Melissa
I never got a feel for what these two like about each other, which is a pretty sad state of affairs in a book that purports to be a romance. Sam, the FMC, didn’t seem to care much at all about Nick, the MMC, until some other guy lets her down. I don’t even recall her thinking he was attractive or anything - he was just… around. I did actually quite like Nick, but I don’t know why he likes Sam other than her proximity.
I also never felt like she bonded with Nick’s daughter although it felt like the author tried to shoehorn a bond in there at the end. Also? That kid was really annoying most of the time. So was the FMC, for that matter - she’s helpless and listless but super mad at anyone calling her out on being helpless and listless!
Ultimately, I don’t believe their “love” and I don’t think their relationship makes it a year past the end of this book.
I never got a feel for what these two like about each other, which is a pretty sad state of affairs in a book that purports to be a romance. Sam, the FMC, didn’t seem to care much at all about Nick, the MMC, until some other guy lets her down. I don’t even recall her thinking he was attractive or anything - he was just… around. I did actually quite like Nick, but I don’t know why he likes Sam other than her proximity.
I also never felt like she bonded with Nick’s daughter although it felt like the author tried to shoehorn a bond in there at the end. Also? That kid was really annoying most of the time. So was the FMC, for that matter - she’s helpless and listless but super mad at anyone calling her out on being helpless and listless!
Ultimately, I don’t believe their “love” and I don’t think their relationship makes it a year past the end of this book.
Added to list2026 Anticipated Releaseswith 23 books.
I never got a feel for what these two like about each other, which is a pretty sad state of affairs in a book that purports to be a romance. Sam, the FMC, didn’t seem to care much at all about Nick, the MMC, until some other guy lets her down. I don’t even recall her thinking he was attractive or anything - he was just… around. I did actually quite like Nick, but I don’t know why he likes Sam other than her proximity.
I also never felt like she bonded with Nick’s daughter although it felt like the author tried to shoehorn a bond in there at the end. Also? That kid was really annoying most of the time. So was the FMC, for that matter - she’s helpless and listless but super mad at anyone calling her out on being helpless and listless!
Ultimately, I don’t believe their “love” and I don’t think their relationship makes it a year past the end of this book.
I never got a feel for what these two like about each other, which is a pretty sad state of affairs in a book that purports to be a romance. Sam, the FMC, didn’t seem to care much at all about Nick, the MMC, until some other guy lets her down. I don’t even recall her thinking he was attractive or anything - he was just… around. I did actually quite like Nick, but I don’t know why he likes Sam other than her proximity.
I also never felt like she bonded with Nick’s daughter although it felt like the author tried to shoehorn a bond in there at the end. Also? That kid was really annoying most of the time. So was the FMC, for that matter - she’s helpless and listless but super mad at anyone calling her out on being helpless and listless!
Ultimately, I don’t believe their “love” and I don’t think their relationship makes it a year past the end of this book.
Added to list2026 Anticipated Releaseswith 22 books.
This is not a rom-com by any means, but it IS a love story, and a truly beautiful one at that. Although there are absolutely parts that made me laugh out loud, it’s ultimately about how, at the end of the day, loving someone is about showing up.
I have heard the criticism that Xavier dos more for Samantha (and the relationship) than she does. And that’s true. But while it IS a mark in his favor, I don’t think it’s a mark against her. Sometimes love isn’t fair, or balanced. Xavier was able to give more at the time, so he did. If Samantha had been able to do more, I have no doubt she would have.
Everyone in this book showed up for each other in myriad ways, again and again. It was a challenging read in places, yes, but in that beautiful way that tells you you’re alive and only human. This book touched me deeply.
This is not a rom-com by any means, but it IS a love story, and a truly beautiful one at that. Although there are absolutely parts that made me laugh out loud, it’s ultimately about how, at the end of the day, loving someone is about showing up.
I have heard the criticism that Xavier dos more for Samantha (and the relationship) than she does. And that’s true. But while it IS a mark in his favor, I don’t think it’s a mark against her. Sometimes love isn’t fair, or balanced. Xavier was able to give more at the time, so he did. If Samantha had been able to do more, I have no doubt she would have.
Everyone in this book showed up for each other in myriad ways, again and again. It was a challenging read in places, yes, but in that beautiful way that tells you you’re alive and only human. This book touched me deeply.
DNF at 24%.
The main male character is awful. He's an entitled, selfish, egomaniac who thinks that admitting he's a asshole makes him charming. He intentionally takes advantage of his neighbor, the "chubby, plain" FMC, insults her to her face, and then when a smidgen of guilt drives him to recommend her for a job he preens about what a good person he is. The FMC at this point is literally starving herself and he grudgingly admits (to himself, of course, he'd never let anyone know) that she looks better - but still not hot enough for him. Spends his time thinking about how he can take advantage of her agreeing to run errands for him, while patting himself on the back about having acquired himself a servant.
This man is disgusting. I read a couple of reviews that indicate he doesn't really change, so I'm out. DNF for the book and maybe the whole series. It's that bad.
DNF at 24%.
The main male character is awful. He's an entitled, selfish, egomaniac who thinks that admitting he's a asshole makes him charming. He intentionally takes advantage of his neighbor, the "chubby, plain" FMC, insults her to her face, and then when a smidgen of guilt drives him to recommend her for a job he preens about what a good person he is. The FMC at this point is literally starving herself and he grudgingly admits (to himself, of course, he'd never let anyone know) that she looks better - but still not hot enough for him. Spends his time thinking about how he can take advantage of her agreeing to run errands for him, while patting himself on the back about having acquired himself a servant.
This man is disgusting. I read a couple of reviews that indicate he doesn't really change, so I'm out. DNF for the book and maybe the whole series. It's that bad.
My opinion may have suffered a bit because expectations were too high going in, but this didn't blow me away how I wanted it to. The world in fascinating, the characters and their dynamics are interesting, and obviously Bartholomew is the greatest side character ever created.
But the main love story seemed to turn from "enemies" to lovers with very little indications of their feelings changing, traveling through the world seemed to happen in the blink of an eye, and the ultimate Boss Battle seemed way too easy after all the work it took to get there. Oh, and the twist ending was not really all that twisty.
That said, the storytelling itself was lovely and I'm definitely going to try the next one. 3.75
My opinion may have suffered a bit because expectations were too high going in, but this didn't blow me away how I wanted it to. The world in fascinating, the characters and their dynamics are interesting, and obviously Bartholomew is the greatest side character ever created.
But the main love story seemed to turn from "enemies" to lovers with very little indications of their feelings changing, traveling through the world seemed to happen in the blink of an eye, and the ultimate Boss Battle seemed way too easy after all the work it took to get there. Oh, and the twist ending was not really all that twisty.
That said, the storytelling itself was lovely and I'm definitely going to try the next one. 3.75