A review by katemc7
A Vine Mess by Amanda Chaperon

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I have said it before but I am going to say it again- I am LOVING friends to lovers. It has the angst of second chance romances because the one character with the “unrequited” crush is trying to figure out how to either hide their feelings or make them known. This book played it perfectly. I have had my eye on this series for a while so I was STUPID happy when I got approved for the ARC. These characters were wonderful. Liam was ALMOST a grump but was seriously misunderstood. While Ella was our flowery, sunshine woman on the recovery from a rough break up. They work together so have known each other for years. I loved learning about Liam’s long term crush and hearing Ella hear about it was perfection. He showed up for her all the time. He went to her store to buy flowers to see her. I mean come on!! The funny thing was that she thought they were for someone else. Liam helped Ella realize what she deserves and how amazing she really is. I LOVE it when the main characters bring out the best in each other. 

Ella needs a change of scenery. She is still kind of spiraling from her breakup and the way her ex treated her. So when her coworker, let me rephrase HOT coworker, mentions that he is going on a two week road trip she offers to join him. For the first time, she doesn’t overthink she just does. So imagine her surprise when he says sure. Now they are traveling to all of these beautiful places all the while she is starting to realize how great of a guy Liam is. He is honest and funny and charming in his own way. And did she mention handsome. So when she starts to sense things changing between them she doesn’t know if he feels the same way. She doesn’t really know how she feels to be honest but she knows that she doesn’t want to hold back anymore. So imagine her surprise when she finds out that he has had a crush on her for YEARS. That he thinks she is stunningly beautiful inside and out. So now they are doing this thing. No labels are needed. She realizes that her feelings have developed and this trip has helped. When he asks her to join him for his brother’s wedding she is all in. She has learned how tough his family has been on him and wants to support him how she can. But then she meets his ex and Ella has to remind herself that Liam is not her boyfriend. Because she is in this for the long haul and she hopes he is too. 

Liam has been crushing on Ella from behind the scenes for YEARS. He loves his job and his life and now that she is single he is ready to make a move. So when she asks if she can join him on his road trip he of course says yes. Now they are navigating one bed situations and almost kisses under beautiful sunsets. He can see her feelings are shifting but he wants her to make the first move. He will jump in after that. So when she does, he is clear with her. He wants her not just for a night but for however long she will have him. He tells her all of the things he has observed and that he finds her amazing. He wants her to feel good about herself because clearly her ex didn’t help in that category. So now they are doing this. He is overjoyed she is coming to his brother’s wedding. Having her by his side just solidifies that he has made the right decision to cut his family out. He just has to make sure Ella knows he isn’t her ex and that he means what he says. 

This was a wonderful conclusion to the series. I was able to read it as a standalone and not feel like I was missing anything. I am very much looking forward to going back and reading the rest though. I found myself rooting for these two from the jump. I liked how they slowly started moving towards each other until they couldn’t avoid it any longer. 

Thank you to Love Notes PR and Amanda for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!