lydia's Reviews > The Do-Over

4.5 ⭐

❝ I have to confess that I think I’m obsessed with this. With you. With us. ❞

⤷ everything has changed by taylor swift ft. ed sheeran
all I know since yesterday, is everything has changed <3

I have to confess that I think I’m obsessed with this book. With Nick. with emilienick. Will I be attacked by crazy fangirls if I admit that I liked this better than bttm?? It was truly a perfect read.

୨ 🩵 ୧ the characters

⤷ emilie hornby:
She was awesome and just the right amount of delulu and level-headed. I can’t really think of many words to describe her, but she was fleshed out beautifully and was a very well-rounded character. Her reactions to everything were hilariously relatable, including the repeating valentine’s day and her decision to take advantage of it. Overall, she was a wonderful protagonist and I would have gladly spent more time inside her head!

⤷ nick stark:
Live laugh love nick stark for all eternity. He was introverted in a totally hot way, moody but also sweet, he drank tea and HE SAID THAT IF HIS GIRLFRIEND WAS BOOKISH HE WOULD BUY HER A SPECIAL EDITION OF HER FAVORITE BOOK FOR V-DAY. I wanted to wrap him up in a blanket like a burrito and protect him from his sadness and fear I’m mentally stable dw
I hadn’t been experiencing life to the fullest until I read the bonus chapters from his pov. My life is now complete. Thank you for that, lynn painter.

Emilie’s friends were also cute and in the end, I did like josh! Also, we stan the security guards who let Emilie and Nick basically trespass because they thought Nick was doing a promposal.

୨ 🩷 ୧ the romance

YOU GUYS. THIS IS THE IMMACULATE COUPLE I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR.

Just like in bttm, Emilie has a different male friend (except this time, they’ve already started dating) who she thinks is the one for her because he “checks all of her boxes” and is “perfect on paper.” she would never fall for the totally rude, arrogant nick stark. So why, oh why does she get butterflies whenever he looks her in the eye or calls her by her last name??

They aren’t exactly enemies-to-lovers, as Nick has been a simp from day one and Emilie only disliked him at the very beginning, but their falling for each other was totally believable. Their banter was everything to me and I cried actual tears at some of their sweet moments. I wasn’t bugged by the third-act breakup because there was actually a good reason for it and it made their reunion at the end that much sweeter! Nick was just the most thoughtful boyfriend. I love them so much.

୨ 🩵 ୧ the writing

I adore Lynn Painter’s writing! It’s so fun and easy-to-read. She writes completely realistic dialogue and banter. I will admit that there was a bit too much swearing and innuendo for my taste, which is stuff that’s always unnecessary, but she makes up for it with the excessive t swift references. also, she writes the best kissing scenes 🔥

୨ 🩷 ୧ the plot

The repeating Valentine's day was a totally unique idea! other than that it reminded me of an episode of Sophia the First that I was obsessed with when I was younger. I especially loved the last half of the book, where Emilie and Nick have the DONC and do all kinds of crazy and romantic stuff. It was a very fast-paced plot in all, with things happening left and right, and it got a little crazy at times, but I loved every minute of it! I also liked the side plot about both Nick’s brother and Emilie’s parents– it added a little depth to the book in general.


୨ 🩵 ୧ overall thoughts

Something about Lynn Painter’s books are just so whimsically and perfectly romantic. This is my second book by her and I am already starting to believe that she can do no wrong. It was cute, fluffy, funny, and easy to read. Like any good romcom does, it made me scream and squeal and hyperventilate. I read this at just the right time to avoid a reading slump, even though I’m a little late for valentine’s day, and I highly recommend it if you’re looking for a cutesy, easy book!

❝ I absolutely expect love in my life, but there is no way I'm going to sit around and wait for fate to make it happen. ❞