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3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
This book was exactly what I was expecting with banter, romance and learning how to parent. I would not say this was an enemies to lovers since it felt very one sided and it felt like that person was more of an asshole than anything. I really liked the kids and I wish it was a little bit longer with more shenanigans. The twist almost at the end seemed unnecessary though.
emotional
lighthearted
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Really did not like the love interest in this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Car accident, Death of parent
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Bullying
I received a digital ARC from NetGalley.
I don't know where the comparison of "Life's Too Short" meets "The Unhoneymooners," as I have read both and am not seeing that cross reference at all. Lots of people are saying that this is like the 2010 movie, "Life As We Know It," which I've never seen, so this story is fresh for me.
For someone who, ultimately, has loved Colby from the start, Rip is pretty godawful to her in the beginning. I'd like to think his sneering Neanderthal "You're home with the kids all day, Colby, how hard can it be" stance was a contrivance for enemies-to-lovers' sake, because at his age he should have some inkling--especially since he's Monica's brother--how hard it is to deal with kids. At least he gets his ass handed to him once he and Colby start switching off stay-at-home duties.
But it's really a bittersweet story about two adults struggling to keep some semblance of family together (at times in quite comical ways), while struggling through their own grief. Banks could've used his own book and not have his own story turn out the way it did. Epilogue could've used a touch more work, but overall I liked the book.
I don't know where the comparison of "Life's Too Short" meets "The Unhoneymooners," as I have read both and am not seeing that cross reference at all. Lots of people are saying that this is like the 2010 movie, "Life As We Know It," which I've never seen, so this story is fresh for me.
For someone who, ultimately, has loved Colby from the start, Rip is pretty godawful to her in the beginning. I'd like to think his sneering Neanderthal "You're home with the kids all day, Colby, how hard can it be" stance was a contrivance for enemies-to-lovers' sake, because at his age he should have some inkling--especially since he's Monica's brother--how hard it is to deal with kids. At least he gets his ass handed to him once he and Colby start switching off stay-at-home duties.
But it's really a bittersweet story about two adults struggling to keep some semblance of family together (at times in quite comical ways), while struggling through their own grief. Banks could've used his own book and not have his own story turn out the way it did
Spoiler
why oh why, Rachel, did you set up a story where Colby's childhood bully gets to stay in her life by way of Banks???)
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
not the biggest fan of the mmc, but the plot was pretty good until the end. not a fan of the writing and plot of the end.
DNFed at 61%.
I was really excited about this one! I love a surprise baby trope, whether it's a hidden pregnancy or life throwing the worst at characters who have to scramble to pick up the pieces, and I liked the sound of childhood rivals to lovers learning to co-parent and deal with loss while balancing an uber-organized type A personality and a chaotic free spirit. Rip and Colby had the potential to be grumpy/sunshine excellence, but nearly every aspect of this book ended up falling short.
I liked the kids and Colby was fine, but Rip is charting for one of my least favorite male leads of all time. I love a good grump who is an actual grump, but Rip was just cruel to Colby and I didn't feel that the writing properly scaffolded this as a shitty expression of grief that would be remedied in a way that furthered the romantic plot; instead, it came off as vile and misogynistic, and the switch-up of Rip staying home and Colby getting his office didn't hit at all as a proper comeuppance. If he didn't have the secondary POV, I would have expected Banks to be the actual love interest. I might have preferred it that way, actually.
The writing was also unfortunately lackluster and I felt a lack of tension that kept me invested in the relationships. At 61%, I didn't feel any true will-they-won't-they, even with double secondary love interests in the mix (though on Rip's side, I felt that plot thread was dropped and forgotten). I might be somewhat biased toward slow burns, but especially considering this is a grumpy/sunshine second chance rivals to lovers, they got too close too fast. I also felt Colby forgave Rip way too quick. Simply not enough groveling, considering all this man has put her through. For all the history featured in this book between the high school bully gunning for Rip, their childhood relationship, their failure of a second date, and the couple that united them, very little of it came to the surface and added the weight that would have kept me hooked. Perhaps with a bit less of those moving pieces, this book might have stuck the landing for me?
Unfortunately, I would not recommend this book at all, but thank you to NetGalley and Forever for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I was really excited about this one! I love a surprise baby trope, whether it's a hidden pregnancy or life throwing the worst at characters who have to scramble to pick up the pieces, and I liked the sound of childhood rivals to lovers learning to co-parent and deal with loss while balancing an uber-organized type A personality and a chaotic free spirit. Rip and Colby had the potential to be grumpy/sunshine excellence, but nearly every aspect of this book ended up falling short.
I liked the kids and Colby was fine, but Rip is charting for one of my least favorite male leads of all time. I love a good grump who is an actual grump, but Rip was just cruel to Colby and I didn't feel that the writing properly scaffolded this as a shitty expression of grief that would be remedied in a way that furthered the romantic plot; instead, it came off as vile and misogynistic, and the switch-up of Rip staying home and Colby getting his office didn't hit at all as a proper comeuppance. If he didn't have the secondary POV, I would have expected Banks to be the actual love interest. I might have preferred it that way, actually.
The writing was also unfortunately lackluster and I felt a lack of tension that kept me invested in the relationships. At 61%, I didn't feel any true will-they-won't-they, even with double secondary love interests in the mix (though on Rip's side, I felt that plot thread was dropped and forgotten). I might be somewhat biased toward slow burns, but especially considering this is a grumpy/sunshine second chance rivals to lovers, they got too close too fast. I also felt Colby forgave Rip way too quick. Simply not enough groveling, considering all this man has put her through. For all the history featured in this book between the high school bully gunning for Rip, their childhood relationship, their failure of a second date, and the couple that united them, very little of it came to the surface and added the weight that would have kept me hooked. Perhaps with a bit less of those moving pieces, this book might have stuck the landing for me?
Unfortunately, I would not recommend this book at all, but thank you to NetGalley and Forever for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is a story of Colby, a free spirited easy going blogger and Rip, a tight laced accountant have their lives up ended when they suddenly find themselves coparenting and cohabitating. This books has grumping/sunshine, enemies/lovers, forced proximity, found family, hurt/comfort feel to it. It was a quick read, however I felt the story lacked depth. The interactions between Colby and Rip often felt rushed with little substance. I got more out of Colby and Rip's interactions with Banks than with each other. I really like Colby's character, the depth of her emotion felt real, you felt her loss. I didn't really like Rip. I get everyone grieves differently, but he never grieved ever, he was just mean and it didn't make him a likable character.
**received an ARC for an honest review**
**received an ARC for an honest review**
You know how you wish a book to movie was 10 hours long, this book is that. While, The Godparent Trap, isn’t the book, Life as We Know It is based on, they do share many similarities. I loved how Rachel Van Dyken made every character tangible. Every moment felt real and made me laugh or cry. It’s a bittersweet novel that you can spend a weekend curled up with.