Jessica Kate’s heartfelt and romantic debut proves that love always comes in God’s own time.
Natalie Groves once had big dreams. But soon after her fiancé, Jeremy Walters, inexplicably broke off their engagement and left town, her father was diagnosed with cancer. Now tasked with keeping her family afloat, Natalie’s grand plans have evaporated . . . and God feels very far away.
Fast-forward … far away.
Fast-forward seven years, and Jeremy is back in Charlottesville with an infant son and years of regrets. When his niece, Lili, lands on his doorstep in need of a place to stay, Jeremy needs help—and fast.
An internship opening finally presents Natalie a chance at her dream job, but she needs a second income to work around it—and the only offer available is Jeremy’s. They could be the solutions to one another’s problems, provided they don’t kill each other in the process. When they join forces, sparks fly. But they both know there’s a thin line between love and hate . . . and that love will turn out to be the best decision—or the biggest mistake—of all.
This inspirational contemporary read is a standalone novel, though it also features characters from Jessica Kate’s forthcoming novel, A Girl’s Guide to the Outback (coming January 2020).
Book length: approximately 90,000 words. Includes a reading group guide.
“A stunning debut . . . This tale of love and redemption will stay with you long after you’ve closed the book. A must-read.” —Rachel Hauck, New York Times bestselling author of The Wedding Dress
“Witty. Charming. Heartfelt. I could go on and on about Jessica Kate’s debut novel. From its highly relatable characters to its pitch-perfect dialogue, Love and Other Mistakes is a delightful, romantic read filled with just the right amount of sass. I lost count of the number of times I laughed out loud as I watched Natalie and Jem navigate their relationships, careers, and faith. Definitely one of the most enjoyable books I’ve read lately, and I can’t wait to see what’s next from Jessica Kate!” —Melissa Tagg, Carol Award–winning author of Now and Then and Always and the Walker Family series
“Love and Other Mistakes wraps a poignant and warm look at relationships within a smart, sly, and knowing comedic voice. Readers of Sally Thorne and Bethany Turner will be immediately at home with Natalie: an all-too-real heroine who balances whip-smart agency with an endearing vulnerability and whose intersection with long-lost Jeremy helps her forge a path to confidence and discover the woman she was always meant to be. Kate’s unputdownable debut recognizes that all human relationships—familial, friendship, romantic—are worth the keen eye and clever insight of her talented pen.” —Rachel McMillan, author of the Van Buren and DeLuca Mysteries
“If you’re looking for a story with sass on top of style, or a fresh voice pumped full of fun, you need to read Love and Other Mistakes. Then after you’ve enjoyed this—and I’m confident you will—make a date with whatever this exciting new author writes next!” —David Rawlings, author of The Baggage Handler
more
Love and other Mistakes
A lot going on with Natalie. The book starts out when she gets a call about someone getting hurt. Turns out to be her ex. He is back in town with his son, who is just a baby. Because of the phone call she loses her job. So what will happen next?
Jem has quite the family. He gets lot of help with his baby but sometimes not enough. His sister Lili has a lot going on. Natalie is hired to take care of his baby but has other things going on.
I received an advanced copy of the book from the publisher through Celebrate Lit. This review is my own opinion.
The book was very hard for me to get into at first. I felt like so much was going on that I became confused and couldn’t keep up with the story. It centers around several people and the issues in the book are very serious. Looking at the cover of the book, you would think it is going to be a fun romance. Let me warn you now that it is not at all.
Natalie has wanted to follow in her father’s footsteps mainly so he would be proud of her. The book delves into her relationship with her father and we find out that her father is very ill. Natalie is trying to juggle being a nanny for her ex who has a baby , taking on a job that requires lots of time and trying to keep her faith in check. I could relate a bit to Natalie because she was seeking approval from her parents and basically everyone around her. She is definitely insecure and overwhelmed throughout the story.
Jem is trying to raise his baby on his own and makes arrangements with Natalie to become his nanny. I didn’t care much for this story line because it was easy to figure out what the outcome was going to me. Another story of a broken relationship where forgiveness is needed was good but almost as an afterthought. I think the author confused me with too many characters all in crisis mode.
Lil has her own issues going on in her family. Her parents aren’t getting along and she feels left out of everything. I did like how she wanted her parents to reconcile. The author does do a great job of showing how a teenager handles pressure and the need for someone to step in and hep her. If there is any shining star in this book I think Lil was the most realistic character.
The book could have been better with less moving from one character to another, more emphasis on faith and less on trying to get Natalie and Jem back together. The author left me hanging with so many unanswered questions and I felt like the story was not complete. I wanted to know more about the baby’s mother, what happens to Natalie’s father and the consequences of a leader in a church who strays. This was a really hard book for me to read because the author takes on too many issues in the story and doesn’t quite explain the outcome of some of the decisions made by characters.
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.
What I think you should know:
Natalie Groves thought her life was shattered when her fiance Jeremy Walters abruptly cancelled their wedding and left town seven years ago. The last thing she wants to do when he returns to town with his infant son is be his nanny, but a cruel twist of circumstances leave that as her only option.
What you might want to know:
This book tackles some very tough stuff and some secrets that threaten to tear families apart.
What touched me about this book:
Jeremy was a hard character for me to come to like, I felt sorry for him but I didn’t not like many of the choices that he had made. While many of the characters had redeeming qualities this book seemed to highlight the imperfection of Christians or people who proclaim to be so rather than give Christian readers people to aspire to be like. Natalie thought it was her life’s direction to follow her father and continue his ministry, when that wasn’t an option she wanted to continue to serve the Lord, however like many people she didn’t realize that you don’t always have to be on staff of a ministry to make a difference in the lives of others.
Who will enjoy this book ( just to name a few):
Contemporary Fiction Fans
Christian Fiction Fans
Christian Romance Fans
I received a complimentary copy for this book from Celebrate Lit, this in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own.
It’s a different thing, being a pastor’s kid. My mom wasn’t a PK – she was an MK, missionary kid. I wasn’t either, but my parents were ministry directors at our church in various seasons. Everyone expects pastors to have it all together (and everyone sees when they don’t!). But the thing is, pastors are normal people. They have normal, broken lives, just like everyone else. They can (and do!) make the same mistakes. They can have the same parenting problems. Sometimes, it can be worse, because it is easy for a pastor, as the spiritual leader, to miss out on accountability and close friendships. And pastors’ kids? Everyone knows who you are. Sometimes it can feel like you can’t make any mistakes, or can’t share what your family is going through. Some parents handle this better than others! Even though I’ve been surrounded by pastors’ kids my whole life, Love and Other Mistakes introduced me to two pastors’ kids that will tug on your heart.
Pastors’ Kids Are Supposed to Go Into Ministry, Right?
Natalie is the grown pastors’ kid that is supposed to go into ministry. It’s been her plan so long, it has never occurred to her that that might not be God’s plan…even though she’s not a fan of the public speaking that seems to go along with the job. She put her life on hold to take care of Dad, and after losing the job she didn’t really like anyways, she has the opportunity to get “back on track” with a ministry internship. That doesn’t pay enough to cover her expenses. So she reluctantly accepts a job as the nanny for her ex-fiance’s infant. Sounds like a great idea.
Pastors’ Kids See Everything that the World Isn’t Supposed to See
(but maybe should)
My lead pastor? He’s the same inside and out. One of the most authentic people I know. He makes mistakes – and he’s open about that. But 16-year-old Lili’s dad is the pastor, and he makes mistakes, too. Big ones. Church-splitting ones. And Lili seems to be the only one who knows. How do you reconcile that, Daddy?
Love and Other Mistakes is more than Romantic Comedy
Don’t get me wrong. The romance is there. (Not obnoxiously so.) The comedy is there. I laugh so hard reading this book. Natalie’s life…oh my. It’s like my track record of breaking dishes with my superior clumsiness. Except it’s not dishes that break in her life. It’s her life.
But seriously? These two pastors’ kids will tug on your heart. They will make you feel compassion for anyone felt stuck in a lie…or anyone who has been trying to live up to a dream that isn’t her own. I just wanted to put my arm around Lili and take her to Starbucks. And maybe introduce her to my Mpact Girls so she won’t feel so alone. This book was a little bit like that Mrs. Dash Southwest Chipotle seasoning: the right combination of spicy and sweet. And it might remind you that no matter what you’ve messed up in your life, be it love or other mistakes, it’s not over yet. There’s always a new day, a fresh start, and there’s nothing broken our God can’t redeem.
I received a review copy of this book; all opinions are my own.
Love and Other Mistakes by Jessica Kate is an okay story. It is fast-paced with lots of family “issues” going on. Seven years ago, Jeremy ran out on Natalie, breaking her heart. Now, he’s back with an infant son and needing a nanny. Natalie has spent all her savings helping her parents and she just lost her job. Working for Jeremy is her only option. Will old feelings re-surface or is Natalie’s hate of Jeremy too strong? This story started out with such promise but it didn’t end so well. The characters just didn’t seem to fit. There were several references Natalie’s underwear that I thought were in poor taste; it didn’t add anything to the story. The family “issues” seemed to drag the story without getting resolved. For a Christian fiction story there was not very much repentance for wrong-doing. It was just assumed that forgiveness was a given without really being sorry for the wrongs committed. More of sorry that they were found out. I wouldn’t recommend this book.
I received this book from Celebrate-Lit in exchange for my honest review.
MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK
This book has such a cute cover I wanted to see what’s on the pages between this cover. Jem is back in town with a baby, after leaving Natalie heartbroken years before. Seems as though he definitely has moved on with his life. But Jem wants the relationship he had with Natalie rekindled. But with Natalie, not so fast. She still hasn’t gotten over the first time Jem left her high and dry!
This is a nice and interesting read. There is a lot going on in this story. Not so much with romance, that comes very slowly throughout the book. Natalie ends up babysitting for Jem, while Jem’s niece moves in with him because things are not going well with her mom and dad. Her dad who is a pastor, and mom that is heavily busy with church related a activities. It’s when Jem’s niece discovers some heartbreaking news that makes this story really interesting.
The author handles each situation going on in the story really well. I didn’t get confused with the characters and the many issues they faced, it goes pretty smoothly. Some of the characters I liked, some not so much. Jem really came across as much to forward for me. Expecting Natalie to just forget he broke her heart, & forget other ways her broke her heart. I like Natalie, her personality seems easygoing but she is careful what she does.
The ending of the book left me hanging. There was stuff left unsettled, that would have been nice to know.
Overall, this debut novel is pretty good. It’s fun to read, and will keep you entertained for quite a few hours. I really think the younger generation would love this book, as in late teens and early 20’s.
A copy of this book was given to me by the author or publisher. I am not required to write a positive review. The opinions in this review are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Love and Other Mistakes was a really good book. I don’t know that I would classify it as romantic comedy, although there were definitely funny moments and plenty of humor thrown in. However, this story deals with many very serious issues.
There are a lot of characters and a lot of scenarios going on in this book. I did not have any trouble keeping everything sorted and I don’t know how the author really could have set this up in any different way. Sometimes there are just lots of things going wrong in people’s lives, and those things overlap and can lead to the type of overwhelming situations found in this novel.
I thought the author dealt with hurt and betrayal very clearly in this story. The way things wrapped up for both storylines felt realistic to me. Many things worked out, but not all. There was still hurt. Yet, I really enjoyed the happily-ever-after part of this book. The main characters, Natalie and Jeremy, had much to overcome and their relationship was fraught with problems to work through. It was fun to see how that resolved. I’m looking forward to the next book!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
I love debut novels, and Jessica Kate’s Love and Other Mistakes is one of the best and a new favorite. Not only did it make me laugh the character’s were real, their struggles were real, and Ms. Kate does a great job of showing how in the midst of not so great choices God shows up and you watch the character’s not only fall in love but come to rely on God in a real way.
I love kids in books and Oliver, Jem’s son, gives Natalie a run for her money as she becomes his nanny so she can work on being an intern at a church. Add in Jem’s teenage niece Lili who is not only struggling with being a teenager but family drama.
I read this book after reading a very emotional one that made me cry and I so loved how much laughing I did. It’s a fun rom-com with a great message.
My bottom line: This book met all the things I adore in an inspirational rom-com. Jessica Kate handles tough subjects and real relationships well. The inspirational thread is woven throughout the book like a beautiful ribbon. I highly recommend this book.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book via the publisher in association with Prism Book Tours. I was not required to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
My Thoughts on Love and Other Mistakes:
Love and Other Mistakes is a fast reading cute novel. While it’s a romance it adds other aspects as well that allow for deep thinking.
When I first picked up this book I thought it was just going to be a romance. A cute story about how this couple finds each other after years apart and a broken engagement. Then they realize they’re still in love, a few bumps in the road, and they get married. Cute and sweet mostly.
But instead, I got this book.
It’s. . . wow.
This book is so much more than that.
Here you have this book and yes it’s a romance, but it’s also so much more. Within the pages of Love and Other Mistakes you’re going to see a single dad, an affair, an out of wedlock pregnancy or two, hidden sins, hard lessons learned, lies, and so much more. It’s so much more than a romance book and I think you should read it.
I read the book in an afternoon/evening. It was so good I didn’t want to put it down. So many twists and turns that I was not expecting and so much good food within the pages.
Have you ever struggled to forgive? I know I have. And then I know that forgiving isn’t forgetting as well as forgetting isn’t forgiving are some key things that I’ve thought on before so it’s nice to see a character in a book struggle with this too.
Definitely a new to me author that I’m now wanting to read more from. This is one to watch!
I enjoyed watching Natalie come to terms with who she is and who she was created to be versus who she thinks she should be. She had plans for her life and her future and they didn’t happen. Now she has a second chance to make those dreams come true. But can she? And is it who she truly wants to be after all?
Add in some other hard topics like alcohol, drugs, appearances over truth, lies, and so much more. I was actually almost shocked at all the hard things that could be written into one book. Can’t wait to find my next title by this author.
I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from JustRead Publicity Tours. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.
There’s a fresh new voice in Christian fiction. Jessica Kate’s debut had me smiling or laughing one minute followed by a sucker punch of sympathy for this family in crisis.
While Love and Other Mistakes includes plenty of romance, it’s Jem’s family that stole the show for me. From Jem’s turbulent relationship with his father to his niece’s struggle with loneliness, disillusion with her parents, and feeling unloved, my heart hurt for the Walters family.
Natalie Groves has her own issues to work through—her dad’s illness and her how to make her desire to follow in his footsteps, no matter what the cost to her, a reality.
There’s so much happening in this story, I flew through it. And when it was over, I immediately hopped online to find out when the next book was coming and if it featured any of the supporting characters I just med (January and YES!).
Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Love and Other Mistakes by Jessica Kate is a dynamic debut novel. This Australian author brings a fun and interesting twist to Christian fiction with Australian characters living in the United States. Sometimes I found myself reading this book and I would forget about the Australian influences, only to be jarred out of the story by unfamiliar words. While this did take me out of the story for a bit, overall, I found the Australian elements really interesting. Ms. Kate excels at dialogue between characters in difficult situations. This novel is real and deals with really difficult topics. While it is hopeful, I would not characterize it as rom-com or sassy. Rather, I think it is a well-crafted contemporary novel. This novel could easily be classified as a young adult novel, especially with the ages of the main characters and the themes of the novel. It is inspirational, but I think it would have benefited from more Christian elements to counteract the heavy themes. The novel’s ending felt a bit too easy of a resolution, again because of the heavy topics. I hope these are further dealt with in a subsequent novel, because there is definitely enough unresolved issues for another great novel. While this novel is not exactly what I expected, I would recommend it to readers of young adult fiction and contemporary fiction. I received a digital copy of this novel from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.
LOVE AND OTHER MISTAKES is one of those inspirational romances that will make readers laugh, cry, swoon, and wish the best of happy endings for these characters. They face so much brokenness, and need each other and their faith to make it through. Definitely recommended to Christian romance or even general romance fans!
