A review by roxy_reads_romance
Twice Shy by Sarah Hogle

slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

1.0

1 star for the cover.

Oof, I've been burned by these romances with their cute illustrated covers before and I keep letting myself be burned LOL. Will I ever learn? I feel like the Grinch but for romances ugh. I should just take a hiatus from reading these types of contemporary romances cuz clearly there must be something off with me for not enjoying these romances at all. I wanna enjoy fluffy, overly-sweet reads too like everyone else. T_T

12-year-old Mabel Pines from Gravity Falls is more mature and intelligent than this 30-year-old Maybell. I'm still floored she is 30 and hasn't acquired really any common sense! I would've thought she was 15 or 16 by her narration and childish behaviour. Also it is concerning how she has slept with men already with this kind of child-like mentality.

Wes wasn't any better. He has social anxiety. Everyone with this mental health condition is different but he puts up defenses by avoiding people by being standoffish. Of course, the only person he can eventually open up to is Maybell since they live together in her deceased aunt's estate.

There's no conflict or plot whatsoever. The first half is just them avoiding each other and Maybell hoarding everything that Wes wants to throw away.

Wes never really confronts Maybell about why she has his photo either and if I were in his shoes, I would've been so creeped out. I wouldn't do the opposite of what he did and fall in love with her at first sight.

Speaking of instalove, I am so done with love confessions being like 'It was the moment I met you that I fell in love.' WHY? I honestly don't understand. ._. Maybe it's cuz I don't know what it's like to fall in love (and high school crushes don't count lmao) and I've never been physically and emotionally attracted to anyone in my life. Or I'm not a hopeless romantic at heart, but I can root for fictional characters to get together if they're written well. :') 

Everything was resolved so easily. I honestly think the story should've ended with some realism where Wes didn't fly on the plane at the end to join Maybell on the trip.

Okay, this is the last time I pick up a contemporary romance that involves a character with social anxiety. The representation is never explored in depth and I'm always setting myself up for disappointment with these romances T_T
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