The Match by Sarah Adams Book Review
“Life isn’t worth it if you can’t play a little. You’ve gotta steal fun when you can.”
(pg. 110)
About
Author: Sarah Adams
Genre: New Adult Rom-Com
Series: It Happened in Charleston book one
Click to read other book reviews
Other It Happened in Charleston Book Reviews
The Enemy
Other It Happened in Nashville Book Reviews
The Off Limits Rule
The Temporary Roommate
Synopsis
Sometimes, love finds you when you least expect it…
Having worked for Southern Service Paws for a few years now, I like to think I’m prepared for just about any client meeting under the sun. I am dead wrong.
The day I meet with single dad, Jacob Broaden, about potentially matching his daughter with one of our service dogs, I learn a few valuable lessons.
1) Always set my alarm clock.
2) Single dads are way hotter than I previously thought.
3) It is possible to go from fantasizing about kissing someone to wishing they would be run over by a truck in a matter of two minutes.
Unfortunately, I don’t hold that opinion of him for very long. Not when he shows me a different side of himself—one that’s sweet as maple syrup and hot as apple pie fresh out of the oven. And after a few days of working closely with him and his daughter, he starts looking at me with fire in his eyes, making me dream of something I probably shouldn’t…
A family.
Review
Spoilers Contained Below
To our best matches,
This has to be my favorite Sarah Adams book so far 💛!
There was love, their was representation, there was all-around cuteness, vulnerability, and so many happy emotions that it was hard not to fall in love with The Match.
One of the things I’ve been loving in a new adult book is the single-parent trope where the love interest falls in love with the child like the child is their own. It hits every time.
Let’s talk about our main character, Evie.
I love that woman 👏🏼!!
She gave me such fun, playful, bold, strong, carefree, and compassionate energy and I was here for it. Evie lived with epilepsy and that meant sometimes she would have seizures. Her life changed when she was diagnosed with epilepsy and she thought that she would. not find her sense of independence like other people. However, her life changed when she got Charlie, her golden retriever best friend service dog. Charlie was trained to protect or roll Evie over when she had seizures and then to alert a button for someone to know that Evie had a seizure. Charlie could also sense when Evie was going to have a seizure, which was so fascinating to read about because I know dogs are brilliant, but I never heard about service dogs trained to take care of those who live with epilepsy. That’s so darn cool and neat that dogs can sense that and also that dogs know exactly what to do to support their owner-friend. It’s just so cool. Go Charlie.
Because Evie had Charlie, she could be independent because she had someone looking out for her and someone who gave her comfort and solace on her own. Honestly, Evie needed to get out because her parents were toxic as HECK 🤪.
If you read my blog posts, you would know that I say this all the time, but many problems that the main characters face stems from SUCKY PARENTS 😆. Not going to lie. Tell me I’m wrong 😂. Her parents were not the exception. They were grade A prudish, heartless, and stuck-up rich losers. Tell me I’m wrong.
They absolutely did not give Evie any credit or any respect. I also didn’t like that they demeaned anything Evie did as silly or frivolous like it was a joke compared to what they wanted of her. I am sooooo over parents telling their children what to do because news flash, it’s not their life and they don’t get to tell their kids how they should live it 🙃. So it always boggles my mind when parents feel sooooo entitled to tell their children to do something or follow a certain path that they want but their child does not want. Evie’s parents were the richest of the rich and were old Charleston money. They had a well-known name and reputation, they owned a big house, they were also the people everyone wanted at galas or events because of how disgustingly rich they were. They wanted Evie to fall into line by marrying this jerk wad named Tyler who was the son of the guy who Evie’s dad owned half a company with. The dad and the dad’s friend always had plans for Evie to marry Tye so that the dad and the friend could keep the company within their hands and make it a generational thing.
But you know, Tyler sucked a**, and no one wants to marry an a** 🤪.
Well, I hope not.
He was a egotistical, persistent, snob hole who needed to get knocked off his high horse because it was absolutely apparent that Evie did not like him and was never ever in a million years going to be with him. Bro could not take a hint if it hit him where the sun don’t shine. Sometimes people really don’t know how to read the room. Or in Tyler’s case, take a gosh darn no because we all know Evie told him no on multiple occasions and yet he still pursued her like she was joking or this was a game when it wasn’t. Tyler not accepting a no was a red flag. He needed to respect a no and let it go. I also didn’t like how he kept inserting himself into conversations or situations where he made it sound like there was something between him and Evie because he was so desperate to keep his daddy happy and marry her. Honestly, they weren’t marrying for love and that would suck because you should marry for love—-not money. That was also another red flag because he didn’t even love her, only the idea of what he could give her and what their image would look like. Also, the fact that Tyler kind of ganged up on Evie with her parents was another absolute no from me because he wasn’t even considering Evie’s feelings at that point.
So he SUCKED.
But back to the parents. I have a few more bones to pick with them.
Their daughter lived with epilepsy and it was never mentioned if they ever were concerned about their daughters health. At all. Like what kind of parents?!?!?!?! I understand that Evie was older and she could take care of herself, but still, she still lived with a serious condition and they couldn’t be bothered to care or check in on her health 🤨??????? They also cut her off, which was STUPID because when parents cut a child off, it’s a power move to try have the child go back to the parents to do what they want so they give you money. I think parents who cut their kids off, are harmful and create a harmful environment that says that I will only support you under my rules. A parent or family member should support you no matter what—-in a healthy way. So her parents taking away her money to make Evie feel like she would grovel to them one day and do what they want of her, rubbed me the wrong way.
And her parents had enough plastic ness to rival a Barbie and Ken situation. They were such fake-put-on-a-show people that I didn’t like them at all. Also, I didn’t like how Evie felt like she needed to prove her worth to her parents that what she did at Southern Service Paws was valuable because if they couldn’t’ see how significant her work was, they probably never would. Honestly, I learned this the hard way but you can never make people see or value your worth no matter how hard you try because if they don’t intiatilly respect you or value you, you will always feel the need to prove yourself to them and then they will find something else that you have to prove—–it will never be enough. I was’t angry at Evie, I was angry at her parents that they made her feel like she had to prove herself when she didn’t.
They didn’t seem like genuine or real people.
So it’s a testament Evie’s strength and resilience that she made a FREAKING living by sherif for herself despite her sucky parents 👏🏼!!!
That is why I loved loved loved Evie so much.
She took a sucky situation and said she didn’t want to live like that or with those people anymore and she made something for herself. She bought an apartment even if it was a shoebox situation and she barely had stocked cabinets or a fridge. But she got herself out of an unhealthy situation, which was a win in my eyes. She also had a good relationship with Charlie where she had independence. She also gave back to her community and those like her through Southern Paw Service—-which I’ll talk about in a moment. But I really admired how even though her parents were stuck up, Evie reminded kind and compassionate. She was so different from her parents because she knew she didn’t want to be like them. I could relate to that a lot because when you grow up in a situation that is unhealthy or not the best, sometimes you learn how you don’t want to be or how you don’t want to live—-you learn life lessons you never thought you would learn but did because the situation showed you a different perspective. I know I learned many life lessons through observations of people around me and their situations. I just really admire people who take a not-so-good situation and don’t let that turn them into cruel people, but they let that situation lift them up to be better. All situations are different though, and it is difficult to know what to choose and do, but do what is best and right for you.
Evie worked at Southern Service Paw (SSP) which was a shelter for dogs, and where they trained service dogs. SSP was run and owned by Joanna, or Jo. I really really loved Jo 💛 . She was a firecracker and a disco ball of a woman. Her heart was just as bright and big too.
Jo was the caring mother figure the Evie never had.
I think it spoke volumes that Evie connected her emergency button to Jo’s landline rather than her parents. Jo was always there for Evie. Also, I loved when Evie needed a ride home from a shizzy date, Jo stopped what she was doing to pick Evie up. If someone pauses what they are doing just to help you, they love you because they no one would actively go out of their way to help you unless they cared a lot about you.
“She understands that sometimes people just need to talk and be heard—not fixed.”
(pg. 30)
I liked this quote because sometimes people share things with us not because they want us to solve their problem, but because they want to get something off our chest. As people, we want to help each other, and that means offering advice on how to make a situation better, but most times people just want someone who listens.
Jo always listens to Evie.
Jo also the best friend, which I thought was so special that Jo could don that many hats and be such an impactful person in Evie’s life.
“‘For Pete’s sake, go with the out man!’ Joanna says, and I hear her garage closeting again. What a traitor. . . ‘If he’s half as cute as he sounds, I’d say it’s a fantastic idea. And besides, you need more friends under the age of sixty. Honest, it’s about time I ick you out of the nest. Fly, little Evie birdie, fly!'”
(pg. 61)
I was in hysterics 😂. Go with the hot man!!!
Bro, he could have been a hot man but a weird or dangerous man, Jo 🤪. But we know what she meant. We loved that she hyped Evie up and pushed Evie out of her comfort zone because she needed to go out and meet new people. My heart was about to burst out of my chest when Jo talked to Evie about Jake and how Evie was a great girl and that no one would ever measure up to her but Jake would try (pg. 153). Just the way Jo made Evie feel valued meant more than her parents ever made her feel.
What really got me was later on when Jo asked if Evie was happy.
“I meet Jo’s eyes in the mirror and nod. How’d you know that?’
She smiles and then turns her attention back on my hair and gently wraps it around the iron. ‘Because that’s what happened to me three years ago when I met you.'”
(pg. 213)
I WAS GOO 🥺💛.
What a beautiful relationship.
Evie was talking about how happy Jake made her feel because Jake gave her hope that things were going to work out and that she found someone who understood her. She loved spending time with Jake too. Jo sensed Evie was happier, but when Jo said that she could tell that Evie was happier because it was the same happiness she felt when she met Evie, it was just too soooo many good feelings 😭!! They have so much love for each other, and I loved it.
I loved how Jo also entrusted Evie to take care of Southern Service Paws because Jo was looking to retire. That meant Jo valued and believed in Evie to take care of this business she started, and that is a huge responsibility but also a great honor that wasn’t going to fall to just anyone.
I could tell how passionate Evie was about Southern Service Paws—-it was her calling. She wanted to help those like her and to give them hope that they can lead a happy and normal life that was right for them. I loved that 💛. There was a part of me that felt like Evie also felt like she had to prove herself to those who lived with epilepsy—-that she had to help everyone and if she didn’t she was letting them down. That’s a heavy responsibility to place on one persons’s shoulders and I don’t think she would fail anyone if she needed help or things didn’t work out because she was doing the best she could and was already making such a difference. She should be incredibly proud of herself for all she had done. But I could understand that when no one talks about what you’re going through or there’s not enough resources or information, sometimes a person feels like it’s their job to be the person who gives the resources and information when it’s not solely their job to do so—it’s a collective effort. But sometimes it can feel like you’re doing it alone. Evie was part of that effort to support those who lived with epilepsy and she had such a wonderful community who wanted to help her and all those who lived with epilepsy.
One of the unexpected client emails Evie got was a from a ten-year-old named Sam who had a hot dad 😂.
Jake, Jake, Jake.
Jake from Statefarm.
I’m joking 😂.
Jake had a stick up his butt when we met him, but slowly, he turned out to be an unexpected gem.
Jake was straight up a mother forking butthole to Evie for no good reason besides that she was hot and he didn’t want to like her. Also, he didn’t need to be so callous to Evie when she was just doing her job by showing up that day at the caffe because she thought Jake emailed her about wanting a service dog, when really it was his daughter Sam. So he was really projecting his anger on the wrong person and for the wrong reasons.
Jake has been hurt before by his ex, Natalie. He was in love with her and they had this whole whirlwind romance where they were together for a few years, they married very quickly, and then had their daughter Sam. Then things sort of fell out when Natalie got into fitness and her whole physique changed and she became a different person with different priorities. Sadly, I know exactly what Jake had been through because I had someone in my life go through a similar transformation where health and fitness became their everything and that altered how that person was and how they acted. I didn’t even recognize the person emotionally or physically anymore and it just seemed like they had a different focus than who they were.
Because Natalie lost weight and changed, she left Jake and Sam to pursue her next focus or relationship. Natalie changing and leaving formed created this bitter anger and distrust of anyone who looked good because Jake believed that if he fell in love with an attractive person, they would only hurt him when they left him and Sam. Sam was obviously hurt by her mother’s absence, and I could only imagine how she must have felt. If I were Sam, I would have felt like my mother didn’t choose to stay to love me or that my mother didn’t want me anymore because she went on to do something else and didn’t make time for me. That had to suck because Sam was just a kid and she probably wanted her mother’s care, love, and affection, but because her mom wasn’t around, she never got that. So of course, it made Sam distant or uncaring to Natalie because Natalie felt more like a stranger than a parent.
I have so much admiration for single parents because it is not easy.
Jake had so much love, affection, and protection over Sam and it was hard not to respect him for it. I also really loved how much I could tell Jake would do anything to make his daughter happy because he loved her so much and would sacrifice anything for her. I also could only imagine how scary it must have been for him too to navigate being a single parent but also learning how to take care of his daughter’s needs and health because Sam lived with epilepsy. He had his parents and sisters to help him, but he was mostly figuring everything out on his own, that I couldn’t fault or blame him for constantly worrying or being overprotective. I would feel the exact same way. Sam was his whole world and he just wanted to ensure she was as healthy as she could be and that he could watch over her and be there if something happened; he knew what it was like for people to leave Sam’s life and not be there, so he wanted to be there. So he stepped back from his architecture job that he started himself—–we love a small business, self-run king—-because he wanted to focus on Sam.
However, I could understand how Jake being even more overbearing made Sam feel like she had no freedom. She was ten-years-old and that is the age of really understanding your surroundings and wanting to be more independent. But she felt like her dad was breathing down her neck or keeping her at home because he was so worried about anything happening to her that she was internally sad that she couldn’t hang out with her friends (that she was missing out) or do other things that people were doing. I felt like Sam thought she was already different from people and to noticeably miss out on things or not do what other kids did, oherized her in another way. She was just a kid. It broke my heart when Jake talked about how melancholy Sam was recently with hiding herself in her room and not talking to him or not smiling anymore. She should be out there with her friends or doing things she loved and smiling about it—-enjoying being a kid. But Jake did put her on a metaphorical leash and it wasn’t making her happy when she wanted to be free. It’s not that I’m blaming Jake or saying he was a mean or bad parent because I get it, I do, but from Sam’s point of view, I empathized with her.
Getting a service dog was one of the things that made her noticeably happy in a long time. Even Jake could tel how excited then disappointed Sam was when Jake turned down the idea of getting a dog. Not gioing to lie, I cackled when Evie told him he had a stick up his butt 😂 and that he was being a rude a** bi***. I mean, served him right for how he treated her! But then they had another conversation later where Jake actually entertained the idea of a service dog. I think what really sold Jake on getting a service dog was the fact that Evie lived with epilepsy and she understood what Sam had been through and how Sam would benefit from having a service dog. Also, I think it helped Jake to talk about epilepsy with someone who lived with it because it made him feel less alone as a single dad who felt like he had no idea how to take care of his daughter. When Evie started to list all these things Sam had been doing—-retreating and being quieter—-that Jake didn’t even mention, but when she brought it up, I could tell Jake was thinking that Evie knew. And seeing how independent, confident, and assured Evie was, gave him the assurance that maybe he should get a service dog so that Sam can be independent and his daughter would be happy again.
Sam matched with a cutie named Daisy. Evie had to do a whole training session with Sam and Daisy to train Daisy to protect and attune to Sam.
As Evie and Sam spent more time together, there more I loved their relationship. I loved how I could feel Sam warming up to Evie and trusting Evie because Evie knew what Sam was going through. One of my favorite moments between Evie and Sam was when Sam asked Evie about asking Jake about going to a slumber party. Sam knew that Jake would hesitate to let Sam go to a slumber party because of all the other times Jake had said no. However, because Sam was training with Daisy, Sam felt like Jake would finally say yes because Sam had someone who would be there to watch over her. In this conversation, Sam opened up about her fears about what her friends would think if they saw her have a seizure, and that just made my heart sad that she was more concerned about what others would think of her. She lived with epilepsy and if her friends didn’t understand that or didn’t care for her or judged her because of it, they were honestly not her friends or the right friends Sam should be surrounding herself with in the first place.
“I survived. It hurt at the time, but now I’m a strong woman who lives with a very scary medical condition, and I have every right to feel proud of myself for that. And you do, too. Don’t ever let anyone make you feel bad about who you are or scared to live your life. You’re more than your seizures. And I’ll be happy to remind you of that anytime you doubt it.”
(pg. 108-9)
I really loved what Evie said because it empowered Sam to remember that she is a strong girl and she should also feel proud of herself for all that she has done and continues to do for herself. I also liked that Evie reminded her that Sam shouldn’t let anyone feel bad about who she was and how she lived her life because, again, it was none of her friends places to judge and, heck, they shouldn’t be judging Sam in the first place for it. If they did, Sam deserved better people in her life who cared for her and loved her for her. But I thought this was such a special moment between them because Evie’s advice felt like something a mother would say, and the way Sam received the advice felt like Sam trusted and valued Evie’s opinion.
“And to think that we would never had found any of this new independence for Sam if it weren’t for you telling me to get my head out of my butt.”
(pg. 119
As much as I loved the process of seeing Sam get a service dog and bond with Daisy, I lived for how Jake and Evie started to get along and know each other. I loved how Jake bough a whole bunch of scones after that coffee date they had were he offered to buy her a scone and then now he bought a whole bunch as a thank you.
I also loved the moment they were talking by the pool and then Evie shoved him inside 😂. Then she stared at his body when he was coming out of the pool, which I felt was like her Anthony Bridgerton moment because of course my brain strays to Bridgerton vibes all the way 😅. I also loved when Evie jumped/cannonballed into the pool because it highlighted her fun, carefree spirit that she would just throw Jake into the pool and follow after him. But she was right that they had this nice house and pool and they weren’t even enjoying it. MY heart practically melted when Jake swung by Evie’s apartment and brought an invitation that Sam drew, asking Evie to come to a pool party that they wanted to throw. I think Evie brought necessary love and laughter in their life after the past few years of such bleakness and darkness; they needed fun moments.
Jake’s whole family was so welcoming and kind to Evie, and I loved how Evie just fit right in compared to Natalie. It was interesting reading Jake’s point of view because he was constantly comparing how Natalie wouldn’t have gotten along with his family or would have said this or that about certain things, but Evie was clicking with all his sisters and his mom like she had known them for ages. I just loved how much you could see Jake loving that Evie got along with his family, but also feeling conflicted because he also didn’t want to like her the way we all knew he liked her. Btu he had to admit, there was something about seeing a woman so at ease and at home with his family and his daughter that really tugged at his heartstrings.
We love the moments where Jake looked at Evie and could see Evie as a mother-figure for Sam 🥺. Like when Evie rubbed Sam’s back with suntan lotion or called Sam over to rub more when it was later in the day. I feel like as a father, it’s natural to pick up someone who gets along with your child and also it’s a green flag when that person does because I hope that all single parents consider how their child might feel with their partner. And it Evie fit in well and Sam loved her.
Also, we have to hype up Jake for being SUCH a PHENOMENAL dad 👏🏼!!!
Father of the year for how much love he put into Sam because he cared about her health, happiness, and wellbeing. I loved that he read Twilight because Sam wanted to read Twilight and he wanted to see if it was appropriate for her. Honestly, he shovel have just watched the movie to find out 😂. I freaking laughed at how Jake was having an internal panic when Sam was going to the sleepover and she didn’t have cute pajamas to wear (been there, felt that) and needed a bra 😂. I CRACKED UP. I thought he was going to get all panicky and uncomfortable as most dad’s do when a young girl mentions bras, panties, or mensuration. But we had calm, collected, cool Jake (or he tried to be/told himself to be) be all causal about making a quick Target run for cute PJ’s and the right bra for Sam. I loved that he was hyping himself up to be chill about it even though he had no idea what to do or how to feel. I also loved how he texted Evie about it because he was out of his comfort zone. Also, we loved that Jake kept a closet full of any and all kinds of pads and tampons you could buy because he had all these sisters and knew to keep tampons and pads on hand for the females in his life. We love a guy who thinks about women’s mensuration needs 👏🏼!!!
I also liked how they started to get to know each other and let down walls.
What really helped was the fact that I think Jake felt less alone because Evie knew what Sam was going through and how he felt. Jake had to navigate all of this practically by himself and he didn’t know what he was doing or if he was doing things correctly, however, the fact that he now had someone meant a lot. They also had many deep conversations about their parents on the swing outside his house. It kind of reminded me of Jane the Virgin, you know the scenes where Jane would sit with her Abuela and her mom to talk about her issues.
“I stopped letting that woman steal my joy about fifteen counseling sessions ago.”
(pg. 127)
I liked how Jake intentionally and authentically listens to Evie whenever she talked about her parents and how he always reassured her that she was a strong, confident, incredible woman because we appreciate a guy who can recognize that. I also, am not going to lie, I loved the moments when he flirted with Evie because he was falling in love with her and the way she bonded with Evie. I also loved when he went to her apartment and saw that she had no food and offered to buy her groceries. Evie didn’t want Jake to feel like he had to help her, but the fact that Jake did go out of his way to support Evie even when he didn’t need to, already emphasized how much he cared about her. I also loved when he cooked her dinner because it was just such a domestic scene.
One of my favorite moments, or seance favorite moment was when Jake and Evie were on their first date and then they had to pick up Sam from her sleepover because she didn’t actually want to sleepover. Sam was feeling embarrassed that she called her parents to go home, but I loved the way Evie literally climbed in the back seat to reassure Sam that it was okay that she wanted to go home.
“Listen to me darlin’, and remember this for the rest of your life: it’s always okay to go home. Anytime you feel uncomfortable or scared, never worry about what anyone else is going to think if you all your daddy and have him come get you. Your house is a safe place, and you love being there, and that is something to be proud of, not embarrassed by.”
(pg. 192)
I LOVED that 🥺💛.
Not going to lie, I pulled a Sam on one of my very first sleepovers too. I called my dad or told the parents of the girl whose house I was sleeping over at to call my dad to pick me up. I was for one, scared because this girl was my soccer teammate and we were friends, but I wouldn’t say we were super duper close so I didn’t know her family or her other friends. So that made me uncomfortable, and it was also my first sleepover. I felt embarrassed that I left early, but if I had an Evie back then, I for sure wouldn’t have felt the remorse that I did because my parents told me that I was a baby for not staying 🙃. But honestly, yea, there’s nothing wrong with saying you want to go home if home is a safe and comfortable place for you. I felt like when Evie was there for Sam after the sleepover, Jake really fell hard for her and wanted to put a ring on her finger. He should have because Evie made such an amazing mother-figure. And you know what they say, kids are an excellent judge of character.
But one of my favorite favorite moments that really made me fall in love with the book was the moment Evie had an episode and Jake was there for her. It was such a raw and vulnerable scene, and it broke my heart but also made me want to happily ugly sob with how precious and special the moment was for them.
I understood why Evie felt nervous and fearful about Jake seeing her at her most vulnerable because she was worried that he would see her differently and wouldn’t want to be with her. Then she remembered the advice she gave Sam—-“If you think that these girls will be mean to you if you have a seizure, don’t go—they’re not worth your friendship, which gave her her power back to know that this was part of her life and if Jake saw her differently for it, then maybe he wasn’t the one for her. But if I was Evie, I would have had the same train of thought because it’s difficult to be vulnerable with someone you practically just met and for them to see such a real side of you that not many see. But I loved loved loved that Jake did go to her and he was so caring and tender. I loved that he picked her up and stayed with her, holding her the whole night. I loved how he seemed to know what to do even if he was a bit overwhelmed himself because he wanted to do something more to help Evie. But the fact that he was there and that Evie didn’t have to experience this alone, was more than enough.
Jake was worth it. And he proved that he was worth it by taking care of her.
And not judging her, but loving her even more for her strength and heart.
I’m just a sucker for someone who loves someone through their most vulnerable state because to me that’s true freaking love right there.
And I love how after that Jake was truly all in from being just friends to really wanting Evie to be part of their lives. He really went from casual Jake to let’s get it on.
“She needs a king-sized bed like mine. Or maybe just mine . . “
(pg. 205)
Haha, yea you, Jake, you think those thoughts 😂. Manifest them.
“This feels right, and I don’t know how long I’m going to be able to keep convincing myself that we’re just two casual friends dating. This feels a lot like falling in love.”
(pg. 209)
I just loved how he continued to be there and how their intimate moments weren’t even like spicy scenes, but sitting on the couch, snuggling and eating dinner that he made. Those intimate scenes were so much more wholesome and lovable and I was here for it 🥺💗.
Also, it’s true freaking love when the partner meets the shizzy parents 😂.
Because no one wants to do that.
“It’s going to be torture.”
“Will you be there?“
I laugh. “Yeah.”
“Then it will be worth it.”
(pg. 197)
Jake was there when Evie met with her sucky a** parents who said they weren’t going to make a charitable donation unless Evie went to some dumb dinner with hem. We all knew it was just a ploy to set Evie up with something. And Tyler, this dude TYLER was there. He already got shut down from her on multiple occasions and had the AUDACITY to show up at this dang dinner in forces with Evie’s parents to somehow get Evie to change her mind about marrying him. Honestly, he was desperate and needed to get a life. It also wasn’t helpful how Evie’s parents were quick to feed on Jake’s insecurities and fears about him not being good enough and that Evie might leave him for her extravagant wealth and someone like Tyler, which Puh-Lease. Absolutely not. But I understood why Jake was fearful because it happened to him once and after everything they’ve been through and how close Evie became with Sam, it would hurt more for Evie to one day leave. I thought their big fight was just Jake reacting to his fears and he was getting in the way of his own happiness. Because Evie constantly showed him and told him that she didn’t want the rich-bi*** life or Tyler and he kept believing something else. The mind can be so powerful in convincing us of something that’s not true but we also want to believe so it doesn’t hurt us as much later—-it’s easier to be disappointed than to hope. So it was a defense mechanism. I thought though, that Jake and a quick 180 on his original anger because after he left the dinner—-when he was driving in the car—-he was so quick to recognize what an idiot he was and he was ready to apologize.
I loved that Jake acknowledged and knew he was being an idiot, but I also wanted more of a fight or something to really go through his thought process of how he found healing in himself to know that what he said was rude and on his fears. I also wanted some side characters or something who talked through Jake’s emotions for him to get to this epiphany that he was being a dummy because most books—-not that I’m saying all books have to follow this trope but I do like it—-have a side character who they confide in and helps the love interest realize their wrongs. But I think Jake just figured things out on his own without really doing the work. I don’t know, in Sarah Adams books, I feel like there can be more characters to support the main characters on their journey and more character building.
When Jake got home, Natalie made a surprise stop. She needed to go the heck away because no one wanted her there either 😂. I liked that we did see Natalie even though it was a short encounter. But I freaking laughed with how she wanted to get back together with Jake and how she said she loved him and wanted to start a family. Sis, loved the idea of him and wanted him for his money. She wants actually going to stay. But what really peezed me off was when Evie went to Jake’s house the next day and Natalie answered the door because Jake went to stay at his parents house, Natalie made Evie believe that she slept with Jake!!!! THAT HAG. How dare she make Evie believe that she was with Jake when Jake was just being the gentleman he was and let Natalie stay at their house.
Can you at least try to be a gentleman?”
“I could, but I don’t want to.”
(pg. 134)
But I liked how Jake drew boundaries with Natalie because it wasn’t fair to him or Sam that she kept trying to reenter their life with the promise of her staying only for her to leave. She just never seemed like she was ever going to stay even if she said otherwise.
If I was Evie, I would have felt betrayed and disgusted as well if I thought Jake was so angry at me and slept with some random hot chick. He really broke her heart and it broke my heart how devastated Evie was because that meant she really loved him. Evie tried to pick herself up to go to the gala auction for Southern Service Paws, the event Jake was also supposed to go to. Jake did go, but not with Evie in the way they wanted to.
