A review by catreadsbook
In a Jam by Kate Canterbary

emotional funny lighthearted slow-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

Cute, second chance, fake marriage, small town romance with no third act breakup

because every time she tries to run he just straight up refuses

and the additional fun of a little kid with a huge personality. I had mixed feelings about this book. The beginning was somehow both too fast and too slow. So much active backstory to get Shay to the farm and fake marriage. Extreme lack of communication between the characters with Noah being so so in love with Shay and her being blind to his care and commitment while she also never talks about her feelings of abandonment. Towards the end, I was wondering how someone forgets they had such an intense friendship in high school. A girl longing for ANYONE to love her would have placed a lot of meaning on a guy being her rescuer multiple times. All of these things and yet I still enjoyed the book at the very end. Moments that were so funny, I was telling people irl about this book I was reading because he’s pointing out the inconsistency of baking when someone says use a “dash” of milk and then a “dash” of vanilla in an icing recipe and somehow those are different measurements. The emotional drama of little Gennie and how she’s afraid everyone is going to leave her because that’s all she knows. The fucking spice! He’s a top notch dirty talker and rough in bed but also a caretaker who’s embarrassed about how primal he gets. Overall, I had a tough time getting into the book, but once I was in it, I was IN IT.