I had a really hard time getting into the writing style of this book. I thought the story between Kari & Billy felt rushed in the beginning. At the 50% point of the book was when I started to enjoy this read more. This is the point where more entertaining plot came about. I think this was due to the structure of keeping to Shakespeare; however I wish the relationships in this book could have been fleshed out more.

DNF @ 25%

I tried to give this one a chance but it just didn't work for me. It felt like listening to a long winded story a grandparent was telling me- summarizing things when I should be told about them and giving too much detail about things that are irrelevant. (Why are you telling me a side character is a quarter this and a quarter that but mostly Swedish?)

I saw a summary of this and thought the premise sounded like it might be interesting, but ultimately it just didn't work for me. I'd suggest readers who are interested in this read a sample! The writing and monologues of the characters just didn't make sense to me, and it felt a little old. I'm probably just not the target demographic here, despite the characters being written to be my age 🫣

This book has a distinct voice that I found interesting, and there’s no doubt the author can write beautifully. However, I found it hard for me to stay engaged in the story. The protagonists, despite being around 30, act more like immature 20-year-olds, and as the story went on, I found myself not really connecting with them.

There’s a clear Shakespearean comedy vibe as this is inspired by A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which I appreciated even though I’m not extremely familiar with the play. But the humor didn’t land for me, and by the time I reached about 40%, I realized the chaotic shenanigans, especially with Billy, were only going to escalate. Instead of feeling entertained, I just felt frustrated, and I don’t want to spend my time reading something that stresses me out.

That said, this is a well-written book, and I can see how it might work for the right reader. It just wasn’t for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the eARC.

This delightful and humorous read is a perfect fit for anyone who loves a lighthearted, feel-good romance. The story is filled with whimsical charm and comedic moments, making it a must-read for fans of romantic comedies. Readers who adore stories about the intoxicating power of love and the transformative nature of relationships will also find themselves captivated. The characters are relatable and endearing, their witty banter and amusing escapades will keep you entertained from beginning to end. With its charming setting, heartwarming plot, and hilarious dialogue, this book is sure to leave a lasting impression and become a beloved addition to your bookshelf.

While it it evident that the author is capable of beautiful prose, I am sorry to say that I did not find this romantic comedy particularly romantic or comedic. The writing alternated between being lofty and being formulaic (First they did this, then they did this). It felt as if someone transcribed a teenager's diary into third person. Perhaps the writing was intended to be this way as an ode to the bard, this being a Shakespeare retelling, but it left me feeling absolutely nothing for these characters. There was no spark, no tension, and by the end, I didn't even care if they got together.

As for the comedy, everything about this story was absurd, but in a frustrating rather than funny way. Now, being a reimagining of A Midsummer Night's Dream, we should expect some absurdity, but it fairs better in the fairy woods with Puck and Oberon. The entire thing reads of immature teenagers, not grown adults nearing their thirties. There are characters that are utterly superfluous and a great deal of filler in my opinion. I also found a number of instances in which I strongly disliked the way the male characters treated or thought about the female characters. Perhaps these instances were intended to be satirical, but it didn't come across that way to me.

For great lovers of Shakespeare's comedies, especially A Midsummer Night's Dream, this book may be a wonderful modern interpretation of the beloved play, but it was not for me.

There might've been a little too much Lord of the Rings (I can't believe I'm saying that...) in a book using the premise of Shakespeare.

This book is chaotic romance - is that a genre? That tackles different kinds of love and how it changes, how we have to change with it, and the many, many things that might get in the way of it. Some of the subplots lost me, hence the 3 star rating.

However, the central story of Kari and Billy was really sweet, and the way they finally come together and in the last section and clear up all there emotions, and fully recognize how well they fit with each other (the nerds! the wordy nerdy nerds!) was a sweet way to spend an afternoon.

While Cupid on the Loose wasn’t my favorite, I can appreciate the quality of the writing. Jacobson’s style is engaging, and the story is well-crafted, even if it didn’t fully resonate with me. Fans of his work or the genre may find it more appealing, as it’s clear he knows how to tell a story with skill.

I went into this book thinking I was going to read one thing, and it ended up being completely different. This is not my typical read, so take that into account when you look at my rating, but I did find that the story and writing was a little lackluster and I wasn't very invested in the characters after a certain point

3 ⭐️

📖 Read this book: If you want a quick romance filled with literary references to Shakespeare and other prolific writers. This book is meant to be a restyled “A Midsummer Nights Dream”.

I had a really hard time getting into the writing style of this book. I thought the story between Kari & Billy felt rushed in the beginning. At the 50% point of the book was when I started to enjoy this read more. This is the point where more entertaining plot came about. I think this was due to the structure of keeping to Shakespeare; however I wish the relationships in this book could have been fleshed out more.

We do love a good interfering but well-meaning grandma! 💕

Disclaimer: Thanks to NetGalley & Blackstone Publishing for gifting me an advanced reading copy for this review.

2.5 ⭐
Dnf @ 30%
The writing is bland and too straightforward and didn't keep me interested at all. Apparently this is a retelling of A Midsummer's Night Dream so if I remembered that storyline I might have enjoyed it more.

The story is interesting but unfortunately this is not written in a style that I enjoy. The writing is very straight forward, with nothing left to the imagination. With this plot I think it would have been more interesting if there was more left to interpret throughout.

It's not really a review because I didn't finish. I haven't read A Midsummer Night's Dream, so I thought it would be interesting to read a modern retelling. Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy it. Because:

I didn't really like the writing style. It's too plain, as though written for teens.
Didn't connect with Billy and Kari, and their insta love (although I understand it is all about love at first sight).
"He had planned not to try to kiss her goodnight, thought that it would be best to play it cool and go for an affectionate hug. After walking her to her door, they did have an affectionate hug, but one that somehow morphed into a flaming-hot goodnight kiss."

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book. Sorry, it wasn't for me. Could be a cute read for teenagers.

This book was interesting, to say the least. The premise seemed cute and funny initially, but played out a little differently than I anticipated.

When new lovebirds Billy and Kari allow their insecurities to overtake them and push them apart, Billy's meddling grandmother forces them, and their friends, to a mountain lodge where she fell in love. But due to external forces, love is pushed around, but not where it should be. This mayhem causes all sorts of reflections from each character. While it is adorable, and a little funny, it seems much too spread out without any real focus on character growth for my taste.

Overall I really like this book! I love meddling family members who think they know best. I don’t typically love miscommunication but this was a great read!

Such a fun read! Highly recommend.

Many thanks to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

The struggle of dating and finding the one is actively played out in this storyline. Boy and girl meet, they hit it off but then insecurities start and communication dwindles, or miscommunication takes over- Definitely relatable. I did find parts of the story to be a little slow and then some details to be too much but overall I enjoyed going through the romance. Always loved the grandma! Family members definitely love playing Cupid

Thank you Netgally and John j Jacobson for a chance to read this book.

I have to say this book was cute but just want for me, I loved how the characters connected and all the stuff that happen at the lodge but for me I felt like I had to push through this book. I just think the writing style was for me. But I know other people will love this book and all that happens in it.i just needed a little something more