This book had a lot of potential in its blurb that I'm a bit disappointed with the final result. It has all the elements to be a great book: fake date, forced proximity, an idyllic setting and a nice research. I liked Charlie—and his t-shirts!— while I have mixed feelings with Sloane; I can't see her as stronf as she tries to be due to her circumstances. As an amateur gamer, the video game references are pretty good. Also, the romance works until a certain point. When past issues come again and again, it becomes a vicious cycle that doesn't do any favors to the story because it feels repetitive and boring. The ending I a bit rushed, but in general is a comfortable reading with its flaws.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

I requested this because it was forced proximity and the theme of a woman triumphing in a male dominated field, based on the blurb. It was pretty good overall - the vacation was fun - but there were repetitive parts and some things could have been fleshed out better. The dog was great though! (And it's not always easy to write animals as characters well.)

This was was just OK for me. It was slow moving and didn't hold my attention. Unfortunately this was a case of "I requested it because of the cover" and it didn't line up with what I like to read.

n a Not So Perfect World by Tubati-Alexander promises a delightful blend of fake dating, forced proximity, and destination romance set in the picturesque Turks & Caicos. Initially, the book delivers a heartwarming and entertaining story that captures the excitement of a romantic getaway. Sloane and Charlie’s meet-cute and subsequent vacation together offer plenty of lighthearted moments and emotional connections.

Charlie is a charming character with his sweet nature and entertaining punny t-shirts. Sloane, however, is harder to root for as she struggles to assert herself in the male-dominated video game industry. Her lack of self-worth and the constant demeaning treatment from her colleagues make for frustrating reading. Despite this, her dog provides delightful comic relief and steals the spotlight as a favorite character.

The romance between Sloane and Charlie has its golden moments, especially in their playful banter. However, the narrative often drags with repetitive conversations about their past struggles, overshadowing the fake dating and forced-proximity tropes. The slow-burning romance feels rushed when it finally culminates, making the love story less believable.

The third-act breakup is prolonged, and the rushed, overly neat ending fails to provide satisfying closure. Sloane's professional triumphs, particularly against her misogynistic colleagues, are glossed over in an unsatisfying epilogue, leaving much to be desired.

Despite its shortcomings, In a Not So Perfect World has enchanting moments and a charming setting, making it a light read for fans of destination romances. However, it could benefit from a stronger, more assertive heroine and a more convincing romantic arc.

Before I begin with the review I'd love to thank @netgalley and @harperperennial for the e-arc. I enjoyed this book from start to finish<33

In A Not So Perfect World follows Sloane, a game designer set on her dream job at a top gaming firm, and her neighbour, Charlie. When they jet off to a holiday in paradise, to make Charlie's ex jealous and to give Sloane chance to make the perfect post-apocalyptic game, the close proximity and sizzling tension make remaining only friends and neighbours difficult.

The characters in this book were all multi-faceted; they had depth and, as you were reading, you found yourself rooting for them for that reason. Sloane was lovely, driven, and everything you'd want of a book girlfriend but CHARLIE. Charlie was adorable, wholesome, loving - he gives off top book boyfriend vibes<33

The storyline in this book was a bit different too which I enjoyed. Yes, there was that predictability of the HEA, but I couldn't see where things were going before that so I loved it.

Overall, I loved In A Not So Perfect World and would happily read more of Neely's work!

Thank you Harper Perennial and NetGalley for the eARC of In A Not So Perfect World! All opinions in this review are my own.

I loved Love Buzz so I had high hopes for In A Not So Perfect World and it delivered! I loved Sloane and Charlie's interactions and how they navigated being on vacation with a virtual stranger. There is a nice balance of funny and spicy. I can't say enough good things about Neely Tubati Alexander's writing and I can't wait to read more from her!

Looking for a romance novel with humor and strong female characters? Look no further than 'In A Not So Perfect World' by Neely Tubati Alexander! With tropes like slow burn, forced proximity, and fake dating, this beach getaway read is perfect! The writing style is engaging and easy to follow, making it a great choice for anyone looking for a fun and romantic summer read!

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book is a good example of forced proximity and a slow burn romance done right, it gives the characters enough space to grow and see them as individuals before they begin to form a friendship and ultimately a romantic relationship. This is the kind of book you pick up knowing where the book will end but you’re here for all the slow build tension between the FMC and MMC.



My one issue:

I will say the one thing that took me out of the story was the illegal hiring process. I mean red flags were flying around and the FMC was just ignoring them, while this was used as a plot point to keep the FMC and the MMC from getting together so early on, there were already so many internal issues they both were dealing with that this plot tension device wasn’t needed.



If you love slow burn romance, forced proximity and one bed this one is your next summer read.



Solid 3 stars



Thank you NetGalley and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for this eARC in exchange for an honest review

This was a perfect book to read at the beach. I’m a sucker for forced proximity, and found it fun and flirty! Thank you NetGalley and Harper Perennial for the advanced copy.

Sloane goes to an interview and swears if she gets the job she'll give up men. Then her neighbor asked her to do him a favor and go with him to turks and Caicos. It was really good book.

(Actual: 3.75⭐, rounded up) Forced proximity?? A slow-burn romance??? Count me in! While this read admittedly took me awhile to really get into - as the beginning part concerning the interview and its sheer inappropriateness took me out of the experience for a moment - I decided to keep pushing through after sifting through both positive & negative reviews from other readers. And I'm so glad I did! While I wouldn't say this book is a standout for me, personally, I did really enjoy how there was a POINT to it all - that what was bothering me in the beginning was, in fact, a catalyst to the story as a whole and was something that was properly addresses as the novel went on as opposed to being simply discarded. This book definitely reminded me of one of my fave reads - "The UnHoneymooners" by Christina Lauren - though this time with just a little more angst and spicy added also. I do enjoy Alexander as an author and look forward to her future works; as someone who was also on-the-fence regarding this novel at the start, I further implore all readers to check it out and stick with it for yourselves in order to form your own fully-realized opinion!

This book was not what I expected but it was a very cute, fresh, new outlook to a romance. I loved the dooms day engineer that was following her dreams and the good hearted guy trying to make a bad situation better. The all inclusive resort was perfect and I loved noticing the changes in their relationship during the trip. She had the overthinking that many people had and I loved the reality check there. Also, bringing up the woman/men ratio in gaming and engineering and so on was a good highlight.

This one really surprised me with how much I enjoyed it. It’s a beautiful story of two people finding each other and themselves after a horrible heartbreak. The way Charlie and Slone connected and challenged each other was exciting to read. They truly supported each other in ways they’d been desperately looking for and saw each other in a way no one else has seen them before.

My only issue with this book was the incredibly illegal hiring practices of the fictional gaming company Catapult. It was so incredibly obviously illegal that it made it so hard. I know this happens in real life, but it seemed like this was used simply as a plot device to keep the main characters apart, when they actually had enough other issues they individually needed to work through, mainly getting over their exes and taking time to explore a relationship outside of paradise.

This is a perfect summer beach read for fans of Emily Henry.

In all the very best ways, this felt like
FUNNY STORY (Emily Henry)
+
LOATHE AT FIRST SIGHT (Suzanne Park)
with
a sprinkling of Alisha Rai vibes

A win for those of us whose friends know we have already planned for every potential emergency, and who love:
- Pretend-couple on vacation in a tropical paradise
- Navigating the reality of long-held dreams
- Complicated mother-adult daughter relationships

Grab this one for by the beach or during work time lunch breaks.

Sweet, swoony and relatable to anyone faced with the unexpected twists life likes to give us.

✨In a Not So Perfect World by Neely Tubati Alexander✨

Genre: Romance
Pages: 352

📚Sloane Cooper is up for her dream job as a designer for a top video game company. During the interview, though, she somehow promises the all-male panel that she’ll remain single and fully dedicated to the work. It’s actually fine—after her last boyfriend cheated on her, she vowed to focus on her career anyway.

Enter Charlie, aka Hot Neighbor Guy, a near-stranger who shocks her with the offer of an all-inclusive trip to a Turks and Caicos resort. The catch? Charlie originally planned the trip with his ex, and asks Sloane to pose as his new girlfriend to make his old flame come running back. Against her better judgment, Sloane says yes; she can use the time away to develop a game design that will dazzle the Catapult team and get her a job offer.

Despite sparks flying in paradise, the trip can’t lead to more. As their connection deepens, Sloane is reminded that she can’t fall for Charlie and get knocked off her professional path. Besides, he’s trying to win back his true love.

Can Sloane figure out a way to move past heartbreak, land the job of her dreams, and avoid catching feelings? The zombie apocalypse would be easier to solve—at least she’s prepared for that.

📝This was not for me🙃 Charlie and Sloane were not compelling characters, which made it hard to invest in their development and relationship. They instantly fell for each other and there wasn’t any solid buildup or chemistry.

The plot had a major issue that I wasn’t able to overlook. During Sloane’s interview, the men at Catapult encouraged her to focus her entire life on her job. I’m sure that happens, especially with “tech bro” start ups, but for Sloane to go as far as actually believing she has to stay single is just stupid.

💫Thanks to @netgalley @harperperennial for my egalley💫

I would rate this 3.5 rounded up to 4. There were several things I enjoyed about this book. I loved the romantic relationship that developed between Sloane and Charlie. It was sweet and fun with a perfect amount of spice. I also loved the tropical setting, perfect for armchair travelers needing a beach getaway. However, the plot device that drives most of the conflict in the book is troubling. The idea that Sloane’s potential new bosses tell her during her interview that she must stay single to get and keep the job is over-the-top, misogynistic and downright illegal. Those parts of the book were a miss for me, but the book really shines in the middle portions during Sloane and Charlie’s vacation and burgeoning relationship. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

This was fun and light-hearted. Not extremely steamy. A quick read. It was very surface-level, preventing me from getting attached to any of the characters. The ending was a bit of a letdown. BUT this book did have me giggling a few times which was exactly what I was looking for.

Thank you Harper Perennial and #netgalley for the free ARC! #oliveinfluencer

I enjoyed this read!
I loved the first chapters when Sloane lays a lip lock on a complete stranger in a bar who turns out not to be such a stranger after all. I love how she uses nicknames for some of her characters, a habit I share.
In fact I continued to call Hot Neighbor Guy HGN because I liked it bette than his actual name.
I loved Sloane’s game prototypes were hilarious, Arsonist Betty made me howl!
I’m not a gamer but I understand the appeal of the plot for the games.
I adored the cover because it drew me in.
HGN and Sloane were not each other’s rebounds but each other’s finds!

Just finished this book, 2nd by this author. While I knew that I was reading "chick lit", and a romance I felt it was light on the plot. I also didn't love Sloane's vacillating on Charlie. While they were at Turks and Caicos, I felt it was really wild ups and downs on Sloane's part - She'd resist and then on the next page you were taken aback a little by the level of dirty talk and her saying "fuck me" to Charlie......just too much.

Not sure I'd recommend this one......but I would read another book by the author in hopes they hit their stride.