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Work for It #4
Smart Mouth
The rockstar
There are lots of assumptions people make about rockstars. Shallow. Player. Addict. The truth? I’m none of those.
The even bigger truth…the only opinion I care about is her’s and she hates me. Her as in Gwen Matthews, my twin brother’s best friend, the unrequited love of my life. She thinks I’m a liar and a jerk which is why I pretend to be my brother when she needs help one night.
Except Gwen is a genius. Literally. So it doesn’t take her long to figure out it’s me and not my brother, but maybe, just maybe, she’s willing to give me a second chance. Because maybe when she looks at me, she only sees a rockstar with her best friend’s face, but when I look at her, I see my other half. She centers me in a way that no rhythm or line of lyric ever could.
The scientist
I have three priorities in life at the moment: finish my research, defend my dissertation, and get my Ph.D., so that I can actually figure out what I’m supposed to do with my life. Tom Mendoza won’t help me achieve any of those things. Yet I can’t help the sudden feeling that I’ve been completely wrong about him all this time.
The day we first met when we were both teenagers, I saw a glimpse of a sweet, funny boy that felt very much like a kindred spirit; awkward and full of energy and dreams. But that guy seemed to disappear and in his place was this stereotypical stupidly hot rock star that did not make sense in my world.
Being a scientist means being willing to admit when you’re wrong and reevaluating everything. I might not understand much about human behavior, but I can clearly see the tender underbelly that Tom protects. The subtle rituals he uses to stave off his anxiety. Yes, he’s ridiculously hot, but his soul just might be more beautiful than his face and I’m not sure what to do with that.
Especially when I find out that he’s in love with me.
'Smart Mouth' is a full-length contemporary romance and can be read as a standalone. Book #4 in the Work For It series, Educated Romance World, Penny Reid Book Universe.
There are lots of assumptions people make about rockstars. Shallow. Player. Addict. The truth? I’m none of those.
The even bigger truth…the only opinion I care about is her’s and she hates me. Her as in Gwen Matthews, my twin brother’s best friend, the unrequited love of my life. She thinks I’m a liar and a jerk which is why I pretend to be my brother when she needs help one night.
Except Gwen is a genius. Literally. So it doesn’t take her long to figure out it’s me and not my brother, but maybe, just maybe, she’s willing to give me a second chance. Because maybe when she looks at me, she only sees a rockstar with her best friend’s face, but when I look at her, I see my other half. She centers me in a way that no rhythm or line of lyric ever could.
The scientist
I have three priorities in life at the moment: finish my research, defend my dissertation, and get my Ph.D., so that I can actually figure out what I’m supposed to do with my life. Tom Mendoza won’t help me achieve any of those things. Yet I can’t help the sudden feeling that I’ve been completely wrong about him all this time.
The day we first met when we were both teenagers, I saw a glimpse of a sweet, funny boy that felt very much like a kindred spirit; awkward and full of energy and dreams. But that guy seemed to disappear and in his place was this stereotypical stupidly hot rock star that did not make sense in my world.
Being a scientist means being willing to admit when you’re wrong and reevaluating everything. I might not understand much about human behavior, but I can clearly see the tender underbelly that Tom protects. The subtle rituals he uses to stave off his anxiety. Yes, he’s ridiculously hot, but his soul just might be more beautiful than his face and I’m not sure what to do with that.
Especially when I find out that he’s in love with me.
'Smart Mouth' is a full-length contemporary romance and can be read as a standalone. Book #4 in the Work For It series, Educated Romance World, Penny Reid Book Universe.
260 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 26, 2022
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April 28, 2022
★★NOW LIVE IN KU★★
“This book, It was exactly what my soul needed! This sweet funny romance about a PhD (yas to women in STEM/Academia💪!!) falling for her best friend’s twin (who is a famous pop star) was giving me life!!” -Goodreads Reviewer
Gah! I'm so excited for you all to read SMART MOUTH. This opposites attract romcom featuring Ph.D student Gwen and former boy band member Tom. These two bring all the feels in their unique path to happily ever after.
★★Reserve your copy TODAY!★★
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3IcScov
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3H7VLLg
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/3uRJOHg
Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/3JxRYIS
★ ★This title will release wide on all retailers excluding Amazon on April 26th, 2022. It will be removed from those retailers and be enrolled in Kindle Unlimited on April 28th, 2022 (SOON). So if you’re a non-Amazon reader, be sure to grab your copy TODAY!
★ ★ BLURB ★ ★
The rockstar
There are lots of assumptions people make about rockstars. Shallow. Player. Addict. The truth? I’m none of those.
The even bigger truth…the only opinion I care about is her’s and she hates me. Her as in Gwen Matthews, my twin brother’s best friend, the unrequited love of my life. She thinks I’m a liar and a jerk which is why I pretend to be my brother when she needs help one night.
Except Gwen is a genius. Literally. So it doesn’t take her long to figure out it’s me and not my brother, but maybe, just maybe, she’s willing to give me a second chance. Because maybe when she looks at me, she only sees a rockstar with her best friend’s face, but when I look at her, I see my other half. She centers me in a way that no rhythm or line of lyric ever could.
The scientist
I have three priorities in life at the moment: finish my research, defend my dissertation, and get my Ph.D., so that I can actually figure out what I’m supposed to do with my life. Tom Mendoza won’t help me achieve any of those things. Yet I can’t help the sudden feeling that I’ve been completely wrong about him all this time.
The day we first met when we were both teenagers, I saw a glimpse of a sweet, funny boy that felt very much like a kindred spirit; awkward and full of energy and dreams. But that guy seemed to disappear and in his place was this stereotypical stupidly hot rock star that did not make sense in my world.
Being a scientist means being willing to admit when you’re wrong and reevaluating everything. I might not understand much about human behavior, but I can clearly see the tender underbelly that Tom protects. The subtle rituals he uses to stave off his anxiety. Yes, he’s ridiculously hot, but his soul just might be more beautiful than his face and I’m not sure what to do with that.
Especially when I find out that he’s in love with me.
‘Smart Mouth’ is a full-length contemporary romance and can be read as a standalone. Book #4 in the Work For It series, Educated Romance World, Penny Reid Book Universe.
June 13, 2022
gah i loved the premise of the story (nerdy scientist heroine with popstar hero who's been in love with her since they were teenagers? sign me up!) but some things just bothered me too much for me to really enjoy this book
-i'm really over the "scientist" heroine who is nobel prize smart but clueless when it comes to men. it's just sooo overdone and the h calling herself a scientist a million times in this book was so cringe lol
-spoiler alert - her running away when he admitted his feelings annoyed me so much. i was expecting that but hoping the author wouldn't go down that super predictable route
-not having an epilogue is just criminal!!! they barely get back together and bam book is over
some things i did enjoy:
-tom wasn't a typical manwhore famous hero. he hasn't been a saint but he's been celibate for 3 years which was nice to read about. and thankfully our super awkward and nerdy heroine wasn't a virgin! i probably would've DNFd if that was the case
-seriously loved how besotted tom was with gwen. it was everything!! she honestly did not deserve that man. the jealously was seriously top-notch here
- writing was great as well!
safety:
-safe in present time (no others) but they met as teenagers and had relationships over the years
-i'm really over the "scientist" heroine who is nobel prize smart but clueless when it comes to men. it's just sooo overdone and the h calling herself a scientist a million times in this book was so cringe lol
-spoiler alert - her running away when he admitted his feelings annoyed me so much. i was expecting that but hoping the author wouldn't go down that super predictable route
-not having an epilogue is just criminal!!! they barely get back together and bam book is over
some things i did enjoy:
-tom wasn't a typical manwhore famous hero. he hasn't been a saint but he's been celibate for 3 years which was nice to read about. and thankfully our super awkward and nerdy heroine wasn't a virgin! i probably would've DNFd if that was the case
-seriously loved how besotted tom was with gwen. it was everything!! she honestly did not deserve that man. the jealously was seriously top-notch here
- writing was great as well!
safety:
-safe in present time (no others) but they met as teenagers and had relationships over the years
May 4, 2022
"I've been waiting half my life for you to notice me."
