The Fiancée Farce
Ratings39
Average rating4
I picked this one up from it's place of distinction on the library kiosk during Pride Month. Part of my allyship is making an effort to read LGBTQIA authors. Rom Coms are not my usual genre of choice but this one did a solid job of giving the characters depth and the storyline plenty to work with. There were a good number of characters whose motivations were dodgey or at least seemingly sketchy. The protagonists both had compelling internal narratives. I liked them both and I wanted them to find their happily ever after. This was a well written story- not just a romance but a rom com with some nice depth to it.
3.8- I have mixed feelings because the writing style felt like reading wattpad but with millennial humor and Disney channel comedic timing. I picked it up from the library but, apart from some cringe, I was entertained and mostly invested lol.
5 stars ⭐️ because...
...gay
... adult and not teen (which I enjoy as well, but I appreciate more adult stories too)
... NO MISCOMMUNICATION (like in every other god-damn romance novel out there)
... very sweet but also realistic (especially the spicy scenes)
Every so often, I remember how much I LOVE romance. A book with well-done tropes, engaging characters, and a great plot really does the trick for me. And this ticked all my boxes! I loved how self-aware and playful the narrative was, Taylor Swift and romance stereotypes being referenced, poking a little fun while remaining true to the emotional heart of the writing. Gemma and Tansy were such lovely protagonists, their dynamic was so enjoyable, and the side characters brought so much life to their world. I also appreciated the care taken in the social dynamics of a classist, patriarchal, wealthy world - I usually expect to dislike rich characters and instead appreciated how they were portrayed, good and bad. My other favorite aspect was that the last third of the book was really well done. The ups and downs fit my expectations and surprised me at the same time. I'm really looking forward to seeing this book on shelves! (And reading Bellefleur's other works, since this was my first.)
Thank you for NetGalley for the digital ARC!