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3.29 AVERAGE
3.29 AVERAGE
Nothing to write home about.
A quick, beach read that didn’t do much for me.
A quick, beach read that didn’t do much for me.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
After devastating events start to pile on one after the other, Bree decides to escape to Little Bridge Island, where she spent her cherished childhood vacations. She dyes her hair pink and is working on finding herself again but a potential hurricane is trying to disrupt her calm.
Fending off her mother and ex-boyfriend begging her to leave the island, Bree decides to stick it out with some locals, one who is rumored to be the local playboy. Drew's sexy looks have caught her attention before but he seems like trouble she doesn't need.
The storm and fate seem to be throwing them together as Bree gets to know him more, she's starting to want to break her no dating rule.
I had purposefully come to this island to be alone and figure out my next move. None of that had included becoming attracted to darkly handsome brooding men who were kind to dogs.
Told only from Bree's point of view, No Judgments spends a lot of time in her head. Bree thinks about how her father's death, learning the woman she calls mom is not her biological mother, and hints at a traumatic experience that involved her ex-boyfriend's friend for the majority of the first half to let readers in on plot points and reasons for Bree's character make-up. These big issues are all thought about by Bree in her head and never fully get to be flushed out as the outer issue of the hurricane getting ready to hit the island takes up most of the action part of the story.
There was some build up to the hurricane, Bree doesn't want to leave because her rescue cat Gary has health issues and she wants people to think of her as a local and not a “Fresh Water”, but the actual event of the hurricane only lasts a night and Bree basically sleeps through it. The aftermath talks about potential health hazards, lack of resources and looters, but the reader never really feels this as Bree gallivants around the island. At the midpoint in the story, Bree and Drew still had a little bit of animosity to their relationship (and one quick make-out session), due to preconceived notions about each other but Bree decides to risk life and limb to go out and see if he survived the hurricane; her emotions seemed to strongly come out of nowhere.
The second half switches to Bree and Drew trying to rescue, feed, and water animals who's owners abandoned them with the hurricane coming in and now can't get back because of a bridge washed out. Around the 60% mark is where I finally thought I could see some emotional and relationship development between the two.
I’d broken all the rules, and now I was sitting here, like an idiot, by the light of the Milky Way, eating the guy’s steaks with his happy, well-fed dogs pressed all around me, listening to him talk. God. I had it bad.
With the story being told in Bree's point of view, readers get to know her pretty well but Drew's character could have had more filling out. He seemed likable, a laid back island guy who loved dogs, but I never knew him and he felt like almost an after thought for being the main partner in a romance. This had some heavier issues, death, infertility, and sexual assault sprinkled in but they were never fully fleshed out and the tone of the story colored them with a bit too much of a cavalier vibe. Honestly, if someone asked me what this story was about, I'd say the message was “Don't judge people for leaving their animals in a hurricane”, which can be a good message but feels odd for a romance/contemporary fiction.
After devastating events start to pile on one after the other, Bree decides to escape to Little Bridge Island, where she spent her cherished childhood vacations. She dyes her hair pink and is working on finding herself again but a potential hurricane is trying to disrupt her calm.
Fending off her mother and ex-boyfriend begging her to leave the island, Bree decides to stick it out with some locals, one who is rumored to be the local playboy. Drew's sexy looks have caught her attention before but he seems like trouble she doesn't need.
The storm and fate seem to be throwing them together as Bree gets to know him more, she's starting to want to break her no dating rule.
I had purposefully come to this island to be alone and figure out my next move. None of that had included becoming attracted to darkly handsome brooding men who were kind to dogs.
Told only from Bree's point of view, No Judgments spends a lot of time in her head. Bree thinks about how her father's death, learning the woman she calls mom is not her biological mother, and hints at a traumatic experience that involved her ex-boyfriend's friend for the majority of the first half to let readers in on plot points and reasons for Bree's character make-up. These big issues are all thought about by Bree in her head and never fully get to be flushed out as the outer issue of the hurricane getting ready to hit the island takes up most of the action part of the story.
There was some build up to the hurricane, Bree doesn't want to leave because her rescue cat Gary has health issues and she wants people to think of her as a local and not a “Fresh Water”, but the actual event of the hurricane only lasts a night and Bree basically sleeps through it. The aftermath talks about potential health hazards, lack of resources and looters, but the reader never really feels this as Bree gallivants around the island. At the midpoint in the story, Bree and Drew still had a little bit of animosity to their relationship (and one quick make-out session), due to preconceived notions about each other but Bree decides to risk life and limb to go out and see if he survived the hurricane; her emotions seemed to strongly come out of nowhere.
The second half switches to Bree and Drew trying to rescue, feed, and water animals who's owners abandoned them with the hurricane coming in and now can't get back because of a bridge washed out. Around the 60% mark is where I finally thought I could see some emotional and relationship development between the two.
I’d broken all the rules, and now I was sitting here, like an idiot, by the light of the Milky Way, eating the guy’s steaks with his happy, well-fed dogs pressed all around me, listening to him talk. God. I had it bad.
With the story being told in Bree's point of view, readers get to know her pretty well but Drew's character could have had more filling out. He seemed likable, a laid back island guy who loved dogs, but I never knew him and he felt like almost an after thought for being the main partner in a romance. This had some heavier issues, death, infertility, and sexual assault sprinkled in but they were never fully fleshed out and the tone of the story colored them with a bit too much of a cavalier vibe. Honestly, if someone asked me what this story was about, I'd say the message was “Don't judge people for leaving their animals in a hurricane”, which can be a good message but feels odd for a romance/contemporary fiction.
In the past week I've read a book about a high school athlete who develops an opioid addition, a neurotypical middle schooler whose friend goes missing, a middle schooler who's mother was deported, and a seventh grader with eye cancer.
I needed a break, and so grabbed this breezy romance.
Unfortunately, the traditional gender norms bugged the heck out of me and it wasn't the respite I was looking for.
I needed a break, and so grabbed this breezy romance.
Unfortunately, the traditional gender norms bugged the heck out of me and it wasn't the respite I was looking for.
No Judgements by Meg Cabot is the classic tale of girl meets boy where girl is desperately trying to ignore boy. Bree Beckham fled to Little Bridge Island in the Florida Keys to escape the trials of her life, swearing off men in the process. But of course, she is drawn to the irresistible Drew Hartwell. Can Bree hold off even when a hurricane seems to push them together?
I'll be the first to admit I'll read anything that Meg Cabot writes. I grew up devouring The Princess Diaries, the 1-800-Where Are You, and Mediator series then her adult books as I got older. While Cabot can craft an enticing tale, I feel like this one fell flat. Mainly due to the predictable and tried and true plot lines. The hurricane element made this book unique. This just seems like a run of the mill nothing special sort of book and falls short compared to her other adult novels.
The book was still an enjoyable read and allowed me to escape for a few days. And sometimes, that's all you need. This is a perfect light summer or beach read.
I'll be the first to admit I'll read anything that Meg Cabot writes. I grew up devouring The Princess Diaries, the 1-800-Where Are You, and Mediator series then her adult books as I got older. While Cabot can craft an enticing tale, I feel like this one fell flat. Mainly due to the predictable and tried and true plot lines. The hurricane element made this book unique. This just seems like a run of the mill nothing special sort of book and falls short compared to her other adult novels.
The book was still an enjoyable read and allowed me to escape for a few days. And sometimes, that's all you need. This is a perfect light summer or beach read.
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I knew I wasn’t going to care for this and yet here we are.
1) the main character is just too much - naive NYC law school drop out who moves to small town to find herself oh but is the daughter of some kind of celebrity who had an egg donor; and oh shoots guns perfectly (was this even necessary? No); is an artist of..: clouds? like no there’s just too much
2) why did the love interest have to be an enemies to lovers sort of thing? It didn’t make sense there was no basis to the enemies and it resolved quickly and suddenly they’re in love? No.
3) pretty sure none of this is how hurricanes work
4) why did everyone she know commandeer military planes to check on her after? Seems unnecessary.
No.
I finished it though so yay!
1) the main character is just too much - naive NYC law school drop out who moves to small town to find herself oh but is the daughter of some kind of celebrity who had an egg donor; and oh shoots guns perfectly (was this even necessary? No); is an artist of..: clouds? like no there’s just too much
2) why did the love interest have to be an enemies to lovers sort of thing? It didn’t make sense there was no basis to the enemies and it resolved quickly and suddenly they’re in love? No.
3) pretty sure none of this is how hurricanes work
4) why did everyone she know commandeer military planes to check on her after? Seems unnecessary.
No.
I finished it though so yay!
lighthearted
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-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
My heart thawed a little bit.
Sappy and predictable. I’m not sure of Cabot’s intended audience. Book seemed appropriate, possibly, for upper elementary yet mild sex scenes seemed aimed at adults.