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3.58 AVERAGE
3.58 AVERAGE
DNFed this book 75 page in. It wasn't holding my interest. I typically enjoy friends to lovers but this style felt too over the top "It was too easy to blur the lines between 'friends' and "something more' when they were dressed up and surrounded by other couples."
I'm all for a happy ending romance book, but this book gave us the love too early instead of seeing the friends fall in love.
Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan for the advanced copy.
I'm all for a happy ending romance book, but this book gave us the love too early instead of seeing the friends fall in love.
Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan for the advanced copy.
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
emotional
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I liked this. Wanted to love it--I really enjoyed On the Plus Side--but there was missed potential here in both plotting and characterization. On the whole, I'd recommend this for someone who wants a nice friends-to-lovers story. It just left me wanting more.
Haleigh and Jack have been besties since elementary school, and Haleigh has been in love with Jack almost that long. It seemed like they would become something more when they were in college, but when that appeared to be a bit of a disaster, they vowed to go back to being friends...this time, with rules to maintain their platonic relationship. When Haleigh makes the decision (at the ripe old age of *checks notes* 25?!) that she wants to go on a dating hiatus, she gives her friends and family the chance to set her up on 10 dates to either help her find the right person or leave her alone to her spinsterhood. And when she starts to see glimmers of potential with one of her dates, Jack has to make a decision: will he leave her to enjoy her new romance or step up as a candidate himself?
The good: Strong fat, LGBTQ+ (at least one lead is bi- or perhaps demisexual, and there are several same-sex couples and dates), and mental health representation. Some funny bad dates, including one with an oyster that is haunting. Healthy adult communication between romantic leads.
The could-be-better: The central romance. It's a problem when there's more heat with the one you know she won't pick than the one she will. Some of that is due to the stakes being so obviously predetermined, for a romantic relationship we're told to care about half a book before we ever see the failed romantic attempt standing between Haleigh and Jack. There's mild awkwardness without any tangible explanation, and virtually no heat between them until Jack decides to jump in the ring. It was sweet they got together, but more in the "aw, good for them" way you'd think about acquaintances than a "thank god, because that sexual tension was killing me" way you want to see in a good first-person friends-to-lovers romance.
It's cute and predictable, which may be exactly what you are looking for. If you are looking to be moved by your romance, this may not be it. (Which is really hard to write because it had such potential!)
I received an advance reader copy from Netgalley for an honest review.
Haleigh and Jack have been besties since elementary school, and Haleigh has been in love with Jack almost that long. It seemed like they would become something more when they were in college, but when that appeared to be a bit of a disaster, they vowed to go back to being friends...this time, with rules to maintain their platonic relationship. When Haleigh makes the decision (at the ripe old age of *checks notes* 25?!) that she wants to go on a dating hiatus, she gives her friends and family the chance to set her up on 10 dates to either help her find the right person or leave her alone to her spinsterhood. And when she starts to see glimmers of potential with one of her dates, Jack has to make a decision: will he leave her to enjoy her new romance or step up as a candidate himself?
The good: Strong fat, LGBTQ+ (at least one lead is bi- or perhaps demisexual, and there are several same-sex couples and dates), and mental health representation. Some funny bad dates, including one with an oyster that is haunting. Healthy adult communication between romantic leads.
The could-be-better: The central romance. It's a problem when there's more heat with the one you know she won't pick than the one she will. Some of that is due to the stakes being so obviously predetermined, for a romantic relationship we're told to care about half a book before we ever see the failed romantic attempt standing between Haleigh and Jack. There's mild awkwardness without any tangible explanation, and virtually no heat between them until Jack decides to jump in the ring. It was sweet they got together, but more in the "aw, good for them" way you'd think about acquaintances than a "thank god, because that sexual tension was killing me" way you want to see in a good first-person friends-to-lovers romance.
It's cute and predictable, which may be exactly what you are looking for. If you are looking to be moved by your romance, this may not be it. (Which is really hard to write because it had such potential!)
I received an advance reader copy from Netgalley for an honest review.
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Haleigh is tired of dating duds and wants to have a date for her sister's wedding. Also she has been in love with her BFF Jackson forever and really wants to get over him. So she asks her friends and family to give it their best shot, and she commits to going on 10 dates to find "the one." It's a nice trope but this book just wasn't for me. Some of the dates were funny, and then I liked the development of her really great date. And of course I wanted her to match with Jackson. But for me there was too much emphasis on Haleigh being fat and both Haleigh's and Jackson's anxieties. I get this will be super appealing for some readers, it just became an unnecessary distraction for me. And I love how modern romances are LGBTQ friendly in their cast of characters, but Haleigh enjoyed dating both men and women and that just isn't my jam.
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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
OMG I KEEP THINKING ABOUT THIS BOOK!
I got the ARC a while ago but I finally finished it.
Super cute and I fucking love Jack
I got the ARC a while ago but I finally finished it.
Super cute and I fucking love Jack
Appreciated the author wanting to highlight fat joy, I feel like often with romance books about fat people, it’s always focusing on issues and not just letting fat people live and enjoy their lives. While body image issues are something that is a reality for most fat people, sometimes I just want to read something that talks about bodies in neutral or loving terms.
Now to the book, I could painfully relate to Haleigh’s dating woes. It’s hard out there! But it’s always appreciated to be able to listen to someone else’s stories and not dwell too hard on your own.
This book was a cute friends to lovers story and had me wishing for Jack’s POV. Also appreciated the conversations about mental health and anxiety.
Powered through this book in a matter of hours!
Now to the book, I could painfully relate to Haleigh’s dating woes. It’s hard out there! But it’s always appreciated to be able to listen to someone else’s stories and not dwell too hard on your own.
This book was a cute friends to lovers story and had me wishing for Jack’s POV. Also appreciated the conversations about mental health and anxiety.
Powered through this book in a matter of hours!
Thank you Netgalley for the honor to get to read this e-arc for a review.
This book is currently set to be published December 10,2024.
A little humor and romance is perfect in this friends to lovers trope book.
I personally have been married for 16 years, but I couldn't imagine dating now days. I think this would be exactly how this would go.
I look forward to reading more by Jenny Howe.
#
This book is currently set to be published December 10,2024.
A little humor and romance is perfect in this friends to lovers trope book.
I personally have been married for 16 years, but I couldn't imagine dating now days. I think this would be exactly how this would go.
I look forward to reading more by Jenny Howe.
#
funny
hopeful
inspiring
Loveable characters:
Yes
Thank you NetGalley for making this ARC available!
3.75 rounded up.
This was SO cute!
Haleigh’s bad dates were super entertaining, and seeing the good ones go well left me feeling hopeful. Online dating and being set up by friends and family is not easy nowadays!
I loved the inclusion of mental health struggles and feel like it was done well and accurately (as someone who also struggles with general anxiety.) Yay for therapy that works to get through that!
I would have loved to see more with Haleigh and her sister. There seems to be a lot of history that was a bit glossed over that could have been fleshed out a bit more.
Having a plus-sized FMC that is confident is always great to see ❤️
3.75 rounded up.
This was SO cute!
Haleigh’s bad dates were super entertaining, and seeing the good ones go well left me feeling hopeful. Online dating and being set up by friends and family is not easy nowadays!
I loved the inclusion of mental health struggles and feel like it was done well and accurately (as someone who also struggles with general anxiety.) Yay for therapy that works to get through that!
I would have loved to see more with Haleigh and her sister. There seems to be a lot of history that was a bit glossed over that could have been fleshed out a bit more.
Having a plus-sized FMC that is confident is always great to see ❤️