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lucyanna's review against another edition
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
lolovesbooks3's review against another edition
2.0
Warning: This review will contain the words “hook up” a lot… ;)
I’m starting to think maybe contemporary romance is not my thing. I gave this a shot because I love marriage of convenience, but the same things tripped me up. I feel like there is never really a plot with contemporary stories and this felt no different. The entire plot revolves around giving the two characters opportunities to hook up. It’s constant thinking about hooking up, talking to other people about hooking up, and trying not to hook up… until they hook up. There’s just wasn’t much else going on. The work pranks were mildly entertaining and there were some flash backs that had a bit of a plot point. but even those were just an attempt to say, “Look we’re friends who don’t hook up even though we have always wanted to, or something.” Even Mia’s medical issues seemed like they were only mentioned to explain why they have or haven’t hooked up. It was made worse by the fact that we knew almost immediately that they had feelings for each other so there was no building of feelings at all. Just chapter after chapter of…. Will this be the chapter they have sex or just talk and think about it the entire time?
I wanted to shake Noah at the beginning and tell him to move the heck on and go find someone who appreciates him, challenges him, gives a crap about him etc etc. I just wanted more in so many ways, I can’t even write an articulate review, apparently.
I’m starting to think maybe contemporary romance is not my thing. I gave this a shot because I love marriage of convenience, but the same things tripped me up. I feel like there is never really a plot with contemporary stories and this felt no different. The entire plot revolves around giving the two characters opportunities to hook up. It’s constant thinking about hooking up, talking to other people about hooking up, and trying not to hook up… until they hook up. There’s just wasn’t much else going on. The work pranks were mildly entertaining and there were some flash backs that had a bit of a plot point. but even those were just an attempt to say, “Look we’re friends who don’t hook up even though we have always wanted to, or something.” Even Mia’s medical issues seemed like they were only mentioned to explain why they have or haven’t hooked up. It was made worse by the fact that we knew almost immediately that they had feelings for each other so there was no building of feelings at all. Just chapter after chapter of…. Will this be the chapter they have sex or just talk and think about it the entire time?
I wanted to shake Noah at the beginning and tell him to move the heck on and go find someone who appreciates him, challenges him, gives a crap about him etc etc. I just wanted more in so many ways, I can’t even write an articulate review, apparently.
abbyreadsthebooks's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
A quick, easy read but a lot of their interactions felt forced. Didn’t love the epilogue… felt like it wasn’t tied up very well.
julena17's review
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
kateyoutka's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
3.5
An extremely cute friends-to-lovers/marriage of convenience with lovable characters who are incredibly sweet to each other. An easy, nice read!
taetahlia's review against another edition
4.0
This is just a super sweet book. Mia (FMC) has put her life on hold due to illness and is awaiting a kidney transplant. Her best friend, Noah (MMC), has been pining after her for years and suggests they get married (for 2 years only of course) so that she can pursue studying full-time for her dream job (a paediatrician dietician) and still be covered under his medical insurance (he is an architect up for a promotion at work). There’s a lot of feels and angst (Noah in particular is still grieving his older brother’s death), but most importantly the pining is amazing and I just loved their transition from best friends to lovers/married. They were so sweet to each other, and mutually in love with each other for so long, it was just such a cute read.
Note: I didn’t rate this higher because I feel like there are some issues overall with the chronic illness representation. For example, Mia says continuously that she feels like a burden but it’s not really demonstrated on page (we’re just told that there’s this underlying belief that she is holding her loved ones back) and I also thought that there wasn’t enough information on Mia’s specific chronic illness/disease (it all seemed to be quite vague and then “fixed” at the end following the transplant, and I don’t feel like that is an accurate depiction).
Triggers: Car accident, sibling death, estranged parents, chronic illness/disease, hospital scenes, some abandonment / adoption themes.
Note: I didn’t rate this higher because I feel like there are some issues overall with the chronic illness representation. For example, Mia says continuously that she feels like a burden but it’s not really demonstrated on page (we’re just told that there’s this underlying belief that she is holding her loved ones back) and I also thought that there wasn’t enough information on Mia’s specific chronic illness/disease (it all seemed to be quite vague and then “fixed” at the end following the transplant, and I don’t feel like that is an accurate depiction).
Triggers: Car accident, sibling death, estranged parents, chronic illness/disease, hospital scenes, some abandonment / adoption themes.
robinmallory's review against another edition
4.0
Friends to lovers + marriage of convenience.
I went in not really having any expectations and was pleasantly surprised. First time reading something from this author and looking forward to reading more from her. Overall, just a sweet book about falling in love with your best friend.
I went in not really having any expectations and was pleasantly surprised. First time reading something from this author and looking forward to reading more from her. Overall, just a sweet book about falling in love with your best friend.
ode_to_readers's review
4.0
Such a cute story with best friends to lovers! Characters were in-depth, with their own traumas and attachment styles. It did drag on in some parts where I just wanted to hit Mia on the head and say "You're being selfish by not letting him have the choice to love you no matter what."
There are also quite a lot of time jumps. Usually 2-3 weeks. It was a little disorientating at first but makes the book a bit more fast-paced. I didn't feel like it was needed, the story had enough flow as it was, but it was different.
There are also quite a lot of time jumps. Usually 2-3 weeks. It was a little disorientating at first but makes the book a bit more fast-paced. I didn't feel like it was needed, the story had enough flow as it was, but it was different.