Reviews

Every New Year by Katrina Jackson

obsidian_blue's review against another edition

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3.0

Look I am tired and dealing with a coworker who has the flu (regular) and I had to fly back from Boston and I feel exhausted and cranky. Reading this book was a chore to get through during all of this. This book takes too long for the two leads to even have a damn conversation (two decades) and instead we jump back and forth of them having sexy times every New Year's Eve until the past few because of a misunderstanding. I was exhausted and annoyed. Jackson also teases things with two other characters who will be the subject of her next book. I found myself irritated about it. The epilogue didn't work since she was trying to set up their story.

"Every New Year" follows Ezra Posner and Candace Garret. We find out that the twosome met when they were 18 and in college. Ezra fell for Candace immediately and it seems like Candace liked him too. Besides one kiss though, the two didn't get together until right before Candace did a semester abroad. After that they would see each other every other or about every other New Year's Eve and hook up and in between date other people. Something happens (it was stupid) though that has caused Ezra and Candace to not see each other for a while. Now they are heading to the same destination (Quito) and are finally revealing their feelings.

As I said, this took way too long. I think the sex scenes were great and all, but these two seem to never talk at all. Even in the end there are barely any words/dialogue between them. Candace talks to a coworker on her flight more than Ezra. They both bug their college friends about each other. I felt like they were both too old for this mess.

The book lacks any development between these two. I have no idea how Candace fell into her career, it reads as random. We keep hearing how Ezra is super smart...and I guess. I think doing time jumps like this makes it harder for the reader to get to know and root for the hero and heroine.

The setting for most of this book was either a random bedroom or an airplane. I have been to Quito and seriously....I just shook my head. Jackson got one thing right about standing on the Equator, but that was it.

The book ended with the focus next being on Miles and Mei (I think that's her name).

sara11_reads's review

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4.0

3.5 stars rounded up. About halfway through I was annoyed with Miles and Candace. They keep misunderstanding and both of them were too scared to actually talk to each other. But I think the author pulled it off by the end and I ended up understanding and empathizing with the issues that were keeping them apart.

jackiehorne's review against another edition

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3.0

An emotion-packed interracial second chance romance, in which ex best friends and once-a-year lovers are stuck together on a long airplane flight. The storyline moves back and forth between multiple New Years' Eves of the past and the present, showing how both shy Jewish nerd Ezra and polished but conflict-averse African-American Candace initially meet when their best friends begin dating in college, and how the two keep coming together only to allow their overwhelming feelings, lack of self-esteem, and fears of losing their friendship keep each from admitting their true feelings to the other.

That this one step forward, three steps back keeps happening for almost twenty years! without changing made for a somewhat repetitive read, but Jackson's strong writing and evocation of feeling make the story worth it.

samanthasprott's review against another edition

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3.0

A sweet romance! Really steamy and emotional at parts but I was frustrated with the lack of communication and openness from the characters that clearly got them into the mess that is the book. I loved the concept of the book revolving around NYE every year, and it’s a pretty fast read!

malus23's review

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3.0

This was well written, and someone more enthusiastic about contemp romance would probably enjoy it a lot more than I did. While the leads seemed like nice people, the complete inability to talk to each other gets on my nerves - a lot. And I just really couldn't see everyone else caring so much about whether these 2 finally got down to it or not. Do or don't, but stop dragging around moping over it.

missamandamae's review

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5.0

Oh my word. I LOVE Katrina’s books and this absolutely did not disappoint. I was squee-ing and gasping and enjoying the whole ride of Candace and Ezra. Both are darling and lovable characters you just gotta root for. I am so excited to read the next installment!

kateritchie's review

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emotional 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? No

3.25

courtnee_rae's review

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emotional lighthearted fast-paced
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

samarayu's review against another edition

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5.0

*no spoilers*

I may have cried a bit in some places in this book. The romance is so heartwrenching and lovely. It’s kind of a slow-burn romance — not something I particularly like, but as the whole thing is told in various new year’s eves in a span of 18 years, it was more my taste. There’s lots of yearning — totally my jam— that is just so pure and exquisite. Candace and Ezra are well-rounded characters, and I couldn’t help rooting for them both.

(I got an ARC from the author, no strings attached.)


Content Warnings:
parental sickness (cancer, diabetes, hypertension)

didis_readingcorner's review

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emotional funny hopeful tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75