What do you think?
Rate this book
Sworn to Loathe You #4
Keep It Together
It's not awkward unless we make it awkward.
Carmen... I’ve forgiven Isaac for being a jerk to me when we were kids, but while my grudge against him is gone, my fears are alive and well. I don't care how much chemistry there is between us. I’m done with guys and their commitment issues, and I’ve found a way to make life a whole lot easier.I friend-zone them. Every single one. It’s worked super well. Until now. Isaac isn't like other guys. He knows all about the friendship-only box I’ve shoved him into and constantly teases me about it. It’s not the elephant in the room. It’s his favorite joke. The line between goofiness and flirtation is growing thinner with every interaction. Isaac hasn’t just charmed my parents and all the senior citizens we pick up for bingo night. He’s also winning me over, and I’m terrified.
Isaac... I couldn’t have designed a person more perfectly apt to make me lose my mind than the grown-up version of Carmen Ortega. I already knew she was funny, adventurous, and kind to a fault. But adding attraction to that is like pouring lighter fluid on a campfire. Telling her how I feel will send her running in the other direction, so I make jokes. If she wants to see the truth in the words, it’s right there. She can try to set me up with her friends, sic her neighborhood matchmaker on me, and ban me from bringing her flowers. For now.I won’t step a toe across the line without her permission, but I’m not afraid of the long game. Carmen is the goal, and I plan to show her what being friends forever really means.
Carmen... I’ve forgiven Isaac for being a jerk to me when we were kids, but while my grudge against him is gone, my fears are alive and well. I don't care how much chemistry there is between us. I’m done with guys and their commitment issues, and I’ve found a way to make life a whole lot easier.I friend-zone them. Every single one. It’s worked super well. Until now. Isaac isn't like other guys. He knows all about the friendship-only box I’ve shoved him into and constantly teases me about it. It’s not the elephant in the room. It’s his favorite joke. The line between goofiness and flirtation is growing thinner with every interaction. Isaac hasn’t just charmed my parents and all the senior citizens we pick up for bingo night. He’s also winning me over, and I’m terrified.
Isaac... I couldn’t have designed a person more perfectly apt to make me lose my mind than the grown-up version of Carmen Ortega. I already knew she was funny, adventurous, and kind to a fault. But adding attraction to that is like pouring lighter fluid on a campfire. Telling her how I feel will send her running in the other direction, so I make jokes. If she wants to see the truth in the words, it’s right there. She can try to set me up with her friends, sic her neighborhood matchmaker on me, and ban me from bringing her flowers. For now.I won’t step a toe across the line without her permission, but I’m not afraid of the long game. Carmen is the goal, and I plan to show her what being friends forever really means.
235 pages, Paperback
Published October 31, 2023
175 people are currently reading
533 people want to read
About the author
Rachel John
51 books513 followersRachel John is the author of books filled with awkward humor and sigh-inducing romance. When not burning dinner or chasing kids, Rachel can be found working on family history, writing, reading, or putting off writing by staring at Facebook. She lives in Arizona with her husband, four crazy kids, and her desert tortoise.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
October 31, 2023
'How dare he be intrigued by the cleaned-up, grown-up version of me when he couldn't even remember breaking my awkward middle-school heart?'
Rachel John's books are so delightful to read! I am entertained from start to finish and am never disappointed in her endings!
I love the dynamic of our two main characters. The push and pull of chemistry is palpable, and their personalities are great together!
There are so many scenes that I want to discuss because they are SO MUCH FUN! But I also want the reader to experience everything first hand with no chance of spoilers.
If you want to be entertained, laugh out loud on repeat, and sigh with happiness...this is the book for you!
Thanks to the author for the copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.
Content: pen pals, middle school heartbreak, reconnecting/second chances, hilarious scenes, swoony romance and kisses only.
Rachel John's books are so delightful to read! I am entertained from start to finish and am never disappointed in her endings!
I love the dynamic of our two main characters. The push and pull of chemistry is palpable, and their personalities are great together!
There are so many scenes that I want to discuss because they are SO MUCH FUN! But I also want the reader to experience everything first hand with no chance of spoilers.
