mal_bookdragon's review
4.0
This was an adorkable light read. I’m a sucker for fauxmance stories and this one didn’t disappoint.
Jake owns a pub/brewery that Clementine enjoys working from on her books/narration job. He’s a studly stud and she’s an awkward book nerd. A trope that’s been done many times over but it wasn’t too cliche.
Clem family was a riot; big, loud and over the top but in the most charming way. They truly made an amazing supporting cast.
Jake’s bestie and business partner was a delight as well and I’m about to go read his book now.
Jake owns a pub/brewery that Clementine enjoys working from on her books/narration job. He’s a studly stud and she’s an awkward book nerd. A trope that’s been done many times over but it wasn’t too cliche.
Clem family was a riot; big, loud and over the top but in the most charming way. They truly made an amazing supporting cast.
Jake’s bestie and business partner was a delight as well and I’m about to go read his book now.
anabelsbrother's review against another edition
4.0
Also on Romances Ever After as a part of the blog tour.
Charming is the word I’d use if somebody asked me to describe Real Kind of Love in one word. This book is charming. I am utterly charmed by this book. It felt like I was watching a Hallmark movie in my head while I was reading this book. I loved every scene on every page and I never wanted it to end.
Our heroine, Clementine, is a civil engineer turned audiobook narrator, and she makes a whole lot more money narrating books, which is inspiring to me, a recently-graduated-and-now-seeking-jobs biotechnology engineer because I don’t know if I’d get a job in my field so now I’m calculating escape plans, but I digress. Clem is so adorable, I love her. She’s also shy and socially awkward, and there were some second-hand embarrassment scenes in this book that made me laugh out loud and then hide my face under the pillow because NOOOOO. I totally feel for her because she’s the introvert one in a big family full of boisterous people and I’m sad to see her uncomfortable even being among her own family members.
Our hero, Jake, owns the bar where Clem frequently goes to drink and work for the past three years. They have a steady relationship with each other, in a way that I would even say they’re friends. I think I requested this book because Jake was described as a broody guy, but he wasn’t, and I don’t mind that all because he is so nice. I love his relationship with his best friend, Eli, and I love his passion for business. His bar is named Holy Grale and I love that bit too. Also, did I mention that Jake stress-cleans? A man after my own heart!
Clem and Jake are wrong on paper but they work so well together. I just about died when Jake met Clem’s family on their getaway and they tried to give him a custom ‘family’ shirt that turned out to be small because he was built?
I love that Jake really cared about Clem, and he basically just went along with whatever her family had planned because he didn’t want to disappoint her. Jake’s basically the best fake boyfriend ever. I would totally hire him for my own family gathering. I also love that Clem, who preferred her own company more than people, was comfortable enough around Jake to be herself. They basically fell for each other within the week Coxes’ family vacation and it didn’t feel rushed at all. Maybe it was because they technically have known each other for three years, or maybe because Sara Rider has magical powers? Who knows?
Also worth mentioning that their sexy times were pretty hot because Clem was working on narration for an erotic romance novel, and she was kind of in a narrator’s block because she couldn’t figure out the hero’s voice, and then suddenly Jake was there as the perfect inspo, and they might have re-enacted some scenes because, you know, science. I am a big fan of science.
It feels wrong not to give a shoutout to the secondary characters in this book because they are amazing. Eli, Jake’s best friend and business partner, is a dreamboat and I’m already excited that he will be getting his own book next. He is so supportive of Jake, and he really cares about him. He gives Jake good advice too. Their banter is one of my favourite things about this book.
Clem’s family are a riot. I love big families in books, and this family is now one of my favourites. They kind of reminded me of the Kowalskis from Shannon Stacey’s the Kowalski series. They’re a bit nuts, but they have big hearts. Clem’s Grandma Jean especially is my favourite. She's this cool grandma who says the most outrageous things and gives wisdom with breakfast. I love seeing Jake bonding with Clem’s family, he fits right in with them. Sara managed to write them in without them overshadowing Jake and Clem because the Coxes sure have big personalities.
