A review by jess_read
The Undercutting of Rosie and Adam by Megan Bannen

adventurous emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I really enjoyed this, even though I couldn’t get through the first book in the series. That was more about the story not grabbing me than the writing, which I actually liked a lot. Megan Bannen’s writing is witty and fun, so I figured I’d give this one a shot. The premise pulled me in right away, and the characters had me laughing out loud. There’s a lovely found family element adding a wholesome vibe to the story, and if you’re a fan of the tall FMC and short MMC dynamic, this is definitely one to check out. I hadn’t read that kind of dynamic before, and I’m honestly kind of obsessed. The step stool kiss moment? Adorable. I also found myself invested in the Duckers and Zeddie side plot. They might have even stolen the show a bit. That said, I did feel the romance between Rosie and Adam was a little underdeveloped. I usually prefer single POV, but in this case, the story might have worked better with dual POV or at least a few scattered chapters from Adam’s perspective.

There are dragons, gods, demigods, and myths woven throughout the story, all of which add to the fun, messy magic of it all. If you enjoy books set in urban-adjacent fantasy worlds with chaotic but entertaining plots, quirky characters, and sharp, witty writing, this could easily be your next five-star read.

Thank you, NetGalley, and Orbit Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
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