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caropero's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I LOVED THIS BOOK. It didn’t even feel slow paced to me at all, but I’m also a sucker for slow burns. If you love books that take until you get 93% of the way through the book for them to get together, if you know what I mean, then I think you’ll love the book too. The main character isn’t a perfect person, which I think that’s why it’s so easy to relate to her. If you like forced proximity in books, this is definitely has just that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing
rachrreads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
4.5
Had to take off half a star bc the beginning was so slow. Nothing but inner dialogue for the first like 5 chapters. Also I’m sorry I can’t get over the nickname Meatball. It almost grew on me but nope.
Now for what I love:
Ivan Lukov I love you. Jasmine I love you <3
The tension, the banter, the ice skating. YES
“I believe in you. In us. Regardless of what happens, you will always be the best partner I've ever had. You'll always be the hardest working person I've ever known. There will only ever be you.”
WHY TF IS THIS CALLED “FROM LUKOV WITH LOVE” WHEN THERES NOT A LETTER SAYING FROM LUKOV, WITH LOVE?! I was clowning to my friend about some lovely letter *sighs*
Now for what I love:
Ivan Lukov I love you. Jasmine I love you <3
The tension, the banter, the ice skating. YES
“I believe in you. In us. Regardless of what happens, you will always be the best partner I've ever had. You'll always be the hardest working person I've ever known. There will only ever be you.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual harassment, and Stalking
Moderate: Car accident and Pregnancy
allisonisabel's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I rate books on how much I enjoyed reading them, and given that this is my first romance novel and the fact that I skipped studying for my Neuroscience exam to read this in one day—blushing, smiling, kicking, and screaming all the while—should tell you all you need to know. Only once complaint…I WANT MORE JASMINE/IVAN. Ivan was so in love with her I was screaming, and I want more of them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Bullying, Mental illness, Sexism, Body shaming, and Alcohol
savanapavlak's review against another edition
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? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Body shaming, Cursing, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
brie333's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Left a couple unresolved plot moments.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing
Moderate: Bullying
booknerdbetty's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia
Minor: Sexual content, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Car accident, and Sexual harassment
louisa_pennyfeather2021's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
4.75
I love this book, it makes my hopeless romantic heart cry tears of joy!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Bullying, Cursing, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Stalking
Moderate: Ableism, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, and Misogyny
Minor: Alcohol, Car accident, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical content
icedmcoffee's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
i read this book so fast, but i would say it’s quite slow paced - nothing like relationship wise happens till the end; other than that it was a very interesting book - the plot isn’t boring, and the banter between the love interests is so entertaining
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Cursing, and Stalking
vicky_lit's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Car accident, Cursing, Sexual harassment, Stalking, Vomit, and Sexual content
michellemaas's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
tense
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
4.5
* Beware of minor spoilers
4.5 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
Standalone New Adult Sports Romance, featuring the "rivals-to-lovers", "hurt/comfort", and "forced proximity" tropes.
I liked it overall. The relationship was excellently developed, the banter was on point, the characters were complex, and there were high emotional and physical stakes. It was however too long, causing it to drag at times.
"But if I’d learned anything over the last year and a half, it was the reality of how tough it was to live with your mistakes. I’d learned how hard it was to face them, and how much harder it was to own them. We all did things we regretted; we all said things we regretted, and guilt was a crushing weight on a person’s soul. And I wanted to be better. For me. Not for anyone else."
At 26, Jasmine either has to get a new figure skating partner or quit doing the one thing she has dedicated her entire life to. In comes Ivan Lukov . . . This partnerless, world-winning champion is willing to join forces since neither of them has any other options. The problem? They can't stand one another. But with Ivan being her last hope at her dreams, Jasmine is willing to do anything to make this arrangement work.
"Love to me was honesty. Being real. Knowing someone’s best and worst. Love was a push that said someone believed in you when you didn’t. Love was effort and time."
My biggest criticism is that it was longer than it should have been. I had to put it down at 80% and struggled for a long time to pick it back up. Once I did get back to it I thoroughly enjoyed the end, but like with most Mariana Zapata books the reading experience could have been greatly improved if the book was 100 or so pages shorter because while the story was enjoyable overall there were a bunch of scenes that were totally unnecessary for both plot and character development and that slows down the pace of what would have been a gloriously medium to fast-paced book.
I also disliked the fact that there was so little plot. Ivan and Jasmine's relationship was so good that I surprisingly didn't mind it for the most part, but when I'm sitting here and reflecting at the end of the book I realize that it does bother me. It made it hard to pick back up when it lost my interest. That's why there needs to be a plot.
"Because I’m okay with you having ten other people be your favorite. But you’re always going to be my favorite person,” he finished. “Always. No matter what.”
On to the good stuff, I loved Jasmine's character. She was so real and moody and flawed yet loyal and she spoke to me in a way I wasn't expecting. The slowburn was also undoubtedly one of the best I've read to date. It was paced well while also being realistic and felt very natural. Finally, I really enjoyed the social commentary about not needing a degree to be considered successful in life, because sometimes it's just enough to be doing what you love.
"If I had to choose anyone to help me bury a body, eat dinner with, or watch television with, it would be you, every time for everything."
From Lukov with Love includes learning disability representation along with a heavy emphasis on both romantic and familial relationships, and the importance of pursuing your dreams while working on becoming the best version of yourself. Would recommend it if any of those themes resonate with you, or you just want to experience the brilliance that is Ivan Lukov. The book may have been too long, but Ivan Lukov was worth every page.
4.5 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
Standalone New Adult Sports Romance, featuring the "rivals-to-lovers", "hurt/comfort", and "forced proximity" tropes.
I liked it overall. The relationship was excellently developed, the banter was on point, the characters were complex, and there were high emotional and physical stakes. It was however too long, causing it to drag at times.
"But if I’d learned anything over the last year and a half, it was the reality of how tough it was to live with your mistakes. I’d learned how hard it was to face them, and how much harder it was to own them. We all did things we regretted; we all said things we regretted, and guilt was a crushing weight on a person’s soul. And I wanted to be better. For me. Not for anyone else."
At 26, Jasmine either has to get a new figure skating partner or quit doing the one thing she has dedicated her entire life to. In comes Ivan Lukov . . . This partnerless, world-winning champion is willing to join forces since neither of them has any other options. The problem? They can't stand one another. But with Ivan being her last hope at her dreams, Jasmine is willing to do anything to make this arrangement work.
"Love to me was honesty. Being real. Knowing someone’s best and worst. Love was a push that said someone believed in you when you didn’t. Love was effort and time."
My biggest criticism is that it was longer than it should have been. I had to put it down at 80% and struggled for a long time to pick it back up. Once I did get back to it I thoroughly enjoyed the end, but like with most Mariana Zapata books the reading experience could have been greatly improved if the book was 100 or so pages shorter because while the story was enjoyable overall there were a bunch of scenes that were totally unnecessary for both plot and character development and that slows down the pace of what would have been a gloriously medium to fast-paced book.
I also disliked the fact that there was so little plot. Ivan and Jasmine's relationship was so good that I surprisingly didn't mind it for the most part, but when I'm sitting here and reflecting at the end of the book I realize that it does bother me. It made it hard to pick back up when it lost my interest. That's why there needs to be a plot.
"Because I’m okay with you having ten other people be your favorite. But you’re always going to be my favorite person,” he finished. “Always. No matter what.”
On to the good stuff, I loved Jasmine's character. She was so real and moody and flawed yet loyal and she spoke to me in a way I wasn't expecting. The slowburn was also undoubtedly one of the best I've read to date. It was paced well while also being realistic and felt very natural. Finally, I really enjoyed the social commentary about not needing a degree to be considered successful in life, because sometimes it's just enough to be doing what you love.
"If I had to choose anyone to help me bury a body, eat dinner with, or watch television with, it would be you, every time for everything."
From Lukov with Love includes learning disability representation along with a heavy emphasis on both romantic and familial relationships, and the importance of pursuing your dreams while working on becoming the best version of yourself. Would recommend it if any of those themes resonate with you, or you just want to experience the brilliance that is Ivan Lukov. The book may have been too long, but Ivan Lukov was worth every page.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Stalking, Abandonment, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Medical content, Body shaming, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Racism, and Alcohol