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3.6 AVERAGE
3.6 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia
So I came across Jane Costello's by reading her book „The Wish list“ and I absolutely loved it. I loved her writing style, her humor, her story line – everything. So I went and picked up my second Costello book, convinced that I would love it too. But somehow, this book wasn’t as remarkable as I had hoped.
First of all Zoe to me somehow was an inconsistent character with many attributes that just didn’t really fit or made her look stupid. So she’s clumsy and manages to embarrass herself regularly – that in itself would have been funny enough. But take that fancy dinner she attended with Ryan for example. She’s nervous about making a good impression but then says something like “we’re going to get pissed” …. really? The entire dance with the boss scene was also over the top in my opinion.
Furthermore, I believe Costello wanted Zoe to look vulnerable and heartbroken, understandably after being dumped at the altar. But somehow she doesn’t manage to create a character that displays these features. Whenever Zoe talks about Jason, I didn’t feel that connection. I didn’t feel any heartbreak. It was just a flashback to fill a gap in the reader’s knowledge. Frankly, she could have just told us about her recent trip to the supermarket and there would have been the same amount of emotions. At least for me.
Then there’s Ryan. He’s a widower so he’s hurt, grumpy and unhappy. All perfectly reasonable but again, Costello, in my opinion, failed to get the reader emotionally involved. I didn’t feel bad for Ryan. I didn’t feel his hurt. To me, it felt too forced. This story needed the grumpy, brooding hero so Ryan was molded into that.
Then he undergoes his magical transformation and suddenly they're shaking up and of course both are in love with the other but not ready to admit to it.
Then Jason comes back…. Honestly, I kind of get what Costello tried to do here. Zoe thought Ryan was only a fling and could never love her and she was still kind of hung up on Jason so yeah, she went back. But honestly, even a blind man with hearing problems could have seen that she really wasn’t into him, or this second hurried wedding. It was all a bit clichéd, with Ryan showing up and confessing his love. At least he didn’t storm the wedding or stand outside her bedroom window in the pouring rain.
So generally I still enjoyed reading this, believe you or not. But I have to say that on an emotional level Costello didn’t convince this time around.
Dialogue is written very weirdly. Story doesn’t flow well in my opinion. Overall, I could not get into the book.
slow-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
No chemistry at all. Like a weird hallmark “comedy”, but not funny just awkward. The whole story unfolds mostly as unnecessary internal monologue.
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Body shaming, Death, Infertility, Death of parent
Minor: Cancer, Car accident, Pregnancy
Overall rating: 4 stars
Tropes: Grumpy guy Sunshine girl, Hate to Love, Nanny to his kids, Chick lit/Romcom
Trigger Warnings:
Plot: 4/5
Ending: 0/5
Writing: 4/5
Enjoyment: 5/5
Romance: 4/5
Hero: 4/5
Heroine: 5/5
Character Development: 4/5
Humour? Yes
Steam? A bit
Feels? Yes
HEA:
Tropes: Grumpy guy Sunshine girl, Hate to Love, Nanny to his kids, Chick lit/Romcom
Trigger Warnings:
Spoiler
Widowed by OW,Plot: 4/5
Ending: 0/5
Writing: 4/5
Enjoyment: 5/5
Romance: 4/5
Hero: 4/5
Heroine: 5/5
Character Development: 4/5
Humour? Yes
Steam? A bit
Feels? Yes
HEA:
Spoiler
Yes
Enjoyable though not as funny and entertaining as All The Single Ladies.
Apalagi premise-nya sejak awal model-model Harlequin gitu, dikit2 mikir agak seksi soal employernya.
Tapi tetep jempol untuk Jane Costello. British chicklit never fails me :)
Apalagi premise-nya sejak awal model-model Harlequin gitu, dikit2 mikir agak seksi soal employernya.
Tapi tetep jempol untuk Jane Costello. British chicklit never fails me :)
I don't care what anyone thinks, I loved this book! It was so light-hearted and a bit emotional at the same time. I liked Zoe and damn if Ryan wasn't dreamy(sighs). Also I adored the kids :3 Everytime I expected a situation to turn worse and dramatic, it went in a different not-big-a-deal direction so i was a bit surprised but helped me to not put the book down. The only disappointment was that I felt there could have been a couple of more chapters at the end and ended with a reunion between Zoe and the kids. I mean can you imagine how excited Ruby would've been in having Zoe back and at the prospect of Ryan and Zoe together? She would've squealed and cried happy tears :"3 Jane Costello definitely knows how to write 'em boyfriends ;)
3.5 rounded up.
I wanted a steamy romance and I didn't get that.
I did get wry British humour so I'm pleased.
I wanted a steamy romance and I didn't get that.
I did get wry British humour so I'm pleased.