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caryshopetysoe's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
ellsromreads's review against another edition
3.0
It’s alright, I just thought everything was rushed
jodiesbookishposts's review against another edition
3.0
The Love Square by Laura Jane Williams
3 Stars
I was given an audiobook on Netgalley for an honest review.
Penny is the classic romantic heroine; she is unlucky in love. Disenfranchised with dating after bad experiences, she has all but given up. Then she meets a guy and sparks fly, but when her Uncle (like a father to her) gets sick and she has to return home to look after the family business, they agree to part as friends. Then she meets another guy, and then another guy. And when the first guy decides to come to her to help, she finds herself in a Love Square.
So … the start of this book was strong. The first third really had the makings of a five-star read. I liked the build up of the first relationship. A lot of effort went into this, it was well developed, I was invested in all characters and excited for the rest. Then the conflict started and it fell apart a bit. The bad side of this was the following two relationships were very underdeveloped, and the third was especially rushed and weak. It made it hard to find any tension in the ‘choice’ the main character must make.
I feel like this was marketed as more of a conflict than it really was. There wasn’t a point where I doubted the direction it would go in and found the conclusion quite problematic. I didn’t want her to end up with any of them. I found all three romantic interests problematic for different reasons. The first I liked and then something that happened really put me off him. There was a little bit of slut shaming going on, which led to a bit of internalised misogyny in the main character. It ruined the final third of the book and really left it as a bitter end.
This had the potential to be a great book, especially considering the surrogacy story line. That felt promising and well handled. If that had been used more, as the main focus rather than a poorly defined love square, this could have been a refreshing rom com.
I wanted to love this as Derbyshire girl myself, there was definitely potential there and will keep a look out for more works from this author.
3 Stars
I was given an audiobook on Netgalley for an honest review.
Penny is the classic romantic heroine; she is unlucky in love. Disenfranchised with dating after bad experiences, she has all but given up. Then she meets a guy and sparks fly, but when her Uncle (like a father to her) gets sick and she has to return home to look after the family business, they agree to part as friends. Then she meets another guy, and then another guy. And when the first guy decides to come to her to help, she finds herself in a Love Square.
So … the start of this book was strong. The first third really had the makings of a five-star read. I liked the build up of the first relationship. A lot of effort went into this, it was well developed, I was invested in all characters and excited for the rest. Then the conflict started and it fell apart a bit. The bad side of this was the following two relationships were very underdeveloped, and the third was especially rushed and weak. It made it hard to find any tension in the ‘choice’ the main character must make.
I feel like this was marketed as more of a conflict than it really was. There wasn’t a point where I doubted the direction it would go in and found the conclusion quite problematic. I didn’t want her to end up with any of them. I found all three romantic interests problematic for different reasons. The first I liked and then something that happened really put me off him. There was a little bit of slut shaming going on, which led to a bit of internalised misogyny in the main character. It ruined the final third of the book and really left it as a bitter end.
This had the potential to be a great book, especially considering the surrogacy story line. That felt promising and well handled. If that had been used more, as the main focus rather than a poorly defined love square, this could have been a refreshing rom com.
I wanted to love this as Derbyshire girl myself, there was definitely potential there and will keep a look out for more works from this author.
clrwht's review against another edition
4.0
Sweet, funny and heartfelt. A very easy read to help calm a busy mind!
ljesica's review against another edition
2.0
Sigh. This one was solidly meh. I really wanted to like it because I'd really liked the author's first novel (Our Stop). And this one wasn't offensive or anything. But I just wasn't crazy about the main character.
Penny is unlucky in love. Until she isn't. She "accidentally" ends up dating three men and then before she decides what she wants, everything blows up and she ends up on her own. Of course the book ends up with a happy ending and yadda yadda yadda. It was fine.
Penny is unlucky in love. Until she isn't. She "accidentally" ends up dating three men and then before she decides what she wants, everything blows up and she ends up on her own. Of course the book ends up with a happy ending and yadda yadda yadda. It was fine.
jodiesbookishposts's review against another edition
3.0
The Love Square by Laura Jane Williams
3 Stars
I was given an audiobook on Netgalley for an honest review.
Penny is the classic romantic heroine; she is unlucky in love. Disenfranchised with dating after bad experiences, she has all but given up. Then she meets a guy and sparks fly, but when her Uncle (like a father to her) gets sick and she has to return home to look after the family business, they agree to part as friends. Then she meets another guy, and then another guy. And when the first guy decides to come to her to help, she finds herself in a Love Square.
So … the start of this book was strong. The first third really had the makings of a five-star read. I liked the build up of the first relationship. A lot of effort went into this, it was well developed, I was invested in all characters and excited for the rest. Then the conflict started and it fell apart a bit. The bad side of this was the following two relationships were very underdeveloped, and the third was especially rushed and weak. It made it hard to find any tension in the ‘choice’ the main character must make.
I feel like this was marketed as more of a conflict than it really was. There wasn’t a point where I doubted the direction it would go in and found the conclusion quite problematic. I didn’t want her to end up with any of them. I found all three romantic interests problematic for different reasons. The first I liked and then something that happened really put me off him. There was a little bit of slut shaming going on, which led to a bit of internalised misogyny in the main character. It ruined the final third of the book and really left it as a bitter end.
This had the potential to be a great book, especially considering the surrogacy story line. That felt promising and well handled. If that had been used more, as the main focus rather than a poorly defined love square, this could have been a refreshing rom com.
I wanted to love this as Derbyshire girl myself, there was definitely potential there and will keep a look out for more works from this author.
3 Stars
I was given an audiobook on Netgalley for an honest review.
Penny is the classic romantic heroine; she is unlucky in love. Disenfranchised with dating after bad experiences, she has all but given up. Then she meets a guy and sparks fly, but when her Uncle (like a father to her) gets sick and she has to return home to look after the family business, they agree to part as friends. Then she meets another guy, and then another guy. And when the first guy decides to come to her to help, she finds herself in a Love Square.
So … the start of this book was strong. The first third really had the makings of a five-star read. I liked the build up of the first relationship. A lot of effort went into this, it was well developed, I was invested in all characters and excited for the rest. Then the conflict started and it fell apart a bit. The bad side of this was the following two relationships were very underdeveloped, and the third was especially rushed and weak. It made it hard to find any tension in the ‘choice’ the main character must make.
I feel like this was marketed as more of a conflict than it really was. There wasn’t a point where I doubted the direction it would go in and found the conclusion quite problematic. I didn’t want her to end up with any of them. I found all three romantic interests problematic for different reasons. The first I liked and then something that happened really put me off him. There was a little bit of slut shaming going on, which led to a bit of internalised misogyny in the main character. It ruined the final third of the book and really left it as a bitter end.
This had the potential to be a great book, especially considering the surrogacy story line. That felt promising and well handled. If that had been used more, as the main focus rather than a poorly defined love square, this could have been a refreshing rom com.
I wanted to love this as Derbyshire girl myself, there was definitely potential there and will keep a look out for more works from this author.
chapterswithcharlotte's review against another edition
4.0
Review and digital copy supplied by NetGalley.
Ever since I read OurStop I’ve wanted to read something by Laura Jane Williams and this book didn’t disappoint. A quick and easy summer read with a cute premise.
Penny Bridge has always been unlucky in love and things she will be single for the foreseeable future until a man changes all that...... and then another..... and another. Penny finds herself in a lovesquare but are any of her options THE ONE!
I really enjoy Williams’ style of writing and it is a good fluffy Rom com which also highlights some important topics of cancer, infertility and sexuality.
Ever since I read OurStop I’ve wanted to read something by Laura Jane Williams and this book didn’t disappoint. A quick and easy summer read with a cute premise.
Penny Bridge has always been unlucky in love and things she will be single for the foreseeable future until a man changes all that...... and then another..... and another. Penny finds herself in a lovesquare but are any of her options THE ONE!
I really enjoy Williams’ style of writing and it is a good fluffy Rom com which also highlights some important topics of cancer, infertility and sexuality.
jenarnold's review against another edition
3.0
Penny thinks she is unlovable and unlucky when it comes to love. She wants nothing more than to start a family but can’t seem to find the right guy. She has a great business, a great family, and great friends but feels like she is missing something.
