Helpful Score: 1
I really liked this book. Based on the cover and on Olivia's matchmaker status, I went into it expecting a much lighter book. By the time we get our first glimpse of Neville's despair when trying to make it through the night, which happen on pages 15 - 19, I realized that this story would be quite a bit darker than I expected. But then the story reverted back to a less angsty tone. It seemed like the despair would come unexpectedly, for me at least. I kind of liked it.
Even though the book had a lighthearted tone through most of it, it never felt fluffy. The characters felt well-rounded and engrossing. I particularly like the mother's character. I still don't know if I like her or not, but I felt that she was given a lot of time and attention. I liked how information about her relationship with Olivia's father was given in small doses through stray comments. It felt way more authentic than characters info-dumping about a subject that they weren't comfortable discussing with each other. I felt that Olivia's mother was willfully blind to Olivia's issues. But what could she really say to change her mind? I understood both of their side's but I wished she was less self absorbed.
I really felt for Olivia. She was never a ninny, but she was afraid. Afraid of repeating past mistakes. She only saw the black and white of the issue, not the gray. She didn't understand that those symptoms of attraction don't always spell disaster. I really liked how levelheaded Olivia was. It seemed like that was also her biggest weakness at times. She was too afraid to let herself go. I really appreciated that she didn't sugarcoat Neville's drinking. She refused to let herself be sucked into that kind of relationship.
I really liked how she would go write in her journal whenever Neville irritated her in the beginning of the book. I also liked the note he left back! She was always so irritated and scandalized by his gall, but Neville was right when he said that's what drew her to him too.
Neville was an interesting character. He wasn't a rake, but wasn't adverse to dallying. He also didn't conform to the typical portrayal of an alcoholic. In some ways that's my main gripe with the story. I felt that it was much too easy for him to ignore his addiction when it suited the story. I liked that the epilogue alluded to his sleeping problem taking a while to fix, but I still would have like a bit more care taken with his drinking problem.
I really liked their relationship together. I'm interested in going back and reading about the couples that Olivia had a hand in setting up!
I had to reread two parts of the book before I put it down. The scene where Olivia talks to her brother in an attempt to foil Neville's plan to pressure her into doing something she didn't want to. His reaction was so funny! The other scene was where Sarah busts her mom and the brother jumps to the wrong conclusion. His shock when he found out what was really going on was hilarious!
Even though the book had a lighthearted tone through most of it, it never felt fluffy. The characters felt well-rounded and engrossing. I particularly like the mother's character. I still don't know if I like her or not, but I felt that she was given a lot of time and attention. I liked how information about her relationship with Olivia's father was given in small doses through stray comments. It felt way more authentic than characters info-dumping about a subject that they weren't comfortable discussing with each other. I felt that Olivia's mother was willfully blind to Olivia's issues. But what could she really say to change her mind? I understood both of their side's but I wished she was less self absorbed.
I really felt for Olivia. She was never a ninny, but she was afraid. Afraid of repeating past mistakes. She only saw the black and white of the issue, not the gray. She didn't understand that those symptoms of attraction don't always spell disaster. I really liked how levelheaded Olivia was. It seemed like that was also her biggest weakness at times. She was too afraid to let herself go. I really appreciated that she didn't sugarcoat Neville's drinking. She refused to let herself be sucked into that kind of relationship.
I really liked how she would go write in her journal whenever Neville irritated her in the beginning of the book. I also liked the note he left back! She was always so irritated and scandalized by his gall, but Neville was right when he said that's what drew her to him too.
Neville was an interesting character. He wasn't a rake, but wasn't adverse to dallying. He also didn't conform to the typical portrayal of an alcoholic. In some ways that's my main gripe with the story. I felt that it was much too easy for him to ignore his addiction when it suited the story. I liked that the epilogue alluded to his sleeping problem taking a while to fix, but I still would have like a bit more care taken with his drinking problem.
I really liked their relationship together. I'm interested in going back and reading about the couples that Olivia had a hand in setting up!
I had to reread two parts of the book before I put it down. The scene where Olivia talks to her brother in an attempt to foil Neville's plan to pressure her into doing something she didn't want to. His reaction was so funny! The other scene was where Sarah busts her mom and the brother jumps to the wrong conclusion. His shock when he found out what was really going on was hilarious!
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