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maryamisdone's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
read in one sitting. really good if you’re going thru The Big Sad. needed a main character (Owen) getting his shit together for more hope in my heart.
Mrs. Jules is truly so considerate of Jude, she truly goes above n beyond for him <3
Jude is the sweetest character you’ll find in here, he’s really easy to love. holds himself up-to really high standards that many people seem to put themselves to which is why his happy ending gives you so much hope. It will forever be okay to ask for and be provided help and Jude is a great example of that.
ofc Charlie coming second, he’s truly an adoring character although it felt like he’s only there to be a crutch for the leads. It’s a standalone (as far as Ik at least) so I didn’t expect the other characters to be as much flushed out eg., Alan and Riley but I’m still glad to have read about him.
Conclusively, I loved this book and it got me thru moping <3
Mrs. Jules is truly so considerate of Jude, she truly goes above n beyond for him <3
Jude is the sweetest character you’ll find in here, he’s really easy to love. holds himself up-to really high standards that many people seem to put themselves to which is why his happy ending gives you so much hope. It will forever be okay to ask for and be provided help and Jude is a great example of that.
ofc Charlie coming second, he’s truly an adoring character although it felt like he’s only there to be a crutch for the leads. It’s a standalone (as far as Ik at least) so I didn’t expect the other characters to be as much flushed out eg., Alan and Riley but I’m still glad to have read about him.
Conclusively, I loved this book and it got me thru moping <3
papercranestitches's review
2.0
This book was as formulaic as they come.
It had zero soul and no genuine emotion. It also felt like it was severely lacking in detail. The story and emotions just skimmed along the surface; I want something that is going to drag me under and then make me soar.
I won't be continuing on with this series or this author.
It had zero soul and no genuine emotion. It also felt like it was severely lacking in detail. The story and emotions just skimmed along the surface; I want something that is going to drag me under and then make me soar.
I won't be continuing on with this series or this author.
so_many_books's review
2.0
DNF at 56%
Boring and shallow unfortunately. While I loved the idea of a marriage of convinience, especially with a kid, the storytelling itself ruined it for me.
The third person POV was uncomfortably shallow and I felt like the author is not even trying to place the story in space and time.
Important topics were mentioned but glossed over, no inner thoughts of the characters were shared, characterization was non-existent.
This writing style is not for me. I felt zero connection to the characters and without that reading it kind of became pointless.
The scenes with the most detial and actually kind of decent writing were the sex scenes that gave the impression that not much effort was put into making this book more than just smut.
This was recommended for the fake marriage trope but let me tell you... I am still looking for a good one which is queer.
Boring and shallow unfortunately. While I loved the idea of a marriage of convinience, especially with a kid, the storytelling itself ruined it for me.
The third person POV was uncomfortably shallow and I felt like the author is not even trying to place the story in space and time.
Important topics were mentioned but glossed over, no inner thoughts of the characters were shared, characterization was non-existent.
This writing style is not for me. I felt zero connection to the characters and without that reading it kind of became pointless.
The scenes with the most detial and actually kind of decent writing were the sex scenes that gave the impression that not much effort was put into making this book more than just smut.
This was recommended for the fake marriage trope but let me tell you... I am still looking for a good one which is queer.
nasaje's review
1.0
So. much. fluff. and. sugary. sweetness.
From page 1, everything comes so easy to the MCs in this story. Yes, they start out on a bad foot; one is ill and one (supposedly) had such a rough time with work and grief that he 'lost' custody of his daughter.
However, all of that is easily fixed. Recovering from illness after marrying you childhood crush/best friend; exploring sexuality (that the whole family of course has already figured out before you) with no hang-ups, because it's Jude (and alternatively having your childhood crush like you back even if you thought it would never happen); inheriting money to buy a dream house; getting your daughter back because Jude has spoken well of you to your in-laws/guardians; inheriting a business after losing your job.
And need I get into the ~84% mark where drama ensues because "Maybe it's been too fluffy so far, let's thrown in some unessecary overreactions and fights so we can REALLY establish the HEA later".... I don't have a problem with fluff - it's never gonna be my favorite, but I can appreciate it - but why not stand by that? Why try to convince us they had such a hard time before, or throw in conflict (which is also super easily solved, might I add)?
From page 1, everything comes so easy to the MCs in this story. Yes, they start out on a bad foot; one is ill and one (supposedly) had such a rough time with work and grief that he 'lost' custody of his daughter.
However, all of that is easily fixed. Recovering from illness after marrying you childhood crush/best friend; exploring sexuality (that the whole family of course has already figured out before you) with no hang-ups, because it's Jude (and alternatively having your childhood crush like you back even if you thought it would never happen); inheriting money to buy a dream house; getting your daughter back because Jude has spoken well of you to your in-laws/guardians; inheriting a business after losing your job.
And need I get into the ~84% mark where drama ensues because "Maybe it's been too fluffy so far, let's thrown in some unessecary overreactions and fights so we can REALLY establish the HEA later".... I don't have a problem with fluff - it's never gonna be my favorite, but I can appreciate it - but why not stand by that? Why try to convince us they had such a hard time before, or throw in conflict (which is also super easily solved, might I add)?
shazov's review
2.0
This is a very, very hard review to write. I've never been so close to DNF-ing a book to be perfectly honest, and considering I've only ever done that to 1 book, I think it says a lot! However I kept hoping it would get better...
There is so much I feel I want to say about this book. It had a great promise and could have been an absolute ripper of a story. But, it wasn't. To be honest, it was a rather big let-down.
There are major inconsistencies throughout the whole book. I found things that made me question time lines, medical inaccuracies, actually not just inaccuracies, but pure made-up kinda stuff. Behaviours that didn't mesh up with background we were given. All in all it was a rather big mess. And to top it off, the writing felt immature as well.
I'm not blaming the author. If this story has had beta readers, they need to be replaced. The editor of this book needs to be sacked. Not because of any grammatical or spelling issues, no simply because they should have had the sense to point out all the issues I've mentioned above!
While the characters are nice, I really never felt I got to know them well. The story was sweet, but we got no insight into how/why/who/where things happen. They just happen; no background into the marriage proposal, the healthcare issue, nothing. No discussion about how "yes I'm proposing, but remember I'm a straight man and even though you're gay and we're both just 26, you can't expect me to have sex with you"... In fact, there was no discussion about how that was going to go at all. Really? Two healthy 26 year old males and no discussion or thought about not having sex for any foreseeable future? See where I'm heading?
As I said, I feel this could have been a fantastic story about two men coming together to help each other out of very dire and difficult circumstances. But all in all it was just a hot mess and I struggled to finish it.
There is so much I feel I want to say about this book. It had a great promise and could have been an absolute ripper of a story. But, it wasn't. To be honest, it was a rather big let-down.
There are major inconsistencies throughout the whole book. I found things that made me question time lines, medical inaccuracies, actually not just inaccuracies, but pure made-up kinda stuff. Behaviours that didn't mesh up with background we were given. All in all it was a rather big mess. And to top it off, the writing felt immature as well.
I'm not blaming the author. If this story has had beta readers, they need to be replaced. The editor of this book needs to be sacked. Not because of any grammatical or spelling issues, no simply because they should have had the sense to point out all the issues I've mentioned above!
While the characters are nice, I really never felt I got to know them well. The story was sweet, but we got no insight into how/why/who/where things happen. They just happen; no background into the marriage proposal, the healthcare issue, nothing. No discussion about how "yes I'm proposing, but remember I'm a straight man and even though you're gay and we're both just 26, you can't expect me to have sex with you"... In fact, there was no discussion about how that was going to go at all. Really? Two healthy 26 year old males and no discussion or thought about not having sex for any foreseeable future? See where I'm heading?
As I said, I feel this could have been a fantastic story about two men coming together to help each other out of very dire and difficult circumstances. But all in all it was just a hot mess and I struggled to finish it.
flo77k's review
emotional
hopeful
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? No
4.0
onceupon_a_bookdream's review
3.0
This was a cute quick small town mm romance that screamed Hallmark movie lol but I still enjoyed the fake husband, friends to lovers story line.