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4.24 AVERAGE
4.24 AVERAGE
fast-paced
adventurous
emotional
funny
tense
medium-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:
No
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
adventurous
emotional
funny
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
I can see how somebody would really love this but I just didn't really vibe with it too much. I like Luke and Webb a lot and I adore Aiden with my whole hurt but I really hated the meddlesome townspeople trope forcing them to get together. I hate the lack of agency and autonomy that trope affords the main couple and it feels dub con-y and pressure-y.
I appreciate that the author tried to give Aiden's mother a growth arc and become a more stable parent in Aiden's life, however, I don't understand how I'm supposed to believe it when we spent the first book being told shekidnapped Aiden. I can't go from thinking that she's a spiteful person who kidnapped her child to hurt her ex husband to instead thinking that she was just an irresponsible parent who is now fixing her problems and regaining stability. Those are wildly different storylines and I can't merge them together.
Also I wish that Luke had at some point straight up told Webb that it was incredibly messed up that town rejected Luke for so long because he upset Webb in the first book. Webb blames Luke for this by saying that the townspeople were so standoffish because he must have turned down an invite which that made of the townspeople think that he didn't want to be included but thats complete crap. We spend the first few chapters from Luke's perspective seeing that the town doesn't like him because of the incidents in the first book- bc the Sunday family is so integral to the town, the town follows their lead.
Initially, I thought this was a 3.5 but the more I think about it, the more I realized that I actually didn't enjoy much of it.
I appreciate that the author tried to give Aiden's mother a growth arc and become a more stable parent in Aiden's life, however, I don't understand how I'm supposed to believe it when we spent the first book being told she
Also I wish that Luke had at some point straight up told Webb that it was incredibly messed up that town rejected Luke for so long because he upset Webb in the first book. Webb blames Luke for this by saying that the townspeople were so standoffish because he must have turned down an invite which that made of the townspeople think that he didn't want to be included but thats complete crap. We spend the first few chapters from Luke's perspective seeing that the town doesn't like him because of the incidents in the first book- bc the Sunday family is so integral to the town, the town follows their lead.
Initially, I thought this was a 3.5 but the more I think about it, the more I realized that I actually didn't enjoy much of it.
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I love the entire Sunday family and the crazy, overly gossipy community of Little Pippin Hollow! Hand Picked was a really sweet, low-angst, hilarious read that made me so excited for the future Sunday Brothers stories.
Webb Sunday runs the Sunday Orchard, has a 7-year-old son named Aiden, sees himself as the unofficial guardian of his younger brothers and sister and has zero time for relationships after his divorce. Oh, and he severely dislikes his son’s 1st grade teacher, Mr. Luke Williams. Webb is grumpy and distrusting after a rough couple of months and he takes it out on Luke until he finally gets a chance to know the guy.
Luke Williams won an essay contest which brought him to Little Pippin Hollow with the promise of land, a historic farmhouse and a happy ever after. Little did he know, it actually did seem too good to be true and found himself with a run down historic home, no money to do the repairs and a tiny trailer to call home. Despite all that, Luke is one of the most positive characters I’ve read - even when no one else can see a bright side, he can find it. He’s so adorable and is the quintessential portrayal of a small town elementary school teacher - wholesome, funny and endlessly caring.
Even though Webb thinks he hates Luke, they both end up drinking Rusty Spikes one evening and end up getting hand-fasted…something that could only happen is a tiny town like Little Pippin Hollow. They’re both so confused at first, but they start to become friends and see how little they actually know about each other. Webb learns about Luke’s struggles with his house and Luke discovers Webb’s fear of commitment, putting them on shaky ground, but they both help each other out in their own ways. While they’re getting to know each other, they complete the hand-fasting tasks and manage to fall completely in love. Their story was really precious and all about accepting new things and being open to new experiences and I loved it.
I really wish we got more of an ending - things wrapped up so fast in the last chapter that I felt like I was missing something. I needed more Sunday family happiness after the craziness of the bugle blowing! The epilogue definitely helped give me some more closure for Webb and Luke, but I still wanted more in the immediate aftermath. Also, who the heck let Katey continue being such a nasty character? She didn’t add much to the story and really annoyed me every time she was on the page.
I can’t wait for Hawk and Jack’s book next! This one’s going to get tricky, but I’m excited to see how the Sundays make it fun and funny in the end.
Webb Sunday runs the Sunday Orchard, has a 7-year-old son named Aiden, sees himself as the unofficial guardian of his younger brothers and sister and has zero time for relationships after his divorce. Oh, and he severely dislikes his son’s 1st grade teacher, Mr. Luke Williams. Webb is grumpy and distrusting after a rough couple of months and he takes it out on Luke until he finally gets a chance to know the guy.
Luke Williams won an essay contest which brought him to Little Pippin Hollow with the promise of land, a historic farmhouse and a happy ever after. Little did he know, it actually did seem too good to be true and found himself with a run down historic home, no money to do the repairs and a tiny trailer to call home. Despite all that, Luke is one of the most positive characters I’ve read - even when no one else can see a bright side, he can find it. He’s so adorable and is the quintessential portrayal of a small town elementary school teacher - wholesome, funny and endlessly caring.
Even though Webb thinks he hates Luke, they both end up drinking Rusty Spikes one evening and end up getting hand-fasted…something that could only happen is a tiny town like Little Pippin Hollow. They’re both so confused at first, but they start to become friends and see how little they actually know about each other. Webb learns about Luke’s struggles with his house and Luke discovers Webb’s fear of commitment, putting them on shaky ground, but they both help each other out in their own ways. While they’re getting to know each other, they complete the hand-fasting tasks and manage to fall completely in love. Their story was really precious and all about accepting new things and being open to new experiences and I loved it.
I really wish we got more of an ending - things wrapped up so fast in the last chapter that I felt like I was missing something. I needed more Sunday family happiness after the craziness of the bugle blowing! The epilogue definitely helped give me some more closure for Webb and Luke, but I still wanted more in the immediate aftermath. Also, who the heck let Katey continue being such a nasty character? She didn’t add much to the story and really annoyed me every time she was on the page.
I can’t wait for Hawk and Jack’s book next! This one’s going to get tricky, but I’m excited to see how the Sundays make it fun and funny in the end.
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
If you love the Gilmore Girls this is the book series for you. This was the sweetest, most ridiculously fun romance. I loved the silliness and the seriousness and everything about this book. The Sunday’s are simply the best!
Honestly I don’t even know where to begin with this one because I loved everything. Even the miscommunication parts. I loved the ridiculousness of Webb and Luke accidentally getting hand fasted (aka: engaged) and having to complete silly tasks together. I loved that Webb was a single father not really looking for a relationship, having a bisexual awakening later in life, and falling in love. But also, Luke is literal sunshine! He’s always trying to put a positive spin on things, even in the midst of life’s challenges. I also loved that the whole town saw that these two were meant to be together and started meddling and rooting for them like there was no tomorrow. It was just so sweet and too ridiculousness not to fall in love with.
Hand Picked just made my heart so happy. It made me laugh and smile more times than I can count and I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book! This one is getting a solid five stars.
Hand Picked is the delightfully quirky, fun second installment of the Sunday Brothers series. Webb & Luke’s story has all of the hallmarks fans of May Archer have come to expect: great characters, strong emotional ties, humor, wit and a sweet, slowly burning romance in a charming, small town setting. This is an enemies-to-lovers story you won’t want to miss.
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Could I have told you exactly how this book was going to play out from start to finish? Yes. Did I enjoy the heck out of it any way? Absolutely.
May Archer writes these small town romances where the town itself and all the side charaters are so delighful that you can't help but fall in love.
Cannot wait for book three!
May Archer writes these small town romances where the town itself and all the side charaters are so delighful that you can't help but fall in love.
Cannot wait for book three!