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Runaway Pride
Charlotte “Charlie” Ha’s silver spoon upbringing has its highs and lows. She has everything available to her, even a wedding and marriage all planned out, until she realizes none of those are actually what she wants for herself. Running sounds like the right choice, so she books it to the closest getaway she can find - and ends up in the car of Richard Min, her best friend Alex’s older brother. He begrudgingly takes her away before she makes the biggest mistake of her life, but their time doesn’t end when he gets her back home.
Richard “Rick” Min’s humble upbringing has its highs and lows. He takes care of everything, including his brother. After being introduced to Charlie, his brother’s best friend, years ago, he wrote her off as another flighty rich girl. When she suddenly shows up, begging him to help her ditch her wedding, he has no choice given the circumstances.
Charlie never understood why Rick had been so cold to her all this time. But as he unwittingly helps her during her transition to starting a fresh path, they find themselves drawn to each other at every step. Rick wants to fight those feelings, but Charlie only believes in going after what the heart wants. She knows what she wants, and it’s his job to figure it out for himself.
Without denying their attraction, Rick has to reconcile his views on relationships, given his past traumas, and decide if it is worth losing what might be the best thing to have ever happened to him.
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Runaway Pride is a contemporary romantic comedy with mature content intended for readers 18 years and older.
Richard “Rick” Min’s humble upbringing has its highs and lows. He takes care of everything, including his brother. After being introduced to Charlie, his brother’s best friend, years ago, he wrote her off as another flighty rich girl. When she suddenly shows up, begging him to help her ditch her wedding, he has no choice given the circumstances.
Charlie never understood why Rick had been so cold to her all this time. But as he unwittingly helps her during her transition to starting a fresh path, they find themselves drawn to each other at every step. Rick wants to fight those feelings, but Charlie only believes in going after what the heart wants. She knows what she wants, and it’s his job to figure it out for himself.
Without denying their attraction, Rick has to reconcile his views on relationships, given his past traumas, and decide if it is worth losing what might be the best thing to have ever happened to him.
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Runaway Pride is a contemporary romantic comedy with mature content intended for readers 18 years and older.
- GenresRomance
342 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 23, 2024
1 person is currently reading
48 people want to read
About the author
Sylan Young
7 books9 followersSylan writes steamy romantic suspense and romcom that centers on Asian characters. After an emotional tale, she likes to take a break with a light-hearted romance. The balance is necessary for her creative outlet.
She loves her heroines strong and intelligent, her heroes kind and protective, and both charming and substantive. Outside of writing, she is a software engineer who also enjoys archery, music, traveling, and discovering new food and culture.
To get updates on news and upcoming releases, join the newsletter at:
https://subscribepage.io/UJyTZH
http://sylanyoung.com
She loves her heroines strong and intelligent, her heroes kind and protective, and both charming and substantive. Outside of writing, she is a software engineer who also enjoys archery, music, traveling, and discovering new food and culture.
To get updates on news and upcoming releases, join the newsletter at:
https://subscribepage.io/UJyTZH
http://sylanyoung.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
March 4, 2024
It wasn't the perfect romance book but I still enjoyed it very much!
❗Minor content spoilers might be ahead ❗
Even though a runaway bride is cliché and I have seen what feels like a hundred movies with this premise, I actually have not read a book that starts this way. But I do not regret it one bit.
Charlie and Rick come from very different backgrounds (but as Rick puts it so lovingly: "Do you think we'll ever get over our mommy issues?", they do have some things in common) 😅
"Runaway Pride" starts fast paste, gives insights into their lives, their situation and backgrounds and is filled with entertaining dialogues and fast approaching tension.
Things I liked/loved:
💗 Charlie and Rick getting to know each other
💗 Charlie learning to live the life that she wants for herself
💗 Charlie (finally) standing up for herself and her believes
💗 The tension and steamy scenes (once its on, its on - iykyk)
Things that threw me off:
🦄 Rick's preference/kink with Charlie's love of pink? (He actually gets *very excited* whenever he sees the color pink now...)
🦄 Additionally: Charlie is 32 years old, why is one corner in her room “a shrine for stuffed animals” and everything in different shades of pink and princessy? (I like pink, but are we just ignoring what I imagine a unicorn throwing up in a 32 year old's bedroom?)
🦄 I'm generally confused when authors describe character appearances and have to add feminine/masculine...why? Just leave the rest and move on. The legs are long, soft and attractive? Ok, good to know, but why add feminine? Why add that her short hair doesn't bother him?
The book wasn't as bad as it might sound based on the previous paragraph. I really enjoyed the first half of the book, the middle with all the very nicely written smut (I appreciate the quantity and quality) and the character development too! The last 20% could have been shortened.
Some little things just got me stumbeling and I do have to say that I cannot totally relate to a mother like Charlie's... I wanted to scream at her controlling mother after the first conversation and she let her pull the strings for 32 years? I have to say that that annoyed me for quite some time.
Definitely recommended for someone who is looking for some family drama, some sweet and hot romance and a little “stand up for yourself” moment 💗 The communication and exchange of emotions was written beautifully!
Thank you NetGalley, Victory Editing and Sylan Young for the ARC. I am giving this honest review voluntarily.
"You are in every of my thoughts, my conscience. I can't get away, and I don't want to anymore. I want all of you."
❗Minor content spoilers might be ahead ❗
Even though a runaway bride is cliché and I have seen what feels like a hundred movies with this premise, I actually have not read a book that starts this way. But I do not regret it one bit.
Charlie and Rick come from very different backgrounds (but as Rick puts it so lovingly: "Do you think we'll ever get over our mommy issues?", they do have some things in common) 😅
"Runaway Pride" starts fast paste, gives insights into their lives, their situation and backgrounds and is filled with entertaining dialogues and fast approaching tension.
Things I liked/loved:
💗 Charlie and Rick getting to know each other
💗 Charlie learning to live the life that she wants for herself
"Being over thirty is not a death sentence. I still have a lot of time left, and I want to prioritize what makes me happy" Say it louder for the people in the back 👏🏻
💗 Charlie (finally) standing up for herself and her believes
💗 The tension and steamy scenes (once its on, its on - iykyk)
""You make me not want to stop."
"I don't want you to stop.""
Things that threw me off:
🦄 Rick's preference/kink with Charlie's love of pink? (He actually gets *very excited* whenever he sees the color pink now...)
🦄 Additionally: Charlie is 32 years old, why is one corner in her room “a shrine for stuffed animals” and everything in different shades of pink and princessy? (I like pink, but are we just ignoring what I imagine a unicorn throwing up in a 32 year old's bedroom?)
🦄 I'm generally confused when authors describe character appearances and have to add feminine/masculine...why? Just leave the rest and move on. The legs are long, soft and attractive? Ok, good to know, but why add feminine? Why add that her short hair doesn't bother him?
The book wasn't as bad as it might sound based on the previous paragraph. I really enjoyed the first half of the book, the middle with all the very nicely written smut (I appreciate the quantity and quality) and the character development too! The last 20% could have been shortened.
"I came here for comfort, Rick. I'm not asking you to solve my problems"
Some little things just got me stumbeling and I do have to say that I cannot totally relate to a mother like Charlie's... I wanted to scream at her controlling mother after the first conversation and she let her pull the strings for 32 years? I have to say that that annoyed me for quite some time.
Definitely recommended for someone who is looking for some family drama, some sweet and hot romance and a little “stand up for yourself” moment 💗 The communication and exchange of emotions was written beautifully!
Thank you NetGalley, Victory Editing and Sylan Young for the ARC. I am giving this honest review voluntarily.
February 16, 2024
[Arc Review — little bit of spoilers ahead!]
Runaway Pride by Sylan Young is a contemporary romance novel that tells the story of Charlotte "Charlie" Ha and Richard "Rick" Min, who belong to different social classes but fall in love when Charlie escapes from her marriage and Rick comes to her rescue. The book depicts how they deal with their family conflicts, their personal challenges, and their mutual attraction.
One of the aspects that I find interesting about the book is that Charlie's love language is gift giving. She shows her affection through material gestures, which may be influenced by her upbringing in a rich and domineering family, where love was conditional and performance-based.
The book also explores the family dynamics of the main characters. Both Charlie and Rick have complicated relationships with their families, especially their mothers. Charlie's mother is a cruel and scheming woman who values her reputation and status more than Charlie's happiness or welfare. Rick holds a grudge against his mother, who abandoned them when he was a kid, and never cared about them (which explains his prejudice against wealthy people).
Charlie had to confront her family issues, and to stand up for herself. The book showed how she freed herself from her mother's demands and influences, and to pursue her own life. She had to find out who she really was, beyond the expectations and roles that others imposed on her. She had to find her passion, her mission, and her voice. She had to learn to love herself, and to be happy on her own terms. Her life changed the moment she ran away from her wedding, and into the backseat of her best friend's brother's car. She had to take a chance on Rick, and on herself.
Rick had to acknowledge his true feelings, beyond the walls and masks that he built around himself. He had to find his peace, his bravery, and his heart. He had to learn to forgive his past, and to embrace his future. He had to take care of himself, and to be open to love. He had to take a chance on Charlie, and on himself.
Runaway Pride is a book that I enjoyed immensely. The book was well-written, the characters were captivating. It had the perfect balance of angst, jealousy, grovelling, and even steamy scenes! I also appreciated the fact that both of them were able to defend themselves. It is not easy to escape from an emotionally abusive household, and for Charlie to set limits and put herself first — it was admirable to see.
I am excited for Aera and Nick’s book! I strongly recommend Runaway Pride! Thank you NetGalley and Victory Editing for this ARC!
Runaway Pride by Sylan Young is a contemporary romance novel that tells the story of Charlotte "Charlie" Ha and Richard "Rick" Min, who belong to different social classes but fall in love when Charlie escapes from her marriage and Rick comes to her rescue. The book depicts how they deal with their family conflicts, their personal challenges, and their mutual attraction.
One of the aspects that I find interesting about the book is that Charlie's love language is gift giving. She shows her affection through material gestures, which may be influenced by her upbringing in a rich and domineering family, where love was conditional and performance-based.
The book also explores the family dynamics of the main characters. Both Charlie and Rick have complicated relationships with their families, especially their mothers. Charlie's mother is a cruel and scheming woman who values her reputation and status more than Charlie's happiness or welfare. Rick holds a grudge against his mother, who abandoned them when he was a kid, and never cared about them (which explains his prejudice against wealthy people).
Charlie had to confront her family issues, and to stand up for herself. The book showed how she freed herself from her mother's demands and influences, and to pursue her own life. She had to find out who she really was, beyond the expectations and roles that others imposed on her. She had to find her passion, her mission, and her voice. She had to learn to love herself, and to be happy on her own terms. Her life changed the moment she ran away from her wedding, and into the backseat of her best friend's brother's car. She had to take a chance on Rick, and on herself.
Rick had to acknowledge his true feelings, beyond the walls and masks that he built around himself. He had to find his peace, his bravery, and his heart. He had to learn to forgive his past, and to embrace his future. He had to take care of himself, and to be open to love. He had to take a chance on Charlie, and on himself.
Runaway Pride is a book that I enjoyed immensely. The book was well-written, the characters were captivating. It had the perfect balance of angst, jealousy, grovelling, and even steamy scenes! I also appreciated the fact that both of them were able to defend themselves. It is not easy to escape from an emotionally abusive household, and for Charlie to set limits and put herself first — it was admirable to see.
I am excited for Aera and Nick’s book! I strongly recommend Runaway Pride! Thank you NetGalley and Victory Editing for this ARC!
February 14, 2024
This book had its good moments. I enjoyed having a diverse POV and seeing some family and friend dynamics outside my ken. Charlie was very relatable with a moving backstory and generally compassionate nature. Her narcissistic mother and devil-may-care brother made me want to root for her. Rick was… not my fave. He also had a good backstory and brought plenty of baggage along for the ride. He was just very selfish, even if one ignores his baggage. The 2 had some solid chemistry and he wasn’t all bad, but it was hard to be on his side.
There were many tense errors and instances of awkward sentence structure. I found myself having to reread sentences frequently to make sure I understood what was being said.
I think with some solid editing, this book could be great.
Spice: 4/5
Triggers: narcissistic parent, emotional abuse and manipulation, child abandonment, grief, parent death (off page), poverty (off page)
There were many tense errors and instances of awkward sentence structure. I found myself having to reread sentences frequently to make sure I understood what was being said.
I think with some solid editing, this book could be great.
Spice: 4/5
Triggers: narcissistic parent, emotional abuse and manipulation, child abandonment, grief, parent death (off page), poverty (off page)
April 18, 2025
arc review
I was really enjoying the book until the 40% mark.
I enjoyed it for the most part but wouldn’t say that I enjoyed the book overall or that I liked it. It simply wasn’t for me. I didn’t like a lot of the word choices and a lot of things that the male main character (Rick) said rubbed me the wrong way and irked me. I just didn’t like him. The female main character (Charlie) on the other hand, I did like. She was sweet and had a nice personality.
Another thing I didn’t like in this book was the spice. They felt forced and some scene had me questioning why they were doing this in the first place and felt random. The characters also didn’t feel like themselves during those scenes, it was like a switch was flipped and they became different people, but the switch didn’t make sense nor did it flow.
The beginning had me hooked though and there were a lot of cute scenes. The aesthetic of the book, story and characters was also really pretty.
I was really enjoying the book until the 40% mark.
I enjoyed it for the most part but wouldn’t say that I enjoyed the book overall or that I liked it. It simply wasn’t for me. I didn’t like a lot of the word choices and a lot of things that the male main character (Rick) said rubbed me the wrong way and irked me. I just didn’t like him. The female main character (Charlie) on the other hand, I did like. She was sweet and had a nice personality.
Another thing I didn’t like in this book was the spice. They felt forced and some scene had me questioning why they were doing this in the first place and felt random. The characters also didn’t feel like themselves during those scenes, it was like a switch was flipped and they became different people, but the switch didn’t make sense nor did it flow.
The beginning had me hooked though and there were a lot of cute scenes. The aesthetic of the book, story and characters was also really pretty.
December 13, 2023
*I received an ARC of this book and this is my honest review*
Overall, this was a very enjoyable read. I like that it had a different pacing than a lot of other contemporary romance books I’ve read. Their relationship dynamic developed quickly but throughly and I enjoyed that the majority of the drama was coming from external forces, not the actions of the characters themselves, which I felt led to a more mature feeling relationship. The spice, while sitting pretty firmly in the vanilla realm, was well written and definitely built up a feeling of intimacy between the two main characters. A lovely read overall and one I definitely see myself revisiting at some point in the future.
Overall, this was a very enjoyable read. I like that it had a different pacing than a lot of other contemporary romance books I’ve read. Their relationship dynamic developed quickly but throughly and I enjoyed that the majority of the drama was coming from external forces, not the actions of the characters themselves, which I felt led to a more mature feeling relationship. The spice, while sitting pretty firmly in the vanilla realm, was well written and definitely built up a feeling of intimacy between the two main characters. A lovely read overall and one I definitely see myself revisiting at some point in the future.
February 17, 2024
I like it. But I read better on Wattpad when it comes to runaway brides trope.
If you loved crazy rich asians, then this is definitely a book you'll enjoy.
I wouldn't say the book was brilliant because there wasn't anything special in terms of romance.
One thing I do appreciate is that the grumpy trait of Rick was true because usually this trope is interpreted differently in romance books. So I appreciated the fact that he was grumpy and not plain rude or mean to Charlie.
Another thing I enjoyed was the true relationship between Charlie and her mother and brother. I liked how there was a conflict with no magical solution, and I liked how the author portrayed that not every problem or ruined relationship needs to be amended just for the sake of a happy ending.
But despite this, the book still lacked some sort of a kick, the romance didn't do it for me, I honestly didn't feel the chemistry between the two main characters because most of it was sex and make-out sessions, I would have enjoyed a bit more wooing and dates with no dirty talk or groping in public.
But it was fine, I mean the writing was good, and the plot was good-ish.
I'd like to thank Netgalley and Sylan Young for allowing me a copy of this in exchange for my honest review
If you loved crazy rich asians, then this is definitely a book you'll enjoy.
I wouldn't say the book was brilliant because there wasn't anything special in terms of romance.
One thing I do appreciate is that the grumpy trait of Rick was true because usually this trope is interpreted differently in romance books. So I appreciated the fact that he was grumpy and not plain rude or mean to Charlie.
Another thing I enjoyed was the true relationship between Charlie and her mother and brother. I liked how there was a conflict with no magical solution, and I liked how the author portrayed that not every problem or ruined relationship needs to be amended just for the sake of a happy ending.
But despite this, the book still lacked some sort of a kick, the romance didn't do it for me, I honestly didn't feel the chemistry between the two main characters because most of it was sex and make-out sessions, I would have enjoyed a bit more wooing and dates with no dirty talk or groping in public.
But it was fine, I mean the writing was good, and the plot was good-ish.
I'd like to thank Netgalley and Sylan Young for allowing me a copy of this in exchange for my honest review
January 27, 2024
I really enjoyed the Runaway Pride! The story of Charlie and Rick was adorable. I was kicking my feet and giggling throughout the entire book. 🥰
This was such a cute book! I love romance novels, especially when it’s about two people from different backgrounds. It just makes it so much more interesting. The friendship and the relationship that develops between Charlie and Rick was phenomenal. I thought it was well written and the build up was great. The book had a perfect blend of romance (so much open door spice that was perfect! 😍), and funny moments.
Runaway Pride is the first book in the Evergreen series. I look forward to reading the next one! Thank you Sylan Young and BookSirens for sending me an advance review copy for free! I am leaving this review voluntarily. ❤️
I definitely recommend checking it out once it releases! 🫶🏼
This was such a cute book! I love romance novels, especially when it’s about two people from different backgrounds. It just makes it so much more interesting. The friendship and the relationship that develops between Charlie and Rick was phenomenal. I thought it was well written and the build up was great. The book had a perfect blend of romance (so much open door spice that was perfect! 😍), and funny moments.
Runaway Pride is the first book in the Evergreen series. I look forward to reading the next one! Thank you Sylan Young and BookSirens for sending me an advance review copy for free! I am leaving this review voluntarily. ❤️
I definitely recommend checking it out once it releases! 🫶🏼
January 21, 2024
On her wedding day, Charlie has a realization: she and her husband-to-be shouldn't actually get married. With luck, her best friend's brother Rick happens to be waiting nearby to drop something off, and when she runs out and gets into his car, telling him to drive anywhere else, the real love story is born. Charlie has been best friends with Alex for years, and through that has met grumpy wildlife photographer Rick a few times- but never felt any kind of connection with him, until she spends a few days holed up in his house hiding from the shrapnel of her life.
This is a really cute love story between two people with big mommy issues and big hearts. Charlie and Rick have to deal with past trauma, meddling mothers, class differences, and discovering who they really are to each other. Charlie's mom is a PIECE OF WORK, but Charlie's journey to self-acceptance and self-assurance is wonderful to see, and it just adds to the connection she is developing with Rick.
Thank you so much to Sylan Young and Netgalley for a chance to read this in exchange for an honest review! Runaway Pride comes out on February 23, 2024.
This is a really cute love story between two people with big mommy issues and big hearts. Charlie and Rick have to deal with past trauma, meddling mothers, class differences, and discovering who they really are to each other. Charlie's mom is a PIECE OF WORK, but Charlie's journey to self-acceptance and self-assurance is wonderful to see, and it just adds to the connection she is developing with Rick.
Thank you so much to Sylan Young and Netgalley for a chance to read this in exchange for an honest review! Runaway Pride comes out on February 23, 2024.
January 16, 2024
Charlotte Ha or Charlie is a rich girl who runs away from her wedding realising that this is not what she actually wants in her life. She runs away and ends up in a car with Richard Min, her best friend’s brother. Richard Min had a humble upbringing and he worked very hard to take care of his family. When Charlie asks him for help, he agrees and escorts her from her wedding. And as you might have guessed, the rest is history.
