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sstansell's review against another edition
5.0
I picked this up and just couldn’t put it down. Loved the dynamic and characters!
zluvsreading's review
5.0
— 5 stars ⚝
"Whatever you want, sweetheart. Anything you want."
CUE ME SOBBING. VIOLENTLY. WITH SNOT ON MY SHIRT AND EVERYTHING.
How do I adequately describe my love for this novel? These characters? The whole plot of this? There's no way I can. (But she's gonna try I suppose)
Let's talk about the plot because it makes me laugh so hard. Basically, it's a reverse Pretty Woman. <s> (I hate that fucking movie)</s> but this book was a fun cozy read. The FMC, Caroline <b> MY WIFE </b>inherits 2 million dollars and suddenly her whole life is changed. But listen, she's lonely. Nobody in her college or hometown even wants to interact with her. (Oh, btw she's a Texas woman and has a lovely Texan accent. I hate Texas accents, but she's the exception.) She's not seeing and understanding the world like everyone else. My neurodivergent "pretty good" tennis player wife. Because of this, she goes on this app to basically pay someone to hang out with her. Cue the MMC, Adrian. Starving artist living with his friend who is ten years her superior. Adrian needs some money because he is really broke after a bad breakup and doesn't really paint anymore. So, with some convincing from his lovely roommate Tom (we love Tom around here), he agrees to this whole crazy set-up. And then the story goes from there. It's got the whole age-gap trope. SHE. IS. HIS. MUSE. I'd give the spice rating about a 2/5. This novel will make you blush, giggle, weep, and want to scream into your pillow. I have said this a lot while talking about this book, but I'm so serious when I say it feels like a warm hug. Reading this made me feel like I was being hugged. I related to Caroline so much, even though I am not on the spectrum. I love that about books. You can take them and interpret them in any way you want. It's <i>your</i> reading experience. As you can tell, I had a fun time reading this one. I highly recommend it. 🫶
"Whatever you want, sweetheart. Anything you want."
CUE ME SOBBING. VIOLENTLY. WITH SNOT ON MY SHIRT AND EVERYTHING.
How do I adequately describe my love for this novel? These characters? The whole plot of this? There's no way I can. (But she's gonna try I suppose)
Let's talk about the plot because it makes me laugh so hard. Basically, it's a reverse Pretty Woman. <s> (I hate that fucking movie)</s> but this book was a fun cozy read. The FMC, Caroline <b> MY WIFE </b>inherits 2 million dollars and suddenly her whole life is changed. But listen, she's lonely. Nobody in her college or hometown even wants to interact with her. (Oh, btw she's a Texas woman and has a lovely Texan accent. I hate Texas accents, but she's the exception.) She's not seeing and understanding the world like everyone else. My neurodivergent "pretty good" tennis player wife. Because of this, she goes on this app to basically pay someone to hang out with her. Cue the MMC, Adrian. Starving artist living with his friend who is ten years her superior. Adrian needs some money because he is really broke after a bad breakup and doesn't really paint anymore. So, with some convincing from his lovely roommate Tom (we love Tom around here), he agrees to this whole crazy set-up. And then the story goes from there. It's got the whole age-gap trope. SHE. IS. HIS. MUSE. I'd give the spice rating about a 2/5. This novel will make you blush, giggle, weep, and want to scream into your pillow. I have said this a lot while talking about this book, but I'm so serious when I say it feels like a warm hug. Reading this made me feel like I was being hugged. I related to Caroline so much, even though I am not on the spectrum. I love that about books. You can take them and interpret them in any way you want. It's <i>your</i> reading experience. As you can tell, I had a fun time reading this one. I highly recommend it. 🫶
bernluvsbooks's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
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? Yes
4.0
vlaniganfoffimreading's review
4.0
This was an interesting premise! MBA student Caroline has come into some serious money. She’s lonely in a new town and isn’t quite sure how to properly be an adult. Her parents kept her busy with tennis and totally sheltered. Now that she’s out on her own she wants to learn how to be cultured, independent and not so lonely.
.
Adrian was an art prodigy but he’s couch surfing at his best friends after his boss/girlfriend broke up with him. He has zero interest in painting and feels totally lost. Between him and his roommate they are barely making rent and they need a drastic solution. This drastic solution has him signing up online to be “sugar baby” to Caroline’s “sugar daddy.” Neither are looking for romance. Caroline is looking for someone to accompany her on evenings out and introduce her to a more cultured taste. These two end up finding love but not without some obstacles in the way. There were some things that were super fun in this and some parts I didn’t love but overall this was a fun time!
Huge thank you to @berkleypub @berittalksbooks @thephdivabooks @dg_reads @prhaudio and @netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
mixedupelf's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
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
kendra_reads's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
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? It's complicated
3.75
ashaqueen's review against another edition
5.0
I had the pleasure of reading an early draft of this book and I adored it. The yearning was exactly what I needed. It was rich, poignant, and the prose sparkled to make every breathless moment shine even more.