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Hunt for the Roses
Our story is written on crumpled pieces of paper with stains.
Our story was tainted before it was written.
Just like any tragedy, Aria’s came unsuspected and unwelcomed. She’s spent a year wrapped in grief, residing under a permanent shadow while laying bright dreams to rest.
Now, returning to Crestside Beach, she carries the faint hope of starting anew. Friendships and places are exactly how she left them. An old life welcomes her with open arms, and time allows her to absorb the memories instead of condemn them.
But where there’s time, there’s change.
Eventually, an unexpected connection blossoms beneath the radar, and the shattered pieces of Aria’s heart begin to glue together. When the person she should’ve kept at arm’s length becomes the very one who’s rebuilding her soul, Aria’s forced to ask herself—
How many thorns are we willing to be pricked by to find the roses?
Our story was tainted before it was written.
Just like any tragedy, Aria’s came unsuspected and unwelcomed. She’s spent a year wrapped in grief, residing under a permanent shadow while laying bright dreams to rest.
Now, returning to Crestside Beach, she carries the faint hope of starting anew. Friendships and places are exactly how she left them. An old life welcomes her with open arms, and time allows her to absorb the memories instead of condemn them.
But where there’s time, there’s change.
Eventually, an unexpected connection blossoms beneath the radar, and the shattered pieces of Aria’s heart begin to glue together. When the person she should’ve kept at arm’s length becomes the very one who’s rebuilding her soul, Aria’s forced to ask herself—
How many thorns are we willing to be pricked by to find the roses?
352 pages, ebook
Published August 15, 2023
20 people are currently reading
471 people want to read
About the author
Drea Scott
3 books142 followersDrea has been a hopeless romantic for as long as she can remember. She became an avid romance reader in 2015 when the Fifty Shades of Grey craze broke out, and never looked back since.
Stories written by Jennifer Hartmann and Mia Sheridan are her absolute favorite, inspiring her to give writing a shot in 2022 when she settled down in her career. No, writing is not her full-time job, but a side project for now.
With the relentless support of her husband, Drea found a passion that's been buried for quite some time. Her only wish is to touch people the way romance books have impacted her. Full-circle moments, symbols, love that crawls through the trenches....give her all the high stakes.
But as emotional are her stories may be, Drea will never give up the spicy or smutty bits. NEVER. You'll always find an explosive slow burn in any book she writes.
Do you share the same tastes? We hope you'll follow along on this little journey that hopefully leads to bigger pastures.
Stories written by Jennifer Hartmann and Mia Sheridan are her absolute favorite, inspiring her to give writing a shot in 2022 when she settled down in her career. No, writing is not her full-time job, but a side project for now.
With the relentless support of her husband, Drea found a passion that's been buried for quite some time. Her only wish is to touch people the way romance books have impacted her. Full-circle moments, symbols, love that crawls through the trenches....give her all the high stakes.
But as emotional are her stories may be, Drea will never give up the spicy or smutty bits. NEVER. You'll always find an explosive slow burn in any book she writes.
Do you share the same tastes? We hope you'll follow along on this little journey that hopefully leads to bigger pastures.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 314 reviews
March 14, 2026
The beginning of this book… I’m not going to lie, it was rough for me. 😭😭😭 Like almost DNF rough. I kept turning pages hoping the emotional pull would click in, but for a long time it just didn’t.
One of the things that immediately threw me off was the inclusion of detailed intimate scenes that weren’t even between the main characters. Personally, when I’m reading a romance, I want the tension and emotional buildup to happen between the two people whose story I’m actually here for. Reading a whole scene with a random side character just felt unnecessary and honestly a little frustrating. 🙄🙄 It didn’t add anything for me and mostly just made the beginning feel slower and harder to get invested in.
Things do improve as the story goes on. It definitely got better than those opening chapters, and by the time the ending rolled around I could see the direction the author was trying to take. The last part of the book was easily the strongest section for me.
But the biggest struggle the whole time was… Dane.
I just never connected with him. At all. He spends so much of the story chasing other women and looking for temporary satisfaction, while Aria hasn’t been with anyone in a long time and is clearly still carrying a lot of emotional weight. That imbalance made it really hard to root for them as a couple. And what made it worse was the jealousy. Dane getting irritated or jealous about the attention Aria was getting from other guys while he’s out here constantly pursuing women himself just felt… hypocritical. The whole time I kept thinking Aria deserved better. WAY better.
Another thing that stood out to me was the way some of the heavier topics were handled. The story touches on some really emotional themes that could have been incredibly powerful, but a lot of those moments felt like they were brushed past too quickly. At the same time, other parts of the book dragged a bit. So somehow it managed to feel both slow and rushed depending on the moment, which made it hard to fully sink into the emotional side of the story.
I will say the ending was much better. Like much better. It finally felt like the story found its footing. But it took a long time to get there, and by that point I was already struggling to stay fully invested.
Overall this one just didn’t quite work for me. 🤷🏼♀️ There were pieces of a good story in there, especially toward the end, but the slow start, the difficulty connecting with Dane, and some missed emotional depth made it a tough read for me personally.
Thank you to Love Notes PR, Luna Literary, and Drea Scott for allowing me to read this arc. These are all my honest opinions in this review.
spice rating:【 🌶️🌶️🌶️ 】
swearing: yes
⸻⸻⸻
・❥・⁀➷ pre-read
I’m so excited I was accepted for this arc!! I read Fly Back To Me earlier last year and adored everything about it so I have high hopes for this one💗💗🫶🏼
One of the things that immediately threw me off was the inclusion of detailed intimate scenes that weren’t even between the main characters. Personally, when I’m reading a romance, I want the tension and emotional buildup to happen between the two people whose story I’m actually here for. Reading a whole scene with a random side character just felt unnecessary and honestly a little frustrating. 🙄🙄 It didn’t add anything for me and mostly just made the beginning feel slower and harder to get invested in.
Things do improve as the story goes on. It definitely got better than those opening chapters, and by the time the ending rolled around I could see the direction the author was trying to take. The last part of the book was easily the strongest section for me.
But the biggest struggle the whole time was… Dane.
I just never connected with him. At all. He spends so much of the story chasing other women and looking for temporary satisfaction, while Aria hasn’t been with anyone in a long time and is clearly still carrying a lot of emotional weight. That imbalance made it really hard to root for them as a couple. And what made it worse was the jealousy. Dane getting irritated or jealous about the attention Aria was getting from other guys while he’s out here constantly pursuing women himself just felt… hypocritical. The whole time I kept thinking Aria deserved better. WAY better.
