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readingandteaching247's review
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Thank you NetGalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review!
First of all if you haven’t read Island Affair, the first in the Keys to Love Series, go read that right now. I absolutely loved that book and it has a completely different feel than this book does. While the first book felt light and fresh, this book was much heavier. I was surprised by the lack of steam and connection between these two. I was hoping for more reconnection as this is a second chance romance but at times it felt like these two just hated each other and were trying to please their mothers. It took a REALLY long time for them to get together and I don’t love the lack of build up. If I hadn’t read the first book I might not have kept going looking for more of the feel of the first story.
Somethings I did enjoy about this one was the friendship between Anamaria and Sara, Anamaria’s relationship with her family and Alejandro. I liked how strong Anamaria was and that she had started her own business that she was passionate about. The women in Priscilla Oliveras’s novels are such an inspiration and I love that about her. I just wish we could get back to the happy carefree love story from book one. I think I wasn’t ready to take on the emotions of this one. The writing was good the mood just wasn’t for me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Medical content, and Medical trauma
readclever's review
adventurous
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Thanks to Zebra for the opportunity to review the book for an honest opinion.
The setting, atmosphere, and community really stand out in the story. It's easy to follow how each of the main character's interact and work together, along with other members of the community, as many come from the Cuban diaspora of the 1950s and 1960s. Honestly, the community aspect was one of my favorite. Almost a tropical small town setting.
I also loved the way the Spanish was incorporated. No italics, just an answer or question from the next paragraph or speaker. I want to be immersed in the world. Oliveras did a fantastic job of setting up places like the Navarro dinners and Miranda restaurants. It felt really well done.
For the romance, I was lukewarm. Anamaria was a more developed character than Alejandro and had a stronger arc, I think. Ale felt a bit flat with his constant refrains and unwillingness to bridge old gaps, letting old wounds heal. I wanted more for AM because she knew herself after the couple's first breakup. Finding her voice and efforts. I loved watching her journey. Honestly, his lack of development dropped the book down.
Ending seemed super rushed given the relationship between them. Had Ale been more mature and worked within the romance, the book would have been 4 stars.
The setting, atmosphere, and community really stand out in the story. It's easy to follow how each of the main character's interact and work together, along with other members of the community, as many come from the Cuban diaspora of the 1950s and 1960s. Honestly, the community aspect was one of my favorite. Almost a tropical small town setting.
I also loved the way the Spanish was incorporated. No italics, just an answer or question from the next paragraph or speaker. I want to be immersed in the world. Oliveras did a fantastic job of setting up places like the Navarro dinners and Miranda restaurants. It felt really well done.
For the romance, I was lukewarm. Anamaria was a more developed character than Alejandro and had a stronger arc, I think. Ale felt a bit flat with his constant refrains and unwillingness to bridge old gaps, letting old wounds heal. I wanted more for AM because she knew herself after the couple's first breakup. Finding her voice and efforts. I loved watching her journey. Honestly, his lack of development dropped the book down.
Ending seemed super rushed given the relationship between them. Had Ale been more mature and worked within the romance, the book would have been 4 stars.
Content Warnings
Minor: Medical content
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