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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
I was pretty excited to read this book but was sorely disappointed. First, the beginning was so slow that I couldn’t continue reading on for more than half of a chapter, when I finally did continue, it wasn’t until halfway through the book when Holland and Calvin’s relationship truly began. When their relationship did begin, it always felt like something was missing. They never truly felt like a real couple. I disliked the layout of this book. None of the chapters were a continuation of the one before, instead of one whole book, this sort of felt like a bunch of stories strung together. After the whole book passed with this couple barely being together, the ending wasn’t even satisfying. It still seems like Holland was unsure of her place in Calvin’s life and tbh so was I. Their story didn’t really feel like a love story at all. The only time I like this story was when she was describing her relationship with her uncles and that was the only good thing for me. Like I said, this book was pretty disappointing to me, especially because I’ve heard so many good things about Christina Lauren. Overall, a pretty unrewarding read.
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
fast-paced
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Very sweet romance. I loved the male lead! It does rely pretty heavily on miscommunication tropes, which irritated me a bit. But otherwise great!
3.5-3.75 stars. This was a pretty good book, but I didn't love it. This is Holland's story. Holland lives in NY and does odd jobs around the Broadway theater her uncle works in. He is a composer and music director for a hit show. Holland has a crush on a guy, Calvin, who busks in the subway, playing guitar beautifully. She goes out of her way to hear this guy play, riding the subway when she knows he will be playing. When the main musician in her uncle's show quits unexpectedly, Holland brings her uncle to hear Calvin play. Her uncle is struck by his talent, auditions him for the show, and offers him the job. But there is a problem, Calvin is in the US as an illegal immigrant from Ireland. In order to help her uncle's show, and to help this very talented man she likes get a dream job, Holland does something crazy. She offers to marry him so he can get citizenship. They immediately get married and start the process of learning everything about each other so they can fool the immigration department into believing they are a real couple. Holland really likes Calvin and only likes him more as they spend more time together, but she doesn't really know whether Calvin wants a fake relationship or a real one. His is very mysterious and it is hard to tell what he is feeling. Still, their relationship does become more real over time. Calvin becomes a huge hit Broadway star. But there is some major drama and miscommunication issues. Can their relationship last long enough for them to fool immigration? Will it become real and will they fall in love?
The writing in this book is very good. The Broadway and NYC setting is really interesting and different. I definitely felt that storyline and the love of music woven into the story. I liked Holland. She is smart and sweet, but also still trying to find herself and her place in the world. I liked Calvin, but I felt like this book would have benefited a lot from having his POV. He was mysterious and it was very hard to tell what his real feelings were. I had a hard time believing his love. He made some pretty big mistakes with Holland and wasn't very honest. I had a hard time trusting him as a reader. He never really told her why he loved her either. I never fully settled into their love and I'm not sure I trust their HEA. Their relationship is very slow build and I didn't really feel a lot of chemistry between them. They don't even kiss until 65%. I never really felt the love between them either. There is just a lot of drama that happens between them and there is a several month separation near the end, which made an already shaky love between them even less believable. I would have liked to see more time with them together for real, an honest, happy couple. I felt like the ending was abrupt, too. But I did like Holland's gay uncles and other side characters.
Overall, I think I actually liked the story and the theme of Broadway music running throughout the book more than the actual romance. That seems to be happening in more of Christina Lauren's books lately. I feel like maybe they are becoming less romance authors and more women's fiction authors. Which is fine, but I really wanted a more romantic book from them after the last few I have read, which were not really romantic either. The writing is getting better and better, but I am liking their books less and less. I will have to think about whether I want to read more from them in the future.
The writing in this book is very good. The Broadway and NYC setting is really interesting and different. I definitely felt that storyline and the love of music woven into the story. I liked Holland. She is smart and sweet, but also still trying to find herself and her place in the world. I liked Calvin, but I felt like this book would have benefited a lot from having his POV. He was mysterious and it was very hard to tell what his real feelings were. I had a hard time believing his love. He made some pretty big mistakes with Holland and wasn't very honest. I had a hard time trusting him as a reader. He never really told her why he loved her either. I never fully settled into their love and I'm not sure I trust their HEA. Their relationship is very slow build and I didn't really feel a lot of chemistry between them. They don't even kiss until 65%. I never really felt the love between them either. There is just a lot of drama that happens between them and there is a several month separation near the end, which made an already shaky love between them even less believable. I would have liked to see more time with them together for real, an honest, happy couple. I felt like the ending was abrupt, too. But I did like Holland's gay uncles and other side characters.
Overall, I think I actually liked the story and the theme of Broadway music running throughout the book more than the actual romance. That seems to be happening in more of Christina Lauren's books lately. I feel like maybe they are becoming less romance authors and more women's fiction authors. Which is fine, but I really wanted a more romantic book from them after the last few I have read, which were not really romantic either. The writing is getting better and better, but I am liking their books less and less. I will have to think about whether I want to read more from them in the future.
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Really 4.5 stars. This is my favorite of Christina Lauren’s books. I wish she had made the protagonist a little bit less creepy and stalkerish in the beginning, but overall the story got better as it progressed.
3.5 stars. This is a feel good love story that’s not too heavy on the romance or steam but follows the same tired romance ‘formula’
The story takes place in NYC so if you like girl-in-the-city stories and theater/broadway/music, this could be a fun read for you in the genre. It’s very contemporary, complete With Holland (our 20-something girl) is also figuring out who she is as a woman and settling into herself.
Summary: Holland has a huge crush on Calvin, a musician playing in the subway. When her uncle, a big broadway guy, ends up in a musical jam, Holland suggests Calvin... big there’s a small problem, Calvin is in the US on an expired visa. Holland decides to marry Calvin so he can stay and play... a fake marriage turns into a real one.
The story takes place in NYC so if you like girl-in-the-city stories and theater/broadway/music, this could be a fun read for you in the genre. It’s very contemporary, complete With Holland (our 20-something girl) is also figuring out who she is as a woman and settling into herself.
Summary: Holland has a huge crush on Calvin, a musician playing in the subway. When her uncle, a big broadway guy, ends up in a musical jam, Holland suggests Calvin... big there’s a small problem, Calvin is in the US on an expired visa. Holland decides to marry Calvin so he can stay and play... a fake marriage turns into a real one.