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3.97 AVERAGE
3.97 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Cute twists towards the end
challenging
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I know giving this book 1 star might sound harsh, but honestly? I should’ve DNF’d it. I wanted to so many times, but I kept hoping it would get better. Spoiler: it didn’t.
Let’s start with the characters. None of them were likable—none. Maybe Josephine’s friend. But everyone else? Stressful, weird, and just plain annoying. As a Black woman, I went into this hoping to read about Black love, something real, heartfelt, and affirming. What I got instead was a deeply frustrating mess.
Josephine (Jojo) irritated me from beginning to end. The audiobook narrator didn’t help—her voice made Jojo sound like a mean girl, which only made me like her less. And her constant back-and-forth between Malcolm and Ezra? Exhausting. One moment she’s ghosting Malcolm, the next she’s running back to Ezra. It was emotional whiplash.
And speaking of Ezra—sir, what is your problem? You suddenly realized you loved Jojo after she pulled back from you? After ten years of friendship and dating other women? That’s not romantic; that’s ridiculous. And Jojo falling for that? Girl, be serious.
Malcolm deserved better—way better. He had no business being with Josephine, and honestly, I don’t understand why he stayed.
Renata (Ezra’s mom)? Ma’am. Your man has cheated with half the city, and you’re staying with him? Spare us the “he loves everybody” nonsense. Just say it’s the money and go.
Then there’s the ending. Trash. That whole media scandal angle—where Jojo looks like she’s dating both guys—was beyond frustrating. And the whole plot thread about Josephine’s mom? Don’t bring up a fraught mother-daughter relationship if you’re not going to explore it properly. We got crumbs. Did she forgive her mother or not? Did they heal? What happened?
And that ending—with Josephine and Malcolm having kids? No. Just no. It felt rushed, forced, and completely unearned.
This book had the potential to be a celebration of Black love, but instead, it left me feeling annoyed and disappointed. It’s frustrating when a book is marketed as something empowering for the culture and then delivers…this.
Let’s start with the characters. None of them were likable—none. Maybe Josephine’s friend. But everyone else? Stressful, weird, and just plain annoying. As a Black woman, I went into this hoping to read about Black love, something real, heartfelt, and affirming. What I got instead was a deeply frustrating mess.
Josephine (Jojo) irritated me from beginning to end. The audiobook narrator didn’t help—her voice made Jojo sound like a mean girl, which only made me like her less. And her constant back-and-forth between Malcolm and Ezra? Exhausting. One moment she’s ghosting Malcolm, the next she’s running back to Ezra. It was emotional whiplash.
And speaking of Ezra—sir, what is your problem? You suddenly realized you loved Jojo after she pulled back from you? After ten years of friendship and dating other women? That’s not romantic; that’s ridiculous. And Jojo falling for that? Girl, be serious.
Malcolm deserved better—way better. He had no business being with Josephine, and honestly, I don’t understand why he stayed.
Renata (Ezra’s mom)? Ma’am. Your man has cheated with half the city, and you’re staying with him? Spare us the “he loves everybody” nonsense. Just say it’s the money and go.
Then there’s the ending. Trash. That whole media scandal angle—where Jojo looks like she’s dating both guys—was beyond frustrating. And the whole plot thread about Josephine’s mom? Don’t bring up a fraught mother-daughter relationship if you’re not going to explore it properly. We got crumbs. Did she forgive her mother or not? Did they heal? What happened?
And that ending—with Josephine and Malcolm having kids? No. Just no. It felt rushed, forced, and completely unearned.
This book had the potential to be a celebration of Black love, but instead, it left me feeling annoyed and disappointed. It’s frustrating when a book is marketed as something empowering for the culture and then delivers…this.
I have been reading a lot of romance lately so I was expecting the same old formula here but was pleasantly surprised.
Although I was worried about a love triangle and initially dreading it-it wasn't what I expected so if the love triangle worries you fear not because although we have our FMC in love with her best friend Ezra, it isn't on the twilight era vibe.
This is a romance between Jojo and Mal and Ezra is just the white dude who realized too late that his best friend is sorta not only just great but also hot. But anyway I loved Malcom and the fact that he was a sap and a romance writer because we need to see more of that in romance. I also loved that Mal was not ashamed of his feelings and he knew what he wanted and what he deserved...although at times i was like yo you're a little too understanding. I know JoJo has a lot of PTSD and trauma from her childhood and her mom but I felt frustrated the times she let the gloom overtake her but I see why the author did this because it allowed her to explore some heavy themes we won't normally see in a contemporary romance with such a fluffy cover.
Overall, 4 stars because some stuff was frustrating or slow or not fleshed out enough for me. But I liked the characters and i liked the plot and I loved the writing.
Although I was worried about a love triangle and initially dreading it-it wasn't what I expected so if the love triangle worries you fear not because although we have our FMC in love with her best friend Ezra, it isn't on the twilight era vibe.
This is a romance between Jojo and Mal and Ezra is just the white dude who realized too late that his best friend is sorta not only just great but also hot. But anyway I loved Malcom and the fact that he was a sap and a romance writer because we need to see more of that in romance. I also loved that Mal was not ashamed of his feelings and he knew what he wanted and what he deserved...although at times i was like yo you're a little too understanding. I know JoJo has a lot of PTSD and trauma from her childhood and her mom but I felt frustrated the times she let the gloom overtake her but I see why the author did this because it allowed her to explore some heavy themes we won't normally see in a contemporary romance with such a fluffy cover.
Overall, 4 stars because some stuff was frustrating or slow or not fleshed out enough for me. But I liked the characters and i liked the plot and I loved the writing.
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I have so many thoughts but the only coherent one is I am obsessed with this book!!!
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
There are some things i hate that might be personal but also warnings. First the virgin plotline is thrown in there so nonchalant. Like either make it a bigger deal or don’t have it at all. It’s not needed. The friendship is so not built up enough to really care or even have this guy on the cover (he’s missing most of the book) so it’s not really a love triangle. It’s her deciding she’s done and i liked that. Finally the issues that she has had no real wrap up and they were very traumatic. But i also like the issues. It gave an honest depiction of depression and dealing with stress. I liked her doctor vibes (seemed like that was the author honestly after researching) and the relationship was built on honest truths. I loved Malcolm and would have loved to read his book. It’s genuinely a fun read and the writing was for the most part good but felt disjointed. I just can’t get over wondering how this woman is going to reckon with her trauma.
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Cute modern rom-com! I liked that all of the unique aspects (i.e., influencer, medical training, writer, millionaire adopted family) didn’t overshadow a simple story.
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes