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kickan's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
readwithanna's review against another edition
I didn't realise we'd changed perspective. It's not holding my attention.
bookishwayfarer's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
For my full review: https://www.bookishwayfarer.com/blog/review-all-signs-point-to-malibu-by-jennifer-snow
Is this the best contemporary romance that I’ve ever read? No, but it is decently entertaining. Its greatest flaw is that it reads like a movie script.
Is this the best contemporary romance that I’ve ever read? No, but it is decently entertaining. Its greatest flaw is that it reads like a movie script.
jenniferforjoy's review
3.5
Recommended: sure
For a fun premise that's well executed, for characters who each get their side shown and keep the story from being flat, for hate-attraction in spades
Thoughts:
This delivered what it said, and was fun in the process. There were some tropes that felt a little weak or that made me shake my head in resigned annoyance (just part of the genre sometimes), but overall it was entertaining and an easy read.
The initial instigation of the premise brings in pretty early that Hailey is not romantically motivated for interfering with their wedding. This made it a lot easier for me to settle in and watch her go than if she was trying to break them up so she could try to get him back. That sort of revenge / "steal him" scenario probably wouldn't have worked for me, so I'm glad the approach was more like her genuinely caring about a friend.
Every character is a friend, too. They become more than just props, though not by much. Each person has some motivations and goals and feelings of their own. They're still mostly foils for the main characters, but there's enough else there to keep them being too flat. The mystical element was pretty gentle too so it was easy to accept it and just move on with the story. Details didn't bog this down.
For the romance... oh boy. It's not my favorite kind, where they're "enemies" and they "hate each other" but also when they are mean they get turned on and think the other is super hot. 😅 That's not my favorite vibe, but if you like it, they've got it in SPADES. Bickering and then being aroused is like 75% of their connection through the story, propped up by a few actually meaningful conversations. It was also weird because it didn't seem like either of them ACTUALLY disliked the other, and the inciting incident seemed minor to both of them despite it's impact. It was like they were both just playing the game and at no point did I ever believe it was real. That made the "enemies to lovers" aspect a little weak because I was mostly just confused about why they pretended to dislike each other. 🤷♀️
Kind of a side note, but I also appreciated that the main characters are both successful and rich on their own, and independently secure. It makes it feel more balanced when neither of them is spending crazy money on stuff the other could never afford; they're both aware the other is doing just fine so there's no financial disparity at play.
And of course the conflict leaned heavily on the barrier for them just being neither of them being honest or actually saying what they wanted which made me sigh in annoyance a lot. All the incorrect assumptions instead of asking or telling can get a bit wearisome. It's pretty standard for the genre, so I'm not holding it against too much, but I promise you that's all this conflict is for them.
Overall this was a fun read that lived up to it's promise and had a few interesting side plots to beef it up.
Thanks to BookSparks and the Harlequin for a free advanced copy. This is my honest review!
For a fun premise that's well executed, for characters who each get their side shown and keep the story from being flat, for hate-attraction in spades
Thoughts:
This delivered what it said, and was fun in the process. There were some tropes that felt a little weak or that made me shake my head in resigned annoyance (just part of the genre sometimes), but overall it was entertaining and an easy read.
The initial instigation of the premise brings in pretty early that Hailey is not romantically motivated for interfering with their wedding. This made it a lot easier for me to settle in and watch her go than if she was trying to break them up so she could try to get him back. That sort of revenge / "steal him" scenario probably wouldn't have worked for me, so I'm glad the approach was more like her genuinely caring about a friend.
Every character is a friend, too. They become more than just props, though not by much. Each person has some motivations and goals and feelings of their own. They're still mostly foils for the main characters, but there's enough else there to keep them being too flat. The mystical element was pretty gentle too so it was easy to accept it and just move on with the story. Details didn't bog this down.
For the romance... oh boy. It's not my favorite kind, where they're "enemies" and they "hate each other" but also when they are mean they get turned on and think the other is super hot. 😅 That's not my favorite vibe, but if you like it, they've got it in SPADES. Bickering and then being aroused is like 75% of their connection through the story, propped up by a few actually meaningful conversations. It was also weird because it didn't seem like either of them ACTUALLY disliked the other, and the inciting incident seemed minor to both of them despite it's impact. It was like they were both just playing the game and at no point did I ever believe it was real. That made the "enemies to lovers" aspect a little weak because I was mostly just confused about why they pretended to dislike each other. 🤷♀️
Kind of a side note, but I also appreciated that the main characters are both successful and rich on their own, and independently secure. It makes it feel more balanced when neither of them is spending crazy money on stuff the other could never afford; they're both aware the other is doing just fine so there's no financial disparity at play.
And of course the conflict leaned heavily on the barrier for them just being neither of them being honest or actually saying what they wanted which made me sigh in annoyance a lot. All the incorrect assumptions instead of asking or telling can get a bit wearisome. It's pretty standard for the genre, so I'm not holding it against too much, but I promise you that's all this conflict is for them.
Overall this was a fun read that lived up to it's promise and had a few interesting side plots to beef it up.
Thanks to BookSparks and the Harlequin for a free advanced copy. This is my honest review!
overflowingshelf's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
CW: Infidelity (minor); references to cancer; death of a sibling; grief; veiled references to suicide
I’ll admit I was a bit skeptical of this book when I started reading it. It didn’t hook me right away, and there were a few things that didn’t necessarily work for me. But I’m so glad I didn’t put it down, as I ended up invested in the romance between Hailey and Warren.
The romance was definitely the standout feature of All Signs Point to Malibu, as it was giving some rom-com vibes. I loved that Hailey and Warren have a bit of a complicated relationship dating back to high school. They’re definitely not fans of each other at the start of the story, but you could feel the underlying sexual tension in their arguments. I wouldn’t say they had banter, but they definitely knew how to push each other’s buttons and get enjoyment out of it – I truly loved the dynamics of their relationship. The romance developed at the perfect rate for me and felt natural. I loved that they both were wrestling with their attraction toward each other and the potential deeper feelings there. The romance was perfectly balanced with the main plot of stopping Hailey’s ex’s wedding, and I loved how that inherently added tension and conflict to Hailey and Warren’s relationship. My one complaint with the romance was that I wanted one extra scene at the end as the resolution to the romantic conflict was wrapped up so quickly! I think an epilogue would have worked really well here to show that and make the ending feel a little less abrupt.
Now, when it comes to the characters, I have mixed feelings about them. Both Warren and Hailey felt a bit one dimension to me – I feel like we’re told a lot about them, but we don’t actually know them? I also really struggled to connect with Hailey, and I think some of that is just on me as I couldn’t get over her being an influencer life coach – that felt so superficial to me, and I kind of hated being reminded of that was her job. I did enjoy her psychic abilities, and I thought they worked really well in the story and didn’t feel out of place. I appreciated that Hailey felt like she had emotional growth throughout the story. In the beginning, I was frustrated that she felt like she was entitled to meddle in her ex’s love life (she justified it very, very poorly to me), but I felt like she learned her lesson by the end that sometimes you have to let fate take its course in some things in life.
I liked Warren and felt he was a very empathic character, which made him a little easier to initially connect with. However, I felt like some things in his past – like what happened with his brother – weren’t fully fleshed out. I wanted to know about him, what motivates him, and what has shaped him, but some aspects of his character felt very surface-level.
One area I struggled with in this book was the writing. It’s written in first person present, alternating from Hailey and Warren’s point of view. I find present tense to be a bit awkward in romances and definitely noticed that a bit in this book. Sometimes the writing felt a little choppy, and I feel like this book suffered a bit from too much telling and not enough showing. That made a lot of things, especially when it came to the characters, feel surface-level. I also wished that when we switched from Hailey to Warren’s POV, it had labels above it, as I definitely got tripped up a time or two, especially in the beginning.
Despite some of the issues I had with the writing, I did really enjoy the plot. I liked the framing of the story and how it opened with Hailey ruining a wedding, but we don’t know exactly what she did. I was very curious to know what she did and uncover the journey she went on to get to that point. As I mentioned, I also really liked the romance as well. Once I got invested in that, the book picked up speed for me, and I flew through the end of it.
All Signs Point to Malibu was a bit of a mixed bag for me – I didn’t hate it, but I also didn’t love it. It’s a true 3-star read for me. That being said, it was a cute romance and a fairly quick read, so if the premise intrigues you, I think it’s worth picking up. Plus, that cover is so cute – perfect end-of-summer vibes!
Thank you to Sparkpoint Studio/Canary Street Press for the ARC! All thoughts, ideas, and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
I’ll admit I was a bit skeptical of this book when I started reading it. It didn’t hook me right away, and there were a few things that didn’t necessarily work for me. But I’m so glad I didn’t put it down, as I ended up invested in the romance between Hailey and Warren.
The romance was definitely the standout feature of All Signs Point to Malibu, as it was giving some rom-com vibes. I loved that Hailey and Warren have a bit of a complicated relationship dating back to high school. They’re definitely not fans of each other at the start of the story, but you could feel the underlying sexual tension in their arguments. I wouldn’t say they had banter, but they definitely knew how to push each other’s buttons and get enjoyment out of it – I truly loved the dynamics of their relationship. The romance developed at the perfect rate for me and felt natural. I loved that they both were wrestling with their attraction toward each other and the potential deeper feelings there. The romance was perfectly balanced with the main plot of stopping Hailey’s ex’s wedding, and I loved how that inherently added tension and conflict to Hailey and Warren’s relationship. My one complaint with the romance was that I wanted one extra scene at the end as the resolution to the romantic conflict was wrapped up so quickly! I think an epilogue would have worked really well here to show that and make the ending feel a little less abrupt.
Now, when it comes to the characters, I have mixed feelings about them. Both Warren and Hailey felt a bit one dimension to me – I feel like we’re told a lot about them, but we don’t actually know them? I also really struggled to connect with Hailey, and I think some of that is just on me as I couldn’t get over her being an influencer life coach – that felt so superficial to me, and I kind of hated being reminded of that was her job. I did enjoy her psychic abilities, and I thought they worked really well in the story and didn’t feel out of place. I appreciated that Hailey felt like she had emotional growth throughout the story. In the beginning, I was frustrated that she felt like she was entitled to meddle in her ex’s love life (she justified it very, very poorly to me), but I felt like she learned her lesson by the end that sometimes you have to let fate take its course in some things in life.
I liked Warren and felt he was a very empathic character, which made him a little easier to initially connect with. However, I felt like some things in his past – like what happened with his brother – weren’t fully fleshed out. I wanted to know about him, what motivates him, and what has shaped him, but some aspects of his character felt very surface-level.
One area I struggled with in this book was the writing. It’s written in first person present, alternating from Hailey and Warren’s point of view. I find present tense to be a bit awkward in romances and definitely noticed that a bit in this book. Sometimes the writing felt a little choppy, and I feel like this book suffered a bit from too much telling and not enough showing. That made a lot of things, especially when it came to the characters, feel surface-level. I also wished that when we switched from Hailey to Warren’s POV, it had labels above it, as I definitely got tripped up a time or two, especially in the beginning.
Despite some of the issues I had with the writing, I did really enjoy the plot. I liked the framing of the story and how it opened with Hailey ruining a wedding, but we don’t know exactly what she did. I was very curious to know what she did and uncover the journey she went on to get to that point. As I mentioned, I also really liked the romance as well. Once I got invested in that, the book picked up speed for me, and I flew through the end of it.
All Signs Point to Malibu was a bit of a mixed bag for me – I didn’t hate it, but I also didn’t love it. It’s a true 3-star read for me. That being said, it was a cute romance and a fairly quick read, so if the premise intrigues you, I think it’s worth picking up. Plus, that cover is so cute – perfect end-of-summer vibes!
Thank you to Sparkpoint Studio/Canary Street Press for the ARC! All thoughts, ideas, and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Content Warnings
Minor: Cancer, Infidelity, and Grief
teaand_tomes's review against another edition
fast-paced
4.0
Thank you HTP Books and Goodreads for the giveaway!
The perfect summer read! Hailey's ability to glimpse the future adds a fun twist, while her relatable insecurities make her easy to connect with. Warren Mitchell steals the show with his witty banter and heartfelt evolution, making every interaction with Hailey swoon-worthy. If you’re after a light, magical romance with swoon-worthy moments and beach vibes, this is a must-read!
The perfect summer read! Hailey's ability to glimpse the future adds a fun twist, while her relatable insecurities make her easy to connect with. Warren Mitchell steals the show with his witty banter and heartfelt evolution, making every interaction with Hailey swoon-worthy. If you’re after a light, magical romance with swoon-worthy moments and beach vibes, this is a must-read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Infidelity
bdholloway256's review against another edition
3.0
All Signs Point to Malibu by Jennifer Snow needs to be on your summer TBR. This is a cute, easy read with the right amount of banter & spice. There is a small dose of fantasy thrown in. If you enjoy forced proximity, enemies to lovers, & a good romance this would be a great book for you!
Thank you NetGalley & Harlequin Trade Publishing for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
theswordandthesea's review against another edition
2.0
Thanks to NetGalley and Canary Street Press for the e-ARC!
The concept of this book sounded like a fun time. Hailey Harris is a life coach who sees glimpses of the future. The love interest Warren is her ex's best friend whose life she ruined...or did she save it? Together, they need to either help Hailey's ex and his new fiance towards the altar or break them up once and for all.
Honestly, I should've looked into the author's other work more closely before picking this up. I don't read much traditional romance these days, so I would've realized this wasn't for me before reading it. There's some fun, corny fluff in here but not enough to get me past moments I don't expect to see in modern romances (ie. the ex's new fiance withholding sex & use of the phrase "pussying out"). There were also a couple of odd bits where tropes became part of the dialogue:
"A few weeks ago, we were enemies. Now lovers? Seems ridiculously ironic."
"It was just a forced proximity thing. That was never going to work."
That said, I related to Hailey Harris' imposter syndrome and constant drive to do better. Former pro football player Warren shows some growth and willingness to better himself, which is always nice to see. & a scene of seduction via dancing to an old boy band song was always going to be a good time. If you're a longtime contemporary romance reader looking to dip the tiniest toe into the paranormal, this will probably work well for you.
The concept of this book sounded like a fun time. Hailey Harris is a life coach who sees glimpses of the future. The love interest Warren is her ex's best friend whose life she ruined...or did she save it? Together, they need to either help Hailey's ex and his new fiance towards the altar or break them up once and for all.
Honestly, I should've looked into the author's other work more closely before picking this up. I don't read much traditional romance these days, so I would've realized this wasn't for me before reading it. There's some fun, corny fluff in here but not enough to get me past moments I don't expect to see in modern romances (ie. the ex's new fiance withholding sex & use of the phrase "pussying out"). There were also a couple of odd bits where tropes became part of the dialogue:
"A few weeks ago, we were enemies. Now lovers? Seems ridiculously ironic."
"It was just a forced proximity thing. That was never going to work."
That said, I related to Hailey Harris' imposter syndrome and constant drive to do better. Former pro football player Warren shows some growth and willingness to better himself, which is always nice to see. & a scene of seduction via dancing to an old boy band song was always going to be a good time. If you're a longtime contemporary romance reader looking to dip the tiniest toe into the paranormal, this will probably work well for you.