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Marry Him
Joe Kaminski, a young artist in London, is spontaneous, creative and easy-going. He's also never on time and only plans as far ahead as right now. Harry Byrne, a marketing executive in a hip agency in the City, is organised, dynamic, and very neat. He's also coming out of a long-term relationship, and so when the two are forced to work together on a project, though they don't get along at first, Joe seems like the perfect guy to have a one night stand with.
Five years later Joe wants to propose to Harry, but with his inability to organise anything, obstructive friends and volatile family members, and an inconvenient ex hovering in the background, there's more than a few hurdles to overcome.
Nothing is out of the international incidents, spontaneous fires, fake limbs, random urine attacks, divorces, pregnancies, possible boxing matches with pernicious fathers, a grumpy hotel owner, and airport chases are all part and parcel of the magic that is the day when Joe and Harry finally marry.
Five years later Joe wants to propose to Harry, but with his inability to organise anything, obstructive friends and volatile family members, and an inconvenient ex hovering in the background, there's more than a few hurdles to overcome.
Nothing is out of the international incidents, spontaneous fires, fake limbs, random urine attacks, divorces, pregnancies, possible boxing matches with pernicious fathers, a grumpy hotel owner, and airport chases are all part and parcel of the magic that is the day when Joe and Harry finally marry.
188 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 10, 2019
6 people are currently reading
69 people want to read
About the author
Marina Ford
4 books15 followersMarina Ford is a thirty-year-old book addict, who would, if permitted, spend all of her time in bookstores, libraries, or in her own bed with stacks and stacks of books. Luckily, she has a husband and a dog who force her to interact with humans of planet Earth from time to time.
She does not believe in love at first sight— but she does believe in Happy Ever After, though it must be earned. She likes her stories to be light and frothy, since real life can be miserable enough without making up more of it in fiction. She lives in England, loves rain (gives one an excuse to stay at home and read books, right?), long walks (when it doesn’t rain), history, love stories, classical literature, pulpy literature, Jane Austen, languages, and dogs. It is her dream to one day possess an enormous country house in which each room is a library (okay, maybe except for the kitchen), and in which there are more dogs than people. A smaller and perhaps more realistic dream of hers is to make people smile with the things she writes.
She does not believe in love at first sight— but she does believe in Happy Ever After, though it must be earned. She likes her stories to be light and frothy, since real life can be miserable enough without making up more of it in fiction. She lives in England, loves rain (gives one an excuse to stay at home and read books, right?), long walks (when it doesn’t rain), history, love stories, classical literature, pulpy literature, Jane Austen, languages, and dogs. It is her dream to one day possess an enormous country house in which each room is a library (okay, maybe except for the kitchen), and in which there are more dogs than people. A smaller and perhaps more realistic dream of hers is to make people smile with the things she writes.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
February 15, 2020
This was not the cute, romantic story the cover and synopsis promises.
For one, Joe was probably the most childish character I have ever read. I could not take him seriously at all. He has so many mishaps and accidents, his social skills are non-existent and my secondhand-embarrassment was through the roof. I could barely handle it and it felt quite unbelievable at all happened.
Henry was much more my character and I liked him more. I understood his motivations even if the book did not explain them very well.
I could not however understand how they fell for each other. I feel liked we skipped the romance entirely. Between the constant switching of times, it was hard to keep track of what their current relationship status was. We jump from casual sex to "I love yous" very fast and then don't get into it any deeper.
Their respected families were more on the sidelines; Joe looking for his birth parents (which did so little to the plot and was very random) and Henry struggling with his homophobic father (another unsatisfied sideplot).
As for the writing... it was fine.
The lists were actually entertaining. I liked the mirroring of their actions and how they both have spent enough time together to take up each other's quirks. The friendship between Frank and Joe was also sweet.
There were also quite a few comments that just didn't sit right with me (e.g. people referring to Joe as "the gay"). It was uncomfortable to read.
I received an advanced reading copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
For one, Joe was probably the most childish character I have ever read. I could not take him seriously at all. He has so many mishaps and accidents, his social skills are non-existent and my secondhand-embarrassment was through the roof. I could barely handle it and it felt quite unbelievable at all happened.
Henry was much more my character and I liked him more. I understood his motivations even if the book did not explain them very well.
I could not however understand how they fell for each other. I feel liked we skipped the romance entirely. Between the constant switching of times, it was hard to keep track of what their current relationship status was. We jump from casual sex to "I love yous" very fast and then don't get into it any deeper.
Their respected families were more on the sidelines; Joe looking for his birth parents (which did so little to the plot and was very random) and Henry struggling with his homophobic father (another unsatisfied sideplot).
As for the writing... it was fine.
The lists were actually entertaining. I liked the mirroring of their actions and how they both have spent enough time together to take up each other's quirks. The friendship between Frank and Joe was also sweet.
There were also quite a few comments that just didn't sit right with me (e.g. people referring to Joe as "the gay"). It was uncomfortable to read.
I received an advanced reading copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 5, 2020
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.75 stars
The story is told in alternating timelines from five years in the past, when Joe and Harry first meet; to six months in the past, when Joe proposes to Harry, who accepts; to the present days leading up to their wedding and when life is literally falling apart for Joe. It made for a lot of suspense, actually, to be in the current timeline and know that there’s something shady happening between Joe and the staid Harry, who’s inexplicably missing in the days prior to the wedding.
I don’t want to give anything away here, but the romp and the pomp of this story was just delightful. I loved Joe. He’s such a great guy who’s felt abandoned by so many—his birth parents, his adoptive father, Harry at times—and he’s desperate to keep hold of Harry who helps him feel calm in the storm of his art inspiration. Joe’s dearest friends are characters of their own, from a sexagenarian, Mata Hari roommate to his one-legged best man. They are a carnival of awesome, and Joe’s so solidly in it for them, as well as himself. As his personal life is unraveling in the most public way possible, Joe stays his course amid chaos and certain loss. It is then that his faith is restored in the best way possible.
Read Veronica’s review in its entirety here.
4.75 stars
The story is told in alternating timelines from five years in the past, when Joe and Harry first meet; to six months in the past, when Joe proposes to Harry, who accepts; to the present days leading up to their wedding and when life is literally falling apart for Joe. It made for a lot of suspense, actually, to be in the current timeline and know that there’s something shady happening between Joe and the staid Harry, who’s inexplicably missing in the days prior to the wedding.
I don’t want to give anything away here, but the romp and the pomp of this story was just delightful. I loved Joe. He’s such a great guy who’s felt abandoned by so many—his birth parents, his adoptive father, Harry at times—and he’s desperate to keep hold of Harry who helps him feel calm in the storm of his art inspiration. Joe’s dearest friends are characters of their own, from a sexagenarian, Mata Hari roommate to his one-legged best man. They are a carnival of awesome, and Joe’s so solidly in it for them, as well as himself. As his personal life is unraveling in the most public way possible, Joe stays his course amid chaos and certain loss. It is then that his faith is restored in the best way possible.
Read Veronica’s review in its entirety here.
March 22, 2020
This book was a total miss for me. I had multiple issues with it.
First off the time jumps did not work here. It goes back and forth from 5 years previously to the last few months before the wedding. Some authors can pull time jumps off but this one was disruptive to the story imo. We never get to see Joe and Harry's relationship develop. It's so back and forth I never felt any emotional attachment to them and never felt them falling for each other. It was also confusing in place. Worse yet, it kept breaking up the flow of the story. I'd just be getting in to the early days of their relationship and then it would time jump again.
I didn't like Joe at all. I thought he was immature and ridiculous and all of the things I was supposed to find funny annoyed the crap out of me. There were all these mishaps and things that happened that were supposed to make this a comedy (I think) but I didn't find one thing funny. I was rolling my eyes and then by 50% or so I started skimming cuz I just wanted this to be over.
Harry was ok but we don't get a real sense of him. There were a host of side characters.....many ulikable.....and we spend too much time with some of them. I cared even less for Joe's friend's relationship drama than I did for Joe and Harry's.
Unfortunately this was really not good for me. I'm not rating it lower, even though I disliked it immensely, because the writing and editing were fine. There are some good reviews out there so you should check those out. Maybe this was just not for me.
***ARC provided through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review***
First off the time jumps did not work here. It goes back and forth from 5 years previously to the last few months before the wedding. Some authors can pull time jumps off but this one was disruptive to the story imo. We never get to see Joe and Harry's relationship develop. It's so back and forth I never felt any emotional attachment to them and never felt them falling for each other. It was also confusing in place. Worse yet, it kept breaking up the flow of the story. I'd just be getting in to the early days of their relationship and then it would time jump again.
I didn't like Joe at all. I thought he was immature and ridiculous and all of the things I was supposed to find funny annoyed the crap out of me. There were all these mishaps and things that happened that were supposed to make this a comedy (I think) but I didn't find one thing funny. I was rolling my eyes and then by 50% or so I started skimming cuz I just wanted this to be over.
Harry was ok but we don't get a real sense of him. There were a host of side characters.....many ulikable.....and we spend too much time with some of them. I cared even less for Joe's friend's relationship drama than I did for Joe and Harry's.
Unfortunately this was really not good for me. I'm not rating it lower, even though I disliked it immensely, because the writing and editing were fine. There are some good reviews out there so you should check those out. Maybe this was just not for me.
***ARC provided through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review***
August 2, 2019
Mais quelle très bonne surprise ! J'aime bien découvrir de nouveaux auteurs et autant dire que cette première lecture d'un roman de Marina Ford ne sera pas la dernière ❤
Marry Him est une comédie romantique particulièrement drôle et un brin déjantée (à l'image de certains personnages lol) avec pour thème principal , ô surprise, le mariage ! Et cela ne sera pas sans être mouvementé et bien stressant...
La construction originale du récit m'a énormément plu et rend la lecture assez addictive tant on est pressé de connaître la suite.
Joe est un personnage à la Bridget Jones, cet artiste accumule les gaffes et possède le don de se mettre dans les pires situations (le pauvre 😂). Malgré tout, il garde toujours son optimisme, un vrai rayon de soleil tout fou qu'on ne peut qu'adorer. Il est prêt à tout pour les beaux yeux de son Harry et l'amour qu'il porte à ce dernier m'a vraiment touchée. Le fait d'avoir uniquement le point de vue de Joe apporte un vrai plus à l'histoire, on est vraiment plongé au coeur de l'aventure qu'il traverse, de ses émotions (on sent que ça bouillonne à l'intérieur notamment quand il est face à un certain personnage...). Mais si j'ai beaucoup ri en sa compagnie, lors de ses folles tribulations, j'ai aussi été émue lors de certains passages.
Harry est bien plus posé et discret, cet homme d'affaires qui aime tout planifier vient juste de connaître une rupture lorsqu'il croise la route de Joe. Arrff Harry m'a parfois fait méchamment grogner, mais il a finalement su gagner mon coeur et c'est tout ce qui compte !
Tous deux forment un couple improbable mais hyper attachant, ils ne sont pas parfaits mais cela les rend tellement plus autentiques.
Joe et Harry sont entourés par une ribambelles de personnages haut en couleur et complètement farfelus, ce qui n'est pas sans donner un sacré peps à l'histoire.
Voilà donc une lecture loufoque et rafraîchissante qui m'a fait un bien fou au moral. J'ai déjà hâte de lire les autres romans de Marina Ford !
Marry Him est une comédie romantique particulièrement drôle et un brin déjantée (à l'image de certains personnages lol) avec pour thème principal , ô surprise, le mariage ! Et cela ne sera pas sans être mouvementé et bien stressant...
La construction originale du récit m'a énormément plu et rend la lecture assez addictive tant on est pressé de connaître la suite.
Joe est un personnage à la Bridget Jones, cet artiste accumule les gaffes et possède le don de se mettre dans les pires situations (le pauvre 😂). Malgré tout, il garde toujours son optimisme, un vrai rayon de soleil tout fou qu'on ne peut qu'adorer. Il est prêt à tout pour les beaux yeux de son Harry et l'amour qu'il porte à ce dernier m'a vraiment touchée. Le fait d'avoir uniquement le point de vue de Joe apporte un vrai plus à l'histoire, on est vraiment plongé au coeur de l'aventure qu'il traverse, de ses émotions (on sent que ça bouillonne à l'intérieur notamment quand il est face à un certain personnage...). Mais si j'ai beaucoup ri en sa compagnie, lors de ses folles tribulations, j'ai aussi été émue lors de certains passages.
Harry est bien plus posé et discret, cet homme d'affaires qui aime tout planifier vient juste de connaître une rupture lorsqu'il croise la route de Joe. Arrff Harry m'a parfois fait méchamment grogner, mais il a finalement su gagner mon coeur et c'est tout ce qui compte !
Tous deux forment un couple improbable mais hyper attachant, ils ne sont pas parfaits mais cela les rend tellement plus autentiques.
Joe et Harry sont entourés par une ribambelles de personnages haut en couleur et complètement farfelus, ce qui n'est pas sans donner un sacré peps à l'histoire.
Voilà donc une lecture loufoque et rafraîchissante qui m'a fait un bien fou au moral. J'ai déjà hâte de lire les autres romans de Marina Ford !
March 2, 2020
Marry Him, Marina Ford
Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews
Genre: Romance, Humour
I've had a slew of books recently that were perhaps bad choices on my part and I really hate writing low star reviews. I always try to point out though that although I didn't gel with the story others will, that reading is very subjective. This book illustrates that perfectly. Already I can see a few two star reviews, even a couple of ones and yet I loved it. Absolutely loved it.
It made me snigger with the scatty humour, and for anyone ( a few reviews mention it) who thinks life isn't like that – it is. I don't have Joe's exuberance but do have his problems with everything going t$ts up, with my careful plans descending into chaos, although mostly I just go with the flow and don't make strict plans. Everything goes wrong when I do so why bother? The nurses were sniggering when I broke my hip falling out of my wheelchair, moving the electric fence for my horses, then recently my scooter suddenly ran out of charge just before home and a big slope. I had to accept a push from a poor man who was using a stick to walk...then there's the time I super-glued my hand to the kitchen worktop. I was putting it away safely so the grand-kids didn't get it.
Frank is so like my late husband, that full on persona, always talking to strangers like long lost friends, always full of weird and wonderful ideas.
I enjoyed the very different personalities of Harry and Joe, again my late husband and I were very different, and yet it worked, we were together over 40 years, so there's no reason why Harry and Joe couldn't make it work too.
I wasn't so keen on the timing, the way it was five years past, six months past and then present, it worked to tell the story but I found it frustrating jumping back and forth. That's a small crit though and as I'm not a writer maybe that's the only way the story would work?
I did like the different people, the prejudice, the way Joe was casually called “ the Gay “ from folk who'd be astonished at the suggestion that wasn't really polite. Casual sexism, prejudice, bigotry like this is insidious, people only see the open hatred as being prejudiced whereas actually its far more and something people face daily but shouldn't have to. Being a wheelchair user I get that kind of thing when folk talk to whoever is pushing the chair, offer them the change even though I've paid, ruffle my hair like I'm a pet. One day....
The story itself has some great dram that unfolds to a real climax at the end. I couldn't believe it would really unravel, and yet the clues Marina set up for it all going wrong were incredibly real and believable.
Looking on goodreads Marina is a new to me author, I'll certainly look out for her books in future.
Stars: five, a cracking read that had me sniggering at several points at poor Joe, and empathising with him having done the same kind of thing.
ARC supplied by Netgalley and publisher
March 4, 2020
4.5 stars
I’m so happy I took a chance on this book by a new-to-me author, because I really liked it!
The story opens on the day of Joe and Harry’s wedding, which is on course to be a complete (and completely hilarious) disaster. Then it tracks back to five years before the big day to show how the two of them met, before jumping to six months before the wedding, when Joe decides to propose to Harry. The storyline continues jumping back and forth in alternating chapters between the opening months of Joe and Harry’s relationship and the near past until the narrative arrives back at the wedding day at the end of the novel.
Readers who aren’t put off by the structure of the book will be rewarded with a terrifically funny story. It’s an opposites-attract romance, with Harry being the sensible one to Joe’s irresponsible whirlwind. Joe’s more than a bit of a mess, honestly, and that results in some very humorous moments. The chapters detailing Joe’s attempt to plan and execute a romantic proposal are pure comedy—definitely laugh out loud material.
It’s not all fun and games, though. Joe desperately loves Harry, and some of the writing where Joe is thinking about Harry and the depth of his feelings for him is sweetly romantic. Joe’s also got some serious abandonment issues, and Harry unfortunately manages to trip over them at times, leading to heartbreak for poor Joe.
The worst thing about this book? I now want to read more by the author, and she’s only written a few others. Sadness!
Seriously, though, I’d recommend Marry Him to anyone who enjoys (mostly) lighthearted romance.
A copy of this book was provided by NetGalley for review; all opinions expressed are my own.
I’m so happy I took a chance on this book by a new-to-me author, because I really liked it!
The story opens on the day of Joe and Harry’s wedding, which is on course to be a complete (and completely hilarious) disaster. Then it tracks back to five years before the big day to show how the two of them met, before jumping to six months before the wedding, when Joe decides to propose to Harry. The storyline continues jumping back and forth in alternating chapters between the opening months of Joe and Harry’s relationship and the near past until the narrative arrives back at the wedding day at the end of the novel.
Readers who aren’t put off by the structure of the book will be rewarded with a terrifically funny story. It’s an opposites-attract romance, with Harry being the sensible one to Joe’s irresponsible whirlwind. Joe’s more than a bit of a mess, honestly, and that results in some very humorous moments. The chapters detailing Joe’s attempt to plan and execute a romantic proposal are pure comedy—definitely laugh out loud material.
It’s not all fun and games, though. Joe desperately loves Harry, and some of the writing where Joe is thinking about Harry and the depth of his feelings for him is sweetly romantic. Joe’s also got some serious abandonment issues, and Harry unfortunately manages to trip over them at times, leading to heartbreak for poor Joe.
The worst thing about this book? I now want to read more by the author, and she’s only written a few others. Sadness!
Seriously, though, I’d recommend Marry Him to anyone who enjoys (mostly) lighthearted romance.
A copy of this book was provided by NetGalley for review; all opinions expressed are my own.
February 16, 2020
My review will be live on donnasbookblog on 2nd March 2020 - publication day!
I thought that this was a really enjoyable story!
All round it was a really entertaining read and it was genuinely funny in places which I loved. The story was well written and I loved the mix of seriousness versus romance that the author had packed in to the story. The characters were well developed and you got a real feel for them and their personalities.
It is 5 stars from me for this one, I thought that it was a well developed and enjoyable story that had a great flow to it - very highly recommended and really enjoyable!
I thought that this was a really enjoyable story!
All round it was a really entertaining read and it was genuinely funny in places which I loved. The story was well written and I loved the mix of seriousness versus romance that the author had packed in to the story. The characters were well developed and you got a real feel for them and their personalities.
It is 5 stars from me for this one, I thought that it was a well developed and enjoyable story that had a great flow to it - very highly recommended and really enjoyable!
March 10, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley UK and Riptide Publishing for providing me with an ARC copy. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Unfortunately this book just didn't quite work out for me. For starters,I found Joe so very childish for his age - I understand that there are going to be grown adults who are still slightly immature and haven't fully grown up but Joe just seemed to take it to another level. I understand wanting to make a character a bit cutesy and kitsch by adding in small mishaps and accidents but Joe just seemed to take it to a whole other level that was just embarassing and way too much. I also really struggled to connect with any of the characters at all and I strugg;ed to figure out who some of the characters were - like Chloe, his flatmate. I feel like I know absolutely nothing aout her or how she even actually fitted into Joe's life apart from being his flatmate.
The romance was pretty cute between Joe and Henry although I still struggled to figure out how on earth they ended up together or worked out at all. And again, I feel like all Joe's quirks just ruined the romance and made their relationship seem even more unlikely. We got some side story also in the quest to find Joe's parents and the relationship between Joe's friend Frank and his partner Gabrielle. But it almost seemed like there was again, too much going on in the story that all came to a head at the same time.
I feel like this could be a great book with a bit more backstory to some of the characters and if Joe's kook's were toned down a bit. Overall, just a 2-star read.
Unfortunately this book just didn't quite work out for me. For starters,I found Joe so very childish for his age - I understand that there are going to be grown adults who are still slightly immature and haven't fully grown up but Joe just seemed to take it to another level. I understand wanting to make a character a bit cutesy and kitsch by adding in small mishaps and accidents but Joe just seemed to take it to a whole other level that was just embarassing and way too much. I also really struggled to connect with any of the characters at all and I strugg;ed to figure out who some of the characters were - like Chloe, his flatmate. I feel like I know absolutely nothing aout her or how she even actually fitted into Joe's life apart from being his flatmate.
The romance was pretty cute between Joe and Henry although I still struggled to figure out how on earth they ended up together or worked out at all. And again, I feel like all Joe's quirks just ruined the romance and made their relationship seem even more unlikely. We got some side story also in the quest to find Joe's parents and the relationship between Joe's friend Frank and his partner Gabrielle. But it almost seemed like there was again, too much going on in the story that all came to a head at the same time.
I feel like this could be a great book with a bit more backstory to some of the characters and if Joe's kook's were toned down a bit. Overall, just a 2-star read.
May 24, 2020
I loved this book!! I have to say I wasn't too sure based on the premise of the story. This was a cute story about Joe and Harry who are complete opposites. From the flashbacks presented throughout the book we see them first meet, to their first date, the funny wedding proposal, and finally their wedding day. The author keeps you guessing on what will happen in the end. I found myself laughing throughout the whole book. Joe's friends provided a lot of humor. I loved his friends. This was definitely a sweet, funny, and enjoyable love story.
I received an ARC from Riptide Publishing and Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for my copy!
I received an ARC from Riptide Publishing and Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for my copy!
July 16, 2020
I picked this title because I am always on the for good LGBTQ stories. The cover was cute, the plot sounded fun. I was disappointed. I loved this book. I had actual tears in my eyes. I laughed so hard. So so so so Good. Then I got the end (which I was sad to see come) and I realized it was a Riptide Publishing book and was like ding ding ding. Of course this is fantastic M/M romance cause I have loved every Riptide book I have ever read and this one makes my 16th Riptide title. Check this book out and check out the publisher too. You will not regret it.
June 24, 2019
This was a cute and quirky little story. I loved watching Joe and Harry crazy wedding from the proposal to the epic disaster of a wedding. Intermixed with the hilarious mishaps are flashbacks on how they met and became a couple which wasn't all hearts and roses. There were some fun side characters to add to the madness.
October 1, 2020
We begin the novel on Joe’s wedding day where everything that could go wrong has gone wrong. It’s absolute chaos. It was an interesting opening to the story, but excellent foreshadowing of the craziness that is featured in this novel.
Our main couple is Joe, an adopted carefree artist, and Harry, a more conservative marketing executive. These two are polar opposites who find each other when Joe is commissioned to create art for Harry’s company. This is when I wish the author expanded more on their backstories to build up their initial meetings. I felt it was rushed and could have included more of their inner thoughts of their attractions to the other rather than gloss over it and have the reader imagine their own details.
This novel time jumps and features “present” day (starting with their wedding day), their initial meeting five years ago, and in-between at 6 months before the wedding. I love time jumps to a point as I feel they can bring more details to the story without having to write about every single event in-between, but with all the jumping back and forth it was hard to keep up at times. I would find myself really getting into one storyline and then the chapter would end and we would jump time again so then I would have to remember what was going on during that part of the story again before going back to the initial event in another chapter. I wish the story did some time jumping instead – maybe following open on the wedding day, go back to the beginning, time jump to the wedding day so Joe can reminisce, then go back to six months before, and finally come back to present to finish up the story. (Just a thought.) The way it is written creates a detachment from the reader as you never get to fully connect to what is happening in the moment between Harry and Joe.
The writing itself was enjoyable and I would gladly read more from this author as the wording choices and style were great for each sentence. The lists were a great addition as it gave a fun summary of what was going through their minds during certain points of the story. Each chapter itself was enjoyable so by moving them around a little in my mind, I re-imagine the flow and it becomes a more cohesive story. I’m sure there are many readers that will disagree and think the current arrangement is great, but it’s just my personal preference for flow.
I can guess where the author was trying to go with Joe and create him as Harry’s opposite and fulfill the classic opposites attract belief, but I think he fell short as a character. Instead of being fun and carefree, he just came off as childish. It was hard to believe in places that I was reading about a full-grown adult who has his own career and life. I can deal with the crazy things that happen to him, but he lacked basic social skills in many scenes. There’s outgoing and fun, but then his character takes it to an unlikeable level. It was hard to believe that his personality and Harry’s would last together in the long-run and not fizzle out after the two personalities discontinue connecting.
The side plots of Joe attempting to find his birth family and Harry’s struggle to gain acceptance from his family were underdeveloped in favor of Harry’s ex-boyfriend Kieran. Even then, I feel like Kieran and Harry were underdeveloped as I felt that they kept talking about how Joe was insecure about Harry’s past relationship, but it’s never fully explored about why this relationship was hard to give up for Harry and also why Kieran was always around. It’s mentioned here and there to where some readers may be satisfied with what’s on the page, but I just felt like it could’ve been explored even more to make the reader understand the struggle that Joe and Harry faced to be together.
Overall, this story was a quick and easy read. There were many enjoyable bits, but sadly it just wasn’t for me. There was a lot of potential in this novel and I encourage any reader to give this book a try as there are tons of mixed reviews so who knows where you will live on the spectrum. Even though, I had my issues with the novel, I would still give this author many more chances and will try out any other books they have!
**Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this novel. Opinions expressed in this honest review are completely my own.**
Our main couple is Joe, an adopted carefree artist, and Harry, a more conservative marketing executive. These two are polar opposites who find each other when Joe is commissioned to create art for Harry’s company. This is when I wish the author expanded more on their backstories to build up their initial meetings. I felt it was rushed and could have included more of their inner thoughts of their attractions to the other rather than gloss over it and have the reader imagine their own details.
This novel time jumps and features “present” day (starting with their wedding day), their initial meeting five years ago, and in-between at 6 months before the wedding. I love time jumps to a point as I feel they can bring more details to the story without having to write about every single event in-between, but with all the jumping back and forth it was hard to keep up at times. I would find myself really getting into one storyline and then the chapter would end and we would jump time again so then I would have to remember what was going on during that part of the story again before going back to the initial event in another chapter. I wish the story did some time jumping instead – maybe following open on the wedding day, go back to the beginning, time jump to the wedding day so Joe can reminisce, then go back to six months before, and finally come back to present to finish up the story. (Just a thought.) The way it is written creates a detachment from the reader as you never get to fully connect to what is happening in the moment between Harry and Joe.
The writing itself was enjoyable and I would gladly read more from this author as the wording choices and style were great for each sentence. The lists were a great addition as it gave a fun summary of what was going through their minds during certain points of the story. Each chapter itself was enjoyable so by moving them around a little in my mind, I re-imagine the flow and it becomes a more cohesive story. I’m sure there are many readers that will disagree and think the current arrangement is great, but it’s just my personal preference for flow.
I can guess where the author was trying to go with Joe and create him as Harry’s opposite and fulfill the classic opposites attract belief, but I think he fell short as a character. Instead of being fun and carefree, he just came off as childish. It was hard to believe in places that I was reading about a full-grown adult who has his own career and life. I can deal with the crazy things that happen to him, but he lacked basic social skills in many scenes. There’s outgoing and fun, but then his character takes it to an unlikeable level. It was hard to believe that his personality and Harry’s would last together in the long-run and not fizzle out after the two personalities discontinue connecting.
The side plots of Joe attempting to find his birth family and Harry’s struggle to gain acceptance from his family were underdeveloped in favor of Harry’s ex-boyfriend Kieran. Even then, I feel like Kieran and Harry were underdeveloped as I felt that they kept talking about how Joe was insecure about Harry’s past relationship, but it’s never fully explored about why this relationship was hard to give up for Harry and also why Kieran was always around. It’s mentioned here and there to where some readers may be satisfied with what’s on the page, but I just felt like it could’ve been explored even more to make the reader understand the struggle that Joe and Harry faced to be together.
Overall, this story was a quick and easy read. There were many enjoyable bits, but sadly it just wasn’t for me. There was a lot of potential in this novel and I encourage any reader to give this book a try as there are tons of mixed reviews so who knows where you will live on the spectrum. Even though, I had my issues with the novel, I would still give this author many more chances and will try out any other books they have!
**Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this novel. Opinions expressed in this honest review are completely my own.**
August 1, 2020
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. The review I'm leaving is being done voluntarily and contains my own thoughts, views, and personal opinions.
I wavered a bit with my star rating on this novel, as there were bits I loved and bits I cringed over. I settled on a 3.5 and am rounding up.
So... where to begin. I think I'll start with the areas that didn't work, just to get them over with. Firstly, Joe was a painfully childish character. I get where the author was trying for humor, but in many places, I had that cringey feeling where you feel sorry and uncomfortable for someone because they're trying too hard and really just making a fool of themselves. That happened more often than I'm willing to admit. In fact, quite a bit of the humor in this gave me that queasy feeling of being embarrassed for the character (and the author).
Then there was the flashbacks/time hopping. I get where the author was going with it, and it KIND of worked, but really it just irritated me. I can't stand when I'm reading a book and it's written like a movie. Yes, in movies, time hops like that work as a story telling tool. But books are a different medium that require a different and personalized approach.
Now, to discuss what did work for me, which was mostly everything else. I loved the side characters the most. While they did have their own moments of cringe, they were mostly delightful and unique and fun. I also found the storyline to be delightful and just fresh enough to keep me turning the page despite frustrations that might've ended my read had the rest of the book not been so wonderful.
It's a real thing when a reader says, "It's not you, it's me." Honestly, not every read is for everyone, and what one person might fawn all over, another might spend hours finding new ways to throw it under the bus. I think this book definitely came out the end as more positive than negative for me, but it might be something others will love beyond measure. So, I encourage you to give it a shot if it seems even remotely likely to be something you'd enjoy!
I wavered a bit with my star rating on this novel, as there were bits I loved and bits I cringed over. I settled on a 3.5 and am rounding up.
So... where to begin. I think I'll start with the areas that didn't work, just to get them over with. Firstly, Joe was a painfully childish character. I get where the author was trying for humor, but in many places, I had that cringey feeling where you feel sorry and uncomfortable for someone because they're trying too hard and really just making a fool of themselves. That happened more often than I'm willing to admit. In fact, quite a bit of the humor in this gave me that queasy feeling of being embarrassed for the character (and the author).
Then there was the flashbacks/time hopping. I get where the author was going with it, and it KIND of worked, but really it just irritated me. I can't stand when I'm reading a book and it's written like a movie. Yes, in movies, time hops like that work as a story telling tool. But books are a different medium that require a different and personalized approach.
Now, to discuss what did work for me, which was mostly everything else. I loved the side characters the most. While they did have their own moments of cringe, they were mostly delightful and unique and fun. I also found the storyline to be delightful and just fresh enough to keep me turning the page despite frustrations that might've ended my read had the rest of the book not been so wonderful.
It's a real thing when a reader says, "It's not you, it's me." Honestly, not every read is for everyone, and what one person might fawn all over, another might spend hours finding new ways to throw it under the bus. I think this book definitely came out the end as more positive than negative for me, but it might be something others will love beyond measure. So, I encourage you to give it a shot if it seems even remotely likely to be something you'd enjoy!
October 11, 2020
2.5 rounded up because I enjoyed some of the craziness enough to have me laughing out loud.
The opposites-attract trope is one of my favorites, so when I read the blurb I jumped at the chance to read this book. Marina Ford is a new-to-me author so I had no expectations about the book other than for it to be an entertaining romantic story. Unfortunately, the story fell flat for me.
First, I had a difficult time connecting to the MCs. The blurb describes Joe as a laidback, go with the flow kind of person, but I saw him more as lazy, unprofessional and sloppy. He paid no mind to people's time, nor how his words or his actions affected others. I didn't care for his rudeness or lack of consideration for other people, so I lost any vested interest in the outcome of the story from early on.
Second, try as I might I could not see how Harry and him could have a lasting relationship anyway. In the end, I felt Joe was way too immature and Harry was still hung up on his ex. In my opinion, the relationship wasn't really developed on the page. I didn't feel the connection between Joe and Harry, nor the chemistry. Yes, they were attracted to each other, but Harry was too aloof in the beginning for me to take his interest in Joe as genuine.
Last but not least was the way the story was told. One moment I'm on the day of the wedding, then I was back to when they met, then back to another time and so forth. By the time I got to the actual wedding, I had lost enough of the story and my interest not to care about the outcome. I've read other books that use this method of telling the story, I just think that there were too many of these jumps that made it difficult to follow along without losing interest, facts or people! I was utterly confused.
The opposites-attract trope is one of my favorites, so when I read the blurb I jumped at the chance to read this book. Marina Ford is a new-to-me author so I had no expectations about the book other than for it to be an entertaining romantic story. Unfortunately, the story fell flat for me.
First, I had a difficult time connecting to the MCs. The blurb describes Joe as a laidback, go with the flow kind of person, but I saw him more as lazy, unprofessional and sloppy. He paid no mind to people's time, nor how his words or his actions affected others. I didn't care for his rudeness or lack of consideration for other people, so I lost any vested interest in the outcome of the story from early on.
Second, try as I might I could not see how Harry and him could have a lasting relationship anyway. In the end, I felt Joe was way too immature and Harry was still hung up on his ex. In my opinion, the relationship wasn't really developed on the page. I didn't feel the connection between Joe and Harry, nor the chemistry. Yes, they were attracted to each other, but Harry was too aloof in the beginning for me to take his interest in Joe as genuine.
Last but not least was the way the story was told. One moment I'm on the day of the wedding, then I was back to when they met, then back to another time and so forth. By the time I got to the actual wedding, I had lost enough of the story and my interest not to care about the outcome. I've read other books that use this method of telling the story, I just think that there were too many of these jumps that made it difficult to follow along without losing interest, facts or people! I was utterly confused.
April 6, 2020
This is a cute male-male romance novel that has multiple timelines involved.
The times lines help you to understand what happened five years before they got married, five months before they go married, a few weeks before they got married, and on their wedding day. With the book starting off on their wedding day you always assume that they will actually be getting married but this writer is able to create that doubt with the jumping timeline. I will say that at some points I was annoyed because I wanted to stay in that timeline to figure out what happened. Or it would take me a few lines to remember where the timeline stopped in the previous chapter to understand what was going on. Regardless, overall this book was great! It not only talked about their romance, it also highlights a heterosexual couples romance which was a rollercoaster. Marina Ford also comments on how to deal with parents who may not be accepting of their children's sexual orientation.
This was a great book and I look forward to reading more from this author.
The times lines help you to understand what happened five years before they got married, five months before they go married, a few weeks before they got married, and on their wedding day. With the book starting off on their wedding day you always assume that they will actually be getting married but this writer is able to create that doubt with the jumping timeline. I will say that at some points I was annoyed because I wanted to stay in that timeline to figure out what happened. Or it would take me a few lines to remember where the timeline stopped in the previous chapter to understand what was going on. Regardless, overall this book was great! It not only talked about their romance, it also highlights a heterosexual couples romance which was a rollercoaster. Marina Ford also comments on how to deal with parents who may not be accepting of their children's sexual orientation.
This was a great book and I look forward to reading more from this author.
May 14, 2020
I really loved the premise of this book and the cover and I loved reading about Joe and Harry's complicated relationship. I was really rooting for them to be happy. However, the time jump back in and forth and then up until their wedding day was not executed well by this author and it was irritating to the story. Joe is a mess and Harry is the sensible one but their opposites attract , it is everything around them driving them apart.
This story had so much going for it and it was very funny in some parts plus I loved their story. I just couldn't get beyond the jumping around so much in the storyline. I don't mind storylines that change but this was just bothersome AF.
Still worth the read if you can focus on Joe and Harry and not the timeline. Thanks to Netgalley, Marina For and Riptide Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Available: 3/20/20
This story had so much going for it and it was very funny in some parts plus I loved their story. I just couldn't get beyond the jumping around so much in the storyline. I don't mind storylines that change but this was just bothersome AF.
Still worth the read if you can focus on Joe and Harry and not the timeline. Thanks to Netgalley, Marina For and Riptide Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Available: 3/20/20
March 4, 2020
I really enjoyed this book but it was a little scattered. It’s got a starchy guy/ wild guy dynamic which I enjoy. It’s stupid sweet and I really liked Joe and Harry together. It also has time hopping through flashbacks and slapstick and general wackiness - which are all things that sometimes work for me and sometimes do not. I liked Joe’s narration enough that the structure and wackiness didn’t hamper my enjoyment.
CWs: closeted ex, homophobia (one MC shunned by father and religious community, one MC has a father who makes homophobic comments on page), adoption
Note: I didn’t realize until I bought it that this was a work previously published and the reissued by Riptide publishing and not a self-published work. Riptide has a problematic history of racism and exclusion.
CWs: closeted ex, homophobia (one MC shunned by father and religious community, one MC has a father who makes homophobic comments on page), adoption
Note: I didn’t realize until I bought it that this was a work previously published and the reissued by Riptide publishing and not a self-published work. Riptide has a problematic history of racism and exclusion.
April 1, 2020
This book definitely has a cute premise - a love story of two men who seem like complete and total opposites. There is a lot of comedy and some very sweet moments. However, this book fell short for me. My main issue is that I couldn't figure out why the story was not told in chronological order. It would have made so much more sense that way and I think I would have connected to the story better. Jumping around in time, in this story, just served to confuse and did not seem to serve a purpose in the end. I generally enjoyed the characters Joe and Harry, but there are many times they frustrate you enough to shake them. There is also quite a bit of open door steam, so be prepared!
Thank you to NetGalley for my advanced reading copy!
Thank you to NetGalley for my advanced reading copy!
February 19, 2020
This book definitely has a cute premise - a love story of two men who seem like complete and total opposites. There is a lot of comedy and some very sweet moments. However, this book fell short for me. My main issue is that I couldn't figure out why the story was not told in chronological order. It would have made so much more sense that way and I think I would have connected to the story better. Jumping around in time, in this story, just confused me as a reader and did not seem to serve a purpose in the end. I generally enjoyed the characters Joe and Harry, but there are many times they frustrate you enough to shake them. There is also quite a bit of open door steam, so be prepared!
Thank you to NetGalley for my advanced reading copy!
Thank you to NetGalley for my advanced reading copy!
March 16, 2020
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
Story of two guys falling in love amongst all the odds and getting married. One carefree guy vs one organized planner. The romance quotient or the chemistry between them was insufficient. The carefree guy was way too childish at times. That seemed to be intentional. The story is told in two different timelines. One current day, wedding day and the other five years ago. Switching between timelines made it difficult for me to follow the story.
Story of two guys falling in love amongst all the odds and getting married. One carefree guy vs one organized planner. The romance quotient or the chemistry between them was insufficient. The carefree guy was way too childish at times. That seemed to be intentional. The story is told in two different timelines. One current day, wedding day and the other five years ago. Switching between timelines made it difficult for me to follow the story.
March 18, 2020
Sweet, lighthearted, and enjoyable to read. The timeline is a bit wonky because the chapters switch between past and present. I got a bit confused in the beginning but thankfully there is only one POV. Joe and Harry’s relationship is a comedy of errors with a bit of a pseudo love triangle, but not seriously. I had a good time regardless. :)
June 15, 2020
I enjoyed this romp.
Fast paced and engaging, at times laugh out loud, poor Joe is a walking disaster zone!
Joe and harry are opposites, free wheeling artistic Joe and uptight business man Harry.
Told in alternate flash back to the start of their romance and in the immediate run up to the wedding, it can be a bit confusing but it all works out in the end.
Fast paced and engaging, at times laugh out loud, poor Joe is a walking disaster zone!
Joe and harry are opposites, free wheeling artistic Joe and uptight business man Harry.
Told in alternate flash back to the start of their romance and in the immediate run up to the wedding, it can be a bit confusing but it all works out in the end.
August 28, 2020
This story is a sort of rom-com. It starts off at the end though where you get a list of things that go horribly wrong at the wedding, and then you move back and forth in time through the relationship of two seemingly mis-matched people. There is a lot of over the top, ridiculous drama in this book. It made it a little too unrealistic for my taste.
March 11, 2020
An absolutely charming read! The story was witty and heartwarming with sweet main characters and their outlandish friends. It’s a relatively quick and light read, and downright funny.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
March 29, 2020
I'm actually surprised I enjoyed this one so much. I laughed out loud a few times. I needed a light, heartwarming book and I got it.
