Reviews - The Build Up | The StoryGraph

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276 reviews for:

The Build Up

Tati Richardson

3.87 AVERAGE

jlyn7's review

4.0

lighthearted medium-paced

keish_reads's review against another edition

4.0

I enjoyed this book very much.

I liked that the characters in this book were a bit older even though that doesn't always mean wiser. They still had issues with insecurity, family drama, and a toxic workplace. The FMC was plus sized, which I loved.

This is Tati Richardson's debut novel and I will be reading her next one called 'Losing Sight'

stephsnextread's review

4.0

This was such a fun workplace romance! Everything goes wrong for architect Ari James on the first day at her new firm. Porter Harrison, her very attractive colleague, accidentally walks in on her changing her stained shirt and then she learns she has to work with him on her first project with the firm. Little does she know, after the accidental encounter, he can’t get her out of his head.

Ari and Porter were so cute together! I loved Ari’s confidence and understood her fear about relationships. Porter fell for Ari so quickly, but the relationship itself was a beautiful slow burn. I also really appreciated how Tati Richardson balanced romance along with heavier topics. The book illustrated how Ari’s identity as a fat Black woman impacted all aspects of her life, but especially her career and love life. The ending was a little chaotic for me, but I really loved Ari and Porter’s workplace storyline and their romance!

The audiobook is narrated by Vance Goodwin and Anna Lynn Wright. Their voices were perfect for the characters. I enjoyed this audiobook and definitely recommend it!

Read if you like:
💕 Workplace romance
💕 Forbidden romance
💕 Architect MCs
💕 Dual POV
💕 Characters in their 40s

tip_be_knowin's review against another edition

2.5

lighthearted fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

shaythereader18's review against another edition

2.0

This book was okay to me. Seemed like there was more s*x than plot at times. Ari got on my nerves! Porter was all in from the beginning and I get her fighting it because of her experience with her ex, but to be 40 years old and not communicate well was a problem for me. Instead of telling Porter she heard the partners talking about her, she took it out on him. Porter deserved someone that was willing to let him fight for them. As she was leaving, she ignored his calls and texts because she “doesn’t do painful goodbyes.” No one likes painful goodbyes, but that’s part of life and being an adult! Again, not behavior I’d expect from someone in their 40s. I was happy to see they started their own firm and they were pregnant at the end.