Livia Blackburne - Clementine and Danny Save The World

 

Livia Blackburne - Clementine and Danny Save The World 

4⭐

Genre: YA, Romance, Contemporary, Fiction, Contemporary Romance 

Format: Paperback Proof 

Publisher:  Harper360YA

Date Published: 18th July 2023

Huge thank you to Harper360YA for sending me a copy of this book. 

 

Book Blurb: 

You’ve Got Mail gets a YA twist in this rom-com that spotlights the power of activism and community organizing in the face of gentrification.

Clementine Chan believes in the power of the written word. Under the pseudonym Hibiscus, she runs a popular blog reviewing tea shops and discussing larger issues within her Chinatown community. She has a loyal, kind following, save for this one sour grape named BobaBoy888.

Danny Mok is allergic to change, and the gentrification seeping into Chinatown breaks his heart. He channels his frustration into his internet alter ego, BobaBoy888, bickering with local blogger Hibiscus over all things Chinatown and tea.

When a major corporation reveals plans that threaten to shut down the Mok’s beloved tea shop, Clementine and Danny find themselves working together in real life to save this community they both love. But as they fall hard for this cause—and each other—they have no clue that their online personas have been fighting for years.

When the truth comes to light, can Danny and Clementine still find their happily-ever-after?

My Review: 

Although it took me a while to get into this book, it was so good and cute. It had such a great set of multidimensional characters, and excellent plotlines, as well as discussed so many important issues, such as activism, minority groups, gentrification, class, identity and community, to name a few. It is a YA book, but has so much depth and even some romance (enemies-to-lovers, which is my favourite). Honestly, super glad I read this book!

The story follows Clementine and Danny, who both are enemies on the internet but become friends in real life. Clementine doesn’t know that Danny is the person who keeps commenting negative things on her blog and Danny doesn’t know that the girl who runs a blog that he despises is Clementine. The Chinatown they live in is threatened by gentrification and by big corporations moving in and buying all the smaller businesses to open a big shopping complex. Because of this both Clementine and Danny become friends, and they start community movements against gentrification and to save their favourite place in the world. During that time, they also slowly fall in love with each other and learn a lot about themselves…Will the effort that they put into saving their community and building their friendship be ruined by the truth about Clementine and Danny’s alter egos online?

I loved how raw and realistic this book is, it delves deep into the experiences of two Chinese-American teenagers, their culture, upbringing, opinions, thoughts and community spirit. They both have different reasons why they want to save their community but despite those differences, they ignite a very strong friendship and start amazing movement for a positive change. Both Clementine and Danny grew up so much during this book, even though from the very beginning they were so well fleshed out. I was rooting for them both, in their romance and their activism. I also adored how this book shows that teens can make a change and that their voices can be heard, especially if they are from minority groups. I feel that more of these themes and conversations need to happen in YA books. I loved the romance too, and enjoyed that it didn’t take the main stage but was perfectly intertwined with the main storyline and message of this story.

Overall: Amazing set of characters, excellent plot, great discussion of important topics and course cute enemies to lovers and grumpy x sunshine romance all in one. One of the best YA books I have read this year!

 

About the Author:

New York Times bestselling author Livia Blackburne wrote her first novel while researching the neuroscience of reading at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Since then, she’s switched to full-time writing, which also involves getting into people’s heads but without the help of a 3 Tesla MRI scanner.

She is also the author of MIDNIGHT THIEF (an Indies Introduce New Voices selection), DAUGHTER OF DUSK, and ROSEMARKED (an Amazon best book of the month and YALSA Teens Top Ten Nominee).

www.liviablackburne.com 

B.K. Borison - In the Weeds (Lovelight #2)

 

B.K. Borison - In the Weeds (Lovelight #2)

5⭐

Genre: Romance, Contemporary Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Holiday Reading 

Pages: 334

Format: Paperback

Publisher: PanMacmillan

Date Published: 6th August 2023

Book Blurb: 

Evelyn St. James isn’t the kind of woman you forget.

Beckett Porter certainly hasn’t. One incredible weekend in Maine, and he’s officially a man distracted. He’s not unfamiliar with hot and heavy flings. He knows how it goes. But Evie wove some sort of magic over him during their tumble in the sheets. He can’t stop thinking about her laugh. Her hand pressed flat against his chest. Her smiling mouth at his neck.

Also, her eyes. And her legs.

So when she suddenly appears on his farm as part of a social media contest, he is … confused. He had no idea that the sweet and sexy woman he met at a bar is actually a global phenomenon: social media influencer Evelyn St. James. When she disappears again, Beckett resolves to finally forget her and move on.

But Evelyn St. James has a problem.

Feeling disconnected from her work and increasingly unhappy, she’s trying to find her way back to something real. She returns to the last place she was happy, Lovelight Farms and the tiny town of Inglewild.

It has absolutely nothing to do with the hot farmer she spent two incredible nights with.

Nothing at all.

In The Weeds is a sweet and steamy second-chance romance about finding your happiness. It features a grumpy farmer, a no-nonsense social media influencer, a small town of busybodies, and four very cute kittens. In The Weeds is a standalone romance and is part of the Lovelight series.

My Review: 

Ok, so Lovelight Farms was such a cute romance, but In the Weeds was amazing! One of my favourite romances this year, without a doubt. The writing was brilliant, the characters were adorable, and the romance and angst were so good. Honestly, The Lovelight Farms series is slowly but surely becoming my favourite romance series and I still have two books to go. I’m not usually a fan of small-town romances but In The Weeds has such an amazing atmosphere and it feels like you can read this book during any season, but definitely during cosy Autumn.

The book follows Beckett, whose broody and grumpy demeanour is softened after he awkwardly runs into Evie, who was his one-night stand and who he can’t seem to get out of his mind. Evie comes to the town where Lovelight Farm is to escape her anxieties and take time off from her busy life as a social media influencer. However, the break she can’t seem to get is Beckett, whom she might have a soft spot for…

Both Beckett and Evie are so cute, with so much chemistry and angst. Beckett is so grumpy and Evie is definitely a ray of sunshine but they work so well together. Their romance and getting to know each other is just perfection. The book is also written in dual POV, which adds substance to the story. I also love how we get to see all the characters featured in the first book and learn more about the town dynamics and different families. I honestly feel so invested in this series. My only complaint about this book is that it wasn’t longer and that I finished it so quickly as it was so addictive.

Overall: Love it love it love it! One of my favourite romance books this year. Amazing set of characters, an adorable setting, amazing romance and brilliantly addictive writing. Honestly, if you want cute, cosy and adorable grumpy x sunshine romance to read, In the Weeds is it! Now onto Mixed Signals! 

About the Author:

B.K. Borison lives in Baltimore with her sweet husband, vivacious toddler, and giant dog. She started writing in the margins of books when she was in middle school and hasn’t stopped.

https://www.instagram.com/authorbkborison/

Cynthia Hand - Nezemiskoji (Nezemiskoji #1)

Cynthia Hand - Nezemiskoji (Nezemiskoji #1) 

5⭐

Genre: YA, Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance, Contemporary Romance, Books Series, Supernatural 

Original Title: Unearthly 

Original Language: English 

Translated by: Aurelija Kuzbariene 

Pages: 400

Format: Paperback

Publisher: Alma Littera 

Date Published: 1st June 2012

 

Book Blurb: 

In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees...
Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn't easy.

Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place and out of place at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side.

As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?

Unearthly is a moving tale of love and fate, and the struggle between following the rules and following your heart.

My Review: 

Ok, so the Unearthly book series were my favourite when I was a teen… In 2013 I was obsessed with this book and I probably read it like 10 times if not more. So, I thought it was time to put my nostalgic cap on and re-read it again, just to see if after nearly 10 years I still like it as much as I did before. Honestly speaking, I did like it a lot, maybe not as much as I used before, but for me, it is still a solid 5-star book and one of the best paranormal/fantasy YA series about angels and demons.

In this first book, we meet Clara, who recently learned from her mother that she is a part angel. Her angel blood allows her to have special powers, but at the same time as an angel, she has a purpose, a task, that she needs to complete. However, figuring out what that task is, is not easy. There are no instructions or manuals on how to be an angel. Thus, Clara must figure it out herself, whilst seeing visions of a mysterious guy in a forest fire. This leads her to a small town where she meets a guy from her vision. Yet, it's not as simple as it seems, Clara will have to face dangers, lies, drama, and deceit in order to figure out her own purpose and task, and how the mysterious guy is related to all of it.

I loved how easy to read this book was. I also loved that the romance part of the book isn’t presented until more than halfway through the book, which allows readers to get to know Clara, her powers and her family better. I felt that the main characters of this book were very well presented and developed from the get-go of this book. I really liked Clara, as although, she is smarter and stronger than everyone else, she also doesn’t shy from her flaws and is very humble. Additionally, I liked the mystery effect of not telling the readers much about the angels and their purpose on Earth at the start of the book, but slowly revealing crumbs and bits of information throughout the book.

Overall: Still one of my favourite books/series from my teen years, and I can’t wait to reread the other two books in this series. It was such a nostalgic read. 

About the Author:

Cynthia Hand is the New York Times bestselling author of several books for teens, including the UNEARTHLY trilogy, THE LAST TIME WE SAY GOODBYE, MY LADY JANE, MY PLAIN JANE, MY CALAMITY JANE, MY CONTRARY MARY, and MY IMAGINARY MARY (with fellow authors Brodi Ashton and Jodi Meadows), THE AFTERLIFE OF HOLLY CHASE, THE HOW AND THE WHY, WITH YOU ALL THE WAY, and the upcoming TIMELESS and MY SALTY MARY (also with Ashton and Meadows). Before turning to writing for young adults, she studied literary fiction and earned both an M.F.A. and a Ph.D. in fiction writing. She currently resides in Boise, Idaho, with her husband, two cats, one crazy dog, two kids, and mountain of books.

http://www.cynthiahandbooks.com/

Ella Maise - To Love Jason Thorn (Love and Hate #1)

 

Ella Maise - To Love Jason Thorn (Love and Hate #1) 

3 ⭐

Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Fiction

Time: 11h 20mins

Narrator:  Alexander Cendese and Lidia Dornet 

Format: Audio 

Publisher:  Tantor Audio/ Audible 

Date Published: 3rd December 2015

 

Book Blurb: 

Jason Thorn… My brother’s childhood friend.

Oh, how stupidly in love with that boy I was. He was the first boy that made me blush, my first official crush. Sounds beautiful so far, right? That excitement that bubbles up inside you, those famous butterflies you feel for the very first time—he was the reason for them all. But, you only get to live in that fairytale world until they crush your hopes and dreams and then stomp on your heart for good measure. And boy did he crush my little heart into pieces.

After the stomping part he became the boy I did my best to stay away from—and let me tell you, it was pretty hard to do when he slept in the room right across from mine.

When tragedy struck his family and they moved away, I was ready to forget he ever existed.

Now he is a movie star, the one who makes women of all ages go into a screaming frenzy, the one who makes everyone swoon with that dimpled smile of his. Do you think that’s dreamy? I certainly don’t think so. How about me coming face to face with him? Nope still not dreamy. Not when I can’t even manage to look him in the eye.

Me? I’m Olive, a new writer. Actually, I’m THE writer of the book that inspired the movie he is about to star in on the big screen. As of late, I am also referred to as the oh-so-very-lucky girl who is about to become the wife of Jason Thorn.

Maybe you’re thinking yet again that this is all so dreamy? Nope, nothing dreamy going on here. Not even close.

My Review: 

So again, unpopular opinion, but this romance was so average. After listening to The Hardest Fall by Ella Maise I had such high hopes for this book, but those were chattered about halfway through this book. Don’t get me wrong I loved the premise of this book and for about 40% of this book, I actually thought it was going to be a 5-star read, but not after that. After those 40%, it turned into a smut book, without any character progression or interesting plotline. I can’t believe that most of the second half of the book was smut scenes that were so repetitive and cheesy, I had to listen to them on 2x speed, just so I don’t fall asleep.

The book follows Olive who since she was a little girl, was in love with her brother's best friend and next-door neighbour Jason. Jason never seemed to feel the same way about Olive and only saw her as his best friend's younger sister. Now more than ten years later, Olive is a popular indie author, with her debut book smashing all the book charts. Her book is now going to be made into a film, but who is going to play the lead in it…None other than Jason...Yes, the same Jason that Olive loved since she was a kid and the same Jason her book is based on. He is now a hotshot Hollywood star, who has a very questionable personal life. To make Jason look good, his management team decides that he needs to marry someone and that someone should be Olive, since the story of long lost and now found love will bring Jason back to his limelight!

I wanted this love story to be deeper, as it had so much potential and premise to do so. It was heading that way until the book turned into smut galore and then all I could feel that these characters had towards each other was lust. This was especially apparent when in every other sentence Jason mentioned how hot Olives' bum and breasts were. Seriously!? It didn’t feel at all that they were in love. There wasn’t any character development or progression in this book either. It all just felt a bit anticlimactic to me. I just couldn’t connect to any of the characters in this book, nor root for them.

Also, this book had friends-to-lovers, fake dating, marriage of convenience, and brother’s best friend tropes all merged into one story. It was just too much! I wish Ella Maise just chose one and went with it because too many tropes made this book so confusing and with less developed plotlines and characters.

Overall: Very average romance book that wanted to be all, but fell flat. Too much smut and cheese yet not enough plot progression, drama or character development. Had such high hopes for this, but was so disappointed. Hopefully To Hate Adam Connor is going to be much better.

About the Author:

Writing has become my world and I can’t imagine myself doing anything other than giving life to new characters and new stories. You know how some things simply makes your heart burst with happiness? A really good book, a puppy, hugging someone you’ve been missing like crazy? That’s what writing does to me. And all the hard work, all the sleepless nights, all the anxiety…everything is worth it at the end. And I'm hoping that reading my books will leave you with that same happy feeling.

http:/www.ellamaise.com

Mike Gayle - A Song of Me and You

 

Mike Gayle - A Song of Me and You 

5⭐

Genre: Romance, Contemporary Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Fiction 

Pages: 350

Format: Digital (Kindle) Netgalley 

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton 

Date Published: 6th July 2023

Book Blurb: 

Helen and Ben parted as heartbroken 18-year-olds and went their very separate ways.

Twenty years later, mother-of-two-teenagers Helen is still in Manchester, a part-time primary teacher, stunned by the behaviour of her love-rat husband. In an old T-shirt and scruffy jeans, she feels at the lowest point in her life.

And suddenly, impossibly, Ben is standing on her doorstep. Tired maybe, lonely even, but clearly still the world-famous, LA-based multi-millionaire rockstar he has become.

Can you ever go back?

For Helen and Ben, so much has happened in the years between. But just to sit in the kitchen for a while and talk - that would be nice.

Before the world comes crashing in.

Friendship, love, heartache and hope collide in this unforgettable emotional journey, from the author of Half A World Away.

My Review: 

Mike Gayle did it again! Another amazing read! This book played with my heartstrings so much, but at the same time, I adored every word that I read. Such beautiful writing, an excellent storyline, and an ending that I didn’t see coming…

The book follows Helen who is a teacher living in Manchester. She has two kids and a crumbling down marriage. Ben on the other hand is a famous musician, who is struggling with his fame and wants to get away from it. Ben and Helen also share some history, they dated almost 20 years ago just as Ben slowly rose to fame. However, they haven’t seen each other in 20 years, not until Ben knocks on Helen's door one day…Will they help each other to find the answers they both are searching for?

Loved how three-dimensional all of the characters in this book are. I adored Helen, as she is so nice and caring, but sadly whole life that she built for herself and her family, is crumbling down. She deserved better. Ben is a lost soul and he realises that he doesn’t have anyone to help him but Helen, as Helen believed in him and was there for him from the very start. I loved how the author portrayed Ben not as a rich and stuck-up musician, but as a real human with flaws and surrounded by loneliness despite the great fame he is living in.

Nothing in this book was sugar-coated. It is raw, full of harsh realities of life, and heartbreak, but it also has brilliant and heart-warming moments of love, support and care. All of this made me feel like I am reading about real people and their real lives.

The ending! OMG! I was not prepared for it…It shocked me as I wasn’t expecting it at all, but at the same time I wanted more closure, and the last chapter to be just a tad longer.

Overall: Another sad, heart-wrenching, and emotional story from Mike Gayle that also has so much warmth and love. I loved it so much and will be recommending this to everyone! Can’t wait to read more from Mike Gayle (hopefully) soon! 

This review was first published on NetGalley: 

https://www.netgalley.co.uk/book/283507/review/959200

About the Author:

Mike Gayle was born and raised in Birmingham. After graduating from Salford University with a degree in Sociology Mike moved to London with ambitions of becoming a music journalist. This didn't happen however and following a slight detour in his five-year plan he ended up as an agony uncle for teenage girls' magazine Bliss before becoming Features Editor on the now much-missed Just Seventeen. Since those early days, Mike has written for a variety of publications including The Sunday Times, The Guardian and Cosmopolitan.

Mike became a full-time novelist in 1997 following the publication of his Sunday Times top ten bestseller My Legendary Girlfriend, which was hailed by The Independent as 'Full of belly laughs and painfully acute observations,' and by The Times as 'A funny, frank account of a hopeless romantic.'

To date, Mike is the author of twelve novels including Mr Commitment, Turning Thirty and Wish You Were Here. His books have been translated into over thirty languages.

http://www.mikegayle.co.uk/

B.K. Borison - Lovelight Farms (Lovelight Farms #1)

B.K. Borison - Lovelight Farms (Lovelight #1) 

4⭐

Genre: Romance, Contemporary Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Holiday Reading 

Pages: 348

Format: Digital (Kindle) Netgalley 

Publisher: PanMacmillan

Date Published: 1st March 2023

Book Blurb: 

A handsome, freckled data analyst.

A messy, optimistic Christmas tree farm owner.

A small town with the best hazelnut lattes on the east coast.

Lovelight Farms is a wholesome rom-com featuring a handsome, freckled data analyst, a messy, optimistic Christmas tree farm owner, and a small town with the best hazelnut lattes on the east coast. This sweet and steamy romance, by B. K. Borison, is a holiday happily-ever-after for fans of Tessa Bailey and Hannah Grace.

In an effort to save the Christmas tree farm she’s loved since she was a child, Stella enters a contest with insta-famous influencer Evelyn St. James. With the added publicity and the huge cash prize, she might just be able to save the farm from its financial woes. There’s just one problem. To make the farm seem like a romantic destination for the holidays, she lied on the application and said that she owns Lovelight Farms with her boyfriend. Only . . . there is no boyfriend.

Enter best friend Luka Peters. He just came home for some hot chocolate, and somehow got a farm and a serious relationship in the process. Will their fake love affair save Lovelight Farms in time for Christmas?

My Review: 

What I loved about this book is the autumn and winter setting on a farm. Dream! Also, so cosy! I felt all the cosy autumn and winter vibes whilst reading this, well in the middle of summer…but is the feeling that counts, right?

So, this story is friends to lovers trope, and whilst it's not my favourite, I enjoy books featuring it. In this story, we follow Stella, who owns a Christmas Tree Farm with two of her best friends/co-workers. However, the farm is struggling financially, so Stella decides to apply for this online influencer competition, in which, if selected, a farm can win quite a lot of money. That’s not the last of Stella’s worries though. She also puts on the application form that she owns this farm with her boyfriend, to make it look more romantic. Yet, yes you guessed it! Stella doesn’t have a boyfriend, but what she has is her best friend Luke… In her mind Luke could pretend to be her boyfriend just for a few weeks until the competition is over…but as we know it, sometimes things like that can be a slippery slope…

I read this book in one sitting! One sitting! That’s how cosy and easy to read it was. I loved B.K. Borison’s writing, her scene setting and descriptions of characters and cosy autumn/winter on the farm. Now I want to have my own Lovelight Farm.

I enjoyed Luke’s character. He is such an excellent friend, but also so caring and kind. Stella, however, did drive me nuts sometimes (a few times), especially when it was so obvious that she and Luke are more than friends. Side characters are also just my cup of hot chocolate (a.k.a Beckett), and I can’t wait to read his book! This book also has quite a few emotional and quite a spicy scenes, which were a top-notch.

The only thing that frustrated me with this book was how obvious was to everyone that the two main characters have feelings for each other, but both main characters were too naïve to figure that out. Other than that, I adored and devoured this cosy and sweet romance.

Overall: If you love cosy romances, romantic autumn and winter setting, beautiful writing, and a book that you can devour in no time, then Lovelight Farms is the book for you! I adored it and can’t wait to read book two! Oh, and now B.K. Borison is one of my favourite authors, just FYI. 

This review was first published on NetGalley: 

https://www.netgalley.co.uk/book/283316/review/959200

About the Author:

B.K. Borison lives in Baltimore with her sweet husband, vivacious toddler, and giant dog. She started writing in the margins of books when she was in middle school and hasn’t stopped.

https://www.instagram.com/authorbkborison/

Elle Kennedy - Say Yes

 

4⭐

Genre: Romance, Contemporary Fiction, Novella, Short Story, Fiction, Contemporary Romance

Time: 1h 32mins 

Narrator:  Stella Bloom 

Format: Audio 

Publisher: Audible Studios 

Date Published: 9th November 2021

Book Blurb: 

Maid-of-honor Emilia is looking for some stress-busting fun the night before her best friend’s wedding. And what’s more fun than a no-strings hook-up? Good thing there’s an app for that, and she’s in luck—the sexy stud she swipes right on is more than happy to fulfill all her sexual needs. Her hot night with “Dirk” is everything she knew it would be.

But this morning?

He looks a hell of a lot like the groom.

My Review: 

My first ever Elle Kennedy book/novella and I actually really enjoyed listening to it. The plot twist in this got me and I didn’t expect it at all. It was a very entertaining story; I just wished it was longer. There were some hilarious and funny moments, as well as some smut (as expected).

The story follows Emilia who has been asked to be a maid of honour by her friend Marcey who she hasn’t seen in years. Emilia agrees, but just before the wedding rehearsal, she sleeps with a stranger. No strings attached one-night stand. However, the next morning Emilia sees him right beside Marcey, as he is the groom…

Overall: Very well paced, with quite a lot of smut, and at times super funny. I wish there was a dual POV but even without it, the book was rather fun. I just really wanted it to be longer so that the romance between Emilia and her one-night stand/groom was less instant-love. It definitely got me hooked from the very first chapter and I loved every minute of it. 

About the Author:

A New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Elle Kennedy grew up in the suburbs of Toronto, Ontario, and holds a B.A. in English from York University. From an early age, she knew she wanted to be a writer, and actively began pursuing that dream when she was a teenager.

Elle currently writes for various publishers. She loves strong heroines and sexy alpha heroes, and just enough heat and danger to keep things interesting!

http://ellekennedy.com/

Ali Hazelwood - Love, Theoretically

 

Ali Hazelwood - Love, Theoretically 

4⭐

Genre: Contemporary Romance,Romance, Fiction,STEM,Academia

Pages: 389

Format: Paperback 

Publisher: Sphere

Date Published: 13th June 2023

Book Blurb: 

The many lives of theoretical physicist Elsie Hannaway have finally caught up with her. By day, she’s an adjunct professor, toiling away at grading labs and teaching thermodynamics in the hopes of landing tenure. By other day, Elsie makes up for her non-existent paycheck by offering her services as a fake girlfriend, tapping into her expertly honed people pleasing skills to embody whichever version of herself the client needs.

Honestly, it’s a pretty sweet gig—until her carefully constructed Elsie-verse comes crashing down. Because Jack Smith, the annoyingly attractive and broody older brother of her favorite client, turns out to be the cold-hearted experimental physicist who ruined her mentor’s career and undermined the reputation of theorists everywhere. And that same Jack who now sits on the hiring committee at MIT, right between Elsie and her dream job.

Elsie is prepared for an all-out war of scholarly sabotage but…those long, penetrating looks? Not having to be anything other than her true self when she’s with him? Will falling into an experimentalist’s orbit finally tempt her to put her most guarded theories on love into practice?

My Review: 

I love Ali Hazelwood’s writing and romances. There is no doubt about it. Yet, Love, Theoretically for me just wasn’t as good as her first two full-length books. Although I still loved the academic setting, the drama and the light that Hazelwood shines on misogyny and sexism in STEM when it comes to females, the romance itself for me was a real letdown.

The story follows theoretical physicist Elsie who is living two lives. She is an adjunct professor in two different universities, teaching graduates and hoping one day she can land a tenure. She also offers her services as a fake girlfriend on the online platform, just so she can pay her rent and bills. However, her best client’s older brother Jack Smith ruins her perfect double life when Elsie meets him during an interview at MIT, where she is hoping to get her dream job. Elsie’s hate for Jack doesn’t end there, he is an experimental physicist who ruined her supervisor's career and now is on a path to ruin Elsie's career too. Or so Elsie thought…

I didn’t like Elsie at all. She is not likeable. She pretends to be a version of herself that people want to see, thus it was hard to figure out who she really is. For someone who is also a Dr and theoretical physicist, she is also very naïve. I liked Jack as a character, he was more open than the male love interest in the other two Hazelwood books, so that was very interesting to read.

Romance-wise, I just didn’t buy it. She and Jack’s chemistry for me felt really forced and very instant. I didn’t believe their romantic story one bit, and honestly, I didn’t care that much about them both. I didn’t root for her like I did with Olive or Bee.

I enjoyed the Olive and Adam cameo, as well as the cheeky appearance of Bee’s name…It was so wholesome. Also, I really enjoyed the nature of academia being discussed during the book and all the drama that comes with it.

Overall: Not my favourite Ali’s book but still a very enjoyable read, academia and STEM wise mostly, instead of romance. However, I can’t wait to read Check & Mate, her first YA book and see what it’s like. 

About the Author:

Ali Hazelwood is the pseudonym for an Italian neuroscientist and writer of romance novels. Her main characters are women in a variety of different STEM fields and in academia. Her debut novel, The Love Hypothesis, was a New York Times best seller. In 2022 she has published three novellas: Under One Roof, Stuck with You, and Below Zero. Her second novel Love on the Brain was published on August 23, 2022.

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21098177.Ali_Hazelwood

Ella Maise - The Hardest Fall

 

Ella Maise - The Hardest Fall  

4 ⭐

Genre: Romance, Sports Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Fiction

Time: 11h 53mins

Narrator:  Alexander Cendese and Lidia Dornet 

Format: Audio 

Publisher:  Tantor Media/ Audible 

Date Published: 26th June 2018 

 

Book Blurb: 

The first time you meet someone, you make eye contact. You smile, say hello. Should be simple, if you’re anyone but me. The first time I met Dylan Reed, I found myself making eye contact with a different part of his body. You see, I’m very good at being shy, not to mention extremely well-versed in rambling nonsense and, unfortunately, rather highly skilled at making a fool of myself in front of a guy I’m attracted to.

At the time, I knew nothing about him and thought none of what I said would matter since I’d never speak to him again. Turns out, I was very wrong. He was the star wide receiver of the football team, one of the few players expected to make it into the NFL, and I ended up seeing him all over campus.
I might have also propositioned him, run away from him, attacked him with a cooking utensil…and…uh, maybe I shouldn’t tell you all of it. It’s pretty normal stuff, things you’d expect…from me. Eventually, the time came when I couldn’t hide anymore—not that he’d have let me even if I tried.
Before now, he never knew I was secretly watching him. Now that we see each other every day, he knows when I have a hard time looking away. It doesn’t help that I’m not the most subtle person in the world either.

He smiles at me and tells me he finds me fascinating because of my quirks. I can’t even tell him that I think my heart beats differently whenever he’s around.

He thinks we’re going to be best friends. I think I have a big thing for him, and the more I get to know him, the more I don’t care that I’m not allowed to be his friend, let alone fall for him.

The thing is, that’s exactly what I’m doing—what we’re doing, I think.

Falling.

Hard.

My Review: 

Slow burn, but a very cute romance that I loved so much. I don’t usually like slow-burn romances that much, yet this one just worked. There were quite a few scenes and chapters, however, that could have been cut out and the story would have been just as good. Those chapters didn’t add much to the story anyways. This is one of the few romance books where I really saw the connection and chemistry between the two main characters.

Zoe liked Dylan since the awkward interaction with him during her first year of university. Dylan, the hot hockey player, can’t seem to forget Zoe either, even though he doesn’t know her name. Then one day they both end up bumping into each other and end up living with each other. Their connection cannot be ignored, but whether it is the right time to catch deeper feelings for each other.

Both Dylan and Zoe were so well developed and they grew so much during the book. Their friendship was steady and their relationship progressed at a very believable pace. It wasn’t too quick or too slow. There were also other important topics explored, such as family relationships, career prospects, and friendships. All of that just added substance to this book and made it a great read. There was also a bit of smut, but not too over the top.

Overall: Great romance, with such likeable characters and believable chemistry. I liked how well each of the characters was developed. 

About the Author:

Writing has become my world and I can’t imagine myself doing anything other than giving life to new characters and new stories. You know how some things simply makes your heart burst with happiness? A really good book, a puppy, hugging someone you’ve been missing like crazy? That’s what writing does to me. And all the hard work, all the sleepless nights, all the anxiety…everything is worth it at the end. And I'm hoping that reading my books will leave you with that same happy feeling.

http:/www.ellamaise.com

Laura Jane Williams - Lovestruck

Laura Jane Williams - Lovestruck

4⭐

Genre: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Fiction, Contemporary Fiction

Pages: 430

Format: Paperback Proof 

Publisher: Penguin Random House 

Date Published: 8th June 2023

Huge thank you to Penguin Random House for sending me this book to read and review. 

Book Blurb: 

This isn't one love story. It's two.

Becca Calloway is calling it: she's ready for Mr Right, and she's ready now.

She even goes as far as to hold a manifestation ceremony for him - and when she receives a text from her ex five minutes later, she knows it's a sign.

The problem is, she doesn't know which way it's pointing...

Should Becca reply and reignite things with her old flame Mike? Or delete and block, moving forward with the new man in her life?

Becca has one choice, with two ways this could go. And in Lovestruck, you're about to see them both...

My Review: 

So, this was my first ever Laura Jane Williams book and although I really enjoyed it, at times it was too slow and too long for me. Also, I didn’t seem to care much for Becca’s happy ending either as the ending of this book really led me down. However, I enjoyed the writing style and short chapters, as well as the premise of the two timelines that happen due to one choice that Becca makes. The small crossovers and details in each of the timelines were also a very smart addition.

The book follows Becca who is in her mid-thirties and searching for Mr Right to settle down and start a family. She tries to manifest that for herself and suddenly she gets a text from her ex who she hasn’t heard from in six years. She needs to decide whether she replies to the message or not. Thus, we are immersed in two timelines. One follows Becca if she replies to the text and the second one shows us what would happen if she doesn’t reply to the message.

As much as I liked the premise of this book I just couldn’t connect with the characters. For me, they felt so two-dimensional, especially Becca, who although suppose to be in her thirties acts like she is in her early twenties. I also think I would have liked this book a lot more if all the characters, especially the two supporting characters, that later prove to be more important for the plot than not, were developed more.

Despite the enjoyable writing and scene setting, the ending for me was the biggest letdown.  I also didn’t feel any chemistry between Becca and her actual Mr Right and her Mr Right was a bit of a letdown with all of the 300+ pages of setting for Becca to finally find him. I didn’t like the ending because at least I as a reader, personally, didn’t get much information about the Mr Right during the whole book and only in the very end do we get to know more about him. It just felt a bit random.

Overall: I enjoyed the humorous elements and situations throughout the book, as those mixed with easy writing and good scene setting, kept me going. I think the characters could have been developed better as they felt very two-dimensional. Other than that, I really enjoyed the premise of the book as it was interesting and had so much potential. I will be giving Laura Jane Williams another chance as I  try reading her backlist.  

About the Author:

Laura Jane Williams (she/her) is known as the queen of the meet-cute. She is the author of seven romantic comedies, as well as the forthcoming enemies to lovers (August 2024). Laura is also the author of three works of non-fiction. The rights to Laura's international bestseller our stop have been sold for television, and her books have been translated into languages all over the world. She loves romance, being a parent, and lifting very heavy weights.

https://www.laurajaneauthor.com/

Taylor Jenkins Reid - Forever, Interrupted

 

Taylor Jenkins Reid - Forever, Interrupted

4⭐

Genre: Romance, Fiction, Contemporary Romance

Pages: 328

Format: Paperback

Publisher:  Simon & Schuster UK 

Date Published: 5th January 2023

 

Book Blurb: 

This heartrending debut novel weaves a beautiful love story with an homage to the redemptive power of female friendship.Elsie and Ben are average twenty-somethings, but this is not your average love story. It begins bright and promising: the newlywed couple is head over heels in love, having eloped six months after they met. But it all shatters in an instant; Ben out riding his bike, is hit by a truck—and dies on impact.


Elsie hears the sirens outside her apartment, but by the time she gets downstairs, his body has already been taken to the hospital. When she arrives, Elsie is greeted by an unexpected visitor—her mother-in-law, Susan, whom she has never met and who doesn’t even know she exists.


Both are seared with grief; Susan is still mourning the death of her own husband several years earlier, and the loss of her only son is almost too much to bear. The two women immediately sour on one another, fighting over what to do with Ben’s belongings and how to fulfill his wishes. But as time goes by, Susan and Elsie both realize that despite the terrible accident that brought them together, they are now the only family they have left.


Interweaving Elsie and Ben’s charmed romance with Elsie and Susan’s healing process, Forever, Interrupted will make you laugh, make you cry, and remind you that there’s more than one way to live happily ever after.

My Review: 

This is the very first TJR book, that also explores some very heavy topics, however, I still loved her writing and the way she made all the characters feel so real, 3 dimensional, humanly flawed, yet so relatable. I loved how TJR explored the raw truths of grief and losing someone you love. Although the love story itself felt a tiny bit unrealistic, I did enjoy the instant connection that Elsie and Ben had.

The story follows Elsie, whose husband Ben died just nine days after they got married. They only knew each other for 6 months and Ben never told his mum about Elsie. However, Elsie meets her mother-in-law in the hospital to which Ben was taken after his accident and both are surprised, lost and angry at each other. After Ben's funeral, we see both Elsie and Bens’s mum grieving, and healing, whilst learning more about each other and Ben.

I think the main message of this book for me was how different people deal with grief, and whether it is alright to grieve someone even if you only knew them for a little while. Also, the book explores whether you can truly fall in love with someone in such a short time as Elsie did with Ben. However, for me what I loved about this book is how imperfect each of the characters is and at the same time how their actions are so relatable and human.

Overall: It is not an easy book to read but it honestly made me laugh and cry and it was so relatable. I loved TJRs writing and making characters so 3 dimensional, so imperfect, so flawless and yet so human. 

About the Author:

Taylor Jenkins Reid is the New York Times bestselling author of Carrie Soto Is Back, Malibu Rising, Daisy Jones & The Six, and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, as well as four other novels. She lives in Los Angeles.

https://taylorjenkinsreid.com/