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The only vampire book that I can personally vouch for, tbh.
This was really cute and precious (and at times, wonderfully steamy), but I would have liked to see stronger character development. Resolution was a little too abrupt and underwhelming, too. Nonetheless, it delivered really well on the fake dating trope - and I enjoyed how things played out.
Recommended if you're looking for a lighthearted, quick, and fun read.
Recommended if you're looking for a lighthearted, quick, and fun read.
Keep the Faith offers a refreshing and heartwarming take on Christian romance. Truthfully, I tend to avoid most religion/spirituality-related titles (note: not exclusively romance) because the very few that I’ve read in the past were pretty preachy. Keep the Faith was thankfully a delightful exception. Nick and Faith’s relationship was wonderfully wholesome and endearing. I liked how the author was able to present a mature (and very believable!) romantic development without heavily relying on sexual tension and lustful agendas. Seriously, I can never look at French fries in the same light ever again.
Despite technically being a contemporary romance novel, the narrative concentrated more on Faith’s growth as an individual rather than the romantic progression between her and Nico – an angle that isn’t very common for the genre but nonetheless fascinating to read about. More than just a story about two people falling in love, the novel talked about a range of holistic themes: finding fulfillment, learning acceptance, dealing with insecurity, identifying personal priorities, and healing in general. I loved it.
Truth be told, my reading experience with Keep the Faith was initially bumpy. The writing in the first chapters was, at times, awkward and a number of passages (which I highlighted in my reader) could have been phrased better, in my opinion. However, once I breezed through the first few chapters, the writing style greatly improved – the wording was more fitting, the transition from one paragraph to another flowed more naturally and consequently, it became much more effortless to immerse myself in Faith’s story. As a whole, the plot is simple and fairly predictable but the story, without a doubt, packs quite a punch as it perfectly captures the confusion and turmoil caused by heartbreak. Keep the Faith is definitely a novel I’ll soon be rereading.
Despite technically being a contemporary romance novel, the narrative concentrated more on Faith’s growth as an individual rather than the romantic progression between her and Nico – an angle that isn’t very common for the genre but nonetheless fascinating to read about. More than just a story about two people falling in love, the novel talked about a range of holistic themes: finding fulfillment, learning acceptance, dealing with insecurity, identifying personal priorities, and healing in general. I loved it.
Truth be told, my reading experience with Keep the Faith was initially bumpy. The writing in the first chapters was, at times, awkward and a number of passages (which I highlighted in my reader) could have been phrased better, in my opinion. However, once I breezed through the first few chapters, the writing style greatly improved – the wording was more fitting, the transition from one paragraph to another flowed more naturally and consequently, it became much more effortless to immerse myself in Faith’s story. As a whole, the plot is simple and fairly predictable but the story, without a doubt, packs quite a punch as it perfectly captures the confusion and turmoil caused by heartbreak. Keep the Faith is definitely a novel I’ll soon be rereading.
Unlike most NA contemporary stories, Making It Complicated did not introduce itself slowly, gently, and with caution. Instead, right from the beginning, I was, without warning, thrown into a whirlwind of fluttery feelings, summer vibes, hilariously brilliant banter, eloquently described sceneries, and undeniably explosive chemistry.
As much as I loved the interactions of Cam and Hunter, what I appreciated the most about the book was that there was enough space for Cam to battle against her inner demons, to learn to love herself, and to grow into a more mature individual with less anger towards the world. Since the novel was set in the transition period between graduating high school and entering college, it becomes a necessity to highlight that “coming of age” element; on that aspect, the author did not fail to deliver. Cam’s personal growth was realistic, remarkable, and incredibly empowering.
Overall, I am pleased to say that I ended up enjoying this book a whole lot more than I initially anticipated. Making It Complicated is a wonderfully addictive, lighthearted romance that’s perfect to pick up, regardless of what season it is.
As much as I loved the interactions of Cam and Hunter, what I appreciated the most about the book was that there was enough space for Cam to battle against her inner demons, to learn to love herself, and to grow into a more mature individual with less anger towards the world. Since the novel was set in the transition period between graduating high school and entering college, it becomes a necessity to highlight that “coming of age” element; on that aspect, the author did not fail to deliver. Cam’s personal growth was realistic, remarkable, and incredibly empowering.
Overall, I am pleased to say that I ended up enjoying this book a whole lot more than I initially anticipated. Making It Complicated is a wonderfully addictive, lighthearted romance that’s perfect to pick up, regardless of what season it is.
First things first: I received a digital Advance Reader’s Copy (ARC) of this book as part of my participation in a blog tour hosted by the author herself – this, however, neither affects my opinion nor the content of my review in any way. Many thanks to Mina V. Esguerra for this delightful opportunity!
One of the strongest points of this novel is the manner in which Daphne and Aaron’s relationship is handled. Their transition from mildly hostile strangers to unlikely friends to perfectly matched lovers is so thoughtfully developed that the progression flowed both naturally and almost magically. The chemistry between the two of them is consistently palpable (most prevalently evidenced during the fantastic sex scenes), and their clever banter never failed to keep me engaged.
Truthfully, I can go on and on about how much I loved this and how much I enjoyed that, but realistically speaking, I don’t have the time for such indulgences. But I will say that Better At Weddings Than You is the kind of story that I cannot imagine myself getting sick of rereading. In fact, it is my first 5-star read for 2017!
Although this is my first time to encounter her work, I am thoroughly convinced that Mina Esguerra is a brilliant and cunning wordsmith. At first glance, her writing style seems pretty simple, but as I further immersed myself into the story, I’ve come to realize that the ripples her words leave are powerfully profound. Esguerra writes with unparalleled flair, subtle precision, and striking imagery. I look forward to reading many more of her books!
Actual rating: 5 stars
* Read the entire review on That Bookshelf Bitch!
One of the strongest points of this novel is the manner in which Daphne and Aaron’s relationship is handled. Their transition from mildly hostile strangers to unlikely friends to perfectly matched lovers is so thoughtfully developed that the progression flowed both naturally and almost magically. The chemistry between the two of them is consistently palpable (most prevalently evidenced during the fantastic sex scenes), and their clever banter never failed to keep me engaged.
Truthfully, I can go on and on about how much I loved this and how much I enjoyed that, but realistically speaking, I don’t have the time for such indulgences. But I will say that Better At Weddings Than You is the kind of story that I cannot imagine myself getting sick of rereading. In fact, it is my first 5-star read for 2017!
Although this is my first time to encounter her work, I am thoroughly convinced that Mina Esguerra is a brilliant and cunning wordsmith. At first glance, her writing style seems pretty simple, but as I further immersed myself into the story, I’ve come to realize that the ripples her words leave are powerfully profound. Esguerra writes with unparalleled flair, subtle precision, and striking imagery. I look forward to reading many more of her books!
Actual rating: 5 stars
* Read the entire review on That Bookshelf Bitch!
