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yolibear's review against another edition
5.0
This was a first for me by this author. I am pleasantly surprised and will continue to read more from her.
420blazeit's review against another edition
4.0
YAY, i loved this one!! when we are back to phoebe and dan being a part of the story, you know its going to be good. i loved this one, i loved Annabelle and her matchmaking business and can-do attitude paired with her sarcasm. her and heaths banter was 10/10 and i ate up every interaction they had. the side story with bodies and portia was nice too, although portia did scare me a little toward the end there ( and also she was right, bodies was acting like her part time shrink trying to psychoanalyze her every two seconds... man step off the gas and let her breathe) ANYWAY. this was a great read and had that frenemies-to-lovers feel that i love. also it was nice to be introduced to the Chicago stars bookclub, which i hope will be making its appearance again. also excited for deans book, he was a good guy to annabelle in this one. so anyway 4/5 loved it.
rebroxannape's review against another edition
5.0
I think that it's safe to say that this book represents SEP, as much as any other, at the height of her powers. When she got in the groove with writing contemporary chick-lit, she tended towards more angst and dark overtones. They were still funny, with feisty heroines and Alpha-male heroes, and very romantic with sometimes hard-won happy endings. She got a little lighter and a lot funnier, but her heroes tended to be a bit rapey and women found themselves (or put themselves) in demeaning and cringe-y situations. I'm sure they were not unusual for their time, but in this more enlightened age, they can be quite uncomfortable to re-read.
Match Me if you Can hits a sweet spot. Both the hero and heroine are appealing and hilarious, and the plot is fresh and unusual, but not contrived. The hero had a sad childhood which has affected his ability to be emotionally open and accept love, but the reader doesn't have to wallow in darkness. The heroine is sweet and kind but a force of nature as well. She also has a difficult-to-deal with over-achieving family who seems not to approve of or appreciate her or anything she does. More on that later. There is a secondary romance that is unexpected and funny. It is a true romantic comedy.
Throughout the novel, one of the recurring themes is Annabel's formidable and critical family. The reader learns to really resent them and hope they get their comeuppance and to see Annabel for the shining star she is. When Annabel brings Heath, the hero, who is impressive in all of the ways her family holds dear, to her 31st birthday party as her date, we wait in anticipation for them to be properly chastised courtesy of Heath and for the scales to fall from their eyes. Instead, something totally unexpected happens in a well-played twist. Brava, Susan E. Phillips.
For those who love closure, like me, there is a nice epilogue, in which absolutely everyone is assured of a happy fulfilled life forever and ever. The only thing missing, unfortunately, is a final resolution and understanding between Annabel and her family. Although we know everything became fine between them, it would have made a delicious scene or two, and I missed it.
https://rebekahsreadingsandwatchings.com/
Match Me if you Can hits a sweet spot. Both the hero and heroine are appealing and hilarious, and the plot is fresh and unusual, but not contrived. The hero had a sad childhood which has affected his ability to be emotionally open and accept love, but the reader doesn't have to wallow in darkness. The heroine is sweet and kind but a force of nature as well. She also has a difficult-to-deal with over-achieving family who seems not to approve of or appreciate her or anything she does. More on that later. There is a secondary romance that is unexpected and funny. It is a true romantic comedy.
Throughout the novel, one of the recurring themes is Annabel's formidable and critical family. The reader learns to really resent them and hope they get their comeuppance and to see Annabel for the shining star she is. When Annabel brings Heath, the hero, who is impressive in all of the ways her family holds dear, to her 31st birthday party as her date, we wait in anticipation for them to be properly chastised courtesy of Heath and for the scales to fall from their eyes. Instead, something totally unexpected happens in a well-played twist. Brava, Susan E. Phillips.
For those who love closure, like me, there is a nice epilogue, in which absolutely everyone is assured of a happy fulfilled life forever and ever. The only thing missing, unfortunately, is a final resolution and understanding between Annabel and her family. Although we know everything became fine between them, it would have made a delicious scene or two, and I missed it.
https://rebekahsreadingsandwatchings.com/
strawberrysouffle's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
ifyouhappentoremember's review against another edition
3.0
Well, it’s very much a product of the 2000s but it’s fun. I can’t say the main couple were particularly memorable but their dynamic was enjoyable enough.
hpitcher15's review against another edition
4.0
so, although s.e.p. has a lot of books with the same idea to them, i still can't get enough of them. the characters are always interesting and the story line is even better! i loved this book. i think it might have been the first s.e.p. book i've read where no one got married or pretended they were engaged!
betty816's review against another edition
5.0
Although it went exactly where I knew it would- moes or less- I LOVED this book!!!!!
ameretet's review against another edition
3.0
Generally I don't like matchmaker stories but this one was really cute.