Talk Bookish to Me

i think i read quite a bit until that thing happened and then i just quit because why...actually, i skipped to the end, which made me kinda want to read the rest but i didn't bother
i'm kinda curious though, hm...
but nah

dnf 2021-06-02

Cheating (hero has a fiancée the whole time)

This must have been the most unlikable romantic lead I ever read: he cheats, he lies, he bullies, he manipulates and is just a condescending horny possessive childish douchebag.
For a second I thought this book was going another way and redeemed itself when towards the end the female lead up and leaves for Italy (serious you-go-girl energy!) but then all she can think about is him and we are back where we started. -_-

~Some highlights~
- “you are so perceptive!” (Describing FMC) - yet, she doesn't realize he's acting off and is keeping this huge thing from her. This is a big big pet peeve of mine - describing characters as smart or perceived yet they are self involved and oblivious
- cheating with you and not telling you that you are actually engaged to the person you thought they were cheating on you with on the OG break up 10 years ago is OBVIOUSLY the same as booking a 6 month trip before you even reconnected xDDD
- it's ok because he's not cheating on YOU
- CRASHING THE FMC's DATE FOR NO REASON AND THE FMC BEING HAPPY ABOUT IT (wtf??? Restraining order please!!)
- LITERALLY USING your ex and unresolved feelings on both sides to write a book, not in your head, IRL!! This is the main character! How do you want me to root for this??
- the list goes on but honestly both of the main characters and all the side characters (except for the hot English dude that was the only normal person in this book) are walking red flags

This was entertaining until Ryan's big secret is revealed and then i just wanted it to be over.

Quite low on chemistry but an easy read

2.5
Too much drama.

Ik heb precies nog geen chance gehad met de romantische verhalen dit jaar. Ik heb nog niet veel moeten zwijmelen en met deze was het dus ook niet het geval.

Ik hield wel van hoe zelfbewust het verhaal was en hoe er verwezen werd naar het romantische genre en hoe het werd uitgelegd.

Wat het verhaal en de romance zelf betreft, moest ik in het begin wel wat mijn weg zoeken, maar werd dan uiteindelijk toch helemaal naar binnen gezogen.
Ik werd echter al snel ongerust over het conflictgedeelte, omdat ik een voorgevoel had over wat het ging worden en ik een absolute hekel heb aan dit soorten verhalen.
Helaas, pindakaas. Ik kreeg gelijk, waardoor het verhaal voor mij onherstelbaar verpest was. Dubbel zo toen ik uiteindelijk las hoe de auteur de situatie oploste door bepaalde acties van bepaalde personages.
Nee, geloof het niet en steun het niet.

Fun Tale. Unnecessary Element In Epilogue. This was a fun rom-com full of angst and banter and miscommunications. The book-within-a-book worked, even while I'm not really a fan of the Regency style historical romances. Indeed, until the epilogue itself this was truly a fun, witty, banter-filled tale filled with heart. Even the actual endgame itself (the last 15% ish of the book, IIRC) was interesting, even as it got away from the main storyline for quite a bit of it. (Unlike some other reviewers though, I totally get why and how it worked. It isn't a usual storyline in romance novels, but I've seen it before - and even a few times in real life.) My only issue, and it is more of a quibble since it is just in the epilogue, is the completely unnecessary baby. It adds nothing, and only reinforces the “you're not a real couple unless you procreate” bigotry. (Also, not an actual spoiler - romance novel. Couple by definition ends up together. :D) Still, on the whole this book really was fun and had some interesting twists to it. Very much recommended.