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3.58 AVERAGE
3.58 AVERAGE
2.5 estrelas.
Eu realmente gostei da Stephanie como protagonista, ela é uma mulher independente e forte por quem vale a pena torcer, mas o Linden é só mais um mocinho sem graça, que não teve absolutamente nenhum fator a mais que me fizesse gostar dele, já que é tudo muito mais do mesmo (rico, mulherengo, lindo de morrer, problemas com mommy and daddy, etc). Além disso, o suposto carisma que ele tem simplesmente não é algo crível, já que todos os capítulos narrados por ele não trazem uma maior profundidade ao personagem, deixando tudo no superficial.
Como metade do casal não me convenceu, todo o romance ficou comprometido pra mim e, bom, isso é um livro de romance, a Stephanie sozinha não consegue segurar tudo. Talvez a nota fosse um pouco maior se eu não tivesse demorado mais de um mês pra terminar de ler, mas parei em exatos 50% do meu ebook em algum momento do mês passado e só retomei agora, unicamente porque não queria abandonar.
Ainda assim, devo ler mais livros da autora no futuro e só posso esperar por mocinhos melhores.
Eu realmente gostei da Stephanie como protagonista, ela é uma mulher independente e forte por quem vale a pena torcer, mas o Linden é só mais um mocinho sem graça, que não teve absolutamente nenhum fator a mais que me fizesse gostar dele, já que é tudo muito mais do mesmo (rico, mulherengo, lindo de morrer, problemas com mommy and daddy, etc). Além disso, o suposto carisma que ele tem simplesmente não é algo crível, já que todos os capítulos narrados por ele não trazem uma maior profundidade ao personagem, deixando tudo no superficial.
Como metade do casal não me convenceu, todo o romance ficou comprometido pra mim e, bom, isso é um livro de romance, a Stephanie sozinha não consegue segurar tudo. Talvez a nota fosse um pouco maior se eu não tivesse demorado mais de um mês pra terminar de ler, mas parei em exatos 50% do meu ebook em algum momento do mês passado e só retomei agora, unicamente porque não queria abandonar.
Ainda assim, devo ler mais livros da autora no futuro e só posso esperar por mocinhos melhores.
Highly recommend the audiobook - this one was messy, but I really enjoyed it! I liked the idea of a pact being made and it actually being something two people want to do. A Scottish love interest is always a plus. I did have a hard time with the dating your best friends ex part, but only a tad. Overall it was a quick and fun read.
lighthearted
medium-paced
3 The Pact Stars
I liked the early friendship we see between James, Linden, and Stephanie.
I think that is what hooked me to the story.
James was kind of a side character that I thought we needed a little more of Stephanie and James’ time together to get. I don’t know I didn’t feel there connection like the story wanted me to.
I lovvvved Linden before during and after. Just loved his character completely.
A little-passed half I started to struggle with the story, the triangle part of it just didn’t jive for me. I felt like they were being very immature about something when they were to have “grown up” in the story.
Overall the story was fun and interesting and what saves it for me was the narrators they do an outstanding job.
*You don't have to like my review but its 100% my opinion, and I am allowed to have it.*
I liked the early friendship we see between James, Linden, and Stephanie.
I think that is what hooked me to the story.
James was kind of a side character that I thought we needed a little more of Stephanie and James’ time together to get. I don’t know I didn’t feel there connection like the story wanted me to.
I lovvvved Linden before during and after. Just loved his character completely.
A little-passed half I started to struggle with the story, the triangle part of it just didn’t jive for me. I felt like they were being very immature about something when they were to have “grown up” in the story.
Overall the story was fun and interesting and what saves it for me was the narrators they do an outstanding job.
*You don't have to like my review but its 100% my opinion, and I am allowed to have it.*
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Nnnyeaaaah. Karina Halle is my girl. I've read an assload of her books in the past couple years and I'm going to KEEP reading them even if they disappoint me.
Like this one just did.
Spoilery stuff below, you've been warned.
I love me some friends-to-lovers romance. But I need to be convinced that they ARE friends, and not just 2 people finding the lamest excuses on the planet to NOT fuck each other.
Linden comes close to outing his feelings for Steph countless times, and then always, always chickens out. Why? I don't enjoy a coward. I don't care how hot he is.
Half of this book (and I mean literally, half) is the two main characters fucking around with other people they very obviously don't like, while bemoaning how they either love the other person or thought they'd be somewhere totally different by the age they are... Honestly it's so much wasted time. And a little weird??? To have a romance book??? Where the two main characters just... don't get together????
Why couldn't we have started the book when they turned 30, got married, and then go from there?
And they don't even GET married when they hit 30! "The Pact" goes from "we're getting hitched" to "let's fuck and see where things go". That's not at all the point of a pact. And it's not the point of the book, according to the synopsis that lured most of us in. Argh.
So we spend half the book reading about them being in lackluster (and arguably, sometimes abusive) relationships with other people, then, they kiss once and everything changes. We get 10 chapters of constant screwing (literally it's every page), and then... AND THEN!
Fucking James.
I'm sorry. But the whole "Bros before hos" best friend can't date the other's ex thing is the stupidest most outdated mentality. It's been literal years since James and Steph have been an item. They've been with multiple other people since. Nobody is just... forever off-limits to someone just because their best friend dated them a decade ago. If you've STILL got possession issues over your ex 10 years after you've broken up... you need therapy.
MAYBE it'd be different, if the ex was abusive or something... but honestly in this situation where everybody's friends and the breakup was amicable? Possessiveness is just dickhole behavior on James' part. He claims to still be in love with a woman who doesn't feel the same way--Stephanie doesn't owe him anything, and frankly, it's fucking selfish to demand that Steph and Linden stay apart forever when its clear they actually love each other, and James knows all about it.
If I were in Linden's shoes, I wouldn't have made up some lame lie--I'd have flat out told James how it was. And if he had a piss-fit over it, I'd find another bar to become a regular at. Don't nobody tell me who I can and can't love/be with. Period.
James is a selfish brat. Neither of them would be worse off if they ditched him--he's a creep. And Linden's reaction to the tirade that James levels on him... Please. Nobody wants to read about a man who doesn't stand up for what he wants. Stephanie has already chosen. She's already confessed that she loved the guy--and now he's gonna back off because some other dude thinks he has some sort of claim on her?
I just lied, flat-out lied to my best friend. I just destroyed something beautiful with my other best friend. Because now I know I can't be with Stephanie, not after what I just said. We can't continue sleeping with each other like we have and we can't come out with the truth anymore.
I have to break it off with her.
Fucking really? I guess your "I love yous" mean fuck all then, hey? I guess the fact that Stephanie loves YOU means nothing to you? Because honestly? Who the fuck cares if James or anyone else is in love with Steph? WHO DOES SHE LOVE?! She has a choice and she's chosen. And it wasn't James.
Ugh we're 77% of the way through this book at this point and I don't care anymore.
At 86% James finally grows a pair of balls to confess that the reason he did what he did was because he's a selfish, jealous asshole...and the fact that neither Steph NOR Linden doesn't immediately cut him off forever....???? Fuck off. That guy would have been hamburger, even with a broken arm and leg. He'd be in the fucking hospital bed next to me fighting for his life.
But no. We're all just gonna be friends forever. Happily ever after.
Vomit.
This wasn't the book I thought it would be. And definitely not the one I wanted.
Like this one just did.
Spoilery stuff below, you've been warned.
I love me some friends-to-lovers romance. But I need to be convinced that they ARE friends, and not just 2 people finding the lamest excuses on the planet to NOT fuck each other.
Linden comes close to outing his feelings for Steph countless times, and then always, always chickens out. Why? I don't enjoy a coward. I don't care how hot he is.
Half of this book (and I mean literally, half) is the two main characters fucking around with other people they very obviously don't like, while bemoaning how they either love the other person or thought they'd be somewhere totally different by the age they are... Honestly it's so much wasted time. And a little weird??? To have a romance book??? Where the two main characters just... don't get together????
Why couldn't we have started the book when they turned 30, got married, and then go from there?
And they don't even GET married when they hit 30! "The Pact" goes from "we're getting hitched" to "let's fuck and see where things go". That's not at all the point of a pact. And it's not the point of the book, according to the synopsis that lured most of us in. Argh.
So we spend half the book reading about them being in lackluster (and arguably, sometimes abusive) relationships with other people, then, they kiss once and everything changes. We get 10 chapters of constant screwing (literally it's every page), and then... AND THEN!
Fucking James.
I'm sorry. But the whole "Bros before hos" best friend can't date the other's ex thing is the stupidest most outdated mentality. It's been literal years since James and Steph have been an item. They've been with multiple other people since. Nobody is just... forever off-limits to someone just because their best friend dated them a decade ago. If you've STILL got possession issues over your ex 10 years after you've broken up... you need therapy.
MAYBE it'd be different, if the ex was abusive or something... but honestly in this situation where everybody's friends and the breakup was amicable? Possessiveness is just dickhole behavior on James' part. He claims to still be in love with a woman who doesn't feel the same way--Stephanie doesn't owe him anything, and frankly, it's fucking selfish to demand that Steph and Linden stay apart forever when its clear they actually love each other, and James knows all about it.
If I were in Linden's shoes, I wouldn't have made up some lame lie--I'd have flat out told James how it was. And if he had a piss-fit over it, I'd find another bar to become a regular at. Don't nobody tell me who I can and can't love/be with. Period.
James is a selfish brat. Neither of them would be worse off if they ditched him--he's a creep. And Linden's reaction to the tirade that James levels on him... Please. Nobody wants to read about a man who doesn't stand up for what he wants. Stephanie has already chosen. She's already confessed that she loved the guy--and now he's gonna back off because some other dude thinks he has some sort of claim on her?
I just lied, flat-out lied to my best friend. I just destroyed something beautiful with my other best friend. Because now I know I can't be with Stephanie, not after what I just said. We can't continue sleeping with each other like we have and we can't come out with the truth anymore.
I have to break it off with her.
Fucking really? I guess your "I love yous" mean fuck all then, hey? I guess the fact that Stephanie loves YOU means nothing to you? Because honestly? Who the fuck cares if James or anyone else is in love with Steph? WHO DOES SHE LOVE?! She has a choice and she's chosen. And it wasn't James.
Ugh we're 77% of the way through this book at this point and I don't care anymore.
At 86% James finally grows a pair of balls to confess that the reason he did what he did was because he's a selfish, jealous asshole...and the fact that neither Steph NOR Linden doesn't immediately cut him off forever....???? Fuck off. That guy would have been hamburger, even with a broken arm and leg. He'd be in the fucking hospital bed next to me fighting for his life.
But no. We're all just gonna be friends forever. Happily ever after.
Vomit.
This wasn't the book I thought it would be. And definitely not the one I wanted.
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
adventurous
emotional
funny
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
I'm surprised by the DNFs here, but I listened to the audiobook, so maybe that made a difference here. There were times I didn't love the H and h, but it felt like how I thought the characters would act in real life, if that makes any sense. Friends to lovers is my favorite trope, so I enjoyed the book.
It was a friends to lovers romance and was rather predictable.
The characters were relate able and there was fluidity in connecting the story. Linden was a bit too immature for me, but I guess I'm supposed to forgive that since he's hot...
The characters were relate able and there was fluidity in connecting the story. Linden was a bit too immature for me, but I guess I'm supposed to forgive that since he's hot...
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated