Thanks to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing,, Berkley Romance, and Penguin Random House for this copy of "One Star Romance."

It was a beautiful book, although different from what I was expecting. It was definitely an exploration of relationships and how they change over time, both Natalie's and Rob's and that of their best friends.

Their story would have me all misty-eyed one minute, then laughing the next. It develops over 10 years as Natalie, Rob, and their best friends are trying to determine their best life paths (and life partners).

Natalie wants to be a writer and feels like she's floundering at finding the way to fulfill her dreams. Rob is a linguistics PhD student and has a well-defined plan to achieve (what he thinks are) his.

And you know from the description that he gives her book a one-star rating and they "hate" each other. So yes, an enemies to friends to lovers trope but it's so, so much more than that.

This had so much potential, but I just didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would. I guess it's just not the right book for me.

One-Star Romance had the potential to be more than it's title meant however; I found the romance lacking. I wasn't invested or believed in the romantic connection Hankin was trying to portray with Natalie and Rob. However; I continued reading until the last 75ish pages when cancer was thrown in as a tactic to bring Natalie and Gabby back together. Being a spouse to someone with cancer, I could not continue reading when there was no prior warning (a simple trigger warning or website link) in advance letting me know that was coming up....especially as this plot point played a huge part in the last quarter of the book.

This was one of those books that just kept breaking my heart and putting it back together, but in the best of ways. I couldn’t put it down because I just loved these characters, especially Natalie. It was so rewarding to watch her growth throughout the story, fumbles and bumbles included. She’s so utterly human, and flawed, and easy to relate to, as is Rob – mister One Star himself.

This novel had me cheering for them at times and yet not at others, and then cheering again. It is such a great story. Loved it!

This book made me cry so much more than I expected and I really enjoyed it!! I thought the writing was so good and funny and I was thoroughly entertained the whole time.

This is one of the books that was featured on the Summer Booked with Berkley Season Preview, and when the author talked about the premise I was instantly sold. Basically, the best man gives our main character’s book (the maid of honor) a 1 star review and she finds out. Do you see the dislike to like potential?!?! The tension potential? The forced proximity of these two being stuck in eachother's lives because their bffs are together??? UNREAL.

To be honest, sometimes when a premise is this juicy I get a little scared because I've been let down by good premises too many times. This book did not let me down though!! The tension! The banter! The growth! I loved it all.

I really liked how time passed in this book!!! I felt like we got just enough information on what was happening in each phase of our characters lives to leave us really curious what was going to happen the next time we saw them (which was like a year or so later usually). I felt like this was also a clever way to let us get to know all the characters well, by seeing them in different situations. I found the progression of the story unpredictable (in a good way!!!) and I thought this was really nice and it allowed me to just be along for the ride because I couldn’t guess what was going to happen next.

I also liked how messy this book was, things weren’t always neat and easy and I feel like that made these characters more believable. Our main characters and their friends have believable flaws and struggles, and we see them grow throughout the years and I loved this.

Speaking of MESSY, something I often run into is loving/relating to a main character and then going to look at other people’s reviews (which I love doing right after finishing the book) and then finding out that a lot of people found them unlikeable. I’m not sure what this says about me, but this has been happening to me more and more often (anyone else?). I will say that Natalie did some cringeworthy things BUT also, that just makes her more relatable to me bc who among us doesn’t have whole eras of their lives that haunt them?

Rating: 4/5 stars

Natalie and Rob are maid of honor and best man at their respective best friends’ wedding and they have quick chemistry…until she finds out he left a one-star review of her novel on Goodreads.

The premise of this one feels like every bookstagrammer’s dream, and it was a lot of fun! I enjoyed the writing style, found some really wonderful quotes, and connected with a lot of the characters, including the MMC Rob. The audio (read by the author!) was also really well done.

I did have a few issues with the FMC, and the structure of this one (spanning the course of several years with numerous time jumps) is generally not one of my favorites, but it was done really well here, so most of my issues are just a me problem! I would generally recommend this book, though I’d also caution to check the CWs, as there was a big trigger that popped up with very little warning.

Finally and with all of that said, I can’t end this review without a shoutout to Angus, one of the best secondary characters I’ve ever read in a novel bar none. That man was sweet and kind and funny and a total teddy bear. He deserves the ENTIRE WORLD and I will fight anyone who hurts him, full stop.

CW: Cancer; infidelity; dementia

This book was so cute and fun! The main female character, Natalie, was a tad bit annoying, but I could appreciate most of her growth through to the end of the story. Rob was adorable, so was Angus, and even the goofy heartthrob, Tyler. While this book had the tropes of a fun romance novel, the author really gave these characters deep storylines and conflict that felt relatable (heartbreakingly so, at times). I also liked that the conflicts changed and grew as time passed. A great read, I'd definitely recommend!

It took me a minute to get into this one, as it was in third person and I do prefer first person POV for romance, but once I kept going, I ended up enjoying this one. The story takes place over several events that bring our two main characters together. We mostly get more from Natalie’s viewpoint, but as the story goes on we get more from Rob’s as well. They have a bunch of misses, starting with some misunderstandings, then getting over those things and it seems like maybe they can connect, but then something else comes and gets in the way and messes it up. Often a mispoken word to someone, or a misunderstanding occasionally too. Or they’re just in the wrong place at the wrong time, with both having their own significant others.

I ended up really connecting with Natalie a lot though, when it came to how she started feeling about being left behind as her friend, her best friend especially, seemed to be moving on to different phases of her life. Pretty much all my college friends did that. And I got left behind. As they got married and started hanging out with their husbands’ friends who were also married. When they had kids it was even more that I lost them. And I understand why it happens. But I also totally understood Natalie in this book at that point. Then towards the end Rob’s father suffering from dementia hit a bit hard for me with my own stepfather’s journey over the past few years.

I still liked the book though, and think it was definitely worth a read, lots of emotion and great takes on things.

This was such a fun romance! This is my fourth book by Laura Hankin and I'm definitely a fan! The banter, the plot, the chemistry was all great. It's such an easy and fun read. I really liked both main characters too and I found them somewhat relatable. This story deals with friendship that I also thought was so relatable as friends from college deal with growing up and apart in different phases of life. I enjoyed the time jumps too because I loved reading about Natalie and Rob without getting into the weeds of their day to day life. There are some trigger warnings dealing with dementia and cancer so research more if needed. This was low on the steaminess but the tension of the relationship had a great payout. Overall, this was a great summer beach read and I definitely recommend if you are looking for a romance.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy. 4.5 rounded up.

This was one of my most anticipated releases of 2024 and I really loved it!

Natalie is forced to walk down the aisle at her best friend’s wedding with the man who gave her book a one-star rating on goodreads.

Knowing that the premise was based on what actually happened to the author made it even more appealing to me 👏

I loved that the story was told in different parts, each part flashing forward a year or two. I really enjoyed seeing the characters at different stages in their lives — and the timeline allowed the main characters to really grow before ending up together.

ONE STAR-ROMANCE is so much more than a rom-com. Natalie’s friendship with Gabby is a huge part of the story. Hankin created a friendship that felt so genuine and relatable, especially as Natalie and Gabby had to navigate how their friendship changed during different seasons of life.

🤧 get your tissues ready because you’ll feel allll the emotions while reading.

Synopsis: Being Maid of Honor and Best Man together for a wedding becomes awkward when Natalie finds out Rob left a one star review of her novel on Goodreads.
Thoughts: I loved this, but friends, this was not a fluffy romcom as you may be lead to think by the synopsis.
One Star Romance is more a story of friendship and family and the bonds that remain through the ups and downs of life. There were some very heavy topics in this book that I was not prepared for, but they were handled beautifully. I loved the writing, the overall structure and the pacing of the story. The female characters were fine, but the male characters were freaking amazing. Rob is one of the best male love interests I've read in awhile, and I challenge you not to be absolutely enamored with Angus by the end.
Overall, this was a funny, relatable and heartwarming story that I highly recommend!
Read this if you like:
romance as a side plot, dual pov, found family, friendship, self-discovery

❌ had a romantic thru-line, but not really a romance
❌ will target you if you’re in your late twenties probably
❌ i had this title in my “palate-cleanser” romances; it had far more depth and tough stuff in it than i expected

✅ characters with real shit going on
✅ deliberately talks about how long-time deep friendships get backburnered for romantic relationships
✅ toxic academia representation

many thanks to berkley and netgalley for the advance reader copy.

**3/5 stars**

I went into "One Star Romance" expecting a light-hearted, romantic comedy, but what I got was a more serious and nuanced exploration of relationships, grief, and personal growth. Don't get me wrong, the characters are well-developed and relatable, and the writing is engaging. Natalie and Rob's banter is witty and endearing, and I enjoyed watching them navigate their complicated feelings for each other.

However, I felt misled by the book's description. The title "One Star Romance" led me to expect a more comedic tone, with a focus on the humorous side of a one-star review. Instead, the book tackles some heavy themes like family dynamics, loss, and identity crisis. While these themes are certainly important and well-handled, they weren't what I was in the mood for.

The characters are the real strength of the book. Natalie is a creative and emotional person who struggles with self-doubt, while Rob is more reserved and analytical. Their differences create an interesting dynamic, and I appreciated how they challenged each other to grow and confront their insecurities. The supporting cast of characters is also well-developed, particularly Natalie's best friend Gabby, who adds some much-needed levity to the story.

Overall, I would recommend "One Star Romance" to fans of contemporary romance who enjoy complex characters and character-driven stories. However, if you're looking for a light-hearted rom-com, you might want to look elsewhere.

I have a lot of conflicting feelings about this book. It WAS good. I loved the writing and I like the dual POV and the fast moving timeline. The story worked so well the way it was set up, it did leave me wanting so much more. But it made sense! And I really appreciated it! I both loved and hated Natalie?? She was so annoying but in a VERY relatable way for so much of the book. Rob was hard to read but I also kind of loved him? I do really like the right person wrong time, missed connection thing?? Even though it does seem to frustrate me when it’s set up to take place intermittently over many years…

Natalie and Rob had A CONNECTION. That was the whole point of the book. But since we only got to see them a few times together it was hard to see the big picture, to see their chemistry. And I wanted MORE. I held out because I had a feeling that by the end it would all come together and it DID. By the end I appreciated the entire story as a whole! I just wish I could have felt more connected throughout the whole book.

The last 80 pages EVISCERATED me. Like DESTROYED ME. I was fully unprepared! It was GOOD! Do not get me wrong. I loved the way it was written, everything came full circle, and the ending was everything I could have hoped for. But that last part…HURT.

Thank you to Berkley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

One-word review: Delightful
Emojis: ☺️🫢🫠
Rating: 4 🌟s

My thoughts:

One-Star Romance by Laura Hankin is a unique romantic comedy that turns the enemies-to-lovers trope on its head. In this book, a woman unexpectedly finds herself drawn to the man who gave her very first novel a one-star review. Intriguing, isn't it?

I absolutely adored the premise. I can't imagine a better bookish enemies-to-lovers plot. It's so authentic, as is the rest of the story surrounding it.

The book takes you on a journey through all the pivotal moments in the lives of Natalie's best friend, who is in a relationship with Rob's best friend. Yet the story is about how Natalie and Rob met and fell in love even though he gives Natalie's pride and joy a review of only one star.

While the narrative technique employed may not have been my personal preference, the final quarter of the book was a profoundly affecting and emotionally charged experience that I couldn't help but be moved by.

The character development in this book is exceptional, with each individual given ample room to evolve and mature as the plot unfolds. I found them all to be remarkably relatable, their lives vividly brought to life by the author's pen.

Overall, this book is a delightful addition to your beach or pool bag. It's a read that will keep you excited and engaged, and it certainly won't disappoint.

The premise of this book immediately hooked me with how almost cringe worthy and interesting it sounded. I really enjoyed how this book focused on friendships. Despite the romance taking forever to develop, I appreciated the humor and realistic feelings we got to experience getting to that point.

Thank you to Berkley and Netgalley for my e-arc of this book.

I thought the blurb of this book sounded like such a fun and unique idea. I love a quirky romance, however, even though romance is in the title, this is not a romance novel. I wish the marketing was handled differently for this book so I knew more what to expect while reading. I found the pacing to be slow, the characters to be rather unlikable and so I struggled trying to get through this book.

“Hatred and passion shared such a fine line.”

One-Star Romance follows a pair of best friends as they muddle their way through their twenties into their thirties. They each are facing their own challenges; overbearing parents, rejection, self doubt, immaturity, being left as your friends move onto the next steps in their lives, mistakes you make that follow you and lost loves.

Natalie has just witnessed her best friend, Gabby, get proposed to by a guy she doesn’t deem worthy. Standing next to her is his best friend, Rob, who sees all the good Angus is and will be for Gabby. Both are at odds as they start a new “friendship” as the maid of honor and the best man. Love, hate, loving to hate and competition ensues between Natalie and Rob as they both try to support their friends in this next big life step. During Gabby and Angus’ year and half engagement Natalie has been published and unbeknownst to her Rob has read the book and seen that main male character that Natalie has written in an unflattering way is definitely about Angus. The night before the wedding Natalie sees that she’s been given a one-star review. Putting two and two together she figures out it was Rob. This is the catalyst to the competition, tension and love/hate that they hold onto for near 10 years.

“Maybe some people get lucky. They find someone early on and don’t need to figure anything out because there’s no doubt at all.”

This book takes you through time jumps and gives you small life updates on each of the characters as they are entering new life phases; job successes/failures, romances failed and thriving, health scares, 2020, babies. We get to witness emotional growth, forgiveness and maturity. What was once competing turns to mutual understanding. What was once hate turns to love.

To be frank, I struggled through the first 55% of this book and almost put it down. I’m glad I didn’t. I wasn’t connecting with Natalie, the main female character. I thought she was whiney and had to keep reminding myself she was still young and maturing. And she did. And, I began to like her. In fact, I really liked her. Rob, the main male character, was grumpy and likable throughout. I honestly thought he maybe deserved better than what he was given in the end, but I wasn’t sad how it all came together. The characters in the end were richer and had a history that was necessary for where their relationships landed. Would I call this a rom-com? I’m not so sure. I didn’t catch myself laughing out loud…like at all. There were definitely good moments and humorous banter, but it was definitely a more serious book that dealt with a lot of hard things in a gentle way. If you’re looking for a light fluffy read this isn’t it.


Thank you NetGalley, Berkley Publishing and Laura Hankin for allowing me to read a copy of One-Star Romance in exchange for an honest review.

I read and enjoyed happy and you know it but since that was mama drama I figured I was in for some romance based on the title. This is light on romance or rather the slowest burn imaginable. I found it to be more women’s fiction with heavy emphasis on friendship. The protagonist was immature and needed to grow up. This book spans 8 years which I find it hard to believe - long haul angst isn’t my thing. I can see this appealing to those that enjoy a light summer read and some would call this chick lit.

3.5 stars rounded up. One Star Romance a solid story about two people circling around each other for years until they end up in the right place and the right time. I was skeptical at the beginning, fell wholeheartedly into the story in the middle, and started to get annoyed again in the second half and at the end. Things kind of clicked for me when I read the acknowledgments and realized the author hasn’t written a romance before—this book hits the necessary beats, but it doesn’t feel intimately familiar or comfortable with romance conventions.

The book follows Natalie, who starts the story as a 24 year old with big dreams of becoming an acclaimed novelist, and Rob, a PhD student following in the footsteps of his professor father. Rob leaves a one-star review of Natalie’s less-than-bestselling novel right before the wedding of their respective best friends, and what ensues is years of the two characters running into each other every 18 months or so at the other major life events of those best friends, having a memorable encounter, then going back to their separate lives until next time.

I was impressed with the setup—the whole one-star review thing works better than I expected, with both characters having good reason to hate each other because of it. The first half overall kept me engaged, despite a fair amount of clunky interiority and flashback work to show why the characters turned out the way they are. I especially liked the author’s skillful use of the one-bed trope—the angst and tension were singing! I will say that much is made the entire book of one of the characters “beating” the other by making a better toast at a wedding, but both toasts are printed in full in the text, and I thought the “losing” toast was better, lol. It’s little things like that that break the illusion for me and take me out of the story.

Where the book lost me a bit was the second half, when Natalie and Rob start dating other people and continue to take several years to get together. At this point, I was getting sick of the structure of the book and just wanted them to stay in the same place and get to know each other better. It started to feel less like romance when the characters were spending so much time apart, and there’s a long detour from Rob’s girlfriend’s perspective that frustrated me. It’s a romance about Natalie and Rob, so why are we off with this other character?

That’s what I mean about the book *being* a romance but seeming uncomfortable with romance conventions. It breaks the mold a bit, which makes sense given the author’s book club fiction background. I’m all for experimentation, but in this case it didn’t work that well for me.

Anyway, the final chapters of the book, which introduce COVID and a few other serious and upsetting complications into the mix, sealed the deal on my annoyance. Curtis Sittenfeld’s ROMANTIC COMEDY did Covid-as-a-plot-device quite well, but in this book it just made me realize how much freaking time had passed in the book without these characters getting together, lol. At a certain point it’s too long!

This is an interesting, absorbing entry in the romance genre, at its best when the two leads are able to sparkle on page together in the present. Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free e-ARC in return for an honest review!