e-Audio, 09:53:25
Narrated by: J.Y. Kora & Redd Vines
Release Date: June 4, 2024
Published by: Books on Tape
Read from: June 1-6, 2024
Stand-alone
Source: Library’s Libby
Content Warning: Sexual content, Death of parent, Infidelity, Car accident, Grief, Suicide, Lesbophobia, Death
For Readers Interested In: Romance, Animals, Black Romance, Enemies to Lovers, Adult, Realistic FictionThe New York Times bestselling author of Almost There delivers the start of a new rom-com series with an enemies-to-lovers romance, perfect for readers of Abby Jimenez and Jasmine Guillory.
Ashanti Wright is ecstatic over the success of her dog boarding business, Barkingham Palace. In fact, it has become so successful that Ashanti has plans to expand her empire with a doggie bake shop. There’s just one problem, the building she’s had her eye on has just been sold to the surly grandson of one of her favorite customers.
Thaddeus Sims is not a dog person. He’s barely a person’s person. But when his grandmother is transferred to a senior living facility that doesn’t accept pets, the former army officer agrees to care for her annoying Standard Poodle, Puddin’. After all, it was with his grandmother’s help that Thad was able to buy the building that will soon house The PX, a sports bar/all-around hangout space for former servicemen that he plans to open.
Puddin’ and Ashanti’s French Bulldog, Duchess, have become a bit of a sensation on Barkingham Palace’s livestream because of their budding romance. When a video of the dogs sharing a doggy treat Lady and the Tramp-style goes viral, their owners are sucked into a media frenzy that captures the nation by storm…and creates some sparks for their owners too.
*MY THOUGHTS*
I was so excited for this one. I mean it has Black main characters and there’s doggies! As someone who is Black and has 2 doggies, you would think this one is a no-brainer for me. But unfortunately, it just didn’t work for me.
To put it plainly, I could not stand Thad. Even when he started getting “more comfortable” with Puddin’ I still didn’t care for him. But then when things started getting serious between them, I hated him still. As I’ve said time and time again, I’m a grudge holder and it had to do with doggies, so yeah I was pissed lol And as a character driven reader, this was really messing with me. Now Ashanti was the best. She deserved way better than Thad lol Sorry if you don’t agree, but they just didn’t mix well to me.
Ok so the romance was basic. And I’m not just saying that because I didn’t like Thad lol It was mostly because it felt very formulaic or tropey. I don’t think I’ve ever said that about a Rochon novel, but here we are. As someone who is not an enemies to lovers romance, I could still tell that it felt like someone ticking off boxes. I want to say it was the plot? Like as the video is going viral, it kind of stalls.
The stalling of the plot is centered around what is happening with her sister and stuff. And while I thought it was interesting and something that needed to be explored, the author didn’t. It was mentioned again, but towards the end and then it was over. And then when she finally unveils what’s happening it’s the end of the book and then its the epilogue. If I told you the amount of times that I’ve been annoyed by endings because of books like this you wouldn’t believe me. If you’re going to put something in a book, make sure the whole thing is fully fleshed out.
But if course, since this is still a book about social media and doggies and still about Farah Rochon, I was still in love with it. Her storytelling surrounding the social media and how they were learning the videos and the doggies themselves was just hilarious. And I know this is stupid, but I think me reading the first chapter and seeing Ashanti’s dog dancing, I let out a real life belly laugh. I was expecting to have this same feeling happening throughout the entire story, but it ended up getting really dark really fast and then it wasn’t even explained fully. I just didn’t care about it much? Idk.
This wasn’t the review I wanted to write for this book. A book about social media and dogs should have been my bread and butter. But it just didn’t matter to me. Will I read a story about their friends tho? Yeah I guess. Will I put it to such a high standard? Nope. I know better now.
Overall, I give this
