Anne
I DNF'd because while I read 3/4 of the book in one go and was reasonably entertained, after picking the book up again and reading a couple pages (right at the big moment where they actually get together) I realised I just do not care for the characters. Neither of the main characters really has a personality apart from anxious (FMC) and grumpy (MMC). It also frustrated me enormously that the MMC realised very well how he came across to the FMC (as if he hated her and looked down on her), with that I mean that he literally in his head would immediately think about how bad that came across, but just did not say anything until like 60% into the book. I'm also not a fan of books where both or one of the characters immediately fall in lust after seeing the other for the first time, especially when that becomes the driving force for the plot. I would have liked for them to get to know each other more before their relationship got closer and they started working together.
I also thought the both characters' relationships with their family would be a bigger theme. There was a lot of setup for how both of them had a complicated relationship with their family, but it didn't really go anywhere. Of course it's possible this happens more in the last 20% that I didn't read, but I don't think that would change my opinion that it could have been better developed throughout the book. Some of those parts are not bad, but when I compare it to how other (romance) writers write complex family relationships this lacks some depth.
The FMC had a lot of (very fair) feelings on how her brother treated her and other people and she was very unset he didn't make time to see her when he said he would. So, I expected them to have a talk/confrontation about that, but when they finally see each other in person they just decide to not put in the effort of seeing each other but texting and calling a bit more. Which, while maybe not unrealistic, felt like a let down. I expected more from the promises the book made (Her parents are also painted a bit neglectful towards her, but this just doesn't really get addressed either?). Same for the MMC and his family, he has a rough relationship with his father and brother, because he didn't join the family business. I'm not sure how to describe why I didn't like this part. When I think about how it was written I don't see any big issues, it's a perfectly fine backstory, but for some reason I felt like it would get addressed more than it did? Maybe because he made such a big deal out of it when his mom came to visit. So I was disappointed when that also did not really go anywhere (maybe in the last 20%). I did think the bits with his mom were very fun, she seems very sweet and I liked her interactions with the FMC a lot. I do think they could have been written a bit differently to get his relationship with different family members across clearer. I think I more time with the mom and having her meddle a bit more (subtly) would have been great.
It's too bad cause I liked the setup a lot and some bits were quite fun and I think I would have like this a lot if the characters and their relationships were developed better.
I DNF'd because while I read 3/4 of the book in one go and was reasonably entertained, after picking the book up again and reading a couple pages (right at the big moment where they actually get together) I realised I just do not care for the characters. Neither of the main characters really has a personality apart from anxious (FMC) and grumpy (MMC). It also frustrated me enormously that the MMC realised very well how he came across to the FMC (as if he hated her and looked down on her), with that I mean that he literally in his head would immediately think about how bad that came across, but just did not say anything until like 60% into the book. I'm also not a fan of books where both or one of the characters immediately fall in lust after seeing the other for the first time, especially when that becomes the driving force for the plot. I would have liked for them to get to know each other more before their relationship got closer and they started working together.
I also thought the both characters' relationships with their family would be a bigger theme. There was a lot of setup for how both of them had a complicated relationship with their family, but it didn't really go anywhere. Of course it's possible this happens more in the last 20% that I didn't read, but I don't think that would change my opinion that it could have been better developed throughout the book. Some of those parts are not bad, but when I compare it to how other (romance) writers write complex family relationships this lacks some depth.
The FMC had a lot of (very fair) feelings on how her brother treated her and other people and she was very unset he didn't make time to see her when he said he would. So, I expected them to have a talk/confrontation about that, but when they finally see each other in person they just decide to not put in the effort of seeing each other but texting and calling a bit more. Which, while maybe not unrealistic, felt like a let down. I expected more from the promises the book made (Her parents are also painted a bit neglectful towards her, but this just doesn't really get addressed either?). Same for the MMC and his family, he has a rough relationship with his father and brother, because he didn't join the family business. I'm not sure how to describe why I didn't like this part. When I think about how it was written I don't see any big issues, it's a perfectly fine backstory, but for some reason I felt like it would get addressed more than it did? Maybe because he made such a big deal out of it when his mom came to visit. So I was disappointed when that also did not really go anywhere (maybe in the last 20%). I did think the bits with his mom were very fun, she seems very sweet and I liked her interactions with the FMC a lot. I do think they could have been written a bit differently to get his relationship with different family members across clearer. I think I more time with the mom and having her meddle a bit more (subtly) would have been great.
It's too bad cause I liked the setup a lot and some bits were quite fun and I think I would have like this a lot if the characters and their relationships were developed better.