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blackveilbeccy's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
This was attempting to be really clever in using and subverting tropes, but it fell flat for me. This whole book felt disjointed due to the rapid tone and style changes. There were also so many characters and subplots that it felt chaotic. I found the FMC horrendously self-pitying and I know it’s silly, but I struggled with the author’s choice of first name for her. Almost none of the characters were likeable as they all came away looking self-absorbed. There were times I felt like DNF but the premise was interesting enough that I pushed through. The texting and epistolary elements were the most enjoyable and felt the most real.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Eating disorder, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Dementia, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Medical content, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Addiction, Emotional abuse, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Blood, Stalking, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
l1brarygirl's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Cute & funny romance written by one of my favorite audiobook narrators (and also narrated by her, duh). Made me laugh out loud at parts but it also had some serious parts. Also loved the author's note at the end. I couldn't put it down!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Body shaming, Cursing, Sexual content, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Infidelity, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Terminal illness, Blood, Vomit, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Dysphoria
Minor: Addiction
melanie_books's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
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
4.5
Sewanee Chester used to love Romance. She cut her teeth on romance novels as an audiobook narrator after she stopped acting and before she got into more serious literature. But, after a quick trip to Vegas, where filled in for her friend/boss/producer Mark at BiblioCon and met a charming stranger that she can't stop thinking about, she returns to her home in LA where an invitation to return to Romance awaits. The gig is a serialized story, previously unpublished by an author who gave Sewanee her start in narrating. While she is loath to return to the unrealistic and ultimately disappointing world of Romance, the money is insane and she needs it to make sure her grandmother gets the care she needs. And her would-be costar is legendary in the narrating world and quite charming in his own right. Surely one more book won't kill her.
As a reader, I appreciate stories that make me tear up as much as they make me laugh and Julia Whelan has done it again with this one. Sewanee (pronounced "Swan-knee") had a lot of things that she needed to sort through as a person, as she considered where she was at in life and what she wanted. While Sewanee could see other's issues more clearly, she had a harder time looking at her own. But throughout the story there was a lot of growth - for multiple characters - which was lovely. Of course, the story was also really funny with misunderstandings and misadventures galore. There was some innuendo (which served as some of the first connections for Sewanee and her costar) as well as a spicy fade-to-black scene and some language, but the beauty and the heart of the story easily earned it four stars.
As a reader, I appreciate stories that make me tear up as much as they make me laugh and Julia Whelan has done it again with this one. Sewanee (pronounced "Swan-knee") had a lot of things that she needed to sort through as a person, as she considered where she was at in life and what she wanted. While Sewanee could see other's issues more clearly, she had a harder time looking at her own. But throughout the story there was a lot of growth - for multiple characters - which was lovely. Of course, the story was also really funny with misunderstandings and misadventures galore. There was some innuendo (which served as some of the first connections for Sewanee and her costar) as well as a spicy fade-to-black scene and some language, but the beauty and the heart of the story easily earned it four stars.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing
Minor: Sexual content
chelle22's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
aglaia0001's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Cursing
didireadthat's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? Yes
5.0
Romance is a relatively new genre for me and sometimes I can't get over how cheesy some of the lines and smut scenes are that it usually breaks me out of the story and I will visibly roll my eyes. That feeling was exploited in the best way because the characters played off the cliches in their banter and it made it so much more funny to me while listening. Julia Whalen also did a great job with the accents and voice changes in a way it didn't feel overly fake and again playing off the fake voice as a key part of one of the characters added to the humor of the story. Swanee has her flaws (duh, part of the story) but I loved Nick all the way around. The part about Doug? the ex-boyfriend was a little underdeveloped and think could have been left out.
The "twist" is easy to spot but it made me so excited to see everything lead up to it and comes in the middle of the book so there is plenty of time for more drama and apologies. The overall plot was strong and though the romance was heavy, there were other subplots that talked about disabilities, familial relationships, friendships and other trials of life that keep the book thoroughly engaging.
The "twist" is easy to spot but it made me so excited to see everything lead up to it and comes in the middle of the book so there is plenty of time for more drama and apologies. The overall plot was strong and though the romance was heavy, there were other subplots that talked about disabilities, familial relationships, friendships and other trials of life that keep the book thoroughly engaging.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Addiction, Cursing, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Blood, and Alcohol
kylasmv15's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia
Moderate: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Body horror, Body shaming, Mental illness, Sexual content, Medical content, and Alcohol
marleywrites'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This book was great. I loved the author’s sense of humor and was really enjoying the banter between the main characters Nick and Sawanee. They were both so interesting and the author revealed little bits of them at a time which kept me intrigued the whole book.
I adored the side characters of this book. They were great supports for the story and kept the pace moving. All the scenes with the Seasons folks were hilarious. I loved the best friend characters.
This book was, on one hand, light hearted and fun. On the other, it also dealt realistically with working in an industry that’s toxic, an industry that takes more than it gives, and what it’s like to love someone with dementia. It was very much “the highs were high and the lows were low.”
I listened to this book on audiobook and I am loving the hype for it. I’m so glad people are falling in love with audiobooks because of this story! The author/narrator was incredible. What a performance!
I rated this four stars, because some parts of it I didn’t fully resonance with, but it’s more of a personal thing. The parts I liked, I really loved, and I hope that others enjoy this story with great disability representation as well.
I adored the side characters of this book. They were great supports for the story and kept the pace moving. All the scenes with the Seasons folks were hilarious. I loved the best friend characters.
This book was, on one hand, light hearted and fun. On the other, it also dealt realistically with working in an industry that’s toxic, an industry that takes more than it gives, and what it’s like to love someone with dementia. It was very much “the highs were high and the lows were low.”
I listened to this book on audiobook and I am loving the hype for it. I’m so glad people are falling in love with audiobooks because of this story! The author/narrator was incredible. What a performance!
I rated this four stars, because some parts of it I didn’t fully resonance with, but it’s more of a personal thing. The parts I liked, I really loved, and I hope that others enjoy this story with great disability representation as well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Dementia, Grief, and Alcohol
Moderate: Ableism, Cursing, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical trauma, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Alcoholism and Blood
cady_sass's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
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
I am *very* picky about audiobooks, to the point that I know it’s unfair and illogical and so I tend to not listen to them at all, but I like Julia Whalen. A lot. I find her very talented and enjoyable to listen to. Now, bring me a book of written by an audiobook narrator ABOUT audiobook narrators and it seems only fair (and totally obvious) that it need to be consumed via audio. Right? So, of course, I did. Now please refer back to my comment about being unfairly judgmental and illogically picky about audiobooks and take my review with a grain of salt. I believe this book is good and if I had read it on page I would’ve loved it more, possibly. The characters are unique and flawed and diverse, the banter is funny and witty and cute. BUT…. But… you can tell an audiobook narrator wrote this. There are characters who exist solely for the purpose of the narrator [author] showing off her skills in accents. Which, for the record, is good (with the exception of the Bostonian ex boyfriend with the most horrendous Boston accent I’ve ever hear and take person offense to), but there’s no real reason for them. I also have mixed feelings about a white author writing about the plight of a black woman in Hollywood… but it does seem (to me, another white woman, to note) to be handled somewhat carefully. Just perhaps not her story to tell, again, as a white woman who was a former actress. I guess all this to say some of this felt inauthentic but it’s hard to parse that from what I HEARD and wish I would’ve just read the book 🤷🏻♀️ don’t come for me. I still gave it 4 stars!! There’s quality story here and a lot of fun.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicide, Terminal illness, Blood, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
nebraskanwriter's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
slow-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
2.0
I had only heard great things about this book by THE amazing Julia Whelan so once I finished the book, I couldn’t help but feel disappointed.
I LOVED the banter/dialogue between Nick and Swan, the tension and their feelings for each other really leapt off the page, even from their first interaction. However, I feel like the story was really weighed down by all the other side plots. Swan’s grandma, Swan’s best friend, her mom, there were so many things and life events that kept happening to keep Swan and Nick apart it started feeling comical. Also the book felt incredibly long for a romance, there just seemed to be conflict after conflict happening.
Also, and I know Swan had to work through a lot of internalized things that she felt about herself because of the accident, but I felt like she was always picking fights with Nick. Not believing him, questioning his intentions at every turn and always arguing with him and projecting onto him. That part of the book just felt very unhealthy/gross to me. They would have this big blowup fight, right after he ran to her aid afterher grandma tried to commit suicide FYI and Swan starts yelling at him. It just didn’t make any sense to me. She was always way too hard on him and he was nothing but nice and caring to her the entire book. Just my two cents but he would literally be so nice to her and then she would suddenly turn on him and start projecting/yelling at him. Not romantic.
Side note: also I know that people have nicknames/pet names for their grandparents like Mimi, Memaw, Papa. But Blah Blah??? Every time her name was mentioned, it took me out of the story. Could never take it seriously and that stinks because what is going on with her is super serious but her name felt comical, like a joke I missed out on all while she’s battling Alzheimer’s . It just didn’t make sense.
I LOVED the banter/dialogue between Nick and Swan, the tension and their feelings for each other really leapt off the page, even from their first interaction. However, I feel like the story was really weighed down by all the other side plots. Swan’s grandma, Swan’s best friend, her mom, there were so many things and life events that kept happening to keep Swan and Nick apart it started feeling comical. Also the book felt incredibly long for a romance, there just seemed to be conflict after conflict happening.
Also, and I know Swan had to work through a lot of internalized things that she felt about herself because of the accident, but I felt like she was always picking fights with Nick. Not believing him, questioning his intentions at every turn and always arguing with him and projecting onto him. That part of the book just felt very unhealthy/gross to me. They would have this big blowup fight, right after he ran to her aid after
Side note: also I know that people have nicknames/pet names for their grandparents like Mimi, Memaw, Papa. But Blah Blah??? Every time her name was mentioned, it took me out of the story. Could never take it seriously and that stinks because what is going on with her is super serious but her name felt comical, like a joke I missed out on all while she’s battling Alzheimer’s . It just didn’t make sense.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Body shaming, Cursing, Death, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Blood, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail