99% Mine Cover
Synopsis from the Creator:

Readers and critics alike raved over USA Today bestselling author Sally Thorne’s smash hit debut, The Hating Game, which has sold in over 20 countries. Now she’s back with an unforgettable romantic comedy about a woman who finally has a shot at her long time crush—if she dares.

Crush (n.): a strong and often short-lived infatuation, particularly for someone beyond your reach…

Darcy Barrett has undertaken a global survey of men. She’s travelled the world, and can categorically say that no one measures up to Tom Valeska, whose only flaw is that Darcy’s twin brother Jamie saw him first and claimed him forever as his best friend. Despite Darcy’s best efforts, Tom’s off limits and loyal to her brother, 99%. That’s the problem with finding her dream man at age eight and peaking in her photography career at age twenty—ever since, she’s had to learn to settle for good enough.

When Darcy and Jamie inherit a tumble-down cottage from their grandmother, they’re left with strict instructions to bring it back to its former glory and sell the property. Darcy plans to be in an aisle seat halfway across the ocean as soon as the renovations start, but before she can cut and run, she finds a familiar face on her porch: house-flipper extraordinaire Tom’s arrived, he’s bearing power tools, and he’s single for the first time in almost a decade.

Suddenly Darcy’s considering sticking around to make sure her twin doesn’t ruin the cottage’s inherent magic with his penchant for grey and chrome. She’s definitely not staying because of her new business partner’s tight t-shirts, or that perfect face that's inspiring her to pick up her camera again. Soon sparks are flying—and it’s not the faulty wiring. It turns out one percent of Tom’s heart might not be enough for Darcy anymore. This time around, she’s switching things up. She’s going to make Tom Valeska 99 percent hers.

Review: 99% Mine, by Sally Thorne

[fa icon="calendar"] Jan 16, 2019 9:45:00 AM / by Suzanne

Sally Thorne's debut hit novel, The Hating Game, was a polarizing book, but I came down on the side of really enjoying it. I liked it enough that I just looked past the issues and enjoyed the ride. That said, 99% Mine is not much like The Hating Game at all. I know that I'm a different reader than I was in 2016, when her first novel came out, so it fits that this book is different than Thorne's last. It's as though the book fits where I am now. Perhaps it'll fit for you, too.

For starters, this is a friends-to-lovers story rather than an enemies-to-lovers tale. Tom has been in a relationship for eight years and Darcy has been traveling the world, hopping from city to city and from fling to fling. When an older relative passes away and leaves her house to Darcy and Darcy's twin brother, Tom and Darcy are reunited as they start renovating the house for sale. There's some forced proximity, a first love trope, and lots of pining.

The story is told from Darcy's point of view, which means that the reader is left to wonder along with her if Tom reciprocates her feelings, or if Darcy ruined everything 10 years ago and will forever be alone. (Spoiler -  she will not be alone forever.)

Darcy was born with a heart defect, which means that she's on medication and needs regular monitoring. She was kept inside, kept from a variety of activities, and generally stifled as a child. I worried throughout the book that the Black Moment would be something to do with her heart, like her skipping medication would lead to an emergency hospitalization or something. I've read one too many historical romances with a close call, I think. Anyway, you'll be pleased to know that the big bad thing is not, in fact, anything to do with Darcy's physical heart.

Things I liked about the book:

- Darcy's relationship with her twin. It's close, but competitive. Darcy and Jamie are extremely close but also very different. They start the book estranged, and Tom is in an awkward place between them. It's part of the reason for the book's title, but I'm not going to tell you more than that.

- Darcy's best friend, Truly, has an indie underwear company called Underswears. They're panties with things written on them, like "Human Flotsam." It's super cute but also very stressful. I thought this was realistically and humorously done.

- The sexual tension is bananas.

We wouldn't make it to my bed. I don't care if this ruins us, or the house. I need to feel him, deep. I never want to feel hungry again.

I want to kiss Tom Valeska until everything falls apart.

- Darcy is a photographer and a bartender. Between that and the house renovation, Thorne is able to use lots of metaphors and other figurative language to sweep us up in the sweetness, the stress, and the nostalgia of Darcy and Tom's decades-long relationship. 

Things that I didn't like about the book:

- I'm still in book hangover mode, so I'm not sure I can help you out here.

 

Content Warnings: Death in the family, heart defect, Tom's dad abandoned him and his mom is not responsible, Darcy abuses alcohol.

 

Suzanne received a digital copy of this book from the publisher for review.

Topics: review