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tmathews0330's review
4.0
A fun read with a taste of magical realism. I wish the balance between the romance and the deeper issues had been a little more weighted to the side of the deeper issues, but that's definitely a personal taste thing!
ftjoy88's review against another edition
funny
reflective
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
3.0
theeuphoriczat's review
5.0
Thanks to Zebra Books for making this book available to me via # Netgalley
I have to start by saying that I am ashamed that I have never read any of Therese Beharrie books before now and I am taking immediate actions to rectify this deficit because she is absolutely phenomenal. Because this book radiates big brain energy.
Let me just tell you about this book in a single line...
A writer whose writing becomes her dreams (yes her actual dreams) and she has the ability to personalize her characters in her dreams, make them do anything, including making a super hot guy she met strip-tease at a strip club in her dream. If you are not interested after that I have another scenario for you.
Said super hot guy refuses to believe that she has magic, so she continues to write him doing insanely hot things that leaves him sexually frustrated when he wakes up or jumping out of his skin in fear. I tell you this book will not only make you laugh your head off but it will pull tears and anger from you faster than peeling and chopping onions.
Gaia is Jacob's brother's best friend so we have that very sexy trope. Gaia is an introvert who doesn't really trust anyone and that might be because she grew up in the system and was never adopted. I do not want to spoil it but this book is a definite must read.
I have to start by saying that I am ashamed that I have never read any of Therese Beharrie books before now and I am taking immediate actions to rectify this deficit because she is absolutely phenomenal. Because this book radiates big brain energy.
Let me just tell you about this book in a single line...
A writer whose writing becomes her dreams (yes her actual dreams) and she has the ability to personalize her characters in her dreams, make them do anything, including making a super hot guy she met strip-tease at a strip club in her dream. If you are not interested after that I have another scenario for you.
Said super hot guy refuses to believe that she has magic, so she continues to write him doing insanely hot things that leaves him sexually frustrated when he wakes up or jumping out of his skin in fear. I tell you this book will not only make you laugh your head off but it will pull tears and anger from you faster than peeling and chopping onions.
Gaia is Jacob's brother's best friend so we have that very sexy trope. Gaia is an introvert who doesn't really trust anyone and that might be because she grew up in the system and was never adopted. I do not want to spoil it but this book is a definite must read.
dannyphantomsg1's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
3.0
artsandbookish's review
3.0
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an eARC of this book fin exchange for an honest review.
This book is one of those reads I found by scrolling through my recommendations, and I'm quite happy that I picked it up. I was intrigued by the blurb, and really, the story was what kept me going from start to finish. The plot was so interesting, I just had to read it. However, I struggled a bit with the writing style. Maybe I'm used to something different, but I can't really put into words what bothered me, except that the dialogues felt off sometimes. (I scrolled through a bunch of other reviews, and maybe it's just me and not the book.)
As I said, I loved the storyline. The female protagonist, Gaia, is a successful romance novelist with magical abilities. I enjoyed the premise that every scene she writes down, she gets to live it out in her dreams. Cue the handsome younger brother of her best friend, Jacob. As she tries to hide in one of the bedrooms during her friend's party, she stumbles upon Jacob, obviously dressed in only a towel. And we all know what's going to happen, right?! As she gets home, she starts plotting and envisioning Jacob as the male main character. Like always, her writing comes to life in her dreams, only that this Jacob seems to have a mind on his own. It turns out it's actually her best friend's younger brother dreaming and not following along with the scene Gaia imagined. She finds herself questioning how he is able to enter her magical dream and if that means anything to her ability.
As light as this story might seem, this book also explores heavier topics (CW for anxiety and panic attacks). Gaia grew up in foster care and still deals with severe social anxiety and panic attacks. This is why she ends up hiding in one of the bedrooms. Jacob, on the other hand, is a classical workaholic, seeing it as his responsibility to keep the family and his father's business together. Both have a lot to work through; thus I wouldn't consider this a light read.
Apart from the problems I've mentioned, I enjoyed this book. A contemporary romance with a magical twist which people definitely should give a go, if the blurb catches their attention. Solid 3 stars.
This book is one of those reads I found by scrolling through my recommendations, and I'm quite happy that I picked it up. I was intrigued by the blurb, and really, the story was what kept me going from start to finish. The plot was so interesting, I just had to read it. However, I struggled a bit with the writing style. Maybe I'm used to something different, but I can't really put into words what bothered me, except that the dialogues felt off sometimes. (I scrolled through a bunch of other reviews, and maybe it's just me and not the book.)
As I said, I loved the storyline. The female protagonist, Gaia, is a successful romance novelist with magical abilities. I enjoyed the premise that every scene she writes down, she gets to live it out in her dreams. Cue the handsome younger brother of her best friend, Jacob. As she tries to hide in one of the bedrooms during her friend's party, she stumbles upon Jacob, obviously dressed in only a towel. And we all know what's going to happen, right?! As she gets home, she starts plotting and envisioning Jacob as the male main character. Like always, her writing comes to life in her dreams, only that this Jacob seems to have a mind on his own. It turns out it's actually her best friend's younger brother dreaming and not following along with the scene Gaia imagined. She finds herself questioning how he is able to enter her magical dream and if that means anything to her ability.
As light as this story might seem, this book also explores heavier topics (CW for anxiety and panic attacks). Gaia grew up in foster care and still deals with severe social anxiety and panic attacks. This is why she ends up hiding in one of the bedrooms. Jacob, on the other hand, is a classical workaholic, seeing it as his responsibility to keep the family and his father's business together. Both have a lot to work through; thus I wouldn't consider this a light read.
Apart from the problems I've mentioned, I enjoyed this book. A contemporary romance with a magical twist which people definitely should give a go, if the blurb catches their attention. Solid 3 stars.
kikki_heart's review
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
shyanneyoung13's review
3.0
ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review.
This was a quick read and overall a decent book. I thought the dream plot point was a very unique idea but I also felt like there was too much going on. With such a short book, multiple plot lines can sometimes get confusing as there is not enough time to explore each subplot in detail. In terms of the romance, it kinda felt like insta love which I'm not a huge fan of.
This was a quick read and overall a decent book. I thought the dream plot point was a very unique idea but I also felt like there was too much going on. With such a short book, multiple plot lines can sometimes get confusing as there is not enough time to explore each subplot in detail. In terms of the romance, it kinda felt like insta love which I'm not a huge fan of.
jodeezle's review
4.0
Gaia is a romance author who has gotten used to her dreams being the scenes that she writes. Which may not seem so bad since the scenes are on her mind when she goes to bed.
Now Gaia grew up in the foster care system and now doesn't like to be around other people. So when she leaves a party and runs into Jacob Scott, who is the younger brother of her best friend. When they kiss IRL they are both surprised. Afterwards Gaia writes a story like she normally does but this time Jacob shows up in her dreams but this time is much different that ever before. Jacob knows that he is in Gaia's dreams and it blows his mind.
I enjoyed that the author shows you how dreams and real life compare to each other. As much as I liked the book, it was a bit of challenge to get through. But I am very glad that I read it, and I think others will also enjoy reading it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books, Zebra publishing for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review..
Now Gaia grew up in the foster care system and now doesn't like to be around other people. So when she leaves a party and runs into Jacob Scott, who is the younger brother of her best friend. When they kiss IRL they are both surprised. Afterwards Gaia writes a story like she normally does but this time Jacob shows up in her dreams but this time is much different that ever before. Jacob knows that he is in Gaia's dreams and it blows his mind.
I enjoyed that the author shows you how dreams and real life compare to each other. As much as I liked the book, it was a bit of challenge to get through. But I am very glad that I read it, and I think others will also enjoy reading it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books, Zebra publishing for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review..
bbookmylife's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
tense
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? Yes
4.5
ambi_reads's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders