Member Reviews
The chemistry in this novel was insane! The banter between Lauren and Alex was top tier. I was thoroughly entertained the entire book. A great follow up to Spoiler Alert.
Okay, if you have not read "Spoiler Alert" then run, don't walk, and read that now, so that you are all caught up for this spectacular sequel's release! I am so sad that many have to wait until the end of October 2021 to read this gem. It is truly a masterpiece romance. The main characters, Alex and Lauren, has such great banter and chemistry, you'll be fist-punching the air in triumph at their first kiss like I did. The sharp, witty, hilarious and insightful writing just goes to show how talented this writer is. Not to mention all the great fan-fiction and romance tropes we know and love. Highly, highly recommend this wonderful book. Olivia Dade has done it again, and I am so grateful that she did. 5 stars.
I really liked our two characters in this follow-up of Spoiler Alert. Alexander is smoking hot and Lauren is the nicest person!
A few elements that continually pulled me out of the story were the details describing Lauren's body & the detached third-person voice, which made it hard to distinguish between Alex and Lauren's internal thoughts. Maybe I'm used to first-person voice in adult contemporary romance, but even in a third-person voice, there was very little difference in tone to help the reader when the focus shifted between our two main characters.
I received this as an early review copy from NetGalley and Avon. All opinions are my own.
DNF at 47%
I LOVED Spoiler Alert, and it was one of my favorite books of 2020, but All the Feels is not even in the same league.
I usually don't rate a book unless I've read most of it, but I couldn't push myself to finish this one, and I think that deserves consideration.
It is very hard to get past the first 25% of this book. The male MC constantly negs the female MC... like constantly. It isn't charming, and it wasn't funny to me. Yes, I know he is a "good guy," but I found it extremely hard to see any sparks happening between them when he constantly calls her bird-like, short, and round... like, barely concealed disgust for her looks. This is supposed to be an enemies-to-lovers story, but I think the author didn't quite go about it the right way.
The chemistry felt so forced that I couldn't finish it. Maybe I'll return to it one day, but today is not that day.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
ALL THE FEELS (Pub 10.26) is a smart and downright steamy contemporary romance. It’s definitely a slowburn, but the buildup is worth it because of the way Dade writes dialogue. She crafts her character arcs with a blend of wit and seriousness that keeps my interest. There are some deep issues- ADHD, fat positivity, and public/private personas. I absolutely love how Lauren loved herself. She's comfortable in her own skin and that was so refreshing.
DNF at 30%. After reading Spoiler Alert, I was really excited for this book and then it was a huge let down. It doesn't feel like the Alex and Lauren in this book are the same characters I met in the previous one. Yes I was prepared for him to be vain and cocky but I couldn't handle the way he kept talking about her appearance, she looks like a bird, over and over. I've read plenty of romance novels where the heroine isn't the hero's usual type but this was too much. At 30%, I hadn't felt any chemistry between the characters and that's why I quit. I realize things might get better in the story but if I'm not hooked at this point, it isn't worth my time to stick around and find out, because it might not.
Dade's writing is sharp and witty again here, which is an extra bummer. I wish the story was strong enough to match her writing. This book might resonate for other readers but it was a huge miss for me.
After reading 'Spoiler Alert' last year, I was looking forward to reading All the Feels. I just knew this book about Marcus's best friend Alex would be so much fun. And parts of it were. I truly enjoyed a lot about this book and I liked both Alex and Lauren, Alex specifically was fantastic. But, and this is a huge BUT I never felt the connection between them. As a romance, I need that spark, that chemistry, and it was lacking for me. Sigh. I wanted to love this, but the romance wasn't what I wanted it to be. I enjoy Dade's writing and I loved that she talks about important topics, but Lauren and Alex together. I didn't feel it.
This book was cute and definitely lived up to it's name, once I was finally able to get into it.
It took me a few tries to get into it, it just moved so slow at first I convinced myself not to DNF it. The characters separately were interesting and liked them enough, but I just didn't feel 'it' between them. It felt kind of forced. This did make me sad, it just didn't make me feel what Spoiler Alert did. Even though this book didn't do it for me I will definitely be reading more Olivia Dade in the future.
After reading Spoiler Alert a few months ago, this was a highly anticipated read of mine and it definitely delivered! I absolutely adored the snippets of Alex and Lauren we got in Spoiler Alert, which made me extremely pumped to read their romance. Thanks to NetGalley for approving me to read this one early!
I loved how over the top and all-consuming Alex's personality is, as well as how caring and protective he is of Lauren. Though I normally don't like alpha-male heroes, he strikes me as an unconventional alpha-male which was refreshing to read. Lauren, in turn, is not only his opposite but more of a balm to his over-active personality. She's very matter-of-fact, cautious, and neutral - but that's not to say she's averse to showing her true feelings. Their interactions with each other were very sweet, but when it came time for the ~spicy~ scenes, oh my god they did NOT hold back!
Overall, this was a highly enjoyable read and I look forward to read whatever else Olivia Dade puts out!
After reading Spoiler Alert I was SO excited for All The Feels to come out! We get snippets of Alex and Lauren's story in Spoiler Alert and I wanted to see firsthand just how their relationship evolved as time passed. Thankfully, this book did not disappoint! In fact, I ended up enjoying this book even more than Spoiler Alert!
In case you don't know already, let me explain the premise of All The Feels. Alex is an actor working on a famous TV show based on best selling novels. After getting in a brawl in a bar, the showrunners decide he needs to be supervised at all times and so Lauren, one of the showrunners' cousins, is hired to keep Alex in line. Their initial meeting doesn't go great, but the two are forced to spend all their time together, which of course leads to a budding romance.
This book isn't quite enemies to lovers, as I initially expected. Instead it's more of a misunderstanding that slowly gets cleared up as the two spend more time together. But while I typically detest misunderstandings, in this case it was clear where each person was coming from and why they interpreted words or situations in the wrong way. Even more importantly though, these misunderstandings get resolved throughout the course of the book, instead of the reader having to wait until the end of the novel for any resolution to occur. Because of this choice, the progression of the relationship felt very natural and organic.
Of course, part of what made their relationship so fantastic was the fact that both characters were so wonderfully multidimensional and relatable. Alex is just an absolute cinnamon roll! He has the kindest heart and is trying his best, and it's frustrating to see how many of his words and actions get misinterpreted. Many times Alex will make a sincere statement that sounds so bizarre that people assume he's being mocking, while that was not his intention. I love how we got to see from both his and Lauren's perspectives so that we were able to understand what Alex's intent was, while seeing how Lauren interpreted it. And what's great is that as the book progresses, the two of them start to understand one another a lot better.
And while Alex is always in motion and always ready to go to battle for anyone who needs it, Lauren seems quite meek by comparison. She lets people's cruelties slide without reacting, and generally doesn't get very worked up. What I love about her is how she was not a flat character because of this. She had her reasons for approaching life this way, and she showed her backbone at the times she felt it was most necessary. The two are opposites in many ways, and that helps both of them to grow and improve throughout the book, as the two of them helped each other change for the better.
One of the other aspects of this book that I was happy to see addressed in this book was professional burnout. Lauren was an emergency room clinician for over ten years before she landed up as Alex's minder, and that definitely took its toll on her. I appreciated how she slowly came to recognize how much her old job had drained her and that maybe she should look at other options instead of just returning back to the same job once this temporary supervisory position was finished. On the other hand, I liked that she still had the same goal in mind. Lauren is a therapist and she wants to be there for people in some fashion. Even though therapy in any form can be taxing, it was interesting to see Lauren look at other options that might suit her needs better within the same field, so that she would be taking care of herself while taking care of others.
Another thing I appreciated a lot is that Lauren was never described as someone who is conventionally attractive, and that doesn't change once Alex falls in love with her. Alex loves her as is, and while he definitely finds her attractive, she doesn't suddenly get described as a great beauty now that someone is in love with her. Lauren is fantastic for a myriad of reasons and Alex is lucky to have her, and I was so glad that all of those aspects were highlighted instead of completely changing Lauren's characterization.
There are so many other little things that I loved about this book, but I think it's best to discover those little moments of cuteness and heart for yourself. I gave this book 4 stars, and would highly recommend it to any romance lover out there! Alex and Lauren are absolutely perfect together, and I'm so glad to have had the chance to read their story!
Spoiler Alert was one of my favorite books last year and I was so excited to read this book.
A heartfelt read full of all the feels (pun intended)
Super adorable, funny and sweet as sugar with equal amounts of angst and just enough steam, this book made me giggle and sigh because it was just such a treat. The ''I came here to babysit the celebrity but we fell in love'' trope was chef's kiss in this book. And the banter!! Well. Done.
What I loved about Spoiler Alert, I loved it in this book too. Oliva Dade deals with such important topics in a gentle and yet impactful way. From body positivity, ADHD, family, to mental health, everything was covered here in a way that shines light to what matters.
Definitely worth read for all my romance lovers that like their romances full of ''aww" moments and characters that make you believe in love.
2.75 stars rounded up to 3
I went into this not knowing anything about the book and that was probably not smart on my part. I'm not a Hollywood romance person probably because I am super jaded in terms of all things "California."
Here's what's great about this: 1. Olivia Dade's writing. She is a solid writer, through and through. 2. The sex scenes. Dade can really write a spicy scene.
What didn't work for me: 1. Alex as the hero. He was all over the place and that just doesn't work for me as a reader. 2. How mean everyone (including Alex at the beginning, albeit internally) is to Lauren about her appearance. I understand this is a realistic portrayal of life for a character like Lauren, but it made me so sad, and it made it hard for me to like Alex throughout. Whenever he complimented her appearance later about things he previously negged her on (her height and shape), it bugged the hell out of me. 3. The plot. As I said, not a Hollywood romance person, this is a me thing, not a book thing.
I found Lauren to be a fine heroine. Didn't hate her, didn't love her.
If these things don't bug you, you'll probably love it. Just wasn't for me.
First of all, many thanks to NetGalley and Avon for providing me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
2.5 stars. Sigh... I have such mixed feeling about this book and it's taken me a while to figure out a fair rating for it. I loved "Spoiler Alert" so much that, after I had finished reading the library book the first time, I immediately bought my own copy and started right back at the beginning; reading it again, I loved it even more. This book, not so much. I just didn't love Alex and Lauren the way that I loved Marcus and April.
Snarky, witty dialogue: 5 stars - Olivia Dade is a Snarky Mistress! Her witty, fast-paced dialogue is a total joy.
Plot premise: 4 stars for plot originality - This one is difficult to describe without sounding like a total jerk but, bear with me. A very attractive man and a very unattractive woman becoming friends and then falling in love amid the shallowness of Hollywood and the online culture which values appearance over everything. There's much more involved but that's a high-level description.
Love story: 4 stars - Alex's and Lauren's growing love and affection for each other was handled beautifully and sweetly with their underlying personal issues enhancing the heartwarming quality of the story.
Language and explicit sex: 2 stars.... I mean, do we really need to use the f-word that much, people??? It wasn't unexpected but I really think, after a certain point, it just takes away from the quality of an author's writing. Regarding explicit sex, it's only the fanfiction stuff that I skipped over as I did with "Spoiler Alert" because, most of it is just total Ew. The love scenes between Alex and Lauren were nice and steamy although I'm not a big fan of body part descriptions but those can be skimmed. I really prefer reading about the lovers' feelings and thoughts more than the mechanics.
One Trick Pony (or Beat a Dead Horse): 1 star - Once the premise was set (see Plot Premise above), the message that people, especially those in the entertainment industry and their fans, were shallow and cruel was repeated over and over again making the overall story lag. The underlying agenda, while I agree with it, negatively impacted the quality and enjoyment factor of the book.
Sooo, an overall thumbs down even though (1) I look forward to Dade's next book with anticipation and (2) If you're already an Olivia Dade fan, I think this book is worth reading.
Only one bed and soul marks? Possibly two of my favorite tropes in fan fiction, brought to life in a novel!
This is a wonderfully tropey story about Alex Woodroe, a delightful asshole and star of the major hit show Gods of the Gates, and his minder, Lauren (Nanny) Clegg. After Alex gets into a seemingly drunken bar fight, the producers of his show demand his every move be minded until the final season airs in order to protect his, and the shows, reputation. Lauren - who is just the worst ;) - left her position as a therapist in and ER burnt out with nothing left of herself to give only to be recruited by her producer cousin to mind the irascible and quite often infuriatingly talkative TV star.
Lauren moves into the guest house at Alex’s real life castle, and soon learns he is far more selfless than the media portrays him as. Instead of a babysitter, Alex deserves love and compassion and someone who will fight for him as strongly as he fights for Lauren to be respected and treated like a human being, and to be her true shrewish self, when for so long she let the hurtful comments pass without standing up for herself, because she had always been taught to make herself as small as possible to accommodate others. Along the way, Lauren learns that standing up for herself against rude comments isn’t the same as letting anger rule her life, and realizes just how important she - and all her wants and needs - is.
I adored how excitable Alex is! He’s basically a golden retriever in the body of an incredibly fit 39 year old actor with ADHD. I love how fiercely loyal he is to the friends and family he loves, and how he would sacrifice anything and everything - including his career - just for them to be treated with the respect they deserve. He was unabashedly emotional and affectionate, and never once did that make him less of a man. And I really resonated with him for the guilt he feels over things he could have done nothing about in his past. It can be so hard to move past those guilty feelings, and I was glad to see Alex had such a strong support system to work through those feelings.
And LAUREN!! I loved her character so much. Not “conventionally” attractive because of her asymmetry, round body, and bird like features, she taught herself to be as unimposing and small as possible to go unnoticed by those around her. That is so real and something so many girls learn to do in their youth, and it’s almost painful to think about how many of us let ourselves be mistreated because of it. She is so strong and gives so much of herself to the people who need her, and I am so eternally happy that she found someone who would take care of her, BUT also learned the demand the respect she deserves, and to listen to her wants and needs when making decisions concerning herself and others. I was so damn proud when she said “I am important, which means what I want is important, and so is my love.” !!! And I love how much of an unrestrained shrew she is around the people she trusts:)
Loved them both so much! 4.5 stars!
Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyage for providing me with an ARC!
This books was so good! I loved the plus size representation in this book and how even the cover depicted very clearly that the main character is plus sized. I love the romance between the two characters and their ups and downs throughout the book was written so well. I adored this book and can't wait to read other books that the author puts out.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I LOVED this book! I think it was a perfect follow up to Spoiler Alert - I giggled a lot, got a little teary eyed, and it really did give me...All the Feels.
Lauren is a burned out, ER therapist looking to take a vacation and relax. Enter her Jerk of a Cousin, Ron, who asks her to keep an eye on one of his acting stars who's always acting out. Enter Alex, handsome, impulsive, and living with ADHD.
I love that Lauren isn't conventionally pretty. She's short, apple shaped, and has a broken nose from working in the ER. I love that Alex fights strongly and aggressively for the people he loves, even when it gets him in trouble professionally.
This book had a lot of fun, sarcastic, dry humor and dialogue. I enjoyed the slow burn romance, but when they got going it was an inferno! Wonderful read.
All the Feels by Olivia Dade is the second book in her Spoiler Alert series, however, it works well as a stand-alone novel. I so enjoyed All the Feels and it made me laugh, and made me cry, and I couldn’t put it down until it was finished.
Lauren Clegg is tired and burnt out from working in the Emergency Room as a therapist and decides to go to Spain for a little vacation before deciding what to do for the rest of her life. On her first day in Spain, she meets up with her awful cousin, Ron, and he asks her to do a job for him on his film set for Garden of the Gate. She dislikes her cousin Ron immensely but decides to help him out as a favor to her mother and her aunt Katherine.
Alex Woodroe is the star of the very popular show Garden of the Gates and has everything he needs. When he gets into a bar fight, his showrunner Ron decides he needs a minder in order to keep out of trouble, at least until this final season of the show is over. Now Lauren and Alex are forced together until the show is finished.
I so loved this book. I loved Lauren who is short and a bit plump and has had a tough time in the world, but she doesn’t let it get her down. And being a therapist, she knows exactly how to handle Alex and his ADHD. His impulsivity and ADHD quirks are no match for Lauren, and she seems to know what he needs most. He doesn’t need a minder, he needs a friend who can understand him and Lauren is that friend.
This book is chock full of funny banter and is so funny. I loved the enemies to lovers and the slow-burn romance between Lauren and Alex. The author did a superb job of describing a character (Alex) with ADHD, and even the details of how he deals with day-to-day life are right on point.
I recommend All the Feels to anyone who wants a big laugh, and who enjoys a funny, yet, emotional story. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This one might have actually been even more enjoyable than the first book and that I love that it picks up in the middle of the first book but from a different point of view. It was a fun way to see what was going on in Alex and Lauren's mind when we first visited certain situation from Marcus and Aprils POV. An all around feel good read and you honestly will not be able to put it down once you start so go ahead and carve out an afternoon and just enjoy!
An incredibly fun romantic comedy that plays with all of our favorite romantic tropes. I love the reversal of the usual Sunshine and Grump trope (it's nice to see the male as the sunshine for once). I love the self-aware (and excitement) from the sunshine as the 1 bed trope from the fanfiction he reads becomes reality.
The fluffy and playful tone of the book does have a lot of heavier undertones to why the main characters are the way that they are that made me feel more connected to them. It was nice to see ADHD handled in a more realistic way as opposed to "fun and quirky :)" as well. We get to see real symptoms and the consequences, as well as the pros and cons of medicating for your mental health. I felt very much for Alex and connected with him way more than I anticipated. And of course, I will always love the plus-sized representation.
Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and Netgalley for the ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
This book is pure fun. Alex and Lauren's personalities clash in the best kind of way - just enough for some enjoyable snark without leaving the reader wondering why they even like each other. Plus, you can't beat a self-aware only-one-bed moment.