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A review by gerwigverse
Chick Magnet by Emma Barry
4.0
I feel like this is one of those books that is not marketed as what it really is, although for me, it wasn't a problem as I found out about it by reading other people's reviews that explained the story more in dept.
The book follows Nic, a big Youtuber that moves to a small town wanting a fresh start after coming out from an abusive relationship, and Will, the only veterinarian in a small town, struggling to keep his practice. At first, they don't get along, but the attraction is there from the start, which means the story does not follow them realizing they like each other, as that happens very early on. It's more about how they become in a relationship with dozens of other things going on in their personal lives.
The book is very realistic, and there is no grand gesture or great drama, which is something I was looking for. However, it does touch on some heavy topics and shows people trying to adjust their lives after the pandemic, so it might not be for those looking for a fluff lighthearted read. Nic is also struggling after being in an abusive relationship for years, which may be something not everyone wants or can read.
Overall I enjoyed every aspect of the book and had a fun time reading it. I love romances where the conflicts that hinder characters from being together are not miscommunication, just life in general, and this is one of those. I also prefer dual POV romances, however, for me, this was the biggest drawback of giving a higher rating. The chapters alternate almost perfectly between Will and Nic, some of the scenes end in one character's POV and start immediately in the next one from the other character's POV, but their voices are muddled. Sometimes when there is only Will and Nic in a scene, it gets hard to remember whose POVs it is to the point where I would go back to check who I was reading. Sometimes it would describe what Will was going through in the middle of Nic's chapter, and it was almost a guessing game in "is this what he is really thinking or what Nic thinks is happening?". And this is not a problem from the third-person narrative since there are many books with multiple POVs in the third person that are distinctive. I just wish the narrative was a bit clearer.
I would recommend this book to everyone looking for a more down-to-earth romance, and that enjoys reading not only about the main couple but also about their friends and family.
Thank you Netgalley and Montlake for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.
The book follows Nic, a big Youtuber that moves to a small town wanting a fresh start after coming out from an abusive relationship, and Will, the only veterinarian in a small town, struggling to keep his practice. At first, they don't get along, but the attraction is there from the start, which means the story does not follow them realizing they like each other, as that happens very early on. It's more about how they become in a relationship with dozens of other things going on in their personal lives.
The book is very realistic, and there is no grand gesture or great drama, which is something I was looking for. However, it does touch on some heavy topics and shows people trying to adjust their lives after the pandemic, so it might not be for those looking for a fluff lighthearted read. Nic is also struggling after being in an abusive relationship for years, which may be something not everyone wants or can read.
Overall I enjoyed every aspect of the book and had a fun time reading it. I love romances where the conflicts that hinder characters from being together are not miscommunication, just life in general, and this is one of those. I also prefer dual POV romances, however, for me, this was the biggest drawback of giving a higher rating. The chapters alternate almost perfectly between Will and Nic, some of the scenes end in one character's POV and start immediately in the next one from the other character's POV, but their voices are muddled. Sometimes when there is only Will and Nic in a scene, it gets hard to remember whose POVs it is to the point where I would go back to check who I was reading. Sometimes it would describe what Will was going through in the middle of Nic's chapter, and it was almost a guessing game in "is this what he is really thinking or what Nic thinks is happening?". And this is not a problem from the third-person narrative since there are many books with multiple POVs in the third person that are distinctive. I just wish the narrative was a bit clearer.
I would recommend this book to everyone looking for a more down-to-earth romance, and that enjoys reading not only about the main couple but also about their friends and family.
Thank you Netgalley and Montlake for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.