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A review by talknerdybookblog
A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
No strong representation of diverse characters or minority identities.
Safety Rating: Safe with Exceptions
• No cheating
• No OM drama
- But the Heroine's ex-fiancé and his new wife come to the Heroine's work in the final act for the sole purpose of the author being able to show that the Heroine is over him. There's no drama, but it's awkward and felt contrived.
• Does kinda have OW drama
- Major spoiler pertaining to why the Hero is also stuck in the fictional world:He's the fiancé of the author who died years ago. In his grief, he sought refuge from the real world in the fictional town his fiancée created. He's not yet processed his grief, which leads him to push the Heroine away.
There's "kinda" OW drama because the fictional character (who is the protagonist of one of the author's romance books) who most resembles the author comes back to the fictional town <i>just</i> as the Heroine and Hero are set to leave (and ride off into the sunset together). The Hero sees this fictional character/OW and realizes he can't leave - he needs to talk to this OW, who so reminds him of his deceased fiancée.
In terms of plot and character development, I get why there had to be a third-act break-up, but there didn't need to be a last-minute introduction of a pseudo-OW. It made the resulting resolution seem cheap and rushed (i.e. I didn't believe the Hero's love declarations at all). Also, he threw the Heroine - a REAL LIVING PERSON - aside for a FICTIONAL CHARACTER - who was inspired by but is by no means actually his deceased fiancée.
• Does have the Hero pushing the Heroine away
• Does have a few months separation (both celibate)
Possible Triggers: Yes
• Death of spouse
• Grief
• Infidelity (Heroine was cheated on by her ex-fiancé)
Ending:HFN
Safety Rating: Safe with Exceptions
• No cheating
• No OM drama
- But the Heroine's ex-fiancé and his new wife come to the Heroine's work in the final act for the sole purpose of the author being able to show that the Heroine is over him. There's no drama, but it's awkward and felt contrived.
• Does kinda have OW drama
- Major spoiler pertaining to why the Hero is also stuck in the fictional world:
There's "kinda" OW drama because the fictional character (who is the protagonist of one of the author's romance books) who most resembles the author comes back to the fictional town <i>just</i> as the Heroine and Hero are set to leave (and ride off into the sunset together). The Hero sees this fictional character/OW and realizes he can't leave - he needs to talk to this OW, who so reminds him of his deceased fiancée.
In terms of plot and character development, I get why there had to be a third-act break-up, but there didn't need to be a last-minute introduction of a pseudo-OW. It made the resulting resolution seem cheap and rushed (i.e. I didn't believe the Hero's love declarations at all). Also, he threw the Heroine - a REAL LIVING PERSON - aside for a FICTIONAL CHARACTER - who was inspired by but is by no means actually his deceased fiancée.
• Does have the Hero pushing the Heroine away
• Does have a few months separation (both celibate)
Possible Triggers: Yes
• Death of spouse
• Grief
• Infidelity (Heroine was cheated on by her ex-fiancé)
Ending: