Reviews

The Do-Over by Lynn Painter

i_mean_why_not's review against another edition

emotional funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

sabcof's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

I gotta stop reading these Lynn Painter books but they're like candy. Anyways three books in and I think I've finally figured out how I feel about Painter as an author. There are inconsistencies in her books, little fact check details that probably shouldn't bother me. And she does the romance lit thing, where she reuses phrases or terms when describing the love interest. Sometimes her side characters (and even her main characters!) are underdeveloped. It's cheesy fluff. All that said, she's really good at writing dialogue and chemistry, which is the main point of a romance book. And I like the way she talks about the heavier topics surrounding her main characters like divorce and loss, managing to capture the short sided and immature perspective teenagers can have (sorry teens) while also not underestimating their capacity for emotional depth, growth, and forgiveness. 

Of the three I've read, I think this is my favorite. I was worried the time loop plot would get annoying or feel unsatisfying,

but Emily and Nick's main bonding taking place over one day was a really smart decision. That way, we got to see Emily understand her true feelings for Josh while becoming more...intrigued by Nick, without sacrificing too much of their relationship's growth (as opposed to, for instance, Nick forgetting everrrryyyyything). I also liked the friend group and budding relationship between Chris and Alex, and the parents were complex, both frustrating due to their expectations and obtuseness towards Emily's feelings, and sympathetic in their underlying love for their daughter. 

Almost last thing, Nick was great. Much surlier and darker than Painter's other love interests. He does suffer from dumb boy making dumb mistakes because he doesn't understand his own head, but....I mean, he is a teenager. Sometimes he did veer into a little too overprotective for my taste, but I feel like I understood him much better than Wes (from Better Than the Movies). 

Okay, last note. Emily's denial of her (lack of) feelings for Josh was a little grating (and Josh's switch-up at the end felt kind of out of nowhere), but overall her narration was entertaining and I enjoyed watching her grow as a character. This was fun and I finished it in like 36 hours what more is there to say. 

.......Literally why did I write all that my god

danielle1211's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted sad fast-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

4.25

amela_6's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

akarpow's review against another edition

2.0

⭐️⭐️.5/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Fate is for suckers. Love is for planners.”

nevaeha05's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful lighthearted medium-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? No

3.0

minimonsta's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing fast-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

4.0

it could’ve been 5 stars if the author didn’t give her horrible outfits and try to act like a teenager when we teens do not infact act like that nor do we say swagger

katelyniversen's review against another edition

4.0

4.5⭐️
This was so unbelievably cute and the ending left me with goosebumps. Love, love, love!

wingellen's review against another edition

lighthearted medium-paced

4.25

marella_redek's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

4.5