Title- Much Ado About You
Author- Samantha Young
Rating– 4/5
Genre- Contemporary romance
POV- first person, past tense
Trope- friends to lovers, abroad
Similar Books/Comps- People We Meet on Vacation, Friend(shipped)
Steam level- 2/5(0- no sex, 5- erotica)
Cover– Average- it clearly shows the genre, but I don’t like the colors. An image of Shadow helps
My emotions- inspired
Characters–
The characters didn’t really have many flaws, especially Roane
Plot/Blurb-
At thirty-three-years old Evangeline Starling’s life in Chicago is missing that special something. And when she’s passed over for promotion at work, Evie realizes she needs to make a change. Some time away to regain perspective might be just the thing. In a burst of impulsivity, she plans a holiday in a quaint English village. The holiday package comes with a temporary position at Much Ado About Books, the bookstore located beneath her rental apartment. There’s no better dream vacation for the bookish Evie, a life-long Shakespeare lover.
Not only is Evie swept up in running the delightful store as soon as she arrives, she’s drawn into the lives, loves and drama of the friendly villagers. Including Roane Robson, the charismatic and sexy farmer who tempts Evie every day with his friendly flirtations. Evie is determined to keep him at bay because a holiday romance can only end in heartbreak, right? But Evie can’t deny their connection and longs to trust in her handsome farmer that their whirlwind romance could turn in to the forever kind of love.
Comments-
This novel inspired me to start journaling a list of book stores I have abs will travel to in each city, and make pretty custom scrapbooked pages highlighting the history of the bookstore & which books I buy there. If only I started this idea years ago, I’d have dozens of books stores already listed from Rome to New Orleans to San Juan to Portland to San Diego to Chicago to Sydney… ooh and maybe I’ll create a list of bookstores I’d want to visit in the future, like a bucket list of bookstores. Then I could add famous libraries too.
Anywho, I didn’t like that a bunch of days or week would flash by and the author would give us a quick synopsis and backtrack on what was missed.
It started to feel a bit preachy in the middle with the social issue conflicts. Also, at halfway neither hero or heroine had any flaws yet. Red flag. Later, a few were shown, but not really personality flaws, more like poor choices. Roane was just this perfect specimen which was a little gag-esque regardless of how hot he was.
I didn’t fully resonate with the theme that she was there to “find herself” yet kept meddling with side characters and their relationships. Too much gossip.
The character, Greer was pretty frustrating throughout
Page 292 was interesting and unexpected. That’s usually in the epilogue of these books so I’m pleasantly surprised.
Spoilers in this paragraph- Overall, I highly recommend this book to friends-to-lovers trope. For some reason, after 16 years of being with my man, it’s frustrating to me when characters give up and run so quickly. The climax scene was predictable, but I wish It was done differently.
Best part-
My favorite part about this novel was the vibe of the bookstore abroad.
What I’d change- more depth to Roane
Pacing- medium
Cassie Swindon 