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A review by aasiya_m
Picking Daisies on Sundays by Liana Cincotti
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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
Summary Spolier Free:
Picking Daisies on Sundays by Liana Cincotti completely stole my heart. I didn’t expect it to hit me this hard, but wow, this story was emotional, raw, and so beautifully written, I didn’t expect to fall in love with it the way I did. I loved it with everything in me.
Picking Daisies on Sundays follows Daniella "Daisy" Maria, a fashion design major in her final year of college, who has been in love with her childhood best friend, Levi Coldwell, for as long as she can remember. After a painful rejection years ago, Daisy vowed to move on. However, when Levi reappears in her life and asks her to pretend to be his girlfriend for his sister's wedding, old feelings resurface. As they navigate this fake relationship, both are forced to confront their true emotions and the complexities of their past.
This book was a delightful journey of love, self-discovery, and the complexities of fake dating. The slow-burn romance between Daisy and Levi was both heartwarming and frustrating in the best way. Cincotti masterfully captured the tension and tenderness of rekindled feelings. While Daisy's insecurities were relatable, they sometimes felt repetitive. However, Levi's unwavering support and charm more than made up for it. The narrative beautifully explored themes of vulnerability, growth, and the importance of communication in relationships.
My thoughts (spoiler-free):
I absolutely loved this book, it broke and mended my heart so many times. I loved the connection between Daisy and Levi, it was so heartwarming and beautiful. From the very beginning of the story you can feel how much they care for one another. I’ve never read a romance book before, especially ones heavy in spice, but this one had no explicit scenes, just emotional intimacy and a couple of passionate kisses. The romance is written beautifully and makes you feel so connected and devoted to the characters.
Cincotti’s writing is elegant without being overdone, instead, she just gets straight to the heart of things. The chapter epigraphs added a lovely touch, and the title takes on deeper meaning as the story progresses. This was the first book I’ve ever annotated, and there are many annotations in it.
The title, Picking Daisies on Sundays, becomes more meaningful the more you read, and by the end, I was in tears. (Good ones. Mostly.)
Levi is the kind of character you can’t help but fall for selfless, steady, and full of quiet care for the people around him. His love for Daisy is evident in the small ways he shows up for her. And Daisy, though deeply insecure, is easy to connect with. As a designer who doesn’t make clothes for herself, she’s clearly struggling with self-worth, especially after losing her father. Watching her slowly come back to life, especially through Levi’s support, was incredibly moving.
This book is for anyone who’s ever struggled with feeling enough, for anyone who’s loved someone while trying to hold themselves together, or who’s been loved despite the mess. It’s gentle and aching and beautiful, and it left me feeling full in a way I didn’t expect.
I’ll be thinking about Daisy and Levi for a long time.
Rating Breakdowns—
Plot – 9/10: The fake dating trope is done with emotional depth, though the initial breakup didn’t feel entirely realistic.
Characters – 10/10: Daisy and Levi were well-developed, with distinct personalities and growth arcs that felt authentic. I felt an immediate connection to them. Rhea and Claire (levi’s younger sisters) they were so cute and added comic relief and laughter to this book.
Writing Style – 9/10: Cincotti’s writing was extremely flowery and beautifully written. There are so many beautiful lines about love, heartbreak, grief, angst. They’re were so many quotes in here that I highlighted.
Pacing – 9/10: The fake-dating romance, was quick yet beautiful in the same way. It took over the span of a month, but it didn’t feel rushed at all.
World-Building – 8/10: While set in New York, the descriptions sometimes felt more like a quiet small town or even Paris, which was occasionally distracting.
Spice Level – 3/10🌶️: The romance was sweet and tender, with some passionate moments, but nothing explicit. The romance was mainly emotional intimacy and a couple of descriptive passionate kissing scene.
Tropes – Fake dating, childhood friends to lovers, second chance romance, slow burn, miscommunication.
Summary (Spoiler-ish):
I have to admit, the reason Daisy and Levi first broke up felt a bit frustrating and, honestly, somewhat silly. But despite that, the way their relationship unfolds afterward, full of vulnerability, growth, and genuine care, made the journey feel authentic and heartfelt.
The story beautifully captures how two people who’ve loved each other for years navigate misunderstandings, their own insecurities, and the challenge of loving again. In the end, their love feels real, messy, and deeply healing.
I am in love with Levi Coldwell. I need a person like him in my life. He’s the kind of person who always puts others before himself, constantly worrying about his sister and about Daisy’s safety. You can tell he carries so much weight on his shoulders, but never once does he make it about him. The way he shows up for Daisy is so tender and selfless, and honestly, it melted me.
And Daisy. Daisy is a character I saw so much of myself in. She’s incredibly talented as a designer, but she doesn’t make clothes that fit her, and that small detail says so much. She second-guesses herself constantly. She’s grieving, and stuck, and doesn’t really believe she’s worth much and watching her slowly start to step outside of that, especially around Levi, was so powerful. He doesn’t magically fix her, but he sees her, and that’s what starts to shift things. You can literally feel her starting to believe in herself again, little by little.
I am infatuated with this book, I can’t get enough of it. I read the bonus Christmas scene that Cincotti wrote immediately after reading this. I need a sequel to this book.
Fav Quotes ❤️:
- For the hopeless, and hopeful, romantics who don’t know they’re noticed in a crowded room.
- Because when you find out the person you’ve been in love with for your entire life loves you back, you’ll spend the rest of you life making up for lost time.
- I tried to stop loving you, but along the way, you found your way into the sound of my laugh, the style of my writing, and the threads of my clothes
- I want to be noticed in a crowded room. I want to be the only person in a crowded room. I want to be wanted, truly wanted, and desired. I want to laugh and to sing and to dance with someone and not feel self-conscious over it because I love them and I’m confident that they love me. I want to be touched and kissed and held because I’ve forgotten what it feels like…and yet, I think I deserve it.
- You intoxicate me, Daisy. The scent of flowers lingers on you everywhere you go, and I always want to follow.
- I'm saying that if I knew four years ago that you loved me, I would've never let you go.
- My heart has been broken a million times by the same hand, yet I would let it happen a million times again if it meant it was by you.
- Don’t worry if the flowers pass, I’ll be right there to plant you more
- I once was poison ivy, but now I'm your daisy.
- You look at me with conviction when I don't even know the crime I committed.”
Content Warnings:
Minor - Grief, Death of a Parent (past), Sexual Assault (touching without consent), Sexual Content (intimate thoughts, feelings etc. A couple descriptive kissing scenes)
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent