Reviews

Candidly Yours by Reese Ryan

brandylyons's review

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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

5.0

Love the Carnival aspect to everything, which provides so much texture and color and vibrancy to the book! Layla is amazing, she's so thoughtful and creative and giving and wonderful! Quincy is absolutely lovely! I adored this book so much!

veva85's review

5.0

Really enjoyed Layla and Quinn’s story. The fact that they aren’t 20 lol was the best. Really enjoyed that Layla is older. This book bucked some of the backwards views of women especially those that are 40+!!

timitra's review

4.0

Sweet Read!

Candidly Yours was a cute, sweet and sexy read that I thoroughly enjoyed. I loved that it was partially set in my country, Trinidad and Tobago.

shaybooks's review

5.0

Candidly Yours was a very intriguing read. Quincy and Layla story was very romantic and spicy. It was great to revisit Pleaseant Cove and to travel to the different Carnival , it made me want to add these places to my bucket list. This story was so full of love and emotions that I teared up in a couple of places.
I really enjoyed this story.

shannanh's review

4.0

This story in the series (although each book can be read as a standalone) involves Layla St. John , a clothing designer and a childhood friend of her brother, Quincy Johnson. I loved what happened throughout the story as well as the connection to Chicago and other places. The story was Reese Ryan hot and it left me ticked and also with a good feeling at the end. The author did a very good job.

gwensreading's review

4.0

Very cute friends to lovers story. Loved the descriptions of the carnival clothing and Caribbean food

lateresita27's review

4.0

Older heroine/younger hero trope done really well. You will love Reese Ryan if you like main characters who communicate. I love the premise of Carnival season around the Carribbean and the US. Small town contemporary at it's best

readingwithcats's review

lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I really liked both Layla and Quincy, kind, well-meaning adults who treat each other with consideration. However, I wish less time was taken up with the numerous sex scenes and way more time spent at the carnivales.

trinielf's review

lighthearted medium-paced

3.0

I was intrigued by the premise of this book as the characters visit some Caribbean islands for Carnival. the heroine is also doing a clothing line inspired by Carnival. I enjoyed Q and Layla's relationship. I always love an age gap romance between consenting adults when the heroine is the older one.

Speaking only for the portrayal of Trinidad Carnival (as a trini) I will say it felt like an opportunity was wasted to showcase the characters at the main Carnival event which happens on the Tuesday. We hear about them going to attend Jouvert but we never actually get this scene. we only see them at a "stush" fete. I know they were mainly there to get the photos and video for Q's project however, I wanted to see them immersed in the middle of the celebrations a bit more. But that was just my expectations as someone born and raised in Trinidad and knowing how the vibe and energy on Tuesday. It did feel like it was skimmed over but eh that's just me.

Nothing majorly inaccurate jumped out at me when describing their time in Trinidad and Carnival, although the mention of coloured mud threw me. I'm not sure if the author was speaking about the various shades of brown for the mud used at J'ouvert but uh yeah the mud isn't usually any other colour than brown. The paint is multi-coloured.

I did feel like the proposal at the end was a bit rushed but Q and Layla were cute together.