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It's All Relative
Shakespeare's famous comedy, A Midsummer Night's Dream, gets a modern retelling in the lighthearted women's fiction, It's All Relative. You're invited to a beach wedding celebrating family, friendship, and the age-old-adage that 'the course of true love' (and the merging of families, for that matter) 'never did run smooth.'
Helena Crosby is on her way to be a bridesmaid... in her mom's wedding.
Of course she's thrilled for her mom--the man she's marrying is great--but this family wedding is complicated. For starters, after twenty-eight years of it just being her and her mom, navigating family dynamics isn't exactly her strong suit, especially when she has nothing in common with said family. Take her soon-to-be stepsister, for example. They might be the same age, but Amelia is an always-put-together, successful architect whose hobby is organizing her pantry while Helena favors the messy bun and has decided meal prepping means scarfing down whatever she gets out of the vending machine while writing up lesson plans before class. And as if things weren't challenging enough, Helena managed to develop a monster crush on Amelia's fiancé. Now, on top of figuring out how to claim a spot in this family, she has to will herself to not be attracted to the most attractive man she's ever met. So, yeah. This week of wedding festivities at her new family's beach house should be super fun.
Amelia Maddox has everything under control.
Or at least she did until this whole wedding thing came up. She's happy her dad is dating again, but getting married? So soon? It's only been three years since her mom died, and Amelia has worked too hard to hold her family together to let it fall apart now. And then Helena shows up with him. What are the odds that the stepsister she barely knows happens to be best friends with her ex? But Landon is part of her past--which is absolutely behind her--and now she has to stay focused on the future. The bright, shiny, expertly planned future.
Of course, life has a habit of not going according to plan.
Helena Crosby is on her way to be a bridesmaid... in her mom's wedding.
Of course she's thrilled for her mom--the man she's marrying is great--but this family wedding is complicated. For starters, after twenty-eight years of it just being her and her mom, navigating family dynamics isn't exactly her strong suit, especially when she has nothing in common with said family. Take her soon-to-be stepsister, for example. They might be the same age, but Amelia is an always-put-together, successful architect whose hobby is organizing her pantry while Helena favors the messy bun and has decided meal prepping means scarfing down whatever she gets out of the vending machine while writing up lesson plans before class. And as if things weren't challenging enough, Helena managed to develop a monster crush on Amelia's fiancé. Now, on top of figuring out how to claim a spot in this family, she has to will herself to not be attracted to the most attractive man she's ever met. So, yeah. This week of wedding festivities at her new family's beach house should be super fun.
Amelia Maddox has everything under control.
Or at least she did until this whole wedding thing came up. She's happy her dad is dating again, but getting married? So soon? It's only been three years since her mom died, and Amelia has worked too hard to hold her family together to let it fall apart now. And then Helena shows up with him. What are the odds that the stepsister she barely knows happens to be best friends with her ex? But Landon is part of her past--which is absolutely behind her--and now she has to stay focused on the future. The bright, shiny, expertly planned future.
Of course, life has a habit of not going according to plan.
336 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2024
32 people are currently reading
7,497 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Magee
9books352followersRachel wrote her first novel when she was twelve and entered it into a contest for young author/illustrators. Unfortunately, the judges weren’t impressed with her stick figures. So she dropped the dream of becoming a world famous illustrator and stuck to spinning stories. When she’s not busy working on her latest book, she loves to travel with her family and friends. By far, her favorite destination is the beach, which tends to work its way into most of her stories. Between vacations, you can find her at home in The Woodlands, TX with her wonderful husband, their two adventurous kids and a couple of spirited pets, all of whom share Rachel’s love of the ocean. Well, except the cat and dog. They’re both afraid of water. Find out more about what Rachel has been up to at rachelmageebooks.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 272 reviews
March 25, 2024
"It's All Relative" is an absolute delight! Rachel Magee weaves a tale of family, love, and second chances that had me hooked from the very first page. As someone who adores Shakespearean retellings, I couldn't resist diving into this modern-day twist on family dynamics, and I'm so glad I did!
Helena and Amelia are wonderfully crafted characters, each with their own quirks and struggles that make them feel incredibly real. From Helena's carefree spirit to Amelia's perfectionist tendencies, their journey as stepsisters navigating their parents' wedding is both hilarious and heartwarming.
This book has got all these deep moments too, exploring family dynamics and the messy, complicated stuff that comes with love and relationships. Like, who knew a rom-com could make you feel all the feels?
And don't even get me started on the romance! From Helena's rekindled flame with Landon to Amelia's forbidden feelings, the romantic tension crackles with energy and emotion, keeping me on the edge of my seats until the very end!
If you're into reads that are equal parts funny, heartwarming, and totally swoon-worthy, then "It's All Relative" is your go-to. I wholeheartedly recommend "It's All Relative" without any hesitation!
Helena and Amelia are wonderfully crafted characters, each with their own quirks and struggles that make them feel incredibly real. From Helena's carefree spirit to Amelia's perfectionist tendencies, their journey as stepsisters navigating their parents' wedding is both hilarious and heartwarming.
This book has got all these deep moments too, exploring family dynamics and the messy, complicated stuff that comes with love and relationships. Like, who knew a rom-com could make you feel all the feels?
And don't even get me started on the romance! From Helena's rekindled flame with Landon to Amelia's forbidden feelings, the romantic tension crackles with energy and emotion, keeping me on the edge of my seats until the very end!
If you're into reads that are equal parts funny, heartwarming, and totally swoon-worthy, then "It's All Relative" is your go-to. I wholeheartedly recommend "It's All Relative" without any hesitation!
July 30, 2024
It's relatively hard to enjoy a book when you don't like the characters... and it's such a shame, too.
Landon and Helena are best friends. Landon is also the ex-boyfriend of Mia. Mia is engaged to Gage (just realizing how weird that sounds 😅). Helena has a crush on Gage. Helena's mother is also marrying Mia's father. So yeah, the title really fits 💯😂
We get all 4 POVs of Helena, Mia, Landon, and Gage during a week-long stay on an island for the wedding of Mia's father and Helena's mother. So far so good, but with Helena ALWAYS being late, ALWAYS being clumsy, Mia ALWAYS making lists, not having fun, Gage not having a personality, I only liked Landon - a sad, cute coach always putting other people first. I also really liked Peter, he made me laugh in this anger provoking book.
The first half of the book was simply too much of the same stuff happening over and over again, and I just wanted to scream at them all, but mostly at Helena, because who honestly believes that other people are perfect? And why would you make a TikTok video when doing the dishes? Especially when you are apparently working hard to "fit" into the new family? Helena was acting like the 12-year-old in the story. The ending felt rushed and was actually the part that I came for and enjoyed, but too little too late.
Overall, this simply was not my story, with the focus on the wrong things with the wrong characters for my liking. A book full of Peter and Landon would have fit more into my jam.
I did really appreciate that Helena and Mia always seemed cool and collected in the POV's of the other's while they were freaking out on the inside in their own POV's. It just shows that the appearance of a person does not always resemble the truth. And other people might view you differently from the outside.
Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas Nelson Fiction, and Rachel Magee for the arc. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Landon and Helena are best friends. Landon is also the ex-boyfriend of Mia. Mia is engaged to Gage (just realizing how weird that sounds 😅). Helena has a crush on Gage. Helena's mother is also marrying Mia's father. So yeah, the title really fits 💯😂
We get all 4 POVs of Helena, Mia, Landon, and Gage during a week-long stay on an island for the wedding of Mia's father and Helena's mother. So far so good, but with Helena ALWAYS being late, ALWAYS being clumsy, Mia ALWAYS making lists, not having fun, Gage not having a personality, I only liked Landon - a sad, cute coach always putting other people first. I also really liked Peter, he made me laugh in this anger provoking book.
The first half of the book was simply too much of the same stuff happening over and over again, and I just wanted to scream at them all, but mostly at Helena, because who honestly believes that other people are perfect? And why would you make a TikTok video when doing the dishes? Especially when you are apparently working hard to "fit" into the new family? Helena was acting like the 12-year-old in the story. The ending felt rushed and was actually the part that I came for and enjoyed, but too little too late.
Overall, this simply was not my story, with the focus on the wrong things with the wrong characters for my liking. A book full of Peter and Landon would have fit more into my jam.
I did really appreciate that Helena and Mia always seemed cool and collected in the POV's of the other's while they were freaking out on the inside in their own POV's. It just shows that the appearance of a person does not always resemble the truth. And other people might view you differently from the outside.
Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas Nelson Fiction, and Rachel Magee for the arc. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
September 23, 2024
Cute little story/feel good and satisfying "escape" type I call for a when in the mood for a treat. I wasn't a fan of Shakespeare growing up as it was rather wearisome to get through but this tale is loosely based upon one of them. The storyline captured my attention and I did enjoy how (although predictable) matters were resolved and how it turned out overall. Sweet:) ....I had tagged it as Christian before reading it but although wholesome per say, no actual spiritual elements included other than a pastor married a couple and only a toast with glasses of wine but no grace said before the meal. Not that I was surprised really but just mentioning in case anyone else is curious...
However, I did truly find this book a pleasure and wouldn't mind reading others by her nor recommending it to anyone else :)
However, I did truly find this book a pleasure and wouldn't mind reading others by her nor recommending it to anyone else :)
January 20, 2025
It’s All Relative is a modern retelling of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream�. Having never read Shakespeare’s AMND, I can’t really make a comparison of the two.
Helena’s mom is marrying into a wealthy family she jokingly refers to as “The Perfects� because they all seem to have their lives impeccably together. Dreading the idea of attending the wedding alone, Helena convinces her co-worker and friend, Landon, to be her plus-one. But things get messy when they discover her soon-to-be stepsister, Amelia, is Landon’s ex—the one he’s still hung up on and compares everyone to. To complicate matters further, Helena herself can’t help but nurse a serious crush on Amelia’s fiancé, Gage. What could go wrong with that scenario?
The story was okay overall, but the female characters were frustrating. Helena came across as petulant and immature—it was hard to believe she was supposed to be 27 because she acted much younger. Amelia, on the other hand, was overly mature but lacked personality for most of the book, making it difficult to connect with her. Gage felt underdeveloped; he stayed in the background for most of the story and only became more prominent toward the end. My favorite characters were actually Landon and Amelia’s brother Peter.
