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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
maggies's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
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
Talia Hibbert is so good at writing romance. Even though this is such an unlikely setup for a modern romance, she still made it feel believable, with real world stakes and understandable hangups and motivations. A quick listen, but mind the content warnings.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Child abuse, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Death of parent and Grief
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
bexi's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Cursing
Moderate: Child abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, and Body shaming
Minor: Infidelity and Suicide
decie's review against another edition
4.0
strong hallmark movie vibes, but not in a bad way...cute and fun and a little cheesy, really easy to follow, and engaging even if there wasn't a ton of depth to the plot or the characters (compared to the brown sisters at least). the ending felt a little disconnected/underdeveloped, but tbh i'm not mad. I had a good time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Sexual content
Moderate: Child abuse and Domestic abuse
Minor: Death of parent and Outing
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
bedtimesandbooks's review against another edition
hopeful
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Cursing, Death of parent, Classism, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, and Sexual content
Moderate: Pregnancy and Chronic illness
corruptednatz's review against another edition
funny
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
2.5
Cute story but it uses a lot of f bombs to the point it loses meaning. It becomes repetitive sadly
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Toxic relationship, Bullying, and Child abuse
daniellesharp's review
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Body shaming, Toxic relationship, Racism, Physical abuse, and Death of parent
Minor: Suicide and Biphobia
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