If you like a feminine bearded flower loving, wine drinking, soap opera loving, crying man then this is for you. If you're after an alpha male or even just a confident one who loves these things but owns it and does it with command, this is NOT the book for you.

Bear is sort of a little witch with a "b". Not because he likes to arrange flowers or because he likes to drink wine but because he feels like he needs to hide these things. I get it, his dad was a "man's man" but his dad hasn't been his main influence in a lot of years AND he had way better role models for a lot of years since. I just don't find a weak minded man attractive. I don't want to hear my guy talking down on himself all the time in an effort to get me to validate his every single feeling. You like to arrange flowers? OWN IT. You like to drink wine? OWN IT. You don't love sports? OWN IT.

In the end I took a day break from this book and when I picked it back up I was feeling better about it. I'm not sure if it is because Bear started to allow himself to be bolder or if I'm just in a better frame of mind. This book still isn't for someone who is looking for an alpha male, because Bear will never be that, but it does end up a sweet story of growth and Bear becoming more sure of himself. I guess I should also mention that Trixie really drove me nuts too. HE DIDN'T LEAVE YOU LIKE EVERYONE ELSE YOU SENT HIM AWAY, IDIOT. I can understand her reluctance though based on how she was burned in the past and her families influence is much more consuming and recent.

I think the chicken was the best part of this book. Long live Chick Chick. Overall I enjoyed this story and how these two came together. Oh and the sisters are hilarious. I loved them.

#ToGetToTheOtherSide #KellyOhlert
#NetGalley #DreamscapeMedia
#StephanieKay #PaulHeitsch
#ChanceMeeting #StrangersToRoommatesToLovers

This was a quick and easy read. I think the author definitely struggled to make the characters relatable. It was a lot of stereotypical tropes thrown together to make us feel sorry for the main character, but I just didn't connect with any of them.

I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

Thank you to Alcove Press, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley for granting me this ALC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a really creative premise for a story, and I found the overall quirkiness of it to be cute! However, I think I just wasn't really feeling Trixie as a main character. I wanted there to be a little more to her personality, and because Bear was also on the simpler side, it just ran a little dry for me. I also found the big conflict and the way Trixie viewed it to be a little strange, and it made me think she needs a lot more time to be single and work on herself for a bit honestly! Overall, there's nothing wrong with this book at all, but it wasn't really my cup of tea.

⭐⭐⭐.5 stars

Trixie is a quirky gal with a HUGE heart, who moves Heaven and Earth to help a chicken she finds crossing the road. (Haha!) Bear is the darling man who loves her, and eventually, her chicken. After a funny meet cute, they wind up as roommates. Their attraction is undeniable, which they address, and fight, for much of the book. Their carefully constructed walls come down as they bond over Chick Chick (the chicken), go on several adorable dates, and participate in a few misadventures.

I just loved these characters. Bear is the BEST. He's a quintessential cinnamon roll hero. Trixie was really endearing as well. She was eccentric, but not over-the-top, which I've encountered in many a rom-com. I thought the tension was on point as they tried to deny their sexual chemistry. However, I was surprised to find their love scenes to be closed door to the point that it was only hinted at the next day. I don't HAVE to have an open door, but I'd at least like enough lead up to know something had happened, rather than read about it as an aside in the next chapter.

I felt that the author did a great job handling Trixie's toxic positivity and Bear's compulsion towards toxic masculinity. I have a feeling a LOT of people can relate to these two characters. I could have done with a little less talking about it, however. The story stalled a bit as it was discussed again and again, not really covering any new ground. Also, trigger warning: there are semi-serious medical issues with a pet that involve stressful conversations in a vet's office.

Ultimately, I think this is a great, mostly light, contemporary romance. It was compared to Abby Jimenez, but I'd also like to add Christina Lauren to that list. It was mostly fun, a teeny bit cheesy, and heartwarming, especially the end, which had me sighing.

I thought the narrators did a great job! I enjoyed listening to this ARC, thanks to the author, Alcove Press, Dreamscape Media and NetGalley. All of the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

3.5 stars!

This book was a great insta-lust, forced proximity, roommates to lovers story.

Trixie has trust issues due to her overbearing parents and a nasty two-faced college roommate who destroyed her reputation and stole her boyfriend. A lover of all animals, Trixie ends up accidentally adopting a stray chicken that crosses the road and needs medical attention. While trying to catch the chicken in the road, she meets Bear, the quiet, handsome man who helps calm the cars honking for Trixie to get out of the road.

Bear has been hiding his feminine side all his life due to her masculine driven father. To overcompensate he works in construction rather than help to run his mothers floral shop. He drinks beer he hates rather than wine he prefers. He puts on baseball games rather than binge the greys anatomy episodes he actually likes.

Once Trixie’s landlord notices her chicken, she has one week to move out. She finds a roommate ad in the paper that Bear’s 3 sisters put in without his knowledge. Frazzled, Bear scares away the people showing up and calling
him, he is about to have words with his sisters, until Trixie shows up and Bear can’t say no to the sweet girl he met the other day.

Soon, roommates turn into friends and eventually lovers. Very cute family dynamics and great way of tackling toxic masculinity. The sex scenes or dirty talk were a big awkward, but the characters are awkward, so it works.

Thank you Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for this audiobook in exchange for an honest review

This novel wasn’t for me. I have a lot of friends who I know would love a book like this. There are rarely any chick lit books that I truly enjoy. I wanted to give this one ago. Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to try this audiobook out.
I’m not into characters going back and forth throughout the entire story contemplating if they should be together or not. The male character was acting like he was in high school. Getting hot and bothered just by her bending down to take off her shoes. Insert eye roll. It’s repetitive and predictable. Again, I appreciate the chance to try this author out.

3.25⭐

Featuring ~ dual 1st person POV, debut, forced proximity, roommates to lovers, slow burn, no steamage

Trixie & Bear
Bear is real mad at his sister's for posting an ad for a room for rent in his house without his permission, but when Trixie comes around looking to move in he starts clucking a different tune.
Trixie is used to being disappointed by her family, so she doesn't think Bear would be interested in her. Slowly they start enjoying each other's company and help each other to work through their issues.

Okay, so I am an animal lover, but Trixie went way above and beyond for a chicken and it started to be a bit much. Going into debt and needing to work like 16 jobs to pay the vet bills is crazy talk. I liked the thought process behind what Bear built for Chick Chick, it was kinda weird, but a cute grand gesture. I loved how she worked at the animal shelter too. And what kinda nod would it be to chickens without the inevitable joke at the beginning.

Overall, a sometimes cute and funny debut that I liked well enough.

I was fortunate enough to receive a kindle copy and the audiobook to review. I tried both on for size and either worked well.

Narrated by Stefanie Kay and Paul Heitsch for 8 hours and 55 minutes, easy to follow at 2-2.5x. They did a lovely job.

I had both the ebook and audiobook for this one. Here are the things I really enjoyed:
- Dual POV: It is always a hit for me when books are dual POV in general, but I find it especially helpful when the book is dual POV when I’m listening to narration. It was easy to follow who was speaking or whose thoughts I was hearing.
- Light read and listen: This was a story without heavy drama and I found it easy to get through.

The MMC had more dimension and was navigating through a complicated background. I had a harder time figuring out the FMC. It was harder to connect with her and I didn’t find her all that relatable.

Overall a read I felt mostly neutral about. The narrators for the audiobook weren’t standout but I didn’t completely dislike them.

This book sounded really cute, and I was hopeful for a sweet and light romance going into the holiday season. Sadly though, while I didn’t hate this, it definitely missed the mark for me. The main characters were more frustrating to me than sweet or cute. They fell instantly in love with no real reason, Trixie keeps the chicken a secret when talking with Bear about moving in, they both are just unrealistic and ridiculous. Why does Tricia completely uproot her life and spend a ridiculous amount of money on a wild chicken that probably won’t live that long? Why doesn’t she just find someone else to adopt it if it was that important to her? Why does Bear just go along with the roommate ad that his sisters put out for him without his knowledge? Just because he wants to date Trixie is a horrible reason to go along with that. The narrators did a good job with what they had, but I do think the male narrator didn’t really fit the part well. Bear was described as being a woodsy, bear of a man. The narrator came across as more of a geeky, indoor man. I also was really annoyed that of all the wonderful chicken pun names that were listed when Trixie named it, Chick Chick (the most boring and plain of them all) was the one we were stuck with. Overall, if you can get past the ridiculousness of the characters and the plot, this could be a fun read. However it is not for me.

Chick Chick, the chicken, is the best part of this book. I kind of want a rescue chicken now.

As for the rest, it was decent. There were a few times when I chuckled. But I also found it repetitive and Trixie was just annoying. She also contradicted herself when in crisis, which was super annoying.

I listened to the audiobook. There are two narrators, as the story is told from a dual POV. Both did a good job.

I received an audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a quirky, fun story that brings why did the chicken cross the road to romance, I never expected to say that in response to a book! The characters were fun and the chicken was a star of the show. For an animal that crosses my dinner table several times a week, she sure did bring these two sweethearts together.

This romance was fun with the perfect amount of whimsy! Our two main characters cross paths for the first time as Trixie is chasing a chicken across the road. Once she catches the chicken and takes it to be reviewed at the vet she tries to sneak the chicken (who she names Chick-Chick) home but her landlord catches her and says she can only keep the chicken for seven days.

Trixie soon discovers a viral ad for a pet friendly apartment that doesn’t specify the kind of pets allowed (as she’s decided to keep said chicken) & she shows up to Bear’s home and he is immediately infatuated with Trixie to the point she is the only person he’s considering let moving in (as his meddling sisters posted the roommate ad without his knowledge).

Trixie and Chick-Chick soon move in with Bear and begin growing closer and you can see each one falling further for the other and Trixie immediately being accepted into Bear’s family long before they decide if they want to be together.

I really enjoyed this book. My only gripes are that I wish it went further into each of them coming to terms with their past traumas and perhaps going to therapy and showing more little moments between the two of them and less of just thoughts of physical attraction.

The audio narrator did a good job, they were a good choice for this title.

I’m giving this one 4 stars!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley, Alcove Press and Dreamscape media for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This is a cute story, but it did fall flat for me. I wanted more for the main female character. The scene that is pivotal to the relationship could have been more. I would like to have seen her confront her parents and watch her enjoy discover her love for dancing again throughout the story. But these things are briefly mentioned.

Because this story is dual POV it had a male and female narrator. Both did a good job telling the story and becoming their character.

Overall if you want a cute, funny story this is a good choice. The author did write a good story and the characters are enjoyable.

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook.

Trixie and Bear were far more cute than sexy in this story. These two fell into the trope of attractive roommates, trying to hide their feelings. Both main characters had struggles with being vulnerable and opening up to others. There was a chicken involved, though, and that was funny. Having owned chickens, though, all I could think about was that the chicken would be going to the bathroom everywhere on the floor! I loved Bear’s family, especially his sisters!
It was a super easy read, and both male and female narrators did a nice job bringing the characters to life.

This was a decent debut romantic comedy about two bleeding heart types who both struggle with being vulnerable. They slow burn their way from roommates to friends to lovers, aided by antics from family members and a bedraggled rescue chicken.

While I am totally here for crazy plots (hello chicken) these characters came off as pretty flat to me and it all just didn’t deliver as much as I wanted from it. This may be personal to me, YMMV.

If you like contemporary romance with unconventional pets, slow burn, and mischievous family member side characters, you may enjoy.

I listened to the audiobook version and I feel like both narrators were fine. I wasn’t a huge fan of the male narrator but not to the point that it ruined my experience. It just didn’t add much either.

Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for introducing me to one of my newest favorite books, the ARC of Kelly Ohlert’s To Get To The Other Side.

This romance was just what I needed to destress during this hectic holiday season. This crazy story began trying to answer the perennial question of, “Why did the chicken cross the road” in Chicago traffic? The always effervescent and pet-loving Trixie had to stop and find out… and then literally bump into the gorgeous man mountain of Bear.

As to not give any spoilers away, these protagonists had the deal with their harshest antagonists: their own insecurities, but they did it with hilarious antics along the way. One of my favorites was when Bear took a page out of Winnie The Pooh’s book when visiting Rabbit’s house. Another was when Bear admitted to have stress gardened while waiting.

You definitely should not sleep on this book. It’s got all of the best things: super heroes, chicken wheelchairs, romance, flamingo stances, and a horde of meddling sisters. Get your copy now. It’s your latest meet-cute with a romance novel.

This book starts out with the female mc finding an injured chicken in the road and the male mc coming out to check to make sure she's ok. Cut to, they start living together because she needs an animal friendly place for the chicken and his sister's posted his house online since he needs money and friends.
This book was a little unrealistic, like the fact that this woman spent over $3k on a chicken ! It was also just somewhat bland, I would've enjoyed a bit more drama or action I suppose. Overall it was fine, I didn't hate it but I didn't love it by any means.

SO CUTE!!!

I loved this book and the narration, perfect one two punch of awesome!

When I first started this book I had no idea what to expect, and I’m so glad I went in blind!

Trixie is so lovable and I enjoyed reading her dialogue with Bear. (Ohhhh but the names…. could have been better.)

Trixie is hyper, chatty, and always wearing a smile. To Bear‘s quiet stoicism. So naturally, they are perfect together!!

When Trixie finds herself needing to move, and fast, she sees a roommate post that fits the bill. Unbeknownst to Bare himself, he is the intended landlord thanks to his meddling sisters.

Thank goodness sisters always know best!!!

3.5/5 (rounded up)

Thank you Dreamscape Media for the advanced listening copy!

Trixie, eternally happy and always smiling, will do anything to keep things bright. This includes, but is not limited to, jumping out of her car on a busy Chicago street to save a rogue and injured chicken. Bear, as reserved and manly as his name, is instantly smitten with this quirky and delightful creature. By some turn of fate and Bear's sister's meddling, these two end up as "platonic" roommates determined to keep it just that-- platonic. As they navigate their own emotional issues-- and, let me assure you, there are a lot--, try to develop a healthy friendship and save a chicken's life, these two fall into a complicated relationship faster than you can say "chick chick."

Overall, this one was pretty cute. I think some romance readers would really like this one. The romance was super cute and Bear and Trixie are a great match. There were some aspects that irritated me, keeping me in the 3-3.5 star range. First of all, naming the chicken "chick chick" was irritating beyond belief. Trixie's character rubbed me the wrong way on a number of occasions-- I don't do well with overly sunshine characters and that's what she was. The miscommunication trope drives me insane and that was in this book a ton. However, like I said, the romance was sweet. There were some funny parts that made me giggle and I enjoyed the dynamic between Bear and his sisters. The character development felt very back-heavy in this one, but I felt it was pretty healthy towards the end. Overall, a solid, mid-level romcom.

This was a cute romance story but not very memorable. There was nothing that really stuck out for me or that made it unique. Trixie was quirky and lovable and Bear was the rugged lumberjack type. They came together through some very odd circumstances and eventually end up falling in love. It was an okay read but I probably wouldn't read it again.