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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
jennp28's review against another edition
3.0
Enjoyable but nothing spectacular.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Medical content, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: War
kalynaobyrne's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This was a fun read! The cover was what initially drew me in! I really liked the side characters! I loved Imani’s grandmother. Her scenes brought a lot of humor into the story which I loved. I loved Imani’s friendship with Kate and I’m interested in checking out her book. Imani did get on my nerves during a few parts. While some parts of her backstory made it more understandable, there were a few moments when I felt like she was too harsh to Zander.
Overall, I enjoyed this book however it wasn’t a standout romance for me. It's a 3.75 for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for a free copy of this e-book in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury and Injury/Injury detail
meganpbennett's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
An interesting sequel to How Sweet It Is, All Fire Up focuses on Imani, Kate Sweet's best friend. Imani is returning to the small town to take care of her grandmother, and re-meets the Matthews' brother she had a fling with. Oops, turns out those feelings aren't as gone as she'd thought. It's a very good read.
One thing I really liked was how the conflict happened and how it was resolved. Far too often in recent romance novels, the conflict happens with next-to-no time for it to be resolved in a believable manner, and most of the time it's a grand gesture in front of a lot of people that boxes the woman into a corner where she feels she has to say yes or embarrass the dude. All Fired Up doesn't do that, and I really like it. Stressed and blaming herself, Imani blows up on Xander, and it turns out that she's right. After some introspection and meeting up with his friends, Xander does some things he'd never thought of doing before, and is all the better for it. And the conflict is resolved in a way that makes some amount of realistic sense. And the book is all the better for it.
One thing I really liked was how the conflict happened and how it was resolved. Far too often in recent romance novels, the conflict happens with next-to-no time for it to be resolved in a believable manner, and most of the time it's a grand gesture in front of a lot of people that boxes the woman into a corner where she feels she has to say yes or embarrass the dude. All Fired Up doesn't do that, and I really like it. Stressed and blaming herself, Imani blows up on Xander, and it turns out that she's right. After some introspection and meeting up with his friends, Xander does some things he'd never thought of doing before, and is all the better for it. And the conflict is resolved in a way that makes some amount of realistic sense. And the book is all the better for it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Eating disorder
thisboricuareader's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
5.0
Thank you so much Netgalley and Forever publishing for the e-arc of this book.
So, after finishing "how sweet it is" I was VERY excited to read about Zander and Imani. I loved Zander in book one, and this book made me love him even more. His vulnerability and how he lived his life made me want to check how my life is going and if I am living my dream or doing something that makes me happy.
Now Imani, I wanted to smack her silly on multiple occasions. I could see where she was coming from and her past trauma, but girl Zander is a dream. It was good to see her work on some of her issues and being able to welcome Zander into her life.
Just like book 1 in this series, the story flows beautifully and I wanted more. I can not wait to get to read the next book in this series.
So, after finishing "how sweet it is" I was VERY excited to read about Zander and Imani. I loved Zander in book one, and this book made me love him even more. His vulnerability and how he lived his life made me want to check how my life is going and if I am living my dream or doing something that makes me happy.
Now Imani, I wanted to smack her silly on multiple occasions. I could see where she was coming from and her past trauma, but girl Zander is a dream. It was good to see her work on some of her issues and being able to welcome Zander into her life.
Just like book 1 in this series, the story flows beautifully and I wanted more. I can not wait to get to read the next book in this series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Panic attacks/disorders, and Grief
Moderate: Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury
goodbyerachel's review
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Oh my gosh. I have been in the mood for some contemporary romance and honestly read this in 24 hours because I needed that serotonin boost real bad.
ALL FIRED UP was so stinking cute. Imani is a type-A, list-maker, major controller and Zander is... the literal opposite. I loved the contrast between these two characters, and how this book pushed and pulled around how different they are but that they are actually more complementary. A little bit of second chance, a little bit friends to lovers. I mostly enjoyed the pacing and that so much of this book was around their friendship (yes, friendship with sexual tension, okay). I do wish there were a bit more pages dedicated to the final scenes/post-third act break-up reconciliation.
AND this book is HILARIOUS. Imani's grandma's parrot was the perfect comedic relief, not to mention those Mathew''s boys and their non-stop ribbing. I actively laughed out loud so many times. And I also subtly had tears running down my cheek because OMG MY HEART.
So, I consider this a total win. Dylan Newton is 2/2 in my book and I will 100% be reading Ryker's book next summer.
**Thank you to Estelle and Forever Pub for my advanced copy in exchange for my review! I definitely didn't throw my tbr out the window the minute this arrived on my doorstep.
ALL FIRED UP was so stinking cute. Imani is a type-A, list-maker, major controller and Zander is... the literal opposite. I loved the contrast between these two characters, and how this book pushed and pulled around how different they are but that they are actually more complementary. A little bit of second chance, a little bit friends to lovers. I mostly enjoyed the pacing and that so much of this book was around their friendship (yes, friendship with sexual tension, okay). I do wish there were a bit more pages dedicated to the final scenes/post-third act break-up reconciliation.
AND this book is HILARIOUS. Imani's grandma's parrot was the perfect comedic relief, not to mention those Mathew''s boys and their non-stop ribbing. I actively laughed out loud so many times. And I also subtly had tears running down my cheek because OMG MY HEART.
So, I consider this a total win. Dylan Newton is 2/2 in my book and I will 100% be reading Ryker's book next summer.
**Thank you to Estelle and Forever Pub for my advanced copy in exchange for my review! I definitely didn't throw my tbr out the window the minute this arrived on my doorstep.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Pregnancy
Moderate: Sexual content and Medical content
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
sammiesshelf's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for the eARC of this book!
This book was a cute, fairly lighthearted romance. There are some dark topics like war injuries, PTSD, and bipolar disorder, but they are not the main focus of the book.
I adore Zander. He was so wholesome and just seems like a genuinely humble and nice guy. I found it super endearing how persistent he was with Imani, and how he cares for everyone around him.
However, Imani was pretty annoying to me. Her character wasn't particularly annoying for any reason, but there didn't seem to be a real reason that she and Zander couldn't be together. There was clear chemistry, and he had explicitly told her he was in it for the long haul knowing she lived in NYC, and yet she always just said "It can't happen." It is somewhat implied that it is because of her busy schedule and being stressed all of the time, but she never actually explains what is keeping them apart. Instead, she repeatedly attacks Zander's go-with-the-flow lifestyle and says that is why they can't be together. Although his lifestyle did need work, in my opinion, it didn't make sense for that to be their main obstacle.
Aside from this, I adored Gigi and Lancelot and think they were perfect for comedic relief. They always chimed in at just the right (or wrong) times and cut the tension. Who knew an old woman and her husband's parrot could be the real stars of a romance?
Overall, this book was enjoyable and a nice easy read. Definitely recommend it for all lovers of rom-com and small-town romance!
This book was a cute, fairly lighthearted romance. There are some dark topics like war injuries, PTSD, and bipolar disorder, but they are not the main focus of the book.
I adore Zander. He was so wholesome and just seems like a genuinely humble and nice guy. I found it super endearing how persistent he was with Imani, and how he cares for everyone around him.
However, Imani was pretty annoying to me. Her character wasn't particularly annoying for any reason, but there didn't seem to be a real reason that she and Zander couldn't be together. There was clear chemistry, and he had explicitly told her he was in it for the long haul knowing she lived in NYC, and yet she always just said "It can't happen." It is somewhat implied that it is because of her busy schedule and being stressed all of the time, but she never actually explains what is keeping them apart. Instead, she repeatedly attacks Zander's go-with-the-flow lifestyle and says that is why they can't be together. Although his lifestyle did need work, in my opinion, it didn't make sense for that to be their main obstacle.
Aside from this, I adored Gigi and Lancelot and think they were perfect for comedic relief. They always chimed in at just the right (or wrong) times and cut the tension. Who knew an old woman and her husband's parrot could be the real stars of a romance?
Overall, this book was enjoyable and a nice easy read. Definitely recommend it for all lovers of rom-com and small-town romance!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Pregnancy
Minor: Vomit, War, and Injury/Injury detail
There is an explicit description of Imani's mother's death (Fire-related) and her struggle with bipolar disorder. The detailed description is pretty much confined to just one instance, but it is referenced throughout the book. Imani does also suffer a panic attack as well as a PTSD-like episode in this book. They don't last long and are mainly just used to reveal information. Kate's birth is described a good bit, and there is talk of birth complications:
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