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shadowmaster13's review
emotional
lighthearted
fast-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
4.0
amym84's review
3.0
3.5
So far Wendy Liu is not looking forward to her best friend's wedding. For one, she's sad about the inevitable change in their relationship as her friend becomes a wife and Wendy remains single. For another, she's going to be forced to interact with the bride's brother, Noah, who is someone Wendy has gone to painstaking lengths to avoid for the past seventeen years, after he broke her heart. Instead of lashing out at Noah at every turn, since they'll be dealing with each other a lot in the coming weeks, Wendy turns up their already competitive nature with each other to a thousand.
Noah has no idea why everything about the wedding has turned into a competition, but if it keeps his feelings in check regarding Wendy, he's all for it. But after a trip to Vegas for the bachelor / bachelorette parties well you know the saying "what happens in Vegas"... except Wendy and Noah are having a problem keeping it in Vegas.
But will the past between then ruin any chance they may have for a future?
This is the first book that I've read by Jenny Holiday which means, yes, I did not read the first book in the series. While it didn't keep me from understanding this book, I wonder if I missed out on some nuances of the characters as the were portrayed in the first book.
The romance just felt a bit odd for me. While I understand and appreciate the idea that certain events can have an altering effect on someone's life, I felt like where Wendy is coming from when she says Noah broke her heart and then how that moment basically makes her into the person she is in the present day felt strange. Probably because no one else registered knew that anything was wrong. Even her best friend, the heart-breakers sister(!), seemingly has no idea that her brother caused her friend such a tremendous amount of heartbreak. Especially since Wendy has been holding on to this for seventeen years - which seemed a little excessive to me personally.
But then, towards the end, the author posits another possible reason for Wendy changing into the adult she has become. I felt like there was no real commitment one way or another to either event being actually the thing that makes Wendy into a person who doesn't do relationships and is unable to stand still for long periods of time (meaning she likes / needs to travel a lot).
Noah's side, on the other hand, felt more plausible. He's always been used to being the one taking care of everything / everyone around him from a young age. Now that his sister is getting married he's having problems letting go of the "fatherly" aspect of their relationship. I felt like Noah coming to terms with the fact that his sister is grown and finally learning to take time for himself and do things that he wants to do instead of what he thinks needs to be done, was more clearly stated than Wendy's story.
While this one was a bit iffy for me at times, I really do want to go back and check out the first book. It may be that understanding these characters better will change my perspective a bit. Just because this was a middle of the road read for me, I would still pick up the next book.
*ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
So far Wendy Liu is not looking forward to her best friend's wedding. For one, she's sad about the inevitable change in their relationship as her friend becomes a wife and Wendy remains single. For another, she's going to be forced to interact with the bride's brother, Noah, who is someone Wendy has gone to painstaking lengths to avoid for the past seventeen years, after he broke her heart. Instead of lashing out at Noah at every turn, since they'll be dealing with each other a lot in the coming weeks, Wendy turns up their already competitive nature with each other to a thousand.
Noah has no idea why everything about the wedding has turned into a competition, but if it keeps his feelings in check regarding Wendy, he's all for it. But after a trip to Vegas for the bachelor / bachelorette parties well you know the saying "what happens in Vegas"... except Wendy and Noah are having a problem keeping it in Vegas.
But will the past between then ruin any chance they may have for a future?
This is the first book that I've read by Jenny Holiday which means, yes, I did not read the first book in the series. While it didn't keep me from understanding this book, I wonder if I missed out on some nuances of the characters as the were portrayed in the first book.
The romance just felt a bit odd for me. While I understand and appreciate the idea that certain events can have an altering effect on someone's life, I felt like where Wendy is coming from when she says Noah broke her heart and then how that moment basically makes her into the person she is in the present day felt strange. Probably because no one else registered knew that anything was wrong. Even her best friend, the heart-breakers sister(!), seemingly has no idea that her brother caused her friend such a tremendous amount of heartbreak. Especially since Wendy has been holding on to this for seventeen years - which seemed a little excessive to me personally.
But then, towards the end, the author posits another possible reason for Wendy changing into the adult she has become. I felt like there was no real commitment one way or another to either event being actually the thing that makes Wendy into a person who doesn't do relationships and is unable to stand still for long periods of time (meaning she likes / needs to travel a lot).
Noah's side, on the other hand, felt more plausible. He's always been used to being the one taking care of everything / everyone around him from a young age. Now that his sister is getting married he's having problems letting go of the "fatherly" aspect of their relationship. I felt like Noah coming to terms with the fact that his sister is grown and finally learning to take time for himself and do things that he wants to do instead of what he thinks needs to be done, was more clearly stated than Wendy's story.
While this one was a bit iffy for me at times, I really do want to go back and check out the first book. It may be that understanding these characters better will change my perspective a bit. Just because this was a middle of the road read for me, I would still pick up the next book.
*ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
lifeand100books's review
2.0
As much as I was impressed with the first book, this one left me feeling very meh. Wendy's entire reason for changing and hardening her heart felt very....extreme.
Noah's basically single handedly financially supporting his family while in high school. Him not meeting Wendy at prom so he could earn them more money..... yes I understand that she was upset and embarrassed. I don't discredit those feelings AT ALL. But to actively go out of her way to harden herself and avoid him for all those years? It just seemed like an insane overreaction. He didn't ditch her for someone else. He put his obligation to his family before his own personal pleasure. Had he always disappointed her in everything, I could understand her hardening herself. But one occurrence that resulted in all this? Too extreme IMO.
Noah's basically single handedly financially supporting his family while in high school. Him not meeting Wendy at prom so he could earn them more money..... yes I understand that she was upset and embarrassed. I don't discredit those feelings AT ALL. But to actively go out of her way to harden herself and avoid him for all those years? It just seemed like an insane overreaction. He didn't ditch her for someone else. He put his obligation to his family before his own personal pleasure. Had he always disappointed her in everything, I could understand her hardening herself. But one occurrence that resulted in all this? Too extreme IMO.
themaritimereader14's review against another edition
4.0
I LOVED this book. I loved the Toronto/NYC/Vegas setting. I thought the characters were smart and fun to read about. I can't wait to read more from this author and particularly the other books in this series. Wendy & Noah have one of my favourite romance tropes - girl loves her best friend's brother and they have known each other forever etc etc. This book had some heartbreaking moments but also some amazing moments and I was all in for all of it. Anxious to go back and read the first one now though I doubt it can top this somehow :)
brandypainter's review against another edition
2.0
The unnecessary angst was just too much for me. Get your crap together already, people. I think what was so annoying about this one for me was that they seemed perpetually stuck in the same loop. I get it. That happen in real life. But it makes for really boring and frustrating reading. I am still looking forward to the rest of this series.
tessanne's review against another edition
5.0
The second Jenny Holiday book I read and as good as the first. The worst part about this book is that I am a somewhat slow reader. I couldn’t put it down and so spent two consecutive nights short on sleep. It was worth it! These books just suck you right in, so reader beware!
jaimejustreadsromance's review against another edition
4.0
I read this book before reading the first book in the series but I don’t feel like it changed my experience of reading this book, although it does really make we want to go back and read Cameron and Jane’s story, so that’s a bonus.
I’m sort of torn about the banter between Wendy and Noah. I enjoyed their competitive nature and thought their lawyer-speak being used as a sort of foreplay was great, but at a certain point their need to outdo each other just got sort of annoying.
I did, however, really enjoy Noah’s jealous side and his need to stop Wendy from making, what he perceived, was a horrible mistake at Jane’s bachelorette party. From their things just kept getting hotter and hotter.
I love the whole friendship dynamic being built in this series and can’t wait for more in Gia’s book!!
*I received an ARC from NetGalley for voluntary review
bgprincipessa's review against another edition
2.0
I had a hard time getting into this and staying interested. Wendy has been holding a grudge for over 15 years over one night in high school and has emotionally stunted herself over this one little incident. Noah realizes he's "always" had these strong feelings for Wendy despite barely seeing her for the last 15 years because she always runs away when he comes to visit. That is a long time to be avoiding somebody.
themaritimereader14's review
4.0
I LOVED this book. I loved the Toronto/NYC/Vegas setting. I thought the characters were smart and fun to read about. I can't wait to read more from this author and particularly the other books in this series. Wendy & Noah have one of my favourite romance tropes - girl loves her best friend's brother and they have known each other forever etc etc. This book had some heartbreaking moments but also some amazing moments and I was all in for all of it. Anxious to go back and read the first one now though I doubt it can top this somehow :)
meghan_e's review against another edition
5.0
I binged this in as close to one-sitting as I could. I LOVED the chemistry between the two MCs.