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the_bookworm_rabbit's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Thank you to Netgalley and Alcove Press for an advanced copy of this book.
I'm in love with Preston and Harmony! They work so well together. They're complete opposites, but their relationship works so well. I feel like the author put in so much effort to give her characters so much depth and personality (especially Harmony and Preston).
The pacing of the story was great. Everything moved at a good pace. I was desperate to know what was going to happen next, and there were no lulls in the storytelling. The subplots added so much to the story, and all of the side characters were utilised well
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I'm in love with Preston and Harmony! They work so well together. They're complete opposites, but their relationship works so well. I feel like the author put in so much effort to give her characters so much depth and personality (especially Harmony and Preston).
The pacing of the story was great. Everything moved at a good pace. I was desperate to know what was going to happen next, and there were no lulls in the storytelling. The subplots added so much to the story, and all of the side characters were utilised well
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
joyfullylauren's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
I really enjoyed this book. Preston is a cinnamon roll of a librarian who people perceive as grumpy due to his autistic traits. He is the guardian for his younger sister who is also autistic. Harmony is a high energy, sunshine con artist who arrives in Preston's town ready and eager to take down the town's mayor who cheated her dad out of millions.
I love that the author took great care to represent Preston and Lacey as whole people whose personalities and traits extend beyond the stereotypical characteristics people expect of autistic folks.
I love that the author took great care to represent Preston and Lacey as whole people whose personalities and traits extend beyond the stereotypical characteristics people expect of autistic folks.
_lc_'s review against another edition
funny
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? It's complicated
3.5
I love the confidence that con artists have to have that they can go into new towns and just take everyone for a ride. I guess that’s where the name comes from… Harmony really had everyone eating out of her hands, though I wasn’t all that impressed by her. Maybe due to the fact that I was in on the con so didn’t fall for her charms. Preston on the other hand, he is precious and needs to be protected at all costs. He was so sweet and I loved his passion for his work and the fight he had about keeping libraries diverse. Really putting his body on the line for the cause.
Thanks to #NetGallery and publisher for a copy of this book.
Genre: Romance MF
Format: Digital
POV: Dual
Tropes: small town, light grumpy sunshine, conwoman, autistic MMC & side character.
Spice: 🌶️🌶️ /5
Age suggestion: 18+
mamabeardteacher'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? It's complicated
3.75
gillyreads's review against another edition
I received a copy of this book on NetGalley
I don't usually love books where lying is a major part of the plot/relationship development but the rest of the premise of this book intrigued me and I am so glad I gave it a chance. I loved the small town feel, with so many great minor characters and intersecting connections. I thought that was done really well. The romance was very cute, and I particularly enjoyed the focus on them figuring each other out and the gradual shift to understanding each other better and clearer communication rather than just one big miscommunication (though obviously there is Harmony's inital con/lies to overcome).
Props on well rounded representation as well. I appreciated that Harmony didn't have to experience too much fatphobia, without erasing the realities that exist. Also that there was a depth to the diversity in the town that showed a range of experiences. This was all very natural and background to the story, but used the plot of Library book banning attempts to highlight it's importance.
I did feel like it probably could have been a little longer, for a little more development in the second half of the book. I would have enjoyed more of Harmony trying to make things right but overall a really fun and enjoyable romance.
I don't usually love books where lying is a major part of the plot/relationship development but the rest of the premise of this book intrigued me and I am so glad I gave it a chance. I loved the small town feel, with so many great minor characters and intersecting connections. I thought that was done really well. The romance was very cute, and I particularly enjoyed the focus on them figuring each other out and the gradual shift to understanding each other better and clearer communication rather than just one big miscommunication (though obviously there is Harmony's inital con/lies to overcome).
Props on well rounded representation as well. I appreciated that Harmony didn't have to experience too much fatphobia, without erasing the realities that exist. Also that there was a depth to the diversity in the town that showed a range of experiences. This was all very natural and background to the story, but used the plot of Library book banning attempts to highlight it's importance.
I did feel like it probably could have been a little longer, for a little more development in the second half of the book. I would have enjoyed more of Harmony trying to make things right but overall a really fun and enjoyable romance.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Homophobia, Ableism, and Transphobia
Minor: Fatphobia, Death of parent, and Car accident
abookwormspov's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Things I liked about this book: I really liked all of the side characters and seeing all of their relationships and interactions and I think that the small-town politics was really well done! I think that the autism representation was very good, and I liked that we could see the diverseness in the multiple autistic characters. I liked a lot of the insights into the communication between Preston and Harmony and how we could see them adjust as they found differences in their communication styles and worked to fix them. And finally, I thought that the steamy scenes were really well written!
What I missed: Overall, I kind of felt a disconnect between the plot and the characters. I really liked the focus on saving the library, but as a result, I didn’t feel very invested in Harmony’s con. It gave the feel of a small subplot to me even though it is something that should be the big part of the story. I think maybe a different scale con or a maybe a resolution that combined saving the library with saving the festival would have helped me connect better with that part of the story!
Thank you to NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking, Violence, Death of parent, and Homophobia
catherinemia's review against another edition
4.0
Wow.
I loved this book so much. Thank you to NetGalley and L.A Schwartz for sending me the ARC of this book. I was hooked from the beginning and did not want it to end.
I thought the premise of the book was so unique and interesting and I was excited for how it would pan out. I was not disappointed!
I feel like it could have been a bit longer in place in terms of the development of the characters relationship. It felt a little quick but that isn’t always a bad thing!
The Austistic representation was great and I felt like it was a really realistic and genuine insight into how autistic people feel and go about daily life.
Preston and Harmony was so fun and cute together and I loved that Harmony was plus size but it wasn’t a big deal in the book. It was mentioned but there was not fatphobia (yay!) and Harmony was unapologetically herself and loved herself.
Overall I would recommend this book so much, it was a fun read and really enjoyable!
The ending was everything I hoped for and more!
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