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A review by _isabel_
The Unlikely Pair by Jax Calder
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Absolutely wonderful!
I freaking loved this.
I've been excited for Harry and Toby's book since the first time I read the blurb of this: enemies-to-lovers, opposites-attract, forced-proximity? THAT'S MY JAM. And after finishing this, I can wholeheartedly say that it didn't disappoint; at all.
This second book in Jax Calder's "Unlikely Dilemmas" series was a fantastic, heart-stopping romp of a book: it had all my favourite tropes, the two protagonists had an unbelievably scorching chemistry (and their banter was damn entertaining! That slow build-up from hate to reluctant allies to soulmates was FIRE), and the setting was damned fabulous. I love a good ol' "stranded in the wilderness together" trope (ft. "I hate you so much, but I also need you like air"), and this book was absolutely packed with all the delicious moments you'd expect from that kind of setting: huddling for warmth, saving each other's lives, us-against-the-world (PLUS: now-I-can't-be-without-you), all the action you can wish for, plus a whole lot of hate sex that slowly morphs into love and pining? UGH, I was hooked.
Both MCs are lovely protagonists. I admit, I had to suspend by disbelief for the duration of the book (I wouldn't trust a politician with a cactus, especially considering the absolute shameful political landscape of the world at the moment), plus the patriotic drivel and the "you can love someone despite their beliefs" were a smidge too much for me (hence, my suspended disbelief), but yeah, once I re-framed this universe as a sort of utopia Great Britain, I managed to love them both to bits. Harry (the Tory, HA!) was my favourite out of the two, because I found him more interesting in the sense that he's full of contradictions, and I love a messy, closeted disaster gay with a complex past and a truckload of ambitions. Toby was lovely as well, and I loved their dynamic to bits. Their romance was fantastic, packed with tension, hate-to-love, pining, and the forbidden aspect was the cherry on the top of an already delicious cake.
I also LOVED how slow-burn their dynamic felt: I loved seeing them slowly trust each other and I loved seeing them open up about their past and their families. Each of them becoming the most important person for the other was absolutely priceless: it's one of the reasons why I love forced-proximity romances so much, and I can only thank Jax Calder for delivering.
I loved the ending SO SO MUCH. It was iconic and I was damn proud of these two complicated, lovable, bickering men. I loved this book, and I can't wait for book three.
Thank you GRR for the ARC.
I freaking loved this.
I've been excited for Harry and Toby's book since the first time I read the blurb of this: enemies-to-lovers, opposites-attract, forced-proximity? THAT'S MY JAM. And after finishing this, I can wholeheartedly say that it didn't disappoint; at all.
This second book in Jax Calder's "Unlikely Dilemmas" series was a fantastic, heart-stopping romp of a book: it had all my favourite tropes, the two protagonists had an unbelievably scorching chemistry (and their banter was damn entertaining! That slow build-up from hate to reluctant allies to soulmates was FIRE), and the setting was damned fabulous. I love a good ol' "stranded in the wilderness together" trope (ft. "I hate you so much, but I also need you like air"), and this book was absolutely packed with all the delicious moments you'd expect from that kind of setting: huddling for warmth, saving each other's lives, us-against-the-world (PLUS: now-I-can't-be-without-you), all the action you can wish for, plus a whole lot of hate sex that slowly morphs into love and pining? UGH, I was hooked.
Both MCs are lovely protagonists. I admit, I had to suspend by disbelief for the duration of the book (I wouldn't trust a politician with a cactus, especially considering the absolute shameful political landscape of the world at the moment), plus the patriotic drivel and the "you can love someone despite their beliefs" were a smidge too much for me (hence, my suspended disbelief), but yeah, once I re-framed this universe as a sort of utopia Great Britain, I managed to love them both to bits. Harry (the Tory, HA!) was my favourite out of the two, because I found him more interesting in the sense that he's full of contradictions, and I love a messy, closeted disaster gay with a complex past and a truckload of ambitions. Toby was lovely as well, and I loved their dynamic to bits. Their romance was fantastic, packed with tension, hate-to-love, pining, and the forbidden aspect was the cherry on the top of an already delicious cake.
I also LOVED how slow-burn their dynamic felt: I loved seeing them slowly trust each other and I loved seeing them open up about their past and their families. Each of them becoming the most important person for the other was absolutely priceless: it's one of the reasons why I love forced-proximity romances so much, and I can only thank Jax Calder for delivering.
I loved the ending SO SO MUCH. It was iconic and I was damn proud of these two complicated, lovable, bickering men. I loved this book, and I can't wait for book three.
Thank you GRR for the ARC.