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sstansell's review
2.5
I had a hard time getting into this and took forever to finish it because I never really liked it. Uplifting and all but just not my speed.
beckyyreadss's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
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
2.0
I wanted to read this book because I wanted to read more work from authors that I've enjoyed previously. I enjoyed the Kissing Booth series besides the last book which was awful I wanted to read more of her work and give her another go. This book was 99p on kindle deals. I shouldn’t have given her another shot. This book wasn’t it. Warning, this isn’t going to be a pleasant review because it was disappointing.
This book is based on Sophie Barker. She has been single for what feels like her whole life. With her friends settling down and her family piling on the pressure, it seems that her anonymous column about relationships is more successful than her actual dating life. But now, with her sister’s wedding approaching, she’s determined not to turn up alone and if she can’t find her soulmate in time, she’ll just have to fake one. This is where Harry comes in. He is charming, attractive and seeking a post-break-up distraction, he answers Sophie’s plea on a dating app, promising an all-expenses-paid weekend to anyone crazy enough to go along with her charade. And with the wedding a hot and a calendar full of “couple” events on the horizon, the pair realise the only way they’ll survive the next few months is with each other and a little white lie. But as their love deception deepens and the pair grow closer, Sophie realises their charade may be holding them back from facing the truth. After all, when you’re pretending to be in love, how is it possible to find the real thing?
There is one thing I liked about this: the idea of a fake boyfriend, however it has been done so many times before and so much better by other authors. Several books have the fake dating trope and have done it well, this just sort of missed the mark completed.
Sophie is not a girl’s girl, she doesn’t like her family and she should just live alone and then she would be fine. She was annoying and I wanted to smack her with her inner thoughts. She was just vindictive and jealous. I understand being lonely and things and that being single whilst all your friends are happy can suck but Christ woman, be happy for your friends and family. The storyline was just repetitive and there was no happy ending. So, what was the point of this book? Plus one of Sophie’s traits is that she was upset that she got dumped on Christmas Eve and then broke up with Harry on Christmas Day – she was a bitch for that. I couldn’t tell if this was supposed to be a young adult book or a new adult book, I don’t think Reekles has got out of her Wattpad days, because there was no smut or romance besides the “butterflies” that Sophie mentioned and then sometimes I read over the fact that she slept with Harry until she mentioned it after a later date like what?
This book was not a love story, if you are wanting a rom-com, this isn’t it. I wouldn’t even say it was a self-help book either like some of these reviews are stating. She doesn’t help herself and there is no happy ending. And this book could have been 100 pages and would be fine, it was just very repetitive.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Cursing, Infidelity, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Toxic friendship and Toxic relationship
Minor: Vomit and Sexual content
popculturelady2017's review
Too long and the main character is too annoying. I don’t usually skip to the end of a book but I did so in this case. It takes 115 pages until we meet the fake boyfriend. I made it to page 176.
beccaemmaa's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
thindbooks's review
2.0
This book is about a woman who needs to find a date and decides to find a fake boyfriend. This book is written by the author of The Kissing Booth which I loved but this book didn’t leave the same mark. I was really excited as this book is another romance but that is the wrong label to put for this book. This book is not romance but it’s about how the FMC doesn’t need a man. I’m all here for that but this book is categorized as a romance so that’s what I was expecting. The main character was also not likable and was selfish most of the time. I know some will enjoy the book for what it is because there were some good moments but I was disappointed.
*this arc was sent to me by the publisher to give an honest review in return*
ondbookshelf's review
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
omgkristenn's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
lizzierosekey's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
jazzisnaps's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
banana_in_pajama73's review against another edition
2.0
Unfortunately didn’t like it. Really didn’t want to finish it, but I hate doing that..so I fought through.
Sophie was kind of insufferable. Her personality was just super annoying and woe is me. I found myself rolling my eyes often.
Reading the synopsis on the back, I was under the impression this was an easy, cutesy rom-com, so to say I was super disappointed to see there wasn’t really much romance at allis an understatement.
The fact that she was so in love with Harry and as soon as she had this “epiphany” and his feelings started to become clear, she realized she wasn’t was super disappointing.
The tagline on the cover is “how long can you pretend before it becomes real?” …normally that would lead one to believe she ends up with the “fake date/fake boyfriend”..sooo
Sophie was kind of insufferable. Her personality was just super annoying and woe is me. I found myself rolling my eyes often.
Reading the synopsis on the back, I was under the impression this was an easy, cutesy rom-com, so to say I was super disappointed to see there wasn’t really much romance at allis an understatement.
The fact that she was so in love with Harry and as soon as she had this “epiphany” and his feelings started to become clear, she realized she wasn’t was super disappointing.
The tagline on the cover is “how long can you pretend before it becomes real?” …normally that would lead one to believe she ends up with the “fake date/fake boyfriend”..sooo