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cindysbookcorner's review against another edition
5.0
If you enjoy shenanigans and books that make you laugh you will love Amy Matayo's newest book! I was hooked from the first line until the last line, I was having trouble keeping up with my responsibility's because all I wanted to do was read this book. You will be able to empathize with Olivia's neurotic tendencies (aren't we all a little neurotic?) and we all know someone who is so full of themselves, who think they are God's gift to women, hello, Will. You start to wonder if the goody-goody and the bad boy can make a go of this fake relationship that they have found themselves in and then hope that they do...because come on we all like happy endings.
I really appreciate this book because like real life the situations aren't perfect and you can totally relate. We all have found ourselves in relationships that are doomed from the start, yet hoping that we can make it work anyway. I will not give out any spoilers, but you have to read until the end to figure out how this one is going to end. Even though the author has no plans (yet) to write another book about Olivia and Will, I could totally see more coming from these two characters. Thanks Amy for another great book!
I received an advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
I really appreciate this book because like real life the situations aren't perfect and you can totally relate. We all have found ourselves in relationships that are doomed from the start, yet hoping that we can make it work anyway. I will not give out any spoilers, but you have to read until the end to figure out how this one is going to end. Even though the author has no plans (yet) to write another book about Olivia and Will, I could totally see more coming from these two characters. Thanks Amy for another great book!
I received an advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
katrenia's review against another edition
3.0
3.5. For 2/3 of the book, I didn’t like either character. I would have liked to have been privy to a little more meaningful dialogue between them before their relationship changed.
I listened to the audiobook. The female narrator was just fine, but the male was too old for the part.
I listened to the audiobook. The female narrator was just fine, but the male was too old for the part.
flowersofquiethappiness's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
After being blown away by The End of the World earlier this year, I was excited to dive into another Amy Matayo novel. While this one didn't quite live up to all the FEELS of that one (I'm not sure any story could, at this point), I was still very delighted with it! After reading these two books by her, I've decided that Ms. Matayo excels at changing up her writing. Which is a compliment! Her stories all seem so distinct, and to have the ability to write completely different things is pretty amazing. It makes me excited to see where her next book will go!
The biggest thing I liked about this story was Olivia. She's all kinds of adorable with her quirky personality. Her mix of fears, confidence, doubts, insecurity, and OCD tendencies had potential to be too much for one character, but instead she comes across as endearing. (I want to be friends with Olivia! And Perry, her cat. :) She gets herself in so many embarrassing situations (without meaning to, of course!), which only made me like her more, because she always, always means well. I just don't think it's possible for anyone to meet her and not like her. Well, except for Will. But that's only because he's in denial about his attraction to her. ;)
Speaking of Will, he tends to be a bit impulsive and a lot arrogant, and of course this means he clashes with Olivia a great deal. Which I loved, because their bickering is one of my favorite parts of the book! Yet they both have baggage they need to work through, so it's not all fun and games. The fact that they support each other and help make the other a better person just adds to the genuine feel of their romance. They become a comfort for one another and provide a safe place where they can both shuck off their facades and just be their real selves. The moments they truly open up to one another are some of the sweetest. These proved to me how perfect they fit together and kept me turning pages determined to find their happy ending!
I did think some of the plot moved a tad quickly and a few conflicts were settled a little too easily, but I could overlook that due to the overall cuteness of Olivia and Will. They made me grin several times and swoon a few others! Plus all the baseball references (being the only sport that I can actually understand :) were fun. Definitely a keeper to add to your shelves, friends!
**I received a complimentary copy from the author via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
After being blown away by The End of the World earlier this year, I was excited to dive into another Amy Matayo novel. While this one didn't quite live up to all the FEELS of that one (I'm not sure any story could, at this point), I was still very delighted with it! After reading these two books by her, I've decided that Ms. Matayo excels at changing up her writing. Which is a compliment! Her stories all seem so distinct, and to have the ability to write completely different things is pretty amazing. It makes me excited to see where her next book will go!
The biggest thing I liked about this story was Olivia. She's all kinds of adorable with her quirky personality. Her mix of fears, confidence, doubts, insecurity, and OCD tendencies had potential to be too much for one character, but instead she comes across as endearing. (I want to be friends with Olivia! And Perry, her cat. :) She gets herself in so many embarrassing situations (without meaning to, of course!), which only made me like her more, because she always, always means well. I just don't think it's possible for anyone to meet her and not like her. Well, except for Will. But that's only because he's in denial about his attraction to her. ;)
Speaking of Will, he tends to be a bit impulsive and a lot arrogant, and of course this means he clashes with Olivia a great deal. Which I loved, because their bickering is one of my favorite parts of the book! Yet they both have baggage they need to work through, so it's not all fun and games. The fact that they support each other and help make the other a better person just adds to the genuine feel of their romance. They become a comfort for one another and provide a safe place where they can both shuck off their facades and just be their real selves. The moments they truly open up to one another are some of the sweetest. These proved to me how perfect they fit together and kept me turning pages determined to find their happy ending!
