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downtown_kb's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
tense
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? No
4.0
Quinn brings home a stray dog she wants to adopt but her current boyfriend isn’t having it. So Quinn decides she’s had enough and moves out with her new dog. Her now ex doesn't take it well and things escalate quickly.
Jennifer Crusie has become my palette cleanser books for after I read a real dud or am in a slump. They are fun and lighthearted. A bit over the top in that romcom movie way and really not meant to be taken too seriously. The side cast is always well flushed out and adds an extra layer of chaos to the mix and I love her fmc’s.
This book was published originally in 1999. I felt it held up fairly well. There’s still a lot of conversations about a man taking care of a woman but the fmc is breaking out from under that mold. (Though, the side characters Max and Darla, did not learn a single thing).
I love the movement when the mmc sees the fmc differently all of a sudden, gets totally freaked out about it, but then just becomes totally gone for her. I think its my favorite thing about Crusie’s formula. In the past her books feel like the “I love you” comes from no where but in this one it worked well since these two were already best friends. There is a bit of suspense elements to this book and the stalking gets pretty intense.
This was a fun one.
Jennifer Crusie has become my palette cleanser books for after I read a real dud or am in a slump. They are fun and lighthearted. A bit over the top in that romcom movie way and really not meant to be taken too seriously. The side cast is always well flushed out and adds an extra layer of chaos to the mix and I love her fmc’s.
This book was published originally in 1999. I felt it held up fairly well. There’s still a lot of conversations about a man taking care of a woman but the fmc is breaking out from under that mold. (Though, the side characters Max and Darla, did not learn a single thing).
I love the movement when the mmc sees the fmc differently all of a sudden, gets totally freaked out about it, but then just becomes totally gone for her. I think its my favorite thing about Crusie’s formula. In the past her books feel like the “I love you” comes from no where but in this one it worked well since these two were already best friends. There is a bit of suspense elements to this book and the stalking gets pretty intense.
This was a fun one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking, Sexual content, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Domestic abuse
bibliozabs's review against another edition
3.5
Keep in mind this was written in 1999. I’m writing this in 2023 and that when I first read it.
The very bad - dog abuse, super stalking, domestic violence. The not great - a lot of “she’s mine” (from both hero and villain), some questionable relationship dynamics from a lot of people in the book, off hand homophobia from townspeople. So to me, the good outweighed the bad.
But I still stayed up all night to finish it (partly bc it was compelling, partly bc I’m sick and stuffed up). The good - chemistry btwn the couples, supportive and real female friendships, small town dynamics, realistic toxic masculinity, realistic reaction to someone you love turning into a monster, HEA.
This isn’t my first Jenny Crusie. I’ve read a couple of her books. This is one of her earlier ones and you can see how her later ones change with the times. So read it with the time period in mind.
The very bad - dog abuse, super stalking, domestic violence. The not great - a lot of “she’s mine” (from both hero and villain), some questionable relationship dynamics from a lot of people in the book, off hand homophobia from townspeople. So to me, the good outweighed the bad.
But I still stayed up all night to finish it (partly bc it was compelling, partly bc I’m sick and stuffed up). The good - chemistry btwn the couples, supportive and real female friendships, small town dynamics, realistic toxic masculinity, realistic reaction to someone you love turning into a monster, HEA.
This isn’t my first Jenny Crusie. I’ve read a couple of her books. This is one of her earlier ones and you can see how her later ones change with the times. So read it with the time period in mind.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Animal cruelty
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