Reviews - Not Quite by the Book

496 reviews for:

Not Quite by the Book

Julie Hatcher

3.43 AVERAGE

clairobscure's review against another edition

2.5

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing 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

Cute and light, although the hero has a real problem with lying that doesn’t really have any justification

book comes out March 1!
This is a hallmark movie in a book.
I will say, Emma (the FMC) kinda annoyed me for some parts, like I get the story line, but I think it was a little too much off Emily Dickinson stuff in the book. Some parts seemed repetitive, and some parts were cute. Just wish the romance speed up a little. I liked the idea of finding herself though.

It’s easy going, slow burn, friends to lovers, and no spice.

atkerkman1's review against another edition

4.25

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective 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: Yes

aceystacyyy's review against another edition

2.5

emotional funny lighthearted sad 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: Yes

the rating would’ve been higher if tswift wasn’t mentioned but anywayyy— the story was cute. kinda frustrating w the whole misunderstandings, miscommunications and DENIAL nonsense like 😭😭😭 GIRL— you could’ve saved yourself soooo much grief if you were honest to yourself and your sexy carpenter man but sureeeee— let’s idolize a very obvious LESBIAN emily dickinson and her recluse-ism knowing full well you’re an extroverted romantic dreaming for your true love in the form of a sexy carpenter man like OKAYYYYY 😭😭😭

regardless, entertaining book— i’d prolly give it a 5/10 bc i liked the concept even though the execution was kinda meh. as a romance i don’t think i was feeling this as much as i could’ve BUT! the other relationships were done really well imo, especially emma’s relationship w her sister. that arc along with the relationship development between emma and her parents was my favorite part of the book.

clawhead20's review against another edition

4.0

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted fast-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

ecmo1's review against another edition

1.75

slow-paced

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Nobody acts like a real person, the miscommunication trope is dialed up as high as it can go with everyone involved, and the romance didn’t work at all for me. It has copycat beats of You’ve Got Mail, but totally lacks the humor and momentum of the movie. Should’ve picked a different Kindle freebie the month this was offered.