Review: Neanderthal Marries Human by Penny Reid

Neanderthal Marries Human: A Smarter Romance (Knitting in the City, #1.5) by Penny Reid
Series: Knitting in the City #1.5
Published by Caped Publishing on June 14th 2014
Pages: 417
Narrator: Jennifer Grace, Sebastian York


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This book is not a standalone. It is the sequel to ‘Neanderthal Seeks Human,’ it is book #1.5 in the ‘Knitting in the City’ series, and it is a full length, 105k word novel.

There are three things you should know about Quinn Sullivan: 1) He is madly in love with Janie Morris, 2) He’s not above playing dirty to get what (or who) he wants, and 3) He doesn’t know how to knit.

After just five months of dating Janie, Quinn—former Wendell and unapologetic autocrat—is ready to propose marriage. In fact, he’s more than ready. If it were up to Quinn, he would efficiently propose, marry, and beget Janie with child all in the same day—thereby avoiding the drama and angst that accompanies the four stages of pre-matrimony: engagement, meeting the parents, bachelor/bachelorette party, and overblown, superfluous wedding day traditions. But Janie, much to Quinn’s dismay, tosses a wrench in his efficacious endeavors and challenges him to prove his devotion by going through the matrimonial motions, no matter how minute and mundane.

Will Quinn last until the wedding day? Or will he yield to his tyrant impulses?

Regardless, one thing is for certain, Quinn Sullivan will have to learn to expect the Spanish Inquisition (i.e. the unexpected) if he plans to have and keep Janie Morris as his wife.

Again, you must read ‘Neanderthal Seeks Human’ first before reading this book.

This book is written in first person, alternating POV (Janie Morris AND Quinn Sullivan; but more Janie than Quinn)

I’m trying to remember the last time I laughed this hard while reading a book, and I’m coming up empty. I bought the Kindle version and then added on Audible for $1.99 (well worth the price, in my opinion) so I could listen while driving. I had to keep a travel pack of tissues in the car because I had tears rolling all down my face and whatnot from laughing. I’m amazed I didn’t crash. So yeah. Neanderthal Marries Human is another notch in Penny Reid’s belt of winning smart romantic comedies.

This book is meant to be read after reading Neanderthal Seeks Human. It’s been awhile since I read the first book, and I’d forgotten how much I love Janie. She’s such an adorkable, brilliant, and amusing heroine. With her social awkwardness and verbal diarrhea of detailed random facts, she’s 100 percent endearing.

The story revolves around Janie planning her wedding to Quinn, her grumpy, inscrutable, and protective boss/boyfriend. Janie is very practical and minimalistic—with the exception of her collection of designer shoes—so deciding on a huge wedding is very out of character.

All the fabulous and diverse ladies in the knitting circle are back to support Janie during the wedding planning. Side note: I still find it funny that Janie doesn’t know how to knit. Try to imagine the hilarious conversations, high jinks and trouble this zany crew can possibly get into, and then quadruple it. Janie and Quinn’s relationship propels the detailed plot, but these ladies are the heart of this enjoyable series and the source of the most laughs. I want them to be my friends.

If I was forced to find one flaw, it might be that the book is a tad on the long side. However, every chapter adds a great deal to the story, and I was never bored. I wouldn’t change a thing. I’d like to make a toast to Penny Reid for gracing us with her creativity and fantastic sense of humor. I have several more books to read in the Knitting in the City series, and I look forward to diving into each one.

Recommended for fans of:
Romantic comedies
Knitting
Wedding planning
Awkward heroines
Crazy best friends

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