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Finding Myself
In a world where “Save yourself for marriage,” “You dress to impress,” “Don't date this guy,” “Don't date this girl,” “Don't drink too much,” “Focus on your studies,” and “Put your career first” are the rules, Olivia Manu , a Romanian student in Barcelona, and Polo García , a Spanish actor, are about to challenge everything. Olivia, bound by her father's strict guidelines, and Polo, a talented Spanish actor who's lost touch with living, cross paths and ignite a thrilling adventure of self-discovery.
Join them on an extraordinary journey as they challenge societal norms, grapple with love, search for their true selves and find the courage to live authentically. Olivia and Polo's story will leave you captivated, reminding us all that sometimes, the only way to find ourselves is to defy expectations.
Join them on an extraordinary journey as they challenge societal norms, grapple with love, search for their true selves and find the courage to live authentically. Olivia and Polo's story will leave you captivated, reminding us all that sometimes, the only way to find ourselves is to defy expectations.
246 pages, Hardcover
Published August 8, 2023
7 people are currently reading
25 people want to read
About the author
Corina Purcăreanu
5 books23 followersHello! I'm Corina, a dedicated dreamer. Hailing from Romania, my journey has been painted by a vivid imagination since my early years. While my peers were drawn to screens and pages, I wandered within my own mind, weaving tales that held a fascination all their own.
My path as a writer emerged from solitude and boundless creativity. As I spent hours immersed in my thoughts, crafting narratives that unfolded within me, I realized the stories were too vibrant to remain confined. At the tender age of 8, I embarked on a journey of transcribing these inner tales onto paper. Reading them aloud to my grandmother, I unearthed the magic of storytelling that would come to shape my life's passion.
My path as a writer emerged from solitude and boundless creativity. As I spent hours immersed in my thoughts, crafting narratives that unfolded within me, I realized the stories were too vibrant to remain confined. At the tender age of 8, I embarked on a journey of transcribing these inner tales onto paper. Reading them aloud to my grandmother, I unearthed the magic of storytelling that would come to shape my life's passion.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
September 18, 2025
so i went into reading this book with no idea what this was even about or anything besides knowing it was classified as romance. the author had reached out on social media platforms asking for opinions/reviews and obviously i volunteered.
at first, i was skeptical, this was not my normal style of reading.
but i'm so glad i did.
this story goes on about two different characters with completely different ways of growing up and different lifestyles along with following societal and cultural rules and obligations. this story dives into their lives, their past, present, and what potential the future could hold. i really enjoyed it all in all and can't wait to continue the series and see where Olivia and Polo end up next.
the only complaints i have was some of the writing seemed repetitive, especially when the characters were sharing their thoughts and feelings about what was on-going.
at first, i was skeptical, this was not my normal style of reading.
but i'm so glad i did.
this story goes on about two different characters with completely different ways of growing up and different lifestyles along with following societal and cultural rules and obligations. this story dives into their lives, their past, present, and what potential the future could hold. i really enjoyed it all in all and can't wait to continue the series and see where Olivia and Polo end up next.
the only complaints i have was some of the writing seemed repetitive, especially when the characters were sharing their thoughts and feelings about what was on-going.
September 24, 2023
Embrace the Journey!
Finding Myself by Corina P is a captivating, seductive, and intense journey exposing the thin lines between intimacy, romance, and lust. It is an intriguing story of two young people whose lives unexpectedly intersect during their own personal struggles for identity.
Polo is an established celebrity who has made a name for himself as an actor. Olivia is a bit younger – attending college in a society removed from her native Romania. Both are living in Barcelona and are on the rebound from very toxic relationships.
They do not know one another on the evening that Polo rescues Olivia from being assaulted outside a nightclub, but unexpectedly begin a journey of discovery together that introduces Olivia to the realities of passion and romance. She harbors a deep insecurity, only exacerbated by Polo’s status as a celebrity. As their relationship becomes intimate, both are challenged by feelings and emotions deep inside, moving them to explore the realities of who they are.
Olivia has been marked by an awkward past relationship with her stepbrother, leaving remnants of confusion as to her expectations for real love and intimacy. Polo meanwhile, is challenged by confusing emotions and impulses, both of mind and body, pulling him in unexpected directions.
The most incredible piece of this reading experience is feeling the emotional journey of these two people. On the surface, it appears that their relationship is that of a romantic fairy tale… however, there is more going on in the hearts and minds of these two and while they seem to be forging their own adventure as a couple… the pathways to their identity crisis are revealed – ultimately allowing both the highs and lows of their time together to open them to new directions.
I loved Corina’s writing style as the characters were honest, real, and relatable. The writing is truly sensual.. it neither skims the surface of physical intimacy nor dives into gratuitous erotica. Those passages truly paint various pictures of sexual interplay and attach to the accompanying emotions. Many authors go one extreme or the other… but Corina’s artistry in this part of the storytelling was absolutely perfect!
I was glad to read in her end notes, that the journeys of these two characters are not over. They are both intriguing and complex enough to launch a series from. In conclusion, I would also say that Corina’s underlying message was inspiring and resonated with me :
“Embrace the journey of finding yourself, for it is a gift that can unfold in the most unexpected and beautiful ways…”
Gift … this marvelous five-star read to yourself!
Finding Myself by Corina P is a captivating, seductive, and intense journey exposing the thin lines between intimacy, romance, and lust. It is an intriguing story of two young people whose lives unexpectedly intersect during their own personal struggles for identity.
Polo is an established celebrity who has made a name for himself as an actor. Olivia is a bit younger – attending college in a society removed from her native Romania. Both are living in Barcelona and are on the rebound from very toxic relationships.
They do not know one another on the evening that Polo rescues Olivia from being assaulted outside a nightclub, but unexpectedly begin a journey of discovery together that introduces Olivia to the realities of passion and romance. She harbors a deep insecurity, only exacerbated by Polo’s status as a celebrity. As their relationship becomes intimate, both are challenged by feelings and emotions deep inside, moving them to explore the realities of who they are.
Olivia has been marked by an awkward past relationship with her stepbrother, leaving remnants of confusion as to her expectations for real love and intimacy. Polo meanwhile, is challenged by confusing emotions and impulses, both of mind and body, pulling him in unexpected directions.
The most incredible piece of this reading experience is feeling the emotional journey of these two people. On the surface, it appears that their relationship is that of a romantic fairy tale… however, there is more going on in the hearts and minds of these two and while they seem to be forging their own adventure as a couple… the pathways to their identity crisis are revealed – ultimately allowing both the highs and lows of their time together to open them to new directions.
I loved Corina’s writing style as the characters were honest, real, and relatable. The writing is truly sensual.. it neither skims the surface of physical intimacy nor dives into gratuitous erotica. Those passages truly paint various pictures of sexual interplay and attach to the accompanying emotions. Many authors go one extreme or the other… but Corina’s artistry in this part of the storytelling was absolutely perfect!
I was glad to read in her end notes, that the journeys of these two characters are not over. They are both intriguing and complex enough to launch a series from. In conclusion, I would also say that Corina’s underlying message was inspiring and resonated with me :
“Embrace the journey of finding yourself, for it is a gift that can unfold in the most unexpected and beautiful ways…”
Gift … this marvelous five-star read to yourself!
August 27, 2023
Book review: Finding Myself
(Thankyou for asking me to read your book:)
First I have to say I love the creative way of writing in this.
The characters give into their desires not caring for the next day but enjoy the moment of thoughtful bliss.
Olivia has a hard time opening up to men after being abused for years by someone who was supposed to protect her. After meeting Polo she tries her best to turn over a new leaf but doubts flood her mind. Polo might love her but he lets his heart and desires make all his decisions and in his case its a bad idea and careless.
When truths start flying, hearts start breaking.
(Thankyou for asking me to read your book:)
First I have to say I love the creative way of writing in this.
The characters give into their desires not caring for the next day but enjoy the moment of thoughtful bliss.
Olivia has a hard time opening up to men after being abused for years by someone who was supposed to protect her. After meeting Polo she tries her best to turn over a new leaf but doubts flood her mind. Polo might love her but he lets his heart and desires make all his decisions and in his case its a bad idea and careless.
When truths start flying, hearts start breaking.
November 30, 2023
I loved this book. It is such a great first book - i was a bit sceptical coming into this book as i read it as an ARC without knowing much about it. I was pleasantly surprised. A very sensitive topic handled well.
The romance between the FMC and MMC is complicated to say the least but It was really well written and enjoyable to read.
The concept is something new i have not seen before. It is interesting how it wasn’t just a sappy romance, it had layers and dimensions.
The romance between the FMC and MMC is complicated to say the least but It was really well written and enjoyable to read.
The concept is something new i have not seen before. It is interesting how it wasn’t just a sappy romance, it had layers and dimensions.
November 13, 2023
Let me start by saying, I was asked by the author to read and review this book. She was looking for reviewers in one of my book groups so I volunteered, having no idea what it was about other than it was classified as romance. Romance is not normally my genre of choice but I’m trying to broaden my horizons. With that being said, this was not what I would consider a romance at all. I do believe the overall concept/story line has a lot of potential. However, the character development was lacking for me. The plot line left a bit to be desired and the journey to finding oneself was hindered by simply showcasing one of the main characters jumping from one sexual partner to the next. I think the author had a great idea with the overall idea, but the plot was not well thought out. It was jumpy and never truly developed. BUT while it was not my cup of tea, I’ve read other reviews where the readers loved it so remember reviews are always subjective. In saying all of this, I do applaud anyone who puts themselves out there to write a book. I try not to be too critical in my review but this is not a book that I would recommend personally.
September 22, 2023
This book was a wild ride. It’s about Olivia, a Romanian student at university in Barcelona. She meets Polo, an actor, outside of a club. He ends up helping her out and taking her home to keep her safe. There is insta-infatuation between the two. They quickly start a relationship and start talking about loving each other. After just a few days.
But because they are young and mostly immature (Olivia being 19, almost 20, and Polo is 24), this relationship is a mess. She’s blocking him over simple things, he cheats multiple times. I didn’t think they would last long at all.
Olivia had some things in her past that made her act the way she did, and she really needs professional help with it all. Polo had JUST gotten out of a relationship and shouldn’t have jumped so quickly either.
There were some WTF moments in this book, mostly from Polo. He did eventually “find himself”, but at a cost to Olivia. I’m glad he discovered his true self, but I really hated the way he treated her. Olivia will need even more help after this.
The author does say that the series will be continuing and we’ll see where Olivia and Polo go from here. I really hope Olivia can work on herself.
Overall, this was a good start to a series, and I’d be interested in reading more about these two.
Ratings:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
Tropes:
Self-discovery
LGBTQ
Celebrity
Instalove
Series
But because they are young and mostly immature (Olivia being 19, almost 20, and Polo is 24), this relationship is a mess. She’s blocking him over simple things, he cheats multiple times. I didn’t think they would last long at all.
Olivia had some things in her past that made her act the way she did, and she really needs professional help with it all. Polo had JUST gotten out of a relationship and shouldn’t have jumped so quickly either.
There were some WTF moments in this book, mostly from Polo. He did eventually “find himself”, but at a cost to Olivia. I’m glad he discovered his true self, but I really hated the way he treated her. Olivia will need even more help after this.
The author does say that the series will be continuing and we’ll see where Olivia and Polo go from here. I really hope Olivia can work on herself.
Overall, this was a good start to a series, and I’d be interested in reading more about these two.
Ratings:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
Tropes:
Self-discovery
LGBTQ
Celebrity
Instalove
Series
September 7, 2023
To be clear, the author asked me to read and review her book.
Finding Myself is a romance novel with a complicated relationship between the main characters and within each character. Oliva is a quiet, studious twenty year old with a tragic past that left physical and mental scars. It's the mental scars that she finds herself battling as she tries her first real romantic relationship. These battles cause challenges in her relationship. Polo is a Netflix famous actor who struggles with knowing who he is. After being consistently hired to paly various roles, he wants to take a break to find out who he really is. As Olivia and Polo's relationship and personal journies of self-discoveries deepen, they encounter obstacles that threaten to break them apart.
Overall, I thought the concept was an intriguing one. While the writing itself was descriptive, the dialogue felt stilted. While I understand that Olivia is going through things, her personality was a bit too childish at times. I also had difficulty with Polo as he felt overly needy at times. Not a terrible read but not the best.
Finding Myself is a romance novel with a complicated relationship between the main characters and within each character. Oliva is a quiet, studious twenty year old with a tragic past that left physical and mental scars. It's the mental scars that she finds herself battling as she tries her first real romantic relationship. These battles cause challenges in her relationship. Polo is a Netflix famous actor who struggles with knowing who he is. After being consistently hired to paly various roles, he wants to take a break to find out who he really is. As Olivia and Polo's relationship and personal journies of self-discoveries deepen, they encounter obstacles that threaten to break them apart.
Overall, I thought the concept was an intriguing one. While the writing itself was descriptive, the dialogue felt stilted. While I understand that Olivia is going through things, her personality was a bit too childish at times. I also had difficulty with Polo as he felt overly needy at times. Not a terrible read but not the best.
November 27, 2023
wasn’t my cup of tea…2 ⭐️
I came across a post on fb through the groups that I follow and the author was asking to see if there was anyone interested to read and leave a review on her novel here. I decided to give it a shot and ouuu I couldn’t do it. I learned a few things along the way of this novel but after a while, I felt like things kept on getting repeated and the direction of the was heading a way I wasn’t familiar with. It’s not a bad thing really, just wasn’t my cup of tea. I ended up dnf the novel at ch 24 but I skimmed through to find out the ending to see what happened. From ch 24 all the way to the ending of this novel, I basically found out what had happened between the two mc’s and was honestly surprised about the outcome but at the same time not really because of the few information I learned about them both.
I came across a post on fb through the groups that I follow and the author was asking to see if there was anyone interested to read and leave a review on her novel here. I decided to give it a shot and ouuu I couldn’t do it. I learned a few things along the way of this novel but after a while, I felt like things kept on getting repeated and the direction of the was heading a way I wasn’t familiar with. It’s not a bad thing really, just wasn’t my cup of tea. I ended up dnf the novel at ch 24 but I skimmed through to find out the ending to see what happened. From ch 24 all the way to the ending of this novel, I basically found out what had happened between the two mc’s and was honestly surprised about the outcome but at the same time not really because of the few information I learned about them both.
November 20, 2023
The book had a rough start for me because the main male character got violent with his girlfriend, and the way it was glossed over bothered me. The presence of other forms of assault felt uneasy, and I'm not sure if it's a cultural difference, but it raised a red flag. Following the storyline was a bit challenging as it felt weak. Personally, the back-and-forth narrative seemed a bit too much, and at times, the tone felt a bit childish. While it might not be my cup of tea, I acknowledge that others might enjoy it. The plot was alright, but it could benefit from more depth. Olivia, the FMC, could also choose better friends.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 29, 2023
⭐️3.75
- OMGG! I tried to finish this book in one sitting but it was really good!! Polo and Olivia are everything, they are the sweetest!! I can’t stop thinking about them!! Serena on the other hand is literally like the worst human being ever, who cheats on their boyfriend of 5 years with his childhood best friend? Gross!! And then there’s Alex! the world class asshole, he really tried to hurt his best friend in a way that should have never happened! I am glad Olivia moved to Barcelona for her studies and as her mother’s dream.
- OMGG! I tried to finish this book in one sitting but it was really good!! Polo and Olivia are everything, they are the sweetest!! I can’t stop thinking about them!! Serena on the other hand is literally like the worst human being ever, who cheats on their boyfriend of 5 years with his childhood best friend? Gross!! And then there’s Alex! the world class asshole, he really tried to hurt his best friend in a way that should have never happened! I am glad Olivia moved to Barcelona for her studies and as her mother’s dream.
August 30, 2023
A Romanian studying in Barcelona, the product of a strict father, and taken advantage of by those she should be able to trust. A chance encounter with a famous actor who is already attached and out of her league and we have all the ingredients for a gripping love story.
The novel has the reader asking questions. Is someone really famous if you've never heard of them? If so, what are the consequences of that fame to those around? Finally, does having a huge amount of social followers make you a better person? These, and other aspects are woven into this story.
The novel has the reader asking questions. Is someone really famous if you've never heard of them? If so, what are the consequences of that fame to those around? Finally, does having a huge amount of social followers make you a better person? These, and other aspects are woven into this story.
October 18, 2023
Raw emotions and unfiltered pure feelings
An astonishing story about deep connections, love, freedom, trauma and great insights of the complex world of emotions.
The vivid portrayal of the characters, as well as their inner world, transposes the reader directly into the little dimension that the Author created. Amazingly wrriten, with a major plot twist, this is a story to remember.
The moral of this story is that love will always be the right answer.
I highly recommend this book!! I loved every bit of it.
An astonishing story about deep connections, love, freedom, trauma and great insights of the complex world of emotions.
The vivid portrayal of the characters, as well as their inner world, transposes the reader directly into the little dimension that the Author created. Amazingly wrriten, with a major plot twist, this is a story to remember.
The moral of this story is that love will always be the right answer.
I highly recommend this book!! I loved every bit of it.
