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3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
I never thought I'd complain about "smut," but i feel like the balance to the story wasn't there, and it just missed the mark for me.
The scenes themselves were good - but between the miscommunication and half break up (when it wasn't really a break up?), it just didn't do it for me.
Thank you to NetGalley, the Publisher & Author. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
The scenes themselves were good - but between the miscommunication and half break up (when it wasn't really a break up?), it just didn't do it for me.
Thank you to NetGalley, the Publisher & Author. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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:
No
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-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
lighthearted
fast-paced
I'm not entirely sure how to rate this. I liked the beginning and the end, but the middle was just a full-on spicefest (skimmed through - not really my thing but other readers might enjoy the multiple back-to-back scenes) with not enough buildup. I liked the dual POVs of both Ginny and Elsie, and getting to see them grow as characters, albeit a little too quickly. Nothing really stood out to me but it was a nice enough read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Bullying, Homophobia, Transphobia, Lesbophobia, Outing
emotional
funny
fast-paced
Holy shit this went from zero to extraspicy (with a lot of 12 yo boy sex words 🙄) in a heartbeat - whiplash.
I neeeed to find a bungalow like the honeymoon location - sounds SO dreamy!!
Elsie is mostly a selfabsorbed pill. Nearly intolerable and I was <thisclose> to DNF at 65% with the 3rd act breakup - it was unhinged and the whole book just felt rushed. It needed to be longer
I neeeed to find a bungalow like the honeymoon location - sounds SO dreamy!!
Elsie is mostly a selfabsorbed pill. Nearly intolerable and I was <thisclose> to DNF at 65% with the 3rd act breakup - it was unhinged and the whole book just felt rushed. It needed to be longer
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was a fun read overall, and I finished it in just a couple of sittings. It's the first contemporary adult romance novel I've read with a nonbinary character whose story arc isn't all about their identity.
I kept forgetting that the characters were in their early 20s until they'd do something that had me like whaaaaaaaa and then I'd remember. I'm not sure if this is because of my own assumption that all the adults around me including characters are my age or if it was something about the way this book was written that made the characters' ages feel inconsistent across the story.
I enjoyed reading, but lost a little steam a bit about 2/3ds of the way through and sort of had to power through it to the end. I think the characters just sort of stopped feeling relatable to me.
The sex scenes were aplenty, well written, and had a nice balance of whose perspective they were from, with also balancing who was the focus. Though near the end, the sex veered ever so slightly in a specific kinky direction that I personally am not super intrigued by, which is just a very specific type of approach to sex and sexual dynamics that aren't my go-tos. Also, I thought that there was just. A lot of sex. Nothing wrong with that at all but I think the character development suffered a little bit because of it. Wilsner decided to spend the page count and the word count showing us the sex, so they had to tell us about the rest of the details of what's going on in the characters' lives in a bit of a rush.
I of course enjoyed the Minnesota connection, even if I felt like all Wilsner could say about the place was that winter is too cold and it sucks and everyone who chooses to live in a cold place is a little bit insane and also actually everyone just tolerates winter which I don't agree with! I love Minnesota winters and the thought that I am just suffering through them is so crazy to me.
Overall, I've decided to rate this 4 stars (bland) guided by my thoughts which are this book has not many things wrong with it, and a few awesome things.
I kept forgetting that the characters were in their early 20s until they'd do something that had me like whaaaaaaaa and then I'd remember. I'm not sure if this is because of my own assumption that all the adults around me including characters are my age or if it was something about the way this book was written that made the characters' ages feel inconsistent across the story.
I enjoyed reading, but lost a little steam a bit about 2/3ds of the way through and sort of had to power through it to the end. I think the characters just sort of stopped feeling relatable to me.
The sex scenes were aplenty, well written, and had a nice balance of whose perspective they were from, with also balancing who was the focus. Though near the end, the sex veered ever so slightly in a specific kinky direction that I personally am not super intrigued by, which is just a very specific type of approach to sex and sexual dynamics that aren't my go-tos. Also, I thought that there was just. A lot of sex. Nothing wrong with that at all but I think the character development suffered a little bit because of it. Wilsner decided to spend the page count and the word count showing us the sex, so they had to tell us about the rest of the details of what's going on in the characters' lives in a bit of a rush.
I of course enjoyed the Minnesota connection, even if I felt like all Wilsner could say about the place was that winter is too cold and it sucks and everyone who chooses to live in a cold place is a little bit insane and also actually everyone just tolerates winter which I don't agree with! I love Minnesota winters and the thought that I am just suffering through them is so crazy to me.
Overall, I've decided to rate this 4 stars (bland) guided by my thoughts which are this book has not many things wrong with it, and a few awesome things.
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
emotional
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
Fantastic friends to lovers vacation romance! This is possibly Meryl’s spiciest book yet… but what are two friends who are secretly (to each other but def not to everyone who knows them) into each other to do when they go on a honeymoon for a wedding that didn’t happen? Especially when there’s only one bed.
And strangely for me…I liked the third act breakup. Not the breakup itself, but the personal growth that Elsie and Ginny both explored while taking some time apart. It made their relationship when they came back together so much stronger.
Also this book is so delightfully swoony.
This is another book that I read in all three formats because my brain is a goof. The narration by Blair Baker and Emily Shaw is fantastic.
And strangely for me…I liked the third act breakup. Not the breakup itself, but the personal growth that Elsie and Ginny both explored while taking some time apart. It made their relationship when they came back together so much stronger.
Also this book is so delightfully swoony.
This is another book that I read in all three formats because my brain is a goof. The narration by Blair Baker and Emily Shaw is fantastic.
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated