You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle

Plot: 5 stars

Writing: 5 stars

Characters: 5 stars

Overall: 5 stars

First off, let’s talk about what actually happens in this book. We have Naomi, who’s the female MC and narrator, and we have Nicholas, who’s the male MC and Naomi’s fiance. Nicholas and Naomi “don’t love each other anymore” but can’t afford to end the relationship because of what’s at stake. If the relationship ends, Naomi’s momzilla mother-in-law has threatened to make Naomi pay for half of the very overthetopexpensive wedding, and Nicholas will be forced to breed with a dead woman’s frozen eggs to produce suitable offspring for previously mentioned momzilla. WOW. Yeah, I know, it’s a story isn’t it? So, alas, Naomi’s determined to stick it out so she won’t be out a large sum of money and Nicholas is determined to stick it out for reasons that are only known to Nicholas. Until they aren’t. EXCEPT...they aren't really sticking it out. Naomi and Nicholas find themselves in a war of how-can-I-make-you-leave-me in the most effective way by doing awful things to each other in an attempt to make the other person leave. That sounded confusing to me too. Basically, they're trying to sabotage each other to force them out of the relationship, and it's brutal.

If I had to sum this book up in one sentence, it would read: “Two individuals who have stumbled into a relationship without learning each other's love languages attempt to make another go at it for reasons that are truly quite horrible.” And I really really really reallyreallyreally loved it. Did I say really? I think sensitive guys have a bad rep because they’re not macho macho, but honestly, a man who can show his emotions is spot on. Nicholas is almost this. He’s a fabulous lead who’s really just misunderstood by Naomi (and everyone else) for two-thirds of the book until they both realize what’s been going on (read it and that’ll make more sense). Nicholas is so used to his momzilla mother that he doesn’t even really know what love ~is,~ and Naomi thinks he’s neglecting her and doesn’t think he loves her because HE DOESN’T KNOW WHAT LOVE IS TO BE ABLE TO SHOW IT LIKE YOU’RE WANTING HIM TO. Really it’s 354 pages of two people trying to undo awful communication habits they’ve developed, but IT’S THE FUNNIEST 354 PAGES I’VE EVER READ. That’s not an exaggeration. I laughed so many times while reading this, honestly. Now, then there’s Naomi. I think you definitely see the most growth from her character's POV and it’s really wonderfully written. I was a little worried after she spent a great deal of the prologue referring to her makeup because, well, hello, hi I don’t really wear it and I know nothing about it so it was hard to imagine. However, her character wound up being truly fantastic and I’m so glad I stuck it out.

Overall, I think this book was really wonderful (I’m sorry I can’t come up with better adjectives this evening) and I’m planning to reread this one next week after I finish rereading Beach Read (yeah Emily Henry!) because I need a little more of these characters in my life. Kudos to Sarah Hogle on her debut novel because this was really one for the books. I know, I’m sorry. But I had to do it. I just had to.