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A review by nikkisbooknook
Tinkering with Love by Aliyah Burke
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
My first read from this author but won't be my last. I'm a sucker for grumpy-sunshine, enemies to lovers and a small-town setting.
Was Tully over the top in his insta-love/lust for Dawson? Yep. Did it put me off? Nope. 'Cos Dawson made that man work for every crumb of affection. She had chips on both shoulders and attitude enough to sink a battleship. I LOVED her! She is no pushover. She has worked for everything she has and her last relationship rightly left her with a bad taste in her mouth. Her other is also a piece-of-work!
There are lots of great tropes at work and some worthy topics meshed into the story. Tully may have been oblivious to the job -taking but he did his best to resolve it once he knew. Was the bet with his friends juvenile? Also yes but it made with no malice and wasn't about him "getting anything" from Dawson - just getting her to admit she liked him. But it was easy for that to be blown out of context by that odious little backstabbing toad!
Mama Tully has a fair portion of blame to wear over the job debacle but otherwise was a lovely character. Each of our MC's have a great set of friends - Tully's lifelong and Dawson's new but no less vocal in their support of her.
Dawson is amazingly well thought out and endearing (even with all the chips on her shoulders). Those are genuine problems and she faced them with dignity. I loved learning about her love of bikes and crotchety older men with Nordic names.
Was Tully over the top in his insta-love/lust for Dawson? Yep. Did it put me off? Nope. 'Cos Dawson made that man work for every crumb of affection. She had chips on both shoulders and attitude enough to sink a battleship. I LOVED her! She is no pushover. She has worked for everything she has and her last relationship rightly left her with a bad taste in her mouth. Her other is also a piece-of-work!
There are lots of great tropes at work and some worthy topics meshed into the story. Tully may have been oblivious to the job -taking but he did his best to resolve it once he knew. Was the bet with his friends juvenile? Also yes but it made with no malice and wasn't about him "getting anything" from Dawson - just getting her to admit she liked him. But it was easy for that to be blown out of context by that odious little backstabbing toad!
Mama Tully has a fair portion of blame to wear over the job debacle but otherwise was a lovely character. Each of our MC's have a great set of friends - Tully's lifelong and Dawson's new but no less vocal in their support of her.
Dawson is amazingly well thought out and endearing (even with all the chips on her shoulders). Those are genuine problems and she faced them with dignity. I loved learning about her love of bikes and crotchety older men with Nordic names.
Content Warnings
Minor: Body shaming