Definite five star romance! This book was a lot emotional than I expected and I absolutely loved that. I was expecting a cute rom com and I got a story with a lot of emotional growth and heart instead which was lovely. Natalie and Rob were great together and I also loved the banter they had as well as the dynamic they had with Gabby and the rest of the characters. Would highly recommend this to anyone who like romance stories with a lot of heart and dynamic characters.

Let me be clear, One Star Romance was anything but a 1 ⭐️ review from me. I absolutely loved it. But the premise is that a writer found out that her best friend’s fiancé’s friend gave her a 1 ⭐️ review and she hated him ever since. A true enemies to lovers romcom that spans a few years. This book was delightful. The bantering was top notch. The jokes were biting and clever, making them laugh out loud funny. The characters were so multi-dimensional as they faced real life problems with a realness and honesty that was so appreciated. Things were tackled in all their ugliness instead of glossed over. Oh, I cried a little. And I swooned to balance it out. Perfect romcom joy in a huggable book by @laurahankin .

've gotta give 1 star to the romance part of the story because it took ages and ages and ages for it to happen. Like I'm talking years. I'm boggled by the title actually. This is much more about friendships and one's life journey to figuring themselves out.

We have Natalie & Gabby who are bff's and Rob & Angus who are bff's. On Gabby and Angus's engagement night Natalie and Rob meet. And then they keep meeting again and again for milestones in Gabby and Angus's lives.

What a journey this is ~ we begin in May 2013 and end in May 2021. Each part has at least a year time jump, so it made it seem slow moving for me. I'd much rather read right along with the events as they play out and not be told what happened in the gap of time after the fact. Maybe that's just me.

…More like five star romance! I adored this book; I was expecting a light and fluffy romcom but this was more women’s fiction and full of emotion, which are the types of books I love! I also loved that the main character was a writer and books were frequently a topic of conversation between the MCs, that there was a strong focus on friendships, and that it took place over several years. The interactions with the MCs were written so well and I loved Natalie’s growth over the course of the story! Highly recommend!

This was my first book by Laura Hankin and I thought this was a solid romantic comedy. I liked the pacing of the time jumps she used to bring Natalie + Rob together and I liked the group dynamic of Natalie, Rob, Gabby, and Angus. There were some great laugh-out-loud moments. I felt the 75% mark plot twist of Gabby getting cancer was surprising and I didn't love that that was what ultimately brought Natalie + Rob together. The fact that he gave her book one star also never felt like it resolved itself.

3.5 stars

I enjoyed this story mostly! It took a while for Natalie to grow on me because of her actions and behavior, but can easily see how relatable she was.

The ending was one that i wasn't expecting, and it made me misty eyed. Love how the author wrapped it up nicely.

From the very beginning, Laura Hankin's whip-smart writing style grabbed my attention. I really liked the witty banter, mainly because it reveals so much about who the characters truly are. There were several interactions that made me laugh out loud. Hankin has an impressive gift for developing unique, interesting characters. The hero is extremely appealing.
Although the title and the cover imply that this is a rom-com, the themes of finding joy and fulfillment in one's work, as well as grieving the many ways friendships change over time play significant roles in this storyline. My only quibble with this novel is the heroine. She is a challenge to like, and at times, I found her to be rather self-absorbed.
In my opinion, this novel is less about romance and more about personal growth and self-discovery. Laura Hankin has crafted a tale that is both entertaining and meaningful. Readers will have lots to think about after they finish this one.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the complimentary copy. All opinions shared here are my own.

One-Star Romance
⭐️⭐️

“Happiness followed pain and pain followed happiness, and all you could do was hang on and feel every bit of it for as long as this world would let you.”

Okay, so I wouldn’t consider this a bad book, HOWEVER, you need to know what you’re getting yourself into.
I feel wildly mislead. With a title like “One-Star Romance”, I obviously was expecting an upbeat, sweet romantic story… but in my opinion this should not be categorized in the romance genre. The romance was so minimal.
Maybe if I would have known this beforehand, I would have enjoyed this more.
This is a contemporary fiction book, with a strong theme of FRIENDSHIP. Also, with life lessons of acceptance and rejection.
This book is set over a long timeline, the first section starts in 2013, and is told throughout the years in seven different parts.
It is told in the 3rd person, and while I thought Natalie’s chapters were easy to read, I felt that Rob’s were a bit boring. Regardless, the entire middle portion of this book felt slow to me. I hate to say this too, but the FMC drove me insane almost the entire time.
Now remember that these opinions are coming from someone who thought she was going to read a fun little rom-com. If you are a fan of contemporary fiction books, specifically women’s fiction, then there’s a chance you might will like this.
The writing was good, but I just felt so mislead by the title, cover, and summary for this book. It’s sad because I do enjoy contemporary fiction, but I like to be expecting that before I pick up the story.

Read If You Like:
🌟enemies to lovers sub plot
🌟timelines that span many years
🌟themes of friendships
🌟main character that is an author
🌟navigating your 20s

WOWOWOWOW I adored this! Her best yet!!! A heartwarming romance that was made even more satisfying because of what they had to do to get there - I loved the "over the years" trope, never quite having the timing right.... my new fave romance novel!

Really enjoyed this one! Loved the slow burn romance between the two main characters, and seeing how they change and how their lives change (but are still intertwined via their best friends) over several years.

Natalie and Gabby’s friendship was definitely codependent and this conflict wasn’t addressed until waaaay later. Rob and Natalie definitely had chemistry though, and I loved seeing how they grew. Surprisingly Angus was a favorite character — he’s so sweet. I wish we had more moments between Rob and Nat although I appreciated the focus on friendships too.

Some cute moments, and the writing/plotting keeps everything moving at a good pace, but the main characters lack believable chemistry, and there are too many eye-roll-inducing set pieces for this reader's taste.

I had a really hard time getting into this one. I don't think it had much romance like it suggests but more women's fiction. We see the MCs come and go throughout several years. The aspect of you again, hate you, love you, forced proximity, repeat was the way this plot worked. I think Rob's review was justified and Natalie was relatable. Overall it was a decent read that tackled some harder topics and I think the author did a good job portraying them.

4.5! This was so good! I don’t know if there’s a term for this kind of book—a romance that sweeps through the years—but MAN, do they always manage to get me!!

I was a bit unsure about this one at the beginning—Rob and Natalie’s argument seemed a bit childish to me. And there were so many ups and downs! But the second half really came together. Though as much as I loved their relationship, it was really Natalie and Gabby’s friendship that made this story shine. I was in tears for most of the ending. I also liked Angus and his relationship w both Gabby and Natalie. The last 20% was really special. Still wiping away tears!

Natalie and Rob keep getting forced into each others’ lives based on the milestones of their best friends. They are maid of honor and best man, and then see each other often at job celebrations and housewarmings for their friends. They like each other when they meet, but when Natalie finds out that Rob gave her novel a one-star review on Goodreads, their relationship fractures. This is not a romance. Rob and Natalie are even with other people for most of the book. Told through vignettes over 8 years, readers get the perspectives of both Natalie and Rob (and one other character which was odd and misplaced). Natalie and Rob’s lives outside of each other were intriguing, but the fact that they are both as fiercely wrapped up in their respective friends to the point that Natalie especially is cruel to her best friends’ partner because she wants her all to herself was frustrating to read. Not one of the characters was all that likeable, but that being said, this was an entertaining and heartfelt at times novel about growing up and finding yourself. It’s not a one star romance, but it is a three star work of fiction.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this title from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you @BerkleyRomance #Berkley #BerkleyPartner for the free book and @PRHAudio for the complimentary audiobook. These opinions are my own.

In One-Star Romance, Natalie and Rob are repeatedly tossed together by their best friends who are getting married. Natalie is the maid of honor to Rob's best man. After he gives her a one-star review on her debut novel, the two of them clash consistently.

I appreciated the extended timeline over which this story takes place. It's a story about learning to see other people's perspectives. So I felt it was appropriately told in third person POV. Though there was clearly a lot of chemistry between the pair, the door just cracked open a tiny bit.

For me, what shone the most was the female friendship between Natalie and Gabby. The book features their relationship at least as strongly as it does the romance. And it highlights Natalie's growth as a character.

CW: cancer

I enjoyed every second of this book. It is a SLOW BURN, more chick lit rather than RomCom with several time jumps. If I could use one word to describe this book it would be "edging" in the best way possible. I do wish it was a little more spicy, but the growing anticipation of the MCs was hot and you could literally feel the tension. I loved the writing style as well and would definitely read more from this author. It’s cute and heart breaking and gives you all the feels. It is a SLOW burn romance, but so worth the read.

This book is everything. Instantly one of my top 5 of the year. There is so much to love.. The writing immediately sucks you into the story, the characters, and their relationships. I adored the subtle When Harry Met Sally vibes between Natalie and Rob but I have to admit "best supporting actor" Angus stole the show. Angus, you are the friend and husband everyone should have by their side. Please read this book. It's like a big warm hug.

At first I thought this would kind of be like When Harry Met Sally but as I read it it struck me that it’s so much more than a story about a couple getting together after many years; it’s also about the friends that keep bringing them together and the moments in life that happen along the way which I loved.

🌟 After their best friends marry each other Rob and Natalie are forced to be in each other lives even after Rob gives Natalie’s debut novel a one-star review. 🌟

After reading Hankin’s book The Daydreams, and absolutely loving it, I had high hopes for this new novel and it did not disappoint!

I had an idea in my mind about how the story would go but I was pleasantly surprised to be wrong. At its core this is a story about friendship and love in its many forms, including: friend love, romantic love, and familial love.

The pacing was perfect and the time jumps were seamless. Switching between points of view, I felt like I got to know each character better than if it were just a single point of view.

The chemistry between Rob and Natalie was full of tension and longing in this closed door romance. I really liked their relationship progression; however, I would have liked to have had more time with them as a couple but I’m greedy. 😂

The friendship between Natalie and Gabby was so important and really pulled at my heartstrings. Their love really took center stage and I loved every part of it. Similarly, Rob and Angus’s friendship was equally as special.

Angus is definitely the ultimate book husband! ♥️

Also, there were moments that reminded me of the book You, Again by Kate Goldbeck. It has a similar vibe to this story.

🌟🌟🌟🌟

💕 Friendship
💋 Romance
🖤 Enemies to Lovers
🗣️ Multi POV
💔 Grief
🌱 Growth

Spice: 🌶️🌶️/5

👉🏼 #bookstackcityreviews

🎁 Thank you @berkleypub @berkleyromance for this #gifted copy of #OneStarRomance !!

❓ Have you ever disliked your best friend’s partner? If so, how did you handle the situation? If not, what’s something you like about their partner?

Natalie's best friend is getting married to Rob's best friend. Her jealousy and anxiety inspire her to write a book that's a thinly-veiled, mean-spirited portrait of her friend's fiance that gets published just before the wedding. As a good friend, Rob gives it a one-star review on Goodreads the night before they serve as maid of honor and best man. Rob and Natalie spend the next 8 years in and out of their friends' orbit, colliding but near-missing an actual relationship (romantic or otherwise) of their own.

For any romance readers thinking of picking this up, it's a well-written novel - but it's not a romance. It's more women's fiction (although like Natalie, I don't love the term, I still think it's the closest fit for the genre) with a strong romantic plot. Mind the content notes: Dementia of a parent, cancer, cheating (not between the main characters).

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.

On the surface this is the story of Natalie and Rob who meet because they are respectively the best friends of Gabby and Angus who fall in love and get married and they are the best man and maid of honor at their wedding. Prior to the wedding Natalie writes a book that Rob leaves a 1star review for on Goodreads and it’s sends their relationship down a spiral for the next near decade when they see each other thorough Gabby and Angus although there’s an underlying connection between them. But the deeper story lies in the friendship between Natalie and Gabby and how friendships change over decades, when one friend gets married and has a family before the other and how that changes the dynamics of a relationship. I loved how the author played this relationship out and how they described hurt and reconnecting. It’s something I think most women in their 30s and 40s can understand. How success can look different for different women-in the workplace, in the home, in relationships. Very well written.