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agrippinaes's review against another edition
3.0
My feelings on this book are slightly complicated. Firstly, this book had some lovely writing in it - there were some gorgeous bits of descriptive writing and good, strong dialogue. It’s genuinely funny in parts
The plot itself was quite interesting and, in my opinion, not quite as advertised. The set up of the story was quite strong - I liked their meeting on the plane, the banter between them and how it set up their dynamic for the rest of the book.
I liked both main characters. Zelda was a strong main character and I liked how she managed Ash and took him in her stride.
Ash was a surprising character. He was less of the smooth, arrogant businessman than I initially expected, and I liked that he was slightly awkward and unused to relationships with anyone apart from his siblings, not just with romantic partners.
Their relationship was nice. It was sweet and warm and there were some lovely moments between them. Their romance moves very fast, but it felt natural rather than forced, and I thought his affections in particular were clear very early on. Also,
The sex scenes in this book are well-written and very hot. I did feel at first that their sexual chemistry was not as strong as their emotional chemistry, but that improved more as the novel went on.
I also liked his family - they were cute and amusing, and I liked how his siblings’ were dreamers, unlike him.
However, reading this sometimes felt like a bit of a slog. I don’t really like using that word as there is so much I genuinely enjoyed about this book, but sometimes, it felt a bit long-winded and a lot of it read as filler. There wasn’t really a lot of plot to it, which isn’t normally a problem, but some scenes felt like they went on for ages whilst others, that were more interesting to me, wrapped up quite quickly. It meanders a lot, as well.
I liked their relationship and I thought it was a fairly decent example of instalove (I don’t think there is any other way to describe their bond), but I did think that more time needed to pass in the story for it to work.
Also, the major thing for me is that I went into this thinking it was the employee/boss trope. I don’t normally talk about descriptions a lot in my reviews, but the description for this book really drew me in - the set up of it as her letter of resignation and his refusal to accept it.
It just felt a lot like the author set out to write a boss/employee romance, but as the story and characters developed, that got lost along the way. It really felt like an afterthought. This is more of a criticism from a marketing perspective, I guess - it wasn’t the book I expected it to be. I enjoyed it anyway, but I think on reflection, for me, using that excerpt gave the impression that their working together is the main focus of the book, when it really isn’t.
This is quite a nice, sweet but steamy romance with a lovely warm tone. The characters are quite funny and quirky and the plot has some interesting ideas to it. But I don’t think it’s accurately described as a boss/employee romance
I would recommend it if you want a funny, light-hearted romance with two quirky main characters with some elements of a boss/employee romance.
Content Warnings:
Spoiler
his irritation at her ‘pocket eggs’ and so on made me smile.The plot itself was quite interesting and, in my opinion, not quite as advertised. The set up of the story was quite strong - I liked their meeting on the plane, the banter between them and how it set up their dynamic for the rest of the book.
Spoiler
I also liked that he was injured and vulnerable initially - I think I’ve read far more books where the woman in the story starts out injured and needing help, so the reversal was interesting.I liked both main characters. Zelda was a strong main character and I liked how she managed Ash and took him in her stride.
Spoiler
I did think she possibly read a little younger than 31 and I was surprised when the text revealed her age - she was occasionally a bit immature, especially early on.Ash was a surprising character. He was less of the smooth, arrogant businessman than I initially expected, and I liked that he was slightly awkward and unused to relationships with anyone apart from his siblings, not just with romantic partners.
Spoiler
Also - special mention of his habit of stamping books with the date he read them - how cute!Their relationship was nice. It was sweet and warm and there were some lovely moments between them. Their romance moves very fast, but it felt natural rather than forced, and I thought his affections in particular were clear very early on.
Spoiler
I loved that he wanted to keep her as much like herself as possible, and all of the little details about him respecting her really worked for me. After the revelation near the end of the book that she was fleeing an unhealthy relationship, I liked that Ash’s reaction to it was calm and sensible rather than losing his temper. This part, in particular, really touched me: “...He stalked you across the country,” Ash said to my skirt. “Where he openly and repeatedly attempted to intimidate you. I was damn close to dropping his ass to the floor.” … “Why didn’t you?” “You had it under control,” he said, as if it was the most obvious fact known to humanity. I liked seeing this kind of sensible reaction.Spoiler
his reaction to her menstruation - wanting to help her and understand her - was really sweet and well-done.The sex scenes in this book are well-written and very hot.
Spoiler
I wasn’t sure how I felt about how authoritative Ash was in the bedroom - in the novel, this is described as if he’s like this elsewhere, but he never felt as dominant anywhere else in the story. I didn’t mind it, it just came as a surprise!I also liked his family - they were cute and amusing, and I liked how his siblings’ were dreamers, unlike him.
However, reading this sometimes felt like a bit of a slog. I don’t really like using that word as there is so much I genuinely enjoyed about this book, but sometimes, it felt a bit long-winded and a lot of it read as filler. There wasn’t really a lot of plot to it, which isn’t normally a problem, but some scenes felt like they went on for ages whilst others, that were more interesting to me, wrapped up quite quickly. It meanders a lot, as well.
I liked their relationship and I thought it was a fairly decent example of instalove (I don’t think there is any other way to describe their bond), but I did think that more time needed to pass in the story for it to work.
Also, the major thing for me is that I went into this thinking it was the employee/boss trope. I don’t normally talk about descriptions a lot in my reviews, but the description for this book really drew me in - the set up of it as her letter of resignation and his refusal to accept it.
Spoiler
This is taken directly from the novel, which is fine. But! And it’s a big but! I don’t think the employee thing was needed. The story would have worked fine without it. In my opinion, this book wasn’t really about the dynamic of him as her boss and her as his employee. They meet coincidentally on a plane after she applied to work for him, he sort of hires her, but by 50% into the novel, she hasn’t properly began working for him (but they have started sleeping together and cuddling a lot), and then it rushes through the part of the book where she does work for him. I will say that the author crammed a lot into that part with her helping him, but still. This really didn’t feel like a boss/employee book at all, to me - it was more of an exploration of two people who were in desperate need of each other’s help when they met, and how their love formed from that.It just felt a lot like the author set out to write a boss/employee romance, but as the story and characters developed, that got lost along the way. It really felt like an afterthought. This is more of a criticism from a marketing perspective, I guess - it wasn’t the book I expected it to be. I enjoyed it anyway, but I think on reflection, for me, using that excerpt gave the impression that their working together is the main focus of the book, when it really isn’t.
This is quite a nice, sweet but steamy romance with a lovely warm tone. The characters are quite funny and quirky and the plot has some interesting ideas to it. But I don’t think it’s accurately described as a boss/employee romance
Spoiler
obviously - they are literally a boss and an employee, but that dynamic never felt important and it never felt like the major focus when contrasted with them helping each other grow as people.I would recommend it if you want a funny, light-hearted romance with two quirky main characters with some elements of a boss/employee romance.
Content Warnings:
Spoiler
Parental neglect, alcoholism, drug use, domestic abuse (emotional, controlling behaviour).mollymemes's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
kslaven's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
winemakerssister's review against another edition
5.0
Audible edition. And they didn't indicate it, but this follows The Magnolia Chronicles -- it's about Magnolia's brother Ash.
This is one of those situations where I'm judging the book based on its intended sub-genre, in this case sexy rom-com. The main characters are interesting, quirky, and likable. They evolved over the time period of the book. The meet-cute is adorable.... and the rest of the book is strong enough to stand up following the great meet-cute. A fun read!
This is one of those situations where I'm judging the book based on its intended sub-genre, in this case sexy rom-com. The main characters are interesting, quirky, and likable. They evolved over the time period of the book. The meet-cute is adorable.... and the rest of the book is strong enough to stand up following the great meet-cute. A fun read!
icedviennalatte'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? N/A
3.75
xxselenaj's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I loved Ash and Zelda! At times the pacing was weird but I overall could not stop heart eyeing these two. Their instant connection and banter was so wholesome and organic.
I will say that the summary of the book does not adequately portray Ash. Going into this I thought he’d be a regular alpha asshole boss and she would be a simple assistant So I was happily wrong and cannot recommend it enough. The lack of information going into this book was really great
I will say that the summary of the book does not adequately portray Ash. Going into this I thought he’d be a regular alpha asshole boss and she would be a simple assistant So I was happily wrong and cannot recommend it enough. The lack of information going into this book was really great
ayla0303's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
dotts's review against another edition
1.0
I knew after reading the blurb that this book wasn't for me, but 1. it was a workplace romance and 2. I prefer to judge the writing style before dismissing the content. (Yes, I have a weakness for engaging writing.)
Unfortunately, by the end of page one I disliked the character speaking and the writing did not make up for either the blurb or the character, so DNF was my obvious choice. Next.
Unfortunately, by the end of page one I disliked the character speaking and the writing did not make up for either the blurb or the character, so DNF was my obvious choice. Next.