Terms and Conditions | By Lauren Asher
Book Review | Contemporary Romance
My thoughts
Narrative and Plot
Terms and Conditions is told from both Declan’s and Iris’s perspectives. It combines both a marriage of convenience and office romance trope. Declan, the elder of the Kane brothers, must fulfill the ludicrous condition of marrying and impregnating a woman to inherit his share of Dreamland.
Given this premise, it’s clear what kind of story you’re entering. It was no surprise that the plot followed a predictable trajectory and ended with a happily ever-after. While there is some entertainment value, the writing is accessible and helps make the story easier to read.
Characters and Conflicts
This is where the book becomes problematic for me. Declan is a walking red flag, and it seems that Iris increasingly falls for the idea of him rather than the actual person. The story romanticizes an emotionally unavailable man who barely opens up to the female lead.
Their relationship borders on toxic from the beginning, which the setup—featuring forced proximity to a ruthless billionaire—promises. However, the payoff was unsatisfying, especially regarding its handling of domestic abuse and physical violence with forced humor.
Even if I could overlook the red flags seen early in the romance, I might have enjoyed the story more, once things got serious. Unfortunately, I couldn’t, and as a result, I didn’t feel the chemistry between the main characters.
Additionally, I’m not a fan of grand gestures when actions speak otherwise. Declan’s grand gestures seemed more like emotional manipulation rather than genuine romance, especially given the age difference.
Conclusion
Overall, this was a one-time read for me. I was determined to finish this much-hyped series, but now I’m uncertain about continuing. I might pick it up again after a break, but only time will tell.
Follow my blog with Bloglovin