#romance book review

[jadejedi]

Romance Book Review: Red, White, and Royal Blue (Casey McQuinston)

JJ’s rating: 5/5

How feral did it make me: 4/5

My book reviews

I have been seeing a lot of negativity around this book and the movie for a while now, and that has made me want to review this book. I will say it’s been a couple of years since I’ve read it last, but I have read it multiple times. The first time I read it I literally could not put it down; I had the audiobook and the ebook so I could read wherever I was lol. 

I genuinely love this book. I think it is a great romance novel and I LOVE Alex and Henry so so much. I think a lot of the negativity is coming from a couple of places. First of all: the politics. Yes, you heard it here folks: the gay rom-com known as Red, White, and Royal Blue is not the next “Communist Manifesto”. Shocking, I know. But McQuinston was clearly not trying to write something politically revolutionary?? So, I don’t understand why that is being held against this book. From my understanding, they wrote this book after the 2016 election as a way of coping, essentially. To me, it is not at all different from something like Parks and Recreation, which is easily as much of a liberal utopia as RWRB. I said this in my review of Victoria Goddard’s The Hands of the Emperor, and I’ll say it here: not every work of fiction needs to have a radical political statement. Even if it features politics. It’s okay to have a book that is just about two young men falling in love against this dramatic political backdrop. Is it a bit cringe? Maybe?? But who cares!!! What isn’t cringe these days?? God. Also, it’s not like this book paints a super pretty picture of the monarchy in particular.

Sure, it's escapism, but so what?? What's wrong with a bit of escapism?

I think the other place some of the negativity is coming from is from the crowd who kind of wants to police what is and isn’t “good queer representation”. If a work isn’t “good enough” (i.e. doesn’t resonate with them personally) they will decry it as “bad representation”. I saw this happen with Simon vs. the Homosapien’s Agenda and the movie, Love, Simon. Like those works, I have occasionally seen RWRB condemned as sort of gay fiction for straight people. As if there is only one way to be queer. As if there is only one queer story. I acknowledge our need for a wide range of experiences portrayed in the media, but to say that we as a society no longer have a need for coming out stories is a bold fucking claim to be perfectly honest. RWRB was one of the first queer romance books I read, and it really meant a lot to me at the time, and continues to do so. I think that there is value in portraying both Alex’s journey of self-discovery and Henry’s journey of realizing that he doesn’t have to be unhappy in his life, that he deserves to be able to openly love who he loves. 

So, with all of that out of the way, here’s the summary. Alex Claremont-Diaz is the son of the first female president of the USA and she is about to be up for reelection. Alex is widely beloved, he’s got a bright future in politics ahead of him, and everything seems to be going his way. Except he keeps getting put in the path of his nemesis, the younger Prince of England, Prince Henry. Henry, who is so cold and uppity and standoffish and Alex is definitely not attracted to him. Nope. Not a bit. 

This book has everything you want in a romance book. Lovable characters, leads with genuine chemistry, lots of heart and emotion, a good dose of humor, and LOVE LETTERS. And HISTORICAL LOVE LETTERS. God. Even though, as I said above, this book is not a revolutionary political story, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t deal with deep and interesting topics. It deals with multicultural relationships, what it means to have a legacy and how much we get to dictate what that legacy is, and some of the realities of being a queer person in the public eye. 

I love this book, and I think if you are a romance reader or just love a good queer romance with a genuinely happy ending, this is the book for you.

#rwrb #red white and royal blue #book review #romance book review #meet ugly #mlm #contemporary romance #rom com

[magickpumpkin]

Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas

This book was so incredibly good! When I began reading this book, I was expecting something that focused on just the horror aspect and the interesting take on the vampire lore. However, with a wonderful surprise, it drew you into the romance between Nena and Néstor - the hurt, the grief, the miscommunication, the slow burn, the coming to terms with the mistakes they have made in the past and how they won't fall to them again. How they are tied to a love of their land and devotion to their family but in the end find home within each other.

This amazing story brings these two characters together to fight for each other, their people, and their land, all while trying to also fight for the future they have dreamed about. The bloodthirsty vampires are only the start of it.

5/5

#booklr #books #books and reading #5 out of 5 #5/5 #vampires #gothic reads #horror books #horror #vampire books #books books books #vampires of el norte #isabel cañas #friends to lovers #slow burn #romance book review #book review

[luminarylibrary]

Rhage and Mary rival Wrath and Beth in love and devotion. The way that both immediately saw the struggle in the other, Wrath's hesitancy and fear of himself and Beth's illness, and embraced both as something they would fight through together.

I also appreciated that, even though we got POV from Mr. I, it seemed like less than last time. I love the suspense and action, but I need the romance. 😂

However, I was so drawn in by Zsadist's story, even though it really only came in at the end. I'm so glad that his story with Bella will be next because I would have been tempted to skip ahead in the series. I know they are going to be so good together. Just their short moment together at the party gave me goosebumps. Can't wait to continue with this series.

#romance books #romance #romance book recommendations #romance book review #book recommendations #book review #booklr #books #books & libraries #fantasy books #black dagger brotherhood #jr ward

[thebookvenus]

“Flawless”, by Elsie Silver

NOT SUITABLE FOR UNDERAGE READERS 

• Rate: 4.5/5.0 • Description:

“The rules were simple. Keep my hands off his daughter and stay out of trouble.

But now I’m stuck with her. There’s only one bed. And well, rules are made to be broken.

I’m the face of professional bull riding—the golden boy. Or at least I was, until it all blew up in my face. Now my agent says I have to clean up my image, so I’m stuck with his ball-busting daughter for the rest of the season as my “full-time supervision.”

But I don’t need a goddamn babysitter, especially one with skin-tight jeans, a sexy smirk, and a mouth she can’t stop running.

A mouth I can’t stop thinking about.

Because Summer isn’t just another conquest. She sees the man behind the mask, and she doesn’t run—she pulls me closer, even when she shouldn’t.

She says this means nothing.

I say this means everything.

She says there are boundaries we shouldn’t cross. That my reputation can’t take any more hits—and neither can her damaged heart.

I say I’m going to steal it anyway.”

• Review:

Flawless is the first book in the Chestnut Springs series, followed by the already published Heartless and the upcoming Powerless, to be published in February, 2023.

Our journey begins when the two main characters, Rhett Eaton and Summer Hamilton, are forced to work and live together to clean up his image after a scandal that lost him some sponsors in the middle of the bull riding championship season.

Although it’s not quite an enemies-to-lovers per sé, we do get that kind of sexual tension between two people who don’t quite like each other and who definitely shouldn’t but surely are feeling a mutual and strong attraction, that become harder and harder to deny as they spend more time together.

The way Elsie Silver told Rhett and Summer’s story is so natural and captivating, it’ll leave you thinking about nothing else but what happens next, whenever your nose is not stuck into this book. The flame between the couple burns slowly in the most positive sense of the word, and we can actually feel the romance and desire building up in their relationship.

But our main couple are not the only ones to make us laugh, swoon and sigh. Cade, Beau and Harvey Eaton, Jasper Gervais, Kip Hamilton and Willa Grant, all have such different personalities and unique dynamics with each of the MCs that it’s almost impossible not to want to read more and more about them as well. Good thing Flawless is not their first and only appearance *wink wink*.

To all of those who love an easy reading featuring an adorable, hot and well-written romance, Flawless is surely going to make your heart race and your body heat increase in the most delicious of ways.

#bookblr #book review #book reader #booktok #booktwt #romance book #romance book review #romance book recs #book recs #book lover #elsie silver #chestnut springs series #rhett eaton #summer hamilton #book moodboard #book aesthetic #flawless #flawless book #flawless by elsie silver

[steamed-up-librarian]

A damp attempt at a slow burn with S J Sanders

This regency/monster cross over is S J Sander’s addition to the quite successful monsters ball collaboration. Featuring insta-love from our hero, a heroine with a tarnished reputation, and a slow burn brought on by the constraints of regency era morals. Avoid if you get annoyed by unsatisfying plot lines.

I had such high hopes for this book, Sanders is a go to author for me and usually does so well but it just fell flat. It’s a regency romance so obviously it’s a slow burn but I don’t normally find that to be a problem. The issue here is that the book is just a little … unfocused. We start out with a theme that our heroine’s reputation has been ruined and that’s why she’s been relegated to seek a monstrous husband, this them gets mostly forgotten by the time we’re not even half way through the book, with only a minor mention at the end (the hero and heroine talked about it off screen and everything is fine … ). So what’s the conflict here? Our hero come from the sea and there are culture clashes, is that it? Well there’s one small incident, they talk, everything is fine, so no. The heroine is vaguely opposed to marriage because she no longer trusts men, but that drops away because she’s just so drawn to the hero. Will the stuffy chaperone get in the way of our star crossed lovers? After the first quarter of the book, no not really. She gets charmed by another gentlemen and becomes almost forgotten as a character. There are several possible conflict plots in the book that are picked up and then either resolved too quickly to make a difference or simply … forgotten about. By the time we’re a quarter of the way through there’s obviously nothing standing in the way of our hero’s, they’re obviously going to get together, you just have to wait around till the last quarter of the book before they actually do. The combination of insta-love with slow burn just gets a little boring.

I like plot with my smut, we all know they’re going to get together - that’s the point of romance books after all - but let’s see what brings them together. If it’s insta-love then build the tension by keeping them apart, then allowing them to crash together once they’ve fought the problems. If it’s slow burn, then let’s see the burn build, getting hotter with each page and using the plot to build that heat. This book … did neither. My glasses remain un-steamed. I’m hoping the rest of the books in the series will do better but at some point I’ll go back and review the earlier books - some of the other writers have done really very well with the theme.

Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Plot: 📖

#fiction #book review #booksbooksbooks #romance books #romance book review #monster romance #monster fucker #regency romance #S J Sanders

[nerdynatreads]

☆☆YouTube | Tumblr | Instagram | Storygraph ☆☆

book review || Love & Other Disasters by Anita Kelly

video review || Raid My Shelves 6: Reading Vlog — BOTM Books

Right out of the gate, holy crap this was cute and sweet and pure, with a solid helping of spice too.

I fell in love with London and Dahlia, each of their personalities really sprung off the page, their voices were well distinguished, and they had great banter and chemistry. The pacing was solid when it came to their romance, balancing between a whirlwind vacation fling and a serious start to something real, which really impressed me.

With the setting of a cooking show, I knew I’d be hooked by all the food talk and I was! The fun adventures they took and the little moments which occurred between them were tender and sweet, all had me squealing. However, I will say, as far as stakes go, this didn’t quite hold up. Contestants disappeared and I wasn’t sure when or how it happened a lot of the time and when one of our MCs is in danger of being kicked off, the results would be stated in a very anti-climatic way.

The handling of London’s identity was well done. Even when another contestant misgenders them, it isn’t explicitly stated on the page! Their father wasn’t accepting of their identity, which did cause some heart-aching moments, but thankfully, didn’t turn into an angsty, dramatic arc that took away from the main story. The respect given to London as a character was fantastic.

I really liked Dahlia as well. Chaotic, bubbly, high on life, she was just entertaining to read about and was so, so protective of London. She just wants to find new happiness for herself but is terrified of disappointing the people she cares about. The discussion with her mom seemed so healthy and wholesome, particularly after the third act conflict. While that drama did make sense and I could understand where both side were coming from, it did seem a little over the top.

The grand gesture had me swooning. I can’t wait to see more from this author.

4 / 5 stars

#book review #love and other disasters #bookblr #booklr #book tumblr #romance books #romance book recommendations #romance book recs #romance book review #booktube #booktuber #book youtube #studyblr #reading vlog #book of the month #book of the month recs

[ash-and-books]

Rating: 5/5

Book Blurb: From the New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis comes a new STEMinist rom-com in which a scientist is forced to work on a project with her nemesis—with explosive results. Like an avenging, purple-haired Jedi bringing balance to the mansplained universe, Bee Königswasser lives by a simple code: What would Marie Curie do? If NASA offered her the lead on a neuroengineering project—a literal dream come true after years scraping by on the crumbs of academia—Marie would accept without hesitation. Duh. But the mother of modern physics never had to co-lead with Levi Ward. Sure, Levi is attractive in a tall, dark, and piercing-eyes kind of way. And sure, he caught her in his powerfully corded arms like a romance novel hero when she accidentally damseled in distress on her first day in the lab. But Levi made his feelings toward Bee very clear in grad school—archenemies work best employed in their own galaxies far, far away. Now, her equipment is missing, the staff is ignoring her, and Bee finds her floundering career in somewhat of a pickle. Perhaps it’s her occipital cortex playing tricks on her, but Bee could swear she can see Levi softening into an ally, backing her plays, seconding her ideas…devouring her with those eyes. And the possibilities have all her neurons firing. But when it comes time to actually make a move and put her heart on the line, there’s only one question that matters: What will Bee Königswasser do?

Review:

Two scientists co-leading a major Nasa project... the only hiccup? They have a history and one of them is pretty sure the other is her biggest nemesis. Bee Königswasser loves Dr. Marie Curie, dying her hair, piercings, and cats... what she doesn’t like is cheaters, liars, and particularly Levi Ward. Bee and Levi met in graduate school and you could say that’s where their hate-ship began. Bee would try to be nice but no matter what Levi would ignore her, state icily at her, refuse to work with her on projects, and be anywhere but near her. Years later when Bee is given the chance to work for a major project she couldn’t be happier... until she finds out that her co-lead is the one and only Levi Ward, the one person who hates her guts... or does he? Years of misunderstanding are finally coming to a head as both Bee and Levi start to spend more time together and begin to clear the air and actually get to know one another. From Star Wars movie nights, vegan food, cute cats, and running into exes, these two will begin to see that maybe just maybe they’re more than just enemies, they’re perfect for one another. This was such a cute read and I adored the progression of their relationship and how the misunderstanding between the two of them is cleared. Bee has been hurt before and she’s working on finding her own home, a place to settle, and a person that just fits her. Levi is a super sweet and wonderful guy, he’s just working on how to express himself and his emotions. They’re both going through stuff but they both find that, by working together they can get through a anything.

*I received an arc in exchange for an honest review*

#book review #bookish #love on the brain #ali hazelwood #romance read #romance book #romance book review #book #the love hypothesis #enemies to lovers

[maishaaa]

Book Review: King Of Wrath - By Ana Huang (Billionaire Romance - King of Sins Series)

❝Somehow, somewhere along the way, I’d fallen in love … Not like or lust. Love, in all its terrifying, unpredictable, unwanted glory❞ Synopsis: She’s the wife he never wanted…and the weakness he never saw coming. Ruthless. Meticulous. Arrogant. Dante Russo thrives on control, both personally and professionally. The billionaire CEO never planned to marry—until the threat of blackmail forces…

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#Ana Huang #Ana Huang Book reviews #blogger #book blogger #book community #book reader #book recomendations #book review #Book Reviews #King Of Wrath #love #romance #romance book #romance book club #romance book recs #romance book review #romance lover

[nikkisreading]

Superbia by Colette Rhodes

★★★★★

I looooooooved this one! Not surprised, I adored the first one and I'm just stoked to have enjoyed this one just as much!

Okay okay, let's get into the details. The book starts a little before the end of the first book which was really nice. I was curious about Astrid and Soren from the beginning, so it was really nice to get that first look for them. It really set up the enemies-to-lovers trope and was just a great thing to include.

Astrid's storyline broke my heart. She tried everything she could to do what she thought was right and her low self-esteem was palpable. Everything was incredibly relatable from both sides, but seeing Astrid accept the hatred and distrust from all of the Shades as if that was the only thing she deserved really tugged at my heart.

Soren was a dick. Which is hilarious because I normally don't like dicks, but he really amped up his antagonistic side with Astrid. I really enjoyed seeing that break from his honorable Captain persona, so it was wonderful to see. How he dealt with his own growing feelings, how the Shades treated Astrid, and everything was a journey that I really enjoyed. That said, I would have liked to watch him realize the hurt he caused. It would have killed Astrid and her pride, but maaaaannn I was waiting for him to realize his massive fuck up. Which he did, but Astrid really took the brunt of it.

There were a couple other things I would have liked to see, but none of them would have fit the characters. Astrid's hand injury is absolutely horrific and I hate how much the Shades gloss over that, but I also know that Astrid's pride would forbid anyone from knowing how bad it was. So it fit. Frustratingly so. Which meant I loved the book even more because the characters stayed very true to themselves and their character arcs even when my petty ass wanted to see something different.

I cannot wait to see where the rest of the series goes because I am so here for the ride!

#romance books #romance book review #book review #booklr #monster romance #fantasy romance #superbia #colette rhodes #five star

[bookish-loner]

“Powerless” by Elsie Silver

5⭐️/5⭐️

3🌶/5🌶

“Like we’re two opposite ends of a magnet, there’s no resisting the pull. There are forces beyond us at work now, and we’re at their mercy. Maybe it’s science. Maybe it’s fate.”

Sloane Winthrop’s wedding day has arrived, but something doesn’t feel right. After receiving information about her fiance’s less-than-faithful behavior right before walking down the aisle, she decides to leave him at the altar. Her best friend and childhood crush, Jasper Gervais helps her escape to their refuge: Wishing Well Ranch. Once the two are alone, they’re forced to face the feelings they’ve denied for years. What’s more, devastating news about Sloane’s cousin, Beau, rocks their fragile happiness. Wanting to support their loved ones, Sloane and Jasper volunteer to take a roadtrip to Gold Rush Ranch and help Violet. Could time alone be the perfect solution to their problems? Or will it only accelerate the tough conversations they’ve been putting off?

-I was really hyped for “Powerless”, and this book absolutely delivers. Somehow Elsie managed to top “Heartless”, and Jasper is my new favorite MMC. This book is full of great tropes: runaway bride, there’s only one room at the hotel, childhood friends to lovers. But more than that, Sloane and Jasper are really interesting characters. I enjoyed every second of this book and their love story.

-I haven’t read very many friends to lovers romances, but I think it’s a trope I need to explore further. Elsie did an excellent job establishing a background for Sloane and Jasper that was easy to buy into. Jasper is a character readers are somewhat familiar with, he makes appearances in “Flawless” and “Heartless”. However, Sloane’s first appearance is a brief scene in “Heartless”. Jasper and Sloane are best friends, but readers aren’t privy to their relationship until “Powerless”.

-Jasper’s backstory is in many ways a mirror opposite to Sloane’s. Jasper comes from a low income family, and his parents abandoned him after a horrifying accident involving his sister. Sloane’s father is a wealthy businessman, allowing her to grow up in a protective bubble. Yet, despite Sloane and Jasper’s differences, they begin to confide in each other and build a strong friendship. Outside of their romance, I enjoyed their friendship, and learning more about how they’ve constantly supported each other for nearly two decades.

-Sloane’s character arc is one that I think will resonate with many readers, it certainly did for me. I loved the comparison between Sloane being a people pleaser, and a ballerina in a music box. You open the box when you want, wind it up, and the ballerina pops out dancing and smiling. It’s not much different for Sloane. All of her life she was told what to do, including who to marry. The breaking point for her is simultaneously sad and satisfying. We can see how deeply she cares for her parents and their approval, but along the way she lost sight of her personal identity and happiness.

-The spice wasn’t what I was expecting, but I mean that in a good way. Readers will get to enjoy a level of intimacy not seen before in Elsie’s novels. By the end of the book Jasper’s kinks make a lot of sense, and Sloane’s ability to accept them proves how compatible they are.

-I loved reading about all the previous couples, including the ones from the Gold Rush Ranch series; it felt like checking in with an old friend. While these books do contain stories about singular relationships, I think the Chestnut Springs series will be more enjoyable if they are read in order.

#powerless #elsie silver #book review #romance book review #romance book #hockey romance #sports romance #friends to lovers #book rec #romance rec #new book release #bookish #book blog #book tumblr

[poisonivy70]

The Orc from the Office by Kate Prior My rating: 3 of 5 stars Quick(ish) Review The second book in this series features the HR person from the first book, Janice and her accidental bonding with IT Orc nerd, Khent (gotta love it when they JRWard up a name with some extra h’s lol). I still love a mix of the mundane with the fantastical and a workplace romance. My problem with the first book is slightly exacerbated this book because Janice isn’t thinking about anything but her own self and I kind of wished she had her epiphany a little earlier. I understood why she was so focused on herself but I would have loved to see more of Khent. He’s a cinny roll kind of hero it you don’t get to know him that well and his personality doesn’t leap off the page. Still liked it and I’m interested in reading the next book. View all my reviews

#romance #romancebooks #book reviews #romance book review #the princess and the player #ilsa madden-mills

[betterbooksandthings]

A Merry Little Meet Cute by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone

Bust out your figgy pudding and get ready to live laugh love your way through A Merry Little Meet Cute by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone. An adult film actress is cast in a Hope channel holiday romance movie alongside an ex-bad-boy boyband member looking to relaunch his career with a clean image. Both co-stars have come to this small Christmas-themed town in Vermont with the intention to maintain a clean image while on set. Bee Hobbes the Hope Channel ingenue has had a long, successful career as Bianca von Honey, a fat adult film star.  Her favorite producer, Teddy wants to diversify his income with Holiday movies, but to do so, he needs to keep his adult film company a secret. When his leading lady and a portion of his crew get sick at the last minute, he must bring his old collogues with him to Vermont, on the condition they deny any connection to adult filmmaking. Just one problem, she has always had a major crush on Noah Shaw, her new co-star, and he is a loyal fan of her ClosedDoors account. The magic of Christmas romance is hard enough to replicate on the set of a movie with a time-traveling duke, but now, Bee and Noah also have to pretend their relationship is not warming up off-screen. It just goes to show you, that sometimes what happens in Vermont doesn’t always stay in Vermont. A Merry Little Meet Cute delivers on high spice, big laughs, and a bisexual couple who is absolutely too cute for this world.

This might be bold of me to say, but if you are going to pick up any new Christmas romance this holiday season, this is the one to buy. The setting is absolutely perfect. Every aspect of Christmas Notch, Vermont is designed around Christmas and Christmas movies, including the hotel. The cast of characters does not disappoint either. I love and want books for everyone on set. Each side plot is so specific, it builds the characters of anyone involved. Bee’s supportive moms and friends are so warm and funny. Noah’s family and ex-boyband members are just as great. I imagine the two other members of INK will be given a romance of their own, but that is entirely speculative on my part. I am a big, big fan to say the least.

Noah and Bee are great together. Because they both start out with their own prosocial fan relationships with one another, I never felt like there was a power imbalance. They often had frank conversations with one another that allowed them to develop their relationship over the course of the book. However, the dual POV helps the reader understand the moment a character makes the wrong choice when they translate what they think to what they say. I do like their little moments with each other. The high spice content is uniquely tailored to these specific characters. The celebrity aspects of the celebrity romance were handled with care. Not to mention the next-level banter. Overall, this Christmas romcom is wonderful, and I cannot recommend it more.

If you are looking for a little holiday love and cheer, you should defiantly preorder A Merry Little Meet Cute by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone set to release on September 20, 2022. I would like to thank Avon for providing my reviewers copy of A Merry Little Meet Cute by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone in exchange for my honest review.

#A Merry Little Meet Cute by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone #Avon books #Harper collins #A Merry Little Meet Cute #Julie Murphy #Sierra Simone #book blog #book post #book review #romance book #romance book review #holiday #christmas romance #celebrity romcom #romcom books #romantic comedy #boyband romance #rockstar romance #bisexual #bisexual romance #fat romance #fat protagonists #hallmark channel #hallmark channel book #christmas movie #vermont #love #romance #secret romance #fans

[forevershereads]

Forever She Reads - A Romance Book Blog

I've already introduced this blog here, but I wanted to share this again. Forever She Reads is one of my pet projects - something I want to develop into much more. It is a romance book blog featuring all my favorite romance books and ARCs that I loved. Go check it out if you love reading this genre!

#book blog #romance book blog #forevershereads #forever she reads #book blogging #romance book blogging #romance books #romance book review #book recommendations #contemporary romance #romance book #book review #romance reader #romance reads

[thebooklovebot]

Review: Only and Forever by Chloe Liese

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rating: 5 out of 5. PUBLISHER: Berkley Romance PUBLICATION DATE: April 2, 2024. GENRE: Romance / Contemporary Romance A big thank you to the publisher for my advanced copy! I’m going to start this review off saying that you’ll be getting a review as well as an emotional trip to the past. A few tears will be shed. Please bear with me. It’s March 2020, I’m scrolling through my book…

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#arc review #Bergman Brothers series #berkley romance #blog tour #book review #Chloe liese #netgalley arc #new releases #Only and Forever by Chloe Liese #romance #romance book review #romance books

[jadejedi]

Romance Book Review: The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun

JJ’s rating 4.5/5

How feral did it make me: ⅗

My other book reviews

This is the first pure romance (as in not also fantasy or sci-fi) book I’ve read since I read Red, White, and Royal Blue several years ago, and I was weirdly hesitant. Which is crazy, because I still love rom-coms, I still love reading Jane Austen novels. And it’s not like this is Colleen Hoover. So I was a tad nervous going into this one, but I had absolutely no reason to be. It was delightful. I woke up today sick due to getting a covid vaccine yesterday and so I had to call into work, and so I was like, you know what, I bed The Charm Offensive would be the perfect sick day read. And I was right! I started it around 9am, finished it around 2pm, and it was the perfect pick-me-up read.

The Charm Offensive is about a producer named Dev who works on Ever After, which is basically Fairy Tale themed The Bachelor. Dev believes in the show, believes in happily ever afters. But this season’s “Prince Charming”, Charlie, doesn’t. He’s just here to salvage his reputation. When Dev learns that Charlie is actually an anxious mess who will not make it through this season alone, he starts spending a lot of time coaching Charlie on how to fall in love on camera. And of course, their off-screen relationship eventually turns into something more…

This book is a delightful, feel good romance that doesn’t just deal with sexuality and coming out, but also with mental health and mental illness. Dev has episodic depression, and Charlie has OCD, amongst other diagnoses. I thought Cochrun did a really good job of balancing the more light hearted elements of the book and the heavier parts. As someone with OCD, I found Charlie’s OCD very relatable, even if mine doesn’t look exactly the same as his. The feelings of shame he carried about the diagnosis itself, and his anxiety about being seen both resonated with me. There is also a contestant in the show who over the course of the book realizes that she is a lesbian, and boy was her story relatable to me as well, even though it was just a minor storyline in the background. 

I will say, I read a review from an Indian reader that pointed out that Dev, though theoretically Indian, is really Indian in name only. There is really no cultural exploration of his cultural heritage. I think that's fine, that's not the book she was trying to write, but I do think it's interesting to consider. This book is definitely more focused on Dev and Charlie's journey with mental health and Charlie's journey with his sexuality, and I think Cochrun does a great job with those aspects, but I do think she did herself a bit of a disservice by making one of her two main characters have this cultural background, but not have it be apart of his character at all. On the other hand, maybe that's fine. As someone who is white, it's hard for me to say. I think different people are going to have different relationships with their cultural backgrounds, so maybe a character like Dev does make sense. But I just wanted to mention it so anyone picking up this book has an accurate sense of what they're getting.

I thought both characters were very likable and it was very easy to root for their romance. Lots of chemistry right from the jump. Their flaws, their mental illnesses, their messy pasts all made them very human, which made it even easier to root for. The ending was honestly perfect. The whole way through I was like "oh man I hope she ends it how I think she's going to!!" and she did!! Very satisfying, happy ending, nice wrapping up of all the loose ends for all the side characters as well. If you are looking for an emotional but overall light hearted romance, I highly recommend this one. 

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book review || Delilah Green Doesn’t Care by Ashley Herring Blake 

video review || Little Bit Much -- April Wrap Up || 12 books!

Wow, I blasted through this. This definitely lives up to the hype. So cute. So spicy. So funny.

Right from the beginning, I loved Delilah. Her personality, her attitude, she felt so real and I really liked being in her head. Claire was sweet and caring, a good foil to Delilah and as soon as they started to bond, I was sold. They both were very convincing characters, I was so invested in them handling their personal trauma/drama and equally invested in their developing relationship. While they start off flirting, the author still takes the time to develop their friendship and I really enjoyed that. The transition from female hate to female friendship?? Also fantastic.

The small-town atmosphere was strong, and the familial dynamics all felt very authentic given the history and kept my interest just as much as the romance. I liked the shenanigans around the wedding and the girls trying to break up Astrid and her douchebag fiancé, but I would have liked more of that.

There was a lot of mutual pining in this, which made it have a slow burn feel, but also, due to the alternating POVs, ended up feeling really repetitive, unfortunately. The constant “I’m crazy about her, but here’s all my past trauma that makes me scared of getting hurt again,” can only be read so many times, before you get tired of it. I think if there had been more wedding events or drama around Astrid and Spencer, it could have broken this up more.

Finally, I wasn’t a fan of them confessing their love for one another. Feelings? Into that. Love? After less than a two-week-long relationship? Unrealistic and a little cringy.

All in all though, great read, really enjoyed it and highly recommend it.

4 / 5 stars

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