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A review by deena_
All Rhodes Lead Here by Mariana Zapata
4.0
4.75 ☆
Song: At My Worst- Pink Sweat$ ft. Kehlani
“The people we lose take a part of us with them… but they leave a part of themselves with us too.”
No cause I'm packing my bags and heading straight to Colorado, hope you have an extra room to spare, Amos buddy; the bathouse would also do, if you know what I mean. After all, what can be better than holding an imaginary binocular and watching the grumpy hot-as-hell landlord wander around the premises shirtless? Aurora definitely wouldn't disagree; bats, mice and eagles, our city ass can deal with. All to say, this Mariana Zapata gem helped me wrap up the month with a smile. This book offers,
-single dad trope
-age gap
-second chance at life
-torturous slow burn (but do you see me complain?)
-smooth transition from I can't stand you to I can't stand anyone but you
This book explores so many topics besides its mind-blowing fluff and romance; it focuses on new beginnings, the strength needed to leave everything behind that you thought would be with you forever, the uncertainty and grief over things left unfinished, trying to navigate the world all by your own holding the pieces of your past close to your heart for the future ahead.
“People cried over endings, but sometimes you had to cry over new beginnings. I wouldn’t forget what I’d left. But I was going to be excited—at least as much as I could be—about this start and however it would end.”
This book follows Aurora on her journey to getting to know herself, leaving her too perfect life behind that almost felt suffocating; finding her way back to the small town she grew up in and stumbling right on Tobais Rhodes's property, a single dad to a teen who brushed off the idea of companionship long ago. Rhodes was not on board with the idea of letting a stranger rent his garage apartment but thanks to Amos's rebellious tantrum, Aurora got to stay; let's say, with her friendly nature, she dragged both of them in her orbit pretty quick. Remember when Rhodes went into a miniature shock hearing she was in her early thirties? For real though, same!! She makes it so hard to believe, no one would have guessed from the way she behaves.
“Because you had to remember the shitty parts of life to appreciate the good.”
She's just so likable and great with people, watching her fit into her new life and occasionally make cute mistakes was the best part of it, even better when Rhodes was there to call her out on it. Only this author can write about a character in his early forties and make me trip. Every fact aside, it was his dad complex that got me slipping from the highest hiking track on Aurora's mom's journal. The guy is a damn sheild, a very comfortable one, always ready to protect and knowing exactly what he's doing, that cannot not be the hottest thing anyone could do.
“You got this spark of life that nothing and no one has taken away despite the things that have happened to you, and I don’t understand how you still manage to… be you.”
Although I'd say Jackie and Amos tops it all, they are such adorable, talented kids. I'd love to be best friends with them, the way they held up the musical background of the entire book at some point was really amazing. To think about it, Aurora got some pretty great friends, can't forget miss eight-time Grammy winner Yuki Young running straight over from her concert to visit Aurora at her new place cause she misses her. The girl doesn't have a bad bone in her body, she's practically catching good people left and right, except her ex-in-laws, ofcourse.
“We don't get to choose who the people we love become or are, but you do get to pick if you want to stick around.”
Overall, this book was well written, it was so easy to get into the vibe and enjoy it throughly. The characters themselves deserve a whole lot of credit for capturing our hearts in their own unique ways. At this point, I pick up Mariana Zapata's books with my eyes closed cause we know she never disappoints.
Song: At My Worst- Pink Sweat$ ft. Kehlani
“The people we lose take a part of us with them… but they leave a part of themselves with us too.”
No cause I'm packing my bags and heading straight to Colorado, hope you have an extra room to spare, Amos buddy; the bathouse would also do, if you know what I mean. After all, what can be better than holding an imaginary binocular and watching the grumpy hot-as-hell landlord wander around the premises shirtless? Aurora definitely wouldn't disagree; bats, mice and eagles, our city ass can deal with. All to say, this Mariana Zapata gem helped me wrap up the month with a smile. This book offers,
-single dad trope
-age gap
-second chance at life
-torturous slow burn (but do you see me complain?)
-smooth transition from I can't stand you to I can't stand anyone but you
This book explores so many topics besides its mind-blowing fluff and romance; it focuses on new beginnings, the strength needed to leave everything behind that you thought would be with you forever, the uncertainty and grief over things left unfinished, trying to navigate the world all by your own holding the pieces of your past close to your heart for the future ahead.
“People cried over endings, but sometimes you had to cry over new beginnings. I wouldn’t forget what I’d left. But I was going to be excited—at least as much as I could be—about this start and however it would end.”
This book follows Aurora on her journey to getting to know herself, leaving her too perfect life behind that almost felt suffocating; finding her way back to the small town she grew up in and stumbling right on Tobais Rhodes's property, a single dad to a teen who brushed off the idea of companionship long ago. Rhodes was not on board with the idea of letting a stranger rent his garage apartment but thanks to Amos's rebellious tantrum, Aurora got to stay; let's say, with her friendly nature, she dragged both of them in her orbit pretty quick. Remember when Rhodes went into a miniature shock hearing she was in her early thirties? For real though, same!! She makes it so hard to believe, no one would have guessed from the way she behaves.
“Because you had to remember the shitty parts of life to appreciate the good.”
She's just so likable and great with people, watching her fit into her new life and occasionally make cute mistakes was the best part of it, even better when Rhodes was there to call her out on it. Only this author can write about a character in his early forties and make me trip. Every fact aside, it was his dad complex that got me slipping from the highest hiking track on Aurora's mom's journal. The guy is a damn sheild, a very comfortable one, always ready to protect and knowing exactly what he's doing, that cannot not be the hottest thing anyone could do.
“You got this spark of life that nothing and no one has taken away despite the things that have happened to you, and I don’t understand how you still manage to… be you.”
Although I'd say Jackie and Amos tops it all, they are such adorable, talented kids. I'd love to be best friends with them, the way they held up the musical background of the entire book at some point was really amazing. To think about it, Aurora got some pretty great friends, can't forget miss eight-time Grammy winner Yuki Young running straight over from her concert to visit Aurora at her new place cause she misses her. The girl doesn't have a bad bone in her body, she's practically catching good people left and right, except her ex-in-laws, ofcourse.
“We don't get to choose who the people we love become or are, but you do get to pick if you want to stick around.”
Overall, this book was well written, it was so easy to get into the vibe and enjoy it throughly. The characters themselves deserve a whole lot of credit for capturing our hearts in their own unique ways. At this point, I pick up Mariana Zapata's books with my eyes closed cause we know she never disappoints.