amanda_reads13's reviews
414 reviews

Phoebe has decided that she doesn't want to live anymore. She goes to the Grand Cornwall Inn, her happy place, where she has meticulously planned out her last evening. There she meets Lila, who is there for her wedding weekend, and the "Wedding People". After forming a bond with the wedding people, she gains a new lease on life. 

Phoebe has a very flippant attitude towards suicide, which some readers may be put off by. I believe this can be attributed to her mental state. Mentally Phoebe is in a place where she has completely given up on herself and is at peace with her decision. This is what we see, a woman who is speaking very frankly about accepting giving up. 

This is a story about hope and finding what makes you joyful and happy. It's about being brave, speaking your truth, and going after what you want. It's about learning how to shed the facade that you put on in front of others and learning to be your true authentic self. 

Phoebe, Lila, and Gary are all perfect examples of how we suppress our own desires in order to fit into someone else's mould of us. Phoebe makes herself and her life so small that she is afraid to show anyone her true self and desires, including her husband. Lila is afraid to be her authentic self in front of anyone and puts on a "show" for others. Gary is a people pleaser and has taken a backseat in his own life. 

These characters were complex and had so much dimension. They go through a tremendous amount of growth, especially Phoebe. I found her interactions with both Lila and Gary to be very refreshing. They were completely honest with one another and were able to shed any facade so that they could just be themselves. 

I actually really appreciated the ending of this book. This isn't a romance book. This is a book about learning to love yourself again. Though we get the possibility of Phoebe and Gary in the future, what we end on is Phoebe discovering her own joy. 

After drunkenly getting married in Vegas, Eleanor and Crew are forced to stay together for 30 days before they can get a divorce.

This book was so funny, I was in stitches half of the time. The banter between the two characters and the side characters was absolutely hilarious. 

No, this book doesn't have a super deep plot or strong character development, but it's also not that kind of book. This is a spicy and funny romantic comedy. 

Both the main characters and their friends remind me of like a Jersey Shore type cast. They are all pretty wild, like to party, and don't want to settle down. I think that it's kind of adds to the humor of the book. It's a bunch of over-the- top behavior from pretty ridiculous characters. But I also found them lovable in a goofy way.

Eleanor or Crew are actually perfect for each other, they are each other's match.  Unfortunately, they are terrible at voicing their feelings. This leads to some miscommunication about what they actually want. They want each other, but are too afraid to actually say anything. I think there's also a lot of confusion due to the fact they've convinced themselves they don't want a relationship. So when they do develop feelings they are genuinely unsure of what to do.

The end was adorable, I liked that it ended with her going for what she wanted. 

The spice is spicing, as one would expect from a Pucci book. The scene with the friends...iykyk. 

Tropes: drunken marriage, strangers to friends to lovers, professional athlete, romantic comedy

After a one night stand with Ethan, Eve finds out that she is pregnant. 

I really enjoyed the narrator of this audiobook. She fits Eve's personality perfectly. 

I absolutely adore this book and that is coming from someone who HATES the accidental pregnancy trope. I think she does a really good job of addressing this topic. In a time where abortion is such a hot button topic, it's important to approach the accidental pregnancy trope with care and the understanding that this situation would not be all rainbows and sunshine for some people. It's important that we see the ups and downs that she goes through as we follow her journey. 

Throughout the story we see the ups and downs of Eve and Ethan's relationship. It's refreshing to see that Ethan is not made out to be the bad guy. We know that he wants to be involved, but he's in a really complicated situation. Yes, Eve is upset when Ethan disappears on her, but she's very understanding and she gives him choices. I love that everybody involved is very mature and they're able to make decisions together by openly communicating with each other.

Willa is a really complicated character. You want to shake her and say "get over it, just support your friend". The reality is, she has been through a lot of trauma. It's not that easy to accept that something you have been fighting so hard for comes so easily to others. Willa has been trying for a baby for so long, and we learn that

she had a miscarriage shortly after her mom passed away.

So, it is completely understandable that she would feel so overwhelmed by Eve's news. Their friendship is so beautiful. Willa does what she can to be there to support Eve, but Eve is also very understanding of Willa's mental state and situation. 

Shep is such an incredible guy. He knows she's in a difficult situation, and even though he is completely in love with her, he doesn't push his feelings onto her. He shows them in little ways and by being there to support her. Seeing her have another man's baby must have broken his heart, but instead of being resentful and angry, he's supportive, compassionate, and empathetic. He accepts the fact that if he wants to be in Eve's life, Ethan will be in his life too. So, he makes an effort to develop a friendship with Ethan. He is honestly the most adorable man. 

I love that the relationship is a slow burn. She gets to come to terms with her feelings for Shep in her own time without feeling pressured by anyone. 

Tropes: friends to lovers, slow burn, accidental pregnancy 

After suspecting their partners are cheating with each other, Nick and Sawyer begin a friendship that will change everything. 

I really enjoyed the late 90s vibes and references throughout the story. I think the lack of modern tech adds to the tension of the plot. I also really enjoyed how much of NYC was infused into this book. I feel like 9/11 didn't need to be brought in here. This could be a huge trigger from some people and since it really wasn't integral to the plot, it could have been excluded. 

This is definitely a messy story, this is not a straight forward romance. I am so torn here. I thought Nick and Sawyer were really good together. They were able to be their authentic selves and had such a natural ease with one another. That said it was really difficult for me to wrap my head around all of the hypocrisy wound throughout the plot. In my opinion, cheating is never justifiable. They don't even know for certain that Charles and Kendra are cheating, but they use this "maybe they are" to justify their actions. For me this took away from my ability to root for them. 

I am glad to have seen some growth in Sawyer within the last few chapters. She was completely a pushover in her relationship and job. She continued to blame others for making her feel ignored or pushed aside, but 
she never communicated her feelings or stood up for herself. The few times she tried to talk to Charles, she just let him shut down the conversation. There were signs pretty early on that something wasn't right, yet she just internalized it all. So instead of being an adult and pushing to have the conversation, she acted out by cheating. 

I don't think anyone reading this would like Nick at first. He presented himself as a cocky playboy with a bad attitude.Slowly he became someone I wanted to root for. He did the right thing and cut ties with Kendra when he began to have feelings for Sawyer. But still, he knew she was engaged and continued to pursue her. That's not ok. 

I just feel like if I ignored the cheating trope, this was such a cute and fun story. AGAIN if only major obstacle hadn't been that she was ENGAGED to another man!! Literally pick any other obstacle for them to overcome. 

Tropes: Friends to lovers, Right person/wrong time, slow burn

Damon has disappeared, but he holds secrets that threaten Kai's future.

Kai was my favorite of the four in the first book, but this plot just didn't do him justice. Not much really happened in the book and it just felt like it dragged. I was expecting more from Kai's character but this entire book made him unlikable. The entire plot of this book felt like it was just a setup for Damon's story.

I really wanted to like Banks, but there was just no depth to her character. She felt like she owed Damon, but he treated her so horribly. Yes, Damon was her saving Grace as a child, but that doesn't mean that he is worthy of her blind loyalty. Damon was toxic. She needs to grow up and get out from Damon's shadow. 

The ending was so rushed and made no sense. Why was Damon threatening them if he was just going to roll over at the end and do nothing? He just let Will beat him up and then left? He's been built up to be this menacing and scary character that everyone fears, but he is just a sad shell of a man. Yes, his backstory is heartbreaking, but this isn't supposed to be his story. There was so much focus on Damon in this book that it took away from any kind of connection between Kai and Banks. 

Literally everyone in this book needs therapy. 

Honestly, I'm not going to read the rest of this series. It took me forever to get through this one and I almost dnf'd it. I found it really slow and kind of boring. 

Tropes: enemies to lovers, slow burn, insta-love, forced marriage 

Six friends (3 couples) spend a week at a cottage together. Unbeknownst to the other four, Harriet and Wyn actually broke up months ago. Now they have to hide it in order make sure the week is perfect. 

This is a story about self-discovery and putting ones self first when you are a perpetual people pleaser. When you have lived your life for others, it is difficult to figure out what actually makes you happy and brings you joy.

Harriet grew up in a home where her parents valued success and rarely expressed their emotions. She became the peacekeeper in her family, always overachieving to fulfill her parent's dreams. So, when she begins a relationship with Wyn, she doesn't have a healthy example to learn from. She hides her feelings from him thinking that's she is making his life easier by not putting her problems on him. Unfortunately, all it does if form a chasm between them. She needs to learn that you cannot live your life for others and lack of communication is relationship destroying. 

