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caprivoyant's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
Overall opinion "Eh"
The story is entertaining enough. The "hero" of the story is likable, flawed, but likable. His romantic interest, however, isn't. Likable, that is. She thinks she's not flawed either, so there's that. Figured you deserved a heads up there.
Everything else I have to say, I think, I can say better in bullets:
The story is entertaining enough. The "hero" of the story is likable, flawed, but likable. His romantic interest, however, isn't. Likable, that is. She thinks she's not flawed either, so there's that. Figured you deserved a heads up there.
Everything else I have to say, I think, I can say better in bullets:
- It always takes 2 people for a relationship to not work; and for a relationship to heal, both parties have to own up to their half of things. I don't think that really happens in this book, and it's rather frustrating.
- I think this book was trying to dismantle gender roles? But it used stereotypes to enforce its ideals and, in the epilogue, actually used language that solidifies gender roles. Note: emotions can't be "girly."
- There's no bromance. (That was actually, almost, my full review but figured a few other problems needed to be highlighted too).
🤷🏻‍♀️ That's it, I guess.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Ableism, Vomit, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Child abuse and Bullying
guiltyoftsundoku's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Vomit, Bullying, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Miscarriage
emfass's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Things I liked:
•My first foray into the marriage-in-trouble trope, and I definitely want to read some others.
•A book club! For men! To read romance novels! And talk! About their feelings and vulnerabilities!! HOW DO WE MAKE THIS TAKE OVER THE WORLD.
•When Gavin and Thea were tender with each other, or had each other's backs...I really like these two and was rooting for them.
Things I didn't like: (mild spoilers)
•I cannot stand it when so many things could be solved if the characters would just talk to each other. I get that this can accurately reflect real life relationships, and also serves in creating the conflict, but it is SUCH a pet peeve and I get so frustrated. ESPECIALLY since they realize it during their breaking point. But do they actually work on getting better at communicating? No, or if they do, it's happening off screen (which I don't think it is, and also, what's the freaking point of that).
•The whole "backstory" concept as it related to her parents/childhood/baggage kinda came out of nowhere, at least as the path to a solution to their issues? As a child of divorce I felt the truth of this very deeply, but didn't actually feel like it worked its way into the consciousness of the characters in ways that they could then realistically resolve the issues in their marriage in just a few short weeks. Basically I'm saying, can we PLEASE get these people some therapy??
•Gavin turns to the Bromance Book Club and romance novels for help--which, yay--but NOT ONCE did he actually ask Thea what she needed from him in order to make things work. Or we got one small moment of him asking how he should touch her in bed. If this is the crux of the issue, then THEY SHOULD BE WORKING ON COMMUNICATING IN BED. Instead of just going at it and hoping for the best. Which, it's a romance novel, so of course it works out, but GAH. I'm glad he learned how to be vulnerable and share his feelings. I just really, really wish he--both of them, I guess--had done more reaching out to each other to figure out what the other needed in order to feel safe and rebuild trust. But nope, guess we'll just rely on this random-ass grand gesture at the end and everything will be hunky-dory.
•A book club! For men! To read romance novels! And talk! About their feelings and vulnerabilities!! HOW DO WE MAKE THIS TAKE OVER THE WORLD.
•When Gavin and Thea were tender with each other, or had each other's backs...I really like these two and was rooting for them.
Things I didn't like: (mild spoilers)
•I cannot stand it when so many things could be solved if the characters would just talk to each other. I get that this can accurately reflect real life relationships, and also serves in creating the conflict, but it is SUCH a pet peeve and I get so frustrated. ESPECIALLY since they realize it during their breaking point. But do they actually work on getting better at communicating? No, or if they do, it's happening off screen (which I don't think it is, and also, what's the freaking point of that).
•The whole "backstory" concept as it related to her parents/childhood/baggage kinda came out of nowhere, at least as the path to a solution to their issues? As a child of divorce I felt the truth of this very deeply, but didn't actually feel like it worked its way into the consciousness of the characters in ways that they could then realistically resolve the issues in their marriage in just a few short weeks. Basically I'm saying, can we PLEASE get these people some therapy??
•Gavin turns to the Bromance Book Club and romance novels for help--which, yay--but NOT ONCE did he actually ask Thea what she needed from him in order to make things work. Or we got one small moment of him asking how he should touch her in bed. If this is the crux of the issue, then THEY SHOULD BE WORKING ON COMMUNICATING IN BED. Instead of just going at it and hoping for the best. Which, it's a romance novel, so of course it works out, but GAH. I'm glad he learned how to be vulnerable and share his feelings. I just really, really wish he--both of them, I guess--had done more reaching out to each other to figure out what the other needed in order to feel safe and rebuild trust. But nope, guess we'll just rely on this random-ass grand gesture at the end and everything will be hunky-dory.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Ableism, Bullying, and Vomit
Minor: Sexism and Violence
readerette's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It reads very like an advice column while also being a decent romance. The men tend toward emotionally intelligent, but there are still a few personalities that come across chauvinistic or "toxic masculinity" (something the male characters mention numerous times they're trying to get away from).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Bullying, Emotional abuse, and Vomit
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