Reviews

Smile Like You Mean It by Willow Hadley

mrsapplewhite's review

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5.0

This is one of the best Rerverse Harem novels I've ever read. The characters are all really likeable and it's extremely hard to choose a favorite between the boys. I can't wait to see what happens next in Charlotte's story!

phoenix_rising_4682's review against another edition

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3.0

Cute story but a tad slow. The ending didn't fit the stereotypical trope which was interesting but also disappointing.

sidneyalexander13's review

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4.0

Loved. Loved. Loved.

Seriously this has to be the sweetest RH I’ve ever read! Charlotte is wonderful and sweet! And has been through a lot in such a young age! When she moves in with her uncle after tragedy, she meets nerdy, sweet, & protective Sebastian, Remy, Liam, Elliot, & Grayson. We get a summer lovin type feel. Everyone quickly develops feelings and with boys being boys, they stupidly decide a competition for her attention is the most poignant solution.

This was my first book by this author and the writing is very strong! Kept me interested the whole time!!

So glad I picked this up and can’t wait to see how their relationships grows! Book 2 needs to hurry!!!

marisakucha's review

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5.0

I think I spent a majority of this book with a little smile on my face, that’s how sweet and adorable this book was. Full disclosure, I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about this book after reading the blurb but I had heard great things about it so I felt I needed to give it a try. I ended up finishing this in one sitting and I had to double check that I had actually read the last page. I feel like absolutely no time had passed from when I started this book to when it ended, I was so enraptured by the characters and the story that I don’t think I checked the time once. It was such a captivatingly good book.

I’m loving this book now but I feel like I could’ve also read it when I was around the same age as these characters and loved it just the same. However, maybe I have more appreciation for some of the things that the characters have gone through since I am a bit older than them now. It’s a sweet story. I really don’t know how else to describe it. I love seeing how the characters played off one another and learned more about each other. There were some tough topics and I like that things weren’t brushed over, actions and feelings were validated.

I just enjoyed the story and I highly recommend this book. If you’re looking for something sweet that makes you want to smile, you really will smile like you mean it.

sweetsistersadie's review

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5.0

Very sweet

I really enjoyed this book. It’s perfect for if you want something pretty low-key, with not a lot of angst. The guys treat the fmc with respect, and they all actually seem like teenagers, rather than super bada** adults reskinned to be teenagers.

rawlsreads's review against another edition

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5.0

You can always count on Willow to give you a super sweet and easy read! Smile fits that category to a T! I loved getting to know Charlotte and the boys throughout this story. This is def a slice of life working out the struggles of a poly relationship story, but with all the cute squee moments in between.

Charlotte has had a rough life and has basically shut down all of her emotions. After getting out of juvie, she gets picked up by the uncle she didn't even realize knew she existed and taken home to live with him and his foster son.

This book is a sloooww-burn, but like I said above its soo cute to watch all the group come together and start learning each other and exploring their feelings. Willow does a great job at organically building in the poly relationship with these guys - especially in a high school setting. Each of the guys is different and distinct, but with a backstory that ties them all together in a brothership.

I cannot wait to see where the next book goes!

fnicholee's review against another edition

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slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

The writing is just god awful. 

debbie2232's review

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5.0

This book was so freaking sweet! It was such a cute, innocent RH. It’s definitely a slowwww burn that’s for sure! But I really did enjoy this book and I look forward to reading the next one!

enigmaticinsomniac's review

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4.0

Amazing book! Great storyline and character development. I really enjoyed the diversity of the characters and I can't wait to read book number 2!

bia21nka's review

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emotional hopeful

3.0