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halicbooks's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
meegzreads's review against another edition
3.0
*3.5 Stars*
This was a quick and easy story to read, but it didn't capture me the way some novels do. I liked the characters and would like to see more of them in the future novels of the series. I loved the idea of Kat's jewellery and the learning curve she was on with her business. I felt like the ending of this was quite rushed though. I'll probably still read the rest of the series though, as I did enjoy this one.
This was a quick and easy story to read, but it didn't capture me the way some novels do. I liked the characters and would like to see more of them in the future novels of the series. I loved the idea of Kat's jewellery and the learning curve she was on with her business. I felt like the ending of this was quite rushed though. I'll probably still read the rest of the series though, as I did enjoy this one.
amandaventure's review against another edition
1.0
Lauren Blakely was an author that kept coming up in “you may also enjoy” lists and lots of people were saying her books were hilarious and steamy so I thought I would try one out. After reading 75% of the story, I just need to ask why everyone decided to lie to me.
I understand that this is supposed to be a romantic comedy but I feel like this is seriously lacking in both the romance and the comedy. In fact, most of the time I spent reading this was also spent mentally re-writing scenes to add an actual punchline. The MCs were exceedingly bland. I’m not sure if that was on purpose to allow the reader to inject themselves into the characters or if the writing was just phoned in. I sincerely hope it’s the latter and it was just this book in particular that wasn’t successful.
Also it was really short. This is one of those instances where I think adding about 100 pages would have given the author some space in order to develop the characters and build the storylines. I think with some length and development this could have had potential to at least be decent. As the story is right now, this felt like a first draft. The story was a bit thin and it needed some meat on its bones!
I was really going to try to finish this one all the way off but, frankly, I have better books waiting for me to read them. Caught Up in Us just isn’t good enough to stop me from thinking about how much I would rather be reading something else.
I understand that this is supposed to be a romantic comedy but I feel like this is seriously lacking in both the romance and the comedy. In fact, most of the time I spent reading this was also spent mentally re-writing scenes to add an actual punchline. The MCs were exceedingly bland. I’m not sure if that was on purpose to allow the reader to inject themselves into the characters or if the writing was just phoned in. I sincerely hope it’s the latter and it was just this book in particular that wasn’t successful.
Also it was really short. This is one of those instances where I think adding about 100 pages would have given the author some space in order to develop the characters and build the storylines. I think with some length and development this could have had potential to at least be decent. As the story is right now, this felt like a first draft. The story was a bit thin and it needed some meat on its bones!
I was really going to try to finish this one all the way off but, frankly, I have better books waiting for me to read them. Caught Up in Us just isn’t good enough to stop me from thinking about how much I would rather be reading something else.
saffronso's review against another edition
2.0
2.5
A pretty shallow read, mind candy. I wasn't really feeling the romance - they fell in love in a couple of weeks when she was 17 and he was 22 - yiiiikes. I didn't find their banter to be enjoyable or funny, so it was just a whatever read to me. It felt like a fantasy, not messy or realistic at all, though I didn't really expect that with the cover art. It did somewhat help pull me out of a reading slump though, so Ill give it that!
A pretty shallow read, mind candy. I wasn't really feeling the romance - they fell in love in a couple of weeks when she was 17 and he was 22 - yiiiikes. I didn't find their banter to be enjoyable or funny, so it was just a whatever read to me. It felt like a fantasy, not messy or realistic at all, though I didn't really expect that with the cover art. It did somewhat help pull me out of a reading slump though, so Ill give it that!
bananatricky's review against another edition
3.0
This was saccharine sweet but I saw that this was Lauren Blakely's first novel so I guess I should score it accordingly.
Bryan Leighton is Kat Harper's older brother's best friend. Five years ago they had a wonderful sweet first love and then he broke things off suddenly. Now they have been paired off as part of Kat's masters degree which requires her to work with a mentor. Kat has started a jewellery business called My Favourite Mistakes but it is still small scale and she makes all the pieces herself. She hopes the mentoring program will help her expand.
