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emilyburdick 's review for:
Love & Olives
by Jenna Evans Welch
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book has no business being as long as it is. Unfortunately, after being such a fan of Love and Gelato, I did not love either of the stories that followed. I feel like Love and Gelato was true to the ‘Love’ part of the title, and the next two were so far from it. The love in these stories was practically non-existent and I just don’t read these kinds of contemporary stories for the family drama bits. Love and Olives was so heavily based in Olive’s relationship with her absentee father it made me cringe. I know books are books but I have no sympathy for a parent who abandons their child and I just could not respect Olive’s mother for FORCING her daughter to go see the man. The story was so long and drawn out and although I was fascinated by the Atlantis facts, if that’s what I wanted to read about I would just find a non-fiction about the mythical city. Also, I found the “love interest” to be so obnoxious and invasive in this story (and in Love and Luck tbh). Like they’re complete strangers and the love interest just instantly thinks he knows best for Olive and wants to know everything about her and her fathers broken relationship…does not sit well with me.