This book is giving me a hard time rating it. There were parts I really did enjoy. And then there were those parts that made me angry. And cringe. And be annoyed. I got really annoyed reading this book. But let’s get order in this: The prologue. Why tell me everything that happened only to make a recap and for the next chapters tell me how we got there? There is nothing exciting or any tension about it, if I already know how it will end. Could have definitely done better. Just delete the beginning and start straight I to the plot without a flash forward. The whole Vegas plot I must admit i really enjoyed somehow. It was kinda weird at times but it was a weird that entertained me well enough so I kept reading even though knowing the outcome of this trip. Once we arrived at the plot - the marriage - things where uncomfortable and weird at times. And really entertaining and enjoyable at other times. I can’t really decide. I somehow enjoyed the whole plotting and pranking and I now realize it was because I didn’t really care for them getting together. I enjoyed reading about their interactions and teasing but I wasn’t sitting on the edge waiting for them to finally get together. A huge part may had also played the miscommunication incoming we got hinted at, right at the beginning. When this plot point was introduced I initially was excited cause I was curious how Meghan Quinn was going to pull of the whole „he isn’t going to grant her the annulment“ part. So I was excited for it to be fake marriage kind of thing. But she decided against it and instead threatens me with an incoming miscommunication which - bis surprise - did happen. So to sum this part up: I enjoyed reading about them but I didn’t really care about them at the same time. And miscommunication makes me want to vomit. So let’s proceed with the characters before we get to my main turn off: the resolving of the plot twist and ending. But first things first: characters. We have the main characters: Coraline 'Cora' Turner and Pike Greyson. They where both decently portrayed even though it could have been better. We got a good view into how they are and the way they tick. But I’ve missed some deeper issues of them being talked about more. Both of their family and mental health issues got brushed over and we just got informed about it without serious I Formation about it. Which is sad, it would have given them some needed depth. I know this is supposed to be a rom-com….but decide: either give a tragic past and adress it appropriately or don’t do it at all. This half way isn’t working for my personal taste. But still those too aren’t that bad and one can enjoy them pretty well. The interesting part is: My favorite and most hated characters are side characters. Which underlines my assumption from the beginning that I just don’t really care about Cora and Pike. Nice guys but that’s it. So let’s start with the good and then lead over to the bad: Greer and Stella where the once carrying this story on their backs. They deserve a spa weekend now. They where funny, had a brain, didn’t annoy me and I just loved them. The kind of friends everyone needs: plotting with you but also pointing out when you are wrong and in the end support every decision you make. Also Arlo, Coras Brother and Greers husband, was a cute one too! He cares for his sister, maybe too much, but only cause he doesn’t want to loose her. And he seems to be a great teacher and husband too! Would have loved to see him more often on page! Same goes for Romeo, Stella’s hubby, which we actually never met on page. He seemed cool, would have wished for him to be actually present instead only mentioned. And this leaves only the last one of the Ladies In Heat Book Club [which I would have enjoyed some more impact about] : Keiko. We tried for a socially awkward science loving gal here. But if I’m the judge: we tried to hard. To desperate. It got really annoying. It seems like she was intended to be the adorable Sheldon Cooper type but it was too much. Her talking annoyed me to great extent that I ended up skipping over her speech parts. Which weren’t important at all, too. And her wedding must be the most uncomfortable scene I’ve ever read about. It wasn’t funny or adorable. Just too much. And hers and Pikes friendship was just weird. Didn’t really make sense. Like none. It was kind of just an unreasonable plot device. Neither cute nor enjoyable to read about. And since we are roasting: what the fuck was this plot twist solving???? *spoilers incoming* I get it, we have to overcome the necessary obstacle which was obvious to appear thanks to our dear Pike not being able to have the guts to talk about his intentions. But was this the way to go? He reminded me of a child, who is desperately trying to get his mothers attention. Which is the most annoying kind of child. He could have went for a grand gesture. Or anything rather than what he did. I was unsatisfied with the whole accident thing. But I thought I can handle it. But then Cora becoming his nurse and everything?? It made me cringe to read about and I got really annoyed. Like almost aggressively annoyed. Cause he was supposed to be this „bad boy“ with tattoos and a pierced penis but when he gets into an accident and is too stupid to come clear to his wife, he turns into a whiny toddler?? Thank you but no. Biggest turn of and you weren’t the biggest turn on from the beginning. I also hated how Pike almost guilt triped her into coming back to her. With her back story it would have totally made sense for her to not being able to trust him again. So to come to an close cause I’m just getting worked up: I had fun reading this book from around 1/3 to 2/3 but the beginning and the end made me aggressive. I didn’t really care about the main couple and would have preferred some more depth to every character. Excluding Keiko, you can disappear from my sight, the insight I have about you is too much already. I would love this book if a few changes where made: - shorten it, the 400 pages where unnecessary stretched. Cut it to 300 max - instead of going for miscommunication let your man grow some balls and be forward about his intention. Make it a fake marriage where both are falling for each other but it has a time limit and in the end both live the other but both think the other isn’t and one moves out but then realizes this isn’t what he/she wants and admits his feeling and the other one admits their and BOOM happily ever after without some weird accident nursing broken trust thing going on. - get rid of the prologue and start right into the story with the Vegas trip. No flash forward. I knew they will somehow end up married cause it’s literally in the blurb but make it exiting at least a tiny bit - cut out Keiko from the story and instead let us see a bit more about her other friends and their husband - give them some depth. Let them really talk about their past. Their issues. All of this deeper stuff. It will give them a way realistic appearance and makes me maybe care for them more than only mentioning their problems shortly so that I don’t really can’t feel into how it must look inside them and grow attached to them. Make me want to wish them a happy future. But to be fair the writing was really good! And even though I don’t love it I devoured it in one day because the way it was written. Somehow addictive! 3