December 31, 2020
Absolutely love this romantic comedy. Came to me at the right time.
August 1, 2022
An absolute, light-hearted, delight. Reminded me a lot of Bridget Jones’ Diary. Quick, witty, ridiculous, delicious.
March 30, 2020
Marry Him caught my eye with its cute, simple cover and the promise of a romantic comedy. I love opposites attract romances and the start of Marry Him felt like it was going to be a cute, fun ride filled with some silly bobbles. While I definitely got a lot of that, Marry Him ended up being a bit of a mixed bag for me.
It honestly felt as though the author tried too hard to make this into a comedy of errors rather than let the silly misadventures and missteps provide a more balanced humor. Additionally, the timeline shifting back and forth created a less cohesive storyline and kept me from really getting to watch these two come together, fall in love, and then move toward their happily ever after. I’m not usually one that gets stuck on these details, but I think this aspect combined with the uncertainty regarding Harry’s actions leading up to the big day, and the random occurrences that disrupted the couple’s plans made things much more chaotic than they needed to be. All that said, I did like these two together. I loved that Harry saw all the good in Joe, looking over the silliness that he and his friends often got into and embracing the person beneath all the misadventures. And while some of the stylistic choices didn’t work well for me, the overall style and character development was solid. I think fans of misadventures and silly comedic moments might enjoy Marry Him and all the craziness that leads up to Harry and Joe’s big day.
*eARC received via Netgalley. The author and publisher had no influence over this review*
It honestly felt as though the author tried too hard to make this into a comedy of errors rather than let the silly misadventures and missteps provide a more balanced humor. Additionally, the timeline shifting back and forth created a less cohesive storyline and kept me from really getting to watch these two come together, fall in love, and then move toward their happily ever after. I’m not usually one that gets stuck on these details, but I think this aspect combined with the uncertainty regarding Harry’s actions leading up to the big day, and the random occurrences that disrupted the couple’s plans made things much more chaotic than they needed to be. All that said, I did like these two together. I loved that Harry saw all the good in Joe, looking over the silliness that he and his friends often got into and embracing the person beneath all the misadventures. And while some of the stylistic choices didn’t work well for me, the overall style and character development was solid. I think fans of misadventures and silly comedic moments might enjoy Marry Him and all the craziness that leads up to Harry and Joe’s big day.
*eARC received via Netgalley. The author and publisher had no influence over this review*
March 29, 2020
My initial response when I finished Marry Him: “Well, that was frustrating, but fun nonetheless. I think I need a break from angsty, miscommunication reads for a little while though….” Believe it or not, I (almost) stuck to that promise 😉
As frustrating as watching all the missteps (mainly by Joe) that happened along the way to their HEA, it was a fun trip. I know some readers were equally frustrated by the fact that much of the story went back and forth between the past and present. It may have been easier to just tell the story chronologically, but since the story took place during a 5 year span, for me, that approach kept things interesting. Just be forewarned…
On paper, Harry and Joe would be labeled the least likely couple to work, but they really complimented each other… eventually. The humor is what drove this story for me. The supporting characters were great, but not always helpful. More often than not, they added to the chaos. A lot of this couple’s problems would have been resolved with just a little bit of communication.
This was my first Marina Ford book, but I seriously doubt it will be my last.
I received Marry Him in exchange for a fair and honest review.
As frustrating as watching all the missteps (mainly by Joe) that happened along the way to their HEA, it was a fun trip. I know some readers were equally frustrated by the fact that much of the story went back and forth between the past and present. It may have been easier to just tell the story chronologically, but since the story took place during a 5 year span, for me, that approach kept things interesting. Just be forewarned…
On paper, Harry and Joe would be labeled the least likely couple to work, but they really complimented each other… eventually. The humor is what drove this story for me. The supporting characters were great, but not always helpful. More often than not, they added to the chaos. A lot of this couple’s problems would have been resolved with just a little bit of communication.
This was my first Marina Ford book, but I seriously doubt it will be my last.
I received Marry Him in exchange for a fair and honest review.
May 8, 2020
•*´¨)✯ ¸.•*¨)
✮ (¸.•´The making of Joe & Harry...
"It was meant to be a one-night stand, not 'I do.'"
Jesus take the wheel. This was the most chaotic, over the top, can you believe that happened? book I have ever read and I want to thank the author for the most laughter in one sitting. Joe and Harry's story was a hoot and one that will have me exploring again when I want to exact this feeling.
It was all over the place, encompassing their relationship out of order and coming to the end with a happy ending. Joe and Harry's story is for anyone who has experienced a mishmash of emotions and uncertainty about being with someone and finally getting it right.
There were exes, break ups and make ups. There were other people whose stories entwined with theirs. Parents who were NOT the prime examples and friends whom, though you had to love, were just downright exhausting.
This may not be a book for everyone, but if you love over the top and HEA, one click and enjoy the confusion. This is one of those things that make you go, hmmm, books.
I voluntarily and honestly reviewed this book without bias or persuasion from the author through Netgalley.
✮ (¸.•´The making of Joe & Harry...
"It was meant to be a one-night stand, not 'I do.'"
Jesus take the wheel. This was the most chaotic, over the top, can you believe that happened? book I have ever read and I want to thank the author for the most laughter in one sitting. Joe and Harry's story was a hoot and one that will have me exploring again when I want to exact this feeling.
It was all over the place, encompassing their relationship out of order and coming to the end with a happy ending. Joe and Harry's story is for anyone who has experienced a mishmash of emotions and uncertainty about being with someone and finally getting it right.
There were exes, break ups and make ups. There were other people whose stories entwined with theirs. Parents who were NOT the prime examples and friends whom, though you had to love, were just downright exhausting.
This may not be a book for everyone, but if you love over the top and HEA, one click and enjoy the confusion. This is one of those things that make you go, hmmm, books.
I voluntarily and honestly reviewed this book without bias or persuasion from the author through Netgalley.
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