While I liked the ending, the road to get there was too long and a bit repetitive in parts and I just never felt the urgency to get back to this book. The wrap-up also felt a little rushed and without any real discussion between the characters of how things ended up. No one seemed to talk about it which was a little strange. 3 stars.
My thanks to Thomas Nelson Fiction and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Helena’s mom is marrying into a wealthy family she jokingly refers to as “The Perfects� because they all seem to have their lives impeccably together. Dreading the idea of attending the wedding alone, Helena convinces her co-worker and friend, Landon, to be her plus-one. But things get messy when they discover her soon-to-be stepsister, Amelia, is Landon’s ex—the one he’s still hung up on and compares everyone to. To complicate matters further, Helena herself can’t help but nurse a serious crush on Amelia’s fiancé, Gage. What could go wrong with that scenario?
The story was okay overall, but the female characters were frustrating. Helena came across as petulant and immature—it was hard to believe she was supposed to be 27 because she acted much younger. Amelia, on the other hand, was overly mature but lacked personality for most of the book, making it difficult to connect with her. Gage felt underdeveloped; he stayed in the background for most of the story and only became more prominent toward the end. My favorite characters were actually Landon and Amelia’s brother Peter.
While I liked the ending, the road to get there was too long and a bit repetitive in parts and I just never felt the urgency to get back to this book. The wrap-up also felt a little rushed and without any real discussion between the characters of how things ended up. No one seemed to talk about it which was a little strange. 3 stars.
My thanks to Thomas Nelson Fiction and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
August 5, 2024
dnf page 102
i hate writing bad reviews for arcs, especially if i requested them. but i just couldn’t bring myself to finish this book. i would pick it up at least 3 times every day, and still, after reading a few pages, put it down.
`� ˑ ִֶ 𓂃�
i loved the idea of the book, it was something new and fun compared to to my last reads. i can’t say that i had high hopes for this read, but i was exited, and started reading right after getting approval.
`� ˑ ִֶ 𓂃�
i read around 102 pages and nothing much was happening. there was no hook or anything that would want me to continue reading. maybe i just didn’t get to the “climax� of the book (probably).🤷🏼♀�
`� ˑ ִֶ 𓂃�
all characters were introduced early in the book, and personally, i got lost between them. we couldn’t get a lot of information about them at the beginning, instead we were learning about each of them throughout the read. another thing was, every chapter being from someone else’s pov. it made it even more difficult to understand who was who and what role they were playing in the families.
maybe i’ll try to read this book later this year. and if i do, i’ll change my review, but for now this is it.
`� ˑ ִֶ 𓂃�
would i recommend?
i don’t feel like i can answer this question without reading the whole book. but, if you want an easy read then you should try.
biggest thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for approving my request in exchange for an honest review. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
i hate writing bad reviews for arcs, especially if i requested them. but i just couldn’t bring myself to finish this book. i would pick it up at least 3 times every day, and still, after reading a few pages, put it down.
`� ˑ ִֶ 𓂃�
i loved the idea of the book, it was something new and fun compared to to my last reads. i can’t say that i had high hopes for this read, but i was exited, and started reading right after getting approval.
`� ˑ ִֶ 𓂃�
i read around 102 pages and nothing much was happening. there was no hook or anything that would want me to continue reading. maybe i just didn’t get to the “climax� of the book (probably).🤷🏼♀�
`� ˑ ִֶ 𓂃�
all characters were introduced early in the book, and personally, i got lost between them. we couldn’t get a lot of information about them at the beginning, instead we were learning about each of them throughout the read. another thing was, every chapter being from someone else’s pov. it made it even more difficult to understand who was who and what role they were playing in the families.
maybe i’ll try to read this book later this year. and if i do, i’ll change my review, but for now this is it.
`� ˑ ִֶ 𓂃�
would i recommend?
i don’t feel like i can answer this question without reading the whole book. but, if you want an easy read then you should try.
biggest thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for approving my request in exchange for an honest review. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
May 26, 2024
A swoon-worthy romcom that is a nice and cute read for summertime.
This story is a retelling of a Shakespearean tale that I haven’t read, so I can’t compare. It’s the story of a blended family meeting for the wedding of their parents, Nora and Steve. Nora’s only child, Helena, is an eccentric teacher, bubbly and adventurous yet clumsy. On the other hand, Amelia is the eldest of the three siblings, a successful architect, responsible and borderline control freak. Landon is a colleague and best friend of Helena, while Cage is Amelia’s fiancé, both well-rounded men. The story is told from the perspective of four characters.
The themes explored include the strong and complicated bonds within a family, the power of friendship and love, and how embracing change can help you achieve a better life. The writing style is very fluid and light. The characters are funny, and their banter is a real pleasure. I had a great time reading it.
Thanks to Thomas Nelson Fiction, NetGalley, and Rachel Magee for a chance to read this book for free. I'm leaving this review of my own accord.
This story is a retelling of a Shakespearean tale that I haven’t read, so I can’t compare. It’s the story of a blended family meeting for the wedding of their parents, Nora and Steve. Nora’s only child, Helena, is an eccentric teacher, bubbly and adventurous yet clumsy. On the other hand, Amelia is the eldest of the three siblings, a successful architect, responsible and borderline control freak. Landon is a colleague and best friend of Helena, while Cage is Amelia’s fiancé, both well-rounded men. The story is told from the perspective of four characters.
The themes explored include the strong and complicated bonds within a family, the power of friendship and love, and how embracing change can help you achieve a better life. The writing style is very fluid and light. The characters are funny, and their banter is a real pleasure. I had a great time reading it.
Thanks to Thomas Nelson Fiction, NetGalley, and Rachel Magee for a chance to read this book for free. I'm leaving this review of my own accord.
August 6, 2024
“It was the right thing to do. And doing the right thing always trumps doing the easy thing.� 📚�
*New Release* - -> publish date is August 6, 2024.
What a fun, unique, contemporary romance. It was a great escape with Helena and her best friend, Landon Blake to a remote island (only reached by ferry) for her Mom’s wedding � to “the perfects.”�
Helena was an incredibly entertaining character to keep up with. Her emotions and fly-by-the-seat-of-her-pants ways were all over the place but it was SO fun! It was also highly entertaining to see her face off with her oh-so-perfectly-planned out-and-high-strung sister to be.
Talk about oil and water! I laughed a lotta lot.
I literally could not put this book down and “had� to know� were Helena and Landon really just friends? Or was Helena going to get too involved with Gage, the sweet, gorgeous guy she’s been crushing on that just so happens to be her sister to be’s fiance.
There were more siblings and the couple tying the knot, AND, oh yeah, all these people are staying in the same enormous luxury beachhouse.....
Yeah, it’s a whirlwind and I loved it.
But there hurt feelings, grief, anxiety, and tender moments as well.
Not only are we able to be in Helena’s head, but also inside the thoughts of her best guy friend, her “perfect� sister to be, and the gorgeous guy she can’t stop thinking about. Yep, that’s right - 4 POVs.
So crazy - but it worked. I didn’t think I was going to like it, but I definitely did. I will check out this author’s other work!
No profanity and squeaky clean, cute romance~Yay and Yay!
MY RATING 🌟🌟🌟🌟
More in-depth book reviews on my ‘Clean Reads� YouTube channel. 💙�
I received a complimentary copy of this novel and this is my honest opinion.
*New Release* - -> publish date is August 6, 2024.
What a fun, unique, contemporary romance. It was a great escape with Helena and her best friend, Landon Blake to a remote island (only reached by ferry) for her Mom’s wedding � to “the perfects.”�
Helena was an incredibly entertaining character to keep up with. Her emotions and fly-by-the-seat-of-her-pants ways were all over the place but it was SO fun! It was also highly entertaining to see her face off with her oh-so-perfectly-planned out-and-high-strung sister to be.
Talk about oil and water! I laughed a lotta lot.
I literally could not put this book down and “had� to know� were Helena and Landon really just friends? Or was Helena going to get too involved with Gage, the sweet, gorgeous guy she’s been crushing on that just so happens to be her sister to be’s fiance.
There were more siblings and the couple tying the knot, AND, oh yeah, all these people are staying in the same enormous luxury beachhouse.....
Yeah, it’s a whirlwind and I loved it.
But there hurt feelings, grief, anxiety, and tender moments as well.
Not only are we able to be in Helena’s head, but also inside the thoughts of her best guy friend, her “perfect� sister to be, and the gorgeous guy she can’t stop thinking about. Yep, that’s right - 4 POVs.
So crazy - but it worked. I didn’t think I was going to like it, but I definitely did. I will check out this author’s other work!
No profanity and squeaky clean, cute romance~Yay and Yay!
MY RATING 🌟🌟🌟🌟
More in-depth book reviews on my ‘Clean Reads� YouTube channel. 💙�
I received a complimentary copy of this novel and this is my honest opinion.
July 22, 2024
4.5 / I really enjoyed this book! It's a modern take on "A Midsummer Night's Dream," and as a Shakespeare fan, it was a delight. I found it hard to put down. I have a fondness for ocean-side romance stories, and this one hit all the right notes. This is the first time I’ve read anything by Rachel but it makes me want to check out her other works!
August 27, 2024
I may not have been the target audience for this one. I didn’t feel much for the characters, except the FMC and for her I only felt like childish unnecessary drama towards the “perfects�. I didn’t laugh, I didn’t cry, I wasn’t shocked or surprised it was all just kind of blah. The narrator was a bit stilted but she did a good job. Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to review.
July 17, 2024
A modern retelling of "A Midsummer Night's Dream", It's All Relative follows a very chaotic few days as we prepare for the wedding of Steve and Nora.
Amelia, the groom's daughter is type A (an understatement). There's no chaos in her life, she plans every single perfect moment. She has to be this way, she has kept the family together when her mother passed.
Her soon to be step sister, Helena, just happens to be the exact opposite: she's chaos in human form. She also showed up to perfectly planned event with an undisclosed shellfish allergy AND Amelia's ex on her arm. Insert Landon. Dreamy, blue-eyed and distracting, Amelia just has no time for this, right?
Just like the original, we have a wedding bringing all these folks together. I couldn't help but feel that just like Shakespeare's version, it is more of a character study than a typical plot line story.
We follow this group of flawed characters through silly scenarios, some cute rom-com moments and emotional revelations. While there are no major plot twists here and it's the basic blueprint of the original, it has a warm, happy ending- while not traditional. It's definitely a fun summer read, and if you love a Shakespeare retelling, it's a no brainer.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins Publishing for the chance to read and review prior to publication. Expected publication date: 8/6/2024.
Amelia, the groom's daughter is type A (an understatement). There's no chaos in her life, she plans every single perfect moment. She has to be this way, she has kept the family together when her mother passed.
Her soon to be step sister, Helena, just happens to be the exact opposite: she's chaos in human form. She also showed up to perfectly planned event with an undisclosed shellfish allergy AND Amelia's ex on her arm. Insert Landon. Dreamy, blue-eyed and distracting, Amelia just has no time for this, right?
Just like the original, we have a wedding bringing all these folks together. I couldn't help but feel that just like Shakespeare's version, it is more of a character study than a typical plot line story.
We follow this group of flawed characters through silly scenarios, some cute rom-com moments and emotional revelations. While there are no major plot twists here and it's the basic blueprint of the original, it has a warm, happy ending- while not traditional. It's definitely a fun summer read, and if you love a Shakespeare retelling, it's a no brainer.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins Publishing for the chance to read and review prior to publication. Expected publication date: 8/6/2024.
April 9, 2024
It’s All Relative by Rachel Magee is a stellar rom-com! Family drama, lovable characters, witty banter - these are just a few of the elements that made me fall in love with this book. Although this book has some great depth, it is still a quick, easy read. I’ll be recommending this book & author to all of my friends!
Thank you NetGalley & Thomas Nelson for the ARC copy of this book.
Thank you NetGalley & Thomas Nelson for the ARC copy of this book.
August 30, 2024
Amelia is stressed to the max.... Her fathers wedding is coming and being the perfectionist she is.... She plans for everything, except she didn't plan for her soon to step sister to show up with her ex as her plus one.
Her own fiance Gage is great but he doesn't come close to the love she felt for Landon and all 4 of them are stuck on the island until the wedding... in 7 days.
The audio was fab!!!
I always ignore christian romance books and I have been sorely missing out! This book was like a warm hug for your ears... (you know what I mean).
I loved the characters and the plot was so wholesome and fun!
4 stars
August 29, 2024
This story was really cute, with a title that fits perfectly. The narrator did well in differentiating the voices of the four main characters, including two males. I found the second half more enjoyable, and the ending was great. I received a copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers, and this is my honest review.
August 1, 2024
5 stars for It's All Relative! I loved this Shakespeare retelling. I loved the dual POV and family dynamics, as well as the romances. My only critique (which I will admit is a bit nit picky) is how similar Helena and Amelia's names are. My brain was a bit spinny reading their names over and over sentence after sentence.
Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas Nelson Fiction, and Rachel Magee for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. It's All Relative publishes on August 6, 2024.
Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas Nelson Fiction, and Rachel Magee for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. It's All Relative publishes on August 6, 2024.
May 22, 2024
pub date: aug 06 2024
Rachel Magee's "It's All Relative" tries to be a charming rom-com but has some issues. The main problem is the flat characters. Even though the story is told from four different points of view, each character feels shallow and lacks depth. This makes it hard to connect with them or care about their stories. The characters' actions are often predictable, leaving little room for surprise.
Instead of having a strong story, the book focuses on character development. There are lots of internal monologues and personal reflections, but without a compelling plot, the story feels aimless. This might appeal to readers who like character-driven stories, but for those looking for an engaging plot, it falls flat.
One of the book's strengths is its multiple perspectives (even if written in third person). This lets readers understand what's happening in the characters' heads. However, this is undermined by the short time frame in which events happen. Major life decisions and changes happen too quickly, making them feel rushed and unrealistic. Even if the book's premise is that everything is relative, these big moments need more time and thought than they get here.
Despite these issues, "It's All Relative" still offers a cute rom-com experience. The story is predictable, even without its ties to "A Midsummer Night's Dream," but this isn't necessarily bad. For readers looking for a light, quick read, the familiar plot can be comforting. The book doesn't break new ground, but it provides a cozy, feel-good narrative that many rom-com fans will enjoy.
"It's All Relative" by Rachel Magee is a mixed bag. The characters lack depth, and the plot is thin, focusing more on vibes and character introspection. However, its multiple perspectives and cute, predictable storyline make it a pleasant read for those seeking something light. While it might not leave a lasting impression, it's a nice way to spend a few hours. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a quick, breezy read with a touch of romance.
Thank you to Thomas Nelson Fiction, NetGalley and the author for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Rachel Magee's "It's All Relative" tries to be a charming rom-com but has some issues. The main problem is the flat characters. Even though the story is told from four different points of view, each character feels shallow and lacks depth. This makes it hard to connect with them or care about their stories. The characters' actions are often predictable, leaving little room for surprise.
Instead of having a strong story, the book focuses on character development. There are lots of internal monologues and personal reflections, but without a compelling plot, the story feels aimless. This might appeal to readers who like character-driven stories, but for those looking for an engaging plot, it falls flat.
One of the book's strengths is its multiple perspectives (even if written in third person). This lets readers understand what's happening in the characters' heads. However, this is undermined by the short time frame in which events happen. Major life decisions and changes happen too quickly, making them feel rushed and unrealistic. Even if the book's premise is that everything is relative, these big moments need more time and thought than they get here.
