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hollanddavis's Reviews (904)
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A fun and quick AAPI rom-com that tics all the boxes
✔️Opposites attract
✔️Forced proximity
✔️Best friend’s brother
✔️One Bed
✔️2010s pop culture references
Ben is awkward but totally endearing. And Elise is bold without being brash. Their friends (specifically Jessie, Rebecca, and Beth) are charming as we following the characters through each wedding, and it was fun to read their group dynamic and see how each wedding was so different. This book was probably extra relatable to me: a single, 20-something year old woman who also has three weddings to go to in the next few months
✔️Opposites attract
✔️Forced proximity
✔️Best friend’s brother
✔️One Bed
✔️2010s pop culture references
Ben is awkward but totally endearing. And Elise is bold without being brash. Their friends (specifically Jessie, Rebecca, and Beth) are charming as we following the characters through each wedding, and it was fun to read their group dynamic and see how each wedding was so different. This book was probably extra relatable to me: a single, 20-something year old woman who also has three weddings to go to in the next few months
A chance encounter reminiscent of One Hundred and One Dalmations (1961) has Michael and Elizabeth leaving the park with insults flying (instead of sparks) and each other’s dogs.
I’d consider this book a very low level but cozy mystery. The reader knows “who’s done it” but it’s still fun to get there at the end with the MCs. It’s essentially grumpy/sunshine, and I wasn’t sure if I liked Michael at first but he grew on me. You could tell he took constructive criticism and tried to improve how he interacted with others.
Elizabeth (Bitsy) was refreshing because a lot of FMC’s are pretty but don’t know it, awkward, bookish, not like like other girls, but Elizabeth knew her strengths (interpersonal communication, her looks, social maneuvering) and used them to their advantage during their investigation.
Jimmy and Sally? Adorable.
Memorable Quotes:
“Leaning forward, Sally put a hand on his knee and kissed him on the cheek. “My compass doesn’t point north, Jimmy Bly. It points toward you.”
“You know, it’s customary to wrap a bouquet with a ribbon,” she stated.
“I didn’t have a ribbon.”
“Then I’m afraid you’ll have to wrap them with an apology.”
I’d consider this book a very low level but cozy mystery. The reader knows “who’s done it” but it’s still fun to get there at the end with the MCs. It’s essentially grumpy/sunshine, and I wasn’t sure if I liked Michael at first but he grew on me. You could tell he took constructive criticism and tried to improve how he interacted with others.
Elizabeth (Bitsy) was refreshing because a lot of FMC’s are pretty but don’t know it, awkward, bookish, not like like other girls, but Elizabeth knew her strengths (interpersonal communication, her looks, social maneuvering) and used them to their advantage during their investigation.
Jimmy and Sally? Adorable.
Memorable Quotes:
“Leaning forward, Sally put a hand on his knee and kissed him on the cheek. “My compass doesn’t point north, Jimmy Bly. It points toward you.”
“You know, it’s customary to wrap a bouquet with a ribbon,” she stated.
“I didn’t have a ribbon.”
“Then I’m afraid you’ll have to wrap them with an apology.”
Why is Bal’s POV written in first person and Tass’s written in third? I’m sure there’s a reason Greta Kelly made this creative choice (considering who and what each character is) , but, as a reader, I thought it was distracting and it pulled me out of the story every time they switched.
Honestly, the plot’s was good up to this point, but Kelly ultimately lost me with long conceptual conversations about Time as a construct between Bal and Tass. It all started to feel very Interstellar (2014) where Matthew McConaughey talks to young daughter through the space/time continuum to save humanity and then is later reunited with his daughter as an old woman but he’s stayed the same age. Like does it make sense if I sit down and really think about it? Yeah. Sure. I guess. But is that what I want, or was I signing up for a heist book that quickly took a much more complex turn?
Will I eventually pick this book up to finish it? Probably not, which is sad because the world building was intriguing and I’d like to know how it ends, but I guess not enough to get past these road blocks.
Memorable quotes:
“I gestured upward, giving her an eloquent look of “What the fuck?””
“She bowed her head, allowing herself two heartbeats to lament her family’s betrayal and a third to come to terms with a past she could not change. When she lifted her head again, she was ready to move on.
And if her heart did not believe her, her head was willing to pretend.”
Honestly, the plot’s was good up to this point, but Kelly ultimately lost me with long conceptual conversations about Time as a construct between Bal and Tass. It all started to feel very Interstellar (2014) where Matthew McConaughey talks to young daughter through the space/time continuum to save humanity and then is later reunited with his daughter as an old woman but he’s stayed the same age. Like does it make sense if I sit down and really think about it? Yeah. Sure. I guess. But is that what I want, or was I signing up for a heist book that quickly took a much more complex turn?
Will I eventually pick this book up to finish it? Probably not, which is sad because the world building was intriguing and I’d like to know how it ends, but I guess not enough to get past these road blocks.
Memorable quotes:
“I gestured upward, giving her an eloquent look of “What the fuck?””
“She bowed her head, allowing herself two heartbeats to lament her family’s betrayal and a third to come to terms with a past she could not change. When she lifted her head again, she was ready to move on.
And if her heart did not believe her, her head was willing to pretend.”
The banter is cute, and Hazel (the kid) is well written. Kids in books aren’t usually my cup of tea, but I didn’t mind her. That being said, here are some of my thoughts:
1. Is it really fake dating if you’re basically already in a relationship without the labels beforehand? I mean come on. Farley was apart of his kid’s PTA. Going to this kid’s dance recitals. They had holiday traditions together for Christ’s sake. Also, we only got to see them “fake date” like twice then they were actually together.
2. You’re telling me Meyer “Stoic” Harrigan got on his hands and knees to beg for a dessert? I’ve never tried those s’more bars, but it still seems out of character
3. I know avoidant conflict style like the back of my hand (pot meet kettle), but ghosting Meyer after finding out about the contract seems a bit much (not that he shouldn’t have told her). But you couldn’t even pick them up at the airport, Farley? You sent an Uber? 👎🏼
4. This is nit picky, but why does everyone need a nickname? My, Fee, Miss, Haze. Some people don’t have nicknames in real life, and that’s okay.
Memorable quotes:
"It’s dumb.”
“You’re many things, Jones. Dumb isn’t one of them”
“She looks me up and down, studying my face for something before she glances over my shoulder. “You don’t seem like a drunk or deadbeat,” she says.
“That’s nice. You very much do seem like you might be on…something”
“Is Meyer a flip flop man? Why does the idea of that kind of gross me out? Am I discovering a shallow prejudice of mine? An anti-foot fetish, if you will?"
1. Is it really fake dating if you’re basically already in a relationship without the labels beforehand? I mean come on. Farley was apart of his kid’s PTA. Going to this kid’s dance recitals. They had holiday traditions together for Christ’s sake. Also, we only got to see them “fake date” like twice then they were actually together.
2. You’re telling me Meyer “Stoic” Harrigan got on his hands and knees to beg for a dessert? I’ve never tried those s’more bars, but it still seems out of character
3. I know avoidant conflict style like the back of my hand (pot meet kettle), but ghosting Meyer after finding out about the contract seems a bit much (not that he shouldn’t have told her). But you couldn’t even pick them up at the airport, Farley? You sent an Uber? 👎🏼
4. This is nit picky, but why does everyone need a nickname? My, Fee, Miss, Haze. Some people don’t have nicknames in real life, and that’s okay.
Memorable quotes:
"It’s dumb.”
“You’re many things, Jones. Dumb isn’t one of them”
“She looks me up and down, studying my face for something before she glances over my shoulder. “You don’t seem like a drunk or deadbeat,” she says.
“That’s nice. You very much do seem like you might be on…something”
“Is Meyer a flip flop man? Why does the idea of that kind of gross me out? Am I discovering a shallow prejudice of mine? An anti-foot fetish, if you will?"
A classic historical romance with the added bonus of a suspenseful murderer-on-loose subplot that keeps you on your toes. The Fake courtship is well executed, and I think it largely helps that this is the second book in the series so the characters already have history. Plus, both characters are easy to root for since neither one shoot’s themself in the foot by doing or saying something stupid. Top tier communication 🤌🏼. We love to see it. Overall, a quick and fun read.
Memorable Quote:
“Eva. How lovely you are this afternoon.”
Her lips quirked. “Am I not lovely in the morning hours, as well?” She lowered her lids and smiled, offering her hand. He nearly gaped in surprise. Eva Caldwell on a normal day as his friend was incredible. Eva Caldwell pretending a romantic interest in him was staggering. She tightened her fingers when he bowed over her hand, placing a soft kiss on her knuckles. “Gauche of me to tease, of course,” she murmured. “You must forgive me.”
“My dear friend,” he said softly and very much not for their audience, “you are lovely every minute of every day.”
Memorable Quote:
“Eva. How lovely you are this afternoon.”
Her lips quirked. “Am I not lovely in the morning hours, as well?” She lowered her lids and smiled, offering her hand. He nearly gaped in surprise. Eva Caldwell on a normal day as his friend was incredible. Eva Caldwell pretending a romantic interest in him was staggering. She tightened her fingers when he bowed over her hand, placing a soft kiss on her knuckles. “Gauche of me to tease, of course,” she murmured. “You must forgive me.”
“My dear friend,” he said softly and very much not for their audience, “you are lovely every minute of every day.”