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garlicbreadrach's review
2.0
Missed the mark for me. A really cute premise that just didn’t follow through. Also these are adults that communicate like middle schoolers which I did not care for
pyreknows's review
I have never been so disappointed in the writing style of something before, and I consume a lot of b tier Fanfiction, all of which has better pacing and writing than this
cfinn16's review
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
sassandcellulite's review
3.0
I’ve got some mixed feelings for this book. Started off so strong. The chemistry was there. The meet-cute had me hooked but after that I liked it less and less.
I started to sense it wasn’t gonna be a lot of character development or substance, which is fine, I like a fluffy romance book - but then it started to really annoy me.
It was just scene after scene of the same thing. Fly to visit. Eat. Have sex. Repeat.
The main guy is a walking red flag. He treats his friends like garbage. He’s got a temper and says things that are way out of line and then they never discuss them???
Having a third act breakup in a 310 page book is exhausting. And it was poorly resolved. This couple is doomed honestly.
I started to sense it wasn’t gonna be a lot of character development or substance, which is fine, I like a fluffy romance book - but then it started to really annoy me.
It was just scene after scene of the same thing. Fly to visit. Eat. Have sex. Repeat.
The main guy is a walking red flag. He treats his friends like garbage. He’s got a temper and says things that are way out of line and then they never discuss them???
Having a third act breakup in a 310 page book is exhausting. And it was poorly resolved. This couple is doomed honestly.
daumari's review
4.0
Cute romance with interracial leads! I can't imagine the flying to see each other each weekend though (short flight I suppose but that's... expensive, though I guess Drew is a doctor...) Alexa brings up true-to-life things such as being the Only BIPOC in a room in many situations (though she notes as someone who was previously a lawyer, she's used to it).
Absolutely here for letting Black women lead sexy cute romances! I checked this out way back in March but worth a read any time, because Black people shouldn't only be centered in stories about trauma- give roses to people while they are living and can smell them rather than in memoriam (or however the quote goes). Am definitely interested in the rest of Guillory's books.
Absolutely here for letting Black women lead sexy cute romances! I checked this out way back in March but worth a read any time, because Black people shouldn't only be centered in stories about trauma- give roses to people while they are living and can smell them rather than in memoriam (or however the quote goes). Am definitely interested in the rest of Guillory's books.
almostarockstarsgf's review
2.0
This reads like a Wattpad fanfic- and not the good kind. The only reason I bumped it up to two stars was for the fact that it was an interracial couple.
vivianaxmoreno's review
3.0
3/5
As a lover of a good series, I was eager to dip into Jasmine's Guillory five-book lineup in The Wedding Dates series. While I didn't go into the book thinking it was going to be the most striking romance story, I did find myself not entirely satisfied. I still enjoyed the book and binged it in one day, but as I continued to read, I realized more and more the gaping holes that were becoming blaringly obvious to me.
Before I really go into anything, I think my issue with the book can be wrapped up in one simple thought –– the book just needed to thoroughly and liberally fleshed out.
In the beginning, I felt like I'd turned the first page and boom...meet-cute in my face. There was no buildup prior to the event, which can work out well, but in this case, it just felt rushed. Especially when, after spending an unknown but seemingly five minutes stuck in an elevator together, Drew asks Alexa to be his fake date to a wedding he has to attend that weekend. I understand it was supposed to be a moment of rash decisions and of having just met someone interesting in an elevator, but it fell a bit flat for me. And, did neither of them have any qualms about agreeing to their arrangement after knowing each for five minutes? Alex literally goes to his hotel room to get ready for the wedding after one day of knowing him. I know that could just be me and my uber-vigilant awareness of my surroundings, but to be so comfortable with each other that way so soon seemed inauthentic. And that's not to say that when you meet someone you can't feel that immediate connection, but you also don't just jump into something without at least an inch of trepidation.
I enjoyed the focus on both of their careers. I thought it helped to develop the characters a bit and provide for instances where they reveal pieces of themselves, but I did wish for more character development. I felt as though Alexa's story behind her passion for TARP served as a good bit of background and characterization, but there wasn't much going for Drew aside from his unexplained issue with commitment (which, granted, doesn't necessarily need an explanation or root story, but maybe there could've been one to round out his character).
The rather large chunk of the book dedicated to their two-month relationship detailed one flying out to the other for the weekend, eating food, having sex, and wondering about what their relationship really meant. Quickly, things grew repetitive. When I had only a bit over 50 pages left, I was itching for something to happen because I was pretty sure it was going to end with them on one of their couches eating tacos. I do think the climax could have been drawn out or had more of a build-up. They needed to talk more, spill more of their internal mullings. And then it felt too easy when Drew showed up at the council meeting, and Alexa just smiled, thanked him for the doughnuts, and accepted him back. Although, Drew did give a few sentences about his love for her, but it didn't seem...enough.
I did really like the alternating perspective between Alexa and Drew. I think that saved the book quite a bit because if I only read things from Alexa's eyes, then it would've been even flatter at times. The dual perspective allowed me to get a glimpse into Drew's mind concerning relationships and see the turmoil he endured when things weren't working out.
The inclusion of conversation surrounding race were great additions to the story. I loved how Alexa, a Black woman, brought up topics that Drew, a white man, had never considered before because he simply had never been affected by it. I thought it was a necessary touch, especially when Alexa is recounting the story of her sister Olivia, the arts program that helped her, and how the story would've be different if they had been white.
There were definitely things I enjoyed about this book, especially the simple and easy-to-flow-through writing style. While it may sound like I really didn't enjoy this book, I did. The idea and premise are ones I always enjoy, but I just thought it could've been more substantial. Will I read more books from Jasmine Guillory? Definitely, I already have The Proposal queued up on my iPad ready to ready once I finish typing this.
As a lover of a good series, I was eager to dip into Jasmine's Guillory five-book lineup in The Wedding Dates series. While I didn't go into the book thinking it was going to be the most striking romance story, I did find myself not entirely satisfied. I still enjoyed the book and binged it in one day, but as I continued to read, I realized more and more the gaping holes that were becoming blaringly obvious to me.
Before I really go into anything, I think my issue with the book can be wrapped up in one simple thought –– the book just needed to thoroughly and liberally fleshed out.
In the beginning, I felt like I'd turned the first page and boom...meet-cute in my face. There was no buildup prior to the event, which can work out well, but in this case, it just felt rushed. Especially when, after spending an unknown but seemingly five minutes stuck in an elevator together, Drew asks Alexa to be his fake date to a wedding he has to attend that weekend. I understand it was supposed to be a moment of rash decisions and of having just met someone interesting in an elevator, but it fell a bit flat for me. And, did neither of them have any qualms about agreeing to their arrangement after knowing each for five minutes? Alex literally goes to his hotel room to get ready for the wedding after one day of knowing him. I know that could just be me and my uber-vigilant awareness of my surroundings, but to be so comfortable with each other that way so soon seemed inauthentic. And that's not to say that when you meet someone you can't feel that immediate connection, but you also don't just jump into something without at least an inch of trepidation.
I enjoyed the focus on both of their careers. I thought it helped to develop the characters a bit and provide for instances where they reveal pieces of themselves, but I did wish for more character development. I felt as though Alexa's story behind her passion for TARP served as a good bit of background and characterization, but there wasn't much going for Drew aside from his unexplained issue with commitment (which, granted, doesn't necessarily need an explanation or root story, but maybe there could've been one to round out his character).
The rather large chunk of the book dedicated to their two-month relationship detailed one flying out to the other for the weekend, eating food, having sex, and wondering about what their relationship really meant. Quickly, things grew repetitive. When I had only a bit over 50 pages left, I was itching for something to happen because I was pretty sure it was going to end with them on one of their couches eating tacos. I do think the climax could have been drawn out or had more of a build-up. They needed to talk more, spill more of their internal mullings. And then it felt too easy when Drew showed up at the council meeting, and Alexa just smiled, thanked him for the doughnuts, and accepted him back. Although, Drew did give a few sentences about his love for her, but it didn't seem...enough.
I did really like the alternating perspective between Alexa and Drew. I think that saved the book quite a bit because if I only read things from Alexa's eyes, then it would've been even flatter at times. The dual perspective allowed me to get a glimpse into Drew's mind concerning relationships and see the turmoil he endured when things weren't working out.
The inclusion of conversation surrounding race were great additions to the story. I loved how Alexa, a Black woman, brought up topics that Drew, a white man, had never considered before because he simply had never been affected by it. I thought it was a necessary touch, especially when Alexa is recounting the story of her sister Olivia, the arts program that helped her, and how the story would've be different if they had been white.
There were definitely things I enjoyed about this book, especially the simple and easy-to-flow-through writing style. While it may sound like I really didn't enjoy this book, I did. The idea and premise are ones I always enjoy, but I just thought it could've been more substantial. Will I read more books from Jasmine Guillory? Definitely, I already have The Proposal queued up on my iPad ready to ready once I finish typing this.
xoxo_allie's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
estherhutchinson's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-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
4.75
kimmaloo's review
2.0
I wanted to like it but the dialogue between the two main characters seemed cheesy to me. I couldn’t tell if the cheesiness was due to the audiobook narrator and whether I would have interpreted the dialogue differently if I was reading the book.