Tag Archives: Comedy

ARC — To Get To The Other Side — Kelly Ohlert

“Chickira? Henrietta? Princess Lay-A. Hennifer Lopez! Clucky Charm? I’m going to call you Chick-Chick.”

Genre: Romance, Comedy
Actual Rating: 3.5 stars
Spicy Meter: 1 fire emoji
Content Warnings: Discusses sick animals, bullying, child abuse, and frustration and unhealthy parental relationships after practicing a professional sport. Has some sexual innuendos.

“To Get To The Other Side” follows Trixie, Bear, and Chick-Chick—two roommates and a chicken found abandoned in the streets of Chicago. Trixie found Chick-Chick in the middle of the street and, by trying to sneak her into her not-pet-friendly apartment, is kicked out by her landlord. That’s when she finds an ad about a so-called Bear, who’s looking for a roommate and doesn’t mind pets…ish. Obviously a chicken was a bit unexpected, but Trixie and Chick-Chick end up falling right into his routine… perhaps falling in too well. To the point he’s thinking she could be more than just a roommate.

I think the best way to describe this book is as weird? The writing isn’t horrible but the story is just odd. Love at first sight and then close proximity and kind of enemies to lovers for a hot second… and a chicken? Found in the middle of the street? I don’t know. I love fiction just as much as the next chick (no pun intended), but this really wasn’t it for me.

This is a sort of closed-doors-romance, where we know they bang but we don’t know anything about it, if that makes sense. So I wouldn’t call it a clean romance per se, but I also can’t give it much of a spicy rating as is.

I think I didn’t enjoy this book quite as much as I expected. (I’ll blame it on judging a book by its cover). It’s supposed to be a romantic comedy, but I didn’t find any of it funny—more like I found it all very unrealistic. I read to escape my reality, but not in this whimsical, idealistic way. Life isn’t like this. People don’t talk like that.

Trixie is annoying, Bear (who the hell is called Bear?) is fictional at worse, and the name of the chicken is Chick Chick. Need I say more?

I would recommend this book if you’re looking for a short, silly read. No substance, all fluff—and clean fluff at that.

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ARC provided by NetGalley and Alcove Press in exchange for an honest review.

Publication Date: December 6, 2022

ARC — Something in the Heir — Suzanne Enoch

“I love you, William Pershing.” (…)
“I have waited a very long time for you to say that, Emmeline Pershing.”

Genre: Romance, Comedy, Women’s Fiction
Actual Rating: 2.5 stars
Spicy Meter: 1 fire emoji (if that)
Content Warning: Mentions physical and emotional child abuse, domestic violence, classism, and death of parents.

“Something In The Heir” is all about marriages of convenience and fake adoptions. It follows Emmie and William Pershing, as they deceive their family into thinking they have kids, just so they can inheriting Winnover Hall. (Is it weird it’s called Winnover, when this whole books is about winning over this Estate? Anyways, let’s move on.)

You see that endorsement on the cover? Nice stuff. Julia Quinn saying Suzanne Enoch is “one of (her) favorite authors”… See how she says nothing about the book per se? That tells you pretty much all you have to know about that. I had to know I would hate it as soon as I read her last name was “Pershing”. Or as soon as I saw how the Pershings were willing to take two orphans through a ride of faking being their kids, cementing those strong abandonment issues.

I love books from the Regency period—think “Pride and Prejudice” or the Brigertons series—so I had very high hopes for “Something In The Heir”. Oh, how wrong I was to expect so much. I feel like this book was 150 pages longer than it should’ve been. In the end, I had to skim through it because the descriptions were too long and downright boring, and I felt absolutely nothing for any of the characters. This did not feel like a romance book at all. I am not even sure why I tortured myself getting through it, I’m thinking I should’ve just DNFed.

I’m not sure who to recommend this book to. But here we are. Writing this review anyway. I guess grab “Something In The Heir” if you want a slow-paced read with lying characters that want to be quirky and clever but aren’t, with two first-endearing-but-then-annoying kids, and a somewhat happy ending.

This is the first St. Martin’s Press book that wasn’t a hit for me, but that doesn’t me it can’t be a hit for you. Reviews on Goodreads are mixed, so might as well give it a try if you like historical and Regency Era novels.

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ARC provided by NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.

Publication Date: September 20, 2022

Better Than The Movies — Lynn Painter

“Sometimes we get so tied up in our idea of what we think we want that we miss out on the amazingness of what we could actually have.”

Genre: Romance, Comedy, Young Adult
Actual Rating: 5 stars
Spicy Meter: 1.5 fire emojis
Content Warnings: Underage drinking and smoking, other than that can’t really think of anything else.

“Better Than The Movies” is a rom-com style novel all about rom-coms. Liz Buxbaum and Wes Bennet have been next door neighbors their whole lives, sounds cute, right? Well, it doesn’t help that Wes has been trying to be a pain in Liz’s butt for as long as she can remember. But then in comes Michael, her childhood crush that moved away to Texas when they were younger, and she can’t help but fantasize about dating him. But Michael thinks Wes is into Liz… So, in an attempt to convince Michael that Liz isn’t into Wes, they start… fake dating? But only so they can fake break up later on and Michael can be assured Liz is completely available. But as said break up date comes closer and closer, Liz feels unsettled. She’s liked this new friendship that’s grown between herself and Wes—who’s making it a whole lot harder to hate him.

In this fake-dating, enemies-to-lovers tribute to all young adult rom-com movies, you will ultimately fall in love with some of the most infuriating characters ever. Liz, with her blinding stubbornness; Wes, with his trust issues; Michael, with his insecurities—and misguided decisions. I could not get enough of this book.

I think it’ll be amongst my favorite reads this 2022. Where is Netflix when you need it most? This book needs to be made into a movie. Like now.

In this mostly-clean read, you’ll get all the teenager lessons you’ll need: how all lies are discovered in the end, how your family can support you—even if you’re not related by blood, how it’s okay to mess up and forgive and be forgiven, but mostly how high school and first loves and first crushes aren’t the end of the world.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who’s looking for a cute, rom-com-movie-inspired read. If you enjoy fake-dating and enemies-to-lovers this book is also for you. But specifically, if you’re looking for a book to gift to a teenager in their junior or senior years, THIS IS IT. Don’t look any further. This book has the perfect mix of romance and deception and friendship and family and high school and prom and love.

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“Enemies-to-lovers—it’s our trope, Buxbaum.”

The Cheat Sheet — Sarah Adams

“Do you see now? You’re always giving me things that remind you of me, but I’m over here stealing things that remind me of you.”

Genre: Romance, Comedy
Actual Rating: 3 stars
Spicy Meter: 1 fire emoji
Content Warnings: Describes panic attacks, discusses a career-ending car accident, and describes someone very drunk.

“The Cheat Sheet” follows Bree Camden and Nathan Donelson, two (almost) inseparable childhood best friends. Bree aspired to be a professional ballet dancer but, when an accident ruina her chances, she pulls away from everyone and everything. Now, years later, she’s back to being friends with her best friend and forever crush, Nathan, who is now a star quarterback in the NFL. It’s just platonic for them tho. Bree would never even come close to Nathan, she can’t lose her friendship again. Little does she know, Nathan may have those same feelings. Perhaps, he’s had them all along too…

This book had all the things I like in a romance: friends-to-lover and football themed. Yet, I didn’t like it that much. Bree was annoying, the double pinning was exhausting, Nathan was clearly a man dreamed by a woman… I could go on and on about the things I didn’t like about this book. But it was a fun read nonetheless.

The panic attacks seemed like they were written by someone who’s never had a panic attack (or perhaps just didn’t know how to describe them), but they were very off putting, seemed oversimplified.

Personally, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this book, but Booktok does, so read it at your own risk. It’s not particularly a bad read, it just wasn’t particularly a good read either. If you’re looking to read books by Sarah Adams, I would highly recommend going for “The Off Limits Rule” instead.

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ARC — Mr. Perfect on Paper — Jean Meltzer

“But love—”
“Doesn’t conquer all. (…) It doesn’t, Chris. Look at the divorce rates in America. (…) Do you know what every single one of those couples had when they got married? Love. They all stood in front of an altar and gazed into each other’s eyes, and that’s the problem with these modern notions of love. There’s too much staring into each other’s eyes, and not enough looking in the same direction.”

Genre: Romance, Comedy
Actual Rating: 5 stars
Spicy Meter: 1 fire emoji
Content Warning: Discusses antisemitism, generalized anxiety disorder, and mixed religion discrimination, and mentions car crashes, parent death, aneurysms, and head tumors.

“Mr. Perfect on Paper” is just about what the title suggests. Dara Rabinowitz is a modern Jewish matchmaker, having created a dating app called J-Mate, when she just still hasn’t found her Mr. Perfect. In comes, Chris Steadfast, a news anchor who moved to New York recently after losing his wife. Dara’s “Perfect Jewish Husband” list is broadcasted by her grandmother in live television, pushing in a series of events that lead to Dara and Chris working on a reality TV style segment where they try to find this Mr. Perfect on Paper. But what does it say of Dara when they actually find Mr. Perfect, but all she can think about is Chris (who fits basically none of her requirements)? Will she follow tradition or will she follow love? And why can’t she follow both?

I am not Jewish myself, but I enjoy so much reading and learning about different religions and beliefs, and I must say this is truly a blast for that. This books takes place during the High Holidays, and even though I had read about them before, Jean Meltzer really did deliver at subtly explaining and showing how these holidays are lived—and why.

I loved Dana’s mannerisms and Chris’s insecurities and empathy. They both felt really human to me. Did I like the outcome? I’m not sure, but I still gave it 5 stars because in the end I just wanted Dara to be happy, and that’s the best testament of how this book moved me. But, if what you’re looking for is spice, this book isn’t for you. You’ll get a few kisses and that’s it.

I would recommend this book to readers with exposure to the Jewish religion and traditions, or anyone whose willing to Google a ton of terms you might not understand (that’s what I did, and I loved it). If you’re looking for a light-hearted, clean romance, “Mr. Perfect on Paper” is perfect for you.

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ARC provided by NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

Publication Date: August 9, 2022

“But what I learned from this journey, from finding my real-life Mr. Perfect on Paper, is that love isn’t something that can be quantified on a list. Love is messy. And terrifying. It shows up when you least expect it, and complicates your life in every way. But it’s also…safe. And comforting. It allows you to be yourself completely, without judgment or fear, and it feels right.”

Heartbreak for Hire — Sonia Hartl

“I’d gotten stuck in a cycle of resentment and revenge. And I didn’t know how to find my way out again.”

Genre: Romance, Comedy
Actual Rating: 3 stars
Spicy Meter: 4 fire emojis
Content Warnings: Extremely toxic work environment, mentions cheating, abandonment, and dealing with narcissistic personalities.

“Heartbreak for Hire” follows Brinkley Saunders, a grad school dropout who’s been working for a woman-owned business called Heartbreak For Hire—where they do just that: get payed to break the heart of egocentric douchebags. But what if they’re not all so bad? In comes Mark, one of her ex-targets now turned coworker, who’s an adjunct professor with some nerdy hobbies and passions. Their attraction is both undeniable and inappropriate, but Brinkley is set in not falling in love and in saving up for her dream of opening up an art gallery, so pursuing their love would be a waste of time, right? Right?

I had a love/hate relationship with this book. I loved the concept but really hated how so many important points were left untied. Like, for example, we saw how abusive Margo, Heartbreak For Hire’s boss/owner, was, and we saw how Brinkley dealt with that, but we didn’t really get to see how that outcome impacted Margo and her business or if Brinkley ever suffered from PTSD after that. I don’t know. I feel like the “evil” characters should have a more clear downfall.

Other than that, I really enjoyed the book and I feel like the characters were really likable. I’m not sure who I would recommend this book to, but, basically, if you have nothing else to do, might as well grab it. It’s not a bad book, it’s just not a great book either. Hence the 3-star rating.

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Today Tonight Tomorrow — Rachel Lynn Solomon

“Maybe that’s the definition of nostalgia: getting sappy about things that are supposed to be insignificant.”

Genre: Young Adult, Romantic Comedy
Actual Rating: 4.5 stars
Content Warnings: Deals with racism, discrimination, and antisemitism.

“Today Tonight Tomorrow” follows Rowan Roth and Neil McNair, two rivals and overachievers—hence why they end up being valedictorian and salutatorian—through their last day of high school. Set in Seattle, we accompany them through Howl, a sort of Senior sent-off that takes them all through the city. When Rowan and Neil realize they have more in common than they originally thought, and they realize the only way they’ll win Howl is by working together, will they overcome their past rivalry or will their stubbornness damn them?

I loved this book so much. Seattle felt like the Vancouver of the United States to me, and Vancouver is one of my absolute favorite cities. My biggest regret is that I lived relatively close to Vancity and I didn’t visit it half as much as I should’ve. This book gave me the opportunity to explore a city I’ve never been to and I loved every second of it.

The romance was childish, just like it should be in every YA book. Rowan’s and Neil’s banter was fun and funny and light. This book served as an escape from my everyday, adult life, and I am so grateful for it.

I would recommend this book to readers who like the enemies-to-lovers trope and to those who like exploring new cities, through all their quirkiness and glory.

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“I’ve given this boy the messiest parts of me, and he’s done nothing but convince me he’ll be careful with them.”

The Temporary Roomie — Sarah Adams — It Happened In Nashville #2

Genre: Romance, Comedy
Actual Rating: 2 stars
Spicy meter: 2 fire emojis
Content Warnings: Mentions cheating and parent death, other than that none that I can think of.

“The Temporary Roomie” is the second book in the It Happened In Nashville series, and this time we’re following Jessie, Lucy’s new bestie, and Drew, Lucy’s brother. This book is set after the first book in the series, which was titled “The Off Limits Rule” but it could almost be read as a stand-alone. Jessie is far along in her pregnancy when she is essentially left homeless due to some plumbing issues in her house. Initially, she moves in with Lucy and Cooper, but they have a noisy house with a toddler running around when all Jessie wants to do is rest up before her baby arrives. And so on she goes and moves in with Drew, Lucy’s older brother, who’s a gynecologist and a bachelor who’s used to having roommates. The only problem? Jessie has hated Drew from day one, before even knowing him– so wouldn’t this be the perfect time to bug him out of his mind? Through a series of pranks, will Jessie and Drew grow closer or further apart?

I don’t know how I could like the first book in a series so much and then hate the second… But that’s exactly what has happened here. And it’s so confusing because I loved the romance between Jessie and Drew, but I hated the “getting there” part of it all. Like when they got together it was lovely, but you could’ve added those scenes into any other context, in any other romance, and it would’ve worked. Realistically, I don’t think Jessie and Drew would’ve ended together, given the way they treated each other if this was real life. And yes, I know it’s a book, and it’s precisely fiction, but when I’m reading pure romance I like it when the setting is somewhat possible. But I don’t know, maybe that’s just me.

I don’t think I will be recommending this book to anyone personally, but if you like books where there’s a lot of rude pranking and a lot of pregnancy talk, then this book might be for you.

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The Off Limits Rule — Sarah Adams — It Happened In Nashville #1

“It’s been years since I’ve met a woman who genuinely blushes, and here she is, yanking down the hem of her cover-up and darting secret glances at me when she thinks I’m not looking. I’m looking, though.”

Genre: Romance, Comedy
Actual Rating: 4 stars
Spicy meter: 2.5 fire emojis
Content Warnings: Mentions a child needing a routine surgery, other than that none that I can think of.

“The Off Limits Rule” follows Lucy, a single mother and hairdresser, and Cooper, a good-looking guy who’s totally into Lucy. The only problem? Cooper is Lucy’s older brother’s best friend and she has been labeled to be completely off-limits… So he can’t be with her, right? But what if she’s the one?

I loved this book. Loved the dynamics between Lucy and her family, Lucy and her friends, Lucy and Cooper. You could perhaps even say I was the one crushing on Lucy through this book. She was so relatable as a character. And then comes in Cooper, a guy who’s completely too good to be true, which is the exact kind of guy I want to read about sometimes.

And so I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone looking for a short, comical, mild romance. Cooper was such a tease and I was there for it. Their love story was wild but sweet. Definitely grab this book if you’re looking for a story that isn’t that complicated or long.

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ARC — How to Be the Best Third Wheel — Loridee de Villa

Genre: Romance, Comedy, YA
Actual Rating: 3 stars
Content Warning: As provided by the author… “WARNING: This book may cause a loss of brain cells from facepalms, premature wrinkles from periodic cringing, irregular and rapid heartbeat from character ships, occasional uncontrollable swooning, and many relatable moments. The author takes no responsibility for damage to books or electronic devices if you hurl yours across the room.” Which I found hilarious.

“How to Be the Best Third Wheel” follows Lara as she comes to the realization that she’ll be the biggest third wheel this year: all 3 of her best friends at school are in relationships now. She compiles a useful guide with funny rules (stated at the beginning of each chapter) about how to survive just this: being the third wheel. As her school and social dynamics change, and she’s forced to tutor her archnemesis, she goes through all the typical teenage crises—including falling in love herself.

So, I have to set the record straight. I gave this book 3 stars as a YA romance book, but as a YA fanfic or Wattpad novel? I’d probably give it 5 stars. This fic is quirky, funny in a childish way, and plagued with clichés—but that’s something the author warns us about on the very first page.

I would recommend this book as a gift to a very young reader. If you’re looking for a book that’s a romance but is completely clean, with only a few innocent kisses here and there, then look no further: “How to Be the Best Third Wheel” is for you.

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ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Publication Date: May 03, 2022