Scan barcode
A review by ruthypoo2
Work for It by Talia Hibbert
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I enjoyed the clever dialogue between the two main characters, Griffin (Griff) and Keynes (Olu), and found myself laughing out loud a few times. The development of their relationship has a nice, slow-moving quality to it that I appreciated. But then bam! They're a couple that is fully in love/lust and at least one of them is willing to upend their life after just knowing the other for 3 weeks. That's like something you'd expect from a young teen, not an adult with an established business who would have to sacrifice their way of life and transition to an environment that might end up being uncomfortable for their insulated personality type.
I prefer mature romantic relationships that are built on mutual respect and compromise, where people don't get to the point of being so desperate they have to sacrifice everything to keep a flawed romantic, and self-admitted asshole, partner in their life. But this just me and maybe I'm more selfish than other people so I've never been willing to give up everything for a person I've only recently met who won't at least entertain the thought of doing the same for me.
I didn't hate this book, I just found myself losing interest as soon as Griff and Olu became lovers that were more or less hyper-focused on each other. I understand that Griff has felt like an outsider growing up and living in a small town, but he has a successful business and friends. I really liked Griff. But I did not like Olu who, while honest about their faults and acknowledging the devastation of a recent lost love, had a personality I just never warmed to. But I suppose a lot of real-world relationships are not in balance, depending on who you ask, and lots of reviewers adore this book, so it might be worth a read for fans of Talia Hibbard who are looking for a quick little romance where two men are able to find what feels like a safe harbor with each other.
I listened to the audiobook and there are two narrators. Each of the narrators portrays the lead role of either Griff or Olu, and also voices the other during their parts of the story they narrate. One of the narrators made 28-year-old Griff sound like an 80-year-old cockney chimney sweep with a 3-pack-a-day cigarette habit. This was distracting, especially when the small town Griff with the gravelling old man voice would call Olu "babe" or "honey" or some other endearment. It was almost off-putting and I'm older, so not being an agist, but it just didn't land well to my ears. I got through the book, but be warned, if you listen to the audiobook, it may be a little confusing because it sounds like there are suddenly four characters involved in a love tangle, and one of them is an old fart chain smoking pirate with an accent I think doesn't even fit with the part of England he's from.
I prefer mature romantic relationships that are built on mutual respect and compromise, where people don't get to the point of being so desperate they have to sacrifice everything to keep a flawed romantic, and self-admitted asshole, partner in their life. But this just me and maybe I'm more selfish than other people so I've never been willing to give up everything for a person I've only recently met who won't at least entertain the thought of doing the same for me.
I didn't hate this book, I just found myself losing interest as soon as Griff and Olu became lovers that were more or less hyper-focused on each other. I understand that Griff has felt like an outsider growing up and living in a small town, but he has a successful business and friends. I really liked Griff. But I did not like Olu who, while honest about their faults and acknowledging the devastation of a recent lost love, had a personality I just never warmed to. But I suppose a lot of real-world relationships are not in balance, depending on who you ask, and lots of reviewers adore this book, so it might be worth a read for fans of Talia Hibbard who are looking for a quick little romance where two men are able to find what feels like a safe harbor with each other.
I listened to the audiobook and there are two narrators. Each of the narrators portrays the lead role of either Griff or Olu, and also voices the other during their parts of the story they narrate. One of the narrators made 28-year-old Griff sound like an 80-year-old cockney chimney sweep with a 3-pack-a-day cigarette habit. This was distracting, especially when the small town Griff with the gravelling old man voice would call Olu "babe" or "honey" or some other endearment. It was almost off-putting and I'm older, so not being an agist, but it just didn't land well to my ears. I got through the book, but be warned, if you listen to the audiobook, it may be a little confusing because it sounds like there are suddenly four characters involved in a love tangle, and one of them is an old fart chain smoking pirate with an accent I think doesn't even fit with the part of England he's from.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content