This story had potential but was unfortunately very mediocre. I found myself struggling my way through this book because it was just boring. I’m really sorry to say it, but that’s the truth. Owen was very cute and wholesome as the love interest, but everything else about this story was just meh. I read and watch a lot of romance and this is nothing I haven’t seen or read a 100 times before. It tries to be funny with the references to Hallmark movies and romcoms, but that’s exactly what this was, a Hallmark kinda story with the quality you can expect from that 🤷🏻‍♀️

Was there chemistry?
🦋🦋.5

Dit was zo’n raar boek. De schrijfstijl was heel erg wennen en het kostte me daardoor ontzettend veel moeite door dit boek heen te komen. Het was echt een worsteling. Misschien dat het beter werkt in het originele Frans, maar het werkte gewoon niet voor mij. Ik snap wel wat de schrijver wilde vertellen maar door de schrijfstijl bleef het net allemaal wat te abstract voor me om echt ín het verhaal te komen of hechting te vormen met de karakters 🤷🏻‍♀️ 

Er zaten wel wat mooie inzichten in dit boek maar ook flink wat open deuren. Ik had er wat meer van verwacht. Misschien komt het doordat ik zelf al de nodige ervaring heb met traumatherapie, maar ik kon hier niet heel veel extra’s uithalen voor mezelf.

Since I absolutely loved The Charm Offensive I had high hopes for this one. Unfortunately it didn’t live up to my expectations. Maybe it was the insta-love, maybe the confusing out-of-order webcomic chapters in between the regular chapters threw me off, but I just wasn’t feeling the chemistry between the two FMC’s. To be honest, I was more invested in the two side characters’ relationship 🫣 still, it was cute at times, but it was mostly the Christmas vibes and found family trope that I enjoyed about this story (it reminded me so much of While You We’re Sleeping, one of my favourite Christmas movies). I’m very sad to say it but it was just a little boring 😬

Was there chemistry?
🦋🦋

Was the spice any good?
🌶️🌶️🌶️

additional complaint: Jack is described as having “light brown” skin and Ellie as being very “pale” so why do they look like they have the exact same skin tone in the cover art? Maybe I’m nitpicking but this detail annoyed me 🙃

This was a bit slow at times but I really enjoyed the Shakespeare bits (even though I wasn’t all that familiar with Twelfth Night and my only point of reference was She’s the Man 😂🫣). The wrap-up was also done really well and even made me a bit emotional. 
 
Was there chemistry? 
🦋🦋🦋🦋