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cobaltbookshelf's review against another edition
2.0
I wanted to like this book but it was just ok, way too long just at times fun
meggie82461's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
This was a perfectly solid read. It was well-written and I liked the characters. I loved the setting and that there was an independent bookstore involved. My main complaint is that Evie, the heroine, had that “too good to be true” vibe. Just the way she even thought was not realistic. Like, nobody is that good of a person, especially in their own brain.
Also, believe it or not, I really didn’t like what Roane did (the inevitable 80% conflict). I have a lot of pride, so I’m not sure I would have forgiven that, especially considering he didn’t even really grovel. I can forgive a lot, too, so maybe it’s weird where I draw the line. I guess for me, it’s one thing to be dicked over, but for everyone to know… and even *participate* to some extent? Nah, I’d simply ✨flee✨ and never return.
The townspeople were very charming and the side characters and their drama were great. Shadow the Great Dane made me smile. But I know myself well enough to know that in a year I will have trouble recalling this one, which is why I rated it as slightly above average.
This was a perfectly solid read. It was well-written and I liked the characters. I loved the setting and that there was an independent bookstore involved. My main complaint is that Evie, the heroine, had that “too good to be true” vibe. Just the way she even thought was not realistic. Like, nobody is that good of a person, especially in their own brain.
Also, believe it or not, I really didn’t like what Roane did (the inevitable 80% conflict). I have a lot of pride, so I’m not sure I would have forgiven that, especially considering he didn’t even really grovel. I can forgive a lot, too, so maybe it’s weird where I draw the line. I guess for me, it’s one thing to be dicked over, but for everyone to know… and even *participate* to some extent? Nah, I’d simply ✨flee✨ and never return.
The townspeople were very charming and the side characters and their drama were great. Shadow the Great Dane made me smile. But I know myself well enough to know that in a year I will have trouble recalling this one, which is why I rated it as slightly above average.
farhana101's review against another edition
5.0
*4.5 stars.
Ahh this book gave me all the feels! A slow-burn romance between a woman working at a bookstore and a sexy farmer. Its also a friends to lovers and the characters were honestly so wholesome, pure and genuinely kindhearted. I’ve been reading sooo many books with cocky asshole type male lead that it was very refreshing to have an honest, open and caring hero. Will be recommending this to everyone I know!!!
Ahh this book gave me all the feels! A slow-burn romance between a woman working at a bookstore and a sexy farmer. Its also a friends to lovers and the characters were honestly so wholesome, pure and genuinely kindhearted. I’ve been reading sooo many books with cocky asshole type male lead that it was very refreshing to have an honest, open and caring hero. Will be recommending this to everyone I know!!!
thephdivabooks's review against another edition
3.0
Find my full review on my blog
Evie Starling is underappreciated at work, and is passed over for a promotion for a less-talented, less-experienced man, despite her decade of hard work, dedication, and stellar performance. So she basically quits on the spot. Couple that with another man who she had a great rapport with ghosting her with no explanation, and Evie is ready for a major change, so she leaves it all behind.
She takes a holiday package that lets her move to England and live above a small book store called Much Ado About Books and run the shop in it’s tiny English village. Soon after arriving, Evie fits right into the small town life in the village and meets a handsome farmer named Roane. Despite some great chemistry with Roane, Evie avoids getting involved because she has come to England to self-reflect about her life.
Still, eventually the two can’t stay away from one another. I was quite swept away by their story! Evie and Roane are both caring, empathetic souls. I loved all of the scenes with them helping the people around them. This holiday was healing for Evie in more ways than one.
A few things made me roll my eyes, but nothing too much and I was glad Evie (who I adored) got her fairy tale after all!
Evie Starling is underappreciated at work, and is passed over for a promotion for a less-talented, less-experienced man, despite her decade of hard work, dedication, and stellar performance. So she basically quits on the spot. Couple that with another man who she had a great rapport with ghosting her with no explanation, and Evie is ready for a major change, so she leaves it all behind.
She takes a holiday package that lets her move to England and live above a small book store called Much Ado About Books and run the shop in it’s tiny English village. Soon after arriving, Evie fits right into the small town life in the village and meets a handsome farmer named Roane. Despite some great chemistry with Roane, Evie avoids getting involved because she has come to England to self-reflect about her life.
Still, eventually the two can’t stay away from one another. I was quite swept away by their story! Evie and Roane are both caring, empathetic souls. I loved all of the scenes with them helping the people around them. This holiday was healing for Evie in more ways than one.
A few things made me roll my eyes, but nothing too much and I was glad Evie (who I adored) got her fairy tale after all!
book_concierge's review against another edition
3.0
Digital audiobook performed by Imani Jade Powers
Evangeline Starling feels her life in Chicago has stagnated. She’s thirty-three and has just been passed over for a promotion... again. She needs to evaluate and regroup, so she plans a holiday in a quaint English fishing village. A lover of Shakespeare, she finds the perfect opportunity when she agrees to run a bookstore – Much Ado About Books – and rent the above-the shop apartment, while the owner takes a month-long vacation.
Evie loves the village, and the lovely shop. She’s a natural at bookselling and the villagers seem friendly and welcoming, especially handsomely rugged sheep farmer Roane Robson, who charms Evie each day with his flirtatious remarks.
This was a fun rom com, which happens to end at Christmas time, but isn’t otherwise very Christmasy. All the tropes are here – she’s sworn off men, he’s devastatingly handsome, his dog is even more attractive, they’re in a quaint village full of colorful characters. Of course there will be bumps in the road to HEA. He’s keeping a secret (with the help of all the other villagers), she’ll be hurt when she discovers it, and break everything off. But, of course, the HEA is powerful and cannot be denied.
This is the first book by Young that I’ve tried; I may have to look into others by her.
Imani Jade Powers does a fine job of narrating the audiobook. She has a good pace and her diction was clearly understandable even when I was listening at increased speed.
Evangeline Starling feels her life in Chicago has stagnated. She’s thirty-three and has just been passed over for a promotion... again. She needs to evaluate and regroup, so she plans a holiday in a quaint English fishing village. A lover of Shakespeare, she finds the perfect opportunity when she agrees to run a bookstore – Much Ado About Books – and rent the above-the shop apartment, while the owner takes a month-long vacation.
Evie loves the village, and the lovely shop. She’s a natural at bookselling and the villagers seem friendly and welcoming, especially handsomely rugged sheep farmer Roane Robson, who charms Evie each day with his flirtatious remarks.
This was a fun rom com, which happens to end at Christmas time, but isn’t otherwise very Christmasy. All the tropes are here – she’s sworn off men, he’s devastatingly handsome, his dog is even more attractive, they’re in a quaint village full of colorful characters. Of course there will be bumps in the road to HEA. He’s keeping a secret (with the help of all the other villagers), she’ll be hurt when she discovers it, and break everything off. But, of course, the HEA is powerful and cannot be denied.
This is the first book by Young that I’ve tried; I may have to look into others by her.
Imani Jade Powers does a fine job of narrating the audiobook. She has a good pace and her diction was clearly understandable even when I was listening at increased speed.
amberdlewis's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
This book was light fluff that made for a quick read. At first it gave me similar vibes to "The Holiday" but with a summery twist as opposed to a Christmas story. The premise was intriguing and I loved the little village the MC was visiting. There were also lots of cute and fun book references all throughout that made me smile. However, the story itself fell a bit flat.
I really didn't feel much chemistry between the MC and the LI and pretty much all the characters were relatively underdeveloped to the point of being dull. The story itself was a bit weak and drawn out and the pacing didn't quite flow. I was also a little disappointed in how needlessly slow the romance was, especially considering how insta-love their attraction was.
Overall this was a cute book, but honestly, I felt a little let down.
I really didn't feel much chemistry between the MC and the LI and pretty much all the characters were relatively underdeveloped to the point of being dull. The story itself was a bit weak and drawn out and the pacing didn't quite flow. I was also a little disappointed in how needlessly slow the romance was, especially considering how insta-love their attraction was.
Overall this was a cute book, but honestly, I felt a little let down.
marieintheraw's review against another edition
2.0
Overall, unfortunately, the romance fell just as fast as the characters did for me in this one.
I received an ecopy of this book via Netgalley; however, my opinions are my own.
I received an ecopy of this book via Netgalley; however, my opinions are my own.
brianne_k's review against another edition
3.0
*3.5/5*
I am a sucker for fish out of water, small town romances.. and if those romances have Roane? Count me in. But the reasons for swearing off men? Meh. The conflict?! Even bigger meh.
I am a sucker for fish out of water, small town romances.. and if those romances have Roane? Count me in. But the reasons for swearing off men? Meh. The conflict?! Even bigger meh.
amy_mcmillan's review against another edition
3.0
Cute but predictable and not that complex in terms of writing