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beckyyreadss's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? Yes
4.0
The first book in this series was gifted to me by Michael Joseph Penguin Publishing and when I found out it was going to be a series, I was dying to read the next one. Violet took a while to grow on me, but it was an enjoyable read.
This book has two points of view. The first is Violet Greene and fashion is her life. She is a successful celebrity stylist, and she has travelled all over the world, living out her dreams. Professionally, she is thriving, but her personal life is a mess. After surviving a very public breakup with her ex-fiancé six months ago, Violet is now determined to focus on her career. But life hands her someone that could derail everything. The second point of view is Xavier Wright, and he did not expect to run into his high school sweetheart Violet – the girl he once thought he was going to marry on a birthday trip to Vegas. As a high school teacher and a basketball coach, he rarely leaves their hometown, so what were the chances? But when the shock wears off, they decide to celebrate together. They are young and reckless and party the night away. However, in the morning there is a regret when they wake up besides each other with rings on their fingers. Their impulsive nuptials might be a blessing in disguise, though, when they realize that both of their careers could benefit from their marriage. So, they decide to keep playing pretend as a blissfully wedded couple. Yet when the passion they felt as teenagers comes hurling back, they realize their feelings are just as real as it once was. But are their lives too different to stick it through or will they finally get their happily ever after?
Just like the last book in this series, I enjoyed the storyline a lot. I thought it was fluffy and adorable and fast-paced. I liked Violet and the character development that she went on during this book. At the beginning she was a cut-throat boss who had given up on love and just wanted to work herself to the ground and then to grow and realize there is more to life than work and to find the balance was really refreshing. I liked Xavier and his family and how his mum is just so lay back and was just confused by the fake marriage. Xavier just trying to stick by Violet and wanting to protect her but knows she can kick anyone’s ass was a funny subplot and then the man went full bodyguard when Eddy made an appearance. I liked the sisters and how they still stick together, and they are always helping each other out and gossiping.
Dahlia was a pain in the ass in the first book and was an even bigger pain in the ass in this book. She just didn’t need to do what she did. She was the one side character who could have been forgotten and I wouldn’t have minded. Her daughter wanted a dinner to explain what the truth was, and she threw a party because she never sees her – surely if you wanted quality time with your successful child you would have the intimate dinner that she asked for rather than throwing a town party and then getting pissed when it all goes tits up. I just felt like Dahlia had no reason to be offended or to lose her head when it was Violet that should have lost it, and she was forgiven way too easily.
I’m enjoying this series so far and I cannot wait for Iris’s story (hopefully with Angel) to be released and I’m sure it will be as good as the other two.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Infidelity, and Sexism
Moderate: Alcohol, Cursing, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Violence, Gaslighting, and Racism
bookishmillennial's review
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me here: https://linktr.ee/bookishmillennial
I thought this was such a cozy and fun second-chance, fake-marriage-of-convenience romance 🥰 I actually think I prefer it over The Neighbor Favor, which I still thought was adorable! This one just captured my heart a bit more.
Violet Greene is the middle sister (I’m pretty sure, Lily is youngest, Iris is eldest) who became the jet-setting famous stylist for big-time celebrities! She recently ended an engagement to talent manager Eddy, who cheated on her with a client that Violet introduced him to, recording artist Meela Baybee. Violet is with Karamel Kitty, another big-name client, in Las Vegas for 24 hours when she runs into her first love & first heartbreak, Xavier Wright!
After a drunken night in Las Vegas together and trying to avoid malicious gossip about her ex’s infidelity, Violet lies and says she has moved on and gotten married to her first love, whom everyone back home knows is Xavier! Xavier is trying to lock down a position as assistant coach at Riley University, as he feels stagnant in his current role as a high school English teacher and basketball coach. He had dreams of joining the NBA but after those were shattered, he struggled with picturing the rest of his life in their hometown. This fake marriage could help his job hunt, as the head coach is traditional and wants someone with “family values,” so Xavier signs on to pretend they’re married. Throw in a bit of close proximity (because now Violet is staying at his house!) and the fires of first love are rekindled!
The only part I rolled my eyes at was during the scene of Violet’s food poisoning, because no one talks that much as you’re throwing your guts up 😭 However, I really appreciated that Xavier had zero issue showing up for Violet when she needed care and support.
I think the reason I enjoyed this book so much was because of how authentic it felt for two people who knew each other as self-assured, confident kids, to recognize the inner children in the vulnerable adults they had become. It is such a powerful feelings to speak of one’s future with such conviction, and I think we have all been there. It’s before you go out there and gather up the lived experience of struggle and heartache. Xavier dreamed so big that when he lost it, it hurt tenfold. Violet had loved him so much that when he broke up with her, she cemented that feeling and never wanted to encounter it again.
Getting to re-know someone as an adult is such a treat and a privilege. Violet and Xavier made their way back to each other, with a tenderness for the children they were, and a respect and acceptance of who they were now. This is what people mean when they say love is a choice; it is not always the easy route or the most obvious route, but it is a choice to make it work!
Honorable mentions to Violet and Dahlia’s mother-daughter relationship, as Violet only wanted to be taken seriously, and Dahlia wanted to be a part of her daughter’s life; I was happy to see them meet in the middle. Also to Raheem, Xavier’s goofy cousin, the Greene sisters, and Xavier’s high school students, who were hilarious and spunky.
steam rating: 2/5
I thought this was such a cozy and fun second-chance, fake-marriage-of-convenience romance 🥰 I actually think I prefer it over The Neighbor Favor, which I still thought was adorable! This one just captured my heart a bit more.
Violet Greene is the middle sister (I’m pretty sure, Lily is youngest, Iris is eldest) who became the jet-setting famous stylist for big-time celebrities! She recently ended an engagement to talent manager Eddy, who cheated on her with a client that Violet introduced him to, recording artist Meela Baybee. Violet is with Karamel Kitty, another big-name client, in Las Vegas for 24 hours when she runs into her first love & first heartbreak, Xavier Wright!
After a drunken night in Las Vegas together and trying to avoid malicious gossip about her ex’s infidelity, Violet lies and says she has moved on and gotten married to her first love, whom everyone back home knows is Xavier! Xavier is trying to lock down a position as assistant coach at Riley University, as he feels stagnant in his current role as a high school English teacher and basketball coach. He had dreams of joining the NBA but after those were shattered, he struggled with picturing the rest of his life in their hometown. This fake marriage could help his job hunt, as the head coach is traditional and wants someone with “family values,” so Xavier signs on to pretend they’re married. Throw in a bit of close proximity (because now Violet is staying at his house!) and the fires of first love are rekindled!
The only part I rolled my eyes at was during the scene of Violet’s food poisoning, because no one talks that much as you’re throwing your guts up 😭 However, I really appreciated that Xavier had zero issue showing up for Violet when she needed care and support.
I think the reason I enjoyed this book so much was because of how authentic it felt for two people who knew each other as self-assured, confident kids, to recognize the inner children in the vulnerable adults they had become. It is such a powerful feelings to speak of one’s future with such conviction, and I think we have all been there. It’s before you go out there and gather up the lived experience of struggle and heartache. Xavier dreamed so big that when he lost it, it hurt tenfold. Violet had loved him so much that when he broke up with her, she cemented that feeling and never wanted to encounter it again.
Getting to re-know someone as an adult is such a treat and a privilege. Violet and Xavier made their way back to each other, with a tenderness for the children they were, and a respect and acceptance of who they were now. This is what people mean when they say love is a choice; it is not always the easy route or the most obvious route, but it is a choice to make it work!
Honorable mentions to Violet and Dahlia’s mother-daughter relationship, as Violet only wanted to be taken seriously, and Dahlia wanted to be a part of her daughter’s life; I was happy to see them meet in the middle. Also to Raheem, Xavier’s goofy cousin, the Greene sisters, and Xavier’s high school students, who were hilarious and spunky.
steam rating: 2/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Alcohol, Infidelity, Sexual content, and Vomit
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