Scan barcode
nerdynatreads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Wow. This is one of the strangest experiences I’ve had with a book in a while. Similar to Grady Hendrix’s Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires, this book was enjoyable but also enraged me so much.
The setup, second chance romance, childhood enemies, ex’s best friend, all of that I was pretty on board with, but the downfall of all of them was the FMC, Elizabeth. She was so incredibly frustrating because I actually quite liked her, but she is also one of the most emotionally constipated characters I’ve read in a while. I was literally chanting for her to attend therapy (and with another member of the Knitting circle being a therapist, I really thought it would happen a lot sooner.) She is a perfect example of why grief counseling is really important when a young person goes through something traumatic. That said, her qualms made perfect sense for why she was so hesitant to date Nico, but it was still frustrating how long things went in circles because she couldn’t deal with her own shit.
Nico was actually a real highlight of this book for me. I definitely was marking some red flags when Elizabeth discussed their high school days. He bullied her because he couldn’t handle his feelings, but I was impressed at how mature he responded when confronted with that. Still not my favorite thing in a romance, but I was surprised at how the author managed to change my tune. This man is head over heels for Elizabeth, so he was down-right adorable, romantic, and funny, but I’ll admit, pushing things too far at times when Elizabeth was clearly uncomfortable. The third act conflict comes about because he puts on the breaks for, what I believe, to be a very logical reason, but this is a romance book, so screw logic right? The way this book ends had me smacking myself with the book. I had to suspend so much disbelief to live in their romantic bubble, but still pretty damn cute, I’ll admit. Even though I did have so many logistical questions to raise.
I also had some issues with the writing, though I would remind myself this was only Reid’s second book. First, rather than actually writing a swear word, Reid would just state that the character was cursing. I don’t mind that occasionally, but sometimes it did seem a little silly. Just say fuck! Second, there were also a few phrases that were repeated here and there which isn’t inherently a bad thing, but I felt like the fact that I picked up on many of them did make the writing feel repetitive. Finally, I have a personal issue with the number of times Elizabeth said “bottom” to refer to her ass. Idk, it reminds me of my grandma, plus felt oddly juvenile.
Most of the time I was reading this, I actually really enjoyed it. I was laughing and kicking my feet, but I also was so freaking annoyed by Elizabeth. I liked this book, but it also irritated me, though not in the same way Neanderthal Seeks Human did. However, it did make me more invested in some of the future heroines in the series to continue.
The setup, second chance romance, childhood enemies, ex’s best friend, all of that I was pretty on board with, but the downfall of all of them was the FMC, Elizabeth. She was so incredibly frustrating because I actually quite liked her, but she is also one of the most emotionally constipated characters I’ve read in a while. I was literally chanting for her to attend therapy (and with another member of the Knitting circle being a therapist, I really thought it would happen a lot sooner.) She is a perfect example of why grief counseling is really important when a young person goes through something traumatic. That said, her qualms made perfect sense for why she was so hesitant to date Nico, but it was still frustrating how long things went in circles because she couldn’t deal with her own shit.
Nico was actually a real highlight of this book for me. I definitely was marking some red flags when Elizabeth discussed their high school days. He bullied her because he couldn’t handle his feelings, but I was impressed at how mature he responded when confronted with that. Still not my favorite thing in a romance, but I was surprised at how the author managed to change my tune. This man is head over heels for Elizabeth, so he was down-right adorable, romantic, and funny, but I’ll admit, pushing things too far at times when Elizabeth was clearly uncomfortable. The third act conflict comes about because he puts on the breaks for, what I believe, to be a very logical reason, but this is a romance book, so screw logic right? The way this book ends had me smacking myself with the book. I had to suspend so much disbelief to live in their romantic bubble, but still pretty damn cute, I’ll admit. Even though I did have so many logistical questions to raise.
