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cassandra67b07's review
3.0
I ended up finishing this more for the resolution of the Kane/Chandler feud and the reconciliation of the families than for the Evie/Gabe relationship but that’s legitimate I think. I agreed with a Gabe’s initial reluctance to start something with Evie because of the age difference between them. The book is more about her growing up into full adulthood than the twisty angsty relationships we got in the previous books. Although the romance was not as compelling the relationships between the families worked for me and the resolution made sense. All except for Brendan who was just a bit TOO villainous.
The whole series gets a 4.5
The whole series gets a 4.5
sonja_ahrb's review
5.0
What a way to end the series! Hurts to Love You left me felling all warm, giddy, and relaxed — it was just wonderful! It tugged on my heart strings, brought tears to my eyes, made my nose burn, and gave me all the feels. I was so happy and proud of Eve when she came into her own, I was cheering her on and I loved seeing become a stronger person. Gabe was sweet with a heart of gold and they totally belong together. Hurts to Love You gave me all the answers I’ve been wanting and more — it was a complete hit and I absolutely loved it!
~ Sonja, 5 Stars
~ Sonja, 5 Stars
alexandratheroux's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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
4.0
futurememory's review
3.0
What a sweet little ending to the entirety of this series! I feel like I enjoyed this one a lot more for its meta elements where it connected everything together in the previous two books, than for its central pairing. Nothing was particularly wrong with the FMC or the MMC, but their story felt a bit more rushed than the first two books.
As always, the mental health rep in this book is excellent. In that regard, the characters feel so real and their emotions are always carefully explored and complicated. Eve and Gabe are both nuanced characters; I just wasn’t rooting for them the way I rooted for Jackson and Sadia. I think the fact that this book had to spend a bit of time wrapping up all of the familial politics and mysteries took away from the focus of our central main couple. I loved all that extra plot, but it actually caused me to feel like Eve and Gabe’s romance wasn’t fleshed out enough. This book almost needed to be longer.
That being said, the overall conclusion was satisfying, and getting all the mysteries resolved felt really good.
As always, the mental health rep in this book is excellent. In that regard, the characters feel so real and their emotions are always carefully explored and complicated. Eve and Gabe are both nuanced characters; I just wasn’t rooting for them the way I rooted for Jackson and Sadia. I think the fact that this book had to spend a bit of time wrapping up all of the familial politics and mysteries took away from the focus of our central main couple. I loved all that extra plot, but it actually caused me to feel like Eve and Gabe’s romance wasn’t fleshed out enough. This book almost needed to be longer.
That being said, the overall conclusion was satisfying, and getting all the mysteries resolved felt really good.
nellesnightstand1's review
5.0
I'm adoring everything Ms. Rai writes. Angst and emotional abound in her novels. Evie, ah, Evie. She grows exponentially, she has to after enduring rejection after rejection from Gabe. Oh, he's not a jerk, just insecure and misguided and hiding a "big secret".
Loving this series. Can we get JIA's story now!!!??
Loving this series. Can we get JIA's story now!!!??
bookloverchelle's review against another edition
4.0
I absolutely love the was Alisha Rai writes a romance and Hurts to Love You is another great, captivating read. Eve has been in love with Gabe, her brother's best friend, for years but her shy and quiet personality has never let her express her feelings. Gabe can't deny that Eve is beautiful and tempting but as the son of a housekeeper he has never thought he has more to offer her than a good time. When they are thrown together helping to plan a wedding they can't deny their attraction any longer. But when secrets are revealed can Eve and Gabe find their way to a HEA or will they lose their chance before it really even beings? What I really love about this series is how well developed the characters are. You see so many sides, so many relateable emotions, to bring the characters to life. Great read!
ipomoea's review
5.0
I received an advance copy from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
AAAHHHH THESE BOOKS ARE SO GREAT!!! The Forbidden Hearts trilogy has been a consistent joy to read and recommend. It has everything I want: forbidden love, diverse protagonists, American history, and Family!! Drama!! that spans generations.
Gabe is the housekeeper's son, and Eve is the sheltered Chandler daughter. A dozen years younger than Gabe, Eve has been given every material thing proper for a wealthy daughter, but none of the emotional support she deserves. She's harbored a crush on Gabe for years, and now that she's out of college and on her own, there's no reason for Gabe to say no.
Gabe is convinced he's too old for Eve, and he carries a secret that could implode their families. But that isn't enough to stop them.
I aDORE these people. I love Eve's character, her recognition of what parental abuse can echo into adulthood, her assertiveness about her body, and her growing confidence in herself. Gabe's secret isn't entirely surprising based on the level of D R A M A in previous books, but it was still a surprise. I'm going to be honest, my kid's name is Gabe and it always weirds me out to read about a Gabe in a sex scene. and BOY HOWDY are there some extremely hot sex scenes here. Romance has come a long way from the fade to black or turgid manhoods of my furtive junior high reading.
I recommend this unreservedly to any romance fan, and would consider this trilogy an appropriate "gateway" book to the genre.
AAAHHHH THESE BOOKS ARE SO GREAT!!! The Forbidden Hearts trilogy has been a consistent joy to read and recommend. It has everything I want: forbidden love, diverse protagonists, American history, and Family!! Drama!! that spans generations.
Gabe is the housekeeper's son, and Eve is the sheltered Chandler daughter. A dozen years younger than Gabe, Eve has been given every material thing proper for a wealthy daughter, but none of the emotional support she deserves. She's harbored a crush on Gabe for years, and now that she's out of college and on her own, there's no reason for Gabe to say no.
Gabe is convinced he's too old for Eve, and he carries a secret that could implode their families. But that isn't enough to stop them.
I aDORE these people. I love Eve's character, her recognition of what parental abuse can echo into adulthood, her assertiveness about her body, and her growing confidence in herself. Gabe's secret isn't entirely surprising based on the level of D R A M A in previous books, but it was still a surprise. I'm going to be honest, my kid's name is Gabe and it always weirds me out to read about a Gabe in a sex scene. and BOY HOWDY are there some extremely hot sex scenes here. Romance has come a long way from the fade to black or turgid manhoods of my furtive junior high reading.
I recommend this unreservedly to any romance fan, and would consider this trilogy an appropriate "gateway" book to the genre.
blodeuedd's review
3.0
I will never get the forbidden thing, so what if he was best buddies with your big brother (who is dead so it's not like he can go all you can not date my sister!) Maybe it is some weird American thing I never get.
Lily is restless. I get that. Omg, her dad was a d*ck! She wants to do something for herself, and that is not easy when she is a Chandler. The big name in her town. She was smart, sweet and totally lusting after Gabriel. Like this girl wanted him bad. You go girl.
Gabriel is a tattoo artist. The son of the help and with issues. I liked those issues. That sounds bad, but poor guy. I feel your pain! He does not stand a chance against her.
The book feels sort of short. Most of it takes place at this big house where the wedding will be and they are alone at first. Finally a chance to get to know each other better. And then there will be drama and secrets before we can have a wedding (not theirs obviously.)
It did make me interested in the previous couples.
One thing at the end could have been left out, I did not want to know why her dad was a d*ck. That felt like an excuse. Some people are just evil.
Good
Lily is restless. I get that. Omg, her dad was a d*ck! She wants to do something for herself, and that is not easy when she is a Chandler. The big name in her town. She was smart, sweet and totally lusting after Gabriel. Like this girl wanted him bad. You go girl.
Gabriel is a tattoo artist. The son of the help and with issues. I liked those issues. That sounds bad, but poor guy. I feel your pain! He does not stand a chance against her.
The book feels sort of short. Most of it takes place at this big house where the wedding will be and they are alone at first. Finally a chance to get to know each other better. And then there will be drama and secrets before we can have a wedding (not theirs obviously.)
It did make me interested in the previous couples.
One thing at the end could have been left out, I did not want to know why her dad was a d*ck. That felt like an excuse. Some people are just evil.
Good
balletbookworm's review
5.0
*sigh* forever. I loved this concluding installment to Forbidden Hearts and devoured it in one sitting. Eve and Gabe’s story is far more like Livvy and Nicholas’s story than Jackson and Sadia’s - there’s a LOT of inter-family drama and plotting. But it’s SO GOOD. Plus allllll the family pops up and there’s a tiny matchmaking subplot. But the glue in this story is how having emotions and caring for others can hurt you, but it can also feel so damn good.
nellesnightstand's review
5.0
I'm adoring everything Ms. Rai writes. Angst and emotional abound in her novels. Evie, ah, Evie. She grows exponentially, she has to after enduring rejection after rejection from Gabe. Oh, he's not a jerk, just insecure and misguided and hiding a "big secret".
Loving this series. Can we get JIA's story now!!!??
Loving this series. Can we get JIA's story now!!!??