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esme_t's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Cancer, and Infertility
Moderate: Grief
dlrosebyh's review
lighthearted
slow-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
2.5
The Love Square centers on cancer survivor Penny. She said that because of her ex-boyfriend, she wanted to put all of her attention on herself and avoid letting any men into her life. She started hanging out with another chef named Fransesco after meeting him one day. Little did she know, she started falling for him.
Penny has always believed that she is unfortunate in either love or in life in general. After taking "a break" with Franseso, she bumped into Priyesh, the wine salesman for her Uncle David, and Thomas, a player who had a soft place for her. We watch as Penny regains her composure and allows herself to make errors, experience pain, and cope with the three guys who are in love with her.
I'm not sure what it was about this book that I didn't like, but I didn't particularly like it. It contains strong prose, complex characters, and an engaging storyline. The numerous love interests trope, in my opinion, is just not for me. No matter how much I attempt to appreciate that trope, I always end up abhorring it intensely. I also abhorred her eventual partner, which is another thing. I wished she would simply concentrate more on herself and stop basing her decisions on men she had just met.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Infertility, and Cancer
Moderate: Grief and Medical content
tamjane_'s review
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Infertility, and Cancer
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Infidelity and Sexual content
kbairbooks's review
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
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? Yes
4.25
This story was wild. I described this more in my reading journal but don’t feel like typing it out right now.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Cancer, Death of parent, Grief, Infertility, Pregnancy, and Sexual content
therobinjoyce's review
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
The synopsis for this novel sounded really wonderfully and exciting, a middle aged female MC with not one, not two, but three suitors after her. Charming and refreshing...or so I thought.
The recommendation form Beth O'Leary on the cover should have been my first hint that this book wouldn't fulfil my expectations. Next was the fact that we had a lovely relationship for a whole third of the book that just ended because of miscommunication.
I'm sorry but if I saw my bf in the arms of another woman, I wouldn't be walking away, I'd be slapping them both silly till I get some answers. Would have saved a whole lot of time and grief and been a far better story than it was.
Thomas' character was just a grade A ass and I hated him from the moment he was introduced. I couldn't see what the MC saw in him.
Francesco too, whole sweet and lovely, was right to walk away from her after what she did and it upset me that he got back with here I know I wouldn't have if I'd been him.
Priyesh was the only one of them that I really liked and I was more upset that he didn't stay with her. I felt better knowing he's set up for a HEA with someone else but still.
The storyline dragged a lot and while some may think it is cute and light-hearted, comical even, I cannot agree with them. The writing wasn't bad and premise was well done but the whole plot and characters really fell short for me.
The recommendation form Beth O'Leary on the cover should have been my first hint that this book wouldn't fulfil my expectations. Next was the fact that we had a lovely relationship for a whole third of the book that just ended because of miscommunication.
I'm sorry but if I saw my bf in the arms of another woman, I wouldn't be walking away, I'd be slapping them both silly till I get some answers. Would have saved a whole lot of time and grief and been a far better story than it was.
Thomas' character was just a grade A ass and I hated him from the moment he was introduced. I couldn't see what the MC saw in him.
Francesco too, whole sweet and lovely, was right to walk away from her after what she did and it upset me that he got back with here I know I wouldn't have if I'd been him.
Priyesh was the only one of them that I really liked and I was more upset that he didn't stay with her. I felt better knowing he's set up for a HEA with someone else but still.
The storyline dragged a lot and while some may think it is cute and light-hearted, comical even, I cannot agree with them. The writing wasn't bad and premise was well done but the whole plot and characters really fell short for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Infertility, Cancer, Chronic illness, and Death of parent
Moderate: Pregnancy, Medical content, Sexual content, Miscarriage, and Grief
jojo_2000's review
emotional
hopeful
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Cancer, and Chronic illness
cherryhayburn's review
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
slow-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
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer and Death of parent
readwithregina's review
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I really have to admit that I do not enjoy books where misunderstanding and miscommunication play such a large part in the book. with all of the ways people can communicate and clarify, it seems wasteful to have to read as someone goes through so much of the angst when they could be humble and brave and just call.
it must be said that I struggled with the pronoun them/they being used to describe a character in the book; it was a tertiary character but it was a mental gymnastics I hadn't been through before. I hated it at first and almost quit reading and then about 2/3 of the way through, I figured that was the point of the author; to stretch her (I looked it up) readers. it wasn't as funny as suggested, one time was plenty. as an almost 50yo, I found myself to be distant from some of the hip 30 something references that were made.
I will say that grief does complicate things and pleasing people because you think you owe them something is definitely some things I could relate to. this became a "read" book because I won it in a giveaway and knew that i'd be passing it along to someone else.
it must be said that I struggled with the pronoun them/they being used to describe a character in the book; it was a tertiary character but it was a mental gymnastics I hadn't been through before. I hated it at first and almost quit reading and then about 2/3 of the way through, I figured that was the point of the author; to stretch her (I looked it up) readers. it wasn't as funny as suggested, one time was plenty. as an almost 50yo, I found myself to be distant from some of the hip 30 something references that were made.
I will say that grief does complicate things and pleasing people because you think you owe them something is definitely some things I could relate to. this became a "read" book because I won it in a giveaway and knew that i'd be passing it along to someone else.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Cancer, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Grief, Infertility, Sexism, and Toxic relationship
loudgls89's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I’m not going to lie, I only really bought this book because it’s narrated by Carrie Hope Fletcher, who I really love. She has such an emotive voice and a way of bringing stories to life, so I would probably buy any book that she narrates (there’s nothing worse than a great story ruined by a poor narration).
It took a while for this book to warm up for me, it felt like I’d been listening quite a while before I felt the momentum pick up, but I am glad I persevered because I thought the book was good.
Penny Bridge has been through a lot in life, but it seems like life is finally going well. All that is, except her love life. Penny wants to have a baby, but there’s no-one on the horizon. That is until Francesco shows up and they fall hard quickly. It feels like everything is perfect, until life turns upside down for Penny and things with them end on a wrong note.
After this, Penny falls for another man, and then another. And then Francesco appears back on the scene. What will Penny do?
I thought the story was fun and light-hearted (although with deeper parts to the storyline too), but I didn’t feel an emotional connection to Penny, probably because I didn’t really agree with the choices she was making. It felt like she was just toying around and given that I wouldn’t appreciate that if it was coming from a man, I didn’t like it here either. I don’t know if it was supposed to be a take on female empowerment, but it wasn’t for me really.
What I did like was the diversity of characters in the book and the fact that it didn’t feel forced, and the friend/sister relationships that Penny has are perfect – if anything they should be the highlight of this story, not the men.
I have another book by this author on my shelf (paperback rather than audio this time) and I’m looking forward to picking that up, I liked the author’s style and I’m interested to see what it’s like.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Cancer, Infertility, and Death of parent