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lyvthereader's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
annalin's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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
4.0
jkclark's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
magnafeana's review
3.0
This book is three words: Hang the Moon.
I have three words for it in return: fuck this book.
Annie (FMC) is an international HR wonder-girl who sees more of hotels than hillsides as she globetrots. With her “best friend” Darcy (we’ll get into it) enjoying her newfound relationship and withdrawing from her friendship, Annie is desperate to see a bit of her roots before taking a relocation position in London and she hops on a plane to see Darcy. Thing is, Darcy is with Ellie on a holiday, so Darcy leaves Annie in the care of Brendon (MMC), the geeky young brother turned godly over their time apart.
Brendon is a “everyday let’s only think about love” sort of guy who wears rose-colored glasses as a prescription and even has his own dating app, “Not Like Other Apps” (false name). When his crush Annie comes to town with nothing planned, Brendon steps up as her guide and sparks fly. Between Brendon’s burn for love and Annie’s apathy for affection, they have quite the holiday going for them as Brendon wants to change Annie’s mind not just about love but about London too.
Doesn’t that sound sweet?
The Characters
Darcy
Let’s talk about how, in the first book, Darcy dislikes how Brendon steamrolls over her own feelings and thoughts on matters and meddles. So when Annie has her own thoughts and feelings on subjects that disagree with Darcy, not only does she become manipulative to make it about herself and continuously tries to intervene in things her friend wants to step back from, but she actively encourages Brendon to meddle by wooing Annie to keep her “home”.
And I’m…supposed to like Darcy for this?
Ahahahahahaha… No.
Annie
The author makes it abundantly clear that everyone impressing their ideals on Annie is right. How Seattle is her “home” and she’s being idiotic taking a job opportunity in London. Because, goddamn, do we hate it when women have successful careers and how they must give that all up for a man, don’t we?
I give credit where credit is due and I’m happy that Annie was a lot more complex, but I hate that I couldn’t be happy or comfortable for her when she was written to tragically need roots and her own philosophies and comfortability were largely ignored because we gotta let the MMC bulldoze his way in. The fact that the book has a “she isn’t guarded” means none of her feelings being knocked aside is valid.
But whatever. I mourn for Annie honestly.
Brendon
Le sigh.
TO PREFACE THIS, I have been dying to have an Older Woman × Young Man DINK (dual income, no kids) relationship for a while now and ranted about it on r/RomanceBooks, so I was thrilled to see Brendon was the zero-to-hero baby brother who ain’t a baby boy anymore.
But then the author had to make Brendon less nuanced and more of a caricature of always relying on love without every detailing why he wanted love so badly throughout the book. Sure, it’s hurriedly rushed through how he strives to be Superman, but we could’ve seen that more in conversations or actions, not just characters saying he is with examples A, B, and C.
Let’s not forget Mister “My Boo” turned into “Hot in Herre”. Gotta love the 180 on that. I was prepared to FINALLY get some good romance-heavy ML stuff. I feelt vastly whelmed. Not overwhelmed or underwhelmed, just whelmed.
(Support Young Justice getting a new season—)
The Name Dropping
Ooooooooh my goodness.
This is just…another book where the author drops in a bunch of meta commentary, a lot of brand names and franchise names to be “relatable”. I like it at times to give period pieces, but the way it was used in this book… No. Just…no.
THAT piss scene
Understandably, the piss scene in the Ferris Wheel turned people off. I get it. The entire affair was uncomfortable and it felt incredibly shoehorned to be comedic. It did nothing but make me feel uncomfortable and fearful this book had a fetish that’s my hard limit.
For the uninitiated: Brendon and Annie go on a Ferris Wheel, but for some reason, neither use the bathroom first. So when the Ferris Wheel breaks, Annie has to be so badly, so she does in her cup with Brendon there. At barebones, it’d be fine right? What a shame the scene drags on for pages. Could’ve been a blip in the chapter. But piss became a bonding experience.
I wish I was joking.
Closing Arguments
Guys, girlies, gays, and theys—this book was at best a 3-star read, maybe, IF that. I’m not a fan of characters being unnecessarily pushy and that pushiness, that was completely unwarranted, is things going their way. It’s manipulative, not friendship. A friend gives you hard truths when you ask for them or when you absolutely need them. Annie asked for time. Darcy says, “Okay. So ANYWAY about MY opinion—” Honey, you lost me with any sort of good feeling I had toward you, ESPECIALLY with you wanting your brother to seduce your friend so she moves “home” and then you getting mad when it doesn’t work out, even though it’s NOT your relationship.
And with her being queer and her experiencing the same thing in book one… You’d think she’d see how hypocritical she’s being. Or at least I hope the author did and didn’t force Darcy to become a hypocrite because plot.
This reminded me of when [ACOTAR by SJM spoilers] Mor keeps talking to Feyre about Rhysand even after Feyre says for her not to. Feyre, like Annie, is asking for TIME and SPACE but that’s not good enough apparently? That’s unreasonable to ask for such things, so everyone has to add their two cents and not give them TIME and SPACE.
I must be a shit friend for offering my friends time and space when they’re overwhelmed and checking in on their needs rather than overriding it with my own agenda and adding commentary on an experience I am not personally the victim of, huh?
Just an absolutely bloody bad friend, aren’t I?
Will I reread it? No. Am I glad I read it? Meh. This had the bare basic couple archetype and ending (childfree) I was looking for, but the execution left such a bad taste in my mouth.
Off to Romance.oi!
I have three words for it in return: fuck this book.
But let’s start at the beginning, shall we?
Annie (FMC) is an international HR wonder-girl who sees more of hotels than hillsides as she globetrots. With her “best friend” Darcy (we’ll get into it) enjoying her newfound relationship and withdrawing from her friendship, Annie is desperate to see a bit of her roots before taking a relocation position in London and she hops on a plane to see Darcy. Thing is, Darcy is with Ellie on a holiday, so Darcy leaves Annie in the care of Brendon (MMC), the geeky young brother turned godly over their time apart.
Brendon is a “everyday let’s only think about love” sort of guy who wears rose-colored glasses as a prescription and even has his own dating app, “Not Like Other Apps” (false name). When his crush Annie comes to town with nothing planned, Brendon steps up as her guide and sparks fly. Between Brendon’s burn for love and Annie’s apathy for affection, they have quite the holiday going for them as Brendon wants to change Annie’s mind not just about love but about London too.
Doesn’t that sound sweet?
It isn’t. Let’s get into it.
The Characters
Darcy
Let’s talk about how, in the first book, Darcy dislikes how Brendon steamrolls over her own feelings and thoughts on matters and meddles. So when Annie has her own thoughts and feelings on subjects that disagree with Darcy, not only does she become manipulative to make it about herself and continuously tries to intervene in things her friend wants to step back from, but she actively encourages Brendon to meddle by wooing Annie to keep her “home”.
And I’m…supposed to like Darcy for this?
Ahahahahahaha… No.
Annie
The author makes it abundantly clear that everyone impressing their ideals on Annie is right. How Seattle is her “home” and she’s being idiotic taking a job opportunity in London. Because, goddamn, do we hate it when women have successful careers and how they must give that all up for a man, don’t we?
I give credit where credit is due and I’m happy that Annie was a lot more complex, but I hate that I couldn’t be happy or comfortable for her when she was written to tragically need roots and her own philosophies and comfortability were largely ignored because we gotta let the MMC bulldoze his way in. The fact that the book has a “she isn’t guarded” means none of her feelings being knocked aside is valid.
But whatever. I mourn for Annie honestly.
Brendon
Le sigh.
