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3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
Evie and Theo. Their romance left me wanting more. I wanted to love this book so much, unfortunately it left me a little disappointed. I am all for romance with some substance, but this felt a lot like real life which is not the reason I read. Dead parents, neglectful parents, medical and emotional problems, medical insurance fights and not being able to get over past traumas; make it feel too much like real life that I forgot at times I was reading a romance. There is so much going on in their lives that the romance gets lost. It is also an extremely slow burn and when they do get together it’s short lived by everything going on in their lives. The ending I would say is what can qualify it as a romance, as it’s as expected cute and sappy. Overall Its a well written story that can speak to a certain audience.
As far as the audio part of it, both narrators do a great job. If it had not been in an audiobook I think I would have just stopped reading it. I did like the double POV and also the chapters that had flashbacks. There is a lot of repetition though and I think it could have been shorter. For a hopeless romantic such as me, there was just not enough of the romance part. However, If you want your romance to be entangled with a touch of real life and real problems then this is the read for you.
As far as the audio part of it, both narrators do a great job. If it had not been in an audiobook I think I would have just stopped reading it. I did like the double POV and also the chapters that had flashbacks. There is a lot of repetition though and I think it could have been shorter. For a hopeless romantic such as me, there was just not enough of the romance part. However, If you want your romance to be entangled with a touch of real life and real problems then this is the read for you.
emotional
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death of parent, Abandonment
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content
Minor: Vomit
Don't believe the tags, this book is sweet but NOT light hearted
Source of book: NG
This book has a great premise and is a great summer read. Great disability/invisible illness rep here—and it is clear the author wrote the representation with an understanding of it. I also loved the Ginger Rogers/Fred Astaire/dance thread as well as learning about sound design. I loved the covert system the best friends have of communicating during work. I also thought the book does both the found family and friends to lovers tropes well. I look forward to reading more from this author!
This book has a great premise and is a great summer read. Great disability/invisible illness rep here—and it is clear the author wrote the representation with an understanding of it. I also loved the Ginger Rogers/Fred Astaire/dance thread as well as learning about sound design. I loved the covert system the best friends have of communicating during work. I also thought the book does both the found family and friends to lovers tropes well. I look forward to reading more from this author!
This one definitely made me feel some things. This book was really cute- i saw a few of the tropes but overall went in a bit blind on this one. As much as I love and enemies to lovers type of book, there’s something about friends to lovers that I have a sweet spot for.
I feel like there are some other books out there with a similar premise of marriage of convenience (specifically best friends marrying to mutually benefit) but I really enjoyed the aspect of addressing our terrible health care system in the process. Evelyn’s growth was a little frustrating for me but she eventually got there- I also love the chronic illness representation. Theo is perfect- zero notes. The miscommunication (or just lack in communication completely) definitely irked me a bit- but they found their way through it while addressing past trauma without a third act break up which I do appreciate.
I feel like there are some other books out there with a similar premise of marriage of convenience (specifically best friends marrying to mutually benefit) but I really enjoyed the aspect of addressing our terrible health care system in the process. Evelyn’s growth was a little frustrating for me but she eventually got there- I also love the chronic illness representation. Theo is perfect- zero notes. The miscommunication (or just lack in communication completely) definitely irked me a bit- but they found their way through it while addressing past trauma without a third act break up which I do appreciate.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Thank you to Celadon Books for the advance reader copy of Friends with Benefits by Marisa Kanter.
Theo and Evie have been best friends for a long time. Evie lives with a chronic illness and when she gets an incredible opportunity for her career, it turns out to not include health insurance. Theo, a school teacher, ends up in need of a roommate when his suddenly moves out. A marriage of convenience would help each of them.
Evie and Theo are sweet together. I liked getting to experience past and present moments of their friendship. I think the yearning between these two will stick with me the most after reading this story. It’s evident the feelings these two have for each other as they’ve navigated their friendship and then must navigate their feelings once they enter a marriage of convenience.
If you enjoy a friends to lovers, marriage of convenience romance, this is one to check out!
funny
hopeful
reflective
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
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really wanted to like these characters, but maybe I just hate it when a nice person gets taken advantage of. The middle was the worst for me in that way, but the ending made up for it. I also liked the foley artist aspect, the fact that Theo was a 4th grade teacher, and the nods to the discrepancies in American healthcare. So, it ended up being a 2.5 star read for me.
emotional
hopeful
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
Truly would have rated this higher if there were zero flashback chapters.
It kind of ruined the pacing for me, and they ended up being incredibly redundant.
It kind of ruined the pacing for me, and they ended up being incredibly redundant.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Injury/Injury detail
Narcissistic parent