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bitchie's review
3.0
This was nice, but I have questions. Was Ash gay, or bi? He’d never been with a guy, always fought the attraction (why?), but he never mentions being with women, either. I know, it’s just labels, it just felt like something was missing.
a_reader_obsessed's review
3.0
3 Stars
Super super sweet with lots and lots of banter and a slow slow burn.
Ash has had it rough in life, and he barely makes it day by day to support himself and his younger sister all by his lonesome. When a sudden awesome windfall comes in the form of the charming River, who brings news Ash has inherited a bookstore from an unknown grandfather, he doesn’t quite know what to do with himself.
To put it succinctly, there’s personal reasons on both sides why Ash and River hesitate to act on their attraction but slowly, they form a friendship and oh so much more. Be reassured that there’s minimal angst as this story goes through several well known tropes as mentioned in the blurb
Fans of Sunday probably won’t have any issues with her newest series, especially if one enjoyed Signs of Love.
Nice and easy breezy for when you just need something simple no fuss.
Super super sweet with lots and lots of banter and a slow slow burn.
Ash has had it rough in life, and he barely makes it day by day to support himself and his younger sister all by his lonesome. When a sudden awesome windfall comes in the form of the charming River, who brings news Ash has inherited a bookstore from an unknown grandfather, he doesn’t quite know what to do with himself.
To put it succinctly, there’s personal reasons on both sides why Ash and River hesitate to act on their attraction but slowly, they form a friendship and oh so much more. Be reassured that there’s minimal angst as this story goes through several well known tropes as mentioned in the blurb
Fans of Sunday probably won’t have any issues with her newest series, especially if one enjoyed Signs of Love.
Nice and easy breezy for when you just need something simple no fuss.
bookish_notes's review
4.0
This review is also posted on my blog.
This was a super sweet fairytale of a book. I thought this was low enough on angst (although, with the books I’ve been reading lately, I may not be the best judge of that at the moment). I enjoyed reading this story and all the characters. The story is a quick read, and I immediately fell in love with Ash and River. Ash has been looking after his sister, Danielle, since she showed up at his doorstep one day after their mom died. He does all manner of odd jobs to help pay for everything Danielle needs.
Ash is a pretty selfless person and will do anything for Danielle. When a man appears on his doorstep saying that Ash has been left an inheritance by an elderly man he never knew, Ash doesn't know what to make of it. On one hand, Ash's inheritance could be his quick ticket out of poverty and working so many jobs just to make ends meet, but on the other hand, it could be his chance to having something to himself for once in his life.
I thought this story was cute overall. Ash is a darling. River is still dealing with grief. The grandfather who left Ash his inheritance was River's best friend. River doesn't think twice about delivering the news of Ash's inheritance even though he could easily have not honored the man's dying wish. River is a sweetheart, but feels a little lost. He is rich and we're introduced to his twin Ben and Ben's best friend, Landon, in this book that helps to nicely set up the next book, Begging Ben.
As cute as the story between Ash and River are, I guess there were some scenes that just felt...uncomfortable to read? Ash's employers take advantage of him and everything they do comes across as sexual harassment, I think. These ranged from demanding he wear certain clothes while at his job from hitting on him while he's working - all the while reminding him how much they're paying him. So, I wasn’t a fan of those scenes at all but, Ash does stand up for himself eventually and tells them off.
Overall, I loved Ash and River and their story kept me hooked!
***Thanks to A Novel Take PR for providing me an ARC for review***
This was a super sweet fairytale of a book. I thought this was low enough on angst (although, with the books I’ve been reading lately, I may not be the best judge of that at the moment). I enjoyed reading this story and all the characters. The story is a quick read, and I immediately fell in love with Ash and River. Ash has been looking after his sister, Danielle, since she showed up at his doorstep one day after their mom died. He does all manner of odd jobs to help pay for everything Danielle needs.
Ash is a pretty selfless person and will do anything for Danielle. When a man appears on his doorstep saying that Ash has been left an inheritance by an elderly man he never knew, Ash doesn't know what to make of it. On one hand, Ash's inheritance could be his quick ticket out of poverty and working so many jobs just to make ends meet, but on the other hand, it could be his chance to having something to himself for once in his life.
I thought this story was cute overall. Ash is a darling. River is still dealing with grief. The grandfather who left Ash his inheritance was River's best friend. River doesn't think twice about delivering the news of Ash's inheritance even though he could easily have not honored the man's dying wish. River is a sweetheart, but feels a little lost. He is rich and we're introduced to his twin Ben and Ben's best friend, Landon, in this book that helps to nicely set up the next book, Begging Ben.
As cute as the story between Ash and River are, I guess there were some scenes that just felt...uncomfortable to read? Ash's employers take advantage of him and everything they do comes across as sexual harassment, I think. These ranged from demanding he wear certain clothes while at his job from hitting on him while he's working - all the while reminding him how much they're paying him. So, I wasn’t a fan of those scenes at all but, Ash does stand up for himself eventually and tells them off.
Overall, I loved Ash and River and their story kept me hooked!
***Thanks to A Novel Take PR for providing me an ARC for review***
iam's review
3.0
3.5 stars
Admiring Ash is a cute novella and the first in Antya Sunday's Love Letters series that will feature 26 books that follow the alphabet.
Ash has struggled financially all his life ever since his mother abandoned him and he took in his younger sister and a sick cat. He earns his money by working 16 hours a day as cleaning service for offices and residential homes and functions on 4 hours of sleep at night.
Then one day a handsome man knocks at his door with a letter than changes his life.
River is devastated when his best friend and nominal-grandad Lester passes away. Even months later he misses his closest companion of over 15 years. After taking care of everything Lester left behind, just one last wish remains: to deliver the gift-deed contract for Silver Pines, a chapel that houses both Lester's bookshop and residence, to a certain Ash - and befriend, but not fuck Ash.
River is determined to fulfill his dead friend's last will - even if that means his last remaining memories and the beloved bookstore to developers. And it gets so much harder when the mysterious Ash turns out to be much more intriguing than anticipated...
The book was a fast and mostly entertaining read. The plot isn't very deep or elaborate, the conflict mostly driven by River and Ash's urge to protect themselves and not make themselves vulnerable - an urge they have for different reasons.
There are some inconsistencies with the timeline of past events that don't add up, but that is a minor thing and doesn't distract from the cuteness and lightness of the novella.
There's also a lot of setup for the next books in the series through several side characters we meet, like River's friends, his brother and his neighbour.
I was provided with an ARC in exchange for an honest review
Admiring Ash is a cute novella and the first in Antya Sunday's Love Letters series that will feature 26 books that follow the alphabet.
Ash has struggled financially all his life ever since his mother abandoned him and he took in his younger sister and a sick cat. He earns his money by working 16 hours a day as cleaning service for offices and residential homes and functions on 4 hours of sleep at night.
Then one day a handsome man knocks at his door with a letter than changes his life.
River is devastated when his best friend and nominal-grandad Lester passes away. Even months later he misses his closest companion of over 15 years. After taking care of everything Lester left behind, just one last wish remains: to deliver the gift-deed contract for Silver Pines, a chapel that houses both Lester's bookshop and residence, to a certain Ash - and befriend, but not fuck Ash.
River is determined to fulfill his dead friend's last will - even if that means his last remaining memories and the beloved bookstore to developers. And it gets so much harder when the mysterious Ash turns out to be much more intriguing than anticipated...
The book was a fast and mostly entertaining read. The plot isn't very deep or elaborate, the conflict mostly driven by River and Ash's urge to protect themselves and not make themselves vulnerable - an urge they have for different reasons.
There are some inconsistencies with the timeline of past events that don't add up, but that is a minor thing and doesn't distract from the cuteness and lightness of the novella.
There's also a lot of setup for the next books in the series through several side characters we meet, like River's friends, his brother and his neighbour.
I was provided with an ARC in exchange for an honest review
myzanm's review
4.0
Quick easy and sweet!
Sometimes you just need a bit of sweetness and this story was perfect for that. I'll probably continue the series eventually when I need another quick sweet fix.
Sometimes you just need a bit of sweetness and this story was perfect for that. I'll probably continue the series eventually when I need another quick sweet fix.
rebekahdoo's review
4.0
Was this my favorite Anyta Sunday book? Not by a long shot. Did I still enjoy it? Absolutely.
My biggest problem with this story was that I felt like I was missing something regarding the relationship between River and Ash. Like, was there a conversation that happened that made the love/tension between them more natural that I missed? It just felt like insta-love to the max. Besides that though, I still loved the characters and the setting.
However, I still enjoyed it and I am excited to read the rest of the books in this series.
My biggest problem with this story was that I felt like I was missing something regarding the relationship between River and Ash. Like, was there a conversation that happened that made the love/tension between them more natural that I missed? It just felt like insta-love to the max. Besides that though, I still loved the characters and the setting.
However, I still enjoyed it and I am excited to read the rest of the books in this series.
myendlessshelf's review
3.0
You can find this review and more over on my blog My Endless Shelf.
Admiring Ash is the first book in Anyta Sunday's brand new Love Letters series. I absolutely love Anyta Sunday, she is one of my favourite romance authors and I was so excited to dig into this new series.
As with pretty much all of Anyta's books, Admiring Ash features a super-sweet, slow-burn romance.
Ash is a nice guy, with a wariness of men because of his mum's past experiences. He's raising his younger sister and working several jobs to take care of her. He hates his jobs and is struggling to make ends meet until he receives some surprising news that could change his life forever.
River and Ash are both genuinely sweet, good guys and watching their friendship blossom into an extremely sweet relationship was lovely.
This book is really sweet and was a nice, quick-paced read. In this book I was introduced to the other two characters in the series, and I'm looking forward to their stories.
Admiring Ash is the first book in Anyta Sunday's brand new Love Letters series. I absolutely love Anyta Sunday, she is one of my favourite romance authors and I was so excited to dig into this new series.
As with pretty much all of Anyta's books, Admiring Ash features a super-sweet, slow-burn romance.
Ash is a nice guy, with a wariness of men because of his mum's past experiences. He's raising his younger sister and working several jobs to take care of her. He hates his jobs and is struggling to make ends meet until he receives some surprising news that could change his life forever.
River and Ash are both genuinely sweet, good guys and watching their friendship blossom into an extremely sweet relationship was lovely.
This book is really sweet and was a nice, quick-paced read. In this book I was introduced to the other two characters in the series, and I'm looking forward to their stories.
jennyoli96's review
5.0
*ARC provided by A Novel Take PR*
Anyta Sunday is one of my favorite m/m writers for a very good reason. Just as the Signs of Love books, this was light as opposed to dramatic, it was passionate but not overly hot and above all, it was an immensely fast and satisfying read.
I have some problems with the "you remind me of a familar of yours because you share his diamond shaped, half an inch to the right nose and therefore I like you" trope because it is a tad unrealistic when you apply it to day to day situations and what you can and cannot observe on people's faces. And even though specific words from this trope found their way into this novella, it is such a minor detail I can't take one whole star away because of that.
All in all, Love Letters is off to a good start.
Anyta Sunday is one of my favorite m/m writers for a very good reason. Just as the Signs of Love books, this was light as opposed to dramatic, it was passionate but not overly hot and above all, it was an immensely fast and satisfying read.
I have some problems with the "you remind me of a familar of yours because you share his diamond shaped, half an inch to the right nose and therefore I like you" trope because it is a tad unrealistic when you apply it to day to day situations and what you can and cannot observe on people's faces. And even though specific words from this trope found their way into this novella, it is such a minor detail I can't take one whole star away because of that.
All in all, Love Letters is off to a good start.