I had hoped. I enjoyed the way the relationship developed between the two of them, especially with Lena being called out by her sister for some of her behaviors in regard to Megan (and others). I enjoyed the side characters, although I do kind of now want a story about the relationship between Alisha and Jen, and they didn’t feel too forced into the story.
I especially loved Brooks way of portraying Lena’s character. At no point did she try to make her out to be a flawless human being, rather she gave reason to the flaws. Insecurities, OCD, anxiety, there aren’t age limits to these things and I liked how Brooks portrayed them. It made sense for Lena to have doubts and worries, especially because of her parents and her ex. It also made sense that Megan wouldn’t have these exact same insecurities but would rather have insecurities that came with being raised with all brothers and having the nickname Lumpy from her family.
I also like that the author didn’t try to portray their first-time having sex as a flawless act, rather it was stopped when one of the characters grew uncomfortable. The author also acknowledged that a person’s insecurities don’t just go away because they happened to meet someone and sleep with someone that they feel comfortable with.
The characters in this book felt real to me and I enjoyed that immensely. They felt like characters I could meet in real life and the situation that brought them together felt realistic (as realistic as offering a place to stay for a near-stranger can be). I thought the book was well-written and well-developed. I will admit that the cat on the cover of the book really doesn’t make sense though, there was a cat but only for a short while.
I would recommend this book if you want some realism in your sapphic love stories. It's a good read with realistic characters and concerns and I enjoyed it a lot.
The reviews for this book seem to be all over the place. Personally, I loved it.
I probably would have given it a 5/5 instead of a 4.5/5 if the beginning part didn’t feel like it dragged on to me.
This book was kind of exactly what I was expecting and better than I had hoped. I enjoyed the way the relationship developed between the two of them, especially with Lena being called out by her sister for some of her behaviors in regard to Megan (and others). I enjoyed the side characters, although I do kind of now want a story about the relationship between Alisha and Jen, and they didn’t feel too forced into the story.
I especially loved Brooks way of portraying Lena’s character. At no point did she try to make her out to be a flawless human being, rather she gave reason to the flaws. Insecurities, OCD, anxiety, there aren’t age limits to these things and I liked how Brooks portrayed them. It made sense for Lena to have doubts and worries, especially because of her parents and her ex. It also made sense that Megan wouldn’t have these exact same insecurities but would rather have insecurities that came with being raised with all brothers and having the nickname Lumpy from her family.
I also like that the author didn’t try to portray their first-time having sex as a flawless act, rather it was stopped when one of the characters grew uncomfortable. The author also acknowledged that a person’s insecurities don’t just go away because they happened to meet someone and sleep with someone that they feel comfortable with.
The characters in this book felt real to me and I enjoyed that immensely. They felt like characters I could meet in real life and the situation that brought them together felt realistic (as realistic as offering a place to stay for a near-stranger can be). I thought the book was well-written and well-developed. I will admit that the cat on the cover of the book really doesn’t make sense though, there was a cat but only for a short while.
I would recommend this book if you want some realism in your sapphic love stories. It's a good read with realistic characters and concerns and I enjoyed it a lot.
jediroot's review against another edition
3.0
I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
It's really too bad my original review didn't get posted.... writing this for the second time.
Basically this is neighbors to lovers type of lesfic set in London.
You have Megan, a personal trainer who is very clumsy and very nice but let people walk over her. She moved in the building where Lena lives. Lena is Indian-British and an introvert. She struggles with socializing due to past relationship and difficulties related to her OCD. Nice diversity in my book.
I think the best part about this novel is how both of the main characters struggles with their flaw and grow through the story. I'm not going to spoil the details, but I enjoyed the process they went through.
The romance between them was okay. Not exactly sizzling, but I can see the love forming slowly. There's something missing but I can't exactly place what that is. I was more interested in their growth rather than their relationship.
Overall it's alright story. Not great, but not bad either.
It's really too bad my original review didn't get posted.... writing this for the second time.
Basically this is neighbors to lovers type of lesfic set in London.
You have Megan, a personal trainer who is very clumsy and very nice but let people walk over her. She moved in the building where Lena lives. Lena is Indian-British and an introvert. She struggles with socializing due to past relationship and difficulties related to her OCD. Nice diversity in my book.
I think the best part about this novel is how both of the main characters struggles with their flaw and grow through the story. I'm not going to spoil the details, but I enjoyed the process they went through.
The romance between them was okay. Not exactly sizzling, but I can see the love forming slowly. There's something missing but I can't exactly place what that is. I was more interested in their growth rather than their relationship.
Overall it's alright story. Not great, but not bad either.