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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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:
Yes
I loved this! It was so messy but in a way that felt authentic and realistic. I loved the friendship dynamics, especially the way the FMC talked about her casual relationship with her best friend and the potential downfalls. I love a man who knows what he wants and puts it all on the table. Overall I really enjoyed this one. The only reason it’s not 5 stars is because the ending fell a little bit flat for me. I think I would have preferred and epilogue from later in their lives because where this book left off almost feels open ended. like obviously it’s a HEA but it almost gives me “happy for now” vibes.
5 star read.
I absolutely ate this book up - the representation, the writing, the plot, the characters - all swoon-worthy & perfect.
Marcela is an absolute delight, and her character development and growth is *chef's kiss*; it's so well done and the fact that she actually truly works on her problems on page is something that I truly feel needs to be included in more books. Add in the fact that she's a librarian and all of the bookish elements (her library! donating books to kids in need! the date!) just really made this next level for this book lover.
Theo is a heart throb; he wears his heart on his sleeve and is the perfect partner for Marcela. He's a former NFL player trying to figure it all out, and then on one fateful night he meets his dream partner and together they navigate the unknown. His communication was next level and truly had me swooning, as don't we wish all men could communicate so easily?
The other characters all are well written and just add to this story with so much variety. Ben was an absolute asshole and I may or may not have cheered when it all crumbled around him. Serves him right!
Overall this was an amazing debut novel from Gabriella Gamez and I look forward to reading everything else she writes.
I absolutely ate this book up - the representation, the writing, the plot, the characters - all swoon-worthy & perfect.
Marcela is an absolute delight, and her character development and growth is *chef's kiss*; it's so well done and the fact that she actually truly works on her problems on page is something that I truly feel needs to be included in more books. Add in the fact that she's a librarian and all of the bookish elements (her library! donating books to kids in need! the date!) just really made this next level for this book lover.
Theo is a heart throb; he wears his heart on his sleeve and is the perfect partner for Marcela. He's a former NFL player trying to figure it all out, and then on one fateful night he meets his dream partner and together they navigate the unknown. His communication was next level and truly had me swooning, as don't we wish all men could communicate so easily?
The other characters all are well written and just add to this story with so much variety. Ben was an absolute asshole and I may or may not have cheered when it all crumbled around him. Serves him right!
Overall this was an amazing debut novel from Gabriella Gamez and I look forward to reading everything else she writes.
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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
I loved a lot about this book especially the dedication. The truths of how books can help people especially young adults explore safely. How books will allow us to see ourselves in representation that children or adults may see otherwise.
The lack of funding libraries get and how important donations may be especially to the smaller communities and the resources libraries provide.
Marcella and Angela's friendship was everything to me and how open and trusting they are with each other. Women supporting women in various parts of this book needs to be more in the world of literature as well as in real life.
Theo's eagerness for getting a library card and to get recommendations from Marcella is everything! Honestly a girl can dream. He made it to my book boyfriend list for that alone along with the dates he plans and noticing the little things.
That being said there was some pain points I couldn't get over like the miscommunication trope, Ben overall, and although I understood Marcella's hesitancy with her abandonment issues because girl same, with my own daddy issues, but her use of self sabotage especially at her age I wanted to shake her. There were also a few quotes and parts that felt a little repetitive.
Another good thing that stuck with me, "It's easier to love the parent who stays, than hate the one than hate the one who leaves.
Honestly, I am more excited for the next one for representation I can relate to even more.
The lack of funding libraries get and how important donations may be especially to the smaller communities and the resources libraries provide.
Marcella and Angela's friendship was everything to me and how open and trusting they are with each other. Women supporting women in various parts of this book needs to be more in the world of literature as well as in real life.
Theo's eagerness for getting a library card and to get recommendations from Marcella is everything! Honestly a girl can dream. He made it to my book boyfriend list for that alone along with the dates he plans and noticing the little things.
That being said there was some pain points I couldn't get over like the miscommunication trope, Ben overall, and
Another good thing that stuck with me, "It's easier to love the parent who stays, than hate the one than hate the one who leaves.
Honestly, I am more excited for the next one for representation I can relate to even more.
4.5⭐️
Despite the somewhat sophomoric start, I enjoyed this one quite a bit, and it’s likely because I didn’t immediately sniff out the entire plot after three chapters. Stick with it! Things I thought would be a big deal later in the book were handled maturely, and the real drama actually came from a valid place. There were more ups and downs than a lot of books I’ve read lately, and that kept things feeling fresh.
Marcela, a youth librarian, met Theo when she was in college, because he’s the older brother of her ex boyfriend and current best friend. Marcela has been a little bit in love with Ben for almost ten years, and she thinks she’s hiding it. Ben is engaged to someone else. At Ben and Alice’s engagement party Marcela stops Theo from making a public declaration to Alice. The chemistry between them was pretty evident from that moment forward. Their reasons for going along with everything thinking they were together were a little weak, because it was apparent there was mutual attraction and something else under the surface. I really liked that Marcela stuck up for Theo with Ben, and was willing to end a less than awesome friendship with him because of the feelings she’d developed. Theo is adorable almost to the point he’s not believable. He’s a former NFL player that has been pining for someone for more than a decade and doesn’t have relationships. He’s got scolded golden retriever energy. Marcela didn’t seem to know what to do with that at certain points, because she was scared of being left (like her mother).
Ben was a piece of work. A real piece of work. I don’t know if he’ll be redeemed in a later book, but I think he’s got a long way to go before I’d be interested in that.
I am hoping we’ll get Angela’s story next since this seems to be part one of a series.
Despite the somewhat sophomoric start, I enjoyed this one quite a bit, and it’s likely because I didn’t immediately sniff out the entire plot after three chapters. Stick with it! Things I thought would be a big deal later in the book were handled maturely, and the real drama actually came from a valid place. There were more ups and downs than a lot of books I’ve read lately, and that kept things feeling fresh.
Marcela, a youth librarian, met Theo when she was in college, because he’s the older brother of her ex boyfriend and current best friend. Marcela has been a little bit in love with Ben for almost ten years, and she thinks she’s hiding it. Ben is engaged to someone else. At Ben and Alice’s engagement party Marcela stops Theo from making a public declaration to Alice. The chemistry between them was pretty evident from that moment forward. Their reasons for going along with everything thinking they were together were a little weak, because it was apparent there was mutual attraction and something else under the surface. I really liked that Marcela stuck up for Theo with Ben, and was willing to end a less than awesome friendship with him because of the feelings she’d developed. Theo is adorable almost to the point he’s not believable. He’s a former NFL player that has been pining for someone for more than a decade and doesn’t have relationships. He’s got scolded golden retriever energy. Marcela didn’t seem to know what to do with that at certain points, because she was scared of being left (like her mother).
Ben was a piece of work. A real piece of work. I don’t know if he’ll be redeemed in a later book, but I think he’s got a long way to go before I’d be interested in that.
I am hoping we’ll get Angela’s story next since this seems to be part one of a series.
emotional
hopeful
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:
Yes
Fun romance with a fling to feelings plot. I loved the characters and their developments. There’s an interesting issue throughout that makes the reader think about what a “real” relationship looks like.
adventurous
emotional
funny
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:
Complicated
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
This book was cute, some of the writing seemed a little young. But overall- enjoyed it