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annineamundsen's review against another edition
4.0
The concept of a faked amnesia drew me in. It's a very typical romcom, very predictable (which isn't necessarily a negative thing imo). The grumpy/sunshine trope didn't fully work for me in this one, but I really liked the side characters and the development of their relationship.
CW: injury, previous death of a parent/family member
CW: injury, previous death of a parent/family member
afberdahl's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
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
5.0
kelly_inthe419's review against another edition
3.0
Tender, fresh and full of witty banter, 10 Things That Never Happened isn't so much a holiday romance as it is a romance set during Christmastime. The plot - faking amnesia - is a bit over-the-top and unbelievable. But Sam is completely endearing as he plots to save his job and those of his employees at a boutique bed and bath chain owned by curmudgeonly Jonathon. Sam just doesn't expect to fall in love.
Jonathon's family is an absolute delight in this story. They're feisty and messy and hilarious. I have to say, I never really understood how Jonathon ended up the way he was. Yes his father lost his job when the steel industry crashed. And yes, he was both gay and poor going through school, which understandably wore heavy on his heart. But eventually Sam does get through to him.
I did feel the ending was a bit rushed and not completely wrapped up. While this wasn't my favorite holiday read, I recommend this if you enjoy tropes like: grumpy/sunshine, fake dating, forced proximity, and (of course) holidays. Rounding up to 3.5 stars for the snark and wit.
Many thanks to Libro FM and Dreamscape Media for my complimentary audiobook. Narrator Will Watt hit all the right notes and voiced Sam, Jonathon and a wide range of side characters beautifully with their wide-ranging English accents.
Jonathon's family is an absolute delight in this story. They're feisty and messy and hilarious. I have to say, I never really understood how Jonathon ended up the way he was. Yes his father lost his job when the steel industry crashed. And yes, he was both gay and poor going through school, which understandably wore heavy on his heart. But eventually Sam does get through to him.
I did feel the ending was a bit rushed and not completely wrapped up. While this wasn't my favorite holiday read, I recommend this if you enjoy tropes like: grumpy/sunshine, fake dating, forced proximity, and (of course) holidays. Rounding up to 3.5 stars for the snark and wit.
Many thanks to Libro FM and Dreamscape Media for my complimentary audiobook. Narrator Will Watt hit all the right notes and voiced Sam, Jonathon and a wide range of side characters beautifully with their wide-ranging English accents.
nightjar656's review
3.25
I’m a bit conflicted on this one. I did find it an enjoyable read, with charming characters. However, I thought Sam really wasn’t fleshed out enough. Like, his whole thing is that he doesn’t have amnesia- but he hides so much about his life from the reader for so much of the book that he may as well actually have it. Also, in my opinion, if you’re not happy outside of a relationship you won’t be happy in one- and this book is about a miserable person fixing their life by getting into a relationship and leaving their whole former life behind. I get that both characters need to be developed but Sam felt too shallow for me to really buy the romance.
xcota's review
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
radiomochi's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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
3.75
bookswithcesco's review against another edition
4.0
I should start this off by saying that I have not read Boyfriend Material or Husband Material. I have, however, read Halls’ work before and this was really different and enjoyable to read from start to finish. The found family trope is hard to pull off, but when it’s done right it packs a punch. I loved every character in this book, and I’m a picky reader that tends to pick things apart.
I do have to say that the only main con was that the amnesia plot dragged on a little too long for my liking. Essentially it lasted so long that the only way for it to be wrapped up was for it to be overly cliche and predictable. That doesn’t make it bad, but it did take away from the character’s overall bond in some ways. Many opportunities for a resolution arise and they are intercepted without much viable reason. (Imo)
This book had me laughing, which is hard to do. I’m not a romcom kind of person, or someone that likes to read comedy since I don’t find it funny most of the time. 10 Things That Never Happened did it right.
I do have to say that the only main con was that the amnesia plot dragged on a little too long for my liking. Essentially it lasted so long that the only way for it to be wrapped up was for it to be overly cliche and predictable. That doesn’t make it bad, but it did take away from the character’s overall bond in some ways. Many opportunities for a resolution arise and they are intercepted without much viable reason. (Imo)
This book had me laughing, which is hard to do. I’m not a romcom kind of person, or someone that likes to read comedy since I don’t find it funny most of the time. 10 Things That Never Happened did it right.
page_not_found's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent
effiereads's review against another edition
5.0
“it’s so typical of jonathan forest that, even when he’s telling me he likes me, i feel a little bit like i’m being insulted.”
-
when his grumpy, rude, and not-so-nice boss, jonathan forest, is about to fire him, sam becker accidentally trips and hits his head. what else is a man to do—to save his job and the jobs of everyone he works with—but to fake amnesia and say he can’t remember anything?
but as sam is stuck recuperating at jonathan’s house, he’s faced with his boss’ guilt over the incident as well as the fact that maybe jonathan forest wasn’t as prickish as he comes off…
✨
*takes a deep breath* I LOVE A GRUMPY/SUNSHINE STORY!
and boy do i love an unlikeable character. and it doesn’t get more unlikeable than jonathan forest. jonathan is the grumpiest of grumps—truly would’ve punched him in the dick if i ever met him fr—and yet it didn’t take me long to love him!!!
to see him unfold through sam’s eyes, to see the reasons for his prickliness, to see his walls fall brick by brick, was absolutely wonderful.
and sam! our sassy, assertive, takes-no-shit protagonist who fumbled his way into a situation so ridiculous he just has to go along with it. i also don’t think i’ve read a book with a scouse protag so trying to read it with the accent was fun! i can’t wait for the audio tbh!
but, yeah, i loved the dynamic b/n sam and jonathan, their connection felt real, their tension, even their animosity at the start throughout felt tangible. absolutely loved it!
[[i do wonder that if you’re unfamiliar with the class division and disparity in england and how it manifests itself in working class men, the angst/familial drama may not seem that deep to people, but it cut me through to my soul.]]
ALSO, IT’S CHRISTMAS THEMED?! i didn’t know that going into it so i was v pleased.
so…amnesia!plot? ✅ grumpy/sunshine? ✅ a little found family? ✅
what more are you waiting for? go pre-order!
✨
review post-reading: reader, i loved this.
rtc.
-
when his grumpy, rude, and not-so-nice boss, jonathan forest, is about to fire him, sam becker accidentally trips and hits his head. what else is a man to do—to save his job and the jobs of everyone he works with—but to fake amnesia and say he can’t remember anything?
but as sam is stuck recuperating at jonathan’s house, he’s faced with his boss’ guilt over the incident as well as the fact that maybe jonathan forest wasn’t as prickish as he comes off…
✨
*takes a deep breath* I LOVE A GRUMPY/SUNSHINE STORY!
and boy do i love an unlikeable character. and it doesn’t get more unlikeable than jonathan forest. jonathan is the grumpiest of grumps—truly would’ve punched him in the dick if i ever met him fr—and yet it didn’t take me long to love him!!!
to see him unfold through sam’s eyes, to see the reasons for his prickliness, to see his walls fall brick by brick, was absolutely wonderful.
and sam! our sassy, assertive, takes-no-shit protagonist who fumbled his way into a situation so ridiculous he just has to go along with it. i also don’t think i’ve read a book with a scouse protag so trying to read it with the accent was fun! i can’t wait for the audio tbh!
but, yeah, i loved the dynamic b/n sam and jonathan, their connection felt real, their tension, even their animosity at the start throughout felt tangible. absolutely loved it!
[[i do wonder that if you’re unfamiliar with the class division and disparity in england and how it manifests itself in working class men, the angst/familial drama may not seem that deep to people, but it cut me through to my soul.]]
ALSO, IT’S CHRISTMAS THEMED?! i didn’t know that going into it so i was v pleased.
so…amnesia!plot? ✅ grumpy/sunshine? ✅ a little found family? ✅
what more are you waiting for? go pre-order!
✨
review post-reading: reader, i loved this.
rtc.
leointhebooks's review against another edition
4.0
4.5*
Congrats to Alexis Hall for being the first person ever to make me like an amnesia trope!
Honestly this book is all about the main characters for me. First of all, of course Gollum my favourite little ugly cat <3 Love me a little guy who'll betray his food-giver for the even grumpier guy at the first possible moment! Especially when the even grumpier guy comes as Jonathan who... is he an absolute asshole? Yes, absolutely! And yet, when you look into his reasons to becoming an asshole, they might still be questionable but so goddamn understandable.
And then there's Sam, who is trying so hard to make life look fine, and like nothing is wrong. He cares so much about the people he feels responsible for, even to his own detriment.
These two characters seem so different at the beginning, until you realise they're connected via this one giant elephant in the room they're both trying to ignore in their lives.
Congrats to Alexis Hall for being the first person ever to make me like an amnesia trope!
Spoiler
might be because it's fake but pshh, and the way it ends up being revolved is partially the reason why half a star is missing so it's still not my faveHonestly this book is all about the main characters for me. First of all, of course Gollum my favourite little ugly cat <3 Love me a little guy who'll betray his food-giver for the even grumpier guy at the first possible moment! Especially when the even grumpier guy comes as Jonathan who... is he an absolute asshole? Yes, absolutely! And yet, when you look into his reasons to becoming an asshole, they might still be questionable but so goddamn understandable.
And then there's Sam, who is trying so hard to make life look fine, and like nothing is wrong. He cares so much about the people he feels responsible for, even to his own detriment.
These two characters seem so different at the beginning, until you realise they're connected via this one giant elephant in the room they're both trying to ignore in their lives.