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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
emotional
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:
Complicated
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I picked up this romcom based on several people's recommendations because they know how much I love to read Latinx books. I am writing this review keeping in mind that this is a debut for the author.
I did read this book via audiobook through Libby.
The audio book narration was OK, but it did sound like somebody who didn't speak very conversational Spanish. Not that there was a lot of conversational Spanish in this novel, which brings me to my next point.
While I overall enjoyed the story of the novel, I did have a few problems with it as well. First, the things I enjoyed. I really enjoyed how realistic the characters were portrayed and I like the overall storyline. I wish we had seen more of the best friend and of Alice in particular. Ben was that character that I absolutely love to hate. And to say that I was happy with the way he ended up in the book would be an understatement. Because I believe he deserved a whole lot of bad things to happen to him based on how he manipulated everybody. I really loved Theo as a character. I thought he was honest forthcoming and just all around a really good decent guy.
I did have a few problems with this book, though. First of all, I have a hard time thinking of this book as a Latinx book. While the author is Latinx, there wasn't a whole lot to insinuate that the main character was in this book. Unless they were having the random conversation about food, it was easy to forget that this character was even of Latinx origin. There was no conversation in Spanish or references to culture or heritage. Unless the narrator was saying a Spanish food name with a heavy accent I forgot there was any Latinx ties to this book at all. In fact, the only character that really had any kind of ties to the Latinx community was the main character's mother who was only seen in one chapter and the epilogue. And even then it's extremely surface level. The main female character also was extremely frustrating for me. A lot of the things that continuously happened to her with communication between not only Ben and Theo, but also Alice was of the main characters own doing by making stupid and rash decisions. I could never for the entirety of the book figure out why she wasn't honest with Theo when he gave absolutely no indication at any point that she couldn't be. In fact, he was honest with her about literally everything from beginning to the end of the book. So the fact that she was constantly withholding information from him and then doing nothing but agonizing over it repetitively throughout the book, made no sense to me. In fact, she told several characters throughout the book that Theo had been completely honest with her about his feelings for Alice, but also immediately agonizing internally over the fact she had not been honest about Ben. And then was surprised when things blew up the way they did. I mean, I think she kind of deserved worse after being the main instigator of every problem the entire book.
again, I realize that this is the author's first book and I'm hoping that the Latinx representation and the more detailed and fine points of character development will be ironed out before the next book. I'll definitely try at least one more book by the author.
I did read this book via audiobook through Libby.
The audio book narration was OK, but it did sound like somebody who didn't speak very conversational Spanish. Not that there was a lot of conversational Spanish in this novel, which brings me to my next point.
While I overall enjoyed the story of the novel, I did have a few problems with it as well. First, the things I enjoyed. I really enjoyed how realistic the characters were portrayed and I like the overall storyline. I wish we had seen more of the best friend and of Alice in particular. Ben was that character that I absolutely love to hate. And to say that I was happy with the way he ended up in the book would be an understatement. Because I believe he deserved a whole lot of bad things to happen to him based on how he manipulated everybody. I really loved Theo as a character. I thought he was honest forthcoming and just all around a really good decent guy.
I did have a few problems with this book, though. First of all, I have a hard time thinking of this book as a Latinx book. While the author is Latinx, there wasn't a whole lot to insinuate that the main character was in this book. Unless they were having the random conversation about food, it was easy to forget that this character was even of Latinx origin. There was no conversation in Spanish or references to culture or heritage. Unless the narrator was saying a Spanish food name with a heavy accent I forgot there was any Latinx ties to this book at all. In fact, the only character that really had any kind of ties to the Latinx community was the main character's mother who was only seen in one chapter and the epilogue. And even then it's extremely surface level. The main female character also was extremely frustrating for me. A lot of the things that continuously happened to her with communication between not only Ben and Theo, but also Alice was of the main characters own doing by making stupid and rash decisions. I could never for the entirety of the book figure out why she wasn't honest with Theo when he gave absolutely no indication at any point that she couldn't be. In fact, he was honest with her about literally everything from beginning to the end of the book. So the fact that she was constantly withholding information from him and then doing nothing but agonizing over it repetitively throughout the book, made no sense to me. In fact, she told several characters throughout the book that Theo had been completely honest with her about his feelings for Alice, but also immediately agonizing internally over the fact she had not been honest about Ben. And then was surprised when things blew up the way they did. I mean, I think she kind of deserved worse after being the main instigator of every problem the entire book.
again, I realize that this is the author's first book and I'm hoping that the Latinx representation and the more detailed and fine points of character development will be ironed out before the next book. I'll definitely try at least one more book by the author.
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-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:
Yes
Would’ve given it 4 stars but it got a little repetitive towards the end 😬 still really enjoyed it!🫶🏼
emotional
fast-paced
relaxing
slow-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
a sad dnf at 31%. I couldn’t really connect with the story and while I was prepared for drama it lacked/ben was just so flipping frustrating that I found myself starting to resent the book
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
3.5*
I was not loving this one so much at the beginning and was thinking it would end up a 3* star review. By the end I did start liking it a bit more though so bumped it up half a star.
Obviously when I saw the "Librarians in Love" series name I JUMPED at the opportunity to read this one. I am a library tech so having that as part of the storyline was super cool to me.
Loved the curvy girl rep and the spice was really good too I thought!
Oh wow just found out this is Gabriella Gamez's first book!! That is quite impressive. Also, I need to say how much I appreciate her letting us know she made a playlist of songs to go along with the book. I love that so much!!
---
From NoveList:
Description: When the two people they’re in love with get engaged to each other, librarian Marcela Ortiz and ex-NFL player Theo Young have a no-strings attached rebound relationship, which results in complicated feelings, messy familiar dynamics and uncovered secrets.
Genre: Contemporary romances; Debut title
Themes: No strings attached; Fake relationship
Identities: Latino/Latina/Latine
Storyline: First person narratives
Characterization: Flawed; Sympathetic; Likeable; Authentic
Mood: Steamy
Style: Character-driven; Fun read
I was not loving this one so much at the beginning and was thinking it would end up a 3* star review. By the end I did start liking it a bit more though so bumped it up half a star.
Obviously when I saw the "Librarians in Love" series name I JUMPED at the opportunity to read this one. I am a library tech so having that as part of the storyline was super cool to me.
Loved the curvy girl rep and the spice was really good too I thought!
Oh wow just found out this is Gabriella Gamez's first book!! That is quite impressive. Also, I need to say how much I appreciate her letting us know she made a playlist of songs to go along with the book. I love that so much!!
---
From NoveList:
Description: When the two people they’re in love with get engaged to each other, librarian Marcela Ortiz and ex-NFL player Theo Young have a no-strings attached rebound relationship, which results in complicated feelings, messy familiar dynamics and uncovered secrets.
Genre: Contemporary romances; Debut title
Themes: No strings attached; Fake relationship
Identities: Latino/Latina/Latine
Storyline: First person narratives
Characterization: Flawed; Sympathetic; Likeable; Authentic
Mood: Steamy
Style: Character-driven; Fun read
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes