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language_loving_amateur's review against another edition
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
4.75
This is a rom-com that did not give me second hand embarrassment. It is funny and sweet, and she had it bad from like chapter 3. It is all from Ruthie's POV, but readers get to know Teddy very well too. There was something that I saw coming from the very beginning, and something else that I only started hoping for about half way through, but it was so very satisfying.
Sex: basically one sex scene with euphemistic language. While technically open door, it is more like the door is cracked. There is general horny-ness throughout. Not granny approved, but not graphic.
Mental health topics, are brought up and I think they are handled well. The book doesn't give the characters diagnoses, but you can expect anxiety and difficulty leaving the property. Ruthie is a reverend's daughter and doesn't believe anymore, so there is some churchy stuff, but the prospective offered in the novel is interesting.
Sex: basically one sex scene with euphemistic language. While technically open door, it is more like the door is cracked. There is general horny-ness throughout. Not granny approved, but not graphic.
Mental health topics, are brought up and I think they are handled well. The book doesn't give the characters diagnoses, but you can expect anxiety and difficulty leaving the property. Ruthie is a reverend's daughter and doesn't believe anymore, so there is some churchy stuff, but the prospective offered in the novel is interesting.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Bullying and Sexual content
Childhood neglect, emotional neglectmiranda_is_reading's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
A predictable story line for sure. But, if you’re in the mood for a quick rom-com read this will do. I really enjoyed the two old lady characters in the book. Their humor added a nice touch.
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual content
marinaplndr's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
2.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
mishaps's review against another edition
hopeful
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, and Religious bigotry
whackettreading's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Gaslighting, Bullying, and Death
_thelitlibrarian's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
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
TW: Sexual content, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, Religious bigotry, Homophobia, Bullying, Gaslighting
5.0 stars
-
I picked up this book based solely on the setting of the plot, a retirement villa. As someone who has spent their life working in retirement homes, I felt drawn in immediately. I'm so glad I picked this up on a whim, as I need more Teddy and Ruthie in my life. I love the hilarious banter that turns into a solid friendship, my heart was swooning the entire time, I was rooting for these two characters to end up together, but at one point it just didn't seem as if it were an option.
Our two main characters are nothing alike, Ruthie has dedicated most of her life to taking care of the villa and the residents, and it's often joked that she'll never move out and just end up retiring into the cottage she's currently in, Ruthie often forgets that she's supposed to be a young, beautiful, and single woman. Teddy Prescott is known for partying, sleeping in late, tattooing his body, and not taking anything in life seriously. After a few too many mess-ups in life, Teddy's father, and the owner of the villa agree to let him stay in one of the cottages as long as he earns his keep. When a spot working for two of the wealthiest and most eccentric residents in the villa opens up, Ruthie knows that Teddy is the perfect person for the position.
I loved watching Teddy prove to himself and everyone else that he's much more and deserves a lot more credit. Although this seems like a light book on the surface, my heart broke as we got more of a backstory both for Ruthie and Teddy. Watching the two of them grow as characters as they spent time together was refreshing, I love how they each taught each other a lot and helped their personalities grow and come to life. Listening to Teddy describe everything he wanted in a woman and it describes Ruthie to perfection made my heart swoon.
5.0 stars
-
I picked up this book based solely on the setting of the plot, a retirement villa. As someone who has spent their life working in retirement homes, I felt drawn in immediately. I'm so glad I picked this up on a whim, as I need more Teddy and Ruthie in my life. I love the hilarious banter that turns into a solid friendship, my heart was swooning the entire time, I was rooting for these two characters to end up together, but at one point it just didn't seem as if it were an option.
Our two main characters are nothing alike, Ruthie has dedicated most of her life to taking care of the villa and the residents, and it's often joked that she'll never move out and just end up retiring into the cottage she's currently in, Ruthie often forgets that she's supposed to be a young, beautiful, and single woman. Teddy Prescott is known for partying, sleeping in late, tattooing his body, and not taking anything in life seriously. After a few too many mess-ups in life, Teddy's father, and the owner of the villa agree to let him stay in one of the cottages as long as he earns his keep. When a spot working for two of the wealthiest and most eccentric residents in the villa opens up, Ruthie knows that Teddy is the perfect person for the position.
I loved watching Teddy prove to himself and everyone else that he's much more and deserves a lot more credit. Although this seems like a light book on the surface, my heart broke as we got more of a backstory both for Ruthie and Teddy. Watching the two of them grow as characters as they spent time together was refreshing, I love how they each taught each other a lot and helped their personalities grow and come to life. Listening to Teddy describe everything he wanted in a woman and it describes Ruthie to perfection made my heart swoon.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Homophobia, Death, Religious bigotry, Gaslighting, Sexual content, and Panic attacks/disorders
isitcake's review against another edition
lighthearted
sad
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
3.5
I loved The Hating Game, but this is not that. I put this down the first time I tried reading it. The FMC Ruthie is a 25-year-old but dresses like a grandma. This is very much a plain jane hiding a stunning hottie makeover trope book. She encounters MMC Teddy on a motorcycle. He initially mistakes her as an old woman before seeing how young she is. He follows her to where she works and he starts working there full time because twist his family owns their business/property. They bought it awhile ago intending to redevelop it but forgot about it. It's now on their radar because of Teddy. Teddy takes on a job there temporarily because he's saving to open his own tattoo parlor. Teddy is covered in tattoos, including the words Give and Take written on his hands.
While working for this old lesbian couple 12-hour days, he shares the adjoining duplex with Ruthie. He's one of those people who invades your space but is insanely charming while doing it. His meager interest in Ruthie quickly has her struggling to not fall in love with him because he's moving on eventually.
Ruthie's whole plot is that she was raised by religious parents, her father is a pastor, and after a church fundraiser that raised $10k and it went missing and Ruthie was blamed for failing to lock the door. Now she has an anxiety complex and obsessively locks all doors and makes checklists. Her parents used her college fund to offset the loss. She had wanted to go to school to be a vet but instead she took this job from Sophie, who was one of their churchmembers and suspiciously has been on a cruise forever since the money was taken.
Later the reveal of the book is that Sophie stole the money and has been stealing money from the retirement community she owns, falsifying the books and underpaying staff. When Teddy's sister audits the books she discovers this. The retirement community is also home to endangered turtles so that's what prevents them redeveloping it.
Ruthie also spends a lot of the book trying to "get back out there" and go dating. So there's makeover montages where suddenly changing her clothes she's the hottest thing ever. And everywhere warns Teddy and Ruthie away from each other because they're "all wrong for each other." But of course they get together at the end. Teddy has always lacked routine and normalcy in his life so he loves and plane and predictable Ruthie is (gag).
Plain jane is one of my least favorite tropes, and when the FMC is a shy, unexperienced near-virgin while the MMC is an insanely hot, modern-day rake. But I also love having sassy old people as side characters who provide lots of good banter. So even though I didn't love the plot this book was fun to read for the side characters.
While working for this old lesbian couple 12-hour days, he shares the adjoining duplex with Ruthie. He's one of those people who invades your space but is insanely charming while doing it. His meager interest in Ruthie quickly has her struggling to not fall in love with him because he's moving on eventually.
Ruthie's whole plot is that she was raised by religious parents, her father is a pastor, and after a church fundraiser that raised $10k and it went missing and Ruthie was blamed for failing to lock the door. Now she has an anxiety complex and obsessively locks all doors and makes checklists. Her parents used her college fund to offset the loss. She had wanted to go to school to be a vet but instead she took this job from Sophie, who was one of their churchmembers and suspiciously has been on a cruise forever since the money was taken.
Later the reveal of the book is that Sophie stole the money and has been stealing money from the retirement community she owns, falsifying the books and underpaying staff. When Teddy's sister audits the books she discovers this. The retirement community is also home to endangered turtles so that's what prevents them redeveloping it.
Ruthie also spends a lot of the book trying to "get back out there" and go dating. So there's makeover montages where suddenly changing her clothes she's the hottest thing ever. And everywhere warns Teddy and Ruthie away from each other because they're "all wrong for each other." But of course they get together at the end. Teddy has always lacked routine and normalcy in his life so he loves and plane and predictable Ruthie is (gag).
Plain jane is one of my least favorite tropes, and when the FMC is a shy, unexperienced near-virgin while the MMC is an insanely hot, modern-day rake. But I also love having sassy old people as side characters who provide lots of good banter. So even though I didn't love the plot this book was fun to read for the side characters.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Sexual content
anewton's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
An absolute delight of a read. A cute trope, easy read that gets you involved in the beautiful story of Ruthie and Teddy. Nothing too serious or deep, but the kind of feel-good book that you need at the end of a hard day.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Death
ashlo26's review against another edition
hopeful
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
cozyduck's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Really lovely book! I really liked the balance of cheesy but cute and fun. Loved the different types of characters. Really was just a fun read. Great for a beach read! Only thing I would have added was a slightly more spicy bedroom scene, but I'm not mad at what was given! Lol
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual content