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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
Felix is a terrrible character. I’m so sad that this character put me off so much so that I couldn’t continue past the first few chapters. I have read and loved nearly every single Saxon James’ books but this won’t be one of them
3.5
This was a cute slow burn. Felix was great. Wish he and Marshall were quicker to open up about their feelings and fears. Still a great read. Looking forward to more in this series!
This was a cute slow burn. Felix was great. Wish he and Marshall were quicker to open up about their feelings and fears. Still a great read. Looking forward to more in this series!
This one's a 2.5✨for me, because I HATE the miscommunication trope. They Ere really cute together though but it was really difficult for me to get into the story because of all the miscommunications.
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
I keep reading Saxon James books because they are like comfort food to me at this point...
The Good
Felix and Marshall were both interesting characters. I feel like the amount of miscommunication happening in this book could only happen when you have two characters who are fundamentally so different. But their connection was really good and their individual personalities were done well. I understood why they were misunderstanding each other so much.
The Bad
The amount of misunderstandings were driving me insane. It was so non-stop it got annoying towards the end.
Tropes:
— Miscommunication
— Friends to lovers
— MM
Horn Level: 4/5🌶️
Format: Audiobook
The Rating
I give this book a 3/5🌟 rating. This book was a tad frustrating but overall okay.
The Good
Felix and Marshall were both interesting characters. I feel like the amount of miscommunication happening in this book could only happen when you have two characters who are fundamentally so different. But their connection was really good and their individual personalities were done well. I understood why they were misunderstanding each other so much.
The Bad
The amount of misunderstandings were driving me insane. It was so non-stop it got annoying towards the end.
Tropes:
— Miscommunication
— Friends to lovers
— MM
Horn Level: 4/5🌶️
Format: Audiobook
The Rating
I give this book a 3/5🌟 rating. This book was a tad frustrating but overall okay.
funny
lighthearted
There is a lot to like—and dislike—in Saxon James’s The Dating Disaster, the second book in the loosely related, m/m romance shared-universe Franklin University series. Let’s just start with a summary: small yet feisty Felix is set up on a date with big, bearish Marshall. A series of misunderstandings leads to the date being a failure and they separate expecting never to meet again. Needless to say, they’re wrong: Marshall is Felix’s new housemate and the two keep crossing paths. Acrimony turns to romance. Shenanigans occur.
So, what do I like? This book has a great portrayal of demisexuality in Marshall. He only feels sexual attraction to people with whom he forms a connection, and he isn’t picky about gender. He even goes through a rare yet welcome coming-out sequence in which his demisexuality plays a role. In a genre full of books that dance around demisexuality yet never actually bring it up, it’s a welcome addition. This is related to the other thing I particularly enjoy about the book: the character of Marshall. He is literally a big, sweet, hairy teddy bear. Most characters in this genre are pretty cookie cutter and dull, but I find him to be sweet, well developed, and basically a really great guy. Man, if he were real, I’d be thrilled, let me tell you.
Here’s what I don’t like: let's start with Felix. He is very unpleasant and combatant for no real reason. While we learn what makes Marshall tick, we never really learn why Felix is so self-defensive and angry, which is a sign of poor writing. This connects to my next point: almost the entire plot of this book revolves around a number of misunderstandings which are just… well, I get that misunderstandings are par for the course in the romance genre, but the entire plot revolves around Felix’s lack of decency at the beginning. That’s annoying.
Finally, my biggest complaint: Felix is a bottom and Marshall is described as a top, yet towards the end of the novel they reverse their positions for a single scene. This is common in m/m romances for some reason—I think it’s intended to show how the characters are on an even playing field in all aspects of life. Yet since Felix and Marshall don’t express an interest in or desire to switch up their roles in bed, and Felix in particular is very adamant about identifying as a bottom, it’s unnecessary and unrealistic, ultimately pulling me out of the book.
Do I recommend the book? I mean, yeah, sure. If you like new adult m/m romances with size differences and characters who aren’t your usual twink or jock, this would be up your alley. But did I really enjoy the book? Um, well, er… it needed some editing, let’s just say that. But hey, at least I got to meet my new romance boyfriend. We love a teddy bear.
So, what do I like? This book has a great portrayal of demisexuality in Marshall. He only feels sexual attraction to people with whom he forms a connection, and he isn’t picky about gender. He even goes through a rare yet welcome coming-out sequence in which his demisexuality plays a role. In a genre full of books that dance around demisexuality yet never actually bring it up, it’s a welcome addition. This is related to the other thing I particularly enjoy about the book: the character of Marshall. He is literally a big, sweet, hairy teddy bear. Most characters in this genre are pretty cookie cutter and dull, but I find him to be sweet, well developed, and basically a really great guy. Man, if he were real, I’d be thrilled, let me tell you.
Here’s what I don’t like: let's start with Felix. He is very unpleasant and combatant for no real reason. While we learn what makes Marshall tick, we never really learn why Felix is so self-defensive and angry, which is a sign of poor writing. This connects to my next point: almost the entire plot of this book revolves around a number of misunderstandings which are just… well, I get that misunderstandings are par for the course in the romance genre, but the entire plot revolves around Felix’s lack of decency at the beginning. That’s annoying.
Finally, my biggest complaint: Felix is a bottom and Marshall is described as a top, yet towards the end of the novel they reverse their positions for a single scene. This is common in m/m romances for some reason—I think it’s intended to show how the characters are on an even playing field in all aspects of life. Yet since Felix and Marshall don’t express an interest in or desire to switch up their roles in bed, and Felix in particular is very adamant about identifying as a bottom, it’s unnecessary and unrealistic, ultimately pulling me out of the book.
Do I recommend the book? I mean, yeah, sure. If you like new adult m/m romances with size differences and characters who aren’t your usual twink or jock, this would be up your alley. But did I really enjoy the book? Um, well, er… it needed some editing, let’s just say that. But hey, at least I got to meet my new romance boyfriend. We love a teddy bear.
Marshmallow!
Ok so one of my favourite parts were all the cameos from Saxon James' other series. Can be read as a standalone, but the extra context just gives the families and connections a bit of extra depth.
Marshall and Felix trying to figure each other was quiet a journey. From a plot point of view, they probably could have gotten together earlier if they just managed to have one conversation. But I think maybe identity is a bit more complicated than that and the slow development and miscommunication kind of speaks to that. No one owes anyone else a full explanation of their identity on a first date, and watching the mismatch in expressing affection is understandable from both perspectives, but the messages weren't getting through. What could have felt frustrating, was well written enough to feel like and enjoyable journey.
Ok so one of my favourite parts were all the cameos from Saxon James' other series. Can be read as a standalone, but the extra context just gives the families and connections a bit of extra depth.
Marshall and Felix trying to figure each other was quiet a journey. From a plot point of view, they probably could have gotten together earlier if they just managed to have one conversation. But I think maybe identity is a bit more complicated than that and the slow development and miscommunication kind of speaks to that. No one owes anyone else a full explanation of their identity on a first date, and watching the mismatch in expressing affection is understandable from both perspectives, but the messages weren't getting through. What could have felt frustrating, was well written enough to feel like and enjoyable journey.
Felix was so unlikeable that I wanted to cry. get your head out of your ass. Marshall deserves so much better. All of the issues were Felix.
This was the story of Marshall and Felix and it was a good one! These two had to seriously work on their communication skills because they were on two different love languages. It was great when they finally synced up though!
emotional
reflective
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