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intensej's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was a really charming contemporary romance book featuring Derek Pender, a professional football player, and his college ex-girlfriend, Nora Mackenzie. Nora is trying to make it as a sports agent, and Derek is her first client. Nora hasn't seen Derek since she broke up with him in college in order to focus on her career. Derek is still in love with Nora, and he begins to life difficult for her. When they go to Las Vegas for work, a drunken night leads to them getting married. In order to smooth things over for Nora's professional career, Derek and Nora decide to maintain the illusion that their marriage is real. As they spend more time together on their fake honeymoon (hello, "there's only one bed" trope), they revisit mistakes they made in the past. I liked the characters in this book; Derek was so charming and Nora was so relatable. The ending was very predictable, but this was still an enjoyable read. This book reminded me of The Wall of Winnipeg and Me because it features the fake marriage trope. It does not have the super slow burn romance that can be found in The Wall of Winnipeg.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Sexism
abeautifulshelf's review against another edition
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism and Sexual content
caitlin_d33's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Bullying
kim03's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
4.5
I'm in love.
However. (Only read the spoiler if you've read the book or don't have a care in the world)
Why on earth (!?) would Derek go on a date and then kiss another woman (in front of his apartment, so you know what his original plan was) if he "wasn't over" his ex yet and, most importantly, had bought a proposal ring right before the break up? That's all very fishy to me. And this was ONE singular week after the break up? Come on. You can't tell me he was so very devoted to her if that's what he does a week after "the most devastating break up of his life".
Also (and this doesn't feel like a spoiler): the way Derek behaved at the beginning of this book (maybe even throughout the first half) was UNJUSTIFIED and so fucking uncivilized (and mean, and bully-behaviour and childish and petty). I'm glad this book turned out good but my god that was not easy to get through.
However. (Only read the spoiler if you've read the book or don't have a care in the world)
Also (and this doesn't feel like a spoiler): the way Derek behaved at the beginning of this book (maybe even throughout the first half) was UNJUSTIFIED and so fucking uncivilized (and mean, and bully-behaviour and childish and petty). I'm glad this book turned out good but my god that was not easy to get through.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism
Moderate: Sexual content
thisbookisbananas's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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? No
5.0
It’s official: I absolutely love Sarah Adams.
Nora and Derek’s relationship had way more substance to it than any other characters I’ve read so far from this author, which made me love it all the more. This is a second chance romance trope, not usually my favorite because you never know if the relationship initially ended because of cheating( a nope trope of mine). Happily, this was not the case. It was so nice to see characters actual work through real issues that can come up when you have a complicated past.
As a literacy coach, I love that Derek is diagnosed with dyslexia late in life. It is a neurodivergence disorder which isn’t portrayed much, especially in books! Glad to see a light being shined on it.
If you pick up Sarah Adams books because she writes closed door romance, this book has one chapter of on-page steaminess. However,Sarah Adams has a preface at the beginning of the book and the audiobook letting readers know which chapter it happens in if they want to skip the chapter. This makes me respect Sarah Adams even more for wanting all readers to feel comfortable when enjoying her book. All in all, a damn good time that made me laugh and tear up.
Nora and Derek’s relationship had way more substance to it than any other characters I’ve read so far from this author, which made me love it all the more. This is a second chance romance trope, not usually my favorite because you never know if the relationship initially ended because of cheating( a nope trope of mine). Happily, this was not the case. It was so nice to see characters actual work through real issues that can come up when you have a complicated past.
As a literacy coach, I love that Derek is diagnosed with dyslexia late in life. It is a neurodivergence disorder which isn’t portrayed much, especially in books! Glad to see a light being shined on it.
If you pick up Sarah Adams books because she writes closed door romance, this book has one chapter of on-page steaminess. However,Sarah Adams has a preface at the beginning of the book and the audiobook letting readers know which chapter it happens in if they want to skip the chapter. This makes me respect Sarah Adams even more for wanting all readers to feel comfortable when enjoying her book. All in all, a damn good time that made me laugh and tear up.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism, Sexual content, and Vomit
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
laheath's review against another edition
emotional
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
Sweet romance with a male lead pining for the girl who broke his heart in college. When she was being an adult, the story was great, but there were so many times that she was immature in various ways.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing, Alcohol, and Pregnancy
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
carlyjoann's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual content, Alcohol, and Misogyny
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
rebekah_rei's review
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Abandonment and Sexism
kimib79's review against another edition
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I found Nora's "quirky" behavior grating and Derek is just a bit too perfect. Like you could tell the author was having him say exactly what she thinks women want to hear. It made him unbelievable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing and Sexism