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exquisite_tragedy's review against another edition
2.0
More like 2.5⭐️
Tropes/Themes:
-MF contemporary romance
-Age gaps (he’s 8 years older)
-Forbidden (she’s the adopted daughter of a rich ranch owner, he works on the farm and is also in an arranged marriage with someone else)
-Hurt/comfort
-Forced proximity
-Lots of angst
-Dual POV
-Standalone
I have super mixed feelings about this one. Even though it was compulsively readable and hard to put down at times… I didn’t find it romantic at all? Maybe it was because of the taboo nature of their relationship and how it progressed, but I couldn’t get myself to root for Milo and Indie to get together. There was a HEA at the end, but it left me wanting a lot more and made it difficult for me to picture these two actually staying together. I also didn’t love the mustache twirling villains (and there were quite a few of them).
Jewel E Ann might just not be an author for me to be honest. I think this is the second book I’ve read from her now, and I had very similar complaints with my last read from her.
I’m sure there’s an audience for this book…it just doesn’t include me.
CWs for loss of a loved one, graphic violence, murder/death, death penalty/lethal injection, conversations about sexual assault/rape, and many more
Tropes/Themes:
-MF contemporary romance
-Age gaps (he’s 8 years older)
-Forbidden (she’s the adopted daughter of a rich ranch owner, he works on the farm and is also in an arranged marriage with someone else)
-Hurt/comfort
-Forced proximity
-Lots of angst
-Dual POV
-Standalone
I have super mixed feelings about this one. Even though it was compulsively readable and hard to put down at times… I didn’t find it romantic at all? Maybe it was because of the taboo nature of their relationship and how it progressed, but I couldn’t get myself to root for Milo and Indie to get together. There was a HEA at the end, but it left me wanting a lot more and made it difficult for me to picture these two actually staying together. I also didn’t love the mustache twirling villains (and there were quite a few of them).
Jewel E Ann might just not be an author for me to be honest. I think this is the second book I’ve read from her now, and I had very similar complaints with my last read from her.
I’m sure there’s an audience for this book…it just doesn’t include me.
CWs for loss of a loved one, graphic violence, murder/death, death penalty/lethal injection, conversations about sexual assault/rape, and many more
_jessrobbo12's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
emilytatum23's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
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? It's complicated
5.0
1bookobsessionconfessions's review against another edition
5.0
4.75 STARS
What a soul stirring ride this poignant story took me on!
Indie and Milo are such sympathetic characters. I was entirely engaged throughout the book.
It has a melancholic tone, but that made the light, joyful and beautiful moments shine so bright.
Forbidden love is my favorite, this gave me all the excited and nervous butterflies of that plus righteous anger over the pair’s very unfair, twisted circumstances.
I loved their easy, natural interactions as much as I loved the flirtatious and passionate ones.
The longing and angst was palpable and heart wrenching to me.
Their lives are not their own and that is central to the story. They aren’t pulling the strings in their own lives.
Love, sacrifice, fortitude and dreams of freedom are the main themes that made this such a captivating story for me.
Milo is incredibly swoony, his protective and sensitive care of Indie was incredible. The combination of that with his selflessness is powerful.
Indie is a lonely girl without anyone that loves her other than Milo. They both have very tragic stories. They care for each other from an early age and it develops over time into many different types of love. Their connection and love is so very moving.
Secrets are alluded to throughout the story, when they are unearthed things come to light that satisfied my questions.
I loved that most of them were surprising to me. My heart ached for the pair and all they had endured.
This is a love story that spans from childhood to adulthood that has an intense tone without being overwhelming.
This is a heartfelt and heart wrenching story of Milo and Indie’s devotion and love for each other. Their journey shows their endurance and strength.
The ending felt a bit rushed and abrupt. A couple of things were tied up neatly and little easily in my opinion. It didn’t take much away from the 90 percent or more of the book that I felt was incredible.
What a soul stirring ride this poignant story took me on!
Indie and Milo are such sympathetic characters. I was entirely engaged throughout the book.
It has a melancholic tone, but that made the light, joyful and beautiful moments shine so bright.
Forbidden love is my favorite, this gave me all the excited and nervous butterflies of that plus righteous anger over the pair’s very unfair, twisted circumstances.
I loved their easy, natural interactions as much as I loved the flirtatious and passionate ones.
The longing and angst was palpable and heart wrenching to me.
Their lives are not their own and that is central to the story. They aren’t pulling the strings in their own lives.
Love, sacrifice, fortitude and dreams of freedom are the main themes that made this such a captivating story for me.
Milo is incredibly swoony, his protective and sensitive care of Indie was incredible. The combination of that with his selflessness is powerful.
Indie is a lonely girl without anyone that loves her other than Milo. They both have very tragic stories. They care for each other from an early age and it develops over time into many different types of love. Their connection and love is so very moving.
Secrets are alluded to throughout the story, when they are unearthed things come to light that satisfied my questions.
I loved that most of them were surprising to me. My heart ached for the pair and all they had endured.
This is a love story that spans from childhood to adulthood that has an intense tone without being overwhelming.
This is a heartfelt and heart wrenching story of Milo and Indie’s devotion and love for each other. Their journey shows their endurance and strength.
The ending felt a bit rushed and abrupt. A couple of things were tied up neatly and little easily in my opinion. It didn’t take much away from the 90 percent or more of the book that I felt was incredible.
caseroo7's review
5.0
Find this review and more at Ramblings From This Chick
If This Is Love by Jewel E Ann had me hooked from page one, and I could not put this book down! This book was so heartbreaking yet beautiful and I can’t recall a time recently that I was as emotional while reading as I was here. This book is definitely one of hte best I’ve read this year, and I just know that it will be on my mind for the foreseeable future.
Indie and Milo’s story is not an easy read by any means, and it felt at times that my heart was literally breaking alongside theirs. But the one thing I knew was that if anyone was meant for someone else, that was absolutely the case for these two. I loved their connection and chemistry, and every moment they shared. I couldn’t get enough of their burnt grilled cheese sandwiches with figs, and their pond races. I just kept hoping that through it all, their love would find a way.
Both of these characters had so much in their pasts that they had to overcome and I just felt so much for both of them. I won’t give anything away, but these two were made for one another. Jewel E Ann had me hooked the whole way through, and I definitely shed some tears along the way. This one was a journey, and I am so glad I was able to go on it with Milo and Indie. I can’t recommend this one enough. Milo and Indie are everything and I know this is one book I’ll never forget.
**ARC Provided by Valentine PR**
If This Is Love by Jewel E Ann had me hooked from page one, and I could not put this book down! This book was so heartbreaking yet beautiful and I can’t recall a time recently that I was as emotional while reading as I was here. This book is definitely one of hte best I’ve read this year, and I just know that it will be on my mind for the foreseeable future.
Indie and Milo’s story is not an easy read by any means, and it felt at times that my heart was literally breaking alongside theirs. But the one thing I knew was that if anyone was meant for someone else, that was absolutely the case for these two. I loved their connection and chemistry, and every moment they shared. I couldn’t get enough of their burnt grilled cheese sandwiches with figs, and their pond races. I just kept hoping that through it all, their love would find a way.
Both of these characters had so much in their pasts that they had to overcome and I just felt so much for both of them. I won’t give anything away, but these two were made for one another. Jewel E Ann had me hooked the whole way through, and I definitely shed some tears along the way. This one was a journey, and I am so glad I was able to go on it with Milo and Indie. I can’t recommend this one enough. Milo and Indie are everything and I know this is one book I’ll never forget.
**ARC Provided by Valentine PR**
primahattie2's review
Not my favorite trope. I hate when the MMC has a baby with someone else.
sandizzlereads's review against another edition
5.0
Jewel E Ann just released another book for you to add to your TBR!!
My Review ⤵️
If This Is Love is one of those stories where you can’t stop rooting for the underdog. You are going to fall in love with Milo and Indie, you aren’t going to have a choice.
This book spans a lifetime, but the measurement of a lifetime is subjective. For some it’s years and for others it’s moments. For Milo and Indie it’s a bit of both. Stuck in lives that they have little or no control over they find themselves turning to each other for support and eventually something more. But the powers that be won’t let them find their HEA, the powers that be have other ideas.
This book is going to hook you, but that’s just what Jewel does, she writes emotional stories that you can’t walk away from. So don’t, go pick this one up and don’t put it down until you are done. You can thank me later
My Review ⤵️
If This Is Love is one of those stories where you can’t stop rooting for the underdog. You are going to fall in love with Milo and Indie, you aren’t going to have a choice.
This book spans a lifetime, but the measurement of a lifetime is subjective. For some it’s years and for others it’s moments. For Milo and Indie it’s a bit of both. Stuck in lives that they have little or no control over they find themselves turning to each other for support and eventually something more. But the powers that be won’t let them find their HEA, the powers that be have other ideas.
This book is going to hook you, but that’s just what Jewel does, she writes emotional stories that you can’t walk away from. So don’t, go pick this one up and don’t put it down until you are done. You can thank me later
briannajjessica's review
challenging
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0