“Those antics and the inner monologue that made me laugh are also part of the problem.”
~ Under the Covers
I’ve had trouble rating this book, as on one hand this indisputably made me laugh. The antics in this book are hilarious and so is the heroine’s inner monologue. And, generally any book that manages to make me laugh I tend to rate generously. After all, why else am I reading if not to entertain myself? But. And it’s a big but. Those antics and the inner monologue that made me laugh are also part of the problem.
The hero and the heroine are playing a game of relationship chicken. They want to split, but neither one of them want to be held responsible for the logistics of breaking a long term relationship, including a fully planned wedding. Honestly, it’s infuriating. This whole book is based on a lack of communication and the inability of either of the characters to act like a responsible adult. Instead they chose to pursue passive-aggressive, though no doubt very funny, schemes to get the other one to break the relationship first.
At least, that’s what happens in the first half of this book. It has a fairly sudden about turn when they began to have honest conversations with one another. I was a few pages of DNFing when this happened and the tone of the book changed. I then started to enjoy them painstakingly put their relationship back together and fall in love all over again. It still maintained the humour, just without the sabotage.
I’ve seen a lot of 5 star reviews for this book. And I get it. It’s damn funny and even relatable. It’s hard when a long term relationship starts to fall apart and it isn’t always as easy as opening up communication. Although, in this book, it really was that simple. But, there was certainly a kernal of insight and truth in all the madness between the hero and heroine. But, for me the first half of this book was just too frustrating to rate it any higher than I have.
This was a solid debut and I would certainly read Sarah Hogle’s next release. Although I didn’t enjoy this as much as most, I can’t deny it was very funny and there was some genuine nuggets of emotional truth wedged in.
What did you think of our review?
Let us know your thoughts in the comment box below!
[about-author author=”Sarah Hogle”]
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Great review and thanks for the heads up.
Yay for sticking with it since it seems to have gotten better. However, I don’t know if I could have reconciled the turn about with the lack of communication and the childlike antics in the first half.
Man, that’s tough that what was frustrating was also funny. I really don’t like the conflict to hinge on a need to communicate so I know that would have me ready to toss in the towel, too. Glad it turned around for you.
Thanks for the review, I’ve borrowed the audiobook from my library and plan to listen.
Miscommunication is my least fave trope but your review has me so intrigued. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on it Suzanne
Seems like a fair and balanced review,thou I would like to know why did you find the first half so frustrating?