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Chick Magnet
From Emma Barry comes a clever romance about a hot veterinarian and a chicken-loving influencer who can’t help but ruffle each other’s feathers.
Nicole Jones needs a fresh start. “Chick Nic” to millions of internet fans, the social media star and her flock of chickens bask in the spotlight—until she’s publicly dumped by a YouTuber for clout. She has no choice but to round up her birds and move on.
But when one of her hens has an emergency, Nic gets her first taste of her new stomping grounds—and it isn’t good. Veterinarian Will Lund is wildly attractive, yes, but he’s also surly. In fact, he comes right out and calls her a menace for parading her chickens on social media.
As neighbors, Nic and Will can’t exactly avoid each other. Then again, maybe they don’t want to. The two can’t deny their smoldering attraction, and it isn’t long before late-night confessions lead to backyard shenanigans.
Is this the start of a neighborly relationship—or could something more be hatching?
Nicole Jones needs a fresh start. “Chick Nic” to millions of internet fans, the social media star and her flock of chickens bask in the spotlight—until she’s publicly dumped by a YouTuber for clout. She has no choice but to round up her birds and move on.
But when one of her hens has an emergency, Nic gets her first taste of her new stomping grounds—and it isn’t good. Veterinarian Will Lund is wildly attractive, yes, but he’s also surly. In fact, he comes right out and calls her a menace for parading her chickens on social media.
As neighbors, Nic and Will can’t exactly avoid each other. Then again, maybe they don’t want to. The two can’t deny their smoldering attraction, and it isn’t long before late-night confessions lead to backyard shenanigans.
Is this the start of a neighborly relationship—or could something more be hatching?
301 pages, Paperback
First published January 24, 2023
410 people are currently reading
4104 people want to read
About the author
Emma Barry
29 books220 followersEmma Barry is a teacher, novelist, recovering academic, and former political staffer. She lives with her high school sweetheart and a menagerie of pets and children in Virginia, and she occasionally finds time to read and write.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 361 reviews
February 11, 2023
re-read via audio.
Beyond a slight quibble with the inconsistency in Will's mild southern accent between the two narrators, I loved loved loved Chick Magnet on audio. Just a thoroughly gorgeous book, that while Sad™ is also gloriously romantic, and at the end, uplifting. I know I initially reviewed this as being a great way to handle the pandemic, and I will revise that statement to say that I truly don't envy contemporary romance writers the task of what do with our ongoing pandemic state. the pandemic is NOT over as of 2023, but looking around me the world is acting like it is. So, I'm a little torn, but how does one try to cover the dissonance in fiction? truly a hard ask, and i appreciate the effort to try, even if that might not succeed for all readers. I am going to choose to believe this book is set in a time when the pandemic has faded, although not in the minds or financial // real world realities for our protagonists.
i purchased the audio on my own AND will receive an advance copy for reviewing for Library Journal.
what can i say a sad boy veterinarian with a heart of gold but grumpy and depressed about his failing business is my catnip. add in a sparky chicken 'influencer' who's horrid ex gaslit her into stardom, then flung her away for a new, shiny and you've got all the mix-ins for a perfect contemporary romance.
I loved this a whole lot. so much so i'm struggling to put it into words? I have a print arc and i need to sit and soak it all in, again.
Also THIS was an amazing way to include our current world. This is a world where the pandemic is ebbing, but has really ruined someone's tenuous business, and spirit, but Barry does an amazing job stitching it all up into a hopeful, but not falsely positive HEA for all.
ALSO SO SEXY. Chick Nick and those shorts? Go get it.
CW: pandemic references, depression, animals that are hurt/in danger, descriptions of putting animals asleep, animal injuries, grief to animals lost during procedures (all of this is off page, but thought about). Hurt chicken (she lives).
Thank you to the author for the print ARC and Netgalley for the eARC.
Beyond a slight quibble with the inconsistency in Will's mild southern accent between the two narrators, I loved loved loved Chick Magnet on audio. Just a thoroughly gorgeous book, that while Sad™ is also gloriously romantic, and at the end, uplifting. I know I initially reviewed this as being a great way to handle the pandemic, and I will revise that statement to say that I truly don't envy contemporary romance writers the task of what do with our ongoing pandemic state. the pandemic is NOT over as of 2023, but looking around me the world is acting like it is. So, I'm a little torn, but how does one try to cover the dissonance in fiction? truly a hard ask, and i appreciate the effort to try, even if that might not succeed for all readers. I am going to choose to believe this book is set in a time when the pandemic has faded, although not in the minds or financial // real world realities for our protagonists.
i purchased the audio on my own AND will receive an advance copy for reviewing for Library Journal.
what can i say a sad boy veterinarian with a heart of gold but grumpy and depressed about his failing business is my catnip. add in a sparky chicken 'influencer' who's horrid ex gaslit her into stardom, then flung her away for a new, shiny and you've got all the mix-ins for a perfect contemporary romance.
I loved this a whole lot. so much so i'm struggling to put it into words? I have a print arc and i need to sit and soak it all in, again.
Also THIS was an amazing way to include our current world. This is a world where the pandemic is ebbing, but has really ruined someone's tenuous business, and spirit, but Barry does an amazing job stitching it all up into a hopeful, but not falsely positive HEA for all.
ALSO SO SEXY. Chick Nick and those shorts? Go get it.
CW: pandemic references, depression, animals that are hurt/in danger, descriptions of putting animals asleep, animal injuries, grief to animals lost during procedures (all of this is off page, but thought about). Hurt chicken (she lives).
Thank you to the author for the print ARC and Netgalley for the eARC.
September 7, 2022
2022 Fall Bingo (#FallInLoveBingo🍂): Animal Companion
Content Notes:
Emma Barry is very, very good at making my heart clench (in tears and in joy). Read this if you want a contemporary romance about building a found family in a small town, sexy (but sad) veterinarian neighbors who scowl too much, and mischievous hens who moonlight as escape artists.
Will's arc was fascinating. In a genre where most heroes are financially stable (if not ridiculously wealthy), it's the rare (and dare I say it, semi-subversive) m/f romance where the hero's primary conflict is his failing business. I have *lots* of spoilery thoughts about the ending (I was NOT expecting that result), so get back to me about Will's subversive arc after publication.
So, COVID-19. I didn't realize the book would focus so heavily on the pandemic and I have mixed feelings. On one hand, I feel irked because there are zero discussions of masking even though it's clearly set in late 2022/early 2023 (or so I assume). On the other hand, that does reflect the current state of affairs, no matter how much it personally bothers me. I am the only person still masking up in my 100+ lecture hall. But I'm handwaving this away because I thought everything else re: COVID was poignant and well done.
Will's career crisis (his veterinary practice is nearing bankruptcy due to a loss in business after March 2020) and Nic's virality (her chicken-centric TikTok took off because people had more time during the pandemic to take care of hens) strongly influence the main storyline. I've read some books where COVID was window dressing; there's a stray mention and then it's back to "normal," whatever the hell that is. CHICK MAGNET isn't that book. If you're avoiding pandemic-centric fiction because you want a true escape into fiction, *do not* read this. But if you're intrigued by the idea of how two people can find their happily-ever-after even in our miserable reality, then you should check out CHICK MAGNET.
Disclaimer: I received a free e-ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Content Notes:
Emma Barry is very, very good at making my heart clench (in tears and in joy). Read this if you want a contemporary romance about building a found family in a small town, sexy (but sad) veterinarian neighbors who scowl too much, and mischievous hens who moonlight as escape artists.
Will's arc was fascinating. In a genre where most heroes are financially stable (if not ridiculously wealthy), it's the rare (and dare I say it, semi-subversive) m/f romance where the hero's primary conflict is his failing business. I have *lots* of spoilery thoughts about the ending (I was NOT expecting that result), so get back to me about Will's subversive arc after publication.
So, COVID-19. I didn't realize the book would focus so heavily on the pandemic and I have mixed feelings. On one hand, I feel irked because there are zero discussions of masking even though it's clearly set in late 2022/early 2023 (or so I assume). On the other hand, that does reflect the current state of affairs, no matter how much it personally bothers me. I am the only person still masking up in my 100+ lecture hall. But I'm handwaving this away because I thought everything else re: COVID was poignant and well done.
Will's career crisis (his veterinary practice is nearing bankruptcy due to a loss in business after March 2020) and Nic's virality (her chicken-centric TikTok took off because people had more time during the pandemic to take care of hens) strongly influence the main storyline. I've read some books where COVID was window dressing; there's a stray mention and then it's back to "normal," whatever the hell that is. CHICK MAGNET isn't that book. If you're avoiding pandemic-centric fiction because you want a true escape into fiction, *do not* read this. But if you're intrigued by the idea of how two people can find their happily-ever-after even in our miserable reality, then you should check out CHICK MAGNET.
Disclaimer: I received a free e-ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
October 2, 2022
DNF @46% —I prefer my eggs sunny side up and a little runny in the middle.
Turns out I'm not that all into chickens and also not ready to read about covid centric premises. Maybe it does come later on but I desperately needed something to alleviate the heavy stuff permeating the pages, the blurb and cover were a bit misleading to me.
Turns out I'm not that all into chickens and also not ready to read about covid centric premises. Maybe it does come later on but I desperately needed something to alleviate the heavy stuff permeating the pages, the blurb and cover were a bit misleading to me.
January 1, 2023
I requested this ARC after seeing great enthusiasm for it on social media, and I can see that there's a lot to like in this book. But it never quite cohered for me, especially on an emotional level.
To begin with the positive, I think Chick Magnet does a really great job of hyper-updating romance tropes to make them resonate in the moment of its publication. You've got "heroine with big-time job coming back to her family's small town" in Nic, but her big-time job is as an instagram influencer and her connection to the town is a bit more distant; you've got a "struggling business owner" in Will, but he's specifically struggling with running a small business in the wake of Covid; you've got a "bad ex" in Nic's former boyfriend Brian, but it's framed in a very current-feeling language of social media and influence and gaslighting.
And this is a pretty major spoiler for the end but
I'm also happy to report that my biggest concern going into the book - that the "chicken influencer" content would be horribly twee and overly-pleased with its own quirkiness - was quickly allayed. The chickens are, in fact, pretty charming, and deployed with admirable restraint ("deploys chickens with admirable restraint" would make a great blurb, call me, publishers). That alone probably bumped this book up a star for me.
But... and this is really hard to actually express in useful review form... almost nothing about this book *cohered* for me personally. The best explanation I can come up with is that Chick Magnet had a lot of the requisite component parts of a romance novel, but I never felt that they were actually working together? Nic had a compelling backstory (her gaslighting ex and constant performance for social media) and a present-timeline struggle (her isolation) and Will had a compelling backstory (a judgmental family he never quite fit into) and present-timeline struggle (feelings of inadequacy over his failing business) but I could never quite FEEL the past influencing the present, or how the characters emotions connected to their actions, beyond what we're told rather directly in the narration. And I never got the sense that the characters' personal-growth arcs were ever touching their romantic arc: Nic and Will's relationship progressed on a "hit all the major moments" timeline that existed on a different temporal and emotional plane than their personal growth. And then add to that the fact that the level of *constant* horniness and physical pull Nic and Will feel around each other never seemed to bear any resemblance to who they were as people, but was primarily served to the reader via metaphors about explosiveness (that often felt like they were frantically papering over a lack of personality chemistry) ... you end up with a bunch of different romance ingredients sitting out on a table that never got mixed together into the delicious dish I was hoping for.
(I felt this was never more obvious than at the end of the book, where the need to resolve each individual plot and character thread separately - because they never really existed together- led to some *really* problematic rushing of emotional development, including the suggestion that a lifetime of family emotional neglect can and would be solved by a parent suddenly realizing they'd behaved unfairly and apologizing almost unprompted. Would that it were that easy! Ditto for how Nic's falling-out with her best friend is handled: so much plot short-hand needs to be used here that the book, I think inadvertently, leaves us with the impression that two women's 20-year-long friendship is both ruined *and* repaired exclusively via the actions of the men they're dating, which was super frustrating to me.)
Anyway I wanted to like this book a lot. And intellectually, I appreciated a good deal of what it was going for. But it never really came together and made me feel.
Disclaimer: I received a free e-ARC from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. I am mutuals and friendly with the author on social media.
To begin with the positive, I think Chick Magnet does a really great job of hyper-updating romance tropes to make them resonate in the moment of its publication. You've got "heroine with big-time job coming back to her family's small town" in Nic, but her big-time job is as an instagram influencer and her connection to the town is a bit more distant; you've got a "struggling business owner" in Will, but he's specifically struggling with running a small business in the wake of Covid; you've got a "bad ex" in Nic's former boyfriend Brian, but it's framed in a very current-feeling language of social media and influence and gaslighting.
And this is a pretty major spoiler for the end but
I'm also happy to report that my biggest concern going into the book - that the "chicken influencer" content would be horribly twee and overly-pleased with its own quirkiness - was quickly allayed. The chickens are, in fact, pretty charming, and deployed with admirable restraint ("deploys chickens with admirable restraint" would make a great blurb, call me, publishers). That alone probably bumped this book up a star for me.
But... and this is really hard to actually express in useful review form... almost nothing about this book *cohered* for me personally. The best explanation I can come up with is that Chick Magnet had a lot of the requisite component parts of a romance novel, but I never felt that they were actually working together? Nic had a compelling backstory (her gaslighting ex and constant performance for social media) and a present-timeline struggle (her isolation) and Will had a compelling backstory (a judgmental family he never quite fit into) and present-timeline struggle (feelings of inadequacy over his failing business) but I could never quite FEEL the past influencing the present, or how the characters emotions connected to their actions, beyond what we're told rather directly in the narration. And I never got the sense that the characters' personal-growth arcs were ever touching their romantic arc: Nic and Will's relationship progressed on a "hit all the major moments" timeline that existed on a different temporal and emotional plane than their personal growth. And then add to that the fact that the level of *constant* horniness and physical pull Nic and Will feel around each other never seemed to bear any resemblance to who they were as people, but was primarily served to the reader via metaphors about explosiveness (that often felt like they were frantically papering over a lack of personality chemistry) ... you end up with a bunch of different romance ingredients sitting out on a table that never got mixed together into the delicious dish I was hoping for.
(I felt this was never more obvious than at the end of the book, where the need to resolve each individual plot and character thread separately - because they never really existed together- led to some *really* problematic rushing of emotional development, including the suggestion that a lifetime of family emotional neglect can and would be solved by a parent suddenly realizing they'd behaved unfairly and apologizing almost unprompted. Would that it were that easy! Ditto for how Nic's falling-out with her best friend is handled: so much plot short-hand needs to be used here that the book, I think inadvertently, leaves us with the impression that two women's 20-year-long friendship is both ruined *and* repaired exclusively via the actions of the men they're dating, which was super frustrating to me.)
Anyway I wanted to like this book a lot. And intellectually, I appreciated a good deal of what it was going for. But it never really came together and made me feel.
Disclaimer: I received a free e-ARC from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. I am mutuals and friendly with the author on social media.
September 20, 2022
⋆˙⟡♡ this was such a good read! chick magnet is a fun romance set in a small town featuring a sunshine chicken influencer and the grumpy veterinarian next door.
now, i know there are so many fans of tessa bailey's it happened one summer. i fully believe if you loved that book, you're going to adore this one. though i do want to mention that the steamy scenes in this one are a bit fade to black? they're not described in details so yeah ihos is def MORE smutty but i felt like the relationship in chick magnet gave brendanpiper vibes so hard!!! will, the hero, will literally kiss the ground the heroine walks on. also we love a romance hero who misjudges the heroine on their first meeting and then feels so bad when he realizes he was 100% wrong about her lmao. love the angst and grovel!
.♡‧₊˚〰. nicole is a chicken influencer. what does this mean? her whole brand is taking care of chickens on her backyard. THE CHICKENS ARE SO CUTE I LOVE THEM SO MUCH!????? they have each a different personality and they're so funny, i really loved how the relationship between nic and the chickens was written. this book is filled to the top with cute animals! THE ADORABLE METER IN THIS ONEEEEE ???? CHEF KISS. will adopts a kitten and he talks to it and they're so cute together ♡
i love that nicole literally brightens will's day each and every time. he even says it! he is so far gone for her and he knows it. at first he doesn't want to acknowledge it, but oh boy, it's too late by then. nicole has completely taken part of his life at that point. we love a he falls first romance hero!!!! nicole doesn't want a relationship so soon after her breakup with her a$$hole ex. she feels that she cannot be trusted to point out red flags in a new relationship. so, even though they have insane chemistry, she time and time again says this is just casualllll but girl.... you're just lying to yourself lmao. they're so cute together, are next-door neighbors, help each other constantly, and are always there for each other. NICWILL <33333
now, i know there are so many fans of tessa bailey's it happened one summer. i fully believe if you loved that book, you're going to adore this one. though i do want to mention that the steamy scenes in this one are a bit fade to black? they're not described in details so yeah ihos is def MORE smutty but i felt like the relationship in chick magnet gave brendanpiper vibes so hard!!! will, the hero, will literally kiss the ground the heroine walks on. also we love a romance hero who misjudges the heroine on their first meeting and then feels so bad when he realizes he was 100% wrong about her lmao. love the angst and grovel!
.♡‧₊˚〰. nicole is a chicken influencer. what does this mean? her whole brand is taking care of chickens on her backyard. THE CHICKENS ARE SO CUTE I LOVE THEM SO MUCH!????? they have each a different personality and they're so funny, i really loved how the relationship between nic and the chickens was written. this book is filled to the top with cute animals! THE ADORABLE METER IN THIS ONEEEEE ???? CHEF KISS. will adopts a kitten and he talks to it and they're so cute together ♡
i love that nicole literally brightens will's day each and every time. he even says it! he is so far gone for her and he knows it. at first he doesn't want to acknowledge it, but oh boy, it's too late by then. nicole has completely taken part of his life at that point. we love a he falls first romance hero!!!! nicole doesn't want a relationship so soon after her breakup with her a$$hole ex. she feels that she cannot be trusted to point out red flags in a new relationship. so, even though they have insane chemistry, she time and time again says this is just casualllll but girl.... you're just lying to yourself lmao. they're so cute together, are next-door neighbors, help each other constantly, and are always there for each other. NICWILL <33333
February 12, 2023
4.75 stars. This was a lovely romance. It was so emotionally healthy and well done.
After a few grumpy first meetings where this guy is gruff and mean, they settle into being friends and neighbors. I loved how they kept doing things for the other person because they were truly thinking about what their friend might want or need. They treat each other with so much kindness throughout the book.
I also loved how they communicated and were open and honest about their feelings, pasts, and hopes. There is a third act breakup because the guy needs to work through some insecurities. But it didn’t feel angsty. For once, we have a more secure, emotionally and monetarily, heroine. There is some negative motivation with the heroine. Sort of. She has just got out of a relationship with a narcissistic guy and she’s afraid of starting something real. That doesn’t stop her. Just makes her more careful.
We get beautiful relationship and personal growth. The guy goes to therapy and works through his stuff.
It’s a really sweet read.
BC is used. And they actually talk boundaries during sexy times. Which I really appreciated. And the guy is not a manwhore. It’s been a while for him and he’s only had a few girlfriends/partners.
The cover doesn’t match this book. Oh. And this is one of those KU books where the audiobook comes with it.
After a few grumpy first meetings where this guy is gruff and mean, they settle into being friends and neighbors. I loved how they kept doing things for the other person because they were truly thinking about what their friend might want or need. They treat each other with so much kindness throughout the book.
I also loved how they communicated and were open and honest about their feelings, pasts, and hopes. There is a third act breakup because the guy needs to work through some insecurities. But it didn’t feel angsty. For once, we have a more secure, emotionally and monetarily, heroine. There is some negative motivation with the heroine. Sort of. She has just got out of a relationship with a narcissistic guy and she’s afraid of starting something real. That doesn’t stop her. Just makes her more careful.
We get beautiful relationship and personal growth. The guy goes to therapy and works through his stuff.
It’s a really sweet read.
BC is used. And they actually talk boundaries during sexy times. Which I really appreciated. And the guy is not a manwhore. It’s been a while for him and he’s only had a few girlfriends/partners.
The cover doesn’t match this book. Oh. And this is one of those KU books where the audiobook comes with it.
April 12, 2023
Chick Magnet is a story with a lot of vetenerian aspect. I am bit confuse with Miss Barry intention. I think she meant rhe story to be funny but she fails to hit the spot.
The chemistry is cute. Lack of chemistry. The banter is flat boring. The plot is flat.
2 stars
The chemistry is cute. Lack of chemistry. The banter is flat boring. The plot is flat.
2 stars
dnf
February 13, 2023dnf @ 44%
This book wasn’t bad by any means, it just simply wasn’t for me and I really struggled to connect to it. It’s a lot heavier than the cover and synopsis suggests - it’s marketed as something light and silly and that’s what I wanted, but it was a lot heavier. That’s not necessarily bad, but I unfortunately didn’t enjoy it as much because it wasn’t what I was looking for at this time. And that was frustrating, as I probably would’ve liked it more if I knew what it was and picked it up when I was looking for that! A personal thing as well, but I don't like COVID being in the books I read, so that didn't work for me personally although it may for other readers.
This book wasn’t bad by any means, it just simply wasn’t for me and I really struggled to connect to it. It’s a lot heavier than the cover and synopsis suggests - it’s marketed as something light and silly and that’s what I wanted, but it was a lot heavier. That’s not necessarily bad, but I unfortunately didn’t enjoy it as much because it wasn’t what I was looking for at this time. And that was frustrating, as I probably would’ve liked it more if I knew what it was and picked it up when I was looking for that! A personal thing as well, but I don't like COVID being in the books I read, so that didn't work for me personally although it may for other readers.
February 14, 2023
4 stars, but maybe just a smidge higher. I really enjoyed this book - thank you Elizabeth for the recommendation. It's free to read or listen on KU, yay!!
This whole story is just fun. The heroine, Nicole, is a youtube and tiktok content creator. Her moniker or "Chick Nic" and she has gained huge internet popularity with her youtube channel that features her chickens. Her boyfriend breaks up with her publicly on a livestream and she moves cross-country to get away from him. She decides to move to the town where her grandmother grew up, and just happens to buy a house across the street from the hero. The hero is a vet and outwardly hates Nicole on sight because of how many unreliable people became chicken owners after watching her channel. Inwardly though, he is attracted to her and feels drawn to her. He has even been a huge fan of her channel and watched all of her videos. 🤫😅 They go from enemies to friends to lovers and I really enjoyed the feelings of slow-burn that this book built up as it went along. Unfortunately, the sex scenes ended up being FTB with minimal steam, so the burn wasn't satisfied.
I think the main draw of this book for me was the heroine. She was strong, resilient, and not a push-over. She was dealt a really shitty blow by her ex, but she didn't let him keep her down. She even helped the hero realize his own worth. I found the hero to be so-so in comparison. Sure, he's hot, and nice, and likes animals. But he was also occasionally too much of a downer for me. I didn't really understand his completely pessimistic attitude at times, I think the author took some of his self-hate and self-flagellation a little too far. I also didn't totally love how the separation went down near the end, I felt that the author could have made this portion of the story better by adding a better grovel. There's a cute HFN (may be HEA to some) ending.
Ultimately though, this story was very enjoyable made even better by being a free "read and listen" book on KU. I'm looking forward to checking out other books from this author.
Safe; no virgins, hero not a manwhore, no ow drama, slight om drama from the heroine's ex, no scenes with om/ow, no cheating.
This whole story is just fun. The heroine, Nicole, is a youtube and tiktok content creator. Her moniker or "Chick Nic" and she has gained huge internet popularity with her youtube channel that features her chickens. Her boyfriend breaks up with her publicly on a livestream and she moves cross-country to get away from him. She decides to move to the town where her grandmother grew up, and just happens to buy a house across the street from the hero. The hero is a vet and outwardly hates Nicole on sight because of how many unreliable people became chicken owners after watching her channel. Inwardly though, he is attracted to her and feels drawn to her. He has even been a huge fan of her channel and watched all of her videos. 🤫😅 They go from enemies to friends to lovers and I really enjoyed the feelings of slow-burn that this book built up as it went along. Unfortunately, the sex scenes ended up being FTB with minimal steam, so the burn wasn't satisfied.
I think the main draw of this book for me was the heroine. She was strong, resilient, and not a push-over. She was dealt a really shitty blow by her ex, but she didn't let him keep her down. She even helped the hero realize his own worth. I found the hero to be so-so in comparison. Sure, he's hot, and nice, and likes animals. But he was also occasionally too much of a downer for me. I didn't really understand his completely pessimistic attitude at times, I think the author took some of his self-hate and self-flagellation a little too far. I also didn't totally love how the separation went down near the end, I felt that the author could have made this portion of the story better by adding a better grovel. There's a cute HFN (may be HEA to some) ending.
Ultimately though, this story was very enjoyable made even better by being a free "read and listen" book on KU. I'm looking forward to checking out other books from this author.
Safe; no virgins, hero not a manwhore, no ow drama, slight om drama from the heroine's ex, no scenes with om/ow, no cheating.
January 2, 2023
As my first plus-size romance I’ve ever read, this was SO GOOD! CHICK MAGNET comes out this January, and you must add this to your TBR this year! Thank you to Kaye Publicity, and Emma Barry for the advance copy in the mail, I enjoyed it! Nicole Jones needs a fresh start. After being dumped by her ex-boyfriend, she takes her YouTube Channel, “Chick Nic”, and her birds to the East Coast. But when one of her hens has an emergency, Nic’s attractive neighbor comes to the rescue. Veterinarian Will Lund is wildly handsome and also surly. In fact, he comes right out and calls her a menace for parading her chickens on social media. As neighbors, Nic and Will can’t exactly avoid each other. Then again, maybe they don’t want to. The two can’t deny their attraction, and it isn’t long before late-night confessions lead to backyard shenanigans. A cute and hilarious rom-com that will surely fall in love with the story and characters!
January 19, 2023
I loved everything about this book!
Full review
I would describe this as a sad romance, there is some grief but more of guilt and regret over past actions/mistakes. There are also some funny moments and overall, it was a satisfying mix of both sadness and hopefulness.
It's a character driven story with a strong internal conflict, a lot of pining and self-reflections, exactly the kind of contemporary romance that I enjoy.
The story is told from a dual POV and we get deep into the mindset of both Nic and Will. The grumpy vet and the sunshine chick influencer are that just on the surface. Deep down both are very similar though - somewhat disillusioned, full of guilt of their past, deeply concerned abut the feelings of others.
With Will we get the exploration of male vulnerability which I appreciate, someone dreading what he sees as failure because of the family and social expectations. On the verge of depression but ultimately seeking professional help. He is self-conscious, shy by nature and doesn't want to burden the others with his problems and letting her in was a big step for him. Asking for help both in terms of his mental health and in terms of his business failing was so, so difficult for him.
Loved the small town setting - the sense of community but also lack of opportunities. It all felt real and not idealized.
There is a third act break up which I know many readers don't like but it didn't bother me. I felt it fitting the characters. They needed to figure their issues on their own and then try a relationship.
My only minor complaint was that the ending was too neat, a bit too much. It did take place an year after the events in the book which gives time the relationship to grown and develop but it still felt unnecessary.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed this contemporary romance. It's character focused, somewhat sad but ultimately hopeful.
CW: depression, manipulative ex, gaslighting, injured pet, internet harassment, toxic family
Full review
I would describe this as a sad romance, there is some grief but more of guilt and regret over past actions/mistakes. There are also some funny moments and overall, it was a satisfying mix of both sadness and hopefulness.
It's a character driven story with a strong internal conflict, a lot of pining and self-reflections, exactly the kind of contemporary romance that I enjoy.
The story is told from a dual POV and we get deep into the mindset of both Nic and Will. The grumpy vet and the sunshine chick influencer are that just on the surface. Deep down both are very similar though - somewhat disillusioned, full of guilt of their past, deeply concerned abut the feelings of others.
With Will we get the exploration of male vulnerability which I appreciate, someone dreading what he sees as failure because of the family and social expectations. On the verge of depression but ultimately seeking professional help. He is self-conscious, shy by nature and doesn't want to burden the others with his problems and letting her in was a big step for him. Asking for help both in terms of his mental health and in terms of his business failing was so, so difficult for him.
Loved the small town setting - the sense of community but also lack of opportunities. It all felt real and not idealized.
There is a third act break up which I know many readers don't like but it didn't bother me. I felt it fitting the characters. They needed to figure their issues on their own and then try a relationship.
My only minor complaint was that the ending was too neat, a bit too much. It did take place an year after the events in the book which gives time the relationship to grown and develop but it still felt unnecessary.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed this contemporary romance. It's character focused, somewhat sad but ultimately hopeful.
CW: depression, manipulative ex, gaslighting, injured pet, internet harassment, toxic family
February 28, 2023
This was a very solid debut romance. It has a fun premise- a chicken influencer and the vet who's frustrated at her encouraging people to get chickens who really aren't prepared to care for them - and it delivers on that pretty well. It was entertaining at times and has some good moments of banter, while also tackling some more serious issues.
It's worth knowing that this is set during the winding down of the COVID pandemic, so personal preference on whether you want to have that element in your books just yet. It focuses on how it impacted small businesses such as a vet clinic in a small town. Additionally, the heroine is recovering from a recent, very public breakup with her manipulative and narcissistic ex. I wanted more growth and healing from her before she hopped into another relationship, but I guess it shows the dark side of what can happen behind the scenes with public figures on YouTube.
Otherwise, I thought this was fairly fun. If a bit unrealistic in how quickly financial success on YouTube was achieved. Although this probably stands out to me more because I'm in that space myself. I would try something else from this author in the future and thought it was a good if not great debut. Also it's a good option for readers who want a sex positive book with a little bit of steam but not too much. I think there's one more explicit scene toward the end of the book, but it's on the less-steamy side for this kind of romance.
It's worth knowing that this is set during the winding down of the COVID pandemic, so personal preference on whether you want to have that element in your books just yet. It focuses on how it impacted small businesses such as a vet clinic in a small town. Additionally, the heroine is recovering from a recent, very public breakup with her manipulative and narcissistic ex. I wanted more growth and healing from her before she hopped into another relationship, but I guess it shows the dark side of what can happen behind the scenes with public figures on YouTube.
Otherwise, I thought this was fairly fun. If a bit unrealistic in how quickly financial success on YouTube was achieved. Although this probably stands out to me more because I'm in that space myself. I would try something else from this author in the future and thought it was a good if not great debut. Also it's a good option for readers who want a sex positive book with a little bit of steam but not too much. I think there's one more explicit scene toward the end of the book, but it's on the less-steamy side for this kind of romance.
January 1, 2023
*I received an advance copy of this title via Netgalley.
I’m sorry that I didn’t like Chick Magnet more, but this one really wasn’t for me. And I feel so disappointed saying that, because I’ve really enjoyed what I’ve read by Emma Barry in the past and loved the promo for this book. It’s also doing lots of bold and interesting things: it takes on the pandemic and it’s toll on mental health; it confronts the impact of a struggling economy on small town life; and reflects on the toxic nature of social media. But the central arc - the romance between sad and lonely vet Will and super star chicken influencer Nic - was strangely paced and felt both under and over baked to me, if that’s possible. Under baked because it happens by inches in a no-man’s land between will-they-won’t-they and slow burn, with an over rapid race towards the love declaration at the end; and over baked because, man, do we ever hear about how much Nic and Will are lusting after each other, over and over again.
I also wasn’t convinced by the character conflicts. Nic’s backstory involves a coercive and emotionally abusive ex, who has used her to boost his social media brand, while Will is labouring under the impression that he’s a disappointment to his parents and siblings, a disappointment that’s compounded by his failing vet practice. Both of these have the makings of powerful emotional engines and, at first, I was keen to see how they would develop. Ultimately though they both rely on some barely believable plot points (take, as an example, the idea that Nic’s best friend since childhood, would believe her ex’s version of events over hers) and then resolve in ways that I found super unconvincing and unsatisfying.
Finally, I want to say a word about how low the bar is set for Will here. I notice often that cis men in cishet romances don’t have to do very much to be cast as absolute heroes. They acknowledge when they’re wrong and apologise for it? Omg, what an evolved human! You tell them you don’t like something during sex and they don’t do it? Whoa, can this man be real! They’re kind and helpful when you need a friend? Quick, lock this unicorn down! What would otherwise be considered basic consideration and thoughtfulness is treated like a rare, special quality. And when that’s put into contrast with a previous toxic relationship like Nic’s… it looks even more extraordinary. Which is not to say that Will isn’t a nice guy. He sounds just fine. But he also sounds…just fine? Like, he’s performing his humanity to a reasonable level. This isn’t a bad thing. We’re all doing our best in difficult times. Good for Will. It’s the way this is lionised when really that’s the minimum of what we should expect - and as a result it reinforces gender essentialist relationships between men and women.
CWs: FMC has recently separated from a coercive, abusive ex; ex continues to contact and stalk her; MMC has situational depression; MMC is in financial difficulty linked to the pandemic; cold and distant family; emotionally abusive sibling; descriptions of veterinary procedures.
I’m sorry that I didn’t like Chick Magnet more, but this one really wasn’t for me. And I feel so disappointed saying that, because I’ve really enjoyed what I’ve read by Emma Barry in the past and loved the promo for this book. It’s also doing lots of bold and interesting things: it takes on the pandemic and it’s toll on mental health; it confronts the impact of a struggling economy on small town life; and reflects on the toxic nature of social media. But the central arc - the romance between sad and lonely vet Will and super star chicken influencer Nic - was strangely paced and felt both under and over baked to me, if that’s possible. Under baked because it happens by inches in a no-man’s land between will-they-won’t-they and slow burn, with an over rapid race towards the love declaration at the end; and over baked because, man, do we ever hear about how much Nic and Will are lusting after each other, over and over again.
I also wasn’t convinced by the character conflicts. Nic’s backstory involves a coercive and emotionally abusive ex, who has used her to boost his social media brand, while Will is labouring under the impression that he’s a disappointment to his parents and siblings, a disappointment that’s compounded by his failing vet practice. Both of these have the makings of powerful emotional engines and, at first, I was keen to see how they would develop. Ultimately though they both rely on some barely believable plot points (take, as an example, the idea that Nic’s best friend since childhood, would believe her ex’s version of events over hers) and then resolve in ways that I found super unconvincing and unsatisfying.
Finally, I want to say a word about how low the bar is set for Will here. I notice often that cis men in cishet romances don’t have to do very much to be cast as absolute heroes. They acknowledge when they’re wrong and apologise for it? Omg, what an evolved human! You tell them you don’t like something during sex and they don’t do it? Whoa, can this man be real! They’re kind and helpful when you need a friend? Quick, lock this unicorn down! What would otherwise be considered basic consideration and thoughtfulness is treated like a rare, special quality. And when that’s put into contrast with a previous toxic relationship like Nic’s… it looks even more extraordinary. Which is not to say that Will isn’t a nice guy. He sounds just fine. But he also sounds…just fine? Like, he’s performing his humanity to a reasonable level. This isn’t a bad thing. We’re all doing our best in difficult times. Good for Will. It’s the way this is lionised when really that’s the minimum of what we should expect - and as a result it reinforces gender essentialist relationships between men and women.
CWs: FMC has recently separated from a coercive, abusive ex; ex continues to contact and stalk her; MMC has situational depression; MMC is in financial difficulty linked to the pandemic; cold and distant family; emotionally abusive sibling; descriptions of veterinary procedures.
January 26, 2023
"You're the only home I'll ever need, Nic Jones."
OMG THIS MAN!!!!!!! he become quickly one of my fav heroes of all time. he was the most realistic character i've ever read. this man goes to therapy because he needs to talk about his worries, he's nervous around heroine because he doesn't think he deserves her but he's trying and he's her fanboy even before they met 😭😭 and to think when i saw the title i thought this was about a manwhore????? nah my man would never
"I was Psyche, alone in the dark. And if you can let me care for you, if you can feel worthy of that, you could be my Eros."
NIC JONES you have my heart 💘💞💝💓 i love it when heroine stood up for hero against his family>>>> and she's a real chicken celebrity because obviously it's the most important kind of celebrity 💅🏽
"Everyone likes Taylor Swift. You like Taylor Swift."
"She writes really clever songs."
"Damn right she does."
truer words have never been spoken
thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review! 🦋
OMG THIS MAN!!!!!!! he become quickly one of my fav heroes of all time. he was the most realistic character i've ever read. this man goes to therapy because he needs to talk about his worries, he's nervous around heroine because he doesn't think he deserves her but he's trying and he's her fanboy even before they met 😭😭 and to think when i saw the title i thought this was about a manwhore????? nah my man would never
"I was Psyche, alone in the dark. And if you can let me care for you, if you can feel worthy of that, you could be my Eros."
NIC JONES you have my heart 💘💞💝💓 i love it when heroine stood up for hero against his family>>>> and she's a real chicken celebrity because obviously it's the most important kind of celebrity 💅🏽
"Everyone likes Taylor Swift. You like Taylor Swift."
"She writes really clever songs."
"Damn right she does."
truer words have never been spoken
thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review! 🦋
dnf
May 12, 2023DNF at 37%
I had seen this one around and decided to give it a try since it was read and listen free with Kindle Unlimited. I didn't realize that so much of the story centered around the pandemic, otherwise I wouldn't have picked it up. I tried to overlook it, but it came up over and over again and really took me out of the story each time. The chemistry between Nic and Will was also lacking and I just didn't feel the enemies/grumpy + sunshine vibes. I probably wouldn't have made it as far as I did without the audiobook. The narration was great and I really enjoyed the performances by Aaron Shedlock and CJ Bloom. Sadly it wasn't enough to keep me reading.
I had seen this one around and decided to give it a try since it was read and listen free with Kindle Unlimited. I didn't realize that so much of the story centered around the pandemic, otherwise I wouldn't have picked it up. I tried to overlook it, but it came up over and over again and really took me out of the story each time. The chemistry between Nic and Will was also lacking and I just didn't feel the enemies/grumpy + sunshine vibes. I probably wouldn't have made it as far as I did without the audiobook. The narration was great and I really enjoyed the performances by Aaron Shedlock and CJ Bloom. Sadly it wasn't enough to keep me reading.
October 4, 2022
My heart. Emma Barry is so good.
At its core, Chick Magnet is hurt/comfort. Nic and Will each start the book in a bad place and though they are in no condition to start a new relationship, they offer each other comfort and understanding. The deep emotion and drama of hurt/comfort is well balanced by the joy of chickens, kittens, friendships, and a variety of banters that range from funny to steamy.
Nic has moved to Yagerstown, Virginia with her flock of chickens after being dumped by her boyfriend during a live YouTube broadcast and frozen out by her best friend because of the lies her boyfriend told. Her boyfriend was awful – he lied, bullied and gaslit the people around him into believing his reality. Nic has to forgive herself and rebuild her faith in herself for staying with him and not leaving until he kicked her out. Will’s small town veterinary practice is failing and he isn’t able to separate the himself from his business. He isolates himself from people, certain that no one could love a failure. Nic’s crisis has already happened while Will’s is still building.
I don’t want to make this sound like a morality play or a very special episode. Chick Magnet is neither of those things. It does explore how we make mistakes, forgive ourselves and recover from them. (The problem is less the mistake and more our own response to making mistakes.) The people worth taking risks for acknowledge, apologize, learn, grow and change. Barry also challenges the myth that success is or has ever been solely a product of individual hard work.
Someday I hope to be in a position to have lawn dinosaurs, goats, dogs and some cats. And the resources to pay for good veterinary care, because I don’t think I’ll be finding my own Dr. Viking, veterinarian.
This is set in a post pandemic world that is more post pandemic than our current world actually is. So there is discussion of economic and professional impacts of the covid pandemic, but no discussion of masking, illness, or deaths.
CW: pet illness, past pet death, friend breakup, gaslighting, bullying, stalking, internet harassment, depression, business failure, toxic family,
I received this as an advance reader copy from Montlake and NetGalley. My opinions are my own, freely and honestly given.
At its core, Chick Magnet is hurt/comfort. Nic and Will each start the book in a bad place and though they are in no condition to start a new relationship, they offer each other comfort and understanding. The deep emotion and drama of hurt/comfort is well balanced by the joy of chickens, kittens, friendships, and a variety of banters that range from funny to steamy.
Nic has moved to Yagerstown, Virginia with her flock of chickens after being dumped by her boyfriend during a live YouTube broadcast and frozen out by her best friend because of the lies her boyfriend told. Her boyfriend was awful – he lied, bullied and gaslit the people around him into believing his reality. Nic has to forgive herself and rebuild her faith in herself for staying with him and not leaving until he kicked her out. Will’s small town veterinary practice is failing and he isn’t able to separate the himself from his business. He isolates himself from people, certain that no one could love a failure. Nic’s crisis has already happened while Will’s is still building.
I don’t want to make this sound like a morality play or a very special episode. Chick Magnet is neither of those things. It does explore how we make mistakes, forgive ourselves and recover from them. (The problem is less the mistake and more our own response to making mistakes.) The people worth taking risks for acknowledge, apologize, learn, grow and change. Barry also challenges the myth that success is or has ever been solely a product of individual hard work.
Someday I hope to be in a position to have lawn dinosaurs, goats, dogs and some cats. And the resources to pay for good veterinary care, because I don’t think I’ll be finding my own Dr. Viking, veterinarian.
This is set in a post pandemic world that is more post pandemic than our current world actually is. So there is discussion of economic and professional impacts of the covid pandemic, but no discussion of masking, illness, or deaths.
CW: pet illness, past pet death, friend breakup, gaslighting, bullying, stalking, internet harassment, depression, business failure, toxic family,
I received this as an advance reader copy from Montlake and NetGalley. My opinions are my own, freely and honestly given.
October 26, 2022
Chick Magnet by Emma Barry
Chick Magnet is about Nicole or “Chick Nic” an influencer, who has millions of fans for her vlog about chickens. Back then she’s vlogging with her boyfriend that turned out to be a douche who dumped her and lied even to her own friends just for clout. Nicole moved to a small town called Yagerstown to recuperate her heart and have a fresh start. When one of her hens had a mishap, she met her grumpy Big as a Viking but attractive Neighbor, Will Lund, who happens to be a veterinarian. Will knew about Nicole as Chick Nic. Despite being attracted to her, he hate-watched her videos, he dislikes that Nicole is giving medical advice and thinks she doesn’t know what she is talking about. Also, Will is grumpy because he’s getting depressed, he has a problem of his own. His Veterinary practice is in trouble having affected by the pandemic. He doesn’t want to ask help to his family and tries to fix it on his own.
The two had a rough start, fighting and avoidance but they managed to smooth things out, especially in their budding attraction. Emma Barry is a new author for me, and I find her writing wonderful and easy to navigate. I love the characters and their personality, the problems that they encounter reflect true to life experiences especially that it was in the pre-post pandemic situations. The sunshine/grumpy always works, add that it’s in a small-town setting where everyone is going to be rooting for two beautiful people to be together. I recommend this book if you like, a light but fun heartwarming story. I’m looking forward to reading more of Emma’s works!
Chick Magnet is about Nicole or “Chick Nic” an influencer, who has millions of fans for her vlog about chickens. Back then she’s vlogging with her boyfriend that turned out to be a douche who dumped her and lied even to her own friends just for clout. Nicole moved to a small town called Yagerstown to recuperate her heart and have a fresh start. When one of her hens had a mishap, she met her grumpy Big as a Viking but attractive Neighbor, Will Lund, who happens to be a veterinarian. Will knew about Nicole as Chick Nic. Despite being attracted to her, he hate-watched her videos, he dislikes that Nicole is giving medical advice and thinks she doesn’t know what she is talking about. Also, Will is grumpy because he’s getting depressed, he has a problem of his own. His Veterinary practice is in trouble having affected by the pandemic. He doesn’t want to ask help to his family and tries to fix it on his own.
The two had a rough start, fighting and avoidance but they managed to smooth things out, especially in their budding attraction. Emma Barry is a new author for me, and I find her writing wonderful and easy to navigate. I love the characters and their personality, the problems that they encounter reflect true to life experiences especially that it was in the pre-post pandemic situations. The sunshine/grumpy always works, add that it’s in a small-town setting where everyone is going to be rooting for two beautiful people to be together. I recommend this book if you like, a light but fun heartwarming story. I’m looking forward to reading more of Emma’s works!
November 11, 2024
SO SO GOOD!
4.5 Stars
This novel is such a welcome surprise. Normally, specifically in romance, I find it difficult to connect with works written in third person. There's a lack of intimacy in it that I feel prevents me from attaching emotionally to the characters. Few authors truly know how to create that without writing in first. IMHO. It's the primary reason I can't get down with Tessa Bailey. While I like her writing, I can't seem to connect with her characters and after trying four of her novels, attribute that to the third POV.
This book is one of the few exceptions to that rule. Admittedly I groaned when I began it, expecting this would wind up like so many other third person POVs tossed into my DNF pile. But by the second chapter I knew that wouldn't be the case because I immediately cared for Nicole and was intrigued by Will.
When we meet social media darling Nicole, her life has been disemboweled. She's broken up with her longtime BF, been humiliated online and lost her best friend. Needing to right her listing ship of a life, she buys a house sight unseen in the sleepy little town her grandma grew up in. Though she's never been, Nicole always loved the stories her grandmother told her and Nic seeks the comfort of something familiar, even if it is an abstract.
As it turns out, Nic's new neighbor is cranky Will Lund. Except Will has good reason to be grumpy. His own life is falling apart. His veterinary practice opened just before the pandemic and is failing miserably. His whole life, his identity is work. It is his passion, the years of schooling and debt were all supposed to be paying off as the vet in his sleepy little home town except now his dreams are a nightmare.
Where Nicole is trying to rebuild and reinvent herself, trying to maintain her sunny disposition, Will is weighed down by the failures in his life and unable to see any tangible way out. So when these two meet, though they're in very similar spaces, their approaches to their issues are dramatically different.
It's so refreshing to meet two characters who are in similar situations and are struggling to find themselves and watch how it unfolds in some very unpretty ways. Without spoiling things, I like how, even though these characters have their HEA, their situations aren't magically fixed and we watch as they navigate real hardship. There is loss here. And it's not an old loss being revisited. It's a new loss. One that's often overlooked. The loss of a dream. The loss of a goal. The loss of the future we took for granted was assured.
