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readersmultiverse's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is my third Ashley Winstead book and I absolutely love her writing. Every aspect was done so well and the political backdrop was incredible. I adored the characters & rooted for them, especially our green heroine Stoner. This one is for all the messy girls with messy lives 🧡.
Winstead is an auto-buy author.
Winstead is an auto-buy author.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism, Death of parent, and Misogyny
kerrygetsliterary'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Infidelity, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexism
Moderate: Abandonment, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, and Sexual content
heidi_grey's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The silliness of the main character clashed a bit too much with the delicate themes of infidelity, grief and self-worth for me to fully enjoy this story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Minor: Sexism
kaydeedickins's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Misogyny, Sexism, Infidelity, Cursing, Death of parent, Drug use, Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Sexual content
jadencove's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Sexual content, Drug use, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Moderate: Sexism and Toxic relationship
pickypricklypessimest's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity, Drug use, and Alcohol
Minor: Sexism, Death of parent, Grief, and Sexual content
megcrs's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol
Moderate: Sexism
btwnprintedpgs's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Drug use, Alcoholism, and Sexism
TW: mentions HP characters in passingkfmcf's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
This book is...a lot. I'm going to start off with what I like first.
Firstly, I really like the way that the author writes. It was fun, funny, and enjoyable. For this reason, I would most likely read another book of hers.
Secondly, the male lead Ben was alright. I wouldn't say I loved him but he was far more enjoyable than the FL (which, yes, I know is part of the point.
Onto the things that irked me.
Starting off - the first chapter of the book almost made me DNF (but my personal rule is two chapters to give it at least a chance). The FL berates her friend for having a Disney themed wedding at Disney world - basically what kind of grown woman does this, etc. So shaming at the start. Stellar. Also...I know this is goony but the way the author describes the layout of Disney World makes no sense. She says they're at a hotel but also right in front of the castle? Like they stepped out of the hotel to directly in front of it which doesn't make any sense if you look at a map. Just a technicality but it threw me.
Lee, the FL, is TERRIBLE. I know her growth is the vast majority of the story and I can appreciate that, but Jiminy Christmas she is unlikable. Even at the end. And the AMOUNT of TIMES she STORMED OFF and Ben had to go chase her down was obnoxious. I physically rolled my eyes at the 4th time (and there were more after).
The side characters have no depth except maybe Lee's sister who is Absolutely pathetic. I understand that her storyline with her cheating fiancé was supposed to be a counterpart to Lee being a cheater to Ben but it fell flat and she had nothing else going for her. And we never really got any time with Lee's friends to enjoy them.
Lastly, this is a personal thing, but the idea of the green machine bill in Texas was distracting - because it kept reminding me that this was fiction. Unfortunately, I would love if this bill were truth but it's not and that kept bumming me out.
Firstly, I really like the way that the author writes. It was fun, funny, and enjoyable. For this reason, I would most likely read another book of hers.
Secondly, the male lead Ben was alright. I wouldn't say I loved him but he was far more enjoyable than the FL (which, yes, I know is part of the point.
Onto the things that irked me.
Starting off - the first chapter of the book almost made me DNF (but my personal rule is two chapters to give it at least a chance). The FL berates her friend for having a Disney themed wedding at Disney world - basically what kind of grown woman does this, etc. So shaming at the start. Stellar. Also...I know this is goony but the way the author describes the layout of Disney World makes no sense. She says they're at a hotel but also right in front of the castle? Like they stepped out of the hotel to directly in front of it which doesn't make any sense if you look at a map. Just a technicality but it threw me.
Lee, the FL, is TERRIBLE. I know her growth is the vast majority of the story and I can appreciate that, but Jiminy Christmas she is unlikable. Even at the end. And the AMOUNT of TIMES she STORMED OFF and Ben had to go chase her down was obnoxious. I physically rolled my eyes at the 4th time (and there were more after).
The side characters have no depth except maybe Lee's sister who is Absolutely pathetic. I understand that her storyline with her cheating fiancé was supposed to be a counterpart to Lee being a cheater to Ben but it fell flat and she had nothing else going for her. And we never really got any time with Lee's friends to enjoy them.
Lastly, this is a personal thing, but the idea of the green machine bill in Texas was distracting - because it kept reminding me that this was fiction. Unfortunately, I would love if this bill were truth but it's not and that kept bumming me out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Alcohol, Death of parent, Drug use, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Minor: Infidelity and Sexism
savvyrosereads's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Lee Stone doesn’t believe in love—especially when it comes to her disastrously-ended relationship with former grad school flame Ben Laderman. But when Ben lands back in her life unexpectedly, all of Lee’s philosophies may just need to be revisited.
Ashley Winstead is uniquely talented, and one of those talents is that she can take plot devices and tropes that you may not always love and turn them into something absolutely incredible. In my review of her debut thriller, In My Dreams I Hold a Knife, I noted that I’m not always a fan of dual timelines or romantic thrillers, but I loved them in that book. Similarly, I’m not a huge fan of cheating storylines in romance, nor do I usually like a messy cynic main character—but I absolutely LOVED them both here.
I was so absolutely hooked by Fool Me Once from the very first chapter, and the whip smart characters, laugh-out-loud humor, and fun political plot keep me engaged throughout. Best of all, the ending was pitch perfect—honestly, I was near tears (Ben is JUST TOO PERFECT, y’all). Truly, I’m an Ashley Winstead superfan now and forever, and cannot wait to read every single book she ever writes moving forward.
Recommended to anyone, but especially if you like: second chance romance; political rom-coms; chaotic main characters.
CW: Infidelity (like, a lot of infidelity, in so many contexts); death of a parent; sexism; some discussions of homophobia.
Lee Stone doesn’t believe in love—especially when it comes to her disastrously-ended relationship with former grad school flame Ben Laderman. But when Ben lands back in her life unexpectedly, all of Lee’s philosophies may just need to be revisited.
Ashley Winstead is uniquely talented, and one of those talents is that she can take plot devices and tropes that you may not always love and turn them into something absolutely incredible. In my review of her debut thriller, In My Dreams I Hold a Knife, I noted that I’m not always a fan of dual timelines or romantic thrillers, but I loved them in that book. Similarly, I’m not a huge fan of cheating storylines in romance, nor do I usually like a messy cynic main character—but I absolutely LOVED them both here.
I was so absolutely hooked by Fool Me Once from the very first chapter, and the whip smart characters, laugh-out-loud humor, and fun political plot keep me engaged throughout. Best of all, the ending was pitch perfect—honestly, I was near tears (Ben is JUST TOO PERFECT, y’all). Truly, I’m an Ashley Winstead superfan now and forever, and cannot wait to read every single book she ever writes moving forward.
Recommended to anyone, but especially if you like: second chance romance; political rom-coms; chaotic main characters.
CW: Infidelity (like, a lot of infidelity, in so many contexts); death of a parent; sexism; some discussions of homophobia.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Infidelity
Moderate: Abandonment, Sexism, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Alcohol, Car accident, Drug use, and Homophobia