I Do(n't)

By: Leddy Harper

Narrated by: Lillian Claire, Roberto Scarlato

Length: 10 hrs and 7 mins

Publisher's summary

I fell in love with Holden York when I was six years old.

Most of my youth came with spiral notebooks filled with doodles, wedding plans, and "Janelle York" looped in bubbly handwriting.

However, one night in Vegas changed everything.

I woke up to more than just a fantasy of my brother's best friend.

Five years later, I'm standing on his doorstep confronting him about the secret he kept from me. If you think this is the story of how we rode off into the sunset together...You're so wrong.

But if you think this is the story of how Holden blackmailed me into living with him...You couldn't be more right.

©2017 Leddy Harper (P)2017 Audible, Inc.

Funny, but never fell in love

I was so excited the day I Do(n’t) came out on audio! I have been dying to read Leddy Harper, and now that she is signing at Wicked Book Weekend, I was even more excited to read her.

Leddy has a talent with comedic timing, humor and banter. I smiled a lot while listening to the story and even chuckled out loud a few times. But to be honest, the whole storyline didn’t make sense to me. I mean I understood what was going on, but not really why.
“…had I known when I knocked on your hotel door after the wedding that what we did that night would end our friendship, I would’ve gone to my own room.”

Janelle has had a crush on her brother’s best friend since she was little. But the night of her brother’s wedding in Vegas Janelle got so drunk, she doesn’t remember a thing. including losing her virginity to her life-long crush. His feelings hurt that she didn’t remember, he told her what happened and took off, and they don’t see each other for 5 years.

Janelle went away to college like all of her (much) older siblings. She didn’t get home a lot over the next 5 years, partially to avoid Holden. But to pay back her student debts, Janelle goes on a reality dating show, where she gets a big cash bonus if she marries the guy on the show. There is only one problem. She has one major loose end to tie up at home.

When she confronts Holden about the problem, he basically holds her hostage. He feels she needs to be there because her family has major problems happening that they never told her about (and blame her for not knowing), so he makes her live with him for a few months before he gives her what she wants. But of course, you know what happens with things like this!

Likes:

•Lots of fun banter.
•Fun to listen to and made me smile throughout.
•Her inner voice made me laugh.
•I love the cover.

Dislikes:

•I just don’t understand the reason her family was so mean to her and excluded her from everything then blamed her for it.
•Holden’s secret was crazy big. WTF did he expect to do with it? That’s something that will ruin someone’s life.
•I found her to be immature and whiny at times and just never fell for her.
•I thought Holden was an asshole, and he had a hard time winning me over, though he did by the end.
•I just don’t get why he never even tried to contact her over 5 years. He’s the asshole who took a girls virginity while she was so fucked up she blacked out, especially if he had feelings for her.
•Some repetitiveness.

The Narration:
Though they both sounded familiar to me, according to audible, this was my first experience with both narrators, but I absolutely loved them both and thought they enhanced the story.

The Down and Dirty:
I enjoyed listening to the book even though a lot of the subject matter kind of pissed me off. I just couldn’t understand why she was treated so shitty by her family and why he would hold a secret like that from her for 5 years. That isn’t the mark of someone who cares about someone else. Still, the funny inner monologue and banter still made this an enjoyable read. I wanted so much to love it though, and just never connected and fell in love with either character.

Rating: 3.5 stars. 4 Heat, 5 narration

sweet

I was pleased with this story. It had a unique story line, likable characters and pleasant narration. This was what I would call a sweet- brothers best friend- romance. Their relationship is completely unorthodox from the beginning however over time, they find their way. Holden was the token good guy and Janelle the best friend's younger sister who has some growing up to do.

I had no complaints on narration. Both voices were clear and pleasant. Great job

The story is great the performance is not

Although the story is funny the performance of the actors killed it for me, the male actor sounds a like a newscaster and the girl sounds like a whiny teen am sorry but this one was one I didn't care for but only because of the voice actors.

Oh do!

I liked this book. I got a little tired of the ‘in the head beat yourself up’ stuff... but it was good
Lots of family dramas.

Well narrated.

Steamy not too hot. Some sex.

A good book!

Love

Love it
Can’t wait to read more of her books.
Thank you for great adventure

Cute Story!

Waking up in Vegas after attending her brother’s wedding Janelle finds herself to be very naked and sore in places she hasn’t been before almost like she has just had the workout of her life...did she just lose her virginity? She can’t remember anything from the night before. As she is throwing up in the toilet from all of the alcohol she consumed someone pulls her hair back - she is startled to find life-long crush, her brother’s best friend Holden, the one doing it. And she’s still naked! He is acting very familiar, asking her how she feels and talking about the night before and how amazing it was. Pieces start clicking into place for her, but she still remembers nothing, which makes Holden feel terrible. They end up avoiding each other all together in the future as she is leaving for college and he is busy getting his business going. 5 years later Janelle is a contestant on a matchmaking show and if she gets married to her perfect match each person will get 50 thousand dollars, the only problem? She’s already married - to Holden.

I actually read this book when it first came out and I loved it, so I was really excited to see it was coming out in audiobook form, However, when I listened to the book I actually took my five star read and downgraded it to a 4 Star read. I still enjoyed the overall story but I found Janelle came across a little whinier/selfish than in the text form (or maybe it’s just time away from the story/perspective). She kept wondering why she was out of the loop on a lot of the things going on in her family, but at the same time she’s the one who stayed away. Holden really wants to be with Janelle but at the same time he wants what is best for her - and you see that as he tries to push her to make an effort with her family.

Lillian Claire and Roberto Scarlato both give a solid performance. I didn’t have any issues with either of them and I would gladly listen to both of them again.

If you’re looking for an easy listen and a fun book this is a good one to listen to. It has a lot of humor and I found myself laughing a lot. It kept me entertained and I loved the interaction between Janelle and Holden. A good 4 Star Listen/read.

Great Love Story

This is a great quick read about love that every girl dreams of. Kept me on the edge. At one point I was screaming outloud at Holden (as one does at a book) 😂

Loved, Loved!

Looooooved IT!!!! Great Story & hilarious. With almost perfect story & character development. There was some parts that really didn't make sense IMOH or didn't go as far as it should have. That did take away from it much. Leddy Harper knows how to write a good story with out boring you out or being much predictable.

I laughed and I laughed

It was a great book and I haven't laughed at a good book in a long time. I could have done without the too overly descriptive sex scenes however. I get it. if you like sarcasm you'll enjoy this book. great story line.

A light read and nothing more

This book has been on my list for a good while, and it was put there because I kept seeing people reading it and loving it. This review isn't going to say that I didn't like it - I did - but perhaps I built it up too much thanks to the hype.

Certainly a different story than I've ever read, I had a hard time connecting with Janelle at first. She seemed spoiled and stubborn. But Holden is certainly stubborn too. Harper writes in plenty of chemistry, a super adorable backstory, and just enough curious drama foreshadowing to keep the reader interested. But it seemed like either there was too much detail or not enough - from one end of the spectrum to the other.

It's 3.5 stars for me. Certainly worth the read, especially if the brother's best friend trope does it for you. But maybe just enjoy it for the light romcom read that it is and nothing more.