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achristi's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Only rated so high cause I felt bad for Caroline 😭
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Ableism
Moderate: Death
savvyrosereads's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-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
4.5
Out Tuesday (10/17)! [Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an eARC to review!]
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Caroline is a twenty-two-year-old MBA student with a huge inheritance and trouble connecting with strangers. Adrian is a thirty-three-year-old artist who needs a job. Enter a “sugar baby” arrangement and watch shenanigans (and feelings) ensue.
I really enjoyed Katie’s debut Bear With Me Now, and was super excited to dive into Sweeten the Deal. I expected to have fun, but I didn’t expect to be so wholly engrossed in the story and the characters that I’ve been thinking about them nonstop for days after finishing the book. Adrian and Caroline were both EXCELLENT—Caroline was wildly relatable (and offered great neurodivergence rep) and Adrian…ugh my sweet soft swoony vaguely obnoxious art guy with a heart of gold, I love him so much.
If I had one complaint it’s just that I wanted a longer epilogue…but I’m a fan of closure and *mostly* I really just wanted more time with these two. Crossing all my fingers that they show up in cameo in Katie’s third novel? Maybe? Please?
Anyway, if you enjoy rom-coms that are sweet but also sizzle and really bring the “com” part, I urge you to pick this one up!
Recommended to anyone, but especially if you like: fake dating; neurodivergence rep; age gap romance
CW: Ableism; death of a loved one; bullying
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Caroline is a twenty-two-year-old MBA student with a huge inheritance and trouble connecting with strangers. Adrian is a thirty-three-year-old artist who needs a job. Enter a “sugar baby” arrangement and watch shenanigans (and feelings) ensue.
I really enjoyed Katie’s debut Bear With Me Now, and was super excited to dive into Sweeten the Deal. I expected to have fun, but I didn’t expect to be so wholly engrossed in the story and the characters that I’ve been thinking about them nonstop for days after finishing the book. Adrian and Caroline were both EXCELLENT—Caroline was wildly relatable (and offered great neurodivergence rep) and Adrian…ugh my sweet soft swoony vaguely obnoxious art guy with a heart of gold, I love him so much.
If I had one complaint it’s just that I wanted a longer epilogue…but I’m a fan of closure and *mostly* I really just wanted more time with these two. Crossing all my fingers that they show up in cameo in Katie’s third novel? Maybe? Please?
Anyway, if you enjoy rom-coms that are sweet but also sizzle and really bring the “com” part, I urge you to pick this one up!
Recommended to anyone, but especially if you like: fake dating; neurodivergence rep; age gap romance
CW: Ableism; death of a loved one; bullying
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism and Bullying
Moderate: Death
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