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yvo_about_books's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.5
Finished reading: August 17th 2024
"No matter if you're gardening or sorting baby diapers, do it with a full heart. Because nothing is guaranteed other than right now."
I remember having a wonderful time reading How Sweet It Is, so I was excited when I discovered it was going to be a series involving the different Matthews brothers. I've had All Fired Up on my TBR ever since it was published, and I'm still not sure why it has taken me this long to finally pick it up... But this story ended up coming at the exact right time for me, and this was the perfect dose of cute and mainly uplifting second-chance slowburn romance. This book can technically be read as a stand-alone as it features a different Matthews brother, but the couple featured in the first book is very present in this sequel so I would personally recommend reading them in order. Both books are perfect if you like your romances on the sweet side! The story uses a dual POV structure, switching between Imani and Zander as we see their connection grow. This is a true slowburn romance, so if that's not your cup of tea than this story might not be for you... There is some steam later on, but easily skipped if you are not a fan of sexy scenes. The main characters were easy to warm up to, and I loved the cast in general. Sure, a certain stubbornness could get a bit frustrating, as it was SO obvious that the two were made for each other... Things can also be said about the ending being a bit too much of a 180 change, but somehow it ended up working for this story. I had an excellent time reading All Fired Up, and I can't wait to get a copy of the third book featuring Ryder.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Suicide, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
theespressoedition's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I'm still getting little tingles of excitement when I think about how much I love Zander and Imani and this absolutely adorable book!
When these two characters were introduced in How Sweet It Is, I immediately found myself feeling desperate to know what their story would look like. Their flirty banter was too cute and I just had this feeling that they could become total couple goals! I'm proud to announce that I was absolutely right.
Imani reminded me so much of myself that it was slightly uncomfortable at times. She's a list-maker, rule-follower, and planner - ready to tackle anything that comes her way, as long as it's in her schedule. Zander is the opposite of her in just about everything. He's impulsive, a bit reckless, and prefers a good adventure to the idea of stability. They are the epitome of "opposites attract!"
One of the things that stood out to me in this book was just how much character development there was, and it wasn't just Imani or just Zander, but it really took both of them working on themselves and learning how to overcome their setbacks to lead better lives - together and as individuals. This showed what it's really like to be dedicated to having a healthy relationship because without sacrifice and the willingness to learn, you'll get nowhere. But if you're willing to put in the effort to work on yourself, it will only lead to a better partnership.
I absolutely love a dual POV when it comes to romance books because it's so much fun to see what actually leads the characters to one another. Zander's POV was probably my favorite because he's totally smitten with Imani from the get-go, but he has to take a step back and allow her to take the reins. His inward struggle to avoid coming on too strong is really precious and yet, he's willing to do anything it takes to make sure she knows he's there for her.
I was incredibly happy that Drake and Kate were such a huge part of this book! I absolutely loved How Sweet It Is and was so thrilled to find out what their life looked like and how it played into Zander and Imani's story. There were also a few new faces to join the old ones, like Imani's hilariously adorable Gigi and her very crass parrot (who made me laugh out loud more than once). While reading, it's hard to separate this town and cast from reality because they truly just feel like an extension of my own life. They're so lovable!
Oh, OH, and how can I forget the HOT AIR BALLOON! Oh.My.Gosh. This entire plot point from beginning to end was absolutely fantastic. Charming, creative, educational, terrifying, adventurous, and SPICY would be just a few words I could use to describe the chain of events in those couple of chapters. That alone makes it all worth reading (if I hadn't already convinced you).
Okay, it's obvious I could rave about All Fired Up all day long so I'll end here, but seriously, you won't want to miss this one!
When these two characters were introduced in How Sweet It Is, I immediately found myself feeling desperate to know what their story would look like. Their flirty banter was too cute and I just had this feeling that they could become total couple goals! I'm proud to announce that I was absolutely right.
Imani reminded me so much of myself that it was slightly uncomfortable at times. She's a list-maker, rule-follower, and planner - ready to tackle anything that comes her way, as long as it's in her schedule. Zander is the opposite of her in just about everything. He's impulsive, a bit reckless, and prefers a good adventure to the idea of stability. They are the epitome of "opposites attract!"
One of the things that stood out to me in this book was just how much character development there was, and it wasn't just Imani or just Zander, but it really took both of them working on themselves and learning how to overcome their setbacks to lead better lives - together and as individuals. This showed what it's really like to be dedicated to having a healthy relationship because without sacrifice and the willingness to learn, you'll get nowhere. But if you're willing to put in the effort to work on yourself, it will only lead to a better partnership.
I absolutely love a dual POV when it comes to romance books because it's so much fun to see what actually leads the characters to one another. Zander's POV was probably my favorite because he's totally smitten with Imani from the get-go, but he has to take a step back and allow her to take the reins. His inward struggle to avoid coming on too strong is really precious and yet, he's willing to do anything it takes to make sure she knows he's there for her.
I was incredibly happy that Drake and Kate were such a huge part of this book! I absolutely loved How Sweet It Is and was so thrilled to find out what their life looked like and how it played into Zander and Imani's story. There were also a few new faces to join the old ones, like Imani's hilariously adorable Gigi and her very crass parrot (who made me laugh out loud more than once). While reading, it's hard to separate this town and cast from reality because they truly just feel like an extension of my own life. They're so lovable!
Oh, OH, and how can I forget the HOT AIR BALLOON! Oh.My.Gosh. This entire plot point from beginning to end was absolutely fantastic. Charming, creative, educational, terrifying, adventurous, and SPICY would be just a few words I could use to describe the chain of events in those couple of chapters. That alone makes it all worth reading (if I hadn't already convinced you).
Okay, it's obvious I could rave about All Fired Up all day long so I'll end here, but seriously, you won't want to miss this one!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Blood and Grief
Minor: War
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