I had a number of issues with his book, my first (and frequent gripe) is why would the two of them jeopardise both their futures by getting involved when it is strictly forbidden? Second, Kat actually gives Bryan a significant amount of practical advice and help with his business but I didn't feel as though he did the same for her. Third it was too predictable and too sugary sweet.
Bryan Leighton is Kat Harper's older brother's best friend. Five years ago they had a wonderful sweet first love and then he broke things off suddenly. Now they have been paired off as part of Kat's masters degree which requires her to work with a mentor. Kat has started a jewellery business called My Favourite Mistakes but it is still small scale and she makes all the pieces herself. She hopes the mentoring program will help her expand.
I had a number of issues with his book, my first (and frequent gripe) is why would the two of them jeopardise both their futures by getting involved when it is strictly forbidden? Second, Kat actually gives Bryan a significant amount of practical advice and help with his business but I didn't feel as though he did the same for her. Third it was too predictable and too sugary sweet.
awesomeautumn's review against another edition
4.0
Another great book by Lauren Blakely. OMG JILL! Jill is Chris's (from Trophy Husband's sister) so somehow these books are going to tie together. I am glad when worlds are colliding. Kat and Bryan's story was just as hot and lovely. I am almost glad i got a stomach virus and confined to bed because i found a great author. Bryan was the best friend of Kat's brother and she crushed on him and then he reciprocated those feelings until one day he didn't and broke her heart. Kat made lemonade out of lemons and turned her heartbreak into a kick ass jewelry venture. She is on her way to success all she needs is a business degree all that is standing in her way is a class. In said class she is assigned a mentor. BRYAN! Dun- Dun- Dun...claws are out and ready to scratch. Can Kat let go of her unresolved feelings for Bryan so she can graduate and give her jewelry the market it deserves? Can Bryan just mentor Kat and keep his own feelings in check so they don't cross the no fraternization line that her professor has drawn thatcould get Kat kicked out of class? Can Kat listen to Bryan long enough to find out his reasons for leaving her brokenhearted? read it and see.
nicolebanks's review against another edition
4.0
Tremendously cute book...simply story that tugs at your heart....was totally routing for them to end up together lol sucker for happy endings
tamtam's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
rjordan19's review against another edition
3.0
Didn’t hate this book but didn’t love it. I don’t like when there’s build up of some problem, in this case the “inappropriateness” of the relationship in the eyes of her school as well as his work and they just do it anyway without any real struggle or even repercussions. I also didn’t like that she didn’t really address the way he ended the initial relationship (or at least the way I would have addressed it haha). First person is also a little harder for me. Also no time in the mans head, which I prefer. But the sex was hot and it was overall a quick, pleasant read. I wouldnt reread it though.
cranberrytarts's review against another edition
4.0
This was a free download.
I'm fairly certain I read at least part of this book before. It may have been one I started during the worst of my reading dry-spell then set aside.
Kat was a bit too insecure for my liking. I would have preferred if she were stronger and more independent. For someone who created jewelry and ran a successful business, had already finished college and spent a year overseas on her own, she was very unsure of herself. It isn't that I disliked her, but I wanted to see her with more backbone.
Bryan was easier to understand and relate to, though I didn't agree with all the choices he made.
I liked how open they were with each other sexually. It's nice to read a book where the couple isn't afraid or ashamed or concerned about their chemistry.
There were some problematic areas for me, but overall this was a quick, light read.
I'm fairly certain I read at least part of this book before. It may have been one I started during the worst of my reading dry-spell then set aside.
Kat was a bit too insecure for my liking. I would have preferred if she were stronger and more independent. For someone who created jewelry and ran a successful business, had already finished college and spent a year overseas on her own, she was very unsure of herself. It isn't that I disliked her, but I wanted to see her with more backbone.
Bryan was easier to understand and relate to, though I didn't agree with all the choices he made.
I liked how open they were with each other sexually. It's nice to read a book where the couple isn't afraid or ashamed or concerned about their chemistry.
There were some problematic areas for me, but overall this was a quick, light read.