Review

Definitely my favourite read of the year. I adored this, witty, romantic, jovial novel. It was written so well with lots of twists and turns and utterly hilarious at times, I really chuckled out loud.
Highly recommend this beautiful book about love and finding the one where sometimes you least expect it. The concept of ‘The Love Bug’ is just brilliant and original. 5 out of 5.

I received this book (The Love Solution by Ashley Croft) for free in exchange for an honest review through Netgalley. This was my first book by this author, so I was unsure what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised. There were two stores going on at once, which intertwined-- two sisters. Both are struggling with their romantic relationships. One deals with an unplanned pregnancy. I found the story very enjoyable and was very satisfied with the ending.

The Love Solution was an okay read for me. Sarah and Molly are sisters that are very close to each other. Sarah is trying to cope with discovering her partner, NIall, was cheating on her and Molly is attracted to her over-worked, hot-cold boss, Ewan.
I struggled with this story for the most of it. I really didn't like Sarah until the very end when she realizes that Niall is not worth her tears and that she's really not in love with him. I' m not a fan of love triangles, so how she treated Liam through out the story was not okay for me. I didn't like that she kept referencing him as an old man, especially when she's in her early thirties and him in his early forties. It was kind of confusing because Liam was described as not looking his age. I also didn't like that she made Molly give her the "Love Bug" without thinking about the consequences her sister would face and then changing her mind at the last minute, but then that twist kind of made up for her choice. I also didn't like Ewan. He was not so perfect himself, but I didn't like how he treated Molly at times. He would act hot and cold towards Molly and then what he was withholding from her about his past really made him not a nice guy.
I did have high hopes for this one, the concept was very cute, but it didn't go the way I would of liked.

Thank you to the publisher for providing the ARC through NetGalley for review.

3.5 Stars

Molly and Sarah have taken care of each other since their parents died when they were young. They've both had their fair share of unsuccessful relationships with men, so they only have each other to count on. Molly and her boss, Ewan, have been dancing around each other for ages but he keeps running hot and cold and she has no idea what he actually wants. Sarah's live-in boyfriend, Niall, just left her for another woman, right before she was going to tell him she was pregnant. She's desperate to get him back, and Molly might have the solution: she's been working on a hormone in her research lab nicknamed The Love Bug (it links DNA and predisposes 2 people to bond specifically with each other). If Sarah uses it on Niall and he does come back to her, how will she ever know if he actually loves her or if it's because they messed with his hormones? If Molly lets Sarah use it, will Ewan ever forgive her for risking their project? With a Love Solution in hand, is it really still supposed to be this hard?

I liked this cute story! Both Molly and Sarah have interesting side narratives in addition to the Love Bug drama that let you know a little more about them (and the guys in their lives). It's set in the UK so there are a lot of slang words and turns of phrase that were entertaining and even educational when I had to look up the definitions. I had no idea what a Toby jug was! There is a LOT of dialogue in this book, and there were times when the back and forth got a little tedious...I wanted a little more action and less talking. The characters also repeated themselves a lot. Sometimes it seemed like they were having the same conversation again and again. Having said that, the dialogue was mostly so charming that it was very easy to get sucked back in even if I felt like I'd already read that part.

This was a fun debut by Ashley Croft! I'll be interested to read more books by her.

**Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!**

I liked the initial story line of the book but felt like the characters were a bit childish and selfish. Maybe if it would have just focused only on Molly's story line I would have enjoyed it more.

I recieved this book via Netgalley and give it my honest review.
This is a story of two sisters Sarah and Molly and their love life! It's full of fun, laughter but also there are some serious parts, but all in all it was a very enjoyable read, I loved it! I loved the story line, I loved the characters and I loved the settings! I recommend this book.

This is a story of two sisters and their journeys to find love. Sarah is pregnant but finds out the baby's father is cheating on her and Molly is in lust with her boss.

It is a funny and easy read, perfect for summer.

Unfortunately, although I love this author, I really couldn't get on with this book. Rather than leave a bad review here, I would rather not review it all.

Thanks

Thank you Netgalley and Avon Books UK for sending me the complimentary arc of this book.

2.25 stars.
The love solution is a story of two sisters - Sarah and Molly - who lost their parents in a car crash at a very young age. Years after the accident, Sarah is happily living with her long time boyfriend and running her own tiara making business while Molly is working at a lab with her extremely handsome but workaholic boss and developing a solution that can help people fall in love. But on New Years eve, both of their lives fall apart as Sarah finds out that she is pregnant and that her boyfriend Niall is cheating on her while Ewan, Molly's boss/crush kisses her at the party and starts acting cold and distant, making her give up any hope of any potential future with him. The rest of the book deals with Sarah's complicated feelings towards her ex-boyfriend and the new guy in her life and Molly's slowly developing relationship with her boss.

I don't know what I was expecting from the book when I requested an arc but this was definitely not it. While the writing was light hearted and fast paced, everything else about this book was bad. The characters were boring. I hated Sarah - she is awful, whiney and selfish. Yes I understand she got cheated on and that hurts but the things she did after that are inexcusable. She clearly needed therapy and Molly should have assisted her in getting professional help instead of partaking in her madness. That plot just infuriated me - everything about it was wrong. I feel the book would have been way better if that science bit was left out. The main couples had no chemistry. I still liked Molly and Ewan but Sarah and Liam were just bland and felt forced. I also felt Liam's dialogues were repetitive. Overall, the book was frustrating and uncomfortable to read with really bland and underdeveloped characters and a very morally questionable plot line.

