Looking at the sea of low ratings and I don’t know what to tell you, haha. This is exactly the kind of angst porn I love and the fact that th4.5 stars
Looking at the sea of low ratings and I don’t know what to tell you, haha. This is exactly the kind of angst porn I love and the fact that this is entirely from his POV is the icing on the cake....more
I liked the narrative voice, but this needed more focus, more plotting, more character work, more tension, and a lot more atmosphere. Not at all creepI liked the narrative voice, but this needed more focus, more plotting, more character work, more tension, and a lot more atmosphere. Not at all creepy or gothic, and the human stuff isn’t nearly as poignant as it could be. A debut, however, so it might be interesting to see if the author develops into one to watch. But please, not so many POVs and more showing, less telling.
Audio Notes: I LOVED the narration by Adam Lazarre-White, however. His voice reminds me of a couple of my favorite Headspace sleepcast narrators, and he does different voices and accents—and women and children!—so well....more
3.5 stars I’d forgotten how fun this series is. Pure fantasy to have this much emotional intelligence in one place, but the good-humored goodwill spil3.5 stars I’d forgotten how fun this series is. Pure fantasy to have this much emotional intelligence in one place, but the good-humored goodwill spilling over everywhere is hard to resist. The second half gets a little bogged down by too many miscellaneous subplots and minor relationships, but the chemistry between Alexis and Noah is sparky enough to overcome that.
Highlights:
—Man vs cat (and the fun cover!)
—A bachelor party spa trip during which the men hilariously debate whether they’re supposed to eat the cucumber slices
—Hugging, so much good hugging—between him and her, and between guys who support other guys.
I think cynics could easily dismiss this series because it is so light-hearted, but I don’t think enough credit is given to how cheerfully and persistently the characters—and the author—work to overcome toxic masculinity with this group of earnest, doing-their-best dudes. I like them and I like spending time with them....more
I looovvveee herrrrrrr. Emily is probably my favorite HP heroine ever.
I disliked the beginning of the book so much, but once I glanced at the synopsiI looovvveee herrrrrrr. Emily is probably my favorite HP heroine ever.
I disliked the beginning of the book so much, but once I glanced at the synopsis again, I realized that the female POV in the beginning is the POV of the amoral other woman Gina (along with Luke’s POV), not the heroine’s. The two of them are having an affair behind her husband’s Charles’ back, complicated by Luke’s being Charles’ right hand man. They are blackmailed and maneuver themselves into a situation where Luke will marry Gina’s school friend Emily to cover up the affair, and will stay married until Charles dies.
Emily sweeps into this distasteful scenario like a breath of fresh air. She’s direct, kind, funny, and too smart for her own good, plus she has beautiful grey eyes and enjoys her food and creature comforts. (How nice it is to have a HP heroine actually relax and enjoy the expense account her husband can well afford, too. All the shopping in Paris and haircut talk was really fun.) She accepts the proposition because she needs to money to help her cousin, but as she gets to know Luke, she develops feelings for him and decides she’s going to try to see if he’d be interested in her for real. But on their wedding day, she finds out about his real relationship with Gina, and is devastated that he isn’t the man she thought he was. I felt such kinship and sympathy with her throughout the story.
Some spoilers:
This is one of the few HPs that truly shows a believable gradually falling in love scenario. You can’t help but adore Emily and despite Gina’s femme fatale appeal and history with Luke, it’s not hard to see why he starts to have feelings for Emily, too. This is a case where the hero isn’t a jerk—he deceived his employer and mentor for years, but he truly thought he loved Gina and had been willing to do things above board—and when the blinders are lifted, he’s filled with self-contempt and loathing for what he did to Charles, and to Emily. Luke’s POV is done so well. You never see this kind of self-reflection and acknowledgment of his own bad behavior in HP men, so to see it done so thoroughly—and because of a girl as amazing as Emily—is so satisfying to see. (view spoiler)[It’s icky that he was still sleeping with Gina after he and Emily got married, but I suppose it’s realistic. What I do like is that Luke and Emily never sleep together until towards the end, after he’s dumped Gina and declared his feelings for Emily. I like that their relationship is kept above all that, and he truly knows and loves her as a person first. (hide spoiler)]
I adore Emily. And I ended up loving this book. I’ve read this author a few times before and enjoyed her well enough, but didn’t know she had this in her. I’m looking forward to reading some more of her novels! Closing this one with a happy sigh....more
Well, this was just delightful. Told entirely from his point of view, with an unexpected heroine with unexpected baggage, and light on any serious obsWell, this was just delightful. Told entirely from his point of view, with an unexpected heroine with unexpected baggage, and light on any serious obstacles or nasty feeling. I really enjoy Charlotte Lamb’s humorous writing style, it’s so fun when she gets the right set of characters together, especially when the guy is befuddled by his feelings and in a helpless temper about having his world upended.
If you like this one, try out Retribution by the same author. Another sharp, witty heroine (who illustrates children’s books!) who gives as good as she gets....more
4.5 stars This story is told from the perspective of a smart, dreamy boy who's buzzing with hormones and focused on his sport, but can't quite let go 4.5 stars This story is told from the perspective of a smart, dreamy boy who's buzzing with hormones and focused on his sport, but can't quite let go of his feelings for his childhood sweetheart. It treats love--of all kinds--and loss with exquisite delicacy, but doesn't descend into sentimental wallowing thanks to the wry narrative voice and the realistic relationships. It also poignantly shows how the loss of one small person can create a crater of grief in everyone around him, and how that grief can overwhelm life and relationships. Strongly recommended if you loved THE LAST TIME WE SAY GOODBYE.
I don't know what the 2016 debut class has been drinking, but they've made a lot of magic happen this year.
Wendy Darling
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