lisaluvsliterature's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this romance with its quirky female lead, and the annoying guy next door. There were a lot of things about Nora that I totally connected with. Not feeling comfortable going to a book group with people she didn't already know. Now, I'm not quite the neat freak she is, but I do have things around my house that bother me. Like, I want the light switches to all be facing the same way if they're all off. Stupid little things like that. I also have probably put up with friends that might not have been that nice to me in the past, just so I'd have someone to do things with. Unfortunately I never had the hot guy to save me from those type of people like Nora did.
There were also great side characters in the book, which makes sense since this is part of a series. Eli's family and friends were the type of friends and family that I like having around. The type I could totally see myself spending time with, and I know the ones I already have like them. The fact that they took Nora into their own book group, where they were reading a more popular book, instead of the more literary books her original book club pretended to read, and even when she and Eli were on the outs, they kept her around, that said a lot for them.
There were the usual bits that annoyed me between the two of them pushing each other away for stupid reasons, or mishearing things, but since that is part of the drama in almost all romances it seems, I feel they fit in fine. This was a fun, sweet little read, and I'll be hoping to go back when I have time and read the first book, to get Clem and Jake's full story.
There were also great side characters in the book, which makes sense since this is part of a series. Eli's family and friends were the type of friends and family that I like having around. The type I could totally see myself spending time with, and I know the ones I already have like them. The fact that they took Nora into their own book group, where they were reading a more popular book, instead of the more literary books her original book club pretended to read, and even when she and Eli were on the outs, they kept her around, that said a lot for them.
There were the usual bits that annoyed me between the two of them pushing each other away for stupid reasons, or mishearing things, but since that is part of the drama in almost all romances it seems, I feel they fit in fine. This was a fun, sweet little read, and I'll be hoping to go back when I have time and read the first book, to get Clem and Jake's full story.
emmelnie's review against another edition
5.0
What I love about this book is that it’s both comforting and challenging. Nora has massive OCD tendencies, to the point that they inhibit her ability to reach out and connect with others. And she desperately needs that as she has moved to a new community. All she’s managed to do is join a horribly snooty book club and get incredibly annoyed with her neighbor, who manages to be noisy at any hour of the day or night.
Said neighbor Eli is in a transition state of his own. His long-time roommate has moved in with his girlfriend, his sister is planning a big event for the 10th anniversary of their mother’s death, and all of this is kindling changes and memories he’d rather not deal with. Confronting his cute, if somewhat beleaguered, neighbor turns out to be something he’d rather do instead.
Nora and Eli are both likeable and yet human; they each have faults that they recognize and deal with. I loved that they started with a pity date that evolves into so much more. The secondary characters are strong on their own and yet never overwhelm the focus on Nora and Eli.
There are a couple of drawbacks here—Nora’s initial book club friends are almost cartoonishly snooty, and I wish the one semi-nice member of that group had grown into having more of a relationship with Nora to contradict that. I also found it a bit of a strain to believe that Nora would be able to live comfortably on her own on a community college professor’s salary.
But none of that diminished my utter enjoyment of this romance. In this second book in her Books & Brews series, Rider has written a small-town romance with both rough edges and feeling. Having that honest sense of people and place turns Make Me Fall into an excellent read.
Said neighbor Eli is in a transition state of his own. His long-time roommate has moved in with his girlfriend, his sister is planning a big event for the 10th anniversary of their mother’s death, and all of this is kindling changes and memories he’d rather not deal with. Confronting his cute, if somewhat beleaguered, neighbor turns out to be something he’d rather do instead.
Nora and Eli are both likeable and yet human; they each have faults that they recognize and deal with. I loved that they started with a pity date that evolves into so much more. The secondary characters are strong on their own and yet never overwhelm the focus on Nora and Eli.
There are a couple of drawbacks here—Nora’s initial book club friends are almost cartoonishly snooty, and I wish the one semi-nice member of that group had grown into having more of a relationship with Nora to contradict that. I also found it a bit of a strain to believe that Nora would be able to live comfortably on her own on a community college professor’s salary.
But none of that diminished my utter enjoyment of this romance. In this second book in her Books & Brews series, Rider has written a small-town romance with both rough edges and feeling. Having that honest sense of people and place turns Make Me Fall into an excellent read.
anabelsbrother's review against another edition
4.0
I've been excited to read Make Me Fall ever since I finished Real Kind of Love and read the excerpt. This time it's Jake's best friend Eli who gets his HEA, and the woman he chose is his neighbour who he has been at odds with for months.
Nora is a chemistry professor who just moved into town following her divorce. She has trouble making connections in her new place; the only 'friends' she's acquired so far are the women from a book club she joined, who are not the nicest people in the world. She's also a bit tightly wound, most of it because she's a germaphobe. Other than the failure of a book club, adjusting to new work environment and the lack of resource for her research, she really has nothing else going on other than the continuing feud with her annoying hot neighbour. It took me a while to warm up to Nora because she was a bit rigid, but I love seeing her grow.
It's not exactly hate to love in this story; it's more that Eli has been a source of aggravation for Nora, and he loves aggravating her even more. I really enjoyed their little fights. I also found it hilarious that Nora didn't even know her annoying neighbour's name until after their first 'date'. I love the friendship that developed after they actually got to know each other better, and how Eli helped Nora in making new friends by connecting her to his sister's book club people. Eli and Nora's easy relationship is also one of my favourite things about this book. They did a lot of domestic things together that made my heart swoon.
The only thing I didn't really like is the conflict of the story. Eli and Nora are not without their issues; he failure of her parents' marriage somewhat affected Nora's efforts of building relationships, and Eli still dealt with a lot of self-loathing over his relationship with his late mother. Objectively I understood why Eli acted the way he did when he overheard Nora's comment--it triggered a lot of things for him--but I still thought he behaved like an entitled jerk when he refused to even let Nora explain herself, and I was a bit disappointed with him.
Overall, Real Kind of Love remained my favourite of the two (did I mention that Jake built Clem a library at his bar?????? TALK ABOUT LOVE) but I still really enjoyed Make Me Fall. Looking forward to read more of Sara Rider! Maybe it's time for me to check out her backlist.
E-ARC is received in exchange for an honest review.
Nora is a chemistry professor who just moved into town following her divorce. She has trouble making connections in her new place; the only 'friends' she's acquired so far are the women from a book club she joined, who are not the nicest people in the world. She's also a bit tightly wound, most of it because she's a germaphobe. Other than the failure of a book club, adjusting to new work environment and the lack of resource for her research, she really has nothing else going on other than the continuing feud with her annoying hot neighbour. It took me a while to warm up to Nora because she was a bit rigid, but I love seeing her grow.
It's not exactly hate to love in this story; it's more that Eli has been a source of aggravation for Nora, and he loves aggravating her even more. I really enjoyed their little fights. I also found it hilarious that Nora didn't even know her annoying neighbour's name until after their first 'date'. I love the friendship that developed after they actually got to know each other better, and how Eli helped Nora in making new friends by connecting her to his sister's book club people. Eli and Nora's easy relationship is also one of my favourite things about this book. They did a lot of domestic things together that made my heart swoon.
The only thing I didn't really like is the conflict of the story. Eli and Nora are not without their issues; he failure of her parents' marriage somewhat affected Nora's efforts of building relationships, and Eli still dealt with a lot of self-loathing over his relationship with his late mother. Objectively I understood why Eli acted the way he did when he overheard Nora's comment--it triggered a lot of things for him--but I still thought he behaved like an entitled jerk when he refused to even let Nora explain herself, and I was a bit disappointed with him.
Overall, Real Kind of Love remained my favourite of the two (did I mention that Jake built Clem a library at his bar?????? TALK ABOUT LOVE) but I still really enjoyed Make Me Fall. Looking forward to read more of Sara Rider! Maybe it's time for me to check out her backlist.
E-ARC is received in exchange for an honest review.
elleelizabethx's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
- 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
brittanyreadsbooks's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
This book was nice! It was a cute book focusing a bit on romance reading rep and a microbrewery which was an interesting mix!
It was a quick read and left me interested in more! It was well written and had interesting well rounded characters.
🏠 Enemies to Lovers
🏠 Neighbors
🏠 Woman in STEM
🏠 Academics Rep
🏠 Divorcee
🏠 One Night Stand Gone Wrong
TW: Mourning, death of a parent (off page)
lowbrowreaderofzerof_cks's review against another edition
4.0
I liked that the heroines' first priority was settling in and making new friends in a new town, not plunging into a new romance / finding a man to complete her. I also liked that her job and career was a very important thing for her and was given a serious consideration. There are few things that piss me off in books more than assumptions that woman sacrificing her career and goals to the altar of a relationship is a given thing.
afoolsingenuity's review against another edition
4.0
I started reading this at exactly the right time to suit my mood. I knew I'd enjoy this after reading the sample in the first of this series but I didn't realise how much. This was a hate to love opposites attract romance and I adored every moment.
Eli was this sweet charming guy who I could not get enough of. He was impulsive and a bit of a hot mess but he was a good guy doing his best and not always thinking things through. And Nora? She was uptight and a germaphobe who couldn't remember how to let her hair down and enjoy herself. And they were perfect together.
Eli was the annoying neighbour doing DIY at odd hours and who was way too noisy and Eli just loved riling her up. So when some nasty women in Noras book club are making some rude remarks good guy Eli soon. Jumps in to offer her a date to get one up on them.
Although the pair shouldn't work with little in common they actually are so good together. They just work no matter how much Nora says they wouldn't work together Elis heart knows better.
Every page I was dying for them to give in and get together. They were perfect as was this enjoyable book.
Eli was this sweet charming guy who I could not get enough of. He was impulsive and a bit of a hot mess but he was a good guy doing his best and not always thinking things through. And Nora? She was uptight and a germaphobe who couldn't remember how to let her hair down and enjoy herself. And they were perfect together.
Eli was the annoying neighbour doing DIY at odd hours and who was way too noisy and Eli just loved riling her up. So when some nasty women in Noras book club are making some rude remarks good guy Eli soon. Jumps in to offer her a date to get one up on them.
Although the pair shouldn't work with little in common they actually are so good together. They just work no matter how much Nora says they wouldn't work together Elis heart knows better.
Every page I was dying for them to give in and get together. They were perfect as was this enjoyable book.
andybook's review against another edition
4.0
Eli and Nora were so perfect for each other!
He was so considerate of her needs and gave her exactly what she needed. The story dealt wilt some very important topics and in a very appropriate way. I had the best time reading it!
He was so considerate of her needs and gave her exactly what she needed. The story dealt wilt some very important topics and in a very appropriate way. I had the best time reading it!