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2.92 AVERAGE
2.92 AVERAGE
fast-paced
This got better as it went along. In the beginning, I thought Colgan just seemed to be trying way too hard, which made a certain amount of sense, since it’s her first book, just being republished. There for a while, I didn’t like any of the characters. But they evened out, got to be a little less abrasive. I think you’d really have to be stretching to find the decoy romance at all appealing or probable, but the romance waiting in the wings is likable enough.
BTW, like several of Colgan’s books, the title of this one has pretty much nothing to do with anything. More so than usual here. This wasn’t even released until the 2000s. There are a few TV show references that date it, and I guess what her florist friend is part of is the grunge scene? But there’s nothing very specifically 90s about this, except the lack of real cell phones and the newness of online dating. (But even if there were ... that title still wouldn’t really fit unless it was about someone today having a romance that would fit better in the 90s, right? If someone in the 90s was having a very 90s romance, it would just be called a normal romance, wouldn’t it??? These are the things I ponder when considering a Colgan book title. She said in (I think) the foreword to Bookshop on the Shore that authors don’t get to pick their titles, and that makes me sad and also scornful of publishing houses or editors or whoever is doing the job so poorly for her.)
BTW, like several of Colgan’s books, the title of this one has pretty much nothing to do with anything. More so than usual here. This wasn’t even released until the 2000s. There are a few TV show references that date it, and I guess what her florist friend is part of is the grunge scene? But there’s nothing very specifically 90s about this, except the lack of real cell phones and the newness of online dating. (But even if there were ... that title still wouldn’t really fit unless it was about someone today having a romance that would fit better in the 90s, right? If someone in the 90s was having a very 90s romance, it would just be called a normal romance, wouldn’t it??? These are the things I ponder when considering a Colgan book title. She said in (I think) the foreword to Bookshop on the Shore that authors don’t get to pick their titles, and that makes me sad and also scornful of publishing houses or editors or whoever is doing the job so poorly for her.)
slow-paced
This wasn't my favourite book by Colgan, not one that I would say to friends "here read this" (to be honest for me that's going to be "Rosie Hopkins Sweetshop of Dreams" when it comes to Colgan, a book that I can, and have read again and again...but we're veering off topic here; "Talking to Addison" is not my favourite Colgan, and one that I think should be read after you've been on a reading jag, so you know that she can do so much better.
I really like Jenny Colgan's later books. And while Iremember reading "Looking for Andrew McCarthy" back in 2003 and thinking it was sweet I didn't try another book until last year. "bookshop on the corner" was wonderful. So I took this one holiday to break up a really heavy sci-fi I'm reading. But this was so painful, I disliked the main character Holly from the first chapter, and it just got worse. One character is described as being mistaken for a monkey because she's short. Another is jibed at for possibly being gay. The main character has literally no redeeming qualities. The number rof snide comments and stereotypes are eye brow raising. So DNF. I felt reassured other people on here had the same experience and I just didn't want to waste any more time on it. Will stick to the newer titles. She's definitely improved a lot as an author, and many authors don't have great early books so will chalk it up to that. If anything this really highlights how much has changed in 24 years, and thank goodness for that
Cute. I really like this audiobook narrator. She's so expressive and funny. The end was great!
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Very 1990s, and you can see how the author's writing has improved and developed since then.Still a fun read, though a bit slow and frustrating in parts.