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3.59 AVERAGE
3.59 AVERAGE
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Book #134 read in 2024
Haleigh is tired of everyone trying to set her up, so she makes a deal with her family and friends. Here's how it works:
Haleigh is tired of everyone trying to set her up, so she makes a deal with her family and friends. Here's how it works:
- They can each set her up on one date (ten total dates)
- She promises to give each date her best effort
- If she doesn't find a connection after all these dates, they have to stop trying to set her up
This leads to some hilariously awful dates and some that are just so sweet. Obviously, if you are a regular romance reader, you know exactly how this will end, but that doesn't make the journey there any less fun. I love how Howe writes her female main characters, flawed but fierce nonetheless. I can't wait to go on whatever the next adventure Howe has in store for us!
Thank you to the publisher for the digital review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This novel was published on December 10, 2024.
Thank you to the publisher for the digital review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This novel was published on December 10, 2024.
I wanted to get into this, but despite the main character being 25, she was the worst stereotype for a white millennial woman I have read this year. Sometimes I can go with the flow on those books, but you know it's bad when I, a millennial, I couldn't stomach it. She complained constantly about "adulting" and responsibilities. She harshly judged every person she dated as the very worst when she herself, was no prize. It was clear within the first 2 chapters she was meant for her friend Jack, and I honestly didn't think the journey would be worth it. I quit at about 35%. I think this book will definitely read well for a specific set of women, but I can't relate.
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Haleigh is in love with her best friend and is tired of dating. Her family and friends want her to settle down or at the very least have a date to her sister’s engagement party. In an attempt to please them, she agrees to go on ten dates to find a match.
This had all the makings a cute friends to lovers rom com. The dates are funny and sometimes outrageous, there’s a strong family to support and love our FMC but the problem was that I found her unlikeable. I didn’t feel chemistry between Jack and Haleigh.
I appreciated the plus size representation as well as the anxiety and OCD representation. There were moments that made me giggle but overall, this just wasn’t the book for me.
I would recommend this to readers enjoy a friends to lovers romance as well as a book filled with dating mishaps.
Thank you so much to the publisher, the author and netgalley for this ARC
This had all the makings a cute friends to lovers rom com. The dates are funny and sometimes outrageous, there’s a strong family to support and love our FMC but the problem was that I found her unlikeable. I didn’t feel chemistry between Jack and Haleigh.
I appreciated the plus size representation as well as the anxiety and OCD representation. There were moments that made me giggle but overall, this just wasn’t the book for me.
I would recommend this to readers enjoy a friends to lovers romance as well as a book filled with dating mishaps.
Thank you so much to the publisher, the author and netgalley for this ARC
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Cute cover? Yes.
Adorable title? Yes.
Story? Fell flat for me, unfortunately. I was not a fan of the FMC at all.
Thank you, NetGalley, the author, and SMP for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Adorable title? Yes.
Story? Fell flat for me, unfortunately. I was not a fan of the FMC at all.
Thank you, NetGalley, the author, and SMP for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I loved Howe’s debut On the Plus Side and several of those characters appear here.
After too many disastrous dates, Haleigh wants to take a dating sabbatical. To keep her friends and family off her back, she agrees to let each of them set her up twice or hold their piece/peace. Hilarity ensues followed by some feelings.
I have no idea how realistic this is. Even when I had close friends, none of them ever wanted to set up me or get this invested in my personal life. This also has a friends-to-lovers trope for the main with second chance as the side. Both of those tropes are a tough sell for me since that’s not how I operate.
Praise be that we have a hot Asian man going against the friend. People are sleeping on that demographic. Source: Simu Liu and my physical therapist with similar cheekbones.
One thing that irked me was Haleigh being so disappointed Brian wasn’t a reader. I’m a book influencer (in the loosest possible sense of the term) married to a guy who games instead of reads. We like similar shows, movies, and leaving the house to do things. You don’t have to be with a reader to enjoy the relationship.
Another pet peeve was teasing all the smutty scenes. The door was ajar, not open. I want the door off its hinges and the smut fully detailed, please and thank you.
All of my issues are ME issues. This book works. It’s fun and sweet. It has excellent representation for anxiety in multiple characters and the reality of floundering in early adult. It’s fun and sweet. I had a good time and would recommend it. 4/5