It’s a mini review! I’m clearing out my review queue of all the books I can’t seem to convince myself to finish, for one reason or another. That doesn’t mean these are negative reviews, it simply means that something isn’t compelling me to keep reading at the moment. Maybe I’ll go back to them another day, maybe I won’t!
DNF Details:
How far did I get? About halfway through, maybe 150 pages in.
Why did I stop? Despite the fact that I have heard nothing but good things about this book (and that cover is gorgeous!), I feel like I’m the wrong audience for it. I’m not the biggest fan of third person POV, but really I think this appeals to older readers. The heroine isn’t actually that much older than me, but she is newly divorced and the mother of a teenage daughter. I can’t relate to either of those things, and this leans towards women’s fiction a decent amount of the time. Obviously, I knew she was newly divorced from the blurb, but it guides a lot of her decision-making. Paired with third person POV – which made me feel even more like an outsider looking in – and I just never connected to the story or the characters. I got 150 pages in and I didn’t highlight a single quote, which speaks volumes to me. It had a lot of potential though, and I’m sure it’ll hit all the right notes for a different reader.
Was I enjoying it initially? I was really, really excited going into this one. That cover is stunning and the book is adored by some of my favorite authors, so I had high expectations going in. I was immediately disappointed by the third person POV, but two of my favorite romances so far this year are in third person, so it’s something I can very much overcome with the right book. I loved the hero and how he was kinda shy, a little nerdy, and definitely on the grumpy side. The opposites attract dynamic works and I’m always up for some fake dating. So this had all the ingredients of a great read, even if it never quite got there for me. I even set it down for a bit and tried the audiobook once it released, but I still couldn’t connect (the audio is pretty standard – no complaints, but nothing special).
Would I finish this? I don’t know, maybe in a few years? My reading preferences and life experiences are changing all the time, so who knows. But I don’t think I’d have any more luck trying it again soon.
Who would I recommend this to? Fans of women’s fiction crossovers who like some spice. I didn’t actually get to anything beyond kissing, but I’ve heard it gets spicy.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3PfO8td
Blurb:
A divorcee embarks on her “year of yes” and crosses paths with a shy but sensitive birdwatcher who changes her life in this charming rom-com that is perfect for fans of Christina Lauren and Ali Hazelwood.
Newly-divorced, almost-empty-nester Celeste is finally seeking adventure and putting herself first, cliches be damned. So when a friend asks Celeste to “partner” with his buddy John for an event, Celeste throws herself into the role of his temporary girlfriend. But quiet cinnamon roll John isn’t looking for love, just birds—he needs a partner for Tucson’s biggest bird-watching contest if he’s ever going to launch his own guiding business. By the time they untangle their crossed signals, they’ve become teammates…and thanks to his meddling friends, a fake couple.
Celeste can’t tell a sparrow from a swallow, but John is a great teacher, and the hours they spend hiking in the Arizona wilderness feed Celeste’s hunger for new adventures while giving John a chance to practice his dream job. As the two spend more time together, they end up watching more than just the birds, and their chemistry becomes undeniable. Since they’re both committed to the single life, Celeste suggests a status upgrade: birders with benefits, just until the contest is done. But as the bird count goes up and their time together ticks down, John and Celeste will have to decide if their benefits can last a lifetime, or if this love affair is for the birds.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3PfO8td
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