This was so cozy, heartwarming and romantic – with just the right amount of spice. I loved how Vivian and Dave seemed to have nothing in common but still turned out to be such a beautiful match. Their dynamic and chemistry were amazing and watching them fall in love gave me all the butterflies and feelings.
What made me adore this book was how they treated each other. Yes, there's some conflict in the third act but aside from that they communicate so well! Vivian and Dave act like the grown-ups they are, respecting and encouraging each other every day – even during their conflict!
Also Daves family is so adorable! The Thanksgiving scenes made me feel so at home! It was great to see how welcoming and happy they were!
Would definitely recommend this to all romance lovers who crave something healthy and heartwarming!

Dave Richardson's life hasn't turned out the way he thought it would - he didn't expect to slink back to his hometown of Rochester two years ago and take a bartending job, nor did he think he'd still be tending said bar. Everyone thought he'd achieve great things, including himself. But when Vivian Walters walked into his bar on a random Wednesday night and got her number, things were looking up for the first time in a long time. Even if she was only in town for a long weekend.

If there's one thing Vivian 'V' Walters liked almost as much as designer heels, it was checklists. They'd served her well her entire life, from college to med school, landing the perfect internship followed by an even better residency, and finally, her dream job. So far, though, her checklist for the perfect man hadn't panned out, but that didn't mean she'd chuck it out the window for a weekend with a hot bartender... right?

After reading several of E.F. Dodd's books and reading about these two as side characters, I was excited to hear they were getting their own story. That said, I was immediately reminded just how much I love V's friendship with her girl gang. The instant connection between these two was palpable and I loved seeing it come to fruition. Their story has everything from sweet, emotional moments to tonnnnns of spice. Based on the cover I expected this to be centered a lot more around the holidays but that portion is only the tail end of the story, so rather than expecting a holiday romance, go into it with that knowledge!

Overall, another heartwarming and spicy novel from E.F. Dodd! Thank you to NetGalley and the author for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I would like to thank NetGalley and the author for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review. I unfortunately had to DNF at 10% as I tried to read and ignored that this book was in third person, which is a big no-go for me, but I did attempt but still couldn't get over it.

First off, this ARC was provided by the publisher & author via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Honestly, I read about 15% of the book and had to pause, and read a couple of other books and came back to it. Since it was ARC, I did feel like I needed to give it a good shot, and it wasn’t until maybe halfway through the book before it got more interesting for me. This is why I’m giving it a 3.5 star.

Dave was a hottie from the beginning, I really did enjoy his character, and I get that V (Vivian) is supposed to be this straight laced woman and sure, i think the first 50% was supposed to built up this angst and slow burn…. But it was more of a fizzle for me and I personally didn’t feel that angst. I was rather annoyed with V in the beginning.

However, once they Finally became a couple, that’s when the story picked up for me. The open door scenes were 🔥🔥🔥 🔥🔥 and I really appreciated the author’s depiction of long distance relationships and the struggles that come with it. The ending was written REALLY well, and Im not spoiling it for anyone.

This is my first time reading a book by this author, and Just because it wasn’t ‘perfect’ 😉 for me, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t give it a try.

This book, while fun, left a lot to be desired in the end. The “conflict” between Vivian and Dave wasn’t much of a conflict at all and their whole relationship progressed rather quickly on what seemed to be a lot of surface-level interactions. I would have enjoyed seeing just a bit more backstory or depth for Vivian and Dave and the side characters. The conflict between Vivian and her mother was too neatly resolved and didn’t feel genuine.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read. I wasn’t expecting the book to be such a spicy romance based on the cover, but it was a pleasant surprise. I did enjoy the spiciness sprinkled throughout and how caring Dave was during some of these encounters.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book is a super easy read. Simple, spicy romance between an unlikely couple. V is a doctor from Charlotte while Dave is a bartender from Rochester. They meet while V is on vacation with her two best friends and the story goes from there.

However, the storyline isn’t grabbing and unique. There wasn’t really anything to get you to really fall in love with the characters. They don’t really spend the time getting to know each other between the spicy scenes. The whole thing felt rather superficial. I also anticipated much more of a Christmas theme as advertised instead of the last 10% of the book or so.

I struggled to finish this book because there wasn’t anything that really drew me in and there’s only so many times you can read about his job and her mom’s approval.

I loved this sweet story! I feel like EF Dodd writes such emotional romance stories, in a good way! I felt like we really get to know the characters inner most thoughts & feelings, why they’re doing what they’re doing, which makes reading it so much more immersive. This story has some tender hearted, sweet moments of acceptance and clarity, as well as plenty of fun, spicy moments that brought some lightness to the story. Overall, it was very fun, fast read, because I couldn’t put it down. Thanks for the ARC!!!

Quick read with spicy romance and a cute friend group. Great point of view from both characters. Definitely recommend it for a cozy afternoon of reading



Thanks to NetGalley and Sugar Beaver Books for an e-arc in exchange for an unbiased review.

ALMOST PERFECT is one of those quick, feel-good love stories that is a cute and steamy romance. I appreciated the realness of the story, but wanted some more depth to the characters. I enjoyed the cute bantering of text messaging between the Dave and Vivian as they continued their long-distance relationship. As someone who loves emotional angsty books, this book is definitely not that and just a simple happy story to escape to. I can see others really liking this book, but it just wasn't quite for me. 3.5 stars rounded to 4.

Thank you to Sugar Beaver and NetGalley for the digital arc in exchange for my honest review.

a cute Christmas rom com that felt like it could be about your home town, definitely recommend for anyone who likes Hallmark Christmas movies!

