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bri__'s review
challenging
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I enjoyed this one more than the last one. It got very good just before the half way point and I enjoyed the story from there. Declan Kane is a very attractive man ;))
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Cursing, Death, Bullying, Child abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Pregnancy
Minor: Animal death
siijayreads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
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
5.0
"Because there is nothing more I want than to turn a house into a home with you."
《review contains spoilers》
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rating: |☆☆☆☆☆|
I was only halfway through the book when I already knew I was going to freaking devour this and I was so right!! I only read this for 2 days and I think that speaks so much of how much I enjoyed this book. And enjoyed it I did 🤭 From start to finish I was absolutely HOOKED by the story and I knew I didn't want this to end.
This is the second book of the Dreamland Billionaires series and we officially get to know Declan, the oldest of the Kane brothers. His task to become the next CEO requires him to get married and have a child. Iris, his assistant for years, ends up being the woman who will eventually become his wife, and the journey of them faking their whole marriage up to them realizing the depth of how much they care for each other was an absolute swoony, angsty, funny, and romantic read and I absolutely ate it up!! I love them so much 🫶🤚😔
Iris is a QUEEN and a MOTHER!! I love how brave and determined she is to get through everything life throws her way and she doesn't take shit from anyone including Declan (which I live for!! I love me some badass fmc!!) and with all the things she has been through including growing up with an abusive father and being subjected to bullying because of her dyslexia, it is so damn satisfying seeing her grow and achieve everything she puts her mind to. I was absolutely rooting for her!! She is funny, inspiring, creative, and witty and it didn't take long for me to love her!!
Seeing the brothers heal from their past misunderstandings and healing from having to deal with their asshole father was a very refreshing moment. They didn't have the best father and it shows with the way they are now as adults but I am always in awe of their character development and how they slowly untangle themselves from unresolved traumas in order to become the better version of themselves.
For Declan, it wasn't easy for him being the oldest and protecting his siblings from their father and I admire the things he had done to protect them. I love how Lauren Asher wrote his character development because it didn't felt rushed or forced, and it took him losing the love of his life to figure out that he has made a big mistake and is willing to do everything to make things right. That groveling he did was GOD-TIER and I DEVOURED everything about it. There's something about a groveling mmc doing absolutely everything to get back the love of his life that has me weak 🫠 And their secret language texts had me giggling and kicking my feet like!! this book has everything I want in a romance book periodt.
Iris and Cal's friendship is everything!! And I cannot wait to start Final Offer and from the glimpses of his character from the first book and this one, he's already my fav brother 🤭
《review contains spoilers》
.
.
.
.
.
.
rating: |☆☆☆☆☆|
I was only halfway through the book when I already knew I was going to freaking devour this and I was so right!! I only read this for 2 days and I think that speaks so much of how much I enjoyed this book. And enjoyed it I did 🤭 From start to finish I was absolutely HOOKED by the story and I knew I didn't want this to end.
This is the second book of the Dreamland Billionaires series and we officially get to know Declan, the oldest of the Kane brothers. His task to become the next CEO requires him to get married and have a child. Iris, his assistant for years, ends up being the woman who will eventually become his wife, and the journey of them faking their whole marriage up to them realizing the depth of how much they care for each other was an absolute swoony, angsty, funny, and romantic read and I absolutely ate it up!! I love them so much 🫶🤚😔
Iris is a QUEEN and a MOTHER!! I love how brave and determined she is to get through everything life throws her way and she doesn't take shit from anyone including Declan (which I live for!! I love me some badass fmc!!) and with all the things she has been through including growing up with an abusive father and being subjected to bullying because of her dyslexia, it is so damn satisfying seeing her grow and achieve everything she puts her mind to. I was absolutely rooting for her!! She is funny, inspiring, creative, and witty and it didn't take long for me to love her!!
Seeing the brothers heal from their past misunderstandings and healing from having to deal with their asshole father was a very refreshing moment. They didn't have the best father and it shows with the way they are now as adults but I am always in awe of their character development and how they slowly untangle themselves from unresolved traumas in order to become the better version of themselves.
For Declan, it wasn't easy for him being the oldest and protecting his siblings from their father and I admire the things he had done to protect them. I love how Lauren Asher wrote his character development because it didn't felt rushed or forced, and it took him losing the love of his life to figure out that he has made a big mistake and is willing to do everything to make things right. That groveling he did was GOD-TIER and I DEVOURED everything about it. There's something about a groveling mmc doing absolutely everything to get back the love of his life that has me weak 🫠 And their secret language texts had me giggling and kicking my feet like!! this book has everything I want in a romance book periodt.
Iris and Cal's friendship is everything!! And I cannot wait to start Final Offer and from the glimpses of his character from the first book and this one, he's already my fav brother 🤭
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Bullying, Animal death, Alcoholism, and Emotional abuse
theangelssing's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
tense
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
3.75
I didn’t hate the book. It was just too long for me. I didn’t appreciate how Declan was at first and didn’t appreciate what he did to Iris. But I admit I enjoyed reading about their relationship and the important subjects the book brought up.
Not my fav book but it is a nice one. (:
Not my fav book but it is a nice one. (:
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Bullying, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Alcohol, Chronic illness, and Death
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Animal death
beckyremillard's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual content, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Animal death
kaitlynnnng's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I don’t know how I feel.
This whole review contains spoilers.
Declan Kane is an even bigger jerk than Rowan Kane. Despite this fact, I still tried to root for him. It was extremely difficult for the first 200ish pages, then it was really easy for a while, but his fight with Iris was hard to come back from. Maybe it’s my PTSD 🙃
I am a sucker for happy endings like the one we got in this book, though, so my judgement is definitely cloudy.
This whole review contains spoilers.
Declan Kane is an even bigger jerk than Rowan Kane. Despite this fact, I still tried to root for him. It was extremely difficult for the first 200ish pages, then it was really easy for a while, but his fight with Iris was hard to come back from. Maybe it’s my PTSD 🙃
I am a sucker for happy endings like the one we got in this book, though, so my judgement is definitely cloudy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, Ableism, Cursing, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Death of parent, Child abuse, Death, and Animal death
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
breereadsalot_'s review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
tense
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual content, and Child abuse
Moderate: Misogyny and Pregnancy
Minor: Animal death
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