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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
medium-paced
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
medium-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:
Yes
As far as debut novels go, this was a rebound: almost a slam dunk, but something hit a little wrong that prevented it from making it in the basket. (I don't play basketball so that could be totally off lmao but you get the idea.) Bennet's struggle in trying to work through the grief of her first love is the part that really shines in this book. The romance was lacking just a little but Henry was a great love interest; great communication, good banter, and truly just doesn't beat around the bush.
The beginning of the book is so relatable as I feel like every 20-something year-old has been in the situations where you just can't seem to keep it together. And when Henry is introduced? Man the banter and chemistry was off the page. The friendships she was learning to cultivate in Jamie and Sal as well as nurturing the friendship with Sonya that had fallen to the wayside were some of my favorite parts of the book.
The end of the book is where it gets a little ehhhh for me. The last 25% of the book I just couldn't understand Bennet. Perhaps it's because I've never had to deal with the loss of a partner, but it just felt like she had done so much growing up to that point that the end didn't make as much sense to me. POSSIBLE SPOILERS NOW. By the time for the big wedding happened, I just felt Bennet was almost purposely making decisions that she knew would hurt everyone around her and herself. I get her grief was probably blinding her judgement, but none of it felt like the right call in any scenario.
While I'm glad that Bennet and Henry found their way back to each other the way that they did, I do think Bennet needed to give them both more time after the falling out. I think she should've taken more time to really build herself back up again after finally acknowledging and starting to move on from her grief before chasing after Henry. I think they just needed a bit more time (um like maybe at least a few months instead of a couple of weeks?) for her to really grow.
The beginning of the book is so relatable as I feel like every 20-something year-old has been in the situations where you just can't seem to keep it together. And when Henry is introduced? Man the banter and chemistry was off the page. The friendships she was learning to cultivate in Jamie and Sal as well as nurturing the friendship with Sonya that had fallen to the wayside were some of my favorite parts of the book.
The end of the book is where it gets a little ehhhh for me. The last 25% of the book I just couldn't understand Bennet. Perhaps it's because I've never had to deal with the loss of a partner, but it just felt like she had done so much growing up to that point that the end didn't make as much sense to me. POSSIBLE SPOILERS NOW. By the time for the big wedding happened, I just felt Bennet was almost purposely making decisions that she knew would hurt everyone around her and herself. I get her grief was probably blinding her judgement, but none of it felt like the right call in any scenario.
While I'm glad that Bennet and Henry found their way back to each other the way that they did, I do think Bennet needed to give them both more time after the falling out. I think she should've taken more time to really build herself back up again after finally acknowledging and starting to move on from her grief before chasing after Henry. I think they just needed a bit more time (um like maybe at least a few months instead of a couple of weeks?) for her to really grow.
I loved the concept of this, but I wasn’t a fan of the execution at all. Possible rage review?
I didn’t believe the chemistry between Bennet and Henry. I feel like he wanted to be with her more than she wanted to be with him. Sometimes it felt like she didn’t even like him at all. The spice wasn’t even good and made me cringe.
I really did not like Bennet. It felt like she was constantly making decisions she knew would hurt the people around her and then got defensive if they called her out. It felt like she was using her grief and depression as an excuse for treating people horribly. I found myself constantly rolling my eyes at her actions and words. I literally liked every side character more than I liked Bennett, which is a problem…
The character development was nonexistent. I like to see characters evolve and grow both personally and in their relationships and it simply didn’t exist in this book. Just when I thought there might be a smidge of development from Bennet, she’d go and do something that put her right back where she was.
Henry is too damn good for Bennet and deserved SO much better.
The only two things I liked about this book were the NYC setting and the message that you don’t have to have your life together to deserve love.
This was just not good.
I didn’t believe the chemistry between Bennet and Henry. I feel like he wanted to be with her more than she wanted to be with him. Sometimes it felt like she didn’t even like him at all. The spice wasn’t even good and made me cringe.
I really did not like Bennet. It felt like she was constantly making decisions she knew would hurt the people around her and then got defensive if they called her out. It felt like she was using her grief and depression as an excuse for treating people horribly. I found myself constantly rolling my eyes at her actions and words. I literally liked every side character more than I liked Bennett, which is a problem…
The character development was nonexistent. I like to see characters evolve and grow both personally and in their relationships and it simply didn’t exist in this book. Just when I thought there might be a smidge of development from Bennet, she’d go and do something that put her right back where she was.
Spoiler
I would not trust Bennet as a grief counselor for one second. She couldn’t even get through her own grief and you expect me to believe she’d be able to help other people get through theirs? Give me a break.Henry is too damn good for Bennet and deserved SO much better.
The only two things I liked about this book were the NYC setting and the message that you don’t have to have your life together to deserve love.
This was just not good.
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-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
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes