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genieinanovel's Reviews (752)
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
4.5 stars
A few months before Ruby turns eighteen, her mother leaves, though Ruby doesn't see this as an issue. Her mom often disappears, so it's nothing out of the ordinary. Only this time, her mother doesn't come back and Ruby is on her own. It's not long before she's busted for living alone and is sent to social services, who then Ruby to live with her sister- the sister that she hasn't seen in a decade.
Now living with her older sister, and her sister's husband, Ruby begins to learn on what she's missed out on her entire life. However, a stable life is unsettling to her. She's not used to it, so she fights to guard her heart from becoming close to Cora and Jamie; from Nate, the cute next door neighbor; and from anyone who might have the potential to become a friend. After all, Ruby won't be staying there long. But as Ruby learns the truth about why she didn't hear from her sister all those years, she finds herself slowly opening up to those around her... and that scares her.
What I really enjoyed about this book was it shows so much character development. Not just with Ruby, but with those around her as well. I personally love that the focus is more on that than the romance aspect between Ruby and Nate (which was obviously going to happen). It makes the characters more likable, despite any flaws they might have.
Out of all the characters my favorites had to be Jamie, Gervais, and Olivia. Jamie was just adorable with how he got excitable about things (like the pond) and how much he cared for Cora and Ruby, which is especially seen when he gets disappointed in Ruby at one point in the book. Then Gervais was just hilarious at times with his twelve year old ways, but also being ridiculously smart and blunt; and Olivia as well for her bluntness because she was honestly the kind of friend that Ruby needed in her life.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and it's my favorite now so far of Sarah Dessen's books. Probably because of how much I enjoyed the characters and seeing them grow throughout the story. So if you haven't read any of Dessen's books yet, I highly suggest picking this one up first!
A few months before Ruby turns eighteen, her mother leaves, though Ruby doesn't see this as an issue. Her mom often disappears, so it's nothing out of the ordinary. Only this time, her mother doesn't come back and Ruby is on her own. It's not long before she's busted for living alone and is sent to social services, who then Ruby to live with her sister- the sister that she hasn't seen in a decade.
Now living with her older sister, and her sister's husband, Ruby begins to learn on what she's missed out on her entire life. However, a stable life is unsettling to her. She's not used to it, so she fights to guard her heart from becoming close to Cora and Jamie; from Nate, the cute next door neighbor; and from anyone who might have the potential to become a friend. After all, Ruby won't be staying there long. But as Ruby learns the truth about why she didn't hear from her sister all those years, she finds herself slowly opening up to those around her... and that scares her.
What I really enjoyed about this book was it shows so much character development. Not just with Ruby, but with those around her as well. I personally love that the focus is more on that than the romance aspect between Ruby and Nate (which was obviously going to happen). It makes the characters more likable, despite any flaws they might have.
Out of all the characters my favorites had to be Jamie, Gervais, and Olivia. Jamie was just adorable with how he got excitable about things (like the pond) and how much he cared for Cora and Ruby, which is especially seen when he gets disappointed in Ruby at one point in the book. Then Gervais was just hilarious at times with his twelve year old ways, but also being ridiculously smart and blunt; and Olivia as well for her bluntness because she was honestly the kind of friend that Ruby needed in her life.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and it's my favorite now so far of Sarah Dessen's books. Probably because of how much I enjoyed the characters and seeing them grow throughout the story. So if you haven't read any of Dessen's books yet, I highly suggest picking this one up first!
3.5 stars
Remy doesn't believe in love, and if she's learned anything from her mother's past five marriages, she's better off without it. It never works out, right? She even has a method for dating, which is to not keep a boyfriend for too long, and just so she doesn't string them along, she gives it to them straight that she's not looking for a permanent thing.
Then Dexter crashes into her life.
Literally. The boy slams into her to get her attention at her soon-to-be stepfather's car dealership claiming that he felt they have a natural chemistry and were meant to be together. Remy only gets annoyed by him and goes on her way, thinking that he's off his rocker and that she'll never see this weirdo again. Only she does - he's the singer of the band that was booked for her mother's wedding. Then she runs into him again after that. What she cannot deny is that yes, he is cute, but he breaks her number one rule which is not to date musicians. But will she be willing to give Dexter a chance?
Remy was a good character to follow the story of because you can see that there are some things she's willing to change about herself. While she's adamant about her cynical feelings about love, she does find that there's something different about her relationship with Dexter, and it scares her. She learns a good lesson over the summer which is that good things are worth waiting for, and even if a good thing doesn't last forever, you need to make the most out of it.
Dexter on the other hand, stole the show! I missed him when he wasn't around because he is just a character you love to love. He's hilarious and adorable, kind of like an excitable puppy, so you just want to hug and cuddle him. His banter between not only Remy, but his band mates as well, is fun to read and I just enjoy the camaraderie he has with everyone, even Ted (who's kind of a downer).
While I enjoyed the book, I can already feel it's one that's kind of slipping through the cracks of my mind. The only parts that kind of stick are most of the scenes with Dexter. It is a good book though, so if you're looking for something easy to read with some fun summer romance, I'd say to pick up this one.
Remy doesn't believe in love, and if she's learned anything from her mother's past five marriages, she's better off without it. It never works out, right? She even has a method for dating, which is to not keep a boyfriend for too long, and just so she doesn't string them along, she gives it to them straight that she's not looking for a permanent thing.
Then Dexter crashes into her life.
Literally. The boy slams into her to get her attention at her soon-to-be stepfather's car dealership claiming that he felt they have a natural chemistry and were meant to be together. Remy only gets annoyed by him and goes on her way, thinking that he's off his rocker and that she'll never see this weirdo again. Only she does - he's the singer of the band that was booked for her mother's wedding. Then she runs into him again after that. What she cannot deny is that yes, he is cute, but he breaks her number one rule which is not to date musicians. But will she be willing to give Dexter a chance?
Remy was a good character to follow the story of because you can see that there are some things she's willing to change about herself. While she's adamant about her cynical feelings about love, she does find that there's something different about her relationship with Dexter, and it scares her. She learns a good lesson over the summer which is that good things are worth waiting for, and even if a good thing doesn't last forever, you need to make the most out of it.
Dexter on the other hand, stole the show! I missed him when he wasn't around because he is just a character you love to love. He's hilarious and adorable, kind of like an excitable puppy, so you just want to hug and cuddle him. His banter between not only Remy, but his band mates as well, is fun to read and I just enjoy the camaraderie he has with everyone, even Ted (who's kind of a downer).
While I enjoyed the book, I can already feel it's one that's kind of slipping through the cracks of my mind. The only parts that kind of stick are most of the scenes with Dexter. It is a good book though, so if you're looking for something easy to read with some fun summer romance, I'd say to pick up this one.
Chloe Sanderson’s life is a rom-com movie, sort of. Her best friend, Annie, wrote a movie based off of the supposed romantic tension between Chloe and her boss, Nick, that everyone but them seems to be aware of at Nick’s coffee shop. Now that the movie is being hyped up, Chloe and Nick are getting a lot more public attention than either of them wanted.
But Chloe is happy for Annie, really.
Still, it gets annoying to have to tell people over and over again that no, there isn’t anything going on between her and Nick. Besides, she doesn’t have time for a relationship; not with her business classes and checking in on her father, who suffers from Alzheimer’s. But when the two share a special moment one night when the power goes out at the coffee shop, things start to change.
While I enjoyed Waiting For Tom Hanks, I have to say that I think I enjoyed this book even more. Granted, I did like Chloe a lot as a supporting character in the first book, so I knew I’d love seeing her as the main character, and I was not wrong. I loved seeing more of her background, including how she became the caretaker of her father and twin brother at a young age when her mother abandoned the family. It gave another level as to why Chloe is so adamant on taking care of herself and not letting people in to help her when she needs it.
Nick was a great character as well. His general demeanor overall was definitely attractive. In fact, I have to liken him a lot to Luke from Gilmore Girls. He’s definitely more serious compared to Chloe; or as Chloe says, is an “actual adult.” As the book goes on, you see how much he really cares for Chloe, despite how she tries to push him away, and he even tries to fight the feelings he has for her at first because he feels it wouldn’t be right. Though he eventually gives in and puts his heart out there, only to have Chloe pull a moronic move that nearly jeopardizes the entire thing.
Overall, it was a fun, sweet read that had me swooning at parts and laughing at others. The characters of this book are all fun – well, except Mikey Danger – and fit well together in this book. I want some of them to pop out of the book and be in my own life, to be completely honest (though I kind of want Nick for myself).
So if you like romantic comedies in book form, I highly recommend this one!
But Chloe is happy for Annie, really.
Still, it gets annoying to have to tell people over and over again that no, there isn’t anything going on between her and Nick. Besides, she doesn’t have time for a relationship; not with her business classes and checking in on her father, who suffers from Alzheimer’s. But when the two share a special moment one night when the power goes out at the coffee shop, things start to change.
While I enjoyed Waiting For Tom Hanks, I have to say that I think I enjoyed this book even more. Granted, I did like Chloe a lot as a supporting character in the first book, so I knew I’d love seeing her as the main character, and I was not wrong. I loved seeing more of her background, including how she became the caretaker of her father and twin brother at a young age when her mother abandoned the family. It gave another level as to why Chloe is so adamant on taking care of herself and not letting people in to help her when she needs it.
Nick was a great character as well. His general demeanor overall was definitely attractive. In fact, I have to liken him a lot to Luke from Gilmore Girls. He’s definitely more serious compared to Chloe; or as Chloe says, is an “actual adult.” As the book goes on, you see how much he really cares for Chloe, despite how she tries to push him away, and he even tries to fight the feelings he has for her at first because he feels it wouldn’t be right. Though he eventually gives in and puts his heart out there, only to have Chloe pull a moronic move that nearly jeopardizes the entire thing.
Overall, it was a fun, sweet read that had me swooning at parts and laughing at others. The characters of this book are all fun – well, except Mikey Danger – and fit well together in this book. I want some of them to pop out of the book and be in my own life, to be completely honest (though I kind of want Nick for myself).
So if you like romantic comedies in book form, I highly recommend this one!
Kim is an aspiring romance writer despite her terrible past with romance. After two failed engagements and a divorce, you'd think she'd want to write anything but romance. However, that's what she wants to write and until she can get her book published, she stuck at a job that is far off from her dream. So when she gets a flyer in the mail for the Mistletoe Writer's Retreat, she is very interested in going, especially because her favorite author is going to be making a public appearance there.
At the retreat she makes instant friends with Samantha and the mysterious Zeke. She and Zeke become partners in their workshop group where they have to read each other's work, which Kim is nervous about because she's never expressed that kind of vulnerability to anyone before. And opening up to Zeke in one way might end up leading to opening up to him in other ways that she hadn't anticipated.
Right away I was immersed in the writer aspect of Kim's character, as a writer myself. It's on my own bucket list to attend a writing workshop at some point in my life and I would really love it if it was in Vermont, like the retreat is in this book! Vermont is my favorite state to visit and I can only imagine how pretty it must be in winter (though I'm not a fan of the cold). It just seems like the perfect state to be a writer in!
What I love about Evans's books is that they're such easy-going reads, even when there are dark pasts involved. It's hard to stop reading once you start. There's also the fact that while this is a romance book, it's also about family as well - both on Kim's part and a little on Zeke's. Those relationships are just as important as the romance and I love that Evans includes that aspect in this book.
I usually say this with any Richard Paul Evans book I read, but I highly recommend it. There's a reason they call him the king of Christmas fiction, and it's very true. His stories are so heartwarming with characters that are raw and flawed, which you can't help but relate to in some way or another.
At the retreat she makes instant friends with Samantha and the mysterious Zeke. She and Zeke become partners in their workshop group where they have to read each other's work, which Kim is nervous about because she's never expressed that kind of vulnerability to anyone before. And opening up to Zeke in one way might end up leading to opening up to him in other ways that she hadn't anticipated.
Right away I was immersed in the writer aspect of Kim's character, as a writer myself. It's on my own bucket list to attend a writing workshop at some point in my life and I would really love it if it was in Vermont, like the retreat is in this book! Vermont is my favorite state to visit and I can only imagine how pretty it must be in winter (though I'm not a fan of the cold). It just seems like the perfect state to be a writer in!
What I love about Evans's books is that they're such easy-going reads, even when there are dark pasts involved. It's hard to stop reading once you start. There's also the fact that while this is a romance book, it's also about family as well - both on Kim's part and a little on Zeke's. Those relationships are just as important as the romance and I love that Evans includes that aspect in this book.
I usually say this with any Richard Paul Evans book I read, but I highly recommend it. There's a reason they call him the king of Christmas fiction, and it's very true. His stories are so heartwarming with characters that are raw and flawed, which you can't help but relate to in some way or another.