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bookish_notes's review against another edition
4.0
This is one of those books I kept for emergencies to read if I was ever in a bit of a reading slump, and this definitely got me out of that slump!! This book is glorious and I love, love, LOVE Hannah and Nate. They’re disgustingly adorable and the epilogue is lovely.
Trigger warnings include depression, anxiety, mentions of self harm, racism, a parent having a cancer scare, and a loved one dying before the book starts from a vehicular accident.
Hannah is the town pariah. In defending her sister against a jerk, she took a bat to said jerk’s car. Unfortunately, the guy has connections and is quite wealthy, so for their little town of Ravenswood where everyone knows everyone, Hannah is no longer allowed to work with children due to her licenses being revoked. And because parents won’t hire Hannah to be their children’s nanny in any case.
Until Nate. Nate has a bit of a history himself with the small town. He left as soon as he was old enough and has lived in London for a number of years. He’s back in Ravenswood now with two kids in tow. He’s a widower and quite out of his depths at handling everything with his children and dealing with a mother who might be dying of cancer. He winds up hiring Hannah to be the children’s nanny, despite all the reasons she tries to tell him why he shouldn’t. They were classmates in school once. Both were outcasts and misfits in their own way and now back in each other’s orbits at 30.
*****SOME SPOILERS*****
Also regarding confusing things in this book, did we ever find out what Hannah blogs about and what her plans were for her book that’s related to her blog? If it said in the text, I definitely missed it.
My one sticking point I didn’t know coming into this book was surrounding Nate’s mother, Shirley, and her cancer diagnosis. Everything turns out alright in the end, but I couldn’t possibly have known that when I saw that she supposedly has cancer. Cancer, and really just any terminally ill characters, in books is now a big no for me. I just can’t handle those kinds of subplots, but I did get confirmation that Shirley doesn’t die by the book’s end and that allowed me to continue on with the book. I would’ve liked to have seen Nate come back to Ravenswood for reasons other than thinking his mother had cancer, but the book is what it is I guess, and nothing can be done about it now.
*****END OF SPOILERS*****
I do like that the author manages to bring a sense of humor throughout the book. I adore Talia Hibbert’s writing with the Brown Sisters trilogy and I loved what I’ve read so far from this Ravenswood series, so seeing some genuine laugh-out-loud moments scattered in-between what could’ve been some super angsty moments in the book is greatly appreciated.
I liked how this book talked about depression and anxiety. It doesn’t try to provide some magical cure or whatnot by the end of the book. The story acknowledges that these are things that can be managed but the feelings you experience won’t ever truly go away and I liked how the characters were upfront and frank about their depression? This book is very direct when it comes to different types of rep. Nate is also dyslexic. And I didn’t know this before starting this book, but Hannah is bi!!
A minor issue I had is that the characters are in their heads a lot and I get easily distracted, so I tend to forget what they were in the middle of talking about when we jump back into the dialogue? The inner monologue was too much here, I think. Even if the inner monologue is super sweet and it’s just Hannah and Nate talking about how much they love one another and worried that they have too many feelings for the other person. I think for stuff like that, it would be better to read this as an audiobook? I sometimes thought the inner monologue bits dragged a bit too long at times.
Nate is adorable and so is Hannah. We first meet Hannah as she takes it upon herself to quit her job at a coffee shop rather than wait to be fired and this is such a great intro to her personality and shows her gusto to do things her way. Her taking the marshmallows on her way out was just brilliant.
Nate is very lovely and the sweetest man EVER. Add in the fact that he has, like, a million tattoos and has a bad boy past?? SWOON WORTHY MAN RIGHT HERE. Let’s just say this man is quick to get on his knees for Hannah, both in a sexual way and not. I think my favorite scene between Hannah and Nate is the hair cutting scene!
I really liked seeing Ruth and Evan again, and we’re introduced to the characters in the next book - Nate’s brother Zach, and a new lady in town named Rae!
I love Talia Hibbert’s books and I’m so glad I read this book! I can’t wait to read the next book in this series since I hear we have a demisexual blacksmith in the next one!!!
Trigger warnings include depression, anxiety, mentions of self harm, racism, a parent having a cancer scare, and a loved one dying before the book starts from a vehicular accident.
Hannah is the town pariah. In defending her sister against a jerk, she took a bat to said jerk’s car. Unfortunately, the guy has connections and is quite wealthy, so for their little town of Ravenswood where everyone knows everyone, Hannah is no longer allowed to work with children due to her licenses being revoked. And because parents won’t hire Hannah to be their children’s nanny in any case.
Until Nate. Nate has a bit of a history himself with the small town. He left as soon as he was old enough and has lived in London for a number of years. He’s back in Ravenswood now with two kids in tow. He’s a widower and quite out of his depths at handling everything with his children and dealing with a mother who might be dying of cancer. He winds up hiring Hannah to be the children’s nanny, despite all the reasons she tries to tell him why he shouldn’t. They were classmates in school once. Both were outcasts and misfits in their own way and now back in each other’s orbits at 30.
*****SOME SPOILERS*****
Spoiler
So, I did wonder how the power dynamics were going to play out in this boss/nanny dynamic but it seemed to be handled okay? Although I can’t say I understand the ending any and how they resolved the pay situation for Hannah and him going out looking for an au pair, we’ll just go with it? Sure, Nate is technically Hannah’s employer but she literally doesn’t need money or work to live due to a hefty trust fund, so the power dynamic here is one due to a technically more than born out of need.Also regarding confusing things in this book, did we ever find out what Hannah blogs about and what her plans were for her book that’s related to her blog? If it said in the text, I definitely missed it.
My one sticking point I didn’t know coming into this book was surrounding Nate’s mother, Shirley, and her cancer diagnosis. Everything turns out alright in the end, but I couldn’t possibly have known that when I saw that she supposedly has cancer. Cancer, and really just any terminally ill characters, in books is now a big no for me. I just can’t handle those kinds of subplots, but I did get confirmation that Shirley doesn’t die by the book’s end and that allowed me to continue on with the book. I would’ve liked to have seen Nate come back to Ravenswood for reasons other than thinking his mother had cancer, but the book is what it is I guess, and nothing can be done about it now.
*****END OF SPOILERS*****
I do like that the author manages to bring a sense of humor throughout the book. I adore Talia Hibbert’s writing with the Brown Sisters trilogy and I loved what I’ve read so far from this Ravenswood series, so seeing some genuine laugh-out-loud moments scattered in-between what could’ve been some super angsty moments in the book is greatly appreciated.
I liked how this book talked about depression and anxiety. It doesn’t try to provide some magical cure or whatnot by the end of the book. The story acknowledges that these are things that can be managed but the feelings you experience won’t ever truly go away and I liked how the characters were upfront and frank about their depression? This book is very direct when it comes to different types of rep. Nate is also dyslexic. And I didn’t know this before starting this book, but Hannah is bi!!
A minor issue I had is that the characters are in their heads a lot and I get easily distracted, so I tend to forget what they were in the middle of talking about when we jump back into the dialogue? The inner monologue was too much here, I think. Even if the inner monologue is super sweet and it’s just Hannah and Nate talking about how much they love one another and worried that they have too many feelings for the other person. I think for stuff like that, it would be better to read this as an audiobook? I sometimes thought the inner monologue bits dragged a bit too long at times.
Nate is adorable and so is Hannah. We first meet Hannah as she takes it upon herself to quit her job at a coffee shop rather than wait to be fired and this is such a great intro to her personality and shows her gusto to do things her way. Her taking the marshmallows on her way out was just brilliant.
Nate is very lovely and the sweetest man EVER. Add in the fact that he has, like, a million tattoos and has a bad boy past?? SWOON WORTHY MAN RIGHT HERE. Let’s just say this man is quick to get on his knees for Hannah, both in a sexual way and not. I think my favorite scene between Hannah and Nate is the hair cutting scene!
I really liked seeing Ruth and Evan again, and we’re introduced to the characters in the next book - Nate’s brother Zach, and a new lady in town named Rae!
I love Talia Hibbert’s books and I’m so glad I read this book! I can’t wait to read the next book in this series since I hear we have a demisexual blacksmith in the next one!!!
modrallj's review
3.0
After the slow burn build up the second half of the book felt very rushed and disjointed. Still enjoyable but less so than book 1 & 1.5.
jaydee4219's review
5.0
4.5 rounded up
The MCs knew each other in childhood and then when the MMC moves back to town, he hires the FMC to be his nanny. The FMC in this book is coded as neuro-divergent and it was so interesting being inside her head. I truly enjoyed the FMC in this book, she was so fantastic and her growth was lovely. I didn't hate the kids which is a huge feat in romance books. Overall it was a lovely book and I'm very happy I read it.
The MCs knew each other in childhood and then when the MMC moves back to town, he hires the FMC to be his nanny. The FMC in this book is coded as neuro-divergent and it was so interesting being inside her head. I truly enjoyed the FMC in this book, she was so fantastic and her growth was lovely. I didn't hate the kids which is a huge feat in romance books. Overall it was a lovely book and I'm very happy I read it.
bonzai_namu's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.25
natcatsbookishcafe's review
3.0
This is my 5th book by this author and unfortunately it is my least favorite. But let me start my listing what I did like:
As always, I love Hibbert's sense of humor, her books always make me laugh and smile. I was surprised that I enjoyed the single dad aspect of this book (though it honestly wasn't a big focus of the story), I'd never read this trope before and found the children very adorable (especially Josh!). I though the nanny trope was handled well since Nate was hesitant about being in a romantic relationship with someone he is paying...and I think this was resolved well in the end. I also liked the depression/anxiety rep.
Now for what I didn't like so much:
I have to be honest, I got a bit bored. I though the constant " I like her but she can't possibly like me" "I seem to like him but that can't be right" "He tells me he likes me, but it'll never last" that went on for over 300 pages was a bit too much. I'm glad that in the end the MC realized she had major insecurity issues, but it sure too long enough! Over all, the story just got a bit repetitive and could have probably been cut down by 50-100 pages.
I still love this author and will read the other two books in these series and her other work :)
As always, I love Hibbert's sense of humor, her books always make me laugh and smile. I was surprised that I enjoyed the single dad aspect of this book (though it honestly wasn't a big focus of the story), I'd never read this trope before and found the children very adorable (especially Josh!). I though the nanny trope was handled well since Nate was hesitant about being in a romantic relationship with someone he is paying...and I think this was resolved well in the end. I also liked the depression/anxiety rep.
Now for what I didn't like so much:
I have to be honest, I got a bit bored. I though the constant " I like her but she can't possibly like me" "I seem to like him but that can't be right" "He tells me he likes me, but it'll never last" that went on for over 300 pages was a bit too much. I'm glad that in the end the MC realized she had major insecurity issues, but it sure too long enough! Over all, the story just got a bit repetitive and could have probably been cut down by 50-100 pages.
I still love this author and will read the other two books in these series and her other work :)
jennadabrat's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
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? No
4.5
belgaersthoughts's review
4.0
Talia Hibbert is a queen when it comes to writing banter. It is so dry and wonderful!
beasleysbooks's review against another edition
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-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
5.0
virgo_reader's review
5.0
I love Talia Hibbert. Let me repeat that: I LOVE TALIA HIBBERT.
Forgive me if another one of my reviews on Talia's books started like this, because I'm having minor deja vu but I'm too lazy to check. And even if I did... the statement stands. Because Queen Talia Hibbert reigns over new age contemporary adult romance in terms of plot, characters, diversity, and damn... the writing.
I read A Girl Like You a few months ago and gave it 3 stars. I liked but didn't love it, if that makes sense. I don't think I connected to either Ruth or Evan - though I liked both of them - but it's still a book I'd recommend.
But she hit it out of the PARK with Untouchable. Is it because I'm biased and Hannah is my absolute favorite type of heroine? Type-a, neurotic, protective, put together, always has a brave face on, doesn't ask for help, trying to be strong? (Ahem, there's a bit of self-projection going on I think.) Maybe. Is it because I'm so into single parent romances right now and Nate was a capital "D" Daddy with tattoos and a nipple piercing and so much love for his kids? Maybe. Is it because the writing was so hauntingly beautiful that I literally put my Kindle down at the end of the prologue and screamed? (Silently screamed - I was at work on my lunch break. I'm not a monster.) I'm going to say it's "d: all of the above".
The middle had some parts that felt like a bit of a slog of internalized monologues of "woe is me" - but there were also great conversations about consent and power struggles, as he is technically her employer and landlord.
Overall this book just gave me the warm fuzzies.
CW: sick parent, death of a spouse, talk about depression
Forgive me if another one of my reviews on Talia's books started like this, because I'm having minor deja vu but I'm too lazy to check. And even if I did... the statement stands. Because Queen Talia Hibbert reigns over new age contemporary adult romance in terms of plot, characters, diversity, and damn... the writing.
I read A Girl Like You a few months ago and gave it 3 stars. I liked but didn't love it, if that makes sense. I don't think I connected to either Ruth or Evan - though I liked both of them - but it's still a book I'd recommend.
But she hit it out of the PARK with Untouchable. Is it because I'm biased and Hannah is my absolute favorite type of heroine? Type-a, neurotic, protective, put together, always has a brave face on, doesn't ask for help, trying to be strong? (Ahem, there's a bit of self-projection going on I think.) Maybe. Is it because I'm so into single parent romances right now and Nate was a capital "D" Daddy with tattoos and a nipple piercing and so much love for his kids? Maybe. Is it because the writing was so hauntingly beautiful that I literally put my Kindle down at the end of the prologue and screamed? (Silently screamed - I was at work on my lunch break. I'm not a monster.) I'm going to say it's "d: all of the above".
The middle had some parts that felt like a bit of a slog of internalized monologues of "woe is me" - but there were also great conversations about consent and power struggles, as he is technically her employer and landlord.
Overall this book just gave me the warm fuzzies.
CW: sick parent, death of a spouse, talk about depression