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A review by enchantingreads_rosyreviews
Falling the Old Fashioned Way by Irene Bahrd, Irene Bahrd
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
I don’t care if the engagement part is fake, I feel like I’m... hers. I want to do all of the comfy boyfriend-girlfriend crap that I normally hate. Yes, I know it’s basically day one, and one of us will probably do something stupid to royally screw this up, but I plan to enjoy every minute until we do.
🎤
Ethan, oh Ethan. I really could go off about how much I like this character, but I’ll let you draw your own conclusions. I can completely understand why he’s Irene’s favorite (shh, don’t tell her other fictional men). I really liked this story about career-driven, independent people falling in love with their perfect match. Both characters compliment each other so well, it’s easy to root for their relationship. No, there’s not even a single part of me who’s jealous of a fictional woman who gets to spend the rest of her life with a wonderful fictional man... not one part... ok... maybe a little piece of me might be a teensy bit jealous, wishing I had my own Ethan.
Jokes aside, I really liked this book and its handful of troupes that shouldn’t work together, but Irene makes it work. Plus, her iconic comedic parody-style will have you laughing your way through this fun, entertaining read. Melanie goes through a journey in this book: has a hot night with a sexy man, creates a fake engagement with said man so she can get a promotion at her job (her bosses are super sexist), confronts & is threatened by her ex who doesn’t know no means no, actually starts dating her fake fiancé (who’s totally obsessed with her), starts her own business like the boss babe she is, and finally gets her happily ever after. (Yes, I “spoiled” the ending, but, c’mon, if you didn’t know this had a nice ending, then do you even know how fun romcoms work?)
Leave it to Irene to create a story that’s both a fake engagement AND a second chance romance, but she did! Plus, she may have invented a new troupe: brother’s wife’s best friend (and yes, it would sell TONS of books). Even though I completely fell in love with Ethan during his introduction in Mine with Extra Lime, I found myself loving him even more. I mean, who doesn’t love an honest, confident, sexy, tattooed, sarcastic, caring man with a smooth singing voice and the skills to worship his partner? Can’t we all just have our own Ethan?! But I’m happy Melanie gets to have him because they perfectly balance each other out. There’s a LOT of spicy time in this book, but it’s got heart and will leave you adding Ethan to your ever-growing list of book boyfriends.
🎤
Ethan, oh Ethan. I really could go off about how much I like this character, but I’ll let you draw your own conclusions. I can completely understand why he’s Irene’s favorite (shh, don’t tell her other fictional men). I really liked this story about career-driven, independent people falling in love with their perfect match. Both characters compliment each other so well, it’s easy to root for their relationship. No, there’s not even a single part of me who’s jealous of a fictional woman who gets to spend the rest of her life with a wonderful fictional man... not one part... ok... maybe a little piece of me might be a teensy bit jealous, wishing I had my own Ethan.
Jokes aside, I really liked this book and its handful of troupes that shouldn’t work together, but Irene makes it work. Plus, her iconic comedic parody-style will have you laughing your way through this fun, entertaining read. Melanie goes through a journey in this book: has a hot night with a sexy man, creates a fake engagement with said man so she can get a promotion at her job (her bosses are super sexist), confronts & is threatened by her ex who doesn’t know no means no, actually starts dating her fake fiancé (who’s totally obsessed with her), starts her own business like the boss babe she is, and finally gets her happily ever after. (Yes, I “spoiled” the ending, but, c’mon, if you didn’t know this had a nice ending, then do you even know how fun romcoms work?)
Leave it to Irene to create a story that’s both a fake engagement AND a second chance romance, but she did! Plus, she may have invented a new troupe: brother’s wife’s best friend (and yes, it would sell TONS of books). Even though I completely fell in love with Ethan during his introduction in Mine with Extra Lime, I found myself loving him even more. I mean, who doesn’t love an honest, confident, sexy, tattooed, sarcastic, caring man with a smooth singing voice and the skills to worship his partner? Can’t we all just have our own Ethan?! But I’m happy Melanie gets to have him because they perfectly balance each other out. There’s a LOT of spicy time in this book, but it’s got heart and will leave you adding Ethan to your ever-growing list of book boyfriends.
🎤
“I never thought I would find the love of my life. Everyone, including me, thought I would be a bachelor forever. I knew it would take someone special, but I actually thought I’d never find them... until you. I can’t imagine my life without you, Mel. I love you so [f***ing] much, so yeah, I really want to marry you. I want all of it: the kids, the minivan, the dog that loves me, the cat that hates me, the soccer games, the anniversary trips, you sitting on my face every night, the PTA meetings... No. I will only attend those if I am PTA President...”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Biphobia, Cursing, and Alcohol
Minor: Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic relationship