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fiwwa's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
! Most of the part contains spoiler !
The fact that this book is considered short but I finish it in more than a day explains that this book is not enjoyable to read for me. No, no, not because it's not spicy that makes it boring, but the plot. I was expecting a fun second chance lovers-enemies-lovers but what I get is lovers-enemies-forced to be lovers and get married.
I see the way Nicholas tried for Naomi to love him again but it's the type of "that's what you call effort?" effort. Yeah, I KNOW he bought her a house but then what, does she even like the house at first? Doesn't he supposed to know what she likes by ASKING AND COMMUNICATE? And even after all those things that Nicholas did to her, I still don't see the sparks of love in Naomi. She is happy most of the times and tried to think that Nicholas does that because he loves her. I repeat, she tried to think about his gesture. If he actually shows his love in the right one, the one that he knows Naomi likes, she won't even have to try to see that. Even in the end, I still think that they get married by the thought of "Yeah, maybe she/he does love me."
I was expecting a heated enemies trying to find the love between them but what I found is just a childish hate with revenge and sabotage. I get that this book is about communication and honesty in a relationship but I swear the miscommunication between Naomi and Nicholas on the half of the book pissed me off sooo much it makes me almost add this book to DNF. Let's be real, sometimes we intentionally look for a toxic relationship trope in a romance but not this one. Naomi is so... self-centered, not as awful as Deborah but she is still awful. She only wants Nicholas to do all the love-finding without even doing anything. Kinda hoping there's a Nicholas's POV to see how he actually feels.
HOWEVER, what makes me happy is when the author mentioned the title in the book. Nice one. The perfect title choice for the story though I personally don't really like the story itself.
The fact that this book is considered short but I finish it in more than a day explains that this book is not enjoyable to read for me. No, no, not because it's not spicy that makes it boring, but the plot. I was expecting a fun second chance lovers-enemies-lovers but what I get is lovers-enemies-forced to be lovers and get married.
I see the way Nicholas tried for Naomi to love him again but it's the type of "that's what you call effort?" effort. Yeah, I KNOW he bought her a house but then what, does she even like the house at first? Doesn't he supposed to know what she likes by ASKING AND COMMUNICATE? And even after all those things that Nicholas did to her, I still don't see the sparks of love in Naomi. She is happy most of the times and tried to think that Nicholas does that because he loves her. I repeat, she tried to think about his gesture. If he actually shows his love in the right one, the one that he knows Naomi likes, she won't even have to try to see that. Even in the end, I still think that they get married by the thought of "Yeah, maybe she/he does love me."
I was expecting a heated enemies trying to find the love between them but what I found is just a childish hate with revenge and sabotage. I get that this book is about communication and honesty in a relationship but I swear the miscommunication between Naomi and Nicholas on the half of the book pissed me off sooo much it makes me almost add this book to DNF. Let's be real, sometimes we intentionally look for a toxic relationship trope in a romance but not this one. Naomi is so... self-centered, not as awful as Deborah but she is still awful. She only wants Nicholas to do all the love-finding without even doing anything. Kinda hoping there's a Nicholas's POV to see how he actually feels.
HOWEVER, what makes me happy is when the author mentioned the title in the book. Nice one. The perfect title choice for the story though I personally don't really like the story itself.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Body shaming
Moderate: Sexual content
ecobookworm's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
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
4.5
Ah, what a delightful book. I'd heard SO much about this one so I was really looking forward to it - and sometimes that makes for a disappointing read - but this lived up to the hype. The audiobook is also well done, I would recommend it. I alternated between audio and ebook, but mostly read it as an ebook. The premise is just genius - an engaged couple want to break up but neither wants the repercussions of calling off the wedding, so they try to terrorize each other into doing so. But in the process they realize they may not want to after all...
I have to admit that the first half or so of the book had me cringing a bit. Their relationship starts off so toxic, with a huge lack of communication and being downright awful to each other. It is kind of hilarious at times as the prank wars escalate, but it was also a bit sad - I skipped ahead to the end to reassure myself it would be fine at one point. However, once they start to soften up to each other it more than makes up for it.
I really appreciated how this book explored the realities of long-term relationships, how we tend to hide our inner self and vulnerabilities and the parts we dislike or are ashamed of. Seeing Nicholas and Naomi slowly start to trust each other again, support and validate and do nice things for each other, was truly a joy to see unfold. This is a medium-low steam book (one explicit scene), but the tension and physical aspect of their relationship is incorporated so well. You really get their tenderness for each other, and their relationship comes out even stronger for choosing each other all over again. I also appreciated how the book explores the stresses of an (unnecessary and unwanted) big wedding, the pressures toxic family members can put on a relationship, and the importance of prioritizing and standing up for your partner. Nicholas' mother is an absolute terror. That being said, the side characters are lovely, and I enjoyed Naomi's workplace dynamics and the subplot of her employment troubles. The ending was absolutely satisfying, and so well done. Go check out the illustrated epilogue on the author's insta!
