What do you think?
Rate this book
The Madisons #1
Cruel to be Kind
Okay, so I'm spinning.
Being nice has always been my superpower. I'm a Basic Normal in a big family full of even bigger personalities and nice is like, my thing.
And the point is, it works. Or it did until today. I had it all, from the cute house to the super hot husband to the fun job. Life was blissfully drama-free.
Was. Past tense.
Nice just ... isn't cutting it anymore.
Everything's falling apart! My perfect husband's got a love child (still having trouble believing this, tbh, but it sure seems like it), which means I'm probably going to end up homeless, so I'm staying at a fancy hotel I can't afford, and I'm pretty sure my Russian esthetician just tried to recruit me into a cult.
Oh man. What is happening?
Cruel to be Kind is a laugh-out-loud, heartwarming romcom with a relatable good-girl-who's-not-gonna-take-it-anymore main character, a cinnamon roll-to-grumpy-to-sunshine hero (which is he, really?) and a missing wedding ring that was most-likely stolen by a facialist named Hagatha (we think). Expect plenty of chemistry and a wacky good-time from this closed-door romance. And spoiler alert: It comes with no actual cheating and an HEA guarantee!
Being nice has always been my superpower. I'm a Basic Normal in a big family full of even bigger personalities and nice is like, my thing.
And the point is, it works. Or it did until today. I had it all, from the cute house to the super hot husband to the fun job. Life was blissfully drama-free.
Was. Past tense.
Nice just ... isn't cutting it anymore.
Everything's falling apart! My perfect husband's got a love child (still having trouble believing this, tbh, but it sure seems like it), which means I'm probably going to end up homeless, so I'm staying at a fancy hotel I can't afford, and I'm pretty sure my Russian esthetician just tried to recruit me into a cult.
Oh man. What is happening?
Cruel to be Kind is a laugh-out-loud, heartwarming romcom with a relatable good-girl-who's-not-gonna-take-it-anymore main character, a cinnamon roll-to-grumpy-to-sunshine hero (which is he, really?) and a missing wedding ring that was most-likely stolen by a facialist named Hagatha (we think). Expect plenty of chemistry and a wacky good-time from this closed-door romance. And spoiler alert: It comes with no actual cheating and an HEA guarantee!
313 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 21, 2022
147 people are currently reading
729 people want to read
About the author
Olivia M. Jacques
4 books37 followersOlivia M. Jacques loves writing about neurotic, relatable heroines with humour and heart. She's a Canadian who started publishing while living in the USA, but still favours the “unnecessary u” in her spelling. When she’s not secretly writing “chick-lit” she’s busy being a mom and chewing on Chiclets in a sad attempt to mask her perpetual coffee-meets-night-cheese breath. Such is the life of a writer!
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
added-it
April 26, 2022🎁 FREE on Amazon today (4/26/2022)! 🎁
Read
January 17, 2026It has been a while since I read a sweet romance (closed door) but this one didn’t need the smut to be a good book! It honestly wasn’t wholly focused on romance and was more of a focus on the FMC.
Cruel to be Kind broke my heart just to put it back together, over and over again. I felt every emotion and I laughed, cried, raged, and smiled through the whole book. There were moments when I literally had to put it down and just stare off into space because of what had happened.
Cruel to Be Kind is about a lovable, punny, overweight, people-pleasing 30-year-old named Claire finally standing up for herself and realizing her self worth. It’s about her idling marriage with flashbacks of “before” to help us slowly start to see where everything went wrong (Kind of like All Your Perfects by Colleen Hoover).
Never in my whole life of reading, watching movies, or consuming stories of any kind have I ever related to a character as much as I relate to Claire. Her narration and thoughts are so funny too, she and I would be best friends. Though I would definitely need her to up her self confidence because we don’t do self-loathing 👎🏼
This was a super quick read and so very relevant and relatable. The chapters were short enough that I kept telling myself “one more chapter” and ended up reading for another hour. It was a witty, clean, heart-wrenching story but I honestly wish there were 100 more pages so I could keep reading about Claire.
This could be read as a stand-alone but I cannot wait to read the sequel next!!
Also the Taylor Swift references were perfection.
❔Have you read any clean romances lately?
Inclusion
- “short/round”-bodied women
- MCs in their 30s
Tropes
- Brother’s friend
- High school sweethearts
- Quarterback & Quiet Girl
CW
- Marital struggles
- Miscarriage (somewhat descriptive)
- Infidelity
- Fat shaming
Cruel to be Kind broke my heart just to put it back together, over and over again. I felt every emotion and I laughed, cried, raged, and smiled through the whole book. There were moments when I literally had to put it down and just stare off into space because of what had happened.
Cruel to Be Kind is about a lovable, punny, overweight, people-pleasing 30-year-old named Claire finally standing up for herself and realizing her self worth. It’s about her idling marriage with flashbacks of “before” to help us slowly start to see where everything went wrong (Kind of like All Your Perfects by Colleen Hoover).
Never in my whole life of reading, watching movies, or consuming stories of any kind have I ever related to a character as much as I relate to Claire. Her narration and thoughts are so funny too, she and I would be best friends. Though I would definitely need her to up her self confidence because we don’t do self-loathing 👎🏼
This was a super quick read and so very relevant and relatable. The chapters were short enough that I kept telling myself “one more chapter” and ended up reading for another hour. It was a witty, clean, heart-wrenching story but I honestly wish there were 100 more pages so I could keep reading about Claire.
This could be read as a stand-alone but I cannot wait to read the sequel next!!
Also the Taylor Swift references were perfection.
❔Have you read any clean romances lately?
Inclusion
- “short/round”-bodied women
- MCs in their 30s
Tropes
- Brother’s friend
- High school sweethearts
- Quarterback & Quiet Girl
CW
- Marital struggles
- Miscarriage (somewhat descriptive)
- Infidelity
- Fat shaming
March 20, 2022
Claire has always been a normal, low maintenance, nice girl. To Claire, those are her best qualities. She is easygoing and always rolls with the punches in life. Those who love her also constantly take advantage of and mistreat her. Claire suddenly finds her life spiraling in a tailspin. She finds a letter in her hot husband’s sock drawer, and it appears he has a secret love child. She always knew his being in love with her was too good to be true. Claire is freaking out and needs to get away. After checking herself into the expensive hotel in town that she can’t afford, she finds herself at the center of a series of unfortunate and unbelievable events. The hysterical tale that ensues is laugh-out-loud funny.
Cruel to Be Kind was a delightful read. This book spoke to me on so many levels. I found Claire’s character to be very realistic and relatable. The raw emotions pour off the pages. I felt what Claire was feeling. It evoked feelings of anger, sadness, grief, nostalgia, regret, self-awareness, love, and forgiveness. Olivia Jacques handled even the most delicate topics with sensitivity and care. This story made me laugh, and it made me cry.
The first two chapters were a jumbled mess of Claire’s rambling and chaotic mind. They were a little difficult to get through. It was hard to determine what direction the story was going in. The writing evened out and grew into an engrossing story. It sucked me in. Without the deep look into Claire’s mental state, the reader would miss a huge part of the story. Her state of mind needed to be revealed before the story could develop. The story progresses into sweet looks back at the past, alternating with the tale of the current crazy situation Claire finds herself in. We see Claire working toward healing from things that happened in the past. She is determined to change her life. Claire transforms from a pushover, who puts everyone before herself, to a woman who knows her worth and demands her due. She stops taking abuse from the selfish people around her. Watching Claire and Adam navigate the trials and tribulations of family life and marriage was heartbreaking and realistic. It hit very close to home. The conclusion was the perfect ending for Claire’s story. I am very excited that this is a series debut. I cannot wait to meet up with the crazy, dysfunctional Madison/Mason family and all the other wonderful characters again. This was a 5-star read for me! Olivia Jacques nailed it!
A special thank you to Booksprout and the author, Olivia Jacques, for providing this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Cruel to Be Kind was a delightful read. This book spoke to me on so many levels. I found Claire’s character to be very realistic and relatable. The raw emotions pour off the pages. I felt what Claire was feeling. It evoked feelings of anger, sadness, grief, nostalgia, regret, self-awareness, love, and forgiveness. Olivia Jacques handled even the most delicate topics with sensitivity and care. This story made me laugh, and it made me cry.
The first two chapters were a jumbled mess of Claire’s rambling and chaotic mind. They were a little difficult to get through. It was hard to determine what direction the story was going in. The writing evened out and grew into an engrossing story. It sucked me in. Without the deep look into Claire’s mental state, the reader would miss a huge part of the story. Her state of mind needed to be revealed before the story could develop. The story progresses into sweet looks back at the past, alternating with the tale of the current crazy situation Claire finds herself in. We see Claire working toward healing from things that happened in the past. She is determined to change her life. Claire transforms from a pushover, who puts everyone before herself, to a woman who knows her worth and demands her due. She stops taking abuse from the selfish people around her. Watching Claire and Adam navigate the trials and tribulations of family life and marriage was heartbreaking and realistic. It hit very close to home. The conclusion was the perfect ending for Claire’s story. I am very excited that this is a series debut. I cannot wait to meet up with the crazy, dysfunctional Madison/Mason family and all the other wonderful characters again. This was a 5-star read for me! Olivia Jacques nailed it!
A special thank you to Booksprout and the author, Olivia Jacques, for providing this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 20, 2022
*I downloaded a free copy of this book on Amazon and am voluntarily leaving an honest review. I'm sorry that it's probably too honest.*
TW: late stage miscarriage
Dear author,
Having someone fired over atrocious treatment isn't racist, or xenophobic, or "Karen-like behaviour". However, continuously mocking an immigrant's "ethnic" name, even after being told their actual name, is in fact pretty xenophobic, even if the person is being atrocious.
You know what the worst part of this might be? You wanna know what "Hagatha"'s oh so hard, oh so ethnic, oh so impossible to remember name was?
It was Helene.
HELENE.
Just one letter longer than HELEN.
This is how we start the book, so I was soured for the rest of it. I kept reading just to see where we were going and if, hopefully, someone would call this out, but nope.
No, actually, the worst part might be that Clair later remarks on her bitch of a mother-in-law's own racism. Going so far as to remark that if her MIL met her new friend, she would make fun of her "ethnic name". The lack of self-awareness was astounding.
Like I said, I was annoyed but I kept reading, and unfortunately, the story didn't redeem itself in any other aspect. I wish people would stop using the keyword "laugh-out-loud" to promote books because, it might not seem like it, but I love laughing! I would love for that to be true! But this 1000% did not make me laugh! This was a bummer! We spend all the book in Clara's head while she thinks she's too fat, too stupid, too ugly, too plain, too undeserving of everything she has, and so over and over, rinse and repeat.
I don't necessarily want characters who are perfect and happy all the time. It's relatable to be insecure and deal with low self-esteem and self-deprecation. We all do. But some authors seem to have issues drawing a line between "relatable" and "downright depressing". We all have enough of our own issues to come to a book and have to put up with a barrage of "my body is like this and it's obviously the worst body type", "I have mousy brown hair and I'm ugly and uninteresting", "looking like this means I lucked out with the person I ended up with".
Yes, at the end Caroline finally realizes some of these things are bullshit. But give me a break.
On top of this, we were constantly going back in time to get flashbacks of Carissa and Adam's story. This would be fine, except it was too much, all the time. The book starts with Candace standing at the spa reception in front of horrible Helene, and it takes two whole chapters for her to move from the spot, because she's reminiscing about how she got there.
Also, why are North American adults so... scared of swear words?? They're words. They're not going to bite you or send you to hell, I promise. The author didn't want to use the word FUCK or FUCKING, but she wanted her characters to be normal and say them. So we ended up with "f--" and "f--g" 🙄. Oh, and DINK instead of dick. Y'know, as one does.
So the whole plot is basically Clairie finding out her husband allegedly has a child with another woman whom he just went to visit and lied to her about, she fucks off to a hotel downtown, and some things happen to her, in the middle of all the reminiscing. She shoots him a text about it, she's unsatisfied with his reply, and she blocks him, effectively preventing him from communicating with her at all... which she then throws in his face.
There was a very valid and solid plot about losing a late stage pregnancy and all the grief that comes after, and not resolving that with your partner... but it was sadly lost among all the other stuff.
This book just didn't work for me, it didn't feel like a romcom at all, Clarisse's struggles were more pathetic or sad than funny, and the prologue was incredibly random, as it doesn't have a connection with anything that happens and you have to be like "so I guess that happened at some point...?"
Hope you appreciate what I did there with Claire's name 🙃
TW: late stage miscarriage
Dear author,
Having someone fired over atrocious treatment isn't racist, or xenophobic, or "Karen-like behaviour". However, continuously mocking an immigrant's "ethnic" name, even after being told their actual name, is in fact pretty xenophobic, even if the person is being atrocious.
You know what the worst part of this might be? You wanna know what "Hagatha"'s oh so hard, oh so ethnic, oh so impossible to remember name was?
It was Helene.
HELENE.
Just one letter longer than HELEN.
This is how we start the book, so I was soured for the rest of it. I kept reading just to see where we were going and if, hopefully, someone would call this out, but nope.
No, actually, the worst part might be that Clair later remarks on her bitch of a mother-in-law's own racism. Going so far as to remark that if her MIL met her new friend, she would make fun of her "ethnic name". The lack of self-awareness was astounding.
Like I said, I was annoyed but I kept reading, and unfortunately, the story didn't redeem itself in any other aspect. I wish people would stop using the keyword "laugh-out-loud" to promote books because, it might not seem like it, but I love laughing! I would love for that to be true! But this 1000% did not make me laugh! This was a bummer! We spend all the book in Clara's head while she thinks she's too fat, too stupid, too ugly, too plain, too undeserving of everything she has, and so over and over, rinse and repeat.
I don't necessarily want characters who are perfect and happy all the time. It's relatable to be insecure and deal with low self-esteem and self-deprecation. We all do. But some authors seem to have issues drawing a line between "relatable" and "downright depressing". We all have enough of our own issues to come to a book and have to put up with a barrage of "my body is like this and it's obviously the worst body type", "I have mousy brown hair and I'm ugly and uninteresting", "looking like this means I lucked out with the person I ended up with".
Yes, at the end Caroline finally realizes some of these things are bullshit. But give me a break.
On top of this, we were constantly going back in time to get flashbacks of Carissa and Adam's story. This would be fine, except it was too much, all the time. The book starts with Candace standing at the spa reception in front of horrible Helene, and it takes two whole chapters for her to move from the spot, because she's reminiscing about how she got there.
Also, why are North American adults so... scared of swear words?? They're words. They're not going to bite you or send you to hell, I promise. The author didn't want to use the word FUCK or FUCKING, but she wanted her characters to be normal and say them. So we ended up with "f--" and "f--g" 🙄. Oh, and DINK instead of dick. Y'know, as one does.
So the whole plot is basically Clairie finding out her husband allegedly has a child with another woman whom he just went to visit and lied to her about, she fucks off to a hotel downtown, and some things happen to her, in the middle of all the reminiscing. She shoots him a text about it, she's unsatisfied with his reply, and she blocks him, effectively preventing him from communicating with her at all... which she then throws in his face.
There was a very valid and solid plot about losing a late stage pregnancy and all the grief that comes after, and not resolving that with your partner... but it was sadly lost among all the other stuff.
This book just didn't work for me, it didn't feel like a romcom at all, Clarisse's struggles were more pathetic or sad than funny, and the prologue was incredibly random, as it doesn't have a connection with anything that happens and you have to be like "so I guess that happened at some point...?"
Hope you appreciate what I did there with Claire's name 🙃
August 5, 2023
Thank you so so so much to the author and Hazel’s Booktours for sharing a copy of this book with me!!!
Trigger warnings: mentions of miscarriage
“Adam walks into the room and right away I think, even now, he’s still the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen.”
This book was so incredibly good. When I first started reading I had genuinely no idea where this was all going. At the very beginning I thought it was simply the story of a woman, finding out her husband had cheated on her and after years of verbal abuse by his mother she wanted to start anew and enjoy life. I was soo wrong!!! This book was so much more than that !!! Clair was such a relatable character and I could perfectly understand her position and the image she always showed or herself. Being nice is a tiring job one has to exercise daily and constantly but when enough is enough and all hell break loose then there is nothing more you can do but explode. She is such a strong and resilient woman after everything she has faced in life and I honestly believe that this book and her story is so inspirational for a lot of young women in a relationship with a partner and with themselves. I loved her family to bits and Adam, her husband … let’s say he wasn’t so bad after all. The signs might have been all there but when your mind is in grief and pain and you don’t see a hand on the other side … I can be hard for your eyes to focus on the finger in front of you. There was something pretty funny about the whole week she had in the hotel but at the end of the day, it’s what she decides to do with her life and her future that I appreciate and respect the most. And that ending … I have never been happier for such a happy ending in my life !!!
“I’m sweet, I’m helpful, but I’m also dumb. Like, really dumb.As a rock. Apparently.”
“No more Mrs. Nice Claire.”
Trigger warnings: mentions of miscarriage
“Adam walks into the room and right away I think, even now, he’s still the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen.”
This book was so incredibly good. When I first started reading I had genuinely no idea where this was all going. At the very beginning I thought it was simply the story of a woman, finding out her husband had cheated on her and after years of verbal abuse by his mother she wanted to start anew and enjoy life. I was soo wrong!!! This book was so much more than that !!! Clair was such a relatable character and I could perfectly understand her position and the image she always showed or herself. Being nice is a tiring job one has to exercise daily and constantly but when enough is enough and all hell break loose then there is nothing more you can do but explode. She is such a strong and resilient woman after everything she has faced in life and I honestly believe that this book and her story is so inspirational for a lot of young women in a relationship with a partner and with themselves. I loved her family to bits and Adam, her husband … let’s say he wasn’t so bad after all. The signs might have been all there but when your mind is in grief and pain and you don’t see a hand on the other side … I can be hard for your eyes to focus on the finger in front of you. There was something pretty funny about the whole week she had in the hotel but at the end of the day, it’s what she decides to do with her life and her future that I appreciate and respect the most. And that ending … I have never been happier for such a happy ending in my life !!!
“I’m sweet, I’m helpful, but I’m also dumb. Like, really dumb.As a rock. Apparently.”
“No more Mrs. Nice Claire.”
March 14, 2022
A Page-Turning, Witty Debut with Impressive Depths
Raw, beautiful, hilarious, and uplifting. There are truly not enough adjectives to describe how much I loved this wonderful first in series debut. Olivia Jacques writes from the heart, and addresses even the most delicate of topics in a sensitive, poignant way. The romance is sweet, swoony, and totally authentic as Claire and Adam navigate the unpredictable waters of marriage and emerge on the other side still very much in love.
The Madisons are about to steal your heart with their hilarious, dysfunctional, loveable banter! Grab some tissues and prepare for swoons, laughter, and tears!
Highly recommended to readers looking for a sweet romance (closed door / clean) with the humor of Emma St. Clair or Christina Lauren!
Thanks to Booksprout and the author for the ARC copy!
Raw, beautiful, hilarious, and uplifting. There are truly not enough adjectives to describe how much I loved this wonderful first in series debut. Olivia Jacques writes from the heart, and addresses even the most delicate of topics in a sensitive, poignant way. The romance is sweet, swoony, and totally authentic as Claire and Adam navigate the unpredictable waters of marriage and emerge on the other side still very much in love.
The Madisons are about to steal your heart with their hilarious, dysfunctional, loveable banter! Grab some tissues and prepare for swoons, laughter, and tears!
Highly recommended to readers looking for a sweet romance (closed door / clean) with the humor of Emma St. Clair or Christina Lauren!
Thanks to Booksprout and the author for the ARC copy!
March 19, 2022
Cruel to be Kind is a sweet, feel-good book that had me laughing out loud and rooting for Claire. Olivia Jacques writes beautifully of life’s ups and downs, and writes gracefully of those most vulnerable of moments. I cannot wait to read more adventures from the Madisons. This family is sure to keep me reading into the night. Cruel to be Kind, the first in the series, is sure to capture your heart and keep you captivated with wit, cheer, and so many hopeful moments!
April 9, 2023
Perceived cheating,marriage in trouble,intense yet comic. Cute yet full of depth .Convoluted yet solid. A well conceived and well rounded tale,knowing, heartwarming and uplifting !
February 18, 2025
a lil silly goose book - a fun and an extremely human read
May 16, 2023
Sometimes it takes a catastrophe or two to force you out of a rut.
Quotes:📖
Nine words.
Two years.
It was my fault.
Was it, though?
Thoughts: 💡
This was beautiful but messy, funny as well as heartfelt, Olivia didn’t write a single curse word yet it was real and authentic. I Loved it and I cried, I just wasn’t expecting it.
It is slightly mismarketed though because it’s listed as a romance but that is only a vague piece of the story. This is actually a story about a woman finding her voice, managing her wacky family and calamitous mishaps, and a heartbreaking miscarriage.
Fun Bits:
⚜️ Hilarious Misadventures
⚜️ Witty Banter & Sarcasm
⚜️ Oddly Profound Life Advice
⚜️ Social Media Tips & Insight
Important Note:✨
Can be read as standalone. This isn’t really a romance, it's women’s fiction about loss and finding yourself again.
Stats:📊
Closed Door
Character Dev: 💙💙💙💙💙/5
Genre: Chick-Lit/ Women’s Fiction 📕
Tropes: Loss & Healing, Hilarious Mishaps, Marriage Crisis📘
POV: Single💃🏻
CW: Cheating and Miscarriage⚠️
Quotes:📖
Nine words.
Two years.
It was my fault.
Was it, though?
Thoughts: 💡
This was beautiful but messy, funny as well as heartfelt, Olivia didn’t write a single curse word yet it was real and authentic. I Loved it and I cried, I just wasn’t expecting it.
It is slightly mismarketed though because it’s listed as a romance but that is only a vague piece of the story. This is actually a story about a woman finding her voice, managing her wacky family and calamitous mishaps, and a heartbreaking miscarriage.
Fun Bits:
⚜️ Hilarious Misadventures
⚜️ Witty Banter & Sarcasm
⚜️ Oddly Profound Life Advice
⚜️ Social Media Tips & Insight
Important Note:✨
Can be read as standalone. This isn’t really a romance, it's women’s fiction about loss and finding yourself again.
Stats:📊
Closed Door
Character Dev: 💙💙💙💙💙/5
Genre: Chick-Lit/ Women’s Fiction 📕
Tropes: Loss & Healing, Hilarious Mishaps, Marriage Crisis📘
POV: Single💃🏻
CW: Cheating and Miscarriage⚠️
December 2, 2023
This was a good fast read once I decided to sit and read.
March 19, 2022
The first two chapters are just Claire rambling on and going on insane tangents. I understand that it is for us to get an insight on her mental state at that time and from a writing point of view that's excellent but as a reader I wished that it was condensed to just one chapter.
From there it picks up and up. It was so engaging that I had a hard time putting the book down.
Claire's character development or rather her healing from the past is wonderful to witness. She goes from a pushover people pleaser to someone who knows their worth and can call other people out on their selfish behavior.
I did not expect this book to have as many twists and turns as it did. Each one had me laughing and in amused disbelief. Specially loved the ending.
The supporting characters were amazing too, like Drew , Sam and the Madison family members.
This has definitely become one of my favorite romcoms, I would highly recommend it to people who enjoy this genre.
Also, I love the Madison family. All their interactions were hilarious. I am eagerly waiting for more stories from them.
From there it picks up and up. It was so engaging that I had a hard time putting the book down.
Claire's character development or rather her healing from the past is wonderful to witness. She goes from a pushover people pleaser to someone who knows their worth and can call other people out on their selfish behavior.
I did not expect this book to have as many twists and turns as it did. Each one had me laughing and in amused disbelief. Specially loved the ending.
The supporting characters were amazing too, like Drew , Sam and the Madison family members.
This has definitely become one of my favorite romcoms, I would highly recommend it to people who enjoy this genre.
Also, I love the Madison family. All their interactions were hilarious. I am eagerly waiting for more stories from them.
