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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
This book was a fanfiction or a first draft. Monologue instead of dialogue, boring excessive descriptions and overexplaining. When she got sick I kinda wanted her to die and all this to be over. Honestly don't know why I didn't just dnf it.
Marriage for One has been on my TBR since I started seeing it on everyone's feed. At last the moment came and I was finally able to dive into this one. Sadly, it didn't quite hit the mark for me, but there were many moments that I simply adored.
I struggled with getting through the book, I was also going a stressful move, so I don't that helped matters all. It took me a lot longer than I anticipated to finish this and sometimes it definitely felt like things were really dragging.
However, I really do love slow burns, I'm just a fan of the slow build of tension between the characters. I think it was around the middle, where things started to pick up between them. Jack was becoming more present in her life. I loved his grumpy bear moments.
But I gotta say, once we learn the conflict, it didn't seem like it was a strong enough reason. And everything surrounding why and how the marriage started, wasn't really here for it.
I'm a little bummed out that book didn't work for me, I'm definitely go to give her other books a try. I've heard a lot of great things!
I struggled with getting through the book, I was also going a stressful move, so I don't that helped matters all. It took me a lot longer than I anticipated to finish this and sometimes it definitely felt like things were really dragging.
However, I really do love slow burns, I'm just a fan of the slow build of tension between the characters. I think it was around the middle, where things started to pick up between them. Jack was becoming more present in her life. I loved his grumpy bear moments.
But I gotta say, once we learn the conflict, it didn't seem like it was a strong enough reason. And everything surrounding why and how the marriage started, wasn't really here for it.
I'm a little bummed out that book didn't work for me, I'm definitely go to give her other books a try. I've heard a lot of great things!
Marriage for One has been on my TBR since I started seeing it on everyone's feed. At last the moment came and I was finally able to dive into this one. Sadly, it didn't quite hit the mark for me, but there were many moments that I simply adored.
I struggled with getting through the book, I was also going a stressful move, so I don't that helped matters all. It took me a lot longer than I anticipated to finish this and sometimes it definitely felt like things were really dragging.
However, I really do love slow burns, I'm just a fan of the slow build of tension between the characters. I think it was around the middle, where things started to pick up between them. Jack was becoming more present in her life. I loved his grumpy bear moments.
But I gotta say, once we learn the conflict, it didn't seem like it was a strong enough reason. And everything surrounding why and how the marriage started, wasn't really here for it.
I'm a little bummed out that book didn't work for me, I'm definitely go to give her other books a try. I've heard a lot of great things!
I struggled with getting through the book, I was also going a stressful move, so I don't that helped matters all. It took me a lot longer than I anticipated to finish this and sometimes it definitely felt like things were really dragging.
However, I really do love slow burns, I'm just a fan of the slow build of tension between the characters. I think it was around the middle, where things started to pick up between them. Jack was becoming more present in her life. I loved his grumpy bear moments.
But I gotta say, once we learn the conflict, it didn't seem like it was a strong enough reason. And everything surrounding why and how the marriage started, wasn't really here for it.
I'm a little bummed out that book didn't work for me, I'm definitely go to give her other books a try. I've heard a lot of great things!
I’ve been really depressed, so it took me a while to finish this book (or go on Instagram, or TikTok, or do anything, really).
This book was very good. The characters are lovable, the plot is basic but worked well with the characters. I picked this up to read because of booktok, but I didn’t quite imagine I’d be relating to it so personally.
The main character has a CSF leak and undergoes surgery, and her surgery and recovery process is like… identical to what I went through with my tumor. It was hard to read, at some points. When she’s awake and recovering, at one point she breaks down crying because she’s coming to terms with what’s happened to her, and it really resonated with me.
Is this book for everyone? No. But was this book for me? Yes. Tailored to fit me, it felt like. It was what I needed today.
This book was very good. The characters are lovable, the plot is basic but worked well with the characters. I picked this up to read because of booktok, but I didn’t quite imagine I’d be relating to it so personally.
The main character has a CSF leak and undergoes surgery, and her surgery and recovery process is like… identical to what I went through with my tumor. It was hard to read, at some points. When she’s awake and recovering, at one point she breaks down crying because she’s coming to terms with what’s happened to her, and it really resonated with me.
