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bookstobarbellsbabe's review against another edition
5.0
I don’t know what makes me want to visit Philadelphia more. Wanting to run on the world famous Rocky steps or Tabitha and Deans love for their city. How about a little bit of both? That’s what “On The Ropes” is for me. Especially after that SEXY scene right out in front of the steps! There’s a reason why I named this one of my top 5 reads of 2021.
Tabitha and Dean’s friends to lovers story fills me with such pure happiness, I want to scream.
Childhood friends Tabitha and Dean are reacquainted when Tabitha moves back to their small South Philly neighborhood when she’s in between projects as a successful filmmaker. Dean has stayed in the neighborhood after his retirement from boxing.
When they wind up as temporary neighbors, they rekindle their friendship that leads to a beautiful, steamy romance when their neighborhood needs help with a vacant lot the city is trying to condemn. All of the quirky neighbors all around make the story so much fun. But what I can’t get over is how much the love for their South Philly portrays in every character. The scenery that Kathryn paints of the neighborhood makes it so friendly, magical and inviting that it makes me jealous. It made me love the city as much as they do and I’ve never even been!
This book brings everything that you could possibly be looking for in a modern day beautiful romance. It has depth, emotions, feelings, community pride and new love so beautiful, it would make you want to cry. Not to mention the steamy sex scenes. Whoa, baby. I love it . This is definitely a story you want to be apart of.
Follow me on IG @bookstobarbellsbabe
Tabitha and Dean’s friends to lovers story fills me with such pure happiness, I want to scream.
Childhood friends Tabitha and Dean are reacquainted when Tabitha moves back to their small South Philly neighborhood when she’s in between projects as a successful filmmaker. Dean has stayed in the neighborhood after his retirement from boxing.
When they wind up as temporary neighbors, they rekindle their friendship that leads to a beautiful, steamy romance when their neighborhood needs help with a vacant lot the city is trying to condemn. All of the quirky neighbors all around make the story so much fun. But what I can’t get over is how much the love for their South Philly portrays in every character. The scenery that Kathryn paints of the neighborhood makes it so friendly, magical and inviting that it makes me jealous. It made me love the city as much as they do and I’ve never even been!
This book brings everything that you could possibly be looking for in a modern day beautiful romance. It has depth, emotions, feelings, community pride and new love so beautiful, it would make you want to cry. Not to mention the steamy sex scenes. Whoa, baby. I love it . This is definitely a story you want to be apart of.
Follow me on IG @bookstobarbellsbabe
aboutthatstory's review against another edition
5.0
On the Ropes was a heartfelt, sexy, and sweet story filled with so much love. I adored Dean and Tabitha, learning about their pain and watching them open up and trust as they came together. I felt so invested in their lives and couldn’t wait for their HEA.
Tabitha was the best and I loved her infectious personality. She was so bold and caring and I loved her big heart. Dean was fantastic, a bit broody and so very sexy! I enjoyed learning about Tabitha’s struggles and the conflict she was dealing with and all that Dean had endured as a boxer and how it affects him today. I loved them reconnecting and the moment it happens. It's fun and flirty and super entertaining. I loved them becoming friends and the playfulness and caring between them. I ate up their growing attraction and building sexual tension. Their chemistry was sizzling and I loved the heat it created. These two together are hot!
I loved the wonderful cast of characters involved and the neighborhood they lived in, giving it a small town feel even though they're in a big city. Everyone was so unique and helped paint a great picture of their community. I absolutely adored Dean and Tabitha’s parents. How loving, hardworking and supportive Tabitha’s father has always been, accepting her for who she is and doing everything he could to support her. Dean’s moms were a delightful and I got such a since of joy from them. There's always something special about an extraordinary cast of secondary characters that create an impact of their own and I thought this group definitely did that.
I thought this book had an incredible build. I couldn’t wait for Dean and Tabitha to work things out, and when it finally happened, my heart pretty much exploded. I loved the beauty of them opening up and being who they were truly meant to be and the ups and downs of their journey to get there. There were so many exceptional moments that filled me up and made me happy. This was an excellent friends-to-lovers story filled with so much heart. Amazing read!
Complimentary copy received from That's What She Said Publishing.
Tabitha was the best and I loved her infectious personality. She was so bold and caring and I loved her big heart. Dean was fantastic, a bit broody and so very sexy! I enjoyed learning about Tabitha’s struggles and the conflict she was dealing with and all that Dean had endured as a boxer and how it affects him today. I loved them reconnecting and the moment it happens. It's fun and flirty and super entertaining. I loved them becoming friends and the playfulness and caring between them. I ate up their growing attraction and building sexual tension. Their chemistry was sizzling and I loved the heat it created. These two together are hot!
I loved the wonderful cast of characters involved and the neighborhood they lived in, giving it a small town feel even though they're in a big city. Everyone was so unique and helped paint a great picture of their community. I absolutely adored Dean and Tabitha’s parents. How loving, hardworking and supportive Tabitha’s father has always been, accepting her for who she is and doing everything he could to support her. Dean’s moms were a delightful and I got such a since of joy from them. There's always something special about an extraordinary cast of secondary characters that create an impact of their own and I thought this group definitely did that.
I thought this book had an incredible build. I couldn’t wait for Dean and Tabitha to work things out, and when it finally happened, my heart pretty much exploded. I loved the beauty of them opening up and being who they were truly meant to be and the ups and downs of their journey to get there. There were so many exceptional moments that filled me up and made me happy. This was an excellent friends-to-lovers story filled with so much heart. Amazing read!
Complimentary copy received from That's What She Said Publishing.
sunshinetori18's review against another edition
5.0
This was such a great book! I loved so much about this story and how Dean and Tabitha fell in love without even realizing it. There were so many issues that were shown and I loved how, by the end, they were resolved!
cowmingo's review against another edition
4.0
Bit of a slow start but give it a chance. I really enjoyed it.
briewhale's review against another edition
4.0
This book took me forever to finish because, like a warm hug from a loved one, I didn’t want it to end. On the Ropes also has the steaminess I’ve come to know and love from Kathryn Nolan. She had my heart racing with the most innocent of moments and the lightest of touches between the main characters. Dean is cautious and vulnerable and Tabitha is just the woman to break him out of his shell. She is fierce and confident and protective. Her fun attitude is so infectious. And she can also be serious and vulnerable as well.
Yet On the Ropes is so much more than a romance. It’s about family, old friends, and the community you make in whatever place you call home. Despite never having been to Philly, I instantly felt like a part of Dean and Tabitha’s found family. There is also a strong theme of fighting for what you believe in. This small South Philly neighborhood looks out for each member and accepts them unconditionally. In fact, it was a perfect setting for the incredible bisexual representation. I admire Tabitha so much. Not just for being out and proud, but for being her silly, brave, caring self.
There is so much to love about On the Ropes that I can’t do it justice here. Suffice it to say, it is definitely worth reading (and rereading).
Yet On the Ropes is so much more than a romance. It’s about family, old friends, and the community you make in whatever place you call home. Despite never having been to Philly, I instantly felt like a part of Dean and Tabitha’s found family. There is also a strong theme of fighting for what you believe in. This small South Philly neighborhood looks out for each member and accepts them unconditionally. In fact, it was a perfect setting for the incredible bisexual representation. I admire Tabitha so much. Not just for being out and proud, but for being her silly, brave, caring self.
There is so much to love about On the Ropes that I can’t do it justice here. Suffice it to say, it is definitely worth reading (and rereading).
823sisi's review against another edition
4.0
This is an ARC review. All opinions are solely my own.
Kathryn Nolan has a way with words. On the Ropes is set in Philly and you can tell this is a place Kathryn LOVES .She paints the picture of a place that I've never been but I can practically feel like I'm sitting on the stoop.
Dean and Tabitha knew each other back in the day. Tabitha has returned to her hometown for a break from her on the go lifestyle and stumbles into Dean's carefully curated life. They are complete opposites but their attraction is just so strong.
This book is more than a steamy romance. The overlying story is so intense about a community coming together on so many different levels.
Kathryn Nolan has a way with words. On the Ropes is set in Philly and you can tell this is a place Kathryn LOVES .She paints the picture of a place that I've never been but I can practically feel like I'm sitting on the stoop.
Dean and Tabitha knew each other back in the day. Tabitha has returned to her hometown for a break from her on the go lifestyle and stumbles into Dean's carefully curated life. They are complete opposites but their attraction is just so strong.
This book is more than a steamy romance. The overlying story is so intense about a community coming together on so many different levels.
digax's review against another edition
5.0
5⭐️
Wow wow wow
This was beautifullllll
Kathryn Nolan is truly a talent
She just knows how to pull on my heart strings
The characters
Wow wow wow
This was beautifullllll
Kathryn Nolan is truly a talent
She just knows how to pull on my heart strings
The characters
messymagpie's review against another edition
5.0
I love this, it's a true love story. Two people figuring their crap out as they work their way towards one another. Loved it.
aditiiparasharr's review against another edition
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
2.5
Kathryn Nolan will forever be an auto-buy author but something about this book just didn't click. I'm not even 100% sure what it was. I loved the community organizing and the activism elements of the book more than I felt I connected to the characters.