April 15, 2023
Very different
I think this might be chick lit but it was okay. Didn't love it. Didn't hate it. I wouldn't call it romance for sure. Yes it was a marriage in peril kind of trope, but there wasn't the feels really. Adam, the husband/hero kept secrets and she jumped to the wrong conclusion because of his not sharing the facts of his life. His mother was heinous and I understood where the h was coming from. She waz just not right. The loss of a child is a terrible awful horrible thing and my heart hurt for her. And Adam too. I just wish they would have tried harder to connect during this time. Adam should have been honest for sure but he's human. Definitely not something I could read again. And definitely not something I normally like. But it ended in an HEA. Thank heavens for that.
I think this might be chick lit but it was okay. Didn't love it. Didn't hate it. I wouldn't call it romance for sure. Yes it was a marriage in peril kind of trope, but there wasn't the feels really. Adam, the husband/hero kept secrets and she jumped to the wrong conclusion because of his not sharing the facts of his life. His mother was heinous and I understood where the h was coming from. She waz just not right. The loss of a child is a terrible awful horrible thing and my heart hurt for her. And Adam too. I just wish they would have tried harder to connect during this time. Adam should have been honest for sure but he's human. Definitely not something I could read again. And definitely not something I normally like. But it ended in an HEA. Thank heavens for that.
July 27, 2023
I loved this book! It really resonated with me on so many levels. I’m so happy that Claire took the steps that she did to value herself (no spoilers!). Also, the ending was exactly what I wanted! This wasn’t a completely light read, though. I did tear up at one point with what Claire and Adam went through. And her relationship with Marla hit close to home. I also really adored the romantic backstory, and the light that was shed on the memories!
I will definitely recommend this book!
I will definitely recommend this book!
February 4, 2024
3.5. I have mixed feelings. I loved the writing but also hated it? The entire book was basically one large, anxious, run on thought and it made me a little anxious at time. The book wraps up a little too neatly and perfectly. Which I also both loved and hated. Regardless, I will definitely be reading the rest of the series at some point lol
April 13, 2022
DNF... I tried, but I couldn't get through this. There's so much self-loathing from the main character. I made it all the way to 80% before I couldn't take it anymore. I'm sure there's an audience for this book and it will connect for some, but I'm not that person.
June 9, 2022
4.5 Rounded to 5 what a great read!
Nice Always Happy to Help Influencer Claire finds an Incriminating Note in her Husbands sock Drawer, Which Opens a Whole can of worms and Helps Claire Refind herself and her strength after such a monumental loss.
Why Not a 5*
- I felt Claire was a little too Harsh on herself at times it brought the book down a little for me.
- I love books when in a series Featuring a couple tie up all loose ends, i was a bit disappointed we didn't get the Messages from Adam, He was Absent for most the book and i thought the Messages would have been a bit of a redeeming factor for his Lack of Compassion at times during the book.
Now to what i loved!!!!!!
🐦 Not a Rom - Com but the Author Handles delicate Matters so uniquely
🐦 I love how we didn't get the story upfront but learnt more about the situation and Claire as the story progressed.
🐦 The Brash But close Knit Madison Clan was hilarious, Im one of 5 so i totally get it!!!!!
🐦 Although not a Rom - Come there were comical moments - Helene AKA Hagatha, I hope she pops up in future books with her out of the box "Fixing" Methods.
🐦 I loved Drew and the One sided date!
🐦 I love how this was real, It faced real issues that happen in long term relationships, i do hope Claire and Adam learn to communicate more, cont wait to hear how their new Opportunity pans out in future books.
It was a moving book more than Funny but loved it!
Nice Always Happy to Help Influencer Claire finds an Incriminating Note in her Husbands sock Drawer, Which Opens a Whole can of worms and Helps Claire Refind herself and her strength after such a monumental loss.
Why Not a 5*
- I felt Claire was a little too Harsh on herself at times it brought the book down a little for me.
- I love books when in a series Featuring a couple tie up all loose ends, i was a bit disappointed we didn't get the Messages from Adam, He was Absent for most the book and i thought the Messages would have been a bit of a redeeming factor for his Lack of Compassion at times during the book.
Now to what i loved!!!!!!
🐦 Not a Rom - Com but the Author Handles delicate Matters so uniquely
🐦 I love how we didn't get the story upfront but learnt more about the situation and Claire as the story progressed.
🐦 The Brash But close Knit Madison Clan was hilarious, Im one of 5 so i totally get it!!!!!
🐦 Although not a Rom - Come there were comical moments - Helene AKA Hagatha, I hope she pops up in future books with her out of the box "Fixing" Methods.
🐦 I loved Drew and the One sided date!
🐦 I love how this was real, It faced real issues that happen in long term relationships, i do hope Claire and Adam learn to communicate more, cont wait to hear how their new Opportunity pans out in future books.
It was a moving book more than Funny but loved it!
April 3, 2022
I loved cruel to be kind, the first book about the Madison Family.
Claire is one of the five children, she is the sweetest and trusty one, not the cleverest, or the beautiful, but the plain one. She married her sweetheart boyfriend, the most popular boy in high school, the QB, the team captain and the most handsome, for the surprise of everyone, even Claire didn't believe that Adam fell for her.
Ten years passed and now Claire is in shock with what has founded out about her perfect husband. In a week, there's a spiral of events that will change her life forever. No more nice Claire.
This book is so funny, Claire is hilarious and I loved all of her adventures and the new friends she makes along the way. Warning content: this book describes miscarriage and infant death, and this part could be difficult for some readers, but overall the subject is told in a very respectful manner.
What I liked most was the dynamic of the family and the process of growing up. I loved the writing style, the funny moments and great characters. I will definitely read the other books about the Madisons.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Claire is one of the five children, she is the sweetest and trusty one, not the cleverest, or the beautiful, but the plain one. She married her sweetheart boyfriend, the most popular boy in high school, the QB, the team captain and the most handsome, for the surprise of everyone, even Claire didn't believe that Adam fell for her.
Ten years passed and now Claire is in shock with what has founded out about her perfect husband. In a week, there's a spiral of events that will change her life forever. No more nice Claire.
This book is so funny, Claire is hilarious and I loved all of her adventures and the new friends she makes along the way. Warning content: this book describes miscarriage and infant death, and this part could be difficult for some readers, but overall the subject is told in a very respectful manner.
What I liked most was the dynamic of the family and the process of growing up. I loved the writing style, the funny moments and great characters. I will definitely read the other books about the Madisons.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 10, 2022
Charming and delightful
What a laugh out loud funny, thoroughly enjoyable book ❤ it was everything I hoped it would be and more!
As a middle child with good girl complex problems and chronic people pleaser, I've never related to a character more than I related to Claire. Goodness gracious. She is EVERYTHING.
This story is heartfelt, emotional, and downright hilarious. Maybe that's just because I relate SO MUCH to her, having been through a shitty relationship and having dealt with a narcissist. But seeing Claire go through exactly the emotional journey that I did throughout my 20s, learning to take care of myself and put myself first and stop being a doormat, was amazing 🙌❤ I loved it so much!
What a laugh out loud funny, thoroughly enjoyable book ❤ it was everything I hoped it would be and more!
As a middle child with good girl complex problems and chronic people pleaser, I've never related to a character more than I related to Claire. Goodness gracious. She is EVERYTHING.
This story is heartfelt, emotional, and downright hilarious. Maybe that's just because I relate SO MUCH to her, having been through a shitty relationship and having dealt with a narcissist. But seeing Claire go through exactly the emotional journey that I did throughout my 20s, learning to take care of myself and put myself first and stop being a doormat, was amazing 🙌❤ I loved it so much!
September 14, 2023
From the very first chapter I knew this was going to be a funny, lighthearted book. The book opens with a family chat where most of the family is sitting at the same table and the parents sign their names, not knowing or trusting that their username will identify them. Those that have been in this situation will completely relate!
Claire is the narrator and tells the story in the present with flashbacks. If you love the ‘chick lit’ genre you will love this book! Full of humor and cringeworthy moments I highly enjoyed this book. I picked it up one afternoon and stayed up way to late because I didn’t want to end the day without finishing the story. This is my first book by this author and I have a new auto buy author!
Claire is the narrator and tells the story in the present with flashbacks. If you love the ‘chick lit’ genre you will love this book! Full of humor and cringeworthy moments I highly enjoyed this book. I picked it up one afternoon and stayed up way to late because I didn’t want to end the day without finishing the story. This is my first book by this author and I have a new auto buy author!
March 29, 2022
Ok, so. I have a lot of feelings about this book. This was a quick read but I wouldn't call it easy or light like some of the other reviewers have. I want to start by saying I really did like this book a lot and found it incredibly relatable.
Claire is chronically overlooked. I feel like this is something so many women in their mid 30's to mid 40's can 100% relate to. Any woman who has stood by her partner no questions asked can relate to that feeling, why is my opinion not important to anyone including myself? At what point is it ok to be angry that you are stagnant? Why is it ok that loved ones don't ask if you are ok and mean it?
I had a hard time reading the first 2 chapters of the book, I genuinely had no idea what was going on, but apparently Claire didn't either. This is what happens when a people pleaser marries the child of a narcissist. Claire just takes everything and lets things go that she shouldn't and Adam is so used to going through the motions with his mother and brother he doesn't take a pause to see how that trickles down onto his wife.
Like I said at the beginning, I had a lot of feelings about this book. I always find it refreshing to read a book that is so relatable. So many rom coms are new adult or fluffy 2nd chance, I loved that this was a slice of life in an established relationship with realistic problems.
Claire is chronically overlooked. I feel like this is something so many women in their mid 30's to mid 40's can 100% relate to. Any woman who has stood by her partner no questions asked can relate to that feeling, why is my opinion not important to anyone including myself? At what point is it ok to be angry that you are stagnant? Why is it ok that loved ones don't ask if you are ok and mean it?
I had a hard time reading the first 2 chapters of the book, I genuinely had no idea what was going on, but apparently Claire didn't either. This is what happens when a people pleaser marries the child of a narcissist. Claire just takes everything and lets things go that she shouldn't and Adam is so used to going through the motions with his mother and brother he doesn't take a pause to see how that trickles down onto his wife.
Like I said at the beginning, I had a lot of feelings about this book. I always find it refreshing to read a book that is so relatable. So many rom coms are new adult or fluffy 2nd chance, I loved that this was a slice of life in an established relationship with realistic problems.
February 13, 2024
I went in blind with this book; I didn't read the blurb and had no idea what it was about and have never read anything by this author. I found myself completely immersed in Claire's life and her escalating drama. I laughed out loud many times, and I also found myself very emotional in parts. Needless to say, this was a really easy and enjoyable read - and its an indie author read too which counts as a bonus for me!
October 13, 2023
First I want to say how happy and thankful I am that I was able to read this book! This book was great! Sometimes you just need a nice clean romance filled book and this one was just the book. It had great funny moments and the female main character is fantastic. She is so relatable! Even better was the ending. I couldn't put this book down til I finished it.
April 1, 2022
At some point in our lives, we all probably find ourselves to be Claire. She is a nice girl, little too nice actually. Some books feel like you are living the character's life while you read. This was one of those.
Book has insurmountable humor in it. Claire's take on the mishaps happening to her are witty.
Reading Claire's long detailed conversations with herself to clear up her mind was so relatable.
When she finally decided to stand up for herself, I found myself cheering for her like "YOU GO Girl. Do not take any more shit"
@olivia.m.jacques Already looking forward to reading more books from you.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Book has insurmountable humor in it. Claire's take on the mishaps happening to her are witty.
Reading Claire's long detailed conversations with herself to clear up her mind was so relatable.
When she finally decided to stand up for herself, I found myself cheering for her like "YOU GO Girl. Do not take any more shit"
@olivia.m.jacques Already looking forward to reading more books from you.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 29, 2024
This was so sweet and funny, the heroine really is relatable and i loved reading about her drama.
January 23, 2024
Dnf @ 51%
Tries way too hard to be funny and quirky. Not like other girls. Shes such a weirdo!!! Also the husband is super weird, targeting her as freshman or sophomore when he was a senior in high school.
Tries way too hard to be funny and quirky. Not like other girls. Shes such a weirdo!!! Also the husband is super weird, targeting her as freshman or sophomore when he was a senior in high school.
April 2, 2022
This book is a romantic romcom comedy with family drama with siblings issues. This book is a great page turner and a must definitely read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 14, 2025
Feel good funny story, hard to put down.
Took a few pages to get me hooked but then didn't want to put it down. A few characters to get to know.
Took a few pages to get me hooked but then didn't want to put it down. A few characters to get to know.
September 24, 2023
This is the first book I've read by this author and the first in a new series - The Madisons.
This, Book 1, introduces us to Clare. One of 5 siblings, the nice one! She's proud of getting through life being nice to everyone she meets.
Married to her childhood sweetheart, Adam, living in their dream house and working a fun job, Claire has everything she's ever wanted - that is until she finds out something that will change her forever.
I loved Claire. I found her totally relatable and although some of her adventures were in the realms of book or movie world, I still found this believable. This could be because I'm feeling like her at the moment. Always been the nice one, do anything for anyone, but there comes a point that things just spiral and Claire finds herself wondering why!?
There were some really hilarious moments in this story - but also some tough topics broached. These were sensitively dealt with, which I loved as the mix between the two still flowed beautifully.
I loved this introduction to the series and can't wait for the next installment.
This, Book 1, introduces us to Clare. One of 5 siblings, the nice one! She's proud of getting through life being nice to everyone she meets.
Married to her childhood sweetheart, Adam, living in their dream house and working a fun job, Claire has everything she's ever wanted - that is until she finds out something that will change her forever.
I loved Claire. I found her totally relatable and although some of her adventures were in the realms of book or movie world, I still found this believable. This could be because I'm feeling like her at the moment. Always been the nice one, do anything for anyone, but there comes a point that things just spiral and Claire finds herself wondering why!?
There were some really hilarious moments in this story - but also some tough topics broached. These were sensitively dealt with, which I loved as the mix between the two still flowed beautifully.
I loved this introduction to the series and can't wait for the next installment.
January 25, 2025
I literally finished this book in 2 hours.
I loved the realistic story of this book. True love, marriage, horrible mother in laws, family, & unfortunately miscarriage. But it was such a beautiful book to read it made me laugh, and cry.
I loved the realistic story of this book. True love, marriage, horrible mother in laws, family, & unfortunately miscarriage. But it was such a beautiful book to read it made me laugh, and cry.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews