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cobaltbookshelf's review
3.0
Cute story about two divorced single parents, looking forward next book in the series.
califor127's review against another edition
3.75
Nothing to write home about, but an enjoyable read.
fatkidatheartreads's review
3.0
Mabel got on my nerves. š Also, why did this feel like a closed door romance yet the sex scenes still felt cringey?
Such a meh experience š
Such a meh experience š
stacymk84's review
3.0
Both characters are single parents.
Both characters have been married before.
Both characters end up working at the same place.
Felt like it was a nice rom-com. Took me a while to finish.
Both characters have been married before.
Both characters end up working at the same place.
Felt like it was a nice rom-com. Took me a while to finish.
licensetoshelbs's review against another edition
emotional
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
3.0
smalltownbookmom's review against another edition
4.0
For all the single parents out there this book is for YOU! I really enjoyed this single parent/roommate closed door romance. Elliot and Abel decide to become roommates after meeting at the gym where they both work. Each are single with 8 year old daughters and having someone to help lighten the load really becomes appealing. As their daughters bond so do they and eventually they decide to take a chance on love.
This book does such a great job representing the challenges of co-parenting and single parenting. I also loved that it was a reverse age gap romance with a 40+ female lead with a real āmomā bod! Highly recommended and great on audio. I could have used a little more open door action but overall this was very entertaining and full of hilarious one-liners!
ā ļøCW: toxic parenting
This book does such a great job representing the challenges of co-parenting and single parenting. I also loved that it was a reverse age gap romance with a 40+ female lead with a real āmomā bod! Highly recommended and great on audio. I could have used a little more open door action but overall this was very entertaining and full of hilarious one-liners!
ā ļøCW: toxic parenting
lisasabella82's review against another edition
4.0
Loved the anti-glitter stance, I love all the glitter, but that part cracked me up!
profromance's review against another edition
5.0
Overall Grade: āļøāļøāļøāļø1/2
āBecause no matter where this relationship goes, no matter if or how it ends, this is love right here. Itās not the kind that bowls you over so nothing else matters. Itās not the kind that fizzles when the lust is gone. Itās the kind that starts with two people being best friends and grows until they become āyour person.ā Thatās the best kind of love there is.ā
There is so much offered up in the romance world. Iāve said this before in other reviews, but itās always amazing to recognize the depth and breadth of the types of romance a reader can find. There is romance that makes your insides hurt from the depth of his angst. Then, there is romance that titillates readers as it reveals the power structure of the dominant/submissive. There is romance that makes you laugh aloud so vehemently that it causes tears to fall from your eyes. There are genres and sub-genres and tropes galore. And then, there are romances that whisper its truths quietly over the pages. You wait for the big moments that you might have felt in other stories, but that whispering acts as a balm against the romances that scream their emotions at you. M.E. Carterās newest book in the SmartyPants Romance world, Cutie and the Beast, speaks softly yet profoundly in its truth. This story isnāt a heavily overt romance. Instead, if I take liberties here, the true romance lies in the relationship between parent and child. It isnāt a new perspective, but I think its story has a slant to it that sets it apart from your usual single parentsā romance.
The story follows our favorite trainer from Carterās Weight Expectations, Abel. Abelās wife has divorced him, and heās left to raise their precocious daughter, Mabel. His schedule is difficult, his job can be precarious at times, and he worries. I mean, what parent doesnāt worry? Abel is surviving, but it feels as though any change could unravel his control. Enter Elliott, a single mother. Elliott currently lives with her mother, but their relationship is fraught with tension. Elliottās mother is well-meaning, but she has always been critical of Elliott. This has created a sometimes tenuous connection between the two of them. Elliott has determined that she will raise her daughter without that stricture, but she recognizes the importance of healthy boundaries. Looking for independence, she finds a job at the gym where Abel trains as the manager of the child care center. Wanting to find a place to live to create some distance from her mother, a co-worker makes the suggestion that Abel and Elliott become roommates since Abel needs some help with his mortgage. As Elliott accepts Abelās invitation to move in, they must negotiate different parenting styles and a sometimes complicated situation. Intertwined with these situations is their burgeoning interest in each other. Their romance finds its grounding in friendship first. With their attraction growing, Abel and Elliott must contend with the worry over their daughters, different parenting styles, and a potentially messy future.
