This might contain spoilers.
I do love a stubborn heroine, one who isn't an easy catch. I love it when she's feisty and determined to do everything in her own way. My favorite heroines are all from this category. However, I can only tolerate as much. And this "heroine" really made my blood boil. At some point, I didn't know if I wanted to bang her head against the wall or bang my own head against the wall. I tried, I really tried! And I really wanted to like this book! But...heck.
Isla was really irrational. She was way too fucking stubborn, so stubborn that she was at a point of starving herself. Alright, Reuben didn't tell her who he actually was, but every time he tried to get close, she pushed back. He could have told her, maybe. But it was crystal clear he was a really good businessman, one who did not do business based on who he fucked or fucks. And when he offered to help her, she chose to "starve" herself because she thought he was not honest. Ok, cool. Let's say I can understand it. What I can not understand is her judgmental behavior. At first, she did not want to get to know him ONLY BECAUSE she thought he was just some poor college guy who worked in a coffee shop and didn't even have a car. And the only reason she slept with him was because she thought it will be a just one-time thing and she didn't think his bank account or job mattered.
Christ!
I liked the guy. I did. He was burnt by his own brother and the whole "family" was basically taking the other brother's side. 'Cuz, yeah. That's what a good family is supposed to do. Instead of trying to understand his side, they just pushed Reuben to forgive his brother and "get over it". He was a fighter and although he had his flaws, he really cared about Isla. He was willing to try again for her.
This book had way too many characters. So many friends, so many city residents, the brother of a brother from another mother, the brother-in-law, the ex-brother-in-law, the mother, the step-mother (who by the way, was way too criticized, when in fact, she was the one who made the step to repair that so-called family). Maybe these characters will have their own story and this is why the author tried to present them but they were so many and so pointless in the story that seriously at points I was like "Edward...who is this guy? God, do I have to skip back and see again?"
Isla kept talking about her ex-husband. Alright, woman, we fucking get it! Zayn was a douche who burnt you and now is trying to take advantages of you. He really hurt you but, please...can we move on with the story? I swear to God, "Zayn" was brought into the discussion every two pages. It got old really fast.
If I were Reuben, I wouldn't forgive Ryan. That's not something you easily forgive, forget or get over. Especially not when Ryan was who he was. And the twist at the end really did nothing for me. Isla again showed irrational stubbornness. And when she said she would have believed him...nope. She wouldn't have believed him.
You'll probably enjoy this, as I've seen other people really praise it. It just...I really should stop letting the cover influence my decision on choosing books.