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kaitlynmccready's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
justbeingcaroline's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
emma_mayan's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
aplace_inthesun's review
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Reading some other reviews I realise I went about these books the wrong way. I think I should have read this book after The Boyfriend Candidate. I'm wondering to what degree this lack of planning on my part impacted my enjoyment of this book because short version ... I didn't really enjoy this.
Firstly, I struggled from the start because this book involves politics, polling and lobbying. Uh, not my wheelhouse and I found myself not really interested in it, which took up alot of the story. Secondly, the main FMC Lee is a hard woman to like/identify with. I don't usually mind disliked characters or redemption arcs per se and I don't need to identify with a character in order to love a book, however I couldn't even say redemption arc fits Lee because generally she was pretty unapologetic about cheating on Ben on only a whisper of evidence that he *might* have been interested in someone else in college. Further that she continued to not be reflective of it, and judged him continuously, and then impacted his employment. Her good time girl antics for me were just too far. Thirdly, there was the cheating by her boss ... so much cheating. Ben was a good character but he just kept going back for more and I for one couldn't see the appeal.
So cutting a long story short, I really struggled through this one.
Let me say I think Ashley Winstead is one of those authors who could probably write whatever darn genre she wanted and I would still read it.
Also that I have recommended this book to people who I thought it would resonate with, even though it didn't resonate with me.
Thanks to the publisher through Netgalley for the digital copy.
Firstly, I struggled from the start because this book involves politics, polling and lobbying. Uh, not my wheelhouse and I found myself not really interested in it, which took up alot of the story. Secondly, the main FMC Lee is a hard woman to like/identify with. I don't usually mind disliked characters or redemption arcs per se and I don't need to identify with a character in order to love a book, however I couldn't even say redemption arc fits Lee because generally she was pretty unapologetic about cheating on Ben on only a whisper of evidence that he *might* have been interested in someone else in college. Further that she continued to not be reflective of it, and judged him continuously, and then impacted his employment. Her good time girl antics for me were just too far. Thirdly, there was the cheating by her boss ... so much cheating. Ben was a good character but he just kept going back for more and I for one couldn't see the appeal.
So cutting a long story short, I really struggled through this one.
Let me say I think Ashley Winstead is one of those authors who could probably write whatever darn genre she wanted and I would still read it.
Also that I have recommended this book to people who I thought it would resonate with, even though it didn't resonate with me.
Thanks to the publisher through Netgalley for the digital copy.
ksamaine95's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Trauma, Politics, Romance, Comedy, Forgiveness, Healing. Just all the human things, in a cute novel.
readersmultiverse's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is my third Ashley Winstead book and I absolutely love her writing. Every aspect was done so well and the political backdrop was incredible. I adored the characters & rooted for them, especially our green heroine Stoner. This one is for all the messy girls with messy lives 🧡.
Winstead is an auto-buy author.
Winstead is an auto-buy author.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism, Death of parent, and Misogyny
suzyq436's review
3.0
This started off well and I was into it. I love Ben and his overall yummyness. However, as the story went on, Lee grated on my nerves more and more. Her woe-is-me, I'm a victim mentality was too drawn out. I don't feel like she went through the necessary character growth. I felt like Ben should have let her grovel a lot more. Dude, she rejected you multiple times!
Also, Lee's coping mechanisms (alcohol and substances) was brushed over and made light of which felt a bit off because it came across as a serious issue. Maybe I was reading too much into it.
Also, the politics was a lot. For a non-American, it was quite hard to keep up with all jargon and frameworks sometimes.
Also, Lee's coping mechanisms (alcohol and substances) was brushed over and made light of which felt a bit off because it came across as a serious issue. Maybe I was reading too much into it.
Also, the politics was a lot. For a non-American, it was quite hard to keep up with all jargon and frameworks sometimes.
megsbigg's review against another edition
2.0
This book really didn't work for me, sadly. It's so often in books where cheating is a major theme/plot point that there is cheating in the present day plot, and when it happens apparently everyone's okay with it? After hating everyone and everything for cheating the main character just describes it as an accident 🤔 but mainly I just didn't really understand Ben and Lee as a couple - I would have loved more scenes of them hang out outside of work, and getting to know Ben more than just "he loves politics and his brother".
babs_reviews's review
4.0
Look, <----- I knew from the first word I was going to love Stoner. Incredibly friend, sister, party partner but girlfriend...maybe not so much?!
Lee Stone, by day is a professional and she's taking on a clean energy bill, going by Stoner personally she is a complete self destructive, chaotic mess. Ben, the ex she forced to leave her before he could choose to on his own, is back in her life and working on the same bill. Forced proximity, witty banter and so much chemistry I felt it! Stoner's inner monologue had me in stitches the whole time, I could relate to the inner chaos. She doesn't always make the best choices, but who of us always has?
I didn't care for the cheating theme of the book, that said, this was done really well and in a way that wasn't highlighting a plot of underhandedness but mistakes that happen as a result of a completely broken soul. People are often characterized by their mistakes, a culmination of all the wrong decisions we've ever made. The takeaway from Fool Me Once shows that we are more that the mistakes, we are a sum of ALL our decisions, the good ones and the bad ones.
I really enjoyed reading this one and wouldn't mind another book!
Lee Stone, by day is a professional and she's taking on a clean energy bill, going by Stoner personally she is a complete self destructive, chaotic mess. Ben, the ex she forced to leave her before he could choose to on his own, is back in her life and working on the same bill. Forced proximity, witty banter and so much chemistry I felt it! Stoner's inner monologue had me in stitches the whole time, I could relate to the inner chaos. She doesn't always make the best choices, but who of us always has?
I didn't care for the cheating theme of the book, that said, this was done really well and in a way that wasn't highlighting a plot of underhandedness but mistakes that happen as a result of a completely broken soul. People are often characterized by their mistakes, a culmination of all the wrong decisions we've ever made. The takeaway from Fool Me Once shows that we are more that the mistakes, we are a sum of ALL our decisions, the good ones and the bad ones.
I really enjoyed reading this one and wouldn't mind another book!