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viireads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Infidelity and Alcohol
Minor: Homophobia
bzliz's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Edit: almost a year later, I’ve changed my rating from 2.75 to 3.5. While it had some flaws, I’ve decided I was a little harsh previously. I liked the first book more but this is by no means a bad book, nor is it an incredible, life changing masterpiece. It’s just good old fashioned queer fun.
Original review:
I liked the last book enough to give this one a read and it was kind of a let down. Our main characters are Astrid- a closed-off, Type A designer still being micromanaged by her mother- and Jordan- a carpenter who only knows her self worth in very specific situations.
They’re filming a TV show about renovating Jordan’s family’s inn, for which Astrid is the designer. She follows the plan set forth by Simon and Pru (Jordan’s twin brother and grandmother, respectively) but Jordan hates it for being so White Lady Chic and goes rogue by painting a room blue.
I found it hard to suspend my disbelief on how this show was being filmed. I’m not an expert by any means but there’s no universe in which this very important designer host lady is spending all day every day on the set, nor would (spoilers for the end)the production company lose out on the money spent filming just to scrap the whole thing so close to completion. They absolutely would have just tossed in a scene where Jordan and Astrid admit it was Jordan’s design but she was afraid to speak up about it because she thought her family would only like it if it was someone else’s work. While I’m spoiling things, I hate Astrid’s ending. She should have opened a bakery, without question. Becoming the inn’s manager who does the baking sometimes feels pretty similar to the nonsense of PTSD-ridden Harry Potter becoming a wizard cop instead of a teacher.
I’m probably going to be skipping the next one since I don’t much care for Iris.
Original review:
I liked the last book enough to give this one a read and it was kind of a let down. Our main characters are Astrid- a closed-off, Type A designer still being micromanaged by her mother- and Jordan- a carpenter who only knows her self worth in very specific situations.
They’re filming a TV show about renovating Jordan’s family’s inn, for which Astrid is the designer. She follows the plan set forth by Simon and Pru (Jordan’s twin brother and grandmother, respectively) but Jordan hates it for being so White Lady Chic and goes rogue by painting a room blue.
I found it hard to suspend my disbelief on how this show was being filmed. I’m not an expert by any means but there’s no universe in which this very important designer host lady is spending all day every day on the set, nor would (spoilers for the end)
I’m probably going to be skipping the next one since I don’t much care for Iris.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer and Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic relationship
fanboyriot's review against another edition
funny
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
5.0
Read For:
Small Town
Rivals to Lovers
Queer Awakening
Workplace Romance
Coming Out Later in Life
I absolutely loved all the queer rep in this book. The small-town romance I didn't even know I needed. The friendships, the side characters, and the setting were all so lovely too. I love the vibe of Bright Falls and I was happy to read more from this world. It was also lovely to read more about Astrid and getting to see her find out who she is without her mother controlling everything. It was so satisfying to see her character development.
(Switching, Third Person POV)
Spice: 🌶🌶🌶🌶
Rep: Bisexual MC, Lesbian MC, Non-Binary SC, BIPOC SC, LGBTQIA+
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content
Moderate: Body shaming, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Biphobia, Cancer, Death, Homophobia, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, and Abandonment
mandi_lea's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Sexual content, and Abandonment
thebigq's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
4.0
Astrid's mom was really hard for me to read, although I knew it would all work out by the end. Lots of tenseness for a romance; glad I made it to the end because some unexpected twists happened along the way!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Abandonment
Minor: Cancer and Infidelity
bellebookstitch666's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Body shaming, Cancer, Cursing, and Toxic relationship
kylarenea_'s review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer
kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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? Yes
4.0
A little slow to capture my full-attention, this book made up for that with a sweet second half. It’s an enemies to lovers with some forced proximity which was an okay plot line but not my favorite. There’s a little spice but not as much as other romance novels. Overall it was cute, fun, and enjoyable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Biphobia, Cancer, Homophobia, Infidelity, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Classism
psitstorrie's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It’s cute! The characters are fun and relatable, and the angst balances the fluff well! It’s a solid sequel, and I actually like the character development and plot more than Delilah’s book. Astrid is such a compelling character and seeing her journey was really nice. I love Jordan. I love how the old and new characters were incorporated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cancer and Grief
Minor: Vomit and Alcohol
bookishwondergoth's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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? Yes
4.5
Absolutely loved this book. It spoke to me as a bisexual woman raised to be straight by default only to then fall hard and fast for a girl and have it take me by complete surprise.
Ashley Herring Blake is a brilliant writer who creates wonderful characters I truly cannot help but love. Astrid was one of my favourite characters from ‘Delilah Green Doesn’t Care’ and so I was instantly invested in her romance and felt very protective over her as she clashed heads with Jordan. Jordan is a really endearing and lovable love interest. I love her and Astrid together and the way they navigated their issues.
Absolutely cannot wait for ‘Iris Kelly Doesn’t Date’!
Ashley Herring Blake is a brilliant writer who creates wonderful characters I truly cannot help but love. Astrid was one of my favourite characters from ‘Delilah Green Doesn’t Care’ and so I was instantly invested in her romance and felt very protective over her as she clashed heads with Jordan. Jordan is a really endearing and lovable love interest. I love her and Astrid together and the way they navigated their issues.
Absolutely cannot wait for ‘Iris Kelly Doesn’t Date’!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Alcohol
Minor: Biphobia and Cancer