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3.63 AVERAGE
3.63 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
Did not love this one as much as the other two in the series. I was put off that Peter was such a jerk in beginning and the misunderstanding between these two dragged out. I don’t even dislike the miscommunication trope but I found myself frustrated by Maria and Peter not just talking out their damage. The pacing also felt off. Still love Dade and love the positive fat representation.
lighthearted
medium-paced
I really loved the plus-size rep here and how it was both characters, instead of one still being conventionally fit and hot. I over all really enjoyed the characters. The third act conflict made sense for the characters. Though the execution wasn't my favorite way for it to play out, the resolution worked well. The biggest reason this book didn't work well for me was the layout and pacing. The first half of the story was them on the film set with no romantic relationship at all. I am all for slow burn, but in this case, that part of the book went on a bit too long, and then even when we get to the actual relationship part of the story the author flashes back. They spent all that time on that part of the story they couldn't have included those things during that portion? Since we got very little time with the characters in a romantic relationship before the conflict, I found myself not really invested overall.
emotional
funny
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:
Complicated
emotional
funny
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
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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
I’ve had mixed results with this series. I enjoyed the celebrity/fan dynamic in Spoiler Alert, and the series’ loving references to various elements of fandom culture. I am also an absolute sucker for slow burn romances, so I was intrigued by this latest entry in the series, despite not loving the dynamic between the MCs in All the Feels.
Unfortunately, I had a hard time connecting with the characters. While I love Maria’s charm, I found Peter’s emotional reserve inscrutable, to the point where I couldn’t understand his shifting reactions to Maria. I had trouble understanding their reasonings for why they can’t be together, reducing the will-they-won’t-they slow burn tension to an extended period of communication issues. Their attraction is undeniable, but difficult for me to understand or feel invested in.
I think my confusion is largely tied to the novel’s pacing. The first hundred pages or so cover Maria and Peter’s one night stand, unexpected reunion at a final audition the next morning, and their six years working together as costars. The different scenes that illustrate their growing intimacy as coworkers feel more like a montage than the delicious tension of a slow burn. A lot of that work happens off-page, or is recalled in flashbacks, with the growing emotional connection between the MCs relies on telling rather than showing. While the scenes where they finally get together are decidedly steamy, I didn’t fully believe the payoff, especially with uncommunicated assumptions and insecurities looming over them. Despite making it over halfway through the book, I didn’t feel compelled to finish it, especially knowing those communication issues would almost certainly drive the final third of the plot. This just wasn’t the one for me.
Unfortunately, I had a hard time connecting with the characters. While I love Maria’s charm, I found Peter’s emotional reserve inscrutable, to the point where I couldn’t understand his shifting reactions to Maria. I had trouble understanding their reasonings for why they can’t be together, reducing the will-they-won’t-they slow burn tension to an extended period of communication issues. Their attraction is undeniable, but difficult for me to understand or feel invested in.
I think my confusion is largely tied to the novel’s pacing. The first hundred pages or so cover Maria and Peter’s one night stand, unexpected reunion at a final audition the next morning, and their six years working together as costars. The different scenes that illustrate their growing intimacy as coworkers feel more like a montage than the delicious tension of a slow burn. A lot of that work happens off-page, or is recalled in flashbacks, with the growing emotional connection between the MCs relies on telling rather than showing. While the scenes where they finally get together are decidedly steamy, I didn’t fully believe the payoff, especially with uncommunicated assumptions and insecurities looming over them. Despite making it over halfway through the book, I didn’t feel compelled to finish it, especially knowing those communication issues would almost certainly drive the final third of the plot. This just wasn’t the one for me.
Ship Wrecked ⚓️
➖release date: November 15th
➖rating: 5/5 ⭐️’s
➖spice level: 2.5/5
➖release date: November 15th
➖rating: 5/5 ⭐️’s
➖spice level: 2.5/5
emotional
funny
hopeful
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