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avery_hutchinson's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This book had me literally annoyed when I had to put it down. The only reason that it is not 5⭐️ is because of the third act conflict, as it felt like a mildly stupid argument which did get resolved in a cute way. Very good main characters with strong backstories and motives, and side characters were very lovable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Emotional abuse, Infertility, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, and Injury/Injury detail
lauraelovesbooks's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I love this book so much. An all-time favourite that’s a blend of romance and women’s fiction.
Rhodes is amazing and, of all MZ’s heroes, I find he strikes the best balance between grumpy and loving. Even without his POV (although I would give anything for even a chapter or two from his perspective) it was clear how much he loved Aurora. I also loved his relationship with his son
I would love to read more stories from these characters and I feel there were a few setups for new stories peppered in with Clara (I would really love this), Yuki, and Amos. I was honestly surprised when When Gracie Met the Grump came out because I was so sure the next book would be one of theirs 🤷🏻♀️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death of parent
Moderate: Sexual content and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse
razalicious's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content and Death of parent
vanesst's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Sexual content
reiverse's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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? It's complicated
5.0
This book made me so happy! I love the storyline and dynamics between characters. The romance was a slow burner but worth it!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
hereiskyra's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Something about the writing style of this book made it so easy to imagine and enjoy, even though I’ll admit, I didn’t feel like there was a ton of excitement or depth to most of the plot. But I absolutely fell in love with all the characters, not just the MMC and FMC.
I think this may have been one of the only time there was a teenager rather than a child and it made it that much better! He was such a great kid and his unique parental situation brought something interesting to the story.
I’m always a sucker for low conflict (or lack of miscommunications/third act breakup) and this one was pretty much that. The small conflict felt necessary for the whole of the story, to show just how much she was wanted and needed by these two that had welcomed her into their lives. And we all love to see an HEA several years down the road, it just itches a good spot in your brain. 🙂
Although the resolution to her mothers story wasn’t a happy one (and I did feel like I had a glimmer of hope the entire book), it was a relief that there was some peace given to Aurora (and to us readers) because who wants to live their life wondering?
Also, a single POV having the second narrator for the male character was fantastic!! I wish more authors would do this.
Spice Level: 🌶️
Tropes:
Slow Burn
Grumpy/Sunshine
Small Town
Single Dad
Although the resolution to her mothers story wasn’t a happy one (and I did feel like I had a glimmer of hope the entire book), it was a relief that there was some peace given to Aurora (and to us readers) because who wants to live their life wondering?
Also, a single POV having the second narrator for the male character was fantastic!! I wish more authors would do this.
Spice Level: 🌶️
Tropes:
Slow Burn
Grumpy/Sunshine
Small Town
Single Dad
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Sexual content
what_karla_reads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-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
5.0
5/5 stars
1.5/5 spice
Tropes:
Strangers to friends to lovers
Slow burn
Trauma/healing
Protective hero
Grumpy/sunshine
Single dad
Single POV
The slowest of the slow burns but honestly I'm not mad about it. I really enjoyed the personal journey Aurora went through. I think that was more important that her finding love. Overall, I loved the grumpy/sunshine trope with this one. This was my first book with this author but I'm definitely interested in reading more.
Thank you to Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and offered voluntarily.
Trigger/Content warnings:
Mentions emotional abuse, extortion, divorce, and death of parent. Sexual content
1.5/5 spice
Tropes:
Strangers to friends to lovers
Slow burn
Trauma/healing
Protective hero
Grumpy/sunshine
Single dad
Single POV
The slowest of the slow burns but honestly I'm not mad about it. I really enjoyed the personal journey Aurora went through. I think that was more important that her finding love. Overall, I loved the grumpy/sunshine trope with this one. This was my first book with this author but I'm definitely interested in reading more.
Thank you to Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and offered voluntarily.
Trigger/Content warnings:
Mentions emotional abuse, extortion, divorce, and death of parent. Sexual content
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Emotional abuse and Death of parent
alfarmer's review against another edition
emotional
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I had high hopes for this book and it delivered on all of them!! The story and characters are great and in typical Mariana Zapata fashion the grump and slow burn are perfect. Only down side is that the ending drags a bit, but it nicely closes up all plot points.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Death of parent
niamhstorme's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
takarakei's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Unfortunately I didn't realize going into this that it's a 600 page romance, or I would probably not have read it. No romance needs to be that long imo. MZ writes slow burn, but there's slow burn and then there's... whatever this is. The two main characters barely interacted or talked for like the first 30% of this book (which is like 200 pages). The first HALF of this book could have been severely edited down in terms of content because I was just reading too many mundane details that my brain was shutting down.
Which honestly sucks because the last 20% of this book is really good! Once you *actually* start to see the tiniest spark (aka they have conversations) between the main characters I enjoyed it. I really liked the development of the relationship between Aurora and Tobias' son Amos (tbh she has more interactions in the first half of the book with Amos than Tobias). There's a hard hitting part at the end regarding Aurora's grief over her mom that got me a bit misty.I'm not sure that I needed her ex to come back begging for her, I felt that was extraneous.
Overall I'm not sure I really vibed with Aurora as a main character and she made some really dumb ass decisions in this book that irked me (hello hiking on your own when you are clearly not an experienced hiker and your mom disappeared while hiking??? please make it make sense). Also this is a self published book moving to traditional publication and the arc I read had some super repetitive parts and several typos that I hope are fixed before it's published...
I have some other books by this author on my list that I will read, but I'll be checking the page count before I do.
🌶️3/5
Which honestly sucks because the last 20% of this book is really good! Once you *actually* start to see the tiniest spark (aka they have conversations) between the main characters I enjoyed it. I really liked the development of the relationship between Aurora and Tobias' son Amos (tbh she has more interactions in the first half of the book with Amos than Tobias). There's a hard hitting part at the end regarding Aurora's grief over her mom that got me a bit misty.
Overall I'm not sure I really vibed with Aurora as a main character and she made some really dumb ass decisions in this book that irked me (hello hiking on your own when you are clearly not an experienced hiker and your mom disappeared while hiking??? please make it make sense). Also this is a self published book moving to traditional publication and the arc I read had some super repetitive parts and several typos that I hope are fixed before it's published...
I have some other books by this author on my list that I will read, but I'll be checking the page count before I do.
🌶️3/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Mental illness and Sexual content
Minor: Pregnancy
Aurora's ex and his mother are vile and the horrible things they did to her are brought up several times. Tobias' mother struggled with mental illness and as a result he had a rough childhood. There is one explicit spicy scene. Pregnancy happens as part of the HEA (not a surprise).