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kdailyreads'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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death, Racism, Chronic illness, Ableism, Death of parent, and Gun violence
Moderate: Mass/school shootings, Blood, Medical content, and Cancer
Minor: Bullying
cassiebartelme's review against another edition
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? It's complicated
2.25
There were incredibly too many things going on in this book. Grief. Chronic illness. A mass shooting. Struggling business. Fractured father daughter relationship…too many things and then everything happened really quickly. A few months was mentioned at one point in the story but that wasn’t clear as the story was unfolding- everything was too compacted to feel authentic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Chronic illness
Moderate: Mass/school shootings and Racism
amberinpieces's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness and Terminal illness
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Grief, Racism, Slavery, Hate crime, Mass/school shootings, Death, Death of parent, Gun violence, Bullying, and Medical content
electricjuicebox's review
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
This was sold to me as a romance, but I found that the relationship between Maya and Derek felt like a subplot while the book focused mostly on Maya's career journey and personal growth - which was fine in its own right (I enjoyed that aspect of the story more than the romance), just not what I was expecting.
I was really happy to see a chronically (and terminally) ill protagonist represented in this book, and reading Maya's perspective immerses the reader in the various ways that her illness impacts every element of her life, which was eye-opening... although if you're looking for a lighthearted story, I don't think this is it - there is a decent amount of grappling with mortality and references to dying.
Other reviewers have pointed out that this book stars Black characters without making the story specifically about their struggles with racism, instead including it as part of the nuanced picture of their lives. I agree - we see Maya facing microaggressions from her out-of-touch white boss, we see Derek's daughter talking about her mom braiding her hair, we see Maya incorporating styles she learned from her mother into her bridal gown designs, we see a supportive church community rebuilding after a tragedy, we hear about the importance of Derek's dress shop to the history of the Black community. It's not just a story of oppression.
Unfortunately I found the characters and their relationship really bland and it detracted from the other plotlines. There wasn't enough buildup to justify their emotional connection. They don't seem to bond over much of anything so the fast progression of their interest in each other felt to me like it didn't have much of a solid foundation, and the inner and outer dialogues read as stilted and generic. It was pretty boring, which was a disappointment because this book has some really promising elements. I preferred the plot about trying to save the bridal shop that meant so much to Derek's mother and to their community, but the romance detracted from it.
I was really happy to see a chronically (and terminally) ill protagonist represented in this book, and reading Maya's perspective immerses the reader in the various ways that her illness impacts every element of her life, which was eye-opening... although if you're looking for a lighthearted story, I don't think this is it - there is a decent amount of grappling with mortality and references to dying.
Other reviewers have pointed out that this book stars Black characters without making the story specifically about their struggles with racism, instead including it as part of the nuanced picture of their lives. I agree - we see Maya facing microaggressions from her out-of-touch white boss, we see Derek's daughter talking about her mom braiding her hair, we see Maya incorporating styles she learned from her mother into her bridal gown designs, we see a supportive church community rebuilding after a tragedy, we hear about the importance of Derek's dress shop to the history of the Black community. It's not just a story of oppression.
Unfortunately I found the characters and their relationship really bland and it detracted from the other plotlines. There wasn't enough buildup to justify their emotional connection. They don't seem to bond over much of anything so the fast progression of their interest in each other felt to me like it didn't have much of a solid foundation, and the inner and outer dialogues read as stilted and generic. It was pretty boring, which was a disappointment because this book has some really promising elements. I preferred the plot about trying to save the bridal shop that meant so much to Derek's mother and to their community, but the romance detracted from it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Terminal illness and Chronic illness
Minor: Mass/school shootings, Death of parent, and Racism
heidithebee's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Ableism, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Mass/school shootings, Medical content, and Slavery
clover6872's review
Too much Black struggle. Every single Black character had some significant struggle. The history and culture of the Carolinas was enjoyable but overshadowed by the struggle. As was the love story that the book was supposed to be about.
The thing that really put me over the edge was the passé blanc style character. It didn’t sit right with me and I couldn’t get over it. I did try.
The thing that really put me over the edge was the passé blanc style character. It didn’t sit right with me and I couldn’t get over it. I did try.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, Mental illness, and Racism
now_booking's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I really enjoyed this romance by this new-to-me author. Immediately I realized that it featured a romantic heroine with symptomatic sickle-cell disease, I was already excited and ready to like this. I’ve lost loved ones to sickle cell and I have relatives currently fighting the condition so it was great to see a heroine dealing with her own struggles and feelings about her condition and her prognosis, even as she navigates regular life struggles of ambition and insecurity and that niggling feeling of not trusting yourself because you don’t feel good enough.
The premise of this is that aspiring head designer at a major NYC wedding dress label, Maya, has to take time off to return to South Carolina to help her father after he falls and breaks a hip. With her leave being unpaid, she has to find other means of making money, leading her to retired soldier and single dad, Derek’s failing bridal shop which he inherited from his mother. Together, they have to figure out a way to work on their imposter syndrome and overcome grief if they’re to find a chance of happiness.
This is my first book by this author and I definitely want to read more. This wasn’t quite Christian/Inspirational Romance per se, but it definitely had elements of faith that I as a Christian person really appreciated, but not enough to put it in the Inspirational category. This wasn’t religious fiction, although people kind of feeling let down by the church (and by God) is a minor minor theme. There is romantic chemistry in this so it’s not a no-steam romance even if it is definitely a sex-free one that I think even the most conservative of grannies wouldn’t have an issue with, and yet high steam scenes never felt missing in this. I loved the romantic interactions between the protagonists and how supportive Derek was of Maya’s dreams. This was an enjoyable read and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a fantastic Black romance read that features a heroine with sickle cell and a hero completely out of his depth with fatherhood and with running a bridal store.
Ingredients-wise, this had everything. It had a realistic heroine living her experience of a chronic disease, it had grief and themes of how communities recover from gun violence (based on the Charleston church shootings), it has grief and healing, it has elements of faith, it has the racism, bigotry, gaslighting, cultural appropriation, and micro and macro aggressions Black people experience everyday in the work place. There was romantic tension, good father-daughter relationships, bad father-daughter relationships. Trauma, heartbreak, healing, the works. I enjoyed reading this and I found the conflicts and experiences really touching and heartfelt. I loved that the author didn’t just give the heroine’s condition a token mention and wasn’t afraid to make the heroine’s condition a significant part of this particular heroine’s perception of the world. I loved the exploration of Black (and Filipina) history and identity and also the exploration of muting oneself to fit into a world where you feel like you’re “other,” and of feeling like you need the validation of the same people who discriminate against you to be valid. There were all sorts of real, uncomfortable but honestly-dealt with themes in this book that just grabbed me because of how raw and true and vulnerable they were in the experiences they shared.
For me, this book thematically and in the content was 5 stars. I even loved looking up the comfort food from Maya’s Filipina half and learning about the traditional stitching and sewing heritage from her culture. I loved the descriptions of how she blended her Afro-Filipina heritage in her designs and really discussed that importance. Perhaps a little nerdy, but it added authenticity and believability to what her design aesthetic was and what the conflict was with her boss. That said, where this boom fell a little short for me was in the actual storytelling and linkages: perhaps some of the conflicts were a little too easily resolved out of nowhere, perhaps sometimes the characters were a little too passive and things happened too much to the characters rather than the characters happening to things, perhaps some of the simpler conversations were a little too rushed and surfacey with perfection being saved for the deep conversations, perhaps the romantic relationship sort of came out of nowhere and was a little too “do they really love each other or is it just convenient for them to be together because it’s a partnership made in heaven?”, a symptom of not having the simpler conversations that lead to crushes and relationships. Perhaps the father-daughter conflict kind of never had its concrete moment of resolution. None of these things were major things in this otherwise stellar book that contained all the ingredients of a 5-star novel, but for me those missing dotted i’s and crookedly crossed t’s kind of made this fall short of perfection in my opinion.
Many thanks to Avon Books and Harper Voyager US for a complimentary review copy of this book through NetGalley.
The premise of this is that aspiring head designer at a major NYC wedding dress label, Maya, has to take time off to return to South Carolina to help her father after he falls and breaks a hip. With her leave being unpaid, she has to find other means of making money, leading her to retired soldier and single dad, Derek’s failing bridal shop which he inherited from his mother. Together, they have to figure out a way to work on their imposter syndrome and overcome grief if they’re to find a chance of happiness.
This is my first book by this author and I definitely want to read more. This wasn’t quite Christian/Inspirational Romance per se, but it definitely had elements of faith that I as a Christian person really appreciated, but not enough to put it in the Inspirational category. This wasn’t religious fiction, although people kind of feeling let down by the church (and by God) is a minor minor theme. There is romantic chemistry in this so it’s not a no-steam romance even if it is definitely a sex-free one that I think even the most conservative of grannies wouldn’t have an issue with, and yet high steam scenes never felt missing in this. I loved the romantic interactions between the protagonists and how supportive Derek was of Maya’s dreams. This was an enjoyable read and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a fantastic Black romance read that features a heroine with sickle cell and a hero completely out of his depth with fatherhood and with running a bridal store.
Ingredients-wise, this had everything. It had a realistic heroine living her experience of a chronic disease, it had grief and themes of how communities recover from gun violence (based on the Charleston church shootings), it has grief and healing, it has elements of faith, it has the racism, bigotry, gaslighting, cultural appropriation, and micro and macro aggressions Black people experience everyday in the work place. There was romantic tension, good father-daughter relationships, bad father-daughter relationships. Trauma, heartbreak, healing, the works. I enjoyed reading this and I found the conflicts and experiences really touching and heartfelt. I loved that the author didn’t just give the heroine’s condition a token mention and wasn’t afraid to make the heroine’s condition a significant part of this particular heroine’s perception of the world. I loved the exploration of Black (and Filipina) history and identity and also the exploration of muting oneself to fit into a world where you feel like you’re “other,” and of feeling like you need the validation of the same people who discriminate against you to be valid. There were all sorts of real, uncomfortable but honestly-dealt with themes in this book that just grabbed me because of how raw and true and vulnerable they were in the experiences they shared.
For me, this book thematically and in the content was 5 stars. I even loved looking up the comfort food from Maya’s Filipina half and learning about the traditional stitching and sewing heritage from her culture. I loved the descriptions of how she blended her Afro-Filipina heritage in her designs and really discussed that importance. Perhaps a little nerdy, but it added authenticity and believability to what her design aesthetic was and what the conflict was with her boss. That said, where this boom fell a little short for me was in the actual storytelling and linkages: perhaps some of the conflicts were a little too easily resolved out of nowhere, perhaps sometimes the characters were a little too passive and things happened too much to the characters rather than the characters happening to things, perhaps some of the simpler conversations were a little too rushed and surfacey with perfection being saved for the deep conversations, perhaps the romantic relationship sort of came out of nowhere and was a little too “do they really love each other or is it just convenient for them to be together because it’s a partnership made in heaven?”, a symptom of not having the simpler conversations that lead to crushes and relationships. Perhaps the father-daughter conflict kind of never had its concrete moment of resolution. None of these things were major things in this otherwise stellar book that contained all the ingredients of a 5-star novel, but for me those missing dotted i’s and crookedly crossed t’s kind of made this fall short of perfection in my opinion.
Many thanks to Avon Books and Harper Voyager US for a complimentary review copy of this book through NetGalley.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Death of parent, Death, Grief, and Racism
Moderate: Gun violence, Mass/school shootings, and Medical content
Minor: Hate crime
allisonwonderlandreads's review
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-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? It's complicated
3.0
hearts together in this South Carolina romance. Maya is a wedding dress designer whose creativity and ambition are being stifled at work because the fashion house doesn't appreciate the Afro-Filipina designs that reflect her heritage. She keeps hustling and dreaming, but the pressure is on high. Boutique owner Derek is trying to pull the family business back from the brink after his mother dies while also facing the challenges of being a widowed single dad. There's potential for true love if Maya can win over Derek's middle school daughter and if Derek can accept the 10-15 year life expectancy stemming from Maya's sickle cell anemia.
The book takes on racism in fashion and in workplaces more generally. I thought the biggest strength of this story was seeing Maya's journey as she recognizes her own talent and escapes a toxic work environment and power-grabbing boss. It highlights the way systems make people feel they can get ahead if they just work hard enough, but really the deck is stacked against them.
This narrative practically floats off the page, the touch is so feather-light. Conflicts are smoothed over with ease, and major traumas are referenced rather than dwelled on. The biggest example of this is the loss of Derek's wife to a mass shooting three years previous (if you are worried about a trigger, know the event is not described but is mentioned at a few points throughout). The grief of Derek and his daughter are parts of the plot but not a tangible weight on the story.
I prefer a bit more layering and struggle in my romance with raw moments and hard-won growth. In this one, I think the desire to keep things flowing limited the emotion, and the romance had an insta-love feel as a result. There are also few side characters and limited detail that would make the world feel lived-in and multidimensional. I think if you're looking for something mostly quick and light with hints of bigger themes, this may be a good fit for you.
Thanks to NetGalley and Avon for the opportunity to read and review this book. It's out next week on 6/1!
The book takes on racism in fashion and in workplaces more generally. I thought the biggest strength of this story was seeing Maya's journey as she recognizes her own talent and escapes a toxic work environment and power-grabbing boss. It highlights the way systems make people feel they can get ahead if they just work hard enough, but really the deck is stacked against them.
This narrative practically floats off the page, the touch is so feather-light. Conflicts are smoothed over with ease, and major traumas are referenced rather than dwelled on. The biggest example of this is the loss of Derek's wife to a mass shooting three years previous (if you are worried about a trigger, know the event is not described but is mentioned at a few points throughout). The grief of Derek and his daughter are parts of the plot but not a tangible weight on the story.
I prefer a bit more layering and struggle in my romance with raw moments and hard-won growth. In this one, I think the desire to keep things flowing limited the emotion, and the romance had an insta-love feel as a result. There are also few side characters and limited detail that would make the world feel lived-in and multidimensional. I think if you're looking for something mostly quick and light with hints of bigger themes, this may be a good fit for you.
Thanks to NetGalley and Avon for the opportunity to read and review this book. It's out next week on 6/1!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness, Grief, and Racism
Minor: Mass/school shootings
missprint's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-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? It's complicated
3.0
This book isn't bad, but it's definitely not entirely to my tastes. There's no humor, which to me is a huge shortcoming in any book but especially romance. And the characters were just kind of... blah to me. I didn't feel terribly invested in any of them except maybe Derek's daughter, Jamila. And there was very little time spent developing or *in* Derek and Maya's relationship, so it didn't do anything for me emotionally.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Racism
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