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allielovestoread's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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? No
5.0
addydeejreads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
5.0
What an absolute joy this way to read. I knew I was going to love Ely and Alex the moment I opened the book. It was a refreshing look on the grumpy sunshine trope! Leonor Soliz does not disappoint. With a mixture of humor, care and a bit of spice, we get comfort each and every time.
Alex and Ely are probably one of my favorite couples. I didn't think it was possible but the way they're able to work through their flaws and accept each other for who they are really encompassed what a healthy relationship and conversations look like.
Alex, Liam's brother from Seeking Stars (go read it besties 😜), struggles with depression and Soliz takes us on a ride through how that can affect the day to day, interactions with people, ones creativity and ways to approach mental health. (In a healthy way. Truly this was done with such care.)
Ely, Ana's best friend and also from Seeking Stars, is our sunshine character, who tries to find the good in things. This doesn't mean blindly nodding along and being in a la la land. No, quite the opposite. While she does look on the bright side and keeps moving forward she understands the hand she's been dealt: being a plus size, Latine, woman in a generally male dominated field. And definitely meets Alex in banter and wit.
Highly recommend for the besties looking for a cozy contemporary read, with just a little spice. ☺️
Alex and Ely are probably one of my favorite couples. I didn't think it was possible but the way they're able to work through their flaws and accept each other for who they are really encompassed what a healthy relationship and conversations look like.
Alex, Liam's brother from Seeking Stars (go read it besties 😜), struggles with depression and Soliz takes us on a ride through how that can affect the day to day, interactions with people, ones creativity and ways to approach mental health. (In a healthy way. Truly this was done with such care.)
Ely, Ana's best friend and also from Seeking Stars, is our sunshine character, who tries to find the good in things. This doesn't mean blindly nodding along and being in a la la land. No, quite the opposite. While she does look on the bright side and keeps moving forward she understands the hand she's been dealt: being a plus size, Latine, woman in a generally male dominated field. And definitely meets Alex in banter and wit.
Highly recommend for the besties looking for a cozy contemporary read, with just a little spice. ☺️
klewreads'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
4.0
The second full-length novel in the Hollywood Love series, follows the story of Ely and Alex who we first meet in Seeking Stars and Love in Times of Contempt, respectively. Brought in to work at Ana and Liam’s production company, their early relationship is defined by their initial impressions of each other.
While the banter and sexual tension between our main characters is a selling point, the depression and mental health rep is unparalleled. The author does a fantastic job of showing through Alex how depression and therapy can look different for everyone. And although he might appear prickly on the outside, he actual has a tender and artistic side that has been stifled by depression and corporate burnout.
Ely, our plus-size Latina lead, is unapologetically herself with a lot of heart and fierce love for her friends and employees. She’s not afraid to speak up for those she cares about and her personality really shines throughout.
If you are looking for a workplace romance, a smidge of antagonists to lovers and steamy read that will leave with all the warm and gooey feelings at the end, I highly suggest you check this book out.
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
what_karla_reads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-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
5.0
5/5 stars
2/5 spice
I have been anticipating this story for awhile now and I wasn't disappointed. I had to marinate in my thoughts before posting a review but now that I've thought about I can talk about it.
Tropes:
Workplace romance
Enemies to lovers vibes
Grumpy/sunshine
Mental health rep
Plus size heroine
Latinx rep
Dual POV
Aside from the banter and tension, what really hit me hard and made me love this story the most was the mental health rep. Alex is a grump but also severely depressed...and didn't even know it! Ugh my heart hurt for him. He's an artist, burnt out by the corporate world, completely stuck, and just so so angry. I felt his struggle...I understood and felt seen. His journey was inspiring and heart warming. I was so happy to read his character development.
And Ely... my goodness she's just so unapologetically bold with a big heart. I loved how much she cared for her friends. But she also had no problem speaking her mind whenever she needed to.
Together these two had soaks flying from every interaction and I loved the tension. Even though you get spice early on the tension after was *chefs kiss*
Highly recommend for everyone who loves workplace romance with a bit of enemies to lovers. Thank you to the author for giving me an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and offered voluntarily.
Trigger/Content warnings:
Depression, sexual content
2/5 spice
I have been anticipating this story for awhile now and I wasn't disappointed. I had to marinate in my thoughts before posting a review but now that I've thought about I can talk about it.
Tropes:
Workplace romance
Enemies to lovers vibes
Grumpy/sunshine
Mental health rep
Plus size heroine
Latinx rep
Dual POV
Aside from the banter and tension, what really hit me hard and made me love this story the most was the mental health rep. Alex is a grump but also severely depressed...and didn't even know it! Ugh my heart hurt for him. He's an artist, burnt out by the corporate world, completely stuck, and just so so angry. I felt his struggle...I understood and felt seen. His journey was inspiring and heart warming. I was so happy to read his character development.
And Ely... my goodness she's just so unapologetically bold with a big heart. I loved how much she cared for her friends. But she also had no problem speaking her mind whenever she needed to.
Together these two had soaks flying from every interaction and I loved the tension. Even though you get spice early on the tension after was *chefs kiss*
Highly recommend for everyone who loves workplace romance with a bit of enemies to lovers. Thank you to the author for giving me an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and offered voluntarily.
Trigger/Content warnings:
Depression, sexual content
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Sexual content
Minor: Bullying, Cursing, and Alcohol
sarah_thebooknerd'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? It's complicated
5.0
Thank you for a eARC of this book in exchange for a review Leonor!
I cannot explain how much I just wanted to devour this book and I had to slow myself down the 2nd half of the book to savor it. Leonor has this way of giving you realistic characters that I wish I could just curl up with and chat. They are real, raw, sometimes flawed or dealing with hardships but she also shows them getting help, navigating relationships, friendships, work issues and amongst all of that realness we get soft, beautiful moments of vulnerability and love.
I love that Ely the FMC in this story is a strong fat Latina woman who is a little leery to hand her heart over to a man that was a grump and kind of an ass at first and Alex has to work for that love from Ely and show that he has changed to be a good partner. The relationships feel real because so often this is how I would want an every day real life relationship to be like.
There is also some spicy moments and banter with these two that also made me just happy.
Fat rep: This is a very fat positive, body neutral book and I loved that and the cover just makes me so happy that Leonor made sure to have the body reflected in the pages also on the cover.
CW: Leonor has a full listing on her website!
I cannot explain how much I just wanted to devour this book and I had to slow myself down the 2nd half of the book to savor it. Leonor has this way of giving you realistic characters that I wish I could just curl up with and chat. They are real, raw, sometimes flawed or dealing with hardships but she also shows them getting help, navigating relationships, friendships, work issues and amongst all of that realness we get soft, beautiful moments of vulnerability and love.
I love that Ely the FMC in this story is a strong fat Latina woman who is a little leery to hand her heart over to a man that was a grump and kind of an ass at first and Alex has to work for that love from Ely and show that he has changed to be a good partner. The relationships feel real because so often this is how I would want an every day real life relationship to be like.
There is also some spicy moments and banter with these two that also made me just happy.
Fat rep: This is a very fat positive, body neutral book and I loved that and the cover just makes me so happy that Leonor made sure to have the body reflected in the pages also on the cover.
CW: Leonor has a full listing on her website!
flirting_with_pages'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75