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khieeae's review against another edition
5.0
So I don’t know where the bad reviews for this book came from, it’s a lovely not over dramatic romance.
I high key recommend giving it a chance even though I will admit it’s not the fiery Georgia beers we’re used too.
Giving it a 4/4.5 because I really found my self wishing for Addison to at least take a step back from her company. Maybe even a sabbatical while she tries to get back to reality.
How is she even in good mental health? How can you not have some sought of problem while working in business where all your employees hate you and you don’t have a social life.
At times I wished for more complex- feeling revealing dialogue. Wished that there was one heart to heart between Addison and her mother instead of her mother blatantly saying “I’m sad for you get a life loser” okay she didn’t exactly say that but that’s what it felt like.
Other than that the book was a regular light feel good romance! Recommend If you’re tired of emotional books!
I high key recommend giving it a chance even though I will admit it’s not the fiery Georgia beers we’re used too.
Giving it a 4/4.5 because I really found my self wishing for Addison to at least take a step back from her company. Maybe even a sabbatical while she tries to get back to reality.
How is she even in good mental health? How can you not have some sought of problem while working in business where all your employees hate you and you don’t have a social life.
At times I wished for more complex- feeling revealing dialogue. Wished that there was one heart to heart between Addison and her mother instead of her mother blatantly saying “I’m sad for you get a life loser” okay she didn’t exactly say that but that’s what it felt like.
Other than that the book was a regular light feel good romance! Recommend If you’re tired of emotional books!
sherpawhale's review against another edition
3.0
Sigh. What could have been a perfectly delightful, tropey romance was spoiled a bit by something that didn't happen at the end.
There's good chemistry here, to be sure, and there's nothing wrong with a trope done to perfection (which it is). But the character of Addison... hard-working executive, oldest of 3 siblings all inheriting executive positions from their mother at their mother's company, poised to potentially take over from her mom when her mom announced a year ago she was stepping down and choosing one of them as a successor. Naturally, Addison things she'll be chosen as eldest and starts killing herself at work (literally) to prove she's up for it.
Well, long story short, towards the very end the mom holds a family dinner party and announces she is choosing Addison's younger sister, for reasons of having a balance between home life and work life.
Addison is made to be remorseful, and the mom's decision was revealed to have been made not as a punishment, but some just ruling.
I had... so many issues with this. For one, it's extremely unprofessional for such an initiative position that the mom didn't at least have some meeting with her chosen successor beforehand, let alone a private meeting with the others. That's just sensible, to head off any potential problems! And it's respectful of all involved.
Two, Addison's mother, who is shown to care about her daughter, should have SAID SOMETHING at some point, but especially when Addison ended up in the ER due to overworking. She should have said something like "honey, I can tell you're overworking yourself to prove to me you want the job. Well, I'm not going to pick someone who can't find a balance between work and home." Don't just dangle something that someone wants desperately over their head with invisible parameters!
And all of that would have been fine, 4 stars, if there had just been a line that said "Mom... that was really fucked up how you handled that situation." That's it! One sentence longer.
Anyway, that may or may not bug other people, it certainly didn't keep me from enjoying the rest of it. But it is the thing I'm thinking about most after finishing it, so I think it's significant to mention.
There's good chemistry here, to be sure, and there's nothing wrong with a trope done to perfection (which it is). But the character of Addison... hard-working executive, oldest of 3 siblings all inheriting executive positions from their mother at their mother's company, poised to potentially take over from her mom when her mom announced a year ago she was stepping down and choosing one of them as a successor. Naturally, Addison things she'll be chosen as eldest and starts killing herself at work (literally) to prove she's up for it.
Well, long story short, towards the very end the mom holds a family dinner party and announces she is choosing Addison's younger sister, for reasons of having a balance between home life and work life.
Addison is made to be remorseful, and the mom's decision was revealed to have been made not as a punishment, but some just ruling.
I had... so many issues with this. For one, it's extremely unprofessional for such an initiative position that the mom didn't at least have some meeting with her chosen successor beforehand, let alone a private meeting with the others. That's just sensible, to head off any potential problems! And it's respectful of all involved.
Two, Addison's mother, who is shown to care about her daughter, should have SAID SOMETHING at some point, but especially when Addison ended up in the ER due to overworking. She should have said something like "honey, I can tell you're overworking yourself to prove to me you want the job. Well, I'm not going to pick someone who can't find a balance between work and home." Don't just dangle something that someone wants desperately over their head with invisible parameters!
And all of that would have been fine, 4 stars, if there had just been a line that said "Mom... that was really fucked up how you handled that situation." That's it! One sentence longer.
Anyway, that may or may not bug other people, it certainly didn't keep me from enjoying the rest of it. But it is the thing I'm thinking about most after finishing it, so I think it's significant to mention.
challonea's review against another edition
3.0
I must say it was kind of a struggle for me to get through the beginning of this book but I continue on because I haven’t read a book yet by Georgia Beers that I didn’t enjoy! I told myself this can’t be real and I agreed to continue reading to prove myself wrong. This book started to catch my interest a little bit more during the middle and much much more towards the end. They say opposites attract and Katie brung our the best in Addison. I loved how stubborn Addison finally came to her senses and confessed what she was going through and put all her raw feelings out on the table to Katie. I also love Katie for being so strong-hearted and loving despite things she was going threw at home and the challenges she faced with Addison. She remain the same sweet, caring, and affectionate person always true to herself. They are perfect for each other in every sense. I can’t speak on the whole book but towards the ending really caught my interest I love it! #Netgalley
ssejig's review against another edition
3.0
Katie Cooper has moved back home to help her mother deal with Katie's father who has early (and fast) onset Alzheimer's. She really needs some more money to help with the mounting medical bills. When her friend tells her about an admin assistant job, she jumps at the chance.
Addison Fairchild doesn't actually want an assistant but her drive to work has created a health crisis that has made her family decide that she HAS to have some help. Even so, it doesn't mean she has to act gracefully. Until Katie calls her out on her manners. The two eventually find a tentative working relationship. And love.
I wish I had remembered that I don't like boss/employee romances before requesting this book from NetGalley. I'm pretty sure people that don't mind that trope will like this book more than I did.
Addison Fairchild doesn't actually want an assistant but her drive to work has created a health crisis that has made her family decide that she HAS to have some help. Even so, it doesn't mean she has to act gracefully. Until Katie calls her out on her manners. The two eventually find a tentative working relationship. And love.
I wish I had remembered that I don't like boss/employee romances before requesting this book from NetGalley. I'm pretty sure people that don't mind that trope will like this book more than I did.
colossal's review against another edition
2.0
Workaholic Addison Fairchild is an executive in her family's successful real estate business, but her all-work all-the-time lifestyle catches up with her with serious stress-related health issues. Addison's mother controls the company and is planning on retiring soon, but she has not yet chosen her successor. She's also very worried about her daughter, so she forces her to take on a personal assistant. Enter Katie Cooper, who's well-suited for the job, but undergoing significant stress at home due to her father's deteriorating dementia. Addison doesn't want an assistant, and Katy needs the money the job provides. What follows is two people with issues who find each other attractive, but are also determined to out-stubborn each other.
This is an ok romance book, but I have some major problems with both Addison and her mother. Beyond physical attractiveness it's very hard to see why anyone would want to enter a relationship with Addison, and the way that Meredith Fairchild treats her family and daughter strains belief. I think the biggest problem here is how obvious what's going to happen with the company succession (and why) and that most of the potentially explosive situation could be resolved with a conversation about two sentences long:
And then once the inevitable does happen the narrative treats it all as being ok, and Addison having something to apologize for. There are a number of beats in the book like this, that just don't make a lot of sense as written that left me relatively cold towards the whole thing. (The anti-fraternization thing is completely off the rails weird, and only there to ratchet up the plot angst. The real world doesn't work like that. Organizations move employees rather than just ask them to resign in these situations.)
Great setup and competent writing, but the narrative choices here really let the whole thing down.
This is an ok romance book, but I have some major problems with both Addison and her mother. Beyond physical attractiveness it's very hard to see why anyone would want to enter a relationship with Addison, and the way that Meredith Fairchild treats her family and daughter strains belief. I think the biggest problem here is how obvious what's going to happen with the company succession (and why) and that most of the potentially explosive situation could be resolved with a conversation about two sentences long:
Spoiler
"Addison, I can't trust you to run my company while your work/life balance is so severely out-of-whack. Get your head together and make me believe you won't die of a heart attack in five years."And then once the inevitable does happen the narrative treats it all as being ok, and Addison having something to apologize for. There are a number of beats in the book like this, that just don't make a lot of sense as written that left me relatively cold towards the whole thing. (The anti-fraternization thing is completely off the rails weird, and only there to ratchet up the plot angst. The real world doesn't work like that. Organizations move employees rather than just ask them to resign in these situations.)
Great setup and competent writing, but the narrative choices here really let the whole thing down.
mjsam's review against another edition
3.0
ARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I should have liked this more than I did. Usually I’m a fan of Beers books, but the last few have been kind of meh. This one had an interesting premise (and usually I’m a fan of workplace romances) but it never really lived up to its promise.
Addison is a workaholic hoping to earn the right to take over the family business. Due to what can only be called sheer idiocy on her part, she works herself into a health situation that requires her to take on an admin assistant. This seemed stupid to me because it’s just so ridiculous that a woman running the rental arm of a huge company wouldn’t already have an asssiant, workaholic or not, but whatever. There’s also a lot made of the no fraternising at work rule, for obsious reasons.
So, enter Katie, she’s moved home to help her mother with her father because he’s ill with dementia (I admit to skimming the home scenes for the most part, having experienced this with both of my parents, I didn’t want to relive it). She’s also working two jobs, so only helps Addison in the afternoons (this also seemed unrealistic for a woman in Addison’s postition, but again, whatever).
So, Katie shows up to help but despite EVERYONE telling Addison to get over herself and accept the help, she still acts like a tosser and refuses. Seriously, she’s a real jerk of a character. I was kind of disappointed that Katrina wasn’t the gay sister, she’d have been a much better match for a Katie. Eventually Addison and Katie come to terms but there’s still a lot of one step forward four steps back (although I was glad that Katie had a backbone and didn’t mind calling Addison out when she was acting like a jerk). Katie and Addison grow closer (though this was handled so superficially that I didn’t buy into it) and they get together. There’s also some tie in to the previous books by Beers about the animal shelter, but I only read one of those, so it didn’t really add anything for me.
All of this leads up to the drama portion of the book, which seriously could have gone no other way, and Addison is a jerk some more. We then get somewhat of a happy ending, but it was a bit too easily rectified and didn’t feel like they’d earned it. Like I said, superficial.
So, Katie was interesting, the supporting characters were good (Sophie also would have been a better match for Katie, hell, even Addison’s mother would have been better) but Katie and Addison together just didn’t grab me. It’s Beers, so it’s well-written, but I think less time spent on Addison and her self-centred whining and more on them as a couple would have made this a better book. 3 stars.
I should have liked this more than I did. Usually I’m a fan of Beers books, but the last few have been kind of meh. This one had an interesting premise (and usually I’m a fan of workplace romances) but it never really lived up to its promise.
Addison is a workaholic hoping to earn the right to take over the family business. Due to what can only be called sheer idiocy on her part, she works herself into a health situation that requires her to take on an admin assistant. This seemed stupid to me because it’s just so ridiculous that a woman running the rental arm of a huge company wouldn’t already have an asssiant, workaholic or not, but whatever. There’s also a lot made of the no fraternising at work rule, for obsious reasons.
So, enter Katie, she’s moved home to help her mother with her father because he’s ill with dementia (I admit to skimming the home scenes for the most part, having experienced this with both of my parents, I didn’t want to relive it). She’s also working two jobs, so only helps Addison in the afternoons (this also seemed unrealistic for a woman in Addison’s postition, but again, whatever).
So, Katie shows up to help but despite EVERYONE telling Addison to get over herself and accept the help, she still acts like a tosser and refuses. Seriously, she’s a real jerk of a character. I was kind of disappointed that Katrina wasn’t the gay sister, she’d have been a much better match for a Katie. Eventually Addison and Katie come to terms but there’s still a lot of one step forward four steps back (although I was glad that Katie had a backbone and didn’t mind calling Addison out when she was acting like a jerk). Katie and Addison grow closer (though this was handled so superficially that I didn’t buy into it) and they get together. There’s also some tie in to the previous books by Beers about the animal shelter, but I only read one of those, so it didn’t really add anything for me.
All of this leads up to the drama portion of the book, which seriously could have gone no other way, and Addison is a jerk some more. We then get somewhat of a happy ending, but it was a bit too easily rectified and didn’t feel like they’d earned it. Like I said, superficial.
So, Katie was interesting, the supporting characters were good (Sophie also would have been a better match for Katie, hell, even Addison’s mother would have been better) but Katie and Addison together just didn’t grab me. It’s Beers, so it’s well-written, but I think less time spent on Addison and her self-centred whining and more on them as a couple would have made this a better book. 3 stars.
mirielen_arantes's review against another edition
4.0
Apesar de ficar bastante estressada com a teimosia da Addison, essa história me encantou de um jeito que poucos livros conseguiram. O relacionamento entre Katie e Addison é tão gostoso e real, os personagens secundários são tão encantadores quanto os principais ... além disso, o relacionamento de Katie com seus pais é de aquecer o coração (mesmo que triste por conta da doença de seu pai). Georgia Beers é mesmo uma das melhores autoras que alguém pode ler
brennooth's review against another edition
5.0
What a way to start the new year... oh how I've adored this book. I knew I had to read it when it showed up on a recommendation for "ice queen" themed stories. And what can I say, Addison was a perfectly lovable ice queen right there. The difference in Katie and Addie was so well balanced in how they acted around each other. Katie not having Addison's attitude and Addie warming up to Katie's cheerful behavior. And there's nothing to be said about the slightly "failed" grand gesture. It ended up being so much better. The "face off" with Liz just adding to the awesomeness of that moment.
tara_ej's review against another edition
5.0
So this was not my first Georgia Beers read and I loved her work previously and Calendar Girl did not disappoint. I loved both the characters and loved watching them develop alongside the story line. The romance was just lovely to read and I could not put it down. Highly recommend this novel to anyone who loves a romantic journey!
litschi's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5