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becsa's review against another edition
4.0
In 2001 Adelaide (Addie) Hassan's life changes in the blink of an eye when her father flees the country leaving her and her mom and sisters needing new identities in a new town. Beginning over Addie focuses on school and becomes a lawyer and moves to London to work for a US firm in a place where she can be at peace that her past is behind her.
In London Addie meets Simon Phillips and the two click but unfortunately Simon has his own past and ghosts that he is trying to keep secret.
As both Simon and Addie's pasts come back will they have the strength to get through it together or will their pasts be too much for their futures?
This was such a beautiful story about overcoming the past to make something of yourself against all the odds.
Addie had a past she really wanted to forget and she was really at odds with her mom and how to handle everything that the FBI wanted of her. She worked so hard at making something of herself and she didn't want everything to come crumbling down on her. I loved her relationship with Cara and how it stood the test of time. I completely understood where Addie was coming from in trying to move on and I felt so bad for her with the tensions between herself and her mom and sisters.
Simon had so much on his shoulders and he felt like he had to carry it all himself, even though his brother Kyle was trying to help him out. He wanted his own past to stay there and he overcame so much to get to where he was.
I loved Simon and Addie together as they both became so much stronger because of it but the fact that Addie never told Simon everything was the cause of everything falling apart. I was super mad at Mercy for treating Addie like she did at the end.
I wasn't surprised when everything was revealed at the end as I never trusted the person to begin with. I loved how everything eventually came together and I can't wait to see what is next!
The author writes such a powerful story and it shows the strength of overcoming your past but that love is needed!
In London Addie meets Simon Phillips and the two click but unfortunately Simon has his own past and ghosts that he is trying to keep secret.
As both Simon and Addie's pasts come back will they have the strength to get through it together or will their pasts be too much for their futures?
This was such a beautiful story about overcoming the past to make something of yourself against all the odds.
Addie had a past she really wanted to forget and she was really at odds with her mom and how to handle everything that the FBI wanted of her. She worked so hard at making something of herself and she didn't want everything to come crumbling down on her. I loved her relationship with Cara and how it stood the test of time. I completely understood where Addie was coming from in trying to move on and I felt so bad for her with the tensions between herself and her mom and sisters.
Simon had so much on his shoulders and he felt like he had to carry it all himself, even though his brother Kyle was trying to help him out. He wanted his own past to stay there and he overcame so much to get to where he was.
I loved Simon and Addie together as they both became so much stronger because of it but the fact that Addie never told Simon everything was the cause of everything falling apart. I was super mad at Mercy for treating Addie like she did at the end.
I wasn't surprised when everything was revealed at the end as I never trusted the person to begin with. I loved how everything eventually came together and I can't wait to see what is next!
The author writes such a powerful story and it shows the strength of overcoming your past but that love is needed!
theestherhadassah's review against another edition
5.0
Oh the feels!!!
I think this calls for a celebration! I've just found a new author to add to my top favorites list. I love the story so much. I was losing my cool and needed something different to read for a change. I've been knee-deep in review books and this totally pulled me out. The author has done an amazing job and all I want now is another!!! Great for anyone who loves Kennedy Ryan!!
*** I had received a copy of this book from the author, with intention of reviewing and then I won a copy in a giveaway.
I think this calls for a celebration! I've just found a new author to add to my top favorites list. I love the story so much. I was losing my cool and needed something different to read for a change. I've been knee-deep in review books and this totally pulled me out. The author has done an amazing job and all I want now is another!!! Great for anyone who loves Kennedy Ryan!!
*** I had received a copy of this book from the author, with intention of reviewing and then I won a copy in a giveaway.
bookbruin's review against another edition
5.0
I couldn't wait to read this after finishing Remember. Yes, I technically read the books out of order, but since they can be read as standalones, it didn't matter. I wanted to know all the things about Addie and Simon and their story didn't disappoint!
