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meggiemine's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Sexual content, Death of parent, and Homophobia
layla87's review
3.0
I received a copy from the author and this is my unbiased review.
I write this with a heavy heart....
I had such high hopes for this book, and when I was offered a review copy, I jumped at the chance. But, it fell flat for me, for many reasons...
1. The writing is poetic, but most of the time it was too poetic. It dragged and got boring.
2. The Rival/Enemies to lovers wasn't actually portrayed. They were rivals before the story began and we don't actually see it on page. This makes the blurb a bit misleading.
3. The sex was like... Blink and you miss it.
4. I SKIMMED. ALOT.
5. I found myself saying... Why did he say that? Why did this happen? Some things didn't add up. Many contradictions and many inconsistencies.
6. The mood swings of the characters were off-putting.
7. The ending....
I would have loved to actually read about them being in that contest together, when they were rivals and hiding their attraction at the same time. Maybe it would have made me love Rob more, because he was 1 dimensional and too nice.
I wanted to love this. I tried to love it. I put it down and got back to it so many times, and that should have been my clue.
I write this with a heavy heart....
I had such high hopes for this book, and when I was offered a review copy, I jumped at the chance. But, it fell flat for me, for many reasons...
1. The writing is poetic, but most of the time it was too poetic. It dragged and got boring.
2. The Rival/Enemies to lovers wasn't actually portrayed. They were rivals before the story began and we don't actually see it on page. This makes the blurb a bit misleading.
3. The sex was like... Blink and you miss it.
4. I SKIMMED. ALOT.
5. I found myself saying... Why did he say that? Why did this happen? Some things didn't add up. Many contradictions and many inconsistencies.
6. The mood swings of the characters were off-putting.
7. The ending....
I would have loved to actually read about them being in that contest together, when they were rivals and hiding their attraction at the same time. Maybe it would have made me love Rob more, because he was 1 dimensional and too nice.
I wanted to love this. I tried to love it. I put it down and got back to it so many times, and that should have been my clue.
sharingthebooklove's review against another edition
4.0
I had a blitz on Con Riley reads - read a lot in a row.
Enjoyed them all. Enjoyed the relationships and 'dramas' between the MC's
Enjoyed them all. Enjoyed the relationships and 'dramas' between the MC's
katiemulcahy122's review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
What was the point??? It drops you in the middle of the story with no time to build an emotional connection to any of the characters, all of the information you get feels like it's referencing a previous book, and no one acts rationally. The book is seemingly about Jude's grief instead of his cooking competition rival, and then the ending kind of erases that journey š
Bare minimum, having Rob's POV might have made some of the behavior make sense, but given this is the second book by the author to completely baffle me, that doesn't inspire me to finish the series.
Bare minimum, having Rob's POV might have made some of the behavior make sense, but given this is the second book by the author to completely baffle me, that doesn't inspire me to finish the series.
elliebelle_'s review
2.0
2 ~ I'm such a grinch ~ stars
I thought this was going to be a romance. It was romantic, sure, but for me the focus wasn't really on Jude & Rob's development as a couple.
Then I thought this was going to be a story about Jude coming to terms with his parent's disappearance and likely death while trying to keep their family business afloat. This was really the bulk of the story, that's fine too.
But then, as we neared the climax, I got increasingly annoyed with this book until I finally finished it with so much eyerolling I thought my face might stay that way.
I have to put the rest of the review in spoilers because I can't rant about this without revealing the whole plot but needless to say I wouldn't recommend this unless you just can't get enough of Cornell Collins' sweet sweet voice in which case it's available on Audible Plus.
*shrugs loudly*
Ok, here we go. This is a long rant.
Jude's parents turning up alive after a typhoon then months stranded completely undermined all of his character development.
There, I said it.
I'm sorry, I'm a grinch.
I wanted this book to be a romance between Jude & Rob, that's why I chose it. I'll admit I was a bit disappointed when everything between them fell into place so easily, but I definitely still felt like there was plenty of story to be written as Jude finally accepted his grief over the loss of his parents and his guilt that his mother had gone in his place because he'd not been willing to admit that he was gay to a father he thought wouldn't accept him.
Over the course of the book, it was revealed that his father had suspected he was gay, and that his attitude towards gay men wasn't disgust with them but shame of his own actions from when he'd testified against his gay friend Trevor (at his own request).
I kind of think that would have been enough of a conflict/revelation. Jude & Rob's meeting with Trevor was perfect. Heartbreaking. Inspiring. I cried big fat tears.
Trevor had the lovely postcards sent from Jude's parents' journey, and this hinted at some closure for Jude. It also was the beginning of the end for me, because this niggling feeling I'd been having for a while now could no longer be ignored.
Why didn't anyone know where Jude's parents had been sailing?
Who the fuck leaves on a trip like that without giving their itinerary to their family members?
Had they not been in touch at all except through these goddamned postcards?!
When they used Trevor's postcards to re-map the route that they'd taken, I was a bit annoyed, but I was glad when the wreckage was discovered. Ah great, I thought, now Jude can start to let go.
No such luck.
When Jude's parents turned up safe and sound, if a bit thin, after, like, what, MONTHS?! I was IRATE.
What was the point of this book? Just keep hanging on, dedicate all of your time and money to a fruitless search and your missing loved ones will miraculously re-appear? Also, your previously failing business is now conveniently successful so you won't be chained to it like a rock. And your perfect boyfriend (oh by the way absolutely no one cares you're gay after all) will be completely understanding and willing to send you merrily on your wild goose chase.
And, and, and! Why did Rob have to sell his mother's - clearly very valuable - vintage car to buy business class tickets? I'm sorry but A) flights are not that expensive, and B) there was no need to travel business class. Ah, it was probably so his father could also be redeemed by buying the car back for him - ok I'm not too upset about Rob making up with his dad, it did seem like a big miscommunication. But still!
I could have worked with one or two of the above convenient plotlines, but all together it was more disbelief than I am able to suspend.
Throughout the story, we'd had this artificial deadline hanging over our heads: at the end of the summer Rob will be paid out and then he'll leave. Not that Rob ever said that, past the first day of them meeting again. Of course, he didn't leave, and of course it was completely anticlimactic. These melodramatic contrived partings drive me up the wall. Just talk about it, you fools!
One last point before I end this rant.
I just didn't really like Jude. I thought he was a bit of a surly dick and I think Rob could do better.
Rant over. I feel a bit better now.
I thought this was going to be a romance. It was romantic, sure, but for me the focus wasn't really on Jude & Rob's development as a couple.
Then I thought this was going to be a story about Jude coming to terms with his parent's disappearance and likely death while trying to keep their family business afloat. This was really the bulk of the story, that's fine too.
But then, as we neared the climax, I got increasingly annoyed with this book until I finally finished it with so much eyerolling I thought my face might stay that way.
I have to put the rest of the review in spoilers because I can't rant about this without revealing the whole plot but needless to say I wouldn't recommend this unless you just can't get enough of Cornell Collins' sweet sweet voice in which case it's available on Audible Plus.
*shrugs loudly*
Spoiler
Ok, here we go. This is a long rant.
Jude's parents turning up alive after a typhoon then months stranded completely undermined all of his character development.
There, I said it.
I'm sorry, I'm a grinch.
I wanted this book to be a romance between Jude & Rob, that's why I chose it. I'll admit I was a bit disappointed when everything between them fell into place so easily, but I definitely still felt like there was plenty of story to be written as Jude finally accepted his grief over the loss of his parents and his guilt that his mother had gone in his place because he'd not been willing to admit that he was gay to a father he thought wouldn't accept him.
Over the course of the book, it was revealed that his father had suspected he was gay, and that his attitude towards gay men wasn't disgust with them but shame of his own actions from when he'd testified against his gay friend Trevor (at his own request).
I kind of think that would have been enough of a conflict/revelation. Jude & Rob's meeting with Trevor was perfect. Heartbreaking. Inspiring. I cried big fat tears.
Trevor had the lovely postcards sent from Jude's parents' journey, and this hinted at some closure for Jude. It also was the beginning of the end for me, because this niggling feeling I'd been having for a while now could no longer be ignored.
Why didn't anyone know where Jude's parents had been sailing?
Who the fuck leaves on a trip like that without giving their itinerary to their family members?
Had they not been in touch at all except through these goddamned postcards?!
When they used Trevor's postcards to re-map the route that they'd taken, I was a bit annoyed, but I was glad when the wreckage was discovered. Ah great, I thought, now Jude can start to let go.
No such luck.
When Jude's parents turned up safe and sound, if a bit thin, after, like, what, MONTHS?! I was IRATE.
What was the point of this book? Just keep hanging on, dedicate all of your time and money to a fruitless search and your missing loved ones will miraculously re-appear? Also, your previously failing business is now conveniently successful so you won't be chained to it like a rock. And your perfect boyfriend (oh by the way absolutely no one cares you're gay after all) will be completely understanding and willing to send you merrily on your wild goose chase.
And, and, and! Why did Rob have to sell his mother's - clearly very valuable - vintage car to buy business class tickets? I'm sorry but A) flights are not that expensive, and B) there was no need to travel business class. Ah, it was probably so his father could also be redeemed by buying the car back for him - ok I'm not too upset about Rob making up with his dad, it did seem like a big miscommunication. But still!
I could have worked with one or two of the above convenient plotlines, but all together it was more disbelief than I am able to suspend.
Throughout the story, we'd had this artificial deadline hanging over our heads: at the end of the summer Rob will be paid out and then he'll leave. Not that Rob ever said that, past the first day of them meeting again. Of course, he didn't leave, and of course it was completely anticlimactic. These melodramatic contrived partings drive me up the wall. Just talk about it, you fools!
One last point before I end this rant.
I just didn't really like Jude. I thought he was a bit of a surly dick and I think Rob could do better.
Rant over. I feel a bit better now.
sus_would_rather_be_reading's review
BORING. Poor writing. Unbelievable premise. Despise sister character.
bee_thebibliophile's review
4.0
After starting the Learning to Love series and finding out itās a spin-off of this His series, I was excited to dive back into the Con Riley world. This book was not exactly what I expected based on the blurb, but it was an emotional, turbulent and lovely look at Jude and Robās life in Cornwall.
Jude left behind a cooking competition and his dreams to open his own restaurant to work on a charter yacht and search for his parents after their boat is lost in a storm. After months of looking and no results, he returns to his hometown to find his sister Louise and Rob (his rival competitor) have completely revamped their familyās restaurant while heās been gone with Robās competition winnings. Jude is reserved, skilled in the kitchen and has been hiding a part of himself from his family for way too long, afraid of their reactions. Rob has been filling Judeās shoes at the restaurant and helping to keep things afloat. For months, heās been helping Louise figure out what to do next while going against his fatherās plans for him every day heās there. Heās also a skilled chef, but prefers working front of house, interacting with customers and showcasing his infectious personality.
I liked Jude and Rob together - they were definitely opposites, Jude being the quiet, thoughtful one and Rob being the loud, outspoken one, but they balanced each other out in a really natural way. Once they found their way together, there wasnāt angst or dark moments in their relationship to test them or pull them apart, they just continued to support and love each other through the ups and downs of the rest of the story. They played off of each other so well and I loved seeing their genuine connection continue to grow.
I didnāt love that we only got recollections of Jude and Robās time together in London and information about that time kept randomly being revealed throughout the story. I felt like I was missing a big part of their relationship, when they finally realized they liked each other, so when they got together it felt like it happened all of a sudden.
This idyllic coastal world (even with its problems) that Con Riley created is really dreamy and atmospheric and I canāt wait to dive into the next book. I have high hopes for Tom and his HEA!
Jude left behind a cooking competition and his dreams to open his own restaurant to work on a charter yacht and search for his parents after their boat is lost in a storm. After months of looking and no results, he returns to his hometown to find his sister Louise and Rob (his rival competitor) have completely revamped their familyās restaurant while heās been gone with Robās competition winnings. Jude is reserved, skilled in the kitchen and has been hiding a part of himself from his family for way too long, afraid of their reactions. Rob has been filling Judeās shoes at the restaurant and helping to keep things afloat. For months, heās been helping Louise figure out what to do next while going against his fatherās plans for him every day heās there. Heās also a skilled chef, but prefers working front of house, interacting with customers and showcasing his infectious personality.
I liked Jude and Rob together - they were definitely opposites, Jude being the quiet, thoughtful one and Rob being the loud, outspoken one, but they balanced each other out in a really natural way. Once they found their way together, there wasnāt angst or dark moments in their relationship to test them or pull them apart, they just continued to support and love each other through the ups and downs of the rest of the story. They played off of each other so well and I loved seeing their genuine connection continue to grow.
I didnāt love that we only got recollections of Jude and Robās time together in London and information about that time kept randomly being revealed throughout the story. I felt like I was missing a big part of their relationship, when they finally realized they liked each other, so when they got together it felt like it happened all of a sudden.
This idyllic coastal world (even with its problems) that Con Riley created is really dreamy and atmospheric and I canāt wait to dive into the next book. I have high hopes for Tom and his HEA!
galleytrot's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
READ: Mar 2023
FORMAT: Audio
BRIEF SUMMARY:
In this contemporary romance, Jude has just returned from a voyage searching for any sign of his parents who were lost at sea. Dragged away from his chance at winning the final stage of a reality cooking show, he doesnāt expect to find his on-screen rival sleeping in his bunk once he gets back home. Rob is the son of a famous and successful restaurateur; he didnāt take the competition seriously, constantly antagonized Jude, flirted shamelessly, and managed to win the show in Judeās sudden and unexplained absence. Judeās sister has been struggling to keep the family pub afloat while Judeās been away, and circumstances left her in search of Robās help.
ENTERTAINMENT VALUE: 4 / 5ā
Romances with previously-established relationships are rarely my cup of tea. I tend to think the compelling story includes those rocky first moments: the events that draw the two together, especially where rivals-to-lovers are concerned. Their relationship prior to the beginning of this book only develops as far as a first kiss before Jude has to run off and chase ghosts around the world, and I have mixed feelings. The on-set story at the cooking show is one I would love to read, but I also canāt say that including it in this book would improve or benefit the story in any meaningful way.
I would argue that this book's story is not the romance at all. It is an exploration of change and adaptation; something Jude struggles with, but Rob is capable of guiding him through. The family has changed. The geography of the village has changed. The purpose of The Anchor has changed. Jude's very understanding of his own reality has changed. The townsfolk he thought he knew have changed. The nearby town has changed. I could go on. Jude is slapped down into a world that has been shifting and changing without him in it, and it's his turn to change too, to challenge his rigid acceptance of how things are meant to be.
The romance we get is past all the antagonistic courtship. We pick up with Jude, uncertain that Robās poor conduct was anything more than the behaviour of an immature son trying to stick it to his father; and Rob, who was genuinely hurt and confused by Judeās sudden unexplained departure from his life. Now, they have to work together to keep the New Anchor afloat while navigating Robās intentions for being there in the first place and all the newness that Jude has to come to terms with. The nature of local tourism has shifted in a very unexpected way, and the New Anchor must adapt to survive, with Rob and Judeās sister changing every facet of the legacy Judeās parents had put so much effort into building.
TECHNICAL / PRODUCTION: 4.5 / 5ā
This book is extremely well-written and performed. I loved just about every character, main and side. Riley gives so much depth and world-building to everyone on page, without fail. I adore this; I adore how well-developed and full her worlds feel.
What I did not especially enjoy were the events of the final chapters. Iām all for happily-ever-afters, but far more than that, I prefer books that commit to the difficult but realistic probability. I think a story about grief and loss and finding closure is extremely compelling, and I felt some disappointment when I caught on to the turn it would take.
FINAL THOUGHTS - OVERALL: 4.25 / 5ā
Iāve only read two of Rileyās books so far, but Iām under the impression that they are masterfully written and meant for someone whoās in need of a low-angst, feel-good love story with well-developed characters in populated worlds. This book is a cozy nautical-patterned comfort blanket on a breezy waterfront balcony.
This book has representation for gays, and possibly bisexuals. If there was much in the way of diversity, I did not catch on to it.
The following elaborates on my content warnings. These may be interpreted as spoilers, but I do not go into deep detail.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Outing, Alcohol, Death of parent, Homophobia, and Grief
Minor: Medical content