Take a photo of a barcode or cover
romancingthereader's Reviews (1.65k)
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Sometimes you run across something that really is just a good book. A solid book, with damn good writing and a plot that makes you gitty. And this was it.
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: 500 First Editions by Maggie Gates
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: The Romantics character series. Book 3.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book ARC on Kindle. ๐๏ธ on KU.
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Contemporary romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Dare gone wrong, enemies-to-lovers, banter for days, she's a runner, golden retriever MMC, dating lessons, he falls first.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Whitney is a romance novelist, on a panel with relationship guru Ryan Ford. When she calls his bluff, he dares her to date him - and if she doesn't fall in love, he will call it quits.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: If I feel the whole spectrum of emotions when I am reading a book, it's getting a good rating and a recommendation from me. And that's what 500 First Editions was. I cackled. I quite literally swooned as Ryan tried to woo Whitney. I cried a few times at plot points I can't spoil for you. And at the end, the one gripe I had with the plot was solved so gorgeously, I threw a literal chef's kiss into the air.
One thing I was extremely impressed by was the Ford Method. Interspersed into the book is Ryan's 12-week method for falling in love. And honestly, it was SOLID reading... just that alone. I was floored at the wisdom in those excerpts. I highlighted half of them. It was so much about being intentional with your partner and putting effort in... I honestly wanted to copy the pages out and send it around. Married, single, whatever... I bet you'd find Maggie Gates' writing in those areas so enlightening. I usually speed read or skip that sort of stuff, but this begged to be read.
In all honesty, this is my first of the series that I have read. And the characters were SO good I am definitely going back to the beginning and reading the rest through.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 4.5/5 โญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 3.5/5 ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐จ๐น๐ช ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐.
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: 500 First Editions by Maggie Gates
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: The Romantics character series. Book 3.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book ARC on Kindle. ๐๏ธ on KU.
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Contemporary romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Dare gone wrong, enemies-to-lovers, banter for days, she's a runner, golden retriever MMC, dating lessons, he falls first.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Whitney is a romance novelist, on a panel with relationship guru Ryan Ford. When she calls his bluff, he dares her to date him - and if she doesn't fall in love, he will call it quits.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: If I feel the whole spectrum of emotions when I am reading a book, it's getting a good rating and a recommendation from me. And that's what 500 First Editions was. I cackled. I quite literally swooned as Ryan tried to woo Whitney. I cried a few times at plot points I can't spoil for you. And at the end, the one gripe I had with the plot was solved so gorgeously, I threw a literal chef's kiss into the air.
One thing I was extremely impressed by was the Ford Method. Interspersed into the book is Ryan's 12-week method for falling in love. And honestly, it was SOLID reading... just that alone. I was floored at the wisdom in those excerpts. I highlighted half of them. It was so much about being intentional with your partner and putting effort in... I honestly wanted to copy the pages out and send it around. Married, single, whatever... I bet you'd find Maggie Gates' writing in those areas so enlightening. I usually speed read or skip that sort of stuff, but this begged to be read.
In all honesty, this is my first of the series that I have read. And the characters were SO good I am definitely going back to the beginning and reading the rest through.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 4.5/5 โญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 3.5/5 ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐จ๐น๐ช ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐.
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
So emotional, but so fun. I loved how these two opposites got their happy endingโฆ
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: Down Pour by Maggie Gates
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: The Griffith Brothers character series. Book 2.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book on Kindle. ๐ on KU.
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Cowboy romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Grumpy/sunshine, disability rep, slow burn.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Brooke is a free spirit, floating through life with a perpetually happy attitude. Ray is a bull rider, learning to live life in a wheelchair. Theyโre complete opposites, but might be just what each other needs.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: So often, what pushes me over the edge for a review is a solid female main character - and I absolutely adored Brooke. I just wanted to give her the biggest hug.
Ray was a completely dark, very moody grump. And Brooke was so much fun, it was infectious. I loved reading Rayโs character arc as he moved from depressed to finding his true love over this story. The wheelchair rep was well done, in my opinion, and I loved the spice.
Onto the final book!
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 4/5 โญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 3.5/5 ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: Down Pour by Maggie Gates
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: The Griffith Brothers character series. Book 2.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book on Kindle. ๐ on KU.
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Cowboy romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Grumpy/sunshine, disability rep, slow burn.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Brooke is a free spirit, floating through life with a perpetually happy attitude. Ray is a bull rider, learning to live life in a wheelchair. Theyโre complete opposites, but might be just what each other needs.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: So often, what pushes me over the edge for a review is a solid female main character - and I absolutely adored Brooke. I just wanted to give her the biggest hug.
Ray was a completely dark, very moody grump. And Brooke was so much fun, it was infectious. I loved reading Rayโs character arc as he moved from depressed to finding his true love over this story. The wheelchair rep was well done, in my opinion, and I loved the spice.
Onto the final book!
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 4/5 โญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 3.5/5 ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I'm doing some homework on Maggie Gates - whose books have been on my TBR for what feels like forever - and this was my introduction. Dust Storm was a great book, and kept me interested in more.
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: Dust Storm by Maggie Gates
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Griffith Brothers character series. Book 1.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book on Kindle. ๐๏ธ on KU.
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Cowboy romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Fish-out-of-water, cowboy/city girl, childless by choice, single dad, dad bod & a man bun, angst fest.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Christian has enough to worry about with his two nearly teenage daughters and his family ranch. Then in walks Cassandra - in her high heels no less - to help him plan a future for the place he loves so dear.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: I'm reading through Maggie Gates' backlog, starting here because well, the FOMO is real... and Dust Storm did everything it was supposed to do as the start of a new series. I am ready to go for book 2, because I am that invested.
Christian and Cassandra's story was unconventional. Cassandra might be the most unlikable FMC in my backlog of books. She's tough, headstrong, and even though she's relatable, some of her early actions made me wince. But it's a sign of a great writer when you can make your readers love someone they start out not liking at all, and by the end I was all in on her attitude.
Christian was a fun MMC too, and unique in his own ways. A gentle giant with a wild side in bed... a widower... someone who had the weight of the world on his shoulders. I love how he compromised with Cassandra, and how he fiercely protected his girls through the experience.
I'm ready to get into book 2 immediately!
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 4/5 โญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 3/5 ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: Dust Storm by Maggie Gates
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Griffith Brothers character series. Book 1.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book on Kindle. ๐๏ธ on KU.
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Cowboy romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Fish-out-of-water, cowboy/city girl, childless by choice, single dad, dad bod & a man bun, angst fest.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Christian has enough to worry about with his two nearly teenage daughters and his family ranch. Then in walks Cassandra - in her high heels no less - to help him plan a future for the place he loves so dear.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: I'm reading through Maggie Gates' backlog, starting here because well, the FOMO is real... and Dust Storm did everything it was supposed to do as the start of a new series. I am ready to go for book 2, because I am that invested.
Christian and Cassandra's story was unconventional. Cassandra might be the most unlikable FMC in my backlog of books. She's tough, headstrong, and even though she's relatable, some of her early actions made me wince. But it's a sign of a great writer when you can make your readers love someone they start out not liking at all, and by the end I was all in on her attitude.
Christian was a fun MMC too, and unique in his own ways. A gentle giant with a wild side in bed... a widower... someone who had the weight of the world on his shoulders. I love how he compromised with Cassandra, and how he fiercely protected his girls through the experience.
I'm ready to get into book 2 immediately!
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 4/5 โญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 3/5 ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
When I read Between the Pines, I finished it with the biggest grin on my face. I gave it a 4.5, and then kept thinking about it. And I kept thinking about it. And then I re-read part of it. And I kept thinking about. Even now, months later, I think I can recite the plot by memory. So I upgraded it to a five and begged for this ARC. Dreams do come true, people.
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: Through the Dust by Amber Palmer
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Black Springs Ranch character series. Book 2.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book ARC on Kindle. ๐๏ธ on KU
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Cowboy romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Age gap, enemies-to-lovers, banter for days, all the tension, found family, daddy vibes.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Lennox is the barrel racing spitfire daughter of a rancher, and for as long as she can remember, she's hated Bishop. The older, know-it-all foreman of her father's ranch has always gotten under her skin. But when their fire erupts into passion, the two have to weigh what they're willing to give up to make a run at a future.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: When I think about what sets these books apart from the massive amount of cowboy romances, I have to say I think it's the "swoon factor." Very scientific, I know.
I love when the second book in a character series is a complete departure from the first. Through the Dust is just as spicy, but the dynamic between the two characters is completely different. It's all hate-to-love, with toxic (in the best way) banter and tons of tension.
Bishop is broody and broken, and begging for a family with his heart while not able to accept he has one in his head. Lennox is all fire - a friend to everyone except Bishop. When they finally got together, it was a relief.
If Between the Pines was all heart, and Through the Dust was pure passion, I have a feeling our hearts are going to be tested heavily on the third book - which most likely centers on the third sister, Cleo, who has escaped an abusive marriage only to have a mysterious former love come to town.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 5/5 โญโญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 3.5/5 ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐จ๐น๐ช ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐.
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: Through the Dust by Amber Palmer
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Black Springs Ranch character series. Book 2.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book ARC on Kindle. ๐๏ธ on KU
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Cowboy romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Age gap, enemies-to-lovers, banter for days, all the tension, found family, daddy vibes.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Lennox is the barrel racing spitfire daughter of a rancher, and for as long as she can remember, she's hated Bishop. The older, know-it-all foreman of her father's ranch has always gotten under her skin. But when their fire erupts into passion, the two have to weigh what they're willing to give up to make a run at a future.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: When I think about what sets these books apart from the massive amount of cowboy romances, I have to say I think it's the "swoon factor." Very scientific, I know.
I love when the second book in a character series is a complete departure from the first. Through the Dust is just as spicy, but the dynamic between the two characters is completely different. It's all hate-to-love, with toxic (in the best way) banter and tons of tension.
Bishop is broody and broken, and begging for a family with his heart while not able to accept he has one in his head. Lennox is all fire - a friend to everyone except Bishop. When they finally got together, it was a relief.
If Between the Pines was all heart, and Through the Dust was pure passion, I have a feeling our hearts are going to be tested heavily on the third book - which most likely centers on the third sister, Cleo, who has escaped an abusive marriage only to have a mysterious former love come to town.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 5/5 โญโญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 3.5/5 ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐จ๐น๐ช ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐.
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I knew this book was going to gut me, and I was so right.
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: Ride the Sky by Ava Hunter
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Runaway Ranch character series. Book 4.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book ARC on Kindle. Free on KU.
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Cowboy romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Enemies-to-lovers, hurt/comfort, mutual pining.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Fallon and Wyatt have been dancing around each other for years - from their time as trainer/student to their years on the rodeo circuit hooking up behind close doors. When Fallon disappears to break the cycle, Wyatt waits a year and then makes a move to find her - only to discover she's put herself in a very dangerous position.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: I have said this in a few character series, but there's always that couple you wait for. They're usually the last couple in the series - but they've been built up so high you are chomping at the bit to get to their happy ending. Fallon and Wyatt are that couple.
I love a toxic, emotion-filled story, and Ava Hunter delivered on that. Fallon has been through some capital T trauma throughout the series, and her disappearance rocked all characters to their core. Fallon is not this highly likable character, and I personally love reading women who are imperfect and sometimes even mean because that's inherently human.
I love a good pining situation, too. And Wyatt and Fallon embody that. Wyatt's been waiting for the right time, and then finally just pushes his way into her life. The hurt/comfort aspect of this story was heartbreaking at time, but I loved how Wyatt took such care with Fallon - I loved their history, I loved them working through what love looks like for them, and I loved that the happy ending they got wasn't cookie cutter and felt authentic to them.
Sad to see Runaway Ranch end, but I am an Ava Hunter one-click reader so I am looking forward to seeing where we go next.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 5/5 โญโญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 3.5/5 ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
๐๐ ๐จ๐น๐ช ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐.
I can see the appeal of this book. But thereโs some writing issues and style issues, and the plot is really predictable. I have a full reading card so Iโm DNFing, but I can picture a 3.5 rating if I finished. It just wasnโt my vibe.
I tried. Itโs not a bad book. But itโs taken me four days and Iโm not even halfway through. Thereโs just not enough character development up front to keep me interested at all. I wanted so badly to like it.
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-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:
Complicated
Literally one banger after another these days for Ali Hazelwood.
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: Problematic Summer Romance
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Standalone (ish)
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book on Kindle.
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Contemporary romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Age gap, brotherโs best friend, vacation vibes, mutual pining.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Maya has been in love with Conor for three years. They were friends, but havenโt talked in nearly a year. Now theyโre trapped together at a destination wedding, forced to confront their feelings within the gorgeous backdrop of Sicily.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: If youโve been here for a while, you know that I think that Allie Hazelwoodโs writing has only continued to get better and mature. To a lot of people, that conversation could be spice vs. lite spice, but to me thereโs so much more than that.
Problematic Summee Romance had, at its heart, two flawed characters with intense feelings and realistic vulnerabilities. Both Connor and Maya are human, and the way Allie has written them make them both so much more relatable.
Ali Hazelwood has come such a long way in her writing. The Love Hypothesis was full of grunting, miscommunication on top of miscommunication, and inferred feelings. Now we have this story, which features heavy and tangible dialogue, a gorgeous background of Italy and the one thing I love most in romance: when a author makes it clear that these two characters could not possibly end up with anybody but each other.
Oh, and the spice was legit. The age gap was done so well. I cried twice. I have 43 highlights. And it was FUNNY! Big clap for this one, and I canโt wait until Mate in the Fall.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 5/5 โญโญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 3.5/5 ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: Problematic Summer Romance
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Standalone (ish)
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book on Kindle.
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Contemporary romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Age gap, brotherโs best friend, vacation vibes, mutual pining.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Maya has been in love with Conor for three years. They were friends, but havenโt talked in nearly a year. Now theyโre trapped together at a destination wedding, forced to confront their feelings within the gorgeous backdrop of Sicily.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: If youโve been here for a while, you know that I think that Allie Hazelwoodโs writing has only continued to get better and mature. To a lot of people, that conversation could be spice vs. lite spice, but to me thereโs so much more than that.
Problematic Summee Romance had, at its heart, two flawed characters with intense feelings and realistic vulnerabilities. Both Connor and Maya are human, and the way Allie has written them make them both so much more relatable.
Ali Hazelwood has come such a long way in her writing. The Love Hypothesis was full of grunting, miscommunication on top of miscommunication, and inferred feelings. Now we have this story, which features heavy and tangible dialogue, a gorgeous background of Italy and the one thing I love most in romance: when a author makes it clear that these two characters could not possibly end up with anybody but each other.
Oh, and the spice was legit. The age gap was done so well. I cried twice. I have 43 highlights. And it was FUNNY! Big clap for this one, and I canโt wait until Mate in the Fall.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 5/5 โญโญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 3.5/5 ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
In a world where books can sometimes all seem to have similarities, this baby popped up and interested me for sure. And it definitely was an interesting take on superhero romance.
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: All Superheroes Need PR by Elizabeth Stephens
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Supers in the City character series. Interconnected. Book 1.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book on Kindle. ๐ on KU to read& listen.
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Sci-fi romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Grumpy/sunshine, fated mates, reformed bad boy.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Roland has decided to join the โgood guys,โ but needs a makeover from his bad boy behavior. Vanessa and her team win the coveted contract, but on their first meeting it becomes clear Roland isnโt going to make things easy for her.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Iโve only read one other superhero type romance, and it was so different from this one that I felt like I was in uncharted waters. And though there was some adjustments I had to make during reading, it turned out to be a great introduction to a new-to-me author.
The superhero world Stephens built was fun and unique. Rolland was a great kickoff, and I learned to love Vanessa - though the first half of the book she came off a little too fumbly for me.
I marked it to a four star because Elizabeth Stephenโs writing style took me a minute. Iโm never sure whatโs intentional or notโฆ so style choices I can live with, even though they slowed me down a bit. But there were a bunch of repetitive moments and words that got me frustrated, and Iโd expect a trad story to have less of that, for sure.
As always, you guys know I also simp for a read & listen on KU. And this bookโs audio was really solid, read by diverse voices, and when I had time to choose between the two, I found myself leaning toward the audio (which never happens) because I liked the character voices so much.
This series is going to continue, and Iโm definitely picking Book 2 up. Iโve definitely got some other Elizabeth Stephenโs books on my TBR too Iโll probably check out sooner rather than later.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 4/5 โญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 3/5 ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: All Superheroes Need PR by Elizabeth Stephens
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Supers in the City character series. Interconnected. Book 1.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book on Kindle. ๐ on KU to read& listen.
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Sci-fi romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Grumpy/sunshine, fated mates, reformed bad boy.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Roland has decided to join the โgood guys,โ but needs a makeover from his bad boy behavior. Vanessa and her team win the coveted contract, but on their first meeting it becomes clear Roland isnโt going to make things easy for her.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Iโve only read one other superhero type romance, and it was so different from this one that I felt like I was in uncharted waters. And though there was some adjustments I had to make during reading, it turned out to be a great introduction to a new-to-me author.
The superhero world Stephens built was fun and unique. Rolland was a great kickoff, and I learned to love Vanessa - though the first half of the book she came off a little too fumbly for me.
I marked it to a four star because Elizabeth Stephenโs writing style took me a minute. Iโm never sure whatโs intentional or notโฆ so style choices I can live with, even though they slowed me down a bit. But there were a bunch of repetitive moments and words that got me frustrated, and Iโd expect a trad story to have less of that, for sure.
As always, you guys know I also simp for a read & listen on KU. And this bookโs audio was really solid, read by diverse voices, and when I had time to choose between the two, I found myself leaning toward the audio (which never happens) because I liked the character voices so much.
This series is going to continue, and Iโm definitely picking Book 2 up. Iโve definitely got some other Elizabeth Stephenโs books on my TBR too Iโll probably check out sooner rather than later.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 4/5 โญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 3/5 ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