Scan barcode
ruby_roo's review against another edition
3.0
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
I really liked this book, it was a cute, fluffy read that I wish I'd read closer to Christmas.
This is a book about;
A girl who has mastered the art of 'not giving a shit', because nobody can hurt you if you don't care, right? She's confident and spectacular at communicating with the dreaded opposite sex, but they are all repulsed by the idea of dating her (nope, not even a little bit true, as usual).
Her cousin who is stunningly beautiful but hopeless with boys (not as yawn as you might be thinking), due in no small part to the fact that she is obsessed with plumbing and dead things (see?!)
A boy who used to be the most popular jock but is now realising the life he enjoyed was hollow and not all that real anyway (okay, I'll give you that yawn..)
The shenanigans that ensue when girl 1 falls in love with boy, but decides to set girl 2 up with boy instead, and boy has no idea he's just along for the ride.
Hurray for a love triangle where nobody is an asshole.
Serieously though? I want a book about Elda, she's badass.
I really liked this book, it was a cute, fluffy read that I wish I'd read closer to Christmas.
This is a book about;
A girl who has mastered the art of 'not giving a shit', because nobody can hurt you if you don't care, right? She's confident and spectacular at communicating with the dreaded opposite sex, but they are all repulsed by the idea of dating her (nope, not even a little bit true, as usual).
Her cousin who is stunningly beautiful but hopeless with boys (not as yawn as you might be thinking), due in no small part to the fact that she is obsessed with plumbing and dead things (see?!)
A boy who used to be the most popular jock but is now realising the life he enjoyed was hollow and not all that real anyway (okay, I'll give you that yawn..)
The shenanigans that ensue when girl 1 falls in love with boy, but decides to set girl 2 up with boy instead, and boy has no idea he's just along for the ride.
Hurray for a love triangle where nobody is an asshole.
Serieously though? I want a book about Elda, she's badass.
angelreads's review against another edition
I was looking forward to picking this one up- I got maybe 20% in and just could not continue
saschadarlington's review against another edition
3.0
3 1/2 stars
The latest entry in Julie Hammerle’s North Pole, Minnesota series feels like Cyrano de Bergerac for Christmas with teens and texting.
Holly used to visit her grandmother in North Pole every Christmas except for the past several years. She would always enter the gingerbread house-building contest with her grandmother, but would mostly be beaten by cute Danny, which she didn’t mind so much because she had a crush on him. The crush that Holly had on Danny stayed with her a long time. Unfortunately she’s had bad experiences in the intervening years. When she and her cousin, Elda, stop for coffee and Holly sees Danny for the first time in years, he doesn’t recognize her and seems more interested in Elda. As a result, Holly tries to get Danny and Elda to fall in love figuring that they are perfect together.
This is a cute story and a cute idea for a story incorporating all of the Christmas elements: gingerbread and hot chocolate and warm toasty fires. Unfortunately Approximately Yours didn’t work for me as well as the previous two entries in the series.
A little more than midway through two thoughts occurred to me. Holly and Danny were apart for most of the novel so it was really hard to just accept that they were a thing. When they finally do come together, it all feels rushed and a little unsatisfying because I didn’t feel like there was a spark between Holly and Danny and I don’t know if that was because they were ultimately too similar. As well, it was hard to believe Danny was falling for anyone considering that just a few days had passed since he found out about his long-time girlfriend cheating on him and their subsequent breakup.
Also, I found Elda a more intriguing character than Holly and would have loved for the subplot with Elda and Dinesh to be fleshed out more. Probably, it would have helped overall if this novel had just been longer to show more interaction between Holly and Danny and some fun between nerds Elda and Dinesh.
However, this novel is sweet and I think for anyone following the series, you don’t want to miss this latest installment, not to mention it’s arrival is just in time for pre-Christmas reading.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The latest entry in Julie Hammerle’s North Pole, Minnesota series feels like Cyrano de Bergerac for Christmas with teens and texting.
Holly used to visit her grandmother in North Pole every Christmas except for the past several years. She would always enter the gingerbread house-building contest with her grandmother, but would mostly be beaten by cute Danny, which she didn’t mind so much because she had a crush on him. The crush that Holly had on Danny stayed with her a long time. Unfortunately she’s had bad experiences in the intervening years. When she and her cousin, Elda, stop for coffee and Holly sees Danny for the first time in years, he doesn’t recognize her and seems more interested in Elda. As a result, Holly tries to get Danny and Elda to fall in love figuring that they are perfect together.
This is a cute story and a cute idea for a story incorporating all of the Christmas elements: gingerbread and hot chocolate and warm toasty fires. Unfortunately Approximately Yours didn’t work for me as well as the previous two entries in the series.
A little more than midway through two thoughts occurred to me. Holly and Danny were apart for most of the novel so it was really hard to just accept that they were a thing. When they finally do come together, it all feels rushed and a little unsatisfying because I didn’t feel like there was a spark between Holly and Danny and I don’t know if that was because they were ultimately too similar. As well, it was hard to believe Danny was falling for anyone considering that just a few days had passed since he found out about his long-time girlfriend cheating on him and their subsequent breakup.
Also, I found Elda a more intriguing character than Holly and would have loved for the subplot with Elda and Dinesh to be fleshed out more. Probably, it would have helped overall if this novel had just been longer to show more interaction between Holly and Danny and some fun between nerds Elda and Dinesh.
However, this novel is sweet and I think for anyone following the series, you don’t want to miss this latest installment, not to mention it’s arrival is just in time for pre-Christmas reading.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
amandamarieger's review against another edition
4.0
This was cute and fun! I'd been looking for a Christmas romance and this checked all my boxes - I just found it about a month too late! The town is so quirky - think Stars Hollow - and the characters are fun and unique. I really liked this one.
faerietears's review
3.0
Full Review On The Blog
www.carolineandrus.com/blog
Yeah, this one was pretty dang cute.
Full review coming soon.
www.carolineandrus.com/blog
Yeah, this one was pretty dang cute.
Full review coming soon.
bananatricky's review against another edition
3.0
Danny lives in a town called North Pole. Unsurprisingly the town is an homage to all things Christmas, everything is Christmas themed and the town takes the annual gingerbread competition very seriously.
Danny had high hopes of playing professional basketball until showing off in front of a reporter he fell and broke his ankle. Now his big chance may have gone forever, his girlfriend has dumped him for the waterboy and he realises that he has no clue what he wants from life.
Holly's grandmother lived next door to Danny's family. Growing up Holly and her cousins used to visit North Pole every year at Christmas and Holly would enter the gingerbread competition, mainly because even back then she was in love with Danny. In those days Danny was less athletic and more nerdy.
After Holly's grandmother died the family have returned to North Pole one last time to pack up her house before putting it on the market. When Holly and her cousin Esmerelda (Elda for short) go into Santabucks for coffee they see Danny serving behind the counter. Holly is sad that her childhood crush doesn't even recognise and, just like every other guy she's ever met, he only seems to have eyes for her beautiful cousin. Whilst Elda might be every guy's wet dream, she is also a bit weird, fascinated by plumbing, and has difficulty talking to guys she likes. So a plot is born, Holly will help Elda when she goes on a date with Danny by telling her what to say (and what not to say). In Danny's defence, he is trying to avoid going out with another girl just like his ex, he is attracted to Holly but she seems to turn her nose up at him so he tries to do something different by dating Elda.
Just like in Cyrano de Bergerac, Elda and Danny are totally incompatible but Holly and Danny text each other constantly. Danny can't understand why the woman he chats to for hours at night about architecture and films and the gingerbread competition suddenly starts talking about plumbing and roadkill when they meet in person.
This was a sweet YA romance, the trouble is when you add the sweetness of Christmas in a Christmas-themed town it becomes almost too sweet. For those who know the plot of Cyrano there were few surprises and very little tension. Danny and Holly were so 'nice' that they didn't really have much character. I was more interested in Elda's obsession with plumbing.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Bumped for release.
Danny had high hopes of playing professional basketball until showing off in front of a reporter he fell and broke his ankle. Now his big chance may have gone forever, his girlfriend has dumped him for the waterboy and he realises that he has no clue what he wants from life.
Holly's grandmother lived next door to Danny's family. Growing up Holly and her cousins used to visit North Pole every year at Christmas and Holly would enter the gingerbread competition, mainly because even back then she was in love with Danny. In those days Danny was less athletic and more nerdy.
After Holly's grandmother died the family have returned to North Pole one last time to pack up her house before putting it on the market. When Holly and her cousin Esmerelda (Elda for short) go into Santabucks for coffee they see Danny serving behind the counter. Holly is sad that her childhood crush doesn't even recognise and, just like every other guy she's ever met, he only seems to have eyes for her beautiful cousin. Whilst Elda might be every guy's wet dream, she is also a bit weird, fascinated by plumbing, and has difficulty talking to guys she likes. So a plot is born, Holly will help Elda when she goes on a date with Danny by telling her what to say (and what not to say). In Danny's defence, he is trying to avoid going out with another girl just like his ex, he is attracted to Holly but she seems to turn her nose up at him so he tries to do something different by dating Elda.
Just like in Cyrano de Bergerac, Elda and Danny are totally incompatible but Holly and Danny text each other constantly. Danny can't understand why the woman he chats to for hours at night about architecture and films and the gingerbread competition suddenly starts talking about plumbing and roadkill when they meet in person.
This was a sweet YA romance, the trouble is when you add the sweetness of Christmas in a Christmas-themed town it becomes almost too sweet. For those who know the plot of Cyrano there were few surprises and very little tension. Danny and Holly were so 'nice' that they didn't really have much character. I was more interested in Elda's obsession with plumbing.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Bumped for release.
lenoreo's review against another edition
3.0
https://celebrityreaders.com/2021/11/25/approximately-yours-by-julie-hammerle/
3.5 stars — Bummer. This one started off really strong and I stayed up late reading it the first night. But then I got tired of the schtik of the plot, and I just wanted things to be cleared up. Ah well.
This had a bit of a Cyrano de Bergerac retelling feel to it — what with Holly texting Danny as Elda, and thinking she’s not pretty enough. I’m thinking maybe I just don’t like that premise enough…or at least I want it resolved sooner.
The thing is that there was a lot of separate screen time for each of our MCs. We got to see Danny moping about his life and being confused about his feelings on his own. And then we got to see Holly moping about her life and being confused and hanging out with Elda and mourning her Grandma…on her own. There wasn’t nearly enough together time for me. I enjoyed the moments that we did get, when Elda wasn’t self-sabotaging…hence the half star bump.
The thing is that while I got Holly’s insecurities, after awhile it just wasn’t believable anymore. I just started getting annoyed with her. And Danny was exactly as Holly accused him — afraid of rejection and trying to get everyone to like him. And so he wasn’t very honest about his own thoughts and feelings to himself, he let himself be swayed by what others told him he should feel/do.
The Christmas stuff was fun, and the Gingerbread competition was great. Lots of odd side characters in this one, but they are endearing. Elda was bizarre, Dinesh was nerdily adorable, and Craig was…misunderstood and it felt like the author was mean to him in some ways. It was weird.
So yeah. *shrugs* I was hoping it would be stronger, and in the end it was just okay.
3.5 stars — Bummer. This one started off really strong and I stayed up late reading it the first night. But then I got tired of the schtik of the plot, and I just wanted things to be cleared up. Ah well.
This had a bit of a Cyrano de Bergerac retelling feel to it — what with Holly texting Danny as Elda, and thinking she’s not pretty enough. I’m thinking maybe I just don’t like that premise enough…or at least I want it resolved sooner.
The thing is that there was a lot of separate screen time for each of our MCs. We got to see Danny moping about his life and being confused about his feelings on his own. And then we got to see Holly moping about her life and being confused and hanging out with Elda and mourning her Grandma…on her own. There wasn’t nearly enough together time for me. I enjoyed the moments that we did get, when Elda wasn’t self-sabotaging…hence the half star bump.
The thing is that while I got Holly’s insecurities, after awhile it just wasn’t believable anymore. I just started getting annoyed with her. And Danny was exactly as Holly accused him — afraid of rejection and trying to get everyone to like him. And so he wasn’t very honest about his own thoughts and feelings to himself, he let himself be swayed by what others told him he should feel/do.
The Christmas stuff was fun, and the Gingerbread competition was great. Lots of odd side characters in this one, but they are endearing. Elda was bizarre, Dinesh was nerdily adorable, and Craig was…misunderstood and it felt like the author was mean to him in some ways. It was weird.
So yeah. *shrugs* I was hoping it would be stronger, and in the end it was just okay.
kiercarnahan's review against another edition
3.0
This was a cute, quick holiday read. It's about all things Christmas and is part of a series (this is the first book I've read). If you're looking for a cute, high school aged, holiday, love story this is it. I liked the Purdue University mention (boiler up!). I did hate the name Elda.
I received the book from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received the book from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
samantha_randolph's review against another edition
5.0
It’s been years since Holly was in North Pole, Minnesota, the place she loved with her grandmother. But now with her grandmother gone, her and her family are staying in North Pole to sell the house and celebrate Christmas. When Holly runs into her childhood crush, Danny Garland, she knows her chance with him is nonexistent, especially once he asks her cousin, Elda, out. Elda keeps asking Holly for advice on how to talk to him, which leads to Holly texting as Elda again…and again. Before too long, she finds herself falling for him harder than ever, but she’s in too deep to come clean.
APPROXIMATELY YOURS became one of my new favorite books within a few chapters. Julie Hammerle creates a wonderful, holiday-filled story in a town overflowing with cuteness. While I was initially a little hesitant about the love triangle situation, Hammerle handles it absolutely perfectly. There is no girl on girl hate between Holly and Elda. In fact, their friendship is one of the centerpieces of the story, and you’ll find yourself giggling alongside them during their adventures. Danny is also well-developed and far from naïve. He continuously questions his interactions with Holly and Elda while trying to sort everything out. He and Holly have a swoony relationship with so much adorableness you won’t be able to contain the squees.
While I love the romance so much, there are other exceptional themes within the novel that can’t be left undiscussed. Holly is plus-size, something we learn in the beginning. While she has a nice amount of confidence and self-esteem, she has certain assumptions as to how she is perceived, which I was so glad to see in this story. As a fat woman myself, I identified with her. Holly has no desire to change her body, but she believes, as many do, that most people do not find her attractive like they do someone like Elda, who is classically thin and pretty. Part of her journey isn’t about accepting her body, because she’s already quite happy with it, but rather, learning not to assume that others, like Danny, will only find traditional standards of beauty attractive.
I could shout the praises of APPROXIMATELY YOURS for several lengthy pages, but in efforts to be concise, Julie Hammerle has woven an unforgettable story of romance, friendship, family, grief, and a surprisingly number of gingerbread houses in her latest North Pole, Minnesota novel. Whether you’re looking for a cute holiday read or looking to cozy up with a good romance, this is not a book to miss.
Originally posted at YABC: http://www.yabookscentral.com/yafiction/22019-approximately-yours-north-pole-minnesota
APPROXIMATELY YOURS became one of my new favorite books within a few chapters. Julie Hammerle creates a wonderful, holiday-filled story in a town overflowing with cuteness. While I was initially a little hesitant about the love triangle situation, Hammerle handles it absolutely perfectly. There is no girl on girl hate between Holly and Elda. In fact, their friendship is one of the centerpieces of the story, and you’ll find yourself giggling alongside them during their adventures. Danny is also well-developed and far from naïve. He continuously questions his interactions with Holly and Elda while trying to sort everything out. He and Holly have a swoony relationship with so much adorableness you won’t be able to contain the squees.
While I love the romance so much, there are other exceptional themes within the novel that can’t be left undiscussed. Holly is plus-size, something we learn in the beginning. While she has a nice amount of confidence and self-esteem, she has certain assumptions as to how she is perceived, which I was so glad to see in this story. As a fat woman myself, I identified with her. Holly has no desire to change her body, but she believes, as many do, that most people do not find her attractive like they do someone like Elda, who is classically thin and pretty. Part of her journey isn’t about accepting her body, because she’s already quite happy with it, but rather, learning not to assume that others, like Danny, will only find traditional standards of beauty attractive.
I could shout the praises of APPROXIMATELY YOURS for several lengthy pages, but in efforts to be concise, Julie Hammerle has woven an unforgettable story of romance, friendship, family, grief, and a surprisingly number of gingerbread houses in her latest North Pole, Minnesota novel. Whether you’re looking for a cute holiday read or looking to cozy up with a good romance, this is not a book to miss.
Originally posted at YABC: http://www.yabookscentral.com/yafiction/22019-approximately-yours-north-pole-minnesota
ajillionbooks's review against another edition
5.0
Julie Hammerle is easily of my favorite YA authors. Her stories are sweet and swoony, with just right amount of wit. He characters have depth and I love them all and never want the stories to end, which is always the Mark of a great book, in my opinion.