Istg, this book had crack in it, because it was just so adorable, I didn't want it to end at all. Gewn & Tom's connection left me utterly captivated. The characterization, the swoon-worthy moments, Tom being whipped, the scientific talk, some random facts thrown in, just the overall aspect of this book was so deeply woven, sweet and light-hearted. Gwen was freaking smart when it came to her work but she was definitely confused when it came to figuring out her own emotions. But her entire awkward, nerdy and blabbermouth personality was just so relatable to me that I couldn't help but love her. Tom is her bestfriend's twin who has got the biggest crush on her since they were fifteenth but she's oblivious to it. He was such a considerate man and there was a particular scene wherein I wasn't sure if Gwen deserved him but they definitely fit very well together. It's a book about believing in yourself and about trying to understand how to be worthy of deserving love. It's a layered but subtle look at relationships from comparing it with scientific perspectives. It's funny, smart, swoon-worthy, with some great side characters and overall a pretty solid read in which two individuals with their own vulnerabilities come together despite living in polar opposite worlds. Anyway, I loved this book but the abrupt ending and a lack of epilogue has left me with some unanswered questions.
Istg, this book had crack in it, because it was just so adorable, I didn't want it to end at all. Gewn & Tom's connection left me utterly captivated. The characterization, the swoon-worthy moments, Tom being whipped, the scientific talk, some random facts thrown in, just the overall aspect of this book was so deeply woven, sweet and light-hearted. Gwen was freaking smart when it came to her work but she was definitely confused when it came to figuring out her own emotions. But her entire awkward, nerdy and blabbermouth personality was just so relatable to me that I couldn't help but love her. Tom is her bestfriend's twin who has got the biggest crush on her since they were fifteenth but she's oblivious to it. He was such a considerate man and there was a particular scene wherein I wasn't sure if Gwen deserved him but they definitely fit very well together. It's a book about believing in yourself and about trying to understand how to be worthy of deserving love. It's a layered but subtle look at relationships from comparing it with scientific perspectives. It's funny, smart, swoon-worthy, with some great side characters and overall a pretty solid read in which two individuals with their own vulnerabilities come together despite living in polar opposite worlds. Anyway, I loved this book but the abrupt ending and a lack of epilogue has left me with some unanswered questions.
May 20, 2022
Favorite Quote:
I stop talking when I realize I’m speaking in choppy phrases that all sound like questions. I’m a smart woman who is about to get her Ph.D., and here I am, talking to the hottest man I’ve ever met about tilapia and compost, and I can’t even do that without sounding like a moron. Ladies and gentlemen, this is why I’m still single.
My Review:
This was a fun and witty tale full of insightful observations and amusing encounters between a brilliant but socially awkward microbiology doctoral candidate and the man who has pined for her for half his life. The characters were authentic and accessible and I particularly enjoyed the character of Tom being the complete antithesis of his culture, birth order, and successful career.
The storylines were active, well-paced, and engaging with smirk-worthy writing that pulled strong visuals to my mind’s eye. There was a small amount of breath-stealing and gasp-worthy sensual steam yet the heat level was high enough to singe my eyebrows.
This was my first exposure to the clever word voodoo of Emma Lee Jayne but I definitely feel a habit forming.
I stop talking when I realize I’m speaking in choppy phrases that all sound like questions. I’m a smart woman who is about to get her Ph.D., and here I am, talking to the hottest man I’ve ever met about tilapia and compost, and I can’t even do that without sounding like a moron. Ladies and gentlemen, this is why I’m still single.
My Review:
This was a fun and witty tale full of insightful observations and amusing encounters between a brilliant but socially awkward microbiology doctoral candidate and the man who has pined for her for half his life. The characters were authentic and accessible and I particularly enjoyed the character of Tom being the complete antithesis of his culture, birth order, and successful career.
The storylines were active, well-paced, and engaging with smirk-worthy writing that pulled strong visuals to my mind’s eye. There was a small amount of breath-stealing and gasp-worthy sensual steam yet the heat level was high enough to singe my eyebrows.
This was my first exposure to the clever word voodoo of Emma Lee Jayne but I definitely feel a habit forming.
May 17, 2022
Stop right there and let it sink in that this is a childhood friends to lovers, mistaken twin, rockstar romance, that is perfect in every way.
Gwen is a scientist that is figuring out her next steps in life. When caught in a difficult situation she thinks of calling her long time best friend (whom she hasn't had contact with in a while). However, his swoony and former teen band star twin Tom Mendoza comes to the rescue.
It's been years since they were last together and now their undeniable chemistry will allow them to unravel their past, and perhaps figure out together if they have a future.
Smart Mouth was such a well-balanced story. Full of tropes, but with well-rounded characters that felt human and relatable. The Work For It series is clearly becoming a favourite from Smartypants Romance, and I hope this universe keeps expanding.
Thank you so much Smartypants Romance for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
★★NOW LIVE★★
From Smartypants Romance... SMART MOUTH, an all-new opposites attract romcom from Emma Lee Jayne, is LIVE in #KindleUnlimited!
Read for FREE in KU!
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3IcScov
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3H7VLLg
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/3uRJOHg
Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/3JxRYIS
Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3M4dSWk
Audible: https://adbl.co/3rPAWiO
Gwen is a scientist that is figuring out her next steps in life. When caught in a difficult situation she thinks of calling her long time best friend (whom she hasn't had contact with in a while). However, his swoony and former teen band star twin Tom Mendoza comes to the rescue.
It's been years since they were last together and now their undeniable chemistry will allow them to unravel their past, and perhaps figure out together if they have a future.
Smart Mouth was such a well-balanced story. Full of tropes, but with well-rounded characters that felt human and relatable. The Work For It series is clearly becoming a favourite from Smartypants Romance, and I hope this universe keeps expanding.
Thank you so much Smartypants Romance for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
★★NOW LIVE★★
From Smartypants Romance... SMART MOUTH, an all-new opposites attract romcom from Emma Lee Jayne, is LIVE in #KindleUnlimited!
Read for FREE in KU!
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3IcScov
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3H7VLLg
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/3uRJOHg
Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/3JxRYIS
Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3M4dSWk
Audible: https://adbl.co/3rPAWiO
May 8, 2022
I didn't dislike this book by any stretch of the imagination but I think this writing us not for me.
August 21, 2022
I REALLY enjoyed this steamy, opposites attract, dual POV, best friend's twin brother romance between scientist Gwen and Tom, a Rockstar who's secretly had a crush on Gwen since they were fifteen.
The book has great mental health rep! Tom has ADHD and one of his band members experienced depression and had a suicide attempt.
I loved the Holly and Max cameos from book two (although this can definitely be read as a standalone). Gwen is actually Max's research assistant and obsessed with the potential of maggots for recycling garbage. Who doesn't love a great STEM female main character?? Give me more of them please!!
Recommended for fans of books like Erin Mallon's Lovebug, Susannah Nix's Chemistry lessons series or authors like Ali Hazelwood. Great on audio too narrated by Lila Winters and Oscar Reyes.
The book has great mental health rep! Tom has ADHD and one of his band members experienced depression and had a suicide attempt.
I loved the Holly and Max cameos from book two (although this can definitely be read as a standalone). Gwen is actually Max's research assistant and obsessed with the potential of maggots for recycling garbage. Who doesn't love a great STEM female main character?? Give me more of them please!!
Recommended for fans of books like Erin Mallon's Lovebug, Susannah Nix's Chemistry lessons series or authors like Ali Hazelwood. Great on audio too narrated by Lila Winters and Oscar Reyes.
May 10, 2022
The scientist and the rock star. She's wicked smart, a little clumsy, and trying her hardest to figure out what she wants to do next with her life. He's sexy, determined, and convinced Gwen wants nothing to do with him.
Except that's not exactly true.
Circumstances led both of them to believe the other wasn't interested when they were younger and they'd both sort of gone their separate ways. I'm giving a sour lemon face to the circumstances because that was a lot of time these two missed being adorable (and stupid sexy) together, BUT...I do think they ended meeting again when the time was right. So, you know, I get it. I might not like it, but I get it. (And also Grrrrr. For reasons.)