I did think some of the plot moved a tad quickly and a few conflicts were settled a little too easily, but I could overlook that due to the overall cuteness of Olivia and Will. They made me grin several times and swoon a few others! Plus all the baseball references (being the only sport that I can actually understand :) were fun. Definitely a keeper to add to your shelves, friends!
**I received a complimentary copy from the author via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
christygsp's review
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
An overtly neurotic pick me and a self absorbed jackass meet as neighbours and end up fake dating.
The characters were both insufferable in their own ways. Judgement ahead so buckle up.
Olivia
She was a complete mess. Walking her cat on a leash and treating him like a baby rather than a pet was less funny and more sad. Her many neurotic compulsions like OCD and anxiety coupled with her “I don’t realise I’m pretty” and “qwirky” traits were a bit much to stomach. When Will refers to her as a crazy lady he’s not kidding.
Will
But Will is not so innocent himself. A womanising arrogant self absorbed Grade A a-hole is just the start. All he can think about is Olivia’s hair (weird) and is totally stunned when a woman does not fall at his feet because he plays sports and he thinks he’s hot. His fascination with Olivia never really translated to real feelings for me, and I was not here for the whole thing - throw the fictional man away, seriously.
Romance/Plot
The idea wasn’t bad, I like fake dating, but who the fake daters are is important. I couldn’t really get past the characters long enough to engage in much else besides my dislike of them both.
The writing was nice, I liked the humour, and I wish the characters were just a bit more likeable. I really think it could have been a winner if the diseases instead of personality hadn’t been the focus. Our “trauma” or issues became our personality in this one and nobody really grew or changed, we just decided to live with it. In the end you have a loon and a douche both pretending they’re normal.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Sexual content
rusticreadingal's review against another edition
5.0
I used to be obsessed with baseball as a kid, but I eventually outgrew it and found other things to fill my time. But The Thirteenth Chance brought back so many fond memories of my time at the games and I think it might've rekindled my love for the sport.
I usually have to love the characters to love a book, but that's not what happened with this one. Will is an arrogant and unlikable jerk in the beginning and while I found quirky and neurotic Olivia endearing (she and I might have a few personality traits in common, lol), neither one of them is the typical hero/heroine of a romance novel these days... and I loved that! I was rooting for both of them and somewhere along the way, I found myself falling for the cocky pitcher!
The Thirteenth Chance was such a refreshing and humorous novel. There were too many times to count where I was literally laughing out loud! I highly, highly recommend and can't wait to see what Amy Matayo comes up with next!
I usually have to love the characters to love a book, but that's not what happened with this one. Will is an arrogant and unlikable jerk in the beginning and while I found quirky and neurotic Olivia endearing (she and I might have a few personality traits in common, lol), neither one of them is the typical hero/heroine of a romance novel these days... and I loved that! I was rooting for both of them and somewhere along the way, I found myself falling for the cocky pitcher!
The Thirteenth Chance was such a refreshing and humorous novel. There were too many times to count where I was literally laughing out loud! I highly, highly recommend and can't wait to see what Amy Matayo comes up with next!
whitreadslit's review against another edition
3.0
This was a decent little sports romance. The main characters both had some obstacles to overcome, the female more so than the male. I’ll be honest, they both annoyed me multiple times and made me want to shake them. But, it was an easy read and a cute romance. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
redbullandkindle's review against another edition
2.0
This book was provided by net galley for me to read. I gave this book 2 stars because I felt like it was too cheesy in places and I wanted it to delve more into the heavier topics it touched on. That being said, it's a nice fluffy read for a couple hours at the pool.
astriareclipse's review against another edition
2.0
2.5|5⭐
Es un libro que siento que a la vez le faltaron y sobraron páginas, es como una historia que está a medio de todo, a mitad de camino, de los personajes, de la historia del plot, de los personajes secundarios a mitad de un buen desarrollo.
Me gustaron ambos personajes pero había cosas que simplemente de quedaron a medio camino.
Es un libro que siento que a la vez le faltaron y sobraron páginas, es como una historia que está a medio de todo, a mitad de camino, de los personajes, de la historia del plot, de los personajes secundarios a mitad de un buen desarrollo.
Me gustaron ambos personajes pero había cosas que simplemente de quedaron a medio camino.
valeriew's review against another edition
3.0
This was pretty good. I didn't like all the innuendos. There was also a little swearing. Not for my girls to read.