Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
look, at this point you know what you're getting with hazelwood. not bad for a 2-day read.
It's so rare for me to not enjoy an Ali Hazelwood book, but man, this was so boring and hard to get through! I didn't like Rue at all. I think it's one thing to write a closed off FMC but she was so... just not interesting at all. She and Eli were complete opposites and I didn't believe in their chemistry at all, aside from them being physical, which is literally 80% of the book imo. I'm a little surprised because I feel like Ali is really good at balancing the spice and chemistry between her couples. The main character in Bride was a little weird too but I liked her.
This book had some sweet moments toward the end and I really enjoyed the prose in it, but it just felt like it needed more.
This book had some sweet moments toward the end and I really enjoyed the prose in it, but it just felt like it needed more.
Once again, Ali Hazelwood books are such a hit or miss for me, sometimes it feels like she is a totally different author. Unpopular opinion: This one was a miss for me.
This book felt like she made a list of the political points she wanted to make then tried to build a story around those, I don’t mind political statements in books but it felt so inorganic and forced it kept pulling me out of the story. You could tell she would try to squeeze something political in and the dialogue would come out so awkward no one would ever say that in real life.
This book felt like she made a list of the political points she wanted to make then tried to build a story around those, I don’t mind political statements in books but it felt so inorganic and forced it kept pulling me out of the story. You could tell she would try to squeeze something political in and the dialogue would come out so awkward no one would ever say that in real life.
I keep trying to give the Hazelwood books a chance, but I think it’s time to stop. I don’t think the writing was necessarily bad, but I don’t think it was put together well for a novel. There wasn’t a point for having First Person AND Third Person Limited. Why do that? I also feel like she picked the wrong main character. You want your main character to overcome something major in a way that forces them to really look at themselves and end up changed on the other end. Rue didn’t do that, although she did go through a change (mostly, her arc was sex. Kinda bummed about that). Eli was the one that had a main character arc, even though it was set up as a secondary main character.
It’s usually fun and nice to read a fan fiction without stakes or character arcs, and to just enjoy the characters on their journey. With a novel, not so much. I keep waiting for Hazelwood to break out of the fan fiction writing style and push her characters, but I don’t think that’s going to happen. I will give her this: at least these characters seem original and not repurposed actors/ fictional characters that she’s set in a new story.
It’s usually fun and nice to read a fan fiction without stakes or character arcs, and to just enjoy the characters on their journey. With a novel, not so much. I keep waiting for Hazelwood to break out of the fan fiction writing style and push her characters, but I don’t think that’s going to happen. I will give her this: at least these characters seem original and not repurposed actors/ fictional characters that she’s set in a new story.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book gives us Rue and Eli, two damaged souls who embark on a forbidden-ish romance due to their work situation - Eli’s financial firm has taken over the biotech company where Rue works for her college mentor, Florence. Rue’s work is centered around her childhood food insecurity and she takes it very personally that she could possibly lose it, so she does her best to stay away from Eli. I loved the science-centered aspect of the book - that part drew me in. I liked Eli’s character more than Rue’s. It felt like he had more depth. I understand that Rue was written to come across as very socially guarded and inept, but it made her character seem a little bit flat sometimes. I thought it was pretty good for a spicy romance, but I didn’t have all the feels.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
VERY very spicy. MMC is down horrendously, classic Ali Hazelwood. Wouldn’t recommend to a friend or admit public ally i read this but like I did finish it so.
Lekker weglees boekie, wel echt veel spicier dan ik van tevoren had verwacht
I feel like the author wanted to live the characters but I couldn't. Eli is such a disgusting creep, lusting over rue. Rue is a weird gal. Interactions are so cringe and the "emotional family stories" connection felt so forced. All the characters are just bad, unintentionally? Couldn't care for them.
The set up for the book was outlandish, and the entire book is just smut.
The set up for the book was outlandish, and the entire book is just smut.