A review by kristyndcruz
Marriage for One by Ella Maise

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I think I did enjoy this book. It constantly goes between I did enjoy this book, or that it was disappointing. But I think overall it was good. I love marriage of convenience storylines as one of my favourite fanfictions have this storyline, so I did go into this book really excited. It started off slightly weird and cringy and I didn’t really like any of the characters, but that soon changed. It was a very slow urn with lots of tension, and his motives were soon revealed. I think that Rose was a nice character, and I did like her, however, she wouldn’t be my favourite book girl by far. Jack, as the love interest was also nice. I loved all the scenes with them together but he wouldn’t be my favourite book boyfriend either. The way they were together was perfect for them but I don’t think it would be good for me, which I like seeing and imagining it is me. There was only particular scene with Rose in the hospital that he annoyed the crap out of me when he made her feel bad for being scared that I started to dislike him. But I guess he was alright in the end. It was again, good for Rose, but I wouldn’t take that shit. I loved how there was the taking care of her trope, but I did think the illness and leaking was a bit weird as I have never seen at before. It was weird but not too big of a deal overall. I loved all the tropes with the marriage, slow burn, grumpy sunshine and guy falls first and the coffee shop storyline and scenes with it. It seemed really perfect. But the conflict at the end ruined it. Jack had a secret for his motives which he hid from rose, and was obvious it would come out eventually. When it did come out, it wasn’t as excited as I wanted it to be. It was revealed great, but didn’t nearly play out or last long enough as I would like. I wished it was longer and more dramatic. I am also torn between whether I think his motives and ideas behind the marriage were really sweet and romantic, or creepy and stalkery. I’m not sure if I did like that storyline, compared to other possible ones, but it’s alright. Overall, the book was alright. It had t’s good and bad but I am happy I read it.
“‘I don’t have a home to go back to anymore Rose.’ I stopped, but didn’t look at him. ‘You’re my home,’ he finished.’
“She was the only one for me; it was as simple as that. I could be without Rose. I could spend a lifetime without ever talking to her again and I would live - miserably, but I would live, as long as I knew she was happier. Life always moved on whether you chose to move along with it or stay put and let it happen all around you, but I didn’t want to do it without her.”
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