Scan barcode
A review by heyleigh05
Have We Met? by Camille Baker
funny
lighthearted
reflective
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
3.5
<strong>A mixed bag of fun things and not as fun things</strong>
I’m in the middle on this book because there are things that I liked but also I was kind of underwhelmed. I enjoyed it enough to read to the end. I liked the characters, they were funny and they were dealing with real adult stuff that’s relatable. There were even some parts that even made me chuckle a little. Cori is trying to figure out her next steps in life and trying to find her passion while also processing the loss of her best friend. She’s at a crossroads in her adulthood and I related to that completely. She develops a really solid, supportive friend group and their interactions were fun to read. I liked that this book showed adults still doing fun, whimsical things like karaoke and scavenger hunts. I also liked Cori and her love interest, Cory, together. They were cute.
However, I wish we actually got to see the development of their romance more explicitly. I feel like their relationship in some ways was told to us not shown in they way I would have wanted. Don’t get me wrong, there were parts where they spent time together and I could see their relationship forming but I just wish there was more and that it was described in more detail. I think I would classify this more as women’s fiction than romance. The focus is on Cori’s personal development and the romance is more of a side plot. Also, the sex scenes in this book were fade to black which was kind of disappointing for because I really like Cori and Cory (haha) together. I’d say if you start reading this book adjust your expectations and expect a women’s fiction novel and not a romance. Also, I just kind of didn’t feel the stakes in this novel. Things that caused tension and stress for the MC I didn’t really feel or connect to except for her job searching and need for money. Everything else I was kind of like what are the stakes, why should I care as much as the MC does, why is this so important to her? That was kind of a barrier for me while reading so although I enjoyed aspects of the novel I was kind of bored.
Overall, this is a nice book to fill the time, or something to read in between books. It’s fun light-reading. I loved that we have a protagonist that’s unapologetically Black and that it’s a story that features Black love considering publishing’s obsession with interracial couples at the moment. That made the story enjoyable for me and they have good chemistry together. Oh also, I loved Cori’s relationship with her brother Lito! Lito is deaf and I liked that we got to read about an important character with a disability. Cori and Lito were funny together and I enjoyed reading their scenes a lot! If you read this book don’t expect a full fledged romance. Expect a personal growth story with a romance on the side.
3.5 stars
I’m in the middle on this book because there are things that I liked but also I was kind of underwhelmed. I enjoyed it enough to read to the end. I liked the characters, they were funny and they were dealing with real adult stuff that’s relatable. There were even some parts that even made me chuckle a little. Cori is trying to figure out her next steps in life and trying to find her passion while also processing the loss of her best friend. She’s at a crossroads in her adulthood and I related to that completely. She develops a really solid, supportive friend group and their interactions were fun to read. I liked that this book showed adults still doing fun, whimsical things like karaoke and scavenger hunts. I also liked Cori and her love interest, Cory, together. They were cute.
However, I wish we actually got to see the development of their romance more explicitly. I feel like their relationship in some ways was told to us not shown in they way I would have wanted. Don’t get me wrong, there were parts where they spent time together and I could see their relationship forming but I just wish there was more and that it was described in more detail. I think I would classify this more as women’s fiction than romance. The focus is on Cori’s personal development and the romance is more of a side plot. Also, the sex scenes in this book were fade to black which was kind of disappointing for because I really like Cori and Cory (haha) together. I’d say if you start reading this book adjust your expectations and expect a women’s fiction novel and not a romance. Also, I just kind of didn’t feel the stakes in this novel. Things that caused tension and stress for the MC I didn’t really feel or connect to except for her job searching and need for money. Everything else I was kind of like what are the stakes, why should I care as much as the MC does, why is this so important to her? That was kind of a barrier for me while reading so although I enjoyed aspects of the novel I was kind of bored.
Overall, this is a nice book to fill the time, or something to read in between books. It’s fun light-reading. I loved that we have a protagonist that’s unapologetically Black and that it’s a story that features Black love considering publishing’s obsession with interracial couples at the moment. That made the story enjoyable for me and they have good chemistry together. Oh also, I loved Cori’s relationship with her brother Lito! Lito is deaf and I liked that we got to read about an important character with a disability. Cori and Lito were funny together and I enjoyed reading their scenes a lot! If you read this book don’t expect a full fledged romance. Expect a personal growth story with a romance on the side.
3.5 stars