Ratings36
Average rating3.8
This book started strong, but by the end struggled to hit for me. As an autistic woman I liked the representation of the main character, but...
By the end of book it felt like the author had a checklist of IDs, and every character had to represent someone or something, and I felt like it cheapened it, watering down the representation until it was just another drop in the bucket. Some of the other characters will have their own books in the series, and those details could have been teased, but then waited for their own books to actually get into the IDs of those characters.
Secondly - the break up was so random and not supported by the plot, and same with the reunion. The characters deserved better, and it cost my rating a whole star.
I love Chloe Liese Bergman Brother series and I was very excited to read her debut on a major publishing house.
This book is a modern adaptation of Shakespeare's “Much ado about nothing” which, albeit I know the story, I haven't read neither have seen any adaptation. That said, I enjoyed the story and the characters, as I usually do on other Chloe books.
What I liked about the book:
- Neurodivergent and Anxiety representation.
- I've struggled a bit to connect to the characters in the beginning, especially Bea, but as they settled on their arrangement and started to spend more time together, I ended liking their dynamic and rooting for them.
- As usual, Chloe is an expert in writing book boyfriends.
- Lots of communication between the MC's, on and off the bed.
What I think it could have been done better:
- There were several moments on the book when I was trying to guess the end and considering a lot of options that could ruin the story. However, as the story progressed, all of them were proven wrong and I was excited for the big finale, until it finally came, and I absolutely hated it. There is no other way to put this... The final conflict was stupid, a complete nonsense and ruined the book.
I'm a bit disappointed but intend to continue read Chloe books, now hoping for better story ends.
Wow this was so adorable!!!!
I love Jamie so much. What a sweetheart.
Enemies to lovers, fake dating.
The way these 2 understand each other, without needing words. Oh my heart.
The way this author talks about anxiety and mental health, it's done with such care. It's beautiful.
Despite the source material (Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing), there is little antagonism between the MCs after a disastrous meet-awkward. Which means the majority of the book is a sweet, swoony romance. Bea (who has autism) and Jamie (who has social anxiety) display kindness, thoughtfulness and acceptance as they go from being conspirators to friends to lovers. The Hero and Claudio subplot fortunately doesn't mirror the original other than making the Claudio-based character a total douche canoe. The third act breakup is mercifully brief, with the almost perfect Jamie setting the stage for a HEA that manages to be both enchanted and realistic.
Bea's sister Kate appears to be the subject of Liese's next release in a Taming of the Shrew/Kiss Me Kate homage. Not my favorite Shakespeare by a long shot, but it will be interesting to see how the author addresses the blatant misogyny of the original.