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t2theheygood's review
Will try again. Just didn’t get into it within the first couple chapters
norgey's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I’m feeling gutted. I laughed, cried, and felt anxious all with this book. Trevor was literally so fucking funny, I found myself actually laughing at loud during a few parts of the story. The chemistry between Alex and Romina was magnetic. I loved the push and pull in the beginning and then Romina having to over her trauma to see Alex for the safety that he is. I went into this book think it’d be a fake dating trope but it was actually a second chance lovers and I loved it so much more. The devotion Alex had for Romina is what women dream about.
The only thing I didn’t like was that Alex ended up having a son before reconnecting with Romina. It felt like a wrench thrown in the whole “I’ve been devoted to you for the last 11 years and there’s been no one else.” I’d rather have had them start fresh with 3 kids of their own.
reederi's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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
4.5
sarabook's review
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
emac021's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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
4.0
kindlebabe's review
4.0
★ ★ ★ ★ //5
Old Flames and New Fortunes
by: Sarah Hogle
THOUGHTS:
I want to thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for giving me the opportunity to read an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
If you love :
-Guy Falls First
-Second Chance
-Witches
-Some Magic
-Fake Dating
Then this book is absolutely for you!! This book was fun and cute and all the seasonal vibes. This was my first Hogle book and I was not disappointed. I am going to continue to look for her books in the future. I cannot wait to see what may be possibly coming out next! Hurry up and put this on you TBR!!
Old Flames and New Fortunes
by: Sarah Hogle
THOUGHTS:
I want to thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for giving me the opportunity to read an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
If you love :
-Guy Falls First
-Second Chance
-Witches
-Some Magic
-Fake Dating
Then this book is absolutely for you!! This book was fun and cute and all the seasonal vibes. This was my first Hogle book and I was not disappointed. I am going to continue to look for her books in the future. I cannot wait to see what may be possibly coming out next! Hurry up and put this on you TBR!!
haleymfischer's review against another edition
4.0
Sarah Hogle is the queen of soft boys and whimsy love stories with heart and soul and sometimes even a dash of magic ✨
At first, I was quite skeptical of this book. Actually I thought I was tripping. I couldn’t get a solid read on the world or the magic and the writing felt very scrambled to me. My notes from the first chapter just say “I feel like I just got slapped in the face by cottage core. But why is there a red Nissan with yellow rims? Is this set in the world of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse?”
Turns out this is much less ridiculous story than I first imagined, set in current day in a novelty tourist town called Moonville somewhere in the depths of Ohio. The novelty is in its “love magic” and its unbelievably cutesy landscape, shops, and eateries (the bar is called Moonshine, the pastry place is Wafting Crescent—you get the point).
Romina Tempest and her sisters run are purveyors of this so-called love magic at their family store “The Magick Happens” a bookstore/magic shop that specializes in candles and flowers that influence the love lives of their customers.
All fun and adorable and good. Even if it the writing still felt a bit jumbled at times. But what was not fun and good was Romina fake dating her boss/friend Trevor in an effort to score investment money from his dad while making both of their exes jealous. Because, in a twist of fate, Trevor’s dad is in town to marry the mother of Romina’s high school sweetheart. Which puts her face-to-face with Alex (said high school sweetheart) for the first time in 11 years.
I don’t like fake dating on a good day. But you know what’s even worse than love interests that fake date? A main character that fake dates a side character in an effort to hurt the love interest. My stomach actually sank when I finally realized what we were in for, and I enjoyed very little of the high jinks and persistent, petty lying that ensued.
Thankfully that jig doesn’t last too too long though. And once it’s up, thus began the most achingly sweet second chance romance I’ve been privy to in a long while.
I get why people might not love Alex and resent the discovery that very nearly upends the story halfway through. But I disagree wholeheartedly. I fell so hard for Alex. He’s the softest softest boy who’s so clearly still in love with Romina from the get-go and just wants her to be honest with him.
Romina’s fake dating scheme bothered me to no end but her backstory had my heart bleeding. It was something I’ve never read about before or even considered. It was poignant and raw with the sharpest edges but I thought it perfectly complimented the healing journey that these two go on together.
This really is a story about old flames and new fortunes. Love that haunts you and love that heals you. And although there were bits that didn’t work for me, I loved loved loved how this story turned out.
If you’re into:
- second chance romance
- fake dating (not w/the love interest)
- cottage core galore
- quirky small town vibes
- sister witches
- a sprinkle of magic
- guys who fall first
- adorable children
- mild open door steam
Then you should definitely add this to your TBR for next April!!
