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ruthhelizabeth's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I received an e-arc from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
One of my favourite romance books of the year.
Liyah and Daniel first met when they were just teenagers, kids really, at Jewish summer camp, sneaking away to kiss at night time.
Years and years later, and after a heavy grudge, Liyah is horrified to realize she has to sit next to him on a plane and even worse, work with him on the most important project of her professional life. Chaos ensures.
I really enjoyed this book. I didn't find myself dragged into the pages, racing to finish, but I feel it was even sweeter savoured over a few weeks reading and I shed a few tears along the way.
It was genuinely delightful to read realistic, messy but growing people try to be their best selves from both ends. I found myself rooting for each of them to love themselves more along with the other.
One of my favourite romance books of the year.
Liyah and Daniel first met when they were just teenagers, kids really, at Jewish summer camp, sneaking away to kiss at night time.
Years and years later, and after a heavy grudge, Liyah is horrified to realize she has to sit next to him on a plane and even worse, work with him on the most important project of her professional life. Chaos ensures.
I really enjoyed this book. I didn't find myself dragged into the pages, racing to finish, but I feel it was even sweeter savoured over a few weeks reading and I shed a few tears along the way.
It was genuinely delightful to read realistic, messy but growing people try to be their best selves from both ends. I found myself rooting for each of them to love themselves more along with the other.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Sexual content, Grief, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Death of parent and Sexual harassment
Minor: Rape and Sexism
bookedwithbonnie's review
emotional
hopeful
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Sexual assault, and Grief
dkaps's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
4.75
This book is everything you want out of a romcom. It's sweet and charming and I'm 100% in love with all of the characters. I want a whole follow up book about Neen.
The only reason it isn't 5 stars for me is that some of the notes from the SSC meeting feel a little disjointed. Overall it was a great fun read.
The only reason it isn't 5 stars for me is that some of the notes from the SSC meeting feel a little disjointed. Overall it was a great fun read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Alcohol
Moderate: Sexual content and Death of parent
Minor: Body shaming, Mental illness, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Antisemitism, Cultural appropriation, Colonisation, and Classism
amarachireadss's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Ahhh, I enjoyed this book so much. There was just something about these characters and their friend group that really worked for me. The main characters in this book are Liyah and Daniel, who were childhood friends turned enemies after a summer camp incident. They meet again many years later, and there are still resentments and hard feelings between both of them. They have a work project together and start to rebuild their friendship by bonding over their shared bipoc Jewish heritage and experience feeling left out and not fitting into religious and cultural boxes.
This book felt like a warm hug for me; there are not a lot of books about black Jewish fmc's so I really felt seen while reading this. The main characters were so relatable, and I loved their little friend group and their get-together and meeting minutes. Liyah is the bisexual grumpy fmc that doesn't believe in love, while Daniel is the soft and sensitive mmc (he has a cat named sweet potato 🥹). I loved the Yiddish phrases and Jewish traditions/rituals in this book. I especially loved that this is a story that has Korean and black Jewish representation; JOC isn't always fully welcome, heard, and accepted, so stories like this are important.
I liked seeing the main characters develop, grow, heal, and grieve in authentic ways. I wasn't even annoyed by the conflict that happened towards the end because I thought it was necessary for the stories and character development. The romance was a slow burn, it was also sweet(a little steamy), and beautiful I loved that the main characters built their friendship first. There were some times in the book when I thought the pace was a little slow and dragging, but overall this was a good comforting read.
Thank you, St. Martins Press and NetGalley, for this arc for an honest review
This book felt like a warm hug for me; there are not a lot of books about black Jewish fmc's so I really felt seen while reading this. The main characters were so relatable, and I loved their little friend group and their get-together and meeting minutes. Liyah is the bisexual grumpy fmc that doesn't believe in love, while Daniel is the soft and sensitive mmc (he has a cat named sweet potato 🥹). I loved the Yiddish phrases and Jewish traditions/rituals in this book. I especially loved that this is a story that has Korean and black Jewish representation; JOC isn't always fully welcome, heard, and accepted, so stories like this are important.
I liked seeing the main characters develop, grow, heal, and grieve in authentic ways. I wasn't even annoyed by the conflict that happened towards the end because I thought it was necessary for the stories and character development. The romance was a slow burn, it was also sweet(a little steamy), and beautiful I loved that the main characters built their friendship first. There were some times in the book when I thought the pace was a little slow and dragging, but overall this was a good comforting read.
Thank you, St. Martins Press and NetGalley, for this arc for an honest review
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Grief
Minor: Death of parent