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fivecatsinacoat's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
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
3.75
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
This is a sweet Hallmark-esque romance with serious small-town charm. I've seen listings for vacation properties where you also work in a shop or something attached to the rental and none have ever tempted me but the one I saw that was attached to a bookstore. As a book lover, I'd love to run a bookstore, and know that I would really love to stay in a rental like this!
The town is sweet and charming, without being twee, and the townspeople really felt three-dimensional with a lot of backstory and character. The romance was believable and the tension built without being insta-love, which I appreciated. My only gripeis how the whole town kept Roane's secrets and how easily she forgave him and the town. It felt too perfect. Those are huge secrets to keep and honestly I'm not sure I'd be able to forgive like that.
This is a sweet Hallmark-esque romance with serious small-town charm. I've seen listings for vacation properties where you also work in a shop or something attached to the rental and none have ever tempted me but the one I saw that was attached to a bookstore. As a book lover, I'd love to run a bookstore, and know that I would really love to stay in a rental like this!
The town is sweet and charming, without being twee, and the townspeople really felt three-dimensional with a lot of backstory and character. The romance was believable and the tension built without being insta-love, which I appreciated. My only gripe
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Confinement, Child abuse, Sexual content, Alcohol, Gaslighting, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Addiction, and Alcoholism
Minor: Animal death and Grief
emily_holden's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism
chelle22's review
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Grief, Alcoholism, Cursing, Death of parent, Homophobia, Racism, Infidelity, Lesbophobia, Pregnancy, and Sexual content
lacrimaeignis's review
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I absolutely adored this story! Is it cliched? Yes. Is it predictable? Most definitely. Is the development of the plot unbelievable? Yes but that's kind of the point as this is intended to be a comfort read. Was it still a fun read? For me, yes.
While the book is a Contemporary Romance/Rom Com, it is probably more accurate to call it a Slice of Life book. Which is to say if you're expecting a book with a lot of plot or exciting events, you'll likely be disappointed. Character development is also focused more on the side characters rather than the main couple.
I very much identified with our protagonist Evie - and not just because she decides to rent out and run a bookstore in England to escape her everyday life (which is totally something I would do and frankly would love to do right now). I really enjoyed taking this relaxing trip to England with Evie. It was nice to see her interactions with the various villagers and how even in a seemingly perfect village everyone still has to deal with their own issues (some way worse then others). But what I loved most was how supportive the majority of the characters were to each other.
I do wish that Roane had been given more flaws because the "flaws" he had weren't even really flaws especially because it had nothing to do with his personality but were based on arbitrary circumstances. I loved Roane but he was too perfect and therefore felt very unrealistic. And while it wouldn't have changed much about the story I wish the "spice" had been a bit more... well spicy. Not to say a romance story can't be good without it. But the tension that had built up between the characters and their chemistry was great but then when they finally got together, it felt like they had completely lost that spark.
While the book is a Contemporary Romance/Rom Com, it is probably more accurate to call it a Slice of Life book. Which is to say if you're expecting a book with a lot of plot or exciting events, you'll likely be disappointed. Character development is also focused more on the side characters rather than the main couple.
I very much identified with our protagonist Evie - and not just because she decides to rent out and run a bookstore in England to escape her everyday life (which is totally something I would do and frankly would love to do right now). I really enjoyed taking this relaxing trip to England with Evie. It was nice to see her interactions with the various villagers and how even in a seemingly perfect village everyone still has to deal with their own issues (some way worse then others). But what I loved most was how supportive the majority of the characters were to each other.
I do wish that Roane had been given more flaws because the "flaws" he had weren't even really flaws especially because it had nothing to do with his personality but were based on arbitrary circumstances. I loved Roane but he was too perfect and therefore felt very unrealistic. And while it wouldn't have changed much about the story I wish the "spice" had been a bit more... well spicy. Not to say a romance story can't be good without it. But the tension that had built up between the characters and their chemistry was great but then when they finally got together, it felt like they had completely lost that spark.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Racism
Minor: Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Classism, and Lesbophobia
imds's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death of parent, Racism, Emotional abuse, and Child abuse
Minor: Miscarriage and Homophobia
mswarning's review against another edition
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
4.0
I don't know, this was just sweet. Both characters were likeable. I checked out two different romances set in a bookstore, and I liked this one more. It made me feel like I was in north England, which would be pretty nice right about now.
Also liked the non-petite/short protagonist. This year I've read romances that have featured characters of different ethnicities, various sizes and shapes, chronic illnesses, mental illnesses, etc. Representation does matter.
Also liked the non-petite/short protagonist. This year I've read romances that have featured characters of different ethnicities, various sizes and shapes, chronic illnesses, mental illnesses, etc. Representation does matter.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Infidelity, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Child abuse, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Death and Child death
marthabethanreads's review against another edition
emotional
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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, and Domestic abuse
liezjo's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
It’s not for me. It reads quickly and it’s very lighthearted, but the explanation between crisps and chips? The fact that Evie wasn’t allowed to be mad at Greer because she was pregnant?! Pregnant people don’t just suddenly break when you raise your voice at them, I hope. Evie acts like no one likes Shakespeare these days. It’s not that rare! Also, the end conflict… sigh. At least they are sexy.
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcoholism
lcwdreamer's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, and Racism
thereadersays's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death of parent, and Addiction