Scan barcode
bri__'s review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death
siijayreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
《review contains spoilers》
.
.
.
.
.
.
rating: |☆☆☆☆☆|
I was only halfway through the book when I already knew I was going to freaking devour this and I was so right!! I only read this for 2 days and I think that speaks so much of how much I enjoyed this book. And enjoyed it I did 🤭 From start to finish I was absolutely HOOKED by the story and I knew I didn't want this to end.
This is the second book of the Dreamland Billionaires series and we officially get to know Declan, the oldest of the Kane brothers. His task to become the next CEO requires him to get married and have a child. Iris, his assistant for years, ends up being the woman who will eventually become his wife, and the journey of them faking their whole marriage up to them realizing the depth of how much they care for each other was an absolute swoony, angsty, funny, and romantic read and I absolutely ate it up!! I love them so much 🫶🤚😔
Iris is a QUEEN and a MOTHER!! I love how brave and determined she is to get through everything life throws her way and she doesn't take shit from anyone including Declan (which I live for!! I love me some badass fmc!!) and with all the things she has been through including growing up with an abusive father and being subjected to bullying because of her dyslexia, it is so damn satisfying seeing her grow and achieve everything she puts her mind to. I was absolutely rooting for her!! She is funny, inspiring, creative, and witty and it didn't take long for me to love her!!
Seeing the brothers heal from their past misunderstandings and healing from having to deal with their asshole father was a very refreshing moment. They didn't have the best father and it shows with the way they are now as adults but I am always in awe of their character development and how they slowly untangle themselves from unresolved traumas in order to become the better version of themselves.
For Declan, it wasn't easy for him being the oldest and protecting his siblings from their father and I admire the things he had done to protect them. I love how Lauren Asher wrote his character development because it didn't felt rushed or forced, and it took him losing the love of his life to figure out that he has made a big mistake and is willing to do everything to make things right. That groveling he did was GOD-TIER and I DEVOURED everything about it. There's something about a groveling mmc doing absolutely everything to get back the love of his life that has me weak 🫠 And their secret language texts had me giggling and kicking my feet like!! this book has everything I want in a romance book periodt.
Iris and Cal's friendship is everything!! And I cannot wait to start Final Offer and from the glimpses of his character from the first book and this one, he's already my fav brother 🤭
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal death, Bullying, Emotional abuse, and Death of parent
theangelssing's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Not my fav book but it is a nice one. (:
Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Animal death
beckyremillard's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Animal death
kaitlynnnng's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
This whole review contains spoilers.
Declan Kane is an even bigger jerk than Rowan Kane. Despite this fact, I still tried to root for him. It was extremely difficult for the first 200ish pages, then it was really easy for a while, but his fight with Iris was hard to come back from. Maybe it’s my PTSD 🙃
I am a sucker for happy endings like the one we got in this book, though, so my judgement is definitely cloudy.
Graphic: Sexual content and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Ableism, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Pregnancy
Minor: Animal death, Child abuse, Death, and Death of parent
merlesstorys's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I really liked Iris as a person, Declan not so much. He’s still an a-hole in my point of view. However, their story was as filled with tropes and clichés as other fake-marriage stories.
I also liked their word game, even when it left me curious to why some were chosen. The translations for them were amazing to have however. (But, just to clarify, Backpfeifengesicht means “a face badly in need of a slap” not fist. Word breakdown: Backpfeife = slap, Gesicht = Face.) That really made me laugh (both the word itself and the fact that it was not translated correctly.)
The plot weakened through that a bit. There were mostly motives that came through again and again (him wanting to work all day, Dreamland Tokyo,…) but not one storyline that was used throughout the whole book that created tension and the wish to continue reading. (The characters were used for that quite nicely though.)
The side characters were a pleasure, especially Cal who really came into the spotlight. Rowan and Zara were nice additions, and Seth Kane was an a-hole similar to Declan, but what a surprise lol.
All of this was influenced by the nice and fluent writing style of Lauren Asher. Her way to write left me hanging on, even when I was tired of this story and it’s faults.
Graphic: Sexual content, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Death, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
breereadsalot_'s review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Sexual content
Moderate: Misogyny and Pregnancy
Minor: Animal death