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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
I liked Spoiler Alert even though it was a little bit cringey, so I was excited for All the Feels. But All the Feels is cringey in a bad way. Lauren is always told that she's ugly (even though the cover represents her as totally adorable) and she never gets mad about it. And that's about 40% of the plot. Another 10% of the plot is her moping around and not saying anything. I guess the other 50% was what I actually enjoyed. I liked Alex but he had a weird thing that he was some kind of bad person even though he never did anything bad? Just kind of a weird, unrealistic book with flat characters.
I read Spoiler Alert last year and thought it was "cute" but I wasn't gushing about it (sorry!). So I went into this without any expectations.
It was GREAT.
Great fun: loads of salty language, witty banter, empathy, self-growth.
It includes some representation of a main character that has ADHD and another that is plus-sized with an inability to put herself and her needs first. Together they build one another up and they are LOVELY.
Alex's banter and quick wit made my day. Lauren's care and steadiness made her a dependable narrator. Also her deadpan responses to Alex's comments were brilliant.
I will definitely read Ship Wrecked and see how this series ends.
*could be read as a stand-alone .... but I'm not that kind of reader. There are enough references to Marcus and April from the first book in the series, that it would have driven me crazy not to have read Spoiler Alert first. But that's me. This is totally a stand-alone (and I admit that I much preferred this book to the previous one).
Recommended read.
It was GREAT.
Great fun: loads of salty language, witty banter, empathy, self-growth.
It includes some representation of a main character that has ADHD and another that is plus-sized with an inability to put herself and her needs first. Together they build one another up and they are LOVELY.
Alex's banter and quick wit made my day. Lauren's care and steadiness made her a dependable narrator. Also her deadpan responses to Alex's comments were brilliant.
I will definitely read Ship Wrecked and see how this series ends.
*could be read as a stand-alone .... but I'm not that kind of reader. There are enough references to Marcus and April from the first book in the series, that it would have driven me crazy not to have read Spoiler Alert first. But that's me. This is totally a stand-alone (and I admit that I much preferred this book to the previous one).
Recommended read.
After the most recent incident involving an altercation in a bar, Alex Woodroe's reputation can't take another hit. He has almost finished filming the final season of Gods of the Gates and the showrunners, Ron and RJ, want him to stay clean through the showing of the final episode, so Ron hires his cousin, Lauren Clegg, who has had experience dealing with high strung people in her former job as an ER therapist. What Lauren thinks will be an easy way to earn some money so she can take time to decide on a career path, becomes an immense challenge, not only trying to leash Alex's tendency toward public humiliation, but also her growing attraction to Alex's good looks and quirky personality.
All the Feels is another wonderful book by Olivia Dade. Both main characters are fully realized in this book by showing the positives and negatives of their personalities. Each characters starts with preconceived notions about the other, only to discover that they are both so much more than the way they look. The central theme of the book is abuse in many forms and the effects on those involved. The ending isn't sugar coated, making the results seem much more realistic in a story that is essentially a Hollywood fantasy. Overall, All the Feels isn't a perfect story, but it is a fun romance with serious message - well delivered. 4 1/2 stars
All the Feels is another wonderful book by Olivia Dade. Both main characters are fully realized in this book by showing the positives and negatives of their personalities. Each characters starts with preconceived notions about the other, only to discover that they are both so much more than the way they look. The central theme of the book is abuse in many forms and the effects on those involved. The ending isn't sugar coated, making the results seem much more realistic in a story that is essentially a Hollywood fantasy. Overall, All the Feels isn't a perfect story, but it is a fun romance with serious message - well delivered. 4 1/2 stars
this one was not quite as good as Spoiler Alert. i love the plus size representation in romance and i LOVE the dual pov, but… how am i supposed to feel the chemistry when the love interest is almost constantly thinking about her appearance…?? from the first meeting, he continually thinks about how “bird-like” and “round” she is. and while he claims to love that, his thinking and wording did not translate that. i love love love the premise and the fan fiction plot line, but can the woman just be fat AND beautiful instead of being beautiful despite being fat please?? i still had a lot of fun, but there was plenty of room for improvement imo!!
The ADHD rep was spot on and all-encompassing. Rare to read a book where I feel so seen.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
3.75 stars
This is a hard book to rate. I thoroughly enjoyed my reading experience, at times I couldn’t put the book down. I love Olivia Dade’s writing! She is able to write such complex parental relationship, which make me appreciate my own relationship with my parents. She also writes such good smut that I always enjoy reading and/or listening to it, which is rare in trad romance. Also, her endings are so satisfying and this one was very satisfying!!!
As for the characters, Alex was one of the most baffling MMC’s I’ve ever read. I understood why he was the way he was, but honestly, he just seemed like a mess. Which I felt bad for thinking, at times I found him sincere but his lack of situational awareness, not being able to control his emotions and neediness was so off putting. It felt like at times his neediness was a red flag, like he (unintentionally) manipulated his mom and Lauren bc of his actions. Also, like many others, I hated the way he spoke about and to Lauren. Some of the things he said were so out of line imo. I also felt like Lauren was a side character in her own book until the 85% mark of the book, did she like the way Alex spoke about and to her? Like put a bag over his face and body, are you okay with how he is talking to you? I just couldn’t believe it.
I do understand how they could work, because they each has what the other lacks but I would’ve loved to see them have something in common that brought them together. It just seemed like two lonely people clutching onto each other. I’m not sure I understand how they’ll work long term. Another issue for me was the lack of communication. Both would make decisions for the other and not talk to them about it. That was really frustrating. I think what is throwing me off about this book is that this is the first time i’m reading a Dade book that does have healthy communication and a MMC who I find is kinda a dick. So, you can see how I want to give this book 4 stars because I had a great time but when I think about it the romance wasn’t 4 star worthy imo.
This is a hard book to rate. I thoroughly enjoyed my reading experience, at times I couldn’t put the book down. I love Olivia Dade’s writing! She is able to write such complex parental relationship, which make me appreciate my own relationship with my parents. She also writes such good smut that I always enjoy reading and/or listening to it, which is rare in trad romance. Also, her endings are so satisfying and this one was very satisfying!!!
As for the characters, Alex was one of the most baffling MMC’s I’ve ever read. I understood why he was the way he was, but honestly, he just seemed like a mess. Which I felt bad for thinking, at times I found him sincere but his lack of situational awareness, not being able to control his emotions and neediness was so off putting. It felt like at times his neediness was a red flag, like he (unintentionally) manipulated his mom and Lauren bc of his actions. Also, like many others, I hated the way he spoke about and to Lauren. Some of the things he said were so out of line imo. I also felt like Lauren was a side character in her own book until the 85% mark of the book, did she like the way Alex spoke about and to her? Like put a bag over his face and body, are you okay with how he is talking to you? I just couldn’t believe it.
I do understand how they could work, because they each has what the other lacks but I would’ve loved to see them have something in common that brought them together. It just seemed like two lonely people clutching onto each other. I’m not sure I understand how they’ll work long term. Another issue for me was the lack of communication. Both would make decisions for the other and not talk to them about it. That was really frustrating. I think what is throwing me off about this book is that this is the first time i’m reading a Dade book that does have healthy communication and a MMC who I find is kinda a dick. So, you can see how I want to give this book 4 stars because I had a great time but when I think about it the romance wasn’t 4 star worthy imo.
emotional
funny
fast-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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Fatphobia
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes