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Montgomery Brothers #1
Buck Up, Buttercup
All’s fair in love and war.
With Randi and Buck, it’s hard to tell the two apart…
An uptight, self-contained college girl, Randi Becker just needed one thing: a room. Somewhere she could study, and keep away from the things that most confuse and frighten her: people.
Unfortunately, the “nice quiet place” she reserved turns out to be a room in the campus’ most raucous house. A place seemingly designed to make studying impossible, made even worse by the other girls’ non-stop drama.
But then Buck, a fun-loving cowboy whom all the ladies love, shows up…and everything gets much worse.
Buck seems to have it all: friends, fun, and a never-ending line of admirers. But what he most desires is a break. So when Buck spots Randi, he figures she’s a perfect decoy: he can play up a “crush” on her that will take him off the market; buy him some breathing room. And if he can tease her a bit, and get under the skin of the uptight busybody? Well, that’s just gravy.
But Buck is about to find more than he bargained for. Randi’s strong-willed, opinionated, difficult—and maybe just what he needs. And Buck isn’t alone. Soon Randi wonders as well…if the world she wanted is really the world she needs. If her future is nothing more than a diploma on the wall. And if the most important thing in her world isn’t a grade, but the cowboy who’s planted his boots firmly in her heart.
Fans of Beth O’Leary’s The Flatshare and Sally Thorne’s The Hating Game will delight at this mix of romantic comedy, contemporary romance, and cultures colliding in a campus town with a western flair. Grab your copy today, and fall in love with Buck Up, Buttercup!
With Randi and Buck, it’s hard to tell the two apart…
An uptight, self-contained college girl, Randi Becker just needed one thing: a room. Somewhere she could study, and keep away from the things that most confuse and frighten her: people.
Unfortunately, the “nice quiet place” she reserved turns out to be a room in the campus’ most raucous house. A place seemingly designed to make studying impossible, made even worse by the other girls’ non-stop drama.
But then Buck, a fun-loving cowboy whom all the ladies love, shows up…and everything gets much worse.
Buck seems to have it all: friends, fun, and a never-ending line of admirers. But what he most desires is a break. So when Buck spots Randi, he figures she’s a perfect decoy: he can play up a “crush” on her that will take him off the market; buy him some breathing room. And if he can tease her a bit, and get under the skin of the uptight busybody? Well, that’s just gravy.
But Buck is about to find more than he bargained for. Randi’s strong-willed, opinionated, difficult—and maybe just what he needs. And Buck isn’t alone. Soon Randi wonders as well…if the world she wanted is really the world she needs. If her future is nothing more than a diploma on the wall. And if the most important thing in her world isn’t a grade, but the cowboy who’s planted his boots firmly in her heart.
Fans of Beth O’Leary’s The Flatshare and Sally Thorne’s The Hating Game will delight at this mix of romantic comedy, contemporary romance, and cultures colliding in a campus town with a western flair. Grab your copy today, and fall in love with Buck Up, Buttercup!
345 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 30, 2022
341 people are currently reading
852 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 189 reviews
June 18, 2022
I only request for this book because of the cover. Plus I wanted to read something with a cowboy… fucking never again. All I wanted was a good yeehaw feeling, but it didn’t happen. It’s just not good. The entire book just irritates me.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐈 𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝: The cover.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐈 𝐃𝐢𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞: Everything else.
This book is nothing short of a fuckshow. Drama started from the beginning and is pretty much the only plot in the entire book. Oh, and let's not forget about the drinking. This book is just about them getting drunk and getting into trouble. It's full of slut-shaming. It's a complete disaster.
It irritates me that they keep calling Randi weird since she is more concerned with her schoolwork than with getting drunk every night like everyone else. Or she's weird because of the clothes she wears. Yeah, wardrobes are never good in any book, but it's suddenly strange to only want to wear bizarre dresses because that's what you’re comfortable with? Not to mention the fact that she's weird because she's a virgin. It just got annoying.
Angie, one of her housemates, drugs Buck and then claims it was an accident (it wasn't), but he just ignores it and continues to approve of her behavior?? For God’s sake, he let Angie get away with fucking everything. The minute Randi decides to finally leave, he suddenly realizes that Angie has gone too far and that she needs to leave? Please where was this energy fucking months ago???
Why the hell would you use the r word?? There was no need to add the r word in here. Could have easily chosen a different word, but no.
What even was Buck and Randi’s relationship? Because it sure didn’t feel like a relationship to begin with. Randi is basically Bucks lap dog or chauffeur. Randi’s only personality is doing 21 credits and making yoga videos. Literally that’s it. Buck is either intoxicated or hurt. He was very boring, and he was trying way too hard to be a cowboy.
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐈 𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝: The cover.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐈 𝐃𝐢𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞: Everything else.
This book is nothing short of a fuckshow. Drama started from the beginning and is pretty much the only plot in the entire book. Oh, and let's not forget about the drinking. This book is just about them getting drunk and getting into trouble. It's full of slut-shaming. It's a complete disaster.
It irritates me that they keep calling Randi weird since she is more concerned with her schoolwork than with getting drunk every night like everyone else. Or she's weird because of the clothes she wears. Yeah, wardrobes are never good in any book, but it's suddenly strange to only want to wear bizarre dresses because that's what you’re comfortable with? Not to mention the fact that she's weird because she's a virgin. It just got annoying.
Angie, one of her housemates, drugs Buck and then claims it was an accident (it wasn't), but he just ignores it and continues to approve of her behavior?? For God’s sake, he let Angie get away with fucking everything. The minute Randi decides to finally leave, he suddenly realizes that Angie has gone too far and that she needs to leave? Please where was this energy fucking months ago???
Why the hell would you use the r word?? There was no need to add the r word in here. Could have easily chosen a different word, but no.
What even was Buck and Randi’s relationship? Because it sure didn’t feel like a relationship to begin with. Randi is basically Bucks lap dog or chauffeur. Randi’s only personality is doing 21 credits and making yoga videos. Literally that’s it. Buck is either intoxicated or hurt. He was very boring, and he was trying way too hard to be a cowboy.
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸
June 14, 2022
I got this ARC from NetGalley.
When I saw the cover of this book I was hit request copy so fast. It is just to cute. Unfortunately it ends there. I think this book had lots of potential but there was many times when I found myself wishing it was over. I didn't like that there was some comments that made me uncomfortable.
I didn't like any of the characters in the book. So it was very hard to push through. You had girls hating each other before any drama started. The main character seems a bit stuck up to me and the main man try to hard to be "country" for me.
When I saw the cover of this book I was hit request copy so fast. It is just to cute. Unfortunately it ends there. I think this book had lots of potential but there was many times when I found myself wishing it was over. I didn't like that there was some comments that made me uncomfortable.
I didn't like any of the characters in the book. So it was very hard to push through. You had girls hating each other before any drama started. The main character seems a bit stuck up to me and the main man try to hard to be "country" for me.
June 29, 2022
First, I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
Oh, my. I really really wanted to like this one. The first chapter started out really strong too. It just kind of went downhill from there. 😔
I usually do not like third-person romance, but that wasn’t the problem here. I actually enjoyed the writing, and I think it was an overall strength of this book.
There just seemed to be quite a few inconsistencies with the storyline and the characters. The side characters all kind of blended to me. There wasn’t a ton of things that distinguished each character from one another. And the entire plot of renting to the MC, Randi, because they needed money but also having a lot of money? I feel like this sounds confusing because it was.
The MC also felt very stuck up. It was so exhausting to read paragraph after paragraph of the MC dissing all the other characters for various reasons. Most of all, the women in this story all talked so bad about one another. 😤 The MC even talked crap about her best friend a lot. While there was resolution between the MC and her friend, there was no resolution between the MC and the girls in the house.
With everything going on, it was really hard to feel invested in Randi and Buck’s relationship.
I think this author has a great career of romance writing ahead of her. However, I think this book would have deeply benefit from refining the plot and characters.
Oh, my. I really really wanted to like this one. The first chapter started out really strong too. It just kind of went downhill from there. 😔
I usually do not like third-person romance, but that wasn’t the problem here. I actually enjoyed the writing, and I think it was an overall strength of this book.
There just seemed to be quite a few inconsistencies with the storyline and the characters. The side characters all kind of blended to me. There wasn’t a ton of things that distinguished each character from one another. And the entire plot of renting to the MC, Randi, because they needed money but also having a lot of money? I feel like this sounds confusing because it was.
The MC also felt very stuck up. It was so exhausting to read paragraph after paragraph of the MC dissing all the other characters for various reasons. Most of all, the women in this story all talked so bad about one another. 😤 The MC even talked crap about her best friend a lot. While there was resolution between the MC and her friend, there was no resolution between the MC and the girls in the house.
With everything going on, it was really hard to feel invested in Randi and Buck’s relationship.
I think this author has a great career of romance writing ahead of her. However, I think this book would have deeply benefit from refining the plot and characters.
June 14, 2022
Received a copy for review.*
This book may be the worst I’ve read this year. The characters were silly and flat. There were words that are unacceptable. I struggled to get through it.
This book may be the worst I’ve read this year. The characters were silly and flat. There were words that are unacceptable. I struggled to get through it.
June 17, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley for providing this advanced reader copy.
Randi is a soon to be college graduate returning to Oregon to finish her last year of school. She finds some affordable housing a little bit out of town. She’s been assured it is a quiet place filled with other studious women. Surprise surprise, it’s not, it’s a party house filled with lots of intoxicated people. She obviously freaks out and makes a scene right then and there.
Buck is planning on moving his trailer to the property. He wants a little more space to move and he has a friendship with the girls living there. Buck steps in and protects Randi when she gets upset for being lied to about the condition of her room and the quality of the house. A friendship slowly blossoms from there and as things tend to do, one thing leads to another.
This book has a lot of promising attributes: Opposites Attract, Grumpy and Sunshine, The Cowboy Love Interest, etc. all really great stuff that readers love to read about. However… there was the non-necessary thrown in racial slur towards an indigenous character that happens so casually but it’s never brought up again or used a plot device to correct other characters behaviors so it just feels gross. Secondly, there is the completely unnecessary use of the “r” slur which just makes the book feel tone deaf. These things are not useful with the plot and I think they are very distracting from the story when it feels like the author isn’t aware of anything that has happened in the last 15 years in this country.
Randi spends most of this book being a mother hen. She saves Sarah from repeatedly making bad decisions, and literally saves her life. She prevents Daisy from partying and doing what she wants to do on a camp out. And she acts like she’s in charge of literally everyone and tells them when they can sleep, when they can be loud, and if/when they can have “a large gathering”. I totally get why most of the other characters find her to be off putting.
I didn’t love that Randi was a complete Mary Sue who has no idea how beautiful she is and that her “quirkiness” is what makes her sexy. Because of her complete inability to ever notice herself she also has the short sightedness to realize how rude and condescending she is to everyone else. She’s clearly a confident woman and she should know without multiple guys telling her that she’s “the hottest girl on campus.” If anyone does anything she doesn’t approve of (drinking, smoking pot, or hooking up), she looks down on them from her high horse. I’m truly surprised her neck doesn’t hurt by the end of the book.
I personally am not a fan of girls being nasty with each other just because. Angie is that character that completely takes me out of the book because of her atrocious demeanor. She’s just offensive and vile right from the get go and I just couldn’t get over her character. Yes, there is a time and a place for the “villain” of the story, but girls being snooty with each other is not what I’m looking for in a romcom. However I did feel bad for Angie at times because Randi judged her for every behavior. She ridicules her for using chewing tobacco, which according to Google over 2% of the population uses it, so it’s not that surprising that someone in this “cowboy” book would use it. Randi needs to turn her judgmental thoughts about people down a few notches.
Sarah is another instance of just pure frustration. She is so mad that Randi doesn’t let her die in a bar bathroom because of alcohol poisoning that she is downright nasty to her afterwards. She doesn’t want the medical bill of being kept alive so she would have rather died. My mind doesn’t comprehend that level of pure misguidedness.
Trish is essentially nonexistent. She’s supposed to be the person renting the house and land and she is who convinced Randi it would be a good place for her to rent for the semester. After the first night she just is gone from the narrative. She pops up now and again through text messages and the other characters reference her but that’s it. She’s woefully underdeveloped compared to Sarah and Angie and it leads me to believe the author created the character and didn’t have anything better to do with her after that and just shoved in her a corner and said: “good riddance.”
Daisy and Randi’s friendship feels like it shouldn’t pass the Bechdel test for the most part. Little phrases get thrown in like: “I’m sorry about you losing your dad” or “remember that time in English last year?” Those small instances tend to save them for literally only talking about sex, partying, and boys.
Honestly the biggest slight I have in this book is the completely unnecessary sexual assault of Daisy. It doesn’t add to the plot in anyway. Her trauma is barely discussed and she just “gets over it” and is down with going to another party barely a week later. I was not okay with that at all. It trivializes people who have actually suffered through rape and sexual assault by making it seem like it’s no big deal. That part of the book is what really brought the entire story down from my original rating. It didn’t add to the story so therefore it shouldn’t be in it at all.
Lastly, the author was very clear on what she finds appropriate behavior. No drinking, no drugs, no sleeping around (of course Randi has to be a virgin, otherwise she would be as “bad” as her roommates). Seriously. Everyone who does something that Randi doesn’t approve of has something bad happen to them. Sarah (drinking) ends up in the hospital and almost dies due to her binge drinking. Angie (drinking and violence) gets thrown out of her home. Buck (drinking and flirting) gets drugged while at a party and looses control. Daisy (partying) gets sexually assaulted and is saved in the nick of time before actual penetration could occur. Oh… and the worst thing that happened to Randi? Poor girl had three different guys interested in her and they all wanted to date her. The author shows her beliefs that if you are “good” then you will be desired and if you are “bad” then you deserve bad things to happen to you. It’s not a very subtle message that is being portrayed and I’m not interested in that type of toxic subliminal messaging.
I did clearly have some issues with the content in the book but the worst were the racial slurs and the toxic slut shaming, and the sexual assault. I am personally not a fan of the over sexualization of virgins, and this book definitely has that. The quote: “is it bad I find you hotter?” Just completely turned me off from Buck both as a character and as a love interest.
Needless to say I had some things I didn’t enjoy about this book. Here’s the thing though: the plot was solid. I would love to read this book if the characters were reworked and made to be less toxic (both to themselves and each other). Every character doesn’t have to be good, but they need to be written as more than two dimensional stereotypes.
Randi is a soon to be college graduate returning to Oregon to finish her last year of school. She finds some affordable housing a little bit out of town. She’s been assured it is a quiet place filled with other studious women. Surprise surprise, it’s not, it’s a party house filled with lots of intoxicated people. She obviously freaks out and makes a scene right then and there.
Buck is planning on moving his trailer to the property. He wants a little more space to move and he has a friendship with the girls living there. Buck steps in and protects Randi when she gets upset for being lied to about the condition of her room and the quality of the house. A friendship slowly blossoms from there and as things tend to do, one thing leads to another.
This book has a lot of promising attributes: Opposites Attract, Grumpy and Sunshine, The Cowboy Love Interest, etc. all really great stuff that readers love to read about. However… there was the non-necessary thrown in racial slur towards an indigenous character that happens so casually but it’s never brought up again or used a plot device to correct other characters behaviors so it just feels gross. Secondly, there is the completely unnecessary use of the “r” slur which just makes the book feel tone deaf. These things are not useful with the plot and I think they are very distracting from the story when it feels like the author isn’t aware of anything that has happened in the last 15 years in this country.
Randi spends most of this book being a mother hen. She saves Sarah from repeatedly making bad decisions, and literally saves her life. She prevents Daisy from partying and doing what she wants to do on a camp out. And she acts like she’s in charge of literally everyone and tells them when they can sleep, when they can be loud, and if/when they can have “a large gathering”. I totally get why most of the other characters find her to be off putting.
I didn’t love that Randi was a complete Mary Sue who has no idea how beautiful she is and that her “quirkiness” is what makes her sexy. Because of her complete inability to ever notice herself she also has the short sightedness to realize how rude and condescending she is to everyone else. She’s clearly a confident woman and she should know without multiple guys telling her that she’s “the hottest girl on campus.” If anyone does anything she doesn’t approve of (drinking, smoking pot, or hooking up), she looks down on them from her high horse. I’m truly surprised her neck doesn’t hurt by the end of the book.
I personally am not a fan of girls being nasty with each other just because. Angie is that character that completely takes me out of the book because of her atrocious demeanor. She’s just offensive and vile right from the get go and I just couldn’t get over her character. Yes, there is a time and a place for the “villain” of the story, but girls being snooty with each other is not what I’m looking for in a romcom. However I did feel bad for Angie at times because Randi judged her for every behavior. She ridicules her for using chewing tobacco, which according to Google over 2% of the population uses it, so it’s not that surprising that someone in this “cowboy” book would use it. Randi needs to turn her judgmental thoughts about people down a few notches.
Sarah is another instance of just pure frustration. She is so mad that Randi doesn’t let her die in a bar bathroom because of alcohol poisoning that she is downright nasty to her afterwards. She doesn’t want the medical bill of being kept alive so she would have rather died. My mind doesn’t comprehend that level of pure misguidedness.
Trish is essentially nonexistent. She’s supposed to be the person renting the house and land and she is who convinced Randi it would be a good place for her to rent for the semester. After the first night she just is gone from the narrative. She pops up now and again through text messages and the other characters reference her but that’s it. She’s woefully underdeveloped compared to Sarah and Angie and it leads me to believe the author created the character and didn’t have anything better to do with her after that and just shoved in her a corner and said: “good riddance.”
Daisy and Randi’s friendship feels like it shouldn’t pass the Bechdel test for the most part. Little phrases get thrown in like: “I’m sorry about you losing your dad” or “remember that time in English last year?” Those small instances tend to save them for literally only talking about sex, partying, and boys.
Honestly the biggest slight I have in this book is the completely unnecessary sexual assault of Daisy. It doesn’t add to the plot in anyway. Her trauma is barely discussed and she just “gets over it” and is down with going to another party barely a week later. I was not okay with that at all. It trivializes people who have actually suffered through rape and sexual assault by making it seem like it’s no big deal. That part of the book is what really brought the entire story down from my original rating. It didn’t add to the story so therefore it shouldn’t be in it at all.
Lastly, the author was very clear on what she finds appropriate behavior. No drinking, no drugs, no sleeping around (of course Randi has to be a virgin, otherwise she would be as “bad” as her roommates). Seriously. Everyone who does something that Randi doesn’t approve of has something bad happen to them. Sarah (drinking) ends up in the hospital and almost dies due to her binge drinking. Angie (drinking and violence) gets thrown out of her home. Buck (drinking and flirting) gets drugged while at a party and looses control. Daisy (partying) gets sexually assaulted and is saved in the nick of time before actual penetration could occur. Oh… and the worst thing that happened to Randi? Poor girl had three different guys interested in her and they all wanted to date her. The author shows her beliefs that if you are “good” then you will be desired and if you are “bad” then you deserve bad things to happen to you. It’s not a very subtle message that is being portrayed and I’m not interested in that type of toxic subliminal messaging.
I did clearly have some issues with the content in the book but the worst were the racial slurs and the toxic slut shaming, and the sexual assault. I am personally not a fan of the over sexualization of virgins, and this book definitely has that. The quote: “is it bad I find you hotter?” Just completely turned me off from Buck both as a character and as a love interest.
Needless to say I had some things I didn’t enjoy about this book. Here’s the thing though: the plot was solid. I would love to read this book if the characters were reworked and made to be less toxic (both to themselves and each other). Every character doesn’t have to be good, but they need to be written as more than two dimensional stereotypes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 18, 2024
The idea was there…execution not so much.
June 13, 2022
This book was so bad, I hated the writing style. It felt like I was being told things instead of shown them. There were also a few weird race comments and the author also used the r word which was not necessary.
I received an arc through netgalley.
I received an arc through netgalley.
August 11, 2022
I did choose this book for the cover and the plot
I WAS WRONG
what I disliked Tjian’s Enemies vibes at the beginning same kind of nerdy heroine jumps on party house
She is a collection of cliches nerdy introverted good problem solver orphan and inexperienced
Athe Hero is extroverted gorgeous sexy with hordes of women throwing their thong at him no more to add
Sub plot with a evil roommate and racist
Said so the last part of the book defended itself I did enjoyed it so
2 stars Thanks for the arc to NetGalley
I WAS WRONG
what I disliked Tjian’s Enemies vibes at the beginning same kind of nerdy heroine jumps on party house
She is a collection of cliches nerdy introverted good problem solver orphan and inexperienced
Athe Hero is extroverted gorgeous sexy with hordes of women throwing their thong at him no more to add
Sub plot with a evil roommate and racist
Said so the last part of the book defended itself I did enjoyed it so
2 stars Thanks for the arc to NetGalley
July 24, 2022
When I thought my streak of bad books was going to go away, this book came and won by a million times.
This books is full of stereotypes and not in the cliché cute kinda way, it was in the annoying, irritating way.
The whole thing was drama, stupid drama, that I don’t know where it was supposed to go, like Randi was shamed so much for trying to be better at school when she didn’t want to get drunk, like?? And I don’t know how can someone still be friends with Angie and still think she is cool after she drugged Buck.
Randi and Bucks relationship was nonexistent qnd her only personality is being his servant, everything was so boring and I do regret wasting my time with this book.
This books is full of stereotypes and not in the cliché cute kinda way, it was in the annoying, irritating way.
The whole thing was drama, stupid drama, that I don’t know where it was supposed to go, like Randi was shamed so much for trying to be better at school when she didn’t want to get drunk, like?? And I don’t know how can someone still be friends with Angie and still think she is cool after she drugged Buck.
Randi and Bucks relationship was nonexistent qnd her only personality is being his servant, everything was so boring and I do regret wasting my time with this book.
did-not-finish
June 23, 2022I was going to read this, but after starting I noticed a bunch of negative reviews that pointed out some hurtful language and I really would not like to continue this review experience.
Thanks to Netgalley for the arc.
Thanks to Netgalley for the arc.
June 24, 2022
Thank you, Book Sirens for this eARC so I could share an honest review.
The cover really drew me in on this one, since I am a fan of modern romance.
The first 3/4 of this book drove me crazy. There was no character growth. No changing. The bullying for someone who wanted to focus on her school work instead of party was insane to me.
Parts of the relationship did not flow well for me.
Overall I enjoyed the last 1/4 of the book, but it’s not something I would go out of my way to reread.
The cover really drew me in on this one, since I am a fan of modern romance.
The first 3/4 of this book drove me crazy. There was no character growth. No changing. The bullying for someone who wanted to focus on her school work instead of party was insane to me.
Parts of the relationship did not flow well for me.
Overall I enjoyed the last 1/4 of the book, but it’s not something I would go out of my way to reread.
September 11, 2022
1.5☆
This book was toilet paper. I only managed to finish it because I'm stubborn and I didn't need brain cells to focus on it. I'm giving it a 1.5☆ because, as my rating system goes, it's a really bad book, but not the worst.
God, where to even start?
Romance
The romance between Buck and Randi was almost as interesting as staring at the blank ceiling at the dentist. There was no substance to it and I just did not care about them and where their relationship went. The sex scenes between them also lacked something that I can't really put my finger on. By the end of the book, the two of them are engaged when they barely know each other. I just...no. Oh, and the plot of Buck wanting to fake date/crush went absolutely nowhere.
Also, there were 2 other, albeit barely present, love interests for absolutely no reason. Luke was a gross character and Carter, although kind of sweet, from the get-go, felt insignificant.
Characters
Buck is the personification of a lollipop that fell on the floor and now has hair and dirt on it. He had potential but is, at the end of the day, just gross. He was constantly drunk, is constantly possessive over Randi (and not in a good way), and wears a cowboy hat which obviously means he is a cowboy. I didn't trust that man at all. He seems toxic and insincere. The book, at times, even made it seem like he isn't trustworthy. I feel like he would cheat on her. There were several occasions when he was partying and surrounded by girls, and even though he assured Randi he put the girls in their places, I felt like he was gaslighting her. And out of nowhere he's a millionaire? No sense. Also, Buck's ex starts as Vicki in the beginning but then at the end, it's Tiff.
Randi isn't that bad of a character. She's just bland. Her 3 personality traits were 21 credits (if you play everytime you read "21 credits", drink with this, you'll be drunk by page 50), yoga and "not like other girls" syndrome. Although I can appreciate her focusing on her studies and caring about people's well beings (Sarah), she was boring.
There was absolutely no character development in this godforsaken book. No one changed.
Drinking, Abuse, and Rape
80% of the time, the housemates were drinking, puking, or passing out in not ideal places. No one treated it seriously, except Randi at times. But I felt like it was never really addressed and no one had any real consequences.
Angie is the absolute fucking worst. She abuses Hugh and then drugs Buck, and neither of these are taken seriously either and she's just ignored until they just kick her out.
There's also a random attempted rape scene that is then just lowkey ignored.
Is the author trying to be controversial?
Ending
Absolutely hated the ending. The proposal scene was my nightmare.
Overall, not for me and I don't recommend this to anyone.
This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book was toilet paper. I only managed to finish it because I'm stubborn and I didn't need brain cells to focus on it. I'm giving it a 1.5☆ because, as my rating system goes, it's a really bad book, but not the worst.
God, where to even start?
Romance
The romance between Buck and Randi was almost as interesting as staring at the blank ceiling at the dentist. There was no substance to it and I just did not care about them and where their relationship went. The sex scenes between them also lacked something that I can't really put my finger on. By the end of the book, the two of them are engaged when they barely know each other. I just...no. Oh, and the plot of Buck wanting to fake date/crush went absolutely nowhere.
Also, there were 2 other, albeit barely present, love interests for absolutely no reason. Luke was a gross character and Carter, although kind of sweet, from the get-go, felt insignificant.
Characters
Buck is the personification of a lollipop that fell on the floor and now has hair and dirt on it. He had potential but is, at the end of the day, just gross. He was constantly drunk, is constantly possessive over Randi (and not in a good way), and wears a cowboy hat which obviously means he is a cowboy. I didn't trust that man at all. He seems toxic and insincere. The book, at times, even made it seem like he isn't trustworthy. I feel like he would cheat on her. There were several occasions when he was partying and surrounded by girls, and even though he assured Randi he put the girls in their places, I felt like he was gaslighting her. And out of nowhere he's a millionaire? No sense. Also, Buck's ex starts as Vicki in the beginning but then at the end, it's Tiff.
Randi isn't that bad of a character. She's just bland. Her 3 personality traits were 21 credits (if you play everytime you read "21 credits", drink with this, you'll be drunk by page 50), yoga and "not like other girls" syndrome. Although I can appreciate her focusing on her studies and caring about people's well beings (Sarah), she was boring.
There was absolutely no character development in this godforsaken book. No one changed.
Drinking, Abuse, and Rape
80% of the time, the housemates were drinking, puking, or passing out in not ideal places. No one treated it seriously, except Randi at times. But I felt like it was never really addressed and no one had any real consequences.
Angie is the absolute fucking worst. She abuses Hugh and then drugs Buck, and neither of these are taken seriously either and she's just ignored until they just kick her out.
There's also a random attempted rape scene that is then just lowkey ignored.
Is the author trying to be controversial?
Ending
Absolutely hated the ending. The proposal scene was my nightmare.
Overall, not for me and I don't recommend this to anyone.
This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 30, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. Please for the love of all things holy and hellish do not read this book. One racial slur, one use of the r word, several nonconsensual enough to make me jumpy sexy time scenes.
Let’s start with our mains: Buck and Randi. Yes, the author did that on purpose and mentions it in the book. When they get together the smutty scenes are lame. What’s the point of a bad story if those parts are also bad?
Randi: mean, doesn’t drink tm, is taking 21 credits, hates most people, doesn’t actually like Buck??, is a jerk, dresses like a ModCloth girlie from 2008, graphic design is her passion (but it never comes up again), does yoga
Buck: mean, drinks too much and makes Randi drive everywhere, is a cowboy (but only the hat, boots, and accent—no actual cowboying), hates Randi’s glasses, can’t take no for an answer
Two of the worlds most awful protagonists exist in this version of reality that makes me nauseous. They hate each other. Randi says no, Buck says you know you want it, Randi says no, Buck whines and throws a fit, they get together, they break up, they get together, they get engaged. And Buck is a secret bitcoin millionaire???
I hated every minute of this sexist, awful clusterfuck of a book. Oh and Buck’s ex Vicki turns into Buck’s ex Tiff halfway through. Keep up people.
Zero stars. The end.
Let’s start with our mains: Buck and Randi. Yes, the author did that on purpose and mentions it in the book. When they get together the smutty scenes are lame. What’s the point of a bad story if those parts are also bad?
Randi: mean, doesn’t drink tm, is taking 21 credits, hates most people, doesn’t actually like Buck??, is a jerk, dresses like a ModCloth girlie from 2008, graphic design is her passion (but it never comes up again), does yoga
Buck: mean, drinks too much and makes Randi drive everywhere, is a cowboy (but only the hat, boots, and accent—no actual cowboying), hates Randi’s glasses, can’t take no for an answer
Two of the worlds most awful protagonists exist in this version of reality that makes me nauseous. They hate each other. Randi says no, Buck says you know you want it, Randi says no, Buck whines and throws a fit, they get together, they break up, they get together, they get engaged. And Buck is a secret bitcoin millionaire???
I hated every minute of this sexist, awful clusterfuck of a book. Oh and Buck’s ex Vicki turns into Buck’s ex Tiff halfway through. Keep up people.
Zero stars. The end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 30, 2022
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for a complimentary earc to review! All opinions are my own.
Oof. That’s all I have to say about this one, seriously.
The cover pulled me in but everything else pulled me out.
Before going in I added it to my “currently reading” on Goodreads and immediately saw the star rating. I was curious so I checked the reviews. There was some not-so-great things said about it, but I still tried it out for myself. By the way, spoilers are ahead.
This book starts off with partying, very heavily, from her soon-to-be roommates. I figured that it was just the stepping stone for the book to start the book and it would die off. Boy, was I wrong about that. The whole partying thing, not my thing. That’s not even the worse of it and I could have easily looked passed it, but in the first 20 pages there is sexual harassment aka groping and a derogatory term used.
The male lead made me want to puke with how many times he said “Darlin”. I am not a fan of pet names and will overlook it but not when he uses it way more often than not. He tries to play off his antics but he was gross. He literally gropes her while she is sleeping and it made me quite uncomfortable. I don’t think he is this “good guy” and I just didn’t vibe with him at all.
The female lead is just dumb and gets herself in a lot of situations she shouldn’t be in. She tries to act tough but still gets treated like a doormat.
There was not one character that I liked. They were either disgusting or downright vile. Hard pass.
The romance was slow and then took off like a rocket. By the end they are already engaged without really knowing each other.
There are other things that could be said but you get the gist of it.
Overall, not for me. Would not recommend.
February 6, 2023
Okkk a lot to unpack here. First, the plot is great. Our heroine grump Randi is tricked into living in a party house as she finished up her degree at a college in rural Oregon. Buck, our sunshine cowboy love interest has been Van Wilder-ing (elder millennial reference for the win) his grad degree, and ends up also living at the party house. Great. The romantic set-up here was fine- cute even. The characterization of Buck was actually pretty spot on for PNW cowboys- they’re a thing. It’s just pretty niche and seems like he is lost on most readers. Then we have the other roommates and things go down hill from here. Trish could have been an awesome asset to the story! Sarah & Angie are frustrating beyond the author’s intention. Mostly because there was no redemption or resolution that satiated even having them get as much time as they did. We also have Daisy, Randi’s best friend, that absolutely would never be her friend in real life. There was no friendship compatibility! It felt like everyone was on one side of the social spectrum and Randi was on the other. Even Buck has a buddy who should have had more story than he did. It felt like we had all the ingredients of a great story, full of interesting and quirky characters and stories, and unfortunately they weren’t developed enough to work.
I pushed through and found myself skimming it around the 40% mark when the romance still had not developed enough past basic interest. Randi never seemed to loosen up, and I lost interest. I really wanted more from this book, but overall it wasn’t the worst and had a cute setting.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC!
I pushed through and found myself skimming it around the 40% mark when the romance still had not developed enough past basic interest. Randi never seemed to loosen up, and I lost interest. I really wanted more from this book, but overall it wasn’t the worst and had a cute setting.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC!
June 6, 2025
This book was dumb. There’s really no better way to say it. It’s basically just pages and pages of college students drowning in alcohol and bad decisions, while the main character, Randy, spends the entire time complaining about how much she hates it… yet never actually removes herself from the situation. Like girl, no one’s forcing you to go to these parties. Just stay home.
She rants nonstop about drinking, about the people, about how loud everyone is. And just when you think maybe we’re getting somewhere, it’s more of the same. Add a little shallow feminism sprinkled in and that’s the whole book. She doesn’t trust anyone, especially Buck, yet we’re supposed to be rooting for this relationship? Be serious. So of course… they get engaged after six months. Make it make sense.
And speaking of Buck, what was the point? Is he still drinking? Did anything actually get resolved? Because by the end, they basically just shrug and pretend everything’s fine. No real conversation, no growth, nothing. Just vibes and unresolved trust issues.
This wasn’t a story it was a cycle. A frustrating, whiny, repetitive loop of parties, poor choices, and zero character development. Nothing gets better. No one learns anything. And worst of all, the ending acts like that’s okay.
She rants nonstop about drinking, about the people, about how loud everyone is. And just when you think maybe we’re getting somewhere, it’s more of the same. Add a little shallow feminism sprinkled in and that’s the whole book. She doesn’t trust anyone, especially Buck, yet we’re supposed to be rooting for this relationship? Be serious. So of course… they get engaged after six months. Make it make sense.
And speaking of Buck, what was the point? Is he still drinking? Did anything actually get resolved? Because by the end, they basically just shrug and pretend everything’s fine. No real conversation, no growth, nothing. Just vibes and unresolved trust issues.
This wasn’t a story it was a cycle. A frustrating, whiny, repetitive loop of parties, poor choices, and zero character development. Nothing gets better. No one learns anything. And worst of all, the ending acts like that’s okay.
June 27, 2022
**Thank you to Water's Edge Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.**
TW: binge drinking, alcohol poisoning, abuse/violence, r word used, attempt of SA
Randi is a 24 year old in her last year of college. She finds herself in an unusual situation having to move to a house filled with other students who are not what she expected. To say that she is in a world of turbulence would not even cover it. When she first gets to the house she is confronted with a party of a lot of partying and drinking — which is the complete opposite of her who is a but anti-social. However, on her first day of arrival she meets one of her roommates’’ friend who catches her eye, Buck.
Buck is described as this cowboy who needs a spice to park his trailer. He ends up being Randi’s protector during her stay in the house. During their stay in the house, there is a friendship that starts between the two.
So, why did this book not work for me? Well, I was really excited to read a cowboy book which had one of my favourite tropes: grumpy/sunshine! I hate when there is drama from the get go but I felt like that drama never got a resolution and so it felt that it was just an unnecessary plot after half of the book and it just dragged on. There was a lot of slut-shaming, drink shaming, and also shaming Randi for being focused on her studies.
It was a bit messy.
Another plot that drove me insane is that Buck could get away with murder! He not only was possessive (and not in a cute way) but he enabled his friends behaviour, even after one of them had to be dragged to the hospital due to alcohol poison.
But the cherry on top was when Randi ended up being a virgin and then at one point also the r word was thrown in, which was unnecessary. Not to mention that in the first chapters there was derogatory language used against an indigenous character Also was it just me or did her relationship with Daisy and her Aunt seem more of a therapist and not really as a niece or friend?
Overall, I just did not like the mean girl energy from her roommates, the destructive energy that was portrayed and I feel like there were a few plot holes that were not given closure by the end of the book.
TW: binge drinking, alcohol poisoning, abuse/violence, r word used, attempt of SA
Randi is a 24 year old in her last year of college. She finds herself in an unusual situation having to move to a house filled with other students who are not what she expected. To say that she is in a world of turbulence would not even cover it. When she first gets to the house she is confronted with a party of a lot of partying and drinking — which is the complete opposite of her who is a but anti-social. However, on her first day of arrival she meets one of her roommates’’ friend who catches her eye, Buck.
Buck is described as this cowboy who needs a spice to park his trailer. He ends up being Randi’s protector during her stay in the house. During their stay in the house, there is a friendship that starts between the two.
So, why did this book not work for me? Well, I was really excited to read a cowboy book which had one of my favourite tropes: grumpy/sunshine! I hate when there is drama from the get go but I felt like that drama never got a resolution and so it felt that it was just an unnecessary plot after half of the book and it just dragged on. There was a lot of slut-shaming, drink shaming, and also shaming Randi for being focused on her studies.
It was a bit messy.
Another plot that drove me insane is that Buck could get away with murder! He not only was possessive (and not in a cute way) but he enabled his friends behaviour, even after one of them had to be dragged to the hospital due to alcohol poison.
But the cherry on top was when Randi ended up being a virgin and then at one point also the r word was thrown in, which was unnecessary. Not to mention that in the first chapters there was derogatory language used against an indigenous character Also was it just me or did her relationship with Daisy and her Aunt seem more of a therapist and not really as a niece or friend?
Overall, I just did not like the mean girl energy from her roommates, the destructive energy that was portrayed and I feel like there were a few plot holes that were not given closure by the end of the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 6, 2022
More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/
This was a surprisingly charmless and disenfranchising novel. The protagonists are unlikable and not even very realistic in their quirks. The story meanders from meanness to meanness and the main characters spend most of the book hating each other/everyone while being inexplicably secretly attracted to the other. It was a hard slog to get through.Story: Hippie Randi just wants to put her head in the sand, do yoga, study and get through a grueling college schedule. Cowboy Buck is reeling from the end of a bad relationship and just wants to get through his school work while having a relaxing time at night with the frat girls. When Randi arrives at the school in Oregon, she ends up at what she thought was a quiet boarding house but is instead the big party frat house of the school. Buck, meanwhile, brings his trailer onto their property to save on rent. What ensues are mean girls, a lot of drinking and puking, Randi endlessly complaining about everything (including her best friend who lives in town), and Buck constantly being aroused by Randi in yoga pants.
The blurb of the book is nothing like what is inside. There is no 'fake girlfriend/boyfriend scenario'. Randi is an asocial oddball who is close to OCD about everything. Buck is laid back, likes to get laid, and spends most of the book saying "Darlin'" with a drawl. It's about as much a caricature of a cowboy as you can get. Add in a party girl with serious attitude who spends most of the book screaming profane insults, another girl who can't be bothered, and a friendly best friend who Randi spends most of the book wishing would go away - and you have the gist of the characters.
By the middle of the book, I was bored. Literally, it was complain, party, clean, party, whine, clean, whine, party and Buck doing nice things for a really unpleasant Randi. And honestly, I can't say I was cheering for Randi (or anyone else, for that matter) to hook up with the insouciant Buck anyway. He felt like an underdeveloped character - very cardboard and almost a manic pixie dreamboy of sorts.
I can't say I recommend this book. You'd have to be in a mean spirited mindset to really enjoy it. Forget about feel good romance between two characters you want to see together: with these two, you hope no one is stupid enough to ever date them. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.
July 18, 2022
About 4 pages in, I regretted signing up for this arc. I got through it, but didn’t enjoy this book. I wish I could have put it aside, but I don’t like to leave ARCs on my DNF list.
Firstly, it is 2022. The fact that this author uses the R word is baffling. My child is special needs so this was a big NOPE from me. Do better. I was already put off by a number of issues in this book, but this solidified the 1 star rating for me.
Secondly, the characters just weren’t good. Why is everyone wasted and screaming all the time? Buck ignores Randi’s wishes when she says no to something. He pushes her into getting his way and makes her think that she actually is okay with it. I mean…turning on location sharing without her knowledge. That is creepy! He asks her to cuddle, she says no, then he shows up at her room and starts kissing her anyway. RED FLAG. And he’s the main love interest?!
Randi…i just couldn’t with her. She’s not a likable character at all. The disregard for her aunt’s mental/physical health struggles. Like she worries but resents having to clean after her. The way she constantly threatens to call the cops on her roommates instead of just moving out.
There are so many things with this book that I just can’t get in to. Romanticized assault. Slut shaming. A racial slur casually tossed about like a nickname. Thanks booksirens for the ARC, these are my honest opinions that I’m leaving voluntarily.
Firstly, it is 2022. The fact that this author uses the R word is baffling. My child is special needs so this was a big NOPE from me. Do better. I was already put off by a number of issues in this book, but this solidified the 1 star rating for me.
Secondly, the characters just weren’t good. Why is everyone wasted and screaming all the time? Buck ignores Randi’s wishes when she says no to something. He pushes her into getting his way and makes her think that she actually is okay with it. I mean…turning on location sharing without her knowledge. That is creepy! He asks her to cuddle, she says no, then he shows up at her room and starts kissing her anyway. RED FLAG. And he’s the main love interest?!
Randi…i just couldn’t with her. She’s not a likable character at all. The disregard for her aunt’s mental/physical health struggles. Like she worries but resents having to clean after her. The way she constantly threatens to call the cops on her roommates instead of just moving out.
There are so many things with this book that I just can’t get in to. Romanticized assault. Slut shaming. A racial slur casually tossed about like a nickname. Thanks booksirens for the ARC, these are my honest opinions that I’m leaving voluntarily.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 7, 2022
This is an adorable enemy to lovers Rom Com. In Buck Up Buttercup, we meet Randi and Buck. Randi is an uptight, self-contained college girl who needs a room. Somewhere she can study and hide from people (they're confusing and scary, in her opinion). She thinks she's found just that but alas the opposite it true. The room she's reserved is in the campus' most rowdy house. Insert, Buck, who appears to have it all (friends, fun, and a plethora of girls who admire him). Buck gets more than he bargained for in Randi and soon they both begin to think maybe that's what they need.
This is my favorite type of Rom Com. They are angsty until the characters chemistry takes over. The book is well written, and the characters are enjoyable. I found myself rooting for Randi and Buck while loving their individual growth in the book. The plot is fun, I love the combination of campus life with cowboy life. I look forward to seeing how this series unfolds.
I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you Anna Alkire and Xpresso Book Tours. I'm excited to be a part of this tour.
This is my favorite type of Rom Com. They are angsty until the characters chemistry takes over. The book is well written, and the characters are enjoyable. I found myself rooting for Randi and Buck while loving their individual growth in the book. The plot is fun, I love the combination of campus life with cowboy life. I look forward to seeing how this series unfolds.
I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you Anna Alkire and Xpresso Book Tours. I'm excited to be a part of this tour.
June 18, 2022
I really do hate leaving bad reviews, but this book had so many just horrible things in it. I sincerely wanted to DNF the book after its like 3rd chapter, but I refuse to DNF ARCs. I am honestly shocked that this book is being published and that multiple people read the book and didn't see any problems with the content. Within the like first three chapters, there are slurs thrown around to one of the only (or honestly the only) BIPOC characters who is Native American, sexist language, fat-shaming, and slut shaming. The book makes jokes regarding sexual assault and does not handle the topic of sexual assault seriously except for once in the very end of the book. For reference, there are at least 3 scenes of on the page sexual assault and probably more mentions of it. The main character has absolutely no personality other than working on the 21 credits she is doing this semester (which if you played a drinking game for every time the words 21 credits show up in the book you would die,) I almost liked the love interest, Buck, but there were several instances where he came off as sexist, not chivalrous as he tried to explain it, The best friend character Daisy is almost the most normal of the characters, but Randi treats her like utter crap and is just the most genuinely horrible friend for the majority of the book. Randi ends up having 3 guys interested as plot devices that go nowhere. The ending of the book was so so rushed and unrealistic that it made me want to scream. I really wanted to love this book, the cover is adorable and I loved the title and the summary but it really just missed the mark in every way. Thank you to Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 26, 2022
First I would like to thank Net Galley and Water's Edge Publishing for allowing me to read an advanced reader copy of this book.
I wanted to love it, but i almost dnf'd it.
It took me way longer to read this than I care to admit. I thought it would be a quick chick lit book easy summer read but gosh it dragged.
I have so many issues with this book it's not even funny. The bullying, the drinking the almost rape and all of that drama. Geex it was trying to get through a county soap opera episode. Also I know buck is a cowboy but every other word he says is darlin'. It's not endearing and it's hard to read. Can we just say he has a drawl and move on?
Angie, Randi, Buck and every other character in this book are horribly written. The story line itself/ plot is hard to believe like why is a grown ass man partying at a house with underage girls/ barely legal girls letting them drug him? Also if he cares so much about Randi why is he putting her in uncomfortable situations?
It was to much drama and not enough if a story. Not impressed.
I wanted to love it, but i almost dnf'd it.
It took me way longer to read this than I care to admit. I thought it would be a quick chick lit book easy summer read but gosh it dragged.
I have so many issues with this book it's not even funny. The bullying, the drinking the almost rape and all of that drama. Geex it was trying to get through a county soap opera episode. Also I know buck is a cowboy but every other word he says is darlin'. It's not endearing and it's hard to read. Can we just say he has a drawl and move on?
Angie, Randi, Buck and every other character in this book are horribly written. The story line itself/ plot is hard to believe like why is a grown ass man partying at a house with underage girls/ barely legal girls letting them drug him? Also if he cares so much about Randi why is he putting her in uncomfortable situations?
It was to much drama and not enough if a story. Not impressed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 6, 2024
So much about this was great until it wasn't... Her personality, his personality, the side characters' storylines, the way they hate eachother but then just go for dating when they start sleeping together, and her constant judgemental behaviour, the way she's a "not like other girls" but also "she doesn't know she's pretty" ... A lot bothered me and made me wish they just didn't work 😐 I have no idea how I got through the whole book without DNF-ing it. The marriage proposal was the last straw. Which says a lot about my willingness to read the whole thing.
Oh. And that first sx scene ? Her reaction made me think of Bella's first time with Edward. And I have PTSD from that book.
Anyway. Entertaining if being annoyed entertain you I guess.
Oh. And that first sx scene ? Her reaction made me think of Bella's first time with Edward. And I have PTSD from that book.
Anyway. Entertaining if being annoyed entertain you I guess.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 27, 2022
I found it hard to find the positives in this book ultimately not being able to give it more than a single star. Besides the obvious, unnecessary "R" slur, I found the scenes of S.A. not really vital to the plot and seemed to be a poor attempt at a shock value to an otherwise bland story. The description sells the book so high to the reader, but I do not think it delivers. I personally would be open to trying again with the author or another book of this type as I was excited to try out this cowboy-esque trope. It did not turn me off forever, but I really did struggle to complete this.
*Thank you NetGalley for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I am leaving this voluntary and all opinions are my own.*
*Thank you NetGalley for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I am leaving this voluntary and all opinions are my own.*
July 17, 2022
When I saw the cover of this book, I immediately requested a copy. It's just too adorable. Unfortunately, that is where it ends. I believe this book had a lot of room to grow, but there were times when I desperately wish it was over. I didn't like how some of the comments made me feel uneasy.
None of the characters in the book appealed to me. The characters were foolish and uninteresting. As a result, pushing through was extremely difficult. There were some words that were inappropriate. It was difficult for me to get through.
I disliked the writing style. There were also a few uncomfortable racial comments, and the author used the r word when it wasn't necessary. There was no character development. Nothing has changed.
Thank you NetGalley for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
None of the characters in the book appealed to me. The characters were foolish and uninteresting. As a result, pushing through was extremely difficult. There were some words that were inappropriate. It was difficult for me to get through.
I disliked the writing style. There were also a few uncomfortable racial comments, and the author used the r word when it wasn't necessary. There was no character development. Nothing has changed.
Thank you NetGalley for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 8, 2022
DNF @ 15%
I wouldn’t normally DNF so early on in a book but I am incredibly bored and unengaged. The writing is almost as if it has ebbs and flows of parts that are making sense and parts I have to re-read 4 times because someone just came out of a cottage and there’s a pasture but her aunt is there too for a bit and I’m just a bit confused?
The characters are also grating on me quite a bit. We’ve got 24 year olds acting like 12 year olds and that’s a no from me. The cover was very cute and is the main reason why I requested through NetGalley but unfortunately it’s not for me.
I wouldn’t normally DNF so early on in a book but I am incredibly bored and unengaged. The writing is almost as if it has ebbs and flows of parts that are making sense and parts I have to re-read 4 times because someone just came out of a cottage and there’s a pasture but her aunt is there too for a bit and I’m just a bit confused?
The characters are also grating on me quite a bit. We’ve got 24 year olds acting like 12 year olds and that’s a no from me. The cover was very cute and is the main reason why I requested through NetGalley but unfortunately it’s not for me.
June 19, 2022
This is a sweet and adorable little romance. An opposites attract, enemies to lovers type of book. This is the story of Randi who rented a room in a quiet little farm house full of other studious college goers. Or so she thought… turns out it was quite the party place and she wasn’t at all impressed with their poor house habits. Then a bossy cowboy, Buck, moves out back and adds to the chaos.
This was a sweet book and I loved the country charm. Thank you to Net Galley and Water’s Edge Publishing for my ARC. I received the ebook for my honest opinion and is set to release June 30, 2022!
This was a sweet book and I loved the country charm. Thank you to Net Galley and Water’s Edge Publishing for my ARC. I received the ebook for my honest opinion and is set to release June 30, 2022!
December 16, 2022
I thought this was a very drama-filled romance. Randi is struggling with issues in her past as is Buck. The banter between these two is sometimes funny, and he can be very sweet and almost overbearing at times. I have to admit I am occasionally confused as Buck and Randi’s thoughts are of something that will lead the story down a certain path but it never comes back up again. And this is the same with some of the other characters as they were not as in depth so there wasn’t a lot of substance behind them.
I received a free advanced reader copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving my fair and honest review.
I received a free advanced reader copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving my fair and honest review.
June 18, 2022
*Received an arc from netgalley all opinions are my own
This book had a good concept a girl stuck in a bad situation and the guy who happens to be a cowboy swoops in. Unfortunately I was not a fan of this book. The characters felt flat and Randi was a super cliché main character. As well that were some offensive word choices in this book that ruined the book for me.
This book had a good concept a girl stuck in a bad situation and the guy who happens to be a cowboy swoops in. Unfortunately I was not a fan of this book. The characters felt flat and Randi was a super cliché main character. As well that were some offensive word choices in this book that ruined the book for me.
February 15, 2023
read for my workplace's march misery bracket
i hated this so much dude. it's at least as bad as november 9, but the bracket will tell us in time if it's worse. everyone is a cruel escaped lunatic robot from the moon.
i hated this so much dude. it's at least as bad as november 9, but the bracket will tell us in time if it's worse. everyone is a cruel escaped lunatic robot from the moon.
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