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decameters's review against another edition
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? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia
onegalonelife27's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
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
4.25
Earlier this year, I really enjoyed one of Jasmine Guillory’s works so I decided to listen another one of hers. I found a sweet, spicy tale of two people finding strength and love in one another.
The main characters meet in an ad company’s pitch with instant chemistry and respect for one another. Ana Gardiner, after a difficult year, is ready to get back to her old groove-and the Oscars and this ad campaign is the first step back there. Ben Stephen’s wants this campaign to go well so he can leading more projects rather than smiling at meetings. Just when Ben’s star is rising with this new ad campaign, a sudden email sends him reeling.
At first they try to keep things professional, if not a bit flirty. Yet one family emergency, spontaneous road trip and a pair of thrown panties later, they find themselves in a complicated partnership: full of humor, steaminess, tenderness, understandings and misunderstandings until the last chapter.
One topic I’m glad the book talked about is mental health. Ana struggles with anxiety and it’s a large part of the plot for her. Dealing with the struggles and the shame you feel when your mind panics, coming up with so many terrible scenarios or freezing up in stressful moments, it’s something I related to since I have anxiety myself. Yet Ana learns to be kinder with herself and her journey is wonderful.
I am glad that Ben is self aware of his flaws, admitting that he runs away in one way or another. Also I can heavily relate to Ben not wanting to tell therapists the bad things in life, despite going to therapy for bad things in the first place. Ben’s own struggle with his trauma is also wonderful to see progress. It’s not always straightforward, but then again, so is dealing with mental health and that’s wonderful too.
Overall, if you’re looking for a romance that isn’t afraid to talk about deep subjects yet still gives hope, laugh, and of course love, then this is an excellent one to try!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Mental illness
Moderate: Fatphobia and Abandonment
Minor: Body shaming and Racism
khymihr's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Abandonment
Minor: Fatphobia
annahamburger's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Alcohol, Sexual content, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Abandonment and Infidelity
Minor: Racism, Cursing, and Fatphobia
sarahrose_a's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, and Body shaming
yassiesj's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Abandonment, Fatphobia, Mental illness, and Body shaming
zabeishumanish's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I liked this book enough (even jumping into the middle of a series) that I will read more by this author, but it wasn't a knock out book for me. There were a couple times that I set the book down for a break and had to force myself to pick it back up, which almost never happens for me with romance books.
The biggest problem I had with the book is actually how social responsible it is, the political correctness in this book feel over the top at times in a way that felt detrimental to the story. The book deal with both complex mental health issues and Blackness in media is notably responsible ways that felt beautifully integrated with the story. Where I started having problems was with the feminism and body positivity in the book. The book made it seem like one of the primary reasons that Anna was attracted to Ben, both physically and as a friend, was because of how he treated her femininity and fatness. Whether the book intended to or not I hated the way that it implies that most men will treat fat women poorly and that any male who treats a fat woman well is automatically datable. This is a pretty small complaint as this reason for Anna's attraction doesn't take up much page space (the book is much more plot based), but it really felt like Ben treating her well was the main reason for her attraction. It bothers me in a very pet-peeve type way that this book implies men treating women poorly is the norm. To be clear, I'm glad Ben treats Anna well, I just wish it wasn't so remarkable that he does.
Ultimately this is a good book with a fun plot, just not likely to make my favorites list.
The biggest problem I had with the book is actually how social responsible it is, the political correctness in this book feel over the top at times in a way that felt detrimental to the story. The book deal with both complex mental health issues and Blackness in media is notably responsible ways that felt beautifully integrated with the story. Where I started having problems was with the feminism and body positivity in the book. The book made it seem like one of the primary reasons that Anna was attracted to Ben, both physically and as a friend, was because of how he treated her femininity and fatness. Whether the book intended to or not I hated the way that it implies that most men will treat fat women poorly and that any male who treats a fat woman well is automatically datable. This is a pretty small complaint as this reason for Anna's attraction doesn't take up much page space (the book is much more plot based), but it really felt like Ben treating her well was the main reason for her attraction. It bothers me in a very pet-peeve type way that this book implies men treating women poorly is the norm. To be clear, I'm glad Ben treats Anna well, I just wish it wasn't so remarkable that he does.
Ultimately this is a good book with a fun plot, just not likely to make my favorites list.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Sexual content
Minor: Fatphobia, Sexism, and Racism
meredith_williams_'s review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Fatphobia
alexisgarcia's review against another edition
funny
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? Yes
3.5
This was overall a very cute story. I’ve never read a celebrity focused book other than The Seven Husbands Of Evelyn Hugo so it was nice to expand my reading of celebrity based books. Reading this was like watching a rom-com. The writing was smooth, the characters were admirable, and the ending was sweet. This was an easy and stress-free book. Would recommend if you enjoy books centered around celebrities love stories!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Alcohol, Bullying, Cursing, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content
jen3699's review against another edition
The beginning was good but the middle just feels dragged out. The sex scenes happen every other page and they're not fulfilling.
The characters are great, the story has potential, it's just not what I expected.
I feel like the title and synopsis weren't accurate to the whole book. Like it's just a retelling of the beginning of the story and then the end bit for the conflict.
The characters are great, the story has potential, it's just not what I expected.
I feel like the title and synopsis weren't accurate to the whole book. Like it's just a retelling of the beginning of the story and then the end bit for the conflict.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Fatphobia and Racism