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bookishlychar's review
4.0
Good as Gold is the first in a new series by Sarina Bowen. It features Leila and Matteo. Matteo is from the Rossi family that we have seen in the True North series previously. This is a second chance/friends to lovers romance. Matteo left Vermont 14 years ago and never looked back. The girl he had feelings for started dating his best friend, and she was out of reach. Staying away was the easiest thing to do. Now, 14 years later, he makes his way home for his brother's wedding, and to heal from the loss of a friend. Leila has recently divorced and is determined to become a mother. When she sees Matteo Rossi old feeling resurface. A drunken night she proposes that instead of using a sperm donor that Matteo be the father of the child.
I thought that Leila and Matteo were both good characters. I liked how we got to see them finding their friendship (and more) after so many years apart. I just wish (as Zara said) that they would just talk to each other instead of guessing what the other felt and thought. There was some good mutual pining in this book, but they could have saved each other a lot of heartache by talking!
I really liked being back in Vermont with all the characters we have seen and loved previously, as well as getting to know some other characters. I also thought the story was a good set-up for future books and interesting to read overall.
Read if you love: childhood friends to lovers, small town, help with having a baby
I thought that Leila and Matteo were both good characters. I liked how we got to see them finding their friendship (and more) after so many years apart. I just wish (as Zara said) that they would just talk to each other instead of guessing what the other felt and thought. There was some good mutual pining in this book, but they could have saved each other a lot of heartache by talking!
I really liked being back in Vermont with all the characters we have seen and loved previously, as well as getting to know some other characters. I also thought the story was a good set-up for future books and interesting to read overall.
Read if you love: childhood friends to lovers, small town, help with having a baby
things_i_read_lately's review
5.0
I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again. At this point I will read everything that Sarina writes. She just has a certain way with characters and stories that immediately suck you in. If you haven’t read the True North series, or Roommate you definitely should. While you could read this book as a standalone, it’s so much better when you know all of the characters involved. Being back in her Vermont world is truly just my favorite place. It always makes me want to pack up and move to this tiny fictional town.
One of the things I loved so much about this book, is that I think a lot of people will be able to relate to certain portions of Matteo and Leila’s backstories: marrying the wrong man, and an internal clock of wanting to be a mother, leaving home and then being insecure about coming home after an extended absence. The story is small town, but in many ways, modern and relatable. A classic friends to lovers setup, with a dash of second chance romance mixed in. There’s a great mix of angst, banter, and meddling siblings which is of course always my favorite! Be prepared for all of the swoony feelings, Matteo’s recent trauma will pull on all your heartstrings, and you’ll love him so much for the way he processes and handles things.
I hope we keep getting more stories from Vermont from Sabrina. I will 100% read them all
One of the things I loved so much about this book, is that I think a lot of people will be able to relate to certain portions of Matteo and Leila’s backstories: marrying the wrong man, and an internal clock of wanting to be a mother, leaving home and then being insecure about coming home after an extended absence. The story is small town, but in many ways, modern and relatable. A classic friends to lovers setup, with a dash of second chance romance mixed in. There’s a great mix of angst, banter, and meddling siblings which is of course always my favorite! Be prepared for all of the swoony feelings, Matteo’s recent trauma will pull on all your heartstrings, and you’ll love him so much for the way he processes and handles things.
I hope we keep getting more stories from Vermont from Sabrina. I will 100% read them all
nana7398's review
4.0
A quick read. I really liked the books about the other Rossi siblings and this one was a nice addition.
Twenty years is a looong time. At least they got together while they’re still in their 30s.
However, I didn’t really like the fact that he was away for all of her pregnancy. I wanted him a bit more into it all.
I believe the book should have been a little bit longer, more details about her pregnancy and when they got back together.
I believe it would fit their characters more to have several children instead of just one. Her character at least.
Twenty years is a looong time. At least they got together while they’re still in their 30s.
However, I didn’t really like the fact that he was away for all of her pregnancy. I wanted him a bit more into it all.
I believe the book should have been a little bit longer, more details about her pregnancy and when they got back together.
I believe it would fit their characters more to have several children instead of just one. Her character at least.
girlwithhearteyes's review against another edition
3.5
3.5 stars
This is my first book by Sarina Bowen, and I was expecting it to be a fun, small-town romance about a baby-making agreement between friends who recently reconnected, but it ended up being quite different.
Some of the themes were pretty heavy, and it was more ‘simmering’ drama than OTT drama. At times I wanted to yell at the main characters, as Leila and Matteo had been pining after each other since high school, but neither were very good at saying what they wanted. A lot of the book felt like it was building towards a major blowout, but the story stayed surprisingly low-key. But I did really liked the lighter moments when Leila and Matteo were just spending time together and being sweet. I ended up being invested in their story even if it wasn’t what I originally expected.
