This book was written really well, I laughed out loud multiple times, and was truly invested in the characters.
The author's writing is amazing, and I can't wait to read more of her books. I really was rooting for them protecting each other and I loved how much of a slow burn it was. I read it in one sitting, it was so entertaining!
I gave 4 stars because while I really loved this romance as a fiction book, Josh's behavior towards Lucy would not fly in real life. (atleast I sure as hell hope it wouldn't just be labeled as 'boys will be boys') It's juvenile to be cruel to the person you like. It left a bad taste in my mouth since the vitriol wasn't necessarily needed the way it was executed. She was treated like shit and we're supposed to just forgive him and have it glossed over without any genuine apology.
This feels more like a bully romance than an enemies to lovers.

Content Warnings

kalin_grace's review against another edition

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funny medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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c444's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

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

2.5

Repetitive, uses a lot of the same descriptors over and over, uses offensive language, falls into patriarchal themes, has weird diet-culture-y descriptors of food. Enjoyable but glad I didn’t pay money to read it

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maddie_1999's review against another edition

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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

1.0

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carisamarie's review against another edition

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funny 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

3.5

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cranereader's review against another edition

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emotional funny fast-paced

1.0

I'm kinda worried about this book being so popular since it's main focus is idolizing a toxic relationship. Lucy and Josh had some cute scenes midway through the book but their relationship overall was really problematic.

The book is very much just focused on their physical appearances. The amount of times it is mentioned how strong, tall and well-toned Josh is and how Lucy is short, adorable and basically a good-looking doll - it drove me crazy. They never feel like they are actually in love with the other person, but just physically attracted to one another.
The book also denigrates short and nice-behaving guys which I really don't get because I liked Danny.

I think the toxicity of their relationship really hit me when they first kissed.

They were both in the elevator together when Josh presses the stop button and he just packs her without her consent (Please note that at that point they were still in the "hating" phase and never made physical contact before as Lucy herself told us) and lifts her on the railing where he fixes her with his body. Lucy does the only rational thing in the entire book and tries to get away from him because she is convinced he is going to do her physical harm, but Josh prevents her tries to free herself and continues to pin her. When she stops for a minute because she is out of breath he leans in and kisses her altough she made it very clear that she is afraid and wants get away from him. I think this scene is a perfect example for book scenes that should have been in a thriller but are viewed as romantic because the guy is hot.

And because every toxic romance story has it: Josh is overly jealous of like every male around Lucy. Not just Danny who is actually into her but also his brother who is engaged. And this jealousy apparently gives him the "reasonable" excuse to be rude.

Also, the book is very much built on the sexist idea that there is a strong, manly guy who isn't very good with emotions and needs a empathetic, "strong" female to lead him. They actually even speak it out in the book through Josh's mother.

To complete this the book isn't even well-written. This shows on the first pages where the storyline of what happened before the actual plot starts is just narrated down in the most boring and plain way possible and continues through the story by Lucy's character who is supposed to be an adult but feels like a thirteen year old who discovered physical attraction for the first time in her life.

Overall, this book really disappointed me and I don't like the ideas it represents.

*I've read the german translation as an ebook from my local library.*

Content Warnings

booksnooksandglory's review against another edition

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emotional lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.0

This book is being turned into a movie and I think it will be cringy.
TW: Workplace sexual harassment, Fat-shaming
I kept waiting for it to get better but I ended up just wanting to finish it.
Its writing style is not my preference, I like simple writing and most of the time the one in the book was too much. Since I can't properly describe it, here's the type of metaphors that are spread through the book:

We're leaning against a sunlit wall, dreamily licking ice cream cones, rapidly succumbing to heat stroke and nonsensical hallucinations.

If you like this you'll probably like the writing, this just isn't for me.

Discussion on TW

Both tie into each other, the only plus-size character is the one sexually harassing the MC and that's how this book justifies referring to said character as Fat Little Dick (his name is Richard, hilarious, I know) but it has no justification in my eyes. The character being an ass doesn't justify body-shaming him, and let's not forget the fact that the only plus-size character is vilified. In terms of workplace sexual harassment, its mentions not explicit but it plays a role so if it's a sensitive topic keep it in mind.

Chemistry and Dynamic

The MCs were in sync even when it made no sense which, was many times since this book barely has any continuity. I didn't get much of the enemies on their supposedly "enemies-to-lovers" dynamic, except the self-hate when Lucy (the MC) has any feelings or lust toward Josh (hero), which to me is the worst part of enemies-to-lovers.

I do not like how Lucy implied that she was gonna have "something" with Josh so that he'd be nice: Page 145 "If you don't want to be friends with me, I'll play the Or Something Game with you." I guess she's being cautious in case he rejects her but it felt icky. Page 175: Josh expresses he does not want anything sexual that day and she keeps pushing it.

What I expected would be the climax ended up being resolved in two lines, and the climax turned out to be abruptly developed yet predictable.
I really don't wanna come off as preachy but this book had so many problematic icks paired with writing I don't like and a lack of continuity for me to like it.

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