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3.21 AVERAGE
3.21 AVERAGE
I would say this one is a 3.5/5 for me. The reason being twofold. 1.) I listened to this via audiobook curtesy of NetGalley and unfortunately, I think I would have enjoyed it more as a physical read. The voice for Cosmin just did not do it for me. And on the subject of Cosmin we get to my second reason 2.) I did not like him. Some of his actions, especially given his backstory just felt a little…icky to me.
All of that being said I really loved Phae and as always, Juniper’s writing was very good, this just suffers from a personal taste preference on my end because Cosmin just wasn’t it for me and in a romance if you don’t click with the love interest(s) the whole story unravels.
All of that being said I really loved Phae and as always, Juniper’s writing was very good, this just suffers from a personal taste preference on my end because Cosmin just wasn’t it for me and in a romance if you don’t click with the love interest(s) the whole story unravels.
challenging
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Sometimes we read stories that feel so vivid it’s like the introduction of color technology to television. A story that attaches itself to us as we read, and feels like we’re a side character or a camera man following along.
For me that was this story!
This was an unexpected pick up at Barnes. A shake up from my bad hockey binge. What I got was a story that took me through unforgettable turns and pulls. One that left me with a wondering how I could go back and read again for the first time. I didn’t want to put the story down. I felt too invested in the characters too emotional.
There were flaws for sure. At times I got frustrated and threatened to remove stars. It’s easy to see the distaste for Phaedra from some people. She’s brash, quick tempered, and harsh. Her exterior makes sense as you go along and love it or hate it you begin to accept her like she accepts herself. Resolving to fix what needs to be, and leave what’s integral.
The backstory for Cos, his undying ability to move the romance plot forward and frankly his equally quick wit left me just as hopeless as our FMC.
Admittedly some cringey moments between the characters but I just feel like I’ve excused far worse
For me that was this story!
This was an unexpected pick up at Barnes. A shake up from my bad hockey binge. What I got was a story that took me through unforgettable turns and pulls. One that left me with a wondering how I could go back and read again for the first time. I didn’t want to put the story down. I felt too invested in the characters too emotional.
There were flaws for sure. At times I got frustrated and threatened to remove stars. It’s easy to see the distaste for Phaedra from some people. She’s brash, quick tempered, and harsh. Her exterior makes sense as you go along and love it or hate it you begin to accept her like she accepts herself. Resolving to fix what needs to be, and leave what’s integral.
The backstory for Cos, his undying ability to move the romance plot forward and frankly his equally quick wit left me just as hopeless as our FMC.
Admittedly some cringey moments between the characters but I just feel like I’ve excused far worse
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
What was that?
2.5 ☆
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The cover art deserves 5 ☆ by itself! The characters were insufferable and very unlikable! I just couldn't do it. I tried and tried, but I just couldn't; they got on my nerves.
The audiobook was okay. I listened at 2x speed, and it was a little hard to understand the male narrator, so I slowed it down, and it was perfect. However, I can't listen at a slow speed, so it's definitely a "me" problem and not a narrator problem. Both narrators did a good job telling the story.
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Thank you, Netgalley, and Hachette Audio for the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
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The cover art deserves 5 ☆ by itself! The characters were insufferable and very unlikable! I just couldn't do it. I tried and tried, but I just couldn't; they got on my nerves.
The audiobook was okay. I listened at 2x speed, and it was a little hard to understand the male narrator, so I slowed it down, and it was perfect. However, I can't listen at a slow speed, so it's definitely a "me" problem and not a narrator problem. Both narrators did a good job telling the story.
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Thank you, Netgalley, and Hachette Audio for the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I'll start by complimenting this book for including details about F1, race strategy, and the actual races. The author wove in details about the season, tracks, cars, etc., and used the tension (and disappointments) of competition as plot devices. This is exactly what I want out sports romances. I want characters that are genuinely invested in their surroundings.
Unfortunately, however, the rest of the book was not for me. I had a strong inclination to DNF after chapter 12, and I should have trusted my gut. In my opinion, Phaedra and Cosmin didn't have much chemistry, and the abrupt jump from enemies to interested during the Santorini trip was confusing. (Nevermind that there was no rationale for sending just the two of them to Santorini, though I can easily look past that tropy-ness.)
I found that the dialogue also felt stiff and unnatural at times. Phaedra's use of phrases like "I can't even," or "obvi" often took me out of the story. Furthermore, so many dramatic or sincerely emotional moments were swiftly knee-capped by uncomfortably-timed horniness. The intimate scenes weren't for me.
All in all, I didn't like the way a supposedly strong woman in a male-dominated profession was represented, and I couldn't jive with the characters.
(As an aside, Viorica's incredibly dark backstory, including marrying the man that raped her as a minor, was completely unnecessary. The outcome of that storyline was uncomfortable, to say the least.)
Unfortunately, however, the rest of the book was not for me. I had a strong inclination to DNF after chapter 12, and I should have trusted my gut. In my opinion, Phaedra and Cosmin didn't have much chemistry, and the abrupt jump from enemies to interested during the Santorini trip was confusing. (Nevermind that there was no rationale for sending just the two of them to Santorini, though I can easily look past that tropy-ness.)
I found that the dialogue also felt stiff and unnatural at times. Phaedra's use of phrases like "I can't even," or "obvi" often took me out of the story. Furthermore, so many dramatic or sincerely emotional moments were swiftly knee-capped by uncomfortably-timed horniness. The intimate scenes weren't for me.
All in all, I didn't like the way a supposedly strong woman in a male-dominated profession was represented, and I couldn't jive with the characters.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual violence
Thank you to Josie Juniper and Forever Publishing for the eARC.
Pretty much right from the start, I wasn't a fan of Phaedra. She gave such mean girl vibes rather than grumpy vibes, both to Cosmin and to her supposed best friend. Their whole fight I was not a fan of. They were such low blows. Plus, she was always looking for the worst in Cosmin, like suggesting he forced himself on a woman because he's famous (yet she's still attracted to him?), even with multiple people telling her she was being unprofessional. Then they're thrown together on a 'bonding' trip and suddenly they're making out. It didn't feel right to me. I know the hate banter was probably supposed to be the whole 'be mean to hide my feelings' but it wasn't quite right, imo, and so when they got together, it just felt forced.
Now, I wasn't a huge fan of Cosmin either. She repeatedly told him to quit making sexual comments during work, and he never listened. Not to mention, other coworkers never said anything to him either. Then, when we got to the first spicy scene, the way the scene was described, I just couldn't vibe with it. Some of the formality is due to Cosmin speaking English as a second language, which was fine, but then he said things like, "Are you fertile?" when asking if she was on birth control. His main redeeming quality was the care he has for his sister and the children at their children's home.
Also, I don't think the trigger warnings were enough. They mention child abuse but did not say anything about child sexual abuse - and it's mentioned that Cosmin's sister had her virginity auctioned off at age 15.
There aren't many books I won't recommend, because usually there's something for everyone, but I can't recommend this one, unfortunately.
Pretty much right from the start, I wasn't a fan of Phaedra. She gave such mean girl vibes rather than grumpy vibes, both to Cosmin and to her supposed best friend. Their whole fight I was not a fan of. They were such low blows. Plus, she was always looking for the worst in Cosmin, like suggesting he forced himself on a woman because he's famous (yet she's still attracted to him?), even with multiple people telling her she was being unprofessional. Then they're thrown together on a 'bonding' trip and suddenly they're making out. It didn't feel right to me. I know the hate banter was probably supposed to be the whole 'be mean to hide my feelings' but it wasn't quite right, imo, and so when they got together, it just felt forced.
Now, I wasn't a huge fan of Cosmin either. She repeatedly told him to quit making sexual comments during work, and he never listened. Not to mention, other coworkers never said anything to him either. Then, when we got to the first spicy scene, the way the scene was described, I just couldn't vibe with it. Some of the formality is due to Cosmin speaking English as a second language, which was fine, but then he said things like, "Are you fertile?" when asking if she was on birth control. His main redeeming quality was the care he has for his sister and the children at their children's home.
Also, I don't think the trigger warnings were enough. They mention child abuse but did not say anything about child sexual abuse - and it's mentioned that Cosmin's sister had her virginity auctioned off at age 15.
There aren't many books I won't recommend, because usually there's something for everyone, but I can't recommend this one, unfortunately.
medium-paced