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siosiosio's review against another edition
I started reading this and was almost immediately put off when the main character is reunited with an ex, and when she explains to her best friend in all the world that this man is THE ex from college, instead of her best friend whisking her to safety she insisted on leaving them together and then scheduling a double date for her, the ex, her best friend and the BF's fiance. Nope nope nope.
Another part that was highly irritating was the main character talking about how her dress and shapewear were "keeping her size eight body all tucked away and looking much smaller". Girl. Be so for real.
Almost immediate DNF.
Another part that was highly irritating was the main character talking about how her dress and shapewear were "keeping her size eight body all tucked away and looking much smaller". Girl. Be so for real.
Almost immediate DNF.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia
kitwhelan's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I read this in one sitting, and I enjoy the author’s writing (I liked a previous book of hers), but I just wasn’t feeling the story on this one. I’m really not sure these two people should end up together. At the very least they should both have had therapy first.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Toxic relationship, and Fatphobia
the_vegan_bookworm's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
0.25
There was no genuine relationship between the protagonists, and Ryan was one of the most toxic, red-flag ridden love interests I've come across in literature. Kara wasn't better, but I spent the entire book being increasingly alarmed by Ryan's behaviours and being confused about why everything was being passed off as romantic.
He has been completely obsessed with his ex FOR 10 YEARS. It's not flattering or cute - it's concerning. He named his dog after his ex, despite breaking up years before, and we're supposed to find that romantic and not deeply creepy? He gets engaged to the person who is implicated in his break up with the ex he's obsessed with, which I cannot understand under pretty much any circumstances unless they actually were together when he broke up with Kara for the first time. He decides to move to New York after reconnecting with his ex for less than a week. Then he cheats on his fiancee by getting back together with his ex, and the author tries to play this off as though it's romantic and not manipulative, toxic, messed up and obsessive on many levels. Nothing about this is okay or romantic or even pleasant in any way.
Kara is also deeply concerning. She is obsessed with her exes, including Mark and Ryan, and she clearly has trust and jealousy issues. At no point does she work on those issues at all or even take some space from the people who have led her to have those issues (AKA Ryan).
Kara is also deeply concerning. She is obsessed with her exes, including Mark and Ryan, and she clearly has trust and jealousy issues. At no point does she work on those issues at all or even take some space from the people who have led her to have those issues (AKA Ryan).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Infidelity, and Sexual content
Moderate: Fatphobia
ijbthom's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia
lia_r18's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
0.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Death of parent, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Sexual content, Suicide, and Toxic relationship
dlrosebyh's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
the bar is so low wtf
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity and Grief
Moderate: Death of parent and Fatphobia
Minor: Pregnancy
livreads54's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
0.5
Second chance romance isn’t really my thing, especially when there’s cheating involved. I don’t think I was really the target audience for this book, but I went in with an open mind. That said, there was very little in this book I enjoyed. The writing was fine, but none of the characters were compelling in any way. The Italy plot felt disconnected from the rest of the story, but I actually enjoyed that part of the book more than anything else (which speaks to how little I enjoyed the rest of the book, not how good the Italy plot was). Also, there was a lot of fatphobic comments in this book that were really hard to read. Overall, not one of my favorite reads, and definitely not a book I would recommend.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia
apoppyinthewind's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
If this was real life I’d be far more judgmental of the main characters & their romance but it’s not. It’s escapist fiction and I found it to be an entertaining read. My biggest complaint is that I am over the trope of female leads having body issues as a shorthand to make them seem relatable to the reader.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent and Infidelity
Minor: Car accident and Fatphobia
onemamareads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Fatphobia
sophisreads's review against another edition
Okay, hear me out. Everyone says don’t judge a book by its cover, so we’re going to pretend I didn’t buy this because it had a New York skyline outline on the back. I did enjoy and read the blurb! Surprise reunion? Check! Ex-lovers? Check! Week long wedding events? Check! Writer suffering from writers block? Check! And yet...
15 pages in. We have already had multiple weight related comments. We’ve also had a ‘if she wasn’t my best friend, I would hate her because she’s so pretty’. No, thank you! Firstly, why can’t you just say it’s a nice dress that makes you feel confident? Why does it have to be all ‘this dress makes me look super skinny’ blah blah blah?
Anyway here’s my main issue... I know often in romance you have to suspend your disbelief... that’s often part of the fun! Riddle me this though, in what world, where you are supposedly incredibly close with your best friend and her fiancée, do you not realise that his childhood best friend is the college ex who broke your heart? A quick Facebook search. A passing conversation. This would be unavoidable! Cue conversations about it’s a small world and five people away.
I couldn’t get past this combination of uncomfortable weight comments and my inability to suspend my disbelief. Also, the best friend who is getting married.... being mad at her fiancée.... for wanting to help make sure his out-of-town friends get to the event by picking them up from the airport or whatever...bad vibes. Your husband to be is doing something really nice for people who are important to him! I don’t like tht weird possessive behaviour. Not a communication skill in sight!
DNF
15 pages in. We have already had multiple weight related comments. We’ve also had a ‘if she wasn’t my best friend, I would hate her because she’s so pretty’. No, thank you! Firstly, why can’t you just say it’s a nice dress that makes you feel confident? Why does it have to be all ‘this dress makes me look super skinny’ blah blah blah?
Anyway here’s my main issue... I know often in romance you have to suspend your disbelief... that’s often part of the fun! Riddle me this though, in what world, where you are supposedly incredibly close with your best friend and her fiancée, do you not realise that his childhood best friend is the college ex who broke your heart? A quick Facebook search. A passing conversation. This would be unavoidable! Cue conversations about it’s a small world and five people away.
I couldn’t get past this combination of uncomfortable weight comments and my inability to suspend my disbelief. Also, the best friend who is getting married.... being mad at her fiancée.... for wanting to help make sure his out-of-town friends get to the event by picking them up from the airport or whatever...bad vibes. Your husband to be is doing something really nice for people who are important to him! I don’t like tht weird possessive behaviour. Not a communication skill in sight!
DNF
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia