Reviews

Astrid Parker Doesn't Fail by Ashley Herring Blake

baulexa's review against another edition

3.25

i think this entire series has a hallmark movie vibe to them in a way that i just can’t get along with, but i will be reading the entire series! apparently the next book is the best one so yippee 🫶🏼 

jentrek's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-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

4.0

oyechi's review against another edition

funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

laz_'s review against another edition

funny lighthearted

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

jennifertequila's review against another edition

funny hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

andelock's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I enjoyed each book in this series, including this one.  However, the reason why my rating is a tad bit lower on this one is that

it had some very frustrating moments in the first half (or more) of the book, where Astrid just let herself get manipulated by everyone (her mother, the show producers, even Jordan) and did very little to stand up for herself in any professional capacity.  For example, she kept getting put down for presenting a design that was requested by the actual clients and mostly just took it.  I understand if we need certain things to happen to the characters beyond their control to move the story forward, but it would have been less frustrating if she defended her professional credibility (which she was supposed to value at that time) and then her protests got dismissed for whatever reason the story needed.  It would have made her seem less helpless. 

mishup_3's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

4.75

brb need to go buy a necklace 

lady_valhella's review against another edition

emotional hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

yayathegreat38's review against another edition

funny lighthearted medium-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

4.0

jazthegreat's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes

3.75

After reading this book, and Delilah Green Doesn't Care, I've come to the conclusion that rom coms are not the books for me. If I was basing my rating on purely my enjoyment of the book it would be a lot lower.

However I try to take the craft of the work and whether or not it did what it set out to do into account when giving a star rating. 

This book definitely delivered on the low stakes romance that people reaching for a book like this are after. Personally though I cannot understand why this is often billed as a rom com when there is a distinct lack of comedy or even comedy adjacent scenes. 

Astrid was fairly well developed. I went in to the book feeling that I would never be able to like her character,  but over the course of the story Ashley Herring Blake managed to add enough vulnerability and relatability to have me rooting for her by the end.

Another pass by an editor would have really helped this book. There are several continuity errors, for example; a laptop being closed and pushed away so everyone is looking at an iPad, then suddenly at the end of the chapter they're all gathered around the laptop screen. These details made the reading experience as a whole less enjoyable. The WhatsApp thread between my wife and I is full of messages where I am frustratedly pointing out all the continuity issues (they already finished the book, no spoilers in our marriage) as well as small grammatical mistakes, or wording choices that take me out of the world created in the books.

Overall I feel like the story does what it sets out to do, but could have been gone over with a finer toothed comb to smooth out a few issues that kept me from fully being imersed in the world.