So. Gwen has to get over the hurt of being forgotten by her best friend's famous brother and the misconceptions she's built up about him over the years. Tom, on the other hand, is just flat-out smitten. He might think Gwen isn't into him, but it doesn't stop his hopeful heart from getting all fluttery whenever she's near.
A surprise kiss, a sweet date, grown up members of a boy band, a cranky neighbor, an even crankier professor (Max and Holly, FTW!), and two people who have to overcome a few hurdles before they can find their HEA. The scientist and the rock star. Oh, yeah.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
Except that's not exactly true.
Circumstances led both of them to believe the other wasn't interested when they were younger and they'd both sort of gone their separate ways. I'm giving a sour lemon face to the circumstances because that was a lot of time these two missed being adorable (and stupid sexy) together, BUT...I do think they ended meeting again when the time was right. So, you know, I get it. I might not like it, but I get it. (And also Grrrrr. For reasons.)
So. Gwen has to get over the hurt of being forgotten by her best friend's famous brother and the misconceptions she's built up about him over the years. Tom, on the other hand, is just flat-out smitten. He might think Gwen isn't into him, but it doesn't stop his hopeful heart from getting all fluttery whenever she's near.
A surprise kiss, a sweet date, grown up members of a boy band, a cranky neighbor, an even crankier professor (Max and Holly, FTW!), and two people who have to overcome a few hurdles before they can find their HEA. The scientist and the rock star. Oh, yeah.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
Shelved as 'dnf'
July 25, 2023Dnf @64%
My epic dnf streak continues. This was aggressively mid. Perfectly fine. Nice enough characters but every time I put it down I didn't feel like picking it.
I probably would have rated it 3 stars had I continued. But life is too short to keep reading meh books.
My epic dnf streak continues. This was aggressively mid. Perfectly fine. Nice enough characters but every time I put it down I didn't feel like picking it.
I probably would have rated it 3 stars had I continued. But life is too short to keep reading meh books.
May 13, 2022
Format -E ARC
Rating- ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice- 🌶 🌶🌶
Series- Work for it #4
Troupes- Childhood friends, Pop star fame, women in STEM, brothers best friend
CW- General Anxiety Disorder
Well Emma Lee Jayne has done it again! She’s taken a former child rockstar and made him the perfect book boyfriend! She has also given us more of Gwen from Heart Smart and be still my heart is she a sweet sassy ball of clumsy hilarity!
Ya’ll this book, it only spans a couple of weeks but its a wild ride! From the moment these to meet again until the last words of chapter 30 I was inthralled with these two dummies!
Tom and Gwen had one magical night together(no not like that) when they teens and that was it for him, she was the one, only one problem she’s his twins best friend, and he’s not gonna share her. Some 12 years later, Gwen is covered in her terrible dates vomit and in need of a rescue, and by some happy accident (or some meddling) Tom is the one to get the SOS. And thus kicks off this tale of mistaken identity, unrequited love, an asshole twin and how a former popstar and a Microbiologist fall in love.
Y’all know I always have to talk about the spicy stuff so let’s just say the build is steamy and the spice is hot and Emma Lee Jayne delivers.
To say I enjoyed this book is an under statement, I was actually reading this when my “Ten Trends”ARC finally showed up (and I had 2 days to read it), and it killed me to put int down. But it was the perfect book to go back to after “Ten Trends”(if you know you know 😉). All this to say I freakin loved this book and this characters and am crossing my fingers and putting it out into the universe that Drew and the other members of Boys of Summer get their own books!
Rating- ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice- 🌶 🌶🌶
Series- Work for it #4
Troupes- Childhood friends, Pop star fame, women in STEM, brothers best friend
CW- General Anxiety Disorder
Well Emma Lee Jayne has done it again! She’s taken a former child rockstar and made him the perfect book boyfriend! She has also given us more of Gwen from Heart Smart and be still my heart is she a sweet sassy ball of clumsy hilarity!
Ya’ll this book, it only spans a couple of weeks but its a wild ride! From the moment these to meet again until the last words of chapter 30 I was inthralled with these two dummies!
Tom and Gwen had one magical night together(no not like that) when they teens and that was it for him, she was the one, only one problem she’s his twins best friend, and he’s not gonna share her. Some 12 years later, Gwen is covered in her terrible dates vomit and in need of a rescue, and by some happy accident (or some meddling) Tom is the one to get the SOS. And thus kicks off this tale of mistaken identity, unrequited love, an asshole twin and how a former popstar and a Microbiologist fall in love.
Y’all know I always have to talk about the spicy stuff so let’s just say the build is steamy and the spice is hot and Emma Lee Jayne delivers.
To say I enjoyed this book is an under statement, I was actually reading this when my “Ten Trends”ARC finally showed up (and I had 2 days to read it), and it killed me to put int down. But it was the perfect book to go back to after “Ten Trends”(if you know you know 😉). All this to say I freakin loved this book and this characters and am crossing my fingers and putting it out into the universe that Drew and the other members of Boys of Summer get their own books!
May 11, 2022
Check out an Excerpt HERE
***5 Stars***
This was a fun, awkward, adorkable, frustrating and heart warming read that hit all the right buttons and has me crossing my toes that we get more, not only of Gwen and Tom, but some other characters down the road.
I adored Tom. ADORED. This guy may be a ‘rockstar’ but he is really so much more. A little awkward, a little oblivious, but has a really good heart and when he sets his mind on something, gives it all he’s got. Gwen, I did adore, but she definitely had her moments. She owns who she is and doesn’t apologize for her likes or dislikes. She sweet and generous and probably too smart for her own good. But she is also oblivious to how people actually see her and assumes they see her the way she sees herself.
Their journey to their HEA was awkward, sweet, frustrating and just fun and interesting. While their reunion wasn’t on the best of terms, I really enjoyed watching as they got to know each other and find that they did have a connection and did like, respect and enjoy who the other truly was. The bumps in the road were frustrating, but, in most cases understandable. Though, I do have to say that I didn’t see that “nudge” coming nor did I see the ‘grand gesture/apology’ coming. Both were actually perfect and I love that they got their HEA.
As I said at the start, this was a fun read. I was hooked from the start and really liked the dual first person POV’s. As for the secondary character, I loved getting to see how Max & Holly from Heart Smart and their brood were doing. But it was Bex and the Boys of BoS that I loved and am crossing my toes that we will get more of them in the future.
~ Copy provided by SmartyPants Romance & voluntarily reviewed ~
***5 Stars***
This was a fun, awkward, adorkable, frustrating and heart warming read that hit all the right buttons and has me crossing my toes that we get more, not only of Gwen and Tom, but some other characters down the road.
I adored Tom. ADORED. This guy may be a ‘rockstar’ but he is really so much more. A little awkward, a little oblivious, but has a really good heart and when he sets his mind on something, gives it all he’s got. Gwen, I did adore, but she definitely had her moments. She owns who she is and doesn’t apologize for her likes or dislikes. She sweet and generous and probably too smart for her own good. But she is also oblivious to how people actually see her and assumes they see her the way she sees herself.
Their journey to their HEA was awkward, sweet, frustrating and just fun and interesting. While their reunion wasn’t on the best of terms, I really enjoyed watching as they got to know each other and find that they did have a connection and did like, respect and enjoy who the other truly was. The bumps in the road were frustrating, but, in most cases understandable. Though, I do have to say that I didn’t see that “nudge” coming nor did I see the ‘grand gesture/apology’ coming. Both were actually perfect and I love that they got their HEA.
As I said at the start, this was a fun read. I was hooked from the start and really liked the dual first person POV’s. As for the secondary character, I loved getting to see how Max & Holly from Heart Smart and their brood were doing. But it was Bex and the Boys of BoS that I loved and am crossing my toes that we will get more of them in the future.
~ Copy provided by SmartyPants Romance & voluntarily reviewed ~
October 17, 2022
2.5
Once again, this felt flat. J’ai eu l’impression que la romance s’est toute déroulée avant le livre. Je crois 0 en leur relation. Je ne pense pas qu’ils ont développé des sentiments l’un pour l’autre. Le livre n’est pas très long et je pense que ça pu affecter l’exécution. J’aurais aimé que certains aspects soient plus approfondis.
Once again, this felt flat. J’ai eu l’impression que la romance s’est toute déroulée avant le livre. Je crois 0 en leur relation. Je ne pense pas qu’ils ont développé des sentiments l’un pour l’autre. Le livre n’est pas très long et je pense que ça pu affecter l’exécution. J’aurais aimé que certains aspects soient plus approfondis.
June 6, 2023
I would give this book more stars if I could!
Man, I loved this one! Forget all of your preconceived notions about rockstars because Tom will bust them wide open. This is a guy who stumbled into stardom and has always felt guilty about it, and who has carried a torch for the girl next door through it all.
Gwen and Tom met as kids and, now as adults, have just the most hilarious reconnect when Tom rescues a stranded Gwen after a blind date gone wrong. Vomit, mistaken identity and disrobing all come into play!
Once again, Jayne has bowled me over with her writing. I highlighted so many special passages; I’ve never been so happy for that function on my kindle before! She is just so gifted at capturing the essence of the situation and honing it into a single quote that you hope you can remember and pull out when needed.
I really enjoy a super smart heroine who has no concept of their impact on the opposite sex, and nowhere are they more prevalent than the Pennyverse: Janie, Kaitlyn, Mona (to name a few) and now Gwen.
If you enjoyed Heart Smart, or even if you have no idea what I’m talking about, this is a MUST READ.
I requested an advance copy of this book and these are my honest opinions.
Man, I loved this one! Forget all of your preconceived notions about rockstars because Tom will bust them wide open. This is a guy who stumbled into stardom and has always felt guilty about it, and who has carried a torch for the girl next door through it all.
Gwen and Tom met as kids and, now as adults, have just the most hilarious reconnect when Tom rescues a stranded Gwen after a blind date gone wrong. Vomit, mistaken identity and disrobing all come into play!
Once again, Jayne has bowled me over with her writing. I highlighted so many special passages; I’ve never been so happy for that function on my kindle before! She is just so gifted at capturing the essence of the situation and honing it into a single quote that you hope you can remember and pull out when needed.
I really enjoy a super smart heroine who has no concept of their impact on the opposite sex, and nowhere are they more prevalent than the Pennyverse: Janie, Kaitlyn, Mona (to name a few) and now Gwen.
If you enjoyed Heart Smart, or even if you have no idea what I’m talking about, this is a MUST READ.
I requested an advance copy of this book and these are my honest opinions.
April 30, 2022
2.75 Stars
This is my second book by this author. Heart Smart was so much better than this one. I didn’t buy that the hero fell in love with the heroine at 15/16 after spending just one day with her.
Also, the heroine is supposed to be this scientific genius, but she’s also extremely flighty/ditzy. I can buy socially awkward….but not the other parts the author throws in.
Ends in HFN 👎
Also, can I just add that the twin brother was a douchebag? This guy was supposed to be the heroines best friend. He certainly didn’t act like it.
This is my second book by this author. Heart Smart was so much better than this one. I didn’t buy that the hero fell in love with the heroine at 15/16 after spending just one day with her.
Also, the heroine is supposed to be this scientific genius, but she’s also extremely flighty/ditzy. I can buy socially awkward….but not the other parts the author throws in.
Ends in HFN 👎
Also, can I just add that the twin brother was a douchebag? This guy was supposed to be the heroines best friend. He certainly didn’t act like it.
May 22, 2022
The main characters of "Smart Mouth," PhD candidate Gwen Mathews and former boy band member Tom Mendoza, were just about as opposite as opposite can be, but somehow they were still completely perfect for each other, and I adored their story. There were so many unexpected layers to each of their characters, which made them both seem incredibly realistic and relatable. Basically the only thing I didn't like about this book was its lack of an epilogue! Tom and Gwen were super cute together and I wanted more of them.
I highly recommend this book for all contemporary romance and romantic comedy fans. Hopefully this isn't the last we've seen of these characters! I'd love to read future stories featuring Tom's sister Bex and the other members of his former band, Boys of Summer.
*Review copy provided by Smartypants Romance. All opinions expressed are my own.
I highly recommend this book for all contemporary romance and romantic comedy fans. Hopefully this isn't the last we've seen of these characters! I'd love to read future stories featuring Tom's sister Bex and the other members of his former band, Boys of Summer.
*Review copy provided by Smartypants Romance. All opinions expressed are my own.
Read
May 4, 2022Not QUITE as good as Heart Smart, but then again that’s an all-timer 😂 This one definitely grows, as the sort of opposites-attract, first-love, entanglement-with-brother tropes give way to more filled-out characterizations, especially for Tom. I could see how his struggles had impacted his life, and the steps he had taken to work with them. It made him a more complete partner for Gwen.
Loved seeing Max and Holly, of course 😁
Loved seeing Max and Holly, of course 😁
April 26, 2022
This book is nerdily adorable!
I loved reading about Wendy-no-wait-Gwen and Tom! Wendy was an adorable genius finishing her PhD in microbiology but with no social clues, and Tom is an ex boy band pop star with way more layers than meet the eye. Of course Tom has been in love with her for years, ever since they were teenagers but she thinks he's an arrogant entitled charmer, so sparks fly!
I'm not such a big fan of pop/rock star romances but this one caught me hook fish and line! I simply fell in love with the two characters and couldn't put them down until I finished their stoy, which by the way was too short, I need more!
I loved reading about Wendy-no-wait-Gwen and Tom! Wendy was an adorable genius finishing her PhD in microbiology but with no social clues, and Tom is an ex boy band pop star with way more layers than meet the eye. Of course Tom has been in love with her for years, ever since they were teenagers but she thinks he's an arrogant entitled charmer, so sparks fly!
I'm not such a big fan of pop/rock star romances but this one caught me hook fish and line! I simply fell in love with the two characters and couldn't put them down until I finished their stoy, which by the way was too short, I need more!
May 12, 2022
Smart Mouth is a fantastic read from Emma Lee Jayne!
Gwen and Tom had great chemistry. The story is in dual POV and I liked getting inside both their heads a bit. Especially as they have known each other for years and their relationship was evolving.
The story is sweet, fun, and entertaining with engaging writing and interesting characters. There was also a great balance of romance and relationship development with the growth they experience individually as well. I like when characters are fully fleshed out and feel more relatable and realistic.
I really enjoyed this book and Emma's previous Smartypants Romance release. I am looking forward to reading more of her books!
Thank you to the author for providing an ARC for an honest review.
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Bookstagram Post: https://www.instagram.com/p/CdeYC4_vKVo/
Gwen and Tom had great chemistry. The story is in dual POV and I liked getting inside both their heads a bit. Especially as they have known each other for years and their relationship was evolving.
The story is sweet, fun, and entertaining with engaging writing and interesting characters. There was also a great balance of romance and relationship development with the growth they experience individually as well. I like when characters are fully fleshed out and feel more relatable and realistic.
I really enjoyed this book and Emma's previous Smartypants Romance release. I am looking forward to reading more of her books!
Thank you to the author for providing an ARC for an honest review.
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Bookstagram Post: https://www.instagram.com/p/CdeYC4_vKVo/
May 12, 2022
Gah! 5 swoony stars!
Smart Mouth has so much delicious tension! Gwen and Tom have a thing with timing. It’s never quite right, the feelings are there but it’s always just a bit off.
I love that during the times that Gwen needs someone there to help her out, it’s Tom and not his brother to come to Gwen’s aid. And while I didn’t exactly love how Tom’s relationship with his brother played out, that particular storyline got redeemed too.
There’s so many good conversations about mental health and awareness, women in STEM as well as in leadership roles, and even how even if we can be our own biggest advocates we are still can be our worst critics too.
LitBuzz Review: https://www.thelitbuzz.com/2022/04/sm...
Smart Mouth has so much delicious tension! Gwen and Tom have a thing with timing. It’s never quite right, the feelings are there but it’s always just a bit off.
I love that during the times that Gwen needs someone there to help her out, it’s Tom and not his brother to come to Gwen’s aid. And while I didn’t exactly love how Tom’s relationship with his brother played out, that particular storyline got redeemed too.
There’s so many good conversations about mental health and awareness, women in STEM as well as in leadership roles, and even how even if we can be our own biggest advocates we are still can be our worst critics too.
LitBuzz Review: https://www.thelitbuzz.com/2022/04/sm...
Want to read
April 28, 2022★★NOW LIVE IN KU★★
“This book, It was exactly what my soul needed! 🥰 This sweet funny romance about a PhD (yas to women in STEM/Academia💪!!) falling for her best friend’s twin (who is a famous pop star) was giving me life!!” -Goodreads Reviewer
Prepare yourselves, readers! SMART MOUTH has arrived. We’re thrilled to have Emma Lee Jayne return to the Work For It series with this opposites attract romcom featuring Ph.D student Gwen and former boy band member Tom. These two bring all the feels in their unique path to happily ever after.
★★Reserve your copy TODAY!★★
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3IcScov
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3H7VLLg
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/3uRJOHg
Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/3JxRYIS
★ ★This title will release wide on all retailers excluding Amazon on April 26th, 2022. It will be removed from those retailers and be enrolled in Kindle Unlimited on April 28th, 2022 (SOON). So if you’re a non-Amazon reader, be sure to grab your copy TODAY!
★ ★ BLURB ★ ★
The rockstar
There are lots of assumptions people make about rockstars. Shallow. Player. Addict. The truth? I’m none of those.
The even bigger truth…the only opinion I care about is her’s and she hates me. Her as in Gwen Matthews, my twin brother’s best friend, the unrequited love of my life. She thinks I’m a liar and a jerk which is why I pretend to be my brother when she needs help one night.
Except Gwen is a genius. Literally. So it doesn’t take her long to figure out it’s me and not my brother, but maybe, just maybe, she’s willing to give me a second chance. Because maybe when she looks at me, she only sees a rockstar with her best friend’s face, but when I look at her, I see my other half. She centers me in a way that no rhythm or line of lyric ever could.
The scientist
I have three priorities in life at the moment: finish my research, defend my dissertation, and get my Ph.D., so that I can actually figure out what I’m supposed to do with my life. Tom Mendoza won’t help me achieve any of those things. Yet I can’t help the sudden feeling that I’ve been completely wrong about him all this time.
The day we first met when we were both teenagers, I saw a glimpse of a sweet, funny boy that felt very much like a kindred spirit; awkward and full of energy and dreams. But that guy seemed to disappear and in his place was this stereotypical stupidly hot rock star that did not make sense in my world.
Being a scientist means being willing to admit when you’re wrong and reevaluating everything. I might not understand much about human behavior, but I can clearly see the tender underbelly that Tom protects. The subtle rituals he uses to stave off his anxiety. Yes, he’s ridiculously hot, but his soul just might be more beautiful than his face and I’m not sure what to do with that.
Especially when I find out that he’s in love with me.
‘Smart Mouth’ is a full-length contemporary romance and can be read as a standalone. Book #4 in the Work For It series, Educated Romance World, Penny Reid Book Universe.
May 9, 2022
This is a very cute enemies to friends to lovers story.
Gwen is teen aged bff with James. James has a twin brother Tom. Gwen doesn't like Tom since she thinks he's
so aloof and stuck up. Tom is in a boy band when he's very young. His reputation is nothing like he really is. Tom really does like Gwen, but he's held back since she doesn't like him and she's his brother's best friend.
Years later, Gwen is stranded on a date (the details are kinda funny) . What happens after throws Tom and Gwen together.
They are still opposites, but there is chemistry. Plus mistaken identity, plus Gwen is a PhD student.
After a very successful musically career, Tom is now a music producer.
I really enjoyed this slow burn romance. I really love Gwen's quirkiness. Tom really likes that too.
The audio is perfect. Thanks to Brooke and Smartypants Romance Facebook group. I won this audio & I put aside other books for this one. I'm so glad that I did. I want to read more from Emma Lee Jayne and the Spring SPR books!
Gwen is teen aged bff with James. James has a twin brother Tom. Gwen doesn't like Tom since she thinks he's
so aloof and stuck up. Tom is in a boy band when he's very young. His reputation is nothing like he really is. Tom really does like Gwen, but he's held back since she doesn't like him and she's his brother's best friend.
Years later, Gwen is stranded on a date (the details are kinda funny) . What happens after throws Tom and Gwen together.
They are still opposites, but there is chemistry. Plus mistaken identity, plus Gwen is a PhD student.
After a very successful musically career, Tom is now a music producer.
I really enjoyed this slow burn romance. I really love Gwen's quirkiness. Tom really likes that too.
The audio is perfect. Thanks to Brooke and Smartypants Romance Facebook group. I won this audio & I put aside other books for this one. I'm so glad that I did. I want to read more from Emma Lee Jayne and the Spring SPR books!
April 30, 2022
I’m sorry, I really wanted to like it. It was so fast paced - like I couldn’t keep up with how fast the story was moving. One moment she thinks he’ll never like her then five pages later she’s sleeping with him? The writing wasn’t bad, just moved way too fast. Especially their first kiss? Her thinking he was James was just a bit too weird and nonsensical for me. It literally felt like the story could have been 10 pages and I still would have the same outcome. Plus I didn’t really get their trauma? Felt more like miscommunication issues (that weren’t really resolved). James told her about Halloween, but not that he purposely made her think Tom hated her, plus the James issue was never settled. I’m sorry, so much just didn’t make a lot of sense.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 3, 2022
It looked good in the blurb, but the book itself was disappointing. There’s no much happening here for so many pages, Gwen’s insecurities are annoying and it lacks of closure for James’s issue
April 24, 2022
Gwen et Tom se connaissent depuis leur adolescence, ils s'entendaient bien et auraient pu devenir les meilleurs amis du monde (voir plus) mais voilà, les circonstances les ont séparé et ils ont fait leur vie chacun de leur côté. Jusqu'à ce que l'univers les mettent à nouveau sur le même chemin.
Complètement dépitée après un rencard horrible, Gwen appelle James à l'aide. James c'est le frère jumeau de Tom, celui avec qui elle s'entend toujours bien. Sauf que c'est Tom qui intercepte le message et qui va venir l'aider. Tom, lui a toujours eu un faible pour Gwen, mais il n'a jamais compris pourquoi elle le déteste autant. Ce soir là, Tom pensait qu'il aurait juste à ramener Gwen chez elle, et elle n'aurait jamais su qu'il n'était pas le bon frère, évidemment rien ne se passe comme prévu : ils se sont embrassé, ils ont a priori bien kiffé, mais Gwen a réalisé qui il était. Et là c'est le drame...
Gwen est toute chamboulée car pourquoi la rockstar s'intéresserait à elle, il n'a jamais voulu être son ami. Vous vous en doutez, ces deux-là vont avoir plein de mise-au-point à faire, des quiproquos qui ont été nourris en partie par James (l'autre frère). Gwen va découvrir que derrière le talent et la gloire se cache un jeune homme qui n'a jamais rêvé d'être une star, qui souffre d'anxiété, mais quelqu'un qui s'intéresse à elle et qui n'hésite pas à se battre pour elle, même quand elle n'en a plus la force.
Le seul bémol serait sur le rythme un peu rapide de l'histoire, qui aurait pu prendre un peu plus de temps, le roman est un peu court et ça n'aurait pas fait de mal d'avoir 100 pages de plus afin de donner plus de place à la partie séduction, ré-apprivoisement des deux héros.
****************
Gwen and Tom have known each other since they were teenagers, they got along well and could have become the best friends in the world (and more) but then, circumstances separated them and they went their own way. Until the universe puts them on the same path again.
Completely upset after a horrible date, Gwen calls James for help. James is Tom's twin brother, the one she always gets along with. Except that Tom intercepts the message and it's him who will come to help. Tom has always had a soft spot for Gwen, but he never understood why she hates him so much. That night, Tom thought he would just have to take Gwen home, and she would never have known he wasn't the right brother, of course nothing goes as planned : they kissed, they liked it, but Gwen realized who he was. And here comes the drama...
Gwen is shaken because why would the rockstar be interested in her, he never wanted to be her friend. As you can imagine, these two are going to have a lot of clarifications to do, misunderstandings that were partly fueled by James (the other brother). Gwen will discover that behind the talent and the fame hides a young man who never dreamed of being a star, who suffers from anxiety, but someone who is interested in her and who doesn't hesitate to fight for her, even when she no longer has the strength.
The only downside would be the rather fast pace of the story, which could have taken a little longer, the novel is a bit short and it wouldn't have hurt to have 100 more pages in order to give more room for the seduction part, re-taming of the two heroes.
-Read as an ARC-
Complètement dépitée après un rencard horrible, Gwen appelle James à l'aide. James c'est le frère jumeau de Tom, celui avec qui elle s'entend toujours bien. Sauf que c'est Tom qui intercepte le message et qui va venir l'aider. Tom, lui a toujours eu un faible pour Gwen, mais il n'a jamais compris pourquoi elle le déteste autant. Ce soir là, Tom pensait qu'il aurait juste à ramener Gwen chez elle, et elle n'aurait jamais su qu'il n'était pas le bon frère, évidemment rien ne se passe comme prévu : ils se sont embrassé, ils ont a priori bien kiffé, mais Gwen a réalisé qui il était. Et là c'est le drame...
Gwen est toute chamboulée car pourquoi la rockstar s'intéresserait à elle, il n'a jamais voulu être son ami. Vous vous en doutez, ces deux-là vont avoir plein de mise-au-point à faire, des quiproquos qui ont été nourris en partie par James (l'autre frère). Gwen va découvrir que derrière le talent et la gloire se cache un jeune homme qui n'a jamais rêvé d'être une star, qui souffre d'anxiété, mais quelqu'un qui s'intéresse à elle et qui n'hésite pas à se battre pour elle, même quand elle n'en a plus la force.
Le seul bémol serait sur le rythme un peu rapide de l'histoire, qui aurait pu prendre un peu plus de temps, le roman est un peu court et ça n'aurait pas fait de mal d'avoir 100 pages de plus afin de donner plus de place à la partie séduction, ré-apprivoisement des deux héros.
****************
Gwen and Tom have known each other since they were teenagers, they got along well and could have become the best friends in the world (and more) but then, circumstances separated them and they went their own way. Until the universe puts them on the same path again.
Completely upset after a horrible date, Gwen calls James for help. James is Tom's twin brother, the one she always gets along with. Except that Tom intercepts the message and it's him who will come to help. Tom has always had a soft spot for Gwen, but he never understood why she hates him so much. That night, Tom thought he would just have to take Gwen home, and she would never have known he wasn't the right brother, of course nothing goes as planned : they kissed, they liked it, but Gwen realized who he was. And here comes the drama...
Gwen is shaken because why would the rockstar be interested in her, he never wanted to be her friend. As you can imagine, these two are going to have a lot of clarifications to do, misunderstandings that were partly fueled by James (the other brother). Gwen will discover that behind the talent and the fame hides a young man who never dreamed of being a star, who suffers from anxiety, but someone who is interested in her and who doesn't hesitate to fight for her, even when she no longer has the strength.
The only downside would be the rather fast pace of the story, which could have taken a little longer, the novel is a bit short and it wouldn't have hurt to have 100 more pages in order to give more room for the seduction part, re-taming of the two heroes.
-Read as an ARC-
May 10, 2022
https://celebrityreaders.com/2022/05/...
I received a free copy through Smartypants Romance in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion.
5 stars — I devoured this in a day. Less than a day. Honestly, I wish it was longer, I could have just kept reading and reading…it was effortless. It hit everything for me. You know how there are just those books that feel like they were written specifically with you in mind? Check and check. And OMG, the relief I felt was immense because it’s been a few months of reading where I’ll enjoy a book, but…that inevitable but. There was no but here for me. And I think I need to celebrate that.
I’m kinda glad I didn’t reread the blurb before diving in, because it gives a slightly different feel than the story I read. Though that might be just me. I was hooked right from the prologue, of them meeting one another as teenagers and having that one perfect day. It took me a bit to figure out what happened following that day, but I ached for both Tom and Gwen at having their newly formed friendship messed with.
Tom was so much more endearing than I was expecting. He was genuinely sweet, caring, sincere…you could feel how much he was struggling with, but I kind of loved that we got to see him as he was well on his way to managing his anxiety and ADHD. I wouldn’t call him a beta boy so much as an…omega? Is that the in between one? Have we romance readers even decided on a word yet? He was confident in some areas, and not in others. I don’t know how to describe him honestly, other than to say that I loved him.
Gwen was delightfully nerdy and awkward and just everything. I was able to connect with her pretty easily, and I loved her enthusiasm for the things she loved — and wow did I ever learn a lot — but also her complete ineptitude towards normal social interactions. She was adorably awkward though…the best kind of awkward.
As I mentioned above, they definitely had someone else who mucked about early on in their connection, but I loved seeing them find one another and connect again. They had immense chemistry, and I definitely felt their attraction to one another. I both understood and was frustrated by Gwen’s insecurities, but I loved the way it turned out in the end.
Lots of great secondary characters in this one, from the BoS to Mr. Rodgers to Bex to the reappearance of Max and Holly. I even, strangely, appreciated that not every character was redeemed fully…because some people are just dicks.
Also, yet again, some fantastic ADHD rep. As someone who definitely has some executive dysfunction, I really appreciate seeing it in these characters and recognizing that it’s so much more than what we’ve been led to believe. I love when books help you learn without making you feel like you’re learning.
So yeah. Another favourite. I need to go check out Ms. Jayne’s unfortunately ‘not as long as I would like’ backlist of books, because obviously she writes the kind of books I want to read. Can’t wait for more.
I received a free copy through Smartypants Romance in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion.
5 stars — I devoured this in a day. Less than a day. Honestly, I wish it was longer, I could have just kept reading and reading…it was effortless. It hit everything for me. You know how there are just those books that feel like they were written specifically with you in mind? Check and check. And OMG, the relief I felt was immense because it’s been a few months of reading where I’ll enjoy a book, but…that inevitable but. There was no but here for me. And I think I need to celebrate that.
I’m kinda glad I didn’t reread the blurb before diving in, because it gives a slightly different feel than the story I read. Though that might be just me. I was hooked right from the prologue, of them meeting one another as teenagers and having that one perfect day. It took me a bit to figure out what happened following that day, but I ached for both Tom and Gwen at having their newly formed friendship messed with.
Tom was so much more endearing than I was expecting. He was genuinely sweet, caring, sincere…you could feel how much he was struggling with, but I kind of loved that we got to see him as he was well on his way to managing his anxiety and ADHD. I wouldn’t call him a beta boy so much as an…omega? Is that the in between one? Have we romance readers even decided on a word yet? He was confident in some areas, and not in others. I don’t know how to describe him honestly, other than to say that I loved him.
Gwen was delightfully nerdy and awkward and just everything. I was able to connect with her pretty easily, and I loved her enthusiasm for the things she loved — and wow did I ever learn a lot — but also her complete ineptitude towards normal social interactions. She was adorably awkward though…the best kind of awkward.
As I mentioned above, they definitely had someone else who mucked about early on in their connection, but I loved seeing them find one another and connect again. They had immense chemistry, and I definitely felt their attraction to one another. I both understood and was frustrated by Gwen’s insecurities, but I loved the way it turned out in the end.
Lots of great secondary characters in this one, from the BoS to Mr. Rodgers to Bex to the reappearance of Max and Holly. I even, strangely, appreciated that not every character was redeemed fully…because some people are just dicks.
Also, yet again, some fantastic ADHD rep. As someone who definitely has some executive dysfunction, I really appreciate seeing it in these characters and recognizing that it’s so much more than what we’ve been led to believe. I love when books help you learn without making you feel like you’re learning.
So yeah. Another favourite. I need to go check out Ms. Jayne’s unfortunately ‘not as long as I would like’ backlist of books, because obviously she writes the kind of books I want to read. Can’t wait for more.
April 13, 2022
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced e-copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Smartypants Romance for providing me with the ARC!
The Scientist and The Rockstar
“Sometimes having the right person at the wrong time is harder than not having them at all.”
Quirky Ph.D. candidate Gwen Matthews is covered in her date's vomit. Apparently you shouldn't talk about maggots on a first date. Stranded without a ride home, she calls her best childhood friend James who lives closeby.
Tom Mendoza has swapped phones for the night with his twin brother when Gwen’s text to James pops up. In spite of their tumultuous past, Tom decides to pose as his brother to help the girl he has been pining for, for over a decade.
Smart Mouth is book 4 in the Work For It series. While it is part of a series it can also be read as a stand-alone. Everyone’s favorite grump Max from book 2, Heart Smart, does appear a few times throughout Smart Mouth along with Holly who is now friends with Gwen.
This is a fast-paced “best friend’s brother” romance with a little bit of “enemies to lovers”. Once you start Smart Mouth you will not want to put it down! I’m not usually a fan of rockstar romances but the plot made it believable even with such a quick timeline. I love a romance where the guy falls in love first. Tom’s devotion and his complicated youth really help to make him a realistic character. Gwen’s oblivious attitude makes her very relatable.
I appreciate that the author gives both characters some uncertainty about their futures and life goals. Gwen is pragmatically unsure about what she’ll pursue after finishing her doctorate program. Tom’s anxiety is keeping him from taking the next step with his studio and his love life. It’s nice to see characters who don't have everything figured out for themselves and both are shown with personal growth by the end of the book.
Smart Mouth has a well plotted storyline with just the right blend of sweet and spicy. I like that the author included some of the favorite characters from previous books and that they are significant to the plot. They aren't just written into the background.
I enjoyed Smart Mouth immensely. If you love a bit of nerdy romance then this book is for you.
This is not the first book that I have read from author Emma Lee Jayne and definitely won’t be the last. I look forward to reading even more of her work in the future.
The Scientist and The Rockstar
“Sometimes having the right person at the wrong time is harder than not having them at all.”
Quirky Ph.D. candidate Gwen Matthews is covered in her date's vomit. Apparently you shouldn't talk about maggots on a first date. Stranded without a ride home, she calls her best childhood friend James who lives closeby.
Tom Mendoza has swapped phones for the night with his twin brother when Gwen’s text to James pops up. In spite of their tumultuous past, Tom decides to pose as his brother to help the girl he has been pining for, for over a decade.
Smart Mouth is book 4 in the Work For It series. While it is part of a series it can also be read as a stand-alone. Everyone’s favorite grump Max from book 2, Heart Smart, does appear a few times throughout Smart Mouth along with Holly who is now friends with Gwen.
This is a fast-paced “best friend’s brother” romance with a little bit of “enemies to lovers”. Once you start Smart Mouth you will not want to put it down! I’m not usually a fan of rockstar romances but the plot made it believable even with such a quick timeline. I love a romance where the guy falls in love first. Tom’s devotion and his complicated youth really help to make him a realistic character. Gwen’s oblivious attitude makes her very relatable.
I appreciate that the author gives both characters some uncertainty about their futures and life goals. Gwen is pragmatically unsure about what she’ll pursue after finishing her doctorate program. Tom’s anxiety is keeping him from taking the next step with his studio and his love life. It’s nice to see characters who don't have everything figured out for themselves and both are shown with personal growth by the end of the book.
Smart Mouth has a well plotted storyline with just the right blend of sweet and spicy. I like that the author included some of the favorite characters from previous books and that they are significant to the plot. They aren't just written into the background.
I enjoyed Smart Mouth immensely. If you love a bit of nerdy romance then this book is for you.
This is not the first book that I have read from author Emma Lee Jayne and definitely won’t be the last. I look forward to reading even more of her work in the future.
May 11, 2022
Smart Mouth: Work for It book #4 by Emma Lee Jayne
‘He pulls back almost instantly, his gaze roaming my face. “Just to be clear, I agree there a thousand things about you that are more important than physical beauty. If you need me to list those off, too, I can, but I also need you to know that you are the very definition of classically beautiful. Your skin is flawless. Your smile is bewitching. In another age, artists would beg you to model for them.’
Emma Lee Jayne has written another decidedly delicious tale for Smartypants Romance, a storyline full of her trademark humour, simmering heat and sweep-you-off-your-feet romance, that incorporates snappy and entertaining dialogue, captivating and charming characters and a happy-ever-after that is worthy of any fairy tale.
There’s nothing I love more than a smidge of unrequited love, some sneaky meddling, a little serendipity and a whole lot of swoon and that’s precisely what we get in this adorable romance.
Gwen our seemingly oblivious heroine, was truly wonderful. Her personality was on another level, the kind of female protagonist that you could envision being friends with in real life, she was intelligent, sweet, funny, dorky and unapologetically herself. I admired her tenacity, integrity and wit but I absolutely adored her love of those petri dish earrings and Marie Curie boots. That quirky side to her personality made her stand out, but more than that, because she refused to hide those idiosyncratic elements, insisting on celebrating her love for black soldier fly larvae and compost, Gwen turned out to be a one of a kind heroine for me. Tom might be the musician in this story but ultimately Gwen was the real rock star of the show.
Our sexy, sensitive and down-to-earth hero was a real treat. He might have been ridiculously attractive and famous but he didn’t possess any of the quintessential pop star traits, rather he was kind, attentive, loyal and considerate. Watching him navigate those intricate feelings for Gwen, planning the perfect date, touching her curls lightly, those first kisses, it all just combined into this glorious melting pot of passionate, riveting literary goodness.
If you’re searching for a delightful, light-hearted and uplifting romance with a difference then look no further than “Smart Mouth”.
‘He pulls back almost instantly, his gaze roaming my face. “Just to be clear, I agree there a thousand things about you that are more important than physical beauty. If you need me to list those off, too, I can, but I also need you to know that you are the very definition of classically beautiful. Your skin is flawless. Your smile is bewitching. In another age, artists would beg you to model for them.’
Emma Lee Jayne has written another decidedly delicious tale for Smartypants Romance, a storyline full of her trademark humour, simmering heat and sweep-you-off-your-feet romance, that incorporates snappy and entertaining dialogue, captivating and charming characters and a happy-ever-after that is worthy of any fairy tale.
There’s nothing I love more than a smidge of unrequited love, some sneaky meddling, a little serendipity and a whole lot of swoon and that’s precisely what we get in this adorable romance.
Gwen our seemingly oblivious heroine, was truly wonderful. Her personality was on another level, the kind of female protagonist that you could envision being friends with in real life, she was intelligent, sweet, funny, dorky and unapologetically herself. I admired her tenacity, integrity and wit but I absolutely adored her love of those petri dish earrings and Marie Curie boots. That quirky side to her personality made her stand out, but more than that, because she refused to hide those idiosyncratic elements, insisting on celebrating her love for black soldier fly larvae and compost, Gwen turned out to be a one of a kind heroine for me. Tom might be the musician in this story but ultimately Gwen was the real rock star of the show.
Our sexy, sensitive and down-to-earth hero was a real treat. He might have been ridiculously attractive and famous but he didn’t possess any of the quintessential pop star traits, rather he was kind, attentive, loyal and considerate. Watching him navigate those intricate feelings for Gwen, planning the perfect date, touching her curls lightly, those first kisses, it all just combined into this glorious melting pot of passionate, riveting literary goodness.
If you’re searching for a delightful, light-hearted and uplifting romance with a difference then look no further than “Smart Mouth”.
April 28, 2022
If you love a fast paced, funny, charmingly sweet and delightfully sensual romance that this is the perfect option for you! Emma Lee Jayne's Smart Mouth is quick witted, smart and sexy in the best way. This novel clips quickly along, swiftly drawing the reader in and keeping them engaged throughout this second chance love story between a rockstar and a PH.D. student.
Tom Mendoza has been secretly in love with his twin brother's best friend, Gwen Matthews ever since they spent the perfect night together relaxing and distressing. Now ten years later, when Gwen finds herself in need of transportation she reaches out to her best friend's phone, that happens to be in Tom's possession at the moment. After rescuing her from an expensive uber ride home, the sparks fly and a passionate kiss throws Gwen for a loop, and now Tom must convince her that these feelings are true.
This novel really only spans a couple of days so this novel definitely has a insta-love feel to it, but because Tom and Gwen have also been orbiting each other at a distance, there is the gravity of time that helps to show the reader that there is a depth of feeling that has steadily grown over time. I love Tom, he is down to earth and he has true and strong feelings for Gwen that we get glimpses of all the wonderful ways he has been there for her over the years. I love that Tom's rockstar reputation is never the catalyst for them not entering into a relationship now. I think Gwen is smart and charming in her own way, she is passionate about her dissertation and she loves to chat about it with those who will listen, and Tom finds this to be so delightfully endearing. This novel is also sensual and steamy, Tom and Gwen are definitely compatible in and out of the bedroom and it is so much fun to watch Tom woo Gwen and in turn Gwen learn how to woo Tom.
If you are looking for a fun read, look no further! I strongly recommend this book, it is well written, sweet and sensual and the characters are deep and understanding. I was throughly charmed by this novel by Emma Lee Jayne, and though it was my first it will definitely not be my last!
Thank you to Smartypants Romance for an eARC, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Tom Mendoza has been secretly in love with his twin brother's best friend, Gwen Matthews ever since they spent the perfect night together relaxing and distressing. Now ten years later, when Gwen finds herself in need of transportation she reaches out to her best friend's phone, that happens to be in Tom's possession at the moment. After rescuing her from an expensive uber ride home, the sparks fly and a passionate kiss throws Gwen for a loop, and now Tom must convince her that these feelings are true.
This novel really only spans a couple of days so this novel definitely has a insta-love feel to it, but because Tom and Gwen have also been orbiting each other at a distance, there is the gravity of time that helps to show the reader that there is a depth of feeling that has steadily grown over time. I love Tom, he is down to earth and he has true and strong feelings for Gwen that we get glimpses of all the wonderful ways he has been there for her over the years. I love that Tom's rockstar reputation is never the catalyst for them not entering into a relationship now. I think Gwen is smart and charming in her own way, she is passionate about her dissertation and she loves to chat about it with those who will listen, and Tom finds this to be so delightfully endearing. This novel is also sensual and steamy, Tom and Gwen are definitely compatible in and out of the bedroom and it is so much fun to watch Tom woo Gwen and in turn Gwen learn how to woo Tom.
If you are looking for a fun read, look no further! I strongly recommend this book, it is well written, sweet and sensual and the characters are deep and understanding. I was throughly charmed by this novel by Emma Lee Jayne, and though it was my first it will definitely not be my last!
Thank you to Smartypants Romance for an eARC, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 9, 2022
Okay, so I loved the first book in this series from this author, Heart Smart, and I might have loved this one even more! While it wasn’t Max’s sister like I’d hoped from the last book, this one was still a perfect addition to the series! I adored Gwen. In so many ways she reminded me of myself. I’m not as smart as her, but I am a science nerd. I was a science teacher for 17 years. She was so nerdy/smart that when she had to come up with a badass example, it was Marie Curie. She would just blurt things out and that too is me. I loved her snarky/funny banter even when she was just doing it because she was nervous. There was a moment at the end of the book when one of the characters from the first book, Holly, handed her one of their babies. And Gwen’s reaction to it was sooooooo me!
I look from the baby to Holly and ask, “What is a socially acceptable amount of time to hold a baby and will it offend you if I hand her back?”
Yes, that is me. I am nervous holding babies and am not the type of person that needs to hold a baby when I see it. In fact I prefer not to.
Of course then there was our rock star, scratch that, former boy band pop star hero, Tom. I adored Tom. First of all, you need to know that I have always been a boy band lover. I’m going to my umpteenth New Kids on the Block concert this coming weekend in fact. So you got me with that right there. Then him being a twin, and yeah, I was sold. But it was his feeling of unrequited love for Gwen, the things he’d done over the year to try to get over her, to try to get close to her, etc. Things she knew, things she didn’t know.
But what I loved is how the author made us think about how his love may not be real, it may be like confirmation bias, a scientific thing so many people these days need to learn about. However even when Gwen tried to dissect it and take it down to that logical non-emotional level, she got called out by Max, and I loved it.
This book had me speeding through, not wanting to put down for anything, and smiling all the way through. Loved this so much!
Review first posted on Lisa Loves Literature.
I look from the baby to Holly and ask, “What is a socially acceptable amount of time to hold a baby and will it offend you if I hand her back?”
Yes, that is me. I am nervous holding babies and am not the type of person that needs to hold a baby when I see it. In fact I prefer not to.
Of course then there was our rock star, scratch that, former boy band pop star hero, Tom. I adored Tom. First of all, you need to know that I have always been a boy band lover. I’m going to my umpteenth New Kids on the Block concert this coming weekend in fact. So you got me with that right there. Then him being a twin, and yeah, I was sold. But it was his feeling of unrequited love for Gwen, the things he’d done over the year to try to get over her, to try to get close to her, etc. Things she knew, things she didn’t know.
But what I loved is how the author made us think about how his love may not be real, it may be like confirmation bias, a scientific thing so many people these days need to learn about. However even when Gwen tried to dissect it and take it down to that logical non-emotional level, she got called out by Max, and I loved it.
This book had me speeding through, not wanting to put down for anything, and smiling all the way through. Loved this so much!
Review first posted on Lisa Loves Literature.
May 6, 2022
Tom Mandoza found himself as a teen pop star in the band Boys of Summer at age 15. He feels like his induction into the group was a huge contributing factor to the split of his family and the downfall of his relationship with his twin brother, James. Gwendolyn Matthews was James’ best friend through highschool. When Tom and Gwen first meet they are both smitten but James does not want to share. Through some unfortunate circumstances Tom and Gwen find themselves reconnected. And Tom is not going to risk losing out on having her in his life again.
Tom is a reluctant celebrity that acknowledges that there have been pros and cons to his stardom. He has had to learn how to cope with both ADHD and anxiety while performing for millions of fans. He has found a more comfortable role behind the scenes by running a music studio. We first met Gwen in Max and Holly’s book Heart Smart as one of Max’s research assistants. She is very intelligent but social situations can leave her feeling perplexed. As she waits for the time to defend her PhD dissertation, she believes it is time to give attention to her dating life. However, she never thought Tom would be interested in her. She is an awkward but captivating character that cares deeply.
I connected with both Tom and Gwen and their struggles in social situations. I felt that they were both very well fleshed out, in that everything they did had a meaning. Every little piece of information we are given ultimately has a reason. They had a mature and open relationship that progressed quickly but did have bumps. This required both of them to deal with some uncomfortable feelings and process things from other perspectives. I also enjoyed getting to see Max, Holly, and their family again. As well as being introduced to new side characters that contribute well to the storyline without overtaking it. I hope we get more from them in the future.
Tom is a reluctant celebrity that acknowledges that there have been pros and cons to his stardom. He has had to learn how to cope with both ADHD and anxiety while performing for millions of fans. He has found a more comfortable role behind the scenes by running a music studio. We first met Gwen in Max and Holly’s book Heart Smart as one of Max’s research assistants. She is very intelligent but social situations can leave her feeling perplexed. As she waits for the time to defend her PhD dissertation, she believes it is time to give attention to her dating life. However, she never thought Tom would be interested in her. She is an awkward but captivating character that cares deeply.
I connected with both Tom and Gwen and their struggles in social situations. I felt that they were both very well fleshed out, in that everything they did had a meaning. Every little piece of information we are given ultimately has a reason. They had a mature and open relationship that progressed quickly but did have bumps. This required both of them to deal with some uncomfortable feelings and process things from other perspectives. I also enjoyed getting to see Max, Holly, and their family again. As well as being introduced to new side characters that contribute well to the storyline without overtaking it. I hope we get more from them in the future.
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