Reviews

Mickey Chambers Shakes It Up by Charish Reid

sandlynn's review against another edition

emotional funny inspiring reflective 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

3.0

A lot of  heavy and important topics are introduced in the beginning of the story, such as grief, inability to pay for medicine/health issues, career stagnation, but then things are sidelined by the heroine's experiences working at the hero's bar. At the end, when all things are explained to the heroine's family, they barely blink an eye, so why all the secrecy and drama? I also had some issues with the two leads have an intimate relationship when it was inappropriate to do so -- at least hold off until the hero is no longer the heroine's student!

carrie_e's review

emotional funny 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

4.5

I love a power imbalance so I was definitely excited by a double dose. Mickey is a professor who just got a second job working in a bar. Diego is the bar owner who is going back to school and is taking Mickey’s class. Add some sizzling chemistry and delightful chaos ensues. 

I really like that our main characters are older and have some real depth in their backstories. Diego is a widower and Mickey has had a chronic illness since childhood. The side characters are also very well developed. 

And shoutout to a hero that likes to *eat*!  😏 Diego, sir, you are a king. 

youshouldreadthisif's review against another edition

lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

My overwhelming sentiment upon finishing this book is that it was boring. Aggressively so. I don't think Diego and Mickey meaningfully moved beyond attraction, which is doubly annoying since they were so attracted to each other literally the second time they met (which was also her first day of work at the bar) that they kissed in Diego's office. The third act conflict felt contrived, and then was resolved so quickly and easily that I wondered why it had even occurred at all. Plus, the narrator did a terrible job with Diego during the sex scenes.

stephbeaudoin20's review

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

Mickey Chambers Shakes it Up by Charish Reid
I devoured this book and then forgot to write a review. Mickey has hyperthyroidism, and she kept her butterfly! She is a unicorn like me!!!!!!! I remember getting my hyperthyroidism and Grave's disease diagnosis and my endocrinologist said they would remove my thyroid. Just like that. What?!?! There are other ways, and this story validates those of us who are unconventional. I am always so happy to see unconventional heroines and heroes getting their happily ever after.

Ok, enough about me. What I'm here for:
Mickey's sunshine
Mickey is a curvy black woman and she dresses to impress herself!
Mickey is the definition of Chronically Fabulous!
Diego's grumpiness, but he comes out of his shell
The family at the saloon
Cleo is the best friend ever!

This is my 18th book for The Diverse Baseline Challenge, and the second for the prompt Chronic Illness/Pain.

shadedhue44's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

4.0

malaciaaa's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring fast-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? No

4.5

the_readingraven'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? N/A

5.0

Hands down one of my favorite books now! 

I love Mickey Chambers Shakes It Up! 💗 This book did an excellent job with using several book tropes. If you are a true lover of grumpy x sunshine, you need to read this! It’s my favorite trope and Cherish wrote it so well. Mickey is our bundle of sunshine professor at a local college while Diego is a grumpy bar owner who lost his wife 5 years prior. We get such great banter between the two and see how they change each other lives. This is an age gap romance as well but not a taboo one. Mickey is in her early 30’s while Diego his early 40’s. Diego definitely gives zaddy vibes, I kept picturing him as Pedro Pascal! 🤣 Mickey is so stylish and curvy, I pictured her as a mix of Jazmine Sullivan and Amber Riley. This book is also a bit insta-love/lust. There is a definite attraction between our main characters, it starts immediately! I honestly prefer this more than slow burn so the pace was perfect to me. 

This book also has Latine representation, plus size representation, a diverse cast, and hyperthyroidism rep. Mickey Chambers Shakes it Up does deal with some triggers such as anxiety, grief, loss of partner/parent (prior to the book), and fatigue. 

mdrranda's review

funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing 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? It's complicated

4.5

kailunthecat's review against another edition

funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

rockyroad's review against another edition

lighthearted fast-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? It's complicated

4.0