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annareadshere's review
4.0
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
It’s been such a long time since I’ve read a women’s lit book that made me feel all kinds of warm and fuzzy. Sophie and Alex have such an interesting dynamic. And it made it impossible to not root for them from the beginning. Yes, it’s predictable and cutesy, but it’s the perfect combination of it all.
Sophie is a tough nut to crack, and she stands her ground even though Alex makes it really tough for her to keep saying no. And when he just keeps coming around, tempting and taunting her and making his feelings clear, it’s impossible for her to just walk away from it all. When Alex lets his guard down for Sophie and he lets her deep into his life and she starts returning the favour, you can see how the two of them get so tangled up in each other.
It’s perfect. It was exactly the kind of book that the doctor ordered for me to get over my reading slump. A book that warms you up from the inside is never a bad thing and I absolutely loved it from start to finish. Kellie Hailes is a new author to me, but I will certainly be looking out for more of her books in the future!
It’s been such a long time since I’ve read a women’s lit book that made me feel all kinds of warm and fuzzy. Sophie and Alex have such an interesting dynamic. And it made it impossible to not root for them from the beginning. Yes, it’s predictable and cutesy, but it’s the perfect combination of it all.
Sophie is a tough nut to crack, and she stands her ground even though Alex makes it really tough for her to keep saying no. And when he just keeps coming around, tempting and taunting her and making his feelings clear, it’s impossible for her to just walk away from it all. When Alex lets his guard down for Sophie and he lets her deep into his life and she starts returning the favour, you can see how the two of them get so tangled up in each other.
It’s perfect. It was exactly the kind of book that the doctor ordered for me to get over my reading slump. A book that warms you up from the inside is never a bad thing and I absolutely loved it from start to finish. Kellie Hailes is a new author to me, but I will certainly be looking out for more of her books in the future!
annarella's review
5.0
A brilliant book, perfect for a summer afternoon.
The cast of characters is very likable and well written, the plot entertaining and engrossing, the setting made me wish to be there.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
The cast of characters is very likable and well written, the plot entertaining and engrossing, the setting made me wish to be there.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
isabellm's review
3.0
I love stories set around bookshops. The premise of this story with Sophie fighting to save her shop and home and Alex struggling to live up to his family expectations and own wishes appealed to me. Alex and Sophie were cute but I didn’t feel as great an emotional connection to their love story as I wanted. Overall It was a pleasant easy read for the summer.
coffeebooksorme's review
2.0
First of all, a huge thank you to HQ Digital via Net Galley for providing me an eARC of this in exchange for an honest review!
Y'all, I really wanted to like this. The synopsis read like a You've Got Mail-esque story by an English seaside. I was stoked and super excited to try it out but it really just wasn't for me. Also, this is the 5th in a series, which I was unaware of when I requested the ARC, but fyi, you won't be able to tell. I'm sure characters from previous books show up but it's not in a way that you can't read this and understand all of what's going on.
This whole story was just very lackluster and pretty below average when it came to creativity. Big CEO comes to buy land to make resort, little big shop owner says no, town resists, enemies to lovers trope, happy ending yay! I mean, I knew that's what it was going to be when I went in but...it just wasn't done well. The storyline felt rushed, the romance felt insta-love-y, the conflict was nonexistent, and honestly, the whole thing just read like a first time author trying out different tropes. This did not read like a seasoned author. I mean no disrespect but this was just bad.
To be completely transparent, I skimmed the last 100 pages because I was not invested. I knew how everything was going to go before it did, it ended in a way that was super predictable, and any of the 'conflict' brought up from traumatic pasts was just sorta swept under the rug and not used to their full potential.
Y'all, I really wanted to like this. The synopsis read like a You've Got Mail-esque story by an English seaside. I was stoked and super excited to try it out but it really just wasn't for me. Also, this is the 5th in a series, which I was unaware of when I requested the ARC, but fyi, you won't be able to tell. I'm sure characters from previous books show up but it's not in a way that you can't read this and understand all of what's going on.
This whole story was just very lackluster and pretty below average when it came to creativity. Big CEO comes to buy land to make resort, little big shop owner says no, town resists, enemies to lovers trope, happy ending yay! I mean, I knew that's what it was going to be when I went in but...it just wasn't done well. The storyline felt rushed, the romance felt insta-love-y, the conflict was nonexistent, and honestly, the whole thing just read like a first time author trying out different tropes. This did not read like a seasoned author. I mean no disrespect but this was just bad.
To be completely transparent, I skimmed the last 100 pages because I was not invested. I knew how everything was going to go before it did, it ended in a way that was super predictable, and any of the 'conflict' brought up from traumatic pasts was just sorta swept under the rug and not used to their full potential.
becca_akins's review
4.0
Such a cute sweet romance in the perfect setting.
**I was sent an e-arc copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. This in no way affects my rating or review.
**I was sent an e-arc copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. This in no way affects my rating or review.
thebookishcourt's review
3.0
I had to DNF this at 56%. But, it's not a bad read at all, truly. I had to DNF this because i just wasn't feeling the book.
I started this expecting some intense conflict. However, we're barely a few chapters in before the main character was already melting for the love interest and showed no genuine signs of self conflict. And the characters were just so happy all the time!
I need the drama. I need the impression she was miserable and her life was going to the sh*ts and that she did all she could to resist the charms of Alexander and if she didn't, she will lose out on life.
I personally felt that the book didn't manage to procure that tension and i had to drop it and move on.
So, yes. I DNFed a Romance book because there wasn't piping hot tea spilled and it was happy.
3.2 stars
I started this expecting some intense conflict. However, we're barely a few chapters in before the main character was already melting for the love interest and showed no genuine signs of self conflict. And the characters were just so happy all the time!
I need the drama. I need the impression she was miserable and her life was going to the sh*ts and that she did all she could to resist the charms of Alexander and if she didn't, she will lose out on life.
I personally felt that the book didn't manage to procure that tension and i had to drop it and move on.
So, yes. I DNFed a Romance book because there wasn't piping hot tea spilled and it was happy.
3.2 stars
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