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0kokokay's review
4.0
Most of these types of book I read it is the most cliche stories with cliche arguments and immature characters. However, I think this book is the first I've read where it actually felt like a realistic storyline.
The "fallout" didn't seem rushed because the groundwork had been laid and it made sense for it not to work out while still rooting for it.
Also, all the characters felt adults in their opinions and actions. Like this didn't have the trope of ex's hating each other or trying to ruin the others happiness. It had adults dealing with the hurt of divorce and trying to deal with co-parenting in a respectful way for everyone. Also, looking at age difference while being respectful but also mentioning all the reasons why a relationship with a bigger age gap might not work.
I really liked this book icl
The "fallout" didn't seem rushed because the groundwork had been laid and it made sense for it not to work out while still rooting for it.
Also, all the characters felt adults in their opinions and actions. Like this didn't have the trope of ex's hating each other or trying to ruin the others happiness. It had adults dealing with the hurt of divorce and trying to deal with co-parenting in a respectful way for everyone. Also, looking at age difference while being respectful but also mentioning all the reasons why a relationship with a bigger age gap might not work.
I really liked this book icl
naardsx's review
4.0
✨️ 3.5 Stars
~ this was really enjoyable, but it did feel way too similar to Irresistible. It was even mentioned in the story how similar it was. So this was good but it definitely felt like I was doing a reread of Frannie and Mack's book - which isnt bad at all, but I would have liked for something that made it feel different and unique to Winnie and Dex.
✨️ Audiobook Rating: 5 Stars
~ this was really enjoyable, but it did feel way too similar to Irresistible. It was even mentioned in the story how similar it was. So this was good but it definitely felt like I was doing a reread of Frannie and Mack's book - which isnt bad at all, but I would have liked for something that made it feel different and unique to Winnie and Dex.
✨️ Audiobook Rating: 5 Stars
hmmreads's review
3.0
3.5 stars
Dex was an ex-SEAL now firefighter who just divorced last year. He had his daughters over three days a week during his off-duty days and was going to move into the townhouse next to Winnie's. Winnie was the daughter of book 1 couple. She was engaged before and now decided to be in a "love rehab" because she falls in love too easily.
Dex's daughters were cute and funny, they got along with Winnie well and were always dragging her along to their activities. On the first night at Dex's new home, he heard Winnie's smoke alarm blaring so he burst into her house and was greeted by the sight of her with only a hand towel covering her as she tried to turn off the alarm. Winnie was shocked when she saw him, the addition of his daughters running in wasn't helping either. She fell on her ass and embarrassingly crawled to safety. The whole ordeal was pretty funny, and Dex's daughters occasionally mentioning Winnie's bum as if they caught her and Dex together was hilarious.
After a mutual party, Dex went to her patio to apologize for bursting in like that. Before he left, Dex impulsively kissed her and apologized for it. This was the start of my irk with Dex lmao. Throughout the book, he kept mentioning how young Winnie was from the way she dressed to the way she even walked. I get it, he was apprehensive, it was a big gap, she was 22 he was 38(?). But then he went on sexualizing her, sometimes right after commenting on how young she was. Like, bro, can you please not incriminate yourself like that? It was unsettling.
Not to mention Dex's "grumpiness". I suppose that the book wants us to see his grumpiness as endearing? I can't get on board with that. Dex had a short fuse and couldn't hide his annoyance to save his life. Because of this he had to constantly apologize to the people around him. It got tiring quickly. The next day after Dex and Winnie kissed, Dex quickly "reassured" her that he wasn't attracted to him like that. Winnie was hurt and he had to apologize. Then Dex was being grumpy because of his ex-wife's nagging and let it spill over to Winnie-- he had to apologize again. Then he was being a jerk because of his absent but also dying dad wanting to see him, he apologized again to Winnie. Then Winnie got a job and had to move out. Dex didn't feel right asking her to stay and dismissed the relationship he and Winnie had as a casual fuck. Which, wasn't wrong and that was what they agreed upon when they started but still, he ended up apologizing again. You see my point, this book was 80% Dex apologizing and not just to Winnie.
Winnie as a character was fine. She didn't have an identifying personality. She was your typical easy-going next-door neighborhood girl who loves kids and was a joy to be around. She admitted her stupidy of ending up falling in love with Dex even though that wasn't her plan, which was a refreshing take because I cannot handle MCs whining about falling in love, or a "how could this be?" moment when they got themselves in that mess.
Dex did a "grand gesture" because Winnie mentioned it before. This part was pretty endearing, he ended up declaring his love to the wrong house and the whole neighborhood was there to bask in his mistake. Winnie moved back and dropped her dream job and they got engaged in the epilogue.
Oh, I also appreciate that Naomi the ex-wife was realistically disappointed in Dex and dissed him in a way that wasn't bitchy but understandable.
Overall, the book kept me til the end. Didn't like Dex and was impartial toward Winnie. The kids were great. The funny scenes were funny. Writing in the beginning was a bunch of exposition dumps though.
Dex was an ex-SEAL now firefighter who just divorced last year. He had his daughters over three days a week during his off-duty days and was going to move into the townhouse next to Winnie's. Winnie was the daughter of book 1 couple. She was engaged before and now decided to be in a "love rehab" because she falls in love too easily.
Dex's daughters were cute and funny, they got along with Winnie well and were always dragging her along to their activities. On the first night at Dex's new home, he heard Winnie's smoke alarm blaring so he burst into her house and was greeted by the sight of her with only a hand towel covering her as she tried to turn off the alarm. Winnie was shocked when she saw him, the addition of his daughters running in wasn't helping either. She fell on her ass and embarrassingly crawled to safety. The whole ordeal was pretty funny, and Dex's daughters occasionally mentioning Winnie's bum as if they caught her and Dex together was hilarious.
After a mutual party, Dex went to her patio to apologize for bursting in like that. Before he left, Dex impulsively kissed her and apologized for it. This was the start of my irk with Dex lmao. Throughout the book, he kept mentioning how young Winnie was from the way she dressed to the way she even walked. I get it, he was apprehensive, it was a big gap, she was 22 he was 38(?). But then he went on sexualizing her, sometimes right after commenting on how young she was. Like, bro, can you please not incriminate yourself like that? It was unsettling.
Not to mention Dex's "grumpiness". I suppose that the book wants us to see his grumpiness as endearing? I can't get on board with that. Dex had a short fuse and couldn't hide his annoyance to save his life. Because of this he had to constantly apologize to the people around him. It got tiring quickly. The next day after Dex and Winnie kissed, Dex quickly "reassured" her that he wasn't attracted to him like that. Winnie was hurt and he had to apologize. Then Dex was being grumpy because of his ex-wife's nagging and let it spill over to Winnie-- he had to apologize again. Then he was being a jerk because of his absent but also dying dad wanting to see him, he apologized again to Winnie. Then Winnie got a job and had to move out. Dex didn't feel right asking her to stay and dismissed the relationship he and Winnie had as a casual fuck. Which, wasn't wrong and that was what they agreed upon when they started but still, he ended up apologizing again. You see my point, this book was 80% Dex apologizing and not just to Winnie.
Winnie as a character was fine. She didn't have an identifying personality. She was your typical easy-going next-door neighborhood girl who loves kids and was a joy to be around. She admitted her stupidy of ending up falling in love with Dex even though that wasn't her plan, which was a refreshing take because I cannot handle MCs whining about falling in love, or a "how could this be?" moment when they got themselves in that mess.
Dex did a "grand gesture" because Winnie mentioned it before. This part was pretty endearing, he ended up declaring his love to the wrong house and the whole neighborhood was there to bask in his mistake. Winnie moved back and dropped her dream job and they got engaged in the epilogue.
Oh, I also appreciate that Naomi the ex-wife was realistically disappointed in Dex and dissed him in a way that wasn't bitchy but understandable.
Overall, the book kept me til the end. Didn't like Dex and was impartial toward Winnie. The kids were great. The funny scenes were funny. Writing in the beginning was a bunch of exposition dumps though.
nickimcm's review
5.0
all the best tropes rolled into one AND some spicy stuff? yes please. melanie harlow you have my heart!
booksarebetterjess's review against another edition
emotional
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
shelbyb3's review against another edition
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
mariettula's review
4.0
Update: This book’s grovel is soooo good, I’ve gone back multiple times to re-read. It’s become one of my favorites for sure.
4 inflammable stars
LOOK- why is this book getting 4 stars when by all intents and purposes it's a fun, easy read with very common tropes? Because despite being somewhat played out as a story...it was simple above the rest in its category .
Is it in my favorites now? Maybe not, but still, I had very low expectations and maaaan, was I proven wrong. Winnie is very cute and rootable, Dex is an awesome grumpy dad, the kids are great and it just worked . I don't know how else to explain it.
It's fun, funny, has groveling, cute kids, age gap, not a lot of drama and simple took me for a very pleasant ride. So, Miss Harlow, take my 4 stars with lots of love and apologies for underestimating this book.
4 inflammable stars
LOOK- why is this book getting 4 stars when by all intents and purposes it's a fun, easy read with very common tropes? Because despite being somewhat played out as a story...it was simple above the rest in its category .
Is it in my favorites now? Maybe not, but still, I had very low expectations and maaaan, was I proven wrong. Winnie is very cute and rootable, Dex is an awesome grumpy dad, the kids are great and it just worked . I don't know how else to explain it.
It's fun, funny, has groveling, cute kids, age gap, not a lot of drama and simple took me for a very pleasant ride. So, Miss Harlow, take my 4 stars with lots of love and apologies for underestimating this book.
mila81m11's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
rjm2025's review
4.0
Cute read, didn’t blow me away but I enjoyed it. Felt like it dragged a bit but all in all- good.
lucysaints's review
4.0
So I read these out of order, for me this is the last in the series.
Dex is all the yes, but also a grumpy ass very stuck in his ways.
I just love Winnie!
A good thing Dex has the little girls to keep our attention away from his ass-ness with their cuteness.
Dex is all the yes, but also a grumpy ass very stuck in his ways.
I just love Winnie!
A good thing Dex has the little girls to keep our attention away from his ass-ness with their cuteness.