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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
This story was not what I expected.
But that isn't a bad thing.
When I first saw this, I knew I wanted to read it simply because of the word Aussie in the title. Being an Aussie, and it being a book about Australia, it was a given I wanted to read it and I was not disappointed. It was quite a sweet story. Not exactly my g0-to read but and surely enough I thoroughly enjoy it.
It checked a lot of boxes for me
Small town romance, a marriage of convenience and a whole lot of sweetness, but like I said sweet romances are not generally my thing. But this one worked SO well and it held so much more than I expected.
It's about a woman who needs a Visa to stay in Australia, and as you can see it's about her next-door neighbor.
Angie wants and needs to find someone who will help her stay in the only place she has to consider an actual home before, after having a rough start to life, she finds herself in a small town in Australia that she falls in love with and has now thought of it as home so she goes in search of that and seeks help through her landlord Jace.
Jace is the guy next door, the landlord. He has autism. He grew up in a large family but never felt as though he ever really belonged, like he ever really was understood. So he's lived a life of solitude, but that all changes when Angie comes into his life and for the better. Angie is a helper, she's the type of person that would help just about anyone she could and when Jace is dumped by his ex, he's left to think that no one will ever really accept him for who he is. So he swears to himself that he will focus on his career and live life on his own. But that changes when Angie turns to her landlord (Jace) for advice on finding someone to help her stay in the place she now calls home... These two hit off and what starts off as lust for each other turns into much much more.
I knew from the moment these two were in close proximity that they were meant to be. That they were bound for a happily ever after. But they fought those feelings and the chemistry, lust, and sexual tension between the two only heightened.
This story was filled with sweet and sorrow. It had meaning to it... And I felt that meaning, there were moments in the book where I wanted to cry for both of these characters and then there were moments where my heart flutters to life... It was truly breathtaking, sweep you off your feet, all the feels kind of romance and when I say all the feels... I mean ALL THE FEELS!
5 Stars
But that isn't a bad thing.
When I first saw this, I knew I wanted to read it simply because of the word Aussie in the title. Being an Aussie, and it being a book about Australia, it was a given I wanted to read it and I was not disappointed. It was quite a sweet story. Not exactly my g0-to read but and surely enough I thoroughly enjoy it.
It checked a lot of boxes for me
Small town romance, a marriage of convenience and a whole lot of sweetness, but like I said sweet romances are not generally my thing. But this one worked SO well and it held so much more than I expected.
It's about a woman who needs a Visa to stay in Australia, and as you can see it's about her next-door neighbor.
Angie wants and needs to find someone who will help her stay in the only place she has to consider an actual home before, after having a rough start to life, she finds herself in a small town in Australia that she falls in love with and has now thought of it as home so she goes in search of that and seeks help through her landlord Jace.
Jace is the guy next door, the landlord. He has autism. He grew up in a large family but never felt as though he ever really belonged, like he ever really was understood. So he's lived a life of solitude, but that all changes when Angie comes into his life and for the better. Angie is a helper, she's the type of person that would help just about anyone she could and when Jace is dumped by his ex, he's left to think that no one will ever really accept him for who he is. So he swears to himself that he will focus on his career and live life on his own. But that changes when Angie turns to her landlord (Jace) for advice on finding someone to help her stay in the place she now calls home... These two hit off and what starts off as lust for each other turns into much much more.
I knew from the moment these two were in close proximity that they were meant to be. That they were bound for a happily ever after. But they fought those feelings and the chemistry, lust, and sexual tension between the two only heightened.
This story was filled with sweet and sorrow. It had meaning to it... And I felt that meaning, there were moments in the book where I wanted to cry for both of these characters and then there were moments where my heart flutters to life... It was truly breathtaking, sweep you off your feet, all the feels kind of romance and when I say all the feels... I mean ALL THE FEELS!
5 Stars
adventurous
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
| I like this book very very much. More than I expect. It is a very cute small town romance. Even though Australia is not small. I am not a pet lover but the dogs manage to steal the show.
I do especially like Jace. With his autism spectrum, he needs routine to keep him grounded. He feels lost in his own family until he met Angie. Angie is the opposite of Jace. Spirited, wild and strong heroine. Jace learns to trust to people and his own feeling toward Angie and Angie benefits from Jace stability to keep her past away.
Together with their lovely dogs, have their own HEA.
Overall this is a very cute sweet read.
I do especially like Jace. With his autism spectrum, he needs routine to keep him grounded. He feels lost in his own family until he met Angie. Angie is the opposite of Jace. Spirited, wild and strong heroine. Jace learns to trust to people and his own feeling toward Angie and Angie benefits from Jace stability to keep her past away.
Together with their lovely dogs, have their own HEA.
Overall this is a very cute sweet read.
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
DNF @51%
I tried to like this book. I honestly did. I started it on vacation, grew bored, and moved on to something I knew I'd enjoy because let's face it, who wants to read a boring book on vacation?
Today I picked it back up and tried to power through it but started skimming, which is just a waste of time. Thus the DNF.
First off, the pacing is so slow. While I might have liked Jace, I did not like Angie. I did not like her motivation. By now, I've read a lot of books with characters who've been in the foster system. It's getting to be a cliched device, especially when foster parents are portrayed evilly. Since I know so many in real life, this is such a discredit to people doing an amazing job.
I expected some chemistry between Jace and Angie, some fun, some lol humor. Zippo.
Done here.
I tried to like this book. I honestly did. I started it on vacation, grew bored, and moved on to something I knew I'd enjoy because let's face it, who wants to read a boring book on vacation?
Today I picked it back up and tried to power through it but started skimming, which is just a waste of time. Thus the DNF.
First off, the pacing is so slow. While I might have liked Jace, I did not like Angie. I did not like her motivation. By now, I've read a lot of books with characters who've been in the foster system. It's getting to be a cliched device, especially when foster parents are portrayed evilly. Since I know so many in real life, this is such a discredit to people doing an amazing job.
I expected some chemistry between Jace and Angie, some fun, some lol humor. Zippo.
Done here.
After reading the description of this book I had really high hopes for it. I wanted to love this book, but I couldn't. I honestly had to force myself to finish it, and that does not happen often. So needless to say, this book is not my cup of tea.
The pacing was slow, the arguments were circular, the characters one-dimensional, and for being as long as it was, the story was not fleshed out in the least. There was so much potential, and yet it fell short. I'm particularly upset that such a sweet romantic gesture was wasted on this book. The end to the comic was beautiful. This story could have been so good.
I'm putting most of my comments under a cut, because while in my opinion one (or two) MAJOR plot point(s) should have been included in the description, they were not. So semi-spoilers ahead, but things that I think people should know going into this book.
Now, for the plot point that readers should really be made aware of: Jace has autism. But what are we told in the description? "Jace Walters has never wanted much—except a bathroom he didn’t have to share. The last cookie all to himself. And solitude. But when you grow up in a family of seven, you can kiss those things goodbye." If you want to write a story about a lone-wolf type character, do that. It really and truly felt like the author took every cliché stereotype she has heard about individuals with autism over the years and attributed them to her character whenever it was convenient. It felt so disingenuous, ill-researched, and insincere attempt at representation. It left such a sour taste in my mouth.
With there being other own-voices books being released in the last couple of years that have been beautifully done, it made it painful to read this book. I was so put off that I truly don't see myself reading other books by this author; with how poorly everything was handled in this book, how could I trust her to handle other situations/characters in other books?
I would go so far as to recommend people not read this. I'm sure that the author did not write the story this way intentionally or with ill wishes in mind; and her other books could be lovely. I don't like to be this blunt and harsh in my reviews, but that's just how bad this book made me feel.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided to me through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The pacing was slow, the arguments were circular, the characters one-dimensional, and for being as long as it was, the story was not fleshed out in the least. There was so much potential, and yet it fell short. I'm particularly upset that such a sweet romantic gesture was wasted on this book. The end to the comic was beautiful. This story could have been so good.
I'm putting most of my comments under a cut, because while in my opinion one (or two) MAJOR plot point(s) should have been included in the description, they were not. So semi-spoilers ahead, but things that I think people should know going into this book.
Spoiler
Where do I begin? I'm going to start with Angie, since she is mentioned first in the description. We were told "American Angie Donovan has never wanted much. When you grow up getting bounced from foster home to foster home, you learn not to become attached to anything, anyone, or any place." Now, her story is not that she was bounced from home to home. No, this is a gross understatement. It's that she was horrifically abused, had a very public trial, and fled the States. We never do get her full story, and yet somehow, it is literally the only personality trait that she has. She is so painfully (and annoyingly) one dimensional, and I'm so sick of this female-characters-must-be-treated-terribly-in-order-to-have-a-personality trend. There were so many ways her side of this story could have been done, but it was just. so. bad.Now, for the plot point that readers should really be made aware of: Jace has autism. But what are we told in the description? "Jace Walters has never wanted much—except a bathroom he didn’t have to share. The last cookie all to himself. And solitude. But when you grow up in a family of seven, you can kiss those things goodbye." If you want to write a story about a lone-wolf type character, do that. It really and truly felt like the author took every cliché stereotype she has heard about individuals with autism over the years and attributed them to her character whenever it was convenient. It felt so disingenuous, ill-researched, and insincere attempt at representation. It left such a sour taste in my mouth.
With there being other own-voices books being released in the last couple of years that have been beautifully done, it made it painful to read this book. I was so put off that I truly don't see myself reading other books by this author; with how poorly everything was handled in this book, how could I trust her to handle other situations/characters in other books?
I would go so far as to recommend people not read this. I'm sure that the author did not write the story this way intentionally or with ill wishes in mind; and her other books could be lovely. I don't like to be this blunt and harsh in my reviews, but that's just how bad this book made me feel.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided to me through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
DNF at 42%.
Angie Donovan left a life of unwanted notoriety in the US for a life of anonymity in small town Australia, but then she finds out she has to leave Australia unless she can fall in love and marry within a few short months.
Angie's next door neighbour is hunky cartoonist Jace. Unbeknownst to Angie, Jace has high functioning autism which means he struggles to understand other people's feelings or how to act in certain situations. He likes that Angie doesn't know about his autism, that she treats him like a regular guy. He likes Angie and wants her to stay but it takes him months to decide on a new brand of trainers, a decision like marriage would take him years.
Angie decides she will do everything she can to find someone, with the aim of falling in love and getting married before she gets deported.
The blurb for this read made me think it would be romantic comedy: a large interfering family; a series of dates; unruly dogs; and Jace sabotaging Angie's dates. To a certain extent I did get this but it all seemed pretty muted, nearly half way into the book and Angie has only been on one date. I also struggled with Jace's portrayal which made him seem a bit simple. There have been some great books released in the last few years which portray autism with empathy - in contrast this felt like Jace was a 16 year old child rather than a man.
Overall, I found the pace too slow, the characters overly sweet and the plot wasn't developing fast enough and I gave up.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Angie Donovan left a life of unwanted notoriety in the US for a life of anonymity in small town Australia, but then she finds out she has to leave Australia unless she can fall in love and marry within a few short months.
Angie's next door neighbour is hunky cartoonist Jace. Unbeknownst to Angie, Jace has high functioning autism which means he struggles to understand other people's feelings or how to act in certain situations. He likes that Angie doesn't know about his autism, that she treats him like a regular guy. He likes Angie and wants her to stay but it takes him months to decide on a new brand of trainers, a decision like marriage would take him years.
Angie decides she will do everything she can to find someone, with the aim of falling in love and getting married before she gets deported.
The blurb for this read made me think it would be romantic comedy: a large interfering family; a series of dates; unruly dogs; and Jace sabotaging Angie's dates. To a certain extent I did get this but it all seemed pretty muted, nearly half way into the book and Angie has only been on one date. I also struggled with Jace's portrayal which made him seem a bit simple. There have been some great books released in the last few years which portray autism with empathy - in contrast this felt like Jace was a 16 year old child rather than a man.
Overall, I found the pace too slow, the characters overly sweet and the plot wasn't developing fast enough and I gave up.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
emotional
medium-paced
This book is a steamy Aussie version of The Bride Test - even down to the visa predicaments!
