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maya1636381's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Minor: Mental illness
blackveilbeccy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Cursing, Grief, Mental illness, Abandonment, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Medical content and Infidelity
Minor: Alcohol, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Violence, and Toxic relationship
thebankofbooks's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, and Chronic illness
kottengoesbork's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Mental illness and Infidelity
rachrreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.75
Bailey begins a new job at a space themed waterpark when she notices one of her coworkers is someone she hoped she’d never see again. A few years prior, Bailey sat next to Charlie on a plane to Nebraska. Bailey’s parents were mid-divorce and Charlie offered a cynical view of the world, which vastly differed from Bailey’s view. The two begin to work together and Bailey finds herself enjoying her time with Charlie.
When Bailey’s mom starts to see someone new post-divorce, Bailey is not ready for her life to change. Bailey enlists Charlie’s help to push her mom’s new boyfriend out of her life. Despite what feels like a growing friendship, Charlie insists they’re just co-workers— even going as far as saying men and women cannot be friends. To prove his point, Charlie bets Bailey that another pair of coworkers will hook up. Bailey disagrees with him, insisting they are just friends.
One thing that I wish would have been explained more was Charlie’s life. He clearly deals with some sort of mental illness— whether it be anxiety or something else and the author glosses over this other than when it can be used to move the plot/relationship forward. Further, we never meet Charlie’s mom or sister who he apparently lives with.
There was a lot of tropes and cliches that happened in this book but I ate up every minute of it.
Read if you like:
• When Harry Met Sally
• Friends to lovers
• Fake dating trope
• opposites attract
Graphic: Cursing
Moderate: Mental illness
abby2207's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Mental illness and Cursing
Minor: Alcohol
katievallin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Grief and Cursing
Moderate: Alcohol, Mental illness, and Body shaming
Minor: Infidelity and Pregnancy
beckyyreadss's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Abandonment, Grief, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Mental illness, Infidelity, and Cursing
Minor: Pregnancy, Sexual content, and Alcohol
vj_thompson's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, and Abandonment
Moderate: Cursing, Mental illness, and Infidelity
Minor: Pregnancy and Alcohol
dianaschmidty's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I loved having this book being dual POV! I feel like I wouldn’t have liked Charlie as much if I hadn’t fully understood his motives for his decisions throughout the book. He was such a fun and witty character that I instantly liked him. I also really liked Bailey. She reminded me a lot of myself when I was in high school.
Bailey and Charlie had amazing chemistry! They had my heart fluttering so many times throughout this book! I was almost giddy at certain moments at how adorable they were. I thought the mixture of fake dating plus being two friends that have feelings but refuse to admit it even to themselves worked perfectly in this book! I also loved how they were there for each other! They would each drop literally anything for the other and I loved that for them!!! The way that she didn’t even ask questions about his anxiety and just helped in any way that she could was so sweet. And him just straight up dropping anything at any point to come to her rescue (which happened like three times) was adorable!
The only thing that I didn’t love was how Bailey’s mom treated her. There was never a conversation about Scott being added to Bailey’s life and it felt like her mom crossed a boundary. It would have been fine, except that I didn’t love that Bailey never really confronted her mom about it, but I guess that’s realistic. I also wished we could have seen Charlie’s interactions with his family and had Bailey be there for him with his family like he was for hers.
Overall, I am a little obsessed with this book and it just reaffirmed why Lynn Painter is my favorite author!
Thank you to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, and the greatest romance author, Lynn Painter for providing me access to this book.
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Infidelity, Mental illness, and Toxic relationship