Natalie Randall's Reviews > Coach

Preface* I still recommend this book! I still respect and understand every 5 star review! Ford just wasn’t for me but hopefully he is for you!!!

3.5⭐️ am I really giving a Devney Perry book (my favourite author) less than 4 stars??? Unfortunately, yes. That’s the longest it’s ever taken me to finish one of her books. I hit pause at 75% and just really didn’t feel like it anymore.

I really didn’t like the MMC Ford. Every other aspect of the story was great, but it’s hard to appreciate that when you don’t like the main character.

I feels wrong to write a negative review because my Goodreads is practically a homage to Devney Perry and she’s poured so much love and work into this, but doing so has helped me process my emotions 😂. I’ve read the majority of her books and LOVED 33/35 of them. BUT if I’m objectively sharing my opinion, Ford Ellis has some real red flags and is a… disappointing.. book boyfriend (as are Jess Cleary and Nick Slater, for pretty much the same reasons so this is clearly just a character type for DP). Here is what I think, spoilers ahead ➡️➡️➡️

🤔 He’s treated Millie terribly in the past and was so pushy about inserting himself into her life. He could see she was distressed every time he approached her but just kept pushing (but they are very happy together in the end, so does this rough start really matter??? I’m undecided).

🤔 He kind of used his daughter to guilt Millie into spending time with him.

🤔 He seemingly had little regard for Millie’s career and the risks to her professionally (but only until the last 25%)

🤔 He was a jerk and so pissed off after Adrienne kissed Millie, he didn’t seem to care at all how she was feeling or if she was okay after her ex-boyfriend forcibly kissed her. This is so minor but gave me the ick. I can image how upset I’d be if this happened to me and I looked up to see the guy I liked that pissed AT ME.

🤔 He loves his daughter and she is clearly his number 1 priority, but he can see how much she is struggling, how upset and angry she is all the time. What is he actually doing to help her? She’s dealing with a lot for a nine year old and it seemed like he was just waiting for Joey to get over it all - her mother leaving and constantly disappointing her, a huge move away for her home and the only life she’s known. Again, this is so minor and nit-picky, but once I noticed it angered me, especially after so many reviews calling him the “best father”.

I am glad I finished this because the last 25% gave me a few more reasons to root for Ford - he is finally making it clear to Millie she’s his first choice, he is showing that her career is important to him, he is tolerating Sienna because it is what makes Joey happy, he handles Millie quitting without telling him with more calm and kindness than I was expecting.