99% Mine: the perfect laugh out loud romcom from the bestselling author of The Hating Game

by Sally Thorne

'The next Sophie Kinsella' BUSTLE

'A brilliant, biting, hilarious new voice' KRISTAN HIGGINS

'I would read Sally Thorne's grocery list. She is THAT good' GOODREADS

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Crush (n.): a strong and often short-lived infatuation, particularly for someone beyond your reach . . .

Darcy Barrett found her dream man at age eight - ever since, she's had to settle for good enough. Having conducted a global survey of men, she can categorically say that no one measures up to Tom Valeska, whose only flaw is that he's her twin brother Jamie's best friend - oh, and that ninety-nine of the time, he hasn't seemed interested in her.

When the twins inherit their grandmother's tumble-down cottage, they're left with strict instructions to bring it back to its former glory. Darcy plans to leave as soon as the renovations start, but before she can cut and run - her usual MO - she finds a familiar face on her porch: Tom's arrived bearing power tools, and he's single for the first time in almost a decade.

Suddenly Darcy's sticking around. Sparks start to fly - and not just because of the faulty wiring. But a one percent chance with Tom is no longer enough. This time around, Darcy's switching things up. She's going to make Tom Valeska ninety-nine percent hers.

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Find out why everyone is obsessed with Sally Thorne

'The perfect sexy, fun love story to read by the pool' PAIGE TOON on 99% Mine

'Charming, self-deprecating, quick-witted and funny.' The New York Times on The Hating Game

'A smart and funny modern romance.' Good Housekeeping on The Hating Game

'One of the most delectable rom-coms I've ever read' Entertainment Weekly on The Hating Game

• ISBN10: 0349422885
• ISBN13: 9780349422886
• Publish Date: 29 January 2019
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 5 March 2021
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group
• Imprint: Piatkus Books
• Format: Paperback (UK Trade)
• Pages: 368
• Language: English

Reviews

[bearley]

Initially gave it 5 stars, but was left empty with the lack of love in the story. Being childhood friends you’d expect that trope to be filled with the usual gooey softness you’re looking for but the main character seems to mainly lust after the leading man. The will-they-won’t-they was extremely rushed. Was hopeful for the side characters but they fell flat where they could’ve really shined and added more to the story.

Went in looking for a rom-com and ended up with more of a smutty fanfiction that fell weak at the plot.

[jamiereadthis]

Ouch, big step down from The Hating Game. May try again, but just not in the mood for this kind of temper. DNF for now.

"I think I met my ideal man when I was eight, and no one else has ever measured up." (Darcy Barrett)

  
I've been in the mood to read light-hearted contemporary books recently, mostly because uni has been putting me through the wringer.

Darcy Barrett, the main character, is smart, witty, sassy and spunky. I usually love badass, snarky and impulsive heroines, but Darcy is selfish and immature. She has a heart condition, but she doesn't even try to take care of herself. Her heart condition is also used as a plot device. 

While the characters have unique traits, they aren't developed and I couldn't connect with them. The characters in 99 Percent Mine are nothing new.

I'm not a fan of the romance. Darcy and Tom have plenty of chemistry, but their relationship is more about lust than love. I'm also not a fan of the possessiveness and jealousy in their relationship. It felt like the only reason Darcy wanted to be with Tom was because of the competitiveness between Darcy and her twin brother, Jamie. Tom is a human being, for goodness sake. 

Plot-wise, 99 Percent Mine doesn't have much substance. There's miscommunication and I really couldn't understand the reason why Tom and Darcy couldn't be with each other. I found all the will-they-won't-they annoying.
 
Also, there's something about the writing that bothered me. I found it extremely difficult to follow the dialogue and the scene transitions were so weird. I thought this would get better, the more I read, but it didn't.

I picked up 99 Percent Mine because I thought it would be a fun rom-com. However, I ended up reading about underdeveloped characters, a relationship that I didn't care much for, a plot that lacks substance and writing that I just couldn't get used to. 

"Once someone's mine, they're gonna stay mine. One hundred percent, forever. You know what I'm like." (Darcy Barrett)

[leahrosereads]

Sally Thorne can tell a story, and it kept me entertained. I liked these characters just fine but not the tropes/plot/etc. All of these "problems" were completely self made or even non existent. So it all just felt very unnecessary.

I think I would have rather had this story focus on the twins' dynamic with the romantic relationships as an aside.

[mrs_mander_reads]

Loved this! So funny, and the characters worked on my heart big time. Can't wait to pick up The Hating Game.

[Joséphine]

Actual rating: 3.5 stars

Initial thoughts: 99 Percent Mine was entertaining what with a trio consisting of a snarky main character, her twin brother, and his best friend who also was her romantic interest. As complicated as their relationships were though, I didn't think I got to know the characters as well as I should have. Still, this audiobook offered good fun with some intense complications along the way.

[KitsuneBae]

Heartfelt but the plot was the typical 'from bestfriend to lovers' romance.

[bookperson]

dnf

I was so excited for Sally Thorne's new book since previous one is one of my favorites, but I couldn't get into this one. I feel like she's trying to explore heavier topics in her writing and make characters more rustic and raw, but with the sprinkle of usual romance cuteness. I think that makes them less genuine, like people who trying to act cool but you can clearly see that they're not.
I hope with the next book her writing evolves yet another time and we're going to get something awesome. This one just wasn't for me.

[Lynn]

Highly anticipated, I dived right into this latest novel by Sally Thorne.

Darcy Barrett is a fighter. . . for attention. As the younger twin, she's lived in the shadow of her alpha brother Jamie, a fact amplified by her health issue. Growing up the two fought until their parents 'adopted' a neighbour's son, who became the peace-keeper between the squabbling siblings. During this time, her brother dominated the attention of Tom Valenska, but now Darcy wants him for herself.

Tom Valenska will always be grateful to the Barrett family for helping him and his mum when he grew up. Now, he's been asked to renovate the house his childhood friends inherited. It's the first job he's undertaking after setting up his own company and Darcy will be there too, but for how long?

First off, I really, really liked Tom. He's tall, good looking with a compassionate and caring nature. Very different from his childhood friend Jamie, who dominated his attention. However, his friendship with Darcy meant as much to him too…yet it's something which has gone unsaid.

Darcy wasn't a heroine I instantly warmed to as her personality and actions made her come across as aggressive and reckless. So, it's satisfying to get to know her once she tones down her bravado, there's a young woman who wants what many others want . . . a happy ever after with the 'one'.

I like how Ms Thorne wrote this romance because of the reversal in dominance. Despite Darcy been the weaker twin, she has a very alpha attitude and presence for a woman, which contrasts with Tom's beta male personality.

With fast and furious banter, the pace of the narrative speeds along and the pages turning, creating an entertaining novel which lives up to my expectations.

***arc generously received courtesy of William Morrow via Edelweiss+***

[kimbacaffeinate]

I tried, for the life of me I could not slip into this story. It felt all over the place, and I never connected. It is a shame because I adored The Hating Game.