BLISSED

𝐁𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝
𝐁𝐲 𝐏𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐚 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭
𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫: 𝐒𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐭𝐢 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫
𝐏𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤: 𝟑𝟐𝟎
𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝: 𝟖𝐭𝐡 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞
𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠
𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫: 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒

Natalie Castellano is a divorced single mother trying to raise her son and build a new life. Living in a challenging town, she faces numerous obstacles, including a neighbor-turned-enemy who seems intent on taking everything from her. Moreover, the man she holds responsible for her failed marriage, CJ Blue, has returned to town for his sister's wedding and may stay longer than expected. Will Natalie find it in her heart to forgive him, or will she continue to harbour resentment? And will she muster the courage to stand up for what she wants?
CJ Blue is back for his sister's wedding but finds himself reluctantly staying longer than planned. Torn between the temptation to leave and the pull of unfinished business, CJ must decide whether to face his past or run away as he's done before.
My initial expectations for this book were high, especially after reading many glowing reviews. However, my experience was mixed. As a fan of chick-lit, especially with a charming small-town setting, I was eager to dive in, but I found the story and characters hard to relate to.
Natalie, the protagonist, was difficult to empathize with. Her grudge against CJ felt misplaced, and her inability to stand up to the town bully was frustrating. CJ, on the other hand, came across as a flat character. His motivations and feelings were unclear, leaving me unsure of his true emotions regarding his deceased wife.
The supporting characters were a mixed bag. The Queen General, as the antagonist, was consistently annoying, and the town's collective fear of her seemed unrealistic. The sudden change in her character towards the end felt abrupt and out of place. Additionally, Natalie's father's romance with a verbally abusive woman was troubling, and his actions behind Natalie's back were disappointing.
The romance between Natalie and CJ lacked chemistry, making it hard to root for their relationship. Despite these issues, some moments kept me reading. Some characters were quirky and fun, adding a bit of charm to the story. However, some plot points felt silly and unrealistic, such as the notion that a divorced woman with a child couldn't own a bridal shop.
In conclusion, this book had its ups and downs. It wasn't the best read, but it wasn't the worst either. Several times I considered giving up, but something kept me going, perhaps the curiosity about CJ's real name. If you're looking for a light, quirky read with some enjoyable characters, you might find this book worth a try.

My Rating:

2.5/5

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