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4.04 AVERAGE
4.04 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
relaxing
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A sweet story that kept me hooked till the end. I liked the cast of characters, the setting and the engrossing plot.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
Hannah is a small bookstore owner who is struggling to survive financially. I love her passion for books and bookselling. To try to increase revenue, she's convinced by her employee to highlight more romance novels. Enter Parker, a bestselling romance novelist, who did a signing at Hannah's bookstore, Sparks fly and romance ensues. I love that Hannah has to confront her prejudice about romance being a valid genre. I also love that both Hannah and Parker have personal issues they have to deal with. They`re both flawed humans who are struggling to improve themselves in order for their relationship to work. As with previous Melissa Brayden works, this book is very enjoyable and easy to read. Highly recommended.
**Thanks to Bold Strokes Books for providing me an ARC for an honest review**
**Thanks to Bold Strokes Books for providing me an ARC for an honest review**
Hannah Shephard is a bookshop owner who loves her uncomplicated and risk-averse life. Her bookstore is having issues and she might be forced to close it for good. When she invites world-renowned author romance novelist Parker Bristow her luck is about to change. But what isn’t in her plans is their mutual attraction and chemistry which leads to a shared evening and the possibility of more…
You cannot go wrong with Melissa Brayden’s books. They all do what it says on the tin, they will provide you with romance, hotness, and entertainment. Well-written dialogues, funny banter and off-the-charts chemistry are guaranteed in her novels. Consistently you get what you are looking for, it never fails. No wonder she is one of the top lesfic authors.
Both main characters are well developed and credible, in many ways they are opposites, but they share a common love of literature. I liked the premise that the mains didn’t agree on the genre of books they enjoyed, there was a good discussion regarding the value of romance books and their authenticity in the portrayal of love. I especially liked the way Hannah talks about matching a book to a reader, that’s exactly the tagline of LezReviewBooks.com website: ‘Find your lesbian book match’, I swear we didn’t copy each other!
The secondary characters were well written and distinctive, some of them with funny little quirks that bring them to life. A very good secondary character is Hannah’s step-sister Bo, I particularly enjoyed the parallel story with her own love interest and how both sisters dealt with relationship conflicts. Another great secondary character is pop star Carissa who is very funny in an infuriating way. She’s the protagonist of a hilarious scene that will stay in my memory for a long time, this is the first time Ms. Brayden had me laughing out loud, I really liked it, she should try it more.
The rest is pure Brayden style: hot chemistry, scorching sex scenes, a bit of angst and romance galore. ‘Back to September’ won’t disappoint her fans.
Overall, a very entertaining, lesbian romantic book. 4.5 stars.
ARC provided by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
See all my reviews at www.lezreviewbooks.com
You cannot go wrong with Melissa Brayden’s books. They all do what it says on the tin, they will provide you with romance, hotness, and entertainment. Well-written dialogues, funny banter and off-the-charts chemistry are guaranteed in her novels. Consistently you get what you are looking for, it never fails. No wonder she is one of the top lesfic authors.
Both main characters are well developed and credible, in many ways they are opposites, but they share a common love of literature. I liked the premise that the mains didn’t agree on the genre of books they enjoyed, there was a good discussion regarding the value of romance books and their authenticity in the portrayal of love. I especially liked the way Hannah talks about matching a book to a reader, that’s exactly the tagline of LezReviewBooks.com website: ‘Find your lesbian book match’, I swear we didn’t copy each other!
The secondary characters were well written and distinctive, some of them with funny little quirks that bring them to life. A very good secondary character is Hannah’s step-sister Bo, I particularly enjoyed the parallel story with her own love interest and how both sisters dealt with relationship conflicts. Another great secondary character is pop star Carissa who is very funny in an infuriating way. She’s the protagonist of a hilarious scene that will stay in my memory for a long time, this is the first time Ms. Brayden had me laughing out loud, I really liked it, she should try it more.
The rest is pure Brayden style: hot chemistry, scorching sex scenes, a bit of angst and romance galore. ‘Back to September’ won’t disappoint her fans.
Overall, a very entertaining, lesbian romantic book. 4.5 stars.
ARC provided by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
See all my reviews at www.lezreviewbooks.com
Let's just start off with TL;DR of this whole review before getting into the nitty-gritty (I know, reverse and all, but bear with me):
[b:Back to September|43800722|Back to September|Melissa Brayden|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1550280825l/43800722._SY75_.jpg|68151748] is my new favorite by Melissa Brayden, hands down.
2019 was a bit of an interesting reading year for me. I made a New Year's resolution to read 52 books in 52 weeks. With two kids under the age of 10, working a job where my commute is 1.5 hours one way, and a loving family to devote to as much as possible - this actually turned out to be harder than I thought. But thanks to Audible and those long commutes, I still made it. With that being said though, I didn't read many that really hit me like a ton of bricks GOOD.
Please don't misunderstand. I still read some amazing books over 2019. Some notable ones being [b:The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue|29283884|The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue (Montague Siblings, #1)|Mackenzi Lee|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1492601464l/29283884._SY75_.jpg|49527118] by [a:Mackenzi Lee|7327341|Mackenzi Lee|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1512266703p2/7327341.jpg], [b:These Witches Don't Burn|36484081|These Witches Don't Burn (These Witches Don't Burn, #1)|Isabel Sterling|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1541163363l/36484081._SX50_.jpg|58195438] by [a:Isabel Sterling|8123982|Isabel Sterling|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1577484556p2/8123982.jpg], and even [b:Beautiful Dreamer|42612975|Beautiful Dreamer|Melissa Brayden|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1553118043l/42612975._SY75_.jpg|66325016] by [a:Melissa Brayden|4789680|Melissa Brayden|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1332018247p2/4789680.jpg] as well. But I wasn't able to find a book that threw me back against my seat by G-forces so strong I didn't know how to recover from it ending. I've had moments like these only a few times in my life with books such as the [b:Harry Potter Series Box Set|862041|Harry Potter Series Box Set (Harry Potter, #1-7)|J.K. Rowling|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1534298934l/862041._SX50_.jpg|2962492] by [a:J.K. Rowling|1077326|J.K. Rowling|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1510435123p2/1077326.jpg], [b:Scrappy Little Nobody|29868610|Scrappy Little Nobody|Anna Kendrick|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1469410391l/29868610._SY75_.jpg|45352758] by [a:Anna Kendrick|7041930|Anna Kendrick|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1470103514p2/7041930.jpg], [b:Ready Player One|9969571|Ready Player One (Ready Player One, #1)|Ernest Cline|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1500930947l/9969571._SY75_.jpg|14863741] by [a:Ernest Cline|31712|Ernest Cline|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1310753539p2/31712.jpg], and the first book by Brayden that made me a devoted member of her fan club - [b:Kiss the Girl|18406404|Kiss the Girl (Soho Loft, #1)|Melissa Brayden|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1384260344l/18406404._SY75_.jpg|26041514] by [a:Melissa Brayden|4789680|Melissa Brayden|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1332018247p2/4789680.jpg].
But I had not had this experience with a book recently and - frankly - I was desperate for one. I missed that feeling of wanting to race home to read, curl up for hours, and push myself through exhaustion to finish it. Then have the conflicting feeling of trying so desperately to slow down in order to enjoy each and every savory minute of reading its pages.
But here comes Melissa Brayden in all of her glory and SHE GAVE ME MY READING JOY BACK.
[b:Back to September|43800722|Back to September|Melissa Brayden|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1550280825l/43800722._SY75_.jpg|68151748] brings back Brayden in all her beautiful brilliance. I was always a huge fan of the Soho Series, but the Seven Shores series didn't quite grab me the same way. Her standalones have been solid in the last few years, but not what I remember when reading [b:Heart Block|13587052|Heart Block|Melissa Brayden|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1344719896l/13587052._SY75_.jpg|19174404] or [b:How Sweet It Is|17290894|How Sweet It Is|Melissa Brayden|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1363658184l/17290894._SY75_.jpg|23913152]. Brayden is a remarkable writer, and I can always count on her for amazing reads without question. But I will admit I was missing the exact feelings I spoke of above that I used to - very often - get from reading her books.
But she came blazing back with [b:Back to September|43800722|Back to September|Melissa Brayden|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1550280825l/43800722._SY75_.jpg|68151748].
I finished [b:Back to September|43800722|Back to September|Melissa Brayden|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1550280825l/43800722._SY75_.jpg|68151748] after a binge reading session, something of which I hadn't done in - quite honestly - years. I couldn’t put it down. I loved it, cover to cover. I do believe I can announce that she's written a novel that is likely going to have to share the number one spot on my Brayden Favorites, sharing the pedestal with [b:Kiss the Girl|18406404|Kiss the Girl (Soho Loft, #1)|Melissa Brayden|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1384260344l/18406404._SY75_.jpg|26041514].
I am in awe. This new novel was full of all of the usual pieces of Brayden's novels that I adore and look forward to each time a new one is released, but it was filled with so much more. New things even. Some very real topics with very real outcomes; some very real ways to work through very real problems. Characters that made mistakes - real mistakes - and acted like real people, not fictionalized “perfect” people (though those aren’t necessarily bad!). It was so refreshing to see that kind of representation seen within these pages, within a novel by an author I trust implicitly. A novel that still had the same wit, dialogue, and descriptors that always make me fly to Brayden's novels the moment they’re released.
Now that I have had a proper chance to ruminate in its aftermath and proper time to recover from having to put it down, I only wish I had the chance to go back to the beginning and read it all over again with new eyes.
Melissa - I loved it. It was amazing. Please never stop doing what you’re doing. My literary world is always a happy place to come back to over and over again because of exceptional authors like you. Thank you for another fantastic and beautiful reading experience.
View my full review on my Book Blog website - The FarNerdy Blog.
[b:Back to September|43800722|Back to September|Melissa Brayden|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1550280825l/43800722._SY75_.jpg|68151748] is my new favorite by Melissa Brayden, hands down.
2019 was a bit of an interesting reading year for me. I made a New Year's resolution to read 52 books in 52 weeks. With two kids under the age of 10, working a job where my commute is 1.5 hours one way, and a loving family to devote to as much as possible - this actually turned out to be harder than I thought. But thanks to Audible and those long commutes, I still made it. With that being said though, I didn't read many that really hit me like a ton of bricks GOOD.
Please don't misunderstand. I still read some amazing books over 2019. Some notable ones being [b:The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue|29283884|The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue (Montague Siblings, #1)|Mackenzi Lee|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1492601464l/29283884._SY75_.jpg|49527118] by [a:Mackenzi Lee|7327341|Mackenzi Lee|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1512266703p2/7327341.jpg], [b:These Witches Don't Burn|36484081|These Witches Don't Burn (These Witches Don't Burn, #1)|Isabel Sterling|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1541163363l/36484081._SX50_.jpg|58195438] by [a:Isabel Sterling|8123982|Isabel Sterling|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1577484556p2/8123982.jpg], and even [b:Beautiful Dreamer|42612975|Beautiful Dreamer|Melissa Brayden|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1553118043l/42612975._SY75_.jpg|66325016] by [a:Melissa Brayden|4789680|Melissa Brayden|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1332018247p2/4789680.jpg] as well. But I wasn't able to find a book that threw me back against my seat by G-forces so strong I didn't know how to recover from it ending. I've had moments like these only a few times in my life with books such as the [b:Harry Potter Series Box Set|862041|Harry Potter Series Box Set (Harry Potter, #1-7)|J.K. Rowling|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1534298934l/862041._SX50_.jpg|2962492] by [a:J.K. Rowling|1077326|J.K. Rowling|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1510435123p2/1077326.jpg], [b:Scrappy Little Nobody|29868610|Scrappy Little Nobody|Anna Kendrick|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1469410391l/29868610._SY75_.jpg|45352758] by [a:Anna Kendrick|7041930|Anna Kendrick|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1470103514p2/7041930.jpg], [b:Ready Player One|9969571|Ready Player One (Ready Player One, #1)|Ernest Cline|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1500930947l/9969571._SY75_.jpg|14863741] by [a:Ernest Cline|31712|Ernest Cline|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1310753539p2/31712.jpg], and the first book by Brayden that made me a devoted member of her fan club - [b:Kiss the Girl|18406404|Kiss the Girl (Soho Loft, #1)|Melissa Brayden|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1384260344l/18406404._SY75_.jpg|26041514] by [a:Melissa Brayden|4789680|Melissa Brayden|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1332018247p2/4789680.jpg].
But I had not had this experience with a book recently and - frankly - I was desperate for one. I missed that feeling of wanting to race home to read, curl up for hours, and push myself through exhaustion to finish it. Then have the conflicting feeling of trying so desperately to slow down in order to enjoy each and every savory minute of reading its pages.
But here comes Melissa Brayden in all of her glory and SHE GAVE ME MY READING JOY BACK.
[b:Back to September|43800722|Back to September|Melissa Brayden|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1550280825l/43800722._SY75_.jpg|68151748] brings back Brayden in all her beautiful brilliance. I was always a huge fan of the Soho Series, but the Seven Shores series didn't quite grab me the same way. Her standalones have been solid in the last few years, but not what I remember when reading [b:Heart Block|13587052|Heart Block|Melissa Brayden|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1344719896l/13587052._SY75_.jpg|19174404] or [b:How Sweet It Is|17290894|How Sweet It Is|Melissa Brayden|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1363658184l/17290894._SY75_.jpg|23913152]. Brayden is a remarkable writer, and I can always count on her for amazing reads without question. But I will admit I was missing the exact feelings I spoke of above that I used to - very often - get from reading her books.
But she came blazing back with [b:Back to September|43800722|Back to September|Melissa Brayden|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1550280825l/43800722._SY75_.jpg|68151748].
I finished [b:Back to September|43800722|Back to September|Melissa Brayden|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1550280825l/43800722._SY75_.jpg|68151748] after a binge reading session, something of which I hadn't done in - quite honestly - years. I couldn’t put it down. I loved it, cover to cover. I do believe I can announce that she's written a novel that is likely going to have to share the number one spot on my Brayden Favorites, sharing the pedestal with [b:Kiss the Girl|18406404|Kiss the Girl (Soho Loft, #1)|Melissa Brayden|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1384260344l/18406404._SY75_.jpg|26041514].
I am in awe. This new novel was full of all of the usual pieces of Brayden's novels that I adore and look forward to each time a new one is released, but it was filled with so much more. New things even. Some very real topics with very real outcomes; some very real ways to work through very real problems. Characters that made mistakes - real mistakes - and acted like real people, not fictionalized “perfect” people (though those aren’t necessarily bad!). It was so refreshing to see that kind of representation seen within these pages, within a novel by an author I trust implicitly. A novel that still had the same wit, dialogue, and descriptors that always make me fly to Brayden's novels the moment they’re released.
Now that I have had a proper chance to ruminate in its aftermath and proper time to recover from having to put it down, I only wish I had the chance to go back to the beginning and read it all over again with new eyes.
Melissa - I loved it. It was amazing. Please never stop doing what you’re doing. My literary world is always a happy place to come back to over and over again because of exceptional authors like you. Thank you for another fantastic and beautiful reading experience.
View my full review on my Book Blog website - The FarNerdy Blog.
lighthearted
slow-paced
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Loved this!
This book follows the romance between Hannah Shephard, who owns an indie bookstore called A Likely Story and super famous romance author, Parker Bristow. This book was just so wonderful and exactly what I hoped for. The chemistry between Parker and Hannah is great and the characters themselves, while flawed, are still very loveable. I also loved the character of Hannah's sister, Bo.
This book follows the romance between Hannah Shephard, who owns an indie bookstore called A Likely Story and super famous romance author, Parker Bristow. This book was just so wonderful and exactly what I hoped for. The chemistry between Parker and Hannah is great and the characters themselves, while flawed, are still very loveable. I also loved the character of Hannah's sister, Bo.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
More later, but this was lovely. Depth of character as A-game, and I loved the little bookstore vibes.