A review by bookedbymadeline
From the Ground Up by Caitlin Klassen

emotional funny lighthearted relaxing fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

I was honored to be a beta and eARC reader for this book! I loved seeing the little changes made from the beta to the finished version, I loved it even more which I didn’t think was possible 🥹😍

Grant is “just” a side character but I would go to bat for him! He was such a well rounded character-very protective older brother, bad boy exterior with a softie heart vibes. All the side characters were well developed and had their own unique personalities- instead of just being in the background to serve the plot/MCs-which is something I always crave in a book, and was well executed here! I loved the friendships Ellie had (making me even more excited for their books).

I adored the banter and chemistry between Scott and Ellie!! They’re complicated and vulnerable and have fantastic growth throughout the book. I kept picturing Scott in cowboy boots with a southern accent saying “darlin’” 🥰

Even though it’s from Ellie’s POV we still get to see Scott fall in love with her which was amazing! 
Giggling kicking my feet as we watch Scott and Ellie pretend they don’t like each other. It is frustratingly sloooooow burn (I loved and hated it, it was torture but oh so sweet in the end).

Aside from the romance, I also enjoyed the beautiful descriptions of the houses and renovations! As someone who also likes home renovation shows, this book does a wonderful job of describing how the work gets done. I felt like I could visualize the houses without there being too much overly descriptive detail; it struck a perfect balance.

Love love love, I could devour Klassen’s books and had to physically pull myself away to hydrate 😂 I laughed so loud I scared my cat, gave myself a headache because I couldn’t be bothered to pull myself away from the book, and cried happy tears throughout the novel ❤️ I can’t wait to continue the series and watch these beloved characters get their own romances!!

Tropes: forced proximity, rivals to lovers, slow burn, grumpy x sunshine
Expand filter menu Content Warnings