Audiobook notes - I love Jason Clarke’s voice (he’s one of my favourite narrators), but had a tough time getting into Lessa Lamb’s performance and ended up switching to the ebook in the 2nd half.
This is my first book by Sarina Bowen, and I was expecting it to be a fun, small-town romance about a baby-making agreement between friends who recently reconnected, but it ended up being quite different.
Some of the themes were pretty heavy, and it was more ‘simmering’ drama than OTT drama. At times I wanted to yell at the main characters, as Leila and Matteo had been pining after each other since high school, but neither were very good at saying what they wanted. A lot of the book felt like it was building towards a major blowout, but the story stayed surprisingly low-key. But I did really liked the lighter moments when Leila and Matteo were just spending time together and being sweet. I ended up being invested in their story even if it wasn’t what I originally expected.
Audiobook notes - I love Jason Clarke’s voice (he’s one of my favourite narrators), but had a tough time getting into Lessa Lamb’s performance and ended up switching to the ebook in the 2nd half.
bibliofrenzy's review against another edition
2.5
I don’t know… she wanted this baby but she’s “overthinking?” Seriously…? It became like HE was the one talking her into it… not a fan… (maybe it’s the FMC narrator?) I’m regretting reading this as my first book because I love Sarina Bowen… I wish her FMC characters were the same as in MM and just one of them is a woman because these women with “shaky” hands etc are just too much…
It’s painful to listen…and if I hear “I gasp!” 😖
Why didn’t Jason Clarke read the book?
I like they were not independently wealthy and they’re over 30 but the way Leila was so childish, I don’t know… she’s on my last nerve… comes of as a user… she wanted her “friend” but she can ignore him 🙄
The whole baby thing right after divorce just screams… I don’t know…she wasn’t amusing at all!
Aaaaand the last few chapters are about giving birth? Then about baby? Uuumh NO! Not sexy at all…
hijinx_abound's review
3.0
2nd chance; three friends where the boys agree not to go for the girl but one breaks the rules ; baby deal
Matteo has not been home for 15 years. When he discovered that the girl he was in love with was with their other best friend, he stayed away. Now he’s back for a family wedding and she’s recently divorced.
Lelia is moving on from he divorce. She has decided to have a baby o her own and is shocked when her teenage crush walks back into town.
Sexy sweet and low angst. Loved seeing Matteo’s story and all his siblings cameos.
Matteo has not been home for 15 years. When he discovered that the girl he was in love with was with their other best friend, he stayed away. Now he’s back for a family wedding and she’s recently divorced.
Lelia is moving on from he divorce. She has decided to have a baby o her own and is shocked when her teenage crush walks back into town.
Sexy sweet and low angst. Loved seeing Matteo’s story and all his siblings cameos.
littlebookreader_'s review against another edition
4.0
Sarina does it again, we are back in Vermont in the world of True North with the Rossi clan. We are also introduced to Leila's family the Giltmakers in this novel, and I imagine Sarina has much more planned for them in the future.
WHEW, is Matteo Rossi fine as hell, or what?!?! I LOVE THIS MAN.
Give me more of this long haired, bearded, snowboarding, mountain man, who has carried a torch for his High School best friend for YEARS! And now he's back home to find out she's divorced... but she wants a baby now... could he help with that little endeavor???
Matteo and Leila's love story is the best of both friends-to-lovers and second-chance romance. There is so much heartfelt emotion in this book, that I felt myself get wholly wrapped up in it, rooting for these two to get out of their own way and find their happily-ever-after together.
This book has so many wonderful family moments for the Rossi's which filled my heart so full. Honestly Matteo spending time with and working out past hurts with his siblings were some of my favorite parts of the book.
Another stellar read from Sarina Bowen! There is a reason she is one of my favorite romance authors to immediately grab every time she drops a book.
WHEW, is Matteo Rossi fine as hell, or what?!?! I LOVE THIS MAN.
Give me more of this long haired, bearded, snowboarding, mountain man, who has carried a torch for his High School best friend for YEARS! And now he's back home to find out she's divorced... but she wants a baby now... could he help with that little endeavor???
Matteo and Leila's love story is the best of both friends-to-lovers and second-chance romance. There is so much heartfelt emotion in this book, that I felt myself get wholly wrapped up in it, rooting for these two to get out of their own way and find their happily-ever-after together.
This book has so many wonderful family moments for the Rossi's which filled my heart so full. Honestly Matteo spending time with and working out past hurts with his siblings were some of my favorite parts of the book.
Another stellar read from Sarina Bowen! There is a reason she is one of my favorite romance authors to immediately grab every time she drops a book.