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A review by beckyyreadss
Happenstance by Tessa Bailey
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I wanted to read this book because I love Tessa Bailey and this book was on sale on Amazon, so I thought I would give it a go. It was weird going into this as it didn’t have a Tessa Bailey feel to it, but it was chaotic and adorable.
This book is based on Elise Brandeis, and she has never won a Pulitzer, and she never will. At least not while she’s delivering sandwiches at the Gotham Times, instead of working there as an actual reporter. Her only shot at seeing her byline in print is to prove to the no nonsense managing editor that she has a nose for news. And she’s got just the story to grab her elusive attention. Right after she delivers this turkey on ciabatta. Chasing down leads bring Elise to Roosevelt Island, but just when the trail of clues begins to take shape, she gets stuck. Literally. On a cable car with three strangers who couldn’t be more different. An uptight rugby coach, a construction worker and a former adult film star she pretends not to recognize a little too well. At first, Elise wants nothing more than to be rescued ASAP. An hour later, everything has changed. By pure happenstance, four separate journeys have collided in an intense way. Suddenly, disentangling their lives feels more impossible than winning that Pulitzer. Good thing Elise is too busy proving herself at work to consider three boyfriends. Nobody has time for that—even if they make giving in feel oh so right. But three heads are better than one and these loners will teach themselves to work together to win Elise over forever. And more importantly, keep their dirty socks off her floor.
I liked the characters and that they had their own individual personalities, it wasn’t like the lads were all rolling into one. You had Tobias with his British banter and his fucked up past that he was trying to escape from. Then you had Banks with his mummy issues and him being a hardass. Then you have the softie, which is Gabe, who is a golden retriever with a bad ex. I was more interested about the friendship that was blossoming between those three rather than the relationship with them and Elise. They ended up looking out for each other and ended up helping each other.
I hated the insta-love, I understand it was a short story so there could be no slow build up or a slow burn, but I don’t understand how these three men could like the same women and feel the instant attraction that they all don’t want to fight and sleep with her together. I was more invested in the mole and the storyline than the relationship with Elise and the guys, I know that everyone prefers Gabe in this book. However, Gabe just didn’t have any balls to me personally and he took way too long to stand up to his co-workers and his brother about the issue of his ex-girlfriend married to his brother. I love Tobias but he just reminded me of The Roommate by Rosie Danan, so I ended up liking Banks the most. Maybe it’s just because he is a rugby coach and my second love besides books is rugby, so I just loved him.
It was okay, it was all smut, random plot lines that sort of didn’t make sense, but if you are expecting a plot in reverse harem then that’s on you.
Graphic: Gun violence, Sexual content, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Bullying, Violence, and Stalking
Minor: Toxic relationship, Blood, and Vomit