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bookmadjo's review against another edition
5.0
I count Jules Wake as one of my favourite authors, and with every new book release that she makes I find that the new book immediately becomes my favourite of her books. This was absolutely no exception. This book had a very different feel to her previous books, I’m not completely sure I would pigeon-hole this book as a rom-com, although there were undoubtedly some funny moments; I absolutely adored the wedding of Great Aunt Gladys, and Gladys herself was a scream!
The story centres around Jess and Sam who upon first meeting, feel a spark between them.
I adored both Jess and Sam from the start, and I found it refreshing that Sam immediately told Jess he couldn’t take things beyond their initial conversation because he had a girlfriend, and Jess immediately took a step back because she would never intentionally break a couple up for her own gain. When Sam does end his relationship with his girlfriend Victoria, he waits a month before contacting Jess. Inadvertently Jess finds herself painted as the ‘other woman’, and finds that people instantly judge her for it, without finding out the whole story from both sides.
This was very much a story of families and friendships, and how people are often quick to judge a situation based entirely on one side of the story. The parallels between Jess and Sam’s beginnings, with Jess’s parents ending are strong, and the parallels consider events from opposite sides of a similar situation. I initially found myself feeling empathetic towards Victoria, Sam’s ex-girlfriend, but my empathy did wane a little when Victoria took matters too far, although I loved that Jess showed so much compassion for the situation Victoria found herself in.
The ending was everything I hoped it would be, and I was left feeling happy, a little tearful (but in a good way!), and desperately not wanting it to end. This book gave me a warm and fuzzy feeling, and having read the acknowledgements at the back of the book, it was clear how much Jules Wake loved her main characters, that love shone from every page and made me love them too.
The story centres around Jess and Sam who upon first meeting, feel a spark between them.
I adored both Jess and Sam from the start, and I found it refreshing that Sam immediately told Jess he couldn’t take things beyond their initial conversation because he had a girlfriend, and Jess immediately took a step back because she would never intentionally break a couple up for her own gain. When Sam does end his relationship with his girlfriend Victoria, he waits a month before contacting Jess. Inadvertently Jess finds herself painted as the ‘other woman’, and finds that people instantly judge her for it, without finding out the whole story from both sides.
This was very much a story of families and friendships, and how people are often quick to judge a situation based entirely on one side of the story. The parallels between Jess and Sam’s beginnings, with Jess’s parents ending are strong, and the parallels consider events from opposite sides of a similar situation. I initially found myself feeling empathetic towards Victoria, Sam’s ex-girlfriend, but my empathy did wane a little when Victoria took matters too far, although I loved that Jess showed so much compassion for the situation Victoria found herself in.
The ending was everything I hoped it would be, and I was left feeling happy, a little tearful (but in a good way!), and desperately not wanting it to end. This book gave me a warm and fuzzy feeling, and having read the acknowledgements at the back of the book, it was clear how much Jules Wake loved her main characters, that love shone from every page and made me love them too.
ratetheromance's review against another edition
3.0
This book was hard work.
That's the review summary.
Now, to expound.
As an American reading Brit Lit you get to know a lot of the British slang. You acquire awareness of the terms "proper chuffed", "early days", and "CV" instead of resume. But, holy hell, THIS book went balls-to-the-wall with Brit-isms. I have never encountered more British slang, pop culture references, and vocab in a book. It feels excessive, but maybe I'm just unaware that people really talk almost exclusively in Brit-speak...?
This book has a good foundational story. Two strangers meet at an outdoor party and they have an instant spark. Where do they go from there?
But, along the way in this seemingly simple plot line you get parental abandonment, psychiatric break-downs, family secrets, battered women, bitter divorces, online bullying, mean girls, stalking, vandalism, and on and on and on.
I also found myself increasingly pissed off at these characters. If you are a fan of healthy boundaries then this is NOT the book for you. Everyone just repeatedly lets horrid and sometimes dangerous behavior continue in the name of pleasing their family members/not hurting anyone's feelings.
The love story in this book is SO SWEET! And I truly loved that the main characters worked through a gazillion problems to stay together. But this book is very slowly paced and was a bit frustrating for me.
RATING:⭐️⭐️⭐️
STEAM LEVEL: Rated R
TRIGGERS: parental abandonment, psychiatric break-downs, family secrets, battered women, bitter divorces, online bullying, mean girls, stalking, vandalism
Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
That's the review summary.
Now, to expound.
As an American reading Brit Lit you get to know a lot of the British slang. You acquire awareness of the terms "proper chuffed", "early days", and "CV" instead of resume. But, holy hell, THIS book went balls-to-the-wall with Brit-isms. I have never encountered more British slang, pop culture references, and vocab in a book. It feels excessive, but maybe I'm just unaware that people really talk almost exclusively in Brit-speak...?
This book has a good foundational story. Two strangers meet at an outdoor party and they have an instant spark. Where do they go from there?
But, along the way in this seemingly simple plot line you get parental abandonment, psychiatric break-downs, family secrets, battered women, bitter divorces, online bullying, mean girls, stalking, vandalism, and on and on and on.
I also found myself increasingly pissed off at these characters. If you are a fan of healthy boundaries then this is NOT the book for you. Everyone just repeatedly lets horrid and sometimes dangerous behavior continue in the name of pleasing their family members/not hurting anyone's feelings.
The love story in this book is SO SWEET! And I truly loved that the main characters worked through a gazillion problems to stay together. But this book is very slowly paced and was a bit frustrating for me.
RATING:⭐️⭐️⭐️
STEAM LEVEL: Rated R
TRIGGERS: parental abandonment, psychiatric break-downs, family secrets, battered women, bitter divorces, online bullying, mean girls, stalking, vandalism
Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
margery's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
catie_rhi's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
laurenmason22's review
funny
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? It's complicated
4.25
kathrynemw's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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? No
3.0
sophann30's review against another edition
4.0
High 3⭐
I'm usually not a fan of insta love romances and this book is practically the definition of instalove - but in this instance it just worked for me.
I loved both main characters, they were instantly likeable and their relationship was written really well. There is a nice amount of development for the characters including side characters. I think this book is packed full of so many important messages.
My only criticism would be that it got quite repetrative quite quickly so there were times I was a little bored with the story. I would have also liked an epilogue, but that's personal preference. Overall, I really enjoyed it and would recommend to anybody looking for a light, easy read.
I'm usually not a fan of insta love romances and this book is practically the definition of instalove - but in this instance it just worked for me.
I loved both main characters, they were instantly likeable and their relationship was written really well. There is a nice amount of development for the characters including side characters. I think this book is packed full of so many important messages.
My only criticism would be that it got quite repetrative quite quickly so there were times I was a little bored with the story. I would have also liked an epilogue, but that's personal preference. Overall, I really enjoyed it and would recommend to anybody looking for a light, easy read.
mreadsbooksnfics's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked this book, it was different.
Jess and Sam meet. It is great. But Sam has a girlfriend. Which means things are not so great. But then they break up and she has a chance. Jess and Sam are together, but his ex makes it hard at times. This was a love story but not the one you would think. It is about also realizing your own value and happiness, which I really appreciated.
This reminded me a lot of Sophie Kinsella, and I look forward to more from this author.
Thank you NetGalley and One More Chapter for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Jess and Sam meet. It is great. But Sam has a girlfriend. Which means things are not so great. But then they break up and she has a chance. Jess and Sam are together, but his ex makes it hard at times. This was a love story but not the one you would think. It is about also realizing your own value and happiness, which I really appreciated.
This reminded me a lot of Sophie Kinsella, and I look forward to more from this author.
Thank you NetGalley and One More Chapter for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
emilyscrookedkingdom's review against another edition
3.0
This was a cosy warm summer book. I enjoyed it but I didn't love it.
Pros:
Jess was a lovely character and I loved her views on certain issues and how she interacted with her family and friends. Her job (as a worker at a women's refuge) made me think about certain things and how we often take the small things for granted.
Sam - awesome character and I liked his charisma and sense of humour.
Shelley - funny and interesting character - she was funny and some of her one liners made me laugh a little. I liked her.
Cons
* maybe it was because I was speed reading but it felt a little stop.starty - that's a really bad way of writing it but the story didn't seem to flow very easily and I got a little bit confused on occasions about dates - I thought a certain event was a few weeks ago but it was written like it was yesterday?! I don't know but that was a little annoying.
* I didn't really see or read about many other side characters - like Shelley and Holly. I would have liked to read more about their interactions with the other characters.
* I felt like the ending was good but could have been better (SPOILER)- I would have liked to see the wedding and how the relationship with Jess and her mum improves as well as seeing how the relationship between Jess and Sam's mum also improves. The ending was a bit abrupt for me personally. (if you can't tell from my previous reviews I find it annoying when the author ends the book suddenly)
Pros:
Jess was a lovely character and I loved her views on certain issues and how she interacted with her family and friends. Her job (as a worker at a women's refuge) made me think about certain things and how we often take the small things for granted.
Sam - awesome character and I liked his charisma and sense of humour.
Shelley - funny and interesting character - she was funny and some of her one liners made me laugh a little. I liked her.
Cons
* maybe it was because I was speed reading but it felt a little stop.starty - that's a really bad way of writing it but the story didn't seem to flow very easily and I got a little bit confused on occasions about dates - I thought a certain event was a few weeks ago but it was written like it was yesterday?! I don't know but that was a little annoying.
* I didn't really see or read about many other side characters - like Shelley and Holly. I would have liked to read more about their interactions with the other characters.
* I felt like the ending was good but could have been better (SPOILER)- I would have liked to see the wedding and how the relationship with Jess and her mum improves as well as seeing how the relationship between Jess and Sam's mum also improves. The ending was a bit abrupt for me personally. (if you can't tell from my previous reviews I find it annoying when the author ends the book suddenly)
kate7165's review
5.0
I loved this book! Really didn’t want to put it down.
Jess & Sam are such wonderful characters who learn so much about one another and themselves in such a short time.
I’ll definitely add Jules Wake to my must read authors list.
Jess & Sam are such wonderful characters who learn so much about one another and themselves in such a short time.
I’ll definitely add Jules Wake to my must read authors list.