Scan barcode
monaisverytired's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
4.0
Clayborn’s male romantic leads have such rich interiority that is sorely missed in much of today’s contemporary romance stories!
leshow312's review against another edition
5.0
Found family, childhood trauma from parents, and it’s set in Chicago? This book was written just for meeeeeee!
_peri_'s review against another edition
4.0
This book is about pining and living in an old building! Also about bad parents and found family
sophiacapeles's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
missquiss's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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
5.0
laelyn's review against another edition
3.0
"Love at First" is a cute little romance with pretty complex characters. Both Will and Nora are loveable, and I was invested in both of their backstories. There are a ton of quirky, endearing side characters too, and I loved the general concept of the story. It's sweet, it's light, it's fun to read, and oh do I love a good found family in my books!
I did think that the conflict between Will and Nora felt a little forced at times - they really had no actual reason to consider each other enemies (though I'd argue they never really did but just pretended to), and both of them suffered from a heavy dose of instalove which is a trope I don't necessarily enjoy. I prefer there to be more (real, not forced) obstacles, more meat to the development of the romance. And a part of me really would have loved for them to actually meet back in the days when they were teenagers instead of it being a one-sided thing.
In the end, I'm pretty sure I won't remember much about this story in a few months. It's not a Stand Out kind of romance full of new ideas and groundbreaking characters. But it's a really enjoyable, well written, quick and fluffy read, and that is, after all, what I want and expect from my romance novels.
Many thanks to Kensington Books and Netgalley for the arc!
I did think that the conflict between Will and Nora felt a little forced at times - they really had no actual reason to consider each other enemies (though I'd argue they never really did but just pretended to), and both of them suffered from a heavy dose of instalove which is a trope I don't necessarily enjoy. I prefer there to be more (real, not forced) obstacles, more meat to the development of the romance. And a part of me really would have loved for them to actually meet back in the days when they were teenagers instead of it being a one-sided thing.
In the end, I'm pretty sure I won't remember much about this story in a few months. It's not a Stand Out kind of romance full of new ideas and groundbreaking characters. But it's a really enjoyable, well written, quick and fluffy read, and that is, after all, what I want and expect from my romance novels.
Many thanks to Kensington Books and Netgalley for the arc!
m2b2's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
opheliabedilia's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? No
4.5