Is this book for everyone? No. But was this book for me? Yes. Tailored to fit me, it felt like. It was what I needed today.
“You and I, we’re the same. We have no one but each other. You’ll lean on me and I’ll do the same. We’ll learn how. We’re in this together.”
“Your heart always has a home with me, Rose. No matter what, never forget that.”
**Synopsis:**
Rose agrees to enter into a fake marriage with Jack in order to get her coffee shop. In exchange, he tells her he needs dates to company parties so that he can appear to be a “family” man. After two years, they can go their separate ways.
**The following are my thoughts about this book: **
Pros:
** I like a grumpy, broody hero and an upbeat heroine. So i liked the character “types”
** I liked the heroine’s health issue as a component of the story. The nose dripping thing was a little gross and maybe didn’t need to be mentioned so often, but I did appreciate a different drama element.
** I liked the characters. Although I was a little irritated with Jack’s manipulations of the situation.
** Cover model...YUM. And based on him alone I really went into this story hoping I would love it
Cons:
** Jack interfered when it wasn’t his place. This was manipulative and didn’t paint him in the best light when things were revealed. If he didn’t like the situation, how about presenting the facts and letting Rose decide for herself. BEFORE the marriage. That, in my opinion, would have made a better story.
** It took way too long for the secret to be revealed. 85% is when it unfolded and that just meant Jack was a coward for 85% of the book (and keep in mind this is a 500 page book. So for 400 pages the actual secret was not known to the reader or to Rose). Because his “guilt” kept him from really pursuing a relationship, the distance between them dragged on and on.
** I just was confused with Jack’s actions. He saw her at a party and seemed to be instantly fascinated with her. Then he went through hoops that led to a marriage. But when the reader got his thoughts Jack was only in it for 2 years and he didn’t want to get close to her. So was he interested in her or not? What was his true motivation? Sometimes things just weren’t clear or seemed to contradict the actions/words
** I can handle a slow burn. But still....it took a long time to get to the bedroom and I felt the sexual tension build up was a bit lacking and the story was missing sizzle. Also, after the surgery they voiced their attraction, but rather than build on their attraction at that point, the story jumped ahead 2 months. So the crucial period of time where they were really building the sexual chemistry was not written into the story. This was a big miss
** The secret lacked originality :(
** This was TOO LONG! It could have benefited from some editing and a bit faster pace. I got bogged down in the beginning with some unnecessary filler. I thought the middle with the health issue was a bit more interesting. But on the whole, there wasn’t anything that warranted 500 pages. It needed to be trimmed down.
** I didn’t get the whole “you can use the building to establish your coffe shop but after 2 years you can no longer use the building”. Huh?? Why did the uncle think that was a good offer? So if it’s successful she has to move her business somewhere else and reestablish a customer base?? That just made no sense to me.
** The charity event with the kids was pointless. There was no big revelation or anything else that came from that event. I thought maybe at the end of the story they would adopt the two little girls, but once again nothing came of it. So it was pointless and could’ve easily been cut from the story as it added no value.
** Honestly the whole premise of the fake marriage had some holes that left me confused
**Overview:**
- Trigger warning: None
- Setting: New York
- POV: Dual POV
- Tropes: fake marriage, slow burn
- Who is the Hero? Jack (age: 31). Partner at a law firm
* The following words/phrases were used to describe Hero: cold, distant, prickly, arrogant, rude, surly, frowny
* H likable? mediocre
- Who is the Heroine? Rose (age: 26). Owner of “Around The Corner” coffee shop
* Something to know about Rose: both her parents were gone by the time she was nine and she was raised by her uncle’s family, but they only tolerated her and she never really felt like she belonged. She’s quite talkative
* h likable? Yes.
- h virgin? No
- First time they kiss: 48%
- First time they sleep together: 83%
- First time they say I Love You Jack 88%. Rose 93%
- steamy? Not much
- OW/OM drama? Yes. A little bit of ex drama
- H/h cheat? No
- Time apart? About a week or so
- Did I skip pages? Yes!
- Big secrets? Yes. Jack keeps something from Rose. Both Rose and the reader find out at 85%
- Did I cry? No
- Did I laugh? No
- Did I swoon? Jack had a few sweet moments, but I didn’t do a ton of swooning
- Cliffhanger? No
- HEA? Yes
- Epilogue? a month later
- Recommend? Not really. I thought it was too long and there were some things I found confusing or not explained well
**Quotes**
“See, that’s not really explaining anything to me. You keep asking the same thing, and I keep experiencing the same urge to get up and leave.”
“You’ve been counting my smiles?”
“Trying’ being the operative word here since you like to hoard them like a squirrel hoarding his nuts.”
“I’d share my door with you any day, Jack Hawthorne.”
His brows dipped together. “What are you talking about?”
“If you’ve never seen Titanic, I can’t be married to you.”
“There are easier ways to ask for my help. You don’t have to resort to histrionics.”
“Your heart always has a home with me, Rose. No matter what, never forget that.”
**Synopsis:**
Rose agrees to enter into a fake marriage with Jack in order to get her coffee shop. In exchange, he tells her he needs dates to company parties so that he can appear to be a “family” man. After two years, they can go their separate ways.
**The following are my thoughts about this book: **
Pros:
** I like a grumpy, broody hero and an upbeat heroine. So i liked the character “types”
** I liked the heroine’s health issue as a component of the story. The nose dripping thing was a little gross and maybe didn’t need to be mentioned so often, but I did appreciate a different drama element.
** I liked the characters. Although I was a little irritated with Jack’s manipulations of the situation.
** Cover model...YUM. And based on him alone I really went into this story hoping I would love it
Cons:
** Jack interfered when it wasn’t his place. This was manipulative and didn’t paint him in the best light when things were revealed. If he didn’t like the situation, how about presenting the facts and letting Rose decide for herself. BEFORE the marriage. That, in my opinion, would have made a better story.
** It took way too long for the secret to be revealed. 85% is when it unfolded and that just meant Jack was a coward for 85% of the book (and keep in mind this is a 500 page book. So for 400 pages the actual secret was not known to the reader or to Rose). Because his “guilt” kept him from really pursuing a relationship, the distance between them dragged on and on.
** I just was confused with Jack’s actions. He saw her at a party and seemed to be instantly fascinated with her. Then he went through hoops that led to a marriage. But when the reader got his thoughts Jack was only in it for 2 years and he didn’t want to get close to her. So was he interested in her or not? What was his true motivation? Sometimes things just weren’t clear or seemed to contradict the actions/words
** I can handle a slow burn. But still....it took a long time to get to the bedroom and I felt the sexual tension build up was a bit lacking and the story was missing sizzle. Also, after the surgery they voiced their attraction, but rather than build on their attraction at that point, the story jumped ahead 2 months. So the crucial period of time where they were really building the sexual chemistry was not written into the story. This was a big miss
** The secret lacked originality :(
** This was TOO LONG! It could have benefited from some editing and a bit faster pace. I got bogged down in the beginning with some unnecessary filler. I thought the middle with the health issue was a bit more interesting. But on the whole, there wasn’t anything that warranted 500 pages. It needed to be trimmed down.
** I didn’t get the whole “you can use the building to establish your coffe shop but after 2 years you can no longer use the building”. Huh?? Why did the uncle think that was a good offer? So if it’s successful she has to move her business somewhere else and reestablish a customer base?? That just made no sense to me.
** The charity event with the kids was pointless. There was no big revelation or anything else that came from that event. I thought maybe at the end of the story they would adopt the two little girls, but once again nothing came of it. So it was pointless and could’ve easily been cut from the story as it added no value.
** Honestly the whole premise of the fake marriage had some holes that left me confused
**Overview:**
- Trigger warning: None
- Setting: New York
- POV: Dual POV
- Tropes: fake marriage, slow burn
- Who is the Hero? Jack (age: 31). Partner at a law firm
* The following words/phrases were used to describe Hero: cold, distant, prickly, arrogant, rude, surly, frowny
* H likable? mediocre
- Who is the Heroine? Rose (age: 26). Owner of “Around The Corner” coffee shop
* Something to know about Rose: both her parents were gone by the time she was nine and she was raised by her uncle’s family, but they only tolerated her and she never really felt like she belonged. She’s quite talkative
* h likable? Yes.
- h virgin? No
- First time they kiss: 48%
- First time they sleep together: 83%
- First time they say I Love You Jack 88%. Rose 93%
- steamy? Not much
- OW/OM drama? Yes. A little bit of ex drama
- H/h cheat? No
- Time apart? About a week or so
- Did I skip pages? Yes!
- Big secrets? Yes. Jack keeps something from Rose. Both Rose and the reader find out at 85%
- Did I cry? No
- Did I laugh? No
- Did I swoon? Jack had a few sweet moments, but I didn’t do a ton of swooning
- Cliffhanger? No
- HEA? Yes
- Epilogue? a month later
- Recommend? Not really. I thought it was too long and there were some things I found confusing or not explained well
**Quotes**
“See, that’s not really explaining anything to me. You keep asking the same thing, and I keep experiencing the same urge to get up and leave.”
“You’ve been counting my smiles?”
“Trying’ being the operative word here since you like to hoard them like a squirrel hoarding his nuts.”
“I’d share my door with you any day, Jack Hawthorne.”
His brows dipped together. “What are you talking about?”
“If you’ve never seen Titanic, I can’t be married to you.”
“There are easier ways to ask for my help. You don’t have to resort to histrionics.”
Normally I do not expect a heavy plot and the best developed relationship ever in such books, but I do like reading something with a semblance of substance. This ain't it.
Once more, we have a book that just puts someone's fantasies onto paper and worst of all, we have the trope of romanticising a stalker.
The book starts with an interesting premise and from the start the book hints of a backstory of that business deal, but does it ever focus on that? Oh no. Let us instead focus on repeating every small action they take which has this promise of a build-up, but it is really empty because this build-up does not really lead anywhere until for maybe around 30 pages towards the end? 500 pages and maybe only 60 of them have some substance in them.
Do you really need a story to enjoy the couple? In this case, very much so. Jack's behavior was heavily influenced because of that backstory and you just kinda hope that SOMETHING will happen, other than Jack lamenting every once in a while on his own. The development between them was just boring, because it always seemed there would be something more and there never was.
Not only that, but after running out of recycled cute scenes between them, it tried to spice things up by playing with Rose's health. I swear, I almost expected amnesia as the token anime trope. I would appreciate a side plot normally, but this was just to fill the gaps and to just bring them even closer since everything happened at a perfect timing.
Was that the end? No, then we had like 100 pages with them making out. I think for the first time ever I read a book where it actively skips events in a day to just narrate another make out scene. For example, they could have been making out at night and then you jump to the next day where Rose has gone to her shop and all and immediately Jack comes and they make out. And then the scene moves to the night again... and they make out. And make out. And make out. *rolls eyes* The climax I was expecting for more than half the book barely lasted 30 pages.
So, since the story sucks, the character should be the worthy point of the book, right? NO! The book had this magical power to turn the story into something that does not exist and at the same time, slowly make Jack a creeper by foreshadowing past and future events. When will the trend of creepy men being romanticised stop? Granted, it tried to have a valid reason of what happened, but to put it plainly, Jack is a stalker. And we are supposed to love that because he did it because he cared and Rose is now his life and all that. Thanks, but no thanks. (Special mention of him getting boners when Rose was really tired due to her condition and just laid her head on his shoulder.)
Rose as a character was ok for a romantic female protagonist. She had enough personality, but of course it mostly revolved around Jack after the first 100 or so pages. The one thing that did rub me off really wrong was that the author NEVER gave Rose friends. Sure, she had her 2 employees, but it was like she had no life other than Jack. She literally spoke only to people related to Jack or her coffee shop. She had no personal time other than Jack. After I had thought about this a few times, the book mentions 2 RANDOM girls who came to visit Rose at the hospital because they were her friends. They were not mentioned again. Rose has no life, she only exists to fullfill an ideal fantasy of a spunky, stubborn woman who would challenge Jack like no other.
So, story and characters suck... Does this have any redeeming feature? Judging from my rating, you can all pretty much guess the answer is negative. This is not a story-driven narrative nor is it character-driven. It is nothing and it fails at everything. Make out scenes were mostly fine (apart for some VERY cheesy lines that are unrealistic), but I could not appreciate them when I was so disappointed with everything else; I just wanted to skip them since they were suddenly too many. I can only give it points that it went by fast. I could read 50 pages and it felt like nothing (because it was nothing story-wise, but ok).
