99 Percent Mine

Darcy Barrett has spent years photographing weddings while harboring feelings for Tom Valeska, her twin brother Jamie's best friend. When Tom returns to renovate her late grandmother's cottage, Darcy must work alongside him despite their complex history and her brother's long-standing claim that Tom is "his." Tom has always been the responsible one, building his construction business while maintaining boundaries with Darcy due to his loyalty to Jamie. The renovation project forces Tom and Darcy into close proximity, challenging the careful distance they've maintained since their teenage years. As work on the cottage progresses, Darcy grapples with her heart condition, her relationship with her twin, and her determination to claim something entirely for herself. The story explores family ties, loyalty, and the courage required to pursue genuine connection. The novel examines themes of ownership - both of property and people - while questioning whether true love can exist without complete freedom. Through the renovation metaphor, it considers how people rebuild themselves and their relationships.

Readers found this romance less compelling than Thorne's debut novel "The Hating Game." Many felt the main character Darcy was too aggressive and unlikeable, with one Goodreads reviewer noting she came across as "possessive and creepy" toward Tom. Positive reviews praised: - The emotional depth of family relationships - The renovation storyline - Tom's character development - The steamy scenes - The witty dialogue Common criticisms: - Darcy's obsessive behavior - Lack of chemistry between leads - Confusing timeline jumps - Slow middle section - Overuse of internal monologue Ratings: Goodreads: 3.5/5 (89,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4/5 (2,800+ reviews) BookBub: 3.8/5 (2,400+ ratings) Multiple readers mentioned dropping the book partway through, citing Darcy's personality as the main reason. One Amazon reviewer stated: "I wanted to love this as much as The Hating Game but the toxic relationship dynamics made it impossible."

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🌟 Before becoming a novelist, Sally Thorne worked as a medical writer and as a digital design specialist in Canberra, Australia. 💝 The book explores themes of chronic illness through the main character Darcy, who has a heart condition – something rarely addressed in contemporary romance novels. 🏗️ Tom Valeska, the male protagonist, runs his own renovation company – a detail inspired by the author's experience with home renovations and her fascination with property transformation shows. 📚 "99 Percent Mine" was Thorne's highly anticipated second novel, following the massive success of her debut "The Hating Game," which was later adapted into a movie. 🎨 The original cover design features a minimalist illustration style that became trendy in romance novels, helping establish a visual trend in the genre's marketing.