romance – Book Dust Magic

Book Review: A Perfect Paris Christmas by Mandy Baggot #BookReview #Paris #Christmas

GIFTED / Although Christmas books are my absolutely favourite kind to read, this year I finished only four of them. Unfortunately, not one 5 stars read this year. A Perfect Paris Christmas was good and entertaining. Unfortunately I did a bad job when it comes to reading and reviewing it as I got it via Netgalley back in 2020, but here it is finally: my review for this story.

A Perfect Paris Christmas has 378 pages and it was published on September 3rd 2020. I want to thank publishing house Aria for giving me a copy via Netgalley in an exchange for an honest review.

About the book:

FROM GOODREADS /

United in grief. Pushed apart by tragedy.

Keeley Andrews knows more than anyone that you only live once. So when she receives an invitation to spend two weeks in Paris, all expenses paid, she jumps at the chance.

Ethan Bouchard has had the worst eighteen months of his life. He’s ready to give up on everything, including his hotel chain. So when he meets Keeley, it simply isn’t the right time.

As Keeley and Ethan continue to bump into each other on the romantic Parisian streets, they can’t help but wonder whether this is fate telling them to let go of the past and leap into the future…

Review:

I feel kind of bad that I read this book two years too late, as I got it for review back in 2020, but as they say, it’s better late than never, right?

The cover for this festive novel is just gorgeous and the sole reason that grabbed my attention in the first place.
The premise sounded interesting but if I am being honest, I was little sceptical whether I would click with the story, as I find it unbelievable (and also I am firm believer that donors/receivers stay anonymous for a reason). However, as I have read and liked Baggot’s books in the past I knew I wanted to give it a try.

Overall, I can say I liked the story in general.
Main characters were likeable and entertaining.
The writing style was the best part, but in my opinion the novel would be even better if it was shorter.

Some things I wasn’t a big fan of. For some reason I didn’t like Jeanne. Everything about that whole side plot was all red flags for me. And I liked it even less how her story wasn’t explained at all and it was just done poorly and unbelievable.
Like, yeah, you can just take a person from the streets to your house, without checking out anything about that child. And imagine guy doing it, living with a 12 years old minor without noticing police or anyone? Can anyone else see how it looks like??

My favourite character was Louis, but unfortunately he was portrayed as a bad guy.

Also, I think this hotel chain is doomed. I mean, who goes to Paris to cuddle with sheep? There are country hotels with full service for a reason, and you go to Paris for glamour.

Anyway, this was cute story but soooo unbelievable.

I couldn’t ask for a better historical romance to end the year with: A Wicked Game by Kate Bateman (Book Review) @STMRomance #BookLovers #HistoricalRomance

A Wicked Game by Kate Bateman book cover US edition

GIFTED / Today I am happy to bring you my review for a book that I have finished recently: A Wicked Game by Kate Bateman. It is a third book in The Ruthless Rivals series but it can be read as standalone. Still, as I enjoyed the book I highly suggest to read all the previous books in the series (which I still have to do myself).

This novel was published on December 27th by St. Martin’s Press and it has 304 pages. I want to say thanks to Sara La Cotti for giving me an early access to read and review this novel.

About the book:

FROM GOODREADS /

If there’s one thing impossible for a Davies to resist, it’s a challenge from a Montgomery. . .

A teasing bet.

Shipwrecked and imprisoned thanks to an incorrect map, Captain Morgan Davies has returned to London to exact sweet revenge on the cartographer responsible for his suffering. He’s also vowed to claim the winner’s prize―three kisses―in the bet he made with his long-time nemesis, the prickly, smart-mouthed Harriet Montgomery. His incarceration has clarified his feelings for her, but convincing the infuriating woman he wants to marry her is going to be his greatest challenge yet. When Harriet’s revealed to be the very mapmaker he seeks, Morgan decides to combine revenge and seduction into one delightful package. . .

A dangerous enemy.

Harriet’s always wanted witty scoundrel Morgan, and now he’s back; as handsome and as taunting as ever. She has enough on her plate dealing with her father’s failing eyesight and a rival mapmaker copying her work to play wicked games with a dastardly Davies―however tempting he might be. But when a threat from Morgan’s past puts them both in danger, Harry discovers that she and Morgan might not be enemies at all . . .

Review:

I feel blessed to had a chance to read A Wicked Game prior it’s release. I loved it so much!

As you might know, this year I rediscovered my love for historical romance and I am going through all the popular authors I haven’t had a chance to read before, Kate Bateman being one of them.

I guess after finishing A Wicked Game I can see where all the hype comes from.
She is just a mastermind when it comes to creating/showing chemistry between main characters.

I could feel it on every single page that included Harry and Morgan together.
This is (fr)enemies to lovers story, but it was obvious from the very first page that the characters have feelings for each other.
One would said, the sexual tension could be cut with a knife.

Also, it helps that the story itself was pretty entertaining and fun.
I like how the author gave us all the informations about cartography and paper places (that I knew something about already from Paper Towns by John Green).
I was never brilliant when it comes to history, but Bateman made sure to pull me right to the historical period our characters live in by throwing some real happenings that took place in that time.
I also appreciate the action that happened closer to the end.

The story is written in third person and it is so easy to read.

This is third book in the series but it can be read as standalone. However, characters from the first two novels make appearance as side characters in this one.

I will definitely read more books by Kate Bateman in the future.

Book Review: The Shaadi Set-Up by Lille Vale @PRHGlobal #partner #romance

The Shaadi Set-Up by Lille Vale book cover

GIFTED / Today I bring you a review for a book I read some time ago, and had so much fun. I hope my review, although it is brief, will make you notice it and give it a chance.

The Shaadi Set-Up was published on Semptember 7th 2021 by G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers. It has 368 pages.
I want to thank the team from Penguin Random House Global for sending me an e-galley of this novel (in an exchange for an honest review).

About the book:

FROM GOODREADS /

High school sweethearts Rita Chitniss and Milan Rao were the golden couple, until the day he broke her heart. Now, six years later, Rita has turned her passion for furniture restoration into a career and has an almost-perfect boyfriend, Neil. The last thing she needs is for Milan to re-enter her life, but that’s exactly what happens when her mother, an unfailing believer in second chances, sets them up. Milan is just as charming, cocky, and confident as he was back in school. Only this time, he actually needs her business expertise, not her heart, to flip a hard-to-sell house for his realty agency.

While Rita begrudgingly agrees to help, she’s not taking any risks. To prove she’s definitely over him, she signs herself and Neil up on MyShaadi.com, a Desi matchmaking site famous for its success stories and trustworthy enough to convince everyone that she and Neil are the new and improved couple. Instead, she’s shocked when MyShaadi’s perfect match for her isn’t Neil…it’s Milan. Ignoring the website and her mother is one thing, but ignoring Milan proves much more difficult, especially when she promises to help him renovate the beach house of her dreams. And as the two of them dive deeper into work—and their pasts—Rita begins to wonder if maybe her match wasn’t so wrong after all….

Review:

I finished this book back in September and I am writing my review only now so I apologise it’s not as detailed as I promised it would be.

I got The Shaadi Set-Up via Netgalley when it was first published and I was so excited to read it, but as you can probably assume, life got in a way and it had to go on hold until now when I finally have more time to read and review (and go through all of my review copies).

I will be honest, as time passed I wasn’t as excited to dive into the story, but once I started reading I was swept away by how fun and good it was.
I had such an enjoyable time reading this novel. This was a romance comedy in all it’s glory and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Netflix movie based on it. It would be a good movie, let me tell you that!

The Shaadi Set-Up features love triangle and maybe it was obvious how it would resolve, but still all the scenes with “the wrong guy” were pleasure to read and some of my favourite scenes were because of him.

This romance has miscommunication trope, so I get why some readers would be bothered by it. I personally didn’t mind it.

I also want to state that this is own voices story and represents Indian culture.

Book Review: Not Like the Movies by Kerry Winfrey @PRHGlobal #partner #romance

Not like the Movies by Kerry Winfrey book cover US edition

GIFTED / Today I bring you my review for a book that I have read some time ago. It is part of the series and my suggestion is to read Waiting for Tom Hanks first. I enjoyed reading Not LIke the Movies so I hope my review will give it some spotlight so more people would give it a chance.

Not Like the Movies was published on July 7th 2020 by Berkley and it has 320 pages. I want to say thank you to Penguin Random House Global for sending me an e-galley of this novel (in an exchange for an honest review).

About the book:

FROM GOODREADS /

Chloe Sanderson is an optimist, and not because her life is easy. As the sole caregiver for her father, who has early onset Alzheimer’s, she’s pretty much responsible for everything. She has no time—or interest—in getting swept up in some dazzling romance. Not like her best friend Annie, who literally wrote a rom-com that’s about to premiere in theaters across America…and happens to be inspired by Chloe and Nick Velez, Chloe’s cute but no-nonsense boss.

As the buzz for the movie grows, Chloe reads one too many listicles about why Nick is the perfect man, and now she can’t see him as anything but Reason #2: The Scruffy-Bearded Hunk Who’s Always There When You Need Him. But unlike the romance Annie has written for them, Chloe isn’t so sure her own story will end in a Happily Ever After.

Review:

I got into Not Like the Movie without knowing it was a part of the series. How foolish of me for not doing my research.
When it comes to romance genre, with every book following different main characters, they can usually all be read as standalones.
This one can also be considered as easy to understand on it’s own, to some point, but since main characters from the first book appear more then few times, and it is constantly mentioned what happened in that story, bringing and creating problems for characters in this, second novel, I would suggest to read the first book first.
I felt like I was missing out and it kind of ruined my reading experience.

The story follows a woman who has hots for her boss. And while I usually like that trope (or the idea of it because I haven’t read many books following it) in this novel Chloe acted too unprofessional to me with her constant comments but then when Nick would try something she would be all like “Oh no, we can’t. Bla bla bla, but you still have cute but and strong muscles and also, you smell like an old hot grampa”. Yes, I know.
I guess this is also age gap romance because Chloe had some comments about Nick being old, but it was never stated how old was he.

I didn’t like all the drama and characters finding excuses not to be with each other just so we can rute for them to finally get together.

Chloe’s relationahip with her bestie was also strange and it didn’t sound too healthy.

I could relate to Chloe who took care of her dementing father and having to deal with her absent brother. Their relationship with their mother was so complicated and I totally understand how it would scar them both.

The writing style was solid and the book reads quikly.

I would recommend Not Like the Movie but I would also advice to start with Waiting on Tom Hanks first.

Simply amazing: Book Lovers by Emily Henry @PRHGlobal #partner #BookLovers #romance

Book Lovers by Emily Henry book cover US edition

GIFTED / It is my pleasure to talk about one book I adored and would LOVE to see made into a movie: Book Lovers by Emily Henry. This novel was so good and although it is filled with cliches it is also somewhat different from your typical romance. It seems like this book is loved not only by romance readers, but readers who like different genres as well. I guess we can say Emily Henry really succeeded to make a masterpiece with this one!

Book Lovers was released on May 3rd 2022 and it has 384 pages. I want to say thank you to Penguin Random House Global for sending me an e-galley of this novel (in an exchange for an honest review).

About the book:

FROM GOODREADS /

Nora Stephens’ life is books—she’s read them all—and she is not that type of heroine. Not the plucky one, not the laidback dream girl, and especially not the sweetheart. In fact, the only people Nora is a heroine for are her clients, for whom she lands enormous deals as a cutthroat literary agent, and her beloved little sister Libby.

Which is why she agrees to go to Sunshine Falls, North Carolina for the month of August when Libby begs her for a sisters’ trip away—with visions of a small-town transformation for Nora, who she’s convinced needs to become the heroine in her own story. But instead of picnics in meadows, or run-ins with a handsome country doctor or bulging-forearmed bartender, Nora keeps bumping into Charlie Lastra, a bookish brooding editor from back in the city. It would be a meet-cute if not for the fact that they’ve met many times and it’s never been cute.

If Nora knows she’s not an ideal heroine, Charlie knows he’s nobody’s hero, but as they are thrown together again and again—in a series of coincidences no editor worth their salt would allow—what they discover might just unravel the carefully crafted stories they’ve written about themselves.

Review:

If Emily Henry wasn’t on my favourite-authors-list yet, Book Lovers placed her there on the top.
I loved this book so much and I think this is her best work yet.
Her previous novels, Beach Read and People We Meet on Vacation I adored, but this one raised the bar and now I now my expectations for Henry’s future books will be so high that I kind of feel little sorry for her.

The story follows Nora who says herself that she is the bitch guys leave to have their happily ever after with a small town girl.
Nora is a shark when it comes to business, loves her career and life in the city, but when her younger sister asks her to visit a small town called Sunshine Falls together, she couldn’t say no, although she knows small town romance isn’t a book of her life.

I loved Nora as a narrator.
The novel is written in first person and following Nora’s perspective was everything.
All the Hallmark references and making fun of cliches was amazing. I laughed so many times while reading.

Charlie, who is love interest in the story, was such a good person. I do think he was believable but I also think guys like him are very rare in this world.
If I was still into having book boyfriends I would probably have announced him as mine.

The best part of the story (and if my memory serves me well it is the case in all of the books written by Henry that I have read so far) are conversations between the characters.
They were realistic, entertaining and what made the story shine.

I also want to say that I appreciate that the conflict between the characters was realistic and how it was uncertain how characters would get through it.
I also want to note that I am happy about Nora not going through that cliche character development one would expect from a small town romance, but how the author decided to hug her career orientated persona and gave her a different way to find happiness.

This was a buddy red with my friend Amanda. Reading Book Lovers we had so much fun together.
As I loved this story so much, I am sure I will reread it again at some point. Honestly, I can’t wait for it!

The one that didn’t stay with me: My Epic Spring Break (Up) by Kristin Rockaway @PRHGlobal #partner #Blogtober

My Epic Spring Break (Up) by Kristin Rockaway book cover US edition

GIFTED / Today I bring you my short review for a novel that I have read a (it feels like) lifetime ago. It was actually this summer, July to be precise. I made a mistake and didn’t review it shortly after I finished it so my review is very short and brief too.

My Epic Spring Break (Up) was released by Penguin Random House Children’s on May 7th 2021. It has 252 pages.
I want to thank the team from Penguin Random House Global for sending me an e-galley of this novel (in an exchange for an honest review).

About the book:

FROM GOODREADS /

For coder extraordinaire Ashley, high school is all about prepping for college. Her love life? Virtually nonexistent. She’s never been on a date. Never been kissed. Never been in love.

When her plans veer off course, Ashley realizes she might be missing out on her high school experience. Now that spring break is finally here, Ashley vows to have fun . . . and, for the first time, follow her heart.

Starting with Walker Beech, her gorgeous, maybe-not-so-unrequited crush. But with Jason Eisler–her childhood friend turned prankster–in the picture, trouble is bound to follow. Will Ashley’s epic spring break lead her to love, or will her heart crash and burn?

Review:

I made a mistake and didn’t write my review as soon as I finished the book, and now when I finally sit down to express my thoughts, I realized that I forgot most of the story.

So I guess first thing that I will say about the book will be that although it was easy to read and entertaining, it was also forgettable.

Ashley, our protagonist was not the most likeable person, but at the same time it was easy to understand her.
I love how her interest into STEM was present through the whole story and how it sort of had it’s own role.
The other thing I appreciate was the friendship between Ashley and her friends.

I love to read ya contemporary novels from time to time. My Epic Spring Break (Up) was typical ya contemporary novel, perfect to read in one sitting, but didn’t stand out in the sea of contemporaries.

This one is popular for a reason: The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood @PRHGlobal #partner #BookLovers #romance

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood book cover US edition

GIFTED / Today I will talk about a book I read some time ago, and you have probably heard about it by now. It is a romance with scientists for characters and it took the reading world by the storm, and it’s for a good reason. I loved the book and I hope this will be turned into a movie.

The Love Hypothesis was published on September 14th 2021 and it has 356 pages. I want to say thank you to Penguin Random House Global for sending me an e-galley of this novel (in an exchange for an honest review).

About the book:

FROM GOODREADS /

As a third-year Ph.D. candidate, Olive Smith doesn’t believe in lasting romantic relationships–but her best friend does, and that’s what got her into this situation. Convincing Anh that Olive is dating and well on her way to a happily ever after was always going to take more than hand-wavy Jedi mind tricks: Scientists require proof. So, like any self-respecting biologist, Olive panics and kisses the first man she sees.

That man is none other than Adam Carlsen, a young hotshot professor–and well-known ass. Which is why Olive is positively floored when Stanford’s reigning lab tyrant agrees to keep her charade a secret and be her fake boyfriend. But when a big science conference goes haywire, putting Olive’s career on the Bunsen burner, Adam surprises her again with his unyielding support and even more unyielding… six-pack abs.

Suddenly their little experiment feels dangerously close to combustion. And Olive discovers that the only thing more complicated than a hypothesis on love is putting her own heart under the microscope.

Review:

Ok, now I get why all the hype!
It feels like ever since The Love Hypothesis came out the world went mad about it. And I don’t talk only about bookish online community. I literally talk about the world.
Even in my country, where books are really just a side hoby for only few people who enjoy reading, this book is all over the media and in every bookstore window.

Ever since I got the book for review I knew it would probably be my jam, and I will confess that I gave it a try as an audiobook back in December, but for some reason I couldn’t understand half of things characters were talking about. At time I blamed my English skills, but now when I read an ebook I think it was the lack of concentration (and, once again, I will call my post covid card).

Fast forward to July, I read The Love Hypothesis, had no problems with understanding the story whatsoever, loved it and now I understand why everyone and their mothers recommend this novel.
I am now one of them (and their mothers) too.

In my entire life I read only two fan fictions. The Royals Next Door (which was my favorite romance of 2021) and this one. I know it is way too few of them, but I feel like fan fictions are amazing.
Will I go to wattpad and subscribe to some of them? Well, now when Ezra Miller turned out to be a bad (but still very hot) guy probably not.
However, if I see that a traditionally published romance was previously written as a fan fiction, I will 100% grab it.

The Love Hypothesis was originally inspired by the actor Adam Driver. Even though I never wet my panties thinking about him, I can see why women would find him hot and tbh, if he was anything like Adam from this story then I am not sure my panties wouldn’t stay dry for long if I stumbled upon him in real life (yes, words written by a married woman, don’t judge me (or do)).

Anyway, joke on a side, let’s talk about the book now.
It was well written in third person following Olive’s perspective.

I like how it touched important subject of women trying their best in a men’s world and still having to prove themselves more then men, sometimes even robed for their ideas and work, or how men want to take advantage of them just because they think they can.
I loved the message and even if it was raw, I never felt like it was pushed on me.

The story had so many funny scenes where I smiled or laughed. Friendships were written well and characters were believable, while the chemistry between Adam and Olive felt real and hot.

The only thing I didn’t like was that scene where Olive has inner monologue about the size of Adam’s thing. When she touched the subject of birth giving the author lost me, but after some time, as everything else was well written, I decided to pretend that scene was erased, just like it should have been (but obviously I didn’t forget it when I decided to mention it in my review).

Once I heard there was a subgenre called “smart romance”. I don’t know if The Love Hypothesis would be considered to belong to it, but I can imagine that it would.

Nevertheless, if you are a romance reader, you have probably heard about this book by now, and there’s a big chance you added it to your tbr or you’ve maybe finished it already, I will still take this opportunity to recommend you The Love Hypothesis because it is hyped for a reason and, rating wise, it deserves all the stars in the world.

Witchy and relaxing: The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna (Book Review) @PRHGlobal #partner #Halloween #Witches

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna book cover US edition

GIFTED / Today I am so, so, so happy to bring you my review for a book I read and enjoyed so much. I am so grateful books like this exist and am happy to spread my word about it in hope it will reach as many readers as possible.

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches was published on August 23rd by Berkley and it has 336 pages. I want to say thank you to Penguin Random House Global for sending me an e-galley of this novel (in an exchange for an honest review).

About the book:

FROM GOODREADS /

As one of the few witches in Britain, Mika Moon knows she has to hide her magic, keep her head down, and stay away from other witches so their powers don’t mingle and draw attention. And as an orphan who lost her parents at a young age and was raised by strangers, she’s used to being alone and she follows the rules…with one exception: an online account, where she posts videos pretending to be a witch. She thinks no one will take it seriously.

But someone does. An unexpected message arrives, begging her to travel to the remote and mysterious Nowhere House to teach three young witches how to control their magic. It breaks all of the rules, but Mika goes anyway, and is immediately tangled up in the lives and secrets of not only her three charges, but also an absent archaeologist, a retired actor, two long-suffering caretakers, and…Jamie. The handsome and prickly librarian of Nowhere House would do anything to protect the children, and as far as he’s concerned, a stranger like Mika is a threat. An irritatingly appealing threat.

As Mika begins to find her place at Nowhere House, the thought of belonging somewhere begins to feel like a real possibility. But magic isn’t the only danger in the world, and when a threat comes knocking at their door, Mika will need to decide whether to risk everything to protect a found family she didn’t know she was looking for….

Review:

I simply loved this book. It was perfect read for the fall, and would be excellent one to pick up during October/spooky season.
Although The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches is not a spooky book, it is still perfect to read for Halloween, as it’s protagonists are witches (and with witches comes magic).

I am actually glad books like this exist, because they do provide that Halloween mood to readers who aren’t into horrors and gory.

This book was just adorable. It was relaxing, witchy story that talked about family, friends and love, and what is the most important, the relationship one has with themselves.

The story follows Mika who takes a job to teach magic to three little children. There, in the Nowhere House, she finally learns how it feels to belong somewhere and what it’s like to have a family.

The story is written in third person following Mika’s POV, but there were also some parts that followed Jamie, the librarian.
As you can assume, Jamie is the love interest and when it comes to romance, this one include grumpy-sunshine trope.

I think the author pictured small circle (of people) vibes so well. It was so easy to get attached to all of the characters, main and the side ones. Holiday scenes in the story were like a warm hug from the author and her characters to us readers, that I appreciate the most.

I highly recommend it to everyone who’s looking for a warm, relaxing, witchy story.

Escepism to Ireland in a novel: A Cosy Cottage in Ireland by Julie Caplin (Book Review) #SummerRead #Books #Ireland

The Cosy Cottage in Ireland by Julie Caplin book cover

GIFTED / Today I want to talk about a book that was on my tbr ever since it came out, back in 2021. It takes place in a small town in Ireland and it is presented as a nice book to get away with. The cover is cute and the story inside is the to relax with.
The Cosy Cottage in Ireland was published on Semtember 21st and it has 373 pages.
I want to thank the publisher One More Chapter for providing me a copy for review.

About the book:

FROM GOODREADS /

Talented lawyer Hannah Campbell is after a change in her workaholic Manchester life – so on an uncharacteristic whim she books herself a place at the world-renowned Killorgally Cookery School in County Kerry. But on her first night In Ireland, sampling the delights of Dublin, Hannah can’t resist falling for the charms of handsome stranger Conor. It’s only when Hannah arrives at her postcard-pretty home at Killorgally for the next twelve weeks that she discovers what happens in Dublin doesn’t quite stay in Dublin…

Nestled amongst rolling green hills and breath taking countryside, the cookery school throws Hannah and Conor together again–for better or worse.

Review:

The Cosy Cottage in Ireland is the second book by the author that I have read, and it will probably be the last one.
I don’t think her books are particularly bad, I just don’t think they are for me.

This was a buddy read with Amanda. Last year (or maybe in 2020) we read Julie Caplin’s novel set in Croatia (my country) and although we didn’t really enjoy it, we knew we wanted to try her other work.

Just to give you an example how forgettable this story was, I will mention that while we were reading and discussing it, I surely favorited one before the other, and now I don’t even know which one I thought was better: the one set in Croatia or this one set in Ireland (but my bet is on this one).

The writing style was simple but still it wasn’t as easy to read as one would assume.
It felt like we were reading 500+ pages when the book has 373 pages (which is still too long in my opinion).

I didn’t like the guy who was the love interest (and whose name I have already forgot) nor his mother.
He was a sexist full of himself (ok, he had some sexist comments but I don’t think he was a man schwain or anything similar to that) and his mother was cold bitch who didn’t even realize it (and I am not sure the author did either).
If I was Hannah I would ask for money refund and run away.

As for the setting, it was good. Also, it was nice to read about the smaller town from that country.
Do I think I’ve learned something new about Ireland? Not really, but it was still a good escape and I appreciate it.

New book in a new series to me: How to Love Your Neighbor by Sophie Sullivan #bookreview @STMRomance #BookLovers #Romance

How to Love Your Neighbor by Sophie Sullivan book cover US edition

GIFTED / Today I would like to talk about a romance I read twice this year. I enjoyed it the both times I read it, and think it is a series worth checking. However, I would like to warn you to start with the first book in the series, called Ten Rules for Faking It, as the characters and some happenings from that book were mentioned in this novel.
How to Love Your Neighbor was published on January 22nd 2022 and it has 352 pages. I want to say thank you to Sara from St. Martin’s Griffin for inviting me to read and review this book via Netgalley.

FROM GOODREADS /

Interior Design School? Check. Cute house to fix up? Check.

Sexy, grumpy neighbor who is going to get in the way of your plans? Check. Unfortunately.

Grace Travis has it all figured out. In between finishing school and working a million odd jobs, she’ll get her degree and her dream job. Most importantly, she’ll have a place to belong, something her harsh mother could never make. When an opportunity to fix up—and live in—a little house on the beach comes along, Grace is all in. Until her biggest roadblock moves in next door.

Noah Jansen knows how to make a deal. As a real estate developer, he knows when he’s found something special. Something he could even call home. Provided he can expand by taking over the house next door–the house with the combative and beautiful woman living in it.

With the rules for being neighborly going out the window, Grace and Noah are in an all-out feud. But sometimes, your nemesis can show you that home is always where the heart is.

Review:

So… I read How to Love Your Neighbor twice this year and even though I forgot so much from the first time I was reading it, I still stand by my rating of 3,5 stars.

The reason I decided to reread this novel was because I realized I forgot too many things and it didn’t feel appropriate to write a review on something I just briefly remember.
How I forgot it so fast and was even surprised I didn’t remember important side characters is a whole another problem and I will call my cards on post covid instead of on book itself.

Still, my main impressions stayed the same: at the beginning I couldn’t stand Noah (the love interest) for the love of me, with his arrogance and expectations to get whatever he wants however he wants. He reminded me of one political party (from Croatia), fathers’ sons who get everything they want in life without ever having to make an effort, that never look back on people they cross over on their way.

Even when Noah had his change of heart (which was purely bc he fell in love with MC, not because he had some epiphany or character development) I still didn’t like him, and if this was a real life and not a romance book, I wouldn’t trust him.

On the other side, our MC Grace was easy to like and to understand.
I even identified with her when it comes to her relationship with her mother in a way (but here I have to stress out our situations are very different).
Side characters were amazing and scenes that involved them were my favourites.

The writing style was good and easy to follow.
The book was entertaining enough to make me want to check other work written by Sophie Sullivan.

If you are looking for a relaxing summer read to pass time and be entertained How to Love Your Neighbor is a good choice.