While I finished this book in one day and genuinely enjoyed it, there were quite a few things that frustrated me that seemed to be thrown in all at the end.
Unlike other romance books, I truly didn’t know which way Penny was leaning and who she would choose. I felt 2 of the 3 love interests didn’t have much chemistry with Penny, and I was confused to why they were ever in the picture.
It was a quick, enjoyable read during my quarantine. Thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books UK for the ARC!
While I finished this book in one day and genuinely enjoyed it, there were quite a few things that frustrated me that seemed to be thrown in all at the end.
Unlike other romance books, I truly didn’t know which way Penny was leaning and who she would choose. I felt 2 of the 3 love interests didn’t have much chemistry with Penny, and I was confused to why they were ever in the picture.
It was a quick, enjoyable read during my quarantine. Thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books UK for the ARC!
thepaperbackprincess90's review against another edition
3.0
✨Book Review✨
“The love square” by Laura Jane Williams
⭐️⭐️⭐️
“God, I'm sick of myself," Penny proclaimed, finally. "If my life was a movie I don't think it would pass the Bechdel test, you know. All I do is talk about bloody men.”
Synopsis✨
Penny Bridge has always been unlucky in love. So she can’t believe it when she meets a remarkable new man. Followed by another. And then another…And all of them want to date her. Penny now has to choose between three. But, are any of them the one?
“The love square” by Laura Jane Williams
⭐️⭐️⭐️
“God, I'm sick of myself," Penny proclaimed, finally. "If my life was a movie I don't think it would pass the Bechdel test, you know. All I do is talk about bloody men.”
Synopsis✨
Penny Bridge has always been unlucky in love. So she can’t believe it when she meets a remarkable new man. Followed by another. And then another…And all of them want to date her. Penny now has to choose between three. But, are any of them the one?
kevorkian's review against another edition
4.0
I loved reading The Love Square, but let me tell ya...I was pretty mad towards the end of it! And I almost feel like that's a good thing in this specific case!?
Let me explain.
Penny Bridge has just started an exciting, sexy relationship with Francesco when her uncle suffers a health issue bad enough that she needs to go back home and help out the family business. Back in her home town, she ends up meeting and liking two very different men. Now with three men pining for her love, who should she chose?!
Not. The. Guy. She. Chose!
To not spoil it completely, I personally found that the man she ended up with was a complete and utter douchecanoe. I despised him both when he was being the over-the-top in touch with his feelings guy AND when he was being the alpha-male macho dudebro. Just the fact that he turned from one to the other is concerning enough.
With saying that, I do want to emphasize again that I did indeed love this book! It's not just another light-hearted contemporary romance where you know exactly where it's going the whole time but that's okay because it's cute. Penny is a cancer survivor who has infertility issues related to her illness and the author handles the whole subplot beautifully. There is also great LGBTQ2S+ representation in this book. Penny has two separate family members who are in healthy, long term same sex relationships and one of Penny's closest friends is gender non-conforming. The diversity of characters as well as their choices and issues all felt genuine and made for a more complex read (in a good way)!
Let me explain.
Penny Bridge has just started an exciting, sexy relationship with Francesco when her uncle suffers a health issue bad enough that she needs to go back home and help out the family business. Back in her home town, she ends up meeting and liking two very different men. Now with three men pining for her love, who should she chose?!
Not. The. Guy. She. Chose!
To not spoil it completely, I personally found that the man she ended up with was a complete and utter douchecanoe. I despised him both when he was being the over-the-top in touch with his feelings guy AND when he was being the alpha-male macho dudebro. Just the fact that he turned from one to the other is concerning enough.
With saying that, I do want to emphasize again that I did indeed love this book! It's not just another light-hearted contemporary romance where you know exactly where it's going the whole time but that's okay because it's cute. Penny is a cancer survivor who has infertility issues related to her illness and the author handles the whole subplot beautifully. There is also great LGBTQ2S+ representation in this book. Penny has two separate family members who are in healthy, long term same sex relationships and one of Penny's closest friends is gender non-conforming. The diversity of characters as well as their choices and issues all felt genuine and made for a more complex read (in a good way)!