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queeerlybeloved's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
this was a Deeply fine book 😂
it had all the things/the opportunity for me to absolutely love it - enemies to lovers, one bed, slow burn, strong women, hot women, etc. - but for whatever reason it fell flat!
slow burn, when it's done well, is such a Delicious plot device. but sometimes, the slow burn is So Fucking Slow and it just doesn't hit the way i want it to. i definitely felt that with this book. when i was through half the book and the characters still had so much tension (and not the good kind) and were so at odds with each other and weren't trying to understand the others' point of view, i was chomping at the bit. i just needed them to fall in love pre-100 pages left of the book! or at least start to open up/admit their attraction to each other.i also don't love miscommunication as a plot device! and i feel like this book used it as a plot device a little bit. nothing too crazy but definitely a little bit.
i hope others like it!! it just wasn't for me.
it had all the things/the opportunity for me to absolutely love it - enemies to lovers, one bed, slow burn, strong women, hot women, etc. - but for whatever reason it fell flat!
slow burn, when it's done well, is such a Delicious plot device. but sometimes, the slow burn is So Fucking Slow and it just doesn't hit the way i want it to. i definitely felt that with this book. when i was through half the book and the characters still had so much tension (and not the good kind) and were so at odds with each other and weren't trying to understand the others' point of view, i was chomping at the bit. i just needed them to fall in love pre-100 pages left of the book! or at least start to open up/admit their attraction to each other.i also don't love miscommunication as a plot device! and i feel like this book used it as a plot device a little bit. nothing too crazy but definitely a little bit.
i hope others like it!! it just wasn't for me.
loveambreen's review
4.0
Rating this 4 stars because it's Alyssa Cole but I was so incredibly disappointed by this book.
I'm usually the last person to be like "where's the plot" because I mostly care about character work, but, uh, what happened to the plot??? The first half was so good and then they just got on a boat for 50% of the book and pretty much nothing happened and then there was a rushed ending even by Alyssa Cole standards. This book really felt like it dragged and I can't remember the last time it took me two full weeks to finish one of her books.
This second series is turning out to not be as good as Reluctant Royals.
I'm usually the last person to be like "where's the plot" because I mostly care about character work, but, uh, what happened to the plot??? The first half was so good and then they just got on a boat for 50% of the book and pretty much nothing happened and then there was a rushed ending even by Alyssa Cole standards. This book really felt like it dragged and I can't remember the last time it took me two full weeks to finish one of her books.
This second series is turning out to not be as good as Reluctant Royals.
callmekt's review
The main conceit for one of the love interests was that she had a hard time saying No to people asking for help. And the one time she does say No, with fervor and anger and finality, everyone around her, including her love interest, pushes against that. For about 150 pages, her No was worn away to a Yes and that's when I bounced.
rainbowbookworm's review
2.0
I picked this one up because I enjoyed [b:Once Ghosted, Twice Shy|42128976|Once Ghosted, Twice Shy (Reluctant Royals, #2.5)|Alyssa Cole|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1541510712l/42128976._SY75_.jpg|65725346], but I was disappointed because I was looking for a romance novel, but the book itself spent too much time focused on Bez, her job, and her self-appointed mission.
marieintheraw's review
3.0
I really enjoyed the whole "going to find a long-lost heir" aspect of this, but as an Anastasia story? It's a bit of a hard-sell for me. That being said, there is a bit of an issue with the pacing overall that I only really noticed since this is a bit of a slow-paced romance.
I received an ecopy of this through Netgalley; however, all opinions are my own.
I received an ecopy of this through Netgalley; however, all opinions are my own.
aerea_caeles's review
funny
relaxing
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
consumed_by_mold's review
DNF 24% Stalking and harassment isn't cute, not when it's a straight guy doing it, nor when it's a sapphic woman. And using neurodiversity as an excuse for doing it? Absolutely the fuck not.
Grandma pissing me off too, nobody can mind their own business and the MC claims she's finally standing up for herself after years of people pleasing, but is too damn horny in this case apparently.
To call this an Anastasia retelling is a stretch, it starts off with a completely different premise.
Grandma pissing me off too, nobody can mind their own business and the MC claims she's finally standing up for herself after years of people pleasing, but is too damn horny in this case apparently.
To call this an Anastasia retelling is a stretch, it starts off with a completely different premise.
jayraams's review
4.0
This is a 4 out of 5, it's a slow burn romance. I feel like the people complaining about it being slow pace aren't queer, because WLW people will watch 6 seasons of a straight show for a kinda kiss and 5 minutes of gay stuff.
It is spicy in all the right ways. The neurodiversity is also well written. If you like it fluffy and Atypical this is your next queer read
It is spicy in all the right ways. The neurodiversity is also well written. If you like it fluffy and Atypical this is your next queer read