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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
This was an interesting book romance book that also had enough back plot to add intrigue. The characters were all heavily flawed in their own ways which really made them seem more real. The true crime plot didn’t go the way I was expecting and I don’t feel super resolved with anything. I feel like just something was missing. But overall decent read
Mostly I was bored by this. It was slooooooow. Has anyone ever thought, "Boy, I would really like to read a road trip book that had no adventure element!"? If so, this is the right book for that person.
There were elements of the set-up that I liked, but mostly it was even more absurd than in most romances. Adam, the MMC is a well-known football player who did something online that went viral -- ostensibly he then goes to journalism school and is trying to get in the good graces of a podcaster so that he can get her support to do a podcast about something that matters to him. That is why he is second-fiddle on this other podcast for which the established podcaster needs Jess (the FMC) and her sister to participate. But a sports star who is internet famous can get in front of people. The years in journalism school and the work as a lackey on a podcast seems like the single most indirect route to his goal. If he had wanted people to listen he could just have called ESPN.
The biggest issue was the inexplicable love at first sight. Jess is built into a sympathetic character, but outwardly she is always rude and sometimes mean, and sympathetic is not the same as appealing. She has no interests other than raising her half-sister (her mother abandoned them a decade ago when Jess was 21 and her sister 8.) She goes to work, she comes home, she won't speak to her co-workers, she won't do anything, even eat at restaurants. This is a trauma response, and I empathize with that, but it does not explain why anyone would fall in love with her at first sight. She is beautiful, but Adam was a presumed first-round draft pick out of Ohio State so he had access to lots of beautiful women. That alone wouldn't do it. Maybe he was just waiting for someone to be nasty and dismissive to him in response to his kind and polite behavior. That does not seem healthy.
I don't know, it was fine I guess. A 2.5? I loved the last Clayborn book I read, Georgie, All Along. It was silly, but also sweet in a way that made me happy. The MMC in that book had a lot of the same aloofness as Jess displayed in this book, and I had a problem with that too, but the story was better there, and at least the MMC there was always kind, unlike Jess. I will try another book by the author, but I am not rushing to do so.
There were elements of the set-up that I liked, but mostly it was even more absurd than in most romances. Adam, the MMC is a well-known football player who did something online that went viral -- ostensibly he then goes to journalism school and is trying to get in the good graces of a podcaster so that he can get her support to do a podcast about something that matters to him. That is why he is second-fiddle on this other podcast for which the established podcaster needs Jess (the FMC) and her sister to participate. But a sports star who is internet famous can get in front of people. The years in journalism school and the work as a lackey on a podcast seems like the single most indirect route to his goal. If he had wanted people to listen he could just have called ESPN.
The biggest issue was the inexplicable love at first sight. Jess is built into a sympathetic character, but outwardly she is always rude and sometimes mean, and sympathetic is not the same as appealing. She has no interests other than raising her half-sister (her mother abandoned them a decade ago when Jess was 21 and her sister 8.) She goes to work, she comes home, she won't speak to her co-workers, she won't do anything, even eat at restaurants. This is a trauma response, and I empathize with that, but it does not explain why anyone would fall in love with her at first sight. She is beautiful, but Adam was a presumed first-round draft pick out of Ohio State so he had access to lots of beautiful women. That alone wouldn't do it. Maybe he was just waiting for someone to be nasty and dismissive to him in response to his kind and polite behavior. That does not seem healthy.
I don't know, it was fine I guess. A 2.5? I loved the last Clayborn book I read, Georgie, All Along. It was silly, but also sweet in a way that made me happy. The MMC in that book had a lot of the same aloofness as Jess displayed in this book, and I had a problem with that too, but the story was better there, and at least the MMC there was always kind, unlike Jess. I will try another book by the author, but I am not rushing to do so.
This was…not what I expected. I think I was thinking it would be more of a mystery but it was really a romance. That’s cool, I love romance novels but this one fell a little flat for me. I feel like the author wasn’t sure what story she wanted to tell and mashed a bunch of different ones together and it just…doesn’t really work for me.
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Georgie, All Along was a 5 star top read for me, so I was very excited to read her second. Then I saw the not so stellar reviews, but went for it anyway. AM I GLAD I DID!! This is not your typical romance, but man is it good. Filled with layers and story lines. Caught myself smiling with the characters. Give this one a try if you’re on the fence!!
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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
4.5 rounded to 5
There were so many layers to this book. It was heartfelt, tender, saddening, frustrating, and so many other emotions. It was really a love letter between two sisters with some romantic love on the side and a mystery of a missing mother connecting it all. There were also snippets of a podcast script (gave me Serial vibes) to tie everything together. This was overall so well written and tugged at your heart strings. Both sisters had their faults and could be frustrating but in such an understandable way—Kate really hit home with the empathy.
Not a full 5 because it’s the opposite of a slow burn in that the characters basically fall in love at first sight and that just doesn’t do it for me lol
There were so many layers to this book. It was heartfelt, tender, saddening, frustrating, and so many other emotions. It was really a love letter between two sisters with some romantic love on the side and a mystery of a missing mother connecting it all. There were also snippets of a podcast script (gave me Serial vibes) to tie everything together. This was overall so well written and tugged at your heart strings. Both sisters had their faults and could be frustrating but in such an understandable way—Kate really hit home with the empathy.
Not a full 5 because it’s the opposite of a slow burn in that the characters basically fall in love at first sight and that just doesn’t do it for me lol
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes