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angeliquescollection's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book has been sitting in my Apple Books for so long and I just randomly scrolled and it caught my eye and I’m very glad it did.
Immediately loved the choice for character names lol. I’d find myself reading Rose’s pov in Kate Winslet’s voice. Especially anytime she said “Jack.” So funny.
I loved Rose and Jacks banter. The book is FULL of the funniest banter scenes. I was laughing out loud throughout the whole thing.
Jack’s ability to slowly readjust the way he interacts with people solely because of Roses intentions when she does it was so freaking cute.
I did cry when Rose was put in anxiety inducing situations. I felt for her.
I felt their love, their tension, I felt it all. Towards the end it felt the tiniest big dragged out which resulted in me taking a while to finish the book but it was amazing!
Immediately loved the choice for character names lol. I’d find myself reading Rose’s pov in Kate Winslet’s voice. Especially anytime she said “Jack.” So funny.
I loved Rose and Jacks banter. The book is FULL of the funniest banter scenes. I was laughing out loud throughout the whole thing.
Jack’s ability to slowly readjust the way he interacts with people solely because of Roses intentions when she does it was so freaking cute.
I did cry when Rose was put in anxiety inducing situations. I felt for her.
I felt their love, their tension, I felt it all. Towards the end it felt the tiniest big dragged out which resulted in me taking a while to finish the book but it was amazing!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical content
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Death of parent
chloelj27's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing
Minor: Alcohol, Panic attacks/disorders, Car accident, and Medical content
janetriestoread's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Medical content
kyriannaj's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Cursing, and Sexual content
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Stalking
jelavision's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.75
For a book that is over 500 pages, the main male character was written so one-note, and bland. For the majority of the book he just scowls and is rude to everyone around him - even his love interest. I thought at times Rose could’ve found someone better. His refusal to even apologize after the truth was revealed really soured me to Jack. I really did like Rose as a character. I was rooting for her throughout the book. She was sweet but also fierce and funny. This book had some decent moments but it’s a chore to get through
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail and Medical content
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Stalking
dlrosebyh's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
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
Sweet Rose has aspirations of finding love and starting her own tiny coffee business. Being a romantic, Rose marrying the icy Jack is completely out of character, but sometimes you have to make a radical decision because of circumstances. Jack is an absolute perfectionist with a promising future. He never makes errors. And being married to Rose—even solely for business purposes—might be a bad decision. Jack doesn't have emotions, but over time he begins to fall in love with Rose and can't stop thinking about her. As long as she can, Rose clings to the idea that "it's just a contract," but her feelings for Jack also shift.
Given the intriguing idea, I completely did not expect a character-driven narrative like this. The story started out moving pretty slowly. The personalities struck me as dull and shallow. Rose would frequently weep about how jack never smiled and was a miserable asshole.
But as the narrative progressed, I began to feel a connection to the people and the plot. I was unable to put it down. The conflict was the sole reason I gave it 3.75 stars instead of 4 or 5. I felt the conflict was very ridiculous and didn't enjoy it.
Instead of reading a novel, it feels more like reading a journal that has all the tropes blended into one. It had advantages and disadvantages. I wasn't a big fan of the prose, but I wasn't completely against it either. I simply believe it might be better.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Stalking
Minor: Death of parent
thefatpaperback's review against another edition
slow-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Death, Death of parent, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic relationship
ranjanireviewsreads's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.5
*please be warned that this is a negative review and for the first time in my career, I am not holding back on the criticisms. They are constructive, yes, but still overwhelmingly tinted with negativity. I respect anyone who publishes a novel because that in itself is such a huge deal. These are my opinions and I will no apologise for them*
God, I am so disappointed in this book. I was really looking forward to it. The hype, the tropes, the sex? None of it lived up to my expectations.
-- First of all, what the hell was that reason to get fake married? It was so convoluted and underwhelming. Along with the whole "paid ex to break up" which, granted, wasn't for the worst reasons. It was simply creepy - and not in the dark romance with stalker vibes creepy. Just plain unsettling.
-- The characters? Ohh man. Rose was so annoying. I could not stand her constant apologies and thank yous and rambling. Jack was just... a piece of paper with nothing to his name but his desire and love for Rose.
I understand how Rose's past makes it difficult for her accept help or to trust that help; but at least make her behaviour believable. I'm not sure if I missed something here - which is very possible because I skipped a lot of pages - but there was no explicit (or even implicit) connection made between her past and her current behaviour. It's obvious if you think about it but having the character become aware of it, understand it, and work through it is a very different level of satisfaction.
-- And oh my goooood. The writing. I tried reading the Adam and Jason books by this author and I swear to god, I could not stomach the writing. I still can't tell if Marriage For One is better or worse.
There is way too much imbalance between the narration and dialogue. There's always too much of either and it's never the right amount. I often skipped pages of just dialogue bruh, and there was nothing interesting in them (I read this in epub version; pages in this format might just mean one/half a page in printed).
The dialogue was very, very cringeworthy more often than not. I winced every time they said each other's name - a very bad sign in a romance since I want to be looking forward to whenever they say their love interest's name. It's a matter of connecting with the romance and the characters. None of which happened here.
-- Another thing I really hated was how neither Jack or Rose made an effort to understand the other re: their positions in society. Jack never seemed to understand that Rose came from having to literally stay at home to save money and thus never made friends and expected her to just... take his money? He could never relate to her experiences but he also never truly heard them. With Rose, it kinda seemed like she held Jack at fault for his wealth. In a way that blamed him for not having to struggle with money. This was however, only in the beginning but it still created an itch that never went away.
-- God, don't get me started on the whole "Jack" and "Rose" thing. With better writing, a whole lot more character development, and at least a little bit of plot, I would have been so on board with the from-two-different-world, opposites-attract, finding-a-home-in-one-another thing that is so obviously inspired from Titanic. But it was just plain annoying. Along with the fact that I cringed whenever they said each other's names; did I mention that? Hmm.
-- Also where tf did Samatha go? Her introduction, how Jack perceived her with hostility and suspicion; it all seemed to lead up to her development as thecrazy-ex-girlfriend trope but she just vanished? She seemed genuine enough in her intentions. But the author did not deem it necessary to even remember that she existed. It was really unnerving and just plain shit planning.
Anyway. Rant over. I regret reading this book. I do understand why people love it but I've read so many better books. Even The Love Hypothesis was better just because the writing was more mature and at least I was able to read it without skipping pages.
Would not recommend.
God, I am so disappointed in this book. I was really looking forward to it. The hype, the tropes, the sex? None of it lived up to my expectations.
-- First of all, what the hell was that reason to get fake married? It was so convoluted and underwhelming. Along with the whole "paid ex to break up" which, granted, wasn't for the worst reasons. It was simply creepy - and not in the dark romance with stalker vibes creepy. Just plain unsettling.
-- The characters? Ohh man. Rose was so annoying. I could not stand her constant apologies and thank yous and rambling. Jack was just... a piece of paper with nothing to his name but his desire and love for Rose.
I understand how Rose's past makes it difficult for her accept help or to trust that help; but at least make her behaviour believable. I'm not sure if I missed something here - which is very possible because I skipped a lot of pages - but there was no explicit (or even implicit) connection made between her past and her current behaviour. It's obvious if you think about it but having the character become aware of it, understand it, and work through it is a very different level of satisfaction.
-- And oh my goooood. The writing. I tried reading the Adam and Jason books by this author and I swear to god, I could not stomach the writing. I still can't tell if Marriage For One is better or worse.
There is way too much imbalance between the narration and dialogue. There's always too much of either and it's never the right amount. I often skipped pages of just dialogue bruh, and there was nothing interesting in them (I read this in epub version; pages in this format might just mean one/half a page in printed).
The dialogue was very, very cringeworthy more often than not. I winced every time they said each other's name - a very bad sign in a romance since I want to be looking forward to whenever they say their love interest's name. It's a matter of connecting with the romance and the characters. None of which happened here.
-- Another thing I really hated was how neither Jack or Rose made an effort to understand the other re: their positions in society. Jack never seemed to understand that Rose came from having to literally stay at home to save money and thus never made friends and expected her to just... take his money? He could never relate to her experiences but he also never truly heard them. With Rose, it kinda seemed like she held Jack at fault for his wealth. In a way that blamed him for not having to struggle with money. This was however, only in the beginning but it still created an itch that never went away.
-- God, don't get me started on the whole "Jack" and "Rose" thing. With better writing, a whole lot more character development, and at least a little bit of plot, I would have been so on board with the from-two-different-world, opposites-attract, finding-a-home-in-one-another thing that is so obviously inspired from Titanic. But it was just plain annoying. Along with the fact that I cringed whenever they said each other's names; did I mention that? Hmm.
-- Also where tf did Samatha go? Her introduction, how Jack perceived her with hostility and suspicion; it all seemed to lead up to her development as thecrazy-ex-girlfriend trope but she just vanished? She seemed genuine enough in her intentions. But the author did not deem it necessary to even remember that she existed. It was really unnerving and just plain shit planning.
Anyway. Rant over. I regret reading this book. I do understand why people love it but I've read so many better books. Even The Love Hypothesis was better just because the writing was more mature and at least I was able to read it without skipping pages.
Would not recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content
- character with claustrophobia (graphic description) -character A waits at the hospital for Character B to get out of surgery - discussion of surgery - Character on bed restsofiarmz13's review against another edition
emotional
funny
slow-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Medical trauma, and Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Stalking, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Bullying, Death of parent, and Cancer
ymread's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail and Medical content
Moderate: Sexual content and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Stalking, Bullying, Violence, and Death