Member Reviews
Another fun time from Becca Kinzer! The embarrassing moments, the heart pounding kisses, and the non-stop adventure will have you begging Becca Kinzer to please give us another book!
A 500 mile Tandem ride goes awry when Charlotte and Zack are tasked to go the mile, in order to save Charlotte's music career. What they weren't expecting was chaos and maybe a little love mixed in.
I love the characters, the faith and the fun good times that almost had me laughing out loud at a "Silent" Book Club.
*thank you to NetGalley for an audiobook copy of this book to read and review, all thoughts are my own.
This contains an audiobook review as well.
I hate when books make me want to get off my couch and exercise! (Of course I can use that as an excuse to listen to an audiobook!) But that's exactly what this book has done to me.
This is such a cute and heartwarming tale of Charlotte and Zach! I laughed as I followed along on their journey.
It was more than just a romance. There are threads of family and healing and humor throughout the book. I just loved it!
The best part comes in the author's note! I won't tell you what that is, but if you listen to this book and don't get the author's note read to you, make sure to go find it!
There are some mentions of faith but they aren't delivered in a preachy way. I didn't feel like they were meant to influence the reader's beliefs, if the reader felt differently than the characters.
As for the audiobook, I thought the single female narrator did a very nice job of narrating the story and providing a range of voices for the characters. She was easy to listen to and added to my enjoyment of the book.
Thanks to RB Media and Netgalley for the chance to listen to an early copy of this book. I'm voluntarily leaving honest review.
As a bike lover myself, I may have grown a bit envious while reading about long bike trip (though I’ve never tried a tandem bike). Love in Tandem had so much sweetness (and laugh out loud moments!) but it also felt grounded. The characters dealt with real and at times raw emotions. I loved that one of the characters chose to go to counseling to work out things vs. pretending everything was fine.
Love In Tandem is a fake dating romance that follows Charlotte and Zach as they masquerade as a couple to tackle fraught weddings, a church youth group canoe trip, and most importantly... A 9 day, 500 mile tandem bike ride to win an insane cash prize, that would fund Charlotte's music program where she teaches, and save her job. With a lot on the line, we follow Zach and Charlotte through all the ups and downs of their journey.
This book was funny, charming, and full of swoon worthy moments. It had all the aspects of a feel good romance that I love. It was a quick read, one that I read alongside a heavier fantasy book... The best way to describe it was that it felt like a breath of fresh air.
What I liked most was that the plot really hit the ground running. I felt like I was plunged directly into the action. Which, is very refreshing. Usually it takes time to get to know the characters, and then getting to know where the plot will take you... Not with this book. You get to know the characters through the small subplots that kick off the book. I really appreciated that, and felt like I got to know the characters better through their actions rather than being told what their dispositions are like.
That being said, I do wish we got to know some more details about the subplots! I was so invested and just know it would've been funny and that I, as the reader, would've ate it up.
While the book did have references to Christianity, it didn't feel too overpowering for someone like me who isn't overly religious. It was definitely there, and it did contribute to the plot and the vibes of the book, but the plot didn't revolve around it.
At the end of this day, this book was all about the connections we make when we open ourselves up, and what happens when we just live life and how the life we envision for ourselves might not be the path that we end up following.
***Thanks to RB Media through NetGalley for providing me an ARC for my honest review***
Charlottes life is a disaster. Her fiancé dumped her two years ago and he is now getting married on the same weekend that she was supposed to be married on. Her job as a music teacher is hanging by a thread and her mother and father are acting strangely. Charlotte worries that her mothers cancer might have returned. Somehow she gets wrangled in to being the maid of honor in her Ex's wedding party and pretends to be the new girlfriend of her Ex's brother Zach. It's all a bit much to take in. In order to raise money for her family and job she and Zach enter a 500 mile tandem bike ride challenge and take off together camping and biking across the country. Unfortunately the adventures they have on the ride were not believable for me. Zach and Charlotte fall in love on their ten day bike ride but at the end it takes them many weeks to actually decide to get together. I'm sorry to say this story just did not do it for me and the second storyline of Sophia, Charlottes sister in my opinion was unnecessary. 2.5 stars.
This was another winner of a book from Becca Kinzer. Her characters are so easy to love and I just love her books! The sweet clean romance of this book is just such a great read!
Thanks Netgalley for the advanced copy.
2.5 stars. I received an audiobook copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The was a very well narrated audiobook especially considering that the story was told by a few different characters point of view. Sometimes that can be a hard listen for an auidiobook but thought that this was done very well. The best way I could describe this story is cute. I didn’t realize until a few chapters in that this was a Christian romance novel which I have never read that genre before. There were mentions of faith sporadically (although not as much as I expected) and there is ZERO spice to the main characters romance. I had just finished reading a book that was a real tear jerker so this was a nice mindless palate cleanser type of read after reading something so heavy and serious. If you need an easy read in between books or an easy listen this would be a good pick.
I enjoyed reading this ARC by NetGalley.
A good mix of serious topics and humor. Every relationship isn't always sunshine and roses from the beginning or through out and this is a good example of that.
I also enjoyed how faith and God was brought into their lives separate and together.
If you enjoy a fun romance with life thrown into the story then I will recommend this book.
I almost want this to be 2 stories one where her sister has one of her own stories :)
#LoveinTandem #NetGalley
“Nothing today turned out how it was supposed to. Nothing for years turned out how it was supposed to.”
Charlotte’s life falls apart in every possible way. She’d been abandoned on her wedding day, her mother had cancer and now her job –the school music program– is in jeopardy. She has to find a solution, and it could come from her Ex fiance’s brother, Zach.
If I loved the audio production, and (as usual) the narrator (who is probably the only one I’m able to spot by her name to this day and listen like a “long time-friend”), I’m afraid this book wasn’t for me. When I saw the title and cover, I was expecting a book about wandering into Nature, and the first couple of chapters brought me exactly here, telling me how Charlotte was a mess as soon as she crossed a door leading outside. Unfortunately, the first half of the book turns around Charlotte and Zach’s exes, and uses misunderstandings and lies as narrative structures. Some parts are supposed to be funny, but it didn’t work for me, alas. Once the wedding over (around the 50% mark), the settings change as we start Charlotte and Zach’s adventure. I really thought I’d be enjoying that part, but the author chose to change the POV she used until this point. Instead of keeping Charlotte’s and Zach’s POV, she introduces Sophie’s (Charlotte’s sister) too. This was a bit confusing for me, and added another storyline that didn't bring much IMO –the lesson could have been revealed at the end, not around this storyline and would have been more impactful, and Sophie’s story been another book.
With these changes, and –and that’s on me– my expectations unreached, I couldn’t make an attachment to the characters and truly enjoy the story, which makes me very sorry because I loved the idea of that challenge and where it could bring them.
Rate 2.5/5
Thank you NetGalley, Becca Kinzer and RB Media for the ARC in exchange for my honest review
Title: Love in Tandem
Author: Becca Kinzer
Genre: RomCom
Format: 🎧
Audiobook Narrator: C.J. Bloom
Publisher: RB Media/ Tyndale House Publishers
Pub Date was: April 2, 2024
Star Rating: 3.6 rounded up
Pages: 311
Awww a sweet Rom Com.
It is the end of the school year for music teacher, Charlotte Carter; only no ‘see you in September’ from the Principal as the music grant has not been renewed and therefore no job for Charlotte. Ouch! Additionally other things aren’t going well for her - she is recovering from her broken engagement and now her ex-fiancé is getting married.
His brother, Zach, is back in town for the wedding and the next thing we know Charlotte and Zach are on 500-mile tandem bike ride – even though there was a stipulation that the tandem riders be a dating couple.
So they become a pretend couple.
The growing relationship and banter between Charlotte and Zach was enjoyable. plus we are sure they are no longer 'pretending' to be a couple.
True Charlotte’s whining got annoying. Although I am sure the sore behind she got from the 500 mile bicycle ride would cause me to whine as well.
The narrator C.J. Bloom did a great job in performing the characters. – including the whining.
Enjoyable story; plus I always love a HEA story.
Want to thank NetGalley and RB Media/Tyndale House Publishers for granting me this audio Galley.
Publishing Release Date was April 2, 2024.
This book wasn’t really my favorite ever. I know romance books never mirror reality, but the fact that these childhood friends randomly reconnected via their exes’ wedding because of the cryptic message of a woman dying. Neither had tandem biking experience before embarking on a 500 mile ride. They didn’t even confirm that the prize money existed before leaving. And her mom with grown adult children who barely beat cancer got pregnant? So many things about this were super confusing to me. The writing was cute though and I enjoyed reading a romance with faith woven throughout!
Love in Tandem is a really sweet, light-hearted romance and I really enjoyed listening to it! Charlotte and Zach got themselves into some very unusual situations during their 500-mile bike ride - all of which were very entertaining to hear about. And Sofia’s storyline was also really cute, and it was a nice way to pass time whilst the main characters were cycling.
I did see some other reviews discussing the Christianity theme within this book. I am not Christian, and I really didn’t feel that the theme overtook any of the storyline at all - it was very briefly mentioned throughout the book, and I felt that it was beneficial to understanding the characters.
Thank you to Net Galley and Becca Kinzer for allowing me to read an ARC of Love in Tandem - I highly recommend!
Love in Tandem - Becca Kinzer - 4 Stars
Love in Tandem was SO funny! I loved Dear Henry, Love Edith last year by Becca and was so excited to dive into her next read and I was not disappointed! I laughed and laughed in this book! If you are looking for a book that is light hearted with LOTS of laughs, this is for you!
I really needed this book to during the time too after reading a fairly heavy historical fiction read. So glad I picked this up! I love Becca's writing style too!
In this story, we follow Charlotte who is a music teacher. She realizes that the grant funding for the school's music program is getting cut and she is concerned about how to continue the program. We see Charlotte in a HILARIOUS meet cute situation meet up with Zach Bryant - her brother's ex-fiancé- and somehow their family thinks they are dating! So, in this fake dating situation and thrown together in a 500 mile tandem bicycle contest for some BIG prize money- and you have a great story that is sure to bring lots of laughs.
There are also a couple of nice faith moments. I did want more with the romance personally, so I feel like this was more "com than rom", but still really enjoyed the story. I also loved reading the author's note and learning about Becca's real life experience on a 500 mile tandem bicycle trip with her husband - how fun!
I look forward to seeing what Becca writes in the future! One of my favorite authors for sure. Highly recommend! Also the narrator for this audiobook was great!
Thank you to the author and publisher for a copy to honestly read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Charlotte Carter is a simple small town woman. Her job as a music teacher is everything she could ever need and more. Yes it is true she was close to walking down the aisle two years ago but that’s all water under the bridge now, right? On the last day of school Charlotte learns that her precious music program is at risk of being shut down. Unemployment and uncertainty now hanging over her head a chance encounter could change everything.
Zach Bryant, an outdoor adventurer has returned to his small town long enough to watch his brother get married. Fresh off of being hired and quickly fired Zach is unsure of his next moves but it sure won’t be staying in that town. When Zach runs into Charlotte- who just happens to be his brother’s ex fiancée a highly emotional night from years ago comes flooding back . Charlotte and Zach uncomfortable with the awkwardness of their families prying questions accidentally pretend to be a couple. Since they’re pretending to be a couple Charlotte’s sister has the brilliant idea to enter them into a contest with a huge cash prize. This prize has the ability to drastically change both of their circumstances. They just need people to believe they’re together long enough to win the money. The catch- they’ll need to ride a tandem bike 500 miles to collect that money. Will they be able to complete the challenge then go their separate ways? After all we readers know they’re just pretending, don’t we?
Becca Kinzer’s book was a delight to listen to. I love the tropes of fake dating and forced proximity best of all. This work successfully handled both exquisitely and left me wanting for nothing. Charlotte and Zach were witty and complex and challenged each other in every way possible. Their journey led them to meet such interesting, rich characters and be put in situations that tested the strength of their resolve. A special thank you to RB Media and NetGalley for this Advanced Reader Copy.
This was a sweet book! The characters were very well developed, and their dialogue had me giggling throughout the book. The only frustrating part is that it felt like every major plot point in the story had a one-in-a-million chance of happening. I've realized that I am willing to suspend belief once or twice in a story, but this felt like a bit much. But it was a fun read overall!
Audio Format. This book is a Christian fiction Rom Com. It was refreshing to listen to a Rom Com that didn't have much spice to it. I find when I listen to modern Rom Coms in audio I find it super weird to hear the spicy scenes out loud so when I saw this title and read the description I thought I would give it a try. There are some references to God/preachers and faith but it's not over the top with the Christian content.
In a nutshell, the plot centers around Charlotte, a music teacher, who learns that the school's music program is closing. In an effort to earn prize money she teams up with her fiance's brother Zach on a 500 mile tandem bike adventure. There's a little bit of a haters to lovers (well kissers as this book is Christian fiction) trope along the way.
What I liked:
-The main plot of the bike ride adventure was super fun and had a few laugh out loud moments
-The book was overall charming and light
-The narration was animated and overall enjoyable as a whole
-It was refreshing and enjoyable to listen to a cute rom com book that wasn't heavy on the spicy scene
What I didn't like:
-I didn't feel any chemistry between the two main characters. I think it could be the audio format - I didn't like the narrator's voice for the male character as it felt very forced and awkward and to me there wasn't a connection like I have experienced in other audio romance books
-Honestly this book was about 30% longer than it needed to be. I couldn't find how many pages this book is but the listening time is just under 8.5 hours but it felt a lot longer because the first 30% of the book was spend on the background info. Once it got to the actual tandem bike plot I really enjoyed that but I almost quit listening at just over 30% because of the lack of plot at the beginning.
Overall this was an enjoyable listen. However I am giving this my average rating of 3/5 as I felt the book was really slow to get started and was quite draggy by the end. I feel if it had more biking adventure and less background building at the beginning it could have been a much higher rated book for me.
Thank you Net Galley and RB Media | Recorded Books for the audio copy of this book.
This one was so good! The story will just warm your heart! I liked the audio and enjoyed the banter between the characters. I would recommend this one!
Love in Tandem is a wonderful story by a new to me author, Becca Kinzer. Truly, words will not convey how delightful this story is. I cannot recall a time, ever, when I have laughed out loud so hard, or so many times, as I did in this story. It is a tongue in cheek, witty rom-com. Charlotte is loyal, through and through, to her hometown and her family. She works hard to keep the music program running for the kids at school and is willing to do just about anything to keep it from being shut down. She is not a fan, in any way, shape, or form, of the outdoors until she finds out it is the only way to save her beloved music program. Not that she is looking forward to the 500-mile tandem bike challenge, but her love for the music program outweighs her dislike for the outdoors. Lucky for her, Zach loves the outdoors and has committed his life to working in the outdoors, particularly anywhere but home. Together they set out, having no idea the twists and turns they would face in pursuit of this challenge. There are some serious undertones that are balanced perfectly by the sweet romance and never-ending comedy. I am so excited for more stories by this author. A new favorite. I had the additional privilege of hearing the story come to life via audiobook narrated by C.J. Bloom.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.
It doesn’t get better than this for a fake dating trope: Charlotte’s ex fiancé, Ben, left her at the altar 2 years ago. Now Ben’s marrying his brother Zach’s ex-girlfriend. When Charlotte and Zach are mistaken for a couple, hilarity ensues, throwing them into a series of humorous situations and an epic adventure: a 500 mile tandem bike trip to win money for Charlotte’s music program.
This is Becca Kinzer’s second book, and I loved it even more than her first. Kinzer writes the most endearing & quirky characters that are laugh-out-loud entertaining. While Charlotte and Zach are the main focus of this book, the side characters Kinzer includes are an amusing supporting cast. If Gilmore Girls was still airing, she could write the quirky townspeople just as perfectly as Amy Sherman-Palladino.
When I first started the book, I assumed that the majority of it would be about the tandem bike ride, but I’m actually glad it was only the second half. The first half was hilarious and totally set up the characters and circumstances perfectly. Some of my favorite parts were in the first half, but that ending though was SO good!
Here are some things I loved in this book:
- The witty banter 🔥
- The entire Melba situation had me cracking up
- Charlotte & Zach’s hilarious first encounter
- Pretty much every mishap along the bike route
- The thunder storm
- The “tandem” storyline with Sophie
- I swooned at the last line of Chapter 56 💕
I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator did a great job! Highly recommend!
Intimacy: Sweet kisses only
Language: none
Thank you to Tyndale, Becca Kinzer & Netgalley for the audiobook arc of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.
When I read the summary for this book, I immediately wanted to read it. There were so many times that I found myself laughing out loud with the crazy predicaments Charlotte and Zach found themselves in on their journey.
The whole premise of this book was funny. Charlotte is not an outdoors person, but she is willing to be one in order to save her school’s music program, with the help of Zach, her exact opposite in every way. Not to mention, he is her ex-fiance’s brother. While they are on the bike ride, Sophie and Josh are trying to find the prize money, which is hidden somewhere. I loved that there were two sides to the story, and it was written so well, and flowed so easily, that I could actually envision it playing on a screen. I listened to the audiobook version, and the narrator, CJ Bloom, was phenomenal. The book is told from three perspectives in third person. It alternates between Charlotte, Zach, and Sophie.
I loved the chemistry between Zach and Charlotte. Even in the very beginning, you can feel the tension between them, even though they tried to fight it because of their differences. If you like a clean, funny romance with opposites who agree to fake date, this is a book for you!