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Candid
An honest look at all the imperfect things that make us fall in love.
Wilhelmina Sturges is not looking for Mr. Right. She has no desire to give up her independence, or share her space with someone else. But that starts to change when she meets Thebes. Thebes Dacres hates socializing, he hates conversation, and he especially hates touching. His disdain for affection knows no bounds, and that's why he's still a virgin at 31 years old. No one ever expected him to get married or fall in love, himself included. But he quickly realizes that life isn't as predictable as he'd like to believe.
Wilhelmina's smart, she's stunning, and she makes his heart beat fast. Attraction is something Thebes never experienced, and their instant chemistry often gets them into trouble. Especially when they realize he's her new boss. But Thebes can't help but risk it all for Wilhelmina, and she must decide if she'll reciprocate.
Honest and endearing, Candid is a heartfelt expression of modern romance. It challenges how we face inherited trauma, clashing perspectives, and what it truly means to love. Join Wilhelmina and Thebes on their year of adventures filled with overbearing family, messy friends, passionate moments, and over-the-top romantic gestures wrapped in comedy.
Wilhelmina Sturges is not looking for Mr. Right. She has no desire to give up her independence, or share her space with someone else. But that starts to change when she meets Thebes. Thebes Dacres hates socializing, he hates conversation, and he especially hates touching. His disdain for affection knows no bounds, and that's why he's still a virgin at 31 years old. No one ever expected him to get married or fall in love, himself included. But he quickly realizes that life isn't as predictable as he'd like to believe.
Wilhelmina's smart, she's stunning, and she makes his heart beat fast. Attraction is something Thebes never experienced, and their instant chemistry often gets them into trouble. Especially when they realize he's her new boss. But Thebes can't help but risk it all for Wilhelmina, and she must decide if she'll reciprocate.
Honest and endearing, Candid is a heartfelt expression of modern romance. It challenges how we face inherited trauma, clashing perspectives, and what it truly means to love. Join Wilhelmina and Thebes on their year of adventures filled with overbearing family, messy friends, passionate moments, and over-the-top romantic gestures wrapped in comedy.
- GenresAfrican American Romance
310 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 25, 2023
50 people are currently reading
91 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 10, 2024
I loved every word, every sentence, everything about this book. I have never read a romance book where you were taken through the first year of the relationship. Most romance books you end the book on them getting together and then that's it. This book was the journey I needed when it came to romance.
Oh my gosh! I can't wait for the next book in this series. I am so ready! This author did such an amazing job writing this book. I plan to read the prequel but I am impatiently waiting for the second book in this series. I Highly Recommend this book.
Oh my gosh! I can't wait for the next book in this series. I am so ready! This author did such an amazing job writing this book. I plan to read the prequel but I am impatiently waiting for the second book in this series. I Highly Recommend this book.
June 19, 2024
love this
4.5 stars
This book was so good especially Billy and These…That couple is my baby for real. I know Billy was trying to be a good friend but Prissy did not deserve her at all. Bill sister was wild because why was she so obsessed with her brother. This was such a great read.
4.5 stars
This book was so good especially Billy and These…That couple is my baby for real. I know Billy was trying to be a good friend but Prissy did not deserve her at all. Bill sister was wild because why was she so obsessed with her brother. This was such a great read.
November 11, 2023
Bees x Willas
So many things can happen in a year. I love how intense the chemistry between Thebes and Whilemina was from the very beginning to the end. They had the type of love that is once in a lifetime. And Thebes is a pure unicorn that I'm wishing on a star, becomes real !I love how Aria Daze hit on a lot of key concepts in this book, while still having many LOL moments. This is most definitely gonna be a reread!!!😍😍😍
So many things can happen in a year. I love how intense the chemistry between Thebes and Whilemina was from the very beginning to the end. They had the type of love that is once in a lifetime. And Thebes is a pure unicorn that I'm wishing on a star, becomes real !I love how Aria Daze hit on a lot of key concepts in this book, while still having many LOL moments. This is most definitely gonna be a reread!!!😍😍😍
October 7, 2023
A must read!
