gosh, I really wanted to love this after being introduced to our hero, max, in the previous book in the series, fated. there, he was in love (or so hegosh, I really wanted to love this after being introduced to our hero, max, in the previous book in the series, fated. there, he was in love (or so he believed) with his best friend...but since she was destined for another, he had to wait for his moment, for his true leading lady.
sadly, the reality of wished fell short of its potential. the pacing of the romance between max and anna had a lot of stops and starts due to the inclusion of magical elements that were pretty poorly designed. thanks to a wish made by anna, the pair wake up one day to discover their lives have been altered, that they have been married for seven years. but because of this timeline change, their connection felt forced since previously, max barely paid anna an ounce of attention in the three years they were acquainted.
overall, I just wanted more for their love story. wished had some whimsy and charm, but failed to convince me these two were always meant to be. with novels that have magical realism elements, that is what I read them for, to feel as though the universe always had a plan for two individuals. the opposite happened here with it seeming as though fate's hand was forced by one character's misguided desire.
thanks to sarah ready and swift and lewis publishing for an ALC in exchange for an honest review....more
though ghosted remains my favorite in the series, fated is a lovely addition, focused on daniel's older sister, fiona, as she learns to let love and hthough ghosted remains my favorite in the series, fated is a lovely addition, focused on daniel's older sister, fiona, as she learns to let love and hope into her life again after being betrayed before.
3.5 ★
overworked and jaded, fiona is presented with a unique opportunity to chase the dreams she has yet to realize. during waking hours, she is a businesswoman, a single mother, a devoted sister and friend. but while she sleeps, equipped with a family heirloom, she is transported to a tropical aisle where she's married to a handsome, dedicated man and the couple share two children. though initially confused, fiona soon relishes the chance to learn lessons from the experience, to love a man she knows can't keep. fated is a romance unlike any other, including magical realism, time travel, and several potential love interests. however, it wasn't surprising to discover which gentleman earned her love given how incredible he was.
as we neared the conclusion though, some (crucial) elements of the plot got muddled. there was a lot thrown at the wall with only about half of it adequately explained. the book was also probably a hundred or so pages too long. if some scenes were removed or condensed, it would have improved the overall experience.
thanks to swift & lewis publishing and sarah ready for an eARC and ALC in exchange for an honest review. while enjoying this read, I switched back and forth between formats....more
this book was...strange. sadly, that feels like the most apt term to describe rules for second chances. thanks to a pretty cover, a promising synopsisthis book was...strange. sadly, that feels like the most apt term to describe rules for second chances. thanks to a pretty cover, a promising synopsis and a decent first half, I assumed this would receive a high rating by the end. sadly, the gaps in the story really started to grow bothersome by the 60% and grew hard to ignore.
2.5 ★
given the main trope of this book was "marriage in crisis", so much of its success relied upon whether or not the author could convince the audience that the love between tobin and liz was worth saving, that they were deserving each other. this is what I struggled with most. our main characters felt underdeveloped, especially tobin. it would have enhanced the story greatly if it were dual pov, rather than single. in addition to struggling to care about the main couple, what surrounded their journey was so busy and chaotic. there was far too much going on, almost to the point of confusion. grand scenarios lacked set up and description, resulting in having to reread several passages just to make sense of who, where, what, why.
while there was some interesting self-discovery navigated by liz that did some redeeming, I lacked investment in the couple's happy ending by the time the final conflict rolled around after my attention was spread thin across so many (mostly unnecessary) subplots. while rules for second chances had the bones for something good, the execution fell short.
thanks to st. martin's press and maggie north for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review....more
in a genre where lead characters tend to be in a particular age bracket, I appreciate cathy yardley's efforts to offer more variety and representationin a genre where lead characters tend to be in a particular age bracket, I appreciate cathy yardley's efforts to offer more variety and representation, crafting stories that can highlight different themes. willa and hudson, having been respectively widowed and divorced, forming a new connection looks different than it would for an individual in their twenties.
3.5 ★
a solid follow-up to role playing, do me a favor has a wonderful charm and tenderness to it, that small-town appeal that so many of us love and adore. set on an island in the pacific northwest, this is a story about reclaiming dreams and the importance of the family we choose.
both willa and hudson were the sweetest characters, deserving of the comfort they found in each other. since witnessing two good people find each other and fall in love doesn't get old, it was gratifying to invest in their low-stakes romance that resulted in personal growth for both parties. it was also quite cute to see how their friends and family, especially hudson's, championed their relationship.
with 20% remaining in my read, I hoped this would be a four-star read. however, the handling of the conclusion resulted in some bothersome pacing issues. there were so many developments packed into just a few chapters, events that should have been expanded rather than rushed through. that would probably be my only complaint.
thanks to montlake and cathy yardley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review....more
as a newbie to sarah adler, happy medium was the perfect introduction to her writing. this soft at its core, yet wacky tale brought a con woman, a lonas a newbie to sarah adler, happy medium was the perfect introduction to her writing. this soft at its core, yet wacky tale brought a con woman, a lonely farmer, and the resident ghost together and despite the potential for too many elements, the story soared.
thanks to a plot that was off to the races from the very first chapter, happy medium was incredibly readable. though our lead, gretchen acorn, had some questionable morals at times, her personal development was so satisfying. overcoming some hard lessons and insecurities gave way to the most beautiful love story and friendship with the men that came into her life, charlie and everett.
now, before I get to charlie, I just want to give everett, and the hoot he was, his gold star! left to haunt the farm for nearly a century due to a curse, everett was the very definition of a scene stealer. thanks to his wit and a childlike quality about it, there was never a dull moment when he was present. saved from his loneliness by gretchen's arrival, the pair forced such an endearing bond as they hoped to save charlie.
and finally, as a lover of the romance genre through and through, I get to discuss my favorite part of any book, the love story. our love interest, charlie waybill, is a humble guy, but his dedication to keeping to keeping the family farm in business has come at a cost. feeling isolated and skeptical, he has little patience for gretchen's story, that he'll die if he dares to leave the farm. luckily, true love ultimately prevails. trading truths for intimacy becomes a game of push and pull they play, resulting in a solid foundation to grow from.
happy medium was both wonderfully wholesome and a little unconventional, striking a lovely balance. there's little doubt that this is an author I'll keep my eyes on in the future.
thanks to berkley and sarah adler for this ARC in exchange for an honest review...more
considering sarah hogle's you deserve each other is one of my favorite romances ever, I swear I recommend it to anyone who will listen, my hopes were considering sarah hogle's you deserve each other is one of my favorite romances ever, I swear I recommend it to anyone who will listen, my hopes were high for old flames and new fortunes. no matter the premise, sarah's books are always infused with a touch and whimsy and wonder. her descriptive style painting such a vivid picture. and I am quickly learning that she has a knack for incredibly romantic, tear-inducing dialogue. her men always have me wishing they weren't fictional but happy for the ladies who get to have them.
*big sigh* it's fine...
men written by women, ya know?
ANYWHO — old flames and new fortunes makes for the perfect cozy and tender spring read, highlighting the second chance romance between alex and romina. once madly in love as teenagers, there's too much history to ignore when they finally each other again. in their charming small town, they manage to come back together in a natural way that gave both characters the time to settle into who they are now, rather than the partners they once were. made complete by lovely banter, far more spice than I expected, and a few surprises, ro and alex's love felt pure and intentional, leading to an incredibly satisfying payoff of their journey.
when an author fully commits to their chosen trope, it makes the story so easy to love. that's exactly what sarah hogle did here! she decided this would be a tale of reunited lovers, once torn apart and ran with it. there was tension and justifiable anger balanced out by lovely nostalgia. and though there is lots more I could discuss, I will refrain to avoid a major spoiler. just know that the last handful of chapters were emotional and domestic, the perfect bow on a happy ending years in the making.
thanks to g.p. putnam's sons and sarah hogle for this ARC in exchange for an honest review...more
to be perfectly transparent, this is one of the most confounding books I have ever read. as a lifetime lover of baseball (go mets, even though they stto be perfectly transparent, this is one of the most confounding books I have ever read. as a lifetime lover of baseball (go mets, even though they stink this year), it was so exciting to gain access to a sports romance centered around the sport. as we know, hockey romances are all the rage, it's nice to see other athletes get their due now and then.
3.5 ★
however, this is my warning to future readers: much of the plot of the art of catching feelings centers around a major miscommunication-slash-catfishing situation, one that is consciously continued by daphne and supported by some in her life. this presented a real moral dilemma for me as someone who hoped to root for chris and daphne. while the pair did share nice moments and I found the book engaging overall, it felt wrong to support their romance for much of the story because the foundation of it was a lie. though her intention was not to do wrong or harm chris, the length of time she allowed him to believe something negated that for me.
since this is the third alicia title I have read, I do believe to be a talented writer. it just feels unfortunate that this was the story chosen for this couple. when you are asked to turn a blind eye to the actions of one character to support a romance, it's tough to feel a true investment in their journey. having said all of that, the book was readable and well-written, so it didn't feel right to drop my rating too much.
thanks to berkley and alicia thompson for this eARC in exchange for an honest review....more
laura hankin, a new author to me, delivers an incredibly compelling read with one-star romance! spanning years and formative phases of life, the book laura hankin, a new author to me, delivers an incredibly compelling read with one-star romance! spanning years and formative phases of life, the book utilizes various third-person perspectives as the reader follows a group of friends as they navigate their messy, beautiful lives. love, friendship, the highs and lows of their careers...we journey through it all with these characters.
natalie and rob, first brought together by the relationship of their respective best friends, continue to cross paths over the following decade. in the years that follow, the pair can't help but partake in witty and snarky banter. each interaction becomes a game of chess for them. anticipating the other's next conversational move is both thrilling and frustrating. whether they can ever get on the same page is half the battle.
overall, one-star romance truly felt like a labor of love, like a story that was rooted in its purpose. while reading, it became clear that laura had an intentional goal when she began writing this book – to convey the patience and grace we should give ourselves (and others) as life changes and evolves, making us new, shinier versions of ourselves, strengthened by lessons learned. a perfect of such being natalie, our lead here. before she knew to anticipate it, the future she pictured shifted beneath her feet, leaving her feeling unsteady and scared. though it was hard, what followed was a journey of discovery that enriched her life, bringing beautiful clarity she didn't know to hope for. alongside her, these characters, a found family of sorts, felt honest and relatable.
for those who enjoy flawed characters that find their people, find their place, over time, I would compel you to give one-star romance a chance. from the very start, this was such a pleasant surprise of a book, one that could easily be devoured in just one sitting. given how the events are sectioned off, you'll find it hard to put it down, craving to know more following the next time jump.
thanks to berkley and laura hankin for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review....more
for delilah baker and ian chase, it was always going to be them – it was just a matter of timing. in the game changer, these childhood friends fall fafor delilah baker and ian chase, it was always going to be them – it was just a matter of timing. in the game changer, these childhood friends fall fast in love and commit to the happy ending they deserve, no matter the hurdles.
when ian is traded back to boston's hockey team in need of a reputatiion repair and delilah's television production team desire a ratings boost, the circumstances align perfectly to get these lovebirds in a room, to really get the rumors flying. having grown up together thanks to ian being delilah's older brother's friend, old feelings resurface upon reintroduction and it is full steam ahead from there, pun intended. honestly, there were even moments where the game changer felt a bit like a second book in a series where the couple have settled in and look to work out the kinks that could keep them apart. while that insta-love aspect didn't impact my overall enjoyment much, it was a touch too fluffy at times. just a personal preference thing ultimately.
having also read lana ferguson's the fake mate, I have such appreciation for her versatile storytelling and the courage it must take to tackle plots on opposite sides of the romance genre. in this book, we get a hockey romance from an author whose last release was omegaverse centric. having to shift gears like that can't be an easy task. it's even more impressive to pull it off and delivered a low-stakes romance, full of heat and swoon. delilah and ian's dynamic felt effortless. readers on the hunt for a breezy read will be in good hands with this one.
thanks to berkley and lana ferguson for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review....more
another win from tessa! there's just something about her specific brand & style of writing that scratches an itch for me. filled with witty dialogue aanother win from tessa! there's just something about her specific brand & style of writing that scratches an itch for me. filled with witty dialogue and the perfect level of spice, fangirl down fully leaned into its wacky premise — fangirl nurses down-and-out athlete back to prominence — and it paid off. while I originally worried the premise would result in lots of cheesy moments, I was instead met by such a fun and delightful romance. given she was paired with a once-great hero in wells, josephine was a wonderful lead and impressive in her own right. her ability to cut through all of his doubt and bluster was truly a skill, a major stepping stone towards their happy ending.
there was a lot of satisfaction to see both characters getting what they needed to obtain peak fulfillment. wells and josephine's spark burned bright and never wavered. once they knew they wanted it to be them forever, the pair weren't deterred by the realistic hurdles that might stand in their way. lastly, the final chapter before the epilogue made me so emotional. getting to witness two lifetimes' worth of dreams and dedication result in an incredible accomplishment was wonderful. even if you're not a fan of golf, tessa may just change your mind with this read.
additionally, the quick snippet we got of the dynamics between burgess, tallulah and lissa was perfect. their book, the au pair affair, is next in the series, and if there's one thing I love, it's a single dad romance.
thanks to netgalley, avon / harper voyager and tessa bailey for this eARC in exchange for an honest review....more
clearly, the ritchie sisters have a fondness for crafting entire series around lovers who have known each other all their lives and I have no complainclearly, the ritchie sisters have a fondness for crafting entire series around lovers who have known each other all their lives and I have no complaints. similar to their famed lily and loren, phoebe and rocky have heaps of history and little idea of how to actually be together. as children of con artists, the pair are equipped with unconventional skills, complicating their undeniable connection. in dishonestly yours, the pair, alongside hailey, phoebe's best friend and rocky's sister, look to leave the world of conning behind following a job gone wrong. but when lying and scheming feels as natural as breathing, committing to a normal life won't be so easy.
honestly, before the 40% mark, I was a bit skeptical of this story. previous to that point, the premise felt a bit dramatic and hard to believe. the characters read younger than the advertised mid-20s, creating doubt in my mind that they could con with any success. but certain flashback chapters shifted my impression, showcasing just how capable they truly are, crafting dangerous operations and walking away with tons of money. as the pressure and tension heightened, as their families began to ask questions, I couldn't get enough of dishonestly yours. overall, this book serves as a quality start to a series I have high hopes for. not only is the cover gorgeous, but the twists and turns introduced in the closing chapters felt so thrilling. this is a messy tale that really hit its stride in the second half, centered around an unconventional romance. as distrust between our main characters, rocky and phoebe, and the people who taught them all they know, their parents, reaches a breaking point in the final pages, the stage is set for what will hopefully be an exciting next installment.
thanks to berkley and krista & becca ritchie for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review....more
As a huge, massive, gigantic fan of The Simple Wild by K.A. Tucker, the cover and synopsis for Fish Out of Water thrilled me! City girl x grumpy boy fAs a huge, massive, gigantic fan of The Simple Wild by K.A. Tucker, the cover and synopsis for Fish Out of Water thrilled me! City girl x grumpy boy forced together by unforeseen circumstances? Will always be all about it.
Set in mountainous Colorado, Fish Out of Water hits a lot of high notes as Dahlia sets off on a mission to rescue her sister with the help of the town recluse Winston. From the very first meeting, which happens only after she successfully evades the booby traps he designed to keep people out, the banter and chemistry between the pair was evident. The plot gets off to a quick start with this one. Sometimes, in cases like this, I find that the story can start to feel drawn out. But thanks to several exciting wildlife encounters, cold nights where each other became the only refuge, each chapter was a success.
And Winston was so lovely and unexpected! Though he started as a man of few words, his Dahlia drew all the best parts out of him. The care, humor, and vulnerability he came to display resulted in a believable connection though they only knew each other a little more than a week by the final page. Plus, as an added, spicy bonus, the guy blew his girl's mind! in a sleeping bag no less! with little to no experience! Readers in the mood for a romantic and mysterious winter read should keep their eyes on this release.
Thanks to NetGalley, Sourcebooks and Katie Ruggle for this eARC in exchange for an honest review....more
though I enjoyed fangirl down, the first book in this series, quite a bit more, the au pair affair was still an entertaining read. centered around burthough I enjoyed fangirl down, the first book in this series, quite a bit more, the au pair affair was still an entertaining read. centered around burgess and tallulah, an aging hockey player and single father and the spunky nanny he hires, the au pair affair is classic tessa — witty, steamy and fun. it was a nice touch to have burgess fall first and fast while his girl was more skeptical about a commitment given the substantial trauma she was grappling with. that push and pull resulted in a lot of appealing tension and heat. however, and this was something I could sense throughout most of the book, I was consistently left wanting more. this book was good, there is no denying that, but it could have been more, been better. the synopsis promised one thing and we sort of got another. this is marketed as an age-gap romance involving a sports figure and his daughter's nanny. and yet, we got just one hockey game and almost no instances where tallulah actually nannied lissa.
ultimately, this story was a good time. the romance was solid and the steam provided what it needed to. despite some of my small criticism, I did enjoy the au pair affair and will absolutely be tuning into book three. it is sure to be a wild ride given the teasers we got about the couple here.
thanks to avon and tessa bailey for an ARC in exchange for an honest review....more
first off, can we take a moment for the cover?! the background! the showcase of main characters that so perfectly depicts their dynamic! since this isfirst off, can we take a moment for the cover?! the background! the showcase of main characters that so perfectly depicts their dynamic! since this is a debut novel and I didn't have an prior knowledge of betty, the beauty of the cover grabbed my interest, a feeling matched once I read the synopsis.
3.5 ★
one last shot is a second chance romance between emerson and theo. once high school friends, they are now on opposing sides of the same industry. while emerson has achieved stardom as a supermodel, theo's career as a photographer doesn't necessarily fulfill him despite paying the bills. with italy as the setting for their reunion, feelings they've ignored for a decade resurface, demanding the pair communicate about their past. the happy ending they once didn't dare to dream could be on the other side of those hard conversations.
when celebrity romances are done well, it's one of my favorite tropes. there's just something about the public intrigue and luxurious lifestyles that paint such a pretty picture. in one last shot, the inclusion of past and present timelines, plus narration from both theo and emerson, really elevates the story. this is a great debut from betty cayouette. while some kinks could have been hammered out, it's a small complaint given how addictive I found the story. my intentions to only reach to a certain percentage were quickly dashed by my desire to continue, to know more. the flashbacks to their high school years being strategically placed throughout the reunion of present day was wise storytelling, making the reader invest in the couple's history.
thanks to st. martin's press and betty cayouette for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review....more
though I do not expect every book to reinvent the wheel, love and other conspiracies didn't offer enough excitement or development to maintain my intethough I do not expect every book to reinvent the wheel, love and other conspiracies didn't offer enough excitement or development to maintain my interest. the plot was promising but fell short as our main characters, hallie and hayden, spent more time discussing their conspiracy hunting than letting us the reader on the action. there was also an insufferable side character that played a main role in the progress of the main romance and the third-act conflict. his recurring presence served a purpose, of course, but I struggled not to be annoyed by the inclusion.
since love and other conspiracies is on the shorter side of things, I appreciated that the plot got off to a fast start, but hoped it would amount to more than it did. hayden was a sweetie pie of a love interest though, fawning over hallie almost from the beginning, supporting her through the path she needed to take for them to come back together. he was a true bright spot throughout.
thanks to berkley and mallory marlowe for an eARC in exchange for an honest review....more
will I ever get tired of seeing him look at me like that? how could I? does anyone ever get tired of being wanted? does anyone ever get tired of wantiwill I ever get tired of seeing him look at me like that? how could I? does anyone ever get tired of being wanted? does anyone ever get tired of wanting in return?
hi, it's me, cara bastone's new biggest fan! ready or not, a story she clearly poured her soul into, blew my every expectation out of the water and then some, rocketing them into space.
coming from someone who has only given four other books five stars this year, I mean every word when I say, this was a dream of a book. my heart is still soaring, my mind still reeling from the perfection of it all. when a read remind you of all you love about reading, that is a gift.
outside of the unfortunate need for sleep, I devoured this in essentially one sitting, consumed by eve's journey and the messy and magical found family she discovered along the way. and shep, my god shep, was something like a real-life prince charming! he was the guy who waited, the guy who stayed, an acts of service guy through and through. not only did he offer friendship and care to eve during one of the most complicated times of her life, but he offered something more – belief. thanks his unwavering faith, eve learned to trust her desires, her strength. she settled into her power and he gave that to her without ever asking for something for return. shep was a beacon of light through it all, leading her home, perfectly content to be her champion. their connection was so tender and smart and intimate. it makes me emotional if I think about them for too long.
he laughs and his eyes change shape and please, please, please can I have this moment forever? he was right. slow is good. I want it in such slow motion it becomes the rest of my life.
while ready or not is a soaring success from start to finish, its true shining moment comes in the third act, the third trimester if you will. in my mind, the final collection of chapters was essentially a masterpiece. finally, all of the most important relationships in eve's life merged in a heartwarming show of support and love. it was a special reminder of the fact that though there are times when we have to be our own fiercest soldiers, the people meant to love us will find a way. they find us and come to love and appreciate the people we value, forming a perfect little unit of comfort and home. those moments of connection are everything in a big scary world. eve, shep, ethan, willa, and isamu are an example of just that with a special mvp shoutout to nurse louise.
today, we'll all be brand-new together.
if this review was one giant ramble, I do apologize, but I didn't want to wait for this high to wear off to wrote a more eloquent one. remembering this feeling, this buzz of happy feelings is just what I hoped to capture.
thanks to netgalley, dial press and cara bastone for this eARC in exchange for an honest review....more
long story short, the rom-commers was bizarre. and that statement comes from a reader who gave katherine center's last two releases, the bodyguard andlong story short, the rom-commers was bizarre. and that statement comes from a reader who gave katherine center's last two releases, the bodyguard and hello stranger, five stars. unfortunately, the magic infused in those stories was missing here. the combination of the celebrity romance trope and forced proximity sounded promising, but ultimately, certain developments and unusual characterization led to disappointment.
after emma, our female lead, dropped her entire life to assist acclaimed screenwriter, charlie yates, with a failed script, the plot was quickly forgotten in favor of stunted conversation and time jumps that weren't needed. while the first third of the story was good, the wheels began to fall off after that. for much of the read, almost to the 95% mark if you can believe it, charlie felt like a huge question mark. he was tight-lipped about much of his past and resisted emma's advances at every chance. it was only in the final moments that the reasonings behind those behaviors were revealed, explanations that did not justify or convince me he was worthy of forgiveness.
the only factor that saved my rating was that I never wished to skim. it was readable. somehow, I blinked and the final chapter had ended and I could hardly make sense of all I had read. super bummed that this title didn't work for me, but realize you can't win them all.
thanks to st. martin's press and katherine center for this ARC in exchange for an honest review....more
a novel love story is a book lover's dream, a love letter to the connection shared between story and reader. sidetracked on a road trip, elsy merriweaa novel love story is a book lover's dream, a love letter to the connection shared between story and reader. sidetracked on a road trip, elsy merriweather winds up in the fictional town of her favorite unfinished series, one filled with lovable characters, even the grumpy bookshop owner, and cozy days.
once elsy moves past the shock of where she's ended up, her integration into the community is pretty seamless — she is welcomed by those who live there and explores eloraton with a childlike wonder, discovering the locations and plot points of the series she has held close to her heart for many years. at its core, a novel love story is a hopeful story, centered around a character that has lost her way and finds new meaning in the most unlikely place.
while the inclusion of flashbacks messed with the pacing a bit at the start, the quirky plot was engaging, each chapter presenting a new question for the audience — why can't elsy remember anders from pages of the books? where does he sneak off to each night? will the people of eloraton stories remain unfinished?
there's no denying ashley poston delivers some of the most unique plots in the romance genre. following the success of her previous two books, a novel love story truly felt like the story she's dreamed of telling since the beginning, the premise being a lovely crossroad between author and reader. the beauty of happily ever afters and friendship, the comfort a favorite read can provide are at the forefront. the picturesque setting soothed elsy as she worked to make sense of anders, her prickly landlord and quite the mysterious figure. though there is great push and pull between the two, the connection they ultimately form is both heartwarming and bittersweet. their relationship faced unique obstacles that resulted in the sweetest love declarations you've maybe ever heard.
while this isn't my favorite title from ashley, there was real magic weaved through the pages, making for a unique reading experience. at some point, we have all been elsy, adoring a story that felt anything but fictional to our souls.
thanks to berkley and ashley poston for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review....more
if sleep weren't necessary, not in love could have easily been devoured in one sitting. the palpable chemistry between our leads was just too rivetingif sleep weren't necessary, not in love could have easily been devoured in one sitting. the palpable chemistry between our leads was just too riveting to put down. continuing the streak of impressive releases from ali, this book consumed my life for two days. the woman's brain needs to be studied. perhaps her next STEM heroine could take on the task.
....what am I even talking about? anyway, back to the review...
4.5 ★
finally delivering the dual pov so many have been begging for since the love hypothesis, rue and eli were serving spice on a shiny, silver platter and I ate up every crumb. these two were horny, truly insatiable for each other. this is without a doubt hazelwood's spiciest contemporary romance book yet.
from the second chapter, the first from eli's perspective, his complete adoration of rue was evident. he was taken by the sight of her, by the possibility of her, despite their agreement being just one night. one night and they'd move on. luckily for us readers, the universe really didn't care about their cute little intentions because the night after their unconventional meeting, eli and his friends are introduced as the group that will be taking over over rue's beloved place of work. can you spell complicated?
still reeling from childhood trauma, rue just doesn't have the space in her life to let eli in the way he desires. while painful, she truly believes this arrangement is what's best for them. buttttt his goodness becomes a hard thing to resist, drawing her in despite her hesitance. as mentioned above, I flew through this book, captivated by the effortless dynamic they discovered. nothing had ever felt so right for either. something about the knowledge being concious and shared was was really charming and endearing. in many ways, love can be affirming and healing, something eli's presence alone provided rue. start to finish, it was a beautiful romance to witness.
thanks to berkley and ali hazelwood for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review....more
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