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meenakshisathish's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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? Yes
2.0
It would have been such a good read because the main characters do have enough chemistry and the conflict is believable. But there’s just too many tropes trying to out-do each other: dead mom, cancer-ailing mom, dead brother, toxic ex boyfriend, betraying best friend, funny side characters to give it a Brooklyn 99 feel. It feels more like a book written to do well in TikTok’s algorithm.
Perhaps I’m being a little hard because the heart of the story is really sweet. But the writing and the composition of the story is the real downfall of this book. But I think the nail on the coffin was the unmissable pick-me vibes saturated throughout the whole narrative. There are only three female characters that are redeemable: the main character Hannah, the ailing mother of Jack Stapleton, and the quirky side character Kelly who is really there only to be a comic relief from time to time. The rest of the women in the story are shallow, selfish, and often just outright dumb. The last time I read a romance novel that invested in the patriarchal bargain was in middle school when I read fan fiction stories on Wattpad.
Perhaps I’m being a little hard because the heart of the story is really sweet. But the writing and the composition of the story is the real downfall of this book. But I think the nail on the coffin was the unmissable pick-me vibes saturated throughout the whole narrative. There are only three female characters that are redeemable: the main character Hannah, the ailing mother of Jack Stapleton, and the quirky side character Kelly who is really there only to be a comic relief from time to time. The rest of the women in the story are shallow, selfish, and often just outright dumb. The last time I read a romance novel that invested in the patriarchal bargain was in middle school when I read fan fiction stories on Wattpad.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting and Body shaming
Moderate: Death of parent and Violence
Minor: Abandonment, Blood, and Alcoholism
lomesia's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Car accident, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Death, Death of parent, Stalking, and Gaslighting
Minor: Abandonment and Alcoholism
cemsreadingcorner's review against another edition
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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
Fantastic book!! The characters were great. I learned a lot about life and fame through them. I hated Hannah’s ex-boyfriend. He dumped her right after her mom’s funeral and then said she was a bad kisser. He then hooked up with her best friend and then broke up with her. What a sleaze-bag! After all that, he tried to get back with his ex, Hannah (you know, the one he dumped, then dissed). It’s a good thing she told him to go fuck himself (she didn’t say it in those words, though—although, she should have). I didn’t care for the parts where it would say “He looked at me, like Really?” I wish the author did not do that so much. Other than that, the story was enjoyable. It deserves the four and a half stars that I gave it. This was an entertaining, light read. I would recommend it to fans of romance books. 👍🏼👍🏼
Friday, October 13, 2023 at 2:04 PM
Friday, October 13, 2023 at 2:04 PM
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Stalking, Domestic abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Gun violence, Mental illness, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Alcoholism and Abandonment
raven1030's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
Minor: Domestic abuse, Cancer, and Abandonment
This is such a good book. I highly recommend it!champagnemami's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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? No
4.5
i LOVED this book! it's a great clean romcom, quick fun read, with hannah being the grumpy bodyguard and jack being the ray of sunshine "world's sexiest men" hollywood star, so much chemistry involved (i wish it was a little bit more steamier) but also heartfelt and comforting for the hannahs out there <3
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Gun violence, Stalking, Suicide attempt, and Abandonment
falennahrm's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Alcoholism, and Abandonment
tinkeringcheck's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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? Yes
4.0
First person romance is far from my usual, but I was completely taken in by the warmth and unique freshness of this story. Yes, it's a trope for the ages, but the healthiness of the relationship between the leads? A love interest with emotional maturity and an overabundance of green flags? Clear discussions of boundaries and feelings? It was a breath of fresh, Texas air and the best kind of romcom you can root for all wrapped into one wise, silly, hopeful package. I adored it. I adored all of these characters. And I especially adored Jack's family.
That being said: Do not (do not!) go into this book expecting realistic drama or steamy romance. It's a bantery, feel-good, bodyguard trope that runs on rom-com logic, but in the best way.
(Sidenote: As someone with a family member who taught crime prevention for a living: Hannah's way of looking at the world was pretty accurate. You can laugh at her for thinking about the ways a potted patio plant can be used to break a window, but there's a reason my silly painted rocks were never allowed on the front porch as a kid. Even though the romantic hijinks and kooky coworker drama could overshadow it, I thought those details showed that she really was quite capable at her job.)
That being said: Do not (do not!) go into this book expecting realistic drama or steamy romance. It's a bantery, feel-good, bodyguard trope that runs on rom-com logic, but in the best way.
(Sidenote: As someone with a family member who taught crime prevention for a living: Hannah's way of looking at the world was pretty accurate. You can laugh at her for thinking about the ways a potted patio plant can be used to break a window, but there's a reason my silly painted rocks were never allowed on the front porch as a kid. Even though the romantic hijinks and kooky coworker drama could overshadow it, I thought those details showed that she really was quite capable at her job.)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Car accident, Death, Death of parent, and Grief
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Alcoholism, Blood, Cancer, Medical content, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Abandonment and Vomit
Overall: It's a very light-hearted, hopeful book but it deals with some background heavy topics. DEATH OF PARENT, DEATH, GRIEF: Very beginning of book skims over the main character's mother dying, and the grief from that is a catalyst for the rest of the book. Grief (and hope) is a major theme. DOMESTIC/PHYSICAL ABUSE: Past, as a memory. A very violent incidence of it and the injuries/aftermath is described by character who was a child at the time. STALKING: With one lead being a famous actor, there's lots of discussions about stalking in general. Stalking incidents are discussed in detail, though light-heartedly, untilkcbatts's review against another edition
funny
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Cancer
Moderate: Alcoholism and Domestic abuse
Minor: Abandonment and Toxic relationship
matthewslaura's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
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
Okay I love Jack and Hannah & I love how real they felt. I read this stupidly fast because it was like watching a movie. I’m definitely going to read more books by Katherine Center in the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cancer, Sexual content, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Car accident, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Suicidal thoughts, Child abuse, Death, Violence, and Addiction
atamano's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident and Gun violence
Moderate: Stalking, Body shaming, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Cancer, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Mental illness and Vomit