Format: Net Galley Advanced Reader Copy
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Page Length: 352 pages
Publisher: Berkley Romance (July 27, 2021)
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Mr. Darcy‘s Rating: “I love, I love, I love you.”
A Chasing Mr. Darcy Review
The Man Ban was a highly anticipated book I was very excited to receive an advanced reader copy for from Berkley Romance and Net Galley.
Here’s a plot synopsis from Amazon: Harper Ryland has been on a self-imposed man ban for the last twelve months, after a particularly horrible breakup. Instead, she's focusing on the one thing she can control: her career as an up-and-coming food stylist. Harper's latest gig is her best friend's wedding, and she receives glowing praise throughout the night. When the Best Man, Manny Gomes, belittles her hard work, she wants to stab him with skewers from the buffet table, but she can think of something much better: to lead him on the entire wedding and then humiliate him in sweet revenge. When the handsome Anglo-Indian doctor shows up in New Zealand a week later, while Harper's on her first international job, it's the last thing she needs. Everything about him rubs her the wrong way, but when suave Manny steps in to help after an unfortunate disaster, his chivalry gets under her skin a little, and Harper discovers lifting her ban while overseas is exactly what the doctor ordered. Manny isn't looking for anything but fun either--especially not marriage, like his grandmother Izzy keeps pushing on him. But there's something about Harper that makes him want more, even though she keeps her distance, and they're about to discover how far he's willing to go to be with her. . . .
I found this book very enjoyable, fun, and light-hearted. It brought in seriousness with Harper’s skin condition and awareness for anyone also suffering from the same illness. I know I knew little about her condition prior to the book, and I learned a lot reading this story. The story gave wonderful insights into Harper’s insecurities regarding her illness, and showed just how far someone will go cover up those insecurities. Because of this, I found Harper a relatable and enjoyable character. I appreciated her drive and her ambition, and I thought her character set a wonderful example for women reading the book.
I thought Manny was a fun character too, but I found his character as a whole completely unbelievable. Because of this, I wasn’t completely dialed into the relationship between him and Harper, and I didn’t find their relationship or connection believable at all. I can imagine two people like them meeting in real life and falling in love, but I couldn’t see it in my head because Manny was written as every woman’s fantasy instead of as a man I might meet in everyday life. I found it hard to connect with him, and ultimately, that feeling left me with a meh feeling at the end of the book.
I did enjoy the book as a whole, but I rated it three stars because I felt like it was a run of the mill, average romance book. It doesn’t really stand out from the pack of summer romances I’ve already read. If you like a good escape, though, you might find this book more of a standout than I did!
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