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elinegr's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-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
4.5
piperkrenik's review against another edition
2.0
Boyfriend material dragged for me. Firstly I did not like any of the characters really. The two main characters were not horrible but I also didn’t particularly like them. All the other characters were so stupid it was actually funny at some points. The best part of this book for me was when a character would say something absolutely ridiculous and make me laugh. There were parts where I genuinely laughed out loud but it was always at the shock of whatever idiotic thing someone had said.
I had to switch between the audiobook and physical copy because I was struggling to get through it. I originally did this to get into the book and then I thought it was getting better but I ended up going back to the audio book to finish it as well. I did it though! It’s done!
Don’t even get me started on how this book wrapped up… I’m sure the story would be better if I continued the series but I disliked all the characters way too much to do that to myself so I will stick with the little this ending gave me.
I had to switch between the audiobook and physical copy because I was struggling to get through it. I originally did this to get into the book and then I thought it was getting better but I ended up going back to the audio book to finish it as well. I did it though! It’s done!
Don’t even get me started on how this book wrapped up… I’m sure the story would be better if I continued the series but I disliked all the characters way too much to do that to myself so I will stick with the little this ending gave me.
beckybmckinney's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Good grief, it's adorable.
lorenales's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
smateer73's review against another edition
2.0
I really didn’t enjoy this book that much. Practically every character is entirely unlikable, which I suppose is the point, but we need to stop glamorizing fucked up people being in relationships. What Oliver said before they got back together was more right, that they worked for a bit but they weren’t really right. That’s how people are and they should be able to take what they’ve learned and move on.
teddy221b's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
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
4.5
vanessarteaga's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I wasn’t as obsessed with this couple as I wanted to be, but I was DEFINITELY obsessed with this book.
roxnn2000's review against another edition
5.0
A well-written story that feels authentic and the characters feel genuine.
Summary:
Luc O'Donnell is famous - adjacent. His parents were rock stars that split when he was only 3-years-old and he hasn't been close to his father since. After over 20 years, his father is making a comeback and Luc has been thrust back into the public eye and none of it is flattering.
After a single photo leads to extremely bad press, Luc is on the verge of losing his job unless he can manage to salvage the situation and find a nice, normal and adjusted boyfriend. Enter Oliver Blackwood. A Barrister, an ethical vegetarian and as unscandalous as they come. In addition, Oliver is also needing a partner to attend a party he just cannot go to single.
Despite having nothing more in common other than both being gay, single and needing a partner, Luc and Oliver work out a deal to fake date to get them through both events and help Luc keep his job. However, fake dating feels like real dating and soon the lines are blurred to the point where nothing is fake anymore, especially one's emotions.
Review:
I went into this book not sure what I would think about it. However, within the first chapter I realized that Luc was a guy with a complicated past that caused a lot of mental blocks about dating and relationships. Instantly I liked him and wanted to know more and had to keep reading.
Because the book is shown from Luc's perspective, we get a lot of his internal thoughts. It's easy to see how he gets from one thought to the next. However, we don't see the thoughts of Oliver and at times I really was curious what was going on in that head of his. Of course, that just made me want to keep reading.
I found it bothersome a lot of the time that Luc would be interacting with people who know that he is gay and are trying to be low-key homophobic and it is completely obvious. It was similar later on in the story when they attend Oliver's parents' anniversary party and his parents seem understanding of Oliver's choices, but clearly have issue in that fact also. There are a lot of jokes made about Oliver's choices. Of course, that also extended to their oldest son and his wife stating that they would be starting to have kids soon when both made it clear that they didn't want to have any children. Clearly these people do not listen and try to project their ideals onto their own children.
There are many more examples of times that Luc has to deal with people that are clearly uncomfortable with the fact that he is gay but want to pretend that they are okay with it. As it goes on I was getting more upset for Luc and was almost yelling at the book for Luc to tell them to screw off. However, I could also see that Luc was trying to keep his job as, because of his superstar father and Luc being in the tabloids with false stories about being a drug and sex addict, this was the only place that would hire him.
I also loved some of the side characters. Some I did not understand at all, like Luc's co-workers who didn't understand the basis of a simple Dad joke and constantly were breaking it down so that it made sense. At first it was funny, but as time went on I found it less funny. Luc's friends and Oliver's friends were also quite interesting and fun. I really loved how Luc's friends were almost all in the LGBTQ+ community and Oliver's friends were not, but both sets showed love and support of their friend and want the best for them. Oliver's friends even go so far as to act like a parent questioning Luc to make sure that he wasn't going to hurt Oliver. It was very cute.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I cannot wait until the next one comes out as I just have to read more about these two and see what happened after the end of this book.
Summary:
Luc O'Donnell is famous - adjacent. His parents were rock stars that split when he was only 3-years-old and he hasn't been close to his father since. After over 20 years, his father is making a comeback and Luc has been thrust back into the public eye and none of it is flattering.
After a single photo leads to extremely bad press, Luc is on the verge of losing his job unless he can manage to salvage the situation and find a nice, normal and adjusted boyfriend. Enter Oliver Blackwood. A Barrister, an ethical vegetarian and as unscandalous as they come. In addition, Oliver is also needing a partner to attend a party he just cannot go to single.
Despite having nothing more in common other than both being gay, single and needing a partner, Luc and Oliver work out a deal to fake date to get them through both events and help Luc keep his job. However, fake dating feels like real dating and soon the lines are blurred to the point where nothing is fake anymore, especially one's emotions.
Review:
I went into this book not sure what I would think about it. However, within the first chapter I realized that Luc was a guy with a complicated past that caused a lot of mental blocks about dating and relationships. Instantly I liked him and wanted to know more and had to keep reading.
Because the book is shown from Luc's perspective, we get a lot of his internal thoughts. It's easy to see how he gets from one thought to the next. However, we don't see the thoughts of Oliver and at times I really was curious what was going on in that head of his. Of course, that just made me want to keep reading.
I found it bothersome a lot of the time that Luc would be interacting with people who know that he is gay and are trying to be low-key homophobic and it is completely obvious. It was similar later on in the story when they attend Oliver's parents' anniversary party and his parents seem understanding of Oliver's choices, but clearly have issue in that fact also. There are a lot of jokes made about Oliver's choices. Of course, that also extended to their oldest son and his wife stating that they would be starting to have kids soon when both made it clear that they didn't want to have any children. Clearly these people do not listen and try to project their ideals onto their own children.
There are many more examples of times that Luc has to deal with people that are clearly uncomfortable with the fact that he is gay but want to pretend that they are okay with it. As it goes on I was getting more upset for Luc and was almost yelling at the book for Luc to tell them to screw off. However, I could also see that Luc was trying to keep his job as, because of his superstar father and Luc being in the tabloids with false stories about being a drug and sex addict, this was the only place that would hire him.
I also loved some of the side characters. Some I did not understand at all, like Luc's co-workers who didn't understand the basis of a simple Dad joke and constantly were breaking it down so that it made sense. At first it was funny, but as time went on I found it less funny. Luc's friends and Oliver's friends were also quite interesting and fun. I really loved how Luc's friends were almost all in the LGBTQ+ community and Oliver's friends were not, but both sets showed love and support of their friend and want the best for them. Oliver's friends even go so far as to act like a parent questioning Luc to make sure that he wasn't going to hurt Oliver. It was very cute.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I cannot wait until the next one comes out as I just have to read more about these two and see what happened after the end of this book.
lexieghl's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75