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mariep97's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
2.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness
Minor: Death of parent, Abandonment, and Car accident
amberinpieces's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Alcohol, Cursing, Death of parent, and Grief
jenna_justi2004's review
challenging
dark
lighthearted
sad
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Alcohol, Car accident, Grief, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content
victoriafrombookclub's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Panic attacks/disorders
thereadersays's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Mental illness
Moderate: Death of parent and Abandonment
allisonwonderlandreads's review
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? It's complicated
4.0
This contemporary romance delivers on emotions, humor, and that extra spark of something literally magical. Gaia is a romance writer who dreams what she wrote about that day, filling the starring role. In the dream, she can adjust what happens as she experiences the story. When Gaia wakes up, her draft is already adjusted to match these improvements. Normally too anxious to get close to people in the real world, Gaia is surprised by how comfortable she feels around her best friend's brother, Jacob. A flirty exchange escalates to a steamy kiss, and that night, Jacob finds himself playing the hero in one of Gaia's dreams. Now they must contend with the fact that Jacob has somehow been drawn in by her writing magic and is destined to act in her romance plots in the dream world.
I have found it suprisingly difficult as a great fan of romance and magic to find an intersection that works for me, and this book completely nailed it. It's primarily a romance with all the strengths of the genre that leave me swooning and deep in my feels at different moments. Gaia's role as a romance author provided multiple layers to appreciate all that the genre can do for its readers and the importance of the messages it can convey. This is one of the good ones, people, with all the sexiest features: clear communication, consent, and supporting/pushing each other through big life changes *major heart eyes.*
The real world elements of the book are heavy in the sense that there are complex struggles and emotions on hand; particularly check the author's content warnings for anxiety, panic attacks, and a childhood in the foster care system. Being a romance novel, these topics are attacked head on as part of the characters' ultimately joyful journey. I most love romances with a full range of emotions, and this one delivered. It explores relationships with family, friends, and careers, offering complete side plots that add dimension to our understanding of the characters' lives. The magic added a touch of excitement and wonder with perfect scenarios for funny encounters, and I enjoyed this embellishment with enthusiasm.
This is a strong romance novel in any way you care to measure it. A complete knockout. Thanks to Kensington for my copy to read and review!
I have found it suprisingly difficult as a great fan of romance and magic to find an intersection that works for me, and this book completely nailed it. It's primarily a romance with all the strengths of the genre that leave me swooning and deep in my feels at different moments. Gaia's role as a romance author provided multiple layers to appreciate all that the genre can do for its readers and the importance of the messages it can convey. This is one of the good ones, people, with all the sexiest features: clear communication, consent, and supporting/pushing each other through big life changes *major heart eyes.*
The real world elements of the book are heavy in the sense that there are complex struggles and emotions on hand; particularly check the author's content warnings for anxiety, panic attacks, and a childhood in the foster care system. Being a romance novel, these topics are attacked head on as part of the characters' ultimately joyful journey. I most love romances with a full range of emotions, and this one delivered. It explores relationships with family, friends, and careers, offering complete side plots that add dimension to our understanding of the characters' lives. The magic added a touch of excitement and wonder with perfect scenarios for funny encounters, and I enjoyed this embellishment with enthusiasm.
This is a strong romance novel in any way you care to measure it. A complete knockout. Thanks to Kensington for my copy to read and review!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Car accident, Death of parent, and Grief
booksbytheglass's review
emotional
hopeful
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
3.5
okay wow!!! this book had me on a roller coaster of paces!!!
vibes: twitches x the boyfriend project ✨
gaia, a south african romance award winning novelist, has magical powers. when she writes a chapter during the day, it comes alive in her dreams at night, allowing her to play it like a movie and make pretty extreme edits to her plot lines and dialogue. enter her best friend’s younger brother who definitely grew up since she last saw him, and she’s starting to realize that romance might not be a fantasy after all.
I am a sucker for modern day magical vibes so I absolutely loved this premise!! jacob and gaia’s banter amidst the dreams were probably some of my favorite scenes - and THAT EPILOGUE!!! I need to know everything about gemma now - NOT A DRILL.
the dialogue was a little young for me, despite their age, and the romance itself wasn’t really there for me. (again, that’s my personal preference - I’m not an insta love kind of reader.)
however, I found myself flying through the book to see where it was going to go next!! and the representation of anxiety, mental illnesses, and panic attacks was spot on - it really brought a tear to my eye knowing how other people feel similar to my own panic attacks.
I would absolutely recommend this one to anyone who wants a fun easy magical romance! a huge thank you to the publishers at penguin and zebra for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
wine pairing: south african pinotage blend
rating: 3.5 stars
vibes: twitches x the boyfriend project ✨
gaia, a south african romance award winning novelist, has magical powers. when she writes a chapter during the day, it comes alive in her dreams at night, allowing her to play it like a movie and make pretty extreme edits to her plot lines and dialogue. enter her best friend’s younger brother who definitely grew up since she last saw him, and she’s starting to realize that romance might not be a fantasy after all.
I am a sucker for modern day magical vibes so I absolutely loved this premise!! jacob and gaia’s banter amidst the dreams were probably some of my favorite scenes - and THAT EPILOGUE!!! I need to know everything about gemma now - NOT A DRILL.
the dialogue was a little young for me, despite their age, and the romance itself wasn’t really there for me. (again, that’s my personal preference - I’m not an insta love kind of reader.)
however, I found myself flying through the book to see where it was going to go next!! and the representation of anxiety, mental illnesses, and panic attacks was spot on - it really brought a tear to my eye knowing how other people feel similar to my own panic attacks.
I would absolutely recommend this one to anyone who wants a fun easy magical romance! a huge thank you to the publishers at penguin and zebra for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
wine pairing: south african pinotage blend
rating: 3.5 stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Mental illness
Moderate: Death of parent
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