Reviews

Not the Girl You Marry by Andie J. Christopher

jodiebe's review against another edition

2.0

This was nearly a DNF. The first half of the book was a chore to get though with its lack of originality. I watched How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, I really didn’t need the recap. Once past the repeat plot line, it did get better, just wish it could have gotten there sooner.

mardell's review against another edition

4.0

Watching the hero of this book navigate his gender-flipped Kate Hudson rom-com* role is a bit like watching a gymnast do their balance beam routine. All the bro-tastic doucheness is clearly very hard work for good boy Jack and he looks like he's going to fall off the entire time. It's not always fun to watch. But I stayed glued to the screen/page, willing him not to fall off. And it wasn't cause I was a massive fan of Jack. Nope, it was because I'm Team Hannah and I wanted him to come through for her. I always love a self-proclaimed Bitch on Wheels heroine and Andie J. Christopher delivers just the type of hard on the outside, secretly soft on the inside type I want more of on page. I didn't ultimately matter much to me that Jack's pursuit of his story was wildly out of character (he's gone for her from the start and just wouldn't do it) because he does stick the landing. A great example of how grovelling can happen without a grand gesture.

* I've recently rewatched 'How to Lose of Guy in 10 Days' and beneath Kate's bravura comedic performance is a real bad case of the aughts Cool Girl. Would love to see this one updated without a gender flip.

bookishbay's review against another edition

DNF 4 hours into audio

mariahhanley's review against another edition

2.0

I really wanted to like this. I liked that it featured a biracial main character but beyond that it lacked any depth, even for a romance novel. The constant, constant references to what they wanted to do to each other and what reactions they had to the other character were absolutely cringeworthy, bordering on tasteless. I didn’t actually like either of the two main characters. Saying yes to being a jerk to a woman who has already told you she has trust issues and a history of terrible treatment by men? Sorry dude, that doesn’t make you anything but a gigantic jerk. I liked Hannah a bit more but she didn’t feel developed. At least Jack felt sort of like a full character. Did not like.

chrystalclearwpg's review against another edition

funny hopeful reflective relaxing medium-paced

3.75

 I gave this a 3.75⭐ star was because the coming together was so real it was like watching a friend go through a relationship. This was more to what could really happen than some other romance books I have read in the last 3 years. Now the things I did not like were the fact they had to keep telling us..." only because of my promotion, story.....I don't know how to do this without hurting them but I need my.....This goes against everything I stand for but I need this because of my job....We get it! You are doing it for your job! Didn't need to read about it every few pages throughout the whole book and for such a hard ass girl, Hannah sure let her guard down pretty quick.
I still enjoyed the book and will look for more by this author because the character building was not that bad. You got some back ground history and slow development with the 2 main characters. 

danibourque's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

kmkasiner's review against another edition

3.0

Not The Girl You Marry is a gender-swapped retelling of How To Lose a Guy In 10 Days. The premise is fun, but it wasn't for me. I don't enjoy reading romances where the main hook revolves around the two characters lying to each other the entire time, and I don't always find it believable that they can forgive each other and have a HEA. This book had funny moments and it was an easy read, and I appreciate that the author is highlighting a biracial character. But too much about it annoyed me so I couldn't love it.

I didn't love the characters either. Hannah, the heroine, is a Ball Buster and we're reminded of that over and over again. Jack seemed like an average guy and he definitely wasn't perfect except that he was also a very obvious fantasy of a dudebro who still respects women? idk. The relationship was also based too much in the physical for me. Obviously, I read romance so I don't mind spicy scenes in a book, but I found myself skimming the ones here. The fact that Jack started lying about saving himself for marriage was icky to me, and I also wanted to scream every time Hannah mentioned her "bush." (I get that it was to show how awesome Jack was that he didn't care...but can it just not be a big deal to begin with?)

I still give it 3 stars because I kept reading despite the above. I wanted to see how the train wreck ended.

Also FYI- there is no dog in this book until the very end, the cover is false advertising!

sarsandra's review against another edition

2.0

Poorly written and there's nothing to endear the characters.

carolynkwolff's review

funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

recyclops229's review

Whoever said this is the book equivalent of “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” is a liar. I was bored immediately and had to force myself to even finish chapter one. Maybe it gets better? I’ll never know.