Scan barcode
reveriewhimsy'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? No
4.5
ARC Review
Lola is a headstrong woman, who is a bit down on her luck when the last straw breaks; she has locked her keys in her car. Frantic, she reaches out to her BFF Marly who has the perfect person to help her out. Short time later, an Adonis-like man swaggers up to get Lola out of the bind. Yay, help is here...oh no, why does it have to be him. Enter Jed, Lola's high school crush and nemesis.
The story follows these two character as they go on dates for Lola's podcast and slowly/quickly fall harder for each other. It is a wonderful story slow-burn with an HEA. I can't wait to visit more of Green Valley and the wonderful characters that call it home. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and hope that Juliette writes more stories like this.
Lola is a headstrong woman, who is a bit down on her luck when the last straw breaks; she has locked her keys in her car. Frantic, she reaches out to her BFF Marly who has the perfect person to help her out. Short time later, an Adonis-like man swaggers up to get Lola out of the bind. Yay, help is here...oh no, why does it have to be him. Enter Jed, Lola's high school crush and nemesis.
The story follows these two character as they go on dates for Lola's podcast and slowly/quickly fall harder for each other. It is a wonderful story slow-burn with an HEA. I can't wait to visit more of Green Valley and the wonderful characters that call it home. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and hope that Juliette writes more stories like this.
Content Warnings
Minor: Bullying and Death of parent
thereadinghammock's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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
As such a big fan of paranormal romance and monster romance, I was worried that a contemporary romance story wouldn't hold my interest as much, but I was so happy to be disappointed!! I blew through this book in about 3 days!
Jed and Lola's chemistry was off the charts steamy! I would describe their trajectory as friends to adversaries (not quite enemies) to lovers. And the slow-burn on these two was so worth it!! I knew the pay-off once these two hooked up would be worth the reader blue-balls we were being teased with along the way. Who doesn't love the idea of coming home to a hot fireman? Especially one that is a genuinely good human, sibling, and friend! Like could Jed be any more classic-Americana perfect?? (in a good way, I promise!)
I loved dual perspective books, because I like knowing the motivation behind both characters. I like having the perspective. It was so nice to see just how earnest Jed was for Lola, since their high school crushes! He genuinely loved everything about her, even the parts that hurt. Seeing the hero think about the "big wedding, family with kids in the yard, summer BBQs" and not just the heroine making their big "forever" plans felt refreshing to me.
It was steamy, sexy, funny, and Lola's struggle with trying to reconcile her feeling of "what is success?" when her life plan suddenly didn't feel right anymore was so relatable. The millennial struggle of being forced to move home and feeling like a burden on your family when life hands you a "Do not pass go. Go directly home." card was a mood in itself.
Disclaimer! I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Jed and Lola's chemistry was off the charts steamy! I would describe their trajectory as friends to adversaries (not quite enemies) to lovers. And the slow-burn on these two was so worth it!! I knew the pay-off once these two hooked up would be worth the reader blue-balls we were being teased with along the way. Who doesn't love the idea of coming home to a hot fireman? Especially one that is a genuinely good human, sibling, and friend! Like could Jed be any more classic-Americana perfect?? (in a good way, I promise!)
I loved dual perspective books, because I like knowing the motivation behind both characters. I like having the perspective. It was so nice to see just how earnest Jed was for Lola, since their high school crushes! He genuinely loved everything about her, even the parts that hurt. Seeing the hero think about the "big wedding, family with kids in the yard, summer BBQs" and not just the heroine making their big "forever" plans felt refreshing to me.
It was steamy, sexy, funny, and Lola's struggle with trying to reconcile her feeling of "what is success?" when her life plan suddenly didn't feel right anymore was so relatable. The millennial struggle of being forced to move home and feeling like a burden on your family when life hands you a "Do not pass go. Go directly home." card was a mood in itself.
Disclaimer! I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Bullying and Death of parent
Minor: Grief and Alcohol
ladysadiereads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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? No
4.0
This was an adorable read! I took to Jed immediately. He is all pining sweetie wrapped up in a literal firefighter hero shell. He is kindhearted and loving and wears his heart on his sleeve. He has real Ren from Always Only You or Red from Get a Life, Chloe Brown vibes. He also has Dyslexia and I love seeing that represented well! (And I think this was - doesn’t mean it will resonate with everyone - no group of humans is a monolith.) Lola I definitely took longer to warm too. I did in the end though and loved watching her realize what her real priorities were and how they were dictating her life and not actually fulfilling her. I also loved watching her struggle with falling for her high school nemesis. (Who really didn’t want to be her nemesis at all!)
I will say again - I haven’t read any other of the books so there were a WHOLE CAST of characters that I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to know or not? But still super fun!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury