top of page

Marriage For One (Ella Maise) review

Genre: Romance

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ + 1/2⭐

Format: Paperback


Synopsis:

Rose has always hoped to open a coffee shop in her late uncle's building, she was excited when she found out he left her the property. Well...he left her husband the property. When a lawyer proposes to her, she's surprised. Not just because they're practically strangers, but also because they're total opposites. Jack's a stone-faced lawyer who just wants a wife to keep up appearances, but in a desperate attempt to save her dreams, she accepts. Will this marriage of convenience work out or are they doomed like their Titanic counterparts?



*3.7 stars?? Maybe, not a 4-star but not 3.5 either.


I was gonna give this a 4-star, but the second half of the book just wasn't as good. I didn't really like the smut scenes. There'd be chapters of really wholesome and cute moments and then suddenly Jack was talking about his dick and I just...couldn't. The point is, in my opinion, about 150 pages of the book could've been cut and I would've liked it more.


I think the characters were okay, they were written well and they had chemistry. Jack was honestly pretty amazing but I didn't like how Rose forgave him so easily. But it's a romance book so y'know, I guess that's to be expected. I feel like some of the side characters/antagonists could've been fleshed out more. Rose's cousins just seemed to be douchebags and disappeared in the second half of the book. Same with Joshua but I'm not complaining about seeing so little of him.


The story was cute and very well-written, I loved the sweet moments between Jack and Rose. But like I said, I feel like the smut and explicit stuff were a little out of place. I guess it's cause I got the cute illustrated cover instead of the uh...other cover (I think I'm in the majority of hating real people on book covers) so I wasn't really expecting it.


I liked the characters and the story but I think it could've been improved. Overall a nice and cozy read and I'd recommend it if you're a fan of the marriage of convenience trope.


Blog post:

I came up with the synopsis in the shower you have no idea how much I struggle writing those for my reviews. I JUST HAD TO PUT IN THE TITANIC REFERENCE OKAY


I feel like the reason the smut scenes felt so out of place was the way they were shoved in. Jack would cook for her and they'd kiss and then he'd start talking about how turned on he was, it just felt really awkward and strange.


There's also that thing in romance novels where the male lead would fuck up and the female lead would be mad for a chapter and a half then forgive them. Like girl, make him beg for it a little, just cause you love him doesn't mean you have to forget his wrongdoings.


I'm reading books at a more regular pace now, I've realized reading one a day would lead to burnout and then a reading slump. Pray for me finishing my 2023 reading challenge. 3 more books to go!!


Comments


bottom of page