Reviews

As Long As You Love Me by Marianna Leal

mboicekeith's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted fast-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? It's complicated

3.5

chloescozycorner's review

3.75

Catalina is a Venezuelan immigrant, who is attending college in Orlando to escape struggles with her family and her country. She is trying to finish her engineering degree and beat her rival Gabe Cabrera to land the job she needs to stay in the USA. Along the way she learns that she can depend on others to help her, heal from her past, and allow herself to trust in love. 

There were times I wanted to grab Catalina by her shoulders and shake her, because she couldn’t seem to allow anyone else to help her out! I found her story heartbreaking, but ultimately hopeful as she continued to grow. 

I found the ending a little rushed and unsatisfying with so many plots just kind of quickly wrapped up.

Overall this was a sweet, summer romance that I would recommend!

thebookishnarwhal's review

5.0

If you like a fake dating slash fake marriage situation, with a strong female lead where he falls first, this is for you. As Long As You Love Me by Marianna Leal is a fun read with a strong theme of family throughout. Speaking as a first-generation Canadian, I found it to be truly reflective of first and second generation immigrant's lives. The story hooked me and if you give it a chance, you will find yourself engrossed in the pages.

Meet Catalina. She’s the eldest daughter in her family, and she feels a lot of pressure to help her parents out. She’s also a student who is trying to secure a job post-graduation. She hasn’t really been interested in love, but her rival at school is someone she is starting to see another way. Will she be able to make everyone happy, and will she find the love and support she so deserves?

My first read from Leal and it was so well written, the story and writing voice hooked me. The subplot following the political unrest in Venezuela is one you cannot ignore, and shouldn’t. Leal paints a realistic portrayal of being an immigrant today, and I’ll admit it had me crying on more than one occasion. You will feel all the feels with this read, and you’ll love every minute of it.

kirsberry's review

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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

mwagers's review

emotional 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

4.25

Endearing characters that just want the best for.

catalina_monserrate's review

funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.5

laurapeschroe's review

funny hopeful fast-paced

4.25

becbec624's review

3.0

This book had so much potential for me and made me feel so many great emotions from the main character's experiences working so hard in a new country looking for her American Dream. After being a star student at the University of Miami for her whole undergrad, Catalina has the internship of her dreams. Still, she is told that only one intern can stay with the company after graduation. This wouldn't be an issue, but Catalina's competition, Gabe, is also a great candidate. Catalina's only problem? She'll be deported to Venezuela if she can't obtain a work visa.
With her residency in the US at stake, Catalina is willing to do anything to ensure she gets the full-time position after graduation, so she makes a deal to fake date Gabe (at his request) in exchange for him to turn down the full-time position. They obviously won't gain feelings for each other, so it'll be no problem... right?
This book has a great build-up of enemies-to-lovers and marriage of convenience, but the end of the story was entirely too rushed for me. I loved seeing the two get together and fight their attraction, but I missed out on seeing them together and growing as an actual couple.

amywhoisawesome's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes

3.0

kdorheim's review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

3.75