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3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
It took a little bit of time for me to enjoy this book but when it hit, it was great! I did have to keep reminding myself that the cast is filled with people upper 20 somethings, low 30s but I also really enjoyed the love of a complicated-seemingly "mean" woman. AND I loved the MMC having layers that weren't used against him or that he was wrongly judged by.
lighthearted
medium-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
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Sweethand is a sexy, hilarious, sweet, thoroughly entertaining, and satisfying enemies-to-lovers romance that is hard to put down. It probably comes as no surprise that friends-to-lovers is more my thing, but Sweethand could entice me over to the dark side of enemies-to-lovers, it was just that good. Filled with complex, diverse, well-drawn characters, and colorful descriptions, the novel explores themes of familial pressure, self-esteem, trust, friendship, and how preconceived ideas we form of a person rarely capture the whole of who that person is against a backdrop of Trinidadian culture and Island life.
Written in alternating POVs, Sweethand is an enemies-to-lovers tale of two millennials making a name for themselves in their prospective industries. Cherise, a pastry chef, and Keiran, a music producer, have bickered and annoyed each other from their childhoods as part of the same circle of friends. When Cherise’s sister and Keiran’s close friend announce they are getting married, they’re thrown together again as adults. As maid of honor and best man, they’re bound to be thrust into each other’s company for all the wedding activities, especially after the bride and groom request they plan a joint shower. All that banter, fighting, and one-up-manship between them hides a sizzling chemistry/attraction that brings long denied feelings roaring to the surface, rattling preconceived notions they both have of each other.
Cherise focuses on expanding her pastry chef business and takes a break from dating after an embarrassing public showdown with her cheating ex-boyfriend over their breakup. No more men – especially musicians. Her mother just doesn’t get it and is determined to matchmake until she finds a man for her to marry and have kids with. Independent, confident, talented, vivacious, she needs time to heal, but she humors her mother, going on dates anyway. The last thing she needs is annoying Keiran back in her life. Kieran has returned to Trinidad after being away for a while and is happy producing music with his business partner and not working with his father in his. He’s determined to be his own man – not like his father – avoid the spotlight and media, and make the kind of music he wants. While he’s always thought Cherise was an attention-seeking brat, he can’t deny he might have had a secret crush on her too.
Chrystal Bethell narrates Sweethand with enthusiasm and flavor after finding her footing. Strangely enough, she doesn’t differentiate the characters' voices, particularly the main characters, except for a few instances where she wonderfully narrates Cherise’s interactions with her elder Trinidadian family members with accents. More narration like this for Cherise, Keiran, and their circle of friends would have taken Sweethand to another level, as this along with more focus on differentiating the characters' voices were missing from the audiobook. Aside from that and a halting start, once Bethell got into the flow of the novel, her narration delightfully brought the characters and story to life for an entertaining and fun listen. I was drawn into the world and lives of these characters and wasn’t quite ready to leave when the audiobook ended. Sweethand is definitely worth a listen.
Written in alternating POVs, Sweethand is an enemies-to-lovers tale of two millennials making a name for themselves in their prospective industries. Cherise, a pastry chef, and Keiran, a music producer, have bickered and annoyed each other from their childhoods as part of the same circle of friends. When Cherise’s sister and Keiran’s close friend announce they are getting married, they’re thrown together again as adults. As maid of honor and best man, they’re bound to be thrust into each other’s company for all the wedding activities, especially after the bride and groom request they plan a joint shower. All that banter, fighting, and one-up-manship between them hides a sizzling chemistry/attraction that brings long denied feelings roaring to the surface, rattling preconceived notions they both have of each other.
Cherise focuses on expanding her pastry chef business and takes a break from dating after an embarrassing public showdown with her cheating ex-boyfriend over their breakup. No more men – especially musicians. Her mother just doesn’t get it and is determined to matchmake until she finds a man for her to marry and have kids with. Independent, confident, talented, vivacious, she needs time to heal, but she humors her mother, going on dates anyway. The last thing she needs is annoying Keiran back in her life. Kieran has returned to Trinidad after being away for a while and is happy producing music with his business partner and not working with his father in his. He’s determined to be his own man – not like his father – avoid the spotlight and media, and make the kind of music he wants. While he’s always thought Cherise was an attention-seeking brat, he can’t deny he might have had a secret crush on her too.
Chrystal Bethell narrates Sweethand with enthusiasm and flavor after finding her footing. Strangely enough, she doesn’t differentiate the characters' voices, particularly the main characters, except for a few instances where she wonderfully narrates Cherise’s interactions with her elder Trinidadian family members with accents. More narration like this for Cherise, Keiran, and their circle of friends would have taken Sweethand to another level, as this along with more focus on differentiating the characters' voices were missing from the audiobook. Aside from that and a halting start, once Bethell got into the flow of the novel, her narration delightfully brought the characters and story to life for an entertaining and fun listen. I was drawn into the world and lives of these characters and wasn’t quite ready to leave when the audiobook ended. Sweethand is definitely worth a listen.
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
i really enjoyed the banter between the protag and antag. I loved how the writer was able to cultivate some of our culture into a made-up entertainment industry in the island bites series.
it's not for me. I was a bit bored and sick of the "we hate each other but are secretly attracted to one another" dynamic
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced