Member Reviews

“That’s was not a good place. So, no, not where we left off. Forward? Backward. Not sure which way. But someplace else.”

“But I just need the same thing I always needed.”
“You.”

“I should have done this years ago.”
“Done what?”
“Anything.”

Thank you NetGalley!
Pub date Sept 3

This book was cute!! I think it is a great palette cleanser and easy read. The writing is easy to follow and I found myself laughing a lot! The spicy scenes were funny cause they were just so real lolol which is refreshing to read at times.

I also liked the community that was built throughout the story too. How social media was used to bring people together that would have never met before, and how it connected them to resources that they needed! I honestly found the main MMC to kinda childish so he bothered me at times, but him and his friend Boyd were really funny together so it made up for it.

If you love a second chance rom com this is for you!

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This was cute. I’m a sucker for second chance romance, and I loved seeing a rekindling of a past marriage. The backdrop renovation was also a good way to force the characters together and felt natural. The book was also very angsty, in a good way, though at times I wanted a little bit more resolution. Overall a nice read that will resonate with people who believe in giving love and that One Person another chance.

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No One Does It Like You is a romance for people who are perpetually "online". You now what I mean. The main characters are queer, goofy, scared, pining, and surrounded by fanfic writers. I think a lot of readers will enjoy the fluff of this one, but it wasn't for me.

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Unfortunately, this book is not for me. I read to 20%, but am unable to finish reading, and I won't post a negative review on any other sites, but I wanted to leave some of my thoughts here.

The logic just wasn't tracking for me on several levels, but most importantly - why is Rosie asking for Tom's help in the first place? She's made it clear that there is enough money to hire contractors, and she seems adamant that her relationship doesn't need to be mended or their history even addressed at all. She's also so stubborn she is forcing miscommunication conflicts and that is one of my pet peeves.

The premise did sound interesting, and I'm sure a book like this has its perfect readers, but unfortunately for this one, it is not me.

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This is a new to me author, and I’ve heard nothing but great things about them and their books. And I DO think this book is good, but it’s just not for me. I love a second chance romance so much which is why I was so excited about it. And the fact that they’re reuniting after 10 years and working together to do some renovations on her family inn!!! It has the makings for a great book and I think people are going to love it.

I just don’t love the writing style. There’s something about the third person POV in this book that I just don’t like?? And honestly Tom annoys me.

I was forcing myself to keep reading and I hate doing that…

Thanks to Berkley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

DNF @ 45%

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It was...fine? I was entertained and enjoyed my reading experience, but overall thought it wasn't particularly well-written or developed. Tom wants Rosie back ten years after their divorce - but it kind of seems like out of nowhere? Like, I don't believe his love is that strong after so long. Rosie just needs help fixing up her family's old inn - and can only rely on Tom? It just doesn't seem realistic or well developed for me.

When Rosie finally comes around, it also feels a bit sudden. There is an attempt at will-they-won't-they, but it also feels very sudden. AND - there's this ongoing bit about our bi MMC having a boyfriend; there were just so many assumptions here, but no real, thoughtful discussion of what was actually happening between the characters.

Also - they broke into a cottage with no repercussions or discussion of it afterwards?

Again, I enjoyed my reading experience - the HGTV aspect of fixing up the inn, the motley crew of characters, but the romance and the characters just didn't do it for me.

CW // pregnancy, discussions of infertility, car crash, dangerous weather, animal peril, ableism, misogyny and biphobia, illness of an elderly relative, graphic language

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First off, thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

This emotional, hilarious, and heartwarming second chance romance tells the story of college sweethearts reuniting to restore an inn during an impending hurricane season. As they work together, she begins to wonder if they can repair the damage to their relationship that they thought was long gone. However, the extremely slow burn and lack of communication between the characters made it difficult to stay engaged. While the story had potential, it ultimately didn't grab my attention as expected. Even though this was my first read by Kate Shepard and it ended up being just okay for me, I appreciated her writing style and the unique premise. I will definitely give the author another try, hoping her other works resonate more with me.⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Thank you, Berkley, for providing a copy of No One Does It Like You by Katie Shepard in exchange for my honest review.

Katie Shepard’s growth as a writer is evident in this final installment of her interconnected stand-alone series, and it’s a fantastic conclusion. This romance is a beautiful blend of heartwarming reunion and charming restoration.

In this touching story, college sweethearts Tom Wilczewski and Rose Kelly are given a second chance at love. After a dramatic rescue during a Category 3 hurricane, Broadway actor Tom reaches out to his ex-wife, Rose, to tell her he still loves her. Fast forward two months, and Rose is overwhelmed with storm damage to her family’s B&B on Martha’s Vineyard, while Tom is still making headlines as a hero. Upon hearing Tom’s voicemail, Rose decides to call his bluff and asks him to help fix the inn.

What follows is a delightful mix of romance, family dynamics, and home repair chaos. Tom’s eagerness to win Rose back is met with the reality of a less-than-ideal inn and a less-than-helpful family. But as Tom and Rose work together to restore the inn, they begin to see that their old dreams might not fit their new realities. The story explores whether they can mend both the inn and their broken relationship, making for a heartwarming and hopeful read.

Katie Shepard has crafted a story that’s both engaging and emotional, with a satisfying conclusion to her series. If you’ve enjoyed her previous works, No One Does It Like You is a must-read. It beautifully captures the essence of second chances and the transformative power of love.

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Thinking he is possibly about to die, up-and-coming Broadway star Tom makes a frantic call to his ex-wife Rose, leaving her a voicemail telling her that he has always loved her. Two months later, Rose, in the depths of despair following the devastating news that her family would rather sale her aunt's beloved inn rather than repair it, stumbles upon his message. Knowing he may be her only option, Rose asks Tom to help her make the necessary repairs and help her save the inn, the one place she has always felt brought her family together. While he doesn't have the slightest idea where to start, Tom jumps at the opportunity to spend time with Rose and see if he can convince her to give them a second chance.

Through a series of almost unbelievable events and using a slew of quirky characters, the story comes to life in the background of their rekindling romance. While Rose has always had remaining feelings for Tom, she's still not sure if she can trust that he has really changed and will fulfill all that he is promising for their future.

This second-chance romance shows just how two people can grow and mature and return to each other to find love right where they hoped it would be. The additional side characters were fun, though I really wish that more had been resolved as far as Rose's family and how they treat her.

A fun read for fans of young sweethearts returning to love and those who enjoy a heart-on-his sleeve MMC. This will find an audience with most fans of contemporary romance.

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I adore second-chance romances, so I was excited to dive into Katie Shepard’s newest novel, No One Does It Like You. This sweet romance expertly intertwined poignant, emotional moments with humorous, lighthearted scenes. The level of depth woven into this book took me by surprise in the best way. As someone who hadn't experienced Katie Shepard's writing before, I now find myself eagerly looking forward to exploring her previous works!

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I feel like I should start this review off with a disclaimer because I’m about to be real sassy. Am I the only reviewer that did not like this book?!?!?!! Like seriously every review I’ve seen on Goodreads has been glowing about this book. I’m sitting here thinking have I been punk’d. Now don’t get me wrong I enjoy Katie Shepard as an author. But No One Does it Like You is not it.

Brief summary before we get to the nitty gritty - Tom and Rosie and working together to restore a family inn after a hurricane ten years after their divorce. Tom desperately wants Rosie back, but Rosie is holding back. Will they be able to restore their past relationship?

So time for the nitty gritty. This book was all over the place. First the pacing, dear god the amount of times I wanted to DNF because of how slow it was. But I wanted to hang on to hope that it would turn itself around. Spoiler alert it didn’t….

Secondly our lead MMC & FMC just no. Not now nor do I ever ship them. In my honest opinion they should’ve stayed divorced. Like don’t get me wrong I’m a fan of the second chance romance trope. But I’m sorry this one was not executed well.

Again don’t get me wrong I really enjoy Katie Shepard’s humor and writing style but this book was not my favorite of hers. Even with all that said please check out her books. Just maybe save this one last. Unless you are a fan of a very slow burn.

Thank you to Berkley Romance and NetGalley for the opportunity to to read an early copy in exchange for my honest review

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This was a cute second chance romance. I really enjoyed how Tom and Rosie both still had feelings for each other, even if the other was oblivious to it. The reconciliation was slow burn. Sometimes I felt like there was so much going on with the inn and the side character though. Without all the distractions and just trying to communicate, the relationship could have been resolved sooner.

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No One Does It Like You by Katie Shepard is a work of pure brilliance. It seamlessly blends tender moments with sharp humor, creating a captivating read that is impossible to put down. The constant subtle wit woven throughout the story kept me engaged from the very first page to the final sentence.

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I feel bad that I've been in such a reading slump because I haven't been able to care about a lot of these anticipated releases like this one. I really wanted this one to be the one to break the slump, but unfortunately, this wasn't it for me.

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everything felt half done with this book. the plot never felt fully wrapped up or fleshed out and the same could be said for the romance. overall eh

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I wanted to like this book but it just couldn’t hold my attention at all! I normally finish a rom com in 2-3 days and after 10 days and 72% I have to DNF. It’s just boring to me. I’m very easily to please so idk why this one just wasn’t grabbing me.

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College sweethearts Tom and Rose have been divorced ten years, but ex-husband and Broadway star Tom is still the one that Rose can call upon in a pinch. When she takes on the renovation and repair of her family’s inn on Martha’s Vineyard, which was abandoned and left neglected after her beloved aunt’s passing. Like belling the cat, not a single family member wants to help and indeed, encourage her to sell.

Their marriage fell apart due to their immaturity, lack of communication, and not making time for one another, but the chemistry, love, and passion are all still there under the fear, vulnerability, rejection, and hurt. Tom enlists his co-star and rumored love interest Boyd to help, public interest in the project picks up, and the next thing you know, a fan-fiction contingent that ships Tom and Boyd are helping with interior design, while Tom’s castmates assist with construction. Many hands make light work; at the end of the project, will Tom and Rosie go their separate ways again?

The writing is very skillful: a lovely slow burn with the rebuilding of the inn mirroring the rebuilding of the relationship, and the impending hurricane season building tension alongside amping up of physical desire and Tom’s progress in getting back into Rosie’s heart–and bed. The pace might drag a little too much and there are some uncomfortable moments of biphobia and misogyny.

I received a free advance reader’s review copy of #NoOneDoesItLikeYou via #NetGalley courtesy of Berkley.

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I received a free copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group; all opinions expressed are exclusively my own.

I wasn't sure exactly what to expect from this title, but here's what I got: essentially a romance between someone with ADHD and someone who parented themselves and how catastrophically that can go wrong, and how it can be recovered, with a lot of slash fic references thrown in for good measure. It's definitely got more depth than I expected, and the cast of characters is colorful and enjoyable. I'd say this is a rom-com with a spine thrown in almost precisely calculated to make me have feelings.

For sensitive readers, there are explicit sex scenes, invasion of privacy, brief life threatening situations, and depictions of family neglect.

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No One Does It Like You was exactly what I expected from Katie Shepard (which is a great thing).

What I loved:
Characters: Tom was just perfect. He learns from his mistakes and won’t allow his plans to be compromised. Rose was also great (do we still say #girlboss). She was one of my favorite characters in Bear With Me Now, so it was wonderful to see her as the FMC. I also want more of Boyd (hoping for the next novel to be Boyd/Sloane?!) The fangirls were also a welcomed addition - especially knowing of the author’s fanfiction past.

What I liked:
The brief mention of Teagan and Darcy’s wedding. I want more.

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It’s well-written but the plot is not paced well, so I’m not personally enjoying. Our couple does not get to the inn until the 25% mark. At the 35% mark, our couple just started cleaning/getting things moving, and then at the 38% mark, they decided to go look at wallpaper (not shingles for the holes in the roof, the windows to replace, clean up needed, or any of the other substantial problems that need to be addressed). I’m stopping here. I am left questioning if the author has ever actually done extensive home improvement or if this is just a surface-level HGTV montage. As someone who has done extensive renovation, I was disappointed. And at the 40% mark, we still haven’t seen the merry band of Tom’s co-Broadway stars at the house helping out, so we’re technically still not through the blurb, which is another clue that pacing for plot isn’t working. This should have been addressed in editing. We basically spent the first part of the book dealing with the details and emotions of their separation, which is fine for character-driven readers, but it’s not being marketed that way.

This should fall into the 3 to 4 star range for target audiences. But again, definitely character driven readers, so be mindful of that when recommending to library patrons.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC.

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