Scan barcode
lamarsalamah's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-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? It's complicated
3.75
readers_together's review against another edition
5.0
I’ve read every book Fiona Cole has written, and I have enjoyed every single one, so I don’t say this lightly. I think this is my favourite book yet. The angst and tension were off the charts. Parker and Nova were all the things. It is a slow burn, but you don’t really notice because the sexual tension is so good and builds throughout the story. The forbidden aspect of it just adds to the angst. Fiona Cole always writes such beautifully flawed characters that eventually acknowledge those flaws and work to make things right. Her female characters are always so strong, even when they don’t realise it themselves. This book is no different. Nova has experienced so much and yet there she is, kicking arse. It has an amazing girl crew that I just want to go hang out with.
It’s a fantastic story that I think everyone will love. It has a little someone for everyone.
It’s a fantastic story that I think everyone will love. It has a little someone for everyone.
kfriend's review against another edition
4.0
I’m still marvelling at this angsty but fun new series from Fiona Cole- one so decidedly different from her much beloved Voyeur series, but one with the same amount of heart and sizzle. While the rockstar storyline is perhaps the most hit or miss trope for me, I’ve yet to met a trope that Fiona hasn’t handled with her trademark steamy flair, and the first chapter of this story engrossed me so completely, I became quite ravenous to understand all the feelings and unspoken pains in this second chance romance.
We stay on theme with our vibrant and feisty girl gang- the three best friends who live as hard as they love. This time, our story focuses on the free-spirited but enigmatic Nova- the character who most intrigued me in this group of friends. Like our last story, Nova’s begins under the influence of her drink of choice and in a moment full of complicated emotions. Thrust back into the world of her childhood crush, and ex-stepbrother, Nova is forced to face the unresolved past with now-rockgod Parker, the man whose actions have time and time again destroyed and hurt her. Unexpectedly forced in close quarters for the duration of the band’s tour, it’s time to face the literal and proverbial music. Bring on all the baggage, emotionally-fraught sexual tension, long buried pain, and unresolved feelings- this one gets angsty quickly! And, much heavier than the more frivolously fun series opener.
I enjoyed that Fiona took the central conflict and pushed it back to the intrapersonal here (for the most part- we have some trademark rockstar/famous people drama, too). This is really a story about two people who loved each other but weren’t mature enough yet to make it work. To make the right decisions, to communicate, to own who they are, to understand how to deal with situations and emotions well beyond their emotional maturity. They’ve grown, and know who they are, but now their past is the barrier- and it makes for a really palpable emotional tension and compelling character arcs.
Nova is a very relatable heroine- a woman who has suffered greatly at no fault of her own, but who has emerged as more fully herself. She has a lot of integrity as a character- and she’s equal parts sweet and steel. Parker is super sexy- with that characteristic FC trademark mouth. By the end, I felt that he really worked hard to redeem his past actions, but I do think he could have owned up to them even more. At times he felt incredibly passive, and his paralysis in key moments both past and present frustrated me. Nova’s character growth really shines brightly, his is more of a dull thrum- like he’s evolved but still trying to find steady ground. But, their chemistry is scorching hot- and like all FC books the steamy times are smoking. (but be warned traditional romance lovers, there is a component to their relationship that is more risque/taboo)
The story starts with a really amazingly hooking opener- and the first few chapters were gripping. The pace did slow a bit for me, an experience I had in the last book too-here in part because we are waiting to find out just what happened in the past. The narrative alternates between past and present too- this very brilliantly creates for a richer character chemistry because we see the basis of their connection, but it does slow down the “present” progress of our story at first, and makes this more slower burn than I’m used to from FC. I did get a sense these two could (and should) have fought harder for each other in the past- a non-communication conflict device that sometimes irks me- but the story’s back half makes up for this and sold me. Our girl gang also steals the show- especially feisty Rae, and the glimpse we get into her book sounds like a lot of fun.
While there is a lot of angst and emotions, we end up in a pretty sweet and swoony place. And, I’m just loving the girls in this story. Nova is such a special heroine-she alone makes the story worth the read.
We stay on theme with our vibrant and feisty girl gang- the three best friends who live as hard as they love. This time, our story focuses on the free-spirited but enigmatic Nova- the character who most intrigued me in this group of friends. Like our last story, Nova’s begins under the influence of her drink of choice and in a moment full of complicated emotions. Thrust back into the world of her childhood crush, and ex-stepbrother, Nova is forced to face the unresolved past with now-rockgod Parker, the man whose actions have time and time again destroyed and hurt her. Unexpectedly forced in close quarters for the duration of the band’s tour, it’s time to face the literal and proverbial music. Bring on all the baggage, emotionally-fraught sexual tension, long buried pain, and unresolved feelings- this one gets angsty quickly! And, much heavier than the more frivolously fun series opener.
I enjoyed that Fiona took the central conflict and pushed it back to the intrapersonal here (for the most part- we have some trademark rockstar/famous people drama, too). This is really a story about two people who loved each other but weren’t mature enough yet to make it work. To make the right decisions, to communicate, to own who they are, to understand how to deal with situations and emotions well beyond their emotional maturity. They’ve grown, and know who they are, but now their past is the barrier- and it makes for a really palpable emotional tension and compelling character arcs.
Nova is a very relatable heroine- a woman who has suffered greatly at no fault of her own, but who has emerged as more fully herself. She has a lot of integrity as a character- and she’s equal parts sweet and steel. Parker is super sexy- with that characteristic FC trademark mouth. By the end, I felt that he really worked hard to redeem his past actions, but I do think he could have owned up to them even more. At times he felt incredibly passive, and his paralysis in key moments both past and present frustrated me. Nova’s character growth really shines brightly, his is more of a dull thrum- like he’s evolved but still trying to find steady ground. But, their chemistry is scorching hot- and like all FC books the steamy times are smoking. (but be warned traditional romance lovers, there is a component to their relationship that is more risque/taboo)
The story starts with a really amazingly hooking opener- and the first few chapters were gripping. The pace did slow a bit for me, an experience I had in the last book too-here in part because we are waiting to find out just what happened in the past. The narrative alternates between past and present too- this very brilliantly creates for a richer character chemistry because we see the basis of their connection, but it does slow down the “present” progress of our story at first, and makes this more slower burn than I’m used to from FC. I did get a sense these two could (and should) have fought harder for each other in the past- a non-communication conflict device that sometimes irks me- but the story’s back half makes up for this and sold me. Our girl gang also steals the show- especially feisty Rae, and the glimpse we get into her book sounds like a lot of fun.
While there is a lot of angst and emotions, we end up in a pretty sweet and swoony place. And, I’m just loving the girls in this story. Nova is such a special heroine-she alone makes the story worth the read.
readwithjo's review against another edition
5.0
A Rockstar romance with some spice? YES PLS.
I fell so in love with Nova and Parker! The slow burn, the angst.. there is no denying that these two are soulmates.
Starting out step siblings in the beginning and sharing their love of art and music with each other, their connection quickly grew. Until one night something happens that will change their lives forever.
I really enjoyed how the story went from past to present and we eventually find out what tore Nova and Parker apart.
This is now one of my absolute favorite books.
ALSO CAN WE PLS TALK ANOUT THE STEAM
I fell so in love with Nova and Parker! The slow burn, the angst.. there is no denying that these two are soulmates.
Starting out step siblings in the beginning and sharing their love of art and music with each other, their connection quickly grew. Until one night something happens that will change their lives forever.
I really enjoyed how the story went from past to present and we eventually find out what tore Nova and Parker apart.
This is now one of my absolute favorite books.
ALSO CAN WE PLS TALK ANOUT THE STEAM
mariekerk's review against another edition
4.0
I loved it even though I’m not a huge fan of the time jumps. I really liked how much the other girls were incorporated into the story line and how their friendship was shown.
What I didn’t like was the story line with the serial killer because it was just so random and a little bit over the top for me personally.
What I didn’t like was the story line with the serial killer because it was just so random and a little bit over the top for me personally.
pardonthisbookaddict's review against another edition
5.0
Blame It on the Tequila is like literary crack. It’s second chance, former stepbrother, mutual pining, friends to lovers, rockstar. Nova’s story was crazy enough for the soap opera-esque storyline. This series is crazy enough and I loved every minute of Nova and Parker's story.
bookish_noa's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
kandisteiner's review against another edition
5.0
Wow. I knew Fiona Cole could write emotional, tortured characters and their heartbreaking journeys to recovery, but I didn't know she could write angst like this. Blame It on the Tequila is a masochistic slow burn with emotion and heat that jumps off every page. I was sucked in from the prologue and held captive until the very last sentence. Every time I thought I knew what was going to happen, Cole spun me in a completely new direction. I had no choice but to throw my hands up and enjoy the ride, and what a heck of a ride it was! My favorite part of the story was seeing how their attraction grew as teenagers. There's just something about that time in our lives that I never get enough of! I love the hormonal rage, the angst of miscommunication and misfired signals, and the obsession with one another. Party dance scene... ENOUGH SAID! *fans self*
My new favorite Fiona Cole book and an absolute thrill for angst lovers, Blame It on the Tequila is a gripping romance you can't miss this summer!
My new favorite Fiona Cole book and an absolute thrill for angst lovers, Blame It on the Tequila is a gripping romance you can't miss this summer!