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Le temps d'un été
Jusqu’où irais-tu pour reconquérir l’amour de ta vie ?
En exclusivité sur Audible, découvrez cette comédie romantique hilarante, parfaite pour les fans d’Emily Henry et de Beth O’Leary.
Kitty Harris a tout pour être heureuse : elle mène une vie tranquille avec son copain Archie et travaille d’arrache-pied dans une agence de pub pour décrocher le poste de ses rêves. Bon, d’accord, peut-être qu’ils se sont un peu englués dans leur routine avec leur soirée pizza tous les jeudis, et peut-être que l’agence n’est pas vraiment au top de sa forme, mais Kitty est satisfaite. Jusqu’à ce qu’une bague en diamant plantée au beau milieu de sa pizza au pepperoni vienne tout chambouler. Non, Kitty ne veut PAS se marier, surtout après avoir été entraînée dans le tourbillon destructeur du divorce de ses parents.
Désespérée à l’idée de perdre Archie pour de bon, Kitty accepte de prendre l’été pour faire un break, dans l’espoir de transformer son « certainement pas » en « oui, je le veux ». Après tout, pourquoi pas ? C’est alors qu’entre en scène Leo Evans, le rival professionnel de Kitty, tiré à quatre épingles et prêt à toujours surgir au pire moment. Ayant lui aussi besoin d’une distraction, Leo prétend avoir la solution aux doutes de Kitty : une aventure-pansement sans attaches et un programme de dix rendez-vous pour affronter sa peur du mariage. Kitty ne devrait peut-être pas fraterniser avec cet ennemi si séduisant, surtout quand ils s’apprêtent à se disputer le plus gros contrat de leur carrière, mais si ça lui permet de sauver son conte de fées avec Archie, c’est un risque qu’elle est prête à prendre.
Cette aventure-pansement va vite se révéler bien plus compliquée que prévue. Heureusement, on ne peut pas tomber amoureux alors qu’on aime déjà quelqu’un d’autre… pas vrai ?
En exclusivité sur Audible, découvrez cette comédie romantique hilarante, parfaite pour les fans d’Emily Henry et de Beth O’Leary.
Kitty Harris a tout pour être heureuse : elle mène une vie tranquille avec son copain Archie et travaille d’arrache-pied dans une agence de pub pour décrocher le poste de ses rêves. Bon, d’accord, peut-être qu’ils se sont un peu englués dans leur routine avec leur soirée pizza tous les jeudis, et peut-être que l’agence n’est pas vraiment au top de sa forme, mais Kitty est satisfaite. Jusqu’à ce qu’une bague en diamant plantée au beau milieu de sa pizza au pepperoni vienne tout chambouler. Non, Kitty ne veut PAS se marier, surtout après avoir été entraînée dans le tourbillon destructeur du divorce de ses parents.
Désespérée à l’idée de perdre Archie pour de bon, Kitty accepte de prendre l’été pour faire un break, dans l’espoir de transformer son « certainement pas » en « oui, je le veux ». Après tout, pourquoi pas ? C’est alors qu’entre en scène Leo Evans, le rival professionnel de Kitty, tiré à quatre épingles et prêt à toujours surgir au pire moment. Ayant lui aussi besoin d’une distraction, Leo prétend avoir la solution aux doutes de Kitty : une aventure-pansement sans attaches et un programme de dix rendez-vous pour affronter sa peur du mariage. Kitty ne devrait peut-être pas fraterniser avec cet ennemi si séduisant, surtout quand ils s’apprêtent à se disputer le plus gros contrat de leur carrière, mais si ça lui permet de sauver son conte de fées avec Archie, c’est un risque qu’elle est prête à prendre.
Cette aventure-pansement va vite se révéler bien plus compliquée que prévue. Heureusement, on ne peut pas tomber amoureux alors qu’on aime déjà quelqu’un d’autre… pas vrai ?
Audible Audio
Published October 23, 2024
231 people are currently reading
3523 people want to read
About the author
Leeanne Slade
5 books553 followersLeeanne Slade is the internationally bestselling author of romantic novels The Rebound, Told You So, The Glitch, The Return of Ruby Darling, and This Christmas.
Translated into multiple languages, her books have hit number one on Audible across the globe. Her books were also voted as Audible's Best of the Year in both 2023 and 2024. The Glitch is currently in development to be adapted into a feature film with Searchlight Pictures.
Before becoming a full-time author, she worked in advertising for some of the UK’s most iconic radio brands.
She lives in the south of England with her family, juggling motherhood and a busy household with writing (mostly in the midnight hours!)
For updates, find her on social:
Tiktok: @leeannesladeauthor
Instagram: @leeannesladeauthor
Translated into multiple languages, her books have hit number one on Audible across the globe. Her books were also voted as Audible's Best of the Year in both 2023 and 2024. The Glitch is currently in development to be adapted into a feature film with Searchlight Pictures.
Before becoming a full-time author, she worked in advertising for some of the UK’s most iconic radio brands.
She lives in the south of England with her family, juggling motherhood and a busy household with writing (mostly in the midnight hours!)
For updates, find her on social:
Tiktok: @leeannesladeauthor
Instagram: @leeannesladeauthor
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,266 reviews
June 29, 2023
“Don’t, Mum, it’s only temporary.”
She pulled me in for a goodbye hug. “Sweetie, all the best love affairs are.”
What a wonderfully beautiful debut! Kitty is maybe one of the most relatable and down to earth characters I’ve ever read about. Her story starts out as one thing but the journey she goes on 👀!!! And not just her but the characters around her. I felt everything. This story is filled with such great banter and moments that made my heart ache one moment and yet burst the next.
But the themes!!!! UGH, LEEANNE THIS IS SO GOOD! 😍🥲🥰❤️.
I’m positive this book has healing properties for anyone who’s ever not seen their worth: in themselves and in love.
Overall I cannot wait to read whatever Leeanne writes next!
5/5⭐️
She pulled me in for a goodbye hug. “Sweetie, all the best love affairs are.”
What a wonderfully beautiful debut! Kitty is maybe one of the most relatable and down to earth characters I’ve ever read about. Her story starts out as one thing but the journey she goes on 👀!!! And not just her but the characters around her. I felt everything. This story is filled with such great banter and moments that made my heart ache one moment and yet burst the next.
But the themes!!!! UGH, LEEANNE THIS IS SO GOOD! 😍🥲🥰❤️.
I’m positive this book has healing properties for anyone who’s ever not seen their worth: in themselves and in love.
Overall I cannot wait to read whatever Leeanne writes next!
5/5⭐️
April 14, 2023
After several hours of reflection, I can honestly say that the best thing about this book is Claudia's performance. Claudia Jesse is a superb narrator and SHE carried the book.
The plot, however, is a mess. I could have rated this higher if I HAD KNOWN GOING IN THIS IS WOMEN’s FICTION- not a romance. I don't give a crap what Audible says in its blurb, this IS NOT A ROMCOM. Stop this bait and switch BS.
This book was compelling in the sense I kept listening. I had my jaw drop several times because WTAF was happening. But most of the time, the jaw drop wasn't in a good way.
Kitty: The good thing in this book was that she and her parents went to therapy. Kitty actually applied what the therapist said, and by the end of the book, she was a better, stronger version of herself and I liked who she was. ALONE. Which is where the problem is if this is supposed to be a romance novel. The HEA was Kitty knowing she's enough within herself. This, however, is problematic in a romance novel. The HEA should be for the couple. I am unconvinced they had one.
THE PROBLEM with Kitty was it took TOO.DAMN.LONG for her to realize her ex Archie was a selfish, entitled, presumptuous prick. The situation she sets up at the beginning of the book- time off so she can become ok with the idea of marriage- never made sense to me. The fact that until 90-95% of the book, she wanted to say yes to his proposal was infuriating. THE MUSICAL FESTIVAL SCENE WAS NOT OK. Running to the jerk as he stands there holding hands with another girl, leaving beautiful sweet Leo to sit and watch? NO- JUST NO! FML- how did I end up reading this? But wait, her first time with Leo was right after this pathetic scene and it's basically hate sex and WHAT ON EARTH IS THIS NONSENSE?
Now, on to Leo, our hero. For 90% of the book, I loved him. He was honest that he wasn't looking for a relationship. He was honest he loved his ex wife and didn't know if he could fall for someone like that again. (Except you clearly have fallen in love with Kitty. Leo needed therapy.) He genuinely cared for Kitty and appreciated her. And then all that got flushed down the toilet.
But for a couple whose safe word was "truth", USE MORE WORDS, LEO! He should have been honest about the ex wife contacting him. I was so stunned and heartbroken when at 95% he's leaving Kitty (who, by the way, should never have gone to meet Archie the Asshat) to get back with the ex-wife (who's pregnant by another guy) and parts with "Any other time, I would choose you." WTAF is this nonsense.
BUT THE AUTHOR WAS NOT DONE YANKING US AROUND. There is a 3 year time jump in which Kitty gets her mess together, but when Leo and Kitty see each other again after 3 years, she loves him and won't say/the words he says don't convey to the reader he's in love with her/they have sex/Kitty thinks it's one last time then says goodbye/he's crushed (like why, dude. You literally said you couldn't love again without telling us it was because of your feelings for Kitty not the ex-wife)/then you as the reader think they are over FOR GOOD. This is not how you end a romance novel.
BUT WAIT- then we have an airport scene where Leo races to her and says he'll move back and get a new job and just wants her. THE END.
UMMM--- NO. That was too rushed and there's no way you convinced this reader that he loved her the whole time. THEN REACH OUT TO HER. She knew you went back to the ex-wife. Why would she call you? There needed to be more groveling. There should have been more chapters at the end telling me how TF this hot mess was going to be a healthy relationship.
Honestly, this was a cluster. Start to finish.
The plot, however, is a mess. I could have rated this higher if I HAD KNOWN GOING IN THIS IS WOMEN’s FICTION- not a romance. I don't give a crap what Audible says in its blurb, this IS NOT A ROMCOM. Stop this bait and switch BS.
This book was compelling in the sense I kept listening. I had my jaw drop several times because WTAF was happening. But most of the time, the jaw drop wasn't in a good way.
Kitty: The good thing in this book was that she and her parents went to therapy. Kitty actually applied what the therapist said, and by the end of the book, she was a better, stronger version of herself and I liked who she was. ALONE. Which is where the problem is if this is supposed to be a romance novel. The HEA was Kitty knowing she's enough within herself. This, however, is problematic in a romance novel. The HEA should be for the couple. I am unconvinced they had one.
THE PROBLEM with Kitty was it took TOO.DAMN.LONG for her to realize her ex Archie was a selfish, entitled, presumptuous prick. The situation she sets up at the beginning of the book- time off so she can become ok with the idea of marriage- never made sense to me. The fact that until 90-95% of the book, she wanted to say yes to his proposal was infuriating. THE MUSICAL FESTIVAL SCENE WAS NOT OK. Running to the jerk as he stands there holding hands with another girl, leaving beautiful sweet Leo to sit and watch? NO- JUST NO! FML- how did I end up reading this? But wait, her first time with Leo was right after this pathetic scene and it's basically hate sex and WHAT ON EARTH IS THIS NONSENSE?
Now, on to Leo, our hero. For 90% of the book, I loved him. He was honest that he wasn't looking for a relationship. He was honest he loved his ex wife and didn't know if he could fall for someone like that again. (Except you clearly have fallen in love with Kitty. Leo needed therapy.) He genuinely cared for Kitty and appreciated her. And then all that got flushed down the toilet.
But for a couple whose safe word was "truth", USE MORE WORDS, LEO! He should have been honest about the ex wife contacting him. I was so stunned and heartbroken when at 95% he's leaving Kitty (who, by the way, should never have gone to meet Archie the Asshat) to get back with the ex-wife (who's pregnant by another guy) and parts with "Any other time, I would choose you." WTAF is this nonsense.
BUT THE AUTHOR WAS NOT DONE YANKING US AROUND. There is a 3 year time jump in which Kitty gets her mess together, but when Leo and Kitty see each other again after 3 years, she loves him and won't say/the words he says don't convey to the reader he's in love with her/they have sex/Kitty thinks it's one last time then says goodbye/he's crushed (like why, dude. You literally said you couldn't love again without telling us it was because of your feelings for Kitty not the ex-wife)/then you as the reader think they are over FOR GOOD. This is not how you end a romance novel.
BUT WAIT- then we have an airport scene where Leo races to her and says he'll move back and get a new job and just wants her. THE END.
UMMM--- NO. That was too rushed and there's no way you convinced this reader that he loved her the whole time. THEN REACH OUT TO HER. She knew you went back to the ex-wife. Why would she call you? There needed to be more groveling. There should have been more chapters at the end telling me how TF this hot mess was going to be a healthy relationship.
Honestly, this was a cluster. Start to finish.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 4, 2023
Listening to this on Audible was such a joy. I've had it on my TBR since I stumbled across it on TikTok and downloaded it the day it came out. What a wonderful debut novel. I loved how British it felt, without making me cringe. The relationships felt real but still swept me away, in the way only a great romance can do.
Claudia Jessie was amazing, and I haven't laughed this much at a book for a long time.
Claudia Jessie was amazing, and I haven't laughed this much at a book for a long time.
April 30, 2023
Just have a goddamn conversation
April 26, 2023
MY FRIEND FROM TIKTOK WROTE THIS! *Bursts from pride* She also gave me a free copy to read and review. Am I biased? Yes, obviously. Is actually fantastic though? Also, yes.
These are the two things you need to know: it’s inspired by a Taylor Swift song (Champagne Problems), and it’s narrated by Eloise Bridgerton.
It’s also hilarious, although the final act had me SCREAMING CRYING THROWING UP. Leeanne, the stress you caused me. My god.
TROPES & VIBES:
- Fake dating-ish
- Learning to love and save yourself
- Right person wrong time
5⭐️ 1.5🌶️
These are the two things you need to know: it’s inspired by a Taylor Swift song (Champagne Problems), and it’s narrated by Eloise Bridgerton.
It’s also hilarious, although the final act had me SCREAMING CRYING THROWING UP. Leeanne, the stress you caused me. My god.
TROPES & VIBES:
- Fake dating-ish
- Learning to love and save yourself
- Right person wrong time
5⭐️ 1.5🌶️
April 16, 2023
EXCUSE ME?! THIS BOOK IS UTTER PERFECTION AND I NEED IT RELEASED AS A PAPERBACK SO I CAN ANNOTATE THE HELL OUT OF IT. I AM GENUINELY SO IN LOVE WITH THIS BOOK AND LEO.
i stayed up all night listening to it and then after waking up, the first thing i did was turn this book on again?! also i found my hidden love of audiobooks, i LOVE audiobooks.
THE ENDING OH MY GODDDDDD I AM SO IN LOVE WITH THIS BOOK.
i stayed up all night listening to it and then after waking up, the first thing i did was turn this book on again?! also i found my hidden love of audiobooks, i LOVE audiobooks.
THE ENDING OH MY GODDDDDD I AM SO IN LOVE WITH THIS BOOK.
March 13, 2025
Story 4.25 stars. Narration 4.25 stars
I’ve had this in my too be listened to pile for quite awhile. Now I’m kicking myself because it was really good. It’s contemporary romance without the huge fight/miscommunication that usually happens in this genre. Instead, it was just a really good story with highs and lows until the happily ever after.
As the name implies, the story was about two people that are both on the rebound. One more so than the other. They have baggage that causes problems. They agree to date each other just for the summer because one of them is just on a break from her serious boyfriend. What she finds out though is that her boyfriend is not staying faithful at all. Leo works in the building where she works-both at rival advertising agencies. He helps her through a panic attack and a friendship begins and so does a dating arrangement. I’m going to leave it there as far as plot. The writing was good and so was the actual plot. I found the plot to be a lot more deeper than so many others in this genre and I was there for that. I ended up loving the whole thing. Good characters-both main and side-were mostly fully realized. And if they weren’t then they were not important to the story. Another plus for me was that it’s British. I’ve read a lot of British contemporary romances and for the most part really enjoyed them and this was no exception. Highly recommended to adult romance readers.
I’ve had this in my too be listened to pile for quite awhile. Now I’m kicking myself because it was really good. It’s contemporary romance without the huge fight/miscommunication that usually happens in this genre. Instead, it was just a really good story with highs and lows until the happily ever after.
As the name implies, the story was about two people that are both on the rebound. One more so than the other. They have baggage that causes problems. They agree to date each other just for the summer because one of them is just on a break from her serious boyfriend. What she finds out though is that her boyfriend is not staying faithful at all. Leo works in the building where she works-both at rival advertising agencies. He helps her through a panic attack and a friendship begins and so does a dating arrangement. I’m going to leave it there as far as plot. The writing was good and so was the actual plot. I found the plot to be a lot more deeper than so many others in this genre and I was there for that. I ended up loving the whole thing. Good characters-both main and side-were mostly fully realized. And if they weren’t then they were not important to the story. Another plus for me was that it’s British. I’ve read a lot of British contemporary romances and for the most part really enjoyed them and this was no exception. Highly recommended to adult romance readers.
April 25, 2023
What an unexpected delight!
Not only was the narration great (Eloise from Bridgerton) but the story was wholly cute and just steamy enough to keep you excited about the couple.
Her ex was a douche and I was afraid going in that it would be a true love triangle but my heart belonged to Leo from the beginning!!
Yay for free Audible listens!!
Not only was the narration great (Eloise from Bridgerton) but the story was wholly cute and just steamy enough to keep you excited about the couple.
Her ex was a douche and I was afraid going in that it would be a true love triangle but my heart belonged to Leo from the beginning!!
Yay for free Audible listens!!
Read
October 3, 2023Dnf. At least it was a free listen. Please don’t label books rom coms unless they are romantic and funny. This was neither.
August 5, 2024
I absolutely adored this book. It's incredibly charming and has such a great blend of elements. What a fantastic debut by this talented author!
February 17, 2024
Typical British chick lit
Kitty Harris has been living with her boyfriend, Archie, for the past 7 years since the two of them were 20. She is phobic about the entire concept of marriage because of her parents' 20-year, combative marriage and bitter divorce. The PTSD she suffered because of this situation was intensified by the fact that, during the whole of those decades, as their only child, she was sucked into codependently acting as their referee. This experience has convinced Kitty that romantic love can only last if it is not formalized by a legal marriage contract. She has made it clear to Archie many times over their years together that she never wants to get married, but he is a conventional man who wants to be legally tied to Kitty and have multiple children. He also expects her to abandon her career in order to be a stay-at-home mother.
At her job, the morning after Archie's proposal, Kitty is obsessing over the fact that she is going to have to break Archie's heart by telling him she cannot marry him. In anticipation of that horrible encounter, Kitty has her first ever panic attack in the break room at her job. None of her co-workers have yet arrived when she begins to have nausea and chest pains and is terrified she might be having a heart attack. In the midst of her crisis, a man who works in her building, whom she has never talked to before, comes to her aid with enormous compassion and sensitivity. Prior to this moment she has always referred to this familiar stranger as, "Handsome Laptop Guy," because he frequently works in the conference room on the same floor of their mutual office building where the advertising firm that employs Kitty is located.
Leo Evans is a 34-year-old ad executive at a rival advertising firm, which is located several floors up from the much less prestigious advertising firm where Kitty is a rising star. He has noticed Kitty many times, and from that first day of their connecting, and during multiple other encounters with her over the next few days, the two of them become friends. In the process, Kitty confides in Leo about her relationship with Archie, and Leo tells her that his wife is divorcing him, that he thinks he can never love anybody again, and he has no interest for the indefinite future of getting involved in another committed relationship of any kind.
In order to avoid losing Archie entirely, Kitty asks him to give her the summer to get whatever psychological help she needs to move beyond her phobia about marriage so she can say, yes, to his proposal. But Archie takes this negotiation way beyond Kitty's comfort zone. He declares that she should not only move out of his house and the two of them not contact each other for the entire three months of their separation, but while they are on this break, they can have sex with other people. When Kitty finds out that, within 12 hours of their breakup, Archie has already had sex with another woman, she is filled with shocked betrayal, and she is determined to have revenge-based, rebound sex herself. In order to find someone to have an affair with, she goes on a dating app, but this results in nothing but disaster. Ultimately, she and Leo agree to be each other's rebound affair for the next several months. They assure each other that nothing significant can come of it. They will merely temporarily be friends with benefits.
This novel is typical, British, chick lit. Chick lit is always told from the sole, first-person point of view of a FMC. Whomever she is romantically involved with at the beginning of the novel, she will not end up with by the end of the story. She will go through dating disasters, and she will frequently engage in binge drinking as a form of self-medication for her romantic and social anxiety. Over the course of the novel, the vast majority of page space will be dedicated to her experiencing both a career growth arc and a personal growth arc. Once she has evolved into an enlightened individual, who has climbed much higher on her career ladder, and is so emotionally self-sufficient she has no need of a man, she is rewarded at the very end of the novel with a romantic partner who is totally dedicated to her, representing a 180° contrast to all of the narcissistic males who have peopled her life prior to Mr Perfect. It is he, rather than the FMC, who who will make all the logistical sacrifices necessary for them to occupy the same geographic locality in order to come together in a romantic HEA.
The blurb for this novel puts enough emphasis on Leo to fool many romance fans, including myself, into believing it is a romance novel. It is not. It follows the standard formula for chick lit in every possible way, except for the fact that Kitty never gets over her main psychological issue, her phobia about legal marriage. In that regard, she is no different at the end of the novel than she was in the beginning. She has always been willing to make a permanent, informal romantic commitment, but there is no sign that she will ever get over her entrenched resistance to legal marriage.
For fans of chick lit, this will probably be an enjoyable read. It is a well done example of that subgenre of women's fiction. As a romance novel, however, this plot is not very satisfying. We never get to deeply know Kitty's love interest, Leo. Unlike in the actual romance genre, this novel is not written with the dual POV of both a FMC and a MMC. Leo is a secondary character, who is far from being coequal in importance with Kitty. We only get to know him by his outward behavior, which is full-on cinnamon roll. In addition, neither Kitty nor Leo goes out of their way to get together during a huge Dark Period of over 3 years of story time. Their reconnection within the final pages of this novel is merely a happy accident, rather than due to either of them making a concerted effort to track the other down, which is never a good attitude for romance novel protagonists.
I experienced this novel in audiobook format, which I received free access to through my Audible membership. It is narrated by an extremely talented British actress, Claudia Jessie, who does an outstanding job.
Kitty Harris has been living with her boyfriend, Archie, for the past 7 years since the two of them were 20. She is phobic about the entire concept of marriage because of her parents' 20-year, combative marriage and bitter divorce. The PTSD she suffered because of this situation was intensified by the fact that, during the whole of those decades, as their only child, she was sucked into codependently acting as their referee. This experience has convinced Kitty that romantic love can only last if it is not formalized by a legal marriage contract. She has made it clear to Archie many times over their years together that she never wants to get married, but he is a conventional man who wants to be legally tied to Kitty and have multiple children. He also expects her to abandon her career in order to be a stay-at-home mother.
At her job, the morning after Archie's proposal, Kitty is obsessing over the fact that she is going to have to break Archie's heart by telling him she cannot marry him. In anticipation of that horrible encounter, Kitty has her first ever panic attack in the break room at her job. None of her co-workers have yet arrived when she begins to have nausea and chest pains and is terrified she might be having a heart attack. In the midst of her crisis, a man who works in her building, whom she has never talked to before, comes to her aid with enormous compassion and sensitivity. Prior to this moment she has always referred to this familiar stranger as, "Handsome Laptop Guy," because he frequently works in the conference room on the same floor of their mutual office building where the advertising firm that employs Kitty is located.
Leo Evans is a 34-year-old ad executive at a rival advertising firm, which is located several floors up from the much less prestigious advertising firm where Kitty is a rising star. He has noticed Kitty many times, and from that first day of their connecting, and during multiple other encounters with her over the next few days, the two of them become friends. In the process, Kitty confides in Leo about her relationship with Archie, and Leo tells her that his wife is divorcing him, that he thinks he can never love anybody again, and he has no interest for the indefinite future of getting involved in another committed relationship of any kind.
In order to avoid losing Archie entirely, Kitty asks him to give her the summer to get whatever psychological help she needs to move beyond her phobia about marriage so she can say, yes, to his proposal. But Archie takes this negotiation way beyond Kitty's comfort zone. He declares that she should not only move out of his house and the two of them not contact each other for the entire three months of their separation, but while they are on this break, they can have sex with other people. When Kitty finds out that, within 12 hours of their breakup, Archie has already had sex with another woman, she is filled with shocked betrayal, and she is determined to have revenge-based, rebound sex herself. In order to find someone to have an affair with, she goes on a dating app, but this results in nothing but disaster. Ultimately, she and Leo agree to be each other's rebound affair for the next several months. They assure each other that nothing significant can come of it. They will merely temporarily be friends with benefits.
This novel is typical, British, chick lit. Chick lit is always told from the sole, first-person point of view of a FMC. Whomever she is romantically involved with at the beginning of the novel, she will not end up with by the end of the story. She will go through dating disasters, and she will frequently engage in binge drinking as a form of self-medication for her romantic and social anxiety. Over the course of the novel, the vast majority of page space will be dedicated to her experiencing both a career growth arc and a personal growth arc. Once she has evolved into an enlightened individual, who has climbed much higher on her career ladder, and is so emotionally self-sufficient she has no need of a man, she is rewarded at the very end of the novel with a romantic partner who is totally dedicated to her, representing a 180° contrast to all of the narcissistic males who have peopled her life prior to Mr Perfect. It is he, rather than the FMC, who who will make all the logistical sacrifices necessary for them to occupy the same geographic locality in order to come together in a romantic HEA.
The blurb for this novel puts enough emphasis on Leo to fool many romance fans, including myself, into believing it is a romance novel. It is not. It follows the standard formula for chick lit in every possible way, except for the fact that Kitty never gets over her main psychological issue, her phobia about legal marriage. In that regard, she is no different at the end of the novel than she was in the beginning. She has always been willing to make a permanent, informal romantic commitment, but there is no sign that she will ever get over her entrenched resistance to legal marriage.
For fans of chick lit, this will probably be an enjoyable read. It is a well done example of that subgenre of women's fiction. As a romance novel, however, this plot is not very satisfying. We never get to deeply know Kitty's love interest, Leo. Unlike in the actual romance genre, this novel is not written with the dual POV of both a FMC and a MMC. Leo is a secondary character, who is far from being coequal in importance with Kitty. We only get to know him by his outward behavior, which is full-on cinnamon roll. In addition, neither Kitty nor Leo goes out of their way to get together during a huge Dark Period of over 3 years of story time. Their reconnection within the final pages of this novel is merely a happy accident, rather than due to either of them making a concerted effort to track the other down, which is never a good attitude for romance novel protagonists.
I experienced this novel in audiobook format, which I received free access to through my Audible membership. It is narrated by an extremely talented British actress, Claudia Jessie, who does an outstanding job.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 24, 2023
Notes:
Currently on Audible Plus
4.5 Stars for Narration by Claudia Jessie
-3 Stars for Kitty
**Note to Self** If books by author are on Audible Plus/other, maybe try another story before putting in never pile.
The audiobook is 10hr 13min. My listening speed knocks the time down to a little over 3 hrs. I started and stopped the audio many times.
If fiction was a smidgen of real life, the bullet points of this story would make me believe that real romance is dead, love is a fickle fantasy for delusional self-blinders, there are too many narcissists to make any type of relationship possible, and this is a great example of Not-Love.
I can't stand how often I cringed while listening to this book. The story did not work for me.
Kitty goes down as the least likeable female lead I have read in 2023.
Currently on Audible Plus
4.5 Stars for Narration by Claudia Jessie
-3 Stars for Kitty
**Note to Self** If books by author are on Audible Plus/other, maybe try another story before putting in never pile.
The audiobook is 10hr 13min. My listening speed knocks the time down to a little over 3 hrs. I started and stopped the audio many times.
If fiction was a smidgen of real life, the bullet points of this story would make me believe that real romance is dead, love is a fickle fantasy for delusional self-blinders, there are too many narcissists to make any type of relationship possible, and this is a great example of Not-Love.
I can't stand how often I cringed while listening to this book. The story did not work for me.
Kitty goes down as the least likeable female lead I have read in 2023.
August 24, 2023
I absolutely loved this book. When you can listen to an audiobook, and want to instantly purchase a paperback, because you loved it so much, that Hass to say something. This book was light hearted, funny, heartwarming, and everything in between and all around. I loveeedddd Kitty and Leo so so much. I cried for them. Cheered for them. And was even angry for the both of them a few times lol. I truly enjoyed this book and it was the easiest five stars I’ve given in months.
October 18, 2023
Fun read, voice characters were solid, it was not as predictable as most romance novels. And left you hanging in a good way at times. Solid book
August 1, 2023
I loved this one! It feels like so long since I've read a book at this level. Honestly, I read the outline and rolled my eyes, but it had really amazing reviews, so I took a chance.
This book was simple without huge ups and downs, but it felt really realistic, and I couldn't put it down. So many times in romance books, you get tired of the main characters making dumb mistakes or not communicating effectively, and that's where the drama comes from. But this one had real people who had to really work on themselves to get to a point where a relationship could be successful. Five stars. A great debut novel.
This book was simple without huge ups and downs, but it felt really realistic, and I couldn't put it down. So many times in romance books, you get tired of the main characters making dumb mistakes or not communicating effectively, and that's where the drama comes from. But this one had real people who had to really work on themselves to get to a point where a relationship could be successful. Five stars. A great debut novel.
May 22, 2024
If I would have gone into this thinking it was an angsty book I probably would’ve had a better time, but the cover deceived me (I thought it was a rom-com). I should’ve adjusted my expectations.
September 6, 2024
Carino, ma niente di che 🥱
September 26, 2023
I really ended up enjoying this a lot more than expected!
Synopsis
Kitty, having seen her parents marriage dissolve into hatred and pettiness, isn't sure marriage is for her. So when her boyfriend, Archie, of 7 years proposes, she freaks out and decides on a compromise: they'll take the summer away from each other, on a Ross-Rachel-esque break, and she'll have an answer for him at the end.
What she wasn't expecting was to meet Leo.
My Thoughts
Honestly, I wasn't expecting much but some light fluff from this, but I got a more heartwarming story than I was thinking.
Kitty is a mess. There isn't a better way to describe her in the beginning: she hasn't processed her parents divorce and doesn't really know who she is. When the proposal happens (an awful proposal) her panic attack is proof she isn't ready for this. Archie obviously doesn't like this, and Leo just happens to be in the right place at the right time.
I do think the premise was half the reason I was expecting a bad book. I really don't think breaks work in general - it's messy and people can catch feelings so quickly it's hard to think a summer away and having flings is going to make it better. What the book it highlight was how immersed Kitty was with Archie and incapable of understanding how enmeshed she was with him until she got away. She did everything on his terms to make him happy; never saw her parents, never went to college, never really had a lot of control over her own money, leaving her hobbies & friends behind for him.
If the blurb made it more clear the story was going to follow Kitty finding herself and the romance was a catalyst, I think I wouldn't have had such a strong idea going in.
The 3rd act break up was such a disservice to Leo & Kitty. I get it's a standard and the gap for the 3 years was a nice way to let Kitty show she grew as a person
I wish there was more of the side characters in the novel & they were fleshed out as people a little more. I did like the touches here and there but there was enough people mentioned it wouldn't have hurt for one of them to be a bit more real.
Overall, a very easy listen and some decent character development for the MC.
Synopsis
Kitty, having seen her parents marriage dissolve into hatred and pettiness, isn't sure marriage is for her. So when her boyfriend, Archie, of 7 years proposes, she freaks out and decides on a compromise: they'll take the summer away from each other, on a Ross-Rachel-esque break, and she'll have an answer for him at the end.
What she wasn't expecting was to meet Leo.
My Thoughts
Honestly, I wasn't expecting much but some light fluff from this, but I got a more heartwarming story than I was thinking.
Kitty is a mess. There isn't a better way to describe her in the beginning: she hasn't processed her parents divorce and doesn't really know who she is. When the proposal happens (an awful proposal) her panic attack is proof she isn't ready for this. Archie obviously doesn't like this, and Leo just happens to be in the right place at the right time.
I do think the premise was half the reason I was expecting a bad book. I really don't think breaks work in general - it's messy and people can catch feelings so quickly it's hard to think a summer away and having flings is going to make it better. What the book it highlight was how immersed Kitty was with Archie and incapable of understanding how enmeshed she was with him until she got away. She did everything on his terms to make him happy; never saw her parents, never went to college, never really had a lot of control over her own money, leaving her hobbies & friends behind for him.
If the blurb made it more clear the story was going to follow Kitty finding herself and the romance was a catalyst, I think I wouldn't have had such a strong idea going in.
The 3rd act break up was such a disservice to Leo & Kitty. I get it's a standard and the gap for the 3 years was a nice way to let Kitty show she grew as a person
I wish there was more of the side characters in the novel & they were fleshed out as people a little more. I did like the touches here and there but there was enough people mentioned it wouldn't have hurt for one of them to be a bit more real.
Overall, a very easy listen and some decent character development for the MC.
July 22, 2023
I...um, don't know how to say this, but I was not a fan. And I don't even know the exact reason I didn't like the book, it just felt boring. The first half of the book was so slow, I almost wanted to give up on this, however the middle felt okay, there were some cute moments and some funny and some both but the overall audiobook was mediocre at the very best.
It's not the worst book I have ever read but it's nowhere near the best as well. I really liked the character development of Kitty, but realising that her boyfriend or ex boyfriend or whatever Archie was an asshole took such a long time for her, that it made me cringe. I know I know people who are emotionally abused are gaslighted to always see their partners with a golden glow, however, this is a book and I expected Kitty to get some perspective about her relationship before it actually happened. And Leo, he might be swoon worthy, but he sure as hell wouldn't say anything about himself or his divorce or his ex- wife. It was so annoying, again I know it takes people time to open up, but it's a book damn it, do it fast, or faster. Leo, was just there to make Kitty happy, without saying much about his own baggage and listening to hers, felt a bit unrealistic.
Maybe this book was not just for me, I really liked some moments in the book, for instance, when Kitty visits Leo's family, or the tree house, I liked how Kitty went to therapy and worked on herself, cultivated hobbies and got ahead in her career. But the romance part fell a bit flat for me.
Conclusion: it's me not the book
It's not the worst book I have ever read but it's nowhere near the best as well. I really liked the character development of Kitty, but realising that her boyfriend or ex boyfriend or whatever Archie was an asshole took such a long time for her, that it made me cringe. I know I know people who are emotionally abused are gaslighted to always see their partners with a golden glow, however, this is a book and I expected Kitty to get some perspective about her relationship before it actually happened. And Leo, he might be swoon worthy, but he sure as hell wouldn't say anything about himself or his divorce or his ex- wife. It was so annoying, again I know it takes people time to open up, but it's a book damn it, do it fast, or faster. Leo, was just there to make Kitty happy, without saying much about his own baggage and listening to hers, felt a bit unrealistic.
Maybe this book was not just for me, I really liked some moments in the book, for instance, when Kitty visits Leo's family, or the tree house, I liked how Kitty went to therapy and worked on herself, cultivated hobbies and got ahead in her career. But the romance part fell a bit flat for me.
Conclusion: it's me not the book
February 21, 2024
The audio on this was amazing! Loved her voice and the way she stepped into characters. The only thing holding this back from being 5 stars was that it was a little slow, I didn’t want it to end because I loved it but I also wanted it to end because I needed them to get on with it already! 🤣
I keep coming thinking out this book in my mind even after I am done reading it so I am changing it to 5 stars.
I keep coming thinking out this book in my mind even after I am done reading it so I am changing it to 5 stars.
April 6, 2023
It took me a while to get into this book, but I’m so glad I persisted! Right up until the end it was such a will they won’t they, and I was so sure they wouldn’t. It was a perfect example of how you can become compliant in your relationship, but rediscover things you’ve lost without losing it all again for a man. I would deffo recommend
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 5, 2023
3.5. It was easy to listen too but very predictable
April 25, 2024
friends to loverrrsssss get innnnn
May 29, 2024
This book really surprised me. I absolutely loved Leo and Kitty. The author gave them time to develop throughout the book and I just loved them more. I absolutely loved the ending. True rom com vibes that will make any romance reader swoon. Also this book is read by Claudia Jessie (Eloise Bridgerton ) on Audible which made it even better!
February 8, 2024
The take on the not so good part of relationships in this book is phenomenal I really enjoyed this
February 27, 2024
HEHEHEH this book was so fun and cute. I listed on audio and it had me giggling out loud. I love Leo 🩷🩷🩷 also it’s free on audible go listen
June 9, 2023
My. Heart!!
The Rebound may have just taken the first place spot for my 2023 reads / listens. It was laugh out loud funny, super sweet, a little spicy and had an amazing female lead. Everything I want in a romcom.
Leo is book boyfriend perfection.
I am going to need to see so much more hype for this story, it deserves all the attention.
The Rebound may have just taken the first place spot for my 2023 reads / listens. It was laugh out loud funny, super sweet, a little spicy and had an amazing female lead. Everything I want in a romcom.
Leo is book boyfriend perfection.
I am going to need to see so much more hype for this story, it deserves all the attention.
May 12, 2023
"We all have our issues it's just some of us are better at hiding them from the world than others."
Aaaah I don't know how to rate this HELP! As I was reading I was really annoyed by the love triangle-ness of it but that was only because I am so used to basic romances where there is rarely ever another guy so to have her spend more than a half of a book was exasperating to say the least. But if you look at it as good old fiction (or women's fiction yikes hate that term) it was realistic and actually well done. The focus was on her and her journey as it should be and I really liked Kitty and cried a few times for her as well. So when look at it like that - 5 stars easily! A lot of reviews mentioned miscommunication as a trope here and I don't think it was that annoying as miscommunication can be, it was only in the very end that it bothered me. Because the love interest kept saying he would not and cannot love her - why would she think otherwise? Why would she talk to him and tell him how she feels when he so clearly said it will never be like that between them. Saying it is miscommunication when she is only trying to preserve her breaking heart is idk... wrong. Also he was so secretive for the most part and every conclusion she drew from that was rational or quickly resolved. My point is, it was pretty realistic. Oh and absolutely loved how she managed to fix her relationship with her parents I literally sobbed through that entire storyline. As a child of divorce it hit pretty close to home.
The narrator was simply PHENOMENAL Claudia Jessie was perfect and honestly the book deserves 5 stars for her narration alone!
I just have so much to say about it so if anyone picks this up (it is only available as audio so yeah...) let me know so we can discuss!
Aaaah I don't know how to rate this HELP! As I was reading I was really annoyed by the love triangle-ness of it but that was only because I am so used to basic romances where there is rarely ever another guy so to have her spend more than a half of a book was exasperating to say the least. But if you look at it as good old fiction (or women's fiction yikes hate that term) it was realistic and actually well done. The focus was on her and her journey as it should be and I really liked Kitty and cried a few times for her as well. So when look at it like that - 5 stars easily! A lot of reviews mentioned miscommunication as a trope here and I don't think it was that annoying as miscommunication can be, it was only in the very end that it bothered me. Because the love interest kept saying he would not and cannot love her - why would she think otherwise? Why would she talk to him and tell him how she feels when he so clearly said it will never be like that between them. Saying it is miscommunication when she is only trying to preserve her breaking heart is idk... wrong. Also he was so secretive for the most part and every conclusion she drew from that was rational or quickly resolved. My point is, it was pretty realistic. Oh and absolutely loved how she managed to fix her relationship with her parents I literally sobbed through that entire storyline. As a child of divorce it hit pretty close to home.
The narrator was simply PHENOMENAL Claudia Jessie was perfect and honestly the book deserves 5 stars for her narration alone!
I just have so much to say about it so if anyone picks this up (it is only available as audio so yeah...) let me know so we can discuss!
December 9, 2023
3.75 ⭐️
What a cute, snappy rom com novel! This was a first read for me of Leeanne Slade and it was an unexpected delightful story with surprising character depth and witty dialogue.
I loved Kitty’s (the main character) brutally honest persona and how sweet Leo was to her. The tension and "enemies to lovers" vibe of Kitty and Leo were sassy and cute. I liked the two of them together despite their somewhat predictable love journey. As the story progressed, I found it hard not to root for Kitty and Leo and delight in their budding relationship. I did, however, find myself frustrated with the turns their relationship took throughout the story; but I did find it refreshing how their personas were authentic & relatable, which in turn made the characters extremely likable.
All in all, I truly loved how the Slade masterfully combined humor, mental health issues, self actualization, love and divorce into a whole heartedly entertaining slow burn, no-strings attached love story. (Audio)
Fave Quote~
“You think you are second best and I can’t have that.. because you are the best thing that’s ever happened to me”
What a cute, snappy rom com novel! This was a first read for me of Leeanne Slade and it was an unexpected delightful story with surprising character depth and witty dialogue.
I loved Kitty’s (the main character) brutally honest persona and how sweet Leo was to her. The tension and "enemies to lovers" vibe of Kitty and Leo were sassy and cute. I liked the two of them together despite their somewhat predictable love journey. As the story progressed, I found it hard not to root for Kitty and Leo and delight in their budding relationship. I did, however, find myself frustrated with the turns their relationship took throughout the story; but I did find it refreshing how their personas were authentic & relatable, which in turn made the characters extremely likable.
All in all, I truly loved how the Slade masterfully combined humor, mental health issues, self actualization, love and divorce into a whole heartedly entertaining slow burn, no-strings attached love story. (Audio)
Fave Quote~
“You think you are second best and I can’t have that.. because you are the best thing that’s ever happened to me”
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