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madisonpaiges's review
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
bookedwithannie's review
3.0
This is one of those books I wanted to love. The concept of saying screw it to the expectations of marriage (and all that entails) and instead becoming heterosexual life partners with your best friend is something so relatable for me. It's something my friends and I have joked (not joked) about a lot over the years. However, this fell way flat for me.
The beginning was good enough, I was interested probably until the point when they came back from their vacation. There were some really great lines that I could resonate with in regards to thoughts on marriage and societal expectations, Sophie's wanderlust heart, etc. But as things progressed, I lost interest. The characters were borderline unlikeable, and honestly their friendship was extremely toxic. More than unlikeable, there were things they did which seemed very out of character (namely Amanda). I never developed attachment to the relationship between Nick and Amanda, it seemed diluted and watered down. And the conflict just made me angry. Sophie was a bad friend, end of story. I did enjoy Amanda's personal growth and her time to herself to heal, but the end was just mucky.
Overall, it wasn't bad but it wasn't good. Not one I would recommend per se.
The beginning was good enough, I was interested probably until the point when they came back from their vacation. There were some really great lines that I could resonate with in regards to thoughts on marriage and societal expectations, Sophie's wanderlust heart, etc. But as things progressed, I lost interest. The characters were borderline unlikeable, and honestly their friendship was extremely toxic. More than unlikeable, there were things they did which seemed very out of character (namely Amanda). I never developed attachment to the relationship between Nick and Amanda, it seemed diluted and watered down. And the conflict just made me angry. Sophie was a bad friend, end of story. I did enjoy Amanda's personal growth and her time to herself to heal, but the end was just mucky.
Overall, it wasn't bad but it wasn't good. Not one I would recommend per se.
kthornette's review
2.0
I’ll be real, the 3.09 rating isn’t promising. And, just a heads up, if you were like me and expecting this book to be sapphic, it’s not. But I do like reading about strong and platonic female friendships since I rarely see them as more than a side-plot. That being said, I loved Sophie and Amanda’s banter and friendship … but this book was so boring after the first third (which I really liked). Nothing much happened and I couldn’t get attached to either character. I would’ve loved maybe them getting a fixer-upper and building it amid a mid-life crisis.
katysantandrea's review
3.0
I loved the concept of this book, but I feel like the author didn’t really give it a chance to even attempt to work. The characters felt completely different to me in the second half of the story and I really wondered what the point of it was.
lattes_lipstick_literature's review
2.0
*A Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this. This is my fair and unbiased review*
Hello Fellow Readers,
This book had a very intriguing premise, two best friends swear off romance and decide they were going to be platonic soulmates. It's been a while since I've read a book that focused on friendship rather than romance so I was very interesting but unfortunately this fell a little short for me. Unfortunately, since the beginning of the book both girls just came off as self absorbed and catty, like they were better than everyone this instantly just made me disliked them. I would have loved the book had I felt a connection of some sort to either main characters. Sophie in particular was really annoying and eventually I started to feel the same way towards Amanda.
Overall, a quick read that just didn't connect with me but may connect with you.
Hello Fellow Readers,
This book had a very intriguing premise, two best friends swear off romance and decide they were going to be platonic soulmates. It's been a while since I've read a book that focused on friendship rather than romance so I was very interesting but unfortunately this fell a little short for me. Unfortunately, since the beginning of the book both girls just came off as self absorbed and catty, like they were better than everyone this instantly just made me disliked them. I would have loved the book had I felt a connection of some sort to either main characters. Sophie in particular was really annoying and eventually I started to feel the same way towards Amanda.
Overall, a quick read that just didn't connect with me but may connect with you.
joyyboyy's review
2.0
Loved the premise but it took me forever to get through and of the main characters, I hated one and liked the other (until she makes the most raw & obvious fumble in the world) - not a good premise if you’re actually in a relationship either lol
loranmar000's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
3.75
It was really well written and really fun, but it didn't have the ending I was hoping for.
kbranfield's review
3.0
My Ride or Die by Leslie Cohen is a friendship novel with an interesting premise.
Amanda and Sophie are college roommates who remained very close following graduation. Just as Sophie is about to walk down the aisle, she ditches her groom-to-be and swears off marriage. When Amanda’s friends with benefits arrangement blows up, the two women decide to move in together. They also make a pact to casually date and instead rely on one another for support and companionship. Sounds like the perfect arrangement so what could possibly go wrong?!
Amanda is a lawyer with a few hang-ups but more common sense than Sophie. She uses sarcasm to deflect uncomfortable conversations. Which is fine for friendships but not so great for relationships. Her previous romantic entanglement was with an unattainable man so she likes the idea of no longer searching for “the one”. Although sometimes way out of her comfort zone, Amanda likes the impact Sophie has on her.
Sophie is a free spirit who makes impetuous decisions that usually seem to work out for her. She is also an artist who is a bit flighty as she tries to find her niche. Sophie has a day job to pay the bills and fits in working on her art when she can. She comes up with some ill-thought-out plans but Amanda is usually able to talk Sophie down from some her more outrageous ideas.
Sophie and Amanda’s new arrangement works out really well until one of them unexpectedly begins to fall for the new man in her life. In the meantime, the other friend suddenly begins contemplating a big change. The entire situation blows up when the romantic partner and the in the dark friend find out they have been lied to by omission. And if the worst does come to pass, what will happen to both relationships?
Written from alternating perspectives, My Ride or Die is an intriguing novel but it is slow-paced. The storyline is clever but a good portion of the dialogue is inane. The story is a strange blend of serious, superficial and what seems to be satire (but is the satire feel intentional?). Amanda and Sophie lack character development but their friendship is rock solid. Although a little predictable, Leslie Cohen brings the novel to a satisfying conclusion.
Amanda and Sophie are college roommates who remained very close following graduation. Just as Sophie is about to walk down the aisle, she ditches her groom-to-be and swears off marriage. When Amanda’s friends with benefits arrangement blows up, the two women decide to move in together. They also make a pact to casually date and instead rely on one another for support and companionship. Sounds like the perfect arrangement so what could possibly go wrong?!
Amanda is a lawyer with a few hang-ups but more common sense than Sophie. She uses sarcasm to deflect uncomfortable conversations. Which is fine for friendships but not so great for relationships. Her previous romantic entanglement was with an unattainable man so she likes the idea of no longer searching for “the one”. Although sometimes way out of her comfort zone, Amanda likes the impact Sophie has on her.
Sophie is a free spirit who makes impetuous decisions that usually seem to work out for her. She is also an artist who is a bit flighty as she tries to find her niche. Sophie has a day job to pay the bills and fits in working on her art when she can. She comes up with some ill-thought-out plans but Amanda is usually able to talk Sophie down from some her more outrageous ideas.
Sophie and Amanda’s new arrangement works out really well until one of them unexpectedly begins to fall for the new man in her life. In the meantime, the other friend suddenly begins contemplating a big change. The entire situation blows up when the romantic partner and the in the dark friend find out they have been lied to by omission. And if the worst does come to pass, what will happen to both relationships?
Written from alternating perspectives, My Ride or Die is an intriguing novel but it is slow-paced. The storyline is clever but a good portion of the dialogue is inane. The story is a strange blend of serious, superficial and what seems to be satire (but is the satire feel intentional?). Amanda and Sophie lack character development but their friendship is rock solid. Although a little predictable, Leslie Cohen brings the novel to a satisfying conclusion.
pbella3's review
challenging
emotional
funny
lighthearted
slow-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
3.75