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anoveldestination's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me a copy of this book to review!
This book opens by introducing us to the coastal town of Avalon Bay and its resident bad boy Cooper Hartley, and I was hooked from the first chapter. As someone from the Carolinas, I loved the town of Avalon Bay. It has all the charm of the best small Southern coastal towns. Elle Kennedy has also proved that once again she can write convincing college students, as Garnet's campus and students were very believable. However, I like that this book didn't focus on the traditional college experience.
This is partly because neither of our main characters' ambitions includes a college degree. Instead, they are ambitious in a different way, both with their own entrepreneurial goals. As individuals, I liked both of our main characters, Cooper and Mac. However, I struggled to believe their relationship. They had great chemistry and banter. However, much of their bonding was based on similar family trauma, which I disliked and didn't find super believable. I would've preferred if there was more focus on how their ambitions bonded them.
I also didn't care for how their relationship started. I get that was the point, but it made it hard for me to root for Cooper. Beyond using a girl for revenge, Cooper also made several comments comparing Mac to other women, which I didn't find romantic at all, just annoying. I hate the "not like other girls" trope in romance, and at times, this book utilizes that trope. Still, there were lots of other aspects of Cooper's character that I liked, and I enjoyed reading about his relationship with Mac.
Overall, this was a solid romance book for me. If you want an atmospheric romance set in a small town, this book is perfect. If you're a sucker for a bad boy romance, you should also read this book. It's another great contemporary romance from Elle Kennedy.
This book opens by introducing us to the coastal town of Avalon Bay and its resident bad boy Cooper Hartley, and I was hooked from the first chapter. As someone from the Carolinas, I loved the town of Avalon Bay. It has all the charm of the best small Southern coastal towns. Elle Kennedy has also proved that once again she can write convincing college students, as Garnet's campus and students were very believable. However, I like that this book didn't focus on the traditional college experience.
This is partly because neither of our main characters' ambitions includes a college degree. Instead, they are ambitious in a different way, both with their own entrepreneurial goals. As individuals, I liked both of our main characters, Cooper and Mac. However, I struggled to believe their relationship. They had great chemistry and banter. However, much of their bonding was based on similar family trauma, which I disliked and didn't find super believable. I would've preferred if there was more focus on how their ambitions bonded them.
I also didn't care for how their relationship started. I get that was the point, but it made it hard for me to root for Cooper. Beyond using a girl for revenge, Cooper also made several comments comparing Mac to other women, which I didn't find romantic at all, just annoying. I hate the "not like other girls" trope in romance, and at times, this book utilizes that trope. Still, there were lots of other aspects of Cooper's character that I liked, and I enjoyed reading about his relationship with Mac.
Overall, this was a solid romance book for me. If you want an atmospheric romance set in a small town, this book is perfect. If you're a sucker for a bad boy romance, you should also read this book. It's another great contemporary romance from Elle Kennedy.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Alcoholism
cordeliadarkles's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-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
3.0
*Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in return of an honest review*
I liked this book. I started reading it with no expansions and it surprised in some aspects.
I liked the character development, though it's a bit faulty towards the end. The characters get too messy for my taste. Mackenzie can spit on my face and I'd thank her.
I wasn't a fan of the "I'm not like other girls" trope during the first half of the book. But it subsided and that's when I appreciated the romance more.
DISCLAMER: I do not support EK. I received an arc of this book before I knew of her being problematic and had to review it!!
I liked this book. I started reading it with no expansions and it surprised in some aspects.
I liked the character development, though it's a bit faulty towards the end. The characters get too messy for my taste. Mackenzie can spit on my face and I'd thank her.
I wasn't a fan of the "I'm not like other girls" trope during the first half of the book. But it subsided and that's when I appreciated the romance more.
DISCLAMER: I do not support EK. I received an arc of this book before I knew of her being problematic and had to review it!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcoholism, Violence, and Abandonment
Minor: Death of parent