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rubysmom's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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
3.5
alleyboop's review against another edition
3.0
I loved these two characters and how silly they were. They both seriously had no clue about each other, so watching them fall in love and with a silly premise of a TV show...it was a lovely sappy romance read.
melbsreads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
4.0
Trigger warnings: anxiety, panic attacks
I had no idea going into this that it was so short! It's not even 150 pages, and I would happily have read a full length novel about these two because it DID feel very slightly instalove-y at times. But this was delightful. I loved the characters. I loved that they were slightly antagonistic librarian coworkers. I loved that a lot of their beef involved desk duty, because OF COURSE IT DID. I even liked the way the miscommunication elements played out.
There is - as you would expect with Olivia Dade - plenty of humour in the story, although here it mostly comes from the resorts that they visit. On the whole? Absolutely delightful.
I had no idea going into this that it was so short! It's not even 150 pages, and I would happily have read a full length novel about these two because it DID feel very slightly instalove-y at times. But this was delightful. I loved the characters. I loved that they were slightly antagonistic librarian coworkers. I loved that a lot of their beef involved desk duty, because OF COURSE IT DID. I even liked the way the miscommunication elements played out.
There is - as you would expect with Olivia Dade - plenty of humour in the story, although here it mostly comes from the resorts that they visit. On the whole? Absolutely delightful.
verityw's review against another edition
3.0
I liked the relationship between the leads and the glimpses of previous Dade characters, but I didn’t really understand why the heroine was putting herself through an experience she clearly found anxiety inducing (and worse). It’s maybe a bit too short for what it is trying to do.
emmalita's review against another edition
4.0
Olivia Dade’s Teach Me was one of my favorite books this year. I was thrilled to be offered an ARC for Desire and the Deep Blue Sea by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Callie and Thomas work together at a research library. Callie and her boyfriend are scheduled to go on a reality tv show in which couples tour island resorts. When the book opens, Callie’s jerk boyfriend has just dumped her and she is about to lose the paid vacation she desperately needs. She sees Thomas bobbing around as he always is and realizes she can ask him to be her fake boyfriend. Thomas agrees, because he has a crush on her. The downside, Thomas is the reason Callie wants a break from work and now she’s taking her biggest stress trigger with her on a romantic island tour in front of cameras.
Thomas is hoping to demonstrate to Callie that he is a man she could date when they get back home. He isn’t expecting sex, but he is hoping for romance. As soon as the vacation starts, Thomas impresses Callie with the way he listens to her and is respectful of her needs. I identified a lot with Callie’s feeling like she’s too much because she needs other people to accommodate her anxiety. I loved the matter of fact kindness that Thomas employs to bend the production team to his will. To Thomas, it isn’t an imposition to make adjustments for Callie’s happiness. I want more of this.
I wish that we had spent more time with Callie and Thomas before the vacation. According to Callie, Thomas’ behavior at work is stifling and isolating, so it would have been nice to see their work dynamic to see how much they had to overcome to get to their HEA. One of the things that Teach Me did so well was show how Rose and Martin evolved in relation to one another. I would have liked to have had more of that.
All that said, Olivia Dade is on my autobuy list. I love reading her books. Her characters are kind, smart and funny. I loved Callie and Thomas, I just wanted more of them.
Callie and Thomas work together at a research library. Callie and her boyfriend are scheduled to go on a reality tv show in which couples tour island resorts. When the book opens, Callie’s jerk boyfriend has just dumped her and she is about to lose the paid vacation she desperately needs. She sees Thomas bobbing around as he always is and realizes she can ask him to be her fake boyfriend. Thomas agrees, because he has a crush on her. The downside, Thomas is the reason Callie wants a break from work and now she’s taking her biggest stress trigger with her on a romantic island tour in front of cameras.
Thomas is hoping to demonstrate to Callie that he is a man she could date when they get back home. He isn’t expecting sex, but he is hoping for romance. As soon as the vacation starts, Thomas impresses Callie with the way he listens to her and is respectful of her needs. I identified a lot with Callie’s feeling like she’s too much because she needs other people to accommodate her anxiety. I loved the matter of fact kindness that Thomas employs to bend the production team to his will. To Thomas, it isn’t an imposition to make adjustments for Callie’s happiness. I want more of this.
I wish that we had spent more time with Callie and Thomas before the vacation. According to Callie, Thomas’ behavior at work is stifling and isolating, so it would have been nice to see their work dynamic to see how much they had to overcome to get to their HEA. One of the things that Teach Me did so well was show how Rose and Martin evolved in relation to one another. I would have liked to have had more of that.
All that said, Olivia Dade is on my autobuy list. I love reading her books. Her characters are kind, smart and funny. I loved Callie and Thomas, I just wanted more of them.
jessssifer's review against another edition
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
4.0
hellowildflower's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
ourxstorybegins's review against another edition
3.5
First of all, this book is so heartwarming, such a treat! I loved both characters (even though Thomas drove me a little bonkers) and I think that the romance was super cute. The different islands and the reality TV setting were a really fun touch, and as a fan of Olivia Dade’s other books, the Tess cameo and Renaissance Island made me super happy!
Most of my issues of this book come from the fact that it’s a novella, which doesn’t feel fair. I usually love a novella, but in this particular case it just felt like something was missing? Things moved just a little more quickly than I would’ve liked? I really liked the set up that the author provided for conflict between Callie and Thomas, but because it all had to be handled within nine chapters, it just didn’t feel like enough of a resolution to be as believable as her usual books.
Most of my issues of this book come from the fact that it’s a novella, which doesn’t feel fair. I usually love a novella, but in this particular case it just felt like something was missing? Things moved just a little more quickly than I would’ve liked? I really liked the set up that the author provided for conflict between Callie and Thomas, but because it all had to be handled within nine chapters, it just didn’t feel like enough of a resolution to be as believable as her usual books.
kimalah's review against another edition
emotional
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
4.75
Desire and the Deep Blue Sea is a book about taking responsibility for your actions and how they affect others, taking responsibility for your inaction and how it affects others, and accepting love. A lovely book.
agruettli's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0