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3.04 AVERAGE
3.04 AVERAGE
Super steamy, open door romance that I wasn’t expecting. The title hooked me but I wish I had known it was open door.
Max was really mean to Joelle on a number of occasions and she should have just left him behind.
Besides those two issues, I really enjoyed Joelle’s storyline. She was a great protagonist and the descriptions of her pastries had me drooling at times.
Max was really mean to Joelle on a number of occasions and she should have just left him behind.
Besides those two issues, I really enjoyed Joelle’s storyline. She was a great protagonist and the descriptions of her pastries had me drooling at times.
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was my first read of 2023. I generally like this author's books, but it seems like they've gravitated more toward the churn and burn of instantaneous self-publishing, and it really bled over into this trad-published book which is unfortunate. The main characters were cool (who couldn't love a baker and a bookstore-owning baddie), but I didn't love the never-ending immaturity of Ruelle and Max's actions throughout, even though I'm a big fan of the forced proximity trope.
3.5 stars, 4 if I have to round. Regardless of the characters, this author consistently delivers with great Filipino representation and the encompassing close family dynamic.
3.5 stars, 4 if I have to round. Regardless of the characters, this author consistently delivers with great Filipino representation and the encompassing close family dynamic.
This book was honestly one of the most realistic and relatable love stories I’ve read this year. Joelle and Max have amazing chemistry and it shows time and time again in this book. They also have extremely awkward moments that will make you laugh, tons of passion for their businesses they own, and lots of love and acceptance. They also have the cutest pets imaginable! If you need an easy, fun read before or during the holidays, this book is for you.
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
2 stars for story, 1 additional star for shaking up some tropes in some minor ways and some of the spicy scenes. I want to give this book a better rating, but outside of owning a bookstore, Max is quite frequently the absolute worst in this book and there isn’t enough addressing this fact in the plot.
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: Death of parent
I like my romcoms with banter and laugh out loud moments. This one missed the mark a bit for me.
DNF’d at 29%.
The premise of this book sounds right up my alley and its potential is the only reason I gave it two stars instead of one. I wanted to DNF this one almost immediately but figured I’d listen to at least 25% to give it a proper chance but it’s unbelievably boring and the main male character is such a d-bag. I can’t think of another book I’ve read recently with a character I hated this much.
The premise of this book sounds right up my alley and its potential is the only reason I gave it two stars instead of one. I wanted to DNF this one almost immediately but figured I’d listen to at least 25% to give it a proper chance but it’s unbelievably boring and the main male character is such a d-bag. I can’t think of another book I’ve read recently with a character I hated this much.
This was so cute. I wasn’t sure how the story was going to progress based on the blurb from the back but it was good. I didn’t like that the fmc had the trope where she didn’t know how beautiful she is and all that crap but I was able to look past that