Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
"Then he took my hand and kissed my palm... because my life was a Jane Austen Novel now."
The world Adriana Herrera is painting in her books is one of warmth, heart, chemistry and love. It's the story of a group of friends who are sons of Caribbean immigrants who are finding their way in life and also finding people who they're sharing it with. After the first one, I adored this world. After this one, I'm completely sold. In American Fairytale we have Milo Santiago, who is a Cuban/Jamaican social worker in a nonprofit that serves victims of domestic abuse. He is assigned to work with Tom, a Dominican/American billionaire who is investing his money in a project that can change the company where Milo is working. Because of his mother, Milo doesn't believe in fairytales and in men who seem too perfect to be true but he connects with Tom immediately, especially after the first night when they have the most amazing hook up and he can't get him out of his head. But he doesn't mix business with pleasure.
This book is extremely entertaining, mainly because all of the feelings we encounter. The conversations that Tom and Milo have given Tom's wealth and his position in the project that Tom is working in, everything is super healthy and thoroughly talked about, Also, throughout the book we had so much to unpack and to learn about their cultural identities and I loved the moments where they got extremely personal and real about their feelings regarding those experiences that a lot of people might feel are similar but in reality were very different and I appreciated all those nuances. You could tell their mixed identities were very important and influential in their personalities and that was specifically talked about in the book and it was done very well.
Some of my favorite moments where the domestic ones, the quiet ones. I adored the relationship that Milo and Tom had with Tom's daughter and also the moments with Milo's friends. All the relationships, not only the main one felt incredibly complex and intricate and I couldn't be happier about that. There was development in those relationships and they were all very taken care of. I love when in romances friendships and important relationships aren't pushed to the side in order for the main ship to flourish. The conflicts that they had were realistic and didn't feel tedious even if they both had things to figure out on their own. The characters were beautifully developed and at the end of the book I felt like I knew them all. These things came together because of Adriana Herrera's gorgeous, well constructed, deep and detailed writing. I fell completely in love with it and I can't wait to read more of it.
The world Adriana Herrera is painting in her books is one of warmth, heart, chemistry and love. It's the story of a group of friends who are sons of Caribbean immigrants who are finding their way in life and also finding people who they're sharing it with. After the first one, I adored this world. After this one, I'm completely sold. In American Fairytale we have Milo Santiago, who is a Cuban/Jamaican social worker in a nonprofit that serves victims of domestic abuse. He is assigned to work with Tom, a Dominican/American billionaire who is investing his money in a project that can change the company where Milo is working. Because of his mother, Milo doesn't believe in fairytales and in men who seem too perfect to be true but he connects with Tom immediately, especially after the first night when they have the most amazing hook up and he can't get him out of his head. But he doesn't mix business with pleasure.
This book is extremely entertaining, mainly because all of the feelings we encounter. The conversations that Tom and Milo have given Tom's wealth and his position in the project that Tom is working in, everything is super healthy and thoroughly talked about, Also, throughout the book we had so much to unpack and to learn about their cultural identities and I loved the moments where they got extremely personal and real about their feelings regarding those experiences that a lot of people might feel are similar but in reality were very different and I appreciated all those nuances. You could tell their mixed identities were very important and influential in their personalities and that was specifically talked about in the book and it was done very well.
Some of my favorite moments where the domestic ones, the quiet ones. I adored the relationship that Milo and Tom had with Tom's daughter and also the moments with Milo's friends. All the relationships, not only the main one felt incredibly complex and intricate and I couldn't be happier about that. There was development in those relationships and they were all very taken care of. I love when in romances friendships and important relationships aren't pushed to the side in order for the main ship to flourish. The conflicts that they had were realistic and didn't feel tedious even if they both had things to figure out on their own. The characters were beautifully developed and at the end of the book I felt like I knew them all. These things came together because of Adriana Herrera's gorgeous, well constructed, deep and detailed writing. I fell completely in love with it and I can't wait to read more of it.
It really is the modern fairytale.
Two men with different backgrounds who have to navigate their lives so they can walk together.
What I really loved was the collection of diverse characters. And it didn't seem forced or gimmicky like some some POC and LGBT characters are used for. They were all thoughtful, smart, beautiful and flawed. Real.
Both Milo and Tom are very true to themselves and their adoration for each other is clear. There are hiccups as they try to integrate their lives together, and some bumps along the way are bigger than others. Something anyone can understand. The way they deal is very different, but their need to be together is the compass they use to find their way back to each other.
I love the use of Spanish in this book. I can't read or speak the language. But it was used in a way that even a layman like me could understand and appreciate. It didn't break the flow of my reading which I sometimes find when books are in more than one language.
The secondary characters were wonderful. And I loved that there was no big villain character, the angst is more Milo and Tom getting to their equilibrium.
A lovely read. Lots of feelings and gushing.
*** ARC provided for review ***
Two men with different backgrounds who have to navigate their lives so they can walk together.
What I really loved was the collection of diverse characters. And it didn't seem forced or gimmicky like some some POC and LGBT characters are used for. They were all thoughtful, smart, beautiful and flawed. Real.
Both Milo and Tom are very true to themselves and their adoration for each other is clear. There are hiccups as they try to integrate their lives together, and some bumps along the way are bigger than others. Something anyone can understand. The way they deal is very different, but their need to be together is the compass they use to find their way back to each other.
I love the use of Spanish in this book. I can't read or speak the language. But it was used in a way that even a layman like me could understand and appreciate. It didn't break the flow of my reading which I sometimes find when books are in more than one language.
The secondary characters were wonderful. And I loved that there was no big villain character, the angst is more Milo and Tom getting to their equilibrium.
A lovely read. Lots of feelings and gushing.
*** ARC provided for review ***
Herrera is so brilliant at developing characters and a community that makes you want to sink into her books so you can spend time with these characters who feel so real. I loved seeing Nesto and Jude from American Dreamer (and Patrice and JP), but I also loved getting to meet new characters, from Tom's friends to Milo's coworkers at the Shelter. The romance in American Fairytale lives us to the title in many ways, but I love how both Tom and Milo have their flaws and those things that hold them back from one another. That said, I did feel like for the most part it was Milo taking issue with something that Tom did, which makes it seem like Milo was perfect. I feel like that's not normally something I notice, but because the conflict(s) that arose were similar, it was very apparent. I, personally, think I would have preferred the final conflict to have been handled differently, but for the most part, I thought the book was incredible.
Also, there's this absolutely amazing paragraph (maybe two) where Milo explains why it's so important that they host a dance class at the DV shelter and I wanted to pull a full on Tom what's his face and jump on a couch because YES. It's so unfair that poor people (and there's an extra burden when it's poor POC) are given this message that they don't deserve happiness because it's wasteful and not meant for people trying to figure out how to pay all of their bills. I loved that paragraph a whole, whole lot and would highly recommend.
Also, there's this absolutely amazing paragraph (maybe two) where Milo explains why it's so important that they host a dance class at the DV shelter and I wanted to pull a full on Tom what's his face and jump on a couch because YES. It's so unfair that poor people (and there's an extra burden when it's poor POC) are given this message that they don't deserve happiness because it's wasteful and not meant for people trying to figure out how to pay all of their bills. I loved that paragraph a whole, whole lot and would highly recommend.
Camilo Santiago Briggs doesn't believe in fairy tales. He believes in working hard and making things happen for yourself, a lesson he's learned from his mother and from his career as a New York City social worker.
So when Milo finds out the mystery man he shared the hottest hookup of his life with is in fact billionaire Thomas Hughes, and is in fact going to be funding the project Milo's in charge of at his non-profit job, he is completely skeptical. Knights in shining armor don't exist, and hot men in expensive tuxes who seem to good to be true are exactly that.
But Tom is going to show Milo just how real fairy tales can actually be.
Hot, hot, hot, and so incredibly swoony! I ate up every word of this delicious big city contemporary. I especially love a romance that sees the two main characters hooking up in the first chapters, then fighting their feelings for each other and trying to resist doing it again! Good luck!
Herrera is a talent to watch and her Dreamers series is A+ romance at its finest!
Content warning for discussion of domestic violence, but nothing is on page.
I received a free ARC in exchange for a fair review. Thank you!
So when Milo finds out the mystery man he shared the hottest hookup of his life with is in fact billionaire Thomas Hughes, and is in fact going to be funding the project Milo's in charge of at his non-profit job, he is completely skeptical. Knights in shining armor don't exist, and hot men in expensive tuxes who seem to good to be true are exactly that.
But Tom is going to show Milo just how real fairy tales can actually be.
Hot, hot, hot, and so incredibly swoony! I ate up every word of this delicious big city contemporary. I especially love a romance that sees the two main characters hooking up in the first chapters, then fighting their feelings for each other and trying to resist doing it again! Good luck!
Herrera is a talent to watch and her Dreamers series is A+ romance at its finest!
Content warning for discussion of domestic violence, but nothing is on page.
I received a free ARC in exchange for a fair review. Thank you!
I absolutely adored this! 😍😍 It was so sweet and adorable and highly recommended. 💜💜💜
But yes, I took a star off forMilo refusing to let Tom help him with paying his mum's rent. This was his mum, whom he would do anything for, EXCEPT accepting help from someone else who loved him. I know Milo had his reasons, but overcoming his own issues would have given his character arc more depth. Not letting someone who has the means to help you do something for another person who is so special to you isn't noble. I'm with Tom on this and think Milo needed to do some of his own grovelling as well. YMMV.
But yes, I took a star off for
This is the second in the Dreamers series. This was so sweet and amazing. Camilo and Tom were like two puzzle pieces fitting together. The way they saw each other was so satisfying. I would have liked a little bit more grovel from Tom, but what he did do was pretty damn good. This was an enjoyable read. Every little bit was golden.
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Extremely satisfying
This book is everything I expected it to be and more.
There's no villain keeping the two MC apart, other than themselves and I saw the issue coming a mile away, like the characters themselves did but they are people and people don't change their ways unless they're forced to. I'm with Camilo a 110% on that one btw,I would have completely lost my shit too. It requires an extremely high level of trust, in the person and in the relationship, to ask for financial aid when you've been independent al your life, even worse when you've seen such help leveraged against you or others. And yes, you'd rather starve. No, it's not crazy, it's holding on to dignity by the skin of your teeth, because it's all you've got left.
The other punch in the gut for me (a south American immigrant with an Italian name, "good" English and a white looking face) was Milo understanding that for all the privilege that Tom has by being able to "pass as" that also erases him. And it's true. And I never missed it before (that's my own internalised racism) but I missed it then, when Tom, a fictional character, seemed more real to me than I did myself.
For all the *very* interesting introspection that launched, the book is also super entertaining and defton levels of hot. I can't even explain. But I do have a husband thoroughly enjoying the benefits.
It's a straight up romance, so the plot beside the relationship between Tom and Milo is non existent, if this is a deterrent to you, you might be better off with a different book, mileage might vary.
This book is everything I expected it to be and more.
There's no villain keeping the two MC apart, other than themselves and I saw the issue coming a mile away, like the characters themselves did but they are people and people don't change their ways unless they're forced to. I'm with Camilo a 110% on that one btw,I would have completely lost my shit too. It requires an extremely high level of trust, in the person and in the relationship, to ask for financial aid when you've been independent al your life, even worse when you've seen such help leveraged against you or others. And yes, you'd rather starve. No, it's not crazy, it's holding on to dignity by the skin of your teeth, because it's all you've got left.
The other punch in the gut for me (a south American immigrant with an Italian name, "good" English and a white looking face) was Milo understanding that for all the privilege that Tom has by being able to "pass as" that also erases him. And it's true. And I never missed it before (that's my own internalised racism) but I missed it then, when Tom, a fictional character, seemed more real to me than I did myself.
For all the *very* interesting introspection that launched, the book is also super entertaining and defton levels of hot. I can't even explain. But I do have a husband thoroughly enjoying the benefits.
It's a straight up romance, so the plot beside the relationship between Tom and Milo is non existent, if this is a deterrent to you, you might be better off with a different book, mileage might vary.
I really enjoyed this. Camilo is sooo damn extra but i loved that guy. How could i not. I liked Tom too, but damn my dude kept messing up so muuuuch. If anyone ever tried ordering food for me, didn't even give me a chance to get an opinion in I would be pissed. And Camilo is rightfully so.
Now as Tom kept messing up I realized ok people make mistakes yes, multip;e times too but omg I just wanted him to get it together ASAP. I felt it for Camilo who wanted to express his hurt but felt like maybe he was overreacting. I could relate to that a lot, and Tom truly exasperated me those times but I didn't hate him, was more frustrated with him. And I was glad that not only did Camilo call him on his BS but his friend Priya did it multiple times! Go Priya!
As with book 1, the family and friend relationships in this serious are so precious to me. I appreciated so much that Camilo and his guys are so affectionate with each other and just real. no sugar coating. They were so funny as well. I can't wait for their books. We've been teased for Patrice and Easton so i'm readyyyy.
We also get to meet Camilo's coworker and friend Ayako and i just adored her and I ship her with a certain friend of Tom's so we'll seeeee. ;)
I felt like Tom truly did, finally see the error of his ways, and i do wish he'd respected Camilo's decision to not have him just toss money at a problem, earlier. Since Camilo kept saying it made him uncomfortable. Even as the decision Tom made without Camilo's input was to help out Camilo's mom was a giant overstep i feel like i'm satisfied Tom gets it.
Read the little sneak peek for book 3 so i'm just waiting now.
Now as Tom kept messing up I realized ok people make mistakes yes, multip;e times too but omg I just wanted him to get it together ASAP. I felt it for Camilo who wanted to express his hurt but felt like maybe he was overreacting. I could relate to that a lot, and Tom truly exasperated me those times but I didn't hate him, was more frustrated with him. And I was glad that not only did Camilo call him on his BS but his friend Priya did it multiple times! Go Priya!
As with book 1, the family and friend relationships in this serious are so precious to me. I appreciated so much that Camilo and his guys are so affectionate with each other and just real. no sugar coating. They were so funny as well. I can't wait for their books. We've been teased for Patrice and Easton so i'm readyyyy.
We also get to meet Camilo's coworker and friend Ayako and i just adored her and I ship her with a certain friend of Tom's so we'll seeeee. ;)
I felt like Tom truly did, finally see the error of his ways, and i do wish he'd respected Camilo's decision to not have him just toss money at a problem, earlier. Since Camilo kept saying it made him uncomfortable. Even as the decision Tom made without Camilo's input was to help out Camilo's mom was a giant overstep i feel like i'm satisfied Tom gets it.
Read the little sneak peek for book 3 so i'm just waiting now.
I read American Dreamer twice, and held off reading the sequels because I'm like that sometimes. (I hoard good books, okay?) I feel like this installment suffers a little in comparison with books 1 and 3, mainly because it doesn't have as obvious a social theme to tie things together. That being said, it's still a great book!
Tom has so much privilege, that even though he's aware he has it, and tries not to use it, he has it to such excess that he can't help but throw his privilege around. And therein lies the main conflict. Milo doesn't give a shit about any of his money or privilege, but it affects every aspect of their interactions and relationship, and is the elephant in their bed they have to maneuver around. They get there, eventually, but I didn't blame Milo for being frustrated at times. Super solid story and writing.
Tom has so much privilege, that even though he's aware he has it, and tries not to use it, he has it to such excess that he can't help but throw his privilege around. And therein lies the main conflict. Milo doesn't give a shit about any of his money or privilege, but it affects every aspect of their interactions and relationship, and is the elephant in their bed they have to maneuver around. They get there, eventually, but I didn't blame Milo for being frustrated at times. Super solid story and writing.