I thought this was one of the funniest and endearing book that I have read. Make sure you read her first book. I can't hardly wait for her third!
I thought this was one of the funniest and endearing book that I have read. Make sure you read her first book. I can't hardly wait for her third!
May 11, 2025
Candid by Aria Daze traces the ups and downs of a relationship as it unfolds over around about a year. Wilhelmina Sturges is accomplished and educated; she walked away from a long-term relationship several years ago and is currently not looking for romance. She has two good friends and is a valued member of the accounting team at her job as an actuary, so valued that she is often overworked and over extended. Thebes Darces is neurodivergent; he cries when upset and has an abrasive and salty manner of communication, he never holds back. In addition to his poor social skills, he does not enjoy being touched and has lived his adult life without any romantic interactions, even though he was once engaged. Thebes and Wilhelmina meet several times in the community before it is revealed that he is the new head of her department and her boss. Their romance is truly slow burn as they navigate the many barriers to a relationship: his fear of touch, her low self-esteem and overall “too niceness”, their work dynamic and his extreme sensitivity. Ms. Daze imbues her book with quirky dialog, funny banter and a celebration of our differences. Thebes was so OTT but in a cute way and Wilhelmina needed his strength while he needed her calming sweet support. It is revealed that they had a hidden connection, and the ending was extremely satisfying. The book has a prequel, Bloom, and Wilhelmina and Darces have a follow-up story, From Kingston, With Love; I look forward to reading both books!
https://theretiredreader.com/f/candid...
https://theretiredreader.com/f/candid...
January 15, 2025
Unexpected, different, real, sweet
Like it says in the title above, this story was "unexpected, different, real, sweet"... inclusive, well written, and romantic. Great vocabulary from "ethnic" lingo to high-brow in a wide-ranging sweep, yet keeping it real for the characters. Very descriptive in settings and action, allowing the reader to see it all happening - and sometimes, there's a LOT happening. Overall, a fun read, and definitely pulls you into wanting to see what happens next as you move from chapter to chapter - and in the next book!
Like it says in the title above, this story was "unexpected, different, real, sweet"... inclusive, well written, and romantic. Great vocabulary from "ethnic" lingo to high-brow in a wide-ranging sweep, yet keeping it real for the characters. Very descriptive in settings and action, allowing the reader to see it all happening - and sometimes, there's a LOT happening. Overall, a fun read, and definitely pulls you into wanting to see what happens next as you move from chapter to chapter - and in the next book!
May 27, 2024
This was a little long and drawn out, and I don’t think it needed to be. I also wasn’t a fan of how this was written. It was very confusing and the POV kept changing so quickly that it was confusing at some point. It was written as if it was more of a train of thought than actual dialogue and narrative being written.
I did really love the story itself. Bees and Willa were really cute together! I also really love the fact that we got to see this neurodivergent person work through so many aspects of his life regarding his familial, platonic, and romantic relationships, and he had the space to have his reactions to situations in a manner that was realistic for him in situations where he masked and didn’t mask.
I’m happy we got to see more of this couple in From Kingston, With Love
I did really love the story itself. Bees and Willa were really cute together! I also really love the fact that we got to see this neurodivergent person work through so many aspects of his life regarding his familial, platonic, and romantic relationships, and he had the space to have his reactions to situations in a manner that was realistic for him in situations where he masked and didn’t mask.
I’m happy we got to see more of this couple in From Kingston, With Love
September 5, 2024
Candid
It's soo much happening in this story but the best is the way Thebes and Willa love each other's true self. They both get to ne who they are with each other and I love that. The way Thebes protects Willas person and the way she protects his mental had me smiling and tearing up the whole time. I loved their weird sense of humor it really had me laughing. Really great story and well written 👏 👍 👌
It's soo much happening in this story but the best is the way Thebes and Willa love each other's true self. They both get to ne who they are with each other and I love that. The way Thebes protects Willas person and the way she protects his mental had me smiling and tearing up the whole time. I loved their weird sense of humor it really had me laughing. Really great story and well written 👏 👍 👌
February 4, 2024
Loved These two from the jump, since Tete Ann described Thebes to Billy on her way out to move back home to Georgia.
