amy_sutt's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
I enjoyed the overall story. It was an interesting twist to have the bookstore owner who isn't really a fan of reading (she inherits the store) and her relationship with a romance author. I did find the FMC a bit unlikeable for the early part of the book, although I did like her internal monologue. There is a lot of page devoted to Drew's grief for her Grandmother and how that dictated her actions over the year following her Grandmother's death. I didn't find this unrealistic because their relationship was really important to Drew, but it's good to know going into it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Abandonment
A good portion of the book speaks of Drew's grief for her recently passed grandmother. The abandonment issues are related to Drew's dad and the way he interacted with her mom and Drew after they divorced.notsobinaryart's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Very cute easy read! Love the concept and how relaxing and chill the book was. I wouldn’t come into it looking for super deep plot, or big character and internal questioning or changes. I’m a sucker for a lighthearted romance, but the book being a bit more surface level made this a less memorable option for me.
Better Than Fiction had a big pet peeve of mine in the first chapter or two, which was using slang abbreviations in the internal monologue. I can forgive that in dialogue, but it feels forced to say super informal abbreviations like “obvi” while reading the text.
An additional issue I experienced is we don’t learn much about the love interest as a person, other than the fact he’s an author, hot, and obsessed with the main character immediately. No friends, family, hobbies, or flaws to be seen other than the third act breakup, which is less of a character flaw and more of a one time thing.
If you want a light, easy read with low amounts of thinking, this is a good book for you! Love the side characters, love how even with stressful topics like grief and family trouble that it never feels too heavy.
Better Than Fiction had a big pet peeve of mine in the first chapter or two, which was using slang abbreviations in the internal monologue. I can forgive that in dialogue, but it feels forced to say super informal abbreviations like “obvi” while reading the text.
An additional issue I experienced is we don’t learn much about the love interest as a person, other than the fact he’s an author, hot, and obsessed with the main character immediately. No friends, family, hobbies, or flaws to be seen other than the third act breakup, which is less of a character flaw and more of a one time thing.
If you want a light, easy read with low amounts of thinking, this is a good book for you! Love the side characters, love how even with stressful topics like grief and family trouble that it never feels too heavy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol and Grief
Minor: Abandonment, Death, Vomit, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting
rysperez's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Toxic relationship with parental figure, delves intro he grief after losing an elderbibliomania_express's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Better Than Fiction by Alexa Martin follows a book-hating bookstore owner as she falls in love with a romance author while exploring the sights of Colorado. I loved Drew's friendship with Elsie and seeing her open up to her half-sister Daisy. There's also an awesome scene where she claps back to her emotionally abusive and selfish father.
This book also explores grief and what a legacy means. Drew inherited The Book Nook from her gran, who practically raised her, and she feels an intense obligation to run it. So much so that she throws away her own dreams. A lot of this book follows Drew as she tries to rediscover what she needs while balancing the store that her gran loved.
So. You might have noticed that this review says nothing about the romance yet. And that's because while Jasper was kind, consent-focused, attentive, and caring... he wasn't a real person. For a book that's main character's issue with reading and books is that they're escapist lies that misrepresent real relationships, this felt like an odd choice.
Now, for a small (ish) rant:
Sometimes, I feel like a petty romance reader. We all know romance is a fairy tale, a fantasy. But sometimes new romance just leans a bit too hard on a single image of a "hero", and I can't help but be annoyed. Jasper is one of those heroes. He's tall, people - six feet! Dark, shaggy hair. Stunning blue-green eyes. Everyone is overcome by hormones when they see him. Every. Single. Person.
They stare. They stutter. They sigh and stop all conversation. Yet the man seems to have no idea of his appeal. He's genuine in every moment. He's a great listener, who write the most beautiful romance novels. He cares about Drew's every thought and desire.
An actual quote from p. 121: "Imagine being so hot that the over-the-top reactions to your physical perfection are so common, you don't even notice when they happen."
I think I know five facts about this man, and most of them are in the synopsis.
And I actually enjoyed this book. The scene-setting was great; the older ladies of the Dirty Birds book club were fun without being overbearing, and it dealt with a lot of great themes. I just wish Jasper had been a more developed character.
This book also explores grief and what a legacy means. Drew inherited The Book Nook from her gran, who practically raised her, and she feels an intense obligation to run it. So much so that she throws away her own dreams. A lot of this book follows Drew as she tries to rediscover what she needs while balancing the store that her gran loved.
So. You might have noticed that this review says nothing about the romance yet. And that's because while Jasper was kind, consent-focused, attentive, and caring... he wasn't a real person. For a book that's main character's issue with reading and books is that they're escapist lies that misrepresent real relationships, this felt like an odd choice.
Now, for a small (ish) rant:
Sometimes, I feel like a petty romance reader. We all know romance is a fairy tale, a fantasy. But sometimes new romance just leans a bit too hard on a single image of a "hero", and I can't help but be annoyed. Jasper is one of those heroes. He's tall, people - six feet! Dark, shaggy hair. Stunning blue-green eyes. Everyone is overcome by hormones when they see him. Every. Single. Person.
They stare. They stutter. They sigh and stop all conversation. Yet the man seems to have no idea of his appeal. He's genuine in every moment. He's a great listener, who write the most beautiful romance novels. He cares about Drew's every thought and desire.
An actual quote from p. 121: "Imagine being so hot that the over-the-top reactions to your physical perfection are so common, you don't even notice when they happen."
I think I know five facts about this man, and most of them are in the synopsis.
And I actually enjoyed this book. The scene-setting was great; the older ladies of the Dirty Birds book club were fun without being overbearing, and it dealt with a lot of great themes. I just wish Jasper had been a more developed character.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief
kshaw's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-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
3.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Grief
beepbeep101's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Sexual content, and Grief
Moderate: Infidelity
Minor: Emotional abuse, Racism, Alcohol, and Vomit
turnthepagesbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content
rosiewants2read's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I absolutely flew through this book. Funny and sweet with a heart melting ending. This has peaked my interest in other Alexa Martin books. The writing is easy going and you just fall right into the story. The love scenes aren’t too explicit and they’re only about 2 or 3 in the whole book. Good pacing.
Content Warnings
Minor: Grief and Death
prettylightsandcitynights's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Sexual content
Moderate: Death
jennafur's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief