Reviews with content warning for Bullying - Застенчивость в квадрате

I found both main characters really relatable. As a daydreamer myself (albeit not to this extent), I enjoyed reading a main character who daydreams in such vivid detail and loses herself in an imaginary world. Contrary to some other readers, I didn’t find it difficult to tell when the daydreams began or that the daydreams took over the narrative compared to the plot. Also, like Maybell, I do appreciate a man in a nice cardigan.

Wesley was just the most adorable cinnamon roll ever despite his grouchy exterior, especially after the 40% mark when he starts to open up. I appreciated that the ~power of love~ didn’t miraculously cure him of his social anxiety like it does so often in romances. His dislike of socialising definitely spoke to me.

I did think the side characters were a bit too cruel to be real, although they didn’t take up much page time and the cruelty was tempered by the sweetness of the romance. The house renovations were also completed unrealistically quickly with remarkably few hiccups. That never happens.

Overall, this was a really cute, fluffy read that still had a lot of depth and heart to it.

Content Warnings

readerette's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny inspiring 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

4.75

Two gripes, but that's it: sometimes the "head in the clouds" side of Maybell is super distracting and a little hard to believe, and Wesley is difficult to read at times, which is part of portraying his anxiety and awkwardness, but makes his sweeter moments seem out of character.

That said, Maybell is infectiously charming and quirky, and Wesley a gentle counterbalance to her daydreamy ways. I wish there had been a bit more about how the 'house project' worked out (that's a weird way to put it but I don't want to give it away), but it's okay because that was not the point of the story, really. These characters are also quite different from the characters in You Deserve Each Other, which shows the author's range and keeps things fresh.

Some kissing and a tame sex scene. The sex scene is very relatable--not suave and smooth and magical like one often finds in romance novels, and neither partner is an "expert", so they're exploring and being vulnerable in a realistic way. This story seemed to me to be more about attraction and connection than desire.

Content Warnings

theespressoedition's review against another edition

Go to review page

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.

Content Warnings

foldingthepage_kayleigh's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny lighthearted slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

This might end up being one of my favourite romance novels of all time. I loved Maybell and I really saw myself in this character (maybe because she’s a Libra moon and I’m a Libra Sun).

Going off into her own world and her conflict avoidant nature was something I related to and Wesley’s description of feeling claustrophobic in the air, I swear I was like yelling because that’s exactly how I feel! Maybell and Wesley’s relationship is so sweet, how they actively work to understand each other and work with each other.

If you like grumpy-sunshine, forced proximity books and enjoyed You Deserve Each Other by the same author, then you’ll love this one!

Content Warnings

samharlow85's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Maybell loves to live in a fantasy world, living in her imagination where she owns a coffee shop while finding love. In reality, she works as a cleaner for an event space in Pigeon Forge, TN, when she finds out she's inheriting her aunt's farm. She quits her job to move to the farm, to find out she's inheriting the house with the landscaper Wesley, who is grumpy and shy.

This book is really nice, like a warm hug, and it's single POV from Maybell, whose own shyness and fantasy world lend this story a nice tone. Wesley is very charming and sweet, as you find out he's not really grumpy, just extremely shy, with anxiety. The ending somewhat surprises me in how they handled it, which was a pleasant surprise. I liked also the idea of quitting your job to pursue your bliss - something we all need more of right now.

Content Warnings

qace90's review against another edition

Go to review page

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

5.0

I received an advance copy from the publisher via Netgalley for review purposes. This in no way influences my review; all words, thoughts, and opinions are my own.

Oh my gosh, this book is soooooo swoony!! I love these characters, and cannot wait for everyone else to meet and fall in love with Maybell and Wesley~! Full review closer to release.

Full review:

Goodness, if you are looking for a warm, swoony read, Twice Shy will definitely fulfill that need!

Maybell is used to being a dreamer and kind of taking things from people that she doesn’t deserve because while she can come up with elaborate fantasies of being bold and confident, the reality is she’s more apt to take the slights heaped on her. Part of this comes from growing up with a mom who couldn’t be there for her, and so she’s gotten used to just accepting scraps of affection. When her Aunt Violet suddenly (to her) passes away and leaves her the old house she remembers so fondly from one summer, Maybell is full of dreams of what it’s going to be like living in her dream house. What she isn’t prepared for is having to share the inheritance with Wesley, a shy, socially anxious landscaper who communicates with stony silence and notes down the dumb waiter.

I came into Twice Shy expecting the same kind of humor and feel as You Deserve Each Other, Hogle’s debut novel, but I’m amazed at just how vastly different they are - but how wonderful Hogle’s books are as well! This book did start a little slow and took a little while for me to get into, but it was absolutely worth the wait. Wesley comes across very gruff and grumpy, but he’s actually a gooey marshmallow and he says the sweetest things. But really one of my absolute favorite things in this book was the emphasis on who they are being enough for both Maybell and Wesley, showing how loving someone is loving them as they are, good and bad and put-together and messy, and not trying to make them someone different or “better.” There were so many little lines that made me legitimately clutch my chest and swoon because it was so wonderfully sweet and caring. And there’s no love fixing or curing Wesley’s anxiety, but we do see how love makes him feel able to do things that scare him because he knows Maybell loves him.

I just adored this book so much and even though it has a very different vibe from You Deserve Each Other, it still has some of the same humor that made Hogle’s debut so wonderful. I’ll definitely be reading more from her, and I hope so many others fall in love with Maybell and Wesley and Falling Stars too!

Content Warnings

lmarsh's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

4.5

Was able to read this book through my work, and I absolutely loved it. The main character, Maybell, loses her job at the start of the book, but she then inherits a rotting manor on a sprawling estate from her eccentric great-aunt. When she arrives, she is shocked to recognize the groundskeeper's face (I won't explain why--read and find out!), and for some reason he also seems to be going out of his way to avoid her. Not-really-spoiler: It's because he's extremely shy.

The two eventually start communicating via notes and begin opening up to each other despite their mutual anxiety. Eventually they start on a collaborative story, with Maybell leaving written passages and Wesley, the groundskeeper, illustrating what happens next. It was at this point that I started swooning and couldn't stop. How tender and wholesome is that?!?!? I could not stop babbling about this book to my friends.

I loved so many parts of this book. The writing is fresh and funny, and Maybell's (very unreliable) narration is highly relatable (at least to me, a twentysomething). The book also shamelessly leans into romance tropes and somehow manages to pull it off without becoming unbearably cheesy. And, as a nerd myself, I enjoyed the various nerdy references Maybell makes. To top it all off, Maybell also learns about and grows into herself over the arc of the story.

My one qualm was with Wesley's particular brand of shyness, which is actually specific to women. This just rubbed me the wrong way, although Wesley himself is delightful and not at all misogynistic, just...very afraid of women. And (minor spoilers for arc of Wesley's family/backstory)

his family has basically cut him off and taunted him for not being in a relationship, and then as soon as he mentions that he is in a relationship, they are all right as rain and engage in some wholesome family activity.

. I just wish the development here had been a little more nuanced.

Overall, this is a hilarious, tender, slow-burn love story that I highly recommend and could not stop talking about for days. Read it!

Content Warnings

More...