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breezy610's review
3.0
was pretty good. at time, i felt like posey was superifical to the whole thing, but it was oretty good.
stephxsu's review
3.0
Think you’ve read all there is to be written about bad boys? Like all of Kristan Higgins’ contemporary romance novels, UNTIL THERE WAS YOU takes a potentially clichéd idea and spins it into an absolutely adorable, quirky, and swoon-worthy love story.
I’m not sure if Higgins has written other books in third-person before, and at first the change from the beloved first-person POV was jarring for me, but I quickly appreciated the best part about third-person in this story: that we get to go inside Liam’s head and see what he’s thinking, understand how his past influenced his present in a way that we wouldn’t have gotten to otherwise. This, I think, puts Liam a cut above other bad-boy love interests: he becomes less of an enigmatic, unapproachable, mythical bad-boy figure and more of a multidimensional man. It doesn’t hurt that he’s an overprotective father to his enviable teenaged daughter—there’s nothing like paternal characteristics that ups the desirable factor for a love interest in a romance novel, eh?
Posey is a pretty typical Higgins protagonist, with a quirky family, fairly independent means, and a cringe-inducing weakness around men. But it’s Liam, and the development of his character, that really carry UNTIL THERE WAS YOU for me. If you’re a Higgins fan, then UNTIL THERE WAS YOU will not disappoint. If you haven’t read any of Higgins contemporary romances yet, what are you waiting for?!
I’m not sure if Higgins has written other books in third-person before, and at first the change from the beloved first-person POV was jarring for me, but I quickly appreciated the best part about third-person in this story: that we get to go inside Liam’s head and see what he’s thinking, understand how his past influenced his present in a way that we wouldn’t have gotten to otherwise. This, I think, puts Liam a cut above other bad-boy love interests: he becomes less of an enigmatic, unapproachable, mythical bad-boy figure and more of a multidimensional man. It doesn’t hurt that he’s an overprotective father to his enviable teenaged daughter—there’s nothing like paternal characteristics that ups the desirable factor for a love interest in a romance novel, eh?
Posey is a pretty typical Higgins protagonist, with a quirky family, fairly independent means, and a cringe-inducing weakness around men. But it’s Liam, and the development of his character, that really carry UNTIL THERE WAS YOU for me. If you’re a Higgins fan, then UNTIL THERE WAS YOU will not disappoint. If you haven’t read any of Higgins contemporary romances yet, what are you waiting for?!
thebrainlair's review
3.0
really a 2.5 i didn't mind the cliches or predictableness of the book it was the constant mention of Liam's hotness which would have Bern better explained rather then mentioning over and over. and using the word "bieber" as a curse? funny the first time, annoying and dated the 600 times afterwards.
jackiehorne's review
3.0
3.5 Good, but not as strong as Higgins' best. All the right ingredients, but not enough time spent with the h&h together, so their HEA at the end didn't convince me the way that it should. I liked Higgins' experiment with dual pov, though...
jmj697mn's review
4.0
I enjoyed this book quite a bit. Just a cute, funny, romantic comedy. I did absolutely HATE the fact that the main character kept exclaiming "Bieber." She was 33, ffs! Very annoying & it bugged me enough to take a star off of the rating. Other than that, it was great.
rebroxannape's review
4.0
10/16/2023 re-read on audible.
This one did not hold up as well as most of KH's books on Audible. Posey got on my last nerve with her constant obsessing over her physical reaction to Liam's hotness. "Meowing Lady Parts" indeed. Blech! Also Liam's over the top over protectiveness of his daughter Nicole was very unhealthy. Nicole could handle it and her love for and understanding of her father was touching. I just felt sorry for the nice boy who dared to want to date her. Liam was mean and bullying. Most everything else was great though. This one had a lot of terrific things in it still. Especially that will at the end. As I mentioned in my first review below, the nature of Posey's love was even more suspect on this reading. It really seemed like a juvenile crush than real mature love. Dropping a star.
**original review**
I loved this one by KH. It has everything I have come to expect, which I won’t list here. Suffice it to say this has all of the humor and brief episodes of heartbreak that most of her books do. The character of Liam was very unusual as he was a hot bad boy, but with mental health issues which softened and made his character really interesting, 3 dimensional, and lovable. I do want to respond to the main complaint about this book, which is that some did not “feel the love” that Liam had for Posey. That he was too hung up on his first wife. His marriage was based on puppy love, love at first sight, which the longer they were married, the further apart they grew. Liam was not happy. His wife was not happy. The only thing they had in common was their child. That is made crystal clear.
Liam’s love for Posey was a mature love. He needed her. She healed him. For those who mistake shallow gooiness for love, you will be disappointed in this book. No groveling, which some readers seem to yearn for. Just repentance, understanding, and forgiveness. If anything, Posey’s love for Liam was suspect, more like a crush, not the other way around.
Also, I must add that this book contains one of my Kristan Higgins favorite scenes which is Liam's confrontation with his mother-in-law and father-in-law.
Priceless. And Joe, the kitty. Tears, yes, but the way she brought it full circle in the end was wonderful.
This one did not hold up as well as most of KH's books on Audible. Posey got on my last nerve with her constant obsessing over her physical reaction to Liam's hotness. "Meowing Lady Parts" indeed. Blech! Also Liam's over the top over protectiveness of his daughter Nicole was very unhealthy. Nicole could handle it and her love for and understanding of her father was touching. I just felt sorry for the nice boy who dared to want to date her. Liam was mean and bullying. Most everything else was great though. This one had a lot of terrific things in it still. Especially that will at the end. As I mentioned in my first review below, the nature of Posey's love was even more suspect on this reading. It really seemed like a juvenile crush than real mature love. Dropping a star.
**original review**
I loved this one by KH. It has everything I have come to expect, which I won’t list here. Suffice it to say this has all of the humor and brief episodes of heartbreak that most of her books do. The character of Liam was very unusual as he was a hot bad boy, but with mental health issues which softened and made his character really interesting, 3 dimensional, and lovable. I do want to respond to the main complaint about this book, which is that some did not “feel the love” that Liam had for Posey. That he was too hung up on his first wife. His marriage was based on puppy love, love at first sight, which the longer they were married, the further apart they grew. Liam was not happy. His wife was not happy. The only thing they had in common was their child. That is made crystal clear.
Liam’s love for Posey was a mature love. He needed her. She healed him. For those who mistake shallow gooiness for love, you will be disappointed in this book. No groveling, which some readers seem to yearn for. Just repentance, understanding, and forgiveness. If anything, Posey’s love for Liam was suspect, more like a crush, not the other way around.
Also, I must add that this book contains one of my Kristan Higgins favorite scenes which is Liam's confrontation with his mother-in-law and father-in-law.
Priceless. And Joe, the kitty. Tears, yes, but the way she brought it full circle in the end was wonderful.
nina_rod's review against another edition
Kristan Higgins has the ability to make me cry. Damn you! But such a great story.
jbarr5's review
4.0
Until There Was You by Kristan Higgins
Liam is back in town with his teen daughter. He now owns and runs a motorcycle shop and he's a widow. Posey remembers when Emma set her up for a prom. There are a lot of references to their teen years.
Such funny party: when his daughter introduces him to a guy and what transpires then had me laughing so hard I had tears in my eyes. Liam was the bad boy in town and full of himself. He also worked at the family restaurant where he finally notices her.
She had been in love with him when they were teens.
Posey now runs her own architecture salvage company but she's not totally happy in her life.
Things go wrong when she looks into her real bio mother and knows she had sent a note. Liam is having doubts as to their relationship when other family matters come to the forefront. Choices are not easy to make...
She goes to some extremes to date to try to find the right guy. match.com is one but another is where you learn how to cook and prepare food while spending less than a few minutes with a different man.
kdurham2's review
4.0
I always love a book that you can dive into and find yourself half way through within the blink of an eye. A story that takes you back to Posey's high school days when she was an outcast and had a crush on the bad boy in town. The bad boy has returned a widower and father to a teenager. Will she end up with her life long crush? Will her business become successful? A fun story that takes you on a ride, where you end up - I can't spoil this one.
With many characters in this book, I found it easy to get to know each one and love them all with their quirks. Each character made the story. From her crazy adoptive parents to a nutty cousin who hit a nerve each time she showed up in a scene, they all had an arc which gave this book more depth than it would have if just any of them had been edited away. I loved these characters so much that I wouldn't mind a sequel to revisit them again.
Another great book from Kristan Higgins that is a chick lit with a plot and story that makes you fall in love with each character. I would recommend this to young and old who want a book to curl up with and fall deep into page after page.
With many characters in this book, I found it easy to get to know each one and love them all with their quirks. Each character made the story. From her crazy adoptive parents to a nutty cousin who hit a nerve each time she showed up in a scene, they all had an arc which gave this book more depth than it would have if just any of them had been edited away. I loved these characters so much that I wouldn't mind a sequel to revisit them again.
Another great book from Kristan Higgins that is a chick lit with a plot and story that makes you fall in love with each character. I would recommend this to young and old who want a book to curl up with and fall deep into page after page.
aabravanel32's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
sad
- 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