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abiwright's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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? Yes
2.5
orangeaiya's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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
jessamess's review against another edition
1.0
I wanted this book to work so badly. I was excited to read a romance that was centered around POC and written by a black author, and the story just never got there for me. The whole time I was reading, I was waiting for something to happen that would really pull me in and it never did. I ended up skimming most of the book.
This book is not a romance. It is marketed as one, but 100% reads as women’s fiction, which is great, except when you go into it expecting a romance.
I could not stand Neale, practically from the start of the book. She is 28 years old, but acts like a child, giving up after one mistake, and being washy with everyone and everything. I understand that it was an intentional choice by the author to aid the storyline, but I was annoyed with her constantly.
Another thing that really bothered me was the fact that I felt like I knew more about the side characters than I did about Neale and Anthony. The main things I knew about Neale were her being a “failed” artist and she was a now self-proclaimed “secular nun”. As for Anthony, I knew he drew the greeting cards and did parkour. The main characters had no depth, and their relationship was merely surface level.
I also felt like I had no concept of how much time had passed. It felt like we were missing so many things that led up to their relationship, and it went from coworkers who just met to friends that have crushes on each other.
I wanted to love this, or even just enjoy it, but nothing about this book worked for me.
This book is not a romance. It is marketed as one, but 100% reads as women’s fiction, which is great, except when you go into it expecting a romance.
I could not stand Neale, practically from the start of the book. She is 28 years old, but acts like a child, giving up after one mistake, and being washy with everyone and everything. I understand that it was an intentional choice by the author to aid the storyline, but I was annoyed with her constantly.
Another thing that really bothered me was the fact that I felt like I knew more about the side characters than I did about Neale and Anthony. The main things I knew about Neale were her being a “failed” artist and she was a now self-proclaimed “secular nun”. As for Anthony, I knew he drew the greeting cards and did parkour. The main characters had no depth, and their relationship was merely surface level.
I also felt like I had no concept of how much time had passed. It felt like we were missing so many things that led up to their relationship, and it went from coworkers who just met to friends that have crushes on each other.
I wanted to love this, or even just enjoy it, but nothing about this book worked for me.
shannanh's review against another edition
4.0
Neale Delacroux comes from a family of artist, but when she puts on her performance for the arts academy she attends, it goes up in flames. She gets thrown out of the academy and is forced to find a job. At her new job, she meets Anthony. The two go back and forth between wanting to like each other or remaining just co workers.
This book is touted as a romance, but it truthfully read like a women's fiction with a small romance element. It focused more on the relationship with Neale and her sisters. It was still a good story and I did enjoy the relationship between Neale and her sisters. It's related to the book, the Checklist by the same author, but it doesn't need to be read first to understand this book.
I received a copy of the book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
This book is touted as a romance, but it truthfully read like a women's fiction with a small romance element. It focused more on the relationship with Neale and her sisters. It was still a good story and I did enjoy the relationship between Neale and her sisters. It's related to the book, the Checklist by the same author, but it doesn't need to be read first to understand this book.
I received a copy of the book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
haylztalez's review
DNF @68% This just was not interesting to me. I didn't like the characters or plot much at all
snitcl's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
4.25
ncchris's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you to #NetGalley, the publisher, & author for providing me with an advanced copy of #TheBounceBack in exchange for my honest review.
Addie Woolridge really created a lovable mess in heroine, Neale. From page one, I cringed with second-hand embarrassment for her spectacular career ending flop and moved swiftly into righteous indignation as everyone who should have been in her corner seemingly couldn’t wait to kick her while she was down. I admit, I spent most of the book irritated by her family’s attitude toward black-sheep Neale, even though there was a definite kernel of truth in it.
I got excited as Neale began to grow more confident in her Happy Hearts greeting card job and who wouldn’t? Anthony embodied everything that Neale deserved but had never gotten from a love interest.
Even while cheering Neale on as she found her stride at Happy Hearts, I could feel the impending doom approaching. She was so convinced that she had to be someone new that she couldn’t detach from her rigid idea of Old Neale (bad) vs. New Neale (good).
Finally, after some decidedly brutal (and mean) communication with her siblings and Anthony, Neale makes the final leap of faith to fully blend Old & New Neale to find a life she can thrive in and be proud of.
I really enjoyed the book and devoured it in one sitting. I think most young adult women can identify with the imposter syndrome that Neale feels throughout the plot; the insecurity and anxiety were really spot on and relatable without making the atmosphere too somber. The hard topics are treated with a dose of good old- fashioned self-deprication and humor whenever possible.
Finally, I really enjoyed the diversity of the characters in the book. Addie Woolridge was able to introduce a cast of characters from diverse backgrounds, sexualities, and gender identities without making them feel tokenistic or two-dimensional. I value that kind of representation in what I read, so big kudos for that in addition to an engaging and enjoyable plot line.
I highly recommend #TheBounceBack by Addie Woolridge and definitely encourage you to read it once it’s published in October 2021.
Addie Woolridge really created a lovable mess in heroine, Neale. From page one, I cringed with second-hand embarrassment for her spectacular career ending flop and moved swiftly into righteous indignation as everyone who should have been in her corner seemingly couldn’t wait to kick her while she was down. I admit, I spent most of the book irritated by her family’s attitude toward black-sheep Neale, even though there was a definite kernel of truth in it.
I got excited as Neale began to grow more confident in her Happy Hearts greeting card job and who wouldn’t? Anthony embodied everything that Neale deserved but had never gotten from a love interest.
Even while cheering Neale on as she found her stride at Happy Hearts, I could feel the impending doom approaching. She was so convinced that she had to be someone new that she couldn’t detach from her rigid idea of Old Neale (bad) vs. New Neale (good).
Finally, after some decidedly brutal (and mean) communication with her siblings and Anthony, Neale makes the final leap of faith to fully blend Old & New Neale to find a life she can thrive in and be proud of.
I really enjoyed the book and devoured it in one sitting. I think most young adult women can identify with the imposter syndrome that Neale feels throughout the plot; the insecurity and anxiety were really spot on and relatable without making the atmosphere too somber. The hard topics are treated with a dose of good old- fashioned self-deprication and humor whenever possible.
Finally, I really enjoyed the diversity of the characters in the book. Addie Woolridge was able to introduce a cast of characters from diverse backgrounds, sexualities, and gender identities without making them feel tokenistic or two-dimensional. I value that kind of representation in what I read, so big kudos for that in addition to an engaging and enjoyable plot line.
I highly recommend #TheBounceBack by Addie Woolridge and definitely encourage you to read it once it’s published in October 2021.
abeckreads's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0