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kim03's review against another edition
4.5
I liked this very much. Sarah hogle might be the only author I really trust to not make a single POV book terrible (I'm not a fan, clearly, but she makes it bearable).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Mental illness
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual content, and Toxic friendship
allonsyahhlee's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Minor: Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
wilybooklover's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
5.0
Reading this felt like drinking a mug of hot chocolate; comforting and sweet in a simple yet charming way.
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
Graphic: Mental illness and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Grief, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Animal death, Bullying, Misogyny, and Racism
lizzieb29's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Emotional abuse, Grief, and Toxic friendship
valeria_gzz's review against another edition
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
SO FREAKING ADORABLE!!! Once again I don’t know why I waited so long to read this!!
Oh my gosh Wesley was so cute and I related to him AND Maybel almost equally I think. Both of these characters were adorable and then out together UGH. I can’t cope.
Oh my gosh Wesley was so cute and I related to him AND Maybel almost equally I think. Both of these characters were adorable and then out together UGH. I can’t cope.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Sexual content, Grief, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Racism
debussy's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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 loved Sarah Hogle's debut, as well as her more recent Just Like Magic. Twice Shy is far more quiet compared to the others, and while there is still the same kind of quirk it's much more muted by the characters' emotional conflicts and the book's emphasis on mental illness. While I really enjoyed the bulk of the book, I did feel like the theme of love "fixing" a person's mental illness didn't really hit. As a person with anxiety no where near the level portrayed in the book, who is on medication and in therapy, the resolution was nice for the plot's sake, but I did not love it and found myself mostly frustrated that no one even mentioned more realistic ways to treat such illness that is not suffering until you find someone who loves you enough to be an emotional support system willing to forgive anything because that's their personality flaw.
I also didn't really understand some of the external plot--where was their money coming from to fix up this house? It's described as a money pit--a hoarding situation in 11,000 square feet, and it's fixed with a couple of dumpsters and some Magic Erasers? What happened with the funding? It's all glossed over, and I wish there'd been more meat on the bones there.
Soooo...by far my least favorite Sarah Hogle book, but the writing is still A+.
I also didn't really understand some of the external plot--where was their money coming from to fix up this house? It's described as a money pit--a hoarding situation in 11,000 square feet, and it's fixed with a couple of dumpsters and some Magic Erasers? What happened with the funding? It's all glossed over, and I wish there'd been more meat on the bones there.
Soooo...by far my least favorite Sarah Hogle book, but the writing is still A+.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Emotional abuse
isotope_s's review against another edition
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Emotional abuse
megloveswords12's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Toxic relationship
shoesforall's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
fast-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? Yes
5.0
If you are looking for a cuddly, feel good, well written romance with fleshed out characters who act like people not props to the plot and a romance that slowly and delicately unfolds? This book is for you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Emotional abuse
decklededgess'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? Yes
4.5
trigger warnings: anxiety and panic attacks, cat fishing, emotionally abusive and toxic friend, gaslighting, loss of family, narcissistic parent, abusive and negligent parent, sexual content, disassociation during trauma (edit: this might be maladaptive daydreaming but i’m not sure), domestic abuse mention,
this book started out so sad that i was not going to stand for anything less than a tooth rottingly wholesome man for the main character. i think i might need dentures because wesley was so sweet all my teeth have fallen out.
this book started out so sad that i was not going to stand for anything less than a tooth rottingly wholesome man for the main character. i think i might need dentures because wesley was so sweet all my teeth have fallen out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Animal death, Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, and Racism