Cutie and the Beastās romance washes over its readers quietly. There is a sweetness to it that dirties itself at points. However, as I noted at the beginning of this review, the true romance lies in the love between the parents and their children. Abel adores his daughter, Mabel, and his parenting style is informed by his ex-wifeās response to (or lack thereof) their daughter. Similarly, Elliottās relationship with her daughter is bounded by her experiences with her own mother. These parenting styles intersect and cause problems for Abel and Elliottās relationship. The profundity of this intersection acts as an umbrella to their ability to find a future. Thankfully, Abelās character is such that he patiently waits for Elliott to recognize the depth of their love for each other. In fact, beyond this book being a SmartyPants Romance book, I read this book for Abel. His wisdom in Weight Expectations was insightful, and I was enamored with him in that book. His characterization in this book is no different. While Elliott is oftentimes reticent and careful, Abel is the impetus for their eventual pairing. Heās once again insightful and caring and charming. Elliott has no chance against him once he determines his interest in her.
Even more, while Elliott is the more reserved of the two, she has an inner strength that you canāt help but admire. She is sensible, and she loves deeply. Sheās just careful. She worries over the impact of actions on situations. Sheās also the first to admit when she has made a mistake. Her ability to love and āseeā Mabel through her difficulties make her characterization an important one. Carter uses her as a warning against prejudgments.
Not every romance needs to dig to the deepest depths of your soul or tickle your funny bone or make you hot. Sometimes, we need a story such as Cutie and the Beast to sit softly over us, acting as a salve against the depths of other heavier romance stories. M.E. Carterās book reminds us that love is for everyone. That characters who seem like ārealā people living with ārealā situations are important as they act as a mirror to our own problems so that we can find our way to love. Abel and Elliottās relationship has some fire, but its true strength lies in its normalcy. And romancelandia needs that too.
āBecause no matter where this relationship goes, no matter if or how it ends, this is love right here. Itās not the kind that bowls you over so nothing else matters. Itās not the kind that fizzles when the lust is gone. Itās the kind that starts with two people being best friends and grows until they become āyour person.ā Thatās the best kind of love there is.ā
There is so much offered up in the romance world. Iāve said this before in other reviews, but itās always amazing to recognize the depth and breadth of the types of romance a reader can find. There is romance that makes your insides hurt from the depth of his angst. Then, there is romance that titillates readers as it reveals the power structure of the dominant/submissive. There is romance that makes you laugh aloud so vehemently that it causes tears to fall from your eyes. There are genres and sub-genres and tropes galore. And then, there are romances that whisper its truths quietly over the pages. You wait for the big moments that you might have felt in other stories, but that whispering acts as a balm against the romances that scream their emotions at you. M.E. Carterās newest book in the SmartyPants Romance world, Cutie and the Beast, speaks softly yet profoundly in its truth. This story isnāt a heavily overt romance. Instead, if I take liberties here, the true romance lies in the relationship between parent and child. It isnāt a new perspective, but I think its story has a slant to it that sets it apart from your usual single parentsā romance.
The story follows our favorite trainer from Carterās Weight Expectations, Abel. Abelās wife has divorced him, and heās left to raise their precocious daughter, Mabel. His schedule is difficult, his job can be precarious at times, and he worries. I mean, what parent doesnāt worry? Abel is surviving, but it feels as though any change could unravel his control. Enter Elliott, a single mother. Elliott currently lives with her mother, but their relationship is fraught with tension. Elliottās mother is well-meaning, but she has always been critical of Elliott. This has created a sometimes tenuous connection between the two of them. Elliott has determined that she will raise her daughter without that stricture, but she recognizes the importance of healthy boundaries. Looking for independence, she finds a job at the gym where Abel trains as the manager of the child care center. Wanting to find a place to live to create some distance from her mother, a co-worker makes the suggestion that Abel and Elliott become roommates since Abel needs some help with his mortgage. As Elliott accepts Abelās invitation to move in, they must negotiate different parenting styles and a sometimes complicated situation. Intertwined with these situations is their burgeoning interest in each other. Their romance finds its grounding in friendship first. With their attraction growing, Abel and Elliott must contend with the worry over their daughters, different parenting styles, and a potentially messy future.
Cutie and the Beastās romance washes over its readers quietly. There is a sweetness to it that dirties itself at points. However, as I noted at the beginning of this review, the true romance lies in the love between the parents and their children. Abel adores his daughter, Mabel, and his parenting style is informed by his ex-wifeās response to (or lack thereof) their daughter. Similarly, Elliottās relationship with her daughter is bounded by her experiences with her own mother. These parenting styles intersect and cause problems for Abel and Elliottās relationship. The profundity of this intersection acts as an umbrella to their ability to find a future. Thankfully, Abelās character is such that he patiently waits for Elliott to recognize the depth of their love for each other. In fact, beyond this book being a SmartyPants Romance book, I read this book for Abel. His wisdom in Weight Expectations was insightful, and I was enamored with him in that book. His characterization in this book is no different. While Elliott is oftentimes reticent and careful, Abel is the impetus for their eventual pairing. Heās once again insightful and caring and charming. Elliott has no chance against him once he determines his interest in her.
Even more, while Elliott is the more reserved of the two, she has an inner strength that you canāt help but admire. She is sensible, and she loves deeply. Sheās just careful. She worries over the impact of actions on situations. Sheās also the first to admit when she has made a mistake. Her ability to love and āseeā Mabel through her difficulties make her characterization an important one. Carter uses her as a warning against prejudgments.
Not every romance needs to dig to the deepest depths of your soul or tickle your funny bone or make you hot. Sometimes, we need a story such as Cutie and the Beast to sit softly over us, acting as a salve against the depths of other heavier romance stories. M.E. Carterās book reminds us that love is for everyone. That characters who seem like ārealā people living with ārealā situations are important as they act as a mirror to our own problems so that we can find our way to love. Abel and Elliottās relationship has some fire, but its true strength lies in its normalcy. And romancelandia needs that too.
profromance's review against another edition
5.0
Overall Grade: āļøāļøāļøāļø1/2
āBecause no matter where this relationship goes, no matter if or how it ends, this is love right here. Itās not the kind that bowls you over so nothing else matters. Itās not the kind that fizzles when the lust is gone. Itās the kind that starts with two people being best friends and grows until they become āyour person.ā Thatās the best kind of love there is.ā
There is so much offered up in the romance world. Iāve said this before in other reviews, but itās always amazing to recognize the depth and breadth of the types of romance a reader can find. There is romance that makes your insides hurt from the depth of his angst. Then, there is romance that titillates readers as it reveals the power structure of the dominant/submissive. There is romance that makes you laugh aloud so vehemently that it causes tears to fall from your eyes. There are genres and sub-genres and tropes galore. And then, there are romances that whisper its truths quietly over the pages. You wait for the big moments that you might have felt in other stories, but that whispering acts as a balm against the romances that scream their emotions at you. M.E. Carterās newest book in the SmartyPants Romance world, Cutie and the Beast, speaks softly yet profoundly in its truth. This story isnāt a heavily overt romance. Instead, if I take liberties here, the true romance lies in the relationship between parent and child. It isnāt a new perspective, but I think its story has a slant to it that sets it apart from your usual single parentsā romance.
The story follows our favorite trainer from Carterās Weight Expectations, Abel. Abelās wife has divorced him, and heās left to raise their precocious daughter, Mabel. His schedule is difficult, his job can be precarious at times, and he worries. I mean, what parent doesnāt worry? Abel is surviving, but it feels as though any change could unravel his control. Enter Elliott, a single mother. Elliott currently lives with her mother, but their relationship is fraught with tension. Elliottās mother is well-meaning, but she has always been critical of Elliott. This has created a sometimes tenuous connection between the two of them. Elliott has determined that she will raise her daughter without that stricture, but she recognizes the importance of healthy boundaries. Looking for independence, she finds a job at the gym where Abel trains as the manager of the child care center. Wanting to find a place to live to create some distance from her mother, a co-worker makes the suggestion that Abel and Elliott become roommates since Abel needs some help with his mortgage. As Elliott accepts Abelās invitation to move in, they must negotiate different parenting styles and a sometimes complicated situation. Intertwined with these situations is their burgeoning interest in each other. Their romance finds its grounding in friendship first. With their attraction growing, Abel and Elliott must contend with the worry over their daughters, different parenting styles, and a potentially messy future.
Cutie and the Beastās romance washes over its readers quietly. There is a sweetness to it that dirties itself at points. However, as I noted at the beginning of this review, the true romance lies in the love between the parents and their children. Abel adores his daughter, Mabel, and his parenting style is informed by his ex-wifeās response to (or lack thereof) their daughter. Similarly, Elliottās relationship with her daughter is bounded by her experiences with her own mother. These parenting styles intersect and cause problems for Abel and Elliottās relationship. The profundity of this intersection acts as an umbrella to their ability to find a future. Thankfully, Abelās character is such that he patiently waits for Elliott to recognize the depth of their love for each other. In fact, beyond this book being a SmartyPants Romance book, I read this book for Abel. His wisdom in Weight Expectations was insightful, and I was enamored with him in that book. His characterization in this book is no different. While Elliott is oftentimes reticent and careful, Abel is the impetus for their eventual pairing. Heās once again insightful and caring and charming. Elliott has no chance against him once he determines his interest in her.
Even more, while Elliott is the more reserved of the two, she has an inner strength that you canāt help but admire. She is sensible, and she loves deeply. Sheās just careful. She worries over the impact of actions on situations. Sheās also the first to admit when she has made a mistake. Her ability to love and āseeā Mabel through her difficulties make her characterization an important one. Carter uses her as a warning against prejudgments.
Not every romance needs to dig to the deepest depths of your soul or tickle your funny bone or make you hot. Sometimes, we need a story such as Cutie and the Beast to sit softly over us, acting as a salve against the depths of other heavier romance stories. M.E. Carterās book reminds us that love is for everyone. That characters who seem like ārealā people living with ārealā situations are important as they act as a mirror to our own problems so that we can find our way to love. Abel and Elliottās relationship has some fire, but its true strength lies in its normalcy. And romancelandia needs that too.
āBecause no matter where this relationship goes, no matter if or how it ends, this is love right here. Itās not the kind that bowls you over so nothing else matters. Itās not the kind that fizzles when the lust is gone. Itās the kind that starts with two people being best friends and grows until they become āyour person.ā Thatās the best kind of love there is.ā
There is so much offered up in the romance world. Iāve said this before in other reviews, but itās always amazing to recognize the depth and breadth of the types of romance a reader can find. There is romance that makes your insides hurt from the depth of his angst. Then, there is romance that titillates readers as it reveals the power structure of the dominant/submissive. There is romance that makes you laugh aloud so vehemently that it causes tears to fall from your eyes. There are genres and sub-genres and tropes galore. And then, there are romances that whisper its truths quietly over the pages. You wait for the big moments that you might have felt in other stories, but that whispering acts as a balm against the romances that scream their emotions at you. M.E. Carterās newest book in the SmartyPants Romance world, Cutie and the Beast, speaks softly yet profoundly in its truth. This story isnāt a heavily overt romance. Instead, if I take liberties here, the true romance lies in the relationship between parent and child. It isnāt a new perspective, but I think its story has a slant to it that sets it apart from your usual single parentsā romance.
The story follows our favorite trainer from Carterās Weight Expectations, Abel. Abelās wife has divorced him, and heās left to raise their precocious daughter, Mabel. His schedule is difficult, his job can be precarious at times, and he worries. I mean, what parent doesnāt worry? Abel is surviving, but it feels as though any change could unravel his control. Enter Elliott, a single mother. Elliott currently lives with her mother, but their relationship is fraught with tension. Elliottās mother is well-meaning, but she has always been critical of Elliott. This has created a sometimes tenuous connection between the two of them. Elliott has determined that she will raise her daughter without that stricture, but she recognizes the importance of healthy boundaries. Looking for independence, she finds a job at the gym where Abel trains as the manager of the child care center. Wanting to find a place to live to create some distance from her mother, a co-worker makes the suggestion that Abel and Elliott become roommates since Abel needs some help with his mortgage. As Elliott accepts Abelās invitation to move in, they must negotiate different parenting styles and a sometimes complicated situation. Intertwined with these situations is their burgeoning interest in each other. Their romance finds its grounding in friendship first. With their attraction growing, Abel and Elliott must contend with the worry over their daughters, different parenting styles, and a potentially messy future.
Cutie and the Beastās romance washes over its readers quietly. There is a sweetness to it that dirties itself at points. However, as I noted at the beginning of this review, the true romance lies in the love between the parents and their children. Abel adores his daughter, Mabel, and his parenting style is informed by his ex-wifeās response to (or lack thereof) their daughter. Similarly, Elliottās relationship with her daughter is bounded by her experiences with her own mother. These parenting styles intersect and cause problems for Abel and Elliottās relationship. The profundity of this intersection acts as an umbrella to their ability to find a future. Thankfully, Abelās character is such that he patiently waits for Elliott to recognize the depth of their love for each other. In fact, beyond this book being a SmartyPants Romance book, I read this book for Abel. His wisdom in Weight Expectations was insightful, and I was enamored with him in that book. His characterization in this book is no different. While Elliott is oftentimes reticent and careful, Abel is the impetus for their eventual pairing. Heās once again insightful and caring and charming. Elliott has no chance against him once he determines his interest in her.
Even more, while Elliott is the more reserved of the two, she has an inner strength that you canāt help but admire. She is sensible, and she loves deeply. Sheās just careful. She worries over the impact of actions on situations. Sheās also the first to admit when she has made a mistake. Her ability to love and āseeā Mabel through her difficulties make her characterization an important one. Carter uses her as a warning against prejudgments.
Not every romance needs to dig to the deepest depths of your soul or tickle your funny bone or make you hot. Sometimes, we need a story such as Cutie and the Beast to sit softly over us, acting as a salve against the depths of other heavier romance stories. M.E. Carterās book reminds us that love is for everyone. That characters who seem like ārealā people living with ārealā situations are important as they act as a mirror to our own problems so that we can find our way to love. Abel and Elliottās relationship has some fire, but its true strength lies in its normalcy. And romancelandia needs that too.