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A review by hanreads__
The Lovely One by Naemi Tiana
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Love Triangle✔️
Found Family✔️
Opposites Attract✔️
*~*~*~*~*
This is such a special book to me because I first came across it on an interactive story app called Episode a few years ago. I would spend my time reading this story and desperate for certain things to happen and I loved that I got to make choices for the character Emily, but reading it as a novel has been a whole different experience for me!
Emily is a complete fish out of water, she’s gone to a place she’s always dreamed off and yet nothings gone perfect for her. Her host mother is terrible, making friends has been near impossible, and on top of that? She’s miserable.
When Emily meets Paul and Jon, things change and I love how a quiet girl blooms into a person with confidence and a friendship group. The found family trope within this story is so cute and always warms my heart. I love that Emily is welcomed into a group of numerous people and that they all come up with nicknames for her and the majority of them treat her well. Some of the friendships that form are beautiful (especially the one with Danielle, I absolutely adore it).
I’m a sucker for a good love triangle despite the fact that I always get angry if the person doesn’t end up with who I want them to. I, myself, am team Jon, I feel as though they have more chemistry and Paul doesn’t deserve Emily after some of the shit he’s pulled! Despite the anger I feel for Paul, I do think he’s also good for Emily, but as of right now, I feel like Jon is better suited for her. (I also hate the nickname “babycakes” where as “Little German” is just so cute)!
Some see this story as a new adult story but I see it as a young adult and while the characters are of legal age, the intimate scenes within the book make me a little uncomfortable. If the characters were no longer in high school, I think I would feel differently, but because they are, I just feel like the little bit of spiciness isn’t appropriate.
All in all, I’m excited to read the second book because things are going to get even more dramatic, and I can’t wait for Emily to really sink her teeth into America!
Found Family✔️
Opposites Attract✔️
*~*~*~*~*
This is such a special book to me because I first came across it on an interactive story app called Episode a few years ago. I would spend my time reading this story and desperate for certain things to happen and I loved that I got to make choices for the character Emily, but reading it as a novel has been a whole different experience for me!
Emily is a complete fish out of water, she’s gone to a place she’s always dreamed off and yet nothings gone perfect for her. Her host mother is terrible, making friends has been near impossible, and on top of that? She’s miserable.
When Emily meets Paul and Jon, things change and I love how a quiet girl blooms into a person with confidence and a friendship group. The found family trope within this story is so cute and always warms my heart. I love that Emily is welcomed into a group of numerous people and that they all come up with nicknames for her and the majority of them treat her well. Some of the friendships that form are beautiful (especially the one with Danielle, I absolutely adore it).
I’m a sucker for a good love triangle despite the fact that I always get angry if the person doesn’t end up with who I want them to. I, myself, am team Jon, I feel as though they have more chemistry and Paul doesn’t deserve Emily after some of the shit he’s pulled! Despite the anger I feel for Paul, I do think he’s also good for Emily, but as of right now, I feel like Jon is better suited for her. (I also hate the nickname “babycakes” where as “Little German” is just so cute)!
Some see this story as a new adult story but I see it as a young adult and while the characters are of legal age, the intimate scenes within the book make me a little uncomfortable. If the characters were no longer in high school, I think I would feel differently, but because they are, I just feel like the little bit of spiciness isn’t appropriate.
All in all, I’m excited to read the second book because things are going to get even more dramatic, and I can’t wait for Emily to really sink her teeth into America!
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual content