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anyeager's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Pregnancy and Cursing
sakusha's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This rom com was actually funny (in the beginning at least). Partly because the author made more of an effort at humor, and partly because these romance novels are all so similar, it is literally laughable. The main guy in this one was even described as having eyes that crinkled at the corners in mischief just like the main guy in the last romance I read—Love Proposal. And both books had the phrase “Love will find you once you stop looking”! Unlike that other book, this one didnt spare the readers from any cussing or graphic sex. Made me raise an eyebrow in surprise a few times.
Emmett’s predictable perfection:
A young CEO, but is not really interested in his job; attractive, tall, intense, smirking, devilish, warm, muscular, broad shoulders, sculpted jaw, calming, comforting (142), observant, charming, funny, kind, reliable, helpful with chores (237, 251, 262), pays for meals; cooks (302), has full, soft lips (145); polite host, has a nice home (122), well traveled (132, 185), confident/unconcerned/blasé/nonchalant/mellow about things, a little older than Jenna, pleased to see her, compliments her (266), lets her pick the movie (263), makes her feel comfortable/secure, listens to her, prioritizes her, doesn’t abandon her (203), never wants to hurt her (196), rich baritone voice, drives a Mercedes, pretty dark eyes with long lashes (141), “dark hair in a clean-cut, classic style,” smells good, brings her flowers (258), big strong hands, strong enough to effortlessly lift her (170), makes sure she’s okay (266), gives her space when she needs it (298), sympathetic and not grossed out by periods or childbirth (146), a player who wasn’t interested in any of the many women he slept with but he falls in love with Jenna; “smart but not arrogant about it, considerate but not a pushover, bold and direct but not rude or presumptuous. He knows what he wants and he pursues it. He doesn’t play games or feed a girl lines” (61). They have things in common (93), and they don’t have awkward silences when they talk. He is genuinely interested in what’s going on in her life. He offers to take her out for meals even though it goes beyond their sex agreement. He also insists on foreplay and making her orgasm (101) even though a typical hookup man would only care about his own pleasure. He does whatever she asks even when she asks him to stop masturbating (177, 247)! He thinks she’s beautiful even in stained sweatpants and a baggy T-shirt (234)! He wants to be around her even when she’s “boring” and can’t drink (259)! He says “I don’t need anything but your company” (262)!
Jenna: independent career-driven boss (Emmett unrealistically admires this), has high standards, is 35 (yet Emmett unrealistically still prefers her over the 20 year olds he’s used to sleeping with). Emmett thinks Jenna “seems like the total package—not just gorgeous but smart, funny, and cool” (95).
They both see each other as someone who could have anyone, so they feel lucky that they each chose each other (178).
Despite not wanting anything to do with babies or commitment in the beginning, Emmett starts saying in narration that getting Jenna pregnant is not just what she wants but what he wants too; he’s excited about the pregnancy test (219), he researches pregnancy things (243); he goes shopping with her for baby stuff, they agree on almost everything (249); and he is there for her labor and delivery (296). And after the baby is born, he is the perfect dad, cooing to the baby and giving her a bath (301). And he still finds Jenna beautiful with stretch marks (306)!
Unlike Wedding Crasher, this book is low on the leftist bias, but at one point a Latino friend calls Emmett a “gringo,” and it reminded me that that kind of term is acceptable to use, but white people aren’t supposed to use nigger, spick, chink, etc.
Mistake by the author: Emmett says on p. 122 that he doesn’t have anything in his place to eat, then on p. 129 he says he has food.
“99 times out of a 100, human hearts aren’t strong enough to bear the weight of careers, children, stress, the plain old boring grind of daily life. Love is only a temporary delirium, and sooner or later, reality and its demands will start eating away at the happiness” (77). This was what Emmett thought early in the book and why he didn’t want to pursue a relationship. I agree with it, but I think it’s not a reason to avoid a relationship, just a reason not to base a relationship on love or sex.
“Even if [she] says no, it’s better to find out how she feels than spend the rest of your life regretting the missed chance to speak up. Don’t let fear control you.” - Aubrey (255)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Cursing
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