A review by libertyreads789
It Takes Heart by Tif Marcelo

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

I want to say “Thank God” I’m done with this book, but that feels over dramatic for the flaws of the book. It’s not like it said or did anything to personally offend me. But there was so little to like. It wasn’t a fun rom-com that requires zero brain cells from you to enjoy and it wasn’t a serious and heart wrenching romance. This novel keeps the reader at arm’s length and never brings them any closer. I felt like I didn’t know any of the characters. Including the two love interests! And every emotion this novel tried to pull out of me fell flat. I didn't care about their romance, or their conflict, or the family drama. Everything was so bland. I’m struggling to come up with more to say about this one. All of the plot points, all of the romance, all of the drama just passed by me without making any real impression. And my usual refrain of “if it only had more pages, it would be better.” Because I don’t know that 25 to 50 pages (or even 100 pages) could make this better. It’s the writing style, the narration keeping the reader at a distance, the lack of emotion that keeps this at a two star for me despite having so many elements I normally love in a romance.