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A review by stpe6480
Not Quite by the Book by Julie Hatcher
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Such mixed feelings. I saw other people describe this book as "deeply introspective" and tend to like those, but this didn't quite hit for me.
Firstly, I think this book was improperly marketed. It is listed as a contemporary romance, but there is almost zero romance. I'm talking, the main character actively avoids love and they kiss like three times in the book. It's a single POV, too, so while Emma is off being a recluse, there is no other perspective that provides any romantic insight.
And though not having a strong romantic plot is far from the end of the world, there wasn't much else offered. Emma comes from a loving, stable family. She has a best friend who is supportive, and her dating history is extremely mild. Her biggest struggle was that her mother was very sick (but recovered), which caused some family turmoil. There wasn't anything else happening in the plot that evoked a strong emotional response or resonance, so I found it difficult to care.
I am a very introspective and reflective person, and I tend to enjoy books that rely on that framework. This book just stayed too superficial to have anything worth reflecting on.
That said, I like the writing style and I was intrigued by the characters. I wish we got out of Emma's head more often to see more of those characters. It was a cozy, mellow, clean read. There were zero plot twists and was extremely predictable, and I'm not even mad about it. I like the secret identity/You've Got Mail trope.
Firstly, I think this book was improperly marketed. It is listed as a contemporary romance, but there is almost zero romance. I'm talking, the main character actively avoids love and they kiss like three times in the book. It's a single POV, too, so while Emma is off being a recluse, there is no other perspective that provides any romantic insight.
And though not having a strong romantic plot is far from the end of the world, there wasn't much else offered. Emma comes from a loving, stable family. She has a best friend who is supportive, and her dating history is extremely mild. Her biggest struggle was that her mother was very sick (but recovered), which caused some family turmoil. There wasn't anything else happening in the plot that evoked a strong emotional response or resonance, so I found it difficult to care.
I am a very introspective and reflective person, and I tend to enjoy books that rely on that framework. This book just stayed too superficial to have anything worth reflecting on.
That said, I like the writing style and I was intrigued by the characters. I wish we got out of Emma's head more often to see more of those characters. It was a cozy, mellow, clean read. There were zero plot twists and was extremely predictable, and I'm not even mad about it. I like the secret identity/You've Got Mail trope.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer
Minor: Pregnancy