Another thing that stood out to me was the way some of the heavier topics were handled. The story touches on some really emotional themes that could have been incredibly powerful, but a lot of those moments felt like they were brushed past too quickly. At the same time, other parts of the book dragged a bit. So somehow it managed to feel both slow and rushed depending on the moment, which made it hard to fully sink into the emotional side of the story.
I will say the ending was much better. Like much better. It finally felt like the story found its footing. But it took a long time to get there, and by that point I was already struggling to stay fully invested.
Overall this one just didn’t quite work for me. 🤷🏼♀️ There were pieces of a good story in there, especially toward the end, but the slow start, the difficulty connecting with Dane, and some missed emotional depth made it a tough read for me personally.
Thank you to Love Notes PR, Luna Literary, and Drea Scott for allowing me to read this arc. These are all my honest opinions in this review.
spice rating:【 🌶️🌶️🌶️ 】
swearing: yes
⸻⸻⸻
・❥・⁀➷ pre-read
I’m so excited I was accepted for this arc!! I read Fly Back To Me earlier last year and adored everything about it so I have high hopes for this one💗💗🫶🏼
March 23, 2026
3.5 stars.
"Hunt for the Roses" by Drea Scott is an angsty, slow-burning, small-town friends-to-lovers love-after-loss romance that I quite liked once it got going. It did take a little while for me to connect with the characters as the story is very dramatic at times, but I eventually got there. The FMC, Aria, must learn to love again after a tragedy involving her fiancé turns her world upside down. Her friend and next-door neighbor, Dane, who was also close with her fiancé, is willing to do whatever it takes to get Aria out of her shell a year after this tragedy took place. Slowly but surely, Aria begins to live again. She finds herself gradually falling in love with Dane, the last person she ever expected to love. Dane has a bit of a playboy reputation, but he eventually stops once he realizes he is falling for Aria, too. It's an uphill battle and quite a fight to get Dane and Aria together, to get them to confess their feelings for one another without guilt, grief, or pretense. There is a lot of angst and passion between the two of them as they go back and forth in a will-they-won't-they type of relationship that they keep from the rest of their mutual friend group for fear of judgment and pain. I did enjoy this aspect of the story as it kept me guessing and kept me wanting to know what would happen by the book's end. I hate to admit it, but I found some of the dialogue to be a little cringeworthy, almost part self-help book/part journal entry featuring a poem that I wrote when I was an overly emotional sixth-grader. This overly dramatic prose caused a little bit of a dragging pace here and there. I did find this book to be a bit long and repetitive, but the spice is good (if repetitive as well!), the emotions are high, and I did enjoy it for the most part.
Thank you to Drea Scott and Luna Literary for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
"Hunt for the Roses" by Drea Scott is an angsty, slow-burning, small-town friends-to-lovers love-after-loss romance that I quite liked once it got going. It did take a little while for me to connect with the characters as the story is very dramatic at times, but I eventually got there. The FMC, Aria, must learn to love again after a tragedy involving her fiancé turns her world upside down. Her friend and next-door neighbor, Dane, who was also close with her fiancé, is willing to do whatever it takes to get Aria out of her shell a year after this tragedy took place. Slowly but surely, Aria begins to live again. She finds herself gradually falling in love with Dane, the last person she ever expected to love. Dane has a bit of a playboy reputation, but he eventually stops once he realizes he is falling for Aria, too. It's an uphill battle and quite a fight to get Dane and Aria together, to get them to confess their feelings for one another without guilt, grief, or pretense. There is a lot of angst and passion between the two of them as they go back and forth in a will-they-won't-they type of relationship that they keep from the rest of their mutual friend group for fear of judgment and pain. I did enjoy this aspect of the story as it kept me guessing and kept me wanting to know what would happen by the book's end. I hate to admit it, but I found some of the dialogue to be a little cringeworthy, almost part self-help book/part journal entry featuring a poem that I wrote when I was an overly emotional sixth-grader. This overly dramatic prose caused a little bit of a dragging pace here and there. I did find this book to be a bit long and repetitive, but the spice is good (if repetitive as well!), the emotions are high, and I did enjoy it for the most part.
Thank you to Drea Scott and Luna Literary for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
June 19, 2023
SPOILERS BELOW
I loved this book! The author was kind enough to give me an ARC copy and I'm so happy that I have it, so I can reread it again in a few months.
I was surprised by the twist when Aria's boyfriend passes away (omg I was so sad) and the slow burn of her and Dane's story. They had so much chemistry and I thought their connection was conveyed perfectly. Also, I haven't read many books where the characters shouldn't be together but still are. I liked how Drea wrote this story; I could feel all of Aria's pain from her loss, as well as the difficulty to take the leap to be with Dane. Anyone can relate to this part because every single person has had to make a difficult decision with high stakes and big consequences involved. Often our heart and our head clash when making these choices.
I loved the whole concept of hunting for the roses when life gives you thorns. Even though there were many sad parts, I felt like it almost always took a positive outlook on things, causing me to feel a wave of gratitude while reading. Lastly, the colors of the roses and their meanings was sooo cute and creative. When Aria said Dane's eyes are green and later he realizes its because that means new beginnings my heart melted.
I'm so happy that Dane and Aria ended up together, and that in the end he learned not to compare her past love, but instead focus on the one they're building together. Comparison can be our worst enemy, and no two relationships will contain the same exact type of love. Dane's love for Aria made her feel free from her shackles and excited to turn the page to a new chapter of her life.
I loved this book! The author was kind enough to give me an ARC copy and I'm so happy that I have it, so I can reread it again in a few months.
I was surprised by the twist when Aria's boyfriend passes away (omg I was so sad) and the slow burn of her and Dane's story. They had so much chemistry and I thought their connection was conveyed perfectly. Also, I haven't read many books where the characters shouldn't be together but still are. I liked how Drea wrote this story; I could feel all of Aria's pain from her loss, as well as the difficulty to take the leap to be with Dane. Anyone can relate to this part because every single person has had to make a difficult decision with high stakes and big consequences involved. Often our heart and our head clash when making these choices.
I loved the whole concept of hunting for the roses when life gives you thorns. Even though there were many sad parts, I felt like it almost always took a positive outlook on things, causing me to feel a wave of gratitude while reading. Lastly, the colors of the roses and their meanings was sooo cute and creative. When Aria said Dane's eyes are green and later he realizes its because that means new beginnings my heart melted.
I'm so happy that Dane and Aria ended up together, and that in the end he learned not to compare her past love, but instead focus on the one they're building together. Comparison can be our worst enemy, and no two relationships will contain the same exact type of love. Dane's love for Aria made her feel free from her shackles and excited to turn the page to a new chapter of her life.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 16, 2026
This is my first book by Drea Scott, and it definitely won’t be my last. This story was beautiful in every way. Our FMC, Aria, goes through some incredibly heavy grief, and throughout the book you really get to watch her grow. She’s witty, strong, and everything I love in a female main character. Aria has been through so much, and her strength really shines.
And then we have Dane… our playboy hottie with total golden retriever energy. But let me tell you — the mouth on this man. You are absolutely going to fold for him. The banter between Dane and Aria is one of my favorite parts of this book. Their chemistry, their struggles, and their growth together felt real and full of deep emotion.
I loved the storyline and the characters, and don’t let this sweet cover fool you… the spice in this book is damn good. It’s done well, it’s natural, and nothing about it feels cringey.
The slow burn, the tension, the push and pull — all of it was exactly how I love my contemporary romances. And the last 10% of this book? I definitely got a little teary-eyed.
“Would I prick myself a thousand times just to get to him? No “I’d prick myself a thousand times and then some.”
Ladies, you are going to be swept away by this one.
⭐ 4.5 stars
And then we have Dane… our playboy hottie with total golden retriever energy. But let me tell you — the mouth on this man. You are absolutely going to fold for him. The banter between Dane and Aria is one of my favorite parts of this book. Their chemistry, their struggles, and their growth together felt real and full of deep emotion.
I loved the storyline and the characters, and don’t let this sweet cover fool you… the spice in this book is damn good. It’s done well, it’s natural, and nothing about it feels cringey.
The slow burn, the tension, the push and pull — all of it was exactly how I love my contemporary romances. And the last 10% of this book? I definitely got a little teary-eyed.
“Would I prick myself a thousand times just to get to him? No “I’d prick myself a thousand times and then some.”
Ladies, you are going to be swept away by this one.
⭐ 4.5 stars
April 28, 2026
#Review: *Hunt For The Roses* - Drea Scott [18+]
4.5/5✨
3/5🌶️
Aria and Kyle were such a happy couple, that was until one tragic event changed everything. That was something really heavy and so the healing process, after Aria lost the man she loved. Her close proximity to one of their best friends, Dane, made things a bit easier, but also more entangled. Why? Well, because something different than friendship started to blossom between them. But could their secret love story have a chance when Aria was still recovering from her loss? What would everyone thing about this new romance, Dane being one of Kyle's best friends.
I loved all those sweet scenes between Aria and Dane, those little details made me love them so much. It was a really slow burn, filled with so much angst and which made me intensely live with them everything they had to face, in order to fight for what they believed in.
It was a real pleasure reading the story of Aria and Dane. This book has everything I'm searching for in a good story: a rollercoaster of feelings, banter, friendship, spiciness, overcoming loss, getting to grow as a person. I recommend this book from the bottom of my heart!
I'm glad that I got to read again this book, after reading it for the first time 2 years ago💙. Drea, you've built such an amazing story, a real rollercoaster of feelings which I loved from the bottom of my heart!🥰 Thank you Drea and Luna Literary for accepting me for this e-ARC!
✨Tropes
▫️Friends To Lovers
▫️He Falls First
▫️Secret Romance
▫️Forbidden Love
▫️Forced Proximity
▫️Slow Burn
▫️Good Girl / Playboy
▫️Small Town
▫️Healing In Love
4.5/5✨
3/5🌶️
Aria and Kyle were such a happy couple, that was until one tragic event changed everything. That was something really heavy and so the healing process, after Aria lost the man she loved. Her close proximity to one of their best friends, Dane, made things a bit easier, but also more entangled. Why? Well, because something different than friendship started to blossom between them. But could their secret love story have a chance when Aria was still recovering from her loss? What would everyone thing about this new romance, Dane being one of Kyle's best friends.
I loved all those sweet scenes between Aria and Dane, those little details made me love them so much. It was a really slow burn, filled with so much angst and which made me intensely live with them everything they had to face, in order to fight for what they believed in.
It was a real pleasure reading the story of Aria and Dane. This book has everything I'm searching for in a good story: a rollercoaster of feelings, banter, friendship, spiciness, overcoming loss, getting to grow as a person. I recommend this book from the bottom of my heart!
I'm glad that I got to read again this book, after reading it for the first time 2 years ago💙. Drea, you've built such an amazing story, a real rollercoaster of feelings which I loved from the bottom of my heart!🥰 Thank you Drea and Luna Literary for accepting me for this e-ARC!
✨Tropes
▫️Friends To Lovers
▫️He Falls First
▫️Secret Romance
▫️Forbidden Love
▫️Forced Proximity
▫️Slow Burn
▫️Good Girl / Playboy
▫️Small Town
▫️Healing In Love
May 2, 2026
My heart broke for them. One event caused them so much pain but also brought them back together. The events in the book were very realistic/relatable. I enjoy when a book makes it detailed enough to explain enough, but also not overwhelming.
You follow Aria, a teacher, and Dane, an architect. They are once again neighbors, navigating a new reality. Their journeys were not to be navigated alone but they tried. And well.. they had more hurdles to jump when they decided to give it a try
🌶️🌶️/5
You follow Aria, a teacher, and Dane, an architect. They are once again neighbors, navigating a new reality. Their journeys were not to be navigated alone but they tried. And well.. they had more hurdles to jump when they decided to give it a try
🌶️🌶️/5
March 9, 2026
I devoured this book in basically one sitting. I went into Hunt for the Roses expecting a nice contemporary romance, but it completely consumed me and I could not put it down!
At its heart, this story is about grief, healing, and learning how to build a new future after losing the life you thought you were going to have. Aria is still carrying the weight of losing Kyle, the man she thought she expected to spend her life with. Dane, Kyle’s best friend, has always been in the background supporting her, and what begins as friendship slowly grows into something deeper
Their chemistry was one of my favorite parts of the book. The tension builds naturally, and when the relationship finally begins to shift, the emotional and physical connection between them feels very genuine
What I appreciated most is that the story doesn’t ignore the complicated emotions that come with their situation. There are moments where guilt, grief, and outside opinions force both characters to confront what this relationship really means, and those moments add a lot of emotional weight to the story
The ending was incredibly sweet and wrapped everything up in a way that felt satisfying and heartfelt
Overall, this is a beautiful story about healing after loss, finding love in unexpected places, and learning that moving forward doesn’t erase the past—it simply allows you to start a new chapter. I will be immediately ordering a physical copy 💕
Thank you so much to Luna Literary for the opportunity to read this ARC ❤️
At its heart, this story is about grief, healing, and learning how to build a new future after losing the life you thought you were going to have. Aria is still carrying the weight of losing Kyle, the man she thought she expected to spend her life with. Dane, Kyle’s best friend, has always been in the background supporting her, and what begins as friendship slowly grows into something deeper
Their chemistry was one of my favorite parts of the book. The tension builds naturally, and when the relationship finally begins to shift, the emotional and physical connection between them feels very genuine
What I appreciated most is that the story doesn’t ignore the complicated emotions that come with their situation. There are moments where guilt, grief, and outside opinions force both characters to confront what this relationship really means, and those moments add a lot of emotional weight to the story
The ending was incredibly sweet and wrapped everything up in a way that felt satisfying and heartfelt
Overall, this is a beautiful story about healing after loss, finding love in unexpected places, and learning that moving forward doesn’t erase the past—it simply allows you to start a new chapter. I will be immediately ordering a physical copy 💕
Thank you so much to Luna Literary for the opportunity to read this ARC ❤️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 22, 2026
Well. This one ripped me apart and put me back together again! This one was so good and I just absolutely adored getting to be lost in this story! Aria was the absolute picture of strength and resilience, and watching her navigate her loss and find herself again was just a beautifully portrayed journey! The way she fought for her happiness, and found her way back to the light, however slowly and in small pieces, was so real and raw, but she was such an incredible character! And Dane was equally incredible to watch, as he became Aria's rock while pushing through his own heartbreak! I loved getting to see him bring himself and Aria back to life, and finding their happiness amid their struggles! These two were so amazing to watch as they came together, and fought for what they wanted and needed for their futures! And I hope we get more of Kate and Trent in the future!! Overall this one was so good, and I absolutely devoured it!! 4.5 stars; 3.5 chili peppers
Tropes:
- Forced Proximity
- Love After Loss
- Neighbors
- Friends to Lovers
- "I Remember Everything"
Tropes:
- Forced Proximity
- Love After Loss
- Neighbors
- Friends to Lovers
- "I Remember Everything"
March 20, 2026
Wow! Just wow! This book was incredible. I went into it knowing nothing about it. I was so confused at first because the POVs were from Aria and Dane, but both of them were with other people. However, it all made sense later.
Drea Scott handled the topic of losing a loved one beautifully, and I just know that if I ever lose someone like that, this book will be my guide (and I will read it again then).
I don’t have much to say about it, honestly. I enjoyed the entire story. The tension between Aria and Dane was intense, which made everything afterward very powerful (in a good way).
This book earns a 5-star rating from me. The only reason it’s not an infinity-star book is because this isn’t one I would recommend to everyone or shout from the rooftops to read. But this book will always be one of my favorites.
Drea Scott handled the topic of losing a loved one beautifully, and I just know that if I ever lose someone like that, this book will be my guide (and I will read it again then).
I don’t have much to say about it, honestly. I enjoyed the entire story. The tension between Aria and Dane was intense, which made everything afterward very powerful (in a good way).
This book earns a 5-star rating from me. The only reason it’s not an infinity-star book is because this isn’t one I would recommend to everyone or shout from the rooftops to read. But this book will always be one of my favorites.
October 25, 2023
A sweet story of second love after heartbreak.
This story was sweet and spicy. Aria and Dane experience a tragedy that brings them closer as they learn to relove and live again. It’s the forbidden the one person I shouldn’t want but so. Good girl falls for bad guy but he only has eyes for her love story we all adore! Definitely worth the read.
This story was sweet and spicy. Aria and Dane experience a tragedy that brings them closer as they learn to relove and live again. It’s the forbidden the one person I shouldn’t want but so. Good girl falls for bad guy but he only has eyes for her love story we all adore! Definitely worth the read.
May 19, 2023
Wow! What an amazing debut novel. Thank you Drea Scott for giving me the chance to receive this ARC. This is such a beautifully written story about heartbreak, loss and finding love. The main characters had so much chemistry and honestly their love story was amazing! Although, there was some things that I did indeed find a tad annoying but I got over it. I don't want to spoil anything so that's all I'll say about it lol. I can't wait to read more by this author. Great read!
January 28, 2024
My heart is so full. What a whirlwind of emotions, heart break, and fighting for love. A relatable story on love after loss. And don’t forget the spice! Congratulations Drea on your debut!
March 11, 2026
Unfortunately this book just wasn’t really for me. I didn’t feel the chemistry between the main characters, it sometimes felt like they were picking fights just for the sake of making up. It felt like we were running in circles, which may have been intentional as dealing with and healing from grief is a huge theme in this book, but it just didn’t work for me.
Thank you to Drea for this eARC.
Thank you to Drea for this eARC.
February 26, 2025
Simply AMAZING!!
5/5✨
3/5🌶️
I don't even remember how I ended up following this author, but I'm really, really happy that I got the chance to read her debut book 💙. Drea, you've built such an amazing story, a real rollercoaster of feelings which I loved from the bottom of my heart! 🥰
Aria and Kyle are a normal, happy couple, who had the most amazing friends: Kate, Trent and Dane. But life is never fair. On just a second everything can change and that's exactly what happens to Aria. She loses her love, Kyle, in a car accident. The grief is hard to overcome but Aria is trying her best to be better and, somehow, continue her life.
Considering Dane was leaving just across her house, her brother Ronnie asks him to keep an eye on her during the healing process. Aria and Dane are spending more time together and the chemistry between them is undeniable. But how should they follow their feelings when he is the best friend of her recently passed boyfriend? The challenge is real and brings many obstacles in their path to happiness.
I loved those sweet scenes between Aria and Dane, all those little details made me love them so much and live with them everything they had to face in order to fight for what they believed in.
It was a real pleasure reading the story of Aria and Dane. This book has everything I'm searching for in a good story: a rollercoaster of feelings, banter, friendship, spiciness, overcoming loss, getting to grow as a person. I recommend this book from the bottom of my heart!
Tropes: forbidden love, close proximity, dual pov, good girl/playboy, healing in love, unlikely friendship to lovers.
5/5✨
3/5🌶️
I don't even remember how I ended up following this author, but I'm really, really happy that I got the chance to read her debut book 💙. Drea, you've built such an amazing story, a real rollercoaster of feelings which I loved from the bottom of my heart! 🥰
Aria and Kyle are a normal, happy couple, who had the most amazing friends: Kate, Trent and Dane. But life is never fair. On just a second everything can change and that's exactly what happens to Aria. She loses her love, Kyle, in a car accident. The grief is hard to overcome but Aria is trying her best to be better and, somehow, continue her life.
Considering Dane was leaving just across her house, her brother Ronnie asks him to keep an eye on her during the healing process. Aria and Dane are spending more time together and the chemistry between them is undeniable. But how should they follow their feelings when he is the best friend of her recently passed boyfriend? The challenge is real and brings many obstacles in their path to happiness.
I loved those sweet scenes between Aria and Dane, all those little details made me love them so much and live with them everything they had to face in order to fight for what they believed in.
It was a real pleasure reading the story of Aria and Dane. This book has everything I'm searching for in a good story: a rollercoaster of feelings, banter, friendship, spiciness, overcoming loss, getting to grow as a person. I recommend this book from the bottom of my heart!
Tropes: forbidden love, close proximity, dual pov, good girl/playboy, healing in love, unlikely friendship to lovers.
February 12, 2024
DNF @ 30%
The prologue had me interested and ready to sob at the idea of the grief she’d be dealing with after the loss…
But there was no world crumbling moment when “he” died. There was no holy shit rip my heart out don’t kill him off moment.
I also had a hard time with the fact the author would date the title “ie Saturday Feb X” and more often then not the first sentence “it was Saturday now”
some things felt very forced or over explained. Where other things felt underwhelming in contrast.
I understand the writers vision and idea but it just didn’t translate.
I also hate the concept of a man who goes from to woman so much in such a repetitively written way. It makes them instantly less likeable in my opinion. It’s one thing for people to discuss his many woman verses rewriting “the same scene, just with a different girl” over and over again.
The prologue had me interested and ready to sob at the idea of the grief she’d be dealing with after the loss…
But there was no world crumbling moment when “he” died. There was no holy shit rip my heart out don’t kill him off moment.
I also had a hard time with the fact the author would date the title “ie Saturday Feb X” and more often then not the first sentence “it was Saturday now”
some things felt very forced or over explained. Where other things felt underwhelming in contrast.
I understand the writers vision and idea but it just didn’t translate.
I also hate the concept of a man who goes from to woman so much in such a repetitively written way. It makes them instantly less likeable in my opinion. It’s one thing for people to discuss his many woman verses rewriting “the same scene, just with a different girl” over and over again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 22, 2026
"I’ve lived for my tears, my pain, and my sadness. But I’ve yet to live for happiness."
Drea had me in love with this story from the 1st chapter, broke my heart by chapter 7 ... and spent the rest of the story sewing it back together piece by piece ❤️🩹
FMC Aria has a rollercoaster of a ride, transforming from this fun loving 80s dancing queen, to a shell just trying to get by - however watching her battle through the ashes ... to learn to live, recreate herself & love again was beautiful 🔥 Her character growth fuelled the story & as a reader I was right there alongside her rooting & feeling all the emotions ✨️
MMC Dain is sarcastic, has abs for days & his reputation proceeds him 😏 You cant help but be drawn to him from start - by his quick wit & playboy charm! But as the read progressed it was his vulnerability, showcased through his inner monologue which had me falling for him 🫠
When both characters collide their relationship is undertoned with a yearning for the need to be okay & to move on ... As a reader it was a heartwrenching push and pull of conscience - a real battle of the head & heart, in amongst the swirl of grief & the want for them to just take a leap for love 🌹
Best friends Trent & Kate alongside Ari's Brother Ronnie and Danes Mum, made for great sideline characters! They allowed for different stories to be told when needed, gave another level of emotional depth & provided the perspective for how the heart could prevail, to both us as the reader & the MCs 🙌
Overall this was another beautifully written & emotionally charged love story by Drea 🥰 And the ending was totally swoon worthy (and left me grinning like a cheshire cat) 💚
Drea had me in love with this story from the 1st chapter, broke my heart by chapter 7 ... and spent the rest of the story sewing it back together piece by piece ❤️🩹
FMC Aria has a rollercoaster of a ride, transforming from this fun loving 80s dancing queen, to a shell just trying to get by - however watching her battle through the ashes ... to learn to live, recreate herself & love again was beautiful 🔥 Her character growth fuelled the story & as a reader I was right there alongside her rooting & feeling all the emotions ✨️
MMC Dain is sarcastic, has abs for days & his reputation proceeds him 😏 You cant help but be drawn to him from start - by his quick wit & playboy charm! But as the read progressed it was his vulnerability, showcased through his inner monologue which had me falling for him 🫠
When both characters collide their relationship is undertoned with a yearning for the need to be okay & to move on ... As a reader it was a heartwrenching push and pull of conscience - a real battle of the head & heart, in amongst the swirl of grief & the want for them to just take a leap for love 🌹
Best friends Trent & Kate alongside Ari's Brother Ronnie and Danes Mum, made for great sideline characters! They allowed for different stories to be told when needed, gave another level of emotional depth & provided the perspective for how the heart could prevail, to both us as the reader & the MCs 🙌
Overall this was another beautifully written & emotionally charged love story by Drea 🥰 And the ending was totally swoon worthy (and left me grinning like a cheshire cat) 💚
August 10, 2023
I’m about to go on a slight rollercoaster but bear with me please, cause it will be alright. I promise.
I liked the book, I did. But it took me a while to get there. It’s probably because I’m old school when it comes to love and I wasn’t digging the trope too much. So it was hard to get through the first few chapters. BUT, as I continued to read the book, my heart began to soften up because I saw how Aria rose from the ashes. In HFTR, we see Aria’s world completely take a turn and as the story continues we watch her go through the motions and the hardship of moving forward and we get to witness the absolute beauty of healing after your world has been shattered.
I had a few favorite quotes from this book but I must say that my absolute favorite one was the one that was given to us a few pages in.
“When life gives you thorns, hunt for the roses.”🥀
The only downside to this book is overdoing the outfit descriptions as well as little things that were irrelevant. It was too much and I’m not going to lie, it annoyed me quite a bit. Sometimes I wanted to skip it over, but I don’t like skipping over things so I just read through. The outfit description ONLY was relevant ONE time. ONE time and that was it. I had to google these dang Henley shirts cause they got engraved on my brain lol. Other than that, this book was a good read. Much love to you Drea! 💚
I liked the book, I did. But it took me a while to get there. It’s probably because I’m old school when it comes to love and I wasn’t digging the trope too much. So it was hard to get through the first few chapters. BUT, as I continued to read the book, my heart began to soften up because I saw how Aria rose from the ashes. In HFTR, we see Aria’s world completely take a turn and as the story continues we watch her go through the motions and the hardship of moving forward and we get to witness the absolute beauty of healing after your world has been shattered.
I had a few favorite quotes from this book but I must say that my absolute favorite one was the one that was given to us a few pages in.
“When life gives you thorns, hunt for the roses.”🥀
The only downside to this book is overdoing the outfit descriptions as well as little things that were irrelevant. It was too much and I’m not going to lie, it annoyed me quite a bit. Sometimes I wanted to skip it over, but I don’t like skipping over things so I just read through. The outfit description ONLY was relevant ONE time. ONE time and that was it. I had to google these dang Henley shirts cause they got engraved on my brain lol. Other than that, this book was a good read. Much love to you Drea! 💚
March 8, 2026
4.5 Stars
This is such a beautiful story about unexpected love finding its way into your life after loss. It’s a book about grief, friendship, trusting yourself, and learning how to truly live again. One line that really stuck with me was: “When life gives you thorns, hunt for the roses.”
This story is just as heartwarming as it is heart-wrenching.
Aria and Dane’s journey shows that life and relationships aren’t always black and white. Grief itself is complex, it ebbs and flows with time, sometimes when you least expect it. I loved how the story embraced that reality instead of trying to simplify it.
This is one of the most real stories I’ve read in a long time. It shows how messy life can be and how there isn’t always a clear right or wrong answer. Sometimes you just have to live through it. Feelings can appear unexpectedly, and you can’t always prepare for them. The real question becomes whether you allow yourself to move forward or let fear hold you back.
Another theme I appreciated was the reminder that people may not always understand your choices. At the end of the day, it’s your life, and your decisions affect you more than anyone else. Following your heart, even when others might question it, can be the bravest thing you do.
I felt all the emotions while reading this. The ending was satisfying and meaningful. There were moments where the main characters repeated similar conversations, which occasionally frustrated me, but at the same time that kind of circular discussion happens in real life, especially when grief and complicated emotions are involved. In a way, it added to the realism of the story.
Overall, this was an emotional, thoughtful read that really stayed with me.
This is such a beautiful story about unexpected love finding its way into your life after loss. It’s a book about grief, friendship, trusting yourself, and learning how to truly live again. One line that really stuck with me was: “When life gives you thorns, hunt for the roses.”
This story is just as heartwarming as it is heart-wrenching.
Aria and Dane’s journey shows that life and relationships aren’t always black and white. Grief itself is complex, it ebbs and flows with time, sometimes when you least expect it. I loved how the story embraced that reality instead of trying to simplify it.
This is one of the most real stories I’ve read in a long time. It shows how messy life can be and how there isn’t always a clear right or wrong answer. Sometimes you just have to live through it. Feelings can appear unexpectedly, and you can’t always prepare for them. The real question becomes whether you allow yourself to move forward or let fear hold you back.
Another theme I appreciated was the reminder that people may not always understand your choices. At the end of the day, it’s your life, and your decisions affect you more than anyone else. Following your heart, even when others might question it, can be the bravest thing you do.
I felt all the emotions while reading this. The ending was satisfying and meaningful. There were moments where the main characters repeated similar conversations, which occasionally frustrated me, but at the same time that kind of circular discussion happens in real life, especially when grief and complicated emotions are involved. In a way, it added to the realism of the story.
Overall, this was an emotional, thoughtful read that really stayed with me.
March 13, 2026
Hunt for the Roses Drea Scott is a small town romance, love after loss, forbidden romance. We meet Aria, the ultimate girl next door, and Dane, the playboy of their friend group. When an unthinkable tragedy happens, Aria is left to put the pieces of her life back together.
This book. What can I say about this book? I finished it in a day. I could not put it down, This book wrecked me and slowly put me back together. By the time I got to chapter nine I was sobbing. I'm talking ugly crying, needing tissues for the snot coming out of my nose. Drea loves to break your heart, and take you on an emotional journey. If you read Fly Back to Me, you know what I'm talking about. Dane and Aria's relationship is complex, messy, but you can't help but root for them, and their love.
This book was such a fantastic read that I had the worst book hangover I've ever had. I aimlessly walked around my house after I finished the book because I just didn't know what to do with myself after reading it. I finished the book, but i think it finished me!
If you enjoy books by Jennifer Hartmann, then you'll love Hunt for the Roses. Add it to your TBR now!
As always, check for trigger warnings before reading!
Thank you Drea Scott and Luna Literary for this ARC.
This book. What can I say about this book? I finished it in a day. I could not put it down, This book wrecked me and slowly put me back together. By the time I got to chapter nine I was sobbing. I'm talking ugly crying, needing tissues for the snot coming out of my nose. Drea loves to break your heart, and take you on an emotional journey. If you read Fly Back to Me, you know what I'm talking about. Dane and Aria's relationship is complex, messy, but you can't help but root for them, and their love.
This book was such a fantastic read that I had the worst book hangover I've ever had. I aimlessly walked around my house after I finished the book because I just didn't know what to do with myself after reading it. I finished the book, but i think it finished me!
If you enjoy books by Jennifer Hartmann, then you'll love Hunt for the Roses. Add it to your TBR now!
As always, check for trigger warnings before reading!
Thank you Drea Scott and Luna Literary for this ARC.
March 9, 2026
First I want to give a thank you to Drea Scott and Love Notes PR for giving me the opportunity to read this as an ARC! As I’m new to this whole book community, it was truly a pleasure to get chosen for this. With that said I was THRILLED to read this. I’ve followed Drea for a while and just knew this book was going to hit all the right things.
Tropes:
- He falls first
- Forbidden romance
- Forced Proximity
- Slow Burn
As you can see ALLLL the good tropes. Aria suffered a major loss in her life that completely rocked her world. We see each month after the tragedy and how she is coping. Not just that but we also get the main male characters POV, Dane. He is also suffering after this loss, so it was interesting to see how they each coped with things. I thought the mental health representation was PERFECT. As someone who has heavily studied mental health, I thought the light shed was just beautiful. I also felt that all the side characters played into the story wonderfully and added so much to the plot, which made it so enjoyable to read.
If you like everything I mentioned above and more, don’t forget to go out and buy “Hunt for the Roses” releasing on March 20th :))
Tropes:
- He falls first
- Forbidden romance
- Forced Proximity
- Slow Burn
As you can see ALLLL the good tropes. Aria suffered a major loss in her life that completely rocked her world. We see each month after the tragedy and how she is coping. Not just that but we also get the main male characters POV, Dane. He is also suffering after this loss, so it was interesting to see how they each coped with things. I thought the mental health representation was PERFECT. As someone who has heavily studied mental health, I thought the light shed was just beautiful. I also felt that all the side characters played into the story wonderfully and added so much to the plot, which made it so enjoyable to read.
If you like everything I mentioned above and more, don’t forget to go out and buy “Hunt for the Roses” releasing on March 20th :))
March 28, 2026
Tropes:
🎡Friends to Lovers
🌊He Falls First
🌹Playboy x Good Girl
🎡Forced Proximity
🌊Small Town
🌹Slow Burn
Drea Scott has written another beautifully constructed story full of powerful meaning and growth. I don’t know how many times I had tears running down my cheeks while reading this for many reasons, but it was enough to leave a mark.
The grief surrounding the characters in this book after the death of a loved one just gutted me. Their pain seeped through the pages, especially as they continued on and worked on recovering from their loss. The main characters were no exception of this, in a way they experienced extra heartache and guilt over feelings they couldn’t control. However, there were so many happy moments shared that evened out all the sadness. Totally worth all the tears, plus the spice was spicing!
Aria and Dane’s growth throughout this story was remarkable and realistic all things considering. I adored the heartwarming messages and lessons the author expressed through their characters. Please check for possible trigger warnings before diving into this read.
🎡Friends to Lovers
🌊He Falls First
🌹Playboy x Good Girl
🎡Forced Proximity
🌊Small Town
🌹Slow Burn
Drea Scott has written another beautifully constructed story full of powerful meaning and growth. I don’t know how many times I had tears running down my cheeks while reading this for many reasons, but it was enough to leave a mark.
The grief surrounding the characters in this book after the death of a loved one just gutted me. Their pain seeped through the pages, especially as they continued on and worked on recovering from their loss. The main characters were no exception of this, in a way they experienced extra heartache and guilt over feelings they couldn’t control. However, there were so many happy moments shared that evened out all the sadness. Totally worth all the tears, plus the spice was spicing!
Aria and Dane’s growth throughout this story was remarkable and realistic all things considering. I adored the heartwarming messages and lessons the author expressed through their characters. Please check for possible trigger warnings before diving into this read.
March 27, 2026
I received this book as an ARC and I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to read it – thank you so much!
I honestly haven’t read something this emotional and at the same time this healing in a long time. Hunt for the Roses is a story that builds slowly, but in the best possible way. The emotional development feels very real and never overly romanticized, which I appreciated a lot. The characters are allowed to be flawed, to struggle, to grow – and that growth throughout the book is beautifully written.
What I loved most was how authentic the emotions felt. Nothing seemed forced or unrealistic; the relationships, the conflicts, and the healing all unfolded naturally. You can really feel how much the protagonists change and develop over the course of the story.
If you’re looking for a book full of emotions, realism, character growth, and some spice, I can definitely recommend this one. It’s emotional, intense, and healing all at once.
I honestly haven’t read something this emotional and at the same time this healing in a long time. Hunt for the Roses is a story that builds slowly, but in the best possible way. The emotional development feels very real and never overly romanticized, which I appreciated a lot. The characters are allowed to be flawed, to struggle, to grow – and that growth throughout the book is beautifully written.
What I loved most was how authentic the emotions felt. Nothing seemed forced or unrealistic; the relationships, the conflicts, and the healing all unfolded naturally. You can really feel how much the protagonists change and develop over the course of the story.
If you’re looking for a book full of emotions, realism, character growth, and some spice, I can definitely recommend this one. It’s emotional, intense, and healing all at once.
March 27, 2026
arc review
2.5★
I don’t know exactly what went wrong or why I didn’t really like this book. Even with the specific things I didn’t like about it, I should’ve still been able to at least enjoy it 😭
The main thing I was missing was emotional depth. This is a beautiful story of grief and healing, love after loss, and the slow burn was really good. However I didn’t feel anything throughout the entire book. I didn’t feel the grief, I didn’t feel for either characters going through the grief, I didn’t feel the loss of their loved one, and I didn’t connect or care much about either characters too.
This book was by no means bad, but I really did float through it like an empty ghost. If only the writing would’ve evoked more emotion and feeling out of me I would’ve had a blast crying with Aria and Dane and falling with their love story.
Thank you so much to the author and Love Notes PR for the arc!!
2.5★
I don’t know exactly what went wrong or why I didn’t really like this book. Even with the specific things I didn’t like about it, I should’ve still been able to at least enjoy it 😭
The main thing I was missing was emotional depth. This is a beautiful story of grief and healing, love after loss, and the slow burn was really good. However I didn’t feel anything throughout the entire book. I didn’t feel the grief, I didn’t feel for either characters going through the grief, I didn’t feel the loss of their loved one, and I didn’t connect or care much about either characters too.
This book was by no means bad, but I really did float through it like an empty ghost. If only the writing would’ve evoked more emotion and feeling out of me I would’ve had a blast crying with Aria and Dane and falling with their love story.
Thank you so much to the author and Love Notes PR for the arc!!
March 10, 2026
I really enjoyed this book because it explored a topic that isn’t often written about with such depth. Throughout the story, I could truly feel the pain and grief Aria carried, and her concerns and emotions felt completely valid. 💔🌹
Dante was the perfect person for Aria. Their friendship made their connection feel natural and genuine. He didn’t see her as a conquest or as a way to fix his own pain, he truly saw her for who she was. In many ways, he understood the loss she carried and met her with compassion and gentleness 🤍
There was a bit of trauma bonding between the characters, but it never took away from the story. If anything, it added another emotional layer to their connection.
Overall, I genuinely loved this story. The writing flowed beautifully and made it easy to stay immersed in Aria and Dante’s pain and joy. 📚✨
Small Town
Friends to Lovers
Forced Proximity
Slow Burn
I wanted to thank Love Notes PR for this ARC
Dante was the perfect person for Aria. Their friendship made their connection feel natural and genuine. He didn’t see her as a conquest or as a way to fix his own pain, he truly saw her for who she was. In many ways, he understood the loss she carried and met her with compassion and gentleness 🤍
There was a bit of trauma bonding between the characters, but it never took away from the story. If anything, it added another emotional layer to their connection.
Overall, I genuinely loved this story. The writing flowed beautifully and made it easy to stay immersed in Aria and Dante’s pain and joy. 📚✨
Small Town
Friends to Lovers
Forced Proximity
Slow Burn
I wanted to thank Love Notes PR for this ARC
March 19, 2026
ARC review
I am so glad that I was introduced to Aria and Dane, as well as their journey though grief, loss and a friendship that formed into the most adorable love story.
This small town forbidden romance felt like a warm hug from the beginning until the very last chapters. Aria is such a strong FMC after the pain she suffered throughout the novel, and her ability to heal from her past traumas and carry on forward into finding a new love and building a life for herself was truly empowering.
As for Dean, he is such a caring MMC who felt Aria’s grief like it was his own, and created that safe space for her to find herself amidst the chaos. He always had her best interests in mind, especially when it came to discovering their relationship and the healing process that would finally allow them to cherish one another without lingering guilt from Aria’s past.
Drea Scott is wonderful at writing angsty romance books that bring light to emotionally charged topics, independent main characters, and a found family that offers comfort during challenging times.
Once again, thank you Drea Scott for creating striking stories that shatter our hearts to itty bitty pieces before mending them once more.
I am so glad that I was introduced to Aria and Dane, as well as their journey though grief, loss and a friendship that formed into the most adorable love story.
This small town forbidden romance felt like a warm hug from the beginning until the very last chapters. Aria is such a strong FMC after the pain she suffered throughout the novel, and her ability to heal from her past traumas and carry on forward into finding a new love and building a life for herself was truly empowering.
As for Dean, he is such a caring MMC who felt Aria’s grief like it was his own, and created that safe space for her to find herself amidst the chaos. He always had her best interests in mind, especially when it came to discovering their relationship and the healing process that would finally allow them to cherish one another without lingering guilt from Aria’s past.
Drea Scott is wonderful at writing angsty romance books that bring light to emotionally charged topics, independent main characters, and a found family that offers comfort during challenging times.
Once again, thank you Drea Scott for creating striking stories that shatter our hearts to itty bitty pieces before mending them once more.
March 21, 2026
The way this book pulled me in and had me sobbing. The emotion was there grief is hard. Moving on is hard. This captivated every aspect of that. Losing the love of your life and trying to navigate and then finding love again. Dane and Ari the whole time the way I cheered for these 2. I loved the slow burn and when the spice hit it HIT! I love when I can read a book and feel like I am smack in the middle of it and feel the emotion the characters are feeling. Then wanting to just hug a character so tight and cry with them. The picture was painted to perfection during this read for me. It was just what I needed in this moment. Love this and highly recommend adding this to you TBR to get emotionally wrecked.
May 14, 2023
Had an opportunity to read this book early and WOW! I’m not going to give too much away. But I was in all the feels with Dane and Aria! “lady in red” 😭 you’ll understand what that means when you deep dive into this book. This book is amazing because the lessons you learn in this book can be applied to everyday life.
Dane and Aria show resilience to situations that aren’t always the easiest to overcome but in the words of Dane “never stop fighting”. Love can truly overcome all obstacles when you have 2 forces that come together to push through. Looking forward to reading more from this author!
Dane and Aria show resilience to situations that aren’t always the easiest to overcome but in the words of Dane “never stop fighting”. Love can truly overcome all obstacles when you have 2 forces that come together to push through. Looking forward to reading more from this author!
March 15, 2026
4.5⭐️
This was such a heartbreaking story about a second chance at love. Unexpected second chance at that.
Aria's story just had me in tears. I just wish I could have jumped into the book and hugged her.
Thankfully she does have a great group of friends and family. But still, after suffering a tragic sudden loss it can be difficult to move forward.
And Dane is there to just make sure she hold up ok as she moves forward into this new chapter of her life.
Ugh Dane, he's honestly the sweetest. Sure the playboy of the group...but deep down, he notices things others don't.
I loved the friendship between him and Aria. And I honestly loved how things weren't all "perfect" as things changed between them. But when things were going right, it was the sweetest. And hot.
I just really enjoyed this book and characters. Drama and all, made it more realistic honestly.
Thank you Drea Scott and @lunaliterary.management for the arc. 🫶🏻
This was such a heartbreaking story about a second chance at love. Unexpected second chance at that.
Aria's story just had me in tears. I just wish I could have jumped into the book and hugged her.
Thankfully she does have a great group of friends and family. But still, after suffering a tragic sudden loss it can be difficult to move forward.
And Dane is there to just make sure she hold up ok as she moves forward into this new chapter of her life.
Ugh Dane, he's honestly the sweetest. Sure the playboy of the group...but deep down, he notices things others don't.
I loved the friendship between him and Aria. And I honestly loved how things weren't all "perfect" as things changed between them. But when things were going right, it was the sweetest. And hot.
I just really enjoyed this book and characters. Drama and all, made it more realistic honestly.
Thank you Drea Scott and @lunaliterary.management for the arc. 🫶🏻
March 20, 2026
Thank you to Luna Literary Management for my advance copy of Hunt For The Roses by Drea Scott in exchange for my honest review!!
You'll notice there isn't a lot of detail about the book because I'm trying to respect the author's wishes of you going into this book blindly. If you have triggers, please check them before reading. No triggers? You're good to go.
I will say, this did bring out quite a few feelings in me. I would be angry with some characters and yell at them and then come around to them. This book did hover as meh for me throughout, but the ending absolutely redeemed everything for me.
Solid 4 star read, I'm happy I pushed through!
You'll notice there isn't a lot of detail about the book because I'm trying to respect the author's wishes of you going into this book blindly. If you have triggers, please check them before reading. No triggers? You're good to go.
I will say, this did bring out quite a few feelings in me. I would be angry with some characters and yell at them and then come around to them. This book did hover as meh for me throughout, but the ending absolutely redeemed everything for me.
Solid 4 star read, I'm happy I pushed through!
March 23, 2026
E-ARC:
This book had a lot of tropes I enjoy, but unfortunately it ended up being a middle of the road book for me. I was immediately hooked with the "love after loss" theme. Aria is in the thick of her grief and then the unexpected relationship starts to blossom with Dane.
The chapters are short and easy and to read, but the slow burn was a little toooo slow for me. The book took a little to get going.
The front half being a little more grief heavy.
Overall, this is a heartfelt, emotional romance with just a touch of spice. If you like love after loss, slow burn, or friends to lovers I would say check it out.
This book had a lot of tropes I enjoy, but unfortunately it ended up being a middle of the road book for me. I was immediately hooked with the "love after loss" theme. Aria is in the thick of her grief and then the unexpected relationship starts to blossom with Dane.
The chapters are short and easy and to read, but the slow burn was a little toooo slow for me. The book took a little to get going.
The front half being a little more grief heavy.
Overall, this is a heartfelt, emotional romance with just a touch of spice. If you like love after loss, slow burn, or friends to lovers I would say check it out.
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