Member Reviews
I love second chance romances. I love watching people who made a mistake the first time around rectify that and strive for one result only, happily ever after. And they don’t quit until they get there this time. At it’s core, this is a simple love story about two people Jack and Maddie, who screwed up the first time around and decide to give each other and love another shot. They both have issues to deal with but they never really stopped loving each other and they do have something special in common (or should I say someone special), and he is just a cutie-pie.
This is my first Serena Bell book and I will definitely read more from her. I love that she used dual POV because I think it’s important to hear from both sides about how they feel and what they are thinking. It helps me get even more emotionally invested in what is happening to both of them because I understand them better.
Sweet!!
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
This was a great book! I had not heard of Serena Bell, but I will absolutely be putting her on my authors-to-watch list. This book had everything that I look for in a contemporary romance: Great character development in Jack and Maddie, Solid supporting characters in Sienna and her friends, fast pacing, engaging plot, and very hot chemistry. I was rooting for Maddie and Jack from page 1! I think what I liked best about the Do Over were the passages concerning Jack & Maddie’s childhood. These I found to be very touching and several had me in tears. Really great writing and I can’t wait to order this one for my library. I know several patrons who would love this book.
He was the kind of guy that remembered everything! all the important things like the number of times they had sex! Just one of the lines that I highlighted in this book ( and there were a lot) I really really liked both Jack and Maddie from the start. this premise was very different and I enjoyed their present day story as well as their past one. His mom and sister were fun as well. Good story. Adding this author to my go to list.
This was a very enjoyable book. I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 just because I got tired of the number of times that they didn't share their true feelings with each other. I understood why they didn't as they are a product of their experiences, but I knew if they would just talk, they'd get to that HOA sooner!! And Gabe would want it that way! :)
Do Over is very enjoyable. Despite past mistakes and misunderstandings, Jack and Maddie still have major chemistry. Not to mention Gabe, their son, who is their connection over the years. Both Jack and Maddie have tried to move on with their lives but neither one has been successful. Life changes have brought them back together. This is a refreshing story of love and family.
I liked this book very much. A sweet and yet steamy (very steamy) rom-com of sorts. About misunderstandings, jumping to the wrong conclusions and most of all second chances. I was pleased to see Jack and Maddie finally get their act together since they were dancing around their feelings throughout the book. Why didn't Jack come clean about Penelope sooner? If I was innocent I would have spoken about that. His reasoning for that was lame. And his friends Henry and Clark were losers, I didn't like how they kept getting on Jack for spending time with his son. That's what real men do, they sacrifice for their children. All in all, a fun read! I voluntarily read this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
The second chance romance trope is a popular one because people want to believe that mistakes can be overcome and that there really is a second chance to get what you want out of life. In Serena Bell’s Do Over, neither Maddie nor Jack ever got over the other. And even though their lives are forever entwined because of their son, both are simply too afraid to reveal their feelings. But both characters have some serious trust and communications issues to overcome.
The only negative aspect of this book for me was the alternating points of view. At times, I found it confusing as to who was who. However, getting the guy’s perspective does have a way of changing the story. Overall, it was a very enjoyable story about ordinary people just trying to find their way.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this novel.
2.5
To be honest, I never really connected with either Maddie or Jack - that said, this is a really cute happy-ending book that is well written and is sure to please.
ARC provided by Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Loveswept.
So I have a couple of things to say about this ARC.
One, please update to say which character's POV is which when reading the book, because that definitely threw me off the first time it switched POVs.
Second... the sex scenes are worth the price of admission.
Super hot, super detailed.
Additionally, the romance was believable. I felt everything the characters were feeling, and knew why they made the choices they did.
Definitely pick this one up if you're into this kind of book.
I thought this was a cute story that covered a couple of my favorite tropes: second chance and friends to lovers. I liked seeing Jack and Maddie reconnect as adults, and the chemistry between them was fantastic.
Jack and Maddie are here to win you over. Ever have a sense of deja vu? Ever feel like you're about to make the same mistake again? Ever not regret it when the mistake is the man you've always loved? One of the best things about this title is the main characters are just so ordinary in the best ways. It's so relatable they could be your closest friends. After a horrible breakup years ago, Maddie sought comfort in the arms of her childhood friend Jack. After lots of nights and little sleep, she arrived at his doorstep to find someone else leaving. It wasn't the best timing since she had something big to tell him. In the present, it's like history is repeating itself... When Maddie again finds herself with a (not so) broken heart and no place to stay, crashing at Jack's doesn't seem like such a bad idea...
If you're a fan of HEA stories, this could be your next favorite read.
I love a good friends to lovers story and this one brought that trope and more.
Their story is sweet, sad and a lot sexy, which is something I've grown accustomed to with Serena Bell's work.
This is the first book I have read by this author, but definitely not my last! This story of Jack, Maddie and Gabe is fantastic! I loved the alternate POV's and the times when the characters "talked" to the reader ala Ferris Buellerish! It really brought me more into the story. The angst of the story was great, and the way the story finished was perfect. The steaminess was fabulous and the dialogue between the main characters was on point, funny and meaningful. Thank you for a phenomenal book!
A second-chance love story about Jack and Maddie. Best friends as kids, they grew apart but ended up reconnecting as adults. They have a son, Gabe, together, but we're not able to make a relationship work. When Maddie is suddenly in need of a place to live, though, Jack offers up his house to them.
Jack and Maddie's past is slowly revealed piece-by-piece and I think this works well as the story unfolds. There is so much more to Jack especially than meets the eye.
Gabe is cute and adds a lot of humor to the story. Seeing how much Maddie cares for him and Jack growing closer with him were highlights.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I love a good second chance romance. That has to be one of my favorite type of books. I quickly requested Do Over, because of that. For me, this book was just ok. I will explain why. It was a little too cookie cutter for me. Boy and Girl used to "date", then she gets pregnant with his kid. He isn't thrilled, and he becomes a part time dad. That is until Maddie really needs his help.
The first chapter of the book really turned me off. In the current climate of the spotlight on high profile men being outed for repeated sexaul harrassment, I thought the way Jack and his buddies talked/thought about women to be very piggish. But once I got past that I really enjoyed this book. I loved the back-and-forth narrative between Jack and Maddie, and I really liked both characters. I wanted them to be happy together so much!
I really liked the alternating points of view between Jack and Maddie.
It was fun, interesting and fast paced.
A good story overall, of the one that relationship that got away, and now a second chance. When Jack has the weekend to spend with his son, he is startled when his ex shows up in tears. Maddie went home and got her current boyfriend doing her best friend in the kitchen. Yuck! She movies in with Jack, and gives him a chance to connect more with 4 year old Gabe, who is a cutie. Builds to a good HEA of course, which is nice. The only thing I found monotonous was Jack's obsession of being like his father. Theme was overplayed a bit. Otherwise, I enjoyed the story and it was nice quick read. Would highly recommend.
This was an odd read for me. I liked it but the rhythm didn't flow.