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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
hopeful
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:
No
Wait this was so goood! Somehow built in two different year long backstories into a novella was genius!
It's like You've Got Mail but you realize the box store chain bookstore owner guy is a bad guy and her secret bookish penpal is also her enemy coworker at the indie bookstore and opposites attract and hockey and autism rep and diabetes rep and everything I love! So much romance (historical specifically) and Jane Austen talk!!!!
It's like You've Got Mail but you realize the box store chain bookstore owner guy is a bad guy and her secret bookish penpal is also her enemy coworker at the indie bookstore and opposites attract and hockey and autism rep and diabetes rep and everything I love! So much romance (historical specifically) and Jane Austen talk!!!!
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
So fun! The audio is pretty great, but I do generally hate female voice actors’ male voices for dialogue, so they took away from some genuinely fun and hot exchanges. But holidays! And books! And in-charge, competent adult men with hot bods!
4.5/5
Despite the beginning that annoyed me, Jonathan made up for my dislikes by being the best book man ever
Despite the beginning that annoyed me, Jonathan made up for my dislikes by being the best book man ever
SIGH.
one of these days I'm going to stop reading these types of books--because they're an insult to literature and if the first humans saw this, I'm sure they'd rather not speak at all--BUT. they do help me read so many books mindlessly so there's that I guess?
Also. This review feels like a waste on such a book where I could sum it up in less than 50 characters but consistency I suppose.
« The plot »
I want to say none. (I'll stop being so salty in a second.)
Our main girl, Gabrielle, works at a bookshop. It's cute, quaint and all types of aesthetic. She has a rival, her co-manager Jonathan Frost, who's exactly like how he sounds. Cold, straight-to business whatever. And apparently, something happens and they're all couple-y. WHATEVER.
« The characters»
GOD.
1. Gabrielle.
She's Russian, autistic and demisexual. None of them are bad things to be in any sense, but like I'll discuss in the next part, the way we're told all this is so blandly put, I WAS GRIMACING.
Also, none of those aspects are explored? She's on the spectrum but we never see any meaningful discussions of how this maker her, her? Except for the time she was telling the main guy about it.
Sure, it's a novella and there wasn't much plot to sustain any of it but COME ON. give me something to work with girlie.
2. Jonathan Frost.
It's always characters like him that chip away my faith in humanity. HOW. HOW. HOW. Are women attracted to him? Speaking of, Gabby here just found him attractive and they...kissed. And they didn't talk about it. And they kind of got married???
ALSO HIS DIABETES???? WHAT?? That was such a random thing to force?? Aaaannndddd does he have divorced parents?? OF COURSE, HE DOES!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Not that I have anything good to say about it, but let's talk about "their relationship" for a second.
Their chemistry. I sound like a broken record BECAUSE WHEN ARE AUTHORS GOING TO UNDERSTAND THAT IF THEY DON'T DO IT WELL LEAVE IT OUT GODDAMNIT.
Enemies to lovers? You've got to be kidding me. Unless the hate is PURE, VISCERAL AND REAL, I don't. want. it.
They had no chemistry so there's nothing to review there.
3. Her besties.
A gay best friend and an emo gal.
*No comments*
THIS BOOK MAKES NO SENSE YALL.
« The writing »
Here we are.
This book truly gets negative points for everything. I'd give it no stars but.
There truly is nothing to say. Nothing memorable, no quotes, B S.
« My Thoughts »
Please, if you value books even a little bit, don't read this. 200 something pages later, you'll regret it, trust me.
GOD.
There are so many better books out there that should probably be published but here this book is.
one of these days I'm going to stop reading these types of books--because they're an insult to literature and if the first humans saw this, I'm sure they'd rather not speak at all--BUT. they do help me read so many books mindlessly so there's that I guess?
Also. This review feels like a waste on such a book where I could sum it up in less than 50 characters but consistency I suppose.
« The plot »
I want to say none. (I'll stop being so salty in a second.)
Our main girl, Gabrielle, works at a bookshop. It's cute, quaint and all types of aesthetic. She has a rival, her co-manager Jonathan Frost, who's exactly like how he sounds. Cold, straight-to business whatever. And apparently, something happens and they're all couple-y. WHATEVER.
« The characters»
GOD.
1. Gabrielle.
She's Russian, autistic and demisexual. None of them are bad things to be in any sense, but like I'll discuss in the next part, the way we're told all this is so blandly put, I WAS GRIMACING.
Also, none of those aspects are explored? She's on the spectrum but we never see any meaningful discussions of how this maker her, her? Except for the time she was telling the main guy about it.
Sure, it's a novella and there wasn't much plot to sustain any of it but COME ON. give me something to work with girlie.
2. Jonathan Frost.
It's always characters like him that chip away my faith in humanity. HOW. HOW. HOW. Are women attracted to him? Speaking of, Gabby here just found him attractive and they...kissed. And they didn't talk about it. And they kind of got married???
ALSO HIS DIABETES???? WHAT?? That was such a random thing to force?? Aaaannndddd does he have divorced parents?? OF COURSE, HE DOES!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Not that I have anything good to say about it, but let's talk about "their relationship" for a second.
Their chemistry. I sound like a broken record BECAUSE WHEN ARE AUTHORS GOING TO UNDERSTAND THAT IF THEY DON'T DO IT WELL LEAVE IT OUT GODDAMNIT.
Enemies to lovers? You've got to be kidding me. Unless the hate is PURE, VISCERAL AND REAL, I don't. want. it.
They had no chemistry so there's nothing to review there.
3. Her besties.
A gay best friend and an emo gal.
*No comments*
THIS BOOK MAKES NO SENSE YALL.
« The writing »
Here we are.
This book truly gets negative points for everything. I'd give it no stars but.
There truly is nothing to say. Nothing memorable, no quotes, B S.
« My Thoughts »
Please, if you value books even a little bit, don't read this. 200 something pages later, you'll regret it, trust me.
GOD.
There are so many better books out there that should probably be published but here this book is.
I don't typically read Holiday books but I was excited by the enemies to lovers angle on a Christmas novel as it is normal childhood friends to lovers. This is a cute, fast paced, short festive read that has all of my favorite troupes!
I've never read anything from Chloe Liese but I could not resist this book after seeing that stunning cover! I read this in one sitting, it is definitely one of the best Christmas books I've read. It was a short story but it did not feel rushed and the development and yearning that leads to the main characters getting together is so amazingly done with so many sweet happy moments. Jonathan and Gabby's relationship was so great. I loved all of the heartfelt conversations they had about their respective issues and how they confide in each other. It is such a relief when I find a romance book with no miscommunication troupe! We don't get Jonathans point of view till the last chapter but it never felt like I missed anything in the story, his actions show how much he cared for Gabby and all the love he has for her. This was such a fun festive story, that was balanced with some serious topics(that were excellently discussed). It was a cute wholesome( and spicy) holiday romance and I really enjoyed it!
What I loved :
⛄Sunshine - grumpy troupe
I've never read anything from Chloe Liese but I could not resist this book after seeing that stunning cover! I read this in one sitting, it is definitely one of the best Christmas books I've read. It was a short story but it did not feel rushed and the development and yearning that leads to the main characters getting together is so amazingly done with so many sweet happy moments. Jonathan and Gabby's relationship was so great. I loved all of the heartfelt conversations they had about their respective issues and how they confide in each other. It is such a relief when I find a romance book with no miscommunication troupe! We don't get Jonathans point of view till the last chapter but it never felt like I missed anything in the story, his actions show how much he cared for Gabby and all the love he has for her. This was such a fun festive story, that was balanced with some serious topics(that were excellently discussed). It was a cute wholesome( and spicy) holiday romance and I really enjoyed it!
What I loved :
⛄Sunshine - grumpy troupe
lighthearted
fast-paced
Loveable characters:
No
I listened to this because it said Jacob Morgan narrated… he did, but only the last, incredibly short chapter.
I know this is supposed to be a “hallmark Christmas movie” style book, but wow it was not great. At times it felt like an infographic was inserted to explain things likeautism and being demisexual which tbh having so much additional focus on was boring and pulled away from the immersion. It felt like being reminded of why the FMC did certain things, when it was obvious.
I know this is supposed to be a “hallmark Christmas movie” style book, but wow it was not great. At times it felt like an infographic was inserted to explain things like
3.75
This book was such a cute bookshop holiday romance! I loved the you’ve got mail retelling vibes of the story and the representation present.
This book was such a cute bookshop holiday romance! I loved the you’ve got mail retelling vibes of the story and the representation present.
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-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
Such a fun and spicy Holiday romance. I loved the banter between the characters and the representation of autism and diabetes was wonderful! All the little mini tropes sprinkled in was very entertaining. Great Christmas romance book!