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littlered4758's review
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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
3.0
lindseysbooknook's review
3.0
The Man Ban • Nicola Marsh
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Harper has initiated a man ban since her last relationship ended in a horrible breakup, when she reviled her vitiligo diagnosis brought on by the stress from her parents’ separation. She instead has decided to follow her passion with food styling. While styling her biggest event, her best friend Nishi’s wedding, she is hoping for new customers and praises, but Best Man Manny criticizes her efforts. When they both find themselves in New Zealand shortly after, and Harper is in need of an assistant Manny offers to help. Will Manny’s chivalry lift Harper’s man ban? And if it does will Manny’s Indian grandmother approve of their interracial relationship, even if her only wish is for Manny to be married.
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I really liked that Nicola was able to bring light to the autoimmune disease vitiligo, it was nice to see how a person would live with it and I was glad to learn more about it.
Now I didn’t read Boy Toy which is the first book in the series, but it is a standalone.
Overall I thought the book was ok, I didn’t feel like there was much a man ban for Harper as it seems fairly quick that Manny and her got together pretty quickly. There was a bunch of banter and innuendos between the two but which I typically enjoy but this book rushed into the relationship.
One thing that really didn’t make sense to me is Harper says Nishi is her best friend but she is barely in the book. If they truly were she would be a lot more involved.
•
•
Harper has initiated a man ban since her last relationship ended in a horrible breakup, when she reviled her vitiligo diagnosis brought on by the stress from her parents’ separation. She instead has decided to follow her passion with food styling. While styling her biggest event, her best friend Nishi’s wedding, she is hoping for new customers and praises, but Best Man Manny criticizes her efforts. When they both find themselves in New Zealand shortly after, and Harper is in need of an assistant Manny offers to help. Will Manny’s chivalry lift Harper’s man ban? And if it does will Manny’s Indian grandmother approve of their interracial relationship, even if her only wish is for Manny to be married.
•
I really liked that Nicola was able to bring light to the autoimmune disease vitiligo, it was nice to see how a person would live with it and I was glad to learn more about it.
Now I didn’t read Boy Toy which is the first book in the series, but it is a standalone.
Overall I thought the book was ok, I didn’t feel like there was much a man ban for Harper as it seems fairly quick that Manny and her got together pretty quickly. There was a bunch of banter and innuendos between the two but which I typically enjoy but this book rushed into the relationship.
One thing that really didn’t make sense to me is Harper says Nishi is her best friend but she is barely in the book. If they truly were she would be a lot more involved.
dorisede's review
3.0
I guess this was a good book but the last chapters really pissed me off. I hate when people try to use their dead relatives as an excuse for being a shitty person, like I am shitty person because I lost my mom or Dad blah blah. I have lost a parent and I would never use her as an excuse for being a bad person because she was one of the nicest people ever. She inspires me to a better person and not the opposite whenever I do something nice for someone I know she would have done this same or even more if she was in my shoes. Authors need to stop giving their characters tragic backstories to rationalize their annoying behavior.
danidsfavereads's review
4.0
This was a fun sexy story.
I loved the sass between Harper and Manny. I also liked to see the way their relationship evolved.
I kinda felt annoyed that all of the big reveals and drama happened right at the end. And it felt really annoying that the drama happened at all since the main characters were older.
This was a fun follow up to The Boy Toy and I enjoyed getting a glimpse at the characters from that book too.
I loved the sass between Harper and Manny. I also liked to see the way their relationship evolved.
I kinda felt annoyed that all of the big reveals and drama happened right at the end. And it felt really annoying that the drama happened at all since the main characters were older.
This was a fun follow up to The Boy Toy and I enjoyed getting a glimpse at the characters from that book too.
spowers2627's review
4.0
An enjoyable romance!
Harper is an Australian food stylist, Manish is an Anglo-Indian doctor. Neither is looking for for a relationship and though their fist encounter was memorable, Harper has no plans to see Manny again. Their paths keep crossing and these two find they are well matched. If you enjoyed The Boy Toy you will enjoy revisiting some of the characters, but this book can be read without reading the other as well.
Though I didn’t find this story to be as witty as the Boy Toy, I found it engaging and sweet. My favorite parts were the food descriptions and of course the setting, traveling from Australia to New Zealand!
Harper is an Australian food stylist, Manish is an Anglo-Indian doctor. Neither is looking for for a relationship and though their fist encounter was memorable, Harper has no plans to see Manny again. Their paths keep crossing and these two find they are well matched. If you enjoyed The Boy Toy you will enjoy revisiting some of the characters, but this book can be read without reading the other as well.
Though I didn’t find this story to be as witty as the Boy Toy, I found it engaging and sweet. My favorite parts were the food descriptions and of course the setting, traveling from Australia to New Zealand!
emilyisoverbooked's review
4.0
The Man Ban is a binge-worthy rom com about food stylist Harper and ED doc Manny. Harper is on a man ban after her last boyfriend dumped her once he found out that she has an autoimmune skin condition called vitiligo. But when she and Manny have undeniable chemistry, she decides to break the ban to have a little fun. But can it turn into more with a man who usually doesn’t call back after one date?
Harper and Manny’s witty banter was so much fun, and I loved seeing their relationship form amidst work and family struggles and within their friend group. Grandma Izzy was a spectacular character and it was fun to see her influence in Manny’s life. The storyline about Harper’s parents was woven in perfectly. The Indian culture included was well done, as was Harper’s struggle with vitiligo - because this is an #ownvoices piece as the author also has this condition.
Can we also appreciate that Harper has a man ban and ends up with a Manny? Nice touch, Nicola Marsh.
Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC!
Harper and Manny’s witty banter was so much fun, and I loved seeing their relationship form amidst work and family struggles and within their friend group. Grandma Izzy was a spectacular character and it was fun to see her influence in Manny’s life. The storyline about Harper’s parents was woven in perfectly. The Indian culture included was well done, as was Harper’s struggle with vitiligo - because this is an #ownvoices piece as the author also has this condition.
Can we also appreciate that Harper has a man ban and ends up with a Manny? Nice touch, Nicola Marsh.
Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC!
delaney572e4's review
1.0
Male main character: "This isn't a fancy date, it's low-key, and I want to spend some quality time with you."
Female main character: "You sure you're not a woman trapped in a man's body?"
Gag.
On top of this, the book was an absolute snooze-fest, I could not bring myself to care about a single character, it was super insta-love-y, and it wasn't very cohesive.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
pre-review
I really need to stop requesting ARCs on whims
Female main character: "You sure you're not a woman trapped in a man's body?"
Gag.
On top of this, the book was an absolute snooze-fest, I could not bring myself to care about a single character, it was super insta-love-y, and it wasn't very cohesive.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
pre-review
I really need to stop requesting ARCs on whims
nelka9books's review
3.0
mocna sredniawa, po 2 tygodniach sie oswiadczyl i to tylko dlatego ze babcia umierala :///
thindbooks's review
4.0
This was such an amazing book! This is about Harper who has been on a man ban until Manny belittles her work which now Harper wants revenge and Manny wants to have a little fun. I was super happy I was approved this book on NetGalley because once I read the summary, I knew this book was for me. I just enjoyed the writing style of the book as it was so smooth and could make a perfect rom com movie. I was surprised that this book was taken place in Australia and New Zealand as I wasn’t expecting that but I opted visiting those countries and learning more about it in this book. With the writing everything was perfect with it like the setting, plot structure, pacing, etc.
I absolutely loved the characters Harper and Manny and the story is told from both of their POVs. I loved how the author included in the story that Harper has vitiligo as in the story you can see her develop from her illness while working on new career and falling in love. She was such an amazingly written along side with Manny who both developed a lot throughout the story. Manny was a character that you will instantly fall in love with and I enjoyed how he is such a caring person but lives in his bad dating reputation. Though I wish this book had more main side characters involved as there weren’t many and was mostly focused on Harper and Manny. The romance in this book is an enemies to lovers romance which involved some steamy scenes. I wish it was a tad steamier where things were heading as they only lasted about 1/2 to 1 page.
The ending was well done but I have to ask where was the epilogue?! I needed one for this book just to see what happened to them next! This book was beautifully written with great characters and funny dialogue plus some steamy scenes. There was some super minor problems but overall this was an amazingly written book. I recommend this book to fans of Lily Menon and Emily Henry.
I absolutely loved the characters Harper and Manny and the story is told from both of their POVs. I loved how the author included in the story that Harper has vitiligo as in the story you can see her develop from her illness while working on new career and falling in love. She was such an amazingly written along side with Manny who both developed a lot throughout the story. Manny was a character that you will instantly fall in love with and I enjoyed how he is such a caring person but lives in his bad dating reputation. Though I wish this book had more main side characters involved as there weren’t many and was mostly focused on Harper and Manny. The romance in this book is an enemies to lovers romance which involved some steamy scenes. I wish it was a tad steamier where things were heading as they only lasted about 1/2 to 1 page.
The ending was well done but I have to ask where was the epilogue?! I needed one for this book just to see what happened to them next! This book was beautifully written with great characters and funny dialogue plus some steamy scenes. There was some super minor problems but overall this was an amazingly written book. I recommend this book to fans of Lily Menon and Emily Henry.