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kjreading's review
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
shanthecitygirl'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? It's complicated
3.75
This was a charming romance! I had NOT read the previous book in the series but I picked this one up for a Diverse Baseline prompt and I am glad I did! Sam is a very organized photo studio manager. She loves lists, has a lot of responsibility and stress and isn't feeling super sexy in her own skin right now due to a new thyroid condition. Russell is a bit of a drifter who is about to move to NY so he can go to culinary school. He also thinks Sam is sex on a stick. This is the story of two workaholics who mostly learn to establish healthy boundaries with their jobs for the sake of love. I really enjoyed the intimacy of this book but the plot took a little too much time to come together.
kristimb's review against another edition
1.0
Why did I read this? Is there something such as "hate reading"? I listened to this at 1.75x and it was still so slow. This was the definition of a "show" not "tell" relationship.
thephdivabooks's review
3.0
I loved the setting in Chicago and I thought it was fun that this was about two people who are in the same broader friend group as the duo from the first book in this series. This can definitely work as a standalone since each is its own story.
Sam is kind of an interesting and unique character for a romance novel, since she doesn’t fit the typical mold for a heroine of this type of book. She was recently diagnosed with Grave’s disease, which is an autoimmune condition that effects the thyroid and ultimately led to her having it removed.
This condition has left Sam scarred and heavier than before, and she’s still adjusting to her new, plus-sized body that looks different from how she saw herself before. Particularly as a former Burlesque dancer, where her body was part of her career. I thought it was interesting to see a leading lady going through these sorts of struggles that many women face with their bodies and particularly this very challenging disease.
Sam is completely burnt out and running on fumes between her health struggles and trying to grow her business. She continues to run into Russ while working the street festival circuit. Russ has been pretty adrift—couch-surfing through life and working odd jobs around the country before settling back in Chicago and getting a job at a hot local restaurant. Russ is definitely on a journey of seeking stability in life.
The friend group was fun to revisit from the previous book. I liked Sam’s story and seeing those aspects of diversity represented in this genre. I also thought Russ and his brother Reid had a nice growth arc in their narrative.
The romance itself was fairly average as far as these books go. I wanted to see a bit more depth because the set up would have leant to it, particularly with both Sam and Russ being at such pivotal points in their lives and really going through transition periods. This made them attracted to a no-strings-attached fling scenario, but I think more could have been done to really explore the tension both as individuals and as a duo. In general their love story was more mild than I expected it to be.
That all said this is definitely worth a read. I appreciate what Danielle Jackson has done to push the diversity boundaries in romance. I would actually love for a character like Sam to get a more swoon-worthy story because she is so different from the typical lead in romance books.
Thank you to Berkley for my copy. Opinions are my own.
Sam is kind of an interesting and unique character for a romance novel, since she doesn’t fit the typical mold for a heroine of this type of book. She was recently diagnosed with Grave’s disease, which is an autoimmune condition that effects the thyroid and ultimately led to her having it removed.
This condition has left Sam scarred and heavier than before, and she’s still adjusting to her new, plus-sized body that looks different from how she saw herself before. Particularly as a former Burlesque dancer, where her body was part of her career. I thought it was interesting to see a leading lady going through these sorts of struggles that many women face with their bodies and particularly this very challenging disease.
Sam is completely burnt out and running on fumes between her health struggles and trying to grow her business. She continues to run into Russ while working the street festival circuit. Russ has been pretty adrift—couch-surfing through life and working odd jobs around the country before settling back in Chicago and getting a job at a hot local restaurant. Russ is definitely on a journey of seeking stability in life.
The friend group was fun to revisit from the previous book. I liked Sam’s story and seeing those aspects of diversity represented in this genre. I also thought Russ and his brother Reid had a nice growth arc in their narrative.
The romance itself was fairly average as far as these books go. I wanted to see a bit more depth because the set up would have leant to it, particularly with both Sam and Russ being at such pivotal points in their lives and really going through transition periods. This made them attracted to a no-strings-attached fling scenario, but I think more could have been done to really explore the tension both as individuals and as a duo. In general their love story was more mild than I expected it to be.
That all said this is definitely worth a read. I appreciate what Danielle Jackson has done to push the diversity boundaries in romance. I would actually love for a character like Sam to get a more swoon-worthy story because she is so different from the typical lead in romance books.
Thank you to Berkley for my copy. Opinions are my own.
madisyyyn's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-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
3.0
inthetrees's review
3.5
i enjoyed this. but it was repetitive and slow and i think could have been edited down a bit more.
thebookishdogmom's review
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Grumpy Sam and Sunshine Russ decide to have a summer fling before he moves to NYC for culinary school... bet you can guess how that works out?!
I had high hopes for this book, but ultimately felt very "meh" about it. The beginning was very slow to me. I really feel like not a whole lot happened until about 100 pages in, and even then, I found myself skimming through a lot.
I dont think I ever really believed in the characters. Russ had an unrequited crush on Sam for years, and she knew it, but she kind of just toyed with him and seemed indifferent until he shared that he was leaving. Only then did she choose to give things a try. And with her abandonment issues, she basically set herself up for the third act breakup.
The found family aspect was strong. I did enjoy the large supporting cast of characters in the book; they were all very unique and added some fun moments to the story. But it also seemed like a lot of time was dedicated to so many different characters and side plots that the overall plot got a little lost and wasn't elaborated on to see it out in the end in the detail it deserved.
Tags:
-reverse grumpy sunshine
-friends to lovers
-found family
-summer fling
Spice: 2/5
Third person/Dual POV
I had high hopes for this book, but ultimately felt very "meh" about it. The beginning was very slow to me. I really feel like not a whole lot happened until about 100 pages in, and even then, I found myself skimming through a lot.
I dont think I ever really believed in the characters. Russ had an unrequited crush on Sam for years, and she knew it, but she kind of just toyed with him and seemed indifferent until he shared that he was leaving. Only then did she choose to give things a try. And with her abandonment issues, she basically set herself up for the third act breakup.
The found family aspect was strong. I did enjoy the large supporting cast of characters in the book; they were all very unique and added some fun moments to the story. But it also seemed like a lot of time was dedicated to so many different characters and side plots that the overall plot got a little lost and wasn't elaborated on to see it out in the end in the detail it deserved.
Tags:
-reverse grumpy sunshine
-friends to lovers
-found family
-summer fling
Spice: 2/5
Third person/Dual POV
h0llyr00th's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Too many plots, not enough fornication
willa_reads_books'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
very cute overall! something about the writing style made me feel like the book had started without me. a weird disconnect and i don’t know why at all. i’d still recommend this to other people because it was very cute and i liked the characters