Reviews with content warning for Alcoholism - The Build Up

Ari and Porter were a great couple and I love their relationship. First, shoutout to the author for characters in my age group and a fat girl romance without a fitness journey. I loved it for those things right off the top. Ari and Porter feel something instantly, but work together so they have to fight it. Or at least, they try. Partnering to design a stadium, both of them are running from the past--Porter, from the expectations of his family legacy and the cloud of nepotism hanging over him, and Ari from a disastrous workplace entanglement that scarred her and nearly ruined her professionally. But they can't hide the way they feel.

Ari and Porter had great build, and awesome chemistry. They were hot, and fun to read. I loved the angst of their romance. Ari's fear and doubt spoke to the heart of me and I felt bad for her, and what she went through. Her hesitance and trust issues were very well understood. I respected Porter and his willingness to accept where he wasn't as strong. He also took care of his family, and they were great.

I hated Greer and wondered if the place they worked had HR because he was too much for me.

The book seemed to try to tackle so many things--nepotism, misogyny, colorism, fatphobia, alcoholism, workplace politics, etc.--it felt like I was bogged down at times in those things. But modern love has its challenges and I'm glad the author presented some of that. Ari was a beautiful woman who knew it, but there were a couple of places in the book where it felt like the author was trying too hard to prove she was confident. Also, I didn't like the way Ari left things at the end. She wasn't the greatest communicator, and even admitted she was used to running when things got hard. I think I would have liked her arc to show her pushing through some of that. I guess the only place I was left wanting was Ari's character development--we saw Porter find his true passion, stand up for his and Ari's talent, reconnect with his brother, and reconcile his past in some ways and we didn't see that same kind of arc from Ari. But I loved the book. It was great.

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thebookishbrief's review

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lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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duckyreads's review

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emotional funny medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

The Build Up by Tati Richardson is a nice debut that encapsulates Black middle-aged love. We follow Ari James, an extremely talented architect that's starting over at a new firm, and Porter Harrison, an established architect that is vying for partnership at the firm. When they're forced to work on a career-defining project for a billionaire family, Ari and Porter have to choose between investing in a relationship together or risking their alluring future careers.

I loved how unapologetically Black Ari and Porter's story is! Both of their families have rich histories and a cast of characters that are intriguing enough that you want to see more of them. The tension and love between them grew organically throughout the story as they spent more time together.

I am looking forward to all of Tati's future releases!

Thank you to NetGalley & Carina Press for a copy of the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

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belreadsbooks's review

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lighthearted medium-paced

Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

Do you want a romance where the guy falls first, that’s a slow burn, is a workplace romance, has wonderful sexual tension, AND has gripping romantic chemistry between the main characters? Then this book is for you. Also, did I mention that the spice is next level? I loved it 🥵🔥

This book was a roller coaster experience for me. There were some points where I was so deeply in love with the story, and some parts where I was indifferent. I do think it started to lull a bit for me past the 75% mark, but honestly I pushed through because I wanted to see how Richardson rounded out the story. Overall, however, I can say I had a pleasant experience.

If this book shows up on your radar and you enjoy a good, spicy, contemporary romance, I recommend picking it up.

TW: fatphobia, colorism, sexual harassment, alcoholism, and death of a parent (off-page).

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the complimentary e-arc in exchange for an honest review. All opinions in this review are my own.

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