arwenaardbeienstruik's review against another edition
I got triggered
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
agmaynard's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Hilarious opening settled down as story of person needing work-life balance connecting with another who struggles with intermittent crippling depression. Some nice wallowing in foodie moments of all sorts.
glyneth'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
4.0
luvslena's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
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
4.0
jillottaway's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.75
rjordan19's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
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
4.25
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋 (some parts of the sex scenes felt a bit light to me – maybe I wanted more explicitness?)
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥 (ish – 2 scenes are close together)
Humor: Yes!
Perspective: First person alternating from hero and heroine
Cliffhanger: No
Epilogue: Yes, about 8 months later
Format: listened to the audiobook from Hoopla
(Descriptions found at end of my review)
Should I read in order?
This is book 2 of Lau’s Kwan Sisters series but I found it readable as a standalone (there is some mention and page time with the prior couple)
Basic plot:
When Julian is forced to take a vacation from his family, he finds himself asking a woman to teach him how to enjoy life on vacation.
Give this a try if you want:
- contemporary romance
- bargain – the hero will give the heroine $5,000 to teach him how to enjoy life
- tall hero/shorter heroine (hero is 6 feet tall)
- forced proximity – they are temporarily living together
-
- bit of instalust
- snuggles, watching movies, baking, book shopping…
- Joey the phallic cactus
- medium steam – 4 scenes (2 are close together)
My thoughts:
This was such a delightful surprise! I don’t reach much contemporary but I have moved Jackie Lau’s work all to my TBR.
The plot of this one was a bit implausable – the hero doesn’t know how to relax and enjoy life so he pays the heroine $5,000 to each him how to live because he sees her getting a gingerbread latte. But I loved it. It was a great way to get them together and I enjoyed the forced proximity of living together.
The humor in this one was so fun. I really liked Lau’s writing style. A romcom with lots of heart and some heavy issues also addressed. I loved both main characters, especially the hero and his family.
I appreciated the steam here but something about it wasn’t quite as intense as I was hoping for. Maybe I wanted the scenes a bit longer or more explicit? It’s kind of hard to tell on audio I guess. BUT the last scene??? With the wall sex??? Mmmmmm.
The ending did drag a bit for me and I struggled with a couple small parts but overall so happy to have found Lau’s work!
Content warnings:
- mention of father surviving a heart attack
- some mention of possible substance abuse with family members
- depression and anxiety – detailed scenes on page
- suicidal thoughts and remembrances of suicidal hospitalization
- remembrances of bad relationship and abandonment during a time of need
- remembrances of family not supporting mental health
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
Safe sex:
38% - kiss
48% - 🔥 touches, fingering/oral for her, missionary followed by mention of other scenes
69% - 🔥 fingering for her in the limo
70% - 🔥 blow job (incomplete), missionary in the hotel room
75% - 🔥 kisses, fingering against the door while he holds her hands above her head, sex against the door, mention of more sex
81% - kiss
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋 (some parts of the sex scenes felt a bit light to me – maybe I wanted more explicitness?)
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥 (ish – 2 scenes are close together)
Humor: Yes!
Perspective: First person alternating from hero and heroine
Cliffhanger: No
Epilogue: Yes, about 8 months later
Format: listened to the audiobook from Hoopla
(Descriptions found at end of my review)
Should I read in order?
This is book 2 of Lau’s Kwan Sisters series but I found it readable as a standalone (there is some mention and page time with the prior couple)
Basic plot:
When Julian is forced to take a vacation from his family, he finds himself asking a woman to teach him how to enjoy life on vacation.
Give this a try if you want:
- contemporary romance
- bargain – the hero will give the heroine $5,000 to teach him how to enjoy life
- tall hero/shorter heroine (hero is 6 feet tall)
- forced proximity – they are temporarily living together
-
Spoiler
heroine has been celibate for 3 years and a mention that the hero hasn’t had anyone in his bedroom in awhile- bit of instalust
- snuggles, watching movies, baking, book shopping…
- Joey the phallic cactus
- medium steam – 4 scenes (2 are close together)
My thoughts:
This was such a delightful surprise! I don’t reach much contemporary but I have moved Jackie Lau’s work all to my TBR.
The plot of this one was a bit implausable – the hero doesn’t know how to relax and enjoy life so he pays the heroine $5,000 to each him how to live because he sees her getting a gingerbread latte. But I loved it. It was a great way to get them together and I enjoyed the forced proximity of living together.
The humor in this one was so fun. I really liked Lau’s writing style. A romcom with lots of heart and some heavy issues also addressed. I loved both main characters, especially the hero and his family.
I appreciated the steam here but something about it wasn’t quite as intense as I was hoping for. Maybe I wanted the scenes a bit longer or more explicit? It’s kind of hard to tell on audio I guess. BUT the last scene??? With the wall sex??? Mmmmmm.
The ending did drag a bit for me and I struggled with a couple small parts but overall so happy to have found Lau’s work!
Content warnings:
Spoiler
- mention of father surviving a heart attack
- some mention of possible substance abuse with family members
- depression and anxiety – detailed scenes on page
- suicidal thoughts and remembrances of suicidal hospitalization
- remembrances of bad relationship and abandonment during a time of need
- remembrances of family not supporting mental health
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
Spoiler
Safe sex:
Spoiler
Yes, condoms used38% - kiss
48% - 🔥 touches, fingering/oral for her, missionary followed by mention of other scenes
69% - 🔥 fingering for her in the limo
70% - 🔥 blow job (incomplete), missionary in the hotel room
75% - 🔥 kisses, fingering against the door while he holds her hands above her head, sex against the door, mention of more sex
81% - kiss
nshalla's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.5