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mvbookreviewer's review against another edition
2.0
Love at First Fight by Carrie Aarons, advertised as an enemies-to-lovers romance is how I was enticed into picking this up as my next read. The fact that Ms. Aarons is a new to me author did not stop me from taking the plunge. While I found the main elements of the story to be exciting, I believe that my lack of clear enjoyment in the novel stemmed from the fact that what I expected from an enemies-to-lovers romance failed to materialize in a huge way.
Molly Archer and Smith Redfield are enemies, or at least to Molly, Smith who is best friend to her ex-boyfriend hates her guts. That permanent sneer etched on his face and the barbed references that he directs her way tells a story of its own. So when she turns up at the Hamptons, determined to forget and move on from how her ex had dumped her via a text before his plane took off to Singapore in pursuit of his new job and greener pastures, the last thing she needs is for Smith to be present.
To Molly’s mortification and other feelings she would rather not name, Smith’s presence is a problem she is not ready to deal with in the aftermath of a breakup that had left her vulnerable. But buckle up she does to face Smith, a force to be reckoned with in every sense, and finds more than she bargained for once the veneer of hostility fades and behind it is a man she could fall hopelessly in love with.
For Smith, the path he had chosen when it comes to Molly had been one born out of sheer desperation. It had been either that or do something that would make him the worst human ever, and as a result, being an asshole to Molly had been how he rolled. Forced into enduring each other’s company, feelings of the kind he had wanted to avoid all along rears its head and there is no turning back from that point on.
By the time I was less than half way through the story, I realized that this was no enemies-to-lovers romance, but nevertheless it was sweet in its own way. I did not expect nor want sweet when I dived in, I wanted animosity, seething resentment, and at the heart of it, unbeatable desire and want that would lead the characters to places they had both never been before.
I believe that this novel could have delivered more heat and generated a more intense connection between Smith and Molly had the author chosen to. Another thing that irked me was how the chapters just seemed to end so abruptly; for instance when Molly and Smith visit her folks and she stands up for him when her parents were being rude to him – there was a point in which I thought a groundbreaking moment in the story was just about to happen in the next chapter.
I turned the page and it was as if I had gone into the twilight zone or a parallel universe where things had already moved on from that pivotal point or what was supposed to be one. I seriously did not understand why that was the case and even checked to see whether I had accidentally swiped a couple of pages on the Kindle and ended up one or two chapters ahead of what I should have been reading, but that was not the case.
I wanted the spark and heat, I wanted better flow in the story and not the erratic trajectory upon which the novel unfolded. Alas, while the story had much potential, the delivery sadly, was lacking.
Recommended for fans of sweet romances.
Final Verdict: Love at First Fight is no enemies-to-lovers romance, but rather the story of a love that unfolds for a man who was put in an untenable position prior to having his dream come true!
Rating = 2.5/5
For more reviews and quotes, please visit A Maldivian's Passion for Romance
Molly Archer and Smith Redfield are enemies, or at least to Molly, Smith who is best friend to her ex-boyfriend hates her guts. That permanent sneer etched on his face and the barbed references that he directs her way tells a story of its own. So when she turns up at the Hamptons, determined to forget and move on from how her ex had dumped her via a text before his plane took off to Singapore in pursuit of his new job and greener pastures, the last thing she needs is for Smith to be present.
To Molly’s mortification and other feelings she would rather not name, Smith’s presence is a problem she is not ready to deal with in the aftermath of a breakup that had left her vulnerable. But buckle up she does to face Smith, a force to be reckoned with in every sense, and finds more than she bargained for once the veneer of hostility fades and behind it is a man she could fall hopelessly in love with.
For Smith, the path he had chosen when it comes to Molly had been one born out of sheer desperation. It had been either that or do something that would make him the worst human ever, and as a result, being an asshole to Molly had been how he rolled. Forced into enduring each other’s company, feelings of the kind he had wanted to avoid all along rears its head and there is no turning back from that point on.
By the time I was less than half way through the story, I realized that this was no enemies-to-lovers romance, but nevertheless it was sweet in its own way. I did not expect nor want sweet when I dived in, I wanted animosity, seething resentment, and at the heart of it, unbeatable desire and want that would lead the characters to places they had both never been before.
I believe that this novel could have delivered more heat and generated a more intense connection between Smith and Molly had the author chosen to. Another thing that irked me was how the chapters just seemed to end so abruptly; for instance when Molly and Smith visit her folks and she stands up for him when her parents were being rude to him – there was a point in which I thought a groundbreaking moment in the story was just about to happen in the next chapter.
I turned the page and it was as if I had gone into the twilight zone or a parallel universe where things had already moved on from that pivotal point or what was supposed to be one. I seriously did not understand why that was the case and even checked to see whether I had accidentally swiped a couple of pages on the Kindle and ended up one or two chapters ahead of what I should have been reading, but that was not the case.
I wanted the spark and heat, I wanted better flow in the story and not the erratic trajectory upon which the novel unfolded. Alas, while the story had much potential, the delivery sadly, was lacking.
Recommended for fans of sweet romances.
Final Verdict: Love at First Fight is no enemies-to-lovers romance, but rather the story of a love that unfolds for a man who was put in an untenable position prior to having his dream come true!
Rating = 2.5/5
For more reviews and quotes, please visit A Maldivian's Passion for Romance
kle105's review against another edition
4.0
From the first chapter I knew I was going to love this story. Smith has been in love with Molly ever since they met, problem was she ended up with his best friend. A year later his friend left her via text as he jetted off to Singapore.
Molly is dreading the vacation share she signed up for, when she was still with her ex, sharing with his friends. However she has her friend Heather and this will be a summer to remember even if she has to put up with Smith.
When Smith starts to show her a different side to him, and then confesses he doesn’t actually hate her, she doesn’t know how to take it.
The tension is high, Smith has some issues to contend with and their road is not smooth but it is packed with heat.
Molly is dreading the vacation share she signed up for, when she was still with her ex, sharing with his friends. However she has her friend Heather and this will be a summer to remember even if she has to put up with Smith.
When Smith starts to show her a different side to him, and then confesses he doesn’t actually hate her, she doesn’t know how to take it.
The tension is high, Smith has some issues to contend with and their road is not smooth but it is packed with heat.
evarano's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 ⭐️
Read this in a day, quick and easy read! I liked the two main characters and their connection, although I wish there was more of them rather than their stories. I thought Smith was a bit too ruthless at times, although Molly acknowledged it, she forgave too easily. I hated both of their families, so annoying and rude. This story had a lot going on! I felt it was a bit short for everything happening, a lot of big feelings that weren’t flushed out enough. The writing was okay!
Read this in a day, quick and easy read! I liked the two main characters and their connection, although I wish there was more of them rather than their stories. I thought Smith was a bit too ruthless at times, although Molly acknowledged it, she forgave too easily. I hated both of their families, so annoying and rude. This story had a lot going on! I felt it was a bit short for everything happening, a lot of big feelings that weren’t flushed out enough. The writing was okay!
mirandabalaski's review against another edition
5.0
First book from this author that I read and the perfect steamy beach romance to get me hooked on this author
moniprieto's review against another edition
4.0
Author has a tiktok and I saw her promoting this book so I thought I'd give it a chance cause I love romances... book wasn't disappointing! Super cute story and a short read!
ds_123's review against another edition
hopeful
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
3.5
cdrizzy17's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
juliahopelew's review against another edition
5.0
This was a book I did not want to put down! I was waiting and waiting for the characters to have an interaction!! The book is beautiful written, quick read for someone who wants a heart-warming romance! No real “issues” happen, which always frustrates me when main characters get apart for stupid reasons!!
britneysromancelibrary's review against another edition
5.0
Oh Smith and Molly! Love this concept of this book. And yes I just adored Smith and Molly.
What better way to get over a blindsided breakup than having a summer get away with friends. Well it all sounds fun but not when said friends are your ex boyfriend’s friends and he was the one that was supposed to be with you on this trip. But Molly makes the most out of it cuz come on she needs this vacation. What she wasn’t looking forward too was Smith, her ex’s best friend and the one man that hates her guts......or does he?
Smith is a hardworking man, running not one but almost 3 restaurants. He is a go go go kind of man, never taken time for himself and even more so since something tragic hits his family. So what better way to take some, or force some me time than going to the Hamptons. He was looking forward to getting out of his head for a little bit but the one thing that always is in his head is the last person he expected to see in the same beach house as him.
These two characters are full of lust and steam and hatred. But all of those things together under the same roof, good things are bound to happen.
4️⃣.5️⃣
What better way to get over a blindsided breakup than having a summer get away with friends. Well it all sounds fun but not when said friends are your ex boyfriend’s friends and he was the one that was supposed to be with you on this trip. But Molly makes the most out of it cuz come on she needs this vacation. What she wasn’t looking forward too was Smith, her ex’s best friend and the one man that hates her guts......or does he?
Smith is a hardworking man, running not one but almost 3 restaurants. He is a go go go kind of man, never taken time for himself and even more so since something tragic hits his family. So what better way to take some, or force some me time than going to the Hamptons. He was looking forward to getting out of his head for a little bit but the one thing that always is in his head is the last person he expected to see in the same beach house as him.
These two characters are full of lust and steam and hatred. But all of those things together under the same roof, good things are bound to happen.
4️⃣.5️⃣