Reviews

The Second You're Single by Cara Tanamachi

lindasbookedup's review

funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.25

I picked up and put down this book so many times. It’s light hearted, has witty banter and charm with a sexy MMC. But the numerous mixed body issues/weight references and a few unlikeable females in the book kept it at a 3 instead of a 4 for me. 

amulous's review

funny hopeful lighthearted 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

3.0

whatkelseywrote's review

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

morganlmace's review

3.0

Sora has sworn off men for the month of February after a string of bad and disastrous relationships. She’s a freelance writer, and has decided to start a #GoSolo movement for the most romantic month of the year. Of course as soon as she’s sworn off men and dating, she runs into her old childhood friend Jack and the sparks fly. Overall, the premise of The Second You’re Singly by Cara Tanamachi is cute, but I’m not sure it was executed as well as it could have been – just sort of fell flat. I enjoyed reading it, but there were a few things that were a little off putting to me as a reader. I didn’t enjoy all of the negative talk about people’s bodies throughout the book – not only the FMCs but how the MMC was bullied as a child because he was chubby, and pretty much anyone that was skinnier than the FMC it was mentioned and how she felt they were judging her for what she looked like (when I didn’t really feel like it was necessary). I did appreciate seeing some ethnic diversity in our characters, and definitely want more of this in the future for our romance books. Overall, it was a cute read.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided to me through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Cara Tanamachi and St. Martin’s Press for giving me the opportunity to read this book!

mdim's review

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? It's complicated

3.0

lost_in_novels's review

2.0

I have a few conflicting feelings about this book.
This story reminded me a bit (a bit being the imperative word here) of that romcom "How to loose a guy in 10 days", which is one of my favorite romcom movies! Here we have a freelancer journalist that after a bad divorced and other very poor relationship decided to swear off men for the month of February and start a series of articles about it.
She does however run into a friend from school and of course she feels attracted to him and start having this conflicting feelings.

The things that I liked in this book was the BIPOC representation and the fact she is older, already divorced and he has also already been engaged. As I grow older I appreciate more books with older characters.
However, I didn't like her weird and quite obsessive preference for everything with bacon. I though the author stretched too much a characteristic of the FMC to the point that I just thought "well it's a bit too much".
In that regard goes as well the comments about her and the MMC body image. Her constant complaint that she is not skinny, the way she eats extra bacon sort of to defy her family that wants her to loose weight and at some point she thinking she will "grow" and decides to eat a salad made me roll my eyes and loose sympathy for her altogether.
Another thing that it really rubbed me off is that she only has 1 girl friend that is nice to her.. her sister, her mother, her neighbor, her ex-husband fiancé, the MMC's ex girlfriend are all "bad" to her either criticizing or being snobbish. It does feel like the whole world is against her... come on!

Anyway.. it had a good premise.. it has one of my favorite tropes (he falls first) but I thought it was poorly executed.

krystina_gail11's review against another edition

funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted fast-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

4.5

r3b3ccah's review

funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted

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

2.75

madi_sey's review

2.0

2.5

jodeezle's review

4.0

This book was okay. I liked parts and didn't like some parts.
Sora hates Valentines Day. She is also a writer who pitches a series of articles on Going Solo for the month of February. Almost immediately she runs into Jack, a guy that used to have a crush on her in elementary school, but who has grown into a very hot looking man. But she can't right, she pledged to #GOSOLO.

I didn't care for the the body shamming that occurred in this book. Sora's mom has body image issues and projects them on to her daughter. It gets really bad as Sora's sister's wedding approaches. Even though it appears that Sora is okay with being a size 14, when the bridesmaid dress fitting incident occurs it feels to me like she really isn't quite as comfortable with it you are to believe.

I really liked how snarky Sora is though. Even though we don't get to know Jack very well, I like that he is portrayed as the hero. I also really liked how sappy this book is. I am a sucker for a sappy book, that is why I kept reading. I had to find out how it ended.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martins Press for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.