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3.58 AVERAGE
3.58 AVERAGE
Fool me once is funny, heart warming and practical when it comes to Lee stone aka stoner. Just as Lee is getting her bill noticed when Ben the love of her life from 5 years ago begins working on the same team as Lee. After some bumpy encounters Lee begins to relax.
Way too many relationships with cheating. The main character was extremely unlikable and immature for a 30 year old. Each chapter was repetitive. I think the love interest chased the main character at least 10 times because she was constantly making dramatic exits. Also weird gaps between each chapter? Sometimes it would pick up right where it left off and other times it would take a couple pages and you would find out it had been weeks.
Lee Stone is against romantic relationships, when she learns that her ex is back in town and working for the governor of Texas to help pass a eco-friendly bill with Lee’s bosses company, Lee can’t help but cringe. Will Ben and Lee work together and pass the bill? Will Lee actually become a romantic again. Read to find out.
This is an open door romance but it doesn’t have as many steamy scenes as other romances. I found the romance believable overall.
My big gripe with the plot itself is that it began to feel repetitive in the middle. Too many scenes of Ben and Lee fighting over the same thing with very little character growth. In the end Lee did grow and get her happily ever after but it came after many chapters of wanting to bang your head against the wall. Ben was a good love interest. Lee was a hysterically funny narrator. Check out the audiobook if your interested.
This is an open door romance but it doesn’t have as many steamy scenes as other romances. I found the romance believable overall.
My big gripe with the plot itself is that it began to feel repetitive in the middle. Too many scenes of Ben and Lee fighting over the same thing with very little character growth. In the end Lee did grow and get her happily ever after but it came after many chapters of wanting to bang your head against the wall. Ben was a good love interest. Lee was a hysterically funny narrator. Check out the audiobook if your interested.
3.5⭐️ I feel torn on this review because there were many parts about the story that I really loved and then things I just couldn't stand. I give Ashley Winstead so much credit for her versatility as a writer and overall found this book to be well-written, smart and easy to read.
What I loved: I loved the second-chance romance, humor the character development, the feminist nature of the book, the interesting take on politics, Stoner's self-discovery, and the stress on the importance of friendship.
What I did not like: I found Stoner's immaturity and self-deprecating behavior annoying and hard to get past. I thought the chapters transitioned too quickly from one scene to the next. For instance, a MAJOR event would happen at the end of a chapter, and then there was no closure when the next chapter began a few days later. I also found the first 25% a bit slow.
What I loved: I loved the second-chance romance, humor the character development, the feminist nature of the book, the interesting take on politics, Stoner's self-discovery, and the stress on the importance of friendship.
What I did not like: I found Stoner's immaturity and self-deprecating behavior annoying and hard to get past. I thought the chapters transitioned too quickly from one scene to the next. For instance, a MAJOR event would happen at the end of a chapter, and then there was no closure when the next chapter began a few days later. I also found the first 25% a bit slow.
3.5 stars. There are a lot of elements I like in this book but it didn't mesh well together.
Pros: it's set in Austin, I see a lot of myself in the character, and the author clearly has a good understanding of the institutions in Texas government. I like a slow burn romance, though this one was almost too slow. The main character's stubbornness got irritating. Like... there's no way a person like her would NOT be in therapy, and a therapist would absolutely work on her commitment issues.
Cons: the book has weird pacing, was waaaaaay too long, and parts were absurd to the point where suspension of disbelief is almost impossible. There were like four second-act conflicts and I kept thinking "surely this is almost the end" multiple times. The author clearly either deeply researched Texas politics or has worked in Texas politics before, so it was surprising that other parts on the book were so poorly researched. For example, the opening scene never could have happened because Disney is strict about adults wearing costumes. I'm not a huge Disney fan, but even I know this policy exists to avoid the very scenario depicted in the story.
I also think the audiobook narrator wasn't very good. There was a lot of banter that fell flat but I think it was more her delivery than the material itself.
If you like Elena Armas-style slow burn romance and witty banter, this might be for you. I think I may try to physically read this one a second time to see if I enjoy it more.
Pros: it's set in Austin, I see a lot of myself in the character, and the author clearly has a good understanding of the institutions in Texas government. I like a slow burn romance, though this one was almost too slow. The main character's stubbornness got irritating. Like... there's no way a person like her would NOT be in therapy, and a therapist would absolutely work on her commitment issues.
Cons: the book has weird pacing, was waaaaaay too long, and parts were absurd to the point where suspension of disbelief is almost impossible. There were like four second-act conflicts and I kept thinking "surely this is almost the end" multiple times. The author clearly either deeply researched Texas politics or has worked in Texas politics before, so it was surprising that other parts on the book were so poorly researched. For example, the opening scene never could have happened because Disney is strict about adults wearing costumes. I'm not a huge Disney fan, but even I know this policy exists to avoid the very scenario depicted in the story.
I also think the audiobook narrator wasn't very good. There was a lot of banter that fell flat but I think it was more her delivery than the material itself.
If you like Elena Armas-style slow burn romance and witty banter, this might be for you. I think I may try to physically read this one a second time to see if I enjoy it more.
lee is my bestie, this book felt like i was on facetime w my homie getting allll the tea. loved it!
2 Stars, 1.5 spice
This book was a huge disappointment. The FMC Lee, aka 'Stoner', is completely unlikable. The other characters fall flat and there is little to no character/relationship development. I am not sure how to write my issues without spoilers so everything below will be mild spoilers.
Spoilers Below
Disney -
I knew I should have trusted my instincts and DNF'ed this right at the beginning. The author clearly did no research into Disney at all. Anyone who knows anything about the parks knows that adults are not allow to dress up like characters in the parks, for the exact reason shown in the book. Also there aren't hotels in the middle of the parks. Just one google search would have given the author this information.
Stoner-
Lee our FMC is a joke. She is so unlikable and doesn't grow at all between the 5 years where she ruined her previous relationship with Ben, and honestly barely grows at all during the book.
We are somehow supposed to believe that she is a Director of Communications for an Electric Car company, she's wrote a green bill, and is working with the governor and can somehow do those things successfully when she has the maturity and communication skills of a 17 year old? She also parties was too much, getting black out drunk, and high (this includes getting high on pills of an unknown substance) and she does this many times to deal with issues she has caused and refuses to communicate about.
Her past is told to us rather than shown, and I think the author was trying to get us to feel bad for her, but apart from her dad she literally sabotaged those relationships. She poisoned them with insecurity and distrust.
Politics-
The idea that Lee could go in to politics is frankly a joke. She is up there giving a press conference blubbering about her personal issues. It is uncomfortable, and doesn't shine her in a professional light. And look at that - a mean girl moment where the press join in?
The lobbying efforts her and Ben put forth were just strange. Every politician they talked to felt like how an animated kicks show would portray them. Based on the lack of research put into Disney, I have a feeling there was a lack of research here as well.
Ben -
Overall a very flat character. I couldn't tell you a single thing he likes or dislikes apart from his job.But even with that he deserves so much better than Lee. He even tells her multiple times he doesn't want to go through it all again with her . But then somehow he is still in love with her, and they get back together without an adult conversation?
Infidelity -
I am a bit confused. Because based on the blurb I figured that the infidelity was going to be limited to either being done to or done by Lee. I was wrong! You get a cheater! and you get a cheater! Literally every single relationship in this book has infidelity - including what was going to be a bit reveal.
Resolution -
I have already stated my thoughts on Lee's ability to go into politics. I reject that idea that all these women under 35 love and relate to her, because I am a 27 year old women and I absolutely did not like her.
This story would have been way better if it was Ben's story finding love again with someone else after being burned by Lee. Or if it was with Lee, if she had grown and changed and they had spent this book relearning eachother. Or I think I would have liked best if Lee had grown, they see eachother, clear the air. Lee could go to therapy to work through her Daddy issues and then she to go on to get a good relationship with someone else.
The only reason this is 2 stars because of 1 is because I support the political agendas that Ben and Lee had, I think the sexism in politics and media is abhorrent, and the audiobook was well narrated.
This book was a huge disappointment. The FMC Lee, aka 'Stoner', is completely unlikable. The other characters fall flat and there is little to no character/relationship development. I am not sure how to write my issues without spoilers so everything below will be mild spoilers.
Spoilers Below
Disney -
I knew I should have trusted my instincts and DNF'ed this right at the beginning. The author clearly did no research into Disney at all. Anyone who knows anything about the parks knows that adults are not allow to dress up like characters in the parks, for the exact reason shown in the book. Also there aren't hotels in the middle of the parks. Just one google search would have given the author this information.
Stoner-
Lee our FMC is a joke. She is so unlikable and doesn't grow at all between the 5 years where she ruined her previous relationship with Ben, and honestly barely grows at all during the book.
We are somehow supposed to believe that she is a Director of Communications for an Electric Car company, she's wrote a green bill, and is working with the governor and can somehow do those things successfully when she has the maturity and communication skills of a 17 year old? She also parties was too much, getting black out drunk, and high (this includes getting high on pills of an unknown substance) and she does this many times to deal with issues she has caused and refuses to communicate about.
Her past is told to us rather than shown, and I think the author was trying to get us to feel bad for her, but apart from her dad she literally sabotaged those relationships. She poisoned them with insecurity and distrust.
Politics-
The idea that Lee could go in to politics is frankly a joke. She is up there giving a press conference blubbering about her personal issues. It is uncomfortable, and doesn't shine her in a professional light. And look at that - a mean girl moment where the press join in?
The lobbying efforts her and Ben put forth were just strange. Every politician they talked to felt like how an animated kicks show would portray them. Based on the lack of research put into Disney, I have a feeling there was a lack of research here as well.
Ben -
Overall a very flat character. I couldn't tell you a single thing he likes or dislikes apart from his job.But even with that he deserves so much better than Lee. He even tells her multiple times he doesn't want to go through it all again with her . But then somehow he is still in love with her, and they get back together without an adult conversation?
Infidelity -
I am a bit confused. Because based on the blurb I figured that the infidelity was going to be limited to either being done to or done by Lee. I was wrong! You get a cheater! and you get a cheater! Literally every single relationship in this book has infidelity - including what was going to be a bit reveal.
Resolution -
I have already stated my thoughts on Lee's ability to go into politics. I reject that idea that all these women under 35 love and relate to her, because I am a 27 year old women and I absolutely did not like her.
This story would have been way better if it was Ben's story finding love again with someone else after being burned by Lee. Or if it was with Lee, if she had grown and changed and they had spent this book relearning eachother. Or I think I would have liked best if Lee had grown, they see eachother, clear the air. Lee could go to therapy to work through her Daddy issues and then she to go on to get a good relationship with someone else.
The only reason this is 2 stars because of 1 is because I support the political agendas that Ben and Lee had, I think the sexism in politics and media is abhorrent, and the audiobook was well narrated.