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A review by naika
That Kind of Guy by Talia Hibbert
medium-paced
4.0
At this point, it goes without saying, Talia Hibbert delivers. I don't often find myself identifying with a male love interest in romances, but it was almost eerie how much Zach resonated with me. For so long, he has played the role of casual hookup; his interest in women lied solely in the physical...or so the people in his small, gossipy town assume. Deep down, Zach craves emotional intimacy. He has learned that in order to feel connected physically and feel a sexual attraction, he needs to build a meaningful relationship first. Tired of pretending and ready to own his demisexuality (even though he has no idea how to come out to his loved ones), Zach is swearing off sex until he meets that one who truly makes him feel.
Rae is a 40-year old, rich divorcee. She has quite the contentious relationship with his mother and ex-husband and is looking to reclaim her life. She recently moved to Ravenswood (we were introduced to her in book 2) trying to ride herself of the messiness. Rae can't quite get it together, as she is pretty anxious about attending a conference where she'll have to contend with her toxic, scrubby ex and the questioning of her colleagues. Who better to help her get through what will surely be an agonizing conference but none other than the cute 28-year-old brother of her good friend's husband?
This is an age gap, fake-relationship, forced proximity, one-bed romance. There was a nice balance of banter and snark, comedy, and depth. Both Rae and Zach went through so much in their lives and their experiences had a profound impact on how they saw themselves and how they interacted with others. It felt honest, even when I would get frustrated with how much they miscommunicated due to their assumptions and insecurities. They were able to balance each other out: Rae is a bit more scattered and closed off, while Zach is a steady, organized, and vulnerable.
Although I gave this the same rating as the other two books I have read in the series, I think this one was more memorable
Rae is a 40-year old, rich divorcee. She has quite the contentious relationship with his mother and ex-husband and is looking to reclaim her life. She recently moved to Ravenswood (we were introduced to her in book 2) trying to ride herself of the messiness. Rae can't quite get it together, as she is pretty anxious about attending a conference where she'll have to contend with her toxic, scrubby ex and the questioning of her colleagues. Who better to help her get through what will surely be an agonizing conference but none other than the cute 28-year-old brother of her good friend's husband?
This is an age gap, fake-relationship, forced proximity, one-bed romance. There was a nice balance of banter and snark, comedy, and depth. Both Rae and Zach went through so much in their lives and their experiences had a profound impact on how they saw themselves and how they interacted with others. It felt honest, even when I would get frustrated with how much they miscommunicated due to their assumptions and insecurities. They were able to balance each other out: Rae is a bit more scattered and closed off, while Zach is a steady, organized, and vulnerable.
Although I gave this the same rating as the other two books I have read in the series, I think this one was more memorable
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Infidelity