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flowersofquiethappiness's review against another edition
4.0
What a sweet and wonderfully complicated story! The romance bits and cuteness convinced me to try this one, but I ended up feeling blown away by the depth of emotion that resonated so clearly. Ms. Kate is certainly an author to keep an eye on!
Firstly, let's talk Natalie and Jem. They have their super adorable moments, yes, but also have a super complicated relationship. The hurt and pain they're both struggling underneath are weights on their shoulders that they don't know how to handle. Watching as they breathe new life into each other while simultaneously balancing that chemistry between the two of them...it makes for a good read, is what I'm saying. Both have made mistakes and have need of some growth when our story opens. But as the chapters flew by, I loved that they continued to push each other onward, even if unconsciously.
Secondly, I have to mention Lili because I loved her pretty much from the moment she showed up on the page! I wanted SO badly to give her a hug several times because the poor girl has a whole lot of yuck to deal with in her life. (I will also say that I am not a fan of her parents at all. *frowny face*) Still, she's got some awesome people around her, namely Nick, and I loved all their moments together. I think Lili's chapters were my favorite actually. Her uncertainty, her fears, trying to figure out her life...I just connected with all her emotional upheaval and was with her every step as she pushed towards a shaky but clearer future.
So! This is a pretty intriguing story that seems like a romcom only it chooses to go a lot deeper with the issues its characters are going through. But don't let that keep you away! There is a depth here that is very worth diving into, reader friends. And I hope you do so and soon. :)
**I received a complimentary copy via Netgalley. All opinions expressed are my own.
Firstly, let's talk Natalie and Jem. They have their super adorable moments, yes, but also have a super complicated relationship. The hurt and pain they're both struggling underneath are weights on their shoulders that they don't know how to handle. Watching as they breathe new life into each other while simultaneously balancing that chemistry between the two of them...it makes for a good read, is what I'm saying. Both have made mistakes and have need of some growth when our story opens. But as the chapters flew by, I loved that they continued to push each other onward, even if unconsciously.
Secondly, I have to mention Lili because I loved her pretty much from the moment she showed up on the page! I wanted SO badly to give her a hug several times because the poor girl has a whole lot of yuck to deal with in her life. (I will also say that I am not a fan of her parents at all. *frowny face*) Still, she's got some awesome people around her, namely Nick, and I loved all their moments together. I think Lili's chapters were my favorite actually. Her uncertainty, her fears, trying to figure out her life...I just connected with all her emotional upheaval and was with her every step as she pushed towards a shaky but clearer future.
So! This is a pretty intriguing story that seems like a romcom only it chooses to go a lot deeper with the issues its characters are going through. But don't let that keep you away! There is a depth here that is very worth diving into, reader friends. And I hope you do so and soon. :)
**I received a complimentary copy via Netgalley. All opinions expressed are my own.
lauren_soderberg's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars:
Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with a complimentary copy of this novel to read and review!
I went into reading this book expecting more of a typical romance/rom com-type novel. 'Love and Other Mistakes' doesn't quite fit into either mold, and, in my opinion, fits into a much narrower niche. If I had to describe the genre, I'd say it's Christian Fiction with a dose of Christian Romance. There is no explicit sexual content or language, though I wouldn't go so far as to say that there aren't still more sophisticated themes and issues present throughout.
I applaud Jessica Kate for seeking to weave a more nuanced romantic tale, and think there is definitely an audience who will appreciate the Christian elements and the lack of explicit content. These stories are important, and help to diversify the genre. However, the presentation of all of these components together just didn't work for me. While there are heavier issues and conflicts that are explored (such as terminal illness and infidelity) a lot of the resolution to said conflicts didn't feel earned. This was especially present in the infidelity storyline, where there was more emphasis put on the forgiveness element than to the perpetrator actually showing any remorse. Perhaps this is more realistic in some ways, but it almost felt abusive because it was a parent/child dynamic, and it left me feeling uncomfortable and frustrated.
Perhaps the overarching theme of the novel is that forgiveness heals, regardless of whether or not the aggressor wants said forgiveness. I just craved more explication and more of a connection to the characters. Overall, I'd say this is a great book for someone who already has a knowledge of the Christian community that Kate writes about, and who would enjoy a chaste exploration into love and forgiveness.
**I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**
Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with a complimentary copy of this novel to read and review!
I went into reading this book expecting more of a typical romance/rom com-type novel. 'Love and Other Mistakes' doesn't quite fit into either mold, and, in my opinion, fits into a much narrower niche. If I had to describe the genre, I'd say it's Christian Fiction with a dose of Christian Romance. There is no explicit sexual content or language, though I wouldn't go so far as to say that there aren't still more sophisticated themes and issues present throughout.
I applaud Jessica Kate for seeking to weave a more nuanced romantic tale, and think there is definitely an audience who will appreciate the Christian elements and the lack of explicit content. These stories are important, and help to diversify the genre. However, the presentation of all of these components together just didn't work for me. While there are heavier issues and conflicts that are explored (such as terminal illness and infidelity) a lot of the resolution to said conflicts didn't feel earned. This was especially present in the infidelity storyline, where there was more emphasis put on the forgiveness element than to the perpetrator actually showing any remorse. Perhaps this is more realistic in some ways, but it almost felt abusive because it was a parent/child dynamic, and it left me feeling uncomfortable and frustrated.
Perhaps the overarching theme of the novel is that forgiveness heals, regardless of whether or not the aggressor wants said forgiveness. I just craved more explication and more of a connection to the characters. Overall, I'd say this is a great book for someone who already has a knowledge of the Christian community that Kate writes about, and who would enjoy a chaste exploration into love and forgiveness.
**I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**
krdavis02's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
cometreadings's review against another edition
4.0
Love and Other Mistakes by debut author Jessica Kate was a nice romance about love, second chances and the weaknesses of the human being.
I was so glad for the chance to read and review this book, whose cover immediately caught my attention and it didn't fail my expectations.
Probably, after having read the synopsis, I was expecting something more light and funny, but this novel has a deeper storyline and the characters sound so real and their stories well intertwined, that it positively surprised me.
The story starts following Natalie, who has been dumped by her fiancé weeks before their marriage, which has inevitably destabilized her life. So, when she decides to come back home some years after, the last thing she's expecting is to run into her ex, Jeremy, who is back in town too. And he's a single dad.
Meanwhile, we meet Natalie's parents, Mike and Steph (Jeremy's brother and sister-in.law) and Lili (Jeremy's niece and Mike and Steph's daughter) and along the way, we can observe how the author describes their flaws and the dynamics of their relationships, in a never judgemental way.
I would be happy to recommend to anyone who appreciates some drama, real characters, and wants to read a well-written debut novel.
I was so glad for the chance to read and review this book, whose cover immediately caught my attention and it didn't fail my expectations.
Probably, after having read the synopsis, I was expecting something more light and funny, but this novel has a deeper storyline and the characters sound so real and their stories well intertwined, that it positively surprised me.
The story starts following Natalie, who has been dumped by her fiancé weeks before their marriage, which has inevitably destabilized her life. So, when she decides to come back home some years after, the last thing she's expecting is to run into her ex, Jeremy, who is back in town too. And he's a single dad.
Meanwhile, we meet Natalie's parents, Mike and Steph (Jeremy's brother and sister-in.law) and Lili (Jeremy's niece and Mike and Steph's daughter) and along the way, we can observe how the author describes their flaws and the dynamics of their relationships, in a never judgemental way.
I would be happy to recommend to anyone who appreciates some drama, real characters, and wants to read a well-written debut novel.
themillenniallibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
This was a really cute read! I picked it up not knowing or having a lot of expectations and I'm so glad I did. The author does a great job at making you feel what the characters are going through all three of them and it is just an overall sweet read.
nightowlbibliophile's review against another edition
3.0
Natalie has spent the past seven years trying to get over her ex-fiancé, Jem. When he returns to town, babysitting Jem’s son is the only way to flexibly earn money while she works an unpaid internship. But babysitting turns into much more, as the pair become involved in each other’s unfolding family problems.
I loved this powerful story about Natalie and Jem chasing their careers while trying to balance mounting family demands to care for parents and kids and evaluating their faith. It was a beautiful snapshot of how people can grow from their past.
I would like to thank @netgalley and @thomasnelson for allowing me the opportunity to read this Advanced Reader’s Copy. This book will be published on July 30, 2019.
I loved this powerful story about Natalie and Jem chasing their careers while trying to balance mounting family demands to care for parents and kids and evaluating their faith. It was a beautiful snapshot of how people can grow from their past.
I would like to thank @netgalley and @thomasnelson for allowing me the opportunity to read this Advanced Reader’s Copy. This book will be published on July 30, 2019.
dani17731's review against another edition
3.0
Definitely not the light-hearted romance I thought it would be! Lots going on with focus on other characters as well as the mains. Overall enjoyable.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy.
randikaye's review against another edition
4.0
I love a good inspirational romance! You get the joys of seeing the leading characters fall in love... without anything inappropriate that we don't want! What's not to love? Still, not everyone sees it quite that way. They hear inspirational romance and picture sugar coated romances that are too sweet and too perfect to be relate-able, or over the top preachy. In reality though, while there may be some titles like that, the styles found within the genre are as varied as those outside of it. Love and Other Mistakes is a prime example of that.
To be honest, this book read very much like your typical romantic comedy or women's fiction. It did talk about God and faith, and many of the characters were Christians and worked in a church atmosphere in one way or another. Still, they were FAR from perfect. Cheating spouses, struggles of forgiveness, talk of various addictions, etc. These aren't topics one might typically expect to find in a Christian fiction book, but the reality is, these are all very real issues that so many people deal with in their lives. This is true for both Christians and non-Christians alike. As much as we'd like to believe that we are above such things, we ALL fall short at some point or another. To me, this made these characters all the more real, and had me rooting for not just the romance--- but for their journey of faith as well.
In the midst of all the drama and heavy issues was just the right amount of humor to keep it a lighter and more entertaining read. While I could certainly see that some more conservative readers might not like some of the topics mentioned throughout, I personally really enjoyed it. It was still clean, just more real. As such, I could see that it could appeal also to a wider audience who might not generally prefer Christian fiction as well. This is a great, quick read that I would certainly recommend, and I cannot wait to see what Jessica Kate has in store for us next!
**I received a complimentary copy of this book for consideration. All thoughts are 100% my own.
To be honest, this book read very much like your typical romantic comedy or women's fiction. It did talk about God and faith, and many of the characters were Christians and worked in a church atmosphere in one way or another. Still, they were FAR from perfect. Cheating spouses, struggles of forgiveness, talk of various addictions, etc. These aren't topics one might typically expect to find in a Christian fiction book, but the reality is, these are all very real issues that so many people deal with in their lives. This is true for both Christians and non-Christians alike. As much as we'd like to believe that we are above such things, we ALL fall short at some point or another. To me, this made these characters all the more real, and had me rooting for not just the romance--- but for their journey of faith as well.
In the midst of all the drama and heavy issues was just the right amount of humor to keep it a lighter and more entertaining read. While I could certainly see that some more conservative readers might not like some of the topics mentioned throughout, I personally really enjoyed it. It was still clean, just more real. As such, I could see that it could appeal also to a wider audience who might not generally prefer Christian fiction as well. This is a great, quick read that I would certainly recommend, and I cannot wait to see what Jessica Kate has in store for us next!
**I received a complimentary copy of this book for consideration. All thoughts are 100% my own.
belladarling's review against another edition
2.0
It was fine just not for me and miscommunication as a plot driver will always be a flop