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what_karla_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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? No
4.5
4.5/5 stars
1/5 spice
I really enjoyed everything about this book. The tension and angst were on point, and I was rooting for Catalina and Gabriel the whole time.
Tropes:
College romance
Rivals to lovers
Opposites attract
Fake dating
Latinx representation
Found family
He falls first
Single POV
Oh my goodness, was I not expecting the emotional roller coaster with this one. The cover is deceiving! I thought I was getting a cozy fake dating romance, but it's sooooo much more than that. The opening chapter of this book really does set a darker undertone to the story that isn't usually present in a story like this. But it worked out so well, and you really understood from the beginning why Catalina had her trust issues and fierce determination to be so independent. As for Gabriel... goodness... you think you're getting your typical playboy, but he's so much more than that superficial persona. I don't think I'll ever get tired of seeing the he falls first/it was always you trope... because it's just soooo much angst. I love it. What I didn't like was very minimal compared to what I loved. So, for personal preference, I would have liked to see more spice. There was so much build-up for it, and I was a bit disappointed that there was none. But that's just me being picky and smutty 😂😉 There were some nice makeout sessions, though 🙌🏽
Overall, be prepared for a lot of emotions to be thrown your way in this one. But also, check trigger warnings before starting this because it does touch on some very heavy topics. I highly recommend this book for people who want to see a fake dating, college romance that is clean and has some depth/plot.
Thank you to Netgalley and Wattpad Books for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and offered voluntarily.
Trigger/Content warnings:
Immigration, revolution/war, death of family member, toxic relationship (not MCs), racism, explicit language
1/5 spice
I really enjoyed everything about this book. The tension and angst were on point, and I was rooting for Catalina and Gabriel the whole time.
Tropes:
College romance
Rivals to lovers
Opposites attract
Fake dating
Latinx representation
Found family
He falls first
Single POV
Oh my goodness, was I not expecting the emotional roller coaster with this one. The cover is deceiving! I thought I was getting a cozy fake dating romance, but it's sooooo much more than that. The opening chapter of this book really does set a darker undertone to the story that isn't usually present in a story like this. But it worked out so well, and you really understood from the beginning why Catalina had her trust issues and fierce determination to be so independent. As for Gabriel... goodness... you think you're getting your typical playboy, but he's so much more than that superficial persona. I don't think I'll ever get tired of seeing the he falls first/it was always you trope... because it's just soooo much angst. I love it. What I didn't like was very minimal compared to what I loved. So, for personal preference, I would have liked to see more spice. There was so much build-up for it, and I was a bit disappointed that there was none. But that's just me being picky and smutty 😂😉 There were some nice makeout sessions, though 🙌🏽
Overall, be prepared for a lot of emotions to be thrown your way in this one. But also, check trigger warnings before starting this because it does touch on some very heavy topics. I highly recommend this book for people who want to see a fake dating, college romance that is clean and has some depth/plot.
Thank you to Netgalley and Wattpad Books for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and offered voluntarily.
Trigger/Content warnings:
Immigration, revolution/war, death of family member, toxic relationship (not MCs), racism, explicit language
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Racism, and Grief
Minor: Death, Toxic relationship, and War
felicityvaughn's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Toxic relationship, Grief, War, and Deportation
Moderate: Racism and Xenophobia
Minor: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, and Sexual violence
bookishmillennial's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
disclaimer if you’ve read other reviews by me and are noticing a pattern: You’re correct that I don’t really give starred reviews, I feel like a peasant and don’t like leaving them and most often, I will only leave them if I vehemently despised a book. I enjoy most books for what they are, & I extract lessons from them all. Everyone’s reading experiences are subjective, so I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not, regardless if I add stars or not. Find me on Instagram: @bookish.millennial or tiktok: @bookishmillennial
This was a sweet closed-door new adult/college-aged romance! This was my first time reading from this author, and I adored the care she put into the tough topics like grief, loss, political turmoil, international student status, and being a young woman in a STEM-related industry. I believe she started on Wattpad, and I would definitely read from her again!
I enjoyed Cata and Gabe's academic rivals, forced-proximity, fake-dating dynamic, and their banter especially was so much fun! I did think that everything happened a bit fast, but I also believed them because I have experienced young love too. I work with international students at my work, so I appreciated the subplot of Cata's student visa expiring. This is the reality for so many students every day, and it can induce so much unnecessary stress and anxiety. I was really impressed with how Marianna tackled this.
I really felt for Cata when she either ruminated on or interacted with her family back home in Venezuela. Admittedly, I don't know much about the political climate in that country, so this book illuminated some of that for me, and it made me curious to do my own research to find out more.
I would definitely read more from Marianna in the future!
This was a sweet closed-door new adult/college-aged romance! This was my first time reading from this author, and I adored the care she put into the tough topics like grief, loss, political turmoil, international student status, and being a young woman in a STEM-related industry. I believe she started on Wattpad, and I would definitely read from her again!
I enjoyed Cata and Gabe's academic rivals, forced-proximity, fake-dating dynamic, and their banter especially was so much fun! I did think that everything happened a bit fast, but I also believed them because I have experienced young love too. I work with international students at my work, so I appreciated the subplot of Cata's student visa expiring. This is the reality for so many students every day, and it can induce so much unnecessary stress and anxiety. I was really impressed with how Marianna tackled this.
I really felt for Cata when she either ruminated on or interacted with her family back home in Venezuela. Admittedly, I don't know much about the political climate in that country, so this book illuminated some of that for me, and it made me curious to do my own research to find out more.
I would definitely read more from Marianna in the future!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Violence, Police brutality, and Injury/Injury detail
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