Member Reviews
This is a wintery romcom and it had a few great moments, but all around it simply wasn’t for me. I really liked a lot of the side characters, but I didn’t like nor connect with the two main characters.
I liked the whole winter retreat setting, but I couldn’t really get into the plot enough to actually enjoy it.
Trigger warning for sexual assault and victim blaming, which did nothing good for the story. I felt like it was forced and didn’t have any purpose in the story. Frankly I’m not even sure why this was in the plot and I feel like the story would be a lot better without it.
Kate loses her job and her boyfriend at the same time. She takes a chance by going to work at a retreat in Canada. There, she learns to challenge herself more and to enjoy life.
I didn’t connect with the main character here. At times, Kate’s reasonings seemed weird and made it hard to relate.
Thank you to Robin, Netgalley and Kensington Books for my ARC copy in exchange for my honest review! This review does have a bit of a spoiler, so stop reading if you’re not interested in that.
Kate is looking for a fresh start after being fired from her job after some drunken social media posts about her ex. She heads to a luxury creative retreat to start a new opportunity, but it’s not all she hoped it would be. Her boss is indifferent, some of her coworkers hate her, and she’s still reeling from a sudden change. What makes the situation somewhat bearable are a few new friends and a cute love interest, plus her sweet dog Eric. Can Kate turn this situation, and the retreat, around for the positive?
While the description sounded so interesting, I found it difficult to get invested in this story. I liked pretty much every character except the 2 main ones, which was disappointing.
I was borderline 3.5/4 stars until around 75% of the way when there’s mentions of a SA and the MMC brushes off the FMC’s feelings right after. I was already lukewarm about this guy, but this made me not like him even more. It wasn’t handled well and I’m wishing I had known that before I started the book so I could be more prepared.
I think it’s a great start for a debut book, but I couldn’t connect with the plot or characters enough to fully enjoy it. I can see myself trying another of Robin’s books in the future and hoping for the best!
Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Neither reasonable nor adult. Awful people, awful way they treated others, awful jobs. And that's not even getting to the sexual assault mentioned in other reviews. DNF at 25%. Not even Eric the dog could keep me invested in this one.
I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This had some good potential but it fell short in a few areas.
ARC REVIEW
Reasonable Adults
By Robin Lefler
Rating: ⭐️⭐️.5/5
Publishing date: 10/24/23
Eh. This one wasn't for me.
I was initially intrigued because I really enjoy the camp/resort/in the mountains setting. But this fell short for me.
I didn't connect with the characters, which led to me losing interest. I felt like Kate's attitude changed super quick, and it was not convincing.
Even though it wasn't a winner for me, I always appreciate the ARC opportunity - @netgalley @kensingtonbooks
A fresh, fun romcom! Robin Lefler’s Reasonable Adults is a light, entertaining romance set in a most lovely Canadian territory, featuring thirtysomething Kate, trying to find her purpose and her people. I loved Kate’s moxie and the diverse cast of characters, as well as the strong sense of place conveyed throughout the story.
Recommended to fans of Carley Fortune’s fiction.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for a complimentary ARC. Opinions are my own.
This book started slow but picked up quickly. It made me laugh out loud multiple times, and it was honestly a good debut. I just didn't click with the characters. It had a lot of potential, but some stuff just didn't work for me.
The author does a great job at describing the setting and immersing the reader into it.
Kate is a pretty well developed character, and I always love when pets are part of the story. They win me over instantly.
Another thing I admire is the maturity level of the characters. I don't know how to explain it, but adults in romance books often don't tend to feel very adult, but the maturity level was pretty good here even with the drama.
All the side characters had personalities, which is also not something you see often, and I really appreciated it.
The sexual assault took me off guard, and after seeing Matt's reaction, I couldn't root for him anymore because he essentially blames Kate for it, and it left a bad taste in my mouth.
good romance and about finding one's passion. loved the friends and that she understood between a boss and respecting that code. loved that she found love and what she loved to do.
Loved every moment of this fabulous book! Hearty, hilarious and full of life-affirming truths. Perfect to carry along for the next beach-holiday. The characters were so colourful and well-developed - will wait to read a lot more from this author.
The description of Reasonable Adults presented itself as a lighthearted romantic comedy.
I struggled to get into this book and by chapter 7, just wanted it to be done. The main character, Kate, in my opinion, wasn't very likeable. After a drunken evening, she's fired from her PR job then finds herself (and her dog, Eric) at an artists retreat in Muskoka.
There is a sexual assault scene, which doesn't seem to fit into a romantic comedy.
Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington Books for sharing an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
#NetGalley #ReasonableAdults
This book was sadly not for me. This book has a lot going for it, but I found the writing style hard to connect to and the main character was annoying. I found the pacing to be rather slow and my attention wandered often, so at about the 50% mark, I opted to DNF this one. The setting was amazing however, and I couldn’t get enough of it. I think I had expectations that this would be a light romcom, however, I didn’t get that at all especially after reading the SA Scene and how it was handled.
Title: Reasonable Adults by Robin Lefler - A Frosty Retreat from Adulting ❄️📚
Greetings, fellow book enthusiasts! 📖👋
So, here we have "Reasonable Adults" by Robin Lefler, and folks, let me tell you, this book is as refreshing as a crisp winter's breeze... with a side of comedy! ❄️😂 Big thanks to Netgalley for the ARC, which I ate faster than a bag of marshmallows at a snowball fight. 📚🍬⛄
Meet Kate Rigsby, the poster child for post-breakup chaos. After a relationship meltdown broadcast to the world (#sponsoredbywine), she loses both her almost-fiancé and her marketing job. But fear not, dear readers, for this story isn't about drowning in despair. Kate's off to an exclusive artists' retreat in the wilds of Canada, a place where she'll find herself knee-deep in specialty cocktails, meditation circles, and fax machines. Yep, Treetops is a time capsule from the '90s, complete with its own quirks. 🇨🇦🍸🧘♀️📠
Kate's new gig may be a frosty challenge, but it's also a hilarious adventure. She's got a boss who could make the Grinch look cuddly and a Goldendoodle for a bunkmate. Oh, and there's the not-so-off-limits coworker who's as hot as a mug of cocoa by the fireplace. It's like the setup for a rom-com, but with more snow and fewer clichés. ☕🔥❄️
But amidst the chaos, Kate discovers something beautiful. She starts to see her career and her life in a whole new light. "Reasonable Adults" is a witty, heartwarming exploration of the twists and turns life throws our way. It's about embracing detours and finding yourself just when you thought you were lost. ❤️📖🌟
So, grab your favorite blanket, brew some hot cocoa, and cozy up with this delightful read. It's a winter escape that'll warm your heart and tickle your funny bone. Robin Lefler, you've crafted a gem, and I can't wait to see what you write next. 📚🍫🌨️
Stay toasty and keep reading, ☕📚❄️
Mysterious Shy 😊📖❄️📚
Reasonable Adults has a lot going for it: a beautiful setting at a remote retreat center in northern Ontario's winter, charming side characters, and an ambitious main character who goes through a lot of growth over the course of the book. Unfortunately, I really struggled to get through this one; the pacing isn't great and some of the main character's internal monologue is more annoying than endearing. After I got about 60% of the way through, the rest went by more quickly, and Kate won me over by the end by finding her passion and being willing to be vulnerable to achieve her goals. I really enjoyed the setting of the book as well as the rest of the Treetops staff. I'll keep an eye out for Robin Lefler's future books!
"Reasonable Adults" by Robin Lefler is a captivating blend of romance and women's Fiction that offers a resonant and engaging reading experience. The book's relatable characters and thoughtful narrative delve into the complexities of relationships and personal growth. Robin Lefler's storytelling skillfully navigates the challenges and triumphs of love, making "Reasonable Adults" a compelling read for those who enjoy stories that explore the intricacies of human connections. This novel offers a heartfelt exploration of self-discovery and the power of understanding, making it an excellent choice for fans of both romance and women's fiction genres.
This book was hard for me to get into and just didn’t get much better. After being fired from her job, Kate and her dog Eric head up to an artists retreat in Muskoka for her new job where she does everything she can to save her new “home.” There she meets Matt her love interest and this was where I was hoping things would get better but did not. The ending, although probably more realistic, was not the ending one wants to read in a fun rom com. Also, like many others, the victim blaming for the SA was just terrible and why Kate would feel like she needed to apologize for it to ANYONE, especially her main love interest, is baffling! And the way Matt reacted? Terrible.
Anyway, tho story had a great premise just not a great execution.
Good palette cleanser and I liked how things came together but the FMC annoyed me for a good portion of this book.
This was unfortunately a DNF for me. While I think other people will enjoy this, I just could not connect to it. I think the writing style and the main character were the biggest reasons I had issues with this book. I gave it to 50 percent before putting it down so I gave it a good try.
3.5 Stars. First person single POV. Closed door (ish)
I really enjoyed Kate and Matts story, the setting was beautiful and the side characters were interesting, without having too many people to follow. There was one 'spicy' scene where loose depictions of activities were alluded to, but ultimately this was closed door/fade to black.
I gave this 3.5 stars for a few reasons. Firstly almost everything that was going to happen (I read a lot of books so it has become harder to 'surprise' me), secondly I did feel the 'big feelings' were rushed, despite this being a slow burn. I would have loved more scene's of Matt and Kate together and building on their relationship.
Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington Books for sharing an advanced copy of this book.
What really drew me into this book was the idea of the struggling resort and the effort to save it. Because of that, it took me a little bit to get into it and through the set up, but then I was in! I especially loved the setting on this book, as it felt new and fresh.