Reviews with content warning for Bullying - You Deserve Each Other

WARNING: Guess what? It's unpopular opinion time again!!

I had such a great time reading Twice Shy last year, and I've been meaning to read more of her books ever since. I decided to turn to her debut You Deserve Each Other next, because I do enjoy a good enemy-to-lover romance and the premise sounded like so much fun... But sadly it just wasn't ment to be in the end. Honestly, this book made me. SO. ANGRY. It's been a long time since I despised a main character this much, but Naomi definitely wins the prize here. Self-centered, immature, vindicative, mean and simply despicable; I honestly could not find one thing I liked about her. I only started to hate her more and more with each page, and Nicholas was no picnic either. He is basically a mommy boy who still does everything she demands of him even though he is in his thirties. Healthy relationship much? Plus he is just as bad with him returning Naomi's bad behavior. Oh yes, the two definitely deserve each other after all, and not in a good way. Basically, Naomi has been lying to Nicholas from the very beginning of their relationship, then gets mad when things aren't going her way... Nevermind the fact that she doesn't exactly stand up for herself in the beginning either. The miscommunication trope seems to be a big part of the plot, but I didn't like how it was developed and it was mostly Naomi refusing to communicate properly or accept her faults. Sure, the second half did have some redeeming moments, but for me it was too little too late and I was already actively hating the story too much by then to be swayed by it. I confess that I started skimreading sooner than later, and I kind of wish I had just DNFed it instead... Oh yes, it's easy to say that You Deserve Each Other and me most definitely didn't get along.

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analenegrace's review against another edition

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emotional funny reflective 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

4.5

Read for Blue Cypress Books HEA May 2023 Book Club!

This has been on my list for a while but I hadn't picked up until now and I can't believe I haven't! That was so fun, silly, but so sweet, I loved it! Naomi and Nicholas were initially hard characters to love that I eventually fell in love with so much as their story progressed. I also first didn't love not having Nicholas's POV, but I think it ended up working super well because Naomi really was so much "the problem" in the relationship.

Nicholas was so kind for so much of the book that I would have loved a little more exposition on how it got as bad as it did in the first few chapters. I also would have liked some characterization for either of their families besides just plain awful, they felt very flat. Otherwise, amazing book I can't wait to gush about in book club.

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asleepyreader's review

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funny lighthearted medium-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

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kmallinson93's review

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dark funny sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I am not sure how I feel about this. There is a lot of emotional abuse happening, but then it turns out to be a love story. This really reads toxic relationship to me.

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bookwormbullet's review against another edition

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lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

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readerette's review

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emotional funny tense 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

4.75

This story starts out really painful as you watch two basically redeemable people act viciously toward one another for no apparent reason, for the first half of the book. But please, give it time. Read through all the stuff that makes you sad and frustrated about them and their behavior, and you will be rewarded.

I liked that this was wholly from Naomi's perspective. I certainly like novels where you get multiple characters' perspectives, but there was something empowering, and humbling (as someone who's made their fair share of mistakes in relationships), about being in Naomi's shoes and still seeing Nicholas's strengths and failings too. There's still plenty of character deepening for Nicholas; he comes to life in three dimensions just like Naomi.

Some of the scene setting and character descriptions are too hyperbolic for my taste, and they talked about having the "kids or no kids" discussion and didn't, but those are really my only (minor) complaints. I also didn't get a sense of what really drove them apart in the first place but I didn't consider that critical. Sometimes relationships just get rocky and it's not clear why.

There's some kissing and a sex scene but it's all pretty tame (and still highly enjoyable because of all of the tension building).

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dlrosebyh's review against another edition

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lighthearted medium-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

3.5

this is an interesting book.

i was going to dnf this, for the first half was not it. the lack of communication made me so frustrated, and the gaslighting every ‘banter,’ showcases a toxic relationship. i was confused on why people liked this, and why they aspire to have a relationship like them.

however, when i got to the second half, i was stupidly smiling. it definitely picked up in that part, and i was very intrigued with what i was reading.

i wouldn’t recommend it to anyone who despises the miscommunication trope. it was a challenge to pass through it for me as well.

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emma985's review against another edition

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funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

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