Thebes treated Billy as her equal and not someone below him.
Thebes is a Menace every where except when he’s with Billy.
I loved these two characters and their development in love.
Thebes treated Billy as her equal and not someone below him.
Thebes is a Menace every where except when he’s with Billy.
I loved these two characters and their development in love.
June 15, 2024
The way I loved Thebes and Billy! I really took my time with this book because I was just so happy to spend time with these characters. It was really nice to see their relationship play out over about a year. I felt like this book was just packed with a range of settings, characters, and characters experiences. I really felt Thebes’ down south home, Billy’s religious family, the office were all really well developed. Love overcame so much! 🥹
January 1, 2025
Loved It
Omg Aria I laughed so much. This book is something special. My son is on the spectrum and my wish is for him to have just 1 friend at this point. This book gives me hope. Hopefully someone will come along and see him for the person that he is. Thank you so much for this. I’ll come back to this book during the hard times to keep myself going.
Omg Aria I laughed so much. This book is something special. My son is on the spectrum and my wish is for him to have just 1 friend at this point. This book gives me hope. Hopefully someone will come along and see him for the person that he is. Thank you so much for this. I’ll come back to this book during the hard times to keep myself going.
March 25, 2025
This one is for the lover girls! ☺️🤎🫶🏾
This book was a treat! I loved it from beginning to end. I couldn’t stop smiling while watching them go back and forth with their cute banter. Literally the sweetest and cutest romance book I’ve read in a while! I liked that it had a little bit of everything—humor, drama, and a whole lot of Black love!
The writing was top-tier, and the romance was just chef’s kiss! 😘
OMG, the MMC in this book!!! I’ve officially got my first BOOK HUSBAND! He was everything—perfectly imperfect, chaotic, sweet, funny, and sexy AF! I really loved the FMC too; she’s definitely going on my list of favorites. ✨🤎
I loved how they accepted each other for who they were, flaws and all—it was just so beautiful to read. I adored how she always reassured him and made him feel comfortable whenever he started to feel overwhelmed. And the way he treated her like a queen? Swoon. He truly showed her how a real man treats a woman. He’s the definition of if he wanted to, he would—and then some!
I also really appreciated the representation of mental health in this book.
If you want a cute, fluffy, comfort read filled with a whole lot of Black love, I’d highly recommend this book!
This book was a treat! I loved it from beginning to end. I couldn’t stop smiling while watching them go back and forth with their cute banter. Literally the sweetest and cutest romance book I’ve read in a while! I liked that it had a little bit of everything—humor, drama, and a whole lot of Black love!
The writing was top-tier, and the romance was just chef’s kiss! 😘
OMG, the MMC in this book!!! I’ve officially got my first BOOK HUSBAND! He was everything—perfectly imperfect, chaotic, sweet, funny, and sexy AF! I really loved the FMC too; she’s definitely going on my list of favorites. ✨🤎
I loved how they accepted each other for who they were, flaws and all—it was just so beautiful to read. I adored how she always reassured him and made him feel comfortable whenever he started to feel overwhelmed. And the way he treated her like a queen? Swoon. He truly showed her how a real man treats a woman. He’s the definition of if he wanted to, he would—and then some!
I also really appreciated the representation of mental health in this book.
If you want a cute, fluffy, comfort read filled with a whole lot of Black love, I’d highly recommend this book!
October 19, 2025
This book was beautiful and long. Two of my favorite things. I loved their growth, their healing and family. So much happened in this book I honestly can’t pick a favorite. JK it is definitely when the MMC crashes out, don’t know why they continue to play with him. I wish there was a second and third book.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews