I wasn't impressed with this "sequel" to Love in Bloom's
924839
I expected to like this book because I had enjoyed the first Bloom's story. However, Susie Bloom's story just never really materialized in this book. I really expected some interaction of some sort with her boyfriend from the first book, Casey Gordon. I knew there were going to be problems with the relationship since they were already "together", but she didn't work on those problems - she ran away from them. The so-called main characters barely share *any* scenes in the book. And while I truly enjoyed finding out the "rest of the story" on the rest of the Bloom's, they totally took over this story that I thought was supposed to be about Susie and Casey. This book mainly seemed to be about what was now going on in the Bloom family. If that is the reason you want to read this book, you may enjoy it. But I found it wandered around too much and never settled on what story it was trying to tell.
184806
The book has received lots of stars. But it just didn't do it for me. I kept going through the pages without actually reading them. I loved the first one, the one about Summer and Carter, those characters were amazing. I also liked the second one in the series, even with some caveats about the definition of love that this author seemed to adhere to. Which is clearly depicted in this book. Basically, a view on love that includes one of the characters purposely hurting a person (does being selfish or conflicted make less of a hurting?) and then forcing the way back into the life of the one that is supposed to be loved, with little respect, lots of smirks, and less than sincere apologies. While the other one don't ask real questions, immediately forgives, and everyone is happy. I am not saying that it cannot be the case, as that is a personal choice. But in a book, I find it conflicting when you are portraying a strong, independent character, they are well past teenage years, and there is a a town where everybody knows about everything. So I found it repetitive, boring, and I'd wish that the author use her ability to write in a funny and attractive way to develop a little more optimist vision of love between two persons that are meant for each other.
3190703
This is not nearly as good as her first book, "Life Colors" which I absolutely LOVED. It's too repetitive, although it has some unique things to this book only. If you're looking for something only love and relationship related, then this is the book for you. If you want to learn more about yourself and others... get "Life Colors".
648202
Wicked Reunion is a second chance love story. I must say I was extremely disappointed with the book. I didn't like the plot but the writing was ok.
Both London and Jared were characters hard to fall in love. They just didn't speak to me. Jared was real bastard especially to London in the past but was the same in present. London was one of the least likeable heroine I read. She cried all the time had non appeal to me at all. The way she tried go on with her life was just wrong. And their reunion was no wicked at all. In the blink of an eye she forgot what Jared put her trough all those years back. What happened then was very predictable.
The book which will soon be forgotten.
*ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
2306519
Actually I thought this would be a nice time-passer after seeing Message  in the bottle and that for a second time I would be able to escape into  emotional trip. But the story was too foreseen, caracters and whereabouts  of story were similiar to that in Message. Again there was water, this time  a river, and Allison is a painter as Catherine in MITB. There were to many  similarity with  MITB that this novel can stand fo itself and give  something new and on the other hand that old romantic passion. I was  specially mindful to letters, for a search of that little moments that MITB  made my life more genuin. But those were nothing comparable to ones in MITB  and though I read it in several hours it has left me a taste of a bitter  orange. If you would like to read beautifull, subtile love story, try  Herman Hesse's Gertrud
2546205
If you're buying the book in order to experience the NFH wonderfulness of "Playing for Keeps," DON'T.  I loved "Playing for Keeps" and to a lesser extent, "Perfection."  "Sudden Response" I thought would have the same wonderful sense of humor with a sometimes clueless, arrogant, alpha type male and the sane woman who entertains herself by observing his odd behavior, but this is not the case.

This was more of a story of a life of an EMT (emergency medical technician).  Nothing against this profession, but it's not what I want to read about.  This story really dragged and seemed so unrealistic that the best friends contemplating romance didn't have this thought occur to them much, much earlier in their friendship.  They've been best friends since they were like 8, inseparable and highly affectionate with each other- and it's not until they're around 30 that they think romance?  This notion would have struck them sooner, like post high school, when they had both moved out of their parents' house.

I really had to slug through this book because there just wasn't anything that interesting going on.  I want a romance, not a repetitive storyline about training another EMT.
2130664
Spoilers..
There is no doubt that there is a love story in this book but it wasn't with the h and the H, rather this story revolved more around a the H and his former partner who died a year ago.  That love story completely overshadowed the H and h and because of this the story takes on a darker tone than what, IMO, a romance novel has.  I have read other books where the H is struggling with the memory of a lover and at a certain turning point they are able to heal and fall in love with someone else.  This story failed to ever really give the reader a sense of finality with the H's grieving which might have been the authors intent but that to me does not qualify as romance.  What made it even more depressing for me was that the h also had gone through some very traumatizing events in her own life which created insecurities that were reinforced by the H constant selfishness.  The H clearly used her.  He used her not to be alone, to get past his grief, to get a reaction from the family, to reach his daughter and to me that is just selfish.  Later when the h finally has had enough, the H then uses his daughter to try to get the h back.  Even then the H came up short with me, making the issue for the h leaving her own insecurities rather than the fact that he constantly treated her like she was simply not good enough.  His manipulations completely eclipse his ability to be able to see past the h scars, I was not impressed by him.  At the end of story I really did believe that the H loved the h but not that he was IN LOVE with her.  Had he a choice between his dead partner and the h, he would drop her in a minute.  He has put his dead lover in such a high pedestal that no human could possibly compare.  To me love is not about making the best out of your circumstances but about having a relationship that fills you in a  manner where you would not ever long to for anyone else, this was not the case for the H.  The h played secondary to so many things: the ghost of his idol dead partner, his daughter, his guilt over the relationship, etc.  It was all too much.  The h deserved to be with someone that loved her and was not always longing for the unattainable OM or constantly comparing her.

This book was just too depressing for me, the romance element was abridged to such a degree that I just did not enjoy the book.  The ending did not feel like a HEA.  As a romance, this book was a disappointment.
4084633
I was a big fan of To All The Boys I Loved Before so I bought this book without hesitation. I had missed Lara Jean and Kitty and Peter, but I wasn't as happy with this book. It dove a bit more into more mature themes like sex and cyber bullying, which didn't really draw away from the book but ended up being more of a main focus. I stilll liked all the Korean culture points and the family dynamic but I missed the relationship dynamics of the last book. Simply put, it just wasn't as cute or interesting.
4656228
Eh. I didn't get these two. Didn't see the chemistry there. Honestly the thing that stopped me reading it was how often he called her "baby". I've never understood why this term of endearment is so popular. It's really annoying. I don't mind it here and there while reading, but it just didn't fit. Harmony seemed to be the kind of woman who would hate this nickname. Come on, she's supposed to be super assassin woman. And then if it's dropped after almost every sentence in the conversation between the two of them. Ugh. I just can't. The two of them were not believable to me. I think I'll skim the rest of the book.
3727793
I'm not a huge fan of overly sweet love stories, but I did like these main characters for the most part. I wished I got more of them. Singularly and together, their banter was fun, but it was always so fleeting. Then the complete change of direction to bring them together was odd. It came across like odd missed something, or even skipped a few chapters. I mean it was predictable,  so yes I expected it, but there was no development to reach that point.  I also found the connection between the hero and heroine wasn't really explored. I'm okay if an author doesn't include graphic sex scenes, but I really wanted to see more chemistry played out and I'd like something more than a couple kisses. Even discounting physical intimacy, I felt cheated. We finally start to see the buried feelings between the two, and the story abruptly ends. How do you close the curtain just as the couple decides to get together? The reader never gets to see them as a true couple, there's no closure, no deepening of those feelings, we're just to assume "and they lived happily ever after." That left me pretty disappointed, and changed my rating from 3 stars. In the end, this felt like a prequel to the real story, but the next book in the series is an entirely different couple. So although I'm not a fan of syrupy sweet and stories, that's not what bothered me and earned the low rating. I read a full book of build up for nothing basically, I wanted to see them together, read their sassy conversations, and see them grow as a couple,  but I was slighted.
813785
After You however seemed to be a totally unnecessary sequel to what should have been a perfectly good and closed ending. I can understand why fans of the first book would be devastated to have its magic broken by such a mediocre and uninspiring follow-up. I picked up After You mostly because I already had a copy of it and it would mean one less series on my still-to-finish list. But to be honest, I kind of would have preferred not reading it at all. Unlike the first book, the plot in After You is rather weak, cliche and felt forced. Sure, its a fast read and the prose is easy to read, but I just felt something was missing The fact that Lily is a completely obnoxious and highly annoying character doesnt really help either. In short, would I suggest reading this sequel? I don't think so, because Ive heard a lot of actual fans feeling really disappointed by this sequel as well. Read at your own risk!
4741519
I was slowly becoming a fan of the series when I read the first book, but after reading the second book I am done. I don't think this is a love story; it is a tale of co-dependent people who are unable to function without each other. That is not love, that is toxic. I don't think they actually know what love is; they have developed this sick relationship with each other that made it hard for me to even finish reading. This book is not romantic nor cute - I am completely disappointed.
3915918
After falling in love with the characters in These Is My Words, I couldn't wait to read more about them in Sarah's Quilt. Unfortunately, this second book didn't have near the depth of the first. Even though this one is not quite the epic tale as the first book was, and understandably isn't as grand, there just wasn't the same characterization and involvement. I didn't feel as connected to the characters, and they didn't seem to grow and change like they did in "These..."
Also, I'm still left wondering why it's titled, "Sarah's Quilt." The quilt was hardly a part of the story. It's as if the author picked the title first, then wrote the book and threw in a few things about the quilt at the end.
Although, it did sate my appetite for more about Sarah Prine and her family, overall it was a little disappointing.
3061318
I had such high expectations of this book because of my love for Little Soul and The Sun.  I was so excited to receive it.  But I just didn't get the chills and energy I got from the first one.  It just seems like a huge complicated subject and it is impossible to encompass all that needs to be said in this short story.  It left my son with more questions than answers.  It is good, with wonderful graphics....but I don't see myself pulling it off the shelf again and again like I do the first one.
4504875
I'll be honest- I've never been impressed with the romance in "Romeo and Juliet". To me, the titular characters seem more infatuated than truly in love. But I thought they might take on more maturity in this interpretation.

Sadly, they didn't. Juliet in this novel is just as giddily in love as she was in the play. The author attempts to give her depth by having her read Dante and write her own poetry, but it doesn't work. Her favorite poetry all centers around romance, and her poetry is mostly fluff on the same topic. It didn't make her strong or remarkable. She seems just like any other love struck girl. I got tired of the books insistence that Juliet is different from other girls because she has thoughts of her own. As if you have to read Dante and write sappy poetry to have opinions. I do have to give the author credit for not making Juliet too forward thinking. There were times when she seems to think ahead of her time, but at least it comes from somewhere (although I had to laugh when she said that if people married for love, there would be no cheating).

Romeo was too perfect to be believed. He's just ever-so manly, romantic, and intelligent. He adores Juliet and often writes verses about her own the spot. They fall desperately in love at first site, of course. The author tries to build their relationship around their shared love of Dante and poetry, but I didn't feel much chemistry between the two characters. I think the main problem is that neither of them had much personality outside the relationship. Their whole existences revolve around each other. They get so caught up in their passion that I really couldn't take them seriously. It worked in the original because Romeo and Juliet are only about 14 years old. I think their romance was supposed to seem immature, because it showed how childish and innocent the characters were. It made the whole thing more tragic. But this novel presents their romance as a mature relationship, and it just isn't.

Probably the biggest problem of this book was the character of Jacopo. He's a stereotypical villain with yellow teeth, bad breath, and little personality, but that wasn't the problem. The problem was that the author uses him to cause tension between the two rival families. Aside from some bad blood in the beginning of the novel, they're actually getting along until Jacopo stirs things up. The families are tricked into hating each other, and even then, the only murder is Jacopo's responsibility. This takes away from the responsibility of the families for their own actions. "Romeo and Juliet" is all about how pointless feuds destroy innocent lives. In the end, the families have to accept that their own actions led to their loved ones' deaths. Making the families innocent and adding a villain totally undermines the message there.

The novel is more about romance than anything, so I guess it could be excusable. But as I said before, the romance is pretty bad. So is the writing. It's full of cliches inexcusable for a professional writer. And the sentences are often so long that you forget what the subject is. Some are just awkwardly phrased. And then there's the poetry. It started off pretty good, but I got the feeling that the author put all her energy into the first few poems. They get progressively cheesier as the book goes on.

There were some good points about this book. The setting of Renaissance Italy was interesting. It seems well researched, and it did give me a good idea of what it was like to be a woman living in that time period. Also, the plot flowed at a good pace, and there were some interesting bits.

But overall, this is just a bit of fluff that takes itself too seriously. The characterization was bad and the writing laughable. Read the original instead, or at least a better adaptation than this.
74290
This book was NOT one of my favorites...I'll just highlight the main issues I had:
1. Writing style - Lack of contractions was distracting and made all dialogue and narrative seem forced and unrealistic
2. The connection between the H & h - I usually don't have a problem with "insta-love" but this was even too much for me. I never really felt the connection. It was literally like they met & 5 mins later had this deep once-in-a-lifetime love.
3. The h was weak and didn't deserve to have not one but 2 decent guys madly in love with her. She annoyed me with how she could go from being madly in love with one guy and start sleeping with another. And the excuse that she was afraid of being hurt??? I just didn't buy that as a legitimate reason to start sleeping with somebody else.
4. Too many cliches- from the sex scenes to various incidents that occurred along the way, it was one cliche after another. I found myself frequently rolling my eyes.

Overall, I did not enjoy this book and won't be reading it again.
2297188
I read Julia's Chocolates & Such a Pretty Girl & would give them both 5 stars.  I was SOOOO DISAPPOINTED in The Last Time I Was Me.  The Anger Management classes were supposed to be funny, but I just became bored with the repetitiveness.  The murder was just ridiculous - no one investigated or noticed that the man was missing!  On the other hand, Some of the characters were interesting.  But the love story was just plain silly.  She meets the Govenor while running naked & then works for him & while they are polar opposites, they fall in love without dating since she is working for him.  Honestly!