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bookishinseattle's review against another edition
3.0
When first requesting this book I was super excited to read a romance story that spans 10 years. I really tried with this book, but the jumping from year to year made it challenging to really get to know the characters. I had a hard time connecting with the MC and was very frustrated by her behavior and how she treated the closest people she has.
Thank you NetGalley for eARC in exchange for my honest review.
This cute story is perfect for lovers of Flatshare! I loved Cassie and James, and their slow burn romance. I love how outgoing Cassie is and how she makes friends with all James' neighbors.
As someone who has had multiple miscarriages, seeing the heartbreak of them portrayed in this book was truly exceptional.
I thank NetGalley and the publisher, Bookouture, for an eARC for my honest opinion.
Thank you NetGalley for eARC in exchange for my honest review.
This cute story is perfect for lovers of Flatshare! I loved Cassie and James, and their slow burn romance. I love how outgoing Cassie is and how she makes friends with all James' neighbors.
As someone who has had multiple miscarriages, seeing the heartbreak of them portrayed in this book was truly exceptional.
I thank NetGalley and the publisher, Bookouture, for an eARC for my honest opinion.
handmaderiot's review against another edition
2.0
It's been a while since I've written a review, but it has also been a while since I was utterly duped by a book this hard!
Uhh, first of all, content warning for miscarriage. Second, content warning for someone who wants to be childfree literally changing their mind in literally a span of minutes! Third, content warning for stalking. Fourth, description of parental addiction, sibling addiction & death, and parentified children.
I listened to this as an audiobook and the narration is great. That being said, I feel incredibly duped after investing so much time in this book after the initially promising blurb, based on the fact that I like The Holiday movie, with a similar premise.
SPOILER PORTION:
Cassie's best friend develops a fantasy relationship in her head with James based on literally nothing. I have no idea what the point of this is. In fact, the best friend develops such an elaborate story about her and the love interest, James, that the main character, Cassie, literally does not initially want to pursue anything with James because of these made up delusions. What.
James had a really difficult childhood. This depiction seems fine. His childhood is the main reason that James does not want to have children. Valid. HOWEVER, literally within the last 10 percent of the book James changes his mind and suddenly says that an ultrasound scan of a 12 week fetus, which by the way is the size of a LIME, is-- get this-- "BEAUTIFUL"! And suddenly HE is asking the pregnant woman for a favor, which is for him to fly across an ocean to go to the next ultrasound appointment.
And in response, the main character basically thinks to herself "took him long enough to call, but I guess that's understandable given his childhood", even though he told her from the beginning that HE DOES NOT WANT TO HAVE CHILDREN. IN FACT, she wants to throw her phone across the room because IT TOOK HIM SO LONG TO DECIDE TO COME TO THE NEXT APPOINTMENT EVEN THOUGH SHE TOLD HIM THAT SHE HAD NO EXPECTATION OF HIM AS THE FATHER- which actually makes sense considering she was gettin IVF from a sperm donor prior to this. Not to mention, they weren't actually together.
The ultrasound tech asks whether they want to know the GENDER of the baby.... Good times.
Despite living across the ocean from one another and basically deciding to not pursue a relationship, suddenly James wants to marry Cassie, during the ultrasound appt. And then he just blurts out "I love you"... And THEN he "DESPERATELY", pretty much out of nowhere, wants the baby. Like it's a biscuit, and not an 18 year long legal responsibility.
END OF SPOILER:
This is so fucking infuriating. I want my time back.
Uhh, first of all, content warning for miscarriage. Second, content warning for someone who wants to be childfree literally changing their mind in literally a span of minutes! Third, content warning for stalking. Fourth, description of parental addiction, sibling addiction & death, and parentified children.
I listened to this as an audiobook and the narration is great. That being said, I feel incredibly duped after investing so much time in this book after the initially promising blurb, based on the fact that I like The Holiday movie, with a similar premise.
SPOILER PORTION:
Cassie's best friend develops a fantasy relationship in her head with James based on literally nothing. I have no idea what the point of this is. In fact, the best friend develops such an elaborate story about her and the love interest, James, that the main character, Cassie, literally does not initially want to pursue anything with James because of these made up delusions. What.
James had a really difficult childhood. This depiction seems fine. His childhood is the main reason that James does not want to have children. Valid. HOWEVER, literally within the last 10 percent of the book James changes his mind and suddenly says that an ultrasound scan of a 12 week fetus, which by the way is the size of a LIME, is-- get this-- "BEAUTIFUL"! And suddenly HE is asking the pregnant woman for a favor, which is for him to fly across an ocean to go to the next ultrasound appointment.
And in response, the main character basically thinks to herself "took him long enough to call, but I guess that's understandable given his childhood", even though he told her from the beginning that HE DOES NOT WANT TO HAVE CHILDREN. IN FACT, she wants to throw her phone across the room because IT TOOK HIM SO LONG TO DECIDE TO COME TO THE NEXT APPOINTMENT EVEN THOUGH SHE TOLD HIM THAT SHE HAD NO EXPECTATION OF HIM AS THE FATHER- which actually makes sense considering she was gettin IVF from a sperm donor prior to this. Not to mention, they weren't actually together.
The ultrasound tech asks whether they want to know the GENDER of the baby.... Good times.
Despite living across the ocean from one another and basically deciding to not pursue a relationship, suddenly James wants to marry Cassie, during the ultrasound appt. And then he just blurts out "I love you"... And THEN he "DESPERATELY", pretty much out of nowhere, wants the baby. Like it's a biscuit, and not an 18 year long legal responsibility.
END OF SPOILER:
This is so fucking infuriating. I want my time back.
infectedarea's review
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
bookishpanda97's review
3.0
Cute clean Romcom I can't explain why I didn't love it. I didn't hate it either
emmascr's review against another edition
4.0
This review was originally posted on Star Crossed Reviews I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Bookouture for my copy of this book via Netgalley and for letting me take part in this tour. I really enjoyed The First Time We Met so I was excited to read another book by this author.
I really enjoyed Jo's writing style. I like books with multiple POV so I really enjoyed switching between Cassie and James for each chapter.
The story is split between an island near Maine, USA and London. The London scenes gave me a real hankering to visit again. It's been more than a year since I last went to London and I do miss it. I love seeing the sights and catching up with friends for dinner and drinks. I really enjoyed living vicariously through these characters. Cassie's house also sounds beautiful. I would LOVE to visit somewhere like this for a lovely relaxing break.
I really liked both main characters. James did come off a bit rude, to begin with, but once his walls started to come down he really did grow on me. Underneath all the pain of his past, he's actually a really sweet guy. Cassie is such a sweetheart. She cares about everyone and always tries to help out where she can.
I really loved all the side characters in this book. Even though they weren't the main characters they were still well thought out with their individual personalities.
Jo explores different types of grief in this book. It was really lovely to see how James and Cassie could help each other through their grief and to heal.
This book was a lovely sweet story that made you really appreciate your loved ones and gives you the warm fuzzies.
I really enjoyed Jo's writing style. I like books with multiple POV so I really enjoyed switching between Cassie and James for each chapter.
The story is split between an island near Maine, USA and London. The London scenes gave me a real hankering to visit again. It's been more than a year since I last went to London and I do miss it. I love seeing the sights and catching up with friends for dinner and drinks. I really enjoyed living vicariously through these characters. Cassie's house also sounds beautiful. I would LOVE to visit somewhere like this for a lovely relaxing break.
I really liked both main characters. James did come off a bit rude, to begin with, but once his walls started to come down he really did grow on me. Underneath all the pain of his past, he's actually a really sweet guy. Cassie is such a sweetheart. She cares about everyone and always tries to help out where she can.
I really loved all the side characters in this book. Even though they weren't the main characters they were still well thought out with their individual personalities.
Jo explores different types of grief in this book. It was really lovely to see how James and Cassie could help each other through their grief and to heal.
This book was a lovely sweet story that made you really appreciate your loved ones and gives you the warm fuzzies.
miamarecie's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
pianokeys's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
bexdoesbooks's review against another edition
5.0
Just read this one and I absolutely loved it!! Definitely couldn't put it down. Highly recommend if you're a fan of chick lit
nannykaren's review against another edition
5.0
Wow, I really loved The House Swap. Told between the two main characters perspectives, and across two continents, it had me laughing out loud at times and heartbroken at others.