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A review by 00leah00
Worthy of Love by Quinn Ivins
5.0
5 Stars
“Worthy of Love” is Quinn Ivins’ second book and it is fantastic. It’s an age-gap workplace romance about accepting and loving yourself.
Nadine Bayani is a 40-year-old (ex)attorney that’s just gotten out of prison for campaign finance crimes. She has to find a job and the only place that will hire her is the chain retail store, Overstock Oasis. While there for her interview she meets Bella Clarke. Bella has worked there 10 years, ever since she dropped out of college. Bella recognizes “the most hated woman in the country” at first glance and though she also hates Nadine, she refuses to act the same when she sees how others mistreat and bully her.
This story had a lot going on and I loved every minute. You have a romance brewing with Nadine and Bella. Then there’s the mystery surrounding Nadine’s case and whether she’s really to blame. You also have Bella’s story with an undiagnosed case of ADHD that effects multiple aspects of her life.
Nadine is guarded and defensive after she gets out of prison and for good reason. The public hates her for her crimes and no one is willing to give her a chance. She’s mistreated by her bosses when they find out who she is but she isn’t able to quit. Bella is sweet and kind and just full of goodness. She flunked out of college at 20 and thinks she’s too dumb to go back. She’s resigned to her life as a checker with a side job of doing commissioned art work.
I love character driven stories and this is an excellent one. They’re both attracted to each other pretty quickly but both have their reasons for not getting into a relationship and wanting to stay just friends. Bella doesn’t believe she’s worthy of a Yale graduate who was once almost the Chief of Staff. Nadine has nothing and doesn’t want to pull anyone into her life of being hounded by the press. Over time they come to see that they are worthy of love and happiness but it takes time for them to get to that point.
This leads me to really enjoying the pacing of this story. Nadine and Bella and their stories, individually and as a couple, drive it. I wouldn’t describe the romance as a slow burn but it isn’t instant either. It takes time. The three main threads are woven throughout the story and it’s just a joy to read and it comes across as very natural and organic how they go from being co-workers to friends to lovers.
Also, I tried to find something that I didn’t like or had issue with and came up blank.
I recommend this to fans of well written, character driven romances.
I received an ARC from Ylva Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
“Worthy of Love” is Quinn Ivins’ second book and it is fantastic. It’s an age-gap workplace romance about accepting and loving yourself.
Nadine Bayani is a 40-year-old (ex)attorney that’s just gotten out of prison for campaign finance crimes. She has to find a job and the only place that will hire her is the chain retail store, Overstock Oasis. While there for her interview she meets Bella Clarke. Bella has worked there 10 years, ever since she dropped out of college. Bella recognizes “the most hated woman in the country” at first glance and though she also hates Nadine, she refuses to act the same when she sees how others mistreat and bully her.
This story had a lot going on and I loved every minute. You have a romance brewing with Nadine and Bella. Then there’s the mystery surrounding Nadine’s case and whether she’s really to blame. You also have Bella’s story with an undiagnosed case of ADHD that effects multiple aspects of her life.
Nadine is guarded and defensive after she gets out of prison and for good reason. The public hates her for her crimes and no one is willing to give her a chance. She’s mistreated by her bosses when they find out who she is but she isn’t able to quit. Bella is sweet and kind and just full of goodness. She flunked out of college at 20 and thinks she’s too dumb to go back. She’s resigned to her life as a checker with a side job of doing commissioned art work.
I love character driven stories and this is an excellent one. They’re both attracted to each other pretty quickly but both have their reasons for not getting into a relationship and wanting to stay just friends. Bella doesn’t believe she’s worthy of a Yale graduate who was once almost the Chief of Staff. Nadine has nothing and doesn’t want to pull anyone into her life of being hounded by the press. Over time they come to see that they are worthy of love and happiness but it takes time for them to get to that point.
This leads me to really enjoying the pacing of this story. Nadine and Bella and their stories, individually and as a couple, drive it. I wouldn’t describe the romance as a slow burn but it isn’t instant either. It takes time. The three main threads are woven throughout the story and it’s just a joy to read and it comes across as very natural and organic how they go from being co-workers to friends to lovers.
Also, I tried to find something that I didn’t like or had issue with and came up blank.
I recommend this to fans of well written, character driven romances.
I received an ARC from Ylva Publishing in exchange for an honest review.