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onemorepagecrew's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-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
5.0
I grabbed this from the library while looking for a quick and easy weekend read, and this was exactly what I hoped for. I read this on a faux-spring Saturday with a coffee in hand and it was so enjoyable. In this romance storyline we meet Anna, a famous actress who is filming a new ad campaign, and Ben, an executive at the advertising firm producing the campaign. They have immediate chemistry and start off with more flirting and casual encounters and the build of their relationship staying realistic and not rushed.
I loved how the inner monologue of both characters was intertwined with their dialogue – one of my very favorite ways an author shows the near misses that happen in conversation when people hold back their true inner thoughts. Both Anna and Ben were equally developed without one as a main character which made me feel more invested in their relationship. I loved that they laid their vulnerabilities out there for each other early on and supported each other without expectation. I felt myself rooting for them the whole time.
The supporting characters were equally as charming and had just the right amount of storyline. Their best friends and siblings, their work colleagues, and their parents were all there to create the network of Ben and Anna and show who they were beyond their work and their romantic relationship. Side note, Ben’s brother and sister-in-law, Theo and Maddie, have their backstory in The Wedding Party and I scooped that up from the library to read, too.
This was another gem of a story from Jasmine Guillory – I loved it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content
Moderate: Abandonment
jen3699's review against another edition
The beginning was good but the middle just feels dragged out. The sex scenes happen every other page and they're not fulfilling.
The characters are great, the story has potential, it's just not what I expected.
I feel like the title and synopsis weren't accurate to the whole book. Like it's just a retelling of the beginning of the story and then the end bit for the conflict.
The characters are great, the story has potential, it's just not what I expected.
I feel like the title and synopsis weren't accurate to the whole book. Like it's just a retelling of the beginning of the story and then the end bit for the conflict.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Fatphobia and Racism
kaylasonlyheart's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Mental illness
Minor: Abandonment
megloveswords12'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Mental illness
meghanm404's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Medical content, Misogyny, Racism, and Sexism
zombiezami's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Panic attacks/disorders, and Mental illness
Moderate: Abandonment, Medical content, and Ableism
Minor: Sexual harassment, Sexism, Racism, Alcohol, Cursing, Confinement, Fatphobia, and Body shaming
madsmcw_reads'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? Yes
3.0
I've really enjoyed Guillory's novels ever since reading The Wedding Date. Unfortunately, I can't say that this is one of my favorites in the series. To start off, I don't feel like I ever felt fully connected to the characters. They had some depth and good character development, but it just always felt like they were holding something back.
One thing I really enjoyed was how mental health was a big focus of the novel. Guillory handled topics like therapy, living with anxiety, access to mental health services, and other related topics very well and with grace. I think she highlighted some real issues while also normalizing people going to therapy and working through anxiety.
I did enjoy the romance between Ben and Anna. Their relationship felt like it took a really natural course and I liked reading about the times they spent together and how they interacted with one another. I also loved the Hollywood angle and thought that it was a lot of fun.
I don't know if I can really pinpoint what didn't work for me in this book. It just didn't hold the same sparkle that some of the other in the series have for me. If you enjoy her other books you should definitely read this one too because some of the past characters reappear and it's fun to see what they're up to now but you don't necessarily need to move it to the top of the TBR pile.
One thing I really enjoyed was how mental health was a big focus of the novel. Guillory handled topics like therapy, living with anxiety, access to mental health services, and other related topics very well and with grace. I think she highlighted some real issues while also normalizing people going to therapy and working through anxiety.
I did enjoy the romance between Ben and Anna. Their relationship felt like it took a really natural course and I liked reading about the times they spent together and how they interacted with one another. I also loved the Hollywood angle and thought that it was a lot of fun.
I don't know if I can really pinpoint what didn't work for me in this book. It just didn't hold the same sparkle that some of the other in the series have for me. If you enjoy her other books you should definitely read this one too because some of the past characters reappear and it's fun to see what they're up to now but you don't necessarily need to move it to the top of the TBR pile.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Sexual content
Minor: Racism
alexisj's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content and Panic attacks/disorders
sierraechobravo's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Medical content, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content
caseythereader'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? No
4.25
- Jasmine Guillory's books get better and better with each release. In her early books I found the dialogue quite stilted, but now everything flows and the people and their conversations feel real.
- I loved the slight twist on the fake dating trope here - they were sleeping together and maybe dating, and then turned it into publicly fake dating, and I'm sure you know the drill from there.
- Anna and Ben were both just such sweet and lovely people. This is one to pick up when you need something gentle.
- Along with that, though, are some good discussions about anxiety and about being a famous fat Black person.
- I loved the slight twist on the fake dating trope here - they were sleeping together and maybe dating, and then turned it into publicly fake dating, and I'm sure you know the drill from there.
- Anna and Ben were both just such sweet and lovely people. This is one to pick up when you need something gentle.
- Along with that, though, are some good discussions about anxiety and about being a famous fat Black person.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Alcohol, Body shaming, Cursing, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content
Moderate: Racism