A review by maddiebees
Codename Charming by Lucy Parker

emotional lighthearted slow-paced

4.0

 Will I ever not be a sucker for a grumpy-ish bodyguard with a huge soft spot for the sunshine-y heroine? 

Absolutely not. I will eat it up every single time and this was no exception! 

 

I feel like the term ‘romcom’ can be so overused when classifying romance novels but this book walked the line of funny and heartwarming so well. The romance between Pet and Matthias was beautifully done and there were scenes that were gripping in the best way but there were also some laugh out loud moments where I had to set the book down for a second. (Yes, I mean the parrot scene and the pay-off from it at the end.) It was balanced very well and neither genre negated the other. 

 

I love the glimpses we get into the FMC and MMC’s pasts and the ‘why’ behind who they became. It was done well without seeming like Lucy Parker was giving the reader a roadmap; it felt very organic. Also, I loved the secondary characters and the support they provided to the plot and characters without feeling superfluous or unnecessary. 

 

I love a slowburn but I feel like it was a bit too long; I wanted more of Pet and Matthias as an actual couple as opposed to a fake couple. Additionally, as much as I like a book with no third-act breakup, it felt like there was just something a little lacking at the end in regards to their relationship. 

 

Overall, I enjoyed the story and the theme of finding and making your own family! I’d recommend giving it a read! ♥️ 

Thank you to NetGalley, Lucy Parker, and Avon Books for allowing me to review in advance copy in exchange for my honest review!