Scan barcode
emileereadsbooks's reviews
980 reviews
Tweet Cute by Emma Lord
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Pepper is a high school senior with a lot on the line. She is trying to have the best grades, be the captain of the swim team, post on the baking blog she has with her sister, and secretly run her parents' restaurant corporation, Big League Burger's, massive Twitter account.
Jack is also a high school senior (and a pain in Pepper's side). He is trying to step out of his identical twins shadow while also managing school, dive team, and working shifts at his family's deli. And when Big League Burger steals his grandma's grilled cheese recipe, he goes to bat for the family on Twitter.
Quickly there is a viral Twitter war between Pepper and Jack. They are trading barbs in front of the whole internet while behind the scenes they are anonymously chatting and falling for each other on the app Jack created for their school.
How will the resolve the feud? When will they find out who is behind the anonymous handle they have been chatting with? How will they deal with the consequences of both?
_____
Emma Lord is the only YA writer I consistently read. Her books are fun and don't deal too heavily in teenage angst. They feature teens just trying to find their way in the world and communicating with and dealing with parents don't always make things easy.
In this book, I loved how these characters got to know one another in oubkic and on the anonymous app. They could see each other in ways no one else could. And as a result of their feud and secret correspondence, they have to navigate their public and private lives in new ways as they also have to contend with who they are and who they want to be.
I really enjoyed the journey these characters took and I will continue to read whatever Emma Lord writes.
Warning: do not read while hungry. This book will make you more so.
_____
This is a closed door, kisses only YA rom com.
Drowning by T.J. Newman
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Will, an engineer, is always mentally preparing for the worst situations, but he didn't fully anticipate this one. He is flying with his 11-year-old daughter, Shannon, from Hawaii to San Francisco when six minutes after take off, their flight makes a crash landing in the ocean. And when an engine explodes during evacuation, forcing those still aboard to close the doors on the flooded vessel, Will, Shannon, and 10 others are trapped aboard the flooded vessel as it sinks to the bottom of the ocean.
On the surface, the real hope for rescue is in the hands of professional diver Chris, who happens to be Shannon's mom, and Will's soon to be ex-wife. She has to fight through politics and protocol to try and save every one aboard, but especially her husband and daughter.
_____
Will, an engineer, is always mentally preparing for the worst situations, but he didn't fully anticipate this one. He is flying with his 11-year-old daughter, Shannon, from Hawaii to San Francisco when six minutes after take off, their flight makes a crash landing in the ocean. And when an engine explodes during evacuation, forcing those still aboard to close the doors on the flooded vessel, Will, Shannon, and 10 others are trapped aboard the flooded vessel as it sinks to the bottom of the ocean.
On the surface, the real hope for rescue is in the hands of professional diver Chris, who happens to be Shannon's mom, and Will's soon to be ex-wife. She has to fight through politics and protocol to try and save every one aboard, but especially her husband and daughter.
_____
I received a complimentary audio version of this book. All opinions are my own.
On the surface, the real hope for rescue is in the hands of professional diver Chris, who happens to be Shannon's mom, and Will's soon to be ex-wife. She has to fight through politics and protocol to try and save every one aboard, but especially her husband and daughter.
_____
Will, an engineer, is always mentally preparing for the worst situations, but he didn't fully anticipate this one. He is flying with his 11-year-old daughter, Shannon, from Hawaii to San Francisco when six minutes after take off, their flight makes a crash landing in the ocean. And when an engine explodes during evacuation, forcing those still aboard to close the doors on the flooded vessel, Will, Shannon, and 10 others are trapped aboard the flooded vessel as it sinks to the bottom of the ocean.
On the surface, the real hope for rescue is in the hands of professional diver Chris, who happens to be Shannon's mom, and Will's soon to be ex-wife. She has to fight through politics and protocol to try and save every one aboard, but especially her husband and daughter.
_____
I received a complimentary audio version of this book. All opinions are my own.
The Lost Year by Katherine Marsh
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This is not how Matthew expect this year to go. The world has shut down because of Covid. His journalist dad is stuck overseas and his mom just moved his 100 year old great grandmother in with them to keep her safe. And when his mom takes away his only fun, his video games, he finds a new way to occupy his time, helping GG go through her boxes full of memorabilia. In those boxes he finds clues to a history he does not know, abed her sets it to get GG to share her story.
As GG opens up to Matthew, we get two perspectives from the 1930s. Mila in Kyiv, Ukraine and Helen in Brooklyn, New York. All three perspectives help tell the story of the famine in Ukraine in the 1930s and make a commentary on who and what gets to define the truth.
_____
I love reading books that open my eyes to parts of history previously unknown to me, and this book does that in a such a carefully crafted way. The way the story was woven through the three perspectives fleshed it out more and made the characters more three dimensional.
There are some horrific things that happen in this novel, but I think they were presented tactfully where the reader gets the picture without having to experience all the gritty details.
Overall I enjoyed this book and because it opened my eyes to a new part of history, it will be one that I think about for years to come.
_____
Content Note: This book addresses the 1930s famine in Soviet Ukraine, so there are descriptions of abuse and people starving to death. Other things to be aware of are: antisemitism, bullying, execution, classist rhetoric, and descriptions of 2020 Covid pandemic. As such, I highly suggest parents or guardians read this one alongside their children to discuss with them.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
As GG opens up to Matthew, we get two perspectives from the 1930s. Mila in Kyiv, Ukraine and Helen in Brooklyn, New York. All three perspectives help tell the story of the famine in Ukraine in the 1930s and make a commentary on who and what gets to define the truth.
_____
I love reading books that open my eyes to parts of history previously unknown to me, and this book does that in a such a carefully crafted way. The way the story was woven through the three perspectives fleshed it out more and made the characters more three dimensional.
There are some horrific things that happen in this novel, but I think they were presented tactfully where the reader gets the picture without having to experience all the gritty details.
Overall I enjoyed this book and because it opened my eyes to a new part of history, it will be one that I think about for years to come.
_____
Content Note: This book addresses the 1930s famine in Soviet Ukraine, so there are descriptions of abuse and people starving to death. Other things to be aware of are: antisemitism, bullying, execution, classist rhetoric, and descriptions of 2020 Covid pandemic. As such, I highly suggest parents or guardians read this one alongside their children to discuss with them.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
The Butterfly Collector by Tea Cooper
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
1868- Theodora and her sisters are in mourning after their parents and brother were lost at sea. But whereas her sisters want to go find society husbands, she wishes to stay on the family country estate pursuing her aspirations as a nature illustrator. And her dreams begin to come true when she discovers a butterfly never seen before in Australia.
1868- Clarrie is pregnant out of wedlock with few options. She loses her job, and once her baby is born, has to trust someone to take care of him while she goes and works as a maid for Theodora searching for that rare butterfly. But then her son goes missing and everything is up in the air.
1922- Verity desires to become a journalist, but losing her job at the paper so they can open jobs for more men. But the same day she is canned, things take an interesting turn when she is sent an invitation to the Sydney Artists Masquerade Ball along with an elaborate butterfly costume. She doesn't know who sent them, but she is willing to go to the ball and try and find out. There, she makes a connection and lands a commission to write the history of a charity that supports disgraced young women and their babies. But as Verity digs, she begins to uncover a complex mystery that goes back decades. What will she uncover, and who will the truth effect?
_____
Although the title makes it seem like butterflies are central to the story, they are only a subplot in this book that is much more about family and how families are made and maintained. This book has a lot happening in it and little has to do with butterflies.
The first half of this book is slow. It has a lot to set up in both of the timelines to get us to the second half which moves pretty quickly. A lot happens in the second half that you have to really pay attention to get all the layers of the stories. Then the ending is a bit of a let down because there is no grand conclusion. Everything just kinds of wraps up and ends. The pay off wasn't worth it.
That being said, even though the pacing of this book is a bit of a mess, I still found it interesting. There was a lot happening and I would have liked much more information about the butterflies, but I was engaged and wanted to get to the conclusion (even though it wasn't as satisfying as I would have hoped).
This was my IRL book club's book for March. It definitely led to some robust discussions and made the book more multifaceted for us as readers. This is a good pick for a buddy read or a book club read.
_____
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
1868- Clarrie is pregnant out of wedlock with few options. She loses her job, and once her baby is born, has to trust someone to take care of him while she goes and works as a maid for Theodora searching for that rare butterfly. But then her son goes missing and everything is up in the air.
1922- Verity desires to become a journalist, but losing her job at the paper so they can open jobs for more men. But the same day she is canned, things take an interesting turn when she is sent an invitation to the Sydney Artists Masquerade Ball along with an elaborate butterfly costume. She doesn't know who sent them, but she is willing to go to the ball and try and find out. There, she makes a connection and lands a commission to write the history of a charity that supports disgraced young women and their babies. But as Verity digs, she begins to uncover a complex mystery that goes back decades. What will she uncover, and who will the truth effect?
_____
Although the title makes it seem like butterflies are central to the story, they are only a subplot in this book that is much more about family and how families are made and maintained. This book has a lot happening in it and little has to do with butterflies.
The first half of this book is slow. It has a lot to set up in both of the timelines to get us to the second half which moves pretty quickly. A lot happens in the second half that you have to really pay attention to get all the layers of the stories. Then the ending is a bit of a let down because there is no grand conclusion. Everything just kinds of wraps up and ends. The pay off wasn't worth it.
That being said, even though the pacing of this book is a bit of a mess, I still found it interesting. There was a lot happening and I would have liked much more information about the butterflies, but I was engaged and wanted to get to the conclusion (even though it wasn't as satisfying as I would have hoped).
This was my IRL book club's book for March. It definitely led to some robust discussions and made the book more multifaceted for us as readers. This is a good pick for a buddy read or a book club read.
_____
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
A Groom of One's Own by Emma St. Clair
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Eli's life is going pretty great. He has a position on a wildly popular hockey team he loves with a great group of teammates. His mom is getting the best care possible for her health. He is volunteering at an animal shelter in his free time. But, due to some incorrectly filed paperwork, his visa is expiring and to keep this great life he has built, he needs to get married in the next 30 days. He hates the idea though of just getting married, he's a closet romantic after all, he wants to be in love!
Bailey is an aspiring vet, putting in her time working at the animal shelter to get the experience and references needed to go to vet school. A highlight of her time at work is running into the very sweet and attractive Eli. But what's he doesn't know is that he's a big deal hockey player. And when he asks her for a favor in exchange for making her life a bit easier, she would be foolish to pass up the opportunity.
_____
Golden Retriever MMCs are my favorite! I just want to squish them in a hug. (Perhaps because I married this type of man☺️). Eli isn't afraid to share his feeling or make Bailey feel special. I loved their back and forth and nicknames for one another. They dive in deep from the start and begin to share their real life struggles even amidst this marriage of convenience situation. Which, when a rom com can balance humor and heart with real life gravity like Emma St Clair does so well, I will fly through it at lightening speed every time.
I am so pumped for the rest of this Appies series, partially because I need more Eli and Bailey!
_____
This is a closed door, kisses only rom com. It is the opening book of a spin-off series, but can be read as a stand alone.
Content warnings (from the author):
-parents passing away due to car wreck (past)
-parental abandonment (past)
-older relative with dementia (current)
-parent with chronic illness (current)
Thanks to the author for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
Bailey is an aspiring vet, putting in her time working at the animal shelter to get the experience and references needed to go to vet school. A highlight of her time at work is running into the very sweet and attractive Eli. But what's he doesn't know is that he's a big deal hockey player. And when he asks her for a favor in exchange for making her life a bit easier, she would be foolish to pass up the opportunity.
_____
Golden Retriever MMCs are my favorite! I just want to squish them in a hug. (Perhaps because I married this type of man☺️). Eli isn't afraid to share his feeling or make Bailey feel special. I loved their back and forth and nicknames for one another. They dive in deep from the start and begin to share their real life struggles even amidst this marriage of convenience situation. Which, when a rom com can balance humor and heart with real life gravity like Emma St Clair does so well, I will fly through it at lightening speed every time.
I am so pumped for the rest of this Appies series, partially because I need more Eli and Bailey!
_____
This is a closed door, kisses only rom com. It is the opening book of a spin-off series, but can be read as a stand alone.
Content warnings (from the author):
-parents passing away due to car wreck (past)
-parental abandonment (past)
-older relative with dementia (current)
-parent with chronic illness (current)
Thanks to the author for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
Catch a Wave by Savannah Scott
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.75
Bodhi and Kalaine were surfing's "it couple." Their love was palpable to their fans and it was all such a fairytale. Until it wasn't.
Two years post break-up, Kalaine is coming to her brother's house with a bruised ego and broken body needing a place to recover. She doesn't expect to find that her brother's roommate is her ex-boyfriend. And she certainly doesn't have the capacity to deal with all these feelings bubbling up right now!
Bodhi has moved on from the life he had 2 years ago. But when Kalaine literally moves into his house, he realizes she might have never moved out of his heart.
Do Bodhi and Kalaine really want to face what tore them apart before? Can they find it in themselves to give their relationship a second chance?
_____
Savannah Scott keeps adding more and more depth to her books. And once again she manages to hit the right balance of sweet, funny, and real.
I am so far removed from the surfing world, but thanks to the writing, I was on board with these two conquering the waves (both oceanic and emotional).
I loved Bodhi and Kalaine and how they were both so upfront about their feelings. They didn't play games, they went after the relationship they wanted in a forward but respectful way.
I am so excited for the next book and what it holds for Kai and what glimpses we will get to see of the characters we have grown to love over the series!
_____
This is a closed door, kisses only rom com. It is part of a series but can be read as a stand alone.
Thank you to the author for the book to review. All opinions are my own.
Two years post break-up, Kalaine is coming to her brother's house with a bruised ego and broken body needing a place to recover. She doesn't expect to find that her brother's roommate is her ex-boyfriend. And she certainly doesn't have the capacity to deal with all these feelings bubbling up right now!
Bodhi has moved on from the life he had 2 years ago. But when Kalaine literally moves into his house, he realizes she might have never moved out of his heart.
Do Bodhi and Kalaine really want to face what tore them apart before? Can they find it in themselves to give their relationship a second chance?
_____
Savannah Scott keeps adding more and more depth to her books. And once again she manages to hit the right balance of sweet, funny, and real.
I am so far removed from the surfing world, but thanks to the writing, I was on board with these two conquering the waves (both oceanic and emotional).
I loved Bodhi and Kalaine and how they were both so upfront about their feelings. They didn't play games, they went after the relationship they wanted in a forward but respectful way.
I am so excited for the next book and what it holds for Kai and what glimpses we will get to see of the characters we have grown to love over the series!
_____
This is a closed door, kisses only rom com. It is part of a series but can be read as a stand alone.
Thank you to the author for the book to review. All opinions are my own.
My Lucky Charm by Courtney Walsh
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Eloise has been flailing as of late in the career department. So when her sister's boyfriend sets her up with a job as an assistant to his hockey team's new star player, things seem to be looking up.
But, that player, Grayson Hawke, is more than she bargained for. He is grumpy, rude, and super reclusive. And he is also the stranger she kissed at midnight on New Year's Eve.
As she works to prove herself capable in this new job, she has to work to chip away Gray's hard outer shell to try and find the real man hiding underneath. And in the process has to deal with her attraction to this porcupine of a human.
And when she finally gets a good glimpse into the man behind all the walls he throws up, things may change for both of them.
_____
In the dedication Courtney says in this one that she wrote the grumpiest hero she could, and I think she succeeded. In the beginning I wasn't sure how she would redeem him and make him loveable, but oh boy did she! Gray is just a hard candy with a squishy inside. That coating is just very hard to crack!
I loved the character arcs in this one. Both Eloise and Gray had some soul searching to do to figure out what they wanted out of life. I love how they balanced each other out. They had to come into their own identities apart from wanting a relationship with one another. Sometimes romance book couples feel a little too interdependent, but this couple complimented each other without being overpowering.
I desire to be a Courtney Walsh completist now and need to go read her whole backlist! She hasn't done me wrong yet.
_____
This is a closed door, kisses only rom com.
Thank you to the author for the ARC of this title! All opinions are my own.
But, that player, Grayson Hawke, is more than she bargained for. He is grumpy, rude, and super reclusive. And he is also the stranger she kissed at midnight on New Year's Eve.
As she works to prove herself capable in this new job, she has to work to chip away Gray's hard outer shell to try and find the real man hiding underneath. And in the process has to deal with her attraction to this porcupine of a human.
And when she finally gets a good glimpse into the man behind all the walls he throws up, things may change for both of them.
_____
In the dedication Courtney says in this one that she wrote the grumpiest hero she could, and I think she succeeded. In the beginning I wasn't sure how she would redeem him and make him loveable, but oh boy did she! Gray is just a hard candy with a squishy inside. That coating is just very hard to crack!
I loved the character arcs in this one. Both Eloise and Gray had some soul searching to do to figure out what they wanted out of life. I love how they balanced each other out. They had to come into their own identities apart from wanting a relationship with one another. Sometimes romance book couples feel a little too interdependent, but this couple complimented each other without being overpowering.
I desire to be a Courtney Walsh completist now and need to go read her whole backlist! She hasn't done me wrong yet.
_____
This is a closed door, kisses only rom com.
Thank you to the author for the ARC of this title! All opinions are my own.
Beyond That, the Sea by Laura Spence-Ash
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Reginald and Millie are concerned about the war's impact on their eleven-year-old daughter Beatrix, so in 1940, they make the choice to send to her America, out of harm's way. There, in Boston, she is placed with the Gregorys. Before she knows it, she is part of the family with Mr. and Mrs. G, fitting perfectly into their life and between their two boys, William and Gerald. But when the war is over and she is called back to London, she has to wrestle with what home is to her and how to move forward.
_____
This is a book about relationships. Mothers and children, friends and siblings, over an ocean and through walls.
A book about choices and regret, following expectations or your heart.
A book about home and the places and people that are a composition of who you are and where you've been.
A novel about what could have been, the choices that alter the trajectories of our lives.
A book about what love is. How we can love the idea of somewhere or someone but living the day to day of love is in the details and intentionality. Love is a choice. Real love matures and grows with us.
I was entranced by this story. Pulled into the kaleidoscope of points of view as they were constantly shifting to alter my perception of the timeline of events. Much more melancholy than my usual reading fare, I felt like my heart was being wrung out to feel every desire and sorrow of these characters. Also, many of the characters were unlikable to me. I could not justify their choices which led to me having complicated feelings about this book as a whole.
But, if you like emotionally wrought family sagas, then add this one to your TBR.
_____
Content Warning: Death, infidelity, slight open door sexual content, WWII bombings
Thank you for the gifted book Macmillan Audio and Celadon Books. All opinions are my own.
_____
This is a book about relationships. Mothers and children, friends and siblings, over an ocean and through walls.
A book about choices and regret, following expectations or your heart.
A book about home and the places and people that are a composition of who you are and where you've been.
A novel about what could have been, the choices that alter the trajectories of our lives.
A book about what love is. How we can love the idea of somewhere or someone but living the day to day of love is in the details and intentionality. Love is a choice. Real love matures and grows with us.
I was entranced by this story. Pulled into the kaleidoscope of points of view as they were constantly shifting to alter my perception of the timeline of events. Much more melancholy than my usual reading fare, I felt like my heart was being wrung out to feel every desire and sorrow of these characters. Also, many of the characters were unlikable to me. I could not justify their choices which led to me having complicated feelings about this book as a whole.
But, if you like emotionally wrought family sagas, then add this one to your TBR.
_____
Content Warning: Death, infidelity, slight open door sexual content, WWII bombings
Thank you for the gifted book Macmillan Audio and Celadon Books. All opinions are my own.
Thieves' Gambit by Kayvion Lewis
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Ross was trained by her mom and aunt to be elite. To execute flawlessly. To be there perfect thief. She is a Quest after all. And the Quests are one of the world's most notorious crime families.
But when a heist goes bad, and her mom is kidnapped, Ross finds herself accepting the clandestine invitation she received to the Thieves Gambit, a competition involving a series of international heists. Because the only way to get the 1 Billion dollars for her mom's random is to win.
But dropping into the gambit she not only has to trust her lifetime of training, but she has to decide whether to trust her competitors and the game organizers, which is starkly against the "don't trust anyone whose name isn't Quest" mantra that her mom has drilled into her.
This isn't just a high stakes game to save her mom, this competition had the potential to reshape her whole life.
_____
I am a BIG fan of heist books and this one did not disappoint. I was sucked into the story and was entertained the whole way through.
I appreciated the push and pull of trusting your gut vs trusting your training that Ross experienced. Her mistakes and triumphs really served her character arc and I can't wait to see what lies ahead in book 2.
This is YA and while the characters seem more mature than teens, the content of this book is appropriate for YA audience. Little to no language and no sexual content. There is a lot of moral ambiguity around the nature of the thefts of course, but this book could have been much darker and more violent and I appreciate that it didn't take that turn.
Mistakes We Never Made by Hannah Brown
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Emma and Finn were debate partners in high school and won state together their junior year. They made a good team. But when something drives a wedge between them, their friendship fractures, and over the next 10 years they have a push and pull of friendship and hate as they keep almost making mistakes together.
Well, now their high school friend Sybil is tying the knot, or is she? Sybil is in the wind and Emma and Finn set off on a road trip to get her back. But this is more than just a trip to get Sybil back, it's also a trip down memory lane, and the memories may have some ripple effects in here and now.
_____
Um. What? That ending. The stupid unnecessary cliffhanger of a side characters' story (actually two cliff hangers). Why? No. Do not like. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200.
Also, Finn and Emma are not lasting as a couple. They are not meant for each other. This is not a love story, but a lust story. And I'm not just saying that because I prefer overall to read closed door kisses only rom coms. Their only connection is based on their physical chemistry with a dash of their shared history. If they met as strangers at their current age they would hook up and be done.
This couple has been bickering since high school and resolves their fighting long enough to finally 10 years later get together, but as much as they try and change, the hurts they caused each other prior to getting together are going to worm their way to the surface and choke out their relationship. You can't take back hurtful things you say and they intentionally lobbed grenades at each other in the past... There is no coming back from that.
Plus they are not likeable. The intense bickering made me want to crawl in a hole and hide while reading. It was not enjoyable. And Finn seems manipulative and secretive and just very slimy.
Reading this was somehow entertaining though despite me disliking it, and I chalk that up to buddy reading it with a great group of ladies. It also wasn't horribly written as far as plot structure and such. And it had funny and charming moments. It was slow to start, and dragged in places which made it hard to want to pick up. And of course as outlined above, the content just was not at all to my liking.
_____
This is a open door rom com.
Well, now their high school friend Sybil is tying the knot, or is she? Sybil is in the wind and Emma and Finn set off on a road trip to get her back. But this is more than just a trip to get Sybil back, it's also a trip down memory lane, and the memories may have some ripple effects in here and now.
_____
Um. What? That ending. The stupid unnecessary cliffhanger of a side characters' story (actually two cliff hangers). Why? No. Do not like. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200.
Also, Finn and Emma are not lasting as a couple. They are not meant for each other. This is not a love story, but a lust story. And I'm not just saying that because I prefer overall to read closed door kisses only rom coms. Their only connection is based on their physical chemistry with a dash of their shared history. If they met as strangers at their current age they would hook up and be done.
This couple has been bickering since high school and resolves their fighting long enough to finally 10 years later get together, but as much as they try and change, the hurts they caused each other prior to getting together are going to worm their way to the surface and choke out their relationship. You can't take back hurtful things you say and they intentionally lobbed grenades at each other in the past... There is no coming back from that.
Plus they are not likeable. The intense bickering made me want to crawl in a hole and hide while reading. It was not enjoyable. And Finn seems manipulative and secretive and just very slimy.
Reading this was somehow entertaining though despite me disliking it, and I chalk that up to buddy reading it with a great group of ladies. It also wasn't horribly written as far as plot structure and such. And it had funny and charming moments. It was slow to start, and dragged in places which made it hard to want to pick up. And of course as outlined above, the content just was not at all to my liking.
_____
This is a open door rom com.
Content warnings for language, parental abandonment, parental death
Thanks to Netgalley and Forever for the eARC. All opinions are my own.