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lesbegays's review against another edition
fast-paced
3.0
not all of talia hibbert’s books are hits for me, but they’re sure never misses. this one falls into the same camp of some of her other early published novels where there is a Big External Conflict towards the end that is honestly kinda dark (and also gets wrapped up a little too quickly for how dark it is), and that’s not what i’m looking for in a romance. i much prefer her more recent stuff that doesn’t shy away from dark topics but also keeps most of the conflict within the couple. however i will happily continue to devour everything she has ever written that i can get my hands on because i do just eat this shit up
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Child abuse, Physical abuse, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Fatphobia, Biphobia, Classism, Colonisation, and Racism
tyras_bookshelf's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I’m really here for anything Talia Hibbert so the following is very biased 😃
The store moves pretty slow in the beginning because the focus is mostly on the spice (and setting the tone of Cherry and Ruben’s relationship) but then the tension speeds up the plot in the last few chapters.
Cherry and Ruben are swept up in a hasty fake engagement when their passions get the better of them. It’s an easy read and while I could have used more backstory and developing of Cherry (she’s perfect with no flaws or actual arc. Has utterly perfect dimples and charm and only a slight case of insecurity she quickly smooths over), I loved about this book what I love about all of Talia’s books.
*spoilers*
Utterly cute couple working through the strains of loving fiercely while truly trying to learn a person and fit them in your life. Ridiculously sexy and slightly lewd. A perfect folding in of characters with diverse backgrounds that doesn’t feel heavy handed but perfectly natural as if people with differences are also perfectly natural (because duh).
An easy happy ending because her characters are precious and deserve all the happiness in the world.
The store moves pretty slow in the beginning because the focus is mostly on the spice (and setting the tone of Cherry and Ruben’s relationship) but then the tension speeds up the plot in the last few chapters.
Cherry and Ruben are swept up in a hasty fake engagement when their passions get the better of them. It’s an easy read and while I could have used more backstory and developing of Cherry (she’s perfect with no flaws or actual arc. Has utterly perfect dimples and charm and only a slight case of insecurity she quickly smooths over), I loved about this book what I love about all of Talia’s books.
*spoilers*
Utterly cute couple working through the strains of loving fiercely while truly trying to learn a person and fit them in your life. Ridiculously sexy and slightly lewd. A perfect folding in of characters with diverse backgrounds that doesn’t feel heavy handed but perfectly natural as if people with differences are also perfectly natural (because duh).
An easy happy ending because her characters are precious and deserve all the happiness in the world.
Ruben’s arc was the most flushed out. The man has major daddy issues and a complicated relationship to his title. He both wants nothing to do with the responsibility of the crown but also won’t renounce his claim as it’s connected deeply to his identity and his family. He carries so much pain about his birth and the role it’s played in fracturing his family’s image. But he also comes to separate his self-worth from anything that’s not actually about him and takes back control over his life.
He’s reckless and has some baggage but his brother is an absolute ass-hole and abuser. I wish something more drastic had happened to him but it was satisfying to watch him lose control after lording his power over the other characters for so long.
Cherry is funny and cunning, even if she shrinks herself and plays dumb as a weapon (had mixed feelings about it because it seemed unnecessary and minimized her in a way that didn’t actually feel powerful). We could have used a connection as to why that was her coping mechanism. Hibbert also could have taken the baking thread somewhere as she set it up like Cherry’s true passion in life only to do nothing else with it. Cherry, though wonderful and thoughtful, wasn’t written very thoroughly.
This as an audio book is wild! The narrator is a guy which I thought you be weird and it was but not as bad as I thought. Ruben’s accent is terrible though 😂.
This is from 2018 and Talia’s writing has improved in my opinion but I still ate this up and look forward to the other two in the series.
This is from 2018 and Talia’s writing has improved in my opinion but I still ate this up and look forward to the other two in the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and Child abuse
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Biphobia, Fatphobia, and Racism
salomegf's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
3.5
I’ve been on a talia hibbert reading spree, and wow this woman knows how to write interesting characters !
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Death of parent
Minor: Domestic abuse, Racism, Biphobia, and Fatphobia
witcheep's review against another edition
dark
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
This was clearly not a book for me, and I found myself questioning whether I should suffer through it or just DNF it altogether. I ended up suffering, though some parts I fast-forwarded through as fast as my audiobook app would let me.
What did not work for me: insta-lust, dominance kink, dominant/possessive behaviour, and worst of all smut-to-plot ratio leaning heavily on smut, leaving the plot feel hollow.
What I liked: Cherry being an independent woman who knows what she wants in life, and when she is being treared poorly she is not afraid to voice it.
I've loved Hibbert's The Brown Sisters series, and so far her other books have not been a right fit for me even though there have been echoes of the writing from the strong, funny and lovable characters of the Brown sisters.
What did not work for me: insta-lust, dominance kink, dominant/possessive behaviour, and worst of all smut-to-plot ratio leaning heavily on smut, leaving the plot feel hollow.
What I liked: Cherry being an independent woman who knows what she wants in life, and when she is being treared poorly she is not afraid to voice it.
I've loved Hibbert's The Brown Sisters series, and so far her other books have not been a right fit for me even though there have been echoes of the writing from the strong, funny and lovable characters of the Brown sisters.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, and Child abuse
Minor: Racism and Fatphobia
caffeinatedfae's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Fatphobia and Body shaming
cass_lit's review against another edition
2.5
This is not my first Talia Hibbert. I love the Brown Sisters, I love her YA debut, I love her Christmas novellas. We were bound to eventually find one I didn’t really like.
The love story in this is as swoon-worthy as ever; Talia Hibbert loves a Happily Ever After and I love that for us readers. My main dislike here was the pacing of some super serious topics. The trigger warnings don’t come up until the 80% mark and while therapy is mentioned… it almost felt like we didn’t learn the HEA because something that big doesn’t just go away. Where is the country’s outrage over their abusive king? I know it’s a fictional romcom but to bring those in and then quickly expect me to be so swept up in happiness at the end of the book? It didn’t work for me. Also, I still don’t feel like we fully understand the scandal that started this mess. Also also, the sex scenes were just so not my cup of tea in this one, which definitely took me out of the story.
The love story in this is as swoon-worthy as ever; Talia Hibbert loves a Happily Ever After and I love that for us readers. My main dislike here was the pacing of some super serious topics. The trigger warnings don’t come up until the 80% mark and while therapy is mentioned… it almost felt like we didn’t learn the HEA because something that big doesn’t just go away. Where is the country’s outrage over their abusive king? I know it’s a fictional romcom but to bring those in and then quickly expect me to be so swept up in happiness at the end of the book? It didn’t work for me. Also, I still don’t feel like we fully understand the scandal that started this mess. Also also, the sex scenes were just so not my cup of tea in this one, which definitely took me out of the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Child abuse
Moderate: Fatphobia and Death of parent
Minor: Biphobia
readingwithtemperance's review against another edition
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
I see Talia Hibbert, I pick it up. I unfortunately didn't like this as much as her other books, but that's okay! I still had a great time reading this. And you can really tell her writing has evolved!
I felt this was TOO insta lovey. I mean...getting engaged only after a few months is wild. I also didn't feel that they had much chemistry at all. Mainly because well they don't really know eachother. The pacing was off and I felt like our characters didn't get a whole lot of mundane scenes together. Which I think definitely would have made their chemistry more convincing!
I do like the talks about domestic/child abuse though. And im glad everyone got a happy ending. Yay therapy!
Not gonna lie I did cry whenit panned to two years later and they had their daughter. Who they named Freya after his mother ♡. Such a precious moment. Especially with all of Ruben's feelings surrounding children due to his childhood. It definitelyshowed his growth.
Overall I did like this and I would recommend it!
I felt this was TOO insta lovey. I mean...
I do like the talks about domestic/child abuse though. And im glad everyone got a happy ending. Yay therapy!
Not gonna lie I did cry when
Overall I did like this and I would recommend it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Bullying, Confinement, Panic attacks/disorders, Biphobia, Grief, Misogyny, Outing, Classism, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Fatphobia, Body shaming, and Racism
victoriousbookworm's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent and Domestic abuse
Minor: Fatphobia
abby_can_read's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
📱
I loved this book, and Hibbert is one of my favorite authors/writers. I liked the plot (as I am a sucker for a good fake dating) and the characters were fun.
I loved this book, and Hibbert is one of my favorite authors/writers. I liked the plot (as I am a sucker for a good fake dating) and the characters were fun.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent, Fatphobia, Bullying, Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Cursing, and Racism
Minor: Classism and Chronic illness
atlas_shruggs's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
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
3.0
I really wish I'd liked this book more than I did, but alas, something about this story just didn't click with me the way the Brown sisters books have. Maybe it was because I read the entire thing on audio despite not liking the narrator (or his subpar danish accent), or maybe it was the fact that I read it on and off for almost a year. I just didn't really connect with the story. I really liked Cherry and Ruben, their relationship was very cute and I found their characters fun, but I just did not care about the whole royalty thing and I felt like it could've been done a bit better. It also got wayyy to dramatic for me in the last quarter.
I think I'll give the physical version a go at a later date, but for now it's a three star.
I think I'll give the physical version a go at a later date, but for now it's a three star.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Fatphobia, Abandonment, Child abuse, and Bullying
Minor: Biphobia