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A review by fangirljeanne
In a Jam by Kate Canterbary
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I am fast approaching full on Stan for Kate Canterbury.
CW: anti-fat comments (that are addressed), emotional abuse (from an ex), religious trauma, emotionally neglectful parent (not the leads), incarcerated parent (not the leads).
Can you call it a second chance Romance if it was a one-sided high school crush? I would argue that this book does a good job making the one friend is in love with the other who is oblivious version Friends to lovers not seem creepy. Namely because that dynamic is in the past and age appropriate, and is a source of a lot of the MMC’s conflict over his feelings for the heroine. That gives it a tasty enemies to lovers undertone to the Romance.
Both characters come to their relationship with baggage, and both get time and space to process it both on their own and as a couple. The supporting cast is great, as is the small town farming community setting. The farm isn’t just a background but practically a character of its own. A lot of ink is spilled explaining how it runs as well as details on the making and marketing of jams. Something that usually would bore me to tears in other novels but here I was intrigued and charmed by how into it Noah (the MMC) was.
Likewise I found Shay’s deep investment in being an educator and advocate for kids endearing. They felt like individuals rather than components in a trope. That lent a great deal of credibility to their developing relationships and made the conflicts standing in the way seem less contrived. I really worried how they were going to make it work.
The ATV scene nearly gave me a heartache. Rude!
This was a cozy and heartfelt Romance about two imperfect but genuinely good people finding love and family together.
Also the sex scenes are smoking hot and a little bit kinky. Highly recommend.
CW: anti-fat comments (that are addressed), emotional abuse (from an ex), religious trauma, emotionally neglectful parent (not the leads), incarcerated parent (not the leads).
Can you call it a second chance Romance if it was a one-sided high school crush? I would argue that this book does a good job making the one friend is in love with the other who is oblivious version Friends to lovers not seem creepy. Namely because that dynamic is in the past and age appropriate, and is a source of a lot of the MMC’s conflict over his feelings for the heroine. That gives it a tasty enemies to lovers undertone to the Romance.
Both characters come to their relationship with baggage, and both get time and space to process it both on their own and as a couple. The supporting cast is great, as is the small town farming community setting. The farm isn’t just a background but practically a character of its own. A lot of ink is spilled explaining how it runs as well as details on the making and marketing of jams. Something that usually would bore me to tears in other novels but here I was intrigued and charmed by how into it Noah (the MMC) was.
Likewise I found Shay’s deep investment in being an educator and advocate for kids endearing. They felt like individuals rather than components in a trope. That lent a great deal of credibility to their developing relationships and made the conflicts standing in the way seem less contrived. I really worried how they were going to make it work.
The ATV scene nearly gave me a heartache. Rude!
This was a cozy and heartfelt Romance about two imperfect but genuinely good people finding love and family together.
Also the sex scenes are smoking hot and a little bit kinky. Highly recommend.