Idiot Tyler was also there and I don’t know who invited his sorry butt. But I just wanted to say Tyler had it coming that someone was going to knock the bonkers off of him 🤪. OOOOOOH, and he SOOO deserved to get knocked out for attacking Evie without her consent. TYLER WAS VILE. WE DON’T LIKE TYLER. No no no no no.
We love Jake—-knight and shining Jake.
“Did he hurt you?”
I shake my head no again and let my tears roll down my cheeks. “No. But you did.”
(pg. 252)
Gosh darn 🥺. I wonder how Jake felt knowing that he hurt her more than Tyler did. Jake might have gave Tyler a whooping, but Evie slapped his heart right back.
When Evie said that, I was like Jake you HAVE to make it up to her. She was Heart-BROKEN.
Everything escalated quickly after they reunited at the end. Sam had a seizure at Jake’s mom’s house and Daisy was there to watch over her and protect her. I wanted to hug Sam because she’s such a beautiful, strong, amazing girl and she had such a good support system around her of people who loved her and wanted to take care of her. I also need to say how much I ADORED Jake’s mom and how she was like
“Go be with your family.”
(pg. 256)
Because they were a family 🥺💛.
Evie who loved and cared for Sam and Sam who worshipped Evie. Then there was Jake who loved and adored both of them. When Jake, Evie, and Sam were sitting on the bed and holding each other or when they were with each other, I thought it was such a picture perfect family moment and how beautiful it was for them to fit together—-such a sweet moment.
The ending gave me wholesome family vibes, which we loved. I loved how Evie moved in with them and made herself at home. I also loved how Sam was onto them with their relationship and them kissing on the mouth. The epilogue teased that they had a. baby boy on the way and that Evie resolved things with her family after a loved one past away because it made her parents think how precious life was to not hold a grudge against their daughter.
I had to say many things in the end felt rushed and not really resolved. I would have liked a deeper heart-to-heart between Jake and Evie after Jake explained how the woman at his house was Natalie because after that, we never got to see the conversation about how they would merge there families or how they were going to learn to trust each other’s words to be in each other’s life. They just went to Sam—-as they should have—-and we never heard that whole other conversation of them doing the work to make their relationship work. I also wanted more conversations with Evie’s family if there was going to be a resolution with them. I understand how major life events can alter how people act, but also I felt like it shouldn’t have taken so long and such a situation to make the parents not be dumb**es, for lack of a better word. I just wanted more meaningful conversations with them to foster healing or understanding because they caused very real hurt to Evie and I don’t think that is something that goes away quickly.
Not going to lie, I also wanted more conflict, resolution, and character development. I felt like Jake kind of developed as a character to trust people more, but I wanted to know more about other aspects of Jake that could also have grown. I also wanted to see more growth in Evie because her confidence and assurance in herself grew, but something else was missing. I don’t know, something was missing because I was missing more oomph in the drama and action and some spice in the romance part. I know not every book needs to be spicy, but you know, a little spice never hurt no one.
One of the things I did love at the end was when Sam called Evie mama because they were a family 💛.
Despite some of these suggestions, the book had a more heartfelt and vulnerable vibe than the other Sarah Adam’s books I’ve read, and I really enjoyed it. I appreciated that Sarah Adams discussed epilepsy and main characters who lived with epilepsy because it is real and many people do live with epilepsy. Representation matters because it makes people feel seen and less alone, but it also gets the conversation started to think about the strength and range of people. I also loved how Evie was someone who gave back and was better than the circumstances she grew up in.
Anyway, what was your favorite part of the book? Least favorite part? What did you think of the book?
What is an charity organization that you support or believe in? Let’s spread some positivity below in the comments to find resources and organizations we can give back to.
Let me know below in the comments as I love hearing from you all 💕
I hope you have a beautiful day whenever and wherever you might be reading this 😊.
And as always, with love,
Rating
4.54 Full Bloom Flower
Characters: I loved Jake and Evie because they were easy to like and they both had such caring and open hearts that wanted to love but was scared to.
Plot: A heart-felt, representative romance that leaves you feeling hopeful and joyful 💛
Writing: Always a good time
Romance: I loved how the most intimate moments that built their romance were simple things and vulnerable experiences.