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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
ninetyninecats's review against another edition
dark
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Minor: Death of parent and Biphobia
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
bubblybuttercup's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
enjoyable read! its fun and sexy. all the characters the but i wasn’t completely sold on how fast the “love” developed between the characters and the anger in third act conflict felt unfound. I listened it to as an audiobook, so I’ll pick it up again to read properly bc I love Talia Hibbert, but it’s not the *best* more so fun!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Minor: Child abuse, Biphobia, and Domestic abuse
thebookishwizard's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Child abuse, and Death of parent
Minor: Body shaming, Chronic illness, and Biphobia
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
beckyyreadss's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
3.0
I wanted to read this book because I am patiently waiting to hear about any of Talia’s new work. I decided to try and read some of her old work and saw this book all over bookstagram, so I decided to read this one and I think the Brown sisters have made my standards for Talia and this book didn’t reach it.
This book has two points of view. The first is Cherry Neita. She is thirty, flirty and done with men. As far as she can tell, they’re overrated, overpaid and underperforming in every area of life. But a girl has needs, and the smoking-hit stranger she just met at the office seems to be the perfect one-night stand. The second point of view is Prince Ruben of Helgmore. He is reckless, dominant and famously filthy. The outcast royal is trying to rebuild his reputation – all for a good cause – but he can’t resist a pretty face. And bossy whirlwind Cherry’s got the face, the body and the attitude to make Ruben’s convictions crumble. Even better, when she propositions, she has no idea who he really is. But when the paparazzi catch the pair getting it on in an alleyway, Ruben’s anonymity disappears and now the press is in uproar, the palace is outraged, and Ruben’s reputation is back in the gutter. There's only one way to turn this disaster around and it involves Cherry, some big fat lies, and a flashy diamond ring. On her left hand. Unfortunately, Cherry isn’t pleased with Ruben’s idea of the fake engagement, and neither is the king. What Cherry doesn’t realise is that Ruben is fighting for survival at the palace and Cherry might be the only one who can save him.
I will always love Talia Hibbert and how she manages to write diverse characters, serious subjects, sexuality and mental health. I love her for it. A bisexual Prince, who was struggling with mental health and being kinky – loved it. A plus-sized black MC who knows exactly what she wants and when she wants it who is taking no shit – loved it. I love these two characters individually. I love that the storyline wasn’t just the fake engagement and that there was something else in the background being that Ruben’s siblings are horrible people. I love Ruben’s arc and how he told his family to go and suck it, especially with his found family being there, I loved it.
I just felt like this book was a bit rushed compared to the Brown Sisters series and I felt that the insta-love connection was a bit off putting. I understand the attraction can be instant between each other from looks alone, but Ruben pretty much saw Cherry and went “I must have her, I've never felt this way” like dude, you were probably just hormonal.
I will carry on reading Talia Hibbert’s work old or new no matter what and hopefully I will enjoy the next book a bit more than this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Domestic abuse, and Child abuse
Moderate: Death of parent, Physical abuse, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Biphobia
aglclark's review against another edition
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Physical abuse
Minor: Biphobia