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fast-paced
Really loved this book! It was a nice easy read, and cool to see their back story unfold alongside the present. Some very interesting plot twists, and I love it when everything slotted into place, however predictable it all ended up becoming.
Very CoHo vibes, but not in a bad way!
Will definitely be reading whatever the author releases next.
Very CoHo vibes, but not in a bad way!
Will definitely be reading whatever the author releases next.
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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:
No
"Hate Mail" by Donna Marchetti is a delightful and unconventional romance that I thoroughly enjoyed! The premise is a unique one: Luca and Naomi become penpals in fifth grade, and what starts as a simple class assignment morphs into a years-long exchange of mean-spirited, snarky letters. The correspondence eventually stops, only to be rekindled when Luca sees Naomi on a TV station and writes to her again, sparking a quest for her to find him.
The narrative structure—where the reader knows who Luca is but Naomi does not—adds a fun layer of tension and charm. It can be a little frustrating to watch Naomi make decisions when the answer seems so obvious, but that's part of what makes the book so engaging. While I think Naomi might have overreacted a bit when she finally learned the truth, she's a very down-to-earth character who, thankfully, has great friends to help her (or enable her!) through her poor decisions. On the other side, Luca is a character with a hard past, and his journey to make amends for it is a key part of the story. The chemistry between them is undeniable, built on a foundation that is anything but traditional.
I really appreciated that this book wasn't a standard romance. The medium-paced story is well-written and focuses on their relationship, which was forged through years of communication, albeit in the form of "hate mail." It’s a unique and refreshing take on how a genuine bond can form.
I would highly recommend this book to romance readers, especially those who love unconventional love stories and enjoy a bit of exasperating charm in their main characters.
TBH this book ahead the energy of one of those y2k rom coms where the premise is cute in the moment but when you look back you’re like wait WHAT happens?!! Kinda loved it tho. Cute even if the story is a little coo coo la too!!
emotional
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I enjoyed it, but took me a while to get into it. Did enjoy that the plot twist wasn’t immediately the end of the book.
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Cute little book. Easy to guess the plot but good read it when you need a palate cleanser. Or just a break from heavier books
emotional
funny
hopeful