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karlapardo's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
4.5
This two are just adorable together. I love the childhood rivals to lovers trope so that had me hooked from the beginning. The banter was *chef’s kiss* the tension! Julian is such a good mmc and you can tell this man is so in love with Dahlia that it’s just beautiful. Also! The way this man shows his love with acts of service *swoon*. Dahlia is just so relatable and I love her. Such a good female main character. Love this book
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Sexual content, and Infertility
Moderate: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Grief
Minor: Child death, Miscarriage, and Toxic relationship
fox_ivy's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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? N/A
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent and Infertility
Minor: Infertility and Miscarriage
theinstabookworm's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? Yes
5.0
This was my first book by the author, but it won't be my last. I tried reading THE FINE PRINT a while ago and couldn't get into it, but after loving this, I'm definitely going back to it, especially since I have to wait another month for the next book in this series to come out. I'm not a slow-burn girlie, but I ATE THIS UP.
✔️Amazing banter
✔️Chemistry and tension between Dahlia and Julian
✔️Their moms' friendship
✔️Mental health rep
✔️Childhood rivals-to-lovers,
✔️"It's always been you"
✔️Easter eggs from Asher's other books (I assume)
✔️Amazing banter
✔️Chemistry and tension between Dahlia and Julian
✔️Their moms' friendship
✔️Mental health rep
✔️Childhood rivals-to-lovers,
✔️"It's always been you"
✔️Easter eggs from Asher's other books (I assume)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Infertility, Mental illness, Grief, and Panic attacks/disorders
mareltor's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Cute. But just alright. 🤷🏼♀️
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent and Infertility
legalplanner's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This is only my second Lauren Asher book. I will say I went in with very little knowledge of what this book was going to be about. However, I was hooked as soon as I started it.
Julian and Dahlia are the epitome of friends to more to enemies to more. The family dynamics in this were fun to watch because both families were loud, boisterous, and supportive of one another. Their dynamics made the one type of trope I dislike bearable--MISCOMMUNICATION. Which, the way this one happened it wasn't a true miscommunication between them but a failure to communicate.
This book dealt with heavy topics and honestly it was very relatable. I loved how hard Dahlia had things but how much Julian wanted to make things better for her once he knew about them. I also loved how much Julian despised his former roommate and Dahlia's ex. It made so much of the story so much better.
Julian and Dahlia are the epitome of friends to more to enemies to more. The family dynamics in this were fun to watch because both families were loud, boisterous, and supportive of one another. Their dynamics made the one type of trope I dislike bearable--MISCOMMUNICATION. Which, the way this one happened it wasn't a true miscommunication between them but a failure to communicate.
This book dealt with heavy topics and honestly it was very relatable. I loved how hard Dahlia had things but how much Julian wanted to make things better for her once he knew about them. I also loved how much Julian despised his former roommate and Dahlia's ex. It made so much of the story so much better.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Bullying, and Infertility
jords1808's review against another edition
funny
inspiring
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Grief
worldofv33's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Cursing, and Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, and Car accident
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Grief
amateur_bookworm's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
5.0
My summary: Dahlia is a successful interior designer and had her own design show with her fiancé, Oliver, until he dumped her. In a haze of depression and an attempt to hide from the gossip reporters, Dahlia returns to her hometown. And—of course—the first person she runs into is Julian, her rival since childhood and her first love. Julian is a billionaire after designing an app with his cousin and runs his late father’s construction business. Dahlia and Julian have barely spoken since Julian pushed Dahlia away when he dropped out of Stanford to move back home after his dad’s unexpected death, especially once Dahlia ended up dating his ex-roommate, Oliver. Since Dahlia’s and Julian’s mothers are best friends, Julian and Dahlia find themselves forced to be around each other. With everything being a competition between them, Julian and Dahlia teaming up on a renovation may just make them or break them as they both confront their deeply buried feelings for each other.
My thoughts: I immediately liked this book right off the bat. This was my first book by Lauren Asher and my only regret is not finding her sooner. I enjoyed the little details in the book like the designs at the start of the chapters—construction for his and design for hers. My Spanish isn’t great so I appreciated the translations right there at the bottom of the page. Overall I found it to be a very swoony, steamy, happy-ending romance. I love the billionaire, small town, and enemies-to-lovers tropes and this combined all three perfectly in a satisfyingly slow burn. I did buy the book but it’s also on Kindle Unlimited, so I loved that I could switch between both mediums and continue on my Kindle app when I was out and about with a few minutes to spare here and there.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Sexual content, Cursing, and Grief
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Miscarriage
kiwij96's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-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
4.25
A super easy story to read, even if it is over 500 pages. There is absolutely 0 plot for the most part, just two adults who have seemingly been in love with each other since they were kids. Yes, at times it got a bit repetitive. Yes, at times I felt it dragged on a bit (Julian definitely could have called in his favour earlier than he did). Yes, sometimes I was hoping for more plot about remodelling the Founder's House. And yes, they definitely should have communicated their thoughts and feelings like actual grown ups.
However, I enjoyed reading this despite some of the criticisms. A lot of romance books that I have read in the past have always ended with children, even when originally characters didn't want them, so to read something that held discussions on infertility and miscarriages and the grief and trauma that comes with them was refreshing.
However, I enjoyed reading this despite some of the criticisms. A lot of romance books that I have read in the past have always ended with children, even when originally characters didn't want them, so to read something that held discussions on infertility and miscarriages and the grief and trauma that comes with them was refreshing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Infertility, and Mental illness
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Child death and Miscarriage
mana_reads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship
Moderate: Infertility
Minor: Death of parent