quiteliterary 's review for:

Love Practically by Nichole Van

3.0

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I absolutely adored Leah, she was such an easy character to love. But she gave so much of herself and received so little in return that I couldn’t help feeling she deserved better. Her quiet, aching pining lasts almost the entire book, and it was genuinely painful to read because of.. Fox.

Fox, unfortunately, was incredibly frustrating. He spends most of the story wallowing in self-pity, barely acknowledging Leah even after marrying her. I tried to give him a chance, but his behaviour was so repetitive that by the time we got to his so-called turnaround near the end, it felt too little, too late. His grand declarations of love didn’t land for me because none of his words were backed up by meaningful action.

What really put me off, though, was

how casually he tried to “forgive” his friend who preyed on Leah’s sister, simply because that man had been a loyal friend to him... until he discovered that his friend had a thing with his then fiancée. It made me think that he only really broke off the friendship because of that betrayal. Not because of what happened to his sister. That moment made it clear where his priorities truly lay, and it was deeply disappointing.

That said, there were so many things I did love. I really appreciated the beautiful poem Ethan wrote for his sister—it was such a tender moment. And while it’s unfortunate that Leah ended up with Fox, I’m glad she had Malcolm and Ethan as her brothers. They genuinely loved and protected her, and their presence gave her the emotional support Fox never provided.

I was also surprised (in the best way) by how well Malcolm’s character was explored in this book. I really loved him and his love for Aileen—it was such a soft, steady kind of devotion.

Madeline and Mr. Dandy were also a highlight—so cute and funny, they added a lovely charm to the story.

Despite my issues with Fox, I’m genuinely excited for the next book which is a love triangle involving both brothers.