A review by bcope84
The Fiance Solution by Anna Barlow

3.0

I really enjoyed this book. It was very easy for me to relate to FMC as I am also the oldest sister with parents who have a clear path for their children. I have often stepped in to help my younger siblings but have NEVER even considered having them help me. I loved that Kat came off rude or mean because she was trying to protect herself by hiding behind a front. A lot of times, men are portrayed this way, so it was great to see it with a woman. I love the way Anna Barlow tells a story and really illustrates the complex emotions that everyday people face. She allows her characters to be flawed which makes them more relatable and more multifaceted

Things I liked:
Kat's wit and humor
Kat and Ellie's relationship
Kat standing up against her parents and her ex
Kat allowing Matt into her "mess" when she kept almost everyone else out
Anna Barlow's writing
The trigger warnings listed in the beginning of the book fully explained

Things I didn't like:
It seemed like giving up on the idea of marriage came out of nowhere at the end - I didn't know if this was just a reaction to their previous relationships really or if they truly didn't want to be married (I hope that makes sense. If they truly did not want to get married then so be it but at the beginning, she said that only thing she wanted was to get married and to have a kid- but I don't know if that's what she truly wanted or what she thought she should want).
Averie was delightful but I wanted more dimension to her.

TW:
Sexism
Toxic Relationship
Sexual Assault
Childhood trauma
Disordered Eating
Alcohol Abuse
Unhoused situation

I received an advance copy of this and all opinions are my own.