A fun read with great moments and a great premise!

Struggling writer, Natalie, is forced to walk down the aisle at her best friend’s wedding with the man who gave her book a very public one-star rating. As the years go by and they're forced to come together over and over again because of their best friends, sparks fly.

This one was a pleasant surprise! I really enjoyed the premise and execution.
From the blurb, I didn't expect such an expansive read that encompasses a decade of time, but watching the character grow and evolve was great. We get these characters as bumbling twenty three year olds with a lot to prove and immature takes, but leave with well adjusted 30 somethings that feel at peace and ready to take on the world.

While I enjoyed this from a woman's fiction perspective, my main issue with this read is I struggled with the idea of this one as a romance. Although there is quite a bit of tension and a few stolen moments in the years that go by, the couple doesn't get to get together officially until the last 5% of the book. While I'm glad they were able to grow and be in better headspaces when their time came, I still didn't buy into their endgame. It felt very lust base versus you are "the one". As individuals, love. Together, I could take it or leave it.

And also, this book kind of centers around their best friends a lot to the point where the romance feels like an after thought especially during some particularly hard times.

I also struggled with the side characters at time. Taking a ridiculous character named Angus seriously was difficult, but Gabby, although she apologizes for it later, never felt like a great best friend. The miscommunication there was hard to stomach, especially because I truly liked Natalie.

Overall, this one was better than expected and we leave these characters better than we find!

Read For
- Found Family
- Time Jumps
- Will They or Won't They?
- Strangers to Enemies to Lovers

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my free advanced electronic reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.

4.5 stars. (Please don’t come for me, Natalie!) This is a romance but it’s more a story of friendships—the ways they change, the problems and pitfalls, but also the joy. Hankin does a great job of making mid 20s Natalie insufferable, to the point that I wasn’t sure I wanted to keep reading. But I’m glad I did, because watching all four of these characters grow up was a delight.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC to review. All opinions are my own.

I was going into this book expecting a cute rom-com and I while there were moments it was absolutely that, I felt like this was more a story that explored all types of love (familial, romantic, friendship) instead of an actual romance book. So much of the story was dedicated because our main romantic plotline, which is not a problem, but I wasn't exactly expecting that going in.

Early in the story, I was having a really difficult time liking our main character, Natalie. There were so many moments of very selfish behavior that were hard to get through and her inner-monologue was a tough hang.

I will say, the last 25-30% completely hooked me. It's where we see the most character growth from everyone and I absolutely cried a few times. Overall, while I liked this it's mostly because of the last quarter of the book that saved the whole story for me.

3.5 out of 5 – The very long burn timetable of this enemies to lovers is wonderful to go through, I kind of love that its decades in the making, very When Harry met Sally. It is predictable but lovely. My other qualm other than the predictableness of this is that I really hate miscommunication tropes and this has it in spades. Its a cute quick read that is going to be great for the beach!

Cute storyline, good use of conflict. Still, it felt like I was reading a bunch of short stories that happened to be connected.

There's nothing Hankin can write that I won't try. This one contains some of the bite of her previous books, but since its a romance it lands a little weirdly for me. This feels like a misuse of cover art for me, but Hankin has a great voice and I always enjoy her work.

So funny and smart and good. I wasn't expecting the structure of the book, but found it wonderful, a different kind of slow-burn approach to romance than I've read before. Also, just so ambitious in its scope and approach to the love and life stories of its characters. I really enjoyed this and will recommend it.

Humorous, realistic, and loaded with feels for BFFs and finding the one you love to hate or is it hate to love…
~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is the first time I have read this author, plus I love a great enemies-to-lovers story. I have to say that this author knocked it out of the park.

Told in seven different parts, this slow-burn romance takes on adulthood, best friends, and the dynamic that comes through growing and changing relationships.

Sometimes books that include a best friend’s narrative become a story about not being able to function without the other person. This story is not that at all.

While the friendships are long-term, we get to watch their growth and unfold that enemies-to-lovers dynamic. The chemistry is awesome!

Hankin brings a story that is delightful, funny, realistic, and loaded with lessons that maybe we can take note of in our own life choices.

One-Star Romance is a fresh and clean closed-door romance that felt like it took forever to develop but was so worth the wait.

Thank you Berkley romance for my digital arc.

She sighed."I just...I think I'm broken."

"Or maybe you're trying to want something you don't because you think you should"

I honestly thought I was getting into a funny romcom in the traditional sense, however what I met with was deeply poignant, refreshing plot that is more than a romcom. The romance here felt like romance between a flawed character with the ups and downs of life, her best friend and her nemesis. The story happens in the span of a decade giving us a peek into the life of Natalie and Rob , predominantly Natalie as she struggles to find stability and her place in the life. The book also makes a realistic comment on women in publishing and their struggles, Natalie's character growth felt very realistic (albeit messy). I truly enjoyed Gabby's and Natalie's friendship and the portrayal of how life drifts apart two people just because they are navigating different stages of life. The entire evolving friendship arc truly struck a chord with me

The actual romance in the story superrrr slow burn as Natalie and Rob keep meeting briefly over the years after being maid of honor and best man at their best friends wedding. However, each of their encounters somehow only make things worse in between them after Natalie realizes that Rob had left a one star review on her newly released book. My only gripe with the book is that Natalie never seem to see her own flaws as she finds something or some situation blaming her actions on, while she does realize where she had gone wrong, he actions doesn't seem to be fully justified. Overall One Star Romance is a fun "story of my life" plot with humor, friendships and some deeply moving topics

what an amazing book!! i'm so thankful to netgalley for letting me read this one early!! it was just so much fun and exciting and sweet!! i had a great time reading this one and you should pick it up!!!

Thank you Berkley Publishing for the advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I found that the book started off very slow, but I kept on reading, up until the point where I could not put it down. What an enjoyable and unexpected read. Two people meet through their respective best friends. They were totally different. But they kept on meeting through their friends life events and eventually found their way together. The book takes you through their ups and downs with their other relationships along the way. A definite worthwhile read.

Ultimately, I enjoyed this book and it was a quick read. I related to the FMC and MMC and I enjoyed that the friendships of both MC were also part of the love story. There were very touching parts of the story, especially with Gabby and it was a quick easy read. I do wish we got a little more of the story. Because of the time jumps and moves, I felt like I didn't know that much about Natalie's life in LA, what does her apartment look like, how does she get along with her co-workers. I knew more about Angus's job than Natalie's and more about Zuri's work interactions than Rob's and Natalie's. Natalie has a drunken kiss with a celebrity and we only hear about it second hand. If Rob and Natalie had come in contact more often, I might not have cared so much about LA feeling thin, but I just felt like I needed a little more and I wanted a little more with Rob and Natalie when they got together. Perhaps a 1 1/2 year check at the end before the 3 year check in (trying not to give any spoilers). These are minor issues and other readers may not have minded. I read the book in two sittings and I wanted to know how things worked out for Natalie, Rob, Gabby, and Angus. I would recommend this book to others.

Fun and flirty!

One-Star Romance is a thoroughly enjoyable romance. I flew through this one, lapping up every bit of banter between these two. If you're looking for a book that is sure to leave a smile on your face-- you've come to the right place :)

I didn’t expect to like this one as much as I did but I really enjoyed this one. The chemistry that the two MCs had? Chef kiss. But also the plot was very cute and watching their growth over time was a joy to watch and witness. I would recommend this to others!

Looks can be deceiving…

Based on the ADORABLE book cover and title, I expected a light, funny ROM COM, but this is more of a “life story” with MANY touching, heartfelt moments!!

Told in 7️⃣ parts, Part 1️⃣ opens in 2013 with an invitation to a birthday party, and each subsequent section, opens with a jump in time, and a NEW invitation to another “life affirming” event, until we reach Part 7️⃣ in 2021.

Natalie is a struggling writer and Gabby’s best friend.

Rob is a rigid Academic, and the best friend of Angus.

The only thing they share is their love and devotion to their respective best friends-recently engaged!

JUST before they are to walk down the aisle as “Maid of Honor” and “Best Man” at Angus and Gabby’s wedding, Natalie finds out that Rob gave her newly published novel, Apartment 2F, the dreaded 1️⃣ ⭐️ review on Goodreads!!

Her book was described as the millennial perspective of a young woman living in NY, during the aftereffects of the recession, wondering if her generation could still find true love, a fulfilling career, and financial stability.

Could that description be any less enticing?

And, YET, her average rating, after fifty three reviews was respectable 4.3 ⭐️ UNTIL the latest review brought it TUMBLING down!

Rob, thought the book had opened strong, but when he got to page 2️⃣ 8️⃣-he was so incensed by “something” she wrote- that he posted his one star review-explaining how her star rating had dipped so precipitously!

Natalie is hoping that once they get through the wedding, she will NEVER again have to see Rob, but FATE (or more accurately-their best friends) will force them to co-exist on many more occasions as they celebrate many happy milestones from housewarmings to christenings and a few sad ones, over the course of the next eight years.

At first, I wasn’t sure what to make of this book, which didn’t start out quite as expected, but by the middle of Part 2️⃣-I was HOOKED after reading one of my FAVORITE “grand gestures” EVER!!

And, by the time I had finished, this “enemies to lovers” romance-I was completely and utterly CHARMED! 💘

If you are looking for an entertaining romance with a FRESH, FUN format for this SUMMER, this one is BEACH BAG approved 🏖️ and will be available on June 18, 2024.

Thank You to Berkley for the gifted ARC provided by NetGalley! It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!

A beautiful depiction of growth in love and friendship.
I truly enjoyed this book for so many reasons…the character growth and depth in all the main characters, the banter between Nat and Rob, and not to mention Laura Hankin pulling on all of the heartstrings! Wow! I would say that this book is perfect for anyone who loves Emily Henry and Netflix’s newest Rom-Coms.

If you're looking for a fun & thoughtful twist on the enemies-to-lovers trope, this one's for you! I loved following Natalie & Rob's relationship through their career & relationship ups & downs over the span of a decade. And Natalie & Gabby's friendship struggles through marriage, pregnancies, and life drama rang so true. I recommend this title to anyone that is in the mood for a rom-com with a cast of characters you're rooting for every step of the way.

dnf at 33%. This just wasn’t for me. Thank you to the publisher, the author and NetGalley for gifting me this arc.

4.5 rounded up.

All thoughts and opinions are my own.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.💫

“How could she have known then that the time she thought she was wasting was actually time she’d spent growing?”

“Happiness followed pain and pain followed happiness, and all you could do was hang on and feel every bit of it for as long as this world would let you.”

After absolutely pouring her heart into a book, Natalie Shapiro is finally a published novelist and the maid of honor in her best friend Gabby’s wedding. The rub? Rob, the best man, gave her book a one-star review, and now she has to walk down the aisle with him, pretend to NOT want to shoot lasers from her eyes at him, and also put on a happy face when secretly, she’s mourning the end of her relationship with Gabby as she knows it.

To add insult to injury? As Gabby and Angus’s best friends, the wedding is simply the first in a series of events that have Natalie and Rob crossing paths for years to come ... Yikes.

This book had me feeling every possible emotion. It made me think back to my 20s, when I felt behind so many of my friends who were moving out of state, going to medical school, starting prestigious jobs, and getting married while I lived at home with my parents and worked on my master’s degree. It reminded me of how I felt a mixture of both happiness and sadness as my best friend got married, knowing our relationship would change. It taught me that not all change is bad, and that even when things seem to be going wrong, they just might be leading you to exactly where you need to be.

In short, it was a vulnerable, heartwarming, heartbreaking, and incredible read, which is what I've come to expect from author Laura Hankin.

⭐️

I've been a Laura fan since reading A Special Place for Women, and, most recently, The Daydreams. And while every single one of her books has been so different, two things always remain true: Her characters are always relatable, flawed, and well-developed, and her stories are always full of emotion and heart.

⭐️

And talk about a home run for her first foray into romance! Rom coms are my comfort reads, and in her romantic debut, Hankin managed to give us a fresh, unique approach to enemies-to-lovers without sacrificing the real-life emotions and ups and downs that accompany growing up, marriage, parenthood, aging, and illness. I loved that One-Star Romance spanned nearly a decade of Natalie, Rob, Gabby, and Angus's lives, and the time jumps and secondary relationships allowed for so much character growth. It was definitely a slow burn, and I sometimes felt like the pacing was a bit too slow in the first half, but boy, did that second half deliver! I laughed, I cried, I felt all the heartbreak and angst, and I fell in love with characters I didn't necessarily like at the outset.

⭐️

Do yourself a favor and pre-order this one before it hits shelves in June; you won't regret it!

One-Star Romance deserves ALL the stars! Let me start by saying, this is a SLOW burn with lots of build-up and not your traditional contemporary romance. It follows two MC's over several years, as they navigate life, friendships, relationships, and run-ins with one another. You won't be swooning or kicking-your-feet throughout, but it somehow still delivers all the feels and I was completely invested, nonetheless. There's something so magical about story-telling that can make you invested in each character as an individual as you are in their relationship together.

Just a heads up, this book is told in 3rd person POV, but that actually made the story -- dare I say -- better!? I'm usually not a fan, but I kind of loved it in this instance!

Overall, this book was absolute, utter perfection and I really hope that Laura Hankin continues to write more in this genre!

ARC provided by Berkley in exchange for an honest review.