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littlebookterror's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Felicity was a great character and I thoroughly enjoyed her point of view. From her job aspirations to her struggles to understand her family to the new path she was going down. I also enjoyed the charity plot and the uncovering of what really was causing all the problems.
What I was kind of missing though was the romance? Obviously, there is one, and the chemistry with Cooper is certainly there - but the timeline is so short and most of the story is focused on other things than actually developing their romantic relationship. I also found their reason for cutting their relationship too dramatic for the short time they knew each other. Career goals are not incompatible with understanding different needs? Yes, I think it's nice that Felicity's reconnection to her family was part of her personal development but that making her out to be terrible because of it? Did not work for me. (Not to mention the arophobic implication that only "true love" can satisfy unlike a job you love, nice coworkers, steady money and filling your days with things you enjoy.)
I recently listened to a podcast where two romance reviewers also talked about what it means for a book to be a category romance - you usually only hear "it needs to have and HEA" but is that really all? And it made me realize that neither Felicity's internal plot nor the book's external plot about the charity are at all contingent on Cooper's presence. She works there but that's it. And I think that's what makes this a successful book but and unsuccessful romance for me.
What I was kind of missing though was the romance? Obviously, there is one, and the chemistry with Cooper is certainly there - but the timeline is so short and most of the story is focused on other things than actually developing their romantic relationship. I also found their reason for cutting their relationship too dramatic for the short time they knew each other. Career goals are not incompatible with understanding different needs? Yes, I think it's nice that Felicity's reconnection to her family was part of her personal development but that making her out to be terrible because of it? Did not work for me. (Not to mention the arophobic implication that only "true love" can satisfy unlike a job you love, nice coworkers, steady money and filling your days with things you enjoy.)
I recently listened to a podcast where two romance reviewers also talked about what it means for a book to be a category romance - you usually only hear "it needs to have and HEA" but is that really all? And it made me realize that neither Felicity's internal plot nor the book's external plot about the charity are at all contingent on Cooper's presence. She works there but that's it. And I think that's what makes this a successful book but and unsuccessful romance for me.
reading_rebecca's review
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
pointofvin's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
lighthearted
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
4.25
mxrgensxfinr's review
emotional
funny
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? Yes
4.0
joanna1905's review
4.0
Enjoyed this a lot, I actually think we could have got a little bit more of the romance (and the sex scenes bc we got a few really good moments / lines but they were super minimal, I don’t need heaps of spice but I think this could have used a little more).
What I did really like was how it had a well developed plot outside of the romance but that worked so well to aid character and relationship growth.
I haven’t read book one but I defs think I’ll go back to it.
But also where’s MY soft butch vet girlfriend
What I did really like was how it had a well developed plot outside of the romance but that worked so well to aid character and relationship growth.
I haven’t read book one but I defs think I’ll go back to it.
But also where’s MY soft butch vet girlfriend
cynicgirl's review
2.0
I feel I should explain my 2* rating despite rarely writing reviews. I thought I would try a pure romance book for once as an experiment. I’m all for romance in novels, but generally it has been the seasoning or gravy to the main course of story.
So I picked this book up to see what romance as a genre is like. And, I don’t like it. About all I can say is the words were in the right order and it was a fast read. I found the characters stereotypical and trite. There was barely an icing sugar dusting on a cake amount of story. Even the sexy stuff was pretty boring. I’ve read better in sci-fi books that have a bit of romance on the side.
But equally I have to appreciate I have determined that romance is so not my genre, that perhaps I am missing whether this particular book is a good or bad example. Other reviewers seem to like it.
All I’ve done is make myself feel hungry.
So I picked this book up to see what romance as a genre is like. And, I don’t like it. About all I can say is the words were in the right order and it was a fast read. I found the characters stereotypical and trite. There was barely an icing sugar dusting on a cake amount of story. Even the sexy stuff was pretty boring. I’ve read better in sci-fi books that have a bit of romance on the side.
But equally I have to appreciate I have determined that romance is so not my genre, that perhaps I am missing whether this particular book is a good or bad example. Other reviewers seem to like it.
All I’ve done is make myself feel hungry.
rainbowbookworm's review
3.0
Felicity is a brat. Even learning all the things I learned about her in this book, it is hard to like her. Thankfully Cooper can look past all her flaws and fall in love with her.
yasmine24's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-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
3.5
prismaticcroissant's review
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Really cute story and a lot of character growth. My only problem with the story is how the Non-white characters are explicitly described by their skin color while the white characters aren't and I think it's something that authors need to start being cognizant of.
Content Warnings
Minor: Drug use, Homophobia, and Classism
extrafolklore's review
funny
informative
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
4.5