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lilacs_book_bower's review
funny
lighthearted
fast-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? No
3.5
I struggled with the rating of this one because I really liked Samiah (and her friends who feature in future books) a lot! But I don't like "lying about one's identity" as plot/tropes in romance, so I found that whole aspect of the story, and the hero, to be just not for me. I know some people don't mind concealing one's identity in romances, so that wouldn't hinder their enjoyment here. I enjoyed Samiah as a character and seeing how she made friends and decided to work on herself and her personal goals. In the end, I think the hero could have actually made much better choices at several points along the way (which would have meant a different book, I know), so I didn't especially care for him. In the end, he didn't grovel enough, and she forgave very easily and quickly. It felt a bit perfunctory. On the whole though, I enjoyed Samiah and her friends enough that I can overlook my personal issues with the hero. TLDR: loved the female characters, plot was 50/50.
Moderate: Pregnancy
Minor: Racism and Infertility
amberinpieces'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Cursing and Sexual content
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Car accident, Medical content, and Pregnancy
allisonwonderlandreads's review
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
This sweet romance adds some sizzling flair in the form of an undercover operation into money laundering in the tech industry. Daniel is our Treasury Dept agent investigating the crime, and Samiah is a star employee at the tech company with a lot going on in her personal life. Namely, she discovered via live tweet that her kind-of boyfriend stood her up to go on a date with another woman. When she shows up to confront him at the restaurant, videos of the incident go viral. She forms an unexpected but lasting bond with the not one but two other women who were dating this foolish man, but she must also navigate her unwanted insta fame.
I found this romance to be a very tender love story that unfurled at a slow but reasonable pace. One thing I appreciated was the way all the feelings came off as real and earnest rather than over-dramatized or unrealistically all-consuming. Both characters are level-headed, ambitious people, and you see that come across in the decisions they make in the story, even the romantic ones. I also like the emphasis on friendships, and the too relatable conversations around how hard it is to make adult friends, especially in a new city. There are other meaningful conversations around the extra work Samiah must put in to succeed as a Black woman in the tech industry, with all the extra hurdles and the pressure she feels to pave the way for those who would follow in her footsteps.
Although I enjoyed the book, I think the lack of tension holds me back from full enthusiasm. That covers a lot of categories. For example, the level-headed and sweet love story was almost a little too easygoing for my taste even as I respected that approach. Also, I was ready for more drama around the financial crimes and the scheming ex-boyfriend. However, both of these were treated more as character motivations than as full lines of plot in and of themselves. Finally, maybe this is my own workplace bitterness rising to the fore, but all the gushing about the company our two leads work at became a bit overdone for me.
I'm glad I read this and was introduced to this author. I look forward to returning to Austin in the sequels to see our other two fabulous ladies get their own happily ever afters.
I found this romance to be a very tender love story that unfurled at a slow but reasonable pace. One thing I appreciated was the way all the feelings came off as real and earnest rather than over-dramatized or unrealistically all-consuming. Both characters are level-headed, ambitious people, and you see that come across in the decisions they make in the story, even the romantic ones. I also like the emphasis on friendships, and the too relatable conversations around how hard it is to make adult friends, especially in a new city. There are other meaningful conversations around the extra work Samiah must put in to succeed as a Black woman in the tech industry, with all the extra hurdles and the pressure she feels to pave the way for those who would follow in her footsteps.
Although I enjoyed the book, I think the lack of tension holds me back from full enthusiasm. That covers a lot of categories. For example, the level-headed and sweet love story was almost a little too easygoing for my taste even as I respected that approach. Also, I was ready for more drama around the financial crimes and the scheming ex-boyfriend. However, both of these were treated more as character motivations than as full lines of plot in and of themselves. Finally, maybe this is my own workplace bitterness rising to the fore, but all the gushing about the company our two leads work at became a bit overdone for me.
I'm glad I read this and was introduced to this author. I look forward to returning to Austin in the sequels to see our other two fabulous ladies get their own happily ever afters.
Moderate: Alcohol, Infidelity, Pregnancy, and Sexual content
Minor: Racism
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