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ace_mishbookish's review
4.0
Okay I wont lie and say that this book was the easiest to read. It took me a while to get the hang of the writing style but once I did, I couldn't put the book down.
Layla has gone through so much in her childhood and even teenage years but she tried her hard to stay strong and shine as bright she did.
Jess was the comfort she needed but didnt want.
When you grow in chaos, comfort is scary and that is what Layla felt.
I loved the efforts Malia tried to put in creating the rawness of characters but also the growth both the characters got.
In side characters, I loved Kione & Matty <3
I want to thank Love Note PR & Malia for giving me this ARC
Layla has gone through so much in her childhood and even teenage years but she tried her hard to stay strong and shine as bright she did.
Jess was the comfort she needed but didnt want.
When you grow in chaos, comfort is scary and that is what Layla felt.
I loved the efforts Malia tried to put in creating the rawness of characters but also the growth both the characters got.
In side characters, I loved Kione & Matty <3
I want to thank Love Note PR & Malia for giving me this ARC
ajlaobic's review
4.0
What an amazing debut novel, AND it's written by a Palestinian author! & This is quite a short, quick read that really packs a punch due to how raw, deep, emotional, & moving it is.
Layla grew up with a mother who was jealous of her & who physically & emotionally abused her, yet Layla was always so incredibly strong & her heart remained pure. I know Malia put some of herself into the character of Layla, so thank you for sharing a little bit of your story with us, Malia
Layla grew up with a mother who was jealous of her & who physically & emotionally abused her, yet Layla was always so incredibly strong & her heart remained pure. I know Malia put some of herself into the character of Layla, so thank you for sharing a little bit of your story with us, Malia
ericas_bookshelf's review
5.0
“He feared that he could understand Icarus more and more every day. I, too, am flying too close to the sun. I, too, know I will burn soon, he thought. It only took one smile from her to get him to consider willingly getting burned.”
Layla is a well known, and successful artist. This is how she meets Jess. Jess is a well known basketball player, and wants to commission a piece from her for his parents. During their meeting, their mutual friend Mateo gets injured. Jess and Layla both insist on staying with Mateo at his apartment during his recovery. Forced proximity in an apartment is how this story starts, however there is so much more depth to it than that. I don’t want to spoil anything though. Even the spice scenes felt like I was intruding on an intimate moment.
“Layla. Layla was the true north of his heart's compass.”
This book is under 200 pages and yet it made me cry three times. How Malia manages to pack that much raw emotion and authentic love into so few pages is REMARKABLE. It kept reminding me of Hannah Bonam-Young’s style of story-telling. So if you enjoy her books, you’ll probably enjoy this one. Phenomenal debut novel, wow. Also, Malia is a Palestinian author, and adds in some heartfelt details about Palestine and Arab culture. Beautiful, beautiful, book.
“You're my favorite walking pile of panic attacks.”
Random notes I took while reading:
- Breaks fourth wall (reminded me of Fleabag haha)
- Palestinian main characters
- Time jumps a bit
- Bisexual FMC
- Queer friend group
- Anxiety rep
- Jess communicates via sign language, he is mute (reason is tragic, don’t want to spoil it, but it’s handled really well)
- The entire friend group are “famous” in some way. Paparazzi show up from time to time, they frequently have posts go viral, etc.
- She’s grumpy & he’s sunshine
- Instalove but done really well imo
- Written in third person POV
- Yes it’s spicy
P. S. Check CW’s
Layla is a well known, and successful artist. This is how she meets Jess. Jess is a well known basketball player, and wants to commission a piece from her for his parents. During their meeting, their mutual friend Mateo gets injured. Jess and Layla both insist on staying with Mateo at his apartment during his recovery. Forced proximity in an apartment is how this story starts, however there is so much more depth to it than that. I don’t want to spoil anything though. Even the spice scenes felt like I was intruding on an intimate moment.
“Layla. Layla was the true north of his heart's compass.”
This book is under 200 pages and yet it made me cry three times. How Malia manages to pack that much raw emotion and authentic love into so few pages is REMARKABLE. It kept reminding me of Hannah Bonam-Young’s style of story-telling. So if you enjoy her books, you’ll probably enjoy this one. Phenomenal debut novel, wow. Also, Malia is a Palestinian author, and adds in some heartfelt details about Palestine and Arab culture. Beautiful, beautiful, book.
“You're my favorite walking pile of panic attacks.”
Random notes I took while reading:
- Breaks fourth wall (reminded me of Fleabag haha)
- Palestinian main characters
- Time jumps a bit
- Bisexual FMC
- Queer friend group
- Anxiety rep
- Jess communicates via sign language, he is mute (reason is tragic, don’t want to spoil it, but it’s handled really well)
- The entire friend group are “famous” in some way. Paparazzi show up from time to time, they frequently have posts go viral, etc.
- She’s grumpy & he’s sunshine
- Instalove but done really well imo
- Written in third person POV
- Yes it’s spicy
P. S. Check CW’s
marielizzie's review
4.0
ARC REVIEW from lovenotes.pr
He’s obsessed with her, she’s mean to him (but he’s into it)
Ok so this book was just full of surprised for me, so unlike what i expected and what i’m used to from romance but in the best way possible, for a debut novel it was so bold, fun and well written
The characters breaking the fourth wall is the funniest thing ever and brings such a nice pace to the story
I’m always looking for dual pov books because let’s be honest, we all want to know both sides of the story so I was so happy to see the thoughts and minds of both Layla and Jess
Layla was such a deeply relatable character for me and I was so happy to see her evolve and mature throughout the story
Jess is THE MMC, the hottest thing a man can do is wear a crop top, annotate books and write the girl he loves letters. He’s all that and more
The two had such a healthy and cute relationship despite their past, their simple gestures of intimacies were everything andI was rooting for them so much also, NO THIRD ACT BREAKUP
Also loved the details of the little drawings here and there which helped me get lost into this book better
At first i was afraid at how many side characters there was and that they would all get lost within the story but their characterisation was well done and i got attached to them as well
All the characters in general are so diverse and it is so nice to read a book not only focusing on white straight people (also truly appreciated the scene where it described the beauty of the Palestinian culture considering current world events)
As a swiftie, Taylor Swift in the acknowledgment made me smile :)
He’s obsessed with her, she’s mean to him (but he’s into it)
Ok so this book was just full of surprised for me, so unlike what i expected and what i’m used to from romance but in the best way possible, for a debut novel it was so bold, fun and well written
The characters breaking the fourth wall is the funniest thing ever and brings such a nice pace to the story
I’m always looking for dual pov books because let’s be honest, we all want to know both sides of the story so I was so happy to see the thoughts and minds of both Layla and Jess
Layla was such a deeply relatable character for me and I was so happy to see her evolve and mature throughout the story
Jess is THE MMC, the hottest thing a man can do is wear a crop top, annotate books and write the girl he loves letters. He’s all that and more
The two had such a healthy and cute relationship despite their past, their simple gestures of intimacies were everything andI was rooting for them so much also, NO THIRD ACT BREAKUP
Also loved the details of the little drawings here and there which helped me get lost into this book better
At first i was afraid at how many side characters there was and that they would all get lost within the story but their characterisation was well done and i got attached to them as well
All the characters in general are so diverse and it is so nice to read a book not only focusing on white straight people (also truly appreciated the scene where it described the beauty of the Palestinian culture considering current world events)
As a swiftie, Taylor Swift in the acknowledgment made me smile :)
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