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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
easy-going romance playing out the bachelor plotline we all really care about.
I really appreciated that this didn’t shy away from the ugly stuff - the constant reshoots and mundane behind-the-scenes were great, mandie’s ex and her decision to play straight were brutally realistic, and even the lockdown references were handled well for the plot device that they were - while still hitting that romance contract. I am not a big romance reader so I may not have picked this up if it were anyone but Jodi, but she smashed it (do go follow her excellent and insightful Bachelor recaps).
I really appreciated that this didn’t shy away from the ugly stuff - the constant reshoots and mundane behind-the-scenes were great, mandie’s ex and her decision to play straight were brutally realistic, and even the lockdown references were handled well for the plot device that they were - while still hitting that romance contract. I am not a big romance reader so I may not have picked this up if it were anyone but Jodi, but she smashed it (do go follow her excellent and insightful Bachelor recaps).
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I found this quick and easy to read and tore through it. I like the concept of this series: three separate romances all happening in the same timeline and setting. But I do wonder if it sacrifices narrative tension to diminishing returns.
I enjoyed the first book in the series, which names the protagonists of this book as a big twist at the end. While I enjoyed finding out how their romance unfolded, I felt there wasn't as much narrative tension because of that – things that seemed like big romantic obstacles to Mandie, the protagonist, were clearly not obstacles to me.
I dislike reality TV and don't watch it, but weirdly I enjoyed the backstage stuff here: how the characters struggle to hold on to their sense of self when they're being put in ridiculous, stylised situations; the choices of hair, makeup and costume; what the cameras and mics can and can't capture; how actual words, reactions and events are twisted into misleading 'characters' and 'storylines'.
Mandie was a kind and capable protagonist but she was also very passive and emotionally fragile. Her constant crying annoyed me, as did the way she was always being bossed about by dominant people. I was like, "Why was she such a doormat with Jac, who was not just emotionally cruel but also not even very smart?" Also, it seemed like she was just falling into the same pattern again with Dylan.
As in Here for the Right Reasons, I found Lily Fireball very two-dimensional and infuriating. I know we're going to get Lily and Murray's romance next, where McAlister will flesh her out with human emotions and vulnerabilities, but basically all the characters except for Mandie and the two Dylans seemed like interchangeable NPCs.
When I went through some other reviews to see what other people thought of the book, I saw lots of people whingeing about how they didn't like the Covid lockdown setting because 'romance is meant to be escapist' and they didn't want to be 'dragged back there'.
Jeez, grow up. It's a plot device that keeps all the characters in close proximity. It's no different from being snowed in, or stuck on an island.
And also, contemporary romance is set in the real world, where Covid (or "the virus", as McAlister tactfully calls it) is also real. It's kind of creepy that people expect authors to just ignore it. In fact, I'm pretty sure McAlister has done a Twitter thread along these lines.
I enjoyed the first book in the series, which names the protagonists of this book as a big twist at the end. While I enjoyed finding out how their romance unfolded, I felt there wasn't as much narrative tension because of that – things that seemed like big romantic obstacles to Mandie, the protagonist, were clearly not obstacles to me.
I dislike reality TV and don't watch it, but weirdly I enjoyed the backstage stuff here: how the characters struggle to hold on to their sense of self when they're being put in ridiculous, stylised situations; the choices of hair, makeup and costume; what the cameras and mics can and can't capture; how actual words, reactions and events are twisted into misleading 'characters' and 'storylines'.
Mandie was a kind and capable protagonist but she was also very passive and emotionally fragile. Her constant crying annoyed me, as did the way she was always being bossed about by dominant people. I was like, "Why was she such a doormat with Jac, who was not just emotionally cruel but also not even very smart?" Also, it seemed like she was just falling into the same pattern again with Dylan.
As in Here for the Right Reasons, I found Lily Fireball very two-dimensional and infuriating. I know we're going to get Lily and Murray's romance next, where McAlister will flesh her out with human emotions and vulnerabilities, but basically all the characters except for Mandie and the two Dylans seemed like interchangeable NPCs.
When I went through some other reviews to see what other people thought of the book, I saw lots of people whingeing about how they didn't like the Covid lockdown setting because 'romance is meant to be escapist' and they didn't want to be 'dragged back there'.
Jeez, grow up. It's a plot device that keeps all the characters in close proximity. It's no different from being snowed in, or stuck on an island.
And also, contemporary romance is set in the real world, where Covid (or "the virus", as McAlister tactfully calls it) is also real. It's kind of creepy that people expect authors to just ignore it. In fact, I'm pretty sure McAlister has done a Twitter thread along these lines.
lighthearted
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:
Complicated
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
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
lighthearted
slow-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
Very unique premise of the book with the dating show and then two contestents falling in love. Did not expect the ending with Dylan choosing someone else which waw interesting. I also liked how it showed how scriped reality TV is.