Love Her or Lose Her by Tessa Bailey has quickly become one of my favourite reads this year.
Before reading Love Her or Lose Her, I'd only ever read the Bellinger Sisters books by Tessa Bailey. But I have had quite a few of Tessa's works on my TBR (to be read) list - one of which has been Love Her or Lose Her.
And then I went to The Works, bought the paperback copy and started reading it this August.
Love Her or Lose Her is the second book in the Hot and Hammered trilogy by Tessa Bailey. I must admit, whilst I do have book one - Fix Her Up - I haven't actually read it yet. But I intend to read it now I've finished Love Her or Lose Her.
But first, let's get into my review of book two.
Review of Love Her or Lose Her by Tessa Bailey
Marriage in trouble: 10/10
Romantic comedy: 8/10
Second chance romance: 9/10
Childhood sweethearts: 8/10
Mature read: 10/10
Love Her or Lose Her by Tessa Bailey is an interconnected standalone novel that follows the story of Dominic and Rosie Vega. The two met at school and were high school sweethearts, going on to get married.
During their marriage, Dominic leaves for Afghanistan, having several deployments. When he returns from the army/military, he isn't quite the same person as he used to be. Instead, Dominic is quiet, brooding, and closed off. Over time, Rosie and Dominic grow apart, being more like strangers who are sharing a bed than a married couple.
The plot really kicks off when Rosie comes home from work one day - working in a department store - and decides she's had enough of life and wants to make changes. That night, instead of indulging in the physical aspects of their relationship, Rosie packs a suitcase and tells Dominic she's leaving. To say this is a shock to him is an understatement.
From there, the two deal with how their marriage has unravelled. This brings about Rosie's plan of getting Dominic to prove he actually wants to fight for their love.
Marriage Boot Camp.
Rosie and Dominic go to extreme couples counselling, which sees them tasked with homework and lessons all with the aim of figuring out whether or not their marriage is salvageable.
The idea of marriage in boot camp for a marriage-in-trouble novel immediately enticed me in because I'd never read anything like that before. It was a unique plot with two very different characters involved which made for an enjoyable read of not only romance but also lessons in love and self-acceptance.
Rosie has always dreamed of opening a restaurant but that's something that was put on the back burner in her marriage to Dominic. And as years went by, it became more of a dream and less of a goal to strive for. Rosie is an amazing cook, a talented woman, who is selfless, stubborn, and independent. But she also suffers from imposter syndrome and a lack of self-confidence.
Dominic, however, comes across as this self-assured man, who walks with confidence and masculinity. He's very much a strong, dominating character, who often feels he knows best and therefore doesn't always ask other's opinions. When it comes to Rosie, Dominic only knows how to demonstrate his love through deeds - he was taught that providing a stable home for his family was the best thing he could do.
But this is where things got rather interesting and also made you think.
Whilst Dominic shows love through deeds, Rosie learns that she actually needs words. She needs words of affirmation, words of praise, words that convey her husband's confidence and belief in her. On the other hand, Dominic needs Rosie to demonstrate her love through deeds and actions.
So the two have very different love languages and it was interesting to see how Tessa introduced the idea of love languages and knowing which one suits your partner best.
Throughout the whole novel, Rosie and Dominic have this push and pull. The chemistry and sexual tension are electric and almost tangible. This is a mature read for audiences of 18+.
Tessa writes their characters as individuals but also as partners and it was great to see the dynamic between Rosie and Dominic. Another thing I really liked about Love Her or Lose Her was the character arcs and hints of the side character's stories. Rosie and Dominic make strides in their marriage in this novel and the change in them as a couple is evident throughout because as readers we see them go through ups and downs and how they tackle different conflicts.
Both Rosie and Dominic have their own character arcs as well. Rosie becomes more confident in her abilities and grows her self-belief. She also then realises how she can help her husband and learn his love language. Dominic does the same, learning how best to show his love to his wife and it was good to see him be more open towards the third act of the novel; however, I would have liked to see him change more for him, not just to make Rosie happy.
The side characters as well were amazing. I mentioned earlier that Love Her or Love Her is the second book in a trilogy. The first is Fix Her Up, which centres around Travis and Georgie, who feature in this book as a couple. There's also Bethany and Wes and we get hints at their enemies-to-lovers vibes in Love Her or Lose Her, which made me super excited to read Tools of Engagement - the third book in the series.
I've now read three Tessa Bailey books and I have more of hers to read. But I can assuredly say that I will be reading them because I've found Tessa writes in an effortless way that provides raw emotion but also humour to the reader.
I loved Love Her or Lose Her and am so glad I have it as a paperback to add to my bookshelves. It is definitely worth the read if you like some spicy romcoms with a couple working on rehabilitating their marriage!
If you've read Love Her or Lose Her - or any book in the Hot and Hammered trilogy - let me know your thoughts. If not, you can buy it on Amazon here.
Until next time...
Disclaimer: I own edits, not images