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3.15 AVERAGE
3.15 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
If you would have asked me to review this book at the 75% mark, my review would be completely different. From 25% - 75% I hated this book. I was telling me family and friends that I have never encounter a book where I hated ALL (and I mean ALL) the characters so much and WISHED the couple would just break up.
I found the beginning bit interesting and cute, but once they leave Italy it all goes down hill until the third act break up (I don't think this isn't a spoiler, it's pretty damn obvious they need to throughout the whole book) and then after that I found it really interesting and cute again. I don't know why after the break up I found it so cute again, but I guess I liked the way the characters worked out their problems with each other and grew overall.
I also found all the characters (main couple and their friends) to be a little weird, sometimes in a quirky way and sometimes in a dislikable way but I liked the diverse characters (diverse races and chronic illness rep).
Even though I liked the beginning and end, the middle made me so mad that I just can't give this a 3/5 stars, so it gets a 2.75/5 stars instead.
I found the beginning bit interesting and cute, but once they leave Italy it all goes down hill until the third act break up (I don't think this isn't a spoiler, it's pretty damn obvious they need to throughout the whole book) and then after that I found it really interesting and cute again. I don't know why after the break up I found it so cute again, but I guess I liked the way the characters worked out their problems with each other and grew overall.
I also found all the characters (main couple and their friends) to be a little weird, sometimes in a quirky way and sometimes in a dislikable way but I liked the diverse characters (diverse races and chronic illness rep).
Even though I liked the beginning and end, the middle made me so mad that I just can't give this a 3/5 stars, so it gets a 2.75/5 stars instead.
Sophie Kinsella's books have been a part of my life for a long time now. I was excited when Netgalley approved me for an ARC of this title. The story opens with Ava embarking on a week long writing retreat in Italy. Of course, being a Kinsella story, Ava meets a guy there and romantic antics ensue.
I will say, unlike other reviewers, I could get on board with a couple in their 30s meeting and getting serious after a week of knowing each other. My husband and I met and were married within nine months. We've been married for 16 years now and still going strong. However, of course things weren't going to go smoothly for Ava and Matt because then there wouldn't be a story. Reading about a happy couple isn't that exciting ;)
Anyway, there were things I really liked about the story and other things that have been overdone (almost killing a pet, I'm looking at you). I thought Kinsella did a nice job of having Ava change before the end of the book. I do wish the other characters had been more fleshed out. They were not fully developed and that was unfortunate. It did seem some things were repeated more than needed - Topher was not conventionally attractive, but calling him ugly every time he was mentioned was not needed. And though I didn't like Genevieve the ending she was given was not in line with who she was or fair to her character.
In the end it was a decent book, but not my favorite of Kinsella's works.
I will say, unlike other reviewers, I could get on board with a couple in their 30s meeting and getting serious after a week of knowing each other. My husband and I met and were married within nine months. We've been married for 16 years now and still going strong. However, of course things weren't going to go smoothly for Ava and Matt because then there wouldn't be a story. Reading about a happy couple isn't that exciting ;)
Anyway, there were things I really liked about the story and other things that have been overdone (almost killing a pet, I'm looking at you). I thought Kinsella did a nice job of having Ava change before the end of the book. I do wish the other characters had been more fleshed out. They were not fully developed and that was unfortunate. It did seem some things were repeated more than needed - Topher was not conventionally attractive, but calling him ugly every time he was mentioned was not needed. And though I didn't like Genevieve the ending she was given was not in line with who she was or fair to her character.
In the end it was a decent book, but not my favorite of Kinsella's works.
This was a cute romantic story. I loved the premise of the two meeting on a writing retreat and being versions of their best selves. That they knew nothing about each other and were in a little bubble.
However the story rang a bit too untrue once they got back to their real lives. I mean they had so little in common and the frustrations they had with each others lives was extreme. They wouldn't have survived as a couple in normal circumstances and I felt the constant trying to bring them together just seemed a bit contrived. I found Matt difficult to fathom, he was completely different to his alter ego 'dutch' and Ava seemed overly immature for a 30 something year old.
However there were some laugh out loud moments (and I did spot a tear towards the end although not about the couple!) Some of the side characters I found entertaining especially Topher and his directness. It had a lot of fun qualities. I neither loved nor hated it. It ticked along and was a good read in my current tired state!
However the story rang a bit too untrue once they got back to their real lives. I mean they had so little in common and the frustrations they had with each others lives was extreme. They wouldn't have survived as a couple in normal circumstances and I felt the constant trying to bring them together just seemed a bit contrived. I found Matt difficult to fathom, he was completely different to his alter ego 'dutch' and Ava seemed overly immature for a 30 something year old.
However there were some laugh out loud moments (and I did spot a tear towards the end although not about the couple!) Some of the side characters I found entertaining especially Topher and his directness. It had a lot of fun qualities. I neither loved nor hated it. It ticked along and was a good read in my current tired state!
Instant infatuation with a guy who has so far been a snooze. I know there has to be a catch (right?) but I just don’t care enough about the MC to see her through it.
I love Sophie Kinsella books, but this book was just...eh. Ava really annoyed me.
the most unserious approach i’ve ever encountered when it came to a romance i just could not get over the whole writing retreat concept and the insufferablness of this main character (she’s swooning over a guy who’s first way of self expression is karate kicking 💀)
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Very cute and easy read. Very fast paced- no need to skim to get to the good parts
Na 1/3 eerder gescand dan gelezen. Ik vond het te ongeloofwaardig (en dat wil wat zeggen met het aantal (slechte) romances die ik lees). De hoofdpersonen waren ook om de beurt vervelend.
Het is precies of de grote namen onder de romance en feel good auteurs niet zo mijn ding zijn 😅
Het is precies of de grote namen onder de romance en feel good auteurs niet zo mijn ding zijn 😅