Addie is such a driven and closed off individual following the events of her childhood. She has hidden her scars and tried to distance herself as much as possible from that life. Simon also has been dealt a tragic set of cards and has struggled to balance his sense of duty and loyalty to his family with his own needs and desires. Though I didn't always agree with her or Simon's actions, I certainly could understand why they were making the decisions that they were.
The chemistry between Simon and Addie from the moment they meet is electric. Simon is the perfect blend of sweet and thoughtful and oh so sinfully sexy! His dirty mouth in the bedroom and alpha personality almost melted my kindle!
The push and pull between Addie and Simon as well as the slow burn build-up made the moments so much more intense and delicious. Every glance, kiss, and lingering touch was so meaningful and when it all finally boils over, it is beyond perfect.
Though Dean will always be my favorite I think since I met him first, Simon is a very, very, very close second.
One of my favorite things about both books so far is how Dylan Allen has woven the timelines together to create this incredible story. There is some overlap viewing a particular moment from a different character's POV and it's absolutely brilliant! I can't wait to read Lilly's story next in Release and am still stunned that this was Dylan Allen's debut novel. Simply amazing!
Addie is such a driven and closed off individual following the events of her childhood. She has hidden her scars and tried to distance herself as much as possible from that life. Simon also has been dealt a tragic set of cards and has struggled to balance his sense of duty and loyalty to his family with his own needs and desires. Though I didn't always agree with her or Simon's actions, I certainly could understand why they were making the decisions that they were.
The chemistry between Simon and Addie from the moment they meet is electric. Simon is the perfect blend of sweet and thoughtful and oh so sinfully sexy! His dirty mouth in the bedroom and alpha personality almost melted my kindle!
The push and pull between Addie and Simon as well as the slow burn build-up made the moments so much more intense and delicious. Every glance, kiss, and lingering touch was so meaningful and when it all finally boils over, it is beyond perfect.
Though Dean will always be my favorite I think since I met him first, Simon is a very, very, very close second.
One of my favorite things about both books so far is how Dylan Allen has woven the timelines together to create this incredible story. There is some overlap viewing a particular moment from a different character's POV and it's absolutely brilliant! I can't wait to read Lilly's story next in Release and am still stunned that this was Dylan Allen's debut novel. Simply amazing!
arushofemotions's review against another edition
5.0
Loved it!
This was my first book by this author, and I loved it. I loved the story of Addie and Simon, and the backgrounds that they both shared were so touching. They were perfect for each other and they just needed to find each other. The little bit of drama that happened made the book so much better. Definitely will be reading more by this author.
This was my first book by this author, and I loved it. I loved the story of Addie and Simon, and the backgrounds that they both shared were so touching. They were perfect for each other and they just needed to find each other. The little bit of drama that happened made the book so much better. Definitely will be reading more by this author.
kellyg_5013's review against another edition
5.0
This book I was having a really hard time deciding how to feel about Simon.... I mean he can't seem to make up his mind about Addie, but then the way that he is with his family kind of makes up for it. Their relationship is kind of back and forth for a while. Both of them seem to have a problem letting people in because of the ones that have betrayed them in the past. Once they finally start to get through all that crap is when the love begins to bloom! You just can't help but love them and cheer for them to be able to get through all the mess so they can be together. Totally love this book by Dylan Allen.... absolutely worth all 5 stars!
mlbnbrit's review against another edition
4.0
“Dreams aren’t made of fairytales and romance, they are made of hard work and grit.” Dylan Allen, Then Came You
Then Came You (formerly titled Rise; swipe for pic of that cover) by Dylan Allen is a sexy and emotional workplace romance. I really enjoyed it. Addie and Simon’s back stories really tug on the heartstrings, and their chemistry is that much stronger because they both are harboring secrets, pain, and insecurities. Their vulnerability paired with the sexual tension also make it VERY
Then Came You (formerly titled Rise; swipe for pic of that cover) by Dylan Allen is a sexy and emotional workplace romance. I really enjoyed it. Addie and Simon’s back stories really tug on the heartstrings, and their chemistry is that much stronger because they both are harboring secrets, pain, and insecurities. Their vulnerability paired with the sexual tension also make it VERY
bookphenomena_micky's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
This was a enjoyable debut and it was a pleasure to see the writing skills and ability of a new author, as I got drawn into the drama and story. There are so many great facets to RISE and it all started with that pretty cover. That cover gave me the perfect visualisation for Addie. The book is beautifully diverse in terms of characters and backgrounds; I would love to see more of this style in contemporary romance. I hope Dylan Allen will continue to represent diversity as she writes; the book world needs this.
Addie was a strong woman, I need a strong female lead to feel fully invested. Addie was all that with a slice of hurt and vulnerability but she excelled in her career and wasn't about to be taken for a fool. Simon was immediately swoon material but as I read on, he faded in my esteem somewhat with a lack of integrity. I'm not going to spoil, this man has reasons but I still wanted more from him as a man in a potential relationship context. There's complexity to this story and in-depth backgrounds that are rich. Sometimes the dialogue wasn't to my taste in relation to the chemistry elements of the story and sometimes it was, but that is a subjective preference issue in romance. I did believe Simon and Addie's pull towards one another.
An enjoyable book and I look forward to what is ahead for Dylan Allen.
This was a enjoyable debut and it was a pleasure to see the writing skills and ability of a new author, as I got drawn into the drama and story. There are so many great facets to RISE and it all started with that pretty cover. That cover gave me the perfect visualisation for Addie. The book is beautifully diverse in terms of characters and backgrounds; I would love to see more of this style in contemporary romance. I hope Dylan Allen will continue to represent diversity as she writes; the book world needs this.
Addie was a strong woman, I need a strong female lead to feel fully invested. Addie was all that with a slice of hurt and vulnerability but she excelled in her career and wasn't about to be taken for a fool. Simon was immediately swoon material but as I read on, he faded in my esteem somewhat with a lack of integrity. I'm not going to spoil, this man has reasons but I still wanted more from him as a man in a potential relationship context. There's complexity to this story and in-depth backgrounds that are rich. Sometimes the dialogue wasn't to my taste in relation to the chemistry elements of the story and sometimes it was, but that is a subjective preference issue in romance. I did believe Simon and Addie's pull towards one another.
An enjoyable book and I look forward to what is ahead for Dylan Allen.
lunalovesbooks's review against another edition
3.0
The Good and the Bad
DNF at 63%
There were a lot of things I liked about this book. The plot is engaging. The writing is good quality. I like the premise of the book, and much of it was well executed. For example, I really liked the portrayal of the multirracial characters with their struggles and backgrounds. I think many books that try something like this end up overdoing it or coming off as preaching about diversity. I married someone from another country and culture, so I like to see that element normalized in romances, without being exaggerated or misrepresented.
There are quite a few typos throughout the book. They are not necessarily grammar mistakes, more like missing letters here and there and confusion of homophones, etc. This didn’t significantly affect my reading experience.
The reasons I decided not to finish and to give 3 stars have a lot to do with the heroine. Addie is very likable most of the time. However, there were moments where her actions or decisions seemed very immature and made me mad. One moment in particular is when her phone is dead and she borrows a phone to call her best friend, since they were supposed to have met an hour before. Her friend says that she texted her to call off the plans, but Addie gets very angry and is rude to her friend (tells her she had waited an hour and never got the text and cusses her out - no mention that her phone is dead) before hanging up. There were a few moments like this when I intensely disliked the heroine. After the first couple, I tried to convince myself to push through, that Addie was going to do a lot of growing throughout the book. I’m sure she does, but it didn’t happen quickly enough for me.
The last straw that caused me to give up on the book was the back and forth nature of Addie and Simon’s relationship. I was bored by the cycle: they run into each other, they get close to each other, Simon pulls back and hurts Addie, Addie hates his guts, repeat.
I think that either Addie’s immaturity or the hot/cold relationship wouldn’t have bothered me as much by itself. However, the combination of those factors meant that Addie was angry or upset at friends, family, and/or the hero during most of what I read.
I will definitely try another book by this author, since the things that drove me crazy could be just flukes, and since there were a lot of great qualities about the book.
DNF at 63%
There were a lot of things I liked about this book. The plot is engaging. The writing is good quality. I like the premise of the book, and much of it was well executed. For example, I really liked the portrayal of the multirracial characters with their struggles and backgrounds. I think many books that try something like this end up overdoing it or coming off as preaching about diversity. I married someone from another country and culture, so I like to see that element normalized in romances, without being exaggerated or misrepresented.
There are quite a few typos throughout the book. They are not necessarily grammar mistakes, more like missing letters here and there and confusion of homophones, etc. This didn’t significantly affect my reading experience.
The reasons I decided not to finish and to give 3 stars have a lot to do with the heroine. Addie is very likable most of the time. However, there were moments where her actions or decisions seemed very immature and made me mad. One moment in particular is when her phone is dead and she borrows a phone to call her best friend, since they were supposed to have met an hour before. Her friend says that she texted her to call off the plans, but Addie gets very angry and is rude to her friend (tells her she had waited an hour and never got the text and cusses her out - no mention that her phone is dead) before hanging up. There were a few moments like this when I intensely disliked the heroine. After the first couple, I tried to convince myself to push through, that Addie was going to do a lot of growing throughout the book. I’m sure she does, but it didn’t happen quickly enough for me.
The last straw that caused me to give up on the book was the back and forth nature of Addie and Simon’s relationship. I was bored by the cycle: they run into each other, they get close to each other, Simon pulls back and hurts Addie, Addie hates his guts, repeat.
I think that either Addie’s immaturity or the hot/cold relationship wouldn’t have bothered me as much by itself. However, the combination of those factors meant that Addie was angry or upset at friends, family, and/or the hero during most of what I read.
I will definitely try another book by this author, since the things that drove me crazy could be just flukes, and since there were a lot of great qualities about the book.
asocialcris's review against another edition
“Rise” is a debut written by a woman I adore, so I *might* be a little biased, but I’m recommending you readers give this one a try. It’s a great, multicultural romance featuring two smart characters who fight hard to make the most of their present and future by refusing to let their traumatic pasts interfere. It took a bit of time to get into it (I didn’t feel like it flowed until around the 1/3 mark), but once it picked up, I was entrenched in this smooth and mature love story. I recommend this to readers who love adult romances with characters who deal with (relatively) real life dramas. This one features a heroine I recognize parts of myself in, and a hero so dashing I’d marry him in an instant.
bookbae96's review against another edition
4.0
Dreams aren't made of fairytales and romance, they're made of hard work and grit.
As far as Adelaide Hassan is concerned, hard work and determination are the things that will get her where she wants to be in life. She will never depend on anyone to get what she needs, and she'll be stronger and better off for it.
RISE, the debut novel by author Dylan Allen, is a book about breaking through the walls that we create around ourselves to let love in. After having watched her mom give up everything to support a man that had deserted their family, leaving them to face the fallout, Addie is certain that she will get everything that she wants and needs without the help of any man. But when she meets up-and-coming architect Simon, Addie lets her heart guide her for the first time. Simon, though, has a past and a present that keep him from allowing himself to fall. Addie makes him believe that he really can have more for the first time in his life.
I like both Addie and Simon. They've both been formed by pasts that make emotion a risky venture for them, but, the more that they try to stay away from each other, the more they realize that they can't run. The real joy is seeing them break down their emotional walls to get to themselves, and, finally, each other.
It's always a toss-up when you read a book by a new author, because, while I read a lot of different things, I know what I like. Dylan has written a book that not only makes it seem like she's been doing this for a very long time, but that had me from the first, and compelled me to read on through to the very end.
RISE is a solid 4-star read for me, and one that I would happily recommend for fans of the romance genre. I like Dylan's style and look forward to seeing more from her in the near future.
***ARC generously provided for an honest review.***