This was a fun read overall but it wasn’t without some things that drove me bonkers.

Sora is single yet again and decides to write a blog series during the month of February called Go Solo…focusing on self-care and swearing off dating for the month. This decision was driven by her hatred for Valentine’s Day and the commercial love machine that the holiday is. Naturally just after starting the month, she runs into an old friend and sparks fly…but she’s supposed to be taking a break from dating.

The storyline was predictable but fun nonetheless. However, as much as I love bacon and frown on making women feel bad for their size - the writer has the MC focus so much on her love of bacon that the word is over used in the book and the MC is so frazzled about being single that she is depicted as gaining a bunch of weight in the 1 month the book covers.

I did like the dialogue about self-care and that it isn’t just pedicures, but includes things like taking the reins of your own life, not finding your worth in other’s opinions, and parenting yourself essentially.

The messaging in this book is just too toxic. From fat shaming to a toxic mother, to body positivity that isn't really positive at all. I was hoping for better.

Great romcom with characters to love. I really liked the journey of Sora and Jack, rooting for them the whole way. The characters have great chemistry and banter. So cute!

Thanks NetGalley for the advance copy of this book.

Cute, quick beach read. Some “yikes” parts but overall enjoyable. Thanks for the arc in exchange for an honest review. (Sorry it’s a bit late, I fell behind)

The premise of this book sounded very cute but just found that I can’t get into it. I’ve tried a few times to continue reading it and ultimately I had to put the book down without finishing. I was not fond of the comments related to body size. It could also be that I just didn’t connect to the writing style.

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martins Press for providing an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

When freelance writer, Sora, is trying to come up with something to write about for the month of February, her most disliked month of the year, she decides to stay single. That should be easy, being as she doesn't have a boyfriend. Just when her #GoSolo inspires many of her readers to join in the challenge, she encounters an old classmate from elementary school. Can she keep up the pledge to stay single when she is starting to fall for Jack? This is a fun story with great characters.

OMG this was such a cute book! I listened to the Audiobook and I really liked Michael Braun and Cindy Kay. Their narration of this book made it fun to listen too. I think the two childhood friends end up running into each other and how the story built from there. I don't want to give spoilers so I don't want to say more. This is a cute Rom-Com and I would recommend this book.


Thanks NetGalley and RB Media for allowing me to listen to this in advanced.

What a fun quick read. Love the body positivity. Just when you stop looking for love you run smack into it, in the grocery store. He fell first, long time love. Love a story like this with a HEA.

This felt like home. As an Asian-American (Japanese-Mexican-American) growing up before the 2000s with the diet stigmas, the fitting in stigmas of and for immigrants and immigrant children, and just the dating and living stigmas of the now times this book was both bullet points of my life and familiar vignettes of being a cis lady wanting happiness in the world.
I loved the Asian representation from both main characters, their family dynamics (especially Allie and all her glitter glory), and just the way Sora works through everything. I found myself nodding or saving passages of wisdom.

Over all this one made me happy. It is a comfortable rom-com filled with bacon, annoying exes, and misunderstandings. Just feel goods all around.

This was so well written. I was engrossed from the first page and it ticked all the boxes of my expectations. The character development was excellent. I would definitely recommend to others, a must read!

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of The Second You're Single by Cara Tanamachi. Ultimately, I found this book to be exhausting and difficult to recommend.

Soro Reid is done with l-o-v-e. She’s tired of dating men with no substance who inevitably disappoint her … like her cheating ex-husband. So, for Valentine’s Day, Soro is all about #GoSolo February. In fact, she’s a landed a freelance opportunity to write about her experiences daily for a well-known publication. Her goals are to spend time focusing on her own wellbeing and hopefully inspire others to join her journey. 🧘‍♀️
Unfortunately, the moment she says she doesn’t need a valentine and vows to stay single the entire month of February, she crosses paths with a now very attractive, elementary school classmate, Jack. Now that’s she’s reunited with an old friend, will Soro keep her promise and stay single? Or will the attraction she feels for Jack change everything?
To be honest, this book is really good! It’s a lighthearted, quirky romcom with an HEA, Asian representations, childhood friends to lovers and body positivity. What I normally don’t like is when the romance borders on instalove. However, I was so enamored with the plot and focused on what Sora would do that it truly didn’t bother me. It’s a well written story, and it’s a fantastic romcom whether or not it’s February. I highly recommend this book to romance readers 💗
Thank you St. Martin's Press for the arc.

Things I love:

Asian representations
Childhood friend romance
The guy falls first
Body positivity

I tried to get into this book multiple times, but I just found I couldn’t. I think this is a case of, it’s not for me, type of book. I know others loved it, so I recommend checking their thoughts on it!

Cute and fun story about Sora, who runs into a childhood friend in the grocery story. Unbeknownst to her, Jack has been in love with her since grade school. Unfortunately, Sora has already pledged “Solo February” and has sworn off men for the entire month. Did she set herself up for failure? Will “the one” pass her by? It’s a “will they/won’t they” and has a bit of the miscommunication trope. But, I actually really did enjoy how it all turned out.

I genuinely hated every second of this book. The midsize rep was so disappointed and gave me the ICK. For a book that was a closed door romance where they talked about sex and had sex so frequently just really through me off. You really cannot have both.

I loved this book. I've not been writing professional reviews for a while now, but I found this romantic comedy highly engaging. It reaffirms the truth that we are most likely to find a life partner when we are not searching for one. I know I did.

Sora Reid’s new writing assignment is a #gosolo February to show that not everyone has to be in love on Valentine’s Day. There’s just one problem, Jack Mann. When they run into each other in the grocery store, the attraction is immediate. Sora knows she needs to shut it down because it goes against everything her #gosolo month stands for, but that proves harder than she thinks.

I really liked the premise of a #gosolo February, but I knew, in typical romcom fashion, that it wouldn't last long. Sora and Jack were delightful characters and I truly enjoyed their relationship as it developed. I loved the easy banter that they had and it made this a quick, enjoyable read.

Title: The Second You're Single
Author: Cara Tanamachi
Release Date: January 31st, 2023
Page Count: 285
Format: Netgalley/Audiobook
Start Date: January 21st, 2023
Finish Date: February 14th, 2023

Rating: 4 Stars

Review:

I went into this book blindly. Once I figured out what it was about, I was a little worried that I would absolutely hate it. I was thinking it would be cringy and predictable. I was completely wrong. Don't get me wrong, there were parts that were a bit predictable, but not in a bad way. I also wish there were parts that were elaborated just a bit more. I won't go into specifics. I really enjoyed it very much. I laughed hard throughout the book as well. I also found the main character relatable. I also really want her job! If I could get paid for my blog and to read, I'd be in heaven! But I digress. I also completely loved the dog! That poor thing being blind in one eye! I'd be totally okay with this turning into a "series". Maybe where each book highlights a different couple. I'd love to see more of a certain therapist. Just saying. This was a very lighthearted quirky read that was perfect for the time period. Once it officially released, I snatched the audiobook up!

Definitely a cute read, the plot was fun and had a good friends to lovers arc though I think I would've liked to see the fmc have a bit more character growth throughout. You can tell she wants to be strong and confident but isn't quite there yet and it felt like I didn't really see much growth by the end of the book. I did really like the idea of the plot I think there were just a few things that could've made the actual story a bit better. I did however love the mmc, Jack was probably my favourite character. The ending though was good and I enjoyed the hea.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars.

This is a charming book about a woman who is trying to find success as a free-lance writer and figuring out the game of love. The premise is really cute, Sora is a free-lance writer who is committing to "Solo February" where she avoids dating for the month of February but of course she meets her old elementary schoolmate, who is a sexy baker. So hard to resist!

The writing is good and the story is cute. There isn't a lot of relationship building and I had a hard time with the love at first sight sort of storyline. I didn't exactly buy the third-act breakup either, but I'm happy with a reconciliation and a happy ending.