✨Unpopular Opinion! Book Review✨

I just finished "The Godparent Trap" by Rachel Van Dyken and while it was fun, there weren't enough twists for me. 2.5⭐

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Colby & Rip are thrust together as godparents of two young kids whose parents have passed unexpectedly. They hate each other but after living together and trying to care for the kids, Colby & Rip begin to form a begrudging friendship.

🏠 I was waiting and waiting for this to be different than the movie "Life As We Know It," but the twist I was waiting for never really happened. The characters fell in love too easily in my opinion, which felt like an unrealistic 180 from hating each other. There was some action towards the end but generally this was not plot-driven enough for me.

👧 I did enjoy the author's writing style and I thought the kids' characters were well-written. Rachel is a Mom and you can definitely tell! I also thought the themes of grief and coping were written really thoughtfully.

⚠️ tragic death, hospitalization, car accident

Shareability: readers who enjoy opposites attract and enemies to lovers tropes might like this one

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Pairs well with: pancakes 🥞

Summary
Colby is a free-spirited food blogger who travels the world. Rip is her best friend's older brother, a buttoned-up accountant who likes rules and order. When Rip's sister and her husband pass away in a car crash, Colby and Rip are thrown together as the guardians of their two children. Their differences make the new normal even more difficult, not including the fact they had once gone out on a really awkward date and Colby still has a bit of a crush on Rip. But as they work together to take care of two parentless kids that they both love and adore, Rip and Colby learn they may need each other more than they dislike each other.

Review
To me this book was like a cross between The Guncle and Sarah Adams The Temporary Roomie. A forced proximity, enemies to lovers focused around the common denominator of love of family and children. The tension between Rip and Colby was palpable. The kids, Ben and Viera, were adorable and just touched your heart as they dealt with their grief and latched on to their godparents. The side character of Banks was hilarious and I enjoyed the levity he brought to a story that could have been really sad. While it was sad, there was an element of hopefulness. It was a heartwarming story of coping with loss but rebuilding and creating a new family among the sadness.

Just reading the first chapter of The Godparent Trap had me hooked! I knew that it was going to be a book that I loved. This book really hit me in all the feels. One moment I could be smiling and laughing and the next thing I knew I had tears in my eyes. I’d have to say this one is a roller coaster of emotions, but in a good way.

The unimaginable happens to our main characters and complete opposites. Colby’s best friend and Rip’s best friend and sister die in a tragic accident and they end up with custody of their little boy and girl. While grieving they must learn to work together and help these kids find a new normal. Things get interesting to say the least.

I loved the tension between Colby and Rip, because it was clear more was starting to develop between them. Even though they both lead different lives and see things differently they try and call a truce for the kids they have to take care of now. It was fun watching them try and figure out to run a household while working and even letting themselves grieve a bit.

It’s hard to imagine having your life turned upside down like that and having to help two children grieve the loss of the parents they knew and loved. The kids were also definitely one of the amazing aspects of The Godparent Trap. So many times they had me laughing or just wanting to hug them, because I couldn’t imagine losing a parent that young.

The Godparent Trap is a book of dealing with grief, finding a new normal, love, and proof that family isn’t always blood. My only complaint is that this book wasn’t longer. I wasn’t ready to stop being a part of this family’s life.

This story had potential, but it was a little too similar to the books it was marketed alongside. I love Rachel Van Dyken's previous books, and was excited for her new one but...it just missed the mark. I read and loved Lif'e's Too Short by Abby Jiminez, and it's such a popular book that to write one similar to it, you need to write something unique, make your characters extra memorable, etc. Overall, this one fell flat.

I found this book to be enjoyable. It was a unique set up that was interesting to read. I would recommend this book and author to others looking for an easy read.

The Godparent Trap by Rachel Van Dyken is the most charming book! It had a lot of love, emotional complexity, and romance tied into it. It was a rather quick and enjoyable read; the characters were fantastic!

I found The Godparent Trap to be a cute love story surrounding some very deep topics.

I enjoyed the opposites attract trope. Family life and parenting was expertly depicted. The kids reminded me of my own.

I struggled in the beginning with Rip’s character - he wasn’t very likable. But as you come to learn more about him, he grows on you.

Colby is a freaking catch!! Glad Rip finally went for it!

I would recommend. Rating: 3.5

Thank you for the ARC!

This book had a lot of love, but also a good amount of sorrow mixed in with the laughs. Colby and Rip were opposites, but so full of love. The kids are awesome, and the story is just so good!

[Really liked it]
Open door, moderate details

This was a quick & enjoyable read. While the story was predictable, I was still able to really enjoy it and I think that’s because of the amazing characters. I absolutely loved the characters and how they fit perfectly within the story. I liked that it was dual POV. I found the writing a little all-over-the-place at times but overall it was good. The book cover / title of the book are a little deceiving, this is not just a cutesy book and it deals with some heavy topics. I personally love when a romance book tackles heavier topics but definitely check the trigger warnings for this one.

If you liked the movie Life As We Know It, you’ll probably enjoy this book!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a free advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

OVERALL RATING –5 stars

RECOMMENDED FOR: those that like frenemies encountering unexpected parenting, cute kids, overcoming grief

First my usual points:
- I do not do spoilers unless warned.
- Read the summary above; it will tell you what the book is about. I will not reiterate.
- This is a standalone
- No errors that I caught as far as editing.
- The author was new to me

BOOK:
- Contemporary romance
- 1st person alternating POVs

Star Ratings - 1 (poor) – 5 (READ THIS BOOK)
· Writing Quality: 5 stars
· Story ingredient: 5 stars
· Ease of reading/Pace: 5 stars
· Plot strength: 5 stars
· Steam Level: 4 stars - High on romance.

Notes/Opinion (personal):

I was new to this author but I love the unexpected parenting troupe. It’s a heavy subject that the book centers around - tragedy and grief – and coming out of it but it’s handled well. There are lighthearted, funny moments and there are the anger, fear and sadness that accompany such events. The frenemies only stem from misperceptions and fears and ultimately the HEA comes amidst the anguish…and it’s beautiful. I loved it in the end.

When I finished The Godparent Trap, I was quick to get on Twitter to express my love for this story. I loved it and knew it was going to take a bit to gather my thoughts. If I'm honest, I have a feeling tis review is still all over the place. The ultimate consensus is that this is a really good one.

When I first read the premise, i was immediately reminded of the movie Life As We Know It. I saw that movie in theatres and had really enjoyed it. The premise for both is that two individuals who sincerely dislike each other suddenly find themselves co-parenting their godchildren when their parents are involved in their fatal accident. While the premise of the storyline are the same this is where most of the similarities end.

Rip and Colby are the godparents in this story. They become responsible for Ben and Viera, two of the sweetest kids. Their parents, Monica and Brooks, had previously tried to set up Rip and Colby which ended in disaster. They are polar opposites - Rip needs control in order to feel secure while Colby is much more footloose and fancy free. When tragedy strikes, they must come together in order to do what is best for the children. If only they could stop bantering.

The bantering is hilarious and does not just have one focus. They banter over the children, how they dress, how they act, and how to process their grief. Grief plays a huge role throughout the book. Both Colby and Rip are grieving in their own way while also trying to help Ben and Viera. I really like how grief was handled and how it was not overshadowed by the romance. The bantering did build a good sense of chemistry and helped form the bond between the characters.

The other thing that is strongly represented is how chaotic parenting can be. The house isn't always cleaned, the clothing can be stained; but the love for the children is always there. Colby and Rip bond over the chaos and learn from each other how to handle it. All of it felt realistic to me.

The Godparent Trap is comedic but, also truly pulls on the heartstrings. The situation that they are in is not an easy one. Honestly, it is one that I cannot even really imagine. The characters feel genuine and experience growth and change together. They come together in the most beautiful way.

This story.. oh it did break my heart just to mend it and make it more robust in the end... so don't let this colorful and optimistic cover fool you. Rachel Van Dyken deals here with some problematic topics!
Colby is the main female lead in this story and she has her life planned as an easy-going one - she travels a lot and there as a food blogger she's eating some amazing dishes! To be honest I'm jealous of her job - sounds miraculous. In this life, she has a best friend who managed to have two children that she can love as an auntie. She's like a tornado going on the way it wants, as no restraints are kept over her head. The only person she can't get along with is Rip - the brother of her best friend - so he will bare him for the sake of friendship!
Already mentioned above - Rip is Colby's polar opposite, he's stoic, has every part of his life planned and no issues can make him sway... so how someone like this tornado girl can be friends with his sister! There is no way - but they will have to somehow coexist for the sake of his sister, as breaking her heart would destroy Rip.
Those two are like Mars and Venus (planets), they should never collide, nor should it be even possible, but what if their world will shake and break apart in one moment... They will end up as godparents to two kids and their custodians - with shared obligations to two little people. Living together becomes hell - kids needing their parents, learning to deal with the grief that consumes even adults - how can children cope? Be ready for tension that will be cracking on age like electricity - whenever Colby and Rip were in the same room and got some funny exchanges between them. They come from two different worlds they will have to change their lives, to make sure they can run everything together. I had some sad moments but also I was laughing out loud during this book!

Started off August with this gem! Thank you @readforeverpub for an advance copy of The Godparent Trap by Rachel Van Dyken! I absolutely adored this close proximity, enemies to lovers, opposites attract romance. If you are a fan of the movie Life As We Know It, you will also enjoy this book. I loved how this book both wades through grief and takes Colby and Rip on a journey through becoming guardians. The romance is a slow-burn but so worth the wait. And I absolutely loved all-buttoned-up and super-serious Rip. Colby was just the woman he needed!!

Colby's living her best life: as a popular food blogger, she gets to fulfill her dreams of exploring the globe. But her world comes crashing down when a tragic accident leaves her co-guardian of her best friend's two adorable children. Not only does she need to put down roots—fast—but she'll be sharing custody with the one man she can't stand sharing a continent with, let alone a house.

Accountant-extraordinaire Rip values rules and plans. But when he loses his sister and his best friend and becomes an insta-guardian all in one night, Rip sees his organized life imploding. What he really doesn't need is his sister's irresponsible, flighty—albeit kind and gorgeous—best friend making it worse.

Rip doesn't trust Colby to take their new responsibilities seriously, while Colby can't believe Rip thinks children will thrive under his rigid control. Yet soon Rip and Colby discover they need each other more than they hate each other. Could it be possible that following their hearts is just what their new little family needs?

3.5 stars!

If you’ve watched “Life as we know it” then you’ll get an idea of how this book was.

Colby and Rip have different ways of raising these kids that were thrust into their lives. They eventually find ways to work together and become a family. But it’s definitely not without a lot of drama first. And of course with drama, there comes a little romance.

Cute story filled with love and a wide range of emotions. The Godparent Trap was a quick read that was fun to dive into and escape the real world.

One of the things I enjoyed most about this book was that it is so similar to "Life As We Know It" (and I love Josh Duhamel in movies), but Rip in this book wasn't just grumpy. It felt like he took grumpy to a new level. Also, and this is a personal thing, but I don't think I would have had a character that goes by Rip in a book where the main plot point is death of a sibling and a friend.

What a wonderful story— I loved the whole book! It was a joy to read. There was love and happiness in the midst of tragedy.

Colby and Trip’s chemistry was adorable. They were dedicated godparents and loved each other through all the chaos. I thought it was so sweet. I’ll have to get this one to keep for my shelf.
It reminded me of the Kathrine Heigel movie Life As We Know It.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I absolutely love Rachel Van Dykens books! This was such a good read. Colby is best friends with Monica and her husband Brooks. Rip is Monica’s brother and Brooks best friend. After a failed date the uptight Rip and chaotic Colby don’t get along. Rip is pretty much a jerk to her. And despite his actions Colby has always had a crush on him. Then a horrible accident happens and Monica and Brooks pass away. Leaving Colby and Rip to take care of the their two children. This had all of the emotions, it tugged at your heart strings, and the next minute had you laughing. I enjoyed this book so much!

I absolutely loved this! This definitely filled my grumpy x sunshine heart. With the heartbreaking and tears of the events that happened in this book, the positive importance of this book was really apparent. I absolutely loved Colby; how she’s carefree with the biggest heart, also she was hilarious! I liked how she brought Rip out of his tough exterior and shell. She reminded him that it was okay to be free and fun and to live life. Rip was a sweetheart as well, despite his grumpiness. I liked how he realized that life wasn’t always about structure or being serious, and how it was okay to go against what’s planned. Their relationship was the cutest, and i really loved their development and how they became to be. The tension was well written and they were such a great pair for one another!

Cute and funny but also had me tearing up more than I expected! Opposites attract when they become co-parents of two young kids after their best friends pass away. Enjoyed the witty banter, forced proximity and chemistry in this book!

It reminds me of that movie that I can’t remember the name of but omg so so good! I loved every second of it! Such a feel good