Book Review: If It's Perfect

If It's Perfect (The Wedding Business Series #1) (2021) by Summer Dowell

Fiction | Romance | Comedy | Rom-Com

Disclaimer: In every review that I complete, I try my best to avoid spoilers of any kind and include spoiler warnings when necessary.

About the book (from Goodreads)

One thing I learned this week: DO NOT flirt while at a client’s wedding. (especially with anyone in a tux)

Success-driven Hope Fletcher has some lofty goals for her life. But is it really too much to want a thriving cake design business by age 29? Marry a perfect (emphasis on the perfect) man by age 30? Then have the kids, dog, and house in suburbia by age 34? If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.

Dean. Wonderful, dreamy Dean who loves kids (and will eventually grow to love dogs) steps into Hope's world. He's the exact type of man she's been looking for and she starts falling. Hard.

But will Hope's perfect image of Dean crumble when she finds out about his past?

A clean, loud-out-loud romantic comedy that's full of sarcasm and swoons!

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My Review

I'm trying to read as many romance novels as possible in February, and I am happy to say that this clean, cheesy story was right up my alley! This book was a super-fast read that fit all the romantic comedy boxes. So if that is what you're looking for, go for it!

The Good Things

1. The title is absolutely perfect for the story. Read below to understand why.

2. The main character of this book, Hope, is a type-A control freak (I can relate) and perfectionist who has trouble straying from her life plan. That plan includes not finding a romantic partner for at least two more years while she continues to find success in her wedding cake business. Hope is a fantastically written character, and that's why this book is so great.

3. I now want to be a cake decorator. I've always loved baking, but I think Hope's career might be my new passion after reading this.

The Bad Things

1. I'm only pointing this out because some people may not like the cheesy aspects of the story, but at times, the relationship between the main characters may feel inauthentic to some because of it. However, this is a corny rom-com, so I welcome it!

2. I guessed some of the twists and story plots way ahead of time, so it is somewhat predictable. Although, aren't most cheesy rom-com's predictable?

My Final Rating: ☆☆☆☆/5

This book is currently available for purchase and is on Kindle Unlimited.

After being given access to an arc copy of On Schedule, I decided to read the other standalone books in Summer Dowell's The Wedding Business series first! Click here to see a review of It's Just Business (The Wedding Business Series #2).

Click here to see a review of On Schedule (The Wedding Business Series #3) (arc).

Feel free to leave comments concerning how you liked -or didn't like, no judgment here- it! If you don't have access, let me know if this is on your tbr! I would love to hear your thoughts!

Book Review: The Wilde Card (arc)

The Wilde Card (arc) (2022) by Ashley R. King

Fiction | Romance | Comedy | Rom-Com

Disclaimer: In every review that I complete, I try my best to avoid spoilers of any kind and include spoiler warnings when necessary.

About the book (from Goodreads)

Simone Warner is a mom, a perfectionist, and former CEO. She’s spent her life living up to the expectations of others—which is why she decides to have a one-night stand with a gorgeous tennis player eight years her junior. One wild night of reckless abandon, right?

Not exactly.

After she quits her job as CEO of Warner Hotels, Simone agrees to help notorious tennis player Julian Smoke coach a new top-secret player. Tennis has always been her passion, and Simone eagerly takes the plunge. What she doesn’t expect is for her steamy one-night stand to waltz through the doors with a smirk on his face and a racket in hand.

Alex Wilde can’t seem to get a handle on his game. Obsessed with besting his vile tennis star step-brother, he turns to Julian Smoke and his training center for help. That’s when he sees her—the only woman who has ever left his bed without a goodbye. Simone Warner is his new assistant coach…and his only hope at getting back into the game.

The problem? Alex can’t stop thinking about the woman who holds his future in her hands. And now, he has to play a very different kind of game, one where he has to win the girl.

Everyone knows to never underestimate a wild card—on or off the court.

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Note: Thank you to Netgalley & the publishers for allowing me access to this arc! Please note that all opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

My Review

I'm trying to read as many romance novels as possible in February, so I was happy to see that I was given access to this cute romance! I was first drawn to The Wilde Card because of the cover and the name. I mean, look at it; it's adorable! The book started off with an intriguing scene and just kept going from there. I read it in two sessions but had to force myself through a portion past the middle (hence, the three stars).

The Good Things

1. The first chapter hooks you right in and makes you want to read the rest of the story. All good books should have that, so bravo to King on that one.

2. The first half is chalked full of funny moments. I laughed several times, especially at Paul's character, who is your classic old man who knows little of technology and its terms. My favorite scene with Paul is in the cab with Alex and Simone. I won't say more than that to avoid spoilers, but once you read it, you'll understand why.

3. It's a slow burn in a romantic sense, but not in a spicey sense. That was certainly different for me, especially since I don't always LOVE spicey scenes (they need to be done right and can't just be out of nowhere).

4. I feel the need to point out that cab drivers in this book have fun jobs, as they overhead (and see) a lot of exciting things.

The Bad Things

1. Nothing irritates me more than dialogue that seems forced and doesn't fit into a story. There were times when I felt like the conversations between Alex and Simone were unrealistic and forced.

2. At times I wanted to smack Simone over the head for her choices, especially regarding her ex-husband.

3. Between 52% and 90% of the story, I lost interest and had to push through it, which honestly is why I gave it three stars. Thankfully, the ending picked up, and I finished it rather quickly after that point.

My Final Rating: ☆☆☆/5

Release Date: February 15, 2022. Pre-order this from Amazon by clicking here!

If you have access to this ARC, please feel free to leave comments concerning how you liked -or didn't like, no judgment here- it! If you don't have access, let me know if this is on your tbr! I would love to hear your thoughts!

Book Review: The Wedding Season (arc)

The Wedding Season (arc) (2022) by Katy Birchall

Fiction | Romance | Comedy | Rom-Com

Disclaimer: In every review that I complete, I try my best to avoid spoilers of any kind and include spoiler warnings when necessary.

About the book (from Goodreads)

Freya Scott is getting married. Her wedding to Matthew, her long-term boyfriend, is the first of eight in her calendar this year, and as someone who prides herself on being meticulously organized, Freya is intent on making it the perfect day to remember.

But when Matthew calls things off hours before they walk down the aisle, Freya’s entire life plan goes up in smoke. Humiliated and heartbroken, the last thing she wants is to attend a summer of other peoples’ nuptials on her own.

Fortunately, her friends have an idea: together they devise a series of outrageous challenges for Freya to complete at each event, designed to distract her from Matthew and what might have been. From getting stuck in an old church bathroom and needing to be rescued by the vicar to making out with a barman at a French chateau, Freya realizes that despite herself, she might just be having fun.

By the time the final wedding arrives, she will discover that the road to a happy ending sometimes has unexpected detours, that “I do” is only the beginning––and that perhaps her own love story isn’t over just yet.

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Note: Thank you to Netgalley & the publishers for allowing me access to this arc! Please note that all opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

My Review

I'm trying to read as many romance novels as possible in February.

I was thrilled when I was given access to this arc. I LOVE a cheesy rom-com without excessive spice, and this book certainly delivered. The romance parts of the book are a slow burn, but it adds to the story in a cute way, and overall, I think this was a good read!

I seem to have stepped into a romance novel. And it is magnificent.

The Good Things

1. The story, overall, is fantastic and definitely fitting of a rom-com!

2. I laughed A LOT. My kindle-highlights are four pages long! This is definitely a funny and quotable book, and I'm here for it.

3. Katy's best friends are amazing and so supportive. I find myself seriously lacking in the friendship department after reading about them!

4. The cover is adorable and fitting for a romantic comedy! My eyes are drawn to it immediately. Even the UK cover is cute (see the photo above).

The Bad Things

1. The first 22% of the book is chalked full of the main character wallowing in self-pity. This type of drama is great for a movie, not-so-much for a book. I needed a little bit more action to fill those pages.

2. Some parts of the book contained a LOT of dialogue, which can be really annoying to read.

3. A few parts were a tad bland and seemed to drag a bit, but for the most part, the story flowed well.

My Final Rating: ☆☆☆☆/5

Release Date: May 3, 2022. Pre-order this from Amazon by clicking here!

If you have access to this ARC, please feel free to leave comments concerning how you liked -or didn't like, no judgment here- it! If you don't have access, let me know if this is on your tbr! I would love to hear your thoughts!