Three strikes, and… Grey is officially off my one-click list. There was a time when Grey was one of my favorite rom com authors – if not my #1 – so it is REALLY disappointing to acknowledge how bland and generic this was. This 3-star rating leans more towards a 2 than a 4, and that’s mostly because I was genuinely bored while reading. The interactions between this couple were just so surface-level, and their relationship development felt VERY rushed. Romance novels have been getting longer and longer recently, so it was actually refreshing to start a light and quick rom com like this one, but it felt like the plot meandered so much that the focus was not on the romance. It also wasn’t that light or playful, to be honest. (MINOR SPOILER) Not only does our heroine get cheated on by her ex, but she also gets harassed/assaulted by someone – both on the page. So it really didn’t deliver any of the things that I was hoping for, which is a major disappointment.
The story follows Chloe, a woman whose life is turned upside down when she discovers that her boyfriend – who is also her boss – is cheating on her. In need of a new place to stay AND a break from her career, Chloe takes a housesitting job for a former baseball player. Luke doesn’t seem to be too excited about having Chloe come live in his home, but he’s a sweetheart with his young daughter. And as Chloe’s role in the household changes, she soon finds herself falling for both Luke and his daughter. But Chloe just got out of a relationship with another older man who was also her boss, and that causes both of them to hesitate about taking things further. As Chloe and Luke navigate the complexities of resisting their attraction, things become complicated.
So why didn’t I DNF this one, if it was clearly boring me early on? Well, it’s short, so there’s that. But I also wanted to give Grey the benefit of the doubt – there was nothing truly WRONG with the story, there just wasn’t a whole lot that was compelling about it either. I kept thinking that the slow burn would pick up speed at some point, and the chemistry would become apparent. That simply wasn’t the case for me. I never became emotionally invested in the relationship, and the slow burn was so slow that it felt incredibly underdeveloped by the end. I always know it’s a bad sign when I don’t save quotes while reading, and I saved exactly ZERO quotes from this one. So it was not terrible, but definitely underwhelming. It feels like it’s finally time to admit that Grey is no longer a good fit for me, and leave it at that.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3ZlTCoZ
Blurb:
Dear Past Me,
Future You here, coming to offer a little advice: hang on for dear life. This summer is going to be a wild one. I know what you’re thinking: Life’s going so well! I don’t have a care in the world! Wrong. That culinary career you love so much? It’s about to go up in smoke, and your boyfriend? Yeah…he’s a goner too. If only love were as simple as, say, actually adding yourself to the lease agreement so you don’t suddenly find yourself loveless, jobless, and homeless!
Did your five-year plan include moving back in with your family and sharing a bed with your Nonna? No? Well, hate to break it to you…it’s exactly as traumatizing as it sounds.
Have you had enough? Too bad. Buckle up—it gets worse. Your new boss is a professional baseball player, and he’s hot, like really hot, but you’ll pretend not to notice because he’s a single dad and it feels wrong to ogle him in front of his innocent child. Unfortunately, he thinks you’re sexy as hell too. Unrequited love is one thing; mutual off-limits pining destined to explode in the worst of ways? What could go wrong…wrong…wrong… (That’s me fading out because you have to take it from here, kid. Good luck! Don’t screw this up for me.)
Sincerely,
Your future (wiser) self
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3ZlTCoZ
Books I’ve enjoyed from R.S. Grey
It feels like it’s been forever since I enjoyed a book by R.S. Grey, but she used to be a reliably great author for me. I loved several of her 2018-2020 rom coms, and could name more than a handful that I rated as 5 stars back then. These four were my favorites!
Arrogant Devil – enemies to lovers, opposites attract, lovable jerk
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3c1dpkS
Hotshot Doc – broody doctor and the nurse who puts up with him
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2VkHPHZ
Not So Nice Guy – friends to lovers, teachers, slow burn
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3eetYeU
The Foxe and the Hound – fake relationship, tension, veterinarian hero
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2VxyNHZ
About the Author:
R.S. Grey is the USA Today bestselling author of over twenty novels, including seven #1 bestselling romantic comedies. She lives in Texas with her husband, daughter, and dog. Visit her at RSGrey.com or on Instagram: @authorrsgrey.
For upcoming teasers, samples, and all things new-release-related, join her Facebook reading group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1378399812435745/
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