Such a cute read! I loved V & Doc's relationship from the start, it was super relatable and felt real. Their chemistry was undeniable, and I couldn't help but to root for them through and through. Side characters were fun as well! Minus V's mom for awhile... haha. Don't let the cute cover fool you! The spice in this book was A1 in my book, but for those who aren't spice fans, just be aware. But otherwise i really enjoyed this book. It was easy to read, and I blew through it in a couple sittings. Thank you NetGalley & E.F. Dodd for the opportunity to read this cute romcom!

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. I loved the realistic struggles each character had to face. However, I felt the book didn't go in-depth for character development. They seemed very surface-level for such a long book. The character chemistry was there, and the book was much spicier than I thought it would be. It was still a cute and quick read, but it was not my cup of tea.

It was ok. I liked some part of the book but some parts were very cheesy to digest. I loved how realistic the job hunting, career frustration was for Dave. It was reflection of what really happens. I also liked Caroline’s parts. As a mother myself I can relate to what she was going through. But man thar halloween party was a little over the top and that cookie party, I don’t know it was just meh meh meh. I mean you can’t really add in something soooooo unrealistic and fanciful while the characters are going through life altering decisions. Its just not done. So I would say the book needs rearranging of chapters so the story doesn’t lose its flow.

I received a copy of Almost Perfect through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

What Almost Perfect does well, our leads have solid chemistry, understand each other's jokes, and appreciate each other's faults and reservations. Our female lead V is a doctor who helps troubled youth, and Dave, our male lead is smitten from first interaction when she's on vacation with her friends in Rochester. Dave and V have a cute relationship, and the story follows them as they navigate a weekend that turns into a long distance relationship.

The pitfalls; there's nothing that really separates Almost Perfect or the cast from any other romance book or series currently on the market. Every character in the book is white and conventionally attractive. The main character's friend group is the likely trio, the shy but big hearted lead, one logical and intellectual friend, and the overly sexual firecracker that harbors an emotional relationship past that the friend group isn't privy to.

Dave is just a regular male lead, nothing brings him apart from other romance leads, and the love scenes are ~spicy~ but don't reinvent the wheel. The "conflict" of the story really isn't a conflict, and there was so much more room to flesh out Vi's life as a doctor and Dave's past, especially if the whole course of this story happens in 3 months.

This book leaves more to be desired.

Almost Perfect was a cute and steamy read. Personally, the book was a little too long for me and the characters were very much surface level so it felt as though the book dragged on. But I can overlook that with the chemistry between Dave and V. If you’re looking for a steamy bartender x doctor book then this is perfect for you!

Do NOT let this cutesy cover fool you, this book is sugar and spice and everything nice! Doctor Vivian and bartender Dave seemingly have nothing in common, but that doesn't stop them from falling for each other in this cute and spicy romance. Vivian thinks she is just going to have a quick fling with Dave but they just can't seem to get enough of each other. I like how they made the long distance part of their relationship work (Hello Face Time!!) and I loved the moments they were together in person. He googles flowers to pick ones she would like (If he wanted to he would, gals!). I do love Dave's character growth and how they end up working out their relationship in the end.

This was my first book by EF Dodd and I'm happy to say it won't be my last.

Thank you NetGalley and EF Dodd for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

After a chance meet up in Tonic, the bar where Dave bartends, sparks fall between Dave and Vivian (aka V or Doc) with an instant attraction. A vacation fling slows becomes a long-distance relationship from September to December. But will Dave be enough for Dr. V by Christmas or will he be just almost perfect?

I thought this was such a cute book - much more spicy than I thought based on the blurb and cover. The banter of the characters (not just the MMC and FMC - but all of their friends and family) is fabulous. The banter of the meet-cute had me turning the pages to see what would happen next.

Thank you NetGalley and E F Dodd for the opportunity to read this book!.

I was intrigued by the book title "Almost Perfect" on the read now section. The storyline of the characters were realistic and it was fun read.

Almost Perfect by E. F. Todd
Publish Date: 10/31/23
Publisher: Sugar Beaver Books

First off, I want to thank Sugar Beaver Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book. I was excited to give it a try, the cover looks fun—it’s a Christmas Romance. My favorite!!

The writing was good, with some stellar examples of great writing shining through. So why did I DNF?

I DNF’d Almost Perfect at almost the 20% mark.. The reasons why we’re two fold: character and pacing.

V is a Doctor. A practicing doctor. The disconnect may have been the choice to have the heroine go by an initial instead of something like Vee, even. For me, naming a character by an initial would be more appropriate when the character is edgy and wise. Or if the narrator is slyly trying to make things “anonymous”. To further the disconnect V felt incredibly young and sheltered. Her and her friends struck me as more college age than professionals—and it had nothing to do with the Doc in love with a bar tender aspect.

The pacing was also off. When it came to the first love scene (I think) is when I finally closed the book. It felt like it was taking two chapters for him to kiss his way up her leg. It did not in fact take that long, but when a romance reader is bored by the love scene and is a few pages into it…. It needs to be tightened.

But worst of all, there was no Christmas in that 20 percent. I know it comes, I just couldn’t hang in there to get to it.

We can be honest and say the pacing issue might have been because I could not connect with the main character, V. It probably was.

There are some great lines in this story though, and I look forward to the next story this author has up their sleeve.

Thank you again to Sugar Beaver Books and Netgalley for providing me a copy for review.

Almost Perfect was such a cute romcom read. I breezed through it! It was such a quick pick me up happy book. Neither V nor Dave were looking for love and yet they had undeniable chemistry from the moment they met. There were so many funny moments and it felt actually realistic in its own way. Loved it.