Single Dad Seeks Juliet

by Max Monroe

[Berls]

It's very rare that I give a contemporary romance 5 stars. I guess I usually need something a bit MORE to push it into that 5 star category. But despite the truly awful cover, this book had me laughing so hard and made me fall in love with all the characters that I can't cut it short. It's 5 stars.

I think the number one thing you have to know about this book is that it is HILARIOUS. I didn't just internally chuckle. I laughed out loud and there were times where I could not stop laughing because it was one hilarious moment after another. The doctor's office scene was absolutely the best, followed in close second by the text messages from Holly's dad. What a riot!

But underneath the nonstop laughs are some really great, genuine characters. Holly is juggling the task of reporting on this Bachelor Anonymous competition (newspaper modified version of the Bachelor) while personally being deeply hurt by her cheating ex-fiance and really not believing in love anymore. Watching her deal with her self-confidence and healing, while also just being such an incredibly genuine person was great. Then you have Jake, the Bachelor. He's a single dad and ex-navy seal who has built his life around raising his daughter after her mother died in childbirth. Heart melting yet? If not, read the book and get to know him fully. It will melt. There are a few secondary characters - like a good friend Garret and Jake's daughter - that only make the book better.

The actual plot is predictable - typical HEA Contemporary Romance. But the characters and the humor made it a stand out. I would not hesitate to read another Max Monroe book and wish I had more on my shelf already.

The narration was just okay. I really enjoyed the female narrator, Stephanie Rose, but Alexander Cendese took some getting used to. He wasn't a bad narrator by any means, but maybe a bit too intense? I think maybe I wouldn't have had any trouble if it were just Stephanie Rose or just Alexander Cendese. But they were so very different, the transition between them was a bit jarring. Obviously it didn't hurt my enjoyment of the book and I would listen to both again. I just would have preferred a different pairing.