Despite these issues, "It's All Relative" still offers a cute rom-com experience. The story is predictable, even without its ties to "A Midsummer Night's Dream," but this isn't necessarily bad. For readers looking for a light, quick read, the familiar plot can be comforting. The book doesn't break new ground, but it provides a cozy, feel-good narrative that many rom-com fans will enjoy.
"It's All Relative" by Rachel Magee is a mixed bag. The characters lack depth, and the plot is thin, focusing more on vibes and character introspection. However, its multiple perspectives and cute, predictable storyline make it a pleasant read for those seeking something light. While it might not leave a lasting impression, it's a nice way to spend a few hours. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a quick, breezy read with a touch of romance.
Thank you to Thomas Nelson Fiction, NetGalley and the author for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 7, 2024
3.5 ⭐️
It's All Relative is a riff on Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. The book takes place over the course of the week a family has gotten together to celebrate a wedding. Helena is a bridesmaid in her mother's wedding to Stephen. Stephen's family is perfect in Helena's eyes and she isn't sure she will ever fit in with them or live up to their standards. She convinces her friend Landon to be her plus one for the festivities.
This book has a gorgeous setting, fun characters, great banter, and some family drama. It was a nice, quick read perfect for the beach or pool. The story had me hooked from the beginning and kept me turning pages. I'm hoping for a sequel so that we can see what happens to all the characters next.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the advanced copy of this book.
It's All Relative is a riff on Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. The book takes place over the course of the week a family has gotten together to celebrate a wedding. Helena is a bridesmaid in her mother's wedding to Stephen. Stephen's family is perfect in Helena's eyes and she isn't sure she will ever fit in with them or live up to their standards. She convinces her friend Landon to be her plus one for the festivities.
This book has a gorgeous setting, fun characters, great banter, and some family drama. It was a nice, quick read perfect for the beach or pool. The story had me hooked from the beginning and kept me turning pages. I'm hoping for a sequel so that we can see what happens to all the characters next.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the advanced copy of this book.
March 5, 2024
“It’s All Relative� is a fun read set off the coast of Florida. Helena is an English teacher who lives life in the moment. Her mom, Nora, is marrying into the Maddox Family. Co-mingling of families on the wedding weekend equals laughs, adventure & truly a new appreciation of each other. Then you mix in a former boyfriend, and you will find yourself cheering these characters on. Perfect beach read to escape your day with. Thank you to Net Galley and Thomas Nelson Paperback for the advance copy read.
June 23, 2024
4/5
nothing happened, but also so much happened? for a modern Shakespeare retelling, the similarities were just tangible enough that I could draw through-lines between this book and A Midsummer Night’s Dream but not too cut-and-paste that it felt drab or repetitive.
nothing happened, but also so much happened? for a modern Shakespeare retelling, the similarities were just tangible enough that I could draw through-lines between this book and A Midsummer Night’s Dream but not too cut-and-paste that it felt drab or repetitive.
Shelved as 'dnf'
August 5, 2024This was too much like the cheesiest hallmark movies I’ve seen, complete with predictable awkward moments. Just not for me.
DNF 33%
DNF 33%
February 21, 2025
More like a 2.8, it was feel good but not much more
July 11, 2024
It's All Relative is a modern retelling of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, which I did not realize before reading. Honestly, I don't remember anything about that original story, so I can't really speak to how it compared. What I can say is that it was a really cute story, filled with all the family drama. In this story, Helena's mom is getting married and she's struggling with the idea of joining a family that she doesn't feel she belongs to. To help her feel more comfortable, she invites her best friend Landon... only to discover that her stepsister to be Amelia is the ex that he never got over. And oh yes, did I mention that Helena has a big crush on Amelia's fiance Gage. Whew, talk about complicated!! The story alternates between all these POVs, which admittedly took me a little bit to keep up with early on in the story... but by the time the story really got going, I found myself enjoying this chaotic family event. I'm not usually one for love triangles (or love squares or whatever you might call this!), but it was done well and I enjoyed it nonetheless. I won't give too much away, but I definitely found this to be a unique story that kept me interested from start to finish. While the romance was great, more than anything this truly was the story about family and sisters too.
**Complimentary copy received via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
**Complimentary copy received via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
July 14, 2024
I was very excited to read It's All Relative - I love a modern day retelling and Midsummer Night's Dream is one of my favorite Shakespeare plays! While this is a fun, light, beach read I did struggle a bit with the story. There are a lot of characters that are quickly introduced and I didn't feel like any of them were terribly developed. The story meanders a bit, told from multiple perspectives and is a bit predictable. However, I think this is a fun read for the summer.
October 10, 2024
Meh, this one was okay. It felt like the female main character had some self esteem issues that she really needed to work through on her own. The romance was cute but not enough for me to really get into the story like I wanted to.
September 12, 2024
Before I start this review, I should probably explain a few things. I’ve been a Shakespeare fan since the fourth grade. This one in particular calls to mind fanciful spirits outside making magic and mischief and culminating with a wedding. Many years later, I’m grown enough now to be married myself. Even though I met my husband in a truly unconventional way, our twenty year relationship is still (for want of a better word) magical.
Given that, I was extremely excited to read A midsummer nights dream retelling. I eagerly any how Shakespeare’s magic and fancy translated. Initially I was completely disappointed. These characters were unrelatable at best. (A regatta? Really?) Amelia was annoying, Helena was flighty, and the men seemed almost expendable. I had no investment in any of them. In fact, I couldn’t wait to finish the book. But then the magic struck.
During a scene where Helena and Amelia finally have it out, I realized this modern version needed to work differently. These two future stepsisters at last discovering common ground showed me the modern retelling needed to focus on their bond first in order for me to care where each of their stories ended.
The scene where Amelia and Landon finally have their own moment interacting as friends illustrates that friendship is the core of any solid romantic relationship. The fact that it literally involves light in the dark was could have been heavy handed but landed just right.
The biggest mistake here is not flushing out the character of Gage. He seems superfluous. We barely know him. His motivations are revealed in less than a page. Considering the weight giving to the other three characters, this doesn’t seem fair. It is the chief flaw in the book.
The part that feels the most Shakespearean is the epilogue. Helena’s breaking the fourth wall and explaining “the rest of the story� is just as effective as the chorus.
The last quarter was far too saccharine and rushed for my taste. At its heart this is a novel about family - one of my favorite subjects. Unfortunately though the retelling falls flat. Not even magic could make it above average.
April 14, 2024
It’s All Relative by Rachel Magee is a sensational modern retelling of Shakespeare’s famous comedy, A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
I loved the multiple POVs interwoven to tell this story:
Nora and Steve are about to get married - which means that their families will become one. Nora has been a single mother to Helena for nearly 30 years, while Steve Maddox is a recent widow with two daughters: Amelia & Emory and a son named Peter.
This story allows us to get into the minds of the quirky unfiltered Helena, her soon to be step-sister Amelia who she dubs “Polly Perfect,� Helena’s best friend and co-worker Landon (who Helena has no idea is also Amelia’s ex-boyfriend!!!), and Amelia’s fiancee Gage (who Helena is crushing on HARD). This story is beautifully told through the eyes of the aforementioned and comes together perfectly. It’s so refreshing to see each of the characters through the eyes of one another and get a full circle big picture of what the reality of the situation is. The wedding is set to take place on the picturesque Indigo Island that belongs to the Maddox family, but not before some shenanigans go down.
I am a huge Billy Shakespeare fan, and I am confident that he would be impressed with this rendition of his classic. I laughed a lot at this one and appreciated each character for what they had to offer. I think pre-teen Emory is my favorite character in the book, and I love the way she gravitates to Helena…there’s even a hilarious scene where the two of them fail to make a viral Tik-Tok while washing dishes.
I highly recommend this book to rom-com lovers, fans of Shakespeare, and anyone who likes being amused while reading. I had a hard time putting this fast-paced story down!
I am so grateful to Thomas Nelson Fiction & NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I look forward to reading more from Rachel Magee!
I loved the multiple POVs interwoven to tell this story:
Nora and Steve are about to get married - which means that their families will become one. Nora has been a single mother to Helena for nearly 30 years, while Steve Maddox is a recent widow with two daughters: Amelia & Emory and a son named Peter.
This story allows us to get into the minds of the quirky unfiltered Helena, her soon to be step-sister Amelia who she dubs “Polly Perfect,� Helena’s best friend and co-worker Landon (who Helena has no idea is also Amelia’s ex-boyfriend!!!), and Amelia’s fiancee Gage (who Helena is crushing on HARD). This story is beautifully told through the eyes of the aforementioned and comes together perfectly. It’s so refreshing to see each of the characters through the eyes of one another and get a full circle big picture of what the reality of the situation is. The wedding is set to take place on the picturesque Indigo Island that belongs to the Maddox family, but not before some shenanigans go down.
I am a huge Billy Shakespeare fan, and I am confident that he would be impressed with this rendition of his classic. I laughed a lot at this one and appreciated each character for what they had to offer. I think pre-teen Emory is my favorite character in the book, and I love the way she gravitates to Helena…there’s even a hilarious scene where the two of them fail to make a viral Tik-Tok while washing dishes.
I highly recommend this book to rom-com lovers, fans of Shakespeare, and anyone who likes being amused while reading. I had a hard time putting this fast-paced story down!
I am so grateful to Thomas Nelson Fiction & NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I look forward to reading more from Rachel Magee!
July 31, 2024
Thank you netgalley! I would give this a solid 3.5 /5 stars!
This rom-com follows Helena and Landon (platonic best friends) as they travel to her mother's second wedding to the 'perfects', and interactions with Amelia and her fiance, Gage. Only problem: Amelia is, surprisingly, Landon's first major heartbreak and Helena has a crush on Gage. I really enjoyed the fact that this was multi-POV as it let you really get in these characters heads as they interact over a summer weekend at the beach.
This is meant to be a retelling of A Midsummer Night's Dream, and while there are hints of that narrative throughout (I think Peter, the brother who'd rather do youtube than a 'real job', is meant to be Puck?), I'm not sure I would have picked up on the connection on my own. It sticks to the meaning of the storyline but very little else.
I think Magee did a good job making you believe that the current 'pairings' of the books weren't quite right for each other and the intended pairings were 'better' without making you dislike any of the characters: kind of a hard task to pull off. The setting is beautiful, the descriptions are lovely, the comedy is really well done. I also enjoyed that each character had their own unique voice: even without the chapter titles, I would have known who was 'narrating' each section.
All in all this was a fun, lighthearted, read. Very PG.
This rom-com follows Helena and Landon (platonic best friends) as they travel to her mother's second wedding to the 'perfects', and interactions with Amelia and her fiance, Gage. Only problem: Amelia is, surprisingly, Landon's first major heartbreak and Helena has a crush on Gage. I really enjoyed the fact that this was multi-POV as it let you really get in these characters heads as they interact over a summer weekend at the beach.
This is meant to be a retelling of A Midsummer Night's Dream, and while there are hints of that narrative throughout (I think Peter, the brother who'd rather do youtube than a 'real job', is meant to be Puck?), I'm not sure I would have picked up on the connection on my own. It sticks to the meaning of the storyline but very little else.
I think Magee did a good job making you believe that the current 'pairings' of the books weren't quite right for each other and the intended pairings were 'better' without making you dislike any of the characters: kind of a hard task to pull off. The setting is beautiful, the descriptions are lovely, the comedy is really well done. I also enjoyed that each character had their own unique voice: even without the chapter titles, I would have known who was 'narrating' each section.
All in all this was a fun, lighthearted, read. Very PG.
September 19, 2024
A modern Shakespeare retelling? SIGN ME UP! Having just finished "If We Were Villains" before picking up this book it was interesting to see how Shakespeare inspired another author.
As the book is inspired by Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" you probably will guess how the romance in this book will go on and that our four main characters are basically in love with the wrong person.
The book is told by our four main characters (Amelia, Helena, Landon and Gage) POVs, so it is interesting to see how various characters think and experience life around them. I did have a problem with one of the characters, namely I didn't like Helena too much. She felt a bit childish to me, but I guess that was how she was supposed to be. And by the end, I did think that Landon and Peter would've been a better match than the person that Landon ends up with. Oh well!
All in all, this book was an okay and quick summery romance read, with not much depth. I'd give it 2.75 stars out of 5. So if you're into that, I would suggest you pick it up.
In short what to expect? Second chance romance, no spice (at all), friends to lovers, multiple POVs, modern retelling, light summery romance.
I would like to thank Netgalley, the publisher and the author for giving me a chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
As the book is inspired by Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" you probably will guess how the romance in this book will go on and that our four main characters are basically in love with the wrong person.
The book is told by our four main characters (Amelia, Helena, Landon and Gage) POVs, so it is interesting to see how various characters think and experience life around them. I did have a problem with one of the characters, namely I didn't like Helena too much. She felt a bit childish to me, but I guess that was how she was supposed to be. And by the end, I did think that Landon and Peter would've been a better match than the person that Landon ends up with. Oh well!
All in all, this book was an okay and quick summery romance read, with not much depth. I'd give it 2.75 stars out of 5. So if you're into that, I would suggest you pick it up.
In short what to expect? Second chance romance, no spice (at all), friends to lovers, multiple POVs, modern retelling, light summery romance.
I would like to thank Netgalley, the publisher and the author for giving me a chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 2, 2024
Thank you Netgalley, Thomas Nelson Fiction and Rachel Magee for providing me this ARC.
This story is a retelling of 'A midsummer's night's dream' by William Shakespeare. 💍🏝�
It's about family, friendship and true love.
First of all, it's a very fun read. There were parts where I was laughing a lot.
I love how clumsy Helena is. She's an English teacher, which I find very cool, because I'm one too. Amelia is the complete opposite. It's nice to see that they complement each other. Even though they don't see that in the beginning.
There are some very cool plot twists in the story. It turns out that Landon, the friend of Helena, is the ex of Amelia. It's very clear that they are not over each other.
It was a wonderful feel good read. I really enjoyed it. There are four POV's, which really helps to connect with the characters.
The characters learn that differences aren't always bad and that true love does not always go smoothly.
This story is a retelling of 'A midsummer's night's dream' by William Shakespeare. 💍🏝�
It's about family, friendship and true love.
First of all, it's a very fun read. There were parts where I was laughing a lot.
I love how clumsy Helena is. She's an English teacher, which I find very cool, because I'm one too. Amelia is the complete opposite. It's nice to see that they complement each other. Even though they don't see that in the beginning.
There are some very cool plot twists in the story. It turns out that Landon, the friend of Helena, is the ex of Amelia. It's very clear that they are not over each other.
It was a wonderful feel good read. I really enjoyed it. There are four POV's, which really helps to connect with the characters.
The characters learn that differences aren't always bad and that true love does not always go smoothly.
August 7, 2024
This was a fun retelling of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream with all the chaos and confusion included. However, the characters all sounded the same so it was difficult to discern whose story we were hearing (Helena vs Mia and Landon vs Gage), particularly on the audiobook. I think that took a lot of the enjoyment away because I was perpetually confused despite being familiar with the original. I think if you know the play inside and out, this may not be a problem for you, but I was frustrated all the time. My favorite part was seeing the difference between how Helena and Mia were so anxious and stressed on the inside but perceived as cool and collected on the outside.
A huge thank you to the author and the publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
A huge thank you to the author and the publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
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