Book Review Genre: Women’s Fiction Romance
Disclaimer: Reading is all about exploring new worlds, but this Book Review does not shy away from spoiling specific scenes as this is more of my free-flowing thoughts about a book.
The Analysis:
This is the first paperback I have purchased from an actual bookstore in a long time. It was a random pick based solely on the blurb. The store was packed full of books seen on youtube and TikTok. It took forever to find one that hadn’t been talked about that was new to me completely. Let’s book review it. First, follow me on Goodreads.
Here’s The Blurb:
An unforgettable love story that shows sometimes you have to embrace the unexpected.
Susan Green is like a cactus: you can’t get too close. She likes things perfectly ordered and predictable. No surprises. But suddenly confronted with the loss of her mother and the unexpected news that she is about to become a mother herself, Susan’s greatest fear is realized. She is losing control.
Enter Rob, the dubious but well-meaning friend of her lazy brother. As Susan’s due date draws near and her world falls further into a tailspin, Susan finds an unlikely ally in Rob. She might have a chance at finding real love and learning to love herself, if only she can figure out how to let go.
Cover Critique:
As someone who cannot picture characters well, I appreciated an illustration of the main characters. I certainly bought it for the characters. She looked quite interesting and a tad stuffy and he looked more laid back and I was curious about their interactions.
Now The Story:
Book Info:
Pages: 384
Author: Sarah Haywood
Available: Google Play
Any reader can enjoy this one if they know what their getting into. Is the FMC on the spectrum or simply a Karen? It’s never confirmed either way. But go in knowing you won’t be falling in love with this character. Yet, I found her intriguing. It’s different from the normal and I was curious about her journey. In the beginning, I could even appreciate it. The girl likes things a certain way.
Spoiler: Then she got pregnant and my first thought was, you can’t do that to a child lol.
Her brother is also a piece of work. The situation with the FMC and the teacher made me hate that boy, deeply. He is so meanspirited and delusional, and it only gets worse. When her brother is responsible for her first engagement ending, I’m left speechless, and feeling like the boy’s villainy is being exaggerated beyond belief. Like, seriously, who takes that much garbage without cutting someone off.
The only character worth rooting for is the MMC. That leads me to the next point, this is not a romance. I’d consider this, Women’s Fiction with romantic elements.
I ended up giving it three stars for the brother’s exaggerated villainy. When he was indirectly at fault for his sister’s fiancee’s death, I drew the line. It was just too ridiculous. With a family like this who needs enemies? Yet, it was a train wreck that I couldn’t look away from me.
Generally, I felt like he was a bit overwritten. At this point in the story, it’s pretty clear the guy is a jerk, and theirs no room for any other interpretation. Now, you’re telling me he needs to be indirectly responsible for someone’s death. Let’s not, and say we did.
But I was invested in the story, to say the least. The woman lost her court case for her mother’s house and I was genuinely saddened for her. That family owed her the world and only gave her trauma from the family on down. A part of me was like don’t touch another thing those people have soiled and make a clean break. Another said, get the money, you got to win at this somehow, smh. Back to 4 stars.
It was hard to rate this one. I kept bouncing between three to four stars.
Oh, and forewarning, that brother of hers is childish and immature to the very end.
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Book Review At A Glance:
Recommendation: 3.5 out of 5
Book Cover Appeal:
🍓🍓🍓
Story & Narration:
🍓🍓🍓
Romance:
🍓🍓🍓
Heroine’s Personality:
🍓🍓
Hero’s Personality:
🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓
Closure:
🍓🍓🍓🍓
