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elenajohansen's review against another edition
2.0
First up: formatting/editing issues. There was a noticeable lack of quotation marks and/or italics where appropriate--song titles should be in quotes (and there were a lot of them), and statements made within the narrative but not in dialogue should be either in quotes or italicized (ie, this outfit shouted "I'm looking to get laid", or this outfit shouted I'm looking to get laid.) I was surprised to find such a systemic issue from a major author.
So, setting that aside, this was a second-chance/workplace romance, and I think it succeeded at the office shenanigans while failing spectacularly at the second-chance aspect. We do get a little bit of the backstory from five years ago, but the relationship ended when the guy ghosted the girl--no contact or explanation whatsoever--and then they're thrown together in a mentor/student relationship as part of one of her business classes.
All we hear is that she loved him so much and she was so heartbroken and they had such a connection--but five years have passed, and they hadn't known each other all that well before, since it was just a summer romance, plus the age difference was borderline inappropriate at 17 and 23--even though our heroine takes pains to tell us there was only fooling around, no real sex, I'm still not fully on board with that gap.
In the end, I just don't see the instant reconnection as anything but lust (which it is, and how) and that makes the story fall flat.
So, setting that aside, this was a second-chance/workplace romance, and I think it succeeded at the office shenanigans while failing spectacularly at the second-chance aspect. We do get a little bit of the backstory from five years ago, but the relationship ended when the guy ghosted the girl--no contact or explanation whatsoever--and then they're thrown together in a mentor/student relationship as part of one of her business classes.
All we hear is that she loved him so much and she was so heartbroken and they had such a connection--but five years have passed, and they hadn't known each other all that well before, since it was just a summer romance, plus the age difference was borderline inappropriate at 17 and 23--even though our heroine takes pains to tell us there was only fooling around, no real sex, I'm still not fully on board with that gap.
In the end, I just don't see the instant reconnection as anything but lust (which it is, and how) and that makes the story fall flat.
tofuqu33n's review against another edition
3.0
Very cheesy, feel good book. haha not great writing, but I enjoyed reading it
chartsh's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
bookaddict1975's review against another edition
4.0
🎧 Audio Review 🎧
I enjoyed this book but I wouldn't say its my favorite Lauren Blakely series. This book was sweet & sexy as always with her stories and the actual drama is light which I love too. I enjoy a second chance romance so I was excited when this story turned out to be just that. I can't say I blame Kat when she can't resist Bryan for long, He is a sweet talker and knows what he wants. This was a little fluffy and predictable but still enjoyable story.
The narration is not a favorite for me, I actually like Emily Durante but just not for this story. The voices just didn't fit the characters for me, especially Bryan, I'm not a big fan of her male voice.
I enjoyed this book but I wouldn't say its my favorite Lauren Blakely series. This book was sweet & sexy as always with her stories and the actual drama is light which I love too. I enjoy a second chance romance so I was excited when this story turned out to be just that. I can't say I blame Kat when she can't resist Bryan for long, He is a sweet talker and knows what he wants. This was a little fluffy and predictable but still enjoyable story.
The narration is not a favorite for me, I actually like Emily Durante but just not for this story. The voices just didn't fit the characters for me, especially Bryan, I'm not a big fan of her male voice.
merlin_reads's review against another edition
2.0
This one was a little disappointing. I went in really liking the premise. Girl gets her first love. Then gets her heart broken by first love. Then girl is matched up with boy as her business adviser. She's still hurt and wants answers. Sounds interesting right? Well, it wasn't so much.
When she was 17, Kat fell in love with her older brothers friend, Bryan. They ended up having a secret relationship but ultimately Bryan ended things with Kat. Scorned, Kat turned her heartbreak into a jewelry business and is now working towards her MBA. When she gets paired with Bryan as her adviser she panics. But all too soon this turns into a flirty relationship and then into a sexual one.
My main issue with this is how mad Kat is toward Bryan for most of the book until he flirts with her and then suddenly she's like what heartbreak? And openly pursues a relationship with him. No talk of the past, no explanations as to why it ended. Literally nothing. Kat was a very weak character in my eyes who stood for nothing. Bryan wasn't much better honestly. We literally learn nothing about him except he's literally scared of anything regarding a relationship. And I'm just supposed to believe he's been pining over Kat for five years. I got nothing from him in that relation. It just seemed like he wanted to just pick back up with the sexy times.
I didn't connect with any of the characters and the plot was also just not that believable. And possibly the worst part was that I didn't root for them to be together. As a romance book, that's the one thing you want.
When she was 17, Kat fell in love with her older brothers friend, Bryan. They ended up having a secret relationship but ultimately Bryan ended things with Kat. Scorned, Kat turned her heartbreak into a jewelry business and is now working towards her MBA. When she gets paired with Bryan as her adviser she panics. But all too soon this turns into a flirty relationship and then into a sexual one.
My main issue with this is how mad Kat is toward Bryan for most of the book until he flirts with her and then suddenly she's like what heartbreak? And openly pursues a relationship with him. No talk of the past, no explanations as to why it ended. Literally nothing. Kat was a very weak character in my eyes who stood for nothing. Bryan wasn't much better honestly. We literally learn nothing about him except he's literally scared of anything regarding a relationship. And I'm just supposed to believe he's been pining over Kat for five years. I got nothing from him in that relation. It just seemed like he wanted to just pick back up with the sexy times.
I didn't connect with any of the characters and the plot was also just not that believable. And possibly the worst part was that I didn't root for them to be together. As a romance book, that's the one thing you want.
bookedandbusybookblog's review against another edition
5.0
The first book I read by Lauren Blakely...absolutely loved it!
lcdmccullough's review against another edition
3.0
Super cute story but it just didn't grab me like my favorites do. I would still read this author again though.
anabelsbrother's review against another edition
3.0
In a nutshell: awwwwwwwwwww. It's a quick read, and I like it.
landscapesofink's review against another edition
3.0
I love how they already had a history, although I hated him just disappearing like that! I found Kat really frustrating, her obsession (which I know is normal in smut) and just the way that they both are infatuated with each other. All of the awkward phone sex made me just feel weird and dirty. Will probably continue the series though.