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weelasswithabook's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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
5.0
CW: mentions of food poverty, paternal abandonment, brief mention of parental death
⭐ Frenemies to lovers
⭐ Small town romance
🌈 Mental health rep (anxiety)
🌶️ Public
🌶️ 🍑
This was the definition of delightful. An enemies to lovers that's quite light on the enemies and heavy on the lovers, this was a small town romance that I believe would steal the hearts of even the hardiest of anti small-town romance readers. And I'm a sucker for two enemies being cast in a production/play/movie/show opposite each other as lovers.
Betty was a shining example of a commitmentphobe, with abandonment issues stemming from parental abandonment, her fear of loving, trusting, and committing to someone really came through in her personality. It was nice to see her work through the panic that came with those deeper feelings and reconcile them with the reality of her relationship with Bennett and become aware of her own self sabotaging behaviours.
I loved the inclusion of mental well-being surrounding Bennett, as men's mental health can often be neglected in fiction. Especially with the fact that the concept of acceptance, therapy, and medication was there in black and white, rather than alluded to off page.
The relationship between the two was delightful to watch unfold as they slowly but surely opened up to one another and let the little bits of vulnerability shine through as they became more open and honest with each other. Like I said previously, it was quite light on the enemies side of things so it allowed for playful banter and petty snark, rather than heavier conflict and other issues to work around.
This was a bit spicier than many small town romances before, as the intimate scenes are usually more subdued and tender, but these two were 🔥 and I was 100% here for that.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this to anyone regardless of taste. Even if small town romance isn't your thing, I think the spice might balance it out enough for you to feel enough like a regular contemporary romance.
⭐ Frenemies to lovers
⭐ Small town romance
🌈 Mental health rep (anxiety)
🌶️ Public
🌶️ 🍑
This was the definition of delightful. An enemies to lovers that's quite light on the enemies and heavy on the lovers, this was a small town romance that I believe would steal the hearts of even the hardiest of anti small-town romance readers. And I'm a sucker for two enemies being cast in a production/play/movie/show opposite each other as lovers.
Betty was a shining example of a commitmentphobe, with abandonment issues stemming from parental abandonment, her fear of loving, trusting, and committing to someone really came through in her personality. It was nice to see her work through the panic that came with those deeper feelings and reconcile them with the reality of her relationship with Bennett and become aware of her own self sabotaging behaviours.
I loved the inclusion of mental well-being surrounding Bennett, as men's mental health can often be neglected in fiction. Especially with the fact that the concept of acceptance, therapy, and medication was there in black and white, rather than alluded to off page.
The relationship between the two was delightful to watch unfold as they slowly but surely opened up to one another and let the little bits of vulnerability shine through as they became more open and honest with each other. Like I said previously, it was quite light on the enemies side of things so it allowed for playful banter and petty snark, rather than heavier conflict and other issues to work around.
This was a bit spicier than many small town romances before, as the intimate scenes are usually more subdued and tender, but these two were 🔥 and I was 100% here for that.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this to anyone regardless of taste. Even if small town romance isn't your thing, I think the spice might balance it out enough for you to feel enough like a regular contemporary romance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Abandonment, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Death of parent
thereadinghammock's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This book was a love letter to the theater. I loved seeing so much of the behind the scenes work that goes into a production. It's more than just actors on the stage and Juliette Cross showcased it all so well.
Bennet and Betty had chemistry all right. That movie theater scene?? 🥵🥵🥵 Bennet is some kind of quintuple threat; actor, dancer, singer, business owner, cunnilingus expert. Like, what can't he do?? There is a healthy trade off with the anxiety and all, but he seems to be managing that pretty well too. Betty has it going for her too! Homeowner before 30, a great teaching job and a genuine connection with her students. She, and Lily, were the kind of teachers I always liked forward to classes with. They made the curriculum come to life and feel like more than just test prep.
We all know I love a good enemies-to-lovers story, and while Betty certainly had a bee in her bonnet about Bennet at the beginning, it felt like her heart wasn't really in it. And we learned that it wasn't, there was more there in her own past that she needed to work through. And oh boy did she have that breakthrough at the weirdest and most hilarious time! Chekov's pig to the rescue!
Bennet and Betty had chemistry all right. That movie theater scene?? 🥵🥵🥵 Bennet is some kind of quintuple threat; actor, dancer, singer, business owner, cunnilingus expert. Like, what can't he do?? There is a healthy trade off with the anxiety and all, but he seems to be managing that pretty well too. Betty has it going for her too! Homeowner before 30, a great teaching job and a genuine connection with her students. She, and Lily, were the kind of teachers I always liked forward to classes with. They made the curriculum come to life and feel like more than just test prep.
We all know I love a good enemies-to-lovers story, and while Betty certainly had a bee in her bonnet about Bennet at the beginning, it felt like her heart wasn't really in it. And we learned that it wasn't, there was more there in her own past that she needed to work through. And oh boy did she have that breakthrough at the weirdest and most hilarious time! Chekov's pig to the rescue!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Abandonment, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
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