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A review by reading_historical_romance
Let's Call a Truce by Amy Buchanan
Did not finish book. Stopped at 48%.
I am sad to report that I've DNF'd this title at 48%. I really wanted to love it!
I found Juliana to just be too frustrating, and Ben isn't much better. I understand that Juliana has a lot of mixed feelings about herself, her future, and her grief, which leads her to be entirely conflicted over what type of relationship she wants or feels she should have with Ben. Giving in her to attraction once and running away from those feelings he stirred is one thing. When it happened again, I questioned whether I could consider her character as a supposedly mature, adult woman. When the same thing happened for the third time and we weren't even halfway through the book, I was done.
By 48%, I also realized that I still have no idea why Ben is somebody I should be rooting for. We get it that he's H-O-T-T-O-G-O. And... he's a good friend to Juliana's bestie? And... he's a single dad? That's all we've got? Because he doesn't seem to have any self-respect and is content to let Juliana jerk his chain?
Ultimately my decision was made when there were no interesting plot developments, and Juliana and Ben's relationship, had still gone nowhere. It was just a series of one step forward, one step back. There weren't any emotional stakes for me as a reader.
I also think that Juliana and Ben were rude to each other for years for no acceptable reason when considering they are two professionals in the work place -- and she's in HR. The underlying premise of this novel is too unrealistic in this year of our lord 2025. Speaking of which, it's time for my annual required employee sexual harassment training.
I found Juliana to just be too frustrating, and Ben isn't much better. I understand that Juliana has a lot of mixed feelings about herself, her future, and her grief, which leads her to be entirely conflicted over what type of relationship she wants or feels she should have with Ben. Giving in her to attraction once and running away from those feelings he stirred is one thing. When it happened again, I questioned whether I could consider her character as a supposedly mature, adult woman. When the same thing happened for the third time and we weren't even halfway through the book, I was done.
By 48%, I also realized that I still have no idea why Ben is somebody I should be rooting for. We get it that he's H-O-T-T-O-G-O. And... he's a good friend to Juliana's bestie? And... he's a single dad? That's all we've got? Because he doesn't seem to have any self-respect and is content to let Juliana jerk his chain?
Ultimately my decision was made when there were no interesting plot developments, and Juliana and Ben's relationship, had still gone nowhere. It was just a series of one step forward, one step back. There weren't any emotional stakes for me as a reader.
I also think that Juliana and Ben were rude to each other for years for no acceptable reason when considering they are two professionals in the work place -- and she's in HR. The underlying premise of this novel is too unrealistic in this year of our lord 2025. Speaking of which, it's time for my annual required employee sexual harassment training.