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emuhleesbooks 's review for:
The Rom-Com Agenda
by Jayne Denker
reread: august/september 2023
first read: september/october 2022:
This is the kind of book you would want to read on a winter day––it is a cute, somewhat fast-paced, friends-to-lovers story that takes place in the winter! Throw in some blizzards, small-town friendships, a found family, some movie references, and it feels like this story took place on the Gilmore Girls lot.
Friends-to-lovers is my second favorite trope and I think Leah and Eli had a cute friendship arc. They had a lot of chemistry when they were running from their feelings for each other, but I think their eventual relationship was a bit lackluster. I didn't find his quick switch from wanting to impress his ex, Victoria, to fully accepting he liked Leah very believable. His character lacked a lot of personal development and in turn, it felt like he kind of was substituting Leah for Victoria. It seemed like he was settling for whoever was around because he thought his time was up or something (hence why he proposed to Victoria after dating for FOUR months and subsequently refused to let go of her and his idea of her being "it" for him).
I enjoyed Leah's character, though, and I appreciated how she navigated her grief and her past. She had a lot more character growth than Eli did, and her feelings for him definitely felt more genuine. I know they end up together, but I couldn't help but feel bad for her. She deserved more; someone who spent more time pining after her––I mean, REALLY proving that he wanted her––than pining after the woman who rejected his marriage proposal on a pier to go off to Rome and leave him with her cat.
The supporting characters and their meddling shenanigans were fun, and I liked how they all came together to be the family Leah had always needed. They became a great support network for her and it was great to see her open up socially and become part of their group.
In short, I liked this book! Denker's writing style was easy and entertaining, and the setting of the story was cute. I did laugh out loud at the multiple jobs Leah had around town and the various names of the shops (Thousand Island Dressing was so funny to me). Again, I liked Leah and the supporting cast. I just wish there had been a bit more to Eli's character and that his and Leah's relationship had more to it––more natural spark and less built-on-his-inability-to-forget-his-ex vibes.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this eARC!!
first read: september/october 2022:
This is the kind of book you would want to read on a winter day––it is a cute, somewhat fast-paced, friends-to-lovers story that takes place in the winter! Throw in some blizzards, small-town friendships, a found family, some movie references, and it feels like this story took place on the Gilmore Girls lot.
Friends-to-lovers is my second favorite trope and I think Leah and Eli had a cute friendship arc. They had a lot of chemistry when they were running from their feelings for each other, but I think their eventual relationship was a bit lackluster. I didn't find his quick switch from wanting to impress his ex, Victoria, to fully accepting he liked Leah very believable. His character lacked a lot of personal development and in turn, it felt like he kind of was substituting Leah for Victoria. It seemed like he was settling for whoever was around because he thought his time was up or something (hence why he proposed to Victoria after dating for FOUR months and subsequently refused to let go of her and his idea of her being "it" for him).
I enjoyed Leah's character, though, and I appreciated how she navigated her grief and her past. She had a lot more character growth than Eli did, and her feelings for him definitely felt more genuine. I know they end up together, but I couldn't help but feel bad for her. She deserved more; someone who spent more time pining after her––I mean, REALLY proving that he wanted her––than pining after the woman who rejected his marriage proposal on a pier to go off to Rome and leave him with her cat.
The supporting characters and their meddling shenanigans were fun, and I liked how they all came together to be the family Leah had always needed. They became a great support network for her and it was great to see her open up socially and become part of their group.
In short, I liked this book! Denker's writing style was easy and entertaining, and the setting of the story was cute. I did laugh out loud at the multiple jobs Leah had around town and the various names of the shops (Thousand Island Dressing was so funny to me). Again, I liked Leah and the supporting cast. I just wish there had been a bit more to Eli's character and that his and Leah's relationship had more to it––more natural spark and less built-on-his-inability-to-forget-his-ex vibes.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this eARC!!