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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.5 uncertain ⭐️
I find myself as conflicted about this book as Zane and Celeste are about their relationship.
Do I love the setting and the Windsor family? Absolutely.
Did I read 70% of this book in one day? Yes. And if I hadn't, I fear I might have abandoned it altogether. Because...
Was it too long? YES. Unnecessarily so.
Let me summarize my thoughts:
I liked the book, but not nearly as much as the previous ones in the series. If you're a romantic at heart, many of Zane's qualities will make him seem like the perfect husband—rightfully so! I really loved his character. The roses! The observatory! Absolutely enchanting. I loved how he tried to keep his mother's memory alive, sharing that part of himself with his future partner—it was so meaningful.
Zane has his flaws, but honestly, they pale in comparison to what Celeste puts him through. Don't get me wrong—I understand her perspective, but she took things a step too far until their relationship seemed beyond repair.
Frankly, I'm not convinced they could ever truly function after the amount of distrust Celeste introduced into their relationship. We only got about 30-50 pages at the end of them genuinely being happy and working on their issues. I kept internally screaming for both of them to go to therapy throughout half the book.
There were a few scenes that moved me, but I was frustrated by how much space the whole Lily drama occupied. It’s incredibly sad, but it felt like she was a constant third party in their relationship, taking up far too much room in the story.
I understand where the author was going with this, and the buildup was well done, but it could have been significantly shorter. Also, it was predictable. Zane is not *that* guy, and the first thought I had about the plot twist was exactly what was later confirmed. I dislike misunderstandings that drag on for such a long time—this was definitely one of those cases.
Zane and Celeste have undeniable chemistry—there's no doubt about it. (Do I feel there were too many steamy scenes? Yes. I understand they are crazy about each other, but avoiding serious conversations by having sex repeatedly seemed overdone. For the love of God, they needed to talk!)
As a hopeless romantic, I found their gestures towards each other phenomenal. Congrats to the author for these moments—the rose garden, Celeste's memory boxes, Zane's island, and his unwavering support. I was over the moon with all of it. Celeste's quirky nail polish names were also a delightful touch that made me chuckle more than once.
To sum it up: I love them together, but I'm not sure they could actually work out in the long run. There are a lot of toxic behaviors involved. They have an amazing support system, and I'll remember them fondly as the author intended. The story is incredibly sweet at times, passionate and adoring, but I can't shake the feeling of doubt, unfortunately.
Do I recommend this book? Yes, if you're committed to reading the entire series. Don’t miss out on their story—provided you're not intimidated by lengthy books. Otherwise, I'm not so sure...
I find myself as conflicted about this book as Zane and Celeste are about their relationship.
Do I love the setting and the Windsor family? Absolutely.
Did I read 70% of this book in one day? Yes. And if I hadn't, I fear I might have abandoned it altogether. Because...
Was it too long? YES. Unnecessarily so.
Let me summarize my thoughts:
I liked the book, but not nearly as much as the previous ones in the series. If you're a romantic at heart, many of Zane's qualities will make him seem like the perfect husband—rightfully so! I really loved his character. The roses! The observatory! Absolutely enchanting. I loved how he tried to keep his mother's memory alive, sharing that part of himself with his future partner—it was so meaningful.
Zane has his flaws, but honestly, they pale in comparison to what Celeste puts him through. Don't get me wrong—I understand her perspective, but she took things a step too far until their relationship seemed beyond repair.
Frankly, I'm not convinced they could ever truly function after the amount of distrust Celeste introduced into their relationship. We only got about 30-50 pages at the end of them genuinely being happy and working on their issues. I kept internally screaming for both of them to go to therapy throughout half the book.
There were a few scenes that moved me, but I was frustrated by how much space the whole Lily drama occupied. It’s incredibly sad, but it felt like she was a constant third party in their relationship, taking up far too much room in the story.
I understand where the author was going with this, and the buildup was well done, but it could have been significantly shorter. Also, it was predictable. Zane is not *that* guy, and the first thought I had about the plot twist was exactly what was later confirmed. I dislike misunderstandings that drag on for such a long time—this was definitely one of those cases.
Zane and Celeste have undeniable chemistry—there's no doubt about it. (Do I feel there were too many steamy scenes? Yes. I understand they are crazy about each other, but avoiding serious conversations by having sex repeatedly seemed overdone. For the love of God, they needed to talk!)
As a hopeless romantic, I found their gestures towards each other phenomenal. Congrats to the author for these moments—the rose garden, Celeste's memory boxes, Zane's island, and his unwavering support. I was over the moon with all of it. Celeste's quirky nail polish names were also a delightful touch that made me chuckle more than once.
To sum it up: I love them together, but I'm not sure they could actually work out in the long run. There are a lot of toxic behaviors involved. They have an amazing support system, and I'll remember them fondly as the author intended. The story is incredibly sweet at times, passionate and adoring, but I can't shake the feeling of doubt, unfortunately.
Do I recommend this book? Yes, if you're committed to reading the entire series. Don’t miss out on their story—provided you're not intimidated by lengthy books. Otherwise, I'm not so sure...
emotional
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
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
The best part in every book is when Silas appears with a one-liner and we all know it.
Finally! We got Zane and Celeste story. This story was WOW! Absolutely phenomenal and what a roller coaster. Come prepared with your tissues when you sit down with this one because you will most definitely need them through the entire book. Ms. Catharina Maura has once again written a masterpiece with Zane and Celeste.
This book will make you feel every emotion known on a loop from cover to cover. This story had heartbreak, tension, love to hate you — hate to love you, and spice galore.
This story is so different from the previous in this series. This is the epitome of lovers to enemies to lovers; it starts 5 years in the past and we got to watch such a beautiful love story between Zane and Celeste and they were couple goals but unfortunately things happen and they are dramatically pulled apart. Fast forward 5 years, Zane and Celeste are two very different people and truthfully not for the better. These two have the most complex stories and character developments thus far in the series.
SPOILER ALERT!!!
Celeste [5 years before] — I knew very quickly I wasn’t going to like her best friend. I got this feeling something was off with her but Celeste loved her as her sister and was willing to do anything for her, including getting her a job with Zane when he POS grandpa wouldn’t hire her friend. She loved Zane with her entire being and she knew he was her soulmate and that they would end up together. What she didnt anticipate was her best friend being the one to obliterate her relationship.
Celeste [present time] — I totally understand why she did what she did but I think she should have had her come to Jesus moment sooner in the story. She never pushed herself onto anyone in the Windsor clan and she made herself as small as possible when it came to family functions just so her presence wouldn’t hurt them anymore than it already had. Even though she has spent the last 5 years trying to hate Zane, truthfully she never stopped loving him. Throughout the whole story she had such a divide and it was so relatable, she wanted to honor her friend but she couldn’t let go of the only man she ever loved. My favorite moment of hers was when she came to the realization that as much as it would kill her she needed to let Zane go. She tried so hard to make things work for them because she was so deeply in love with him but she truly believed him when he said he didn’t want to be with her once their arrangement was over; she went to her grandfather and grandma Anne and begged them to let Zane out of the arrangement. She didn’t want anything for herself as long as they let him out immediately instead of in three years so Zane could move on with his life and be happy because he made it very obvious to her she was never going to be the one to make him happy.
Zane [5 years before] — he loved Celeste with everything he had. There wasn’t anything he wasn’t willing to do for her including getting down on his knees and begging his grandma to let him marry her because thats how strongly he knew she would become his wife one day.
Zane [present time] — he was the definition of “Hurt people hurt people” and man did he. Some of the things he said to Celeste felt like I had been stabbed. Out of everything that was said through this book his words are what brought me to tears the most. This man knew exactly what to say to Celeste to do the most damage and thats exactly what he did. He believed there was no way to ever trust her again so he did everything he could to keep her from getting close to anyone with the last name Windsor. What I loved most about present time Zane was no matter how much he wanted to hate her he couldnt fully because he was still in love with her and it came out with his pet name “ Celestial” this would slip out randomly at first and then it was as if he couldnt not call her that.
With each book the relationship and banter between the siblings only gets better and in this book not only was it hysterical with all the conversations but it was so wholesome back in the past 5 years ago but again in the present. No matter the hurt Celeste caused each one of them in the past they each in turn forgave her because they understand and knew the person she was and eventually they stood up for her to Zane.
This book will make you feel every emotion known on a loop from cover to cover. This story had heartbreak, tension, love to hate you — hate to love you, and spice galore.
This story is so different from the previous in this series. This is the epitome of lovers to enemies to lovers; it starts 5 years in the past and we got to watch such a beautiful love story between Zane and Celeste and they were couple goals but unfortunately things happen and they are dramatically pulled apart. Fast forward 5 years, Zane and Celeste are two very different people and truthfully not for the better. These two have the most complex stories and character developments thus far in the series.
SPOILER ALERT!!!
Celeste [5 years before] — I knew very quickly I wasn’t going to like her best friend. I got this feeling something was off with her but Celeste loved her as her sister and was willing to do anything for her, including getting her a job with Zane when he POS grandpa wouldn’t hire her friend. She loved Zane with her entire being and she knew he was her soulmate and that they would end up together. What she didnt anticipate was her best friend being the one to obliterate her relationship.
Celeste [present time] — I totally understand why she did what she did but I think she should have had her come to Jesus moment sooner in the story. She never pushed herself onto anyone in the Windsor clan and she made herself as small as possible when it came to family functions just so her presence wouldn’t hurt them anymore than it already had. Even though she has spent the last 5 years trying to hate Zane, truthfully she never stopped loving him. Throughout the whole story she had such a divide and it was so relatable, she wanted to honor her friend but she couldn’t let go of the only man she ever loved. My favorite moment of hers was when she came to the realization that as much as it would kill her she needed to let Zane go. She tried so hard to make things work for them because she was so deeply in love with him but she truly believed him when he said he didn’t want to be with her once their arrangement was over; she went to her grandfather and grandma Anne and begged them to let Zane out of the arrangement. She didn’t want anything for herself as long as they let him out immediately instead of in three years so Zane could move on with his life and be happy because he made it very obvious to her she was never going to be the one to make him happy.
Zane [5 years before] — he loved Celeste with everything he had. There wasn’t anything he wasn’t willing to do for her including getting down on his knees and begging his grandma to let him marry her because thats how strongly he knew she would become his wife one day.
Zane [present time] — he was the definition of “Hurt people hurt people” and man did he. Some of the things he said to Celeste felt like I had been stabbed. Out of everything that was said through this book his words are what brought me to tears the most. This man knew exactly what to say to Celeste to do the most damage and thats exactly what he did. He believed there was no way to ever trust her again so he did everything he could to keep her from getting close to anyone with the last name Windsor. What I loved most about present time Zane was no matter how much he wanted to hate her he couldnt fully because he was still in love with her and it came out with his pet name “ Celestial” this would slip out randomly at first and then it was as if he couldnt not call her that.
With each book the relationship and banter between the siblings only gets better and in this book not only was it hysterical with all the conversations but it was so wholesome back in the past 5 years ago but again in the present. No matter the hurt Celeste caused each one of them in the past they each in turn forgave her because they understand and knew the person she was and eventually they stood up for her to Zane.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
emotional
funny
hopeful
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