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jschloemer's review against another edition
5.0
Such a treat
The characters were so real and relatable. I enjoyed their layers and the plot as well as the tidbits from the Pennyverse.
The characters were so real and relatable. I enjoyed their layers and the plot as well as the tidbits from the Pennyverse.
ctrlaltcara's review
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
rellimreads's review against another edition
3.0
Wow... So this is a really difficult review for me to write, mostly because I don't feel like this (audio)book lived up to my expectations and I'm struggling trying to figure out if I just held it too high or if it was all on it's own merits. Also, the narration is SUPERB ~ which sounds great, except when I distill down to the story itself the narration should not "save" a story. On some level I think that's what happened here. Ultimately, I'm going with 3 stars. It was a cute story ~ but it was merely "OK". Not something I'd listen to again or rave to others about.
I think this book suffered from being too long and too short at the same time. We heard a LOT from Joss. Especially her internal musings and mostly grumbling. She's quite the negative person. I can empathize on some level, but it wasn't balanced well either by other characters in the book or her personal epiphanies in regards to Levi or moving. Even to the very end, including the epilogue, she felt like a curmudgeon dragged along into her "happily ever after".
I adored Levi & Joss's friendship ~ but almost exclusively when Levi was describing it. He seemed to know her so completely, not just for his romantic aspirations, but he obviously truly loved his friendship with her on a platonic level as well. Joss seemed to expect it as the only person she let into her life and tolerated on any meaningful level.
We are in Green Valley, so it's hard not to compare the similarities between Levi & Joss and Duane & Jessica (Truth or Beard by Penny Reid) ~ especially in terms of the h's obliviousness to the H's interest in them. The difference is that Reid spent a significant amount of time on letting readers in on Jessica's journey through her surprise and we fell in love with Duane right along with her. We knew Duane had a lot of time to process his connection to Green Valley and felt confident he was making the right decision to follow Jessica and her wanderlust. We get very little of this with Levi & Joss. Frankly, it felt like Joss was more interested in experiencing sex than any actual emotional relationship with Levi. Her decision to move with Levi also felt underdeveloped. The last few chapters felt clipped and the HEA was a "because I said so" by the author.
Secondary to Levi & Joss were all the other Green Valley characters and Levi's extended family. It was lacking as a world-building attempt. Which says a lot considering what an extensive world Reid has created. I expected to anticipate seeing these characters in future books/series. Except, not. Some of their appearances were awkward and lacked cohesion. I wish the author would have spent more time connecting these characters and bringing the Green Valley of their lives to us. There aren't any significant appearances from familiar Green Valley characters. Not even secondary or tertiary ones. Jenn has a few lines, Cletus has one, Jackson is mentioned in passing, and everyone else is completely new. Which would probably be fine, except they are so underdeveloped.
This book was short. One of the things I really enjoy about Penny Reid's stories is how long they are and the immersion that gives the reader/listener. This audio was just under 7 hours, making it about *half* the length of WB or KITC books. It shows. It may seem unfair to continue to compare this author to Reid, but the fact is ~ this is touted as "Pennyverse". Just as Joss is described as "Green Valley Lite" this book holds the same title.
I think this book suffered from being too long and too short at the same time. We heard a LOT from Joss. Especially her internal musings and mostly grumbling. She's quite the negative person. I can empathize on some level, but it wasn't balanced well either by other characters in the book or her personal epiphanies in regards to Levi or moving. Even to the very end, including the epilogue, she felt like a curmudgeon dragged along into her "happily ever after".
I adored Levi & Joss's friendship ~ but almost exclusively when Levi was describing it. He seemed to know her so completely, not just for his romantic aspirations, but he obviously truly loved his friendship with her on a platonic level as well. Joss seemed to expect it as the only person she let into her life and tolerated on any meaningful level.
We are in Green Valley, so it's hard not to compare the similarities between Levi & Joss and Duane & Jessica (Truth or Beard by Penny Reid) ~ especially in terms of the h's obliviousness to the H's interest in them. The difference is that Reid spent a significant amount of time on letting readers in on Jessica's journey through her surprise and we fell in love with Duane right along with her. We knew Duane had a lot of time to process his connection to Green Valley and felt confident he was making the right decision to follow Jessica and her wanderlust. We get very little of this with Levi & Joss. Frankly, it felt like Joss was more interested in experiencing sex than any actual emotional relationship with Levi. Her decision to move with Levi also felt underdeveloped. The last few chapters felt clipped and the HEA was a "because I said so" by the author.
Secondary to Levi & Joss were all the other Green Valley characters and Levi's extended family. It was lacking as a world-building attempt. Which says a lot considering what an extensive world Reid has created. I expected to anticipate seeing these characters in future books/series. Except, not. Some of their appearances were awkward and lacked cohesion. I wish the author would have spent more time connecting these characters and bringing the Green Valley of their lives to us. There aren't any significant appearances from familiar Green Valley characters. Not even secondary or tertiary ones. Jenn has a few lines, Cletus has one, Jackson is mentioned in passing, and everyone else is completely new. Which would probably be fine, except they are so underdeveloped.
This book was short. One of the things I really enjoy about Penny Reid's stories is how long they are and the immersion that gives the reader/listener. This audio was just under 7 hours, making it about *half* the length of WB or KITC books. It shows. It may seem unfair to continue to compare this author to Reid, but the fact is ~ this is touted as "Pennyverse". Just as Joss is described as "Green Valley Lite" this book holds the same title.
sarahlreadseverything's review against another edition
4.0
Worthy addition to the Green Valley Canon!
verisarg's review
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
trudyd's review against another edition
4.0
Baking Me Crazy is the first book that I have read in the Smartypants romance collection. Can I just say that this collection is a fantastic idea. I will be meeting new authors. I will be meeting new characters. I will be visiting past characters that I have become addicted to through out the Wilson Brother Series.
In Baking Me Crazy we have contact with our favorite banana cake maker, Jennifer and her hunky husband, Cletus. Joss gets hired to work in the bakery after a successful interview and taste testing. She brought Lemonade cupcakes for Jennifer to try. It is the best place for her to work. Cletus adjusted the kitchen a few years back. (How did I not know this???) Joss can work smoothly in her wheelchair. You read right--wheelchair.
Levi Buchanan fell in love with Joss before he even met her. For five years he has been by her side, biding his time, waiting for her to be ready for the date he asked her out on so many years ago. This is Levi and Joss' journey to realization. This is Levi and Joss' journey to more than friends. This was a love story that should inspire us all to be more excepting and open.
In Baking Me Crazy we have contact with our favorite banana cake maker, Jennifer and her hunky husband, Cletus. Joss gets hired to work in the bakery after a successful interview and taste testing. She brought Lemonade cupcakes for Jennifer to try. It is the best place for her to work. Cletus adjusted the kitchen a few years back. (How did I not know this???) Joss can work smoothly in her wheelchair. You read right--wheelchair.
Levi Buchanan fell in love with Joss before he even met her. For five years he has been by her side, biding his time, waiting for her to be ready for the date he asked her out on so many years ago. This is Levi and Joss' journey to realization. This is Levi and Joss' journey to more than friends. This was a love story that should inspire us all to be more excepting and open.
isabelalou's review against another edition
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
delilahmay194's review
2.0
meh
I really disliked joss. She was such an asshole and treated Levi like shit. I couldn’t even finish it after her second outburst and tantrum.
I really disliked joss. She was such an asshole and treated Levi like shit. I couldn’t even finish it after her second outburst and tantrum.
bibielle's review
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0