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mmz's review against another edition
lighthearted
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
4.5
mmz's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-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
4.5
noemiesltforhs's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
profpetitfours's review against another edition
3.0
Mabel Willicker is sunshine personified, with bright fashion and a brighter personality. Former footballer, Alfie Harding, is as grumpy as it gets. In fact, aside from his stellar skills on the pitch, that's about all he's known for. When the pair teams up to write Harding's memoir, however, we learn that Alfie has a much better, funnier, and charming personality than one would ever expect. When pictures of the two make the tabloids, they decide fake dating is better than bursting Willicker's ghostwriting contract. But, could it be that there's nothing fake in what the two are feeling for each other?
I'll be honest, this was a challenging book to review because I feel like there is a lot to like and a lot to dislike. I'm a sucker for a grump who's a secret softie, and that's definitely Alfie. There is some great banter, though the book is aggressively British in its dialogue (at least for this American reader). The ending is very sweet, as well!
However, I feel like the rest of the book is a bit all over the place. The memoir/writing plot is important in both the first and third acts, but it all but disappears in the second, which means that you sort of forget why the two of them are spending time together. Second, the miscommunication is really popping here and it's just...frustrating. The older I get, the less patience I have for not talking to each other. And these characters are not in their 20s, they are solidly in their 30s! There are also these touches of going deeper into both characters' pasts (they share a history of alcoholic fathers and growing up poor, Mabel struggles with thinking anyone would want her because she's fat), but they aren't fully fleshed out or really explored. I think that's what I ultimately came down on with this book, I was frustrated for most of it. There are flashes of a really lovely story throughout, but it just doesn't come together for me.
* Thank you to St. Martin's Press/St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review! *
I'll be honest, this was a challenging book to review because I feel like there is a lot to like and a lot to dislike. I'm a sucker for a grump who's a secret softie, and that's definitely Alfie. There is some great banter, though the book is aggressively British in its dialogue (at least for this American reader). The ending is very sweet, as well!
However, I feel like the rest of the book is a bit all over the place. The memoir/writing plot is important in both the first and third acts, but it all but disappears in the second, which means that you sort of forget why the two of them are spending time together. Second, the miscommunication is really popping here and it's just...frustrating. The older I get, the less patience I have for not talking to each other. And these characters are not in their 20s, they are solidly in their 30s! There are also these touches of going deeper into both characters' pasts (they share a history of alcoholic fathers and growing up poor, Mabel struggles with thinking anyone would want her because she's fat), but they aren't fully fleshed out or really explored. I think that's what I ultimately came down on with this book, I was frustrated for most of it. There are flashes of a really lovely story throughout, but it just doesn't come together for me.
* Thank you to St. Martin's Press/St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review! *
spaceace014's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-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
4.5
eviecanactuallyread's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-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
4.25
shannahaun's review against another edition
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
2.0
meigothic's review against another edition
1.0
Disclaimer: I received a review copy for free via Netgalley, and am voluntarily leaving my honest thoughts. Thanks to St. Martin Press for the opportunity!
The writing style unfortunately irked me so much with how it took so long for things to be expressed to the reader and it was in a cadence that felt like the thought was just a run-on sentence for many pages at a time. I couldn't connect with this because the writing was so distracting and also the banter didn't work for me. The characters were fun at times and were semi-representative of the grumpy and sunshine, but it felt a little forced at times. There were a couple moments between the two that were nice, but the humor didn't work for me and I feel like the first half of the book didn't work for me to the point that the rest of the build-up never really pulled me in. I do like that he defended her honor and they connected over writing, but that's mostly it.
My favorite parts of the writing were actually the fake articles and tweets, etc. which is unfortunate, but they did add great flavor.
The writing style unfortunately irked me so much with how it took so long for things to be expressed to the reader and it was in a cadence that felt like the thought was just a run-on sentence for many pages at a time. I couldn't connect with this because the writing was so distracting and also the banter didn't work for me. The characters were fun at times and were semi-representative of the grumpy and sunshine, but it felt a little forced at times. There were a couple moments between the two that were nice, but the humor didn't work for me and I feel like the first half of the book didn't work for me to the point that the rest of the build-up never really pulled me in. I do like that he defended her honor and they connected over writing, but that's mostly it.
My favorite parts of the writing were actually the fake articles and tweets, etc. which is unfortunate, but they did add great flavor.
rachhhelllllll's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Most of the book is the character rambling inside her head and so much happens while nothing actually moves forward / truly happens. Then a time jump. Cute characters but kinda frustrating
melissaleighh's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0