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ceruleanshelves's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
this was a cute read. the romance was fun, i love a former rivalry / reluctant allies to lovers vibe. even though grief is a theme, it didn't feel heavy at all and was dealt with fairly lightly.
i thought the road trip was a fun idea. sometimes i roll my eyes when romance books start bringing in social media and making characters into overnight influencers, but this didn't really get that much into it so it was fine for me. i think the only major complaint i have is the big conflict near the end; i thought the reactions were a bit uncalled for, but the characters came back from it well.
the romance got steamyyyyy too 😏 overall, fluffy read!
i thought the road trip was a fun idea. sometimes i roll my eyes when romance books start bringing in social media and making characters into overnight influencers, but this didn't really get that much into it so it was fine for me. i think the only major complaint i have is the big conflict near the end; i thought the reactions were a bit uncalled for, but the characters came back from it well.
the romance got steamyyyyy too 😏 overall, fluffy read!
Content Warnings
Minor: Grief
greeneyed_ives's review against another edition
emotional
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Grief
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Alcohol
bookcheshirecat's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
“Remember nothing lasts forever. You have to hold on to the good things, knowing you may be on borrowed time with them. And with the bad, recognize that eventually it will pass.”
➽ I was really intrigued by the premise, as it sounded like a lot of fun! The story follows Noelle, who's still grieving her grandmother and finds out she had a secret love affair before she got married. Her TikTok about it goes viral and in a sudden turn of events, the grandson of her secret lover ends up contacting her. Noelle wants to know the entire story firsthand and agrees to meet Paul ... only to find out that his grandson is her high school nemesis, Theo! Nevertheless, she's determined to cope with her grief by learning about the one story her grandmother never told her. Paul has a series of letters to share with her, including a honeymoon road trip they had planned before everything went wrong. Since Noelle is still grieving, unemployed and in a major life crisis, she ends up going on the road trip with Paul and Theo while documenting it on TikTok!
➽ There were many elements I loved in this Romance! It was heartwarming to see how Theo and his grandfather share such a close bond that reminds Noelle of her own grandmother. The grief is still there, but she loves connecting with Paul, who was also touched by her. Their dynamic was so sweet and one of my favorite parts of the story! I personally related to Noelle, as I know how tough being unemployed and having to go back to living with your parents can be. After being voted 'Most Likely to Succeed' in high school, Noelle is scared that she'll never be able to live up to her potential. She hated her last job (and was fired from it anyway) and after a bad experience, she has no hope of making it with her photography. Meanwhile, Theo is the CEO and founder of a popular travel app and seems to have surpassed her in every single way. I liked her complicated feelings about their past and how different adult life turned out for them.
➽ Unfortunately, I thought that the road trip aspect was underutilized. It was my favorite part of the book, but the romance quickly overtook the actual plotline. I wish the author had explored the diferent locations more and properly described the setting! It felt like the road trip - which should have been the focal point of the story - was relegated to the background to only focus on Noelle and Theo's relationship drama. We get told what they do, but the majority of the story is just Noelle and Theo talking to each other. It was such a missed opportunity that the author didn't utilise the road trip more to further the romance and actually make it relevant! I have to be honest: Noelle and Theo's romance was so disconnected it could have easily taken place back home, no road trip necessary. After a while, it also began to annoy me how they'd constantly be horny for each other while trying to keep it a secret from Paul! I loved the beginning of the story, but the further I read, the less I enjoyed the book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Minor: Misogyny
mayareads4fun's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
4.5
I’ve had this book sitting on my shelf for a while and somehow had the urge to read it, and I’m glad I did. It’s one of those miracle reads where you have no expectations and get blown away.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, and Grief
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
mairead_parade's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
4.0
I haven’t loved multi timeline/generation romances in the past - Mrs Nash’s Ashes in particular didn’t work for me, and this appeared to have a lot of similarities on paper - but I thought this was really well done and kept the focus on the main couple. The travel/road trip aspect was a lot of fun, and the epilogue is excellent. The MMC is a little opaque but has some good moments in the third act.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Death
xtinareally's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
5.0
🌶️🌶️🌶️ I borrowed this book from the library and ended up needing to buy my own copy. It was such a surprising read and gave messages and meaning i did not anticipate.
While it starts off with Noelle dealing with grief of the loss of her grandma, it slowly becomes a cute and moving story about what motivates you and finding life after love -- as well as finding new love after love ❤️ Ironically in this same weekend I started this read, one of my friends and I were just talking about exactly this.
I thought this would be a quick "throwaway" read to cleanse the palatte between books but it turned out way more meaningful. Right read at the right time.
While it starts off with Noelle dealing with grief of the loss of her grandma, it slowly becomes a cute and moving story about what motivates you and finding life after love -- as well as finding new love after love ❤️ Ironically in this same weekend I started this read, one of my friends and I were just talking about exactly this.
I thought this would be a quick "throwaway" read to cleanse the palatte between books but it turned out way more meaningful. Right read at the right time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Grief and Car accident
bekkaru's review
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Grief
okiecozyreader's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Apparently I missed the memo that everyone read this book last summer and that her new book is about to release. I thought it would be a fun read before I start THE BLUEST EYE, and it was.
Noelle is a photographer who, after a harsh critique, has given up on her love of photography. Living with her parents, she goes through an old box and finds a photo of her beloved grandmother with a man she doesn’t know. She posts it on TikTok and asks if anyone knows the man. It goes viral and she gets a message from his grandson - who happens to be her high school rival. They end up going on a roadtrip that this man and her grandmother once planned for their honeymoon to a lot of national parks.
I just went to Yosemite over spring break and had a little road trip of my own, so I enjoyed reliving some of the memories. I loved the way the grandparents seemed to be rooting for them to be together. She and her grandmother played a secret game and I loved how it continued throughout the book.
“Our Tell Me a Secret game started when I was old enough to have any. We traded secrets like currency, always an even-steven deal.
…
“…she was my secret-keeper, my living diary.” P13
“Theo keeps his shirt off the entire meal. It’s obscene. My eyeballs hurt from the strain of not looking.” Ch 5
“We realized that first impressions don’t dictate what the final impression will be.” Ch 6
“knew a lot about her, but only through the lens of my own life, if that makes sense. Getting to know this part of her—her story with you—is like meeting her all over again.” P 242
“Remember, nothing lasts forever. You have to hold on to the good things, knowing you may be on borrowed time with them. And with the bad, recognize that eventually it will pass.” P285
Noelle is a photographer who, after a harsh critique, has given up on her love of photography. Living with her parents, she goes through an old box and finds a photo of her beloved grandmother with a man she doesn’t know. She posts it on TikTok and asks if anyone knows the man. It goes viral and she gets a message from his grandson - who happens to be her high school rival. They end up going on a roadtrip that this man and her grandmother once planned for their honeymoon to a lot of national parks.
I just went to Yosemite over spring break and had a little road trip of my own, so I enjoyed reliving some of the memories. I loved the way the grandparents seemed to be rooting for them to be together. She and her grandmother played a secret game and I loved how it continued throughout the book.
“Our Tell Me a Secret game started when I was old enough to have any. We traded secrets like currency, always an even-steven deal.
…
“…she was my secret-keeper, my living diary.” P13
“Theo keeps his shirt off the entire meal. It’s obscene. My eyeballs hurt from the strain of not looking.” Ch 5
“We realized that first impressions don’t dictate what the final impression will be.” Ch 6
“knew a lot about her, but only through the lens of my own life, if that makes sense. Getting to know this part of her—her story with you—is like meeting her all over again.” P 242
“Remember, nothing lasts forever. You have to hold on to the good things, knowing you may be on borrowed time with them. And with the bad, recognize that eventually it will pass.” P285
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
ariana_m's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This had so much potential but unfortunately fell so flat for me. I skimmed the last 30%. The first 100-150 pages were so good. I was so excited to get into the story but then the story just ended up being kind of bland to me. I have sympathy for the fmc because she's dealing with grief because she lost her grandmother but other than that, she didn't do anything for me.
She's a 28 year old woman who peaked in high school and that's the cold truth. She treated the mmc like they were still old rivals in high school at first but eventually ended up putting him on a pedestal because of his success. I didn't connect to the mmc because I feel like I don't know much about him even after finishing the book. Another thing, they pretty much fell in love with each other in two weeks and had more sexual tension than anything else. I was missing the emotional connection between them. I did like the side characters. I think I will read another book by this author though because this was her debut and she has potential in my opinion.
She's a 28 year old woman who peaked in high school and that's the cold truth. She treated the mmc like they were still old rivals in high school at first but eventually ended up putting him on a pedestal because of his success. I didn't connect to the mmc because I feel like I don't know much about him even after finishing the book. Another thing, they pretty much fell in love with each other in two weeks and had more sexual tension than anything else. I was missing the emotional connection between them. I did like the side characters. I think I will read another book by this author though because this was her debut and she has potential in my opinion.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief
bookish_leslie's review against another edition
4.5
What To Expect:
- M/F
- MC's in their late 20s
- Enemies to lovers
- Old high school rivals
- Road trip
- Forced proximity
- One bed
- Single POV
- Social media references (TikTok)
Themes: secrets, relationships with grandparents, grief, healing, trust, enoughness, self-discovery and self-belief, the impermanence of good/bad and making the most of the here and now
Spice: 3/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️(several open door scenes with detailed descriptions and explicit language)
Overall, I had a good time with this book and would be interested in reading more from this author. The premise was interesting, if a little weird. I’m not entirely sure why you’d want to go on a road trip inspired by your grandma’s broken engagement with a man 50-60 years ago, least of all with a perfect stranger and your old high school nemesis, especially when the grandmother had clearly and happily moved on from that relationship. But also, road trip! Plus it got the main characters together, and they did have great chemistry.
I’m feeling a little salty about the use of setting though. These characters were traveling to some iconic Western US spots, like Yosemite, Death Valley, Vegas, Zion NP, and the Grand Canyon. I so badly wanted an armchair travel experience alongside this romance, but for the most part, these settings were barely mentioned for the most part, let alone featured, and that not only felt like a big letdown, but also a missed opportunity.
That aside, I have to say that I really enjoyed the characters. Paul, Theo’s granddad, was such a sweetheart and probably my fav, but I also loved Noelle’s relationship with her brother and his girlfriend, and I could really feel the weight of her love, loss, and grief regarding her Gram.
“It’s so silent. It infuriates me that she can just be gone. That she left me like this, floundering for answers, talking to the sky.”
Noelle lying to everyone was off-putting, but I enjoyed the chemistry she shared with Theo, as I’ve already mentioned, and I liked that their connection wasn’t only physical, but sometimes had moments of emotional vulnerability sprinkled in, too.
“What’s that game called?’ he murmurs. ‘From last night?’
‘Tell Me a Secret,’ I manage, my heart in my throat.
His jaw ticks. ‘So, tell me one.’
I don’t want to admit it, but it’s the elephant in the room. His thumbs are inches from the spot throbbing worse than my knee.
‘I wouldn’t stop you if you kissed me right now.’ I say it quietly in case he changes his mind, but his eyes darken, pupils dilating. He doesn’t move, though his mouth parts like he can already taste it. ‘Now you.’
His breath dances over my lips. ‘If I kissed you right now, I wouldn’t stop.”
I thought the writing was solid; the dialogue/banter was especially well done. And I appreciated that there was depth in this otherwise light-hearted story, in the way Noelle grieved for her Gram. I really wish we’d had Theo’s POV alongside Noelle’s, though.
I thought the writing was solid; the dialogue/banter was especially well done. And I appreciated that there was depth in this otherwise light-hearted story, in the way Noelle grieved for her Gram. I really wish we’d had Theo’s POV alongside Noelle’s, though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Grief
Moderate: Cursing and Death
Minor: Injury/Injury detail