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3.6 AVERAGE
3.6 AVERAGE
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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:
Yes
5 🌟
2.5 🌶️
Someone said the grumpy/sunshine trope is blah. Nicole Snow said, "Here, hold my wine." With Almost Pretend, she has given us the gift of August, who is the grumpiest of grumps—not arrogant, just grumpy. He hates waking up before noon, is impatient and snarky, and generally bites everyone's heads off. So he meets Elle, sunny disposition flowing out of everywhere. She just laughs in the face of the grump in a good-natured way, and of course, he falls in love. The story that goes along with it is, at times, sad and poignant, but then again, it is hilarious at times. I so thoroughly enjoyed this book. It fits in well with all the billionaires of Seattle and Chicago and when Nicole writes them--there is no blah. It's all well worth the read. Enjoy!
I received an advanced copy of this book. The opinions are my own -- yeah it's really that good!
2.5 🌶️
Someone said the grumpy/sunshine trope is blah. Nicole Snow said, "Here, hold my wine." With Almost Pretend, she has given us the gift of August, who is the grumpiest of grumps—not arrogant, just grumpy. He hates waking up before noon, is impatient and snarky, and generally bites everyone's heads off. So he meets Elle, sunny disposition flowing out of everywhere. She just laughs in the face of the grump in a good-natured way, and of course, he falls in love. The story that goes along with it is, at times, sad and poignant, but then again, it is hilarious at times. I so thoroughly enjoyed this book. It fits in well with all the billionaires of Seattle and Chicago and when Nicole writes them--there is no blah. It's all well worth the read. Enjoy!
I received an advanced copy of this book. The opinions are my own -- yeah it's really that good!
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
I love stubborn men who struggle to say they're in love. He was so obsessed with Elle and I love it. That girl was so good for him and she got him to open up. This book was really cute.
I received an arc through netgalley.
I love stubborn men who struggle to say they're in love. He was so obsessed with Elle and I love it. That girl was so good for him and she got him to open up. This book was really cute.
I received an arc through netgalley.
release date: april 30, 2024
This book started off more than well, I liked the premise and I liked that Eleanor acted more or less her age, since August is more than 10 years older than her, even though they made a good couple.
The story and all the little mystery about who wrote the children's book about a penguin (yes, a penguin) was what kept me reading, also I liked everything about the fake engagement, although let's face it, they pretend to like each other, but I didn't see much effort on either side, and thank goodness we had August's point of view because if not, we would not even know that he has feelings towards Eleanor, the chronic pain part is something that I liked how it was presented, as a person who has a family that suffers from migraines and knowing that those pains can be even worse, I liked how the author handled that topic.
The book was a bit slow and at the same time long for everything that happens and almost at the end everything was rushed, but still it was a good read that made me laugh and sigh.
thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
This book started off more than well, I liked the premise and I liked that Eleanor acted more or less her age, since August is more than 10 years older than her, even though they made a good couple.
The story and all the little mystery about who wrote the children's book about a penguin (yes, a penguin) was what kept me reading, also I liked everything about the fake engagement, although let's face it, they pretend to like each other, but I didn't see much effort on either side, and thank goodness we had August's point of view because if not, we would not even know that he has feelings towards Eleanor, the chronic pain part is something that I liked how it was presented, as a person who has a family that suffers from migraines and knowing that those pains can be even worse, I liked how the author handled that topic.
The book was a bit slow and at the same time long for everything that happens and almost at the end everything was rushed, but still it was a good read that made me laugh and sigh.
thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
First thing’s first: thank you Netgalley for the ALC of this book!
Almost Pretend was a book about Elle, a children’s book illustrator, and August, a billionaire with a business that cleans up messes of other businesses. They become fake engaged to improve his public image.
This book was…not good. Manic pixie dream girl is the only one who can crack mean, cold, awful billionaire man who is secretly a kind teddy bear under heaps of childhood trauma he never healed from (read: an asshole). I am typically pretty good at suspending reality and not giving into the cringe, but my god. I cringed many, many time listening to this one. Part of it was that the male narrator was not my favorite, but also she calls him gruffykins?? PLEASE BE SO FOR REAL. This was terribly predictable with overused trope after overused trope and nothing particularly new or interesting. The banter was not great IMO. I really really wanted to like this one- the description sounded like something right up my alley! However, it really missed the mark. It was also so much longer than it needed to be and for what? There was so much of this book that could have and should have been edited out. I did not DNF this one but I kinda wish I had.
2⭐️
A quick, easy read for when you're craving grumpy/sunshine!
This was a grumpy/sunshine engagement of convenience done pretty well, it was fun to read and the spice was steamy
Also loved the migraine rep as someone who suffers from migraines.
This was a grumpy/sunshine engagement of convenience done pretty well, it was fun to read and the spice was steamy
Also loved the migraine rep as someone who suffers from migraines.
Dont like the writing. Hard to read
lighthearted
medium-paced
This storyline was incredible! I am in love with August Marshall. He is my new book boyfriend. August Marshall is an alpha male billionaire, so naturally, who wouldn’t hate him. Elle meets August on a plane where August comes to her rescue. This is pretty woman meets beauty and the beast with a little princess diaries. I LOVED IT. Grumpy/sunshine, fake engagement, with so much banter. Ugh so good. Releasing April 29, 2024. Thank you Montlake for letting me read this ARC and thank you NetGalley!
#AlmostPretend #NetGalley #romancebooks #fakeengagementtrope #billionaireromance #romcom #alphamaleromance
#AlmostPretend #NetGalley #romancebooks #fakeengagementtrope #billionaireromance #romcom #alphamaleromance
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
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:
Complicated
Oh man. I don't even know where to begin! First of all, I love a fake fiance/boyfriend trope. That will get me everytime.
I related so much to Elle the FMC. The way that she experiences her migraines and it's kind of a key part of the story was written so well. I personally suffer from intense migraines so seeing how well written that part of her character was was so lovely. The way that she's a huge people pleaser but such a ray of sunshine was great and did not feel overdone at all.
August was exactly what I picture in a broody, grumpy man. He had his own issues and the way he approached things between him and Elle were definitely based off of some trauma but he really did try to change his way of doing things for Elle. They brought out the best in each other even if it took them forever to admit their true feelings.
The story of their relationship developing and the secondary story fit so well together and I almost cried while reading this book. His grandmother was a well known children's book author but something had happened to make her stop. Elle had grown up reading her books and even wrote in to the main character of the book through a pen pal program. She learned that August's grandmother is the one who took the time to write back to every kid who wrote in and my soul was just weeping in joy for that.
There's a lot going on throughout the story between multiple characters but all in all, the story was well put together and really was such a fun, wonderful read. It absolutely takes you on a journey and it was nice to watch how everyone in the story went through their issues and finally gave acceptance and forgiveness to even the villain of the story.
I related so much to Elle the FMC. The way that she experiences her migraines and it's kind of a key part of the story was written so well. I personally suffer from intense migraines so seeing how well written that part of her character was was so lovely. The way that she's a huge people pleaser but such a ray of sunshine was great and did not feel overdone at all.
August was exactly what I picture in a broody, grumpy man. He had his own issues and the way he approached things between him and Elle were definitely based off of some trauma but he really did try to change his way of doing things for Elle. They brought out the best in each other even if it took them forever to admit their true feelings.
The story of their relationship developing and the secondary story fit so well together and I almost cried while reading this book. His grandmother was a well known children's book author but something had happened to make her stop. Elle had grown up reading her books and even wrote in to the main character of the book through a pen pal program. She learned that August's grandmother is the one who took the time to write back to every kid who wrote in and my soul was just weeping in joy for that.
There's a lot going on throughout the story between multiple characters but all in all, the story was well put together and really was such a fun, wonderful read. It absolutely takes you on a journey and it was nice to watch how everyone in the story went through their issues and finally gave acceptance and forgiveness to even the villain of the story.