From the first page I knew this story was going to be a whole lot of fun, but also an emotional read. It definitely kept it up to the very end! Natalie is a little frazzled. She’s been dealing with a lot on top of the heartbreak she still hasn’t let go of. Jeremy is so utterly charming. He’s a complete flirt, but only with Natalie. He is also dealing with the aftermath of his own upbringing and choices. They both haven’t recovered from their broken engagement seven years ago and more challenges just get piled on top, however, they both still love each other. They just have to find their way back, and figure out if they can forgive and trust each other again.
I loved these characters! Natalie and Jem were both complex and easy to relate to. Then there were the other characters, particularly Lili who was also going through a lot in this story. The plot moved at a good pace and everything just got more complicated as it went. There were moments I had to choke back tears, others when I couldn’t help laughing, and then there was the fabulous chemistry between Natalie and Jem. Definitely some swoon-worthy moments. I also really liked how this author wove the inspirational elements through this story. They felt natural, real, and not in the least bit preachy.
My only complaint would be that there is a lot of this story devoted to a secondary plot with Jem’s brother and his wife. I would have like a little more closure there, or maybe just more development due to how much time was given to it (or maybe less time given to their perspectives and just sticking with Lili’s perspective instead). I also had major issues with how they felt appearances were better than helping their daughter and figuring things out, particularly being pastors. It puts into question how pastors may try to hide things because they could lose their jobs and incomes if they don’t practice what they preach, which also rubbed me wrong. It made me wonder how no one, particularly Jem and his dad, could see what was going on – they never really confronted Mike and Steph about things. I also had a slight issue with a pastor dating his possible employee. Just a red flag there.
In the end, was it what I wished for? I really enjoyed reading this with few complaints! I stayed up late to finish because I couldn’t put it down. This is a story that tugs on the heart and doesn’t let go. I’m looking forward to more from this author!
Content: Some innuendo, an affair behind closed doors, and some drinking.
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through Celebrate Lit, which did not require a positive review nor affect my review in any way.
Love and Other Mistakes shares the stories of several characters that weave together. The characters’ lives are filled with drama and dealing with hurt and pain from others’ mistakes. With the pain, several of the characters learn the power of forgiveness. It was an interesting read. I wouldn’t call it “hilarious” or a “light-hearted” read. It was dramatic narrative interwoven with romance, forgiveness and sense of family. It was interesting to read about the challenges in Natalie, Jem and Lilli’s lives and how they overcome their hardships and past. I would recommend reading it. Please note that I received a free copy to review, however my opinion is my own.
I really enjoyed this story of love, forgiveness, loss, and compassion. The characters are complicated and the author does a great job of describing them, how they are feeling, and moving them forward in a positive way.
The main characters are Natalie and Jeremy. They have history. Their story is full of pain and good times. They have a lot to overcome in order for forgiveness to happen. While they are experiencing their own drama, there is a ton of it happening to the people they love. I found this story to be believable because life is full of ups and downs. I appreciated how they came back to their faith and trusted God to help see them through.
This is the first book that I have read from this author. I will look for more books from her in the future. This book contains infidelity, kissing, and Christian themes.
Love and Other Mistakes is a good read. It has some cute, fun, and delightful moments that made me laugh out loud. There were some tearing up moments that made me want to grab the tissues. The characters dealt with true to live issues, that many readers could relate to. I have to admit there is a lot going on in this book. I had to reread to relieve a little bit of confusion. Once I did catch on, I was able to keep going and enjoy the story.
I am giving Love and Other Mistakes three and a half stars. I believe it is worth a read.
I received this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.
This is a strong debut novel by an author with a unique and fresh voice. I loved the predicament of the main heroine, Natalie. I also adored her sass and resolve as she dealt with very real and heart wrenching issues. There was so much to enjoy in this book with each character (there are three POVs), and watching them overcome the issues each of them had. I especially loved reading Lili’s story and struggles. The author did an amazing job of capturing the voice of the teenagers, which I haven’t seen done so masterfully in a long time. Looking forward to future novels from this author!
Love and Other Mistakes by Jessica Kate is a delightful contemporary romance. Brimming with romantic tension, the story captivated and entertained me as Jem and Natalie find themselves drawn to each other despite their past. I adore second chance love stories and this one did not disappoint.
I liked that Love and Other Mistakes didn’t shy away from life difficulties. There’s family dysfunction, a sick loved one, and the struggles of a single parent. Good themes, including a prominent one about forgiveness, are present and contribute a pleasant level of depth to the story. I felt the ending was slightly rushed. However, I thoroughly enjoyed Love and Other Mistakes by Jessica Kate and look forward to reading her next novel.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Great debut novel
I have been reading about Love and Other Mistakes on social media for a couple of months now and was looking forward to reading it. I had a mental image of it being lighthearted, humorous, Chick Lit set in Australia – after all, the author is from there. . .
My first surprise was that the story doesn’t take place in Australia. It is set in Virginia! However, Natalie’s parents are from Australia, as is the dynamic youth leader, Sam, she is hoping to intern for. This wasn’t a disappointment, merely a surprise.
The tension between Natalie and Jem over his actions seven years earlier was intense. Natalie was still so hurt, especially when he showed up with a baby! She had so many trials and it seemed like she wouldn’t ever get a break. While I empathized with her, she was a little over-the-top unkind to him. Her need to learn to forgive him was very evident.
Jem was a gem. Really! He had an overpowering love for his son, Ollie, and was so cute when he played with him. Yet he was also clueless.
My favorite character was Lili’s friend, Nick. This teenage boy thrived despite difficult circumstances and his love for his family was amazing. He demonstrated selfless love and was quite loyal.
The overall tone of the story was quite a bit more serious than I expected. Although humorous things were happening in parts and some clever lines made me smile, the problems the characters were dealing with were quite serious. Natalie’s dad was in remission from cancer. Jeremy’s niece, Lili, discovered a secret that ripped her world apart and drove her to do things she would have previously considered unthinkable. Jem and his dad had major issues with each other. And these are just a few of the situations.
Readers who enjoy reading about characters dealing with real-life type situations and learning to overcome will want to give this debut novel a go.
Read my review of Love and Other Mistakes by Jessica Kate at AmongTheReads.net
I was given a copy of this book. I was not required to give a favorable review nor was any money received for this review. All comments and opinions are my own.
(4.5 stars) – a wonderful, heart-warming story wrapped in a complex melodrama
The story begins with a re-meet cute that was clever & fairly original. It was very effective at grabbing my interest & the author kept me thoroughly engaged from there.
As another reviewer mentioned, don’t be put off by the distracting use of unusual similes at the beginning – they fade to the background after that.
The story’s central focus is on Jem & Natalie, but it also shares the problems & perspectives of their nearby family members because of how they are all intertwined & affect each other. Their problems are pivotal to Jem & Natalie’s relationship.
Jem’s reasons for leaving Natalie are refreshingly credible for creating a sympathetic broken engagement trope that succeeds in avoiding having the leading man looking like a jerk or unreasonable martyr. The years of confusion, wounds, & scars between them are dealt with realistically.
With all that’s going on, the story could easily have been overly angsty, but the writing keeps things surprisingly, though not inappropriately, lighthearted despite the seriousness of the material, & it avoids being depressing.
The ending succeeds in being realistic while still feeling uplifting & granting the desired happily-ever-after. I very much look forward to whatever this author writes next.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
*Clean romance level: passionate kisses
*Religion: overtly Christian, several characters are Baptist but discussions are relatively generic
Natalie is the one person everyone can count and she has the hardest time saying no, even when she should. She has had her faith tested time and time again, yet she still has faith. Jeremy, if you believe his father, is the proverbial screw-up. He isn’t in my eyes. He has claimed responsibility not only for his life, but his son’s and niece. His faith has let him grow into the man that he is. Forgiveness is always a big part of letting things in the past go. When trouble comes, you will find that everything boils down to family and faith.
You are going to love Jeremy’s son Oliver who everyone affectionately calls Olly.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.