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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
Having just read and really enjoyed A Deal with the Devil by this author, I was in the mood to try something else by her. Which made this one extra disappointing. The biggest issue was that Erin's (the FMC) thinking made NO SENSE. I understand that I don't have to love a character to enjoy their story, and that part of what makes a story good is seeing a person learn and grow, so they're often going to start out unlikable or not making sense to the reader.
But I have never in my life met anyone who could
Also! She breaks up with her fiance, but then proceeds to spend about half the book assuming they'll be getting back together. Exactly zero of their issues have been worked out, because they're not even in the same country or time zone, and she's no less frustrated, hurt, or angry with him, but she just assumes she'll take him back, for... reasons. And of course she then does indeed talk herself into taking him back.
And finally, she spends the majority of the book going on about how Brendan sleeps with anyone and everyone and then leaves them, in spite of seeing actual evidence to the contrary at this point in his life, and no evidence to support the belief. He keeps not doing it, he keeps explaining to her that he has no longer does, and she just keeps plugging her fingers in her ears and saying "la la la I can't hear you" for no discernible reason.
In short, the FMC is what we call Too Stupid to Live. And I know exactly zero people who think like her. I could only figure that she had to think like she did to drive the plot and create conflict. But that's just shoddy writing.
I guess I'll need to read a third book by O'Roark as a tie breaker.
But I have never in my life met anyone who could
Spoiler
hear that their fiance kissed someone else and mostly shrug it off, even saying that it was "innocent". In what universe is an engaged person kissing someone other than their fiance innocent? And then, when she breaks up with him (not for the kiss, mind you!), and she later has sex with someone else, she gets totally hung up on how wrong it is of them! OK, I get that her new guy is her newly ex-fiance's ex-best friend, but that doesn't mean what they're doing is inherently wrong. And she stays hung up on how it will ruin the men's friendship even though Brendan has told her that the friendship is already over, for various reasons. So to recap, in Erin's thinking: kissing someone else while engaged = innocent. Having sex with someone after breaking up with someone else = inexcusably bad.Also! She breaks up with her fiance, but then proceeds to spend about half the book assuming they'll be getting back together. Exactly zero of their issues have been worked out, because they're not even in the same country or time zone, and she's no less frustrated, hurt, or angry with him, but she just assumes she'll take him back, for... reasons. And of course she then does indeed talk herself into taking him back.
And finally, she spends the majority of the book going on about how Brendan sleeps with anyone and everyone and then leaves them, in spite of seeing actual evidence to the contrary at this point in his life, and no evidence to support the belief. He keeps not doing it, he keeps explaining to her that he has no longer does, and she just keeps plugging her fingers in her ears and saying "la la la I can't hear you" for no discernible reason.
In short, the FMC is what we call Too Stupid to Live. And I know exactly zero people who think like her. I could only figure that she had to think like she did to drive the plot and create conflict. But that's just shoddy writing.
I guess I'll need to read a third book by O'Roark as a tie breaker.
I desperately wanted to love this book.
Just because the writing was flawless as usual.
I am in love with Brandon. The story idea was so intriguing and amazing.
I also loved the way it was written. Brandon’s pov for the past and Erin’s for the present. It added perfectly to the right person but never the right time. How always one of them was in love with the other.
But Erin… i loved her in Waking Olivia.
But in this book she slowly got on my nerves. Not because she’s badly written or anything. She’s too realistic. I just can’t stand reading about leads like her. I know that this is a thing that really happens - you loose too much of yourself in a relationship. A toxic relationship where you don’t notice it is. It’s draining you out.
Erin having no damn backbone and being unable to stand up for herself was heartbreaking. But also frustrating. And I therefore couldn’t relate to her at all. It’s probably a realistic portrayal, but one that made me annoyed by her.
But her being realistic and heartbreakingly lost in the word is not something that should reflect negatively on my rating since it’s a me thing and not a badly done thing.
It’s an AMAZING book. The 42 highlights on my kindle probably say enough about that.
So if your in the mood for a heartbreaking journey of a love story… this is the book for you
4
Just because the writing was flawless as usual.
I am in love with Brandon. The story idea was so intriguing and amazing.
I also loved the way it was written. Brandon’s pov for the past and Erin’s for the present. It added perfectly to the right person but never the right time. How always one of them was in love with the other.
But Erin… i loved her in Waking Olivia.
But in this book she slowly got on my nerves. Not because she’s badly written or anything. She’s too realistic. I just can’t stand reading about leads like her. I know that this is a thing that really happens - you loose too much of yourself in a relationship. A toxic relationship where you don’t notice it is. It’s draining you out.
Erin having no damn backbone and being unable to stand up for herself was heartbreaking. But also frustrating. And I therefore couldn’t relate to her at all. It’s probably a realistic portrayal, but one that made me annoyed by her.
But her being realistic and heartbreakingly lost in the word is not something that should reflect negatively on my rating since it’s a me thing and not a badly done thing.
It’s an AMAZING book. The 42 highlights on my kindle probably say enough about that.
So if your in the mood for a heartbreaking journey of a love story… this is the book for you
4
4.5
i was tempted to give it 5 stars again, but it wasnt as good as waking olivia or deal with the devil. this one had some unecessary drama.
but erinbrendan
i was tempted to give it 5 stars again, but it wasnt as good as waking olivia or deal with the devil. this one had some unecessary drama.
but erinbrendan
Thought this book was being a bit melodramatic. Also, I didn't consider this an enemies to lovers situation, more like mutual pining and broken communication.
Either way, the smut scenes were good.
Either way, the smut scenes were good.
medium-paced
There were elements of this that totally worked for me, like the tension between the MCs. But I was struggling with the flippant comments from the male like “breastfeeding is so weird and makes me uncomfortable” etc. I’m usually pretty good at just ignoring misogyny to enjoy the plot, but I couldn’t do it with this one.
Sorry O’Roarke, I’ve loved many of your books but this wasn’t it.
Sorry O’Roarke, I’ve loved many of your books but this wasn’t it.
“and he looks at me in a way no one else ever has: as if he knows me”
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-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
I loved Erin and Brendan! My only complaint is we didn’t get enough of Brendan’s present pov, but I get it. Most of his povs being from his past with gabi set up a plot twist I didn’t see coming. The whole time I wanted to shake them for not seeing how madly in love they were with each other, but their past circumstances prevented them from seeing what was right in front of them.