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yvo_about_books's review against another edition
1.75
Finished reading: August 17th 2023
“Stacy can choke on store-bought sugar cookies like the rest of us. Why's he even bringing them? They're dentists. They should be eating celery.”
WARNING: Guess what? It's unpopular opinion time again!!
I had such a great time reading Twice Shy last year, and I've been meaning to read more of her books ever since. I decided to turn to her debut You Deserve Each Other next, because I do enjoy a good enemy-to-lover romance and the premise sounded like so much fun... But sadly it just wasn't ment to be in the end. Honestly, this book made me. SO. ANGRY. It's been a long time since I despised a main character this much, but Naomi definitely wins the prize here. Self-centered, immature, vindicative, mean and simply despicable; I honestly could not find one thing I liked about her. I only started to hate her more and more with each page, and Nicholas was no picnic either. He is basically a mommy boy who still does everything she demands of him even though he is in his thirties. Healthy relationship much? Plus he is just as bad with him returning Naomi's bad behavior. Oh yes, the two definitely deserve each other after all, and not in a good way. Basically, Naomi has been lying to Nicholas from the very beginning of their relationship, then gets mad when things aren't going her way... Nevermind the fact that she doesn't exactly stand up for herself in the beginning either. The miscommunication trope seems to be a big part of the plot, but I didn't like how it was developed and it was mostly Naomi refusing to communicate properly or accept her faults. Sure, the second half did have some redeeming moments, but for me it was too little too late and I was already actively hating the story too much by then to be swayed by it. I confess that I started skimreading sooner than later, and I kind of wish I had just DNFed it instead... Oh yes, it's easy to say that You Deserve Each Other and me most definitely didn't get along.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Infidelity, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Body shaming, Bullying, Classism, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
katievallin's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Domestic abuse, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Gaslighting, Classism, and Sexual content
Minor: Infidelity and Alcohol
solacelight's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
It's missing some little spark, an emotional release of some kind, that keeps this book from being perfect. Would have loved to dive a little more into Naomi's family life as well. Otherwise, SO GOOD.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Body shaming, Classism, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Infidelity, Sexism, and Medical content
Minor: Sexual content, Racism, Murder, and Incest
Emotional Incest from the mom. Reference to luau themed nights.bookwormbullet's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Classism, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Sexism, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Infidelity
readerette's review against another edition
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This story starts out really painful as you watch two basically redeemable people act viciously toward one another for no apparent reason, for the first half of the book. But please, give it time. Read through all the stuff that makes you sad and frustrated about them and their behavior, and you will be rewarded.
I liked that this was wholly from Naomi's perspective. I certainly like novels where you get multiple characters' perspectives, but there was something empowering, and humbling (as someone who's made their fair share of mistakes in relationships), about being in Naomi's shoes and still seeing Nicholas's strengths and failings too. There's still plenty of character deepening for Nicholas; he comes to life in three dimensions just like Naomi.
Some of the scene setting and character descriptions are too hyperbolic for my taste, and they talked about having the "kids or no kids" discussion and didn't, but those are really my only (minor) complaints. I also didn't get a sense of what really drove them apart in the first place but I didn't consider that critical. Sometimes relationships just get rocky and it's not clear why.
There's some kissing and a sex scene but it's all pretty tame (and still highly enjoyable because of all of the tension building).
I liked that this was wholly from Naomi's perspective. I certainly like novels where you get multiple characters' perspectives, but there was something empowering, and humbling (as someone who's made their fair share of mistakes in relationships), about being in Naomi's shoes and still seeing Nicholas's strengths and failings too. There's still plenty of character deepening for Nicholas; he comes to life in three dimensions just like Naomi.
Some of the scene setting and character descriptions are too hyperbolic for my taste, and they talked about having the "kids or no kids" discussion and didn't, but those are really my only (minor) complaints. I also didn't get a sense of what really drove them apart in the first place but I didn't consider that critical. Sometimes relationships just get rocky and it's not clear why.
There's some kissing and a sex scene but it's all pretty tame (and still highly enjoyable because of all of the tension building).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Body shaming, Bullying, Infidelity, and Toxic relationship
vaniavela's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Infidelity
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