That's where this novel hit its home run. The raw truth of it. The author did a wonderful job of allowing these characters to suffer while using that to forge something truly lovely between them. I loved how they showed up for each other, even when the other didn't want it. I loved how they found little ways to say how much they cared, without needing to shout it from the rooftops. There were no grand gestures here, just tiny signs of unity and solidarity. It's a reminder that sometimes we need to look past the noise to see someone's true spirit. Will and Nicole did that for each other. They looked past all the noise to see each other clearly and, in that, knew innately how to help each other.
This truly is an exceptional novel about redemption and reinvention and I highly, highly recommend.
4.5 Stars
This novel is such a welcome surprise. Normally, specifically in romance, I find it difficult to connect with works written in third person. There's a lack of intimacy in it that I feel prevents me from attaching emotionally to the characters. Few authors truly know how to create that without writing in first. IMHO. It's the primary reason I can't get down with Tessa Bailey. While I like her writing, I can't seem to connect with her characters and after trying four of her novels, attribute that to the third POV.
This book is one of the few exceptions to that rule. Admittedly I groaned when I began it, expecting this would wind up like so many other third person POVs tossed into my DNF pile. But by the second chapter I knew that wouldn't be the case because I immediately cared for Nicole and was intrigued by Will.
When we meet social media darling Nicole, her life has been disemboweled. She's broken up with her longtime BF, been humiliated online and lost her best friend. Needing to right her listing ship of a life, she buys a house sight unseen in the sleepy little town her grandma grew up in. Though she's never been, Nicole always loved the stories her grandmother told her and Nic seeks the comfort of something familiar, even if it is an abstract.
As it turns out, Nic's new neighbor is cranky Will Lund. Except Will has good reason to be grumpy. His own life is falling apart. His veterinary practice opened just before the pandemic and is failing miserably. His whole life, his identity is work. It is his passion, the years of schooling and debt were all supposed to be paying off as the vet in his sleepy little home town except now his dreams are a nightmare.
Where Nicole is trying to rebuild and reinvent herself, trying to maintain her sunny disposition, Will is weighed down by the failures in his life and unable to see any tangible way out. So when these two meet, though they're in very similar spaces, their approaches to their issues are dramatically different.
It's so refreshing to meet two characters who are in similar situations and are struggling to find themselves and watch how it unfolds in some very unpretty ways. Without spoiling things, I like how, even though these characters have their HEA, their situations aren't magically fixed and we watch as they navigate real hardship. There is loss here. And it's not an old loss being revisited. It's a new loss. One that's often overlooked. The loss of a dream. The loss of a goal. The loss of the future we took for granted was assured.
That's where this novel hit its home run. The raw truth of it. The author did a wonderful job of allowing these characters to suffer while using that to forge something truly lovely between them. I loved how they showed up for each other, even when the other didn't want it. I loved how they found little ways to say how much they cared, without needing to shout it from the rooftops. There were no grand gestures here, just tiny signs of unity and solidarity. It's a reminder that sometimes we need to look past the noise to see someone's true spirit. Will and Nicole did that for each other. They looked past all the noise to see each other clearly and, in that, knew innately how to help each other.
This truly is an exceptional novel about redemption and reinvention and I highly, highly recommend.
Read
May 21, 2022So, you know when you're reading a book, and as you're reading, you're like, this is really something special? And as you keep reading, it keeps getting better, and then when you end you're absolutely lost and at the same time, you're ecstatic because you know you've found a new favourite author?
Well, that's what happened with Chick Magnet and Emma Barry.
Her writing is so wonderful. The nuance of the emotional arcs in this book; the witty dialogue; the delightful characters; the endearing small town - they're all reasons to love this. But mostly I loved it because the love story is real and kind and the chemistry is hot and amazing and I can't wait for the world to read this book.
Well, that's what happened with Chick Magnet and Emma Barry.
Her writing is so wonderful. The nuance of the emotional arcs in this book; the witty dialogue; the delightful characters; the endearing small town - they're all reasons to love this. But mostly I loved it because the love story is real and kind and the chemistry is hot and amazing and I can't wait for the world to read this book.
September 5, 2024
No chemistry. No excitement. No spark. The only thing that pushed me to keep going was the fact that the hero was a vet and the heroine has chickens. That’s it. This had potential to be really cute but it didn't really go where it needed to. Everything was very surface level. I didn't really care for the hero. The hero Will was a real wet napkin and a debbie downer who just sits on his laurels instead of actually doing something to try and save his crumbling vet practice. I found him so frustrating. His refusal to ask for any help was also very tiring. Your business is in trouble and going under but you’re not willing to tell anyone cause you are too proud and embarrassed to ask for help while knowing you have employees who depend on you? Buck up sweetie and grab the life rafts when you can. The community wants to do a carwash to help his practice buy a new X-Ray machine but the way he was carrying on and so embarrassed about it you would think you were asking a 5 year old if he needs help tying his shoes. It wasn't attractive at all. I just couldn’t empathize with or like someone so whiny, mopey and prideful who feels sorry for himself all the time and waiting for his livelihood to literally implode. He was much too resigned to his fate. I need my heroes to be more proactive instead of reactive. His depression over being "a failure" as he keeps saying and letting people down is relatable but felt so heavy and tiring with how much he harped on it and how he handled everything.
And I have to say for a fluffy rom com with a shirtless guy on the cover this was pretty morose and dark in message regarding business struggles during Covid, the failing economy and market, mental health, etc. Had a very doom and gloom tone overall that felt a bit too much at times. All the hero does is keep comparing himself to his younger brother who moved to the city who keeps bullying him about his career choice as the town vet. The fact that the heroine had to be the one to dress down the snobby brother and give the hero motivation to finally stand up for himself to his younger brother was also kind of sad instead of sweet. The dynamics of his whole family I found weird, as if the author was trying very hard to make them dysfunctional.
Also the hero Will is described as a grumpy "Viking" but I didn’t find him all that brooding or complex. His annoyance and dislike of chickens I didn’t get either. I’m sorry but I always find it suspect that a person who makes a living as a vet and wanting to help animals is annoyed by animals. But that’s my personal bias showing (I'm a bird mom). I also feel like “grumpy” has become synonymous to heroes with no personality outside of scowling. I need authors to understand that slapping a scowl on your heroes does not make them grumpy. They aren't gingerbread men y'all. lol I need more depth than that. I love me some grumpy heroes and I get this character trait has become all the rage now. But I need something more beyond your heroine telling us that the hero is a grump. I also thought this would be an enemies to lovers situation considering the set up, the grumpy town vet vs YouTube star "Chicken Lady" next door neighbor but the rivalry lasted 1 day at most with the insta-lust completely cutting through the tension like a hacksaw, making the story deflate in on itself in the process. I've said it a hundred times and I'll say it again this is why I hate insta-lust.
I actually liked the heroine Nicole, her sense of humor was great and her love for her rambunctious hoard of chickens was what gave this book it’s starting potential but the whole social media influencer drama with her awful ex and her moping over losing her best friend from the fallout was not it. Which speaking of, let me go off on a rant for a second. What kind of best friend of 20 years sides with your manipulative opportunistic gaslighting ex-boyfriend over you? And your best friend believing you tried to “seduce” her husband? O_o Girl whaaaat? That’s a trash friend and pretty huge hurdle to overcome. So yes I was superbly annoyed when said trash friend comes crawling back with her tail tucked between her legs in the very end and is forgiven because Nic's crazy ass ex-boyfriend scammed the friend's husband out of money.
It took your husband losing money for you to realize your best friend was innocent all along and not a homewrecking slut???? When your own pocket got hurt is when you finally believed her? I.....No. BYE. The fact that her BFF was easily forgiven simply because Nic's ex was a manipulative charmer who "tricked everyone" didn't sit right with me because it completely overshadowed the fact that Nic's own character was sullied and slandered very publicly in the process until money was involved. 😑 The absolute gall and gumption.
If I was Nic I would have told Rose and that husband of hers to fuck off permanently. Friends don't do that to friends. This is not how I view friendship, Emma Barry. lol
And I have to say for a fluffy rom com with a shirtless guy on the cover this was pretty morose and dark in message regarding business struggles during Covid, the failing economy and market, mental health, etc. Had a very doom and gloom tone overall that felt a bit too much at times. All the hero does is keep comparing himself to his younger brother who moved to the city who keeps bullying him about his career choice as the town vet. The fact that the heroine had to be the one to dress down the snobby brother and give the hero motivation to finally stand up for himself to his younger brother was also kind of sad instead of sweet. The dynamics of his whole family I found weird, as if the author was trying very hard to make them dysfunctional.
Also the hero Will is described as a grumpy "Viking" but I didn’t find him all that brooding or complex. His annoyance and dislike of chickens I didn’t get either. I’m sorry but I always find it suspect that a person who makes a living as a vet and wanting to help animals is annoyed by animals. But that’s my personal bias showing (I'm a bird mom). I also feel like “grumpy” has become synonymous to heroes with no personality outside of scowling. I need authors to understand that slapping a scowl on your heroes does not make them grumpy. They aren't gingerbread men y'all. lol I need more depth than that. I love me some grumpy heroes and I get this character trait has become all the rage now. But I need something more beyond your heroine telling us that the hero is a grump. I also thought this would be an enemies to lovers situation considering the set up, the grumpy town vet vs YouTube star "Chicken Lady" next door neighbor but the rivalry lasted 1 day at most with the insta-lust completely cutting through the tension like a hacksaw, making the story deflate in on itself in the process. I've said it a hundred times and I'll say it again this is why I hate insta-lust.
I actually liked the heroine Nicole, her sense of humor was great and her love for her rambunctious hoard of chickens was what gave this book it’s starting potential but the whole social media influencer drama with her awful ex and her moping over losing her best friend from the fallout was not it. Which speaking of, let me go off on a rant for a second. What kind of best friend of 20 years sides with your manipulative opportunistic gaslighting ex-boyfriend over you? And your best friend believing you tried to “seduce” her husband? O_o Girl whaaaat? That’s a trash friend and pretty huge hurdle to overcome. So yes I was superbly annoyed when said trash friend comes crawling back with her tail tucked between her legs in the very end and is forgiven because Nic's crazy ass ex-boyfriend scammed the friend's husband out of money.
It took your husband losing money for you to realize your best friend was innocent all along and not a homewrecking slut???? When your own pocket got hurt is when you finally believed her? I.....No. BYE. The fact that her BFF was easily forgiven simply because Nic's ex was a manipulative charmer who "tricked everyone" didn't sit right with me because it completely overshadowed the fact that Nic's own character was sullied and slandered very publicly in the process until money was involved. 😑 The absolute gall and gumption.
If I was Nic I would have told Rose and that husband of hers to fuck off permanently. Friends don't do that to friends. This is not how I view friendship, Emma Barry. lol
February 5, 2023
Chick Magnet is a gorgeously written book that honestly feels so grounded and real in the world. It doesn't shy away from talking about the consequences of the Pandemic, though it does sort of talk about it like it's over? More in the way that in most Southern small towns, people are just out here recovering from it and ignoring the fact that we should all still be wearing masks. Anyways, Nicole has moved to the small town her grandma was born in following an extremely public break up. She is a chicken influencer, which, I'll be honest, I did not know that was a thing. Her next door neighbor is a very grumpy and gruff veterinarian, who turns out to have such a sweet and soft underbelly. Will's got a lot going on and getting to see his perspective was so, so powerful. His veterinarian practice is failing because of the Pandemic, mostly, but he really is taking the failure of his business entirely personally and is struggling. I loved his perspective so much.
Honestly, everything about this book was really well done. I'm not sure what it is that kept me from falling head over heels for it and giving it a five star, but even without that last .5 star, I cannot recommend this book enough. (Hence my rounding up here on Goodreads!) It's on KU and you can get the audiobook with your subscription as well. If you haven't read it yet and you want an emotional (but not emotionally manipulative) read, please pick this one up. Emma Barry is SO talented and I cannot wait for book two in this series!
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Honestly, everything about this book was really well done. I'm not sure what it is that kept me from falling head over heels for it and giving it a five star, but even without that last .5 star, I cannot recommend this book enough. (Hence my rounding up here on Goodreads!) It's on KU and you can get the audiobook with your subscription as well. If you haven't read it yet and you want an emotional (but not emotionally manipulative) read, please pick this one up. Emma Barry is SO talented and I cannot wait for book two in this series!
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
January 23, 2023
Engaging, heartfelt, and fun!
Chick Magnet is a spirited, heartwarming, enemies-to-lovers romance that features the successful influencer Nicole who, after having her heart shattered live on YouTube, is hoping that a move to her late grandmother’s hometown of Yagerstown will be the perfect place for her and her famous chickens to settle down and create a new life, and the grumpy, passionate veterinarian Will who’s determined to do whatever it takes to keep the doors of his practice open after the closures and restrictions of COVID have left him all but financially ruined.
The prose is amusing and light. The characters, including all the supporting characters, are quirky, supportive, and kind. And the plot is a fun-loving, flirty blend of tricky situations, tender moments, humorous mishaps, self-discovery, friendship, family, kindness, depression, support, happiness, romance, and a flock of chickens with large personalities.
Overall, Chick Magnet is a charming, humourous, enjoyable treat by Barry that is a delight to read and ultimately reminds us that true love is always worth the fight.
Thank you to Kaye Publicity & Amazon Publishing for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Chick Magnet is a spirited, heartwarming, enemies-to-lovers romance that features the successful influencer Nicole who, after having her heart shattered live on YouTube, is hoping that a move to her late grandmother’s hometown of Yagerstown will be the perfect place for her and her famous chickens to settle down and create a new life, and the grumpy, passionate veterinarian Will who’s determined to do whatever it takes to keep the doors of his practice open after the closures and restrictions of COVID have left him all but financially ruined.
The prose is amusing and light. The characters, including all the supporting characters, are quirky, supportive, and kind. And the plot is a fun-loving, flirty blend of tricky situations, tender moments, humorous mishaps, self-discovery, friendship, family, kindness, depression, support, happiness, romance, and a flock of chickens with large personalities.
Overall, Chick Magnet is a charming, humourous, enjoyable treat by Barry that is a delight to read and ultimately reminds us that true love is always worth the fight.
Thank you to Kaye Publicity & Amazon Publishing for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
December 13, 2022
This book was not what I expected or hoped it would be.
Okay, it was somewhat. There was quite some chicken content and cute animals. However, I hoped for more chicken content and especially more chicken puns. The description of the book promised beautiful things and I didn’t get them. To be honest, from the description and cover I hoped it would be weirder.
So, the book itself: It was very mediocre. A mediocre romance, with mediocre characters and a mediocre relationship. I didn’t care about the characters or their relationship. I didn’t like Nic or Will and why either of them are supposed to be super hot and appealing is a mystery to me.
The development of the relationship didn’t really make sense to me and the book told me what the relationship looked like at that moment instead of making me feel it. Add to that a rushed and under-developed resolution and you get a poor plot for a romance.
The book also went into the effects of the pandemic. Aside from the fact that I really don’t want to read about the pandemic, it also such scratched the surface. It attempted to show Will’s depression and Nic’s fear of relationships after her abused past, but I have seen other books portray it a million times better.
The highlight of this book was Will covered in cats. Cats make everything better and I will treasure that moment. Other than that, I will probably forget about everything in this book very quickly.
Okay, it was somewhat. There was quite some chicken content and cute animals. However, I hoped for more chicken content and especially more chicken puns. The description of the book promised beautiful things and I didn’t get them. To be honest, from the description and cover I hoped it would be weirder.
So, the book itself: It was very mediocre. A mediocre romance, with mediocre characters and a mediocre relationship. I didn’t care about the characters or their relationship. I didn’t like Nic or Will and why either of them are supposed to be super hot and appealing is a mystery to me.
The development of the relationship didn’t really make sense to me and the book told me what the relationship looked like at that moment instead of making me feel it. Add to that a rushed and under-developed resolution and you get a poor plot for a romance.
The book also went into the effects of the pandemic. Aside from the fact that I really don’t want to read about the pandemic, it also such scratched the surface. It attempted to show Will’s depression and Nic’s fear of relationships after her abused past, but I have seen other books portray it a million times better.
The highlight of this book was Will covered in cats. Cats make everything better and I will treasure that moment. Other than that, I will probably forget about everything in this book very quickly.
January 30, 2023
Mostly good
I liked the heart of this one, so I'm choosing to round up - even if it wasn't the perfect fit for me. With a brightly colored cover and a playful, punny name, I kinda expected this to be more of a rom com, and it's really not. There are definite small town vibes, with a somber feel and a SIGNIFICANT focus on the effects of the COVID pandemic on small businesses. Our sweetheart of a hero is a veterinarian whose business has not recovered from the societal changes, and that is a MAJOR part of the story. Know that going in. It was a little jarring to read about something that most authors have avoided mentioning in their new releases, but I found that I liked the concept. For me, this was just a little too laidback and slow-moving for my personal tastes, with a lot of time spent on the characters off the page from each other, then the relationship moving forward at the blink of an eye. I also felt disconnected from the third person POV, which is not a favorite of mine. So I liked the bones of the book, but there were things that kept me feeling detached the whole time. I think it will be a win for many readers though, because most of my complaints are minor or personal in nature.
The story follows Nicole/Nic, a woman who lost her job at the start of the pandemic and shifted into being a social media influencer, focusing on raising chickens. Throughout that experience, her partner was her boyfriend, and Nic has been feeling adrift since the relationship ended. Hoping to get (another) fresh start, Nic moves into a small town... and soon discovers that her neighbor is a sexy but grumpalicious veterinarian. Will definitely seems to be a grump on the surface, but he's dealing with some demons of his own, and it's not long before Nic sees the sweet side hidden beneath the broody exterior. As the two get to know each other better and bond over their shared hurts, Nic and Will get closer. But they've both got a lot going on in their lives, so it might not be the ideal time to try for something real.
I'd heard a lot of good things about this book, which is honestly why I stuck around once I discovered that it's in third person POV. It's just really not a favorite of mine, but I've read many books that I've enjoyed in the style - personal preference, that's all. I quickly got drawn in by the small town feel and the ADORABLE hero. Will is what makes this book so enjoyable; he is the sweetest man hidden beneath a grumpy exterior, and he's even a relationship kind of guy. He really made the book for me, though I also liked the unique perspective on the pandemic. It's a polarizing topic that many readers aren't ready for in their romances, so it's rare that I see more than a passing mention in a book here or there. This embraced that vibe wholeheartedly (this essentially takes place in the aftermath), which was so interesting to me. That is also a big part of what gives this such a somber, serious tone, despite the fact that there are several comedic moments. It's a heavier, moodier book than anticipated, but there was a lot of good stuff going on. So I struggled to push through a decent amount of it, but was curious to see how it all worked out. The quality is that of a 4-star read, even if the experience was more like 3 stars for me personally.
Audio note: The audio was pretty good! It's got CJ Bloom and Aaron Shedlock in dual narration, and it was super easy to switch back and forth between the text and audio versions - which is exactly what I did. I really enjoyed Shedlock's chapters, and he represented Will's character well. I wasn't as sold on CJ Bloom, though she does a good job with her performance. Her voice just took the character in a different direction and didn't help me connect with Nic, if you know what I mean. The runtime was good for a workday listen though, and the slow-ish burn lended itself well to that kind of setting. So no major complaints about the audio, but I was happy to have the text version on-hand as well.
I liked the heart of this one, so I'm choosing to round up - even if it wasn't the perfect fit for me. With a brightly colored cover and a playful, punny name, I kinda expected this to be more of a rom com, and it's really not. There are definite small town vibes, with a somber feel and a SIGNIFICANT focus on the effects of the COVID pandemic on small businesses. Our sweetheart of a hero is a veterinarian whose business has not recovered from the societal changes, and that is a MAJOR part of the story. Know that going in. It was a little jarring to read about something that most authors have avoided mentioning in their new releases, but I found that I liked the concept. For me, this was just a little too laidback and slow-moving for my personal tastes, with a lot of time spent on the characters off the page from each other, then the relationship moving forward at the blink of an eye. I also felt disconnected from the third person POV, which is not a favorite of mine. So I liked the bones of the book, but there were things that kept me feeling detached the whole time. I think it will be a win for many readers though, because most of my complaints are minor or personal in nature.
The story follows Nicole/Nic, a woman who lost her job at the start of the pandemic and shifted into being a social media influencer, focusing on raising chickens. Throughout that experience, her partner was her boyfriend, and Nic has been feeling adrift since the relationship ended. Hoping to get (another) fresh start, Nic moves into a small town... and soon discovers that her neighbor is a sexy but grumpalicious veterinarian. Will definitely seems to be a grump on the surface, but he's dealing with some demons of his own, and it's not long before Nic sees the sweet side hidden beneath the broody exterior. As the two get to know each other better and bond over their shared hurts, Nic and Will get closer. But they've both got a lot going on in their lives, so it might not be the ideal time to try for something real.
I'd heard a lot of good things about this book, which is honestly why I stuck around once I discovered that it's in third person POV. It's just really not a favorite of mine, but I've read many books that I've enjoyed in the style - personal preference, that's all. I quickly got drawn in by the small town feel and the ADORABLE hero. Will is what makes this book so enjoyable; he is the sweetest man hidden beneath a grumpy exterior, and he's even a relationship kind of guy. He really made the book for me, though I also liked the unique perspective on the pandemic. It's a polarizing topic that many readers aren't ready for in their romances, so it's rare that I see more than a passing mention in a book here or there. This embraced that vibe wholeheartedly (this essentially takes place in the aftermath), which was so interesting to me. That is also a big part of what gives this such a somber, serious tone, despite the fact that there are several comedic moments. It's a heavier, moodier book than anticipated, but there was a lot of good stuff going on. So I struggled to push through a decent amount of it, but was curious to see how it all worked out. The quality is that of a 4-star read, even if the experience was more like 3 stars for me personally.
Audio note: The audio was pretty good! It's got CJ Bloom and Aaron Shedlock in dual narration, and it was super easy to switch back and forth between the text and audio versions - which is exactly what I did. I really enjoyed Shedlock's chapters, and he represented Will's character well. I wasn't as sold on CJ Bloom, though she does a good job with her performance. Her voice just took the character in a different direction and didn't help me connect with Nic, if you know what I mean. The runtime was good for a workday listen though, and the slow-ish burn lended itself well to that kind of setting. So no major complaints about the audio, but I was happy to have the text version on-hand as well.
March 31, 2023
While I could swear that I've definitely read this author before, I don't see record of it, and after strong through unlimited crap, I'm delighted to be reading two books that make it worth it.
First, I'm gonna get this out of the way. COVID is featured prominently in the book, nearly a character its own, very much a villain and very much *in the past* As someone who is not there in any kind of way with this mentality (other than COVID as villain and not, like, its interventions) I did find this jarring from time to time. For me, that went between OMG COVID so real in this book to "but the "now part" is basically fantasy" Really too bad that this struggling vet didn't get the PPP loan he deserved while the corporations in the larger communities probably did.
*Steps off soapbox*
The hero was depressed, broody, emotionally constipated and ridiculously swoony. We all know this guy. He's a good guy. He's kind. He's not rich. He wants you to not be a dumb shit about your animals and he's judgy about it. Which is really hot.
The heroine was dusting herself off, grounded, passionate and a very good kind of open minded. They were well balanced, and the push and pull felt mature and really worked for these 30-somethings.
I am very happy I found Barry and looking forward to reading more from her.
I read this in literally one sitting, bc it's gray as shit and cute couples arguing about chickens brightened my day.
First, I'm gonna get this out of the way. COVID is featured prominently in the book, nearly a character its own, very much a villain and very much *in the past* As someone who is not there in any kind of way with this mentality (other than COVID as villain and not, like, its interventions) I did find this jarring from time to time. For me, that went between OMG COVID so real in this book to "but the "now part" is basically fantasy" Really too bad that this struggling vet didn't get the PPP loan he deserved while the corporations in the larger communities probably did.
*Steps off soapbox*
The hero was depressed, broody, emotionally constipated and ridiculously swoony. We all know this guy. He's a good guy. He's kind. He's not rich. He wants you to not be a dumb shit about your animals and he's judgy about it. Which is really hot.
The heroine was dusting herself off, grounded, passionate and a very good kind of open minded. They were well balanced, and the push and pull felt mature and really worked for these 30-somethings.
I am very happy I found Barry and looking forward to reading more from her.
I read this in literally one sitting, bc it's gray as shit and cute couples arguing about chickens brightened my day.
March 7, 2023
This book was just such a delight! The writing is clever, and the story has a perfect balance of lightness as well as more meaty material. The conflict between chicken-raising social media influencer Nicole and Will, the small-town vet who has seen the darker side of clueless people raising trendy pets, felt real.
I liked how the author dealt with some very modern issues, such as the financial strains and mental health crisis faced by veterinarians. The ways in which social media are woven into the story worked well also. Seeing influencer Nicole alongside Nicole living her real life was a great reminder that social media is a curated view of the world - a reminder we could all use from time to time.
In terms of the relationship between the leads, I loved not just that they talked but that they also listened to each other. At the opening of the story, Will and Nicole had so many preconceived notions about each other that they could have simply jumped from one Big Misunderstanding to the next. However, seeing them build a rapport by actually showing curiosity about one another was so refreshing and I could believe in them becoming the kind of couple that would support one another. Wonderful read!
I liked how the author dealt with some very modern issues, such as the financial strains and mental health crisis faced by veterinarians. The ways in which social media are woven into the story worked well also. Seeing influencer Nicole alongside Nicole living her real life was a great reminder that social media is a curated view of the world - a reminder we could all use from time to time.
In terms of the relationship between the leads, I loved not just that they talked but that they also listened to each other. At the opening of the story, Will and Nicole had so many preconceived notions about each other that they could have simply jumped from one Big Misunderstanding to the next. However, seeing them build a rapport by actually showing curiosity about one another was so refreshing and I could believe in them becoming the kind of couple that would support one another. Wonderful read!
June 12, 2023
4.5 stars - what a fun and touching book. It’s unusual to read enemies to lovers where there’s a legitimate moral disagreement, and this one was set up so well - an influencer famous for promoting backyard chickens moves next door to a vet who’s seen people be overwhelmed by getting chickens they weren’t prepared for. This book also dealt with pandemic trauma and grief in a very direct way, excising it and acknowledging how life has changed since 2020. The timeline felt a bit rushed but I really enjoyed it.
January 18, 2023
It's so wonderful to read a new book by Emma Barry! I loved the concept of this story, very modern and topical, with Nicole, a social media influencer who keeps chickens and has her own YouTube channel moving to the small town where her grandmother lived, and meeting her next door neighbour Will who happens to be a small animal veterinarian (with Viking vibes). The reality of the pandemic isn't glossed over as Will is in danger of losing his practice and is also experiencing depression as a result. While he doesn't have any relationship hangups (except that he has no time for one), Nicole was gaslighted by her previous boyfriend with whom she'd set up her social media life, and is trying to get over having been fooled by him for so long, thereby not trusting that Will can be as good as he seems. It's a thoughtful, sweet, sexy, finding the right partner who'll support you through good and bad times romance.
A copy of this story was provided via NetGalley by the publisher.
A copy of this story was provided via NetGalley by the publisher.
February 3, 2023
I am so happy to have a new Emma Barry book back in my life. She's one of those authors where I just love the way that she puts sentences together. And this book was really lovely. There was something missing that it didn't quite hit five stars for me, but Will's fear of failure was so palpable and real to me (thanks dad), and I just wanted to wrap him up in the biggest of hugs. As a side note, I thought this handled covid about as well as any contemporary I have read, even while I am still ambivalent about its existence in my fiction.
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