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marylinaris's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
I’m a little torn on this one.
On one side this was a quick, fun read. It has a nice grumpy/sunshine romance, an abundance of steamy scenes, and an overall enjoyable plot.
Stella was an interesting character, besides the obvious romantic plot she has to deal with her past jail time, re-entering society and a toxic friendship throughout the book. While these topics were continuously brought up, they are tackled on a very individual level and I felt like both were wrapped up a little too fast and too neatly in the end.
The side characters, of whom there were only a small handful, made for good additions to the story. His family made for a nice side villains, Aiden found more confidence and respect of his employees through. I also enjoyed the little romance plot between to of the side characters, that helped out couple along without taking up too much space or overshadowing the main plot.
Where it gets tricky for me is Aiden.
He is a lovable dork with a wild sexy side. The moment he sees Stella for the first time, he instantly falls for her and would probably score high in an insta-love competition. Based on a ten minute conversation, which was also their first meeting he ends up hiring her over far more qualified people, cool, I can let that slide in the name of romance. I can even let a boss/employee relationships slide, well, normally. But here the constant reinforcement that their relationship is inappropriate was distracting. While Stella also brought this up, it’s mentioned during Aiden’s POV to a nauseating degree, that would be great - he is the boss, the one with the power after all - if it didn’t seem like that was part of the turn on for him. There was just something very unsexy about them making out to a constant stream of thoughts about the inappropriateness of their actions.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Confinement
Minor: Gun violence and Abandonment
hannahkiwi'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic friendship
nicolesreadingbooks's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.25
did not know window designer was a thing but now i do
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic friendship
acelodie's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Confinement and Toxic friendship
archivofrances's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Gun violence
kim03's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
Tropes: Grump & sunshine, workplace romance
Triggerwarning: prison (and stuff), toxic friendship and gaslighting
Mood songs:
Rita Ora - »Poison«
Catie Turner - »God Must Hate Me«
Triggerwarning: prison (and stuff), toxic friendship and gaslighting
Mood songs:
Rita Ora - »Poison«
Catie Turner - »God Must Hate Me«
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
camlreads_'s review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Toxic friendship
tddaffin's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-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
4.75
A super cute lighthearted read for Christmas time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Toxic friendship
fiwwa's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
I don't expect anything good because my friend said so and she's not wrong. This is just a smut with no plot, well... maybe a little. An insta-love between two people who are horny because they've been quarantined for different reasons and want to fuck each other. I didn't even feel any Christmas vibes when I read this book so can't consider this a holiday read.
This review contains spoiler!
My first impressions of the characters are why does Aiden Cook suddenly talks about his personal life to a stranger and why does Stella Schmidt doesn't run away immediately? She even still applied for the job knowing that she'll meet that creep again.
Speaking of the job, the power differential kinda bothers me. Aiden is the boss, of course, and I think it's just unfair of him to let all applicants get a chance to get interviewed only because of Stella. Like no matter who Stella is, she will be hired anyway. Only because he wanted to meet her again while she's literally an ex-convict but he's hiding that, she still has a history of robbing and he wants her to work at a store? Ironic. It just seems unprofessional though I know he's the "everyone deserves a second chance" type of person.
I know Stella was in prison for 4 years and Aiden was at home because of pandemic (yes it's 2021), but why the hell are they so horny?? Like Aiden literally get turned on easily whatever Stella is doing but he frustrates me a lot of times in some scenes. He doesn't know what he wanted: to have sex with his employee or not when she's in his hands already. If I were Stella I'd kick that man out of my house and never letting him in again. He even thought of marrying her right away like MAN? CHILL?
And Stella, girl, I have to say, you have a really weird kink. Bow tie? Have a better fashion sense, Sweetheart. Aunt Edna's stories? I feel bad for Aunt Edna.
This isn't a reverse grumpy sunshine trope too. Yes, she probably dress like a gothic girl and was kinda grumpy in the beginning but I'm pretty sure she was grumpy because Aiden was so weird, and still weird. But the rest she's a sunshine. Aiden, on the other hand, is an annoying sunshine.
Last one, their "I love you"s in the epilogue is weird. You can't tell me otherwise.
This review contains spoiler!
My first impressions of the characters are why does Aiden Cook suddenly talks about his personal life to a stranger and why does Stella Schmidt doesn't run away immediately? She even still applied for the job knowing that she'll meet that creep again.
Speaking of the job, the power differential kinda bothers me. Aiden is the boss, of course, and I think it's just unfair of him to let all applicants get a chance to get interviewed only because of Stella. Like no matter who Stella is, she will be hired anyway. Only because he wanted to meet her again while she's literally an ex-convict but he's hiding that, she still has a history of robbing and he wants her to work at a store? Ironic. It just seems unprofessional though I know he's the "everyone deserves a second chance" type of person.
I know Stella was in prison for 4 years and Aiden was at home because of pandemic (yes it's 2021), but why the hell are they so horny?? Like Aiden literally get turned on easily whatever Stella is doing but he frustrates me a lot of times in some scenes. He doesn't know what he wanted: to have sex with his employee or not when she's in his hands already. If I were Stella I'd kick that man out of my house and never letting him in again. He even thought of marrying her right away like MAN? CHILL?
And Stella, girl, I have to say, you have a really weird kink. Bow tie? Have a better fashion sense, Sweetheart. Aunt Edna's stories? I feel bad for Aunt Edna.
This isn't a reverse grumpy sunshine trope too. Yes, she probably dress like a gothic girl and was kinda grumpy in the beginning but I'm pretty sure she was grumpy because Aiden was so weird, and still weird. But the rest she's a sunshine. Aiden, on the other hand, is an annoying sunshine.
Last one, their "I love you"s in the epilogue is weird. You can't tell me otherwise.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Toxic friendship
Minor: Gun violence
vicktorea's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-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
sweet, sexy & Christmassy🎄❤️
This was so cute and I liked the running theme of forgiving yourself, being proud of yourself & doing things for yourself, not to please others!
The last book I read by Tessa Bailey I DNF’d and this was me giving her a second chance…so far my faith has been restored!
PS - Aiden is the epitome of sweet in the streets and freak in the sheets, chileeeee 🔥🥵
This was so cute and I liked the running theme of forgiving yourself, being proud of yourself & doing things for yourself, not to please others!
The last book I read by Tessa Bailey I DNF’d and this was me giving her a second chance…so far my faith has been restored!
PS - Aiden is the epitome of sweet in the streets and freak in the sheets, chileeeee 🔥🥵
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Toxic friendship