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claireroad's review against another edition
I tried so hard to like this book, but the way Ariana treats Kinsley is disgusting. She constantly checks Kinsley out and when Kinsley calls her on it and says she's uncomfortable, Ariana denies she was looking, says Kinsley isn't her type, and implies Kinsley is homophobic for thinking Ariana was checking her out. When we're in Ariana's head and she was literally doing that. This is an awful beginning to a relationship, and while I wanted to carry on and give them a chance, I genuinely couldn't. Apparently literally everyone in Kinsley's life is emotionally abusive, including Ariana, and I just want her to get away from them and explore LA while living her best life. Kinsley deserves better.
Also, whatever was up with Stevie, Ariana's best friend, was not cute. I didn't read far enough to be sure, but I imagine there's probably a scene where Kinsley forgives her for literally hurling abuse at the poor woman the first time they meet just because Ariana thinks Kinsley is hot and can't use her words about it.
All in all, the premise was cute but the execution was not there.
Also, whatever was up with Stevie, Ariana's best friend, was not cute. I didn't read far enough to be sure, but I imagine there's probably a scene where Kinsley forgives her for literally hurling abuse at the poor woman the first time they meet just because Ariana thinks Kinsley is hot and can't use her words about it.
All in all, the premise was cute but the execution was not there.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse
Moderate: Homophobia
rickosborne's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Young woman moves to L.A. for a job, finding herself sharing a literal mansion with 4 other young women who are all bonded, falls for one who is decidedly off-limits, and then has to navigate how risky that is in her precarious life.
I admit, I didn't expect to like this as much as I did. The toxic friend (Stevie) is almost a cartoon villain ... but at the same time serves to underline the empathy and love her friend Ari is capable of. And while the train wreck is obvious and inevitable, the whole-hearted worldview of Kinsley makes it just wonderful to read.
It's definitely high on angst, miscommunication, and hot/cold, so it's not going to be for everyone.
Rep: a side character (the MMC from the previous book) is non-verbal
Sex:two R-rated scenes
Tags: #Awakening #ConfrontingHomophobia #DualPOV #FamilyIssues #FearfulNeutralPair #FirstPersonPOV #FishOutOfWater #ForcedProximity #NuisanceEx #WorkplaceEthics
I admit, I didn't expect to like this as much as I did. The toxic friend (Stevie) is almost a cartoon villain ... but at the same time serves to underline the empathy and love her friend Ari is capable of. And while the train wreck is obvious and inevitable, the whole-hearted worldview of Kinsley makes it just wonderful to read.
It's definitely high on angst, miscommunication, and hot/cold, so it's not going to be for everyone.
Rep: a side character (the MMC from the previous book) is non-verbal
Sex:
Tags: #Awakening #ConfrontingHomophobia #DualPOV #FamilyIssues #FearfulNeutralPair #FirstPersonPOV #FishOutOfWater #ForcedProximity #NuisanceEx #WorkplaceEthics
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Gaslighting
readingwithlt's review
4.0
On Molly McAdams latest novel she has branched out and has wrote a story of 2 women falling in love. This isn’t normally a genre that I read but it’s Molly McAdams. The way she wrote it was beautifully done. Love is love.
Kinsley makes some major life changes and moves away from home to peruse her dream job. She spirals with anxiety and nerves a bit once she moves. Her new roommates don’t seem to like her, her family, her boyfriend, and her friends are being awful about her move. And on top of adjusting to the new big city and her support system not supporting her. She begins to have feelings for the only roommate that is nice to her. They also work together at the hospital.
Ariana can’t believe that she has these strong feelings she hasn’t experienced ever with new roommate and coworker. They battle many ups and downs and it doesn’t help that her best friend Stevie is being awful to her ever chance she can get. But they find their way and show that love is love no matter the ups and downs.
Kinsley makes some major life changes and moves away from home to peruse her dream job. She spirals with anxiety and nerves a bit once she moves. Her new roommates don’t seem to like her, her family, her boyfriend, and her friends are being awful about her move. And on top of adjusting to the new big city and her support system not supporting her. She begins to have feelings for the only roommate that is nice to her. They also work together at the hospital.
Ariana can’t believe that she has these strong feelings she hasn’t experienced ever with new roommate and coworker. They battle many ups and downs and it doesn’t help that her best friend Stevie is being awful to her ever chance she can get. But they find their way and show that love is love no matter the ups and downs.
onceupon_a_bookdream's review
3.0
{I received a digital arc for an honest review]
3.5/5⭐
Love is the second stand alone in the Secrets in L.A series by Molly McAdams. I haven't read the first book but after Hollis and Adam ((sigh my heart)) in this one it makes me want to go back and read the first book.
Kinsley moves to L.A. to work at the hospital of her dreams in the Labor & Delivery unit. She so excited by the move and tries to ignore the negativity from her family, friends, and long time boyfriend over it. She moves into a mansion with a group of girls and has an instant connection with Ariana. These feelings scare her and make her question everything she assumed about herself. Ariana is secure in who she is and has a rule to not start relationships with roommates, but she can't ignore Kinsley. It's always been just her and her best friend, but she can't imagine not having Kinsley in her life. They have to keep their relationship secret for many reasons, but in the end those reasons may destroy what they have built behind doors.
"What do you want?"
"Everything," I said without hesitation.
"Everything, as long as it's with you."
90 % of the content I read is Queer, so when I saw that one of my favorite MF romance writers was writing an FF romance, I was so excited. The intimacy scenes between Ariana and Kinsley are very well written and might have been my favorite parts of the book itself. They were passionate and came to life when they were together one on one. Whether they were being physically intimate or just getting to know each other, I really enjoyed them as a couple. It was outside their bubble that things fall apart pretty quickly for me.
I spent the first half of the book not being the biggest fan of Kinsley's actions, and the second half not being a fan of Arianas. Kinsley is figuring out her sexuality, so I expected indecision on her part, but she went hot and cold so often it was a bit too angsty for me. Then they seem to get to a good point in their relationship and Ariana is completely blind to Kinsley's feelings when it comes to her uncomfortably close relationship with her best friend Stevie. Yeah..Stevie is just the worst character and her “circumstances” in my opinion did not make up for her behavior, she was a b*tch and it wasn't cute. I'm not even going to get into Kinsley's horrendous hometown "friends and family" but they did give her a reason for her strong indecisiveness.
I enjoyed our main female leads for the most part, and I really loved how Kinsley stood up for her feelings and stood her ground at the end when it came to their relationship. The apologizes at the end that were due on both their parts were mature and satisfying. I could feel their connection from the start, but all the outside drama was just too much by the end. I felt like the drama overshadowed the emotion between them because it felt like they kept going in circles.
Love by Molly McAdams is an FF romance with high angst, lots of drama, passion, Sunday brunches, extra whipped cream and more than a few secrets.
Side note: It sounds from the synopsis that there is a love triangle and cheating in the book, but thankfully there isn't.
Trigger warning: dealing with the birth of a still born at the main character's job at labor & delivery
3.5/5⭐
Love is the second stand alone in the Secrets in L.A series by Molly McAdams. I haven't read the first book but after Hollis and Adam ((sigh my heart)) in this one it makes me want to go back and read the first book.
Kinsley moves to L.A. to work at the hospital of her dreams in the Labor & Delivery unit. She so excited by the move and tries to ignore the negativity from her family, friends, and long time boyfriend over it. She moves into a mansion with a group of girls and has an instant connection with Ariana. These feelings scare her and make her question everything she assumed about herself. Ariana is secure in who she is and has a rule to not start relationships with roommates, but she can't ignore Kinsley. It's always been just her and her best friend, but she can't imagine not having Kinsley in her life. They have to keep their relationship secret for many reasons, but in the end those reasons may destroy what they have built behind doors.
"What do you want?"
"Everything," I said without hesitation.
"Everything, as long as it's with you."
90 % of the content I read is Queer, so when I saw that one of my favorite MF romance writers was writing an FF romance, I was so excited. The intimacy scenes between Ariana and Kinsley are very well written and might have been my favorite parts of the book itself. They were passionate and came to life when they were together one on one. Whether they were being physically intimate or just getting to know each other, I really enjoyed them as a couple. It was outside their bubble that things fall apart pretty quickly for me.
I spent the first half of the book not being the biggest fan of Kinsley's actions, and the second half not being a fan of Arianas. Kinsley is figuring out her sexuality, so I expected indecision on her part, but she went hot and cold so often it was a bit too angsty for me. Then they seem to get to a good point in their relationship and Ariana is completely blind to Kinsley's feelings when it comes to her uncomfortably close relationship with her best friend Stevie. Yeah..Stevie is just the worst character and her “circumstances” in my opinion did not make up for her behavior, she was a b*tch and it wasn't cute. I'm not even going to get into Kinsley's horrendous hometown "friends and family" but they did give her a reason for her strong indecisiveness.
I enjoyed our main female leads for the most part, and I really loved how Kinsley stood up for her feelings and stood her ground at the end when it came to their relationship. The apologizes at the end that were due on both their parts were mature and satisfying. I could feel their connection from the start, but all the outside drama was just too much by the end. I felt like the drama overshadowed the emotion between them because it felt like they kept going in circles.
Love by Molly McAdams is an FF romance with high angst, lots of drama, passion, Sunday brunches, extra whipped cream and more than a few secrets.
Side note: It sounds from the synopsis that there is a love triangle and cheating in the book, but thankfully there isn't.
Trigger warning: dealing with the birth of a still born at the main character's job at labor & delivery
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