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4.23 AVERAGE
4.23 AVERAGE
This made me cry. It brought up a lot of buried feelings that I haven’t processed about a loved one.
The slow burn was nicely done. I appreciate a book that successfully portrays how people can fall in love without it being all lust at first sight.
Thank you.
The slow burn was nicely done. I appreciate a book that successfully portrays how people can fall in love without it being all lust at first sight.
Thank you.
4.75 stars
I did not appreciate the amount of tears I cried over this book. Beautifully written. My only strife with the book was the way it was marketed. This was the slow burn to end all slow burns because what the actual fuck.
*******SPOILERS AHEAD*******
I did not appreciate the amount of tears I cried over this book. Beautifully written. My only strife with the book was the way it was marketed. This was the slow burn to end all slow burns because what the actual fuck.
*******SPOILERS AHEAD*******
Spoiler
Besides occasional hugging, there is no physical touching between the FMC and MMC until 460+ pages deep. Even after they are their first kiss, there are not physical or even really continue kissing. They fuck on Christmas Eve (don't remember what page tbh) but I couldn't even fully immerse myself into the scene because there was a whole ass teenager in the house while they were doing it and the author used words like grunted or moaned loudly like EXCUSE ME??? Didn't sit right with me AT ALL. But aside from that, it's implied they continue to do the nasty but it's obvious that smut writing is not the author's strong point. Instead she makes you cry until your eyes are so puffy you can't even write a proper review
3.5 stars just because I enjoyed the characters a lot but I’m not normally a slow build romance person and this one was reallllll slow
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
This is so slowpaced that I wanted to gouge my eyes out. It has some fun banter, but at what cost?!
The reason they broke up is one of the stupidest things I have ever read. THEY GET MAD BECAUSE SHE DOESN’T TELL THEM HER EX HUSBAND IS A ROCKSTAR???????? AND THIS IS A GOOD REASON TO BE MAD AT HER AND STOP TALKING TO HER???? WHAT THE F ARE WE TALKING ABOUT PLEASE.
This book was good, and I love the grumpy sunshine trope but something bothered me with aurora. I can’t put my finger on it, but it probably has something to do with her dating a man for 14 years and writing his music for free, being hidden and treated like shit, and then BEING BROKEN UP WITH!!! His mommy even canceled her freaking phone… miss ma’am you’re kidding?! I do love Rhodes and amo and how sweet or not sweet in the beginning they were
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Reread January 2025
I stand by my rating and thoughts from when I read this 3 years ago. I read this in two sittings this time. It’s such a quick read.
—
Actual Rating: Somewhere around a 4 or 4.25 out of 5 stars
This was my first Mariana Zapata, and I really enjoyed it. For someone who has barely been able to focus long enough to finish a book over the last year, I somehow flew through this 550 page book. Which kinda surprised me because this is a super slow burn romance. Like super slow. If you don't like slow burn romances, you won't enjoy this.
The romance was great, but my favorite part were the characters. (This was definitely a character driven book.) I loved all of the characters individually, especially Amos and Rhodes. I thought the side characters were fantastic, too. I also really liked all of the relationships. This book has really strong found family vibes which I liked a lot. I loved Aurora's relationship with Rhodes, but I also especially loved her relationship with Amos. And Clara. And Yuki (I'd read a book about Yuki in a heartbeat). And I really liked Amos's relationship with Rhodes. I also liked that we got to see a lot of character growth and development. Mostly Aurora's since we were reading from her perspective. But Amos and Rhodes definitely grew as the book went on.
There were a few things I didn't love: I wish we had gotten Rhodes point of view. I think this book would have benefited from dual perspectives. Also, I thought the writing was good, but also pretty repetitive at times. It got a bit annoying. I didn't love the end. Also, if pet names bug you, you'll probably find parts of this book annoying. Seriously, I hated the whole "buddy" thing. I can't.
Highly recommend for people who enjoy slow burn romances, romances set in small towns, or who like the single dad, age gap, or grump/sunshine tropes. Also if you like the found family trope.
content warnings:
I stand by my rating and thoughts from when I read this 3 years ago. I read this in two sittings this time. It’s such a quick read.
—
Actual Rating: Somewhere around a 4 or 4.25 out of 5 stars
This was my first Mariana Zapata, and I really enjoyed it. For someone who has barely been able to focus long enough to finish a book over the last year, I somehow flew through this 550 page book. Which kinda surprised me because this is a super slow burn romance. Like super slow. If you don't like slow burn romances, you won't enjoy this.
The romance was great, but my favorite part were the characters. (This was definitely a character driven book.) I loved all of the characters individually, especially Amos and Rhodes. I thought the side characters were fantastic, too. I also really liked all of the relationships. This book has really strong found family vibes which I liked a lot. I loved Aurora's relationship with Rhodes, but I also especially loved her relationship with Amos. And Clara. And Yuki (I'd read a book about Yuki in a heartbeat). And I really liked Amos's relationship with Rhodes. I also liked that we got to see a lot of character growth and development. Mostly Aurora's since we were reading from her perspective. But Amos and Rhodes definitely grew as the book went on.
There were a few things I didn't love: I wish we had gotten Rhodes point of view. I think this book would have benefited from dual perspectives. Also, I thought the writing was good, but also pretty repetitive at times. It got a bit annoying. I didn't love the end.
Spoiler
I thought the whole dramatic scene with Kaden happened way too close to the end. I would have much rather seen the talent show. Or even Rhodes interact with his dad again.Highly recommend for people who enjoy slow burn romances, romances set in small towns, or who like the single dad, age gap, or grump/sunshine tropes. Also if you like the found family trope.
content warnings:
Spoiler
I don't think these are spoilers, but - grief and death of a parent
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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:
Yes
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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:
No