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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
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:
Complicated
SO FUCKING CUTE
I LOVED this book and it will definitely be in competition for one of my favorites of 2021. By the end I had over 30 highlights because there were so many touching or beautifully written moments between the hero and heroine. I’ll definitely be revisiting the highlights in between rereads of this book.
I will say it had a slow start. The hero was VERY grumpy in the beginning and barely talked to Maybell, but no worries, his taciturn behavior is soon explained and once it is, he becomes a very compelling and layered hero. I don’t think I’ve ever read a hero like him and it was really refreshing. His story about his childhood cow which is behind the reason for him being a vegetarian and why he wants to open an animal sanctuary called “the Farm Upstate” was so so touching. It was one of my favorite parts when he opens up to Maybell about it.
Further, all of my favorite romances have elements of whimsy to them and that’s another reason why I loved this book. The house Wesley and Maybell inherit was at one point an old hotel and it has a bunch of secret doors and passageways and a hidden elevator. I also loved the part about how she remembers the house being a light pink when she was a child, but discovers it was only ever grey in her lifetime, realizing she had internalized an old postcard that had a picture of the house from the early 1900s. The color is described as sunset and I love how Maybell tries to return it to the original. I love the descriptions of that part in the book, I could picture it perfectly.
Another thins I loved was Wesley’s date for Maybell. I swooned, seriously. I had no idea where he was going with it and when I figured it out, it was so good. Maybell’s reaction was wonderful because she finally truly felt like she was seen and understood by someone.
My favorite part though has to be the “I love you” declarations at the end. This type of scene can be pretty rote after reading so many romances, but in this book, it was incredible. The impact of that scene made me cry. I’m not going to spoil it, but it was one of the best “I love you” scenes I’ve ever read.
I’m so happy that Sarah Hogle’s second novel was even better than her first. I really loved You Deserve Each Other, so I had high expectations for this one. I always worry the follow-up to a debut won’t be as good, but this one was incredible in my opinion. Hogle has a unique voice and I can’t wait to read what she comes out with next! Highly highly recommend!
I will say it had a slow start. The hero was VERY grumpy in the beginning and barely talked to Maybell, but no worries, his taciturn behavior is soon explained and once it is, he becomes a very compelling and layered hero. I don’t think I’ve ever read a hero like him and it was really refreshing. His story about his childhood cow which is behind the reason for him being a vegetarian and why he wants to open an animal sanctuary called “the Farm Upstate” was so so touching. It was one of my favorite parts when he opens up to Maybell about it.
Further, all of my favorite romances have elements of whimsy to them and that’s another reason why I loved this book. The house Wesley and Maybell inherit was at one point an old hotel and it has a bunch of secret doors and passageways and a hidden elevator. I also loved the part about how she remembers the house being a light pink when she was a child, but discovers it was only ever grey in her lifetime, realizing she had internalized an old postcard that had a picture of the house from the early 1900s. The color is described as sunset and I love how Maybell tries to return it to the original. I love the descriptions of that part in the book, I could picture it perfectly.
Another thins I loved was Wesley’s date for Maybell. I swooned, seriously. I had no idea where he was going with it and when I figured it out, it was so good. Maybell’s reaction was wonderful because she finally truly felt like she was seen and understood by someone.
My favorite part though has to be the “I love you” declarations at the end. This type of scene can be pretty rote after reading so many romances, but in this book, it was incredible. The impact of that scene made me cry. I’m not going to spoil it, but it was one of the best “I love you” scenes I’ve ever read.
I’m so happy that Sarah Hogle’s second novel was even better than her first. I really loved You Deserve Each Other, so I had high expectations for this one. I always worry the follow-up to a debut won’t be as good, but this one was incredible in my opinion. Hogle has a unique voice and I can’t wait to read what she comes out with next! Highly highly recommend!
so sweet! an easy and cozy read. read it in a couple hours. finally a rom com book that doesn’t throw last minute conflict that could easily be resolved at the end of the book just to keep our new couple apart for dramatic effect. that is such a frustrating choice. this love story unfolds naturally and believably. and I loved that.
I thought this book was cute and a fun and easy read. The storyline was cute, and so was the character development, and can we please talk about the car ride back?! Overall, I think that this is a good, fun read, and it was something that I definitely sped read through the end so I could see the ending.
This was an adorably sweet, slow-burn novel! Maybell's character was hard to relate to at times, but she reminded me a lot of someone I know and that made understanding her character much easier. Wesley was just fantastic! I wasn't sure about him at first, but he definitely blew me away by the end! His character was relatable on so many levels. Reading the romance between these 2 characters was just sugary goodness and I enjoyed it all! Great novel
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
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
I loved it - the romance was so well executed and I love the initial set up of the plot, it fit the story and nothing was too extreme. Realistic enough to enjoy the experience! Points off for some really, really cliche lines.
I struggled with this one. It took about half the book to get me interested and even then I was anticipating the end so I can move on. I enjoyed the writing and the story but the 1st half drug on. Maybell (h) has her head in the clouds with her romantic fantasies and these take up too much of the story in the first half. So much so that sometimes you can't tell what's really happening or what fantasy she's creating. So most of that first half is pretty much all in her head. It's written with Maybell as first person narrative. I really wanted to get a handle on Wesley's (H) character as he was too mysterious and vague. I get that we are seeing this unravel from the h POV, but I needed something in that first have to give me tidbits to keep me intrigued about him.
Once these characters found their rhythm I did enjoy their banter and some one liners that really had me laughing out loud. This is a sweat, romantic read with quirky characters that are dealing with faults and insecurities that make you really want to root for them in the end. Hogle is a gifted writer. I can see why she is so popular. For my taste, I need a bit more conversational interaction. If books are too heavy in the thoughts the characters are having it takes away from the need/want to know more about other characters.
Dorothy Dillingham Blue did a great job. especially her inflections and how she added sarcasm and a sense of humor to Maybell's thoughts and dialogue.
Once these characters found their rhythm I did enjoy their banter and some one liners that really had me laughing out loud. This is a sweat, romantic read with quirky characters that are dealing with faults and insecurities that make you really want to root for them in the end. Hogle is a gifted writer. I can see why she is so popular. For my taste, I need a bit more conversational interaction. If books are too heavy in the thoughts the characters are having it takes away from the need/want to know more about other characters.
Dorothy Dillingham Blue did a great job. especially her inflections and how she added sarcasm and a sense of humor to Maybell's thoughts and dialogue.
2 stars, is very generous.
I hated ever single character the first 100 pages. Gemma is the worst, I’m glad she did eventually tell her off. Maybell’s relationship with her mother is horrible and should have been left out. The trip to Scotland was completely unnecessary.
If you’re debating reading this and another TBR book, go with the other.
I hated ever single character the first 100 pages. Gemma is the worst, I’m glad she did eventually tell her off. Maybell’s relationship with her mother is horrible and should have been left out. The trip to Scotland was completely unnecessary.
If you’re debating reading this and another TBR book, go with the other.
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
slow-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
WESLEY!! please. um wow I was feeling so so seen by Wesley (and honestly Maybell). Maybell living in a fantasy world and having trouble sticking to reality is something I have always always felt and it was great to see. and wesley and his anxiety (and panic attacks) is literally exactly me. every word that came out of his mouth with his anxiety is me and I have never felt so seen by a character. i think they were both really sweet and their gestures for each other were beautiful (THE NOTES really got me) AND HIM making the coffees shop for her please!! I love the concept of this book with her getting catfished with his picture (I love catfish: the show) and I love them having to make the hotel and animal sanctuary. absolutely obsessed with this book and them.