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kim03's review against another edition
4.5
I liked this very much. Sarah hogle might be the only author I really trust to not make a single POV book terrible (I'm not a fan, clearly, but she makes it bearable).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Mental illness
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual content, and Toxic friendship
tetrootz's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Mental illness, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, and Sexual content
katievallin's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Death, Sexual content, and Grief
Minor: Animal death, Racism, and Sexism
boookerlover33's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Sexism
theespressoedition's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
I was very up and down while I read this story! Come with me on that journey...
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 never had him "conquer" his fear and get on the plane to meet her in Scotland. It made anxiety seem way more manageable than it actually is and a more realistic version would've been that he never made it there and Maybell still adored him at the end, challenges and all. But that's just my two cents.
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Sexism, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Sexual content
booknerdbetty's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Animal death, Cursing, Death, Mental illness, Sexism, Sexual content, and Car accident
dashboardlights24601's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Toxic friendship
Minor: Cancer, Death, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, and Grief
samchase112'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
5.0
AHHHHHHH THESE CHARACTERS ARE CINNAMON ROLLS AND I WANT THE WORLD FOR THEM. ESPECIALLY WESLEY. HE DESERVES ALL THE LOVE GIVE HIM ALL THE LOVE.
I adored the quirky vibes of this romance, the sweet relationship the main characters shared, the fall from bickering to loving, the natural hurdles to their relationship that don't feel contrived or forced, it all works brilliantly. I am so glad this book exists, if only for picture of anxiety, social anxiety, and claustrophobia it presents. Wesley and Maybell are the sweetest characters on the planet, and if someone comes for them I will hurt them. Seriously, this romance is all sweetness and laughter and loveliness - I highly recommend it, and know I will want to be coming back to it myself :)
I adored the quirky vibes of this romance, the sweet relationship the main characters shared, the fall from bickering to loving, the natural hurdles to their relationship that don't feel contrived or forced, it all works brilliantly. I am so glad this book exists, if only for picture of anxiety, social anxiety, and claustrophobia it presents. Wesley and Maybell are the sweetest characters on the planet, and if someone comes for them I will hurt them. Seriously, this romance is all sweetness and laughter and loveliness - I highly recommend it, and know I will want to be coming back to it myself :)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Sexism, Sexual content, and Grief
Minor: Animal death and Medical content
spearly's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
- 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
And I am weak. My spine was manufactured by Charmin. I want to be commanding, stern, intimidating, but I am raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens. My resolve is dandelion fluff. When he looks at me like that, my inner vocabulary bursts apart like a piñata of candy conversation hearts.
When Maybell’s great-aunt Violet passes, Maybell is shocked to find out that she’s inherited her estate. Only, when she shows up to the manor, it’s nothing at all like she remembers; walls need painting, appliances need replacing, and the place is FILLED with… stuff. Everything from old magazines, most-ridden clothes, to pretty much everything an old woman can buy from an infomercial. What’s worse: she runs into the grumpy groundkeeper, who, to her dismay, shares a face with the tinder profile that had been used to catfish her for months. And worse still: according to Violet’s will, they are equal-inheritors of the estate.
Holy. Flipping. Cow.
This book is like a warm cup of hot chocolate on a rainy day. I want to wrap myself up in it like a cocoon and live in it forever. Maybe I can make my own Maybell’s Coffee Shop AU and just live in the universe of Twice Shy.
I can’t get my thoughts together. I adored everything about this.
The writing. The characters. The setting. The romance. The pining. The neuro-divergent representation. I could feel my heart inflating like a balloon with Maybell’s. There it goes.
I’m convinced men written by women is the reason I find men in real life diappointing. Cause Wesley!? Holy Mackerel, did my heart flutter for him. I loved how Maybell made him feel safe, loved, understood, how he did the same for her. I loved how healthy the relationship was. I loved Hogle never relied on silly conflicts and childish misunderstandings for needless turmoil.
Some people have written in their reviews that this book is slow. I’ve complained about that myself in a number of other reviews. But pacing wasn’t an issue for me here. Twice Shy didn’t need some large, overly-complicated melodrama, some big elephant-in-the-room climax for our characters to overcome. This is a story of acceptance. Of understanding. Of unconditional love. Of feeling worthy. Everything else is just noise.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Cursing, Death, Sexism, Sexual content, Vomit, and Grief
decklededgess's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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
4.5
trigger warnings: anxiety and panic attacks, cat fishing, emotionally abusive and toxic friend, gaslighting, loss of family, narcissistic parent, abusive and negligent parent, sexual content, disassociation during trauma (edit: this might be maladaptive daydreaming but i’m not sure), domestic abuse mention,
this book started out so sad that i was not going to stand for anything less than a tooth rottingly wholesome man for the main character. i think i might need dentures because wesley was so sweet all my teeth have fallen out.
this book started out so sad that i was not going to stand for anything less than a tooth rottingly wholesome man for the main character. i think i might need dentures because wesley was so sweet all my teeth have fallen out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Animal death, Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, and Racism
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