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viviundworte's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Death
Minor: Animal death, Toxic relationship, and Car accident
leahfoko'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? No
4.0
This book was very cute. It was a quick read for me because I always read romances fast because I need to know what happens next with them. This book was really gratifying to read as a very anxious person. It spoke to me and made me feel seen because while my anxieties are not the same as either Maybell or Wesley’s, a lot of their anxieties cross over with mine and it was nice to see characters who weren’t extremely confident or outgoing and have them get their happy ending as well.
Some of the descriptions were sometimes a little much for me and it of course didn’t feel perfectly realistic because there are too many coincidences that brought them together, it is a book after all. But it had that fun whimsical feel, the grumpy male lead who has to open up to show he is sweet underneath, and a sweet happy ending in Scotland. What more could you want?
Some of the descriptions were sometimes a little much for me and it of course didn’t feel perfectly realistic because there are too many coincidences that brought them together, it is a book after all. But it had that fun whimsical feel, the grumpy male lead who has to open up to show he is sweet underneath, and a sweet happy ending in Scotland. What more could you want?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Cursing, Sexual content, and Car accident
cait's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
sad
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
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Grief, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment
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
margaretrose's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Toxic friendship
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
paperdreams's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Toxic friendship
theespressoedition'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
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.
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
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
Graphic: Bullying, Sexism, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Sexual content