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3.59 AVERAGE
3.59 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming
Sweet and funny. Quick read. Nothing earth shattering. I liked Scott quite a bit. (I’m a sucker for a cool, calm, collected kind of guy.) Crystal was obnoxious, but it didn’t distract me that much. The grandparents side plot was pretty cute. It wasn’t quite as emotionally intelligent as I’d have liked it to be, but it’s fine for a good beach read. I keep seeing book 2 in this series everywhere, so I decided to give 1 a shot first. I’d definitely read the second. It was a good palate cleanser after some high fantasy, and like I said, good for the beach. 3.5 rounded up to 4.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I'm sorry to say that this book just wasn't for me. I found Scott (the MMC) to be incredibly boring and without a personality, and Crystal (the MFC) was uncomfortably obsessed with his "six-pack abs". I appreciated the tension between the characters in the beginning (though Scott was extremely childish) and their first kiss, but after that it all went away. It did come back when (SPOILER) they agreed to take things slow and not have a physical relationship, but again I couldn't see them together romantically. Also, this was supposed to be a gym rivalry to lovers situation. Ummm...is the rivalry in the room with us? Because he seemed to just irritate her at the gym for all of 5 minutes (SPOILER) before they were in a miscommunication situation and then they were dating.
I did like the struggle that Crystal went through with fighting through stereotypes of people and her own self-esteem because it felt realistic. I also understand her hesitation in dating him (I went through the same thing where my ex in my one and only serious relationship got with me 5 seconds after breaking up and then got back with their ex suspiciously soon after we broke up). I'm not a huge fan of the fact that they're becoming family because their 70-something year old grandparents were marrying each other, but there's nothing inherently wrong with it. Also, I found Crystal to be a little annoying, it was more like being in my own head which I hated (lol) that's not why I deducted stars so don't worry. I think she was valid in wanting to handle her problems on her own (they literally just started dating it takes a second to start tackling things as a team) she was equally valid in being upset that Scott did exactly what she told him not to do. She was also valid in her annoyance with him in the beginning of the book because he was acting like a stereotypical boy child picking on a girl "because he likes her" *barf*. It's 2025, please let this trope die. Was blowing up on him and calling him names a bit much? Yes. But we're only human. I also never ever want to hear a man call a movie a "chick flick" ever again.
All in all, I'm glad I read the second book before this one, because I likely wouldn't have read Tara's story if I'd read this one first. Now Tara's story? Man that had my stomach doing the thing multiple times. But now I have no desire to read the third book, partly because of this book, and partly because I was hoping for Mel to get with the super flirty firefighter from the second book (not Trevor, obvi). Have no fear, I do have another book by the author in my TBR.
I did like the struggle that Crystal went through with fighting through stereotypes of people and her own self-esteem because it felt realistic. I also understand her hesitation in dating him (I went through the same thing where my ex in my one and only serious relationship got with me 5 seconds after breaking up and then got back with their ex suspiciously soon after we broke up). I'm not a huge fan of the fact that they're becoming family because their 70-something year old grandparents were marrying each other, but there's nothing inherently wrong with it. Also, I found Crystal to be a little annoying, it was more like being in my own head which I hated (lol) that's not why I deducted stars so don't worry. I think she was valid in wanting to handle her problems on her own (they literally just started dating it takes a second to start tackling things as a team) she was equally valid in being upset that Scott did exactly what she told him not to do. She was also valid in her annoyance with him in the beginning of the book because he was acting like a stereotypical boy child picking on a girl "because he likes her" *barf*. It's 2025, please let this trope die. Was blowing up on him and calling him names a bit much? Yes. But we're only human. I also never ever want to hear a man call a movie a "chick flick" ever again.
All in all, I'm glad I read the second book before this one, because I likely wouldn't have read Tara's story if I'd read this one first. Now Tara's story? Man that had my stomach doing the thing multiple times. But now I have no desire to read the third book, partly because of this book, and partly because I was hoping for Mel to get with the super flirty firefighter from the second book (not Trevor, obvi). Have no fear, I do have another book by the author in my TBR.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Fatphobia
Minor: Racism
This was cute and I loved the relationship between the two main characters...but I really do not want to read about Instagrammers.
funny
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
challenging
emotional
reflective
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:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
This is my first Amy Lea book, and I've been excited to read this series. Set On You is a curvy fitness influencer meets a fireman at the gym. He falls first, she still has trust issues from her ex and doesn't want to be his rebound too, but their grandparents are getting married so they are continually in each other's orbits and become fast friends. The third act breakup was a little frustrating, but completely believable.
This reminded me of The Fastest Way to Fall by Denise Williams with a similar plus-size influencer, which I also liked. I was worried it would get weird with them being future family like it did in Dream Girl Drama, but thankfully that didn't come up and their family was supportive, even encouraging.
I can sense the next couple is coming, and as that book is more popular already, I'm ready for their story.
This reminded me of The Fastest Way to Fall by Denise Williams with a similar plus-size influencer, which I also liked. I was worried it would get weird with them being future family like it did in Dream Girl Drama, but thankfully that didn't come up and their family was supportive, even encouraging.
I can sense the next couple is coming, and as that book is more popular already, I'm ready for their story.