veronicanread 's review for:

As It Was by Elle Rivers

3.75

emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

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ARC REVIEW

Spice: 🌶️🌶️ (2 of 3, multiple, detailed sex scenes but mostly focused on conversation and not overly graphic or vulgar.)

While this is definitely a grumpy x sunshine book but Mollie (FMC)as a “sunshine” isn’t annoyingly perky, just honest to goodness sweet, and there’s a depth to her character that I found refreshing. She’s easy to love, relatable, and I was immediately rooting for her. She’s probably the first “sunshine” in a romance that I didn’t immediately find cringy. 

The conversational style is realistic and has fun banter, plus I loved the Facebook Group messages/comments at the beginning of each chapter and how they provide information for the town’s side characters and context. About halfway through some began to feel unrelated and I found myself wanting to skip them.

I would definitely say that the first 30% was incredibly exciting and interested then I hit a lull. Their romance was honestly probably my least favorite part of the storyline since the farm, the custody battle, the meddling town, and the toxic ex took the forefront of my attention. 

Once they got together and I saw how healing he was for her, I was happy about it, but then I just wanted more of the sub-plots and less of the romance. 

With that in mind… As a romance, I would give it a 3.5, but as a small town and healing journey story, it’s a solid 4. 

Plus, I have to give bonus points for the realistic conversations and actions (they actually wash up after sex and before cuddling, as one should!!)

So thank you, Elle and Literary Rising for the ARC! 

As always, all opinions are honest and my own. 

Tropes include: 

Small town

Grumpy x Sunshine

Meddling Small Town

Forced Proximity 

Single Dad

Great Banter

Toxic Ex

Family Healing

Locations: 

Nashville, Small Town Tennessee