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jess_t's review
adventurous
inspiring
tense
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
5.0
This book is the second in the Dreamland billionaires book and I absolutely adored this book.
First of all IRIS is such a boss lady. Iris is so strong and sassy and has so much determination to succeed in her career but to also live a happy personal life it is admirable. I’ve never read a female character just like Iris. Even during the third act break up in most rom coms I want the couple to get back together, which I did in this book but i was also like “Go Iris” “You make him feel bad for what he did” Iris is undoubtedly one of my favourite characters in a book ever. I also like the fact that Iris was a poc I definitely feel very strongly with how there needs to be more diversity in any type of rom-coms.
I also love cal, the way he supported and cared for Iris! I need a best friend like cal!! I’m so excited for his book I just want Cal to be happy and have his happily ever after!!!
I also love Iris’s mom she was so cute and gave the best advice!!
DECLAN at times pissed me of but I love him, he is one of my top 5 book boyfriends, he was grumpy and sarcastic but that’s my favourite type of man, at times I was screaming at him but I still love that man.
I preferred the plot of this book over the fine print, the idea of a marriage contract seemed so fun and exciting that it stands out from other cutesy romances. I also liked how as a reader we know that they both are romantically attracted to each other early in the book and I loved how Declan would go out of his comfort zone to do anything to make Iris happy!! OMG THE SECRET LANGUAGE WAS SO CUTE!!! Omg I literally would tear up when they spoke the language. And I loved how as someone who just speaks English it was fun for me to also learn new words in different languages.
Omg and I loved how there were snippets of the Formula one series Lauren Asher writes about in the Dirty air series!! I literally love that series so it was so cool and fun to see both series blend together. However I had not read Santi book yet and I did feel like there was some spoilers for Santi book. But I haven’t the read book to know if they actually are or if what was mentioned you find out in like the first chapter of Santi book.
The book was a little slow at some points but I still was so invested in the book throughout.
I definitely recommend this book and series to everyone who enjoys cute romances but not the typical romance. I literally can not was the third book in the series but in the mean time I will definitely be finishing the dirty air series!!
First of all IRIS is such a boss lady. Iris is so strong and sassy and has so much determination to succeed in her career but to also live a happy personal life it is admirable. I’ve never read a female character just like Iris. Even during the third act break up in most rom coms I want the couple to get back together, which I did in this book but i was also like “Go Iris” “You make him feel bad for what he did” Iris is undoubtedly one of my favourite characters in a book ever. I also like the fact that Iris was a poc I definitely feel very strongly with how there needs to be more diversity in any type of rom-coms.
I also love cal, the way he supported and cared for Iris! I need a best friend like cal!! I’m so excited for his book I just want Cal to be happy and have his happily ever after!!!
I also love Iris’s mom she was so cute and gave the best advice!!
DECLAN at times pissed me of but I love him, he is one of my top 5 book boyfriends, he was grumpy and sarcastic but that’s my favourite type of man, at times I was screaming at him but I still love that man.
I preferred the plot of this book over the fine print, the idea of a marriage contract seemed so fun and exciting that it stands out from other cutesy romances. I also liked how as a reader we know that they both are romantically attracted to each other early in the book and I loved how Declan would go out of his comfort zone to do anything to make Iris happy!! OMG THE SECRET LANGUAGE WAS SO CUTE!!! Omg I literally would tear up when they spoke the language. And I loved how as someone who just speaks English it was fun for me to also learn new words in different languages.
Omg and I loved how there were snippets of the Formula one series Lauren Asher writes about in the Dirty air series!! I literally love that series so it was so cool and fun to see both series blend together. However I had not read Santi book yet and I did feel like there was some spoilers for Santi book. But I haven’t the read book to know if they actually are or if what was mentioned you find out in like the first chapter of Santi book.
The book was a little slow at some points but I still was so invested in the book throughout.
I definitely recommend this book and series to everyone who enjoys cute romances but not the typical romance. I literally can not was the third book in the series but in the mean time I will definitely be finishing the dirty air series!!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Minor: Bullying
This book does also does touch upon some more important topics, such as abusive parents, toxic family relationships and a learning disability.maxima5's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Abandonment, and Child abuse
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death of parent, and Bullying
sisaacs's review
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Child abuse
Minor: Bullying
merlesstorys's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-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
4.25
Well, this book left me with all the feels.
I really liked Iris as a person, Declan not so much. He’s still an a-hole in my point of view. However, their story was as filled with tropes and clichés as other fake-marriage stories.
I also liked their word game, even when it left me curious to why some were chosen. The translations for them were amazing to have however. (But, just to clarify, Backpfeifengesicht means “a face badly in need of a slap” not fist. Word breakdown: Backpfeife = slap, Gesicht = Face.) That really made me laugh (both the word itself and the fact that it was not translated correctly.)
The plot weakened through that a bit. There were mostly motives that came through again and again (him wanting to work all day, Dreamland Tokyo,…) but not one storyline that was used throughout the whole book that created tension and the wish to continue reading. (The characters were used for that quite nicely though.)
The side characters were a pleasure, especially Cal who really came into the spotlight. Rowan and Zara were nice additions, and Seth Kane was an a-hole similar to Declan, but what a surprise lol.
All of this was influenced by the nice and fluent writing style of Lauren Asher. Her way to write left me hanging on, even when I was tired of this story and it’s faults.
I really liked Iris as a person, Declan not so much. He’s still an a-hole in my point of view. However, their story was as filled with tropes and clichés as other fake-marriage stories.
I also liked their word game, even when it left me curious to why some were chosen. The translations for them were amazing to have however. (But, just to clarify, Backpfeifengesicht means “a face badly in need of a slap” not fist. Word breakdown: Backpfeife = slap, Gesicht = Face.) That really made me laugh (both the word itself and the fact that it was not translated correctly.)
The plot weakened through that a bit. There were mostly motives that came through again and again (him wanting to work all day, Dreamland Tokyo,…) but not one storyline that was used throughout the whole book that created tension and the wish to continue reading. (The characters were used for that quite nicely though.)
The side characters were a pleasure, especially Cal who really came into the spotlight. Rowan and Zara were nice additions, and Seth Kane was an a-hole similar to Declan, but what a surprise lol.
All of this was influenced by the nice and fluent writing style of Lauren Asher. Her way to write left me hanging on, even when I was tired of this story and it’s faults.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Sexual content, and Abandonment
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Death of parent, Animal death, Addiction, Alcoholism, Pregnancy, Medical content, Emotional abuse, and Death
namenotimportant's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse
Moderate: Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Sexual content
Minor: Bullying
jessreads1314's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
tense
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Sexual content, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Death of parent
Minor: Bullying, Domestic abuse, and Abandonment
princess424's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I really liked this book. Declan got on my nerves quite a lot in the beginning but he’s learning m. I love Nana though, she’s amazing and I want to meet her so bad. The plot of this book was pretty good, it’s an marriage of Convenience with a bit of best friend’s brother sprinkled in there. I love this series so far and I’m excited for the third book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Bullying, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Alcoholism and Death of parent
zabeishumanish's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.25
The relationship is adorable. I love a good man falls first, especially a big tough mean man like Declan going all soft. Hits all the high points of the marriage of convenience and workplace romance tropes. Declan is top tier in knowing how to please Iris when he puts his mind to it, so that part was an absolute treat. Its the parts of the story beyond the romance that I have a problem with.
I'm confused as to how this is possible, but my biggest complaint about this book is that we didn't get more info about a business deal? Despite the top-tier groveling Declan is forced to do, Declan and Iris's romance feels inevitable. In almost every way their relationship is the quintessential marriage of convenience, so the majority of the book's intrigue for me came from the business the two worked on together. Given that the business is a huge focus of the book it is a major disappointment that the primary business deal isn't resolved in the book.
While I understand that there is another brother and thus another book in the series, it is incredibly frustrating to not see the boys' father get his due. Or any kind of plan to get revenge on him even being formed. I guess the takeover they are planning is a bit of revenge, but their father is evil and that hardly seems like enough. No matter how cute the relationship in this book is seeing such an evil man take even the smallest business victory in this book is immensely unsatisfying.
I'm confused as to how this is possible, but my biggest complaint about this book is that we didn't get more info about a business deal? Despite the top-tier groveling Declan is forced to do, Declan and Iris's romance feels inevitable. In almost every way their relationship is the quintessential marriage of convenience, so the majority of the book's intrigue for me came from the business the two worked on together. Given that the business is a huge focus of the book it is a major disappointment that the primary business deal isn't resolved in the book.
While I understand that there is another brother and thus another book in the series, it is incredibly frustrating to not see the boys' father get his due. Or any kind of plan to get revenge on him even being formed. I guess the takeover they are planning is a bit of revenge, but their father is evil and that hardly seems like enough. No matter how cute the relationship in this book is seeing such an evil man take even the smallest business victory in this book is immensely unsatisfying.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Child abuse, Alcohol, and Violence
Moderate: Pregnancy
Minor: Alcoholism
Declan's father physically abused him and emotionally abused and gaslight his other brothers as well. Iris witnessed her mother's abusive relationship and while her father never physically injured her she was emotionally abused by her father as well.psyched_np's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
sofiarmz13's review against another edition
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Ableism, Pregnancy, Bullying, Child abuse, Death of parent, and Grief
Minor: Physical abuse, Blood, Cancer, and Domestic abuse