#ThirdPersonPOV

See tagged statuses in the local bookrastinating.com community

reviewed Meet Me in Madrid by Verity Lowell

Verity Lowell: Meet Me in Madrid (2021, Harlequin Enterprises ULC)

Charlotte Hilaire has a love-hate relationship with her work as a museum courier. On the …

I am not the target audience

3¼⭐️/5

There’s a lot going on with the Charlotte character that is clearly over my head, and not a perspective with which I am familiar. Definitely do not trust my rating on this one.

Tags: #BIPOC #CareerFirst #ConfrontingBigotry #DualPOV #ForcedProximity #JealousPossessive #Misunderstandings #NotTheTargetAudience #SecondChance #SelfImageIssues #ThirdPersonPOV #VacationTravel

reviewed When You Least Expect It by Haley Cass

Haley Cass: When You Least Expect It (Paperback, 2020, Haley Cass)

Caroline Parker knows three things to be true. First, she is going to be Boston's …

The slowest of slow burns, but well worth it.

4¾⭐️/5

The only reason this isn’t 5⭐️ is just some personal preference stuff. This is an otherwise perfect story. No notes.

Tags: #Awakening #FearOfRuiningFriendship #HalfUnavailable #MyKidsLoveYou #NuisanceEx #SharedBed #SingleParent #SinglePOV #ThirdPersonPOV #WorkplaceEthics

reviewed Those Who Wait by Haley Cass

Haley Cass: Those Who Wait (2020, Haley Cass)

Sutton Spencer’s ideas for her life were fairly simple: finish graduate school and fall in …

Good characters, but asymmetric growth

4¼⭐️/5

My quibbles here are entirely personal preferences about tropes and character arcs. People who enjoy stories of coming out, and of characters with low self-confidence slowly finding their feet, will likely find this even more enjoyable.

I would definitely read more by this author.

Tags: #BetDealDare #BiPanSexualMC #CasualConsequences #ClosetedVsOut #DualPOV #ExpirationDate #FirstQueerRelationship #GoldenRetrieverMC #HiddenRelationship #LearningToLove #Politics #ThirdPersonPOV

reviewed Lost for Words by Andrea Bramhall

Andrea Bramhall, Rachael Beresford: Lost for Words (AudiobookFormat, 2022, Tantor Audio)

Sasha Adams has it all. Fulfilling career, loving family, great friends, and… Who’s she kidding? …

Heavier than expected

4½⭐️/5

What starts off as something of a wacky romcom ends up pretty serious by the end. That’s not bad — just surprising.

Tags: #DualPOV #FamilyIssues #JoinMyFamily #LoveAtFirstSight #LoveTriangle #NuisanceEx #RichPoor #RomCom #ThirdPersonPOV

reviewed One Simple Refrain by Nancy Ann Healy

Nancy Ann Healy, Xe Sands: One Simple Refrain (AudiobookFormat, 2021, Bumbling Bard)

Dr. Jillian Byers only considered two careers: indie rock sensation or physician. Both dreams led …

Perfect. No notes.

CW: on-page slow decline of a parent due to dementia and other health issues. Xe Sands’ emotional narration makes this brutal.

Tags: #Awakening #BackHomeAgain #BondThroughBadTimes #FamilyIssues #FamilyIssues #JoinMyFamily #NuisanceEx #SecondChance #SingleParent #SmallTown #ThirdPersonPOV

reviewed The Summer of our Discontent by Robin Alexander

Robin Alexander: The Summer of our Discontent (EBook, 2019, Robin Alexander)

A fun summer read. Faith Leblanc is looking for that special someone, but her tactics …

So much sniping

3¼⭐️/5

A little tough to read, as the first two-thirds are just people being mean to each other. The broader story about overcoming childhood rivalries is well done, but the antagonism just drags on and on.

Tags: #ConfrontingHomophobia #DualPOV #ForcedProximity #RivalsToLovers #SingleParent #SmallTown #ThirdPersonPOV

reviewed Ten Days in May by Tracey Richardson

Tracey Richardson: Ten Days in May (2022, Bella Books, Incorporated)

One of those “you’re not the target audience, Rick” stories

3¼⭐️/5

Not a bad story, nor poorly written, but not really for me. People who enjoy complicated, messy second chances will probably enjoy this a whole lot more.

CW: A side-character’s slow (but not painful) decline and passing from cancer is a recurring, on-page thread in this story.

Oh, and one other thing: the writing in this felt so similar to TJ O’Shea’s "Beyond the Blue”. Maybe it was the ND-coding for Cam and Mei. Or maybe it was just the more detached POV. I’m not sure. But if you enjoyed Cam in this story, you might want to check out that other book, too.

Tags: #AnxiousDismissivePair #CareerChange #CommitmentIssues #ExpirationDate #ForcedProximity #PushyFriends #SecondChance #SlowBurn #ThirdPersonPOV #VacationTravel

reviewed Face It by Georgette Kaplan (Scissor Link, #2)

Georgette Kaplan, Anastasia Watley: Face It (AudiobookFormat, 2022, Tantor Audio)

In college, Elizabeth Smile shared a magical tryst with her roommate, Michelle Harlow. She had …

Too much happening at once

3½⭐️/5

tl;dr: I think the core relationships are interesting, but there’s just a lot going on in this story, and not all of it moves the relationships forward. It’s not awful, just a little scattershot.

Tags: #Awakening #BestFriendsSibling #CommitmentIssues #FakeRelationship #LoveTriangle #SinglePOV #ThirdPersonPOV

reviewed Just as You Are by Camille Kellogg

Camille Kellogg, Bailey Carr: Just as You Are (AudiobookFormat, 2023, Random House)

The only thing worse than hating your boss? Being attracted to her.

Liz Baker …

Some good points, but chained to the awfulness that is P&P

2¾⭐️/5

Kellogg has done a solid job updating the "place in society" theme to the queer community and gender presentation. Liz's narrative shows her struggles to find (and afford) clothes which match her gender identity. Some are too femme and she feels constrained, while others are too masc and like she's putting on a costume. Relatable!

Having said that, it’s still Pride & Prejudice. It’s still about people being mean to each other and not actually talking, let alone communicating. And, IMO, the big 80% drama in this one goes a direction I find exasperating, and sends exactly the wrong message to the reader, shaming the wrong people.

Tags: #BIPOC #Misunderstandings #NuisanceEx #Retelling #RichPoor #RivalsToLovers #SecretsAndBetrayal #SinglePOV #ThirdPersonPOV

reviewed Chasing Dreams by A.L. Brooks

A.L. Brooks, Sophie Daniels: Chasing Dreams (AudiobookFormat, 2022, Tantor Audio)

Chasing Dreams audiobook, by A.L. Brooks... A warm, feel-good, enemies-to-lovers, lesbian romance about chasing your …

Good vibes, but hesitant

4¼⭐️/5

My only complaint here is just my usual personal dislike of “oh, but I would only complicate their life, but I could never actually say that out loud” self-confidence and miscommunication issues. Beyond that, this was nice, and well-rounded-out. I did appreciate the casual inclusion of one of the MCs being part of an open relationship, and it being portrayed positively and supportively.

Tags: #CommitmentIssues #DualPOV #FamilyIssues #JoinMyFamily #PersonNextDoor #RivalsToLovers #SmallTown #ThirdPersonPOV