TL;DR: With the average to low ratings for this book, I was honestly unsure how I’d feel about it but I have to say I enjoyed it more than expected! Layla and her family, all the dates she goes on, even the sexy moments with Sam—I thought they were great and made for a pretty fun read. What made me not rate this higher was the way Sam’s actions (and those of his “friends”) were brushed over and even kind of “redeemed” in the end when honestly, there should have been a hell of a lot more grovelling involved. All his apologies, of which there were a few, felt undeserved and I think this man got off way too easily for the things he did and said. Ultimately, I’m glad they got their HEA but I wish Layla made him work for it a bit more! 😜

Layla was a fun FMC and it was pretty easy to root for her. She’s in a low place after losing pretty much everything and she’s starting fresh back home. She’s in a tight spot but I admire that she didn’t stay there for very long. I admit that it wasn’t always 100% clear whether she was truly working on her own business because we see so little of it as much of the focus is on the marriage game. But I appreciated her can-do positive attitude. That said, her relationship and respect for her family and culture made me love this. There was such a vibrant tone to the story whenever her family and the restaurant were mentioned. It made me very hungry but also happy with their over-the-top auntie antics and other family shenanigans.

Sam was the opposite of Layla’s carefree personality. Typical of the “grump” in many romances, he prefers structure, order and everything unemotional. He carries a world of guilt on his shoulders ever since his sister’s “accident” and is driven by his need for justice and vengeance, and he won’t let anything get in his way. I initially found myself empathising with him and I thought despite the stick up his bum, he was a well-meaning guy with a good heart underneath all that cold. He was that for the most part until the last 30% when he took a turn for the worse and then I wasn’t sure how to feel about him (mostly ragey, lol).

All that being said, I loved the banter between these two. It’s biting, witty, sexually charged and often made me laugh out loud. They had such a wonderful spark and the dates that they went on together were hilarious! 😂 Some of these guys that her dad matched for her were quite the characters but it was also during these moments that we get to know Layla and Sam. It was a fun way to learn about them and it made the read that much more entertaining.

I’m sad that the last 30% happened because it made me see Sam’s character in such a negative light and it was hard to feel like he deserved Layla’s and her family’s kindness towards him by the end. I wish that his actions had been challenged more and that he did way more grovelling and I wish that the author didn’t try to get us to empathise or see that douchecanoe Royce in a “different” light. Fat chance that was ever going to happen! I’m looking forward to reading the other books in this series though.

Have you read The Marriage Game or is it on your TBR or does it sound like something you’d enjoy reading?

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