Reviews

Love ad Lib by Evie Alexander

angieisbooked's review against another edition

5.0

Fake dating and Jane Austen inspired countryside? Sold, sold, sold! I read One Night in Foxbrooke earlier this year and was so excited for Love Ad Lib and it did not disappoint! Evie wrote Henry and Libby in such a way where you can't help but love them to pieces. I laughed, I cried, I cried from laughing...it is exactly what I was looking for out of a grumpy/sunshine fake dating romance. Spicy enough for those who need it (wow Henry, wow).

An incredible cast of supporting side characters (I need a book about all of them, perhaps a prequel too?).

Thank you to BookSirens for this advanced copy, I am leaving this review voluntarily.

em_mcd's review

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? It's complicated

5.0

mssarahbn's review

5.0

This was a phenomenal fake relationship romance. It was with out a doubt my favorite book by this author and that is saying a lot because I have loved several of her books. The story was so well written and full of humor. I especially laughed at the meet cute scene and I already then realized that it was a special book that I was reading.

Henry and Libby were just such a wonderful couple and I loved how different they were but still complemented each other perfectly. They had amazing chemistry and I adored the steamy bits.

The book also served as a great series starter and I was curious about a lot of the secondary characters and I can’t wait to read the rest of the series.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

impalalove's review

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

4.0

emilybennett's review

3.5

While there are some aspects of this book which I absolutely loved (namely all things Jane Austen), there were also aspects that I didn't enjoy. Part of this was the almost insta-love and the way the plot felt a bit all over the place to me. I was also really not a fan of the homophobic comment - one of the characters uses 'cock-sucker' as an insult - which really threw me off and was not something I expected to see.
That being said, I enjoyed both the smutty scenes and the characters.

lauriereadsrom1's review

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? It's complicated

5.0

As he approaches his 30th birthday, Lord Henry Foxbrooke, heir to the Duke of Somerset, is a happily single workaholic living in London. The problem is that his family wants to see him married and settled back at the family estate, Foxbrooke Manor. Desperate to avoid his eccentric family's "help" in finding a wife, Henry impulsively makes up a fictional girlfriend and decides to ask his new acquaintance, improv actress Libby Fletcher, to take on the role. In need of the cash Henry's offering, Libby accepts, and they set out for the weekend of birthday celebrations Henry never wanted. Somewhere along the way, their fake relationship starts to feel very real, but what happens when it's time for them to return to London?

If ever a book could be described as a "romp," this is the one! Henry and Libby's story was fresh, fun, fast-paced, and lively, and I couldn't put it down. The laughter started while I was reading the prologue and didn't stop until the very end. I adored Henry and Libby both individually and as a couple; even though he came across as a bit of a grump at first, Henry was the sweetest, most thoughtful man, and Libby was so delightfully bubbly and quirky. They were a perfect balance for each other and I loved cheering them on to their HEA.
 
After just one book (and a novella), I can already tell that this is going to be another fantastic series from Evie Alexander. I highly recommend "Love ad Lib" and can't wait to get my hands on the next one!
 
*Review copy provided by the author via BookSirens. All opinions expressed are my own.

abercrombie1986's review

funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I read a lot of thrillers, so the author’s rom coms are the perfect break in between all the death and murder.  She writes such great characters and I always laugh out loud at least a couple of times each book.

Henry’s family is rich and very eccentric.  They throw sex parties, and his parents fully participate in these parties and have quite the reputation.  Libby thinks she in love with Lucas and is in debt trying to help his art career.  I don’t want to call this a Pride and Prejudice retelling as it’s been quite a while since I read the original and I am not sure how close it sticks to the plot, but it is definitely inspired by it.  There are so many references and the characters even discuss which screen version is their favorite.  I really liked Henry and Libby and even early on when there were other potential love interests, I was rooting for them.  They are lovable and relatable.  And no matter how closely this story does or doesn’t mirror Pride and Prejudice, Henry and Libby really are the epitome of Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy.

I love fake dating and this is done quite well as Henry hires Libby to play his girlfriend at the out of town weekend activities surrounding his birthday.  What could possibly go wrong as he is surrounded by family and friends?  Of course as Mr. Darcy, Henry is definitely grumpy to Libby’s sunshine personality.  I love how generous Henry is when it comes to anyone he loves.  I am a fan of romances tell the story from both main characters POVs as this one does.  It allows insight to how both characters view each other and the events happening.  And don’t let me forget to mention the reward you get as the characters come to their senses and open their hearts.  Some spicey love scenes that showcases their love for each other and some awesome banter.

This is my fourth or fifth book by the author and I’ve loved every one.  At the time I am writing this, there aren’t any ratings on Amazon that are less than a 4!!!  What are you waiting for?  I see this has a second book coming out in the series this fall.  You need to be ready.

mspano620's review against another edition

adventurous 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? It's complicated

4.0

theweebookworm's review

emotional funny lighthearted 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? It's complicated

5.0

thea_withthebigwords's review

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

5.0

The way this book made my heart soar. Y’all. I can’t.

I’ve been looking forward to this ARC for so long and the wait absolutely paid off. EXTREME grumpy sunshine? ✅ Jane Austen references out the wazoo? ✅ One bed trope and inevitable steam that comes with it? ✅✅✅

This is not a cutesy closed-door bookish FMC read. This is “I effing hate this guy but also I really want them to make beautiful beautiful babies together.” Read at your own risk. (Spoiler - worth it.)

FMC was so fun, as someone with an improv background I loved how being so quick on her toes helped in all of the sticky situations they ended up in. MMC was a lug that made me want to throw things but in a Darcy kind of way.

So so so enjoyed this fun read!

Thank you to Evie for an advanced copy of this book!