Overall Grade: B
Tropes: single mom FMC; love triangle-ish; he falls first; friends to lovers; doctor MMC; interconnected series of standalones
There are two things about Max Monroe’s Cluelessly Yours that I didn’t realize I needed: a swoon and a nice guy MMC. I think I’ve been sitting with grumpy next-door neighbor MMCs or anti-heroes recently, so a character such as Noah reads like a breath of fresh air in a swamp of cranky male characters. He broke up the doldrums of my reading week, and I love Max Monroe’s thoughtfulness with that. Now, let me get down to my stream-of-consciousness review of this book:
- I’ve decided that I approve of a dual POV when the points of view are separated into parts. While I recognize the almost “melody” created with the back and forth of chapters for dual POV, there is also a formula to it that has become a bit staid in my romance reading. I appreciate Max Monroe’s choice to break the POVs into parts. It 1) builds anticipation, 2) makes the narrative journey more tension-filled, ramping up the story, and 3) allows them to hold off on the full reveal of Sammy’s true MMC until almost halfway through it. Again, this builds a narrative tension that drives the reader forward. Smart choice!
- Cluelessly Yours is my favorite story thus far in Max Monroe’s It’s A Funny Story series. It may have something to do with my age and life experience that I connect in some ways to Sammy, but I appreciate her journey more than her sister’s and son’s teacher. That being said, this series has such a different flavor from Max Monroe’s earlier stories, the billionaires that steal our hearts. One of the reviews commented on their popular culture references and how she/he/they don’t like it. Honestly, I paid attention to see if Max Monroe’s millennial poked through. And it’s only a little. Instead, Cluelessly Yours reminds us to ask for and receive the best for ourselves. We shouldn’t settle, and we shouldn’t allow others to bully us into relationships. Noah and Sammy together are pure rom-com poetry.
- There is a story point near the end that adds a twist to the book. This is my biggest criticism of the book: it made no sense. It was put there to “fix” a story point, but it was underdeveloped in the story, so it felt like Max Monroe “jumped the shark” by enacting it. This is the sole reason for the 4-star/B rating of this book. I’m hoping there is another book for one of the characters in the story who needs a happy ending right now, but I’ll wait and see how Max Monroe’s muse(s) speak to them.
- Precious children in a romance? I love them. If you don’t, well…ignore them. They add flavor to Noah and Sammy’s romance.
- Again, Noah…thank you for being the sweetest, most chivalrous Max Monroe MMC.
I write this next sentence about Max Monroe’s stories quite often, but it continues to ring true: Max Monroe’s Cluelessly Yours is the read you want for this weekend to escape the seriousness of your world. It’s sweet and spicy and funny and charming, and it’s not really a love triangle (thank God!), but there’s enough tension around two men pursuing Sammy that you might be annoyed with Max Monroe; it’ll be transitory when you realize the true stars of the book.
In love and romance,
Professor A
Professor Romance 