Overall, it’s been so much fun reading this book. I finished it all in one sitting because I just couldn’t stop. The epilogue (YES, IT HAS AN EPILOGUE, YAY) made me sigh and wish I wasn’t single. The excerpt of Eli’s book had me going YES because it’s going to be an enemies-to-lovers thing, and the heroine is his neighbour (!!!). I’m looking forward to reading more of Sara Rider’s works.
E-ARC is received thanks to the author.
Charming is the word I’d use if somebody asked me to describe Real Kind of Love in one word. This book is charming. I am utterly charmed by this book. It felt like I was watching a Hallmark movie in my head while I was reading this book. I loved every scene on every page and I never wanted it to end.
Our heroine, Clementine, is a civil engineer turned audiobook narrator, and she makes a whole lot more money narrating books, which is inspiring to me, a recently-graduated-and-now-seeking-jobs biotechnology engineer because I don’t know if I’d get a job in my field so now I’m calculating escape plans, but I digress. Clem is so adorable, I love her. She’s also shy and socially awkward, and there were some second-hand embarrassment scenes in this book that made me laugh out loud and then hide my face under the pillow because NOOOOO. I totally feel for her because she’s the introvert one in a big family full of boisterous people and I’m sad to see her uncomfortable even being among her own family members.
Our hero, Jake, owns the bar where Clem frequently goes to drink and work for the past three years. They have a steady relationship with each other, in a way that I would even say they’re friends. I think I requested this book because Jake was described as a broody guy, but he wasn’t, and I don’t mind that all because he is so nice. I love his relationship with his best friend, Eli, and I love his passion for business. His bar is named Holy Grale and I love that bit too. Also, did I mention that Jake stress-cleans? A man after my own heart!
Clem and Jake are wrong on paper but they work so well together. I just about died when Jake met Clem’s family on their getaway and they tried to give him a custom ‘family’ shirt that turned out to be small because he was built?
“I had a shirt printed for your new boyfriend, but you never told me he was so…big. Every other boy you’ve brought home has been so skinny.”
I love that Jake really cared about Clem, and he basically just went along with whatever her family had planned because he didn’t want to disappoint her. Jake’s basically the best fake boyfriend ever. I would totally hire him for my own family gathering. I also love that Clem, who preferred her own company more than people, was comfortable enough around Jake to be herself. They basically fell for each other within the week Coxes’ family vacation and it didn’t feel rushed at all. Maybe it was because they technically have known each other for three years, or maybe because Sara Rider has magical powers? Who knows?
Also worth mentioning that their sexy times were pretty hot because Clem was working on narration for an erotic romance novel, and she was kind of in a narrator’s block because she couldn’t figure out the hero’s voice, and then suddenly Jake was there as the perfect inspo, and they might have re-enacted some scenes because, you know, science. I am a big fan of science.
It feels wrong not to give a shoutout to the secondary characters in this book because they are amazing. Eli, Jake’s best friend and business partner, is a dreamboat and I’m already excited that he will be getting his own book next. He is so supportive of Jake, and he really cares about him. He gives Jake good advice too. Their banter is one of my favourite things about this book.
Clem’s family are a riot. I love big families in books, and this family is now one of my favourites. They kind of reminded me of the Kowalskis from Shannon Stacey’s the Kowalski series. They’re a bit nuts, but they have big hearts. Clem’s Grandma Jean especially is my favourite. She's this cool grandma who says the most outrageous things and gives wisdom with breakfast. I love seeing Jake bonding with Clem’s family, he fits right in with them. Sara managed to write them in without them overshadowing Jake and Clem because the Coxes sure have big personalities.
Overall, it’s been so much fun reading this book. I finished it all in one sitting because I just couldn’t stop. The epilogue (YES, IT HAS AN EPILOGUE, YAY) made me sigh and wish I wasn’t single. The excerpt of Eli’s book had me going YES because it’s going to be an enemies-to-lovers thing, and the heroine is his neighbour (!!!). I’m looking forward to reading more of Sara Rider’s works.
E-ARC is received thanks to the author.
mal_bookdragon's review against another edition
4.0
This was an adorkable light read. I’m a sucker for fauxmance stories and this one didn’t disappoint.
Jake owns a pub/brewery that Clementine enjoys working from on her books/narration job. He’s a studly stud and she’s an awkward book nerd. A trope that’s been done many times over but it wasn’t too cliche.