If you want to be entertained, laugh out loud on repeat, and sigh with happiness...this is the book for you!
Thanks to the author for the copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.
Content: pen pals, middle school heartbreak, reconnecting/second chances, hilarious scenes, swoony romance and kisses only.
November 6, 2023
There is so much to love in this sweet friends-to-more romance.
Carmen and Isaac (Zac) were pen pals as kids and things fizzled out in dramatic young teen fashion, but fast-forward years later, and they are reconnected in funny and beautiful ways. I couldn't stop laughing at the talk of past letters and emails, especially where Barbies and hair were concerned. Or melty gummy worms. And don't forget the April Fool's prank gone wrong.
Set up on a "blind" date by a meddling, matchmaking friend, these two had an instantaneous connection and I enjoyed every interaction. Food trucks, Mimi and Beebee (the elderly neighbors), Eddie, Winnie, Dean, Grace and Piper...the whole cast of characters is so vivid, downright hilarious and sweet in their own ways.
Rachel John is such a great romcom writer and I loved all the hilarious and swoony moments threaded throughout. I can't wait to see who we swear to loathe next!
Content: mild romance
*I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*
Carmen and Isaac (Zac) were pen pals as kids and things fizzled out in dramatic young teen fashion, but fast-forward years later, and they are reconnected in funny and beautiful ways. I couldn't stop laughing at the talk of past letters and emails, especially where Barbies and hair were concerned. Or melty gummy worms. And don't forget the April Fool's prank gone wrong.
Set up on a "blind" date by a meddling, matchmaking friend, these two had an instantaneous connection and I enjoyed every interaction. Food trucks, Mimi and Beebee (the elderly neighbors), Eddie, Winnie, Dean, Grace and Piper...the whole cast of characters is so vivid, downright hilarious and sweet in their own ways.
Rachel John is such a great romcom writer and I loved all the hilarious and swoony moments threaded throughout. I can't wait to see who we swear to loathe next!
Content: mild romance
*I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*
November 3, 2023
Practically Perfect in Every Way!
I loved every minute of this book. Isaac and Camren were delightful! I loved their childhood friendship. This was a cool take on the friends to lovers trope. She’s friend zoned him, but he still makes it clear that he’d love to change that placement while being patient enough for her to come around. There were so many fun and flirty moments, and the cast of secondary characters were almost as much fun as Camren and Isaac. From bingo nights to family dinners and matchmaking neighbors this book will keep you laughing!
I loved every minute of this book. Isaac and Camren were delightful! I loved their childhood friendship. This was a cool take on the friends to lovers trope. She’s friend zoned him, but he still makes it clear that he’d love to change that placement while being patient enough for her to come around. There were so many fun and flirty moments, and the cast of secondary characters were almost as much fun as Camren and Isaac. From bingo nights to family dinners and matchmaking neighbors this book will keep you laughing!
April 28, 2025
"Carmen has a sweet tooth. For sweet things and sweet words. But you have to mean them." 💝
Super cute and sweet! This author is super good at writing tension and chemistry with NO spice needed. She is also great at writing couples with a mature out look on life and their relationship. They talk through things, which makes their relationship so much sweeter! I love that there's no third act break up! And no cussing! I finished this in a couple of hours because I was hooked from chapter one! Rachel John might have to be a new favorite author for me💕
Super cute and sweet! This author is super good at writing tension and chemistry with NO spice needed. She is also great at writing couples with a mature out look on life and their relationship. They talk through things, which makes their relationship so much sweeter! I love that there's no third act break up! And no cussing! I finished this in a couple of hours because I was hooked from chapter one! Rachel John might have to be a new favorite author for me💕
August 19, 2025
I liked the unexpected direction of this story, so it was good to read something different than the other clean romances I have read till now. Though not as fantastic as Book 3 - Not Friends (that one was 5 stars for me!), it was still a charming and sweet love story.
Book 5 - Freelance Flirt: Falling for the Single Mom is already on my TBR now :D
Book 5 - Freelance Flirt: Falling for the Single Mom is already on my TBR now :D
November 4, 2023
This was such a fun read! I love friends to lovers, and this one does not disappoint.
I loved Carmen from the beginning. She had so much fun quirkiness in her, and it was interesting to read about a character who embraced her quirkiness but still struggled with insecurities. That felt really real and relatable to me. And her family was so much fun! I wish we could have seen more of them, but they were all hilarious side characters that were very overly invested in her life.
Isaac was a sweetheart! He adored Carmen, and it was clear that he loved her and wanted to be with her. I really liked how their relationship felt balanced. Isaac was a people pleaser, but Carmen forced him to express himself when he otherwise would have kept quiet. And his family was so sweet! I’m hoping for some other books about them.
I would definitely recommend this sweet, closed door romcom! It’s a slow burn romance with no third act breakup. It’s a fairly relaxed read, but you might be screaming at the characters to kiss already ;) Perfect for fans of friends to lovers!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review.
I loved Carmen from the beginning. She had so much fun quirkiness in her, and it was interesting to read about a character who embraced her quirkiness but still struggled with insecurities. That felt really real and relatable to me. And her family was so much fun! I wish we could have seen more of them, but they were all hilarious side characters that were very overly invested in her life.
Isaac was a sweetheart! He adored Carmen, and it was clear that he loved her and wanted to be with her. I really liked how their relationship felt balanced. Isaac was a people pleaser, but Carmen forced him to express himself when he otherwise would have kept quiet. And his family was so sweet! I’m hoping for some other books about them.
I would definitely recommend this sweet, closed door romcom! It’s a slow burn romance with no third act breakup. It’s a fairly relaxed read, but you might be screaming at the characters to kiss already ;) Perfect for fans of friends to lovers!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review.
July 21, 2025
Short and sweet. I found the concept unique and liked the chemistry between Carmen and Isaac. I love big family dynamics with multiple generations so I enjoyed that part of this story as well. I usually prefer separate narrators for dual point of view stories but this single narrator did a great job with voicing.
Content Notes: Kisses
Content Notes: Kisses
November 13, 2023
This was a great book. Carmen is super cute, and I loved seeing glimpses of their history together.
Romance: CLEAN. No curse words or explicit scenes. There is kissing.
Romance: CLEAN. No curse words or explicit scenes. There is kissing.
February 13, 2024
This was a quick read for me, it definitely was like all the other books, 3 stars because it could have been better but it wasn’t bad. I did enjoy how they were friends first and became more later.
November 7, 2023
This story is so cute! Carmen and Isaac are adorable. I loved this slightly different take on a friends to love romance. (It does initially involve some antagonism on her side until past events are explained.) For much of the story both main characters recognize and acknowledge their feelings for each other…she is just too afraid to move forward, and he is too respectful to ignore her wishes, so he accepts the friendship she offers. “I was doing really well with my mix of denial and honesty. It allowed my mind to not explode. Confusing emotional reactions were not allowed to drive the bus.” As they spend time together, those feelings only grow, but they have past hurts to overcome, both together (childhood friendship/pen pals with a rocky and hurtful end) and separately (previous relationships). Carmen and Isaac are fantastic main characters. Carmen is unique and the “weirdest weirdo ever”, and such a relatable character. Isaac is lovely, accepting, and thoughtful. I loved their interactions, banter, tenderness, and chemistry. The secondary characters were also so much fun. The seniors, and especially the family members on both sides. I look forward to stories involving some of them. There are great funny moments, and some really lovely moments of care and affection. This is a closed door romance with brief innuendo and no harsh language.
November 29, 2023
I've ultimately gone with 3 stars although a case can be made for 4 stars. There was a lot that I liked in this story, but there was also a few times that I felt disconnected from the story.
Mmm
So what I liked..
I really enjoy Rachel John's writing. I don't know how to articulate this well, but her writing flows in a way that doesn't require a learning curve. Like I can jump right in and be immediately immersed in the world she's created. So that's always a win.
