Asia
2.75/5
First of all the writing is dense and not really my style. Especially the comic book panels. I don't like this style. I get it, FMC is obsessed with comics, enough.
Second of all, the forced reminder of a pandemic hit me in the head in every chapter. I get it. It was a time. Stop it already. Move the fuck on. I don't care. I read the books to escape reality, not to relieve it.
Third of all, Sam (FMC) has a friend with benefits with a shitty guy, Hal . Like there's nothing to recommend him,l really, but she pines after him. Let's focus on Nick (MMC) maybe?? Hm?? I mean, seriously, you're supposed to fall in love with Nick, not this other dude who keeps you as a girlfriend material without girlfriend privileges. AND THEN he hooks up with someone else?? AND she only blocks him at 52% (after giving Nick a blowjob btw) but she still doesn't 'officially' break up with him until after the wedding, at like 75%. And I didn't like they they've met again (even if it was just to talk) later.
Fourth, I hated the mother. The mother was so overbearing and heavy-handed, I hated her, holy hell. She's such a nightmare, and then had the gall to try and convince Sam to stop seeing Nick because he had a kid.l Just because your ex-husband was an asshole, doesn't mean Nick will be the same.
Fifth, there was no chemistry between MCs. I thought it could be something on the pool scene at the beginning, but every interaction since then felt forced and awkward. No.
Oh, plus the fact that Nick's 9-year-old daughter had a Discord account, her dad had no idea (since it was against the rules he gave her) but Sam knew about that and didn't tell the dad? Come on!
Sam was supposed to be 26 but had the maturity of a 16-year-old girl who couldn't do anything by herself.
Also, this is a single pov only book, which I'm disappointed about. I love reading male povs when they fall in love and this book didn't deliver it, unfortunately.
At first, Sam was relatable, but she was so 'woe is me' it was annoying. I liked Nick better, and I wish we had seen the events from his point of view and that there was more of him. Instead, we've got more of Hal (the fuckbuddy) than Nick. Nick was MMC! But noooo, Hal was more present in the book.
And then there's this whole issue with her dad, and the book description said that the relationship with Nick will make her confront her relationship with her father... And that doesn't happen. Her father never even appears in the book! There was no one phone call, or a visit, or even letter. Nothing. I don't even know if she ever sold the comic books as a sign she stops waiting for him or something. Like here was this whole "she misses her father who was an asshole and left and she struggles with it as an adult now" but there was no resolution! None at all! Ugh!!
The third-act breakup was annoying. She got a job, cool, and enrolled in a class, that's fun. BUT she was gone for what, a few months? (which I guess, because the way it was written, it could be a few days at most, but it said months) where Sam and Nick had NO contact whatsoever. And Sam wasn't in contact with Kira either. And then suddenly she's back in Ohio out of the blue and sees Nick and tells him she missed him and is still in love with him? While nothing in the book indicated that she was still in love with him or wanted to be part of his family.
The ending was just abrupt. It was just there to create tension, I guess. It feels unfinished. I didn't like it that much. I was dissapointed because I was excited for this book.
Thank you, NetGalley and Random House for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Tropes:
- single dad
- age gap
- neighbours
Originally posted at www.goodreads.com.
2.75/5
First of all the writing is dense and not really my style. Especially the comic book panels. I don't like this style. I get it, FMC is obsessed with comics, enough.
Second of all, the forced reminder of a pandemic hit me in the head in every chapter. I get it. It was a time. Stop it already. Move the fuck on. I don't care. I read the books to escape reality, not to relieve it.
Third of all, Sam (FMC) has a friend with benefits with a shitty guy, Hal . Like there's nothing to recommend him,l really, but she pines after him. Let's focus on Nick (MMC) maybe?? Hm?? I mean, seriously, you're supposed to fall in love with Nick, not this other dude who keeps you as a girlfriend material without girlfriend privileges. AND THEN he hooks up with someone else?? AND she only blocks him at 52% (after giving Nick a blowjob btw) but she still doesn't 'officially' break up with him until after the wedding, at like 75%. And I didn't like they they've met again (even if it was just to talk) later.
Fourth, I hated the mother. The mother was so overbearing and heavy-handed, I hated her, holy hell. She's such a nightmare, and then had the gall to try and convince Sam to stop seeing Nick because he had a kid.l Just because your ex-husband was an asshole, doesn't mean Nick will be the same.
Fifth, there was no chemistry between MCs. I thought it could be something on the pool scene at the beginning, but every interaction since then felt forced and awkward. No.
Oh, plus the fact that Nick's 9-year-old daughter had a Discord account, her dad had no idea (since it was against the rules he gave her) but Sam knew about that and didn't tell the dad? Come on!
Sam was supposed to be 26 but had the maturity of a 16-year-old girl who couldn't do anything by herself.
Also, this is a single pov only book, which I'm disappointed about. I love reading male povs when they fall in love and this book didn't deliver it, unfortunately.
At first, Sam was relatable, but she was so 'woe is me' it was annoying. I liked Nick better, and I wish we had seen the events from his point of view and that there was more of him. Instead, we've got more of Hal (the fuckbuddy) than Nick. Nick was MMC! But noooo, Hal was more present in the book.
And then there's this whole issue with her dad, and the book description said that the relationship with Nick will make her confront her relationship with her father... And that doesn't happen. Her father never even appears in the book! There was no one phone call, or a visit, or even letter. Nothing. I don't even know if she ever sold the comic books as a sign she stops waiting for him or something. Like here was this whole "she misses her father who was an asshole and left and she struggles with it as an adult now" but there was no resolution! None at all! Ugh!!
The third-act breakup was annoying. She got a job, cool, and enrolled in a class, that's fun. BUT she was gone for what, a few months? (which I guess, because the way it was written, it could be a few days at most, but it said months) where Sam and Nick had NO contact whatsoever. And Sam wasn't in contact with Kira either. And then suddenly she's back in Ohio out of the blue and sees Nick and tells him she missed him and is still in love with him? While nothing in the book indicated that she was still in love with him or wanted to be part of his family.
The ending was just abrupt. It was just there to create tension, I guess. It feels unfinished. I didn't like it that much. I was dissapointed because I was excited for this book.
Thank you, NetGalley and Random House for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Tropes:
- single dad
- age gap
- neighbours
Originally posted at www.goodreads.com.