A review by bribreez
Love Unwritten by Lauren Asher

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad slow-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

5.0

5⭐️/ 3🌶️

*CHECK TW BEFORE READING! 

My goodness Lauren did hold back with the emotional hook this story had me in the beginning! With the newest book in the Lakefront billionaires series, this story followed, Rafael Lopez and Ellie. The first time we got introduced to Rafael and Ellie was in the previous book, “Love Redesigned”. Rafael was a grumpy, single dad, oh and a billionaire! Ellie was the nanny to Rafael son, Nico. Rafael and Ellie weren’t exactly friends, but for Nico’s sake, Rafael put up with Ellie, and Ellie dealt with his grumpy attitude and mood swings. Lauren Asher once again wrote a captivating romance with heartfelt moments and an emotional storyline with lovable characters that constantly tugged on my heartstrings. 

My oh my, Rafael, you grumpy man haha. I love me a grumpy man, and seeing how Rafael was, not only did I see more of him, but I also got to see underneath his grumpy exterior. Rafael was an interesting character, between being a billionaire, being intelligent and tech savvy, he was adept with a lot of things. When it came to the apple of Rafael’s eyes it was his son, Nico. Nico was musically talented and intelligent, and a big fan of superhero comics. You would think everything in Rafael’s life was set, but with Nico’s medical condition concerning his eyesight, it made things feel daunting and worrisome for the single dad. Even from the beginning, I could tell right away how much Rafael tried his best to reconnect with Nico, ensure he was ok at all times, but he still felt distant from Nico. Poor Rafael, he always tried, but even with everything going on with Nico, it just seemed like something else would pop up and he would lose even more confidence in himself. Rafael was often times faced with a lot of responsibilities, but with Ellie’s help, he was able to find his way back to being more present with his son, and more. 

Ellie Sinclair was not only the best nanny Nico ever had, but she was also musically talented as well. Music was and has been a big part of Ellie’s life, but with her past experience of being betrayed by a former friend, her joy of writing songs wasn’t the same as it once was. In some ways, Ellie dealt with some trust issues due to her past, and I could understand why she felt the way she did. Ellie was a combination of a sunshine person, but also had some darkness to her. I don’t mean in the literal sense that Ellie was dark, but her backstory revealed the harsh and heartbreaking reality she went once through. Over the course of the story, Ellie regained her confidence with her music, taking back what was rightfully hers, and seeking justice from those who wronged her. Even with all that Ellie was dealing with, she still managed to enjoy her time with Nico and Rafael. Seeing Ellie have some fun while on vacation with the boys was a whirlwind experience that many don’t normally get, but it also gave her the opportunity for some much needed inspiration, and dare I say cook up some deliciously good tension with HER BOSS! 

The build up to Rafael and Ellie’s romance was well worth the wait! Not sure if Lauren said this was a slow burn romance, but it definitely felt like one with the tension that Ellie and Rafael had throughout the majority half of the book! Add in the fact of Rafael being a grumpy man who tried his hardest to avoid his attraction towards Ellie from becoming more, it was a lost battle because HE WAS GONE FOR HER! Even Ellie couldn’t help with her old crush on Rafael coming back to life. Rafael and Ellie’s relationship from boss/ employee became one where they formed a friendship, but also one where they clearly wanted more of a romantic connection together. From the first kiss Ellie and Rafael shared to the moments of vulnerability between them, the romance was emotional, heartfelt, and meaningful. Lauren Asher just knows how to write a beautiful romance and Rafael and Ellie’s was one that made me feel connected to them both mentally and emotionally. 

OMG! YESSSSSS! LAUREN ASHER HAS ONCE AGAIN STOLEN MY HEART WITH SUCH AN FANTASTIC STORY! Lauren Asher took the single dad/ nanny trope, and ELEVATED IT TO SUCH A MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE THAT I ABSOLUTELY COULD NOT STOP READING! Rafael and Ellie’s romance was a slow burn that had been building since the previous book, and in this book all the tension finally culminated into a SATISFYING ENDING! WOO! The story was emotionally gripping, meaningful, beautiful, heartbreaking, but also mixed with the sense of happiness and lighthearted fun that Lauren always manages to create in her stories. I loved every single character in this book! Nico was such a lovable kid, and it was easy to see how much Ellie cared for him, as well as nurtured him in a way that helped him grow. At the start of this book, Rafael wasn’t looking for anything remotely close to a relationship, but over the course of having Ellie has his nanny, his life changed for the better, and I LOVED IT! Ellie was also someone who experienced growth over the course of the book, and through everything she experienced, to see her reach her moment of true happiness and fulfillment really made me happy for her! You can never go wrong with a book by Lauren Asher and I’m looking forward to the next book in this series! From the little tidbits I got throughout the book, it’s safe to say the next will be a fun one to read about. HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK!