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iamsammie27's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Medical content
Minor: Death of parent and Toxic relationship
adub345's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
I almost DNF'd this several times. It took me almost a week to read and I usually fly through this author.
The story felt very stuck. I wouldn't consider it an enemies to lovers because they reconciled wayyy too quickly, and even the usual tension between friends felt rushed. It's not a second chance romance because they didn't really have a first chance in the past. Friends to lovers? Vacation fling? I don't know but I barely got the 1.5 stars it did get...those are for the few chuckles and the blasts from the past of other stories.
The story felt very stuck. I wouldn't consider it an enemies to lovers because they reconciled wayyy too quickly, and even the usual tension between friends felt rushed. It's not a second chance romance because they didn't really have a first chance in the past. Friends to lovers? Vacation fling? I don't know but I barely got the 1.5 stars it did get...those are for the few chuckles and the blasts from the past of other stories.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent
hazelgirl21's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent and Medical content
Minor: Toxic relationship
sdupont's review
emotional
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
Melanie never disappoints! I just love how her small town romances offer up a perfect mix of sweetness and spice. I loved Ari and Dash. They had a deep and supportive friendship. He was a man obsessed and they were clearly in love. I appreciate that despite being best friend’s brother there is no drama with them coupling up. Honorable mention to the scenes with the brothers and Veronica. If you love a small town romance you need to read this book!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief and Medical content
Minor: Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Toxic relationship
dxisymitch's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent and Medical content
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Grief, and Toxic relationship
_bookish_lauren's review
funny
lighthearted
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? No
4.0
Overall: 4/5
Spice level: 3/5
Tropes: small town, best friend's older brother
Normally, Harlow's book are easily 4.5-5 stars, but there was an aspect that I couldn't quite get past. Now, overall, the characters of Dash and Ari were great. I love a good delulu friends with benefits situation where they characters think they won't get attached. We all know the truth.
And the story was done well, but here's where I had a problem. This trope is best friend's older brother. There is a 3 year age gap between Dash and Ari, which isn't a big deal as adults but when he's 19 and she's 16, it is. She offers him her V card, and he rejects her, which is perfectly fine and how it should be. But behind closed doors, he's lusting after her when she's not even legal. He even gets off to it. If the author would've just stopped it at the rejection then maybe had him "noticing" her once they were both of age, that would've been different. A 19-year-old getting off to thoughts of a 16-year-old is a hard no.
But other readers may think this is ok and just a slight piece of taboo, which is perfectly fine for them. It just wasn't ok for me.
I will say that the overall plot and storyline were great. I enjoyed the characters as a whole and there was great character development. This won't deter me from reading future books from Harlow. She's a pro at the sweet and sexy contemporary story.
Spice level: 3/5
Tropes: small town, best friend's older brother
Normally, Harlow's book are easily 4.5-5 stars, but there was an aspect that I couldn't quite get past. Now, overall, the characters of Dash and Ari were great. I love a good delulu friends with benefits situation where they characters think they won't get attached. We all know the truth.
And the story was done well, but here's where I had a problem. This trope is best friend's older brother. There is a 3 year age gap between Dash and Ari, which isn't a big deal as adults but when he's 19 and she's 16, it is. She offers him her V card, and he rejects her, which is perfectly fine and how it should be. But behind closed doors, he's lusting after her when she's not even legal. He even gets off to it. If the author would've just stopped it at the rejection then maybe had him "noticing" her once they were both of age, that would've been different. A 19-year-old getting off to thoughts of a 16-year-old is a hard no.
But other readers may think this is ok and just a slight piece of taboo, which is perfectly fine for them. It just wasn't ok for me.
I will say that the overall plot and storyline were great. I enjoyed the characters as a whole and there was great character development. This won't deter me from reading future books from Harlow. She's a pro at the sweet and sexy contemporary story.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent and Grief
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