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A review by ariadna
Cold Pressed by Allison Temple
1.0
DNF at 21%
I borrowed this book from a friend after mentioning that I was looking for an easy romance. And, in a way, the book was definitely a simple read.
Out of the two MCs, I was actually interested in Nick. He was a bisexual dude who sees his job as a failure/demotion. Also, for unknown to me reasons, he lived with Anya (his ex-wife) and Hayden (their teenage son). Oh, and Hayden had gotten in some serious trouble with the law (up to the point I read, he was wearing an ankle monitor, had monthly court dates, and was under house arrest.) If I really thought about it, I think I'd have probably finished this novel if the book had only been told from Nick's POV.
Unfortch, there was Oliver: an ex-lawyer who had started a new business venture. An openly gay man who (allegedly) carried a deep hurt of some kind, Oliver turned out to be the MOST GENERIC CHARACTER EVER. I didn't understand (aside from the fact that Nick thought Oliver was hot) why Oliver/Nick should've been a thing that happens.
Adding to my tired sigh about Oliver's blandest-than-Gap-khakis feelings was that he was a bit of jackass abt his business. Per the explanation he gave Nick during their blind date, Pulpability (yes, that's what the store's called) was a "wellness and healthy eating lab."
Y'all he sold 'health foods' and juice cleanses. #MyEpicEyerollisSOEpicIMightStrainAMuscle
ON TOP OF THAT, he'd be extremely judgemental whenever the conversation was about food. As in actually dropping some "hard statistics" abt poor eating habits and the toxicity of fried foods, etc. Also, there were random asides about people's bodies (?) that, again, overtly critical. It was INCREDIBLY OFF-PUTTING because my mind would wander to Instagram charlatans who try to make others feel terribs because "those people" don't do any "clean eating."
Despite the fact that I don't have any eating disorders, I can most deffo see how this so-called romance can potentially trigger ppl who suffer from ED. So, please, take care of yourself if you pick up this book.
Anyways, between Oliver "Blandest Jackass About Food" McBlandy and Nick "Interesting And Complicated Home Life" Dude, I felt my enthusiasm for anything concerning their romance disappear into the ether.
TL;DR: The second book in a series set in a small town. I didn't read the first one, don't plan to read the third one or anything by this author ever again.
Although the "Meet Ugly-to-FWB-to-Lovers" premise sounded good, my intense loathing for one half of the couple (due to his blandness AND jackassery) made me drop this book.
I borrowed this book from a friend after mentioning that I was looking for an easy romance. And, in a way, the book was definitely a simple read.
Out of the two MCs, I was actually interested in Nick. He was a bisexual dude who sees his job as a failure/demotion. Also, for unknown to me reasons, he lived with Anya (his ex-wife) and Hayden (their teenage son). Oh, and Hayden had gotten in some serious trouble with the law (up to the point I read, he was wearing an ankle monitor, had monthly court dates, and was under house arrest.) If I really thought about it, I think I'd have probably finished this novel if the book had only been told from Nick's POV.
Unfortch, there was Oliver: an ex-lawyer who had started a new business venture. An openly gay man who (allegedly) carried a deep hurt of some kind, Oliver turned out to be the MOST GENERIC CHARACTER EVER. I didn't understand (aside from the fact that Nick thought Oliver was hot) why Oliver/Nick should've been a thing that happens.
Adding to my tired sigh about Oliver's blandest-than-Gap-khakis feelings was that he was a bit of jackass abt his business. Per the explanation he gave Nick during their blind date, Pulpability (yes, that's what the store's called) was a "wellness and healthy eating lab."
Y'all he sold 'health foods' and juice cleanses. #MyEpicEyerollisSOEpicIMightStrainAMuscle
ON TOP OF THAT, he'd be extremely judgemental whenever the conversation was about food. As in actually dropping some "hard statistics" abt poor eating habits and the toxicity of fried foods, etc. Also, there were random asides about people's bodies (?) that, again, overtly critical. It was INCREDIBLY OFF-PUTTING because my mind would wander to Instagram charlatans who try to make others feel terribs because "those people" don't do any "clean eating."
Despite the fact that I don't have any eating disorders, I can most deffo see how this so-called romance can potentially trigger ppl who suffer from ED. So, please, take care of yourself if you pick up this book.
Anyways, between Oliver "Blandest Jackass About Food" McBlandy and Nick "Interesting And Complicated Home Life" Dude, I felt my enthusiasm for anything concerning their romance disappear into the ether.
TL;DR: The second book in a series set in a small town. I didn't read the first one, don't plan to read the third one or anything by this author ever again.
Although the "Meet Ugly-to-FWB-to-Lovers" premise sounded good, my intense loathing for one half of the couple (due to his blandness AND jackassery) made me drop this book.