Reviewed by Sam@WLABB on
My first impression of Naomi was favorable. I liked her snark, but as the pranks escalated, I was worried. I thought this was going to be one of those gotcha-romances. You know, the ones that don't end in an HEA, but I persisted, and it really paid off.
I will admit, I was laughing a LOT as I read this book, but there were times I winced at how cruel Naomi and Nicholas were to each other. That is why, for me, this story picked up once they started shedding some of their shiny veneer, and started being real, with each other and themselves. They were almost reborn in the rubble of their picture perfect farce of a relationship, and what emerged was better and stronger than what they were before.
I keep hearing things about Naomi being unlikable. UGHHHHHH! She had reasons for this, and I had no problem accepting them. This was a form of self-protection, which she was aware of and tried to battle, and I guess that's why I was ok with it. I felt as if Nicholas came around a lot quicker, though. He would make these small, and misconstrued, gestures, which were terribly sweet. He was also more open and honest with Naomi, than she was with him, and it made me wish for some of the chapters to be told from his point of view. I was able to gain a lot of insight into what Naomi was feeling, but I Nicholas was not as transparent. I feel like I may have melted had I been let into his head, and that is something I would totally be onboard for.
Like I said, the book was a lot of fun, and that fun was augmented by some great supporting characters. The Junk Store crew were a fabulous bunch, and I really did have a fantastic time with them. I also really liked how they fit into the storyline, and provided some rather wonderful surprises. The ending was an utter delight, too. It had me smiling my face off, and shedding happy tears.
I definitely understand everyone making The Hating Game comparisons, because I found myself making them too. It was similar, but different. So, if The Hating Game, War of the Roses, and lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers is your jam, I believe you would enjoy this book. You may cringe in the beginning, but I predict you will be smiling at the end.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
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Reading updates
- Started reading
- 26 February, 2020: Finished reading
- 26 February, 2020: Reviewed