Short Take Reviews: Reason to Believe & Husband Material

 

REASON TO BELIEVE

Rebecca Yarros

Legacy #1
Format: Kindle

Preschool teacher Harper didn’t think twice before offering to take in five-year-old Liam and his baby brother until suitable foster care could be arranged. When the foster care options were less than ideal, she and Knox, her brother’s best friend, agreed to fake a relationship to keep the boys from being separated. It was a situation made more awkward because Harper had been in love with Knox since they were kids. Living together and pretending to be a couple in front of others meant lines were blurred and the fake relationship started to feel all too real.

I fell into these characters and their story from the very first chapter. I loved their every interaction and the situation they found themselves in. Harper had been silently in love with Knox for years, all while Knox secretly pined for Harper, the woman who was off-limits as his best friend’s sister. The way they became a team in providing a home and caring for the two boys made my heart melt. When a devastating blow was dealt, Harper and Knox pulled apart from one another in fear and sadness and frustration, and I was crushed. Of course, Yarros made it right in a most satisfying, realistic way. There was unrequited love, brother’s best friend, a forbidden relationship, small town romance, hotshot firefighters, love and redemption… and it all combined for an emotional, unforgettable story. Without a doubt, one of my favorites of the year. 4.5 STARS

Note: I was gifted Reason to Believe by Suzanne @ The Bookish Libra so thank you (again) to Suzanne!

HUSBAND MATERIAL

Alexis Hall

London Calling #2

Format: Audio

Boyfriend Material was one of my favorite books of 2020 so I was thrilled to learn we would be getting more of the hapless Luc O’Donnell. Husband Material picks up almost two years later and Luc is thrown into yet another existential crisis when not only his BFF Bridge was getting married (and yes, he is the maid of honor), but also his horrible ex who invites Luc to his wedding. Luc is plagued by his troubled past with his ex while also deciding how to take the next step in his relationship with Oliver.

Husband Material examined what happens after the “happily ever after” and finds that it’s not always smooth sailing because you find The One. Not to mention that there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to relationships. While Luc has come a long way since his earlier angst, he’s still something of a hot mess and manages to be his own worse enemy. Even so, I was pulling for he and Oliver all the way and appreciated how Hall chose to portray their somewhat rocky journey. The audio version was sheer perfection and Joe Jameson made me feel as though I was having a long conversation with Luc. The humor was spot on – dry and witty and clever - and all the 90’s movie references (Love Actually, Four Weddings and a Funeral, etc.) made me giddy. While Husband Material didn’t quite have the magic and charm of Boyfriend Material, I still enjoyed my time with Oliver and Luc. 4 STARS

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