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tetrootz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Bullying, Mental illness, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, and Sexual content
allonsyahhlee's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Minor: Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
wilybooklover's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Mental illness and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Grief, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Animal death, Bullying, Misogyny, and Racism
readerette's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
That said, Maybell is infectiously charming and quirky, and Wesley a gentle counterbalance to her daydreamy ways. I wish there had been a bit more about how the 'house project' worked out (that's a weird way to put it but I don't want to give it away), but it's okay because that was not the point of the story, really. These characters are also quite different from the characters in You Deserve Each Other, which shows the author's range and keeps things fresh.
Some kissing and a tame sex scene. The sex scene is very relatable--not suave and smooth and magical like one often finds in romance novels, and neither partner is an "expert", so they're exploring and being vulnerable in a realistic way. This story seemed to me to be more about attraction and connection than desire.
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Bullying, Cursing, Death, and Sexual content
theespressoedition's review
- 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
When I first started the book, I thought it was cute that the protagonist had this daydream she escaped to in order to "deal with" her pretty crappy job and the very toxic work friendships she had. By the time I reached the middle of the book, I found her daydreams to be a little strange rather than endearing.
The relationship starts out as one of the most bizarre enemies-to-lovers tropes I've ever read. I was instantly irritated that Maybell didn't like Wesley just because he was shy. Her insanely extroverted personality was so forceful and intense and I can understand right away why he would react the way he did. She also had him on this weird pedestal because of the fact that he was the face of the guy from her daydreams. Basically, the entirety of their relationship at the start was because of miscommunication, which is my least favorite thing to have in a romance novel.
However, towards the middle of the book, I really enjoyed their chemistry as they finally got to know one another. They were flirty and cute and it was clear that Wesley fell first, which was beyond adorable. Their whole relationship was reworked into something very sweet - and he works really hard to show his affection in a natural way while still battling through social anxiety and extreme shyness.
Then came the ending, which threw me for another loop. The first half and the second half felt like two different books to me and I almost wish they'd been split up. Watching as Wesley tried to work through his anxiety could have been all the more meaningful, but instead, it felt like it was all wrapped up into a nice and neat little bow too quickly and easily. If I'd had it my way, I would've
However, it was a cute book overall and I enjoyed a decent amount of it, so I'm at least glad that I gave it a read.
Graphic: Bullying, Sexism, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Sexual content
foldingthepage_kayleigh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Bullying, Death, and Mental illness
Minor: Misogyny
samharlow85's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This book is really nice, like a warm hug, and it's single POV from Maybell, whose own shyness and fantasy world lend this story a nice tone. Wesley is very charming and sweet, as you find out he's not really grumpy, just extremely shy, with anxiety. The ending somewhat surprises me in how they handled it, which was a pleasant surprise. I liked also the idea of quitting your job to pursue your bliss - something we all need more of right now.
Minor: Bullying
qace90's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Oh my gosh, this book is soooooo swoony!! I love these characters, and cannot wait for everyone else to meet and fall in love with Maybell and Wesley~! Full review closer to release.
Full review:
Goodness, if you are looking for a warm, swoony read, Twice Shy will definitely fulfill that need!
Maybell is used to being a dreamer and kind of taking things from people that she doesn’t deserve because while she can come up with elaborate fantasies of being bold and confident, the reality is she’s more apt to take the slights heaped on her. Part of this comes from growing up with a mom who couldn’t be there for her, and so she’s gotten used to just accepting scraps of affection. When her Aunt Violet suddenly (to her) passes away and leaves her the old house she remembers so fondly from one summer, Maybell is full of dreams of what it’s going to be like living in her dream house. What she isn’t prepared for is having to share the inheritance with Wesley, a shy, socially anxious landscaper who communicates with stony silence and notes down the dumb waiter.
I came into Twice Shy expecting the same kind of humor and feel as You Deserve Each Other, Hogle’s debut novel, but I’m amazed at just how vastly different they are - but how wonderful Hogle’s books are as well! This book did start a little slow and took a little while for me to get into, but it was absolutely worth the wait. Wesley comes across very gruff and grumpy, but he’s actually a gooey marshmallow and he says the sweetest things. But really one of my absolute favorite things in this book was the emphasis on who they are being enough for both Maybell and Wesley, showing how loving someone is loving them as they are, good and bad and put-together and messy, and not trying to make them someone different or “better.” There were so many little lines that made me legitimately clutch my chest and swoon because it was so wonderfully sweet and caring. And there’s no love fixing or curing Wesley’s anxiety, but we do see how love makes him feel able to do things that scare him because he knows Maybell loves him.
I just adored this book so much and even though it has a very different vibe from You Deserve Each Other, it still has some of the same humor that made Hogle’s debut so wonderful. I’ll definitely be reading more from her, and I hope so many others fall in love with Maybell and Wesley and Falling Stars too!
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Grief
Minor: Ableism, Bullying, Sexual content, and Car accident
Gaslighting, catfishing, amanormativity, anxietylmarsh's review against another edition
4.5
The two eventually start communicating via notes and begin opening up to each other despite their mutual anxiety. Eventually they start on a collaborative story, with Maybell leaving written passages and Wesley, the groundskeeper, illustrating what happens next. It was at this point that I started swooning and couldn't stop. How tender and wholesome is that?!?!? I could not stop babbling about this book to my friends.
I loved so many parts of this book. The writing is fresh and funny, and Maybell's (very unreliable) narration is highly relatable (at least to me, a twentysomething). The book also shamelessly leans into romance tropes and somehow manages to pull it off without becoming unbearably cheesy. And, as a nerd myself, I enjoyed the various nerdy references Maybell makes. To top it all off, Maybell also learns about and grows into herself over the arc of the story.
My one qualm was with Wesley's particular brand of shyness, which is actually specific to women. This just rubbed me the wrong way, although Wesley himself is delightful and not at all misogynistic, just...very afraid of women. And (minor spoilers for arc of Wesley's family/backstory)
Overall, this is a hilarious, tender, slow-burn love story that I highly recommend and could not stop talking about for days. Read it!
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Bullying, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship