Scan barcode
ritzee13's review against another edition
2.0
I really wanted to like this, I loved the premise and the blurb. I liked the idea of a romance intertwined with topics about equality, politics, lgbtq rights and other forward thinking ideas. But the execution really put me off.
**Slight Spoilers**
The main character was the main reason for my dislike of the book. How am I supposed to like a trashy, cheating, lying, alcohol abusing woman and root for her success. I understand that the book is about progress in Texan Politics but, does the author expect me to actually believe that such a woman, after all her scandals and antics was allowed to successful run for governer of TEXAS!! It's mind boggling
**Slight Spoilers**
The main character was the main reason for my dislike of the book. How am I supposed to like a trashy, cheating, lying, alcohol abusing woman and root for her success. I understand that the book is about progress in Texan Politics but, does the author expect me to actually believe that such a woman, after all her scandals and antics was allowed to successful run for governer of TEXAS!! It's mind boggling
neudorfl's review against another edition
4.0
Fool Me Once is a second chance, slow burning romance that made me laugh aloud. Lee was such a wild, bold, and daring character, and I couldn't help but love and cheer her on.
agiali's review against another edition
5.0
"Tell me how to keep you."
"I think you have me."
I did not think a romance book featuring democrats working in politics would be a book I'd read, let alone enjoy, but here I am.
Fool Me Once follows Lee "Stoner" Stone, the head of communications at a green electric car business that is miles better than Tesla, and a woman who has had four heartbreaks in her life and has sworn off falling in love with men, but not falling into bed with them. Her goal is to turn her home state, Texas, from red to blue and she believes that her bill, "The Green Machine" can do so. The Green Machine bill will initially be expensive but will help the environment heavily. Lee wants every cop car, ambulance, bus, etc. to become electric.
What Lee doesn't know is the governor has hired someone who knew, specifically her fourth and final heartbreak, Ben Laderman. Yet this heartbreak was different than the others, she broke him so much that he fled Texas five years ago and never returned... until now! Both must now work together and try to put their past feelings behind them, but what if those feelings never left?
Your honor, I loved this book. This book has a 3.55 on Goodreads and I don't understand why. I mean, I do, Stoner did some pretty shitty things in the past which I normally would not be a fan of, but I found her and Ben's character development to show they have moved and grown as people to not really be bothered by what happened five years ago.
This book had CHARACTER. The way it was written was like I was in Stoner's head. I felt like I knew her and oftentimes romance books don't write in the way Ashley Winstead chose to do here. Winstead made her characters have the BEST banter and they were actually funny. I couldn't get enough of them and their constant tension with each other.
While I did find some of the fighting they did to be stupid, I don't generally mind anything that happens to make the 3rd act have angst.
PLS READ THISSSS. I also didn't realize Winstead's other romance book, The Boyfriend Candidate follows Stoner's little sister, Alexis and I LOVE HER so much so I'm ITCHING to pick that up!!
"I think you have me."
I did not think a romance book featuring democrats working in politics would be a book I'd read, let alone enjoy, but here I am.
Fool Me Once follows Lee "Stoner" Stone, the head of communications at a green electric car business that is miles better than Tesla, and a woman who has had four heartbreaks in her life and has sworn off falling in love with men, but not falling into bed with them. Her goal is to turn her home state, Texas, from red to blue and she believes that her bill, "The Green Machine" can do so. The Green Machine bill will initially be expensive but will help the environment heavily. Lee wants every cop car, ambulance, bus, etc. to become electric.
What Lee doesn't know is the governor has hired someone who knew, specifically her fourth and final heartbreak, Ben Laderman. Yet this heartbreak was different than the others, she broke him so much that he fled Texas five years ago and never returned... until now! Both must now work together and try to put their past feelings behind them, but what if those feelings never left?
Your honor, I loved this book. This book has a 3.55 on Goodreads and I don't understand why. I mean, I do, Stoner did some pretty shitty things in the past which I normally would not be a fan of, but I found her and Ben's character development to show they have moved and grown as people to not really be bothered by what happened five years ago.
This book had CHARACTER. The way it was written was like I was in Stoner's head. I felt like I knew her and oftentimes romance books don't write in the way Ashley Winstead chose to do here. Winstead made her characters have the BEST banter and they were actually funny. I couldn't get enough of them and their constant tension with each other.
While I did find some of the fighting they did to be stupid, I don't generally mind anything that happens to make the 3rd act have angst.
PLS READ THISSSS. I also didn't realize Winstead's other romance book, The Boyfriend Candidate follows Stoner's little sister, Alexis and I LOVE HER so much so I'm ITCHING to pick that up!!
katie_liz's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Fool Me Once is the story of ‘Stoner’, a charismatic, messy, witty and politically passionate woman campaigning for a bill to address climate change in Texas. She finds herself thrust on the campaign trail and competing with Ben, her jilted ex. Can they overcome their differences to see the Bill succeed?
I’ve really enjoyed Ashley Winstead’s thrillers, but this is the first romance of hers I’ve read. I really liked the political setting, and the depth of Lee’s character which made it more than just a romance, but also added authenticity and high stakes to her relationship with Ben. Ben was sweet, with a good dose of self respect.
What drew me in most with the story was that Lee was hugely flawed, and for much of the story quite frustrating. But her character growth was slow and steady, and by the end I was really satisfied with the conclusion. I think Ashley Winstead does a great job of writing characters like this, which makes me keen to pick up more of her books!
Thank you Harlequin Australia, and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed are my own.
I’ve really enjoyed Ashley Winstead’s thrillers, but this is the first romance of hers I’ve read. I really liked the political setting, and the depth of Lee’s character which made it more than just a romance, but also added authenticity and high stakes to her relationship with Ben. Ben was sweet, with a good dose of self respect.
What drew me in most with the story was that Lee was hugely flawed, and for much of the story quite frustrating. But her character growth was slow and steady, and by the end I was really satisfied with the conclusion. I think Ashley Winstead does a great job of writing characters like this, which makes me keen to pick up more of her books!
Thank you Harlequin Australia, and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed are my own.
thisreadingcorner's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This has to be the best example of why second chance romances should be done way more sparingly. This book is 60% political drama, 15% musics about how infidelity isn’t really that big a deal, and 5% romance between two people insistent on speaking as little as possible and making everything painfully awkward.
So much filler and wasted time only for the millionth and final confession of love is more about politics than their relationship.
Alexis’ book is better but marginally. The leap in Lee’s descriptions in this book versus in the next book are always wildly different to the point where I didn’t recognize her (and she’s much less likeable in this one). This book attempted to tackle so much but didn’t sink into anything except the politics.
So much filler and wasted time only for the millionth and final confession of love is more about politics than their relationship.
Alexis’ book is better but marginally. The leap in Lee’s descriptions in this book versus in the next book are always wildly different to the point where I didn’t recognize her (and she’s much less likeable in this one). This book attempted to tackle so much but didn’t sink into anything except the politics.
avrielturner's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
krrami's review against another edition
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
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
3.5
lolloreads00's review against another edition
3.0
Lee’s working to better the world and climate thru her job as a communications director. But after work her inner party girl comes out, her alter ego Stoner. Her past relationships have been a mess because of it, she got cheated on and even cheated herself once. And as luck should have it Ben shows up 5 years later and the two are forced to work together. Emotions run high, sparks fly and things between the two quickly gets complicated.
After reading The boyfriend candidate I had to go back and read this one, sadly it did not live up to my expectations. The politics were too much, making Texas go green seems unlikely and I’m not a big fan of cheating storylines to begin with. Everyone makes mistakes, I get it but that doesn’t mean I have to like it.
However I do like a fmc who’s able to be herself and live it up. Lee has some issues, everyone does and I liked seeing her character grow throughout the book.
If you can look past the politics and cheating I’d think you’d like this one. But don’t bother if that’s not your thing.
After reading The boyfriend candidate I had to go back and read this one, sadly it did not live up to my expectations. The politics were too much, making Texas go green seems unlikely and I’m not a big fan of cheating storylines to begin with. Everyone makes mistakes, I get it but that doesn’t mean I have to like it.
However I do like a fmc who’s able to be herself and live it up. Lee has some issues, everyone does and I liked seeing her character grow throughout the book.
If you can look past the politics and cheating I’d think you’d like this one. But don’t bother if that’s not your thing.
ruby7moon31's review against another edition
funny
informative
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5