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3readingcircus's review against another edition
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Cancer, Alcohol, and Death of parent
hazelgirl21's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Medical content, Cancer, Death, and Death of parent
tenderbench's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Chronic illness, and Grief
Moderate: Death, Alcohol, and Cancer
bookishval's review against another edition
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I came across this book in my fyp when a booktoker recommended it as her favorite age-gap romance, so I had to check it out.
Age-gap romances can be a bit tricky. It's a trope that I enjoy sometimes, but most of them are problematic. The gap is too serious, there's power imbalance and it's just not done well. However, in Mickey Chambers Shakes It Up the age-gap is just perfect and the power imbalance is interesting. Mickey, our female lead is in her 30s and Diego's professor in a college class, while Diego is in his 40s and Mickey's boss in the bar she starts working at.
Isn't it just perfect? Both of them are full adults but the age-gap of almost a decade is still there to keep things interesting. I loved it!
Mickey and Diego's attraction can be felt from thee start. The tension and the banter were soo good. Grumpy-sunshine is also a trope that can be found here and I adore how it was done. Yes, Diego is a grumpy man, but he was always so open with his feelings for Mickey. And Mickey as well, she's such a sunshine character, but she never let anyone mess with her (which is common in this trope and smth I hate so much).
The communication between them was also sooo good, istg. There were moments where I expected one of them to just storm off, like it always happens in romance novels. But no, they were always open to talk their problems out and even take breaks when needed. They were just such a healthy couple, and with that I'm not saying they never had problems, because they did. But even though they made mistakes and messed up, they resolved things in such a healthy way. All couples should be like this, honestly.
Let's not forget the spice omggg. There were only two scenes, if I remember right, but they didn't disappoint. Diego Acosta has a dirty mouth and I was here for it! The things this man said were so sexy. There were some scenes where it was implied the characters had sex but the author didn't write further, but I wasn't bothered by that, cause the sexual tension was so well written from the start. That first scene where they kiss, oh! So so good.
Last but not least I have to mention the rep! Also great. As a latina woman, I loved how Diego's culture was present throughout the story with the food. How he talked about his family and traditions growing up, and regretted distancing himself from his family after his mother's death. Also it wasn't cringy when he talked in Spanish, which I appreciate a lot cause most authors don't get it right.
The disability rep was also good. Mickey's chronic illness was always present in the story and even played an important role when the characters had some conflicts. I really liked how Mickey didn't let anyone tell her what she could or couldn't because her chronic illness, not even Diego.
Age-gap romances can be a bit tricky. It's a trope that I enjoy sometimes, but most of them are problematic. The gap is too serious, there's power imbalance and it's just not done well. However, in Mickey Chambers Shakes It Up the age-gap is just perfect and the power imbalance is interesting. Mickey, our female lead is in her 30s and Diego's professor in a college class, while Diego is in his 40s and Mickey's boss in the bar she starts working at.
Isn't it just perfect? Both of them are full adults but the age-gap of almost a decade is still there to keep things interesting. I loved it!
Mickey and Diego's attraction can be felt from thee start. The tension and the banter were soo good. Grumpy-sunshine is also a trope that can be found here and I adore how it was done. Yes, Diego is a grumpy man, but he was always so open with his feelings for Mickey. And Mickey as well, she's such a sunshine character, but she never let anyone mess with her (which is common in this trope and smth I hate so much).
The communication between them was also sooo good, istg. There were moments where I expected one of them to just storm off, like it always happens in romance novels. But no, they were always open to talk their problems out and even take breaks when needed. They were just such a healthy couple, and with that I'm not saying they never had problems, because they did. But even though they made mistakes and messed up, they resolved things in such a healthy way. All couples should be like this, honestly.
Let's not forget the spice omggg. There were only two scenes, if I remember right, but they didn't disappoint. Diego Acosta has a dirty mouth and I was here for it! The things this man said were so sexy. There were some scenes where it was implied the characters had sex but the author didn't write further, but I wasn't bothered by that, cause the sexual tension was so well written from the start. That first scene where they kiss, oh! So so good.
Last but not least I have to mention the rep! Also great. As a latina woman, I loved how Diego's culture was present throughout the story with the food. How he talked about his family and traditions growing up, and regretted distancing himself from his family after his mother's death. Also it wasn't cringy when he talked in Spanish, which I appreciate a lot cause most authors don't get it right.
The disability rep was also good. Mickey's chronic illness was always present in the story and even played an important role when the characters had some conflicts. I really liked how Mickey didn't let anyone tell her what she could or couldn't because her chronic illness, not even Diego.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Chronic illness
Moderate: Grief and Cancer
jillkaarlela's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Taylor Swift songs: “I can see you (tv)(ftv)”
Age rating: 16+ (2 spicy scenes, 1/5🌶️)
Actually screaming and foaming at the mouth for this book. Their tension and chemistry was out of this world! I was actually HOOKED on this book from the first chapter. Everything about this book was chef’s kiss, perfection. When I say this man is obsessed with her, I mean OBSESSED!! He is so down bad for her from day one!! I loved that it was dual-pov, so we get to see him pining over her so badly, ugh I love it.
I also love seeing stories about people in their 30s who are still trying to figure out what is best for them career wise! It’s so refreshing to see people who don’t have it all figured out. I loved her character arc in regards to that! I also loved how they discussed Diego’s healing and grieving journey!!
This is how you do age gaps correctly!! The power dynamic where he is older and her boss but she is his professor makes it balanced and not uncomfortable/weird.
Also, we love Chronic illness representation in books!! The FMC has hyperthyroidism. I also love the BIPOC rep, the FMC is black and the MMC is Latinx!
TW: widower, past spouse death, cancer death
Age rating: 16+ (2 spicy scenes, 1/5🌶️)
Actually screaming and foaming at the mouth for this book. Their tension and chemistry was out of this world! I was actually HOOKED on this book from the first chapter. Everything about this book was chef’s kiss, perfection. When I say this man is obsessed with her, I mean OBSESSED!! He is so down bad for her from day one!! I loved that it was dual-pov, so we get to see him pining over her so badly, ugh I love it.
I also love seeing stories about people in their 30s who are still trying to figure out what is best for them career wise! It’s so refreshing to see people who don’t have it all figured out. I loved her character arc in regards to that! I also loved how they discussed Diego’s healing and grieving journey!!
This is how you do age gaps correctly!! The power dynamic where he is older and her boss but she is his professor makes it balanced and not uncomfortable/weird.
Also, we love Chronic illness representation in books!! The FMC has hyperthyroidism. I also love the BIPOC rep, the FMC is black and the MMC is Latinx!
TW: widower, past spouse death, cancer death
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent, Cancer, and Death
agrandromance's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Just a gorgeous, emotional and heartfelt romance. With chronic illness rep. Ruminations on grief. Lots of love and laughter.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Death, Alcohol, Chronic illness, Cancer, and Medical content
lealovesbooks's review
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
I’ve only read a few books this year, but this easily my favorite.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Chronic illness
Moderate: Cancer
Minor: Racism, Sexism, and Medical content
sarahyjackson's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
So, so much fun! And sentimental! And Diego’s dirty talk!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Grief, Death, Cancer, and Alcohol
discarded_dust_jacket's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
This was sweet!
Thyroid disease runs heavily in my family, so I appreciated the hyperthyroidism rep in this. The commentary on how Black women aren’t taken seriously by doctors—with their symptoms getting systematically dismissed and improperly treated—was also notable.
Overall this was a solid contemporary romcom that I would recommend to anyone. It has a grumpy/sunshine relationship dynamic if that’s your thing, and one of the protagonists is a widower, so the topic of grief and opening oneself back up to love after loss is also a key component of this story.
Thyroid disease runs heavily in my family, so I appreciated the hyperthyroidism rep in this. The commentary on how Black women aren’t taken seriously by doctors—with their symptoms getting systematically dismissed and improperly treated—was also notable.
Overall this was a solid contemporary romcom that I would recommend to anyone. It has a grumpy/sunshine relationship dynamic if that’s your thing, and one of the protagonists is a widower, so the topic of grief and opening oneself back up to love after loss is also a key component of this story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Cancer, Medical trauma, Terminal illness, and Violence
ajalexanderreadsromance's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness and Grief
Moderate: Death and Cancer