Reviews with content warning for Alcoholism - Anders dan je dacht

This is a very light hearted contemporary romance. It was kind of a struggle to get gripped with it and I sorta felt the last portions of the book was rushed. I still enjoyed it enough to finish it but I wouldn’t read it again. Small spoilers bellow.

I the main reveal of the lie is very lacklustre. Mac’s character isn’t very deep nor has she got good character development. Cooper on the other hand is a great character with a small second chance arc. I feel like we should have gotten to feel more of macs heart break because she just comes across as if she doesn’t care when we’re getting deep ish pov of cooper and how he feels. I feel like I wouldn’t read it again.

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bookswithca's review against another edition

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lighthearted 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? Yes

4.0

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sami_leigh's review against another edition

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emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

I had high hopes for this book, which were swiftly thrown off of a cliff with the first utterance of a cheating trope. While the unfolding backstory and subsequent character development of Cooper and his brother Evan were well thought out, these characters were left to carry the entire book solo. Mac showed some personal growth in her decisions to forge her own path, though her gullibility becomes a running joke, along with the joke that is made of her

when the revenge plot blows up. I could’ve gotten on side with this story if Cooper hadn’t known who Mac was when they met - perhaps finding out later and keeping it from her - but this revenge plot goes beyond toxic.

I had hoped the supporting characters - Coop’s ‘gang’ - would redeem themselves

after actively encouraging a plot to break down the character of a women they’ve never met all because her boyfriend is a certifiable asshole. Grow up.

They lacked depth, however, and Mac doesn’t develop a support system beyond her dorm mate - who isn’t much help

-meaning once the third Act comes this character is still alone, without anyone to help her pick up the pieces. So instead of going and picking them up herself, she runs to the people who actually sparked the whole revenge plot and convinced Cooper to continue with it…I am utterly lost.

The ending left much to be desired. Ultimately, people didn’t own their behaviour and work to become better, and while Mac wasn’t all that likeable as a character, after what she has persevered through in her life she deserved a better support system by the end.

I would consider reading the sequel if only to see the real love story play out; that between Evan and Daisy, their dog.

Tropes: Cheating, opposites attract, good-girl bad-boy.
Some good banter.
Some diversity rep.
🌶🌶

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