I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I’m an American citizen so the British slang took a bit getting used to - in fact I had to use Google a few times - but once you get the diction down, it’s easy. It’s great seeing a book about an older protagonist for once, given that “older” in the average romance novel means “around 26, give or take.” As much as this is a romance novel, it’s much more about Laurie’s growth and self-development after the dissolution of a decades plus-long relationship.
The first chunk of the book is dedicated to the set up and aftermath of her breakup, Jamie doesn’t even really come into the picture and have their “official meet-cute” until about 100 pages in. (Given that the book is only 400 pages long, I thought it was a bit strange.) However the pacing picks up a lot after that, and there is a lot of witty banter between Laurie and Jamie while they are concocting their plan.
Laurie and Jamie are great characters with well-developed back stories to explain why they behave as they do, and it was so sweet seeing them opening up to one another about the traumas and wounds of their past. The only disappointing thing about this book is that it wasn’t at least a hundred pages longer! Seriously, the book takes so much time building up the premise that the “getting together for reals” part is severely undercut and everything ends on a rather abrupt note. Adding more story beats would have probably addressed some of the complaints about this book lacking steamy moments, while I just wanted to see more time spent being a real couple.
Overall this book was a genuine joy to read and I'll just have to think up scenarios in my head of what happened to Laurie and Jamie immediately after the final page.
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Those who said family mattered above all else were wrong. People you love, who love you back, matter above all. Crap people you happen to be related to: you need to stop thinking you owe them a limitless number of chances to hurt you.Highlighted by 965 Kindle readers- It feels like a conversation that you never want to end, I suppose. A renewable energy source.Highlighted by 555 Kindle readers
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Great Characters
I've read books by this author with before with mixes results, but something about this synopsis called to me and I'm really glad I answered that call.Laurie's world is rocked when her long time boyfriend not only doesn't propose, but breaks up with her. He says he's not ready to get married. She soon finds out that he already has a girlfriend and that they are expecting a baby. Everything that Laurie thought she knew has been flipped on its head.Jamie is a player, a ladies man, and as such, he tends to ruffle feathers amongst his work colleagues. When he and Laurie begin to talk about their respective problems, they come up with a singular solution: a fake relationship.This book had a lot of the usual things you find in fake relationship storylines, jealousy, misunderstandings, hurt feelings, but with the added bonus of McFarlane's wit and charm. I quickly bonded with the characters and felt Laurie's frustrations with her job and the limited choices she felt she had. Jamie was appealing without being too in your face with it. His attractions were subtle, but many.Despite somewhat being able to predict where the story was going, I was completely enthralled with the characters and had myself a really good time reading this book.
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Top reviews from other countries
SWEATA BACHYAS
NOT FOR ME 🙃💔
Reviewed in India on September 5, 2021
SWEATA BACHYAS
Reviewed in India on September 5, 2021
AOTD: I bought this book because of its hype but I found it a bit strange. If you haven’t figured it out yet, romcoms are my usual go-to genre but something didn’t click with this book!
Rating: ⭐️⭐️/5
Steam: not even a proper kiss, what more could I expect? 🤡🤡
I don’t know, I mean, the story has its moments, it wasn’t terrible to read but the slow pacing and the lack of romance really let me down.
I hate writing negative reviews but I had to say something about this book as the majority of the reviews I saw in bookstagram, states the opposite!
The blurb/synopsis for this book is kinda misleading. Yes, the fake dating trope is used, but it neither kept its promise on the actual storyline nor a bit of romance. Maybe you’ll find some instances of PDA by the end of the book, otherwise, it was a completely platonic friendship between the characters.
I normally adore romances, but something was actually missing in this! I admit the plot was good, but I was not at all satisfied with the writing. The sentences were a bit confusing and I actually had to re-read some parts more than twice to get an imaginary glimpse of the scenario, which sounds absurd I know 😂
I might be wrong, but in my own opinion, for some reason, I didn’t connect with this book at all and found myself skimming through the chapters to get over with it 😫
But readers, who don’t mind slow pace (not slow-burn pls note), a bit of chick-lit with lack of romances and a bit of British humor, will probably love this book 😷
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majuwa
Funny, relatable and a bit of social criticism
Reviewed in Germany on April 3, 2020
little bookworm
Warm, funny and romantic
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 1, 2020