I also had some issues with the writing, though I would remind myself this was only Reid’s second book. First, rather than actually writing a swear word, Reid would just state that the character was cursing. I don’t mind that occasionally, but sometimes it did seem a little silly. Just say fuck! Second, there were also a few phrases that were repeated here and there which isn’t inherently a bad thing, but I felt like the fact that I picked up on many of them did make the writing feel repetitive. Finally, I have a personal issue with the number of times Elizabeth said “bottom” to refer to her ass. Idk, it reminds me of my grandma, plus felt oddly juvenile.
Most of the time I was reading this, I actually really enjoyed it. I was laughing and kicking my feet, but I also was so freaking annoyed by Elizabeth. I liked this book, but it also irritated me, though not in the same way Neanderthal Seeks Human did. However, it did make me more invested in some of the future heroines in the series to continue.
cobaltbookshelf's review against another edition
4.0
“You can’t tell me that I don’t know you. I see you. I see you better than you see yourself. And everything about you is beautiful.”
I enjoyed this book. Elisabeth and Nico ..I felt for them, their story is of unrequited love and low key second chance romance. Elisabeth stubbornness was annoying at times but her character development is great. I wish story has more Nico's pov.
I like the Knitting Circle and can't wait to read other girls stories.
I enjoyed this book. Elisabeth and Nico ..I felt for them, their story is of unrequited love and low key second chance romance. Elisabeth stubbornness was annoying at times but her character development is great. I wish story has more Nico's pov.
I like the Knitting Circle and can't wait to read other girls stories.
zaza_bdp's review against another edition
4.0
J'ai dévoré ce petit VO en un rien de temps, c'est un vrai petit bonbon sucré comme je les aime. Le pitch de base est basique, le coup des retrouvailles est un sujet très exploité en romance qui peut même être casse-gu**le.
Elisabeth et Nico se connaissent depuis leur plus tendre enfance. Ils ont entretenu une relation chaotique, dont Elisabeth garde de très mauvais souvenirs. Mais à l'adolescence, la donne va changer et ils vont se rapprocher, pour ensuite ne plus se voir pendant 11 ans.
Au début du livre, ils se retrouvent dans un contexte professionnel, et vont vite reprendre contact. Dès le départ, on connaît la nature de leurs sentiments respectifs, et à partir de là ça pourrait devenir plat et ennuyeux. Sauf que ... Sauf que Penny Reid a une écriture enlevée, légère et drôle. Je ne compte pas le nombre de fois où j'ai ri ou souri dans ce livre, bien qu'il y ait des passages douloureux. Ses personnages ont tous un grain de folie, qui se manifeste parfois dans des scènes franchement hilarantes.
En parallèle des retrouvailles amoureuses (enfin plutôt du combat de Nico pour conquérir sa belle), on retrouve les copines de club de tricot, on côtoie les collègues d'Elisabeth (eux aussi sont bien cinglés, à leur manière), et on découvre les inconvénients de la vie des célébrités (Nico est un comédien/humoriste très célèbre, et il est harcelé par une femme particulièrement dérangée de la cafetière ...).
Le chapitre 22 montre toute la malice de l'auteur : elle ouvre ce chapitre par un petit encart signé de son nom pour expliquer qu'elle propose une double alternative : le chapitre avec la scène coquine où la porte sera fermée (et donc on ne saura RIEN de ce qui s'est passé), ou ... le chapitre avec la porte ouverte (où là, évidemment, on sait tout des cabrioles de nos amoureux). Elle nous laisse le choix, et là je vous avoue qu'une fois encore j'ai bien ri.
Ce livre offre un combo rire/swoon vraiment équilibré, j'ai passé un vrai bon moment de lecture, qui m'a fait un bien fou. Vivement la suite !
Elisabeth et Nico se connaissent depuis leur plus tendre enfance. Ils ont entretenu une relation chaotique, dont Elisabeth garde de très mauvais souvenirs. Mais à l'adolescence, la donne va changer et ils vont se rapprocher, pour ensuite ne plus se voir pendant 11 ans.
Au début du livre, ils se retrouvent dans un contexte professionnel, et vont vite reprendre contact. Dès le départ, on connaît la nature de leurs sentiments respectifs, et à partir de là ça pourrait devenir plat et ennuyeux. Sauf que ... Sauf que Penny Reid a une écriture enlevée, légère et drôle. Je ne compte pas le nombre de fois où j'ai ri ou souri dans ce livre, bien qu'il y ait des passages douloureux. Ses personnages ont tous un grain de folie, qui se manifeste parfois dans des scènes franchement hilarantes.
En parallèle des retrouvailles amoureuses (enfin plutôt du combat de Nico pour conquérir sa belle), on retrouve les copines de club de tricot, on côtoie les collègues d'Elisabeth (eux aussi sont bien cinglés, à leur manière), et on découvre les inconvénients de la vie des célébrités (Nico est un comédien/humoriste très célèbre, et il est harcelé par une femme particulièrement dérangée de la cafetière ...).
Le chapitre 22 montre toute la malice de l'auteur : elle ouvre ce chapitre par un petit encart signé de son nom pour expliquer qu'elle propose une double alternative : le chapitre avec la scène coquine où la porte sera fermée (et donc on ne saura RIEN de ce qui s'est passé), ou ... le chapitre avec la porte ouverte (où là, évidemment, on sait tout des cabrioles de nos amoureux). Elle nous laisse le choix, et là je vous avoue qu'une fois encore j'ai bien ri.
Ce livre offre un combo rire/swoon vraiment équilibré, j'ai passé un vrai bon moment de lecture, qui m'a fait un bien fou. Vivement la suite !
freadomlibrary's review against another edition
4.0
Trigger warnings: childhood disease, stalking, violence, death
October 2022: When I first read this book two years ago, I gave it 5 stars. I expected that in my reread I would feel the same way, but shockingly, I did not. I guess I took a little more care when reading this time around because I noticed some things I didn't like. I really hate the accepted idea that boys bully girls who they like, it perpetuates rape culture and makes girls think that is the way to receive affection. This is a second-chance romance of sort-of childhood friends but who had this particular dynamic when they were teens. The love interest apologizes for his behavior, but during the book, he is also very pushy of the main character and demanding of her for a lot of things. Being more aware of this the second time kind of put a damper on what I enjoyed in the first time which was the humor and banter between the two of them. However, I like the main character a lot and I am a big fan of the author's writing style so I still enjoyed reading it, just not as much as I did.
October 2022: When I first read this book two years ago, I gave it 5 stars. I expected that in my reread I would feel the same way, but shockingly, I did not. I guess I took a little more care when reading this time around because I noticed some things I didn't like. I really hate the accepted idea that boys bully girls who they like, it perpetuates rape culture and makes girls think that is the way to receive affection. This is a second-chance romance of sort-of childhood friends but who had this particular dynamic when they were teens. The love interest apologizes for his behavior, but during the book, he is also very pushy of the main character and demanding of her for a lot of things. Being more aware of this the second time kind of put a damper on what I enjoyed in the first time which was the humor and banter between the two of them. However, I like the main character a lot and I am a big fan of the author's writing style so I still enjoyed reading it, just not as much as I did.
jesseka8787's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed Elizabeth and Nicco's story...not as much as Janie and Quinn's story...but it was still entertaining! :-)
jmill525's review against another edition
funny
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
3.75
celbell's review against another edition
3.0
would’ve been 4/4.5 but lost points for MCs (imo) gross views on sex. She was very internally sex negative and a slut shamer
kvreadsandrecs's review against another edition
4.0
Meh. Not as good as the first. Lots of stereotypical lead female characteristics. I did, however, appreciate the different chapter options.
sarahlreadseverything's review against another edition
3.0
For unknown reasons, I enjoyed this one more on second reading? Rarely happens, but there you go.