Firstly, commendable writing. The story doesn’t beat around the bush. I personally don’t like books where loads of chapters are just re-iterating what we already know from the synopsis, but there’s nothing like this here. The character development of each character is perfect. I loved Charlie’s character the most, she is a woman with strong opinions and has a lot of self respect. And there are good number of cute and aww moments here are there. The elements of humour here and there make the book more interesting.
I just feel that the love between the lead pair was not completely developed. It felt as if they fell in love very quickly. I would give this 4 stars out of 5.
PS: This is an open door romance, So, before you dive in, make sure you're ready for a wild ride of love and passion.
Firstly, commendable writing. The story doesn’t beat around the bush. I personally don’t like books where loads of chapters are just re-iterating what we already know from the synopsis, but there’s nothing like this here. The character development of each character is perfect. I loved Charlie’s character the most, she is a woman with strong opinions and has a lot of self respect. And there are good number of cute and aww moments here are there. The elements of humour here and there make the book more interesting.
I just feel that the love between the lead pair was not completely developed. It felt as if they fell in love very quickly. I would give this 4 stars out of 5.
PS: This is an open door romance, So, before you dive in, make sure you're ready for a wild ride of love and passion.
January 21, 2024
A very light read. Even the supporting characters are likeable. That’s a definite win for the story. Both main protagonists have issues with their mothers and they become each other’s support in a way. Nothing too serious though. This was contemporary romance with a touch of smut. I did like the idea of the girl being successful on her own and yet she was kind and caring about others.
I have read too many books with the same premise but this was so easy to read through without any unnecessary issues infiltrating the good flow just for the sake of it.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishes for the arc
I have read too many books with the same premise but this was so easy to read through without any unnecessary issues infiltrating the good flow just for the sake of it.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishes for the arc
January 7, 2024
Lots of rich Asian stereotypes as the story deals with controlling family issues and romantic partners versus essentially arranged marriage. Although there are some heavy issues it's balanced with good relationships and a heavy dose of heat.
I almost didn't grab this book as I wasn't sure if it was a LGBTQ romance (I enjoy LGBTQ characters but didn't want to read a FF romance right now) but I'm glad I did and I look forward to the next book about Nick and Aera. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I almost didn't grab this book as I wasn't sure if it was a LGBTQ romance (I enjoy LGBTQ characters but didn't want to read a FF romance right now) but I'm glad I did and I look forward to the next book about Nick and Aera. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 20, 2023
Thank you to the author and BookSirens for giving me a copy of this book. My review is my own opinion.
Charlie Ha is wealthy and her best friend, Alex and his brother, Rick are not. On her wedding day, Charlie runs away and by chance gets into Rick's car. This sets up the events in the rest of the book. Can they find love despite their differences?
The characters were well written and I felt that the story was believable. Readers who like spicy scenes will be happy.
I really enjoyed Runaway Pride and can't wait to read more books by Sylan Young.
Charlie Ha is wealthy and her best friend, Alex and his brother, Rick are not. On her wedding day, Charlie runs away and by chance gets into Rick's car. This sets up the events in the rest of the book. Can they find love despite their differences?
The characters were well written and I felt that the story was believable. Readers who like spicy scenes will be happy.
I really enjoyed Runaway Pride and can't wait to read more books by Sylan Young.
January 26, 2024
I really enjoyed the Runaway Pride! The story of Charlie and Rick was really sweet.
On the day of her wedding to Matt, Charlotte (Charlie) decides she cannot go through with it. Why marry someone she’s not in love with and whose love life was mediocre at best? She was only going through the motions because of her overbearing mother and the pressure to get married because she’s in her 30s. She decides she needs to do what’s best for her and on her own terms. She escapes by jumping into the car of her best friend’s brother, Rick.
The friendship and the relationship that develops between Charlie and Rick was amazing. I thought it was well written and the build up was great. The book had a perfect blend of romance and funny moments.
Runaway Pride is the first book in the Evergreen series. I look forward to reading the next one! Much thanks to the Author Sylan Young and BookSirens. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
On the day of her wedding to Matt, Charlotte (Charlie) decides she cannot go through with it. Why marry someone she’s not in love with and whose love life was mediocre at best? She was only going through the motions because of her overbearing mother and the pressure to get married because she’s in her 30s. She decides she needs to do what’s best for her and on her own terms. She escapes by jumping into the car of her best friend’s brother, Rick.
The friendship and the relationship that develops between Charlie and Rick was amazing. I thought it was well written and the build up was great. The book had a perfect blend of romance and funny moments.
Runaway Pride is the first book in the Evergreen series. I look forward to reading the next one! Much thanks to the Author Sylan Young and BookSirens. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 4, 2023
I recieved an ARC of this book (and am very thankful I did).
I had read Angel of Death by Sylan previously and LOVED it. This book definitely delivered.
(SPOILERS BELOW)
I am such a fan of Charlie-our rich and fabulous runaway bride, and how this story takes us through her growth in relationships but also her growth as an individual. Additionally, Rick was such a likeable character who had to challenge his own biases in order to grow and be happy. I love that they were an unlikely pair that just worked. The cultural dynamics and societal norms set an excellent backdrop for navigation.
Sylan is now on autobuy!
I had read Angel of Death by Sylan previously and LOVED it. This book definitely delivered.
(SPOILERS BELOW)
I am such a fan of Charlie-our rich and fabulous runaway bride, and how this story takes us through her growth in relationships but also her growth as an individual. Additionally, Rick was such a likeable character who had to challenge his own biases in order to grow and be happy. I love that they were an unlikely pair that just worked. The cultural dynamics and societal norms set an excellent backdrop for navigation.
Sylan is now on autobuy!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 1, 2024
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
Drama, drama, drama!
Charlotte Ha - "socialite by birth, businesswoman by choice" © - comes from a wealthy background. Her parents are divorced and her mother Grace is a true matriarch in the family - everyone does what she wants. She even arranges a marriage for Charlie and expects her to go through with it.
Richard Min comes from a completely different background. He only comes to Charlie's wedding, because he is a photographer and his brother Alex is Charlie's best friend who asked Rick for a favor.
On her wedding day, Charlie gets into Rick's car and tells him to drive. And from this moment their lives change.
I enjoyed the story a lot, but there is one thing that I did not like - and it is the overly detailed sex episodes. I'm not a stranger to the hot 18+ scenes in the books and there is a content warning from the author, but there was something off for me in the descriptions of Charlie and Rick's sexual encounters.
Other than that there are a lot of things that I liked about the story:
1. the plot. It starts with an unexpected event - Charlie ditching her fiancé Matt on the wedding day and running away with Rick. Then the story gradually develops - Charlie and Rick start a relationship although they are from different backgrounds, they face various challenges (Charlie's mother and Rick's family history being the main ones), and we can see how their feelings progress and where they come from. So everything is laid out logically and reasonably.
2. the characters. I like Charlie and Rick without saying. Charlie is smart, hard-working, knows what she wants, is ready to fight for it, and takes responsibility for her actions. Rick is kind, caring, ready to work out his issues, and loving. Grace (Charlie's mother) is quite a character also. And I don't mean it in a good way. The way she behaved just blew my mind, although I can't deny that as a mother I kind of see where she might be coming from. So Grace added a great storyline to the book! The secondary characters are also well-written, and although they might not appear often it is still easy to picture them and piece together their personalities.
3. the humor. The writing is humorous in parts, and even in the serious moments, the characters make such remarks that I couldn't not laugh.
4. the ending. It is not overly sweet. I loved that the author kept it real and did not finish the story with unicorns and rainbows. The characters still have issues to work out, their relationships and lives are not perfect, but they are willing to grow and change.
5. Chapters 28 and 30 are my favorites. And both of them involve Grace, so that might tell you something about her character. The things she did just got me so stunned I had to take several moments for myself they were so outrageous (but funny at the same time).
Content warnings: sexual scenes, profane language.
Overall opinion: it is a great and interesting story. It is well-written and full of drama, humor, and real-life events. The author wrote special characters, who are admirable and just so human. In the end, I kind of felt sad to say goodbye to Charlie and Rick, because I grew to like them both. If you enjoy grumpy/sunshine scenarios, then definitely give this book a chance!
Drama, drama, drama!
Charlotte Ha - "socialite by birth, businesswoman by choice" © - comes from a wealthy background. Her parents are divorced and her mother Grace is a true matriarch in the family - everyone does what she wants. She even arranges a marriage for Charlie and expects her to go through with it.
Richard Min comes from a completely different background. He only comes to Charlie's wedding, because he is a photographer and his brother Alex is Charlie's best friend who asked Rick for a favor.
On her wedding day, Charlie gets into Rick's car and tells him to drive. And from this moment their lives change.
I enjoyed the story a lot, but there is one thing that I did not like - and it is the overly detailed sex episodes. I'm not a stranger to the hot 18+ scenes in the books and there is a content warning from the author, but there was something off for me in the descriptions of Charlie and Rick's sexual encounters.
Other than that there are a lot of things that I liked about the story:
1. the plot. It starts with an unexpected event - Charlie ditching her fiancé Matt on the wedding day and running away with Rick. Then the story gradually develops - Charlie and Rick start a relationship although they are from different backgrounds, they face various challenges (Charlie's mother and Rick's family history being the main ones), and we can see how their feelings progress and where they come from. So everything is laid out logically and reasonably.
2. the characters. I like Charlie and Rick without saying. Charlie is smart, hard-working, knows what she wants, is ready to fight for it, and takes responsibility for her actions. Rick is kind, caring, ready to work out his issues, and loving. Grace (Charlie's mother) is quite a character also. And I don't mean it in a good way. The way she behaved just blew my mind, although I can't deny that as a mother I kind of see where she might be coming from. So Grace added a great storyline to the book! The secondary characters are also well-written, and although they might not appear often it is still easy to picture them and piece together their personalities.
3. the humor. The writing is humorous in parts, and even in the serious moments, the characters make such remarks that I couldn't not laugh.
4. the ending. It is not overly sweet. I loved that the author kept it real and did not finish the story with unicorns and rainbows. The characters still have issues to work out, their relationships and lives are not perfect, but they are willing to grow and change.
5. Chapters 28 and 30 are my favorites. And both of them involve Grace, so that might tell you something about her character. The things she did just got me so stunned I had to take several moments for myself they were so outrageous (but funny at the same time).
Content warnings: sexual scenes, profane language.
Overall opinion: it is a great and interesting story. It is well-written and full of drama, humor, and real-life events. The author wrote special characters, who are admirable and just so human. In the end, I kind of felt sad to say goodbye to Charlie and Rick, because I grew to like them both. If you enjoy grumpy/sunshine scenarios, then definitely give this book a chance!
February 26, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley for the advance reader copy!
5.0
I love Asian romances and I will not take any criticisms with this book.
The story follows Charlie, a wealthy down-to-earth sunshine entrepreneur who runs away from an arranged marriage and accidentally drags Rick, an average grumpy gym bro nature photographer, into her mess. It follows the classic best friend's brother, the grumpy-sunshine trope that we all know - but with added daddy and mommy issues and a sprinkle of elder sibling passive aggressiveness. Both Charlie and Rick are wildly different from each other, but that doesn't stop them from being a healthy couple who communicate, love and support one another through difficult times. I enjoyed seeing a couple who made realistic sacrifices for each other without resenting the other for their choices - they were always willing to try and make sure both came out in a good position. And honestly, I love them your honour.
The book and narrative has their pitfalls for sure - but I couldn't care less. I love love and I love Charlie and Rick. I liked seeing their chemistry together and their love bloom. She's a strong character, being a hyper-independent person who still thinks positively of the world and the people around her - and he's a realistic, solution-based man who was willing to admit his mistakes but had enough love for the world and for the ones he cared about.
It's surprisingly well-written, and for a romance book, it adds enough depth and dilemma without feeling like they were last second editions. Both Charlie and Rick have mummy issues that they still don't resolve, and probably never will be, but that plot didn't feel like an after-thought, it felt like the mummy issues were the foundations of this story. I might just be me, but it feels like everything the characters did and their lives were deliberate and true to who they were. And yeah, side characters and some plots were dropped and forgotten about, but I suppose I won't fault the book for that because including all of those would have made the whole story clunky and disorientated. By focusing on the development of Charlie and Rick, it meant we could believe their romance a little bit more.
Also the communication was peng. I love that they talked about their problems, worried that the solution was to leave each other, and choose to be together despite the issues pointing at them. I love them, your honour.
5.0
I love Asian romances and I will not take any criticisms with this book.
The story follows Charlie, a wealthy down-to-earth sunshine entrepreneur who runs away from an arranged marriage and accidentally drags Rick, an average grumpy gym bro nature photographer, into her mess. It follows the classic best friend's brother, the grumpy-sunshine trope that we all know - but with added daddy and mommy issues and a sprinkle of elder sibling passive aggressiveness. Both Charlie and Rick are wildly different from each other, but that doesn't stop them from being a healthy couple who communicate, love and support one another through difficult times. I enjoyed seeing a couple who made realistic sacrifices for each other without resenting the other for their choices - they were always willing to try and make sure both came out in a good position. And honestly, I love them your honour.
The book and narrative has their pitfalls for sure - but I couldn't care less. I love love and I love Charlie and Rick. I liked seeing their chemistry together and their love bloom. She's a strong character, being a hyper-independent person who still thinks positively of the world and the people around her - and he's a realistic, solution-based man who was willing to admit his mistakes but had enough love for the world and for the ones he cared about.
It's surprisingly well-written, and for a romance book, it adds enough depth and dilemma without feeling like they were last second editions. Both Charlie and Rick have mummy issues that they still don't resolve, and probably never will be, but that plot didn't feel like an after-thought, it felt like the mummy issues were the foundations of this story. I might just be me, but it feels like everything the characters did and their lives were deliberate and true to who they were. And yeah, side characters and some plots were dropped and forgotten about, but I suppose I won't fault the book for that because including all of those would have made the whole story clunky and disorientated. By focusing on the development of Charlie and Rick, it meant we could believe their romance a little bit more.
Also the communication was peng. I love that they talked about their problems, worried that the solution was to leave each other, and choose to be together despite the issues pointing at them. I love them, your honour.
September 18, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Runaway Pride had a great premise and strong characters that for the most part, were fleshed out. However, the story fell a bit flat for me in places. The book, while dual POV, didn’t feel balanced in terms of the depth of character work. In other words, Charlie’s pov held more detail than Rick’s at time. There was also a lot of telling versus showing which at times took me out of the story.
A big theme of this book focused on the class divide between the two MC’s and the personal prejudices surrounding getting to close to someone from the upper class while being outside of it. Also, both characters are dealing with severe mommy issues and family trauma.
I think the story would’ve been enhanced if it was another 100 pages longer. And with it, more details in Rick’s POV really working through his family issues. There was a line in the book where he reminisces on the fact that it’s been awhile since he’s been to therapy and I think maybe a chapter(s) where we watch him going to counseling and unpacking the hurt that is having long term effects on his relationships. I think there should’ve been a chapter which saw Charlie meeting with her father to help save her business and the rebuilding of that relationship.
I feel like Sarah was written as Charlie’s best friend and while there were a few scenes with them, it felt like Aera was more of her bestie than anyone else. Also their extended friend group kind of just disappears after awhile. Also at times, the spice just didn’t flow. The dirty talk didn’t make sense to the specific characters and/or at times it seemed like I wasn’t reading the same characters from the previous chapters. Like they felt like completely different people.
But despite my critiques, I did laugh a lot while reading. I just wish their ending felt more real and finite and earned (maybe?).
Runaway Pride had a great premise and strong characters that for the most part, were fleshed out. However, the story fell a bit flat for me in places. The book, while dual POV, didn’t feel balanced in terms of the depth of character work. In other words, Charlie’s pov held more detail than Rick’s at time. There was also a lot of telling versus showing which at times took me out of the story.
A big theme of this book focused on the class divide between the two MC’s and the personal prejudices surrounding getting to close to someone from the upper class while being outside of it. Also, both characters are dealing with severe mommy issues and family trauma.
I think the story would’ve been enhanced if it was another 100 pages longer. And with it, more details in Rick’s POV really working through his family issues. There was a line in the book where he reminisces on the fact that it’s been awhile since he’s been to therapy and I think maybe a chapter(s) where we watch him going to counseling and unpacking the hurt that is having long term effects on his relationships. I think there should’ve been a chapter which saw Charlie meeting with her father to help save her business and the rebuilding of that relationship.
I feel like Sarah was written as Charlie’s best friend and while there were a few scenes with them, it felt like Aera was more of her bestie than anyone else. Also their extended friend group kind of just disappears after awhile. Also at times, the spice just didn’t flow. The dirty talk didn’t make sense to the specific characters and/or at times it seemed like I wasn’t reading the same characters from the previous chapters. Like they felt like completely different people.
But despite my critiques, I did laugh a lot while reading. I just wish their ending felt more real and finite and earned (maybe?).
February 11, 2024
𝙄 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙣 𝘼𝙍𝘾 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙮 𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬
𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐞 — 𝐬𝐲𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠
𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜: ★★★
𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙘𝙚: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄:
the writing impressed me. typically, i'm not drawn to books with a third-person point of view, preferring first-person narratives for better character connection. however, i got hooked on this book because the writing was really good, especially in how it portrayed charlie's character.
"𝚂𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚊 𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚒𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚎𝚛, 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚘𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚜𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚛𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚍, 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚑𝚞𝚜𝚋𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚒𝚗-𝚕𝚊𝚠𝚜 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚎𝚡𝚙𝚎𝚌𝚝 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚙 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚙𝚘𝚙 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚋𝚊𝚋𝚒𝚎𝚜. 𝙸𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚊𝚕𝚜𝚘 𝚜����𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚖𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚎𝚡𝚙𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚎𝚍."
"𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚕𝚘𝚝𝚝𝚎, 𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚒𝚐𝚐𝚎𝚛 𝚙𝚒𝚌𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎. 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚛𝚝𝚢 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚛𝚎𝚙𝚞𝚝𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚒𝚜 𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚘𝚗 𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚜𝚎 𝚒𝚝𝚜 𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚜𝚎 𝚎𝚗𝚍. 𝚈𝚘𝚞'𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚕𝚖𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚊 𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚊𝚑 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚖𝚞𝚗𝚒𝚝𝚢.. 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚌𝚊𝚗'𝚝 𝚐𝚘 𝚘𝚗. 𝙴𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚊𝚐𝚎 𝚒𝚜 𝚜𝚎𝚝𝚝𝚕𝚎𝚍 𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚗."
i appreciate how the book challenges stereotypes, particularly the notion that women should prioritize marriage and family by a certain age. it's refreshing to see charlie assert herself against societal expectations, reminding readers that marriage and kids should happen when one feels ready, not just because of age pressure.
however, as the story progressed, i felt it dragged, especially towards the end. there seemed to be a lack of character development leading up to rick and charlie's relationship. their connection felt more based on infatuation than genuine understanding, leaving me wishing for more meaningful bonding moments between them.
the book left me with unanswered questions and a sense of unresolved closure, which left me wanting more clarity.
overall, "runaway pride" is a fun and easy read, though it could benefit from tighter pacing and deeper character development.
thank you, sylan & booksirens for the ARC!
𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐞 — 𝐬𝐲𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠
𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜: ★★★
𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙘𝙚: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄:
the writing impressed me. typically, i'm not drawn to books with a third-person point of view, preferring first-person narratives for better character connection. however, i got hooked on this book because the writing was really good, especially in how it portrayed charlie's character.
"𝚂𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚊 𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚒𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚎𝚛, 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚘𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚜𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚛𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚍, 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚑𝚞𝚜𝚋𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚒𝚗-𝚕𝚊𝚠𝚜 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚎𝚡𝚙𝚎𝚌𝚝 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚙 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚙𝚘𝚙 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚋𝚊𝚋𝚒𝚎𝚜. 𝙸𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚊𝚕𝚜𝚘 𝚜����𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚖𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚎𝚡𝚙𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚎𝚍."
"𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚕𝚘𝚝𝚝𝚎, 𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚒𝚐𝚐𝚎𝚛 𝚙𝚒𝚌𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎. 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚛𝚝𝚢 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚛𝚎𝚙𝚞𝚝𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚒𝚜 𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚘𝚗 𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚜𝚎 𝚒𝚝𝚜 𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚜𝚎 𝚎𝚗𝚍. 𝚈𝚘𝚞'𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚕𝚖𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚊 𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚊𝚑 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚖𝚞𝚗𝚒𝚝𝚢.. 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚌𝚊𝚗'𝚝 𝚐𝚘 𝚘𝚗. 𝙴𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚊𝚐𝚎 𝚒𝚜 𝚜𝚎𝚝𝚝𝚕𝚎𝚍 𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚗."
i appreciate how the book challenges stereotypes, particularly the notion that women should prioritize marriage and family by a certain age. it's refreshing to see charlie assert herself against societal expectations, reminding readers that marriage and kids should happen when one feels ready, not just because of age pressure.
however, as the story progressed, i felt it dragged, especially towards the end. there seemed to be a lack of character development leading up to rick and charlie's relationship. their connection felt more based on infatuation than genuine understanding, leaving me wishing for more meaningful bonding moments between them.
the book left me with unanswered questions and a sense of unresolved closure, which left me wanting more clarity.
overall, "runaway pride" is a fun and easy read, though it could benefit from tighter pacing and deeper character development.
thank you, sylan & booksirens for the ARC!
November 27, 2023
Charlotte or Charlie as her friends call her and a wealthy upbringing. The wedding party was gathered, and it was time for her to walk down the aisle to wed Matt but she couldn’t do it. There was no spark. She ran out the venue door and jumped in the car parked in the driveway and told the driver to drive! The car she jumped in was driven by her best friend, Alex’s brother. He was the grumpy brother and had little to do with her. Suddenly they are thrust together until she can get herself together. When Alex and Rick were young their mother walked out on them, and Rick assumed the job of taking care of his ailing father and raising Alex. He has a poor concept of family and relationships. I liked how Charlie relied so much on Rick and how he helped her with all her concerns. Charlie had always done what her mother wanted, and she now realizes it was for her mother, not for Charlie. Charlie was so free and happy while Rick was serious and thought things out. The wealth of Charlie’s family contrasted with the struggles Rick’s family went through was very good. Money does not buy happiness. Great characters and great book!
December 6, 2023
Charlotte Ha, aka Charlie, is from a wealthy family, and has had everything handed to her on a plate.
She has a difficult relationship with her mother, however, who controls her - from her business, to choosing her bridegroom.
Richard Min, aka Rick, his brother Alex, and their father were abandoned by their mother, and Rick, being the eldest, sacrificed his own goals to look after his father, who had Parkinsons Disease, and died young.
Charlotte and Alex had been best friends since college, and although she had met Rick, didn’t know him well.
That changed when Charlie became a Runaway Bride on her wedding day, and jumped into Rick’s car, in which he was waiting to hand over something to Alex. Charlie begged him to drive off and leave the venue behind.
This is well plotted story, with believable characters and situations.
The story revolves around Charlie and Rick, with lots of ups and downs, upsets, and good times.
I enjoyed reading it, and had great sympathy for both of the main characters, and look forward to reading more by this author.
I received an advance review copy for free, and am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
She has a difficult relationship with her mother, however, who controls her - from her business, to choosing her bridegroom.
Richard Min, aka Rick, his brother Alex, and their father were abandoned by their mother, and Rick, being the eldest, sacrificed his own goals to look after his father, who had Parkinsons Disease, and died young.
Charlotte and Alex had been best friends since college, and although she had met Rick, didn’t know him well.
That changed when Charlie became a Runaway Bride on her wedding day, and jumped into Rick’s car, in which he was waiting to hand over something to Alex. Charlie begged him to drive off and leave the venue behind.
This is well plotted story, with believable characters and situations.
The story revolves around Charlie and Rick, with lots of ups and downs, upsets, and good times.
I enjoyed reading it, and had great sympathy for both of the main characters, and look forward to reading more by this author.
I received an advance review copy for free, and am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
February 5, 2024
On her wedding day, Charlie realizes that she is getting married for the wrong reasons. She runs away straight into the car of her best friend's brother, Rick.
This was an easy read that touches on class differences and family trauma. The main characters are developing their relationship while navigating similar family issues concerning their mother. Each one supporting the other in the best way they can.
Even though Charlie is strong and knows her worth, she still struggles with wanting her mother's approval. This drove the story and it was interesting to read how Charlie and Rick navigated this dynamic as they developed their relationship with each other.
The pacing was a bit slow and I did have some trouble staying interested in this book about halfway through. I think the mother really annoyed me but if I felt this strongly about a character, kudos to the author!
I would recommend this to readers that enjoy a light romance read with some spice and the following tropes:
*Rich girl/poor boy
* grumpy/ sunshine
* Best friend's brother
Thank you so much to the author and NetGalley for providing me this ARC!
This was an easy read that touches on class differences and family trauma. The main characters are developing their relationship while navigating similar family issues concerning their mother. Each one supporting the other in the best way they can.
Even though Charlie is strong and knows her worth, she still struggles with wanting her mother's approval. This drove the story and it was interesting to read how Charlie and Rick navigated this dynamic as they developed their relationship with each other.
The pacing was a bit slow and I did have some trouble staying interested in this book about halfway through. I think the mother really annoyed me but if I felt this strongly about a character, kudos to the author!
I would recommend this to readers that enjoy a light romance read with some spice and the following tropes:
*Rich girl/poor boy
* grumpy/ sunshine
* Best friend's brother
Thank you so much to the author and NetGalley for providing me this ARC!
April 17, 2024
This was a first time read for me by this author. The story was engaging and kept my interest from start to finish. Charlie and Rick come from two different backgrounds, and they each have their family conflicts and issues as well as their personal challenges to deal with. Charlie is the best friend of Rick's brother, and he has always just seen her as a privileged, spoiled girl. Charlie has everything in her life planned out for her, even down to her wedding and who she is going to marry. She finally decides to stand up for herself and go for what she wants, and makes the decision to run away on her wedding day, and Rick is there to rescue her. The two develop a beautiful friendship which evolves into more, and in the process they learn to look out for themselves and to do what is best for them and take a chance on each other.
The story was well-written and engaging and the characters were interesting and well-crafted. I enjoyed it very much and look forward to continuing the series.
I received a complimentary copy from BookSirens and am voluntarily leaving my review.
The story was well-written and engaging and the characters were interesting and well-crafted. I enjoyed it very much and look forward to continuing the series.
I received a complimentary copy from BookSirens and am voluntarily leaving my review.
December 31, 2023
Title: Runaway Pride
Author: Sylan Young
Gente: Romantic Comedy
Pages: 388
Favorite character: Charlie & Rick
Rating
Characters: ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Plot: ❤️❤️❤️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Overall: ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Fav Quotes:
“This is what I want from you. I want all of you. You belong with me. Even if the future says otherwise. Right now, you belong with me.”
“You’ve always been more than enough. I’ll love you more than anyone ever could.”
This book was really sweet!! Charlie had everything available to her, the wedding all planned out, until she realizes none of those are actually what she wants. Charlie runaway from her wedding & her brother’s best friend helps her driving her to his house. The relationship they start building was amazing & once Rick realize that he wanted her, everything he did to get her back was 😘😙I adore the characters❤️
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Author: Sylan Young
Gente: Romantic Comedy
Pages: 388
Favorite character: Charlie & Rick
Rating
Characters: ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Plot: ❤️❤️❤️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Overall: ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Fav Quotes:
“This is what I want from you. I want all of you. You belong with me. Even if the future says otherwise. Right now, you belong with me.”
“You’ve always been more than enough. I’ll love you more than anyone ever could.”
This book was really sweet!! Charlie had everything available to her, the wedding all planned out, until she realizes none of those are actually what she wants. Charlie runaway from her wedding & her brother’s best friend helps her driving her to his house. The relationship they start building was amazing & once Rick realize that he wanted her, everything he did to get her back was 😘😙I adore the characters❤️
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 21, 2024
This book follows Charlie who runs away on her wedding day with her best friend’s brother who isn’t her biggest fan. Rick thinks they couldn’t be more different because she’s grown up rich and spoiled, and he’s had to struggle so much. However, as he gets to know her he quickly starts to develop feelings for her. Will they be able to survive all of the trials they have to go through and make their relationship work?
I really enjoyed this book. The characters were very complex and well written. I loved both Charlie and Rick’s characters. Sylan Young does a great job of covering a lot of ups and downs in a relationship in a shorter book. She also covers a lot of deeper topics such as grief, abandonment, and strained familial relationships. Overall, I really liked this book and I’m looking forward to reading more from Sylan Young’s books. I also would love to check out the sequel she’s writing for this book when that comes out!
I really enjoyed this book. The characters were very complex and well written. I loved both Charlie and Rick’s characters. Sylan Young does a great job of covering a lot of ups and downs in a relationship in a shorter book. She also covers a lot of deeper topics such as grief, abandonment, and strained familial relationships. Overall, I really liked this book and I’m looking forward to reading more from Sylan Young’s books. I also would love to check out the sequel she’s writing for this book when that comes out!
February 25, 2024
i honestly thought this book was very cute💗 both characters were very lovable, especially the sweetheart that charlie is.. i loved how into rick she was and she was letting him know every minute and i also loved her determination toward her career and life goals⭐
to me the book felt more character driven, there was some groveling (nothing major), complicated family relationships (their mothers sucked) and lovely friendships🌷 and it was quite steamy, which i wasn't really expecting, but the scenes were written very well✨
the 80% was amazing and so much fun, but i felt like the last 20% were both dragged out and not explained enough? i felt like so many quite big things happened in the last few chapters that were only briefly mentioned but the reading felt so slow. also what happened with the job opportunity for rick?
but i loved the kdrama vibe and the kpop references💗
to me the book felt more character driven, there was some groveling (nothing major), complicated family relationships (their mothers sucked) and lovely friendships🌷 and it was quite steamy, which i wasn't really expecting, but the scenes were written very well✨
the 80% was amazing and so much fun, but i felt like the last 20% were both dragged out and not explained enough? i felt like so many quite big things happened in the last few chapters that were only briefly mentioned but the reading felt so slow. also what happened with the job opportunity for rick?
but i loved the kdrama vibe and the kpop references💗
February 23, 2024
Charlie is the daughter pf wealthy parents and had a privileged childhood although she struggles with her relationship with her domineering mother. She runs away on her wedding day jumping in Rick's car. Charlie is best friends with Alex who is Rick's younger brother, but Rick always seemed unapproachable. However, feelings grow when Charlie starts her own business and Rick keeps running into her. Rick fights against his attraction to Charlie as he cannot see a relationship working as he is from a completely different family background. Some humour, heat and family drama make this a very entertaining read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 11, 2024
When main character Tessa emailed her boss, instead of her co-worked, of her plans to shove said boss in a trash compactor, she was fired. As a copywriter she loved her position.
With nothing to keep her in the big town of Boston, Tessa decides to move.
To the small village of Lucas, Vermont.
There she has made friends, a job at the local bookstore, and even has what seems like a purpose,when she convinces manager Daniel to write a book.
Dive into this book to see what happens when a small town comes together, the romance of an opposites attract pairing, and what miscommunication can do to a relationship
With nothing to keep her in the big town of Boston, Tessa decides to move.
To the small village of Lucas, Vermont.
There she has made friends, a job at the local bookstore, and even has what seems like a purpose,when she convinces manager Daniel to write a book.
Dive into this book to see what happens when a small town comes together, the romance of an opposites attract pairing, and what miscommunication can do to a relationship
December 11, 2023
This book is a plea for really looking at people and seeing them for what they are, and not what they have or their status. To value them for their true worth, and not their wealth, to see their potential to do good, and not their potential to do good for you.
Yes, generalization is bad, and the characters in this book are both traumatized by the circumstances of their birth to wealthy parents who make the wrong choices, but they survive and find happiness despite it.
I received an advance review copy for free from BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Yes, generalization is bad, and the characters in this book are both traumatized by the circumstances of their birth to wealthy parents who make the wrong choices, but they survive and find happiness despite it.
I received an advance review copy for free from BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 29, 2024
She comes from a rich family and he had to work really hard for his family and from humble upbrings. Charlie leaves her wedding because she doesn't feel passion and runs into the car where her brother's best friend is. Rick ends up helping her and along the way they fall in love. There is also lots of steam in this book as well since it's an open-door romance.
I highly recommend if the title or description caught your attention because it should be very worth it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I highly recommend if the title or description caught your attention because it should be very worth it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 10, 2024
This was such an enjoyable story. From the beginning, and the characters and the flow of the story. It was cute and lighthearted, but packed a lot of drama (which I absolutely love in stories) Charlotte and Rick are so perfect for each other, and I liked reading how their relationship developed and matured. The flow was just right for this book, and it was such an easy read
I received a copy of the book via booksirens and am voluntarily leaving an honest review of my own thoughts and opinions
I received a copy of the book via booksirens and am voluntarily leaving an honest review of my own thoughts and opinions
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews