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stemtherapy's review
4.0
Rating: 3.5 stars
I adore both "Little Shop Around the Corner" and "You've Got Mail". So when I learned about a gay take on the same story, I was absolutely thrilled! This book has a lovely christmasy feel to it -- its delightfully atmospheric and enjoyable. This isn't an gay dupe of the previously mentioned films -- there are deviations and that is probably where my biggest dilemma with the story lies. It is always a tricky when a plot involves deception. Navigating through that can sometimes reflect negatively on one or both MC's likability and character development. If there is one weakness to this otherwise lovely read, is that the MCs are not as fleshed out as I would like -- and the deception story arc really muddied the resulting romance and I felt was a little too quickly/easily resolved ...
Perhaps being a devoted fan of the original stories/films coloured my judgement but I wanted more ... but still enjoyed this delightfully romantic Christmas read ...
I adore both "Little Shop Around the Corner" and "You've Got Mail". So when I learned about a gay take on the same story, I was absolutely thrilled! This book has a lovely christmasy feel to it -- its delightfully atmospheric and enjoyable. This isn't an gay dupe of the previously mentioned films -- there are deviations and that is probably where my biggest dilemma with the story lies. It is always a tricky when a plot involves deception. Navigating through that can sometimes reflect negatively on one or both MC's likability and character development. If there is one weakness to this otherwise lovely read, is that the MCs are not as fleshed out as I would like -- and the deception story arc really muddied the resulting romance and I felt was a little too quickly/easily resolved ...
Perhaps being a devoted fan of the original stories/films coloured my judgement but I wanted more ... but still enjoyed this delightfully romantic Christmas read ...
indoorplant25's review
5.0
Based on 1 of my favorite movie, I couldn’t not read this book! Such a nice and fluffy book to read at any time of the year!
And I love that there are other books in New Milton!
And I love that there are other books in New Milton!
red3horn's review
I love Christmas stories.
This was so good! I am not crying happy tears at my desk right now. Nope.
One of my favorite movies is The Shop Around the Corner with Jimmy Stewart and Margaret Sullavan and this book, from my first read of the blurb caught my eye because of the similarities. I mean, we do have an Alfie and a Novak which I am going to assume are respected nods to the movie. The update of the online relationship also gives a slight nod to the remake titled "You've Got Mail" and let's just say, my happy was set to on before I even started this.
And then, OMG. I started it.
I loved meeting Alfie Carter as he worked at his auto shop, taking a moment to pull out his phone and smile when his "secret online boyfriend" LLB would text him. I know the feeling of reading texts from the person you love and having that besotted look on your face while you stare at your phone. Alfie is head over feet for LLB even though the two have never met but plan to that night. They have been talking as LLB and Camaro89 for months now, bonding over their share of literature and life and the men are finally ready to meet. But while we get how happy Alfie is, we also get that his neighbor Leo Novak is a perpetual pain in Aflie's side even though Alfie crushed on the bookstore owner when he first arrived a year ago. After Leo so rudely refused Alfie's flirting, the two men don't really like one another.
Leo Novak has a knack for opening his mouth and shoving his foot right inside. Unable to take the hint from Coffee Shop owner Dee to curb his disdain, Leo makes a horrible comment about Aflie's grammar which Alfie hears and these two, just can't play nice. We are left to wonder if these two will ever find a common ground.
Oh but I truly loved this book. It came on my feed this morning and while I have blog books demanding to be read on time, I couldn't resist taking a peek and then got sucked in to the wonderful town of New Milton and the residence that make the place a home. Alfie and Leo have palatable chemistry even with the surface disdain they have for each other but as Alfie is compelled to make amends with Leo after a text from LLB, we get the start of a new and beautiful friendship that blossooms to romance quickly and leaves you with hope... even though there is background ansgst.
Goodness. When Leo realizes who Alfie is, just like in both movies previosly mentioned, you can't help but hold your breath until he tells Aflie the truth or when Alfie possibly puts the pieces together. I got why Leo waited so long, not wanting to lose this new Alfie he is falling for nor Camaro89 that he's already in love with. Reconciling the two men as one wasn't rocket surgery for Leo but he fucks things up pretty bad and made me cry.
Alfie is such a good man that he can't even think thoughts about Leo without thinking he is betraying what he and LLB have. Every time he had that thought I was screaming in my head that they are the same person and really wanted Leo to tell him yet at the same time, I didn't. Things moved forward so well, the two men were getting along putting the past year behind them and you could tell they were falling for each other. The first kiss was electric even through the screen of my work computer and everything that came after had my heart in my throat.
I have to say that what Leo does for Alfie was imaginative, stunning and ridiculously romantic. I won't spoil it but it so put what he felt for Alfie the only way Leo could get his true feelings across. I loved it so much I read it twice and cried hopeless romantic tears both times at how lovely it was.
This was really a wonderful book and having been blessed with a glimpse of Josh and Finn I need to go meet them properly as well as make sure I stalk the authors backlist. Anyone who can include so much Austen into their own work is a total must read for me.
This was so good! I am not crying happy tears at my desk right now. Nope.
One of my favorite movies is The Shop Around the Corner with Jimmy Stewart and Margaret Sullavan and this book, from my first read of the blurb caught my eye because of the similarities. I mean, we do have an Alfie and a Novak which I am going to assume are respected nods to the movie. The update of the online relationship also gives a slight nod to the remake titled "You've Got Mail" and let's just say, my happy was set to on before I even started this.
And then, OMG. I started it.
I loved meeting Alfie Carter as he worked at his auto shop, taking a moment to pull out his phone and smile when his "secret online boyfriend" LLB would text him. I know the feeling of reading texts from the person you love and having that besotted look on your face while you stare at your phone. Alfie is head over feet for LLB even though the two have never met but plan to that night. They have been talking as LLB and Camaro89 for months now, bonding over their share of literature and life and the men are finally ready to meet. But while we get how happy Alfie is, we also get that his neighbor Leo Novak is a perpetual pain in Aflie's side even though Alfie crushed on the bookstore owner when he first arrived a year ago. After Leo so rudely refused Alfie's flirting, the two men don't really like one another.
Leo Novak has a knack for opening his mouth and shoving his foot right inside. Unable to take the hint from Coffee Shop owner Dee to curb his disdain, Leo makes a horrible comment about Aflie's grammar which Alfie hears and these two, just can't play nice. We are left to wonder if these two will ever find a common ground.
Oh but I truly loved this book. It came on my feed this morning and while I have blog books demanding to be read on time, I couldn't resist taking a peek and then got sucked in to the wonderful town of New Milton and the residence that make the place a home. Alfie and Leo have palatable chemistry even with the surface disdain they have for each other but as Alfie is compelled to make amends with Leo after a text from LLB, we get the start of a new and beautiful friendship that blossooms to romance quickly and leaves you with hope... even though there is background ansgst.
Goodness. When Leo realizes who Alfie is, just like in both movies previosly mentioned, you can't help but hold your breath until he tells Aflie the truth or when Alfie possibly puts the pieces together. I got why Leo waited so long, not wanting to lose this new Alfie he is falling for nor Camaro89 that he's already in love with. Reconciling the two men as one wasn't rocket surgery for Leo but he fucks things up pretty bad and made me cry.
Alfie is such a good man that he can't even think thoughts about Leo without thinking he is betraying what he and LLB have. Every time he had that thought I was screaming in my head that they are the same person and really wanted Leo to tell him yet at the same time, I didn't. Things moved forward so well, the two men were getting along putting the past year behind them and you could tell they were falling for each other. The first kiss was electric even through the screen of my work computer and everything that came after had my heart in my throat.
I have to say that what Leo does for Alfie was imaginative, stunning and ridiculously romantic. I won't spoil it but it so put what he felt for Alfie the only way Leo could get his true feelings across. I loved it so much I read it twice and cried hopeless romantic tears both times at how lovely it was.
This was really a wonderful book and having been blessed with a glimpse of Josh and Finn I need to go meet them properly as well as make sure I stalk the authors backlist. Anyone who can include so much Austen into their own work is a total must read for me.
nicole_reads_everything's review
3.0
Perfectly okay read. Not super Christmassy, but definitely present.
I really liked Alfie, but I had a hard time really warming up to Leo. I felt like he was kind of judgemental asshole, and while I understood his reasons for the misunderstanding to start with, it did go on for a lot longer than I really felt comfortable with. Didn't really feel a huge connection between the two, TBH, and the smut was tepid at best.
I really liked Alfie, but I had a hard time really warming up to Leo. I felt like he was kind of judgemental asshole, and while I understood his reasons for the misunderstanding to start with, it did go on for a lot longer than I really felt comfortable with. Didn't really feel a huge connection between the two, TBH, and the smut was tepid at best.
chibishichan1x2's review
4.25
2020 reread. 4 stars. Comfort Christmas read but this time I was a bit more angry at Leo. Still love it, still really cute.
2018
4.5
How stinking cute is this story! Hallmark needs to make this into one of their schmoopy Christmas films ASAP. It’s a feel good cozy kind of Christmas, with an epilogue that does the genre justice.
I could see returning to this one in a few years down the line as a reliable comfort Christmas read.
fritz42's review
5.0
I love You Got Mail/Shoppe Around the Corner stories where enemies in real life hate each other but in cyber/letter life, bond and connect with the best of them. This story had that in spades and then some.
Alfie was the owner/operator of his family garage. He had run the family business full time, due to what I believe was his father's illness, necessitating his dropping out of school. His lack of education made him self-conscious, but it didn't squelch his love of Jane Austin and other classic novels. And that love of classic novels gave him a connection with LLB on-line, a relationship that had been cultivated over a wonderful year.
Leo was the owner/operator of a used bookstore. He was more of a loner in town, keeping to himself. He also loved his books and all the classical literature. He felt a connection to Camero89, his on-line friend.
Too bad the two of them hated each other in RL. Due to rude and pompous behavior on Leo's part and strong and equally rude behavior back on Alfie's part at the town's Christmas party, the dye was cast, and the two of them couldn't help but continuing that rudeness throughout the year.
It was fun, watching these two discover their connection in RL. Leo's apology was unique and perfect for the two of them. The epilogue was just what I needed to complete this story.
[a:Sally Malcolm|87308|Sally Malcolm|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1425308508p2/87308.jpg] is quickly becoming an automatic buy for me.
Alfie was the owner/operator of his family garage. He had run the family business full time, due to what I believe was his father's illness, necessitating his dropping out of school. His lack of education made him self-conscious, but it didn't squelch his love of Jane Austin and other classic novels. And that love of classic novels gave him a connection with LLB on-line, a relationship that had been cultivated over a wonderful year.
Leo was the owner/operator of a used bookstore. He was more of a loner in town, keeping to himself. He also loved his books and all the classical literature. He felt a connection to Camero89, his on-line friend.
Too bad the two of them hated each other in RL. Due to rude and pompous behavior on Leo's part and strong and equally rude behavior back on Alfie's part at the town's Christmas party, the dye was cast, and the two of them couldn't help but continuing that rudeness throughout the year.
It was fun, watching these two discover their connection in RL. Leo's apology was unique and perfect for the two of them. The epilogue was just what I needed to complete this story.
[a:Sally Malcolm|87308|Sally Malcolm|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1425308508p2/87308.jpg] is quickly becoming an automatic buy for me.
maelia's review
5.0
When I read the line "they'd been through an emotional wringer", I couldn't help thinking it applied to us readers too. Looking forward to the moment when the characters who had been online "boyfriends" for months would find out they knew each other in real life (while at the same time not really wanting that moment to arrive too soon, because knowing while they didn't was fun), worrying about what would inevitably happen (but when and how?), then... oh, the way it was fixed! (Sorry I'm vague. I don't want to say too much.) All that with both points of view (which I always like). Loved it.
jozey23's review
4.0
Sweet christmas love story
Love around the corner is a fluffy chriatmas story you need to read relax with a hot chocolate. Enemy IRL. Lovers ONLINE. When the two collide and one found the thruth but decide to oeep this information to himself. Could they became lovers irl even if they have made some judgment by the cover instead of the heart? Even if their friendship is base on a white lie? Making all this releationship unstable. We all known the inevitable will happen.
Enemy to lovers. Christmas story. Met online. Hea. What do you want more?
Love around the corner is a fluffy chriatmas story you need to read relax with a hot chocolate. Enemy IRL. Lovers ONLINE. When the two collide and one found the thruth but decide to oeep this information to himself. Could they became lovers irl even if they have made some judgment by the cover instead of the heart? Even if their friendship is base on a white lie? Making all this releationship unstable. We all known the inevitable will happen.
Enemy to lovers. Christmas story. Met online. Hea. What do you want more?