Reviews

Birds of California by Katie Cotugno

maddybbooks's review against another edition

lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

annoflore's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

ali_fremont's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Vibes were there, enjoyed the dialogue, banter, romance. Felt the ending was rushed and unresolved. Felt that the book could have gone on for at least another 100 pages to give insight into the big reveal.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Panic attacks/disorders, and Cursing

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship

beccathul's review against another edition

3.0

3.5 stars
Listened to the audio book. Anything narrated by Julia Whelan is an immediate pick for me. I enjoyed this book. You could see where the story was going from the start so I would have liked it to continue to some of the aftermath of the “reveal”. The ending felt a little abrupt to me in that sense.

hayleyflemingwrites's review against another edition

5.0

This was SO good. Love a celebrity romance. Super fun but also dealt with serious issues. Also the first time I’ve ever listened to an audiobook and I loved it

andrea_author's review against another edition

5.0

Former child star Fiona is offered a job reprising her role in the family show that made her famous. But she crashed and burned after her Hollywood career ended, and she has no desire to return to that world. Sam, who played her onscreen brother, wants to convince her to reconsider. His latest series has just been canceled, and he needs the money.

When they meet up again, they discover that their teenage infatuation is still alive. But Fiona can't be sure whether Sam is really interested in her or in getting her to agree to do the show. When he learns the truth about Fiona's breakdown, it changes everything. Can he be the man she needs to help her heal?

I loved this book. It's described as a rom com, but it's not. Think Taylor Jenkins Reid or Chanel Cleeton. Think #metoo.

This is an emotional book with well-developed characters, a powerful plot, and pacing that's on-point. Fiona is strong and understandably prickly, after the way she's been objectified since she was a teenager. Sam is sweet and charming, but a total goofball underneath that leading man façade. They really are perfect together, but they've got a lot of baggage to work through first.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

readingintheether's review against another edition

3.0

The dialogue was mostly enjoyable, and both of the main characters are funny and witty. The first half of the book felt really strong but it didn't hold up through the end. There's also a reveal within the last 10 pages of the book that you definitely see coming but I didn't particularly feel it was handled very gracefully.

naranjadia's review against another edition

3.0

I had to go back and re-read the blurb for Birds of California about halfway through because this is one of those cases where the marketing and the content don’t match. The promotional material refers to it as a “whip smart romantic comedy.” Whip smart, I will give it, but romantic comedy? No.

Full review at Smexy Books

cosmicreadinggirl's review against another edition

3.0

this was good but it felt like there was something missing.

hannah_coak's review against another edition

4.0

4.5 ⭐️