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exemzordies's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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? Yes
3.75
Fast paced, appealing characters, good chemistry. Protagonist is engineering smart but socially a biiit dense, in a believable way. Way before anything happens in the bedroom, it's very clear they're both into each other, and they have a fun dynamic.
Romance wise - There's clear signs of the characters trying to read that the other is ok with what's going on and when it comes to sex acts they confirm consent multiple times.
Comfortable and fun to read, good for if you're tired of books with ambiguous consent.
Romance wise - There's clear signs of the characters trying to read that the other is ok with what's going on and when it comes to sex acts they confirm consent multiple times.
Comfortable and fun to read, good for if you're tired of books with ambiguous consent.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
Minor: Misogyny and Sexual harassment
Plot setup deathlifeofchrstnlvly's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
What I love most about Ali's works is the representation of women in STEM. In a funny way, she conveys the hardships women face in fields that are considered better for men. She points out that women should not be seen as women only - we are intelligent and very much skilled. It's just sad that we still see sexism in the workplace now.
It's a good thing this is a novella.I don't think a whole novel needs to be written just to tell the story of how Mara and Liam fell in love. As expected, it was a funny, easy read. Ali knows how to make people smile and cringe at the cheesiness of it all at the same time. A perfect read if you want something that will entertain you. I just didn't like the way it ended. The spice scene was so out-of-the-blue, so abrupt to start even if I knew it was coming (it was still good smut, though).
Best quote in the book: See, that's the thing I hate the most about adulting: at some point, one has to start doing it.
Same, Mara. Same.
It's a good thing this is a novella.
Best quote in the book: See, that's the thing I hate the most about adulting: at some point, one has to start doing it.
Same, Mara. Same.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Misogyny, and Sexism
Moderate: Death
Minor: Sexual harassment
samchase112's review against another edition
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? Yes
4.0
Absolutely freaking adorable?! I enjoyed this so, so much! The characters were likable, had a great connection, and as developed as possible over the course of a lil novella. The pacing was done so well — I loved starting en medias res, and the timed chapter titles — to create such a fun peek into these characters' lives and development. Honestly, the female-low-voice-for-male-dialogue thing threw me way off (and I’m still not used to it) (I don't think romance audiobooks are for me) but I was able to move past it and enjoy this mini tale of joy so much. This just confirms that I will gobble up everything from Ali Hazelwood — and I will not apologize for it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Sexism
Minor: Sexual harassment
bi_n_large's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Sexual harassment and Misogyny
bookwormbullet's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Sexual harassment
rachaelboyd's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-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: Misogyny, Sexual content, Grief, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Death
hellowildflower's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Sexism, and Misogyny
Minor: Sexual harassment and Terminal illness
isotope_s's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
It’s a novella, so there’s not as much character development. I’m okay with it. For a more extended version see “Twice Shy by Sarah Hoggle”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Sexism, Misogyny, and Sexual harassment
le3713's review against another edition
funny
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? It's complicated
4.0
Another fun one from Ali Hazlewood! I prefer the amount of character development that happens in her full-length novels, but I won't turn down the opportunity to read these too. I am listening to these on audio, which is a newer experience for me, and seems to make the classic romance novel misunderstandings a bit annoying for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Death and Grief
carlyoc's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-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? No
4.75
Short, sweet, and sexy.
Bonus points for asexual spectrum representation. Both of the main characters seem to be ace or demi but everyone experiences those things differently and they never actually affirm how they identify in the book so it's difficult to say for sure and you may or may not relate to their experiences if you are acespec yourself.
Mara is a recent grad school grad whose academic advisor/found family mentor passed away and left her a house in her will. The only catch: her surly nephew is already living there. Even worse: he works for a climate-destroying corporation, whereas Mara has dedicated her life to environmental protection. Right off the bat, Mara and Liam strike an antagonistic tone, which only slowly warms up to friendship and then something more.
I love that it takes place in Washington, DC, although the fact that Mara contemplates trying to get to work during a snowstorm seems absolutely unrealistic. She works for the government, which would have absolutely closed its offices the second a snowflake fell from the sky, or perhaps as soon as it was in the forecast.
The structure of the story employs an interesting device - the prologue captures the beginning of the scene when Mara and Liam finally get together. And the rest of the story begins six months earlier, slowly working its way towards that moment, with the chapter titles counting down - "Five Months, Two Weeks Ago," "Five Months, One Week Ago," and so forth.
This is a novella, but I wish it was longer. I would have loved to learn more about how Liam experiences his sexuality (he seems to be generally sex-averse or agnostic until he meets Mara. But is he experiencing sexual attraction or just the desire to please her and be intimate with her on every level?) and to see a few more scenes of them actually being cute and lovey dovey together. (And maybe a couple more of those steamy sex scenes...)
Oh well, closest I can get is to read the other two novellas in the series that follow Mara's two best friends as they find their own lovers, so that's next on my TBR!
Bonus points for asexual spectrum representation. Both of the main characters seem to be ace or demi but everyone experiences those things differently and they never actually affirm how they identify in the book so it's difficult to say for sure and you may or may not relate to their experiences if you are acespec yourself.
Mara is a recent grad school grad whose academic advisor/found family mentor passed away and left her a house in her will. The only catch: her surly nephew is already living there. Even worse: he works for a climate-destroying corporation, whereas Mara has dedicated her life to environmental protection. Right off the bat, Mara and Liam strike an antagonistic tone, which only slowly warms up to friendship and then something more.
I love that it takes place in Washington, DC, although the fact that Mara contemplates trying to get to work during a snowstorm seems absolutely unrealistic. She works for the government, which would have absolutely closed its offices the second a snowflake fell from the sky, or perhaps as soon as it was in the forecast.
The structure of the story employs an interesting device - the prologue captures the beginning of the scene when Mara and Liam finally get together. And the rest of the story begins six months earlier, slowly working its way towards that moment, with the chapter titles counting down - "Five Months, Two Weeks Ago," "Five Months, One Week Ago," and so forth.
This is a novella, but I wish it was longer. I would have loved to learn more about how Liam experiences his sexuality (he seems to be generally sex-averse or agnostic until he meets Mara. But is he experiencing sexual attraction or just the desire to please her and be intimate with her on every level?) and to see a few more scenes of them actually being cute and lovey dovey together. (And maybe a couple more of those steamy sex scenes...)
Oh well, closest I can get is to read the other two novellas in the series that follow Mara's two best friends as they find their own lovers, so that's next on my TBR!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Sexual harassment and Misogyny