Wyn has always thought he was less than. His sisters are very smart and he never felt like he could keep up. So when he met Harriet, he didn't think he was good enough for her. He always puts himself down and thinks that she deserves better. So, he pushes her away and doesn't really let her in. 

I  think the friendship in this book are so special because they are more than just friends, they are family. They may be at different places and phases in life, but they always have a space and place for each other. 

Many of the relationships in this book are a perfect example of how you can love each other so deeply, but unless you have open communication and are honest about your feelings, you will drift away from each other. I was really frustrated with all the secrets and lies. Once the dam breaks and they all come clean, their relationships become so much stronger. 

I get why Sabrina lied, but I think it was a really shitty thing to do. Let's have a conversation about how you know they have broken up and try to support your friends instead of forcing them into this incredibly uncomfortable situation. I don't understand why on earth Wyn and Harriet would "fake" their relationship, that is so awkward. I could never. 

Tropes: second chance, found family, small town, mental health rep

Sloan's life fell apart when she lost Brandon 2 years ago. But an incident with a dog named Tucker on the highway leads her to the most unexpected person and a life she never imagined. 

This book is so adorable. I love that it shows the reality of fame and not some washed over version of it. We often get this fantasy version of what fame is, but that's not the reality. In this book, we see the true struggles and complications that Jason has to endure, and by extension Sloan. His life is not simple, it is complex and anything but private. Life on the road is hard and can break even the strongest person. 

I liked that this showed the real trials of life and not a fluffed up version. We saw the real ups and downs of Sloan and 

I loved seeing Sloan's characters grow throughout the book. Yes, Jason definitely helped her work through some of her trauma, but her growth was all her own. She is such a strong woman who, after enduring unfathomable loss, pulls herself back up and finds her passions again. Is it perfect, no, but nothing is perfect. She falls again and again, only to find a way to pull herself back up. We get to see her grow into herself as a talented artist. 

Jason is the ultimate cinnamon roll. He is such a sweet and kind man who wants to give Sloan the world, even if that means he needs to remove himself from the equation. He knows that his life is going to be a constant struggle for privacy and safety and he will do anything to protect Sloan, even leaving her. As much as I wish he had been upfront and honest with her about the

fact that his label was responsible for trying to scare her away (phonecalls, smashed car), I completely understand why he lied to her about sleeping with Lola. She never would have left unless he absolutely crushed her heart. She hung on to things until their last dying breath. He wanted her to have a normal and happy life where she could have a family and paint and he couldn't see how he could give that to her. 

 

I love that we get glipses into Josh and Kristen's life and that we get to see the evolution of Kristen and Sloan's relationship. 

Yes, the ending was cheesy, but it was adorable and exactly what I expected to happen

Tropes: musician, found family, insta-love

Three years ago, 3/4 horsemen were arrested and thrown in jail. Now they are out to get revenge on Erika (Rika), the woman they blame. 

We flipflop between the present and 3 years ago. It is within those snippets of the past that we learn about the men's motivation. They believe that Rika is responsible for 3/4 of them ending up in jail.

For some stupid reason, they film their "pranks" and two videos get released.

I felt as though the characters were lacking depth. We don't really get much background information on the men and an idea of what is motivating their behaviour. These men are cruel and horrible to everyone, especially women. There was so much potential to demonstrate the depth of these characters, it comes out in the very end when we get a flashback in the epilogue of

Michael taking care of Rika when she was 13

. We needed more of this depth to really connect to and want to understand these me. Unfortunately, what we get is a bunch of impulsive and misogynistic men who try to justify horrible and abusive behaviour. 

We get a snippet of why Damon is the way he is within the last chapters of the book. We learn why he is so angry that Rika has "invaded" the group of men, and his fear of his brotherhood being ripped from him. But his character does not have any growth at all and these limited glimpses into his past do not redeem him.

his mother was abusing and raping him as a child.

 

Rika was incredibly naive and annoying. She is not the strong woman that she thinks she is. She is impulsive and seems to have no survival instincts. She is incredibly immature and throws tantrums when she can't get her way (ie. Running into the gentleman's club when she wasn't allowed in). She is determined to live her life on her own and by her own rules, but panics the second her money is gone, because she is actually completely incapable of providing for herself. Plus, she forgave these men WAY too quickly.

I did really like Alex. She was unapologetically herself and had no shame about what she had to do to pay her bills.

(escorting)

. She owns her life/decisions and was a complete badass. I think her character really highlighted all of the weaknesses in Rika. 

Overall, the plot was interesting and there was a lot of potential. Unfortunately, the characters were lacking depth and I just couldn't get past the their lack of growth. The sauna scene (iykyk), was very spicy, but otherwise the romance fell flat and was not really believable. 

Tropes: found family, revenge, brotherhood

After a drunken night in Vegas, Kennedy and Isaish wind up married. Unfortunately for them, what happens in Vegas does not stay in Vegas as the news of their marriage makes headlines and word gets back to their boss. 

I really enjoyed the progression of Isaiah and Kennedy's relationship. Kennedy was afraid of opening herself up to others and Isaiah managed to slowly tear down her walls. I wish we had delved deeper into her relationship with her family, maybe a few flashbacks or something? Just to give us a real understanding of her past. Isaiah always puts up a happy front, afraid to let people what is behind the smile. Kennedy helps him see that compassion and concern for others are actually his strength. 

I found parts of the story to be kind of repetitive and felt like it could have been cut back a bit. 

Isaiah and Kai had a really difficult childhood. After their mother died in a car accident, their father left them, and Kai pretty much raised Isaiah. To say they are close in an understatement. I LOVE the relationship these two men have. They are so supportive and encouraging of each other. Throw in Miller, Max, and the other friends, this gives such a warm hearted found family vibe. I think that Isaiah's panic attacks/anxiety was handled well, but I wish that there would have been a conversation about him getting help earlier. Yes, they could not afford when he was a kid, but he certainly can now. 

Kennedy grew up in a cold home, void of love. She was expected to marry for business and was basically forced into an engagement. Her family, with the exception of her step-brother Dean, have zero respect for any life choices she has made and do not support her at all. 

I actually really liked the epilogue. I love that it mentioned him going to therapy for his trauma, but I wish that it had mentioned Kennedy going as well. I also like that they are taking time for themselves as a couple and not rushing into having a baby. 

Tropes: he falls first, teach me, marriage of convenience, co-workers, found family

While helping to plan her best friend Sloan's wedding, Kristin meets Josh, the best man. Though they are instantly drawn to each other, Kristen keeps him at arm's length.

Kristen is keeping a big secret from everyone, even her best friend Sloan. She's been dealing with medical issues that would make it next to impossible for her to get pregnant. Her periods are so extreme and painful that she plans to get a hysterectomy. She plans her whole life around her cycle. She works from home so that she doesn't have to leave her house for work and she's with a man who never wants kids so she can't be a disappointment to her partner. 

Kristen feels like her inability to have children defines her. She feels unworthy of Josh's affection and love. She can't accept the fact that Josh could love her flaws and all. This is really a story about Kristin accepting that she can be loved for who she is, not what she has to offer others. 

The lack of communication in this book on Kristen's part is so frustrating. Instead of telling Josh and having an adult conversation about why she feels like she can't be with him, she just sends him mixed signals and pushes him away. She won't even allow Josh to make that decision for himself. I get it, she's worried that he will be resentful of her in the future, but doesn't even give him the opportunity to make a decision.

Josh is such a patient and kind man. Even though he wants more from Kristen, he he accepts whatever she's willing to give him. It's heartbreaking to watch Josh fall so madly in love with her and not understand why she won't return his feelings. 

I saw the

pregnancy coming from very on in the book.

Why do we always have to define women based on their ability to have children? This is so frustrating to me. I really wish that

the ending had been different and she hadn't gotten pregnant. I wish it would have ended with them choosing to adopt or foster a child. This would have given a more realistic ending, as the ending we are given was very far-fetched.

My heart absolutely breaks for Sloan. I'm really interested to see the progression of her character in the next book. She is such a strong woman. She goes through something absolutely heartbreaking, but is still there for her best friend.

Just weeks before their wedding, her fiance Brandon dies in a motorcycle accident. He's hit by a drunk driver. He ends up having a stroke and passing away in the hospital.

 

Tropes: friends to lovers, firefighter, slow burn