3.63

It started off strong but weakend towards the end, particularly regarding the resolution of the plot; which was certainly due to the page count.

3.25/5

This is a very typical Lucy Score book. Funny (mostly), banter, crazy small town, a bit too long. Hazel and Campbell didn’t convince me as main characters at first, but only Hazel really grew on me. Campbells background/past was only discussed on the surface and never really developed. His character flipped from one moment to the next. The side characters were what kept me going in this story and will continue with the series.

Story of My Life is a diverting summer romcom that entertained me enough and annoyed me a bit. (In other words, a pretty good review from me since I don't love contemporary romance.)

Our FMC was climbing her way out of rock bottom in a very endearing way, and she was not going to let anyone stand in the way of her comeback story. Well, her MMC kind of stood in her way a bit but her amazing best friend and townie friends ensured she kept on track. I admired her bravery to communicate with the MMC, especially when she had been so burned before. I do appreciate that we have some divorcee representation! The MMC was a classic grump and did have moments of thoughtfulness that really set him up for real potential, but his immaturity really drove me nuts. The supporting characters were actually very strong, and I really enjoyed the friendships and family relationships in this book. The book was obviously going for a Schitts Creek town kind of vibe, and it worked pretty well. The animal representation was gratuitous and nonetheless delightful.

I really liked how communication and consent was a consistent theme throughout this book... until the MMC blew through those boundaries. I really wish the MMC listened more to the FMC, especially when she was telling him everything you'd need to know! Also, I am not personally a fan of the majority of nicknames in romances, and "trouble" as her nickname was silly to me personally. The third act breakup was really tough to stomach. The MMC is in his late thirties and the FMC was honestly making things so easy for him.

This book could have been edited down about 100-200 pages and it would have eliminated some of this unnecessary interpersonal conflict the author cooked up. The humor was also very millennial (when will he escape Taylor Swift references in contemporary romance???), and coming out of reading Mate, I was not ready for another nonsense waffle-related insult. The pacing was mostly fine but the momentum did stall at times. Again, at a shorter page length, this wouldn't be a problem.

There is discussion of grief and abusive ex partners. If you're looking for a classic romance-author-needs-inspiration-and-moves-to-a-small town, you'll likely have a good time with this book. The other characters in this book were not as silly macho man as the MMC, so I might be interested in other books in this series.

2.63/5

River was the fun uncle in The Nanny Off Limits, and that’s exactly why I liked him. He provided a great contrast to Rowan. However, his level of maturity as a 38-year-old male protagonist really suited the 21 year old college student—oh sorry, 19 year old high school student. At the start, he was keen on settling down and starting a family, yet not once did he make a decision that actually worked toward that goal. The very reason he ended up in this situation was that he’d been acting like a typical fuckboy. He constantly emphasized the significant age gap, but when it came to taking risks, he was usually the driving force. We don't really get any character growth from either of them. I enjoyed the cameo by his brother and his brother's family from the first book. The spice scenes were great, and as usual QBT’s writing style flows easily, making for a fast read.

Side note: I can hardly believe QBT actually released the book when she said she would, we only had to wait nearly two and a half years. It’s better than her last release "Wilder Saints", but compared to my re-read of "The Nanny Off Limits", I get the feeling she isn't putting the same heart into it as she used to.