syazahaniss's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The relationship development was very organic and realistic and the backstory was actually really developed but the ending part when Kitty became a meme made the story unnecessarily draggy. I get that the story lacked conflict and was rather smooth-sailing throughout otherwise, but I expected more of a relationship conflict than a random work-related one. The resolution being for Kitty to do something new with her career felt very sudden, considering she had no problems with it in the first place until the meme.
Overall a pretty good read. I could’ve finished it in 3 days if I didn’t have to go to work.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
ronron's review against another edition
2.0
If you *really* like cats, this book is for you. I don't think I was the target audience...
I could not get past the cat references. The underlying romance felt off, and the relationship didn't have any tension. If you're looking for a sweet romance and love cats, this book is for you.
Arc provided by publisher for an honest review.
I could not get past the cat references. The underlying romance felt off, and the relationship didn't have any tension. If you're looking for a sweet romance and love cats, this book is for you.
Arc provided by publisher for an honest review.
rachiem's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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? Yes
3.5
nobookmark_noproblem's review against another edition
4.0
A Love Catastrophe
Helena Hunting
Pub Date: June 13, 2023
Helena Hunting
Pub Date: June 13, 2023
doseofromance's review against another edition
I normally don't DNF books if I'm more than halfway through, but when a guy says "are you boning her, you're tapping that, I bet she's feisty in bed" in one conversation and he only cuts it out because the guy that's dating the discussed woman tells him he's serious about her... That does make me make an exception. All throughout the book both the male lead and his best friend bring up how the FMC's job title of Kitty whisperer sounds dirty and how she must know how it would come across. While I generally dislike when MMCs make a lot of (unfunny) sexual jokes or sexualize the FMC or an aspect of the FMC, I also don't even see the point here. It's very very obvious that the title is referring to actual cats. Pussy whisperer would be different, but Kitty?? That is such a reach and just says so much more about these two guys. The way all of the guys in general in this book talk about Kitty (we don't meet other women besides her direct relatives and one friend) is so incredibly uncalled for and sexualizing. And the male lead rarely says anything and if he does, it's clear he's only doing it because he's dating her and likes her, not because the content itself bothers him. Everything is also either played off with excuses like oh he's just a young guy, he doesn't know better yet or he's just like that. I don't understand why a female author would write men like this.
Another problem with the MMC is his absolutely pointless hatred and disdain for cats. Like what the hell is your problem? It's completely fine to like dogs more or even dislike cats, but he's going out of his way to shit on them. Also why would you openly insult cats to a person that has made a career out of caring for cats? At least read the room. Similarly though, Kitty (can't believe that's her full name) is wrong for saying dog people only like dogs because they are obedient and are so needy that you feel good about yourself. Idiotic and shame-y.
Kitty is further annoying for swapping curses with cat words. She uses meow in several instances as a synonym for similarly sounding words. Why? She also says things like "thank catness (goodness)". Please stop. Kitty also gets offended about people questioning the validity of her career as a catsitter and calls it a double standard because dog sitter is a perfectly acceptable career. First of all, neither is a career. A job, yes. A career, no. Like what are your advancement options? What training did you go through? How hard is it to watch a ca? She repeatedly victimizes herself as a cat person and catsitter that is being hated on and not taken seriously by a dog centered world. Please really sit on this thought. Is that really the biggest issue we face? It must also be said that we don't actually see Kitty do that much work. And she's not very good at the little she does do. For example, if I hire you to actively watch and play with my cats while I work and then you text me that my cat knocked over my Lego Hogwarts set and one piece broke, I would simply not pay you. Your specific purpose is to WATCH the cats, so they are kept business and don't destroy my house. Why are they destroying stuff then? Kitty also only has two moves to train cats. Treats and a water gun. Now, I might be wrong, but is it not very bad to spray cats with water? First, it's mean, second, I'm very sure you're not supposed to do that with any animal to punish them. It's not abuse per se, but definitely more than questionable, especially for a payed professional.
All in all, the casual sexism, sexualizing of women, open and unconscious misogyny, and lack of diversity (the MMC's neighbors are a gay couple, but on page we see no lgbtq+ person or person with a disability or poc) were the real issue and problem with this book. Everything else I listed was annoying and made me want to give the books 3 stars at best, if the story wasn't also only meh, but I would have stuck it out. Authors, please please please do better. If I wanted men like the ones in this book, I could simply go outside.
TW: discussions of death, caring for a parent with dementia, off page: death of a parent and a child/brother
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. I voluntarily read and reviewed it. All opinions are my own.
Another problem with the MMC is his absolutely pointless hatred and disdain for cats. Like what the hell is your problem? It's completely fine to like dogs more or even dislike cats, but he's going out of his way to shit on them. Also why would you openly insult cats to a person that has made a career out of caring for cats? At least read the room. Similarly though, Kitty (can't believe that's her full name) is wrong for saying dog people only like dogs because they are obedient and are so needy that you feel good about yourself. Idiotic and shame-y.
Kitty is further annoying for swapping curses with cat words. She uses meow in several instances as a synonym for similarly sounding words. Why? She also says things like "thank catness (goodness)". Please stop. Kitty also gets offended about people questioning the validity of her career as a catsitter and calls it a double standard because dog sitter is a perfectly acceptable career. First of all, neither is a career. A job, yes. A career, no. Like what are your advancement options? What training did you go through? How hard is it to watch a ca? She repeatedly victimizes herself as a cat person and catsitter that is being hated on and not taken seriously by a dog centered world. Please really sit on this thought. Is that really the biggest issue we face? It must also be said that we don't actually see Kitty do that much work. And she's not very good at the little she does do. For example, if I hire you to actively watch and play with my cats while I work and then you text me that my cat knocked over my Lego Hogwarts set and one piece broke, I would simply not pay you. Your specific purpose is to WATCH the cats, so they are kept business and don't destroy my house. Why are they destroying stuff then? Kitty also only has two moves to train cats. Treats and a water gun. Now, I might be wrong, but is it not very bad to spray cats with water? First, it's mean, second, I'm very sure you're not supposed to do that with any animal to punish them. It's not abuse per se, but definitely more than questionable, especially for a payed professional.
All in all, the casual sexism, sexualizing of women, open and unconscious misogyny, and lack of diversity (the MMC's neighbors are a gay couple, but on page we see no lgbtq+ person or person with a disability or poc) were the real issue and problem with this book. Everything else I listed was annoying and made me want to give the books 3 stars at best, if the story wasn't also only meh, but I would have stuck it out. Authors, please please please do better. If I wanted men like the ones in this book, I could simply go outside.
TW: discussions of death, caring for a parent with dementia, off page: death of a parent and a child/brother
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. I voluntarily read and reviewed it. All opinions are my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia and Death
Moderate: Death, Sexism, Death of parent, and Child death
It is very very heavy on the cat puns. The way men close to the MMC talk about women in general and the FMC is very sexualizing and uncomfortable.hannavos18's review against another edition
4.0
If you’re looking for a sweet book about animal lovers with questionable human social skills, this is a great read! I loved that this book did not rely on miscommunication between the main characters, or really any of the characters. Kitty and Miles also don’t have the typical “big fight that makes them realize they both in the wrong and they have to win each other back by the end of the book” that so often is present in romance fiction. Their relationship is easy and loving, and I appreciated this new approach.
Kitty and her mom show the most growth throughout this book. Kitty learns to balance the burden of being a public figure, and she grows her business. Her mom takes great steps toward healing from the untimely loss of her beloved husband and father of her children.
As far as any critiques I might have, they weren’t deal breakers for me. By far my biggest one is that I thought a lot of the men in Miles’s life were very lewd about women, and they don’t really have a “grow up” moment in the book. I would have appreciated them having bigger changes. Second, I didn’t feel like Miles’s mother and father had the character arches I wanted for them. Miles’s mother is sick with dementia, and Kitty and Miles do their best to support her through all the changes that come with that. I suppose that’s pretty realistic for that to be all they can do in that situation, but I was hoping that there would be development between Miles’s father, Miles’s mother, and Miles. I was hoping they’d come together more as a family unit to process their collective grief and support each other.
Overall, this was a lovely, lighthearted read with some sweet romance moments. I would recommend it to someone wanting something lighthearted, modern, yet still realistic.
Kitty and her mom show the most growth throughout this book. Kitty learns to balance the burden of being a public figure, and she grows her business. Her mom takes great steps toward healing from the untimely loss of her beloved husband and father of her children.
As far as any critiques I might have, they weren’t deal breakers for me. By far my biggest one is that I thought a lot of the men in Miles’s life were very lewd about women, and they don’t really have a “grow up” moment in the book. I would have appreciated them having bigger changes. Second, I didn’t feel like Miles’s mother and father had the character arches I wanted for them. Miles’s mother is sick with dementia, and Kitty and Miles do their best to support her through all the changes that come with that. I suppose that’s pretty realistic for that to be all they can do in that situation, but I was hoping that there would be development between Miles’s father, Miles’s mother, and Miles. I was hoping they’d come together more as a family unit to process their collective grief and support each other.
Overall, this was a lovely, lighthearted read with some sweet romance moments. I would recommend it to someone wanting something lighthearted, modern, yet still realistic.
excel_spreadsheet_book_nerd's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
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? Yes
3.0
prettylightsandcitynights's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Two awkward turtles falling in love. I love this.