TO PREFACE THIS, I have been dying to have an Older Woman × Young Man DINK (dual income, no kids) relationship for a while now and ranted about it on r/RomanceBooks, so I was thrilled to see Brendon was the zero-to-hero baby brother who ain’t a baby boy anymore.
But then the author had to make Brendon less nuanced and more of a caricature of always relying on love without every detailing why he wanted love so badly throughout the book. Sure, it’s hurriedly rushed through how he strives to be Superman, but we could’ve seen that more in conversations or actions, not just characters saying he is with examples A, B, and C.
Let’s not forget Mister “My Boo” turned into “Hot in Herre”. Gotta love the 180 on that. I was prepared to FINALLY get some good romance-heavy ML stuff. I feelt vastly whelmed. Not overwhelmed or underwhelmed, just whelmed.
(Support Young Justice getting a new season—)
The Name Dropping
Ooooooooh my goodness.
This is just…another book where the author drops in a bunch of meta commentary, a lot of brand names and franchise names to be “relatable”. I like it at times to give period pieces, but the way it was used in this book… No. Just…no.
THAT piss scene
Understandably, the piss scene in the Ferris Wheel turned people off. I get it. The entire affair was uncomfortable and it felt incredibly shoehorned to be comedic. It did nothing but make me feel uncomfortable and fearful this book had a fetish that’s my hard limit.
For the uninitiated: Brendon and Annie go on a Ferris Wheel, but for some reason, neither use the bathroom first. So when the Ferris Wheel breaks, Annie has to be so badly, so she does in her cup with Brendon there. At barebones, it’d be fine right? What a shame the scene drags on for pages. Could’ve been a blip in the chapter. But piss became a bonding experience.
I wish I was joking.
Closing Arguments
Guys, girlies, gays, and theys—this book was at best a 3-star read, maybe, IF that. I’m not a fan of characters being unnecessarily pushy and that pushiness, that was completely unwarranted, is things going their way. It’s manipulative, not friendship. A friend gives you hard truths when you ask for them or when you absolutely need them. Annie asked for time. Darcy says, “Okay. So ANYWAY about MY opinion—” Honey, you lost me with any sort of good feeling I had toward you, ESPECIALLY with you wanting your brother to seduce your friend so she moves “home” and then you getting mad when it doesn’t work out, even though it’s NOT your relationship.
And with her being queer and her experiencing the same thing in book one… You’d think she’d see how hypocritical she’s being. Or at least I hope the author did and didn’t force Darcy to become a hypocrite because plot.
This reminded me of when [ACOTAR by SJM spoilers] Mor keeps talking to Feyre about Rhysand even after Feyre says for her not to. Feyre, like Annie, is asking for TIME and SPACE but that’s not good enough apparently? That’s unreasonable to ask for such things, so everyone has to add their two cents and not give them TIME and SPACE.
I must be a shit friend for offering my friends time and space when they’re overwhelmed and checking in on their needs rather than overriding it with my own agenda and adding commentary on an experience I am not personally the victim of, huh?
Just an absolutely bloody bad friend, aren’t I?
Will I reread it? No. Am I glad I read it? Meh. This had the bare basic couple archetype and ending (childfree) I was looking for, but the execution left such a bad taste in my mouth.
Off to Romance.oi!
brianne_k's review against another edition
3.0
*3/5*
It was cute and fine but didn't knock my socks off. I found something missing/lacking.
It was cute and fine but didn't knock my socks off. I found something missing/lacking.
whatashisreading's review
4.0
This book was SO ADORABLE. I love how much Brendan loves love and he made my heart melt. Also I lived for every single morsel of Darcy and Elle that I could get. Alexandria Bellefleur is such a wonderful author and I think it’s a testament to her writing the range of emotions that I feel. I will say, however, this book will probably be my least favorite of the trio mainly because Annie kind of got on my nerves. ALSO, how are all these ppl gonna run a dating app and NONE of them fall in love via app? -1 star lol
sammybee's review
emotional
lighthearted
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? No
4.0
reefsharkie's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5