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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
3.5 stars
This was a quick, easy read, and the premise made it possible for everything to happen pretty quickly without feeling like insta-love, since the MCs had been chatting online for almost a year. These were really fleshed-out characters, and all the book-loving details were awesome. Definitely made me feel all the feels :) Looking forward to reading more from this series.
This was a quick, easy read, and the premise made it possible for everything to happen pretty quickly without feeling like insta-love, since the MCs had been chatting online for almost a year. These were really fleshed-out characters, and all the book-loving details were awesome. Definitely made me feel all the feels :) Looking forward to reading more from this series.
Started off well, but went downhill pretty quickly. This is a "You've Got Mail"/"The Shop Around the Corner" story of people who haven't met who love each other in written form (in this case, online messaging), but turn out to be enemies in real life who later end up falling in love. This just didn't work for me. I didn't care for the characters or their behaviour. I do love the cover, however.
I never knew enemies to lovers and instalove can exist at the same time but this just managed to do it. I don't know if I should be impressed or what. Lol
Also, the usernames REALLY could've used a lil bit more creativity.
But overall, this was the feel good, palette cleanser in between heavy books type of book I was looking for.
It was cute and cheesy and I actually enjoyed it.
Also, the usernames REALLY could've used a lil bit more creativity.
But overall, this was the feel good, palette cleanser in between heavy books type of book I was looking for.
It was cute and cheesy and I actually enjoyed it.
This was very Christmasy, which was nice and wistful at this time of year, and the very rom-commy premise of these two guys in the We Got Mail hijinks misunderstanding situation bonding over their love of Jane Austen and literature is a lot. It didn't cross the line to saccharine but was just enough cute and sweet. It's a shorter book/novella format so the shortened timespan between the start to I love yous wasn't too jarring, and the concept of the mechanic and bookstore owner, with their described physical appearances and personalities, is adorable. I did like Leo and Alfie together, and even the Grand Gesture book puzzle hunt wasn't completely cringey to me in this heightened-cheesy-Hallmark vibe of the story. Even the public proposal in their small town hall square at the epilogue floated along with the atmosphere and worked--cute dog named Wentworth, happy ever after and all.
However, this would rate higher if Leo's personality and actions didn't bother me a little bit. Just the Pride and Prejudice style bad first impression meeting between Leo and Alfie already lent a bad image to Leo, honestly. He really is Grinch-like and comes across as snobby and rude while at that initial point Alfie's only sin was responding back in kind to someone who was belittling him. Leo finding out that his online love chatting pal was really the local town mechanic he thinks badly of, only to ghost him and not tell him while proceeding to fall into courtship with him, got inexcusable right at the moment they slept together. Of course it's the classic romance plot device, but it was still frustrating that Leo didn't summon up the courage and sense of personal responsibility to fess up before their relationship proceeded further.
Overall though, still highly enjoyable and cute, and I'm glad I got to complete this New Milton book series. Luca and Theo's book is still my least favorite of the bunch, but as a whole the four stories together are an overall good time and worthwhile reading.
However, this would rate higher if Leo's personality and actions didn't bother me a little bit. Just the Pride and Prejudice style bad first impression meeting between Leo and Alfie already lent a bad image to Leo, honestly. He really is Grinch-like and comes across as snobby and rude while at that initial point Alfie's only sin was responding back in kind to someone who was belittling him. Leo finding out that his online love chatting pal was really the local town mechanic he thinks badly of, only to ghost him and not tell him while proceeding to fall into courtship with him, got inexcusable right at the moment they slept together. Of course it's the classic romance plot device, but it was still frustrating that Leo didn't summon up the courage and sense of personal responsibility to fess up before their relationship proceeded further.
Overall though, still highly enjoyable and cute, and I'm glad I got to complete this New Milton book series. Luca and Theo's book is still my least favorite of the bunch, but as a whole the four stories together are an overall good time and worthwhile reading.
I struggle with miscommunication as a plot point most of the time, but this novella more accurately has misunderstandings, and adequately explains why each MC responds the way they do. They are very sweet together (once they get there).
Utterly charming You’ve Got Mail retelling
So delightful! A MM retelling of one of my favorite romcoms set at Christmas time?? What’s not to love! The way the author chose to write the timeline is really well done, and made me understand/like Leo (the Tom Hanks character) much better
So delightful! A MM retelling of one of my favorite romcoms set at Christmas time?? What’s not to love! The way the author chose to write the timeline is really well done, and made me understand/like Leo (the Tom Hanks character) much better
lighthearted
medium-paced
This was very Christmasy, which was nice and wistful at this time of year, and the very rom-commy premise of these two guys in the We Got Mail hijinks misunderstanding situation bonding over their love of Jane Austen and literature is a lot. It didn't cross the line to saccharine but was just enough cute and sweet. It's a shorter book/novella format so the shortened timespan between the start to I love yous wasn't too jarring, and the concept of the mechanic and bookstore owner, with their described physical appearances and personalities, is adorable. I did like Leo and Alfie together, and even the Grand Gesture book puzzle hunt wasn't completely cringey to me in this heightened-cheesy-Hallmark vibe of the story. Even the public proposal in their small town hall square at the epilogue floated along with the atmosphere and worked--cute dog named Wentworth, happy ever after and all.
However, this would rate higher if Leo's personality and actions didn't bother me a little bit. Just the Pride and Prejudice style bad first impression meeting between Leo and Alfie already lent a bad image to Leo, honestly. He really is Grinch-like and comes across as snobby and rude while at that initial point Alfie's only sin was responding back in kind to someone who was belittling him. Leo finding out that his online love chatting pal was really the local town mechanic he thinks badly of, only to ghost him and not tell him while proceeding to fall into courtship with him, got inexcusable right at the moment they slept together. Of course it's the classic romance plot device, but it was still frustrating that Leo didn't summon up the courage and sense of personal responsibility to fess up before their relationship proceeded further.
Overall though, still highly enjoyable and cute, and I'm glad I got to complete this New Milton book series. Luca and Theo's book is still my least favorite of the bunch, but as a whole the four stories together are an overall good time and worthwhile reading.
However, this would rate higher if Leo's personality and actions didn't bother me a little bit. Just the Pride and Prejudice style bad first impression meeting between Leo and Alfie already lent a bad image to Leo, honestly. He really is Grinch-like and comes across as snobby and rude while at that initial point Alfie's only sin was responding back in kind to someone who was belittling him. Leo finding out that his online love chatting pal was really the local town mechanic he thinks badly of, only to ghost him and not tell him while proceeding to fall into courtship with him, got inexcusable right at the moment they slept together. Of course it's the classic romance plot device, but it was still frustrating that Leo didn't summon up the courage and sense of personal responsibility to fess up before their relationship proceeded further.
Overall though, still highly enjoyable and cute, and I'm glad I got to complete this New Milton book series. Luca and Theo's book is still my least favorite of the bunch, but as a whole the four stories together are an overall good time and worthwhile reading.
Start with the always, in my opinion, fun enemies to lovers trope. Throw in some Jane Austen and other classics. Add a Christmas twist. And you have this book. Low on steam but high on feels. I really liked it and will definitely go back and read the non Christmas books in the series. When I snap out of my Christmas reading binge.