"I think a lot of movies go underrated because men have the mindset that romance is feminine. I know you disagree, but love makes life worth living, and it's not only women who're alive. Men need love too."
Release Date: September 27, 2022
Genre: Contemporary romance
TW: Drug abuse/addiction, domestic violence, trauma, homelessness
Rating:
Summary:
Meet Liana Dawson, a perpetually single romantic-advice blogger. She's one set of granny-panties away from proclaiming herself New York City's version of Bridge Jones when she's hit with a fan demand for sex advice. With an unwavering belief in love (and rom-com superiority), there's no relationship problem Love, Liana can't fix...until a fascinating, albeit cocky, email paves the way to a whirlwind friendship that leaves Liana questioning everything she thought she knew about falling in love.
Enter Kade Jennings, the ass who wrote it. After writing in to a popular blog to get some answers about whether love exists, Kade receives an offer he can't refuse-one that throws his world of one-night stands, whiskey, and books into a tailspin at the hands of a woman he had no intention of ever meeting.
Liana knows love, Kade knows sex. They could be each other's perfect teachers...if they can keep their hands off long enough to learn.
Review:
I really loved the concept of this book: love positive blogger needing sexpert advice and sex-drive man who is unsure if he has the capacity to love.
I instantly fell in love with Liana's character; she is vibrant, intelligent, witty, compassionate. Liana doesn't view herself as confident or charismatic but she is sorely mistaken. When Kade was first introduced though...yeah, he gave me the ick. I did NOT like Kade when he was first introduced. "A man named Kade with a fascinating complex: an egotism he felt inferior about. And to top it all off, he didn't believe in love. How cliché of a bachelor to say? To me, it sounded like an excuse to sleep with every woman he could from Manhattan to Jersey, and back again." If I was Liana, I wouldn't have even responded to his email but I understand that she was required to respond to her readers. So yeah, for a good portion I was not Kade's #1 fan. It wasn't until we really delved into the nooks and crannies of his dark past that I was able to see how this present-day Kade came to fruition. I thoroughly enjoyed the witty banter and instant connection between our duo. I think their relationship started off as enemies-to-lovers but quickly turned to friends-to-lovers. The stark differences between these two was interesting to read. I also really enjoyed reading about Kade falling for Liana, especially since was a first for him.
When Liana and Kade finally got together...I jotted down this note to myself, "That AMAZING feeling when the slow burn romance finally happens. My heart is beating out of my chest. I have that wonderful tingling feeling all over. Just to take that moment, stop to close the book, SQUEAL OUT OF EXCITEMENT, and then get right back to it." That accurately described my reaction when the pair finally consummated their relationship. Is that a super outdated way to say there was a spicy, intimate sex scene? I digress. But then things...went way too fast. How quickly they rushed into things made me feel extremely uneasy. I do feel this was mainly on Kade's part but it truly was the blind leading the blind. I knew there was an impending rupture ahead. Cue the third-act breakup. I despite third-act breakups but really any breakup in a romance book. I also watch a lot of k-dramas that utilize this ALL the time; I hate them in k-dramas as well. I was not shocked when the break up finally happened. I suppose it makes sense for the trajectory of their relationship and with Kade's previous history. It felt like an emotional rollercoaster but fortunately I did not vomit at the end of this rollercoaster.
Let's talk Liana's family. It is obvious that the reader is supposed to hate Liana's half-sister, Zoe or her father, Eric. That was easy to get across. I hated both of them. I did feel like the back story with her father was a running theme throughout the entire book but ultimately wasn't appropriately delved into or addressed. It felt unnecessary. I absolutely did not like Liana's sister, Kit, whatsoever. This is supposed to be Liana's only family who loves her unconditionally and is her only true confidant? Then I feel very sorry for Liana. I cannot fathom how these two ever had a proper relationship. How Kit behaved was inexcusable and will require LOTS of work to repair that relationship, but it is hard to believe there was ever a solid foundation. I don't think Kit redeemed herself even slightly in the end. I saw other people who reviewed this book felt very differently in this regard. They felt Liana was being unfair to her family and she was selfish for not forgiving these atrocities. I completely disagree. You are allowed to not have people in your life who are bad people and are bad for you. It is acceptable to cut people out of your life. This goes for Luca as well.
This book delved into a lot of tough issues including drug abuse/addiction, domestic abuse/violence, trauma and homelessness. I think Allie Doherty did a good job of addressing these tough topics but still remaining a very light-hearted nature with the book. This book was NOT about highlighting these issues but rather about how these were intrinsically connected to our main characters but did not define them. I have previously been in an abusive relationship before. I had not expected this topic to come up in this book. It took me back at first but Allie Doherty did provide some insightful points in regards to abusive relationships. Liana's quote about abusive relationships and how the abuser makes the other person feel like they are in a kaleidoscope/having tunnel vision, was so accurately described. I would tread carefully when reading this book though, thus the trigger warning at the top, because these topics may be triggering for readers.
Overall, I really enjoyed the beginning half of the book. I loved Liana's character, the instant undeniable chemistry, the witty banter and the spicy scenes were muy caliente! It is the latter half of the book that failed to meet my expectations. I felt there was so much potential in this concept but ultimately did not deliver. It truly was an average book. I would not find myself reaching for this book again but it could be a a fun read for someone else.
Quotes:
"I think a lot of movies go underrated because men have the mindset that romance is feminine. I know you disagree, but love makes life worth living, and it's not only women who're alive. Men need love too."
"Perhaps it was a character flaw that I thought real-life romance couldn't measure up against the movies. I'd locked myself away, substituting my chance at love for stories about love, convinced the real thing would pale in comparison. Boy, was I wrong. In movies, moments so intense were accompanied by a soft orchestra playing a piano-heavy instrumental in the background. But the stillness that settled between us surpassed every moment I'd ever watched with flutters in my stomach, telling myself a love so deep couldn't exist beyond the screen."
"I wish Stephanie could see sense, but she's blinded by Cleo. Abusive people have a knack at leaving their victims with tunnel vision, as though looking through a kaleidoscope. Everything around Stephanie is a jumble of overwhelming swirls and shapes she can't make out...The only thing she can see clearly is Cleo, standing at the end of the tunnel like a warm bright light, unaware she's an oncoming train in disguise."
"The problem with Liana was that she threw out the book on everything I thought I knew. Or, rather, she made me want to throw it out."
"You're not broken," I said, unable to believe he thought so little of himself. "You're a little bit cracked, but so am I. That's what makes us human...it's what's making me fall for you."
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