Once more, we have a book that just puts someone's fantasies onto paper and worst of all, we have the trope of romanticising a stalker.
The book starts with an interesting premise and from the start the book hints of a backstory of that business deal, but does it ever focus on that? Oh no. Let us instead focus on repeating every small action they take which has this promise of a build-up, but it is really empty because this build-up does not really lead anywhere until for maybe around 30 pages towards the end? 500 pages and maybe only 60 of them have some substance in them.
Do you really need a story to enjoy the couple? In this case, very much so. Jack's behavior was heavily influenced because of that backstory and you just kinda hope that SOMETHING will happen, other than Jack lamenting every once in a while on his own. The development between them was just boring, because it always seemed there would be something more and there never was.
Not only that, but after running out of recycled cute scenes between them, it tried to spice things up by playing with Rose's health. I swear, I almost expected amnesia as the token anime trope. I would appreciate a side plot normally, but this was just to fill the gaps and to just bring them even closer since everything happened at a perfect timing.
Was that the end? No, then we had like 100 pages with them making out. I think for the first time ever I read a book where it actively skips events in a day to just narrate another make out scene. For example, they could have been making out at night and then you jump to the next day where Rose has gone to her shop and all and immediately Jack comes and they make out. And then the scene moves to the night again... and they make out. And make out. And make out. *rolls eyes* The climax I was expecting for more than half the book barely lasted 30 pages.
So, since the story sucks, the character should be the worthy point of the book, right? NO! The book had this magical power to turn the story into something that does not exist and at the same time, slowly make Jack a creeper by foreshadowing past and future events. When will the trend of creepy men being romanticised stop? Granted, it tried to have a valid reason of what happened, but to put it plainly, Jack is a stalker. And we are supposed to love that because he did it because he cared and Rose is now his life and all that. Thanks, but no thanks. (Special mention of him getting boners when Rose was really tired due to her condition and just laid her head on his shoulder.)
Rose as a character was ok for a romantic female protagonist. She had enough personality, but of course it mostly revolved around Jack after the first 100 or so pages. The one thing that did rub me off really wrong was that the author NEVER gave Rose friends. Sure, she had her 2 employees, but it was like she had no life other than Jack. She literally spoke only to people related to Jack or her coffee shop. She had no personal time other than Jack. After I had thought about this a few times, the book mentions 2 RANDOM girls who came to visit Rose at the hospital because they were her friends. They were not mentioned again. Rose has no life, she only exists to fullfill an ideal fantasy of a spunky, stubborn woman who would challenge Jack like no other.
So, story and characters suck... Does this have any redeeming feature? Judging from my rating, you can all pretty much guess the answer is negative. This is not a story-driven narrative nor is it character-driven. It is nothing and it fails at everything. Make out scenes were mostly fine (apart for some VERY cheesy lines that are unrealistic), but I could not appreciate them when I was so disappointed with everything else; I just wanted to skip them since they were suddenly too many. I can only give it points that it went by fast. I could read 50 pages and it felt like nothing (because it was nothing story-wise, but ok).
3/5
Okay. It wasn't that good but honestly the third break up act was something. I literally got up and paced in my room because of the anger bubbling in me. Just, the pace was slow and he didn't grovel at all. Plus one for the names. I LOVE TITANIC.
"I don't have a home to go back to anymore, Rose"
"You're my home."
Okay. It wasn't that good but honestly the third break up act was something. I literally got up and paced in my room because of the anger bubbling in me. Just, the pace was slow and he didn't grovel at all. Plus one for the names. I LOVE TITANIC.
"I don't have a home to go back to anymore, Rose"
"You're my home."
5/5 STARSSS
ughhh i just love a good love story! Jack and Rose how ironic, The names were doomed to fail but not in the story! from the chemistry, to the development of the relationship between the characters, to the big “plot twist” (that i truly wasn’t expecting) i can honestly say this book was very enjoyable. i mean what can i say i am a whore for romance, and this book did it for me!
ughhh i just love a good love story! Jack and Rose how ironic, The names were doomed to fail but not in the story! from the chemistry, to the development of the relationship between the characters, to the big “plot twist” (that i truly wasn’t expecting) i can honestly say this book was very enjoyable. i mean what can i say i am a whore for romance, and this book did it for me!