Clem family was a riot; big, loud and over the top but in the most charming way. They truly made an amazing supporting cast.
Jake’s bestie and business partner was a delight as well and I’m about to go read his book now.
Jake owns a pub/brewery that Clementine enjoys working from on her books/narration job. He’s a studly stud and she’s an awkward book nerd. A trope that’s been done many times over but it wasn’t too cliche.
Clem family was a riot; big, loud and over the top but in the most charming way. They truly made an amazing supporting cast.
Jake’s bestie and business partner was a delight as well and I’m about to go read his book now.
elleelizabethx's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-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
brittanyreadsbooks's review
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
This book was nice! It was a cute book focusing a bit on romance reading rep and a microbrewery which was an interesting mix!
It was a quick read and left me interested in more! It was well written and had interesting well rounded characters.
❤️ Sweet
❤️ Fake Dating
❤️ Forced Proximity
❤️ Big Nosey Family
racheldiep's review
3.0
Breezy and fun, but on a personal level, I guess I'm just over the whole daughter-pleasing-parent-and-not-standing-up-for-herself trope, which the protagonist of this book, Clem, breathes to a rather annoying degree. I liked Sara Rider's first book in the series, Make Me Fall, better.
cameronmelton7's review against another edition
4.0
It was cute! Your typical fake dating trope with nothing really special about it but it was a fun quick read.
sjroth's review against another edition
DNF. This doesn’t strike me as particularly well written. I was somewhat intrigued by the first chapter, but then when we met the obvious and over-the-top villain, got an information dump regarding his business woes, and met her terrible family within the span of just a few pages, I had to throw in the towel. I skimmed some future chapters and this just isn’t my cup of tea. It feels like the author is trying too hard to accomplish too much. I prefer romances that don’t take themselves so seriously.
afoolsingenuity's review against another edition
4.0
I spent quite a while reading this book. Far longer than I would usually spend readings romance, especially when it is one of my favourite tropes: fake relationships. In fact, this wasn't my first attempt to read this book. I began this around the time of its release but it wasn't the book I was in the mood for so I put it to one side. This time around though I seriously enjoyed it.
I wasn't really in a romance mood when I picked this up at the start of the week but I had something coming up I was nervous about so I knew a romance would be the most low pressure read for me and this was ideal. It worked. It distracted me from my nerves and was fun. I didn't expect to enjoy it so much when I wasnt even in the mood to read it. Clem instantly charmed me with her bookish anti social ways. Girl may not be a people person but she sounded like my kind of people so I was cheering for her to get her a sexy man like Jake because that's what she deserved.
Jake frustrated me with all the blame he laid on himself. Seriously the self flagellation got old fast but I got why he felt that way. And I was interested to see when he would forgive himself and allow himself some happiness and move forward in life because he and Clem were so meant to be. The spark between them was insane so I enjoyed reading their story especially with Clem's hilarious family in the background providing all the comic relief. I loved Clem's family and how close they all were (even when Clem claimed to hate them she loved them. They annoyed her because they were all so close).
I loved this book it was absolutely amazing and it was the perfect distraction when I needed it most.
I wasn't really in a romance mood when I picked this up at the start of the week but I had something coming up I was nervous about so I knew a romance would be the most low pressure read for me and this was ideal. It worked. It distracted me from my nerves and was fun. I didn't expect to enjoy it so much when I wasnt even in the mood to read it. Clem instantly charmed me with her bookish anti social ways. Girl may not be a people person but she sounded like my kind of people so I was cheering for her to get her a sexy man like Jake because that's what she deserved.
Jake frustrated me with all the blame he laid on himself. Seriously the self flagellation got old fast but I got why he felt that way. And I was interested to see when he would forgive himself and allow himself some happiness and move forward in life because he and Clem were so meant to be. The spark between them was insane so I enjoyed reading their story especially with Clem's hilarious family in the background providing all the comic relief. I loved Clem's family and how close they all were (even when Clem claimed to hate them she loved them. They annoyed her because they were all so close).
I loved this book it was absolutely amazing and it was the perfect distraction when I needed it most.