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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
To be honest, this book really should be a three and a half star rating from me but I’m rounding up because I did manage to finish it in only two days! That’s pretty impressive these days considering I’m usually too tired to pay attention to anything after work. With that being said, this was certainly enjoyable, and I can see why so many people liked it. Overall, I would say I liked it but I do have some gripes that prevented me from giving this the five star legendary status on my “favorites” shelf.
Okay, so right off the bat you could literally write 25 page novella about two sewer rats getting into a marriage of convenience, and I would gobble that sh*t up. I’m a big fan of any angst inducing trope, so write a modern marriage of convenience with a stuffy, non-manwhore H and I’m on board. I will say that I appreciate this author’s attempt at writing a proper slow burn, without getting into Mariana Zapata levels of impatience that have me groaning “JUST DO IT ALREADY!” by page 400. I also appreciated that the author kept the focus on the couple at all times, there was hardly any room at all for sub plots or pointless romances for secondary characters that no one cares about. The author didn’t waste our time trying to set up a romance for the next book or try to get us fall in love with someone’s annoying, precocious kid that exists as a lazy way to give exposition-none of that here. In addition, Jack isn’t a cardboard cut out of every contemporary romance, corporate stooge that gets his kicks on demeaning women who commit the awful sin of sleeping with him too quickly or something. Fortunately, we don’t get any mention of his past girlfriends which thank the lord! We don’t have the stupid ex lover showing up to cause drama in this. Overall, the absence of these cliches made for a very refreshing read.
With that being said, I do think this author could’ve used a bit more time developing the relationship on a friendship level. It’s strange because this book is over 400 pages, and I still felt like we needed more time to sell me on Jack feeling such an overwhelming need to help Rose at the beginning.
I’m sorry, but I really felt the explanation for why Jack did all of this was lacking. I also think that Jack himself came off a bit robotic at times, and it felt like the author couldn’t quite nail what I could imagine is supposed to be a modern day Mr Darcy type. Don’t get me wrong, there is a good dynamic between Jack and Rose (I’m rolling my eyes as I type those two names because...really?) I’m a sucker for the uptight H and the charming, talkative h but Jack sometimes felt a bit too wooden. I just wanted MORE from him, and I felt like I barely knew anything about him besides how he feels about Rose and brief descriptions of his job.
I enjoyed Rose as a character, and I do think the author does a better job of flushing her character out. She does come across as charming, and you can totally see why Jack gets swept up by her. I wasn’t the biggest fan of her being so sexually forward with Jack just because of his reaction to it? It came off a bit cringe at times. Especially since he didn’t always feel as affected by their attraction? It almost seemed like Ella Maise realized that at times so she would actually insert Jack explaining why he’s being so unresponsive to Rose’s advances. Which is another point of contention to me-the over explaining of every single thing these characters did or said or thought was a bit too much at times.
The best example of this would be when Jack gives his big speech at the end, and overall explains almost every single part of his thought process during the first half of the book. It almost felt like Ella Maise organized a press conference for the reader because we have to spell out every single thing that Jack did that might’ve thrown off the reader in the beginning. I also think some of the declarations of love at the end were a bit over the top, and felt kind of out of character for a stuffy H like Jack. That’s the thing I think Maise had trouble getting down was figuring out how to make uptight characters romantic that’s realistic for the character and their habits. I understand Jack went through a metamorphosis, and became more emotionally vulnerable after learning to love, but paragraphs and paragraphs of just rephrasing the way to say “I love you” seemed off putting.
I don’t mean to completely rip on this book because I really did enjoy it. I just felt like there was something lacking, which prevented me from giving it the five stars. If we spent just a bit more time on Jack’s character then I think this would’ve been near perfect. Regardless, I would still recommend this to anyone looking for something new in the romance genre. At its core, it is void of tired cliches and does manage to separate itself from the norm.
And that cover tho....whew what a man.
Okay, so right off the bat you could literally write 25 page novella about two sewer rats getting into a marriage of convenience, and I would gobble that sh*t up. I’m a big fan of any angst inducing trope, so write a modern marriage of convenience with a stuffy, non-manwhore H and I’m on board. I will say that I appreciate this author’s attempt at writing a proper slow burn, without getting into Mariana Zapata levels of impatience that have me groaning “JUST DO IT ALREADY!” by page 400. I also appreciated that the author kept the focus on the couple at all times, there was hardly any room at all for sub plots or pointless romances for secondary characters that no one cares about. The author didn’t waste our time trying to set up a romance for the next book or try to get us fall in love with someone’s annoying, precocious kid that exists as a lazy way to give exposition-none of that here. In addition, Jack isn’t a cardboard cut out of every contemporary romance, corporate stooge that gets his kicks on demeaning women who commit the awful sin of sleeping with him too quickly or something. Fortunately, we don’t get any mention of his past girlfriends which thank the lord! We don’t have the stupid ex lover showing up to cause drama in this. Overall, the absence of these cliches made for a very refreshing read.
With that being said, I do think this author could’ve used a bit more time developing the relationship on a friendship level. It’s strange because this book is over 400 pages, and I still felt like we needed more time to sell me on Jack feeling such an overwhelming need to help Rose at the beginning.
I’m sorry, but I really felt the explanation for why Jack did all of this was lacking. I also think that Jack himself came off a bit robotic at times, and it felt like the author couldn’t quite nail what I could imagine is supposed to be a modern day Mr Darcy type. Don’t get me wrong, there is a good dynamic between Jack and Rose (I’m rolling my eyes as I type those two names because...really?) I’m a sucker for the uptight H and the charming, talkative h but Jack sometimes felt a bit too wooden. I just wanted MORE from him, and I felt like I barely knew anything about him besides how he feels about Rose and brief descriptions of his job.
I enjoyed Rose as a character, and I do think the author does a better job of flushing her character out. She does come across as charming, and you can totally see why Jack gets swept up by her. I wasn’t the biggest fan of her being so sexually forward with Jack just because of his reaction to it? It came off a bit cringe at times. Especially since he didn’t always feel as affected by their attraction? It almost seemed like Ella Maise realized that at times so she would actually insert Jack explaining why he’s being so unresponsive to Rose’s advances. Which is another point of contention to me-the over explaining of every single thing these characters did or said or thought was a bit too much at times.
The best example of this would be when Jack gives his big speech at the end, and overall explains almost every single part of his thought process during the first half of the book. It almost felt like Ella Maise organized a press conference for the reader because we have to spell out every single thing that Jack did that might’ve thrown off the reader in the beginning. I also think some of the declarations of love at the end were a bit over the top, and felt kind of out of character for a stuffy H like Jack. That’s the thing I think Maise had trouble getting down was figuring out how to make uptight characters romantic that’s realistic for the character and their habits. I understand Jack went through a metamorphosis, and became more emotionally vulnerable after learning to love, but paragraphs and paragraphs of just rephrasing the way to say “I love you” seemed off putting.
I don’t mean to completely rip on this book because I really did enjoy it. I just felt like there was something lacking, which prevented me from giving it the five stars. If we spent just a bit more time on Jack’s character then I think this would’ve been near perfect. Regardless, I would still recommend this to anyone looking for something new in the romance genre. At its core, it is void of tired cliches and does manage to separate itself from the norm.
And that cover tho....whew what a man.
Enjoyed this book immensely, loved the slow burn, fake marriage turned to true love theme. At times I felt the female character was too neurotic and the male too serious, so predictable, but the storyline was inviting and capturing, so I forgave and gave it 5 stars. Very sweet read, I believe my first book I read with this author, I will definitely check out her other books
5 simmering and slowly heating ⭐s
This book was lying in my Kindle for almost two years until I finally decided to start reading it. Now I am kinda beating myself up for not reading this earlier, but at the same time, I am thankful I had the pleasure of reading this for the first time now.
Jack was perfectly broody to Rose's chipper, and together they just worked.
If you are looking for a book where there's a third act breakup that leads to his groveling, this is probably not it. He grovels a little, but only a little.
(then again, IMO what he did was not that bad...)
This book was lying in my Kindle for almost two years until I finally decided to start reading it. Now I am kinda beating myself up for not reading this earlier, but at the same time, I am thankful I had the pleasure of reading this for the first time now.
Jack was perfectly broody to Rose's chipper, and together they just worked.
If you are looking for a book where there's a third act breakup that leads to his groveling, this is probably not it. He grovels a little, but only a little.
(then again, IMO what he did was not that bad...)
Uhmmm. I generally am not too particular about romance books. They are either really good or they're the usual blah blah. I don't hate them even when they're super cliche, because I just read them for fun anyway.
This one though.. I don't know. It's so long for no reason, there's a very random story line in the middle, and there's just. Nothing.
I STILL DON'T HATE IT, the characters are adorable. I just lost momentum in the middle.
This one though.. I don't know. It's so long for no reason, there's a very random story line in the middle, and there's just. Nothing.
I STILL DON'T HATE IT, the characters are adorable. I just lost momentum in the middle.
I am so exhausted after finish this one, yup just because i have to agree to those once said "romance books should not longer than 200 pages cause it is boring."
I was hoping that this book would heal the wound in my heart that has been bleeding since I watched Titanic at the age of thirteen. Sadly - still bleeding.
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was adorable! Rose's and Jack's voices were distinct, and their sassy, sarcastic banter was really fun.
Jack's logic for the thing he did before the book started didn't quiiiiiite make sense, but it didn't bother me.
I liked how reasonably they handled the third act conflict -- Piper struggled with her realistically opposing emotions, but didn't let that force her into doing things she didn't want.
The epilogue was very cute, too!
Jack's logic for the thing he did before the book started didn't quiiiiiite make sense, but it didn't bother me.
I liked how reasonably they handled the third act conflict -- Piper struggled with her realistically opposing emotions, but didn't let that force her into doing things she didn't want.
The epilogue was very cute, too!
Fun fact about me I absolutely adore grumpy x sunshine trope so I don’t have to really explain why I loved this book.
I will never shut up about Jack and rose they are so cute omgg I love them so much.
I will never shut up about Jack and rose they are so cute omgg I love them so much.