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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
This was so adorable. The alternate universe threw me off at first and I wasn't sure how if I would like it but it ended up being so fantastic. I especially loved that the male love interest had anxiety for some representation of men with anxiety but also that the female love interest was fairly timid and allowed herself to be run over but then got to a point where she was incredibly strong all on her own.
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Cute, entertaining, just couldn't get into the daydreaming aspect.
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
As a late bloomer myself, Wesley became my safe place for a moment.
I think I’m done with smutty books. I want all the fluff from now on. This book had me giggling and ‘aww’ing all over the place. Absolutely loved!
I think I’m done with smutty books. I want all the fluff from now on. This book had me giggling and ‘aww’ing all over the place. Absolutely loved!
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was really cute, the perfect book to spend a rainy day with!
My main complaint is how this was advertised as two shy people falling in love, who communicate through notes because they are too shy to talk. I assumed we’d see them passing notes round constantly, barely talking until they simply have to when they confess their feelings. Yet Maybell isn’t shy at all in how she comes across, she’s lonely and desperate to belong. She keeps wanting to speak to Wesley in person. Wesley does struggle with his social anxiety (he keeps saying it’s social anxiety, but it seems to be general anxiety?), but this revolves more around him wanting to avoid getting hurt. He’s a bit mean and distant, but he does speak to Maybell to convey his dislike of her. He never seemed nervous, he just seemed annoyed and hid behind this mask to protect himself. Being socially anxious isn’t the same thing as being shy.
He does struggle to express his feelings and prefers writing those down to communicate them, but that’s more a general romance trope (‘big strong man isn’t comfortable sharing his feelings openly’) than anything. He was so quick to open up to Maybell as well and do things which would have been far out of his comfort zone, that at times I even wished his anxiety was stressed more in this novel. The ending really rubbed me the wrong way because of this, too.
I also couldn’t quite get into Maybell’s fantasies, mostly because she mentioned it so often and in so much detail. It took away the pacing for me. Her fantasies would’ve made more sense to me if she remained stuck at her old job, or if she really was as shy as the title suggests - which makes me think the author did initially plan for her being very shy as well, but removed this later on. The further into the novel I got the more I didn’t understand why it had to be referenced so much.
I do like how the story played out slowly, the romance wasn’t rushed. The enemies to lovers trope was really well done, and I appreciate that the development of their relationship was gradual and linear. So this was definitely a very enjoyable read overall.
My main complaint is how this was advertised as two shy people falling in love, who communicate through notes because they are too shy to talk. I assumed we’d see them passing notes round constantly, barely talking until they simply have to when they confess their feelings. Yet Maybell isn’t shy at all in how she comes across, she’s lonely and desperate to belong. She keeps wanting to speak to Wesley in person. Wesley does struggle with his social anxiety (he keeps saying it’s social anxiety, but it seems to be general anxiety?), but this revolves more around him wanting to avoid getting hurt. He’s a bit mean and distant, but he does speak to Maybell to convey his dislike of her. He never seemed nervous, he just seemed annoyed and hid behind this mask to protect himself. Being socially anxious isn’t the same thing as being shy.
He does struggle to express his feelings and prefers writing those down to communicate them, but that’s more a general romance trope (‘big strong man isn’t comfortable sharing his feelings openly’) than anything. He was so quick to open up to Maybell as well and do things which would have been far out of his comfort zone, that at times I even wished his anxiety was stressed more in this novel. The ending really rubbed me the wrong way because of this, too.
I also couldn’t quite get into Maybell’s fantasies, mostly because she mentioned it so often and in so much detail. It took away the pacing for me. Her fantasies would’ve made more sense to me if she remained stuck at her old job, or if she really was as shy as the title suggests - which makes me think the author did initially plan for her being very shy as well, but removed this later on. The further into the novel I got the more I didn’t understand why it had to be referenced so much.
I do like how the story played out slowly, the romance wasn’t rushed. The enemies to lovers trope was really well done, and I appreciate that the development of their relationship was gradual and linear. So this was definitely a very enjoyable read overall.
funny
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
5/5 stars
Sarah Hogle’s second book was just as amazing as her debut, You Deserve Each Other . It definitely had a different tone this one had more of softer one and both characters weren’t at each other’s throats but regardless it was just as good.
Maybell, my girl. Throughout the entire book I wanted to reach into the pages and hug her so tight because she was just the sweetest, gentlest and most caring human in the world. She was extremely relatable, funny and her development was amazing.
I like it when once the grumpy brooding hero starts to open up we discover that he is just the softest human in the world and that was what happened with Wesley. I really liked him.
The banter and the interactions between them were just so funny, they actually made me giggle out loud! Their relationship developed slowly, but steadily and in tandem with their own character development. I especially loved the way they lifted each other up.
There were a lot of cute moments and their first kiss was swoon and romcom moment worthy.
“You ever think you were single for no reason and then you meet someone and realize you’ve been waiting for them without knowing it?”
Sarah Hogle’s second book was just as amazing as her debut, You Deserve Each Other . It definitely had a different tone this one had more of softer one and both characters weren’t at each other’s throats but regardless it was just as good.
Maybell, my girl. Throughout the entire book I wanted to reach into the pages and hug her so tight because she was just the sweetest, gentlest and most caring human in the world. She was extremely relatable, funny and her development was amazing.
I like it when once the grumpy brooding hero starts to open up we discover that he is just the softest human in the world and that was what happened with Wesley. I really liked him.
The banter and the interactions between them were just so funny, they actually made me giggle out loud! Their relationship developed slowly, but steadily and in tandem with their own character development. I especially loved the way they lifted each other up.
There were a lot of cute moments and their first kiss was swoon and romcom moment worthy.