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rickireadss's review against another edition
4.0
omfg this was really really good. i LOVED the banter between kamilah and liam - like ughhh it was so freaking good and hot and i just kept screaming, "just bang already!!" because these two are fire. i really enjoyed the meddling of the grandpas, although at points, it felt a little *too* far for my liking. AND THE SMUT?!?!!? SO HOT - like omg i was sweating. i think the only thing i wanted was more of liam's past and seeing him address going to therapy earlier on in the story - like i am glad that they ended up going in the last chpater/epilogue but i needed more, because it was already pointed out earlier that he had PTSD and depression from losing his father. also i needed more on why his mom wasn't in the picture. i feel like this was briefly touched and then never mentioned again i am very excited to continue this series!!
representation: Latine FMC (Puerto Rican), PTSD & Depression rep (MMC)
⚠️: death of parent (drowning), grief, cancer, death, terminal illness, medical content, racism, mention of suicide (SC), mental illness (depression & PTSD), panic attacks/disorders
representation: Latine FMC (Puerto Rican), PTSD & Depression rep (MMC)
⚠️: death of parent (drowning), grief, cancer, death, terminal illness, medical content, racism, mention of suicide (SC), mental illness (depression & PTSD), panic attacks/disorders
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Death, Racism, Terminal illness, and Medical content
Minor: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Suicide
katieemilys's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Cancer, Death, Suicide, and Death of parent
kb33's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I think most of this book was five star for me, so mucc of it was so good and the conversations and characters were so realistic. However I listened to the audiobook and I don’t speak Spanish. So when the author did not provide translations, which was most of the time, I worried I might miss something important.
Then the ending… The third act break up was awful. These two have a LOT of problems to work through individually and together if the way they talked to each other was any indication. The MMC’s fear of letting anyone close and his hurtful way of pushing Camila away over and over made him an unlikable main character for me. I like when book boyfriends are able to admit that they’re in love. In the author forgot to address the fight Camilla had with her friend before the end of the book.
I’m definitely going to read the next in the series, and even though I loved the narrator, I might have to read the ebook this time so I can look up translations.
Then the ending… The third act break up was awful. These two have a LOT of problems to work through individually and together if the way they talked to each other was any indication. The MMC’s fear of letting anyone close and his hurtful way of pushing Camila away over and over made him an unlikable main character for me. I like when book boyfriends are able to admit that they’re in love. In the author forgot to address the fight Camilla had with her friend before the end of the book.
I’m definitely going to read the next in the series, and even though I loved the narrator, I might have to read the ebook this time so I can look up translations.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Moderate: Cancer and Terminal illness
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders
coffee_and_wool's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Death, Terminal illness, Vomit, and Death of parent
scoodle42's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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? No
3.5
3.5 stars
Liam and Kamilah are former best friends whose grandfathers are thick as thieves. They even have neighboring businesses--a restaurant and a distillery. Kamilah wants to revitalize the restaurant and her parents are against it, but her grandfather agrees to support her on one condition--that she marries Liam. Liam wants his grandfather to agree to treatment to fight his cancer and he agrees on one condition--that he marries Kamilah.
So, the premise was cute but that old guy manipulation didn't sit right with me. And Kamilah's family was so mean to her. I found myself not even feeling bad that she lied to them. They soured the book for me a bit. But Kamilah and Liam working back to the friends they were, and then into lovers was very nice. I liked that a lot. Liam's pain was palpable; that part was written well. Kamilah's desperation to prove herself got in her own way a lot and I was frustrated with her a bit. But I love the parts where she and Liam tuned out the noise and focused on each other. Liam and his grandfather's talk was a good one and I was glad given what happened.
And a man that designs a whiskey after you is a man after my own heart. Go Liam! It was a cute romance.
Liam and Kamilah are former best friends whose grandfathers are thick as thieves. They even have neighboring businesses--a restaurant and a distillery. Kamilah wants to revitalize the restaurant and her parents are against it, but her grandfather agrees to support her on one condition--that she marries Liam. Liam wants his grandfather to agree to treatment to fight his cancer and he agrees on one condition--that he marries Kamilah.
So, the premise was cute but that old guy manipulation didn't sit right with me. And Kamilah's family was so mean to her. I found myself not even feeling bad that she lied to them. They soured the book for me a bit. But Kamilah and Liam working back to the friends they were, and then into lovers was very nice. I liked that a lot. Liam's pain was palpable; that part was written well. Kamilah's desperation to prove herself got in her own way a lot and I was frustrated with her a bit. But I love the parts where she and Liam tuned out the noise and focused on each other. Liam and his grandfather's talk was a good one and I was glad given what happened.
And a man that designs a whiskey after you is a man after my own heart. Go Liam! It was a cute romance.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent
reading_rebellion's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I went into this book with little to no expectations after a month long reading slump. I read this on Audible and was pleasantly surprised at how much I ended up liking it!
There's a friends to enemies to fake dating trope. Not a trope I tend to like, but I actually enjoyed this one. The first few chapters are kind of slow, but it really picks up at about chapter 3-4 and keeps getting better and better as it unfolds.
I LOVED the background setting and intermingle of interracial culture with food and drinks. As well as the mix of both English, Spanglish and Spanish accents of the characters. The narrator was phenomenal!
It does tackle some heavy topics of childhood and generational trauma but does it in a way that doesn't weigh you down and keeps the overall vibe lighthearted.
It also follows some typical Latin family stereotypes but also seeks to correct them.
Overall this was an unexpected, but very fun read. Sentimental and deep while being lightheaded, full of warmth, spice and heart!
There's a friends to enemies to fake dating trope. Not a trope I tend to like, but I actually enjoyed this one. The first few chapters are kind of slow, but it really picks up at about chapter 3-4 and keeps getting better and better as it unfolds.
I LOVED the background setting and intermingle of interracial culture with food and drinks. As well as the mix of both English, Spanglish and Spanish accents of the characters. The narrator was phenomenal!
It does tackle some heavy topics of childhood and generational trauma but does it in a way that doesn't weigh you down and keeps the overall vibe lighthearted.
It also follows some typical Latin family stereotypes but also seeks to correct them.
Overall this was an unexpected, but very fun read. Sentimental and deep while being lightheaded, full of warmth, spice and heart!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death of parent
Moderate: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Gaslighting
Minor: Bullying and Cancer
triple_m's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Overall I did find this book really enjoyable and easy to read; however, the entire third act conflict left a really sour taste in my mouth.
Kamilah was by no means a perfect character (she would be boring if she was), but I understand all of the decisions that she made, even the wrong ones. I think EVERYONE came down way too harsh on her!! They shoved her in this corner where they infantilized her enough to discredit all of her ideas while also putting an insane amount of pressure on her. Then they got mad and completely iced her out when she tried to solve everything on her own. The only person justified in their anger is Sophie. I know her family loved her but the misogynistic family dynamics were very present (to be fair to the author, they were challenged).
I thought Liam was okay but I never felt like he truly opened up and got off easy compared to Kamilah. I honestly have nothing to say about him. Boring.
I was never strongly invested in them as a couple, which is sad considering this is a romance.
Kamilah was by no means a perfect character (she would be boring if she was), but I understand all of the decisions that she made, even the wrong ones. I think EVERYONE came down way too harsh on her!! They shoved her in this corner where they infantilized her enough to discredit all of her ideas while also putting an insane amount of pressure on her. Then they got mad and completely iced her out when she tried to solve everything on her own. The only person justified in their anger is Sophie. I know her family loved her but the misogynistic family dynamics were very present (to be fair to the author, they were challenged).
I thought Liam was okay but I never felt like he truly opened up and got off easy compared to Kamilah. I honestly have nothing to say about him. Boring.
I was never strongly invested in them as a couple, which is sad considering this is a romance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer
Moderate: Sexual content, Grief, and Death of parent
meghanm404's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Death of parent
Moderate: Death, Terminal illness, Grief, and Alcohol
Minor: Medical content
rachelschloneger's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Racism
what_karla_reads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer
Minor: Sexual content and Death of parent