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finnickdeservedbetter's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Tropes & Themes:
- lesbian x bi
- workplace romance
- forced proximity
- small town
- opposites attract
- overcoming perfectionism
- bi awakening/comphet deconstructing
Spice: Smedium
3-4 explicit scenes with explicit language
My thoughts:Mixed feelings about this one tbh. I loved Astrid in Delilah Green Doesn’t Care so I thought I would love her own book even more...unfortunately not. It's turned out to be my least favourite of the series.
Don't get me wrong, I still love Astrid and I loved seeing her grow and finally stand up to her mom. It was mostly Jordan who I didn't vibe with. I thought I would grow to like her but it was kind of the opposite. I liked her less and less as time went on. Which is tragic because we're both Pisceans who consult our tarot cards for everything. We should totally vibe. I don't know, I just feel like Astrid grew a lot by the end of the book, whereas I felt like Jordan reall didn't.
By the end, she barely even set up boundaries with her ex. The one who called her current partner "some blond bitch" by the way, then proceeded to sabotage her relationship with her AND the job she was very financially dependent on. But in the end it was just "I need some space". Um, hello? That is blocking everywhere, no contact, fuck you very much behaviour...but that's just my opinion I guess.
But despite all that, Jordan kept acting like she was somehow better than Astrid. There are multiple examples but the biggest one for me was when Astrid's mom came over and chewed her out and Jordan somehow flipped that around and started insulting Astrid. Literally wtf?
Besides that, I also just kind of felt a lack of chemistry. Like they were sort of just chucked together and that's that. I wanted to see them actually getting to know each other but most of that potential time was taken up by drama. I love drama as much as the next person but in the words of Tati Westbrook: "Time and place". No cardinal sins were committed or anything but her attitude was really ticking me off y'know.
All that being said, I did really like Astrid, like I said at the beginning. I'm glad she finally stood up to her mom but I'm also glad Isabel was willing to change. That was a pleasant surpise. With all the "abandoned parents" FB groups out there, it's nice to see a parent take accountability for their emotional abuse and actively work to repair their relationship with their child. Love that for Astrid.
Anyways, onto Iris Kelly. I've been really liking her so far so I'm 90% sure I'm going to love her book...hopefully. (Spoiler alert: I loved it and it ended up being my favourite in the series)
- workplace romance
- forced proximity
- small town
- opposites attract
- overcoming perfectionism
- bi awakening/comphet deconstructing
Spice: Smedium
3-4 explicit scenes with explicit language
My thoughts:
Don't get me wrong, I still love Astrid and I loved seeing her grow and finally stand up to her mom. It was mostly Jordan who I didn't vibe with. I thought I would grow to like her but it was kind of the opposite. I liked her less and less as time went on. Which is tragic because we're both Pisceans who consult our tarot cards for everything. We should totally vibe. I don't know, I just feel like Astrid grew a lot by the end of the book, whereas I felt like Jordan reall didn't.
By the end, she barely even set up boundaries with her ex. The one who called her current partner "some blond bitch" by the way, then proceeded to sabotage her relationship with her AND the job she was very financially dependent on. But in the end it was just "I need some space". Um, hello? That is blocking everywhere, no contact, fuck you very much behaviour...but that's just my opinion I guess.
But despite all that, Jordan kept acting like she was somehow better than Astrid. There are multiple examples but the biggest one for me was when Astrid's mom came over and chewed her out and Jordan somehow flipped that around and started insulting Astrid. Literally wtf?
Besides that, I also just kind of felt a lack of chemistry. Like they were sort of just chucked together and that's that. I wanted to see them actually getting to know each other but most of that potential time was taken up by drama. I love drama as much as the next person but in the words of Tati Westbrook: "Time and place". No cardinal sins were committed or anything but her attitude was really ticking me off y'know.
All that being said, I did really like Astrid, like I said at the beginning. I'm glad she finally stood up to her mom but I'm also glad Isabel was willing to change. That was a pleasant surpise. With all the "abandoned parents" FB groups out there, it's nice to see a parent take accountability for their emotional abuse and actively work to repair their relationship with their child. Love that for Astrid.
Anyways, onto Iris Kelly. I've been really liking her so far so I'm 90% sure I'm going to love her book...hopefully. (Spoiler alert: I loved it and it ended up being my favourite in the series)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Sexual content
Moderate: Cancer and Toxic relationship
Minor: Outing, Homophobia, and Vomit
emmahe's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cancer
sarahmerfi's review against another edition
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
emikateb's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cancer, Panic attacks/disorders, and Chronic illness
Minor: Emotional abuse, Death, Death of parent, Classism, Homophobia, and Toxic relationship
marinaplndr's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
duwella's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Solid rea depicts 30 year olds real life romance
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Minor: Cancer and Death of parent
Content of very controlling parent and covers issues around queer acceptancefuzzywilson's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Infidelity, Death of parent, Death, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, and Sexual content
Minor: Fatphobia, Bullying, and Panic attacks/disorders
readwithria's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Astrid Parker Doesn't Fail is a book for the women who put too much pressure on themselves. It's a book for the women who value everyone else's expectations above their personal happiness. It's for the women who keep doing what they're doing without ever asking if it's actually what they want. Astrid resonated with me so much, and her growth in this book was phenomenal.
With that said, something was missing for me. The main conflict in the second half of the book could have been avoided, or changed, and I felt that way for a large chunk of the book. But then I got to the last couple chapters and I saw the vision for the ending, so while I understand why the book was written the way it was I strongly believe there was another option that would have had better communication and less general lying.
Read this if you love
- baking
- self-discovery
- home renovation and interior design
- queer joy
- opposites attract
I can't wait to read more from Ashley Herring Blake. 4 stars!
With that said, something was missing for me. The main conflict in the second half of the book could have been avoided, or changed, and I felt that way for a large chunk of the book. But then I got to the last couple chapters and I saw the vision for the ending, so while I understand why the book was written the way it was I strongly believe there was another option that would have had better communication and less general lying.
Read this if you love
- baking
- self-discovery
- home renovation and interior design
- queer joy
- opposites attract
I can't wait to read more from Ashley Herring Blake. 4 stars!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Cursing
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Death of parent and Gaslighting
eithne26's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
carlyoc's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Astrid Parker has always been her mother's perfect daughter. But recently she has started to question whether her major life choices were really what she wanted at all. In the previous book, she called off her wedding to the type of man her mother would have wanted for her and now she is starting to doubt her career as an interior designer.
Then she gets the opportunity to give the local historic inn a makeover for a major TV show. But the carpenter on the show, who is also the granddaughter of the inn's owner, begins to waken some new desires in Astrid.
Jordan Everwood, the carpenter, is recovering from a deep depression spiral triggered by losing her wife. Moving home to work on the inn seems like the perfect fresh start, but things get complicated when the lead designer, who she is beginning to fall for, plans to transform her childhood haunt into a soulless modern monstrosity.
Then she gets the opportunity to give the local historic inn a makeover for a major TV show. But the carpenter on the show, who is also the granddaughter of the inn's owner, begins to waken some new desires in Astrid.
Jordan Everwood, the carpenter, is recovering from a deep depression spiral triggered by losing her wife. Moving home to work on the inn seems like the perfect fresh start, but things get complicated when the lead designer, who she is beginning to fall for, plans to transform her childhood haunt into a soulless modern monstrosity.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
If you have a fraught relationship with your mother, this may be an emotional read.