I have to admit that the first half or so of the book had me cringing a bit. Their relationship starts off so toxic, with a huge lack of communication and being downright awful to each other. It is kind of hilarious at times as the prank wars escalate, but it was also a bit sad - I skipped ahead to the end to reassure myself it would be fine at one point. However, once they start to soften up to each other it more than makes up for it.
I really appreciated how this book explored the realities of long-term relationships, how we tend to hide our inner self and vulnerabilities and the parts we dislike or are ashamed of. Seeing Nicholas and Naomi slowly start to trust each other again, support and validate and do nice things for each other, was truly a joy to see unfold. This is a medium-low steam book (one explicit scene), but the tension and physical aspect of their relationship is incorporated so well. You really get their tenderness for each other, and their relationship comes out even stronger for choosing each other all over again. I also appreciated how the book explores the stresses of an (unnecessary and unwanted) big wedding, the pressures toxic family members can put on a relationship, and the importance of prioritizing and standing up for your partner. Nicholas' mother is an absolute terror. That being said, the side characters are lovely, and I enjoyed Naomi's workplace dynamics and the subplot of her employment troubles. The ending was absolutely satisfying, and so well done. Go check out the illustrated epilogue on the author's insta!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Sexual content, and Bullying
Moderate: Toxic friendship and Body shaming
Minor: Sexual harassment and Infertility
Heat level: medium-lownahlasbooknook's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle is a contemporary romance that contains all of the tropes and clichés we both love and hate. It has the quirky female protagonist, the semi-toxic relationship we sometimes like to indulge in, and a happy ending that will make you believe in love. Before you read the story, you need to be ready to take a journey with these characters. It is my moral responsibility to tell you that this journey is mostly not very fun, and although you don’t hate the characters at the end, you will hate them for most of it. Even at the end, I didn’t particularly care for any of the characters, I was as happy for them as I would be for a stranger I drove past while I was driving to work (no feelings whatsoever, more like… “ok yay I guess? Anyways”). Allow me to explain what I mean. Let me introduce you to our two main characters:
Naomi:
For about 85% of the book, Naomi is a self pitying, whiny, selfish character who does absolutely nothing to solve her problems. In fact, she just likes to make lists about her problems then sit there and stare at it so she can be miserable. She narrates the entire story the way the girls on Mean Girls would probably tweet, and I’m pretty sure she thinks she’s funny, but her jokes just provoke me to violence. She makes self deprecating jokes, one, after the other, and they’re not even the funny kind? Naomi sounds like the people you encounter in life who sit there and casually tell you about their trauma so you can forget your own and comfort them, because their needs always come first. She’s mad because she’s unhappy, and therefore makes everyone else in her life mad and miserable. Because she’s unhappy, she thinks it’s fine to embarrass her fiancé in front of her friends then get mad at him for it later. She takes out her anger at Nicholas in the most childish and petty ways and cannot communicate to save her miserable life. Why communicate when you can trade your perfectly functional car in for a broken down piece of trash in order to embarrass your fiancé and his family? Why tell your fiancé you don’t want to go to dinner, when you can dress like you’re a 5 year old’s Barbie doll and go to a high class restaurant so people can laugh at him? Seriously? How is he the one that loses in these situations? How did you win here? I don’t know if she’s meant to be quirky as she does this, or if she just sucks ass. Either way, she sucks ass.
Nicholas:
Oh, you think just because Naomi sucks and makes him miserable, he’s off the hook? Nope! Nicolas is a 30-something-year old man who still has to go visit his mama every day so she can feed and dress him. He’ll run to mommy for any inconvenience and allow her to humiliate his fiancée, then he’ll get mad at Naomi when she’s upset! How dare Naomi not just sit there and take abuse? Has she no shame?! This man wonders why he doesn’t have any friends… it’s because mommy doesn’t have time to pick them out for you baby. Also, it’s because you’re stuck up and obsessed with toothpaste?? He buys his mom flowers then gaslights Naomi when she asks for some as well. He’ll tell her she’s annoying and spiteful and making him miserable, then get upset when she says she doesn’t love him.
Honestly, these characters are so unlovable and really do deserve each other. This is a story about two toxic people who are so toxic to each other they ruin everything around them, then they’re like “omg! Why not terrorize everyone else and be nice to each other?” and that’s how the story ends essentially. Maybe that’s the point of the book, that they both suck so much it’s not fair for anyone else to have to deal with that so they learn to deal with each other. I refuse to believe someone would write characters this childish and toxic and think it’s cute and quirky? There’s no way the author has ever interacted with a person who is above the age of 12, and thought that this is what an adult acts like. It has to be a joke! Maybe it was done on purpose, maybe it’s a story where two awful people find love and save the rest of us from their awfulness. If I’m meant to love these characters by the end, then the author missed the point by 76 miles at least.
Literally every single issue in this book can be solved by communication. Instead they try to poison and drown each other (but it’s quirky and random ahaha!), sabotage each other’s work days, and then eventually learn to stop.
Yes, okay I’ll admit. They got less annoying somewhere in the second half of the book. When Nicholas and Naomi finally stopped stapling each others underwear to the ceiling, and putting their hands in hot water so they could wet the bed (I’m not making this up), we got to actually learn about the characters and hate them a little less. If anything though, that makes me more mad! Because clearly, Sarah Hogle can write well rounded and genuine characters, so why the hell did she make the first ⅔ of this book a nightmare? There’s no way she thought that would be funny, it was honestly so embarrassing to read. It has the same vibe as people who think pointing a double chin is peak humor, like please, stop making me lose hope in the sanity of the human race. Stop making me want to choke on that god awful spaghetti they made and just perish like that. I’m really mad because the ending of the book was so sweet and genuine, and the rest of it could have been so good. I know Hogle had some really important things to say about how to maintain a relationship, but all of that was drowned out by their childish pranks and insults. The development that happened at the end was golden, and heartwarming, and I want to say it was almost worth it, but sadly it just wasn’t. Even if your goal was to say: look how much these characters grew! It could have been done better. You Deserve Each Other has a really, really good premise, and a beautiful falling action where everything comes together. It’s sad that the rest of the book is an absolute train wreck. It’s a missed opportunity.
Overall Rating: 3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Fatphobia, Body shaming, Adult/minor relationship, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Infertility, Gaslighting, and Toxic relationship
theespressoedition's review against another edition
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I'm feeling so conflicted about this book.
On the one hand, I really disliked the toxic relationship that kicked off the story. As someone who has been in an emotionally abusive engagement in the past, it triggered me in a lot of ways and made me just want to scream, "GET OUT OF THIS ALREADY!" The ridiculous, comical stunts that both Naomi and Nicholas pulled were so outlandish and even angering at times. That being said...
I also absolutely loved the redemptive second half of the book. This was the true definition of a second chance romance. As each party began to realize that they were treating each other terribly for no reason whatsoever, the dynamic began to shift astronomically. Suddenly, it's no longer perceived as a toxic relationship, but one that's on its way to failing and desperately needs resurrecting.
A couple of the reviews I read stated that they wished they had chapters from Nicholas's point of view and I wholeheartedly agree. I think that would have given the first half of the book a completely different vibe. Rather than it appearing like bully love or a severely toxic and confusing enemies-to-lovers trope, it would have given us the chance to peer into his head and understand what he was thinking when he sent flowers or even when he was doing things like calling his mom. Though I do suppose it would've taken away from the element of "surprise" when we find out that the whole time, he's wanted Naomi on his side - which changes the way she looks at him.
The second half of the book won me over and I gobbled up every second. I really loved how they began to fight for their relationship and there's even a moment when Naomi brings up what it actually takes to be committed to another person. She mentions how challenging it is but also how rewarding it is and that's exactly how I've always viewed relationships. It made me think of my husband and me and that definitely made me smile.
If you can get past the uncomfortable (and potentially triggering) elements of the first half of the book, I definitely recommend this book for the overall story of learning to work for love.
On the one hand, I really disliked the toxic relationship that kicked off the story. As someone who has been in an emotionally abusive engagement in the past, it triggered me in a lot of ways and made me just want to scream, "GET OUT OF THIS ALREADY!" The ridiculous, comical stunts that both Naomi and Nicholas pulled were so outlandish and even angering at times. That being said...
I also absolutely loved the redemptive second half of the book. This was the true definition of a second chance romance. As each party began to realize that they were treating each other terribly for no reason whatsoever, the dynamic began to shift astronomically. Suddenly, it's no longer perceived as a toxic relationship, but one that's on its way to failing and desperately needs resurrecting.
A couple of the reviews I read stated that they wished they had chapters from Nicholas's point of view and I wholeheartedly agree. I think that would have given the first half of the book a completely different vibe. Rather than it appearing like bully love or a severely toxic and confusing enemies-to-lovers trope, it would have given us the chance to peer into his head and understand what he was thinking when he sent flowers or even when he was doing things like calling his mom. Though I do suppose it would've taken away from the element of "surprise" when we find out that
The second half of the book won me over and I gobbled up every second. I really loved how they began to fight for their relationship and there's even a moment when Naomi brings up what it actually takes to be committed to another person. She mentions how challenging it is but also how rewarding it is and that's exactly how I've always viewed relationships. It made me think of my husband and me and that definitely made me smile.
If you can get past the uncomfortable (and potentially triggering) elements of the first half of the book, I definitely recommend this book for the overall story of learning to work for love.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, and Bullying
riella_reads's review against another edition
challenging
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This was interesting. I struggled with how to rate it because while I enjoyed the first half of the book, the ridiculous hatred they had for each other didn't make sense. While it was hilarious, it was over the top and hateful towards the other. Even the mom was a terrible, rude, inconsiderate person. However, I really loved the last quarter of the book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming and Bullying
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