Reviews

Don't Kiss the Bride - Special Edition: An Age Gap, Marriage of Convenience Romance by Carian Cole

mhutman25's review against another edition

emotional funny tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

emily_youngblood's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

lynard69's review against another edition

4.0

You know the moment that you are so content that you exhale the stress of the day away and revile in the peacefulness of the moment?

That is what this book was for me. A warm hug on a cold day or the quiet that happens at twilight. It was all the tropes I love realistically laid out into a love story that defies the odds.

Such a good read.

samanthapitre12's review against another edition

emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Eating disorder, and Panic attacks/disorders

jessicas_booknook's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

4.25⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I love this book. Carian Cole gets me every time. These characters are so real, flawed and loveable. You can’t help but want them to succeed and feel so frustrated when the world around them gets in the way. 

Skylar has had such a hard life and her character really brings to light the long term way mental health can be affected after living through traumatic experiences, and how it can progress to physical illness. It was interesting to see the author use hoarding and a shopping addiction in the mother as a way to bring light to yet another mental health issue. The mental health field is so vast, and I always appreciate when an author is able to include lesser known ailments into their work. Watching Skylar work through the issues developed from the experiences of her past is so healing! I really rooted for her, and thought she took such a mature approach to her issues on a daily basis. 

Watching Jude grow and flourish is so heartwarming. He is basically perfect. Flawed as he may be, he has the best heart and his love language is definitely physical acts of kindness for those around him. He is a care taker and a nurturer and so selfless. Carian Cole manages to work an age gap romance that could be sleezy into something that’s not.

This is actually the second time I’ve read this book. The first time I read it physically and this time I listened to the audio book. Desiree Ketchum and Aiden Snow did a great job with this!

honeyroseleareads's review against another edition

5.0

Ummmm. Absolute perfection? This was amazing and fantastic. I've never felt more in love while reading. I seriously loved reading every single word and I'm so glad that I bought this. Even the audiobook was simply amazing. Desiree Ketchum and Aiden Snow did a ✨chef's kiss✨ job and holy shit, Aiden Snow's narration was perfect.

norra's review against another edition

2.0

Its my fault i had high high expectations for this one i just feel like its sweet but too long and got distracted so much around the story its almost wanted to be slow burn but its not there yet

amber_warden's review against another edition

He uses her for rough hate sex and I got the ick

dnreadsbooks's review against another edition

1.0

I have read my fair share of taboo books. trust me, I am OK with taboo books or taboo topics. However, this book in my opinion crossed a line. it is one thing to have a massive age gap is one thing to be 18 and dating a way older man. It’s another thing to have the issues that she has and the parental problems that she has and get involved 34- year-old. he should’ve known better and I’m not saying this because of the age gap I am saying this because of her trauma and her mental health issues. he should’ve never gotten involved with her again not because of the age, but because she needed help from mental health professional, and he still got involved with her. The age isn’t the issue it’s her actual maturity level that is the problem. She is more naive in my opinion than most people are at that age. Obviously, she went through a lot, so in some way, she’s really mature, but socially these issues have stunted her. HE SHOULDVE NEVER GOTTEN WITH HER UNTIL SHE WAS MENTALLY WELL.

valeehill's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0