A review by messing_with_book
Embracing You by Daphne Elliot

5.0

ARC kindly provided for the author in exchange for an honest review

Ranking: 4.5⭐


Gio & Sam have a love story that I really enjoyed, it's full of sweet, funny, complicated and moving moments. But one of my favorite things to read was the way in which [a:Daphne Elliot|21191191|Daphne Elliot|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1614071449p2/21191191.jpg] developed Sam's diagnosis as sensitively and realistically as possible, and while fortunately I've never experienced nothing like it in my life, I think Daphne managed to capture Gio & Sam's journey very well, especially her fight.

Gio is officially my second favorite Rossi, after Nora of course, and so far he's the cutest, nicest, tender and understanding of the Rossi men that I have read and it's the type of characters that make me fall in love. I loved his whole story with Sam, and knowing from the beginning that he is hopelessly in love with her was something I really liked about his story, plus I really enjoyed reading him with Valentina and learning much more about the type of relationship he has with her family, especially with Matteo, but definitely the best thing about his character, and Sam's, was know the important moments in their friendship, how much they love each other, how important they have been in each other's lives, and the moments they let go for fear of destroying their unconditional friendship.

Sam is a true warrior, an independent, hard-working woman and Gio's best friend, she always wanted to run away from Havenport and was able to achieve her dreams, however, after being diagnosed with breast cancer, she finds herself having to return to her hometown to seek the support & comfort of her mother and Gio. Sam has a long way to go throughout Embracing You, as her illness makes her put many things into perspective: her job, her nomadic personality, everything she thought about the place in the one she grew up, and most importantly, her feelings for Gio and everything that could happen if he agrees to have casual sex with her.

Sam & Gio don't have it easy on their way, from Sam's diagnosis, to the fear they both have of letting themselves be carried away by their feelings for the other and ruining the friendship they have shared throughout their lifes. One of the things I liked the most about Gio was that he always tried to take care of Sam and give him what she needed from him at all times, even when that wasn't the way in which he wanted to do things, but the most beautiful of all was that Gio never stopped fighting to show Sam how much he needed her in his life, permanently. Sam's situation was heartbreaking, but I loved the way Daphne went to great lengths and research to tell her story in the best way possible, in the most respectful, real, and touching on many of the most important issues experienced by women who go through this terrible disease. Also, I loved the strength & vulnerability of her character, the way her perspective on Havenport changed, and how she decided to let go of that attraction she's always had felt for Gio.