Twice Shy

4.5 stars. This was such a fun and overwhelmingly sweet read. The main characters are some of my favorites that I've come across in a long time. And I'm always here for a good forced proximity trope.

I docked a half star because at first, Maybell comes across as a doormat and very not-like-other-girls. I wasn't sure if that was going to work for her but the author did a great job of showcasing her flaws, making them relatable, and having her grow from them over the course of the story. Wesley, too. I had a really fun time with this story. Laughed out loud several times and couldn't stop grinning over certain things. This was the first book that really gripped me in a long time so I would definitely recommend it.

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for honest review.

Every review I've seen said this book was sweet. I honestly do not have anything more to add.

This was the sweetest contemporary romance I've read. The characters are nice and likeable, the romance feels real and I'm probably a bit in love with Wesley myself.

If you need something to brighten you mood, this is it.

Maybell Parrish adalah seorang pemimpi yang mendambakan kisah romantis. Dia suka membayangkan kedai kopi sebagai Alternate Universe (AU) dimana seorang pangeran tampan jatuh cinta kepadanya dan melamarnya. AU-nya merupakan pelariannya dari kekecewaannya dalam kehidupan nyata. Ketika Maybell mendapat kabar bahwa dia adalah pewaris dari rumah nenek-bibi Violet, kesempatan itu langsung diambilnya untuk meninggalkan kehidupannya sekarang.
Namun ketika Maybell tiba di kediaman mendiang Violet, rumah itu jauh dari bayangan dan kenangannya sewaktu dia kecil. Bukan hanya rumahnya sangat tidak terawat dan terancam hancur, Maybell bukan satu-satunya pewaris rumah tersebut. Maybell harus berbagi rumah itu dengan Wesley Koehler, penjaga taman Violet.
Aku menyukai You Deserve Each Other, oleh karenanya aku mencoba Twice Shy juga. Banyak lelucon dan dialog lucu disini, seperti bukunya yang pertama. Suka dengan romansa slow-burn antara Maybell dan Wesley. Aku merekomendasikan buku ini untuk penggemar genre romance.

Imagine inheriting a decades old manor and over two hundred acres of land. Exploring and renovating with your enemy-turned-friend-turned-lover,forced proximity,secret passageways,hide and seek,love letters,hand flexes,matchmaking from beyond the grave,treasure hunt,sharing a tent,kissing in the rain,dancing in the kitchen,baking together,a trip to Scotland...

This story is the definition of dreamy.
The main character,Maybell has an extremely vivid imagination,often escapes to and/or gets lost in her daydreams. She's a people pleaser,meek and quirky. A goofball with a huge heart,which is often taken advantage of by her mother Julie or her colleague Gemma. In certain situations I found her even somewhat childish,but really liked the character arc that was given her: how she learned to stand up for herself. Interestingly,the male protagonist,Wesley is even more insecure than the MC,which I loved reading! TW: Severe social anxiety,self-doubt,self-deprecation and claustrophobia. He was incredibly hostile in the first 100 or so pages which had me worried,but slowly his behaviour earned an explanation and his true self turned out to be adorable and devoted. Loved the subtle twists in the story. Their romance is pink haze and fluffy clouds,quite literally. It's genius how Maybell developing feelings for Wesley and the moment when the realization hit was shown through her mind,the way her fictional coffee shop transformed out of her control. The spicy scene is beautifully written,nothing explicit if someone's concerned about that. I wouldn't neccessarily say they complete each other,but after overcoming obstacles,these two characters help the other become stronger,healthier and more confident. Definitely a perfect match. Pick up this book if you want to indulge in some tooth-rotting fluff!

OMG! I loved this book. Maybell and Wesley are great characters. I was happy for them, sad for them, and mad for them at various times. It really made me care about their relationship. I liked the spice level, low, because it gave them time to get to know one another. Maybell's daydreams were funny at first and then sad. I like the way that those developed in relation to her development. I generally don't reread books, but I could reread this one.