readingwithhippos's review against another edition
3.0
I jumped on American Sweethearts the day it was released. I was a big fan of the previous three books in Adriana Herrera’s Dreamers series, and I knew reading this one would be like reconnecting with old friends. Juan Pablo and Priscilla have dated on and off for years but can’t make it work long-term. When they’re forced together for mutual friend Milo’s idyllic island wedding, sparks fly once again, but they still don’t quite know how to relate to each other. Juan Pablo has been working on himself for a while and has made a lot of changes for the better, but Priscilla has some issues to work through before she can be ready to entertain the thought of a real relationship.
While I don’t think this book quite measured up to the others in the series, I liked Priscilla’s journey as a character. Her side hustle teaching sex-positive workshops and selling sex toys was a super interesting addition, and her fear of going for what she really wanted career-wise was personally relatable to me. I think the main reason I wasn’t as invested in the romance was there wasn’t one big, juicy reason why JuanPa and Priscilla hadn’t worked out before. For a second chance romance to really hook me, I need a big betrayal or seemingly insurmountable external obstacle. An amorphous “we just never seem to work out” vibe doesn’t quite do it for me. Still, I heartily recommend the entire Dreamers series, and I enjoyed checking in with all my favorite characters from previous books.
While I don’t think this book quite measured up to the others in the series, I liked Priscilla’s journey as a character. Her side hustle teaching sex-positive workshops and selling sex toys was a super interesting addition, and her fear of going for what she really wanted career-wise was personally relatable to me. I think the main reason I wasn’t as invested in the romance was there wasn’t one big, juicy reason why JuanPa and Priscilla hadn’t worked out before. For a second chance romance to really hook me, I need a big betrayal or seemingly insurmountable external obstacle. An amorphous “we just never seem to work out” vibe doesn’t quite do it for me. Still, I heartily recommend the entire Dreamers series, and I enjoyed checking in with all my favorite characters from previous books.
karlainromancelandia's review against another edition
3.0
Still looking for that friends to lovers that I really like but this was just ok for me
a_ab's review against another edition
DNF @ 25%. The writing is not for me. Plus, this is a book about 2 characters who appear to do 80% of their thinking with parts of the anatomy biologically incapable of that undertaking. Which means that being stuck in their heads is about equal parts bizarre and disgusting.
On one hand, this setup could lead to some impressive on-page character growth, which could be awesome. But on the other - too much of their thinking is focused on sex, and, for me, suffering through that is not worth the uncertain potential for character growth.
I wanted to use this book as a trial of a new to me author, and unless this book is some really crazy outlier, I don't think this author is going to be for me.
On one hand, this setup could lead to some impressive on-page character growth, which could be awesome. But on the other - too much of their thinking is focused on sex, and, for me, suffering through that is not worth the uncertain potential for character growth.
I wanted to use this book as a trial of a new to me author, and unless this book is some really crazy outlier, I don't think this author is going to be for me.
amris's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Sexual content
Moderate: Pedophilia
jkoluch's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-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
5.0
emilybordelovewrites's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
iggyebab's review against another edition
4.0
** I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.**
This series is so good. Watching Juanpa and Pris circle one another made me want their story. I knew that they had history and had been off and on for years until something happened that sent Pris running and Juanpa looking at himself. .
I loved that Juanpa has been working on himself. He is in therapy and is not ashamed. He can see how this pattern that he and Pris have been in hurts them both. Instead of reacting, he thinks about the situation.
Pirs is a cop with a sexual health side hustle. She teaches classes for older people about masturbation and enjoying sex as they get older. This is her passion. Being a cop is not what she had hoped it would be. There is so much sexism and racism hat she has to f=deal with on a daily basis that she is tired.
This book does so many things right. The friendships are fantastic, It is sex positive and hot. The issues are so honest. I love the families and the thoughtful way that Juanpa approaches this relationship while trying to avoid all the old patterns that continually wrecked them.
THis book gets all of it right and the sexy times are extremely well done. I love this author and will read anythign she writes.
This series is so good. Watching Juanpa and Pris circle one another made me want their story. I knew that they had history and had been off and on for years until something happened that sent Pris running and Juanpa looking at himself. .
I loved that Juanpa has been working on himself. He is in therapy and is not ashamed. He can see how this pattern that he and Pris have been in hurts them both. Instead of reacting, he thinks about the situation.
Pirs is a cop with a sexual health side hustle. She teaches classes for older people about masturbation and enjoying sex as they get older. This is her passion. Being a cop is not what she had hoped it would be. There is so much sexism and racism hat she has to f=deal with on a daily basis that she is tired.
This book does so many things right. The friendships are fantastic, It is sex positive and hot. The issues are so honest. I love the families and the thoughtful way that Juanpa approaches this relationship while trying to avoid all the old patterns that continually wrecked them.
THis book gets all of it right and the sexy times are extremely well done. I love this author and will read anythign she writes.
saltycaroline's review against another edition
3.0
Very steamy but this is a great example of why most contemporary second chance romances don't work for me (was never really clear on what broke them up in the first place, it wasn't addressed so how could it have been fixed?? Also only one MC was going to therapy & both needed it)
CW: Sexual content, child abuse, sexual assault
CW: Sexual content, child abuse, sexual assault
madihoo713's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-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
3.25