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A review by peedsreads
Fangirl Down by Tessa Bailey
emotional
funny
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
4.5 stars!
This is Tessa Bailey's best book ever! Literally the man on my flight next to me said when we landed, "That must be a good book because you were just smiling the whole time!"
This is a slump breaker! This is a giggle, squeal, kick your legs book!
[backstory: I started with It Happened One Summer & Hook, Line, and Sinker, which I loved but then everything else I read by her I strongly disliked. I decided to stop reading her books and just let my love for the Bellinger Sisters be a standout experience. Well then she went and announced a golf romance. I have been begging the romance author goddesses for a golf romance for years. So I had to read this one, AND I AM SO GLAD I DID!!!]
In the very beginning of the book Josephine is super cringe and Wells is just a jacka$$. BUT THEN IT GETS SO GOOD! They both have lots of flaws but are strangely emotionally self-aware (which is probably helped by them being in the mid-late twenties). Their willingness to communicate their desires and hesitations is what makes this book stand out (well that and the insane flanter and spicy spicy spice scenes). They're both adamant in their adoration of each other and that's what makes it so good. There is no fear getting in the way of vulnerability. UGHHHH
Also he's such a typical TB overly posesive alpha-hole but like on a new level of self-awareness from most TB men. He is always very considerate of her feelings and motivations and makes the cringey boss-employee-adjacent relationship minimally cringe.
The representation of Type 1 Diabetes with Josephine and the life-long challenges she faces is also out of this world! In the dedication, Tessa mentions that her daughter has T1D and you can tell she has an intimate knowledge of how a crappy pancreas plays a part in all day to day activities.
My biggest qualms with this (only listing them because I loved this book so much I want to just put it all out here to remember in the future) was the timeline and the 3rd act conflict.
--I wish their time as partners on the course could have lasted more than a couple weeks and I really do think that would have solidified their relationship in our eyes, but I also would have been annoyed to have time jumps. I just think the timeline for the construction, raising enough funds, and the relationship development was unrealistic to the point of distraction. (Also in this book all year is hurricane season for south Florida apparently).
--As far as the third act conflict, I just didn't love it. I think she wanted something "realistic" and to have them overcome some of their challenges for the audience. But it felt out of character (and again the timeline is total BS). I also thought it was out of character for Josephine to not communicate like that. And per TB's controlling men, Wells made some unilateral decisions for the couple throughout the book that made me feel like Pam when Jim bought them a house without consulting her.
OKAY JUST GOING TO PUT THIS HERE HIDDEN - AS A GOLF FAN, I'D BE PISSED IF MY "PARTNER" DECIDED TO FIRE ME RIGHT BEFORE THE MASTERS... LIKE SIR JUST WAIT FOR THE NEXT TOURNAMENT WTF
GO READ THIS BOOK RIGHT NOW!
This is Tessa Bailey's best book ever! Literally the man on my flight next to me said when we landed, "That must be a good book because you were just smiling the whole time!"
This is a slump breaker! This is a giggle, squeal, kick your legs book!
[backstory: I started with It Happened One Summer & Hook, Line, and Sinker, which I loved but then everything else I read by her I strongly disliked. I decided to stop reading her books and just let my love for the Bellinger Sisters be a standout experience. Well then she went and announced a golf romance. I have been begging the romance author goddesses for a golf romance for years. So I had to read this one, AND I AM SO GLAD I DID!!!]
In the very beginning of the book Josephine is super cringe and Wells is just a jacka$$. BUT THEN IT GETS SO GOOD! They both have lots of flaws but are strangely emotionally self-aware (which is probably helped by them being in the mid-late twenties). Their willingness to communicate their desires and hesitations is what makes this book stand out (well that and the insane flanter and spicy spicy spice scenes). They're both adamant in their adoration of each other and that's what makes it so good. There is no fear getting in the way of vulnerability. UGHHHH
Also he's such a typical TB overly posesive alpha-hole but like on a new level of self-awareness from most TB men. He is always very considerate of her feelings and motivations and makes the cringey boss-employee-adjacent relationship minimally cringe.
The representation of Type 1 Diabetes with Josephine and the life-long challenges she faces is also out of this world! In the dedication, Tessa mentions that her daughter has T1D and you can tell she has an intimate knowledge of how a crappy pancreas plays a part in all day to day activities.
My biggest qualms with this (only listing them because I loved this book so much I want to just put it all out here to remember in the future) was the timeline and the 3rd act conflict.
--I wish their time as partners on the course could have lasted more than a couple weeks and I really do think that would have solidified their relationship in our eyes, but I also would have been annoyed to have time jumps. I just think the timeline for the construction, raising enough funds, and the relationship development was unrealistic to the point of distraction. (Also in this book all year is hurricane season for south Florida apparently).
--As far as the third act conflict, I just didn't love it. I think she wanted something "realistic" and to have them overcome some of their challenges for the audience. But it felt out of character (and again the timeline is total BS). I also thought it was out of character for Josephine to not communicate like that. And per TB's controlling men, Wells made some unilateral decisions for the couple throughout the book that made me feel like Pam when Jim bought them a house without consulting her.
GO READ THIS BOOK RIGHT NOW!