At first, I was quite skeptical of this book. Actually I thought I was tripping. I couldn’t get a solid read on the world or the magic and the writing felt very scrambled to me. My notes from the first chapter just say “I feel like I just got slapped in the face by cottage core. But why is there a red Nissan with yellow rims? Is this set in the world of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse?”
Turns out this is much less ridiculous story than I first imagined, set in current day in a novelty tourist town called Moonville somewhere in the depths of Ohio. The novelty is in its “love magic” and its unbelievably cutesy landscape, shops, and eateries (the bar is called Moonshine, the pastry place is Wafting Crescent—you get the point).
Romina Tempest and her sisters run are purveyors of this so-called love magic at their family store “The Magick Happens” a bookstore/magic shop that specializes in candles and flowers that influence the love lives of their customers.
All fun and adorable and good. Even if it the writing still felt a bit jumbled at times. But what was not fun and good was Romina fake dating her boss/friend Trevor in an effort to score investment money from his dad while making both of their exes jealous. Because, in a twist of fate, Trevor’s dad is in town to marry the mother of Romina’s high school sweetheart. Which puts her face-to-face with Alex (said high school sweetheart) for the first time in 11 years.
I don’t like fake dating on a good day. But you know what’s even worse than love interests that fake date? A main character that fake dates a side character in an effort to hurt the love interest. My stomach actually sank when I finally realized what we were in for, and I enjoyed very little of the high jinks and persistent, petty lying that ensued.
Thankfully that jig doesn’t last too too long though. And once it’s up, thus began the most achingly sweet second chance romance I’ve been privy to in a long while.
I get why people might not love Alex and resent the discovery that very nearly upends the story halfway through. But I disagree wholeheartedly. I fell so hard for Alex. He’s the softest softest boy who’s so clearly still in love with Romina from the get-go and just wants her to be honest with him.
Romina’s fake dating scheme bothered me to no end but her backstory had my heart bleeding. It was something I’ve never read about before or even considered. It was poignant and raw with the sharpest edges but I thought it perfectly complimented the healing journey that these two go on together.
This really is a story about old flames and new fortunes. Love that haunts you and love that heals you. And although there were bits that didn’t work for me, I loved loved loved how this story turned out.
If you’re into:
- second chance romance
- fake dating (not w/the love interest)
- cottage core galore
- quirky small town vibes
- sister witches
- a sprinkle of magic
- guys who fall first
- adorable children
- mild open door steam
Then you should definitely add this to your TBR for next April!!
alentz94's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
victoriadiesattheend's review
3.0
bear with me, i’m trying to be better at actually reviewing books lmfao
sadly, i really only finished this because i bought the physical copy of the book (which is GORG by the way). i would have DNFd at around 35%, which is sad because my favorite part of the book was actually the last 10-15%.
i really enjoyed the whimsical, witchy setting. there was a huge focus on magic, love, and flowers as it pertains to the main character’s career. the writing and vibes reminded me of the ex hex / the kiss curse by erin sterling if it was set in the springtime. the prose is slightly flowery, but not distractingly so. there were a lot of lines i liked, but in particular - “i’m not going to spend any time pressing the bruise on purpose, missing him when he’s right here.” 😭
my main complaint is that many of the interactions between the characters were SUPER awkward. i wish i could explain it better than that. first, this is a second chance romance between two people who were together from ages 16-18. eleven years later they’re still obsessed with each other and have never been able to forget each other (even though they did not interact at all throughout those 11 years…?) now they’re almost 30 and each interaction they have plays out as if they’re still 16-18. awkward, immature, and uncomfortable to read.
**** FROM THIS POINT ON I VAGUELY EXPLAIN SCENES FROM THE BOOK. I DONT THINK THEY’RE SPOILERY BUT THEY COULD BE***
second, there is fake-dating plot between the FMC (romina) and her best guy friend (trevor). they do not sell it AT ALL and each interaction they have to show they’re fake-dating (for a few reasons, but mainly to make the MMC jealous) was insanely uncomfortable. i think it was meant to be funny, but it left me visibly cringing.
even while alex, the MMC, thinks romina is dating someone - he acts flirty towards her. when trevor asks alex “are you flirting with my girl?” he replies “no, i’m flirting with mine” … straight to jail. and to harp on the awkwardness - while there’s banter there is somehow no chemistry for the majority of the book?!?! for example, there is a point early on in the book where romina is dating trevor (as far as everyone knows) and she has a conversation with alex. she ends up randomly reaching her hand up and lightly choking him? i was extremely confused.
there’s also a scene where alex forces his mom and future step-dad, romina and trevor, and some other random people in the family to play the “newlywed game” to see who knows their other half best. he basically just asks trevor and romina really awkward sexual questions about each other in front of everyone (trying to prove that the two don’t know each other that well). again, i visibly cringed during this scene.
as soon as alex found out romina was actually single, they 69 in a field. immediately. like out of all sex things, she had to pick the most awkward position from the jump. slay i guess. the awkwardness subsided once alex found out romina and trevor weren’t dating. it also grew to be sort of charming…. at like 90% (which in my opinion is way too long for a book to get cute).
i will say, the big secret kept by alex and revealed later didn’t bother me as much as it bothered other reviewers. as far as alex knew for most of the book she was “dating” someone else so there was no time he could’ve really told her. i really liked the reveal and thought it was perfect for the story. outside of a reveal that doesn’t take long to resolve, there isn’t really a third act conflict which i like.
its obvious the series will continue and follow romina’s two sisters. i’m a little disappointed because given that i really only liked the vibes and the last 10% of the book, i don’t know if i would pick up the rest of this series.
sadly, i really only finished this because i bought the physical copy of the book (which is GORG by the way). i would have DNFd at around 35%, which is sad because my favorite part of the book was actually the last 10-15%.
i really enjoyed the whimsical, witchy setting. there was a huge focus on magic, love, and flowers as it pertains to the main character’s career. the writing and vibes reminded me of the ex hex / the kiss curse by erin sterling if it was set in the springtime. the prose is slightly flowery, but not distractingly so. there were a lot of lines i liked, but in particular - “i’m not going to spend any time pressing the bruise on purpose, missing him when he’s right here.” 😭
my main complaint is that many of the interactions between the characters were SUPER awkward. i wish i could explain it better than that. first, this is a second chance romance between two people who were together from ages 16-18. eleven years later they’re still obsessed with each other and have never been able to forget each other (even though they did not interact at all throughout those 11 years…?) now they’re almost 30 and each interaction they have plays out as if they’re still 16-18. awkward, immature, and uncomfortable to read.
**** FROM THIS POINT ON I VAGUELY EXPLAIN SCENES FROM THE BOOK. I DONT THINK THEY’RE SPOILERY BUT THEY COULD BE***
second, there is fake-dating plot between the FMC (romina) and her best guy friend (trevor). they do not sell it AT ALL and each interaction they have to show they’re fake-dating (for a few reasons, but mainly to make the MMC jealous) was insanely uncomfortable. i think it was meant to be funny, but it left me visibly cringing.
even while alex, the MMC, thinks romina is dating someone - he acts flirty towards her. when trevor asks alex “are you flirting with my girl?” he replies “no, i’m flirting with mine” … straight to jail. and to harp on the awkwardness - while there’s banter there is somehow no chemistry for the majority of the book?!?! for example, there is a point early on in the book where romina is dating trevor (as far as everyone knows) and she has a conversation with alex. she ends up randomly reaching her hand up and lightly choking him? i was extremely confused.
there’s also a scene where alex forces his mom and future step-dad, romina and trevor, and some other random people in the family to play the “newlywed game” to see who knows their other half best. he basically just asks trevor and romina really awkward sexual questions about each other in front of everyone (trying to prove that the two don’t know each other that well). again, i visibly cringed during this scene.
as soon as alex found out romina was actually single, they 69 in a field. immediately. like out of all sex things, she had to pick the most awkward position from the jump. slay i guess. the awkwardness subsided once alex found out romina and trevor weren’t dating. it also grew to be sort of charming…. at like 90% (which in my opinion is way too long for a book to get cute).
i will say, the big secret kept by alex and revealed later didn’t bother me as much as it bothered other reviewers. as far as alex knew for most of the book she was “dating” someone else so there was no time he could’ve really told her. i really liked the reveal and thought it was perfect for the story. outside of a reveal that doesn’t take long to resolve, there isn’t really a third act conflict which i like.
its obvious the series will continue and follow romina’s two sisters. i’m a little disappointed because given that i really only liked the vibes and the last 10% of the book, i don’t know if i would pick up the rest of this series.
linsey1828's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.75