August 25, 2023
poor Olivia!
not only is she betrayed by Alex, her own once beloved step-brother, then dropped as a friend by Marina, who thinks that she, Olivia, should be able to control who an actor falls in love with, but after she falls in love herself & decides that, yes, Polo IS the man for her, he… well… uh… geez! talk about “finding” oneself!
not only is she betrayed by Alex, her own once beloved step-brother, then dropped as a friend by Marina, who thinks that she, Olivia, should be able to control who an actor falls in love with, but after she falls in love herself & decides that, yes, Polo IS the man for her, he… well… uh… geez! talk about “finding” oneself!
September 23, 2023
Not all love stories have happy endings.
I was really looking forward to Olivia and Polo having a happy ever after. I like how both characters were able to find themselves by going through the experience of being together. It's true that not all love stories will have happy endings.
I was really looking forward to Olivia and Polo having a happy ever after. I like how both characters were able to find themselves by going through the experience of being together. It's true that not all love stories will have happy endings.
November 6, 2023
I didn’t know what to expect when I read this book, and I was pleasantly surprised. I loved the relationship between the two characters and how it developed throughout the book. It was emotional and raw and realistic. Overall this was an enjoyable read and I can’t wait to see what else this author produces!
November 8, 2023
Very Impactful; love Dances!
The studied paths of Olivia and Polo love story as they travel through life and scales adulthood the who, what, where finding true happiness! Their quested relationship is to good for the world of today's.
I honestly enjoyed the book! Most love stories endings has cliffhangers but theirs was genuine! Big ups
The studied paths of Olivia and Polo love story as they travel through life and scales adulthood the who, what, where finding true happiness! Their quested relationship is to good for the world of today's.
I honestly enjoyed the book! Most love stories endings has cliffhangers but theirs was genuine! Big ups
November 19, 2023
Proofread
The book was easy to read, very discriptive and would definitely recommend to read. Made me wonder if there were more stories because of all the characters she introduced in the book. Now I didn't rate a 5 BECAUSE I like much more interaction and I have no triggers. Hope you enjoy it as I had.
The book was easy to read, very discriptive and would definitely recommend to read. Made me wonder if there were more stories because of all the characters she introduced in the book. Now I didn't rate a 5 BECAUSE I like much more interaction and I have no triggers. Hope you enjoy it as I had.
October 23, 2023
Very Good!
I enjoyed this story! Definitely cannot wait to see future stories especially on Olivia! Some surprises in the storyline but it unfolded nicely! It definitely had a few gems in it as well!
I enjoyed this story! Definitely cannot wait to see future stories especially on Olivia! Some surprises in the storyline but it unfolded nicely! It definitely had a few gems in it as well!
November 19, 2023
Finding myself is a well crafted story of love and self discovery that asks Who are we, really? It shows us that even when things don’t go as planned we still learn and grow from our experiences. Great read! Looking forward for the next book.
November 23, 2023
it has potential
I rated it two stars because it was all over the place and didn’t quit make sense. There were grammar issues and some mistakes like that. I almost DNF’d it but I wanted to make it through.
It has potential but I don’t really like it.
I rated it two stars because it was all over the place and didn’t quit make sense. There were grammar issues and some mistakes like that. I almost DNF’d it but I wanted to make it through.
It has potential but I don’t really like it.
November 30, 2023
I think the book was well written. I do feel like it should have been longer so things could have been spread out more. It seemed like everything in the book lasted a matter of 2 week. It did have a twist which I like but definitely should have had more content.
December 2, 2023
This is a story of true discovery of one's self. For all who wish to be on the journey of all that life has and can offer you, I recommend this nice book. You will be inspired to rise obove the odds to reach your highest potential. Well written Corina.
December 15, 2023
I loved how the author used such attention to detail as she described her characters and the situations they found themselves in. This book was faced past and easy to read. I also couldn’t put the book down!
October 20, 2023
2.5 stars
October 25, 2023
I love it
October 31, 2023
Absolutely amazing, my girlfriend's name is Olivia. Love the way the book is written.
November 5, 2023
Captivating story of 2 young people trying to find themselves in the world
November 6, 2023
Realistic story! Everyone will find a piece from their life in Corina's book. Engaging, thoughtful and adventurous.
Recommended...
Recommended...
Read
November 6, 2023A must read book.... The love story is peculiar. You can get insights what love can conquer amidst differences.... Good job author for giving this piece of work...
November 10, 2023
The story was just what I needed.
Story has great characters, great writing and Wonderful author. It ends just the way I needed and wanted it to .
Story has great characters, great writing and Wonderful author. It ends just the way I needed and wanted it to .
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews