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donnareadathon2021's review
4.0
The story
Claire is a 30 year old Filipina American who works part time in an LA bookstore and is building up her cookie decorating business. She spends time with her 93 year grandmother who is in a assisted living facility as her Alzheimer’s has worsened. Sadly, Claire seems to be the only family member who is able to help her when she becomes overwrought. But this is a modern-day fairy tale, and one day while trying to fit into an awkward parking space, Claire nearly drives in Nate, who she later realises a famous tech billionaire. The two fall into love (with plenty of passion) and surprise trips in private jets and swanky hotel suites follow soon after.
My thoughts
We like to think of fairy tale stories as having happy endings but many have dark and sad parts. In this story, the part that struck me as being the most “modern” is that as much as Claire loves the good side of Nate, she realises that he didn’t get to where he is in his self made career by being only nice. Things in their relationship move really quickly really fast and the criticism Claire experiences from her family worries her and deepens her anxiety and self doubt. There is a lot of anxiety and self doubt in this story unfortunately. But the dark side is that the world and this supposedly perfect, handsome billionaire comes with the issue, maybe the expectation, that Claire will forgo her own dreams and ambitions in favour of his world and reality. At first she rebels and later makes peace with this compromise. It’s interesting, for in most relationships, even really good ones, we all need to make some sacrifices for the relationship to work. Sometimes it’s a case of trying to work out that fine line between what you are prepared to compromise on that makes or breaks the relationship. The underlying messages in this story are what make it a special read from this debut own-voices author. ❤️
I read an eARC copy courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher.
Claire is a 30 year old Filipina American who works part time in an LA bookstore and is building up her cookie decorating business. She spends time with her 93 year grandmother who is in a assisted living facility as her Alzheimer’s has worsened. Sadly, Claire seems to be the only family member who is able to help her when she becomes overwrought. But this is a modern-day fairy tale, and one day while trying to fit into an awkward parking space, Claire nearly drives in Nate, who she later realises a famous tech billionaire. The two fall into love (with plenty of passion) and surprise trips in private jets and swanky hotel suites follow soon after.
My thoughts
We like to think of fairy tale stories as having happy endings but many have dark and sad parts. In this story, the part that struck me as being the most “modern” is that as much as Claire loves the good side of Nate, she realises that he didn’t get to where he is in his self made career by being only nice. Things in their relationship move really quickly really fast and the criticism Claire experiences from her family worries her and deepens her anxiety and self doubt. There is a lot of anxiety and self doubt in this story unfortunately. But the dark side is that the world and this supposedly perfect, handsome billionaire comes with the issue, maybe the expectation, that Claire will forgo her own dreams and ambitions in favour of his world and reality. At first she rebels and later makes peace with this compromise. It’s interesting, for in most relationships, even really good ones, we all need to make some sacrifices for the relationship to work. Sometimes it’s a case of trying to work out that fine line between what you are prepared to compromise on that makes or breaks the relationship. The underlying messages in this story are what make it a special read from this debut own-voices author. ❤️
I read an eARC copy courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher.
thatsoneforthebooks's review against another edition
2.0
I wanted to love this book but it just wasn't really my jam. The characters fell a bit flat. Nate was constantly unpredictable, running late so frequently that it wasn't cute when he lied about being unavailable to surprise Claire (repeatedly). Claire bounced back and forth between being strong and independent vs. insecure and unsure, and it was hard to reconcile these constant behavioral changes. I don't hate instalove as a trope but this just felt really unbelievable.
I did like the integration of Filipino culture and values, as well as some of the familial relationships in the book.
Overall, this one wasn't for me.
Thanks to Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC.
I did like the integration of Filipino culture and values, as well as some of the familial relationships in the book.
Overall, this one wasn't for me.
Thanks to Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC.
cassire's review
4.0
I read How to Survive a Modern Day Fairy Tale over the weekend. It was a pretty quick, enjoyable read. I liked the writing and the characters. It’s single POV. I would have rather had dual. It would have been nice to spend some time in the heroes head. Alas, it didn’t stop me from enjoying it. I always love when food is a big piece of the story. I did get hungry reading this. Family is a big theme. It’s always interesting to see how those relationships affect everything. I would totally read more from Elle Cruz.
I voluntarily read an early copy.
I voluntarily read an early copy.
bookishmillennial's review
fast-paced
disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews because I don’t like leaving them. I enjoy most books for what they are, & I extract lessons from them all. Everyone’s reading experiences are subjective, so I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me on Instagram: @bookish.millennial or tiktok: @bookishmillennial
I first started with the audiobook, but I had to switch to an ebook because I wasn’t vibing with the narrator. No shade to her at all, I just needed to try a different format. Hopefully that’s a bit helpful for my audiobook readers lol!
Anyway, this was a Hallmark-esque romcom reminiscent of Cinderella! Filipina American Claire meets a Japanese American billionaire and their trope is instalove! They struggle to find their footing as a couple, as his lifestyle is much different than hers — their class differences really come into play, which felt realistic yet disheartening at times. I appreciated that Claire was so passionate about her career and about taking care of her Lola, and I could totally see this as a 25 Days of Christmas original movie on Freeform or on Hallmark — that’s definitely the right level of cheese and fluff! 😊
cw: classism, toxic dynamics, sexual content
I first started with the audiobook, but I had to switch to an ebook because I wasn’t vibing with the narrator. No shade to her at all, I just needed to try a different format. Hopefully that’s a bit helpful for my audiobook readers lol!
Anyway, this was a Hallmark-esque romcom reminiscent of Cinderella! Filipina American Claire meets a Japanese American billionaire and their trope is instalove! They struggle to find their footing as a couple, as his lifestyle is much different than hers — their class differences really come into play, which felt realistic yet disheartening at times. I appreciated that Claire was so passionate about her career and about taking care of her Lola, and I could totally see this as a 25 Days of Christmas original movie on Freeform or on Hallmark — that’s definitely the right level of cheese and fluff! 😊
cw: classism, toxic dynamics, sexual content
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Classism
jessicat10's review
3.0
3.5 I liked the characters. I wanted to learn more about them. Instead we get a lot of love scenes. It seemed to be the majority of what we know about their time together. The scenes were very graphic. If that bothers you then you would not like this book. I would've enjoyed reading more conversations between them. Thanks to the publisher for allowing me to read an e-arc copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own
mcmulroy's review
1.0
I picked up this book to read because I liked the cover design... definitely a case of don't judge a book by its cover!
I was going to try to find a way to tone down this review, but after reading several other reviews I have to agree, this book is just not good.
The dialogue is horribly stilted and juvenile. The characters are underdeveloped and shallow tropes. The main character essentially abandons everything about her life the day after meeting the billionaire to follow him around.
I'm not really sure why I finished this book. The ending was possibly the worst part.
I was going to try to find a way to tone down this review, but after reading several other reviews I have to agree, this book is just not good.
The dialogue is horribly stilted and juvenile. The characters are underdeveloped and shallow tropes. The main character essentially abandons everything about her life the day after meeting the billionaire to follow him around.
I'm not really sure why I finished this book. The ending was possibly the worst part.
paulineerika's review
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
2.0
You know those rom-com movies where the story itself might have been cute, but everything felt really cheesy/forced and the actors were basically cardboard cutouts? Sadly, this felt a little like that. I don't necessarily have a problem with romantic tropes and cliches (and there were A LOT in this book), but not when they take the place of actual character and plot development. This book was as if a younger person (we're talking maybe teenager or close to that age) decided they wanted to write a romance novel with smut and it got published.
I didn't hate this book, but it was a chore to read. Claire's family is annoying and suddenly they're not! (You knew why they were acting the way they were, it just never got developed until neat little paragraphs near the end when the conflict came to a head.) Claire has her entrepreneurial dreams and then she doesn't! (Because "business come and go, but true love doesn't" or something like that.) Things just get wrapped up and explained away too neatly in a way that makes you wonder what just happened and why you spent 300 pages reading about it.
This was disappointing because I'd love to see more FilAm romance and FilAm family stories. I'm not willing to write Cruz off just yet, but I hope she can tighten up her writing a little more.
I didn't hate this book, but it was a chore to read. Claire's family is annoying and suddenly they're not! (You knew why they were acting the way they were, it just never got developed until neat little paragraphs near the end when the conflict came to a head.) Claire has her entrepreneurial dreams and then she doesn't! (Because "business come and go, but true love doesn't" or something like that.) Things just get wrapped up and explained away too neatly in a way that makes you wonder what just happened and why you spent 300 pages reading about it.
This was disappointing because I'd love to see more FilAm romance and FilAm family stories. I'm not willing to write Cruz off just yet, but I hope she can tighten up her writing a little more.
mags_louise's review
4.0
I have to confess I was expecting this story to be quite fluffy and sweet. But there was actually so much more to it, and I enjoyed reading it a lot. And with a lovely mix of family who are in equal measure overbearing and caring, emotion as one beloved member of the family battles Alzheimer's and a romance with a billionaire that's fun, engaging and sweet How to Survive a Modern-Day Fairy Tale was a delightful read and one that had me easily engaged throughout. Would recommend.
**I was kindly provided with an ARC via Entangled Publishing in exchange for an honest review**
**I was kindly provided with an ARC via Entangled Publishing in exchange for an honest review**
starseternal182's review against another edition
3.0
I wanted to love this book. I really did. I loved the culture in this book. I love reading these romcoms and contemporary romance chick lit books that are cut and pasted replicas.
Unfortunately this book way excelled past a romantic comedy trope and went straight to unbelievable and not relatable. The main character annoyed me, she did questionable things with a questionable love interest. I don’t know there were red flags, her family was intense, I just didn’t love this one. The cover is great. The premise is…good, but it was lacking in so many ways.
Thank you netgalley for providing this copy for me to read and review honestly.
Unfortunately this book way excelled past a romantic comedy trope and went straight to unbelievable and not relatable. The main character annoyed me, she did questionable things with a questionable love interest. I don’t know there were red flags, her family was intense, I just didn’t love this one. The cover is great. The premise is…good, but it was lacking in so many ways.
Thank you netgalley for providing this copy for me to read and review honestly.