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gabi_w21's review against another edition
2.5
While I largely enjoyed this book more than Throttled, it, by no means, is amazing. In between Declan treating Iris abhorrently and sneering at everyone around him and crying over his treatment by his father and Iris inexplicably being attracted to him despite his vile treatment, there were moments I loved—their back-n-forth banter, the little things he did to be nice for her, CAL. But any love I had for this book is overshadowed by just how abusive Declan is to Iris; over and over he snaps at her, throws a tantrum, and anytime she pushes back, he just mentions his dead, dead and did I mention dead mom and how he's sooooo unloveable and she forgave him. Also all of his little quirks are due to said dead mom. He likes mimosa and F1? Dead mom did. He likes elephants? Dead mom did. He drives a nice car? It was his mom's. He knows about Iris's learning disability? His mom had the same one. The little dumb word game he and iris play? He and his mom did—jesus, is there anything you enjoy/do that doesn't loop back to your Dead Mom? You can't tell me that him buying her a greenhouse and adopting a dog for her after calling her a failure, which her abusive dad always did, is gonna make her accept his random-ass marriage proposal. Why even make Iris Black if it adds nothing to the narrative? Iris could've been white and everything would've been the same, except she wouldn't have fallen into the “Black character has to do emotional labor for the traumatized, woe-is-me white character/love interest”. Nevermind how overworked she is. I hated Declan with a burning passion and Iris, for that matter. She never stayed angry with him, even when she had every reason to be, and each time she'd feel guilty and sorry for daring to be upset. Get mad, girlie! Don't let him pout and wobble his fucking lip and buy you plant after he hurt you so badly. I don't think I'll ever pick up anything by Lauren Asher again for the amount of bullshit in her books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Cancer, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Classism
worldofv33's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Physical abuse
theangelssing's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I didn’t hate the book. It was just too long for me. I didn’t appreciate how Declan was at first and didn’t appreciate what he did to Iris. But I admit I enjoyed reading about their relationship and the important subjects the book brought up.
Not my fav book but it is a nice one. (:
Not my fav book but it is a nice one. (:
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Animal death
thebookaddict's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-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
5.0
🇳🇱: deel twee was net zo goed als deel 1! Het is leuk om te zien dat ze Broers ook echt wel op elkaar Lijken met hun doen en laten. De relatie tussen Declan en iris is in het begin slow paced maar later komt er meer tempo in. Je zit zo in het verhaal dat je geirriteerd wordt met de acties van Declan en de reactie van iris raakte mij dan ook echt. De spice in het boek zijn echt een leuke toevoeging. Het geeft je toch een ander inzicht in de relatie. Je ziet dan ook wat er zich achter gesloten slaapkamer deuren afspeelt. Het gebruik van woorden uit andere talen is ook een heel leuk detail! Vooral de nederlands woorden waren geweldig! Al met al een fanastisch tweede deel!
🇬🇧: part two was as good as part one! It is great to see that the brother look a like in character. The relationship between Declan and Iris is slow paced in the beginning but it is faster paced later on. You get sunken into the story. I even got irritated by Declan and his action, iris her reactions on the other hand made me tear up. The spicy scenes where a plot, this way you get a look in their relationship behind closed bedroom doors. The use of words in a other language is a great plus! Espcially the dutch words. A fantastic part two and I can't wait to read the last part!
🇬🇧: part two was as good as part one! It is great to see that the brother look a like in character. The relationship between Declan and Iris is slow paced in the beginning but it is faster paced later on. You get sunken into the story. I even got irritated by Declan and his action, iris her reactions on the other hand made me tear up. The spicy scenes where a plot, this way you get a look in their relationship behind closed bedroom doors. The use of words in a other language is a great plus! Espcially the dutch words. A fantastic part two and I can't wait to read the last part!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
Minor: Alcoholism, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, and Alcohol
mkou's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-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? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Minor: Bullying
whynotreadwithalex's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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
5.0
Seriously, this is on my all-time favorites and comfort reads lists. I honestly don't have enough words to express my deep love for this book.
Whenever I return to Iris and Declan's love story, something broken heals inside me. I'm humbled by the growth we see in both characters, their devotion to each other at each stage of their relationship, and the space they create to support, challenge, and wait for each other.
- grumpy x sunshine
- he's all-in and she's commitment-phobic
- plants, plants, plants + dog
- raw, honest internal growth + consistent effort to make amends
- marriage of convenience + fake dating + office romance
- CAL! Oh how I love Cal in this book
It's a masterpiece -- everything you want in a sweeping romance.
Better and better every time I read it.
Run, don't walk. You won't be disappointed (but definitely read The Fine Print first for the best experience!).
Whenever I return to Iris and Declan's love story, something broken heals inside me. I'm humbled by the growth we see in both characters, their devotion to each other at each stage of their relationship, and the space they create to support, challenge, and wait for each other.
- grumpy x sunshine
- he's all-in and she's commitment-phobic
- plants, plants, plants + dog
- raw, honest internal growth + consistent effort to make amends
- marriage of convenience + fake dating + office romance
- CAL! Oh how I love Cal in this book
It's a masterpiece -- everything you want in a sweeping romance.
Better and better every time I read it.
Run, don't walk. You won't be disappointed (but definitely read The Fine Print first for the best experience!).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Medical content, Grief, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
krosebooks's review against another edition
funny
reflective
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
4.75
Slow burn, but worth the wait. There was a good plot in the book that was unique and I loved the way Asher intertwined the characters in the other books. The ending is predictable, but not until like the LAST part of the book. It was the kind of predictable that was sweet but not super cheesy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
After reading and enjoying "The Fine Print", I wanted to continue reading this romance series.
"Terms and Conditions" follows the next grumpy brother, Declan, and his assistant, Iris. Following their grandfather's death, three brothers each have to achieve an objective in order to secure their future roles and shares in the billion-dollar family business: Dreamland. Declan wants to become the future CEO, but in order to do so, he must marry someone and have a baby with them within a year. The only problem is that Declan is VERY unpleasant and no woman wants to be around him. In order to help her boss, Iris steps in and offers to marry Declan so that his father will not continue to have such a chokehold over the amusement park and subsequently, their lives. Can these two work through their issues and make this marriage a happy one, or is this all destined to blow up in their face?
Declan is an insufferable man. He knows full well what he is doing hurts those around him, but he is so ruthless and focused on the end goal, he does not comprehend that he is becoming the real villain. Throughout the ENTIRE story he continues to make decisions to do things that will hurt Iris. We see very early on that he clearly cares for her, and has for much longer than their arrangement, but it takes him WAY too long to learn from his actions and make better choices.
Iris has dyslexia, and she was ridiculed for her challenges in the past, so she works twice as hard to hide it. It is heartbreaking to see her working herself into the ground because she struggles to read and write but she does not want to ask for help or accommodation. I did enjoy seeing this representation and I think the conversations around her dyslexia were done so thoughtfully and I appreciated where that plot point ultimately ended up.
Declan and Iris together reminded me of fire and gasoline; they were either encouraging each other in the best way or they were moments away from a massive explosion. Their relationship felt like it was more out of convivence and not love, which I think was kind of the point? Declan is about to lose his job unless he gets married within a year AND has a baby? THAT seems like a ludicrous situation, laced with ill-intent. People will do absolutely crazy things to keep their money, so to strongarm someone into feeling forced to have a baby is so wrong. A baby should be wanted, brought into the world with love, not a bargaining chip.
I did have a fun time with this story because I love Dreamland (*Disney*). I am definitely still intrigued and intend on picking up the third book soon.
"Terms and Conditions" follows the next grumpy brother, Declan, and his assistant, Iris. Following their grandfather's death, three brothers each have to achieve an objective in order to secure their future roles and shares in the billion-dollar family business: Dreamland. Declan wants to become the future CEO, but in order to do so, he must marry someone and have a baby with them within a year. The only problem is that Declan is VERY unpleasant and no woman wants to be around him. In order to help her boss, Iris steps in and offers to marry Declan so that his father will not continue to have such a chokehold over the amusement park and subsequently, their lives. Can these two work through their issues and make this marriage a happy one, or is this all destined to blow up in their face?
Declan is an insufferable man. He knows full well what he is doing hurts those around him, but he is so ruthless and focused on the end goal, he does not comprehend that he is becoming the real villain. Throughout the ENTIRE story he continues to make decisions to do things that will hurt Iris. We see very early on that he clearly cares for her, and has for much longer than their arrangement, but it takes him WAY too long to learn from his actions and make better choices.
Iris has dyslexia, and she was ridiculed for her challenges in the past, so she works twice as hard to hide it. It is heartbreaking to see her working herself into the ground because she struggles to read and write but she does not want to ask for help or accommodation. I did enjoy seeing this representation and I think the conversations around her dyslexia were done so thoughtfully and I appreciated where that plot point ultimately ended up.
Declan and Iris together reminded me of fire and gasoline; they were either encouraging each other in the best way or they were moments away from a massive explosion. Their relationship felt like it was more out of convivence and not love, which I think was kind of the point? Declan is about to lose his job unless he gets married within a year AND has a baby? THAT seems like a ludicrous situation, laced with ill-intent. People will do absolutely crazy things to keep their money, so to strongarm someone into feeling forced to have a baby is so wrong. A baby should be wanted, brought into the world with love, not a bargaining chip.
I did have a fun time with this story because I love Dreamland (*Disney*). I am definitely still intrigued and intend on picking up the third book soon.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Pregnancy
Minor: Death
malisac16's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse
Moderate: Bullying and Domestic abuse
Minor: Alcoholism and Toxic relationship
readerorwateva'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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing
Minor: Alcoholism, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Medical content, Death of parent, and Pregnancy