Member Reviews
This was a very cute and lighthearted romance. It wasn't the best in the world but I had a good time reading it so it did a good job!
It’s a charming romance. I enjoyed the setting and the relationship between the characters. This is a super fast read. My first book from Minnie and I’ll be checking her other books out because I really enjoyed her writing style.
This book was good. The premise behind the business is great, I did feel a bit conflicted over the business with regard to infidelity and being the person who picked out gifts for a mistress. I do feel like the main characters were well-developed. I couldn't help but want to root for the Female main character to get the building she has such an attachment too. I think those qualities helped to ease the conflict of the "mixed up" gift.
2 stars. This book sounded like it would be a really cute read, however, it fell short for me. Those who enjoy reading very light reads may enjoy this.
Thank you to Minnie Darke, Random House-Ballantine, and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
DNF at about 60%. This was a predictable boring slog full of emotional manipulators and their sordid goings on. I spent the first half of the book looking for at least one character for whose fate I could summon the least bit of care. I regret to report that my efforts failed and I was forced to admit defeat. It's not that they are awful or rotten people, but they are very painfully average, predictable and formulaic. It should make them relatable, but, apparently, not to me.
This was a charming rom-com with (finally) a main character that ISN'T just quirky and/or flaky (even though a switch of gifts is what sets off the whole chain of events.) The story moved at a steady pace, and while there were some grey areas in terms of the personal shopping about which I wasn't sure how I felt, both the characters and the plot had lines of redemption.
This was great escapist read!
Loved the premise of this story although some of the characters weren’t very likeable but changed later in the story. A cute romance, life struggles with a major work faux pas, and an interesting business made this a quick read. 3.5 stars
I was very hopeful when i requested this book from Netgalley. This story just wasn't for me. It had nothing to do with the author or the book. I will still recommend to anyone that reads in this genre.
Synopsis: When the business of the season hits a small town gift wrapping and gift buying business. Marine quickly realizes how not paying attention to detail can derail someone's entire life.
Thoughts: This book wasnt quite for me. I had a hard time getting past the rough relationships and just wasnt what I was looking for in a feel good holiday read. But the author did a great job creating the characters and coming up with a different holiday read. If you are looking for a little family drama and not your typical feel good holiday romance this one is for you.
This was cute. I love the character’s dynamics in this one. I thought the storyline was good, as well.
I have no idea why it took me so long to read this book because I absolutely loved it. It was such a good story, I guess I didn't want it to end.
Marnie is a gift buyer. She offers this service for wealthy people who are too busy or who don't know what to gift the people in her life. For years she has been trying to buy the building that once housed her grandfather's shoe store. It has been burned by a fire and, even though she is family, her uncle will not sell it to her and it goes up for auction.
In the process of being so busy trying to figure out how she can come up with enough money to purchase the building, gifts for a wealthy client's wife and mistress are accidentally given to the wrong person. Marnie also falls in love with the client's son which presents another whole problem.
I loved this story, how the problems were solved, and how the book ended. I highly recommend!
I loved reading this. The plot is so perfectly befuddled by Marnie's job and decisions, and the story felt so magical. There were times when it gave me those watching an impending trainwreck feelings, and I love watching things unfold when that tension and drama is there. Beautiful interpersonal interactions throughout the story. I will definitely recommend this romance.
I loved learning about the inner workings of a boutique we need more of these books that go into details about small business. anyway, I really loved the almost enemies to lovers aspect and I couldn't get enough of their love story. I ended up loving Marnie even though I typically don't like the female mcs.
Oh, how I relished every single word of this book! What could easily have become an overly sentimental, cheesy, unrealistic story was fresh, new, and utterly charming.
The story of a single woman with big dreams of moving her bespoke gift buying business to a building she has family ties to, you'll wish Wich & Co were a real business in your hometown, and that the cast of characters were also real. Even though it is is mainly told from Marnie's point of view, Darke smartly switches to other perspectives at various times along the way, so you truly get a whole picture of the world she is creating. It's incredibly natural and flows perfectly.
A delightful book that is sure to please readers who love genres from romance to magical realism, I will absolutely be recommending this book to anyone who will listen.
This is my first book by this author which I enjoyed from beginning to end. I look forward to seeing what is next for this author. I enjoyed reading this sweet romance story. This is a well written story about giving and giving in to love. This is a story that is not only hard to put down but it is full of romance that you don't want to miss. This is a fast paced story that has relateable characters that pull you into their world. The author did a great job of using details to make her story pop and her characters even more so. I enjoyed watching the growth and chemistry of the characters which made the story easy and entertaining to read. I really enjoyed reading this story and I highly recommend it.
This was such a sweet read, I couldn't put it down! It's not super heavy, and nothing too dramatic or over the top, just a light love story with a HEA that you couldn't help but be excited about!
I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.
A feel-good romance to end the year with! I finished this yesterday - the last day of 2022. It's about a woman named Marnie who runs a gift wrapping/gift buying business and accidentally switches two gifts and sets into motion a series of events that see people broken apart and brought back together. Some of the characters were hard to root for initially, but they redeemed themselves as their arcs continued throughout the book. Even Brian, who I never thought I could grow to like! I loved the ending too, with the HEA I was hoping for. I'm way late in reading and reviewing this but I hope it had a good publication day!
Minnie Darke/Danielle Wood is AMAZING!
I love all of her books.
I hope that this will be made into a blockbuster or TV Movie!
I really enjoyed this story so much.
THANK YOU
So charming and such a fun premise! This was a fun, romantic read with a great setting. definitely recommend.
Very cute boy meets girl and although they attempt to not fall for each other they end up in love. If you are a fan of cute, cheezy romance novels with a little twist I would say this would be a great look for you.