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purplepenning's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.0
This could've been a really good, non-steamy romance with a bookish/author-editor setting and a pretty great You've Got Mail hook. Unfortunately, the pacing, uneven development, and a few distasteful jokes let it down. It's a 4-star idea with 2-star execution, so I settled on 3 stars and that feels a little too generous. I think plenty of people will really love it, though. It definitely has a Nora Ephron vibe and would probably make a better screenplay/movie than a book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Dementia, Grief, and Death of parent
ratetheromance's review against another edition
hopeful
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? No
4.0
When the book promises you steam and then closes the door in your face. GAH!
Listen, I loved ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ก๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง๐๐๐ฅ ๐ก๐๐ ๐! Loved. It. HOWEVER...There is a lot of sexual dialog in this book from the lead female, her friends, and her family. It got me all revved up for some steamy scenes. Then I got....a single kiss. What the WHA???! Don't tease me like this!
Lanie is such a sweet character. She is a bit starry-eyed about love and I loved going on the journey with her as she realized that real love was a bit different than she first thought it was. She is gutsy and smart and a nerdy bibliophile. So much to love about this character!
Noah is just perfectly swoony. I loved the pull between his more serious side and the light-hearted banter between him and Lanie. He has a wonderful backstory and it adds so much to this book!
The foundation of this relationship was emails exchanged between Lanie and Noah over the course of seven years. And, sadly, the author spends almost no time exploring that really pivotal foundation. I really wished this book had fewer pages dedicated to Lanie's life and relationship pre-Meet-Cute and more background on these wonderful email exchanges. It was the swooniest part of this love story and the reader gets short-changed.
Even with those minor issues I really liked this book. The glimpses into the world of a romance editor and the publicity that goes along with modern publishing was really fun to read! ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ก๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง๐๐๐ฅ ๐ก๐๐ ๐ will make you laugh and maybe tear up a bit. It will make you consider taking chances and redefining what true love is. It will also give you the female version of Blue Balls, which I like to call Cranky Cootch (should I trademark this?).
If you are looking for a low-steam read that will make you believe in love then you'll want to add ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ก๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง๐๐๐ฅ ๐ก๐๐ ๐ to your TBR!
Listen, I loved ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ก๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง๐๐๐ฅ ๐ก๐๐ ๐! Loved. It. HOWEVER...There is a lot of sexual dialog in this book from the lead female, her friends, and her family. It got me all revved up for some steamy scenes. Then I got....a single kiss. What the WHA???! Don't tease me like this!
Lanie is such a sweet character. She is a bit starry-eyed about love and I loved going on the journey with her as she realized that real love was a bit different than she first thought it was. She is gutsy and smart and a nerdy bibliophile. So much to love about this character!
Noah is just perfectly swoony. I loved the pull between his more serious side and the light-hearted banter between him and Lanie. He has a wonderful backstory and it adds so much to this book!
The foundation of this relationship was emails exchanged between Lanie and Noah over the course of seven years. And, sadly, the author spends almost no time exploring that really pivotal foundation. I really wished this book had fewer pages dedicated to Lanie's life and relationship pre-Meet-Cute and more background on these wonderful email exchanges. It was the swooniest part of this love story and the reader gets short-changed.
Even with those minor issues I really liked this book. The glimpses into the world of a romance editor and the publicity that goes along with modern publishing was really fun to read! ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ก๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง๐๐๐ฅ ๐ก๐๐ ๐ will make you laugh and maybe tear up a bit. It will make you consider taking chances and redefining what true love is. It will also give you the female version of Blue Balls, which I like to call Cranky Cootch (should I trademark this?).
If you are looking for a low-steam read that will make you believe in love then you'll want to add ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ก๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง๐๐๐ฅ ๐ก๐๐ ๐ to your TBR!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
chelsaat's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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
4.0
"While Ryan is still all of the ninety-nine things I thought I wanted, it turns out that isnโt enough.โ
A short but super sweet story on the true meaning of love. I really enjoyed this. Lanie, a book editor with a seemingly perfect fiance who checks all her boxes, soon discovers that her favorite and bestselling romance author is not who she thought. This turns her world upside down and she has to reassess everything she thought she knew about love.
The romance in this was super cute, and I also appreciated how much of a love story this was to New York City. Iโve been to most of the โoff-the-beaten-pathโ places here and can attest to the sense of magic they have. Now I just need my own Edward-and-Elizabeth Central Park romance!! (Or Brooklyn Bridge Park will do, since thatโs what Iโm close to lol)
Iโm rarely one to wish a book was longer, but here I do wish we had gotten a few more scenes between the two leads, and maybe an epilogue. But thatโs a minor gripe. I read this in a day and heartily recommend it.
(I also want to read all of Noa Callowayโs books - all those premises sounded so fun.)
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A short but super sweet story on the true meaning of love. I really enjoyed this. Lanie, a book editor with a seemingly perfect fiance who checks all her boxes, soon discovers that her favorite and bestselling romance author is not who she thought. This turns her world upside down and she has to reassess everything she thought she knew about love.
The romance in this was super cute, and I also appreciated how much of a love story this was to New York City. Iโve been to most of the โoff-the-beaten-pathโ places here and can attest to the sense of magic they have. Now I just need my own Edward-and-Elizabeth Central Park romance!! (Or Brooklyn Bridge Park will do, since thatโs what Iโm close to lol)
Iโm rarely one to wish a book was longer, but here I do wish we had gotten a few more scenes between the two leads, and maybe an epilogue. But thatโs a minor gripe. I read this in a day and heartily recommend it.
(I also want to read all of Noa Callowayโs books - all those premises sounded so fun.)
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief and Death of parent
travelthrupages's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
This one was so stinking cute! I really loved the story within the story. The older characters are SO loveable. Friendships here are amazing. Following Lanie through this part of her life was also so exciting!
Grab this one on Tuesday, March 2nd! You won't want to miss it. โค
Thank you Penguin Group Putnam, NetGalley and Lauren Kate for the opportunity to read this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Grab this one on Tuesday, March 2nd! You won't want to miss it. โค
Thank you Penguin Group Putnam, NetGalley and Lauren Kate for the opportunity to read this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Grief
mybookishlife2's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
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
4.0
We have Lanie who is working as an editors assistant. Until, her boss quits to stay home with her newborn. Which leads to Lanieโs trial promotion. She is thrilled about it, even if it is a trial! She has other books in the works she wants to push out. Until sheโs assigned to be Noaโs editor. He is past his deadline and on top of that? With writers block. Noa, who has never been seen or heard from, Noa who is completely anonymous, Noa who is her favorite author and one she has been emailing with for years now.
But here comes Ryan, saying about how she should let it go because sheโll be moving with him after the wedding to Washington DC. Ryan, the one guy who has checked off all of her 99 things she wanted in a guy. She pushes all else aside. Her mothers dying words, she wants to honor it. She has been looking for a way to live by them her whole life, now, with Ryan she can. Until, she finally says enough. Her and Ryan are on different paths. He has a vision of a wife that just doesnโt fit her and how she wants to be. Letโs not even mention how he just discards her dreams for his own. ๐๐
Of course, when one thing goes wrong, so does everything else. She had just found out about Noa after all!
Noa Callaway. The author that made her feel connected to her mom. The author that made her feel so connected and was how she got her 99 things list. Noa Callaway, the author who has brought her to where is is in life.
Seeing Noaโs and Lanieโs relationship grow was just beautiful! The STARK differences between relationships was just, wow.
I will say I was annoyed as ever with Lanie and her assumptions. Then she gets made about it like, excuse me!? WHO was the one that thought this? YOU. WHO was the one that took a little information and made it to be bigger? YOU..
Going through the book we see Lanie really come into herself and seeing her learn who she is and what she truly wants while missing her mom and learning what her moms dying words really meant for her. Meeting BD, Meg, and Rufus, they were just phenomenal!!! I love them all. Between the bold BD, the supportive Meg, and the cheerleader Rufus. They were fantastic and a great support team for Lanie.
I would not say this was enemies to lovers. At all. It was more that she assumed a whole lot. But the slow burn of the relationship of this book is so good. Itโs a cute adult romance. Thereโs not steam at all so if thatโs something that turns you away, weโll you do not have to worry about it. There are mentions of sex and cursing but itโs more lack there of and they mention the books that have the steamy scenes.
Also, that story that is written. ๐ญ such a cute story. I love that it was a book inside a book, well kind of.
A huge and special thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam/ G. P. Putnam's Sons for sharing this digital advanced reviewer copy in exchange my honest opinion.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Minor: Cursing and Dementia
cordeliadarkles's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
2.0
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me this ARC for an honest review!
I really, really wanted to like this book. It wasn't exactly bad, but it wasn't the greatest. It had an interesting premise but it was executed poorly.
For over half of the book I kept dreading having to read Lanie's point of view. She was unnecessarily whiny, rude, and selfish. I was being very close to not finishing the book because of her.
The writing was often awkward and boring. It's crazy to say it needed to be longer. The too many subplots made it such an unenjoyable read. There was no chemistry between Lanie and Noah. Their relationship had no development.
At the end of the say, this is just my honest opinion.
I really, really wanted to like this book. It wasn't exactly bad, but it wasn't the greatest. It had an interesting premise but it was executed poorly.
For over half of the book I kept dreading having to read Lanie's point of view. She was unnecessarily whiny, rude, and selfish. I was being very close to not finishing the book because of her.
The writing was often awkward and boring. It's crazy to say it needed to be longer. The too many subplots made it such an unenjoyable read. There was no chemistry between Lanie and Noah. Their relationship had no development.
At the end of the say, this is just my honest opinion.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Death of parent