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madeline's Reviews (776)
literally lol'ed and cried reading this book. a really great exploration of what it means to be looking for and ready for love. the characters were well-rounded, fully fleshed out human beings and infinitely relatable. as a Bachelor fan it was also tons of fun to try and match up who inspired what character, and I looooved the fantasy league interludes and all the pop culture references. a really fun read at any time, but especially now in the midst of the Bachelor Diversity Campaign, it's so nice to read about the Bachelor franchise we truly deserve.
books about vampires are never really about vampires, are they? and this book isn't any different. it's about exploitation and abuse and gaslighting -- the vampire exploits adults and children alike, the husbands abuse their wives, the vampire convinces the husbands to gaslight their wives, and the wives exploit the lone woman of color in this book.
the first half of the book is not at all like the second half, and while i understand the disparity, i liked the first half more. i think the characters had so much potential, especially the women of the book club, and they fell soooooo flat. like, quirky Kitty with her wild outfits? how could she not be a super fun character to explore? maybe if literally every single man in this book wasn't a gaslighting abusive asshole he'd have had the time and space...?
and i think the Black representation is problematic -- that missing Black folks are basically ignored by the police is a serious issue, and Black women also came together to try and raise awareness about the Atlanta child murders fifteen years before this book is set. i think something definitely could have been done that integrated both the real issues Black people face in getting institutional help protecting their children while not making them seem in need of their white savior. the one Black character never moves beyond the role of caretaker, and that's disappointing.
huuuge trigger warnings:gore, gaslighting, physical abuse, suicide attempt, grooming, child sexual abuse, rape
the first half of the book is not at all like the second half, and while i understand the disparity, i liked the first half more. i think the characters had so much potential, especially the women of the book club, and they fell soooooo flat. like, quirky Kitty with her wild outfits? how could she not be a super fun character to explore? maybe if literally every single man in this book wasn't a gaslighting abusive asshole he'd have had the time and space...?
and i think the Black representation is problematic -- that missing Black folks are basically ignored by the police is a serious issue, and Black women also came together to try and raise awareness about the Atlanta child murders fifteen years before this book is set. i think something definitely could have been done that integrated both the real issues Black people face in getting institutional help protecting their children while not making them seem in need of their white savior. the one Black character never moves beyond the role of caretaker, and that's disappointing.
huuuge trigger warnings:
it absolutely gets cuter, but they're just... so mean to each other in the beginning, i almost had to stop.
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A year ago, Meg Mackworth hid a warning in the wedding invitations she was designing: the couple wasn’t meant for each other. Reid, the groom, found her message and took her advice. But now he’s wondering what Meg could see that he didn’t? A lot, it turns out. This book is an absolutely gorgeous homage to craft, friendship, New York City, and love.
This book is one of my favorites to introduce people to the world of romance. What a great premise -- a hidden message in a wedding invite, and a former groom who’s looking for answers. The way their relationship blossoms is so lovely and warm and extraordinary, and pairing it with the personal growth they’re each going through ends in a book that’s more than the sum of its parts. What a gorgeous exploration of new and changing friendships, understanding your parents, understanding your own goals, and being present. Plus, it has one of the best love letters of all time.
I often encourage people to read this book by telling them it changed my life, because it’s true. This was one of the last books i read before the pandemic, and Meg and Reid’s photo walks became a huge part of my pandemic walk routine. I found myself being more present to my route, looking for hidden letters and signs, paying attention to the way people have decorated their world. This book is so cozy and superb -- my first Kate Clayborn and certainly not the last.
This book is one of my favorites to introduce people to the world of romance. What a great premise -- a hidden message in a wedding invite, and a former groom who’s looking for answers. The way their relationship blossoms is so lovely and warm and extraordinary, and pairing it with the personal growth they’re each going through ends in a book that’s more than the sum of its parts. What a gorgeous exploration of new and changing friendships, understanding your parents, understanding your own goals, and being present. Plus, it has one of the best love letters of all time.
I often encourage people to read this book by telling them it changed my life, because it’s true. This was one of the last books i read before the pandemic, and Meg and Reid’s photo walks became a huge part of my pandemic walk routine. I found myself being more present to my route, looking for hidden letters and signs, paying attention to the way people have decorated their world. This book is so cozy and superb -- my first Kate Clayborn and certainly not the last.
