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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
“At times, the words would follow me when I just wanted to leave them behind. And I’m glad they did because more times than I’d like to admit, those very words were all I had”
3.5 stars.
I enjoyed this book and the chemistry and love between Josie and Wes was great. And who doesn’t love the brothers best friend trope?
While I really liked it and the plot, it just missed a mark with me.
3.5 stars.
I enjoyed this book and the chemistry and love between Josie and Wes was great. And who doesn’t love the brothers best friend trope?
While I really liked it and the plot, it just missed a mark with me.
emotional
hopeful
sad
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Grief, Car accident
"Once upon a time, I broke this girl's already broken heart."
Good Lord, my heart is aching in the best possible way. If only there was a way for all of you to see exactly what this book did to me, because wow! I am obsessed. What a heartbreakingly beautiful debut! Five stars are not enough.
I'm always super excited when a Bookstagrammer becomes an author, and this particular debut makes me extra excited. I've been a follower of Nina's reviews and stunning Instagram aesthetics for a long time and I just knew her book was going to be just as beautiful, so I pretty much sprinted to that sign up sheet to get my hands on this ARC. I was not wrong. She blessed us a poignant, redemptive love story about forgiveness, healing and second chances that broke my heart in a million pieces before putting it back together.
I'm a sucker for a good second chance romance, especially when both of the characters are as broken, flawed and in need of hope as Josie and Wes. I instantly felt the pull between each other. Nina wrote their connection in such a natural and beautiful way that it was undeniable to me as a reader and to the other characters around them that they were meant to be together from the start. From childhood friends to first love and heartbreak to a second chance at love in adulthood this couple stole my heart and I really can't get over how imperfectly perfect they were.
Josie was the perfect Latina heroine with a fierce heart of a fighter. So relatable in many ways (hands up for yet another great bookworm heroine!) Her pain was real and the way she coped and considered the possibilities while she walked in her healing journey was beautiful and hopeful. I loved her character growth through the story and how stronger and braver she became to be after facing her past wounds and give Wes the second chance both her and Wes deserved after so many struggles. Wes was a dreamboat of a book boyfriend. Who doesn't love a hero with his heart on his sleeve and is heads over heels in love with the heroine and will do anything to get her (or get her back). My heart broke for him many times, he fought so hard to redeem and prove himself to Josie and to everyone around him. His relationship with his grandma made me swoon so hard, it showed his soft side in a different way and made me fall in love with him all over again.
I loved the way Nina presented their backstory, it kept me intrigued, always wanting to find out more of their past at the same time the expectation of their reconnection was building up more and more in present time. I empathized with them 100% and was able too understand their motivations and reasons for everything they did in the past and the present. Every single detail about their story felt important and essential to their growth, their healing and the happy ending they and their families deserved so much.
"Can you believe you're mine and it's not a secret anymore?"
Have I mentioned how hot this book is? Steam lovers, you. are. in. for. a. treat. Josie and Wes go down to business! Their sweet and fierce love gets hot and spicy in the bedroom and OMG, it was the perfect weight to balance out the intensity of their relationship and explosive chemistry. Ehem, ehem... a sweet hero with a dirty mouth? Sign me up!
It was a bundle of emotions that pulled my heartstrings from start to finish and couldn't put down for a second. This rough journey of loss, heartache, hope and joy that brought sad and happy tears to my eyes, a couple of twists that made me gasp and a well deserved happy ending that made me smile hard. My heart is completely full and I cannot wait to see how the series goes on!
P.S. I strongly recommend you to sign up for Nina's newsletter to get the bonus epilogue, because OMG it was the sweetest!
Big thanks to Nina Arada for gifting me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was such a beautiful read.
There are dark themes so please check the authors note
But overall I love a second chance romance that gives flash backs!
The steam in here is delicious and the Cuban American representation was so relatable!
There are dark themes so please check the authors note
But overall I love a second chance romance that gives flash backs!
The steam in here is delicious and the Cuban American representation was so relatable!
emotional
hopeful
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:
No
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault
Moderate: Car accident, Alcohol
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
emotional
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
“I want to know you moved and breathed in the same world with me.”