I thoroughly enjoyed this read. I'm already a fan of Philippa Ashley and this book takes her stories in a new and interesting direction. It was unusual, different and crazy. What's not to like?

While this book was marketed as a romance novel, it also had a very strong theme of sisterhood. It was cute and I enjoyed the scientific element of it but would have loved to read more about The Love Bug. The characters were a bit under-developed but despite that, the plot was enjoyable. Three love triangles made for more drama which certainly grabbed the attention of the reader. As with the book I just finished, I found myself also yelling at the characters in this book and telling Molly not to do it! (I won’t spoil what “it” was but once you read the book you’ll know). The book was fairly predictable but a quick and fun read nonetheless. Look for The Love Solution by Ashley Croft on bookshelves August 15, 2019!
.
Thank you Netgalley and Avon Books UK for an advanced copy in exchange for an independent and honest review.

I think this book was not for me.

I ended up dnfing, I didn't like the characters. Didn't the subject matter. Felt like it was two grown women acting like children and using something sugarcoated as "love potion" just so that they'd keep a man who clearly was over one of them.

the synopsis sounded like such an interesting story. but the actual book was not it for me. i was uncomfortable and bored.

this was really disappointing.

The Love Solution starts of with a flashback prologue, giving the backstory of the two characters childhood, and the night they lost their parents. Molly and Sarah were both young when their parents died. Sarah stepped in and took care of Molly. In the introductory few chapters, it is revealed that Sarah is pregnant, and her boyfriend had been cheating on her. Molly, on the other hand, is in love with her boss (with whom she’s creating a solution that causes someone to fall in love with another person) and gives up hope that anything could ever happen between them (after he kisses her on New Years and immediately regrets it). The story navigates Sarah’s relationship with her ex-boyfriend and the new man in her life and Molly’s with her boss, while also navigating the sisters’ close relationship.

The Love Solution was a feel-good novel that not only told a romantic story but focused on the ups and downs of sisterhood. It had me rooting for two couples, hoping they’d find their way to each other, while also rooting for the sisters to maintain their strong relationship.

There is a bit of a science-y component, but nothing that would classify this as science fiction. The Love Solution is the perfect summer (or beach) read to dive into and get lost in for a short while.

Overall, I gave this novel five out of five stars because it was not the stereotypical rom-com. It was comical and romantic, but it also brought in that component of sisterhood that I believe gave it an extra edge. It was a lovely read that I would recommend to anyone who loves a good rom-com!

*Important Note* I was given a digital Advanced Readers Copy of this book thanks to the author, NetGalley and Avon Books UK. All opinions are my own.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ This was such a cute story! The characters and the story line are a bit predictable, but I still enjoyed every page. Perfect beach read! If you're looking for a cute rom-com, this is the perfect read.

Did not finish, didn’t keep my interest. I tried, but only made it about two-thirds of the way through.

one word-horrible. Do waste your time, I did.Adults who act like children. Book supposed to be rom-com but is not. just awful, nothing redeeming.

Absolutely fantastic had me gripped!!! Loved it! Can't wait for more from.this author. Storyline was great, characters were easy to.connect with

Thank you for the advanced copy

Really not for me at all. It sounded so good, but it ended up nearly being a DNF - the only reason it wasn't was because I hate not finishing, and I was vaguely intrigued to see if it got worse. It did.

I didn't feel the writing was that good, the characters were flat, the plot was truly bizarre and the pacing was terrible - some areas were super rushed and others were dragged out to a point that I wanted to rip my hair out. Do yourself a favour, save some time, and move on to something better.

#TheLoveSolution #NetGalley

This is a story of 2 sisters living very different lives, but being there for each other. I liked the set up of this book, and feel that it started so well. I really wanted to like this book, but unfortunately, this was not the story for me. I'm sure there are plenty of people who will like this one - interesting people and jobs, co-workers to partners will they won't they trope, a cheater confrontation, some mix ups and heart breaks....

Typically, I'm here for all those things, but the storyline was problematic for me. The sisters relationship started really well, but went to a weird, manipulative place with one of them holding their relationship hostage if the other didn't make a monstrous ethical/moral (and illegal) choice. Gross.

The Molly/Ewan relationship started really cute, and again got weird-- with him being moody and withdrawn, for no clear reason. Then when she has to confess her HUGE fuck up, he just kinda goes with it after he initially is angry. Then another twist (the wife) to keep them apart, but is quickly resolved without matching any of the setup. Every reference to his wife prior to her showing up in person leads us to understand she is not coming back to him- she left him, complained to him that he never had time for her... Like, why are you back? Makes no sense.

I did like Liam in this book. Just a normal, rational person who was always honest and up front. I love that he was an unabashed man who stepped out of his comfort zone and took no disparaging for making a tiara. All any other character did was comment on how old he is... But he was the only real adult in this book.

This book was unfortunately not for me.

I was intrigued by the description of the synopsis but the characters fell a bit flat for me.

I think that it would also be helpful to not categorize this book as a romance. It is definitely women's fiction with romantic themes but structurally it's not a romance.