minnaper's reviews
450 reviews

ARC received via NetGalley. Minor spoilers below.

I looked forward to this book based on the blurb. I really liked Nan Campbell's Like They Do In The Movies that is about an actress and gossip journalist. So, as Hollywood Hearts was something similar, it sounded great. And it was okay and well written. But for me it missed the mark.

The pacing in the book was odd. The main characters saw each other in the beginning quickly. Then only at 40% they met and started to spend time together. 3rd act breakup came quickly. Out of 200+ pages, over half of the book the MCs were apart and didn't communicate. There was a lot going on outside of the romance for both (family, friends, work).

Both characters were really interesting but both acter out of character, based on what the beginning of the book told about them. And the change of heart wasn't discussed on page. With a bit more editing and more emphasis on the relationship, the book could have been great.

I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook version. Lori Prince was a perfect fit. It's sweet, funny, romantic and slow burn. And refreshingly low on spice without being fade to black.

I have conflicted thoughts about The Hard Stuff. I really liked the writing style and the story building. I was really into it up until about 80% of the novel. The tension building between Alex and Hannah (and Beth) was delicious and I just waited when and how it all was going to blow up. I don't like how Hannah handled things with Alex but it served the story. 

I feel like Hannah's storyline from Taylor's arrival onwards was too rushed. There should have been more and at slower pace. My pet peeve is timeline and pacing problems. Hannah's life changes came too quickly and the finale (epilogue) was oddly minimal for it to take place after a year.

All in all, if I let some things slide, I liked the romance itself. The writing is pleasant and it was refined. I'm new to author's work but will definitely check out previous work in the future.

ARC received from the publisher via NetGalley.

I had ro DNF/pause the book after 65 percent. I struggled with it for weeks. The beginning and plot are promising and interesting but the book is just too long and uneventful. There's two sets in the whole book, the store and Frankie's home. There's just not enough happening for the number of pages. I love good slow burn and vacation romance and even long romances (300+ pages) but Finding Harmony didn't work for me. 

I received ARC of the book from the published.