Member Reviews
Great and Jon were an interesting couple. I liked this book, although I didn’t completely love it.
I'll just go ahead and say this upfront, my love for Jon was sold when he said this:
“I’m an Englishman under thirty. Of course I’m a Harry Potter fan. I’ve a picture on my Facebook page of myself at Platform 9 ¾."
Um, swooooon! I'm a huge Harry Potter nerd myself, so it's only natural that I have a love for characters that love the books too.
That being said, I loved the book. Like loved. There's something about a good contemporary romance that makes me feel all giddy. I'll admit first what annoyed me and that was Greta. As much as I loved her as a character, there were times I just wanted to smack her upside the head. Long story short...she doesn't trust men. For good reason. But lumping all men in the group "they ALL suck" has always gotten on my nerves. Ladies, there ARE good men out there, sometimes it's just hard finding them.
Whoo...now that that's out of the way. Greta and Jon had that instant chemistry. Greta, obviously fights it or tries to. Jon doesn't play games and lets Greta know right away that he wants her. Although, at times he was a little too confident where I had to roll my eyes. For the most part, he was the perfect gentlemen.
Readers, this is perfect for you if you love a feel good romance. One that is light and funny; and has all the swoons. Jon is patient, kind, sexy, and he knows how to make a lady feel like a million bucks. I also need to add the the sexy times in the story were hot. Loved this and I'm hoping there is another one with Greta's best friends!
*Thank you to the publisher for providing a copy for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Greta and her friends had made a pact that they had to approve who they would marry before the time. Now she is the only one that is still single. Being a bride’s maid once again even though it is for her sister is just wrong in her mind especially when her friends are married and now having children. To deflect attention off herself she is hopping that a series of fake dates will send her friends away from the truth that she is nowhere near a relationship of any kind. Her friends decide that they need to change the pact that they had agreed on many years ago and over a bottle of tequila have decided that the DJ that is at this wedding is the person for her. In order to facilitate there plan with hers she talks to Jon the DJ and she comes up with a plan and he agrees with her plan if she will agree with his rules. His are very simple for every one fake date he goes on she must go on a real date with him. She reluctantly agrees because she feels it will not work out, not knowing that Jon is attracted to her because why would someone be attracted to her. Jon makes their dates whether fake or real fun and most of all he makes her special and makes her feel like a woman and important to him and to herself. A fun book with good characters.
I really tried to like this book and I loved Jon, aka DJ Force but I had a hard time with Greta. She did everything she could go sabotage a relationship with a pretty fabulous guy. I also got tired of the constant sexual innuendo or hookup. The writing was good but the story didn't grab me.
I was given an arc copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 Stars
I first came across Kayti McGee when I read a book by her and Laurelin Paige (together they are Laurelin McGee). She's one of those authors that I know what to expect from her and that is really ok sometimes; it's nice having those expectations. And that really worked for me when I started reading this book because I needed a sweet romance after my last read.
That Thing You Do we discover three best friends who made a pact back in high school to never get married unless they all agree on the match. And they've all held onto that pact, which really sets the stage for this series.
This book is Greta's story and she is the more pessimistic one when it comes to love. She's witnessed a lot of downfall when it comes to love and experienced some bad relationships so she's just a tad skeptical about it all. Jon is the DJ that she meets her sister's wedding and he just can't seem to get Greta off his mind.
Greta forms a plan to fake date Jon to appease her friends. But the fake starts to turn a little more real than she planned on. Jon is able to worm his way under Greta's cynical demeanor and win her over. There were times that Greta really frustrated me with her antics or cynicism on everything. I enjoyed that Jon kept things light and his mannerisms helped even out everything else.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. It was nice read and a good start to a new series. I look forward to see who the other two girls end up with.
Funny, romantic and a little steamy!
I loved this book on many fronts - the 3 friends making a pact to pick each other's dates; Mina who Greta is the nanny for; the bet that Jon makes with Angie & Matt (Angie is Greta's sister); Greta realizing that maybe men aren't all bad.
It doesn't hurt that Jon and Greta are attracted to each other when they start dating - or fake-dating as Greta wants to call their situation. She is going along with this because of the pact but I liked how Jon is able to turn it around to his benefit. Greta chooses some interesting things to do on their dates, but Jon is ok with it all as he really likes her. Plus he is willing to give her the space she needs to realize that he is not like her father and won't leave. That will take time.
And of course we can't avoid the chemistry that sparks between Jon and Greta. There are some detailed scenes that turns the heat up in the book.
Mina does steal the show a few times in the book. I feel sorry for her having a father that pawns her off on the nanny (Greta) and doesn't seem to want to spend time with her. However, we get a little peek into why that might be. Mina reminds him very much of his deceased wife and I can see how that might be hard to take at times.
Loved this book! Jon is the perfect book boyfriend! I loved everything about this book - the chemistry was amazing between these characters and there was a good amount of humor. I can't wait to read more by this author!
Greta didn't need a man in her life. She was perfectly happy being a live in nanny to a little girl and spending her days off with her BFFs. Now she's a bridesmaid in her sister's wedding and her BFFs are trying to get her to make time with the DJ!! Even her sister and new brother-in-law are in on the matchmaking. Well, he IS good looking and that British accent..000hh!
Jon was struck by Greta the minute she entered the room. The newlyweds had told him about her and he had figured it was another match that wouldn't interest him. But, whoa! he could get really interested in her if only she'd show a little interest in meeting him.
At her girlfriends prodding, Greta decides to meet the DJ just to appease them. Jon seems to be every bit as nice as her sister had told her, but she's going to do things HER way. Since there are so many folks interested in her and Jon's personal lives, Greta proposes a series of "fake dates" to hold the matchmakers at bay. Jon agrees to the plan and the "fake dating" begins.
But where to the fake date end and the genuine dates take over?? Kayti McGee's THAT THING YOU DO will make you laugh and shake your head by turns.
I had a hard time with this book. I wanted to like it based on the description, but I didn't. I couldn't get into the story, it felt too forced. The characters were clunky and couldn't grab my interest.
That Thing You Do is a well written book. I enjoyed the plot and the author's writing. I recommend this book to readers who enjoy a good romance escape.
I love the fake boyfriend/girlfriend trope. I knew That Thing You Do by Kayti McGee would probably be a winner because of that trope and Kayti McGee’s trademark humor and I was right! Her stories (the ones that I’ve read so far) are lighthearted and fun, but they also have feeling. As it turns out, that is exactly what I’ve needed to usher me beyond a very busy past few weeks.
Greta has made a pact with her best friends Amy and Summer: none of them will get married unless all three are in agreement about the guy in question. Greta has been a bridesmaid tons of times, but she is nowhere close to settling down. The truth is: she loves being single. She loves her job as a live-in nanny. She loves Netflix and taking a relaxing evening bath with a good book. (Don’t we all?)
When Amy and Summer set Greta up with the cute DJ at a wedding they are all attending, Greta decides to make him her “fake boyfriend” to appease her friends for a while. But it becomes clear very soon that these two get along well and have great chemistry. Soon they are obviously falling for one another, but Greta stubbornly refuses to admit what is obvious to everyone else.
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I read this book in matter of hours, which is exactly what I both wanted and expected. The blend of humor and romance is perfect which is what kept me flipping the pages so fast. There is also a teensy bit of serious thrown into the story by way of the family that Greta works for – but it isn’t too much. Just enough to keep it interesting. In fact, at about two-thirds through the story, when things started to get a little serious for one of the secondary characters: THAT’S when I think the book became its best. From then on, I read until my eyes burned, even walking around my house with my Kindle in my hand so I didn’t have to put the book down.
Even with the obvious HEA (because: look at the cover), Greta went on for ages with her steadfast insistence that her relationship with Jon was fake. At times, I wasn’t sure if she was refusing to admit that there was more to them, or if she just really couldn’t see it. It was almost a relief when the big conflict came near the end because I knew something would be changing soon, and I was hoping it would be with Greta’s train of thought. (Sometimes there is just no helping someone! You have to let them figure out things for themselves, even when it is painfully obvious and even when you know it hurts them.) Things resolved and everything turned out okay, but mercy, Greta took quite a path to getting there.
Can I just say that I loved the leading man, Jon? He’s a British DJ with fun mannerisms, great manners, and tons of patience. I love the way that he talks and the things that he says. He complements Greta very well. And he eventually stands up for himself in a way that I appreciate so much. I also love Greta’s young charge, Mina. She takes her job as a nanny more serious than anything else, it seems, and the love she feels for Mina is true. When everything goes down with Mina’s family, Greta does a great job of making sure that Mina feels is as little as possible. Even though kids-in-romances aren’t a favorite thing of mine: this one was great and furthered the story perfectly.
Given the cover of the book, I wasn’t expecting much of the ending to be the way that it was – BUT! I think that in keeping with the romantic comedy theme of the book, everything turned out well. This is a fun book for people that are looking for a quick, fun read with some humor in it. It gets bonus points for great book and TV show references.
Sidenote: I would love for this to be a series so Greta’s best friends get a chance to find their mutually-agreed-upon grooms!
I couldn't tell by reading the dialogue and the way the book was written at some points whether it was a British or American book. It was a strange mix, even discounting that one of the characters was British (I think?), and confusing. Setting that aside, this was a sweet romance with two people fighting against love with all they had before finally realizing the other person was it for them. DJ Force was hot, and Greta and her friends were fun. Would like to read another Kayti McGee book.
Society seems to forget, there would be no bromance, if sisters of the heart never paved the way. Kayti McGee, makes that point loud and clear with her ode to sisterhood, That Thing You Do. It's a tale of friendship and finding that special someone. Not only do we get to fall in love with Greta on her quest for true love, we get to explore the bond she has with her best friends.
That Thing You Do by Kayti McGee hits on a lot of themes. Teenage pacts. Bridesmaid pacts. Popular Sci-Fi references. And the star of the show, fake boyfriend agreements. Greta and her freinds Amy and Summer made an agreement to use each other's judgment to guide their love lives as teenagers, eleven years later as perpetual bridesmaids, they make another pact to actually select dates for each other. Their prospective target for Greta? The DJ at her sister's wedding, Jon Hargrave aka DJ Force a popular DJ who was only doing a wedding gig as a favor to his friend Matt, the groom.
Greta doesn't really want anything to do with her friends new deal, or guys in general so when Jon appears interested in her she makes him a deal, be her fake boyfriend to appease her friends. He agrees, with one condition, every other date has to be real.
That Thing You Do weaves in popular Sci-Fi references (The Doctor plays a starring role) and pits a series of comedy of error sabotage dates from Greta against Jon's rapidly growing fascination and love for her. How long will it take for Greta to realize all guys aren't a-holes? Will it be soon enough to keep from driving Jon away?
I thoroughly enjoyed both the characters of Jon and Greta, as well as the supporting cast. I liked that it was Jon who was committed first and that he managed to make all Greta's sabotages not just fail, but turn into passionate successes. There are times when I wished Greta would just realize that love is real and Jon is really worth being in love with, but that is just not the character she is, and the fight for "Jetta" makes it that much sweeter and more real.
Overall, I wholeheartedly recommend That Thing You Do by Kayti McGee, it hits on so many levels, fun, funny, passionate, frustrating, and incredibly romantic. You will love Jon and Greta and That Thing You Do.
(I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book I received for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my open and honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.)
That Thing You Do
Greta was a nanny that took her job serious. She loved her friends. She was somewhat satisfied with her life. She was forever the bridesmaid. She was determined to not be pitied. Grand idea, fake dates with men she could never really take seriously. That was until one man had his one agenda underway. I found Greta sweet, loyal, loving, and a bit in self-denial. There were slow changes in Greta, which was needed for me to actually find her worthy of a man to love her. The way she was at the beginning left me thinking she just was not ready for a real relationship. I liked Jon right from the start. He I could get behind.
This was an entertaining read that gave laughs and some mini-drama. There were so good characters and good lines. I would love to see the other ladies of the high-school pact to get their HEA.
With the heart and sass of a Susan Elizabeth Phillips novel and the humor and sexiness of bestseller Alice Clayton, That Thing You Do is a story of three friends who make a pact in high school that states that none of the girls will marry unless each one agrees with the match.
Greta is always the bridesmaid - and that's fine with her. She has no desire to date after a bad relationship left her reeling. Her friends aren't having that, though, and after yet another wedding, she finds herself being set up with the DJ. Deciding to save herself the trouble of an inevitable breakup, Greta orchestrates a series of fake dates designed to trick her friends into thinking she's putting herself out there. But Jon has plans of his own, and she never counted on the sparks that fly between them. Can a girl who doesn't believe in love find it in the least likely place of all?
This book was charming from the first page to the last page and it wasn't boring at any point. I felt like I could be a character in the book. I really related to Greta and I love when books leave you with that impression. The plot kept me interested and it kept me going til the very last page. Kayti is always such a pleasure to read. I enjoyed this one immensely and hope to read many more from this author.
I was given an ARC from the publisher/author/NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own and do not reflect anyone else's.
First of all, the cover is misleading. It's not really about a bride-to-be or weddings. This is the first book in what seems to be a series involving 3 best friends. At a wedding, Greta, Summer, and Amy made a pact that none of them would marry someone the others didn't approve of.
This is Greta's book.
Greta is quirky, nerdy, and funny. While I liked her and Jon, what I loved most about the book was Greta and even Jon's scenes with Mina --- Greta's charge. She's a great kid and she really stole the show for me.
This book has humor and fun with enough steamy scenes to balance out the sweet. The drama that unfolds was well-timed and not overly drawn out. It's a perfect beach or weekend read.
I hope Summer's book is next. She's the one that I really want to get to know. :-)
I may have mentioned this before but I have a thing for books with wedding themes on the cover, so I picked up That Thing You Do without even bothering to read the back. For the most part, this was a cute book, but there was just something about the writing style that didn't entirely work for me. I guess it missed a spark for me, and I kept waiting to be wowed. The characters here were likable, but I can't say that they were memorable for me. I read the book just a few weeks ago, and there's not much I remember about the main character Greta, other than she's a nanny and is a cynic who doesn't particular want romance in her life. The only thing I remember about her love interest, Jon, is that he's British and a DJ. I found Jon's Britishness to be very stereotypical and he kept calling women "birds" which I don't know if this is a British thing, but why? Personality-wise, I don't remember anything, which I guess means to me these characters were forgettable. That's something that's never a good thing when it comes to character-driven books like romances. The romance itself was cute. I liked how persistent Jon was, and their dates together actually had me smiling, which is what had me flipping through the pages of the book. Anyways, I did really enjoy the friendship between Greta and her friends. They were an eclectic group, but they fit well together. I loved how they were unafraid to voice out their opinions of each other's decisions, and were always there to support each other. Honestly, is there anything better than good girl friendships in books? Certainly not for me! The one character I didn't like in the book was the kid that Greta nannies. Now don't get me wrong. She's a sweet kid who just wants her dad's love, but I felt like the way she was written was a little jarring. She came across as an adult at times with the way she talked, and at other times she would seem young. It was strange. All in all, That You Do wasn't a terrible book, but I'm not sure if I'm invested enough to want to continue the series.
That Thing You Do has a funny and somewhat sad beginning with Greta and her two BBFs. These girls who grew up into women have so many admirable qualities, not exactly their taste in drinks but others. Kayti McGee has given voice and humor to the world of perpetual bridesmaids who are hopeful and cynical at the same time, especially after living through their parents’ experiences.
Jon is a breath of fresh air in this story. What starts out as a wedding meet, with girlfriends pushing Greta turns into the real thing. It reminded me of the arranged marriage idea from their teenage discussion but by sister friends instead of related family members. So it is no surprised that Jon has to do quite a bit of chasing but if it had been otherwise it would not have been true to Greta’s quirky character. The plot fit the characters to a T.
The first book that I have read by this author. She instills hope in love in the guise of a comedy. Funny, sad at times but will be sure to make you a believer in true love, too.
An ARC of the book was given to me by the publisher through Net Galley.
This is a great book with a wonderful story and well developed characters. The story flowed very well and was very enjoyable. This book will keep you reading long into the night and you will not want to put this book down until you finish. This was such a great read and full of surprises. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader’s copy of this book. The free book held no determination on my personal review.