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marzi's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
3.5
pearlcy's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
lalexvp's review
2.0
The plot was so odd and I was dedicated to its resolution exactly not at all. I couldn’t suspend my disbelief enough and got really bored. The characters were cute, but the whole thing was over the top cute. They weren’t deeply developed and there wasn’t enough heat to keep me around after the plot and characters failed.
lezreadalot's review against another edition
3.0
“You shine bright, Teddy Spenser. So bright I’m almost blinded.”
2.5 stars. Prior to this, I read and really enjoyed two novellas by Fielding, and was really excited to finally read a full length romance from her. I requested this without even reading the synopsis. Sadly, other than a few parts here and there, this was pretty much underwhelming. I didn't dislike it, but I didn't love it either. This didn't elicit any strong emotions from me either way!
This is a sort of opposites attract office-romance, with some enemies to lovers elements. Teddy and Romeo are working on a project together, and have to travel to another city to secure financial backing from an eccentric donor on behalf of their company. So far so great. It had all the elements of something that I'd love reading. And the thing is, I don't think I can really pinpoint where exactly this fell flat for me. The characters were fine. The plot was fine (if sometimes a little farfetched). There was nothing objectionable about the writing. But I suppose I wanted more than 'not objectionable'? I remember being really taken with the writing in The Golem of Mala Lubovnya, being struck by the whimsy of Treasure. There was nothing like that here. Maybe because this is contemporary? Idk.
The romance was okay. Teddy and Romeo had a cute couple, but I didn't fall in love with them. This was pretty insta-lovey, and that in itself was a bit of a plot point, as Teddy isn't looking for love and doesn't believe in falling in love quickly. The circumstances of the book change his mind, but the thing is, even if insta-love wasn't involved, I think I would still have the same opinion on their romance. It was just okay. Also, the romance wrapped up pretty early, around 75% or so, and the rest of the book was spent on another minor conflict and relationship stuff. This can absolutely work for me in books where the conflict is interesting and I'm obsessed with the couple. Unfortunately that wasn't the case here.
This was fun in a rom-com kind of way, I liked the conversations about family, and some of the romance-based writing near the end was touching. Otherwise, I'm having trouble thinking of things that really stood out to me. I'm also having trouble thinking of the other issues/critiques I had, because even though I finished this book about an hour ago, it's already seeping from my brain. Shame!
I'll definitely try Fielding again, but maybe I'll stick to her backlist/fantasy romances.
☆ Review copy provided via NetGalley.
sparklingstarling's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-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? Yes
2.75
samanthamarie's review against another edition
2.0
I have such conflicting feelings about this book. I wanted to love it so much but, ultimately, it just wasn't for me. At its core, romance is a fantasy genre. Because of this, I’m willing to suspend my disbelief for a lot so when these two characters had to do things for their job that I'd never even consider doing, I was perfectly ok with letting that ride to see where it goes. The same way I'm willing to read books about magic and mythical creatures, I'm willing to believe an investor in any company would be requiring any of these things of tech & design staff!
The story takes its time to get going but then once it does, it's like from 0 to 100. I was shocked by how how fast their relationship went. I love enemies to lovers but - they weren't really enemies. Ok, fine. Only one bed? Love it! Insta-love? Not for me but I can consider it. Insta-love + only one bed + forced to work together? Hard sell but I'm open! It's important to keep in mind that this entire story takes place in so little time, it's hard to really get a feel for these lovebirds and what they're going through internally or domestically.
I was really bugged by the lack of adult development of Romeo before the story even begins. We don’t learn much about Romeo until nearly 40% into the book and when we do, well, he’s incredibly dreamy. I can picture him so clearly in my head, I practically salivate. So what’s the problem? As I learned more about Romeo Blue, I felt that he was pretty underdeveloped. Not as a character but just as a man. Every time Romeo doesn’t know how to do something, he blames it on having grown up very poor or not having learned it as a kid (because they were poor). It's not rare or even shocking that someone has grown up poor in this country and it's completely understandable that these experiences shaped him. However, he’s not a kid anymore - he’s an actual adult, post-college, with a job that may not pay much but he’s certainly not poor anymore. Despite that, so much of him is frozen in place even to the point where he doesn't believe he's a capable of cooking something "good" despite being able to cook southern food (meaning he obviously has, at minimum, the fundamentals down). It became very clear to me early on in “knowing” him that he hasn’t branched out of his youth because he hasn’t wanted to and he often seems incredibly insecure (but not shameful) about every aspect of his life.
#TeddySpenserIsntLookingforLove #NetGalley
The story takes its time to get going but then once it does, it's like from 0 to 100. I was shocked by how how fast their relationship went. I love enemies to lovers but - they weren't really enemies. Ok, fine. Only one bed? Love it! Insta-love? Not for me but I can consider it. Insta-love + only one bed + forced to work together? Hard sell but I'm open! It's important to keep in mind that this entire story takes place in so little time, it's hard to really get a feel for these lovebirds and what they're going through internally or domestically.
I was really bugged by the lack of adult development of Romeo before the story even begins. We don’t learn much about Romeo until nearly 40% into the book and when we do, well, he’s incredibly dreamy. I can picture him so clearly in my head, I practically salivate. So what’s the problem? As I learned more about Romeo Blue, I felt that he was pretty underdeveloped. Not as a character but just as a man. Every time Romeo doesn’t know how to do something, he blames it on having grown up very poor or not having learned it as a kid (because they were poor). It's not rare or even shocking that someone has grown up poor in this country and it's completely understandable that these experiences shaped him. However, he’s not a kid anymore - he’s an actual adult, post-college, with a job that may not pay much but he’s certainly not poor anymore. Despite that, so much of him is frozen in place even to the point where he doesn't believe he's a capable of cooking something "good" despite being able to cook southern food (meaning he obviously has, at minimum, the fundamentals down). It became very clear to me early on in “knowing” him that he hasn’t branched out of his youth because he hasn’t wanted to and he often seems incredibly insecure (but not shameful) about every aspect of his life.
#TeddySpenserIsntLookingforLove #NetGalley
electrikreads's review against another edition
4.0
A very adorable read that turned out perfect for Valentine’s Day. Instalove isn’t my favorite, but it didn’t stop this from still being the cute light read I needed!
dannimaxwellbabcock's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book. I had a positive experience buying it where I spoke to a store employee about how I read what I write, and how I wanted to have a book like this someday. Simply a book with two guys in love proudly displayed on the cover. He didn’t even bat an eye, and we bonded over the book before I even knew how much I was going to love it.
I love how simple their love story is. Forced proximity/working together enemies to lovers is admittedly one of my favourite tropes. It reminds me of Red White and Royal Blue, my all time favourite book. It made me laugh out loud. It made my heart happy.
I love the array of representation in this book. I think I love everything about this book and could go on forever. It’s very hard for me to rate books 5 stars as of late, but 10/10 excited for this to be my first 5 star book of 2021.
Here’s to many more!
❤️
I love how simple their love story is. Forced proximity/working together enemies to lovers is admittedly one of my favourite tropes. It reminds me of Red White and Royal Blue, my all time favourite book. It made me laugh out loud. It made my heart happy.
I love the array of representation in this book. I think I love everything about this book and could go on forever. It’s very hard for me to rate books 5 stars as of late, but 10/10 excited for this to be my first 5 star book of 2021.
Here’s to many more!
❤️
frosted_minispooner's review against another edition
2.0
Really stiff dialogues that felt super forced at times.
The story was cute in general, but it lacked something that would make it gripping. I don't even need "unpredictable" because, let's be honest, it's a romance, but I DO need "interesting".
The cover is awesome, tho.
The story was cute in general, but it lacked something that would make it gripping. I don't even need "unpredictable" because, let's be honest, it's a romance, but I DO need "interesting".
The cover is awesome, tho.
brandece1's review
2.0
Before I go on I want to shout about how much I love that cover!
I finished this book a little while ago and have gone back and forth about what to rate it, and in the end I'm landing on a two. For me a two star rating means that it was just okay. There were things about this book that I really liked, it was a pretty quick read, there is no breakup scene at the end, and this is pretty low angst. This book had two of my favorite troupes (only one bed, and forced proximity),and had some cute moments, but ultimately the bad was just too much for me to really love this book. Enemies to lovers isn't my favorite troupe, but I like it if it is done well. But this was not done well. Romeo is described (on the back of the book) as Teddy's nemesis, I didn't get that at all. The two didn't have much interaction at all prior to their work trip. There was no real tension and or angst in that regard. Teddy just came off as a brat. One reason I don't like the troupe is because I feel like there's just never enough time/ reason for the two to fall in love and that is exactly what happened in this book. Teddy "hated" Romeo then literally 3 or 4 days later they are saying they love each other and there is meeting the mom, quitting their jobs for one another, talks of moving in together and marriage. Just didn't make sense to me. I liked Teddy enough, but I wish this book was duel POV. I did like Romeo as a character. I love his relationship with his family and I love that he was so dang smart and just a sweet hero. I am a heterosexual woman so I can't speak for the rep, so I won't. I can speak for the African American rep, and it was not the best IMO. I'm not a reader that hates when people of other races write black characters, I just hate it when the black character "only knows how to make soul food", and "grew up poor" to uneducated parents. It just didn't need to be done IMO especially because I don't remember any discussion about Teddy's parents other than, that there were retired and living in a different state. There were a few other things that took me out of the story, so in the end while there were some things I did like this book just wasn't a love for me.
I finished this book a little while ago and have gone back and forth about what to rate it, and in the end I'm landing on a two. For me a two star rating means that it was just okay. There were things about this book that I really liked, it was a pretty quick read, there is no breakup scene at the end, and this is pretty low angst. This book had two of my favorite troupes (only one bed, and forced proximity),and had some cute moments, but ultimately the bad was just too much for me to really love this book. Enemies to lovers isn't my favorite troupe, but I like it if it is done well. But this was not done well. Romeo is described (on the back of the book) as Teddy's nemesis, I didn't get that at all. The two didn't have much interaction at all prior to their work trip. There was no real tension and or angst in that regard. Teddy just came off as a brat. One reason I don't like the troupe is because I feel like there's just never enough time/ reason for the two to fall in love and that is exactly what happened in this book. Teddy "hated" Romeo then literally 3 or 4 days later they are saying they love each other and there is meeting the mom, quitting their jobs for one another, talks of moving in together and marriage. Just didn't make sense to me. I liked Teddy enough, but I wish this book was duel POV. I did like Romeo as a character. I love his relationship with his family and I love that he was so dang smart and just a sweet hero. I am a heterosexual woman so I can't speak for the rep, so I won't. I can speak for the African American rep, and it was not the best IMO. I'm not a reader that hates when people of other races write black characters, I just hate it when the black character "only knows how to make soul food", and "grew up poor" to uneducated parents. It just didn't need to be done IMO especially because I don't remember any discussion about Teddy's parents other than, that there were retired and living in a different state. There were a few other things that took me out of the story, so in the end while there were some things I did like this book just wasn't a love for me.