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thisbookisbananas's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? No
5.0
It’s official: I absolutely love Sarah Adams.
Nora and Derek’s relationship had way more substance to it than any other characters I’ve read so far from this author, which made me love it all the more. This is a second chance romance trope, not usually my favorite because you never know if the relationship initially ended because of cheating( a nope trope of mine). Happily, this was not the case. It was so nice to see characters actual work through real issues that can come up when you have a complicated past.
As a literacy coach, I love that Derek is diagnosed with dyslexia late in life. It is a neurodivergence disorder which isn’t portrayed much, especially in books! Glad to see a light being shined on it.
If you pick up Sarah Adams books because she writes closed door romance, this book has one chapter of on-page steaminess. However,Sarah Adams has a preface at the beginning of the book and the audiobook letting readers know which chapter it happens in if they want to skip the chapter. This makes me respect Sarah Adams even more for wanting all readers to feel comfortable when enjoying her book. All in all, a damn good time that made me laugh and tear up.
Nora and Derek’s relationship had way more substance to it than any other characters I’ve read so far from this author, which made me love it all the more. This is a second chance romance trope, not usually my favorite because you never know if the relationship initially ended because of cheating( a nope trope of mine). Happily, this was not the case. It was so nice to see characters actual work through real issues that can come up when you have a complicated past.
As a literacy coach, I love that Derek is diagnosed with dyslexia late in life. It is a neurodivergence disorder which isn’t portrayed much, especially in books! Glad to see a light being shined on it.
If you pick up Sarah Adams books because she writes closed door romance, this book has one chapter of on-page steaminess. However,Sarah Adams has a preface at the beginning of the book and the audiobook letting readers know which chapter it happens in if they want to skip the chapter. This makes me respect Sarah Adams even more for wanting all readers to feel comfortable when enjoying her book. All in all, a damn good time that made me laugh and tear up.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism, Sexual content, and Vomit
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
laheath's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
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
3.0
Sweet romance with a male lead pining for the girl who broke his heart in college. When she was being an adult, the story was great, but there were so many times that she was immature in various ways.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing, Alcohol, and Pregnancy
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
carlyjoann's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual content, Alcohol, and Misogyny
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
rebekah_rei's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Abandonment and Sexism
kimib79's review
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I found Nora's "quirky" behavior grating and Derek is just a bit too perfect. Like you could tell the author was having him say exactly what she thinks women want to hear. It made him unbelievable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing and Sexism
embroidery_by_booklover's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Pregnancy, Sexism, Sexual content, and Alcohol
emwhite95's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Author gives the chapter at the beginning that you should skip if you’d “rather keep the bedroom door closed” which I appreciateintentionalreadinglife's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I have always enjoyed this author and I think she delivers exactly what I expected…an easy breezy, little bit cheesy romance, packed with chemistry and sexual tension.
It’s interesting to see Adams make her first foray into open door romance; I do wonder how this will land with her long time readers? I suspect some readers will say it’s not spicy enough, and others will be disappointed that it’s there at all. It does have a slightly different edge from some of her earlier works, and I wonder if that’s the impact of her move to traditional publishing vs self-publishing.
I needed a purely escapist, read-it-one-sitting feel good romance, and for me, this book delivered in spades!
It’s interesting to see Adams make her first foray into open door romance; I do wonder how this will land with her long time readers? I suspect some readers will say it’s not spicy enough, and others will be disappointed that it’s there at all. It does have a slightly different edge from some of her earlier works, and I wonder if that’s the impact of her move to traditional publishing vs self-publishing.
I needed a purely escapist, read-it-one-sitting feel good romance, and for me, this book delivered in spades!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
justsmileandread's review
fast-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content and Misogyny
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
caitrisriding's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
4.25
Sarah Adams writing is definitely a go to comfort read for me. The Cheat Sheet was my favorite book last year, and I really enjoyed getting back in this world, seeing old characters and meeting new ones. Personally for me Bre & Nathan just had more of what I love and look for with a romance, so while I enjoyed this one it didn’t reach top tier for me.
I did really enjoy Nora’s super quirky personality. The kind of grumpy x sunshine thing they had going on was pretty cute. I definitely liked this book the more I read it and the farther along I got.
Another reason this isn’t any higher than it is for me personally is that there is a sex scene chapter in it. Now I appreciate the author putting a disclaimer at the beginning of the book (really wish more would do this) but up to this point she’s been a purely closed door romance author, so I wasn’t happy with this and I really hope she doesn’t continue to start writing that into her stories.
All in all this was pretty cute and fun, as I expected from Sarah Adams. But 2nd chance romance isn’t as high of a love for me as friends to lovers is, and the personalities of the characters wasn’t my all time favorites, along with the sexual content thrown in, it’s landing at a 4.25 for me.
I did really enjoy Nora’s super quirky personality. The kind of grumpy x sunshine thing they had going on was pretty cute. I definitely liked this book the more I read it and the farther along I got.
Another reason this isn’t any higher than it is for me personally is that there is a sex scene chapter in it. Now I appreciate the author putting a disclaimer at the beginning of the book (really wish more would do this) but up to this point she’s been a purely closed door romance author, so I wasn’t happy with this and I really hope she doesn’t continue to start writing that into her stories.
All in all this was pretty cute and fun, as I expected from Sarah Adams. But 2nd chance romance isn’t as high of a love for me as friends to lovers is, and the personalities of the characters wasn’t my all time favorites, along with the sexual content thrown in, it’s landing at a 4.25 for me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content