I received an ARC of this book as a LibraryThing Early Reviewer in exchange for my honest review. This modernized version of "Much Ado About Nothing" was not the book for me. I got about 20% of the way in and just could not finish so be aware that this review only focuses on the first part of the book. I also refer to some spoilers, please proceed with caution.

I wanted to like this book, I truly did, but I found the content and characterizations to be too aggravating to continue. One of the biggest things that led me to stop reading was that the secret matchmaking feels insulting to the main characters. I get that it can be hard to be objective about someone with whom you share a past that has had negative aspects, especially when you've been led to believe the negative things and no one has corrected the misunderstanding. But everyone acted like they knew better than Bea what's good for her, and it comes off here as condescending rather than caring. Bea told her friends and colleagues (and family) very clearly that she's fine being single, and even if that wasn't the truth, true friends wouldn't conspire to trick her into a relationship when she has both told and shown them that she doesn't want it. The party scene and the subsequent plans to "match-make" is where I lost all investment and stopped reading. And Heron was written so blandly that I had a hard time caring how her story turns out.

I liked Bea an I definitely have feelings about how everyone around her expected her to forgive Ben and forget the very public fat shaming that happened to her 15 years prior. Isn't that for Bea to decide? And why on earth would Ben ask her in the beginning of the book if she's dieting, even as a joke? I assume this is a red herring to throw us off the trail that Ben wasn't actually the one to publicly body shame her all those years ago, but it doesn't paint a picture of someone who regrets how she was treated by his fraternity brother. Nor does it paint a picture of someone who genuinely likes or cares about her.

I think this book is fine if you're a fan of "Much Ado About Nothing," are looking for a quick surface read, and you enjoy the misunderstanding/match-making tropes (and are able to overlook a *lot* in order for the main characters to get together). It just wasn't the book for me. ( )

Romance, stress and family pressure! This is two love stories going on at the same time. When you’re younger it’s hard to stand up to all the different directions people push you from. Heron thinks she’s being the best girlfriend to Charlie while still dealing with her college life and helping Charlie with his studies. And trying to stand up to cousin Bea about not letting Charlie be put before Heron’s own needs and desires. At the same time Bea is dealing with a lifetime of weight issue that hinder relationships. Both stumbles and fall, get hurt and learn from it. Nice easy read to take you away from your own stress for awhile! ( )

This modern retelling of Much Ado About Nothing follows two cousins: Bea and Heron.

Bea and Ben start out in a classic enemies-to-lovers situation, which I wish had lasted longer because the tension there was the best part of the book. I found Heron and Charlie’s relationship less believable. Woman unquestioningly adores man who takes her for granted is a little harder sell in a twenty-first century setting. Her character development felt a little more sudden than Bea's.

The story stayed close enough to the original content to be recognizable, but also improved on the sexism that’s always annoyed me about this play. ( )