Trophy Wife is by an author I generally like a lot. I find it interesting that when I straight up buy her novellas I like them a lot, but both of her novels I have requested through Netgalley I found less than compelling. Maybe it's the length, both have been longer and I usually read her novellas. In the case of Trophy Wife, it may have something to do with Alison.

She's the former trophy wife of the title. I get her journey. It's easy to sympathize with her frustrations and her unhappiness in her role as trophy wife and her desire to make something of herself. I was less impressed with her endless waffling and the almost constant "I want but I don't want". She didn't just drive Rob round the bend, she drove me round the bend. For a woman who was so strong and adamant about what she wanted, as soon as she got her freedom, she had no clue. Yes, that was part of her journey - that she needed to grow up and it's hard. But she came across as more whiny and less strong.

Rob has a savior complex and frankly, that was a bit off-putting too. Seriously, Rob, stop letting women you can't stand walk all over you. Grow a spine. It isn't cute or sweet or loving to enable.

Between the two of them, there was plenty of character arc but I just didn't enjoy the ride. Do they come out better for it all? Yes. Did I care at the end? No.

I'm mixed on my feelings on this one - I like that it's unique from other romances I have read but I did have a hard time connecting with the heroine at times. Overall, I did enjoy the romance but there was something small missing.

I've read books by this author before and loved them, however, in this book I was frustrated with both characters. Therefore I could only give this three stars.
Allison married at the very young age of 18, when she was swept off her feet by an older man. Eight years later she wants out of the marriage. After she was paraded around like a trophy, with absolutely no choices in any decisions, she's had enough. She couldn't work on her handmade jewelry, which was her only means of happiness. Of course, after the prenup she signed, she has to walk away with nothing. When her husband laughs at her request for a divorce, insisting that she isn't capable of supporting herself since she has no talents, she knows she has to leave. Moving to another part of the country with the help of her friend was very difficult. When the only job she can find is waitressing, she takes it and thou it's exhausting, she feels like she's accomplished something in her new life.
Rob notices the beautiful neighbor moving across the street and goes over to help her unpack. Allison not wanting to rely on any man again, declines. Rob has always been a man that everyone can depend on, including his ex who keeps after him for any help she can get. This is one of the things in the book that annoyed me, I felt he was a bit spineless. As Rob and Allison get to know each other, she starts to trust him and thinking that maybe there are some men she can.
There were times in this book that I had to stop reading and go to some other book. Allison's anti-trust of men and feeling that all of them just wanted to control her, became trying. That was my issue with this book.

Genre: Romance
Stand-alone: Yes
Part of a Series: No
POV: Alternating Allison and Rob
Steam-level: Quite warm
4/5

Overall I liked this story. Both Rob and Allison are divorced from bad marriages so neither want to get hurt. Allison is trying to find her independence and self-resiliency after being marrying young to an older man as his Trophy Wife. Rob is trying to move on and present a picture of togetherness and stability as someone who can be relied upon to help when needed. In fact Rob needs to be needed. This is where I started to have issues with this book. I understand the need to present yourself positively to the outside world and to want to feel needed (it is one of the five love languages after all). However I found myself getting frustrated with Rob and his need to always be <i>that</i> guy. Allison was a bit annoying at times as well but not as bad as Rob. This is only part that I didn't like about this book. In fact I liked how Noelle Adams resolved this issue. I liked that Allison was strong and independent while learning to balance how to love and depend on someone else. I enjoyed the messiness of life and starting over and exes who are still around in a small town that can be rather ugly at times. I enjoyed that Adams flipped stereotypical roles on their heads and made Rob that romantic who wants a wife while Allison is the reluctant one. All in all, Trophy Wife is a sweet romance about starting over and learning to love and trust again. It was super cute and well-written and a very quick read (I was done in a few hours). It was a little angsty but not too much - just a little annoying at times which is why I gave it 4 stars rather than 5.

I received this book for free from the author/publisher via NetGalley. I'm voluntarily giving an honest review.