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amberinpieces's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Vomit, and Alcohol
Minor: Classism, Medical content, Infidelity, Cursing, and Injury/Injury detail
paiges_on_pages's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Alcohol, Infidelity, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Racism and Violence
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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