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bookswithvicky's review
DNF @ 63%
I tried to push this book started fine but now we are on a point that is so so boring. Also the third person writing was starting to annoyed me.
I tried to push this book started fine but now we are on a point that is so so boring. Also the third person writing was starting to annoyed me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Cancer
Moderate: Suicide
allingoodtime's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This is this author’s debut publication and I must say she did a bang-up job. While I found the pacing a bit off (the beginning seemed slow, but the last half flew by), the emotions and connections were great. Her descriptions gave me a clear picture without being too wordy and the dialogue had a lovely flow.
Kamilah and Liam are both wonderful characters. Childhood best friends who grew apart through the years, they’ve still always been in each other’s lives. Their grandfathers have been best friends since their days in the military. While they lead separate lives, they still have always known what was going on in the others. But Liam has a humongous chip (or two, or three) on his shoulder and has pushed Kamilah away while also having deep feelings for her.
It surprised me a time or two when I went from loving Kamilah to being so upset with her. There is a lie, more accurately a “let’s hide the whole truth”, she tells Liam after they have resolved their past problems. That’s something I’m never a fan of, but that’s not why she upset me. Kamilah doesn’t always think about how her actions will affect those around her. She thinks she’s doing the right thing and helping everyone, but that’s not always the case. To be fair, her family can be quite harsh with her and it’s almost as if she has become this way to counteract their dismissal of her. I loved the way she was written because the author didn’t ignore Kamilah’s faults. Instead, she had her confronted with those faults and made her deal with them.
Of course, Liam has his faults too. Most having to do with childhood trauma. Even after he and Kamilah open up about wanting to be together, he often shuts down when his anxiety gets the best of him. I appreciate the mention of therapy and Liam’s grandfather admitting he didn’t handle Liam’s grief in the best way when Liam was younger.
I’m very much looking forward to more books in this series. I loved the cast of characters and there are many to work with. If this author can build on the solid foundation she seems to already have, I see many good things in her future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer and Grief
Moderate: Abandonment
meghanm404's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Death of parent
Moderate: Alcohol, Death, Grief, and Terminal illness
Minor: Medical content
inkiereads's review
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This book made me so hungry! All the food sounded delicious, even with all the whiskey that I don’t drink. I loved Liam and Kamilah, even with the issues they had. I wish we would’ve gotten a bit more of a grovel, but I really liked the whole story. Several moments made me tear up, and I love her whole family! I’m happy to have finally read this book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Cancer, Death, and Death of parent
caitlyn_rehs's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Death of parent, Grief, Terminal illness, and Chronic illness
samone2's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Cancer, and Grief
Moderate: Death and Terminal illness
Minor: Racism
tiggerreads's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
4.0
CW: parent death (flashback), grief, cancer
This book starts off with Kamilah and Liam seeming to dislike each other a lot. They have a very tightly interconnected family history. Their grandfathers are best friends and their families have grown up in each other's pockets over the years. The linchpin is the building that the grandfathers bought together decades ago. Liam's grandfather turned his half into a whiskey distillery and Kamilah's grandmother turned the other into a Puerto Rican restaurant. Their grandfathers try their hand at matchmaking and talk Kamilah and Liam into faking an engagement. They agree for their own reasons, but as time goes by they relearn why they were friends when they were younger. Their emotions continue to strengthen. I liked that they reconnected the way that they did. Both Kamilah and Liam had pretty solid walls up to protect themselves. I liked that after the third act breakup, they realized things about themselves, but that they were willing to work on themselves and still wanted a chance to love the other. This was an enjoyable read.
This book starts off with Kamilah and Liam seeming to dislike each other a lot. They have a very tightly interconnected family history. Their grandfathers are best friends and their families have grown up in each other's pockets over the years. The linchpin is the building that the grandfathers bought together decades ago. Liam's grandfather turned his half into a whiskey distillery and Kamilah's grandmother turned the other into a Puerto Rican restaurant. Their grandfathers try their hand at matchmaking and talk Kamilah and Liam into faking an engagement. They agree for their own reasons, but as time goes by they relearn why they were friends when they were younger. Their emotions continue to strengthen. I liked that they reconnected the way that they did. Both Kamilah and Liam had pretty solid walls up to protect themselves. I liked that after the third act breakup, they realized things about themselves, but that they were willing to work on themselves and still wanted a chance to love the other. This was an enjoyable read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer and Grief
Moderate: Death of parent
lupitabaeyongo's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death of parent, and Cancer
Minor: Racism and Sexism
thecuriousbean's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol
Moderate: Death, Terminal illness, Cancer, Death of parent, and Grief
Minor: Cultural appropriation, Suicide, Racism, and Panic attacks/disorders
sydapel's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
5.0
Five stars almost solely for the audiobook, where the narrator pulls off both the Puerto Rico accents and the Scottish with ease! But also Booktok is sleeping on this one!! The PERFECT blend of humor, love and family, with a third act conflict that makes sense AND the acknowledgement that both MCs have work to do on themselves separate from their relationship!! Camilla is such a joy of a main character, and her unbridled enthusiasm is balanced well with Liam's held back nature and the themes of how self sacrifice for family can be damaging is done so well. Again, I can't recommend the audiobook for this one enough, it's short and sweet and will make you cry just a little
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, and Death
Moderate: Cancer and Suicide