laurareadstoomuch's review against another edition
4.0
On a trip to Vegas after graduation, Mia meets beautiful French Ansel, and a weekend affair turns into a shotgun wedding in Vegas. After promising to each other to give the summer before annulling the marriage, Mia ends up going to Paris to spend the summer with Ansel. While I don't normally like insta love - this felt more like an instantly slow burn as Mia and Ansel had to figure each other out as strangers. Ansel, with his French accent and his dirty mouth is a sweet guy who is super cute and devoted to Mia from the get go. Mia, while having some hangups in general, is a fairly strong FL who spends the summer going out into the city on her own and finding her own truth. Even the "wrench" in their love story isn't too terrible- all in all, fairly decent story.
sri_savita's review against another edition
4.0
I hate the title and cover art of this book with the blazing hellfire of Hades.
It is truly misleading. Give me a cute illustrated contemporary cover that Berkley started the trend for any day over this. Real people on book covers is NEVER necessary.
That being said, I do believe Christina Lauren balances steam with great characterization better than any other authors I've read in the more explicit books within the romance genre so far. I will say this book has way more steam than plot, and my preferences skew more towards plot than steam, which is more in line with The Unhoneymooners ala other women's fiction I like reading.
But the reason this particular story worked so well for me, and didn't have me clutching at my pearls or fainting like a Victorian grandma, is that there is genuine characterization for Mia and Ansel on their own and in the way they learn about each other and how their relationship grows. I loved this. Most romance stories abide by the genre convention that there are 3 story arcs to follow: the heroine, the hero, and the relationship itself - and C.Lo does this superbly well in all the books I've read by them. I love the way the convey strength, intelligence, honesty, wit and humor in their characters and show us all the little things you have to learn about each other for a relationship to succeed.
ALSO, ANSEL. My heart. Dude was very dumb sometimes. But love this adorable puppy still.
It is truly misleading. Give me a cute illustrated contemporary cover that Berkley started the trend for any day over this. Real people on book covers is NEVER necessary.
That being said, I do believe Christina Lauren balances steam with great characterization better than any other authors I've read in the more explicit books within the romance genre so far. I will say this book has way more steam than plot, and my preferences skew more towards plot than steam, which is more in line with The Unhoneymooners ala other women's fiction I like reading.
But the reason this particular story worked so well for me, and didn't have me clutching at my pearls or fainting like a Victorian grandma, is that there is genuine characterization for Mia and Ansel on their own and in the way they learn about each other and how their relationship grows. I loved this. Most romance stories abide by the genre convention that there are 3 story arcs to follow: the heroine, the hero, and the relationship itself - and C.Lo does this superbly well in all the books I've read by them. I love the way the convey strength, intelligence, honesty, wit and humor in their characters and show us all the little things you have to learn about each other for a relationship to succeed.
ALSO, ANSEL. My heart. Dude was very dumb sometimes. But love this adorable puppy still.
paige_miller48's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
chantal_readingwithcat's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
karey64's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.0
dgignac's review against another edition
4.0
While I enjoyed this book, I didn't feel the same connection to the characters as I did with the authors' Beautiful Bastard series. I just couldn't connect with the Ansel character very well... Perhaps if there had been some writing from his POV I would have connected a bit better.