I also really enjoyed the characterisation in this. I do actually think that that's something that Rachel John does exceptionally well. I'm thinking through all the books I've read from her to date, and each of her characters feel distinct, and fleshed out and also very relatable. They're easy to connect to, and don't bleed into each other or across books either. Definitely a win.
To expand on this further, I really liked Carmen and Isaac. You understood each of their motivations, and they truly felt like real people. I especially love that you also got to see Carmen and Isaac as separate people. You saw Carmen's world with her friends and with her family, and the same for Isaac. This is something Rachel John always does well.
What about the pairing? It was excellent. I felt a little some kind of way at the start because it had all the hallmarks of one of my most hated tropes. Where one character has a "secret" that's motivating them through the story, but the reader isn't allowed to know what it is, until like the 80% mark, therefore wasting all of our time and removing any inch of investment in the story (I can't seem to let this rant go). Anyway that didn't happen here.
Spoilers all the way through.
We start the story understanding that Carmen has a grudge against Isaac. And almost straight away we find out why. Excellent!!!! Another point for having the grudge actually be somewhat reasonable and also balanced. At 13, Isaac rejects Carmen's friendship after years of being pen pals. She is of course crushed, but the incident leads into its own crisis of identity and self esteem. So you understand why Carmen isn't rushing to have Isaac back in her life, even as she herself admits that he was young when he hurt her. So already two ticks. Getting to the premise straightaway (tick) and also having a reasonable/realistic and understandable premise (tick tick).
What follows is that Isaac through some blind date shenanigans from Carmen's neighbour, is able to have a heart to heart with Carmen, they bury the hatchet and are able to move forward as friends. I did like this whole set up because 1) we didn't get bogged down in the stagnant weeds of Carmen continuing to hold a grudge against Isaac, 2) there's plot momentum because Isaac and Carmen are in a place where they're interacting more and, 3) the communication meant that we as a reader AND both Isaac and Carmen as characters understood that Isaac had feelings for Carmen (which was reciprocated) but that couldn't progress yet because of Carmen's hesitancy.
So why am I making a case for 3 stars instead of 4, since I liked allll these things (I ask rhetorically of no one). Well I really could go either way, but my enjoyment of this book was like a bell curve. It did take me about 30% of the book to feel invested in the story (which is on me, I think I had split focus). Then when we got past the grudge and moved to friendship, I was absolutely loving the dynamic and the pacing and all of it felt like it was just clicking. But then, it dragged. Yes 3 stars comes down to pacing.
I've said it before that friendship to more stories are hard for me to rate super high because it's a delicate balance always. If there's no actual obstacle to the pairing then it all seems boring at best and a waste of time at worst. If it's an unrequited thing then one character can come off as unlikeable if not done well. It's a tough tightrope. It's interesting because this book subverted the typical friends to more trajectory because they start off as ex-friends who return to being friends. So they have all this history and a strong foundation, but none of the repressed love for years on end. So I thought we would get through this with max plot tension and zero drag. But alas.
As soon as Isaac and Carmen become really good friends, we reach a tipping point where Isaac is pretty clear to Carmen that he wants a relationship with her, and it's clear to us (and Isaac) that Carmen reciprocates these feelings but is weary of both potentially losing Isaac as a friend and of taking a risk with her heart. That's all fine, because it makes sense in general, it tracks with the characterisation we have of Carmen and there was tonsss of communication. But then, we stayed here, plot-wise, for the whole back-half of the book. So it turned into the whole friends to more thing, but this version was the former which lacked tension and momentum. So I got bored, and became uninvested.
And that's why it's 3 stars. I feel like this would have benefitted from being maybe 40-50 pages shorter just to keep the story tight. For example, I think that Not Friends (the third book in this series) was paced better than this, and I did have that comparison in my mind while reading the back-end of this story, so also why it's 3 stars.
Anyway, really did enjoy this, and will be back for more from Rachel John.
Mmm
So what I liked..
I really enjoy Rachel John's writing. I don't know how to articulate this well, but her writing flows in a way that doesn't require a learning curve. Like I can jump right in and be immediately immersed in the world she's created. So that's always a win.
I also really enjoyed the characterisation in this. I do actually think that that's something that Rachel John does exceptionally well. I'm thinking through all the books I've read from her to date, and each of her characters feel distinct, and fleshed out and also very relatable. They're easy to connect to, and don't bleed into each other or across books either. Definitely a win.
To expand on this further, I really liked Carmen and Isaac. You understood each of their motivations, and they truly felt like real people. I especially love that you also got to see Carmen and Isaac as separate people. You saw Carmen's world with her friends and with her family, and the same for Isaac. This is something Rachel John always does well.
What about the pairing? It was excellent. I felt a little some kind of way at the start because it had all the hallmarks of one of my most hated tropes. Where one character has a "secret" that's motivating them through the story, but the reader isn't allowed to know what it is, until like the 80% mark, therefore wasting all of our time and removing any inch of investment in the story (I can't seem to let this rant go). Anyway that didn't happen here.
Spoilers all the way through.
We start the story understanding that Carmen has a grudge against Isaac. And almost straight away we find out why. Excellent!!!! Another point for having the grudge actually be somewhat reasonable and also balanced. At 13, Isaac rejects Carmen's friendship after years of being pen pals. She is of course crushed, but the incident leads into its own crisis of identity and self esteem. So you understand why Carmen isn't rushing to have Isaac back in her life, even as she herself admits that he was young when he hurt her. So already two ticks. Getting to the premise straightaway (tick) and also having a reasonable/realistic and understandable premise (tick tick).
What follows is that Isaac through some blind date shenanigans from Carmen's neighbour, is able to have a heart to heart with Carmen, they bury the hatchet and are able to move forward as friends. I did like this whole set up because 1) we didn't get bogged down in the stagnant weeds of Carmen continuing to hold a grudge against Isaac, 2) there's plot momentum because Isaac and Carmen are in a place where they're interacting more and, 3) the communication meant that we as a reader AND both Isaac and Carmen as characters understood that Isaac had feelings for Carmen (which was reciprocated) but that couldn't progress yet because of Carmen's hesitancy.
So why am I making a case for 3 stars instead of 4, since I liked allll these things (I ask rhetorically of no one). Well I really could go either way, but my enjoyment of this book was like a bell curve. It did take me about 30% of the book to feel invested in the story (which is on me, I think I had split focus). Then when we got past the grudge and moved to friendship, I was absolutely loving the dynamic and the pacing and all of it felt like it was just clicking. But then, it dragged. Yes 3 stars comes down to pacing.
I've said it before that friendship to more stories are hard for me to rate super high because it's a delicate balance always. If there's no actual obstacle to the pairing then it all seems boring at best and a waste of time at worst. If it's an unrequited thing then one character can come off as unlikeable if not done well. It's a tough tightrope. It's interesting because this book subverted the typical friends to more trajectory because they start off as ex-friends who return to being friends. So they have all this history and a strong foundation, but none of the repressed love for years on end. So I thought we would get through this with max plot tension and zero drag. But alas.
As soon as Isaac and Carmen become really good friends, we reach a tipping point where Isaac is pretty clear to Carmen that he wants a relationship with her, and it's clear to us (and Isaac) that Carmen reciprocates these feelings but is weary of both potentially losing Isaac as a friend and of taking a risk with her heart. That's all fine, because it makes sense in general, it tracks with the characterisation we have of Carmen and there was tonsss of communication. But then, we stayed here, plot-wise, for the whole back-half of the book. So it turned into the whole friends to more thing, but this version was the former which lacked tension and momentum. So I got bored, and became uninvested.
And that's why it's 3 stars. I feel like this would have benefitted from being maybe 40-50 pages shorter just to keep the story tight. For example, I think that Not Friends (the third book in this series) was paced better than this, and I did have that comparison in my mind while reading the back-end of this story, so also why it's 3 stars.
Anyway, really did enjoy this, and will be back for more from Rachel John.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 9, 2025
This was a great book, and I was smiling through a lot of it. I love reading bad dates. The main characters tease a lot, and that's fun. It was a great second chance romance.
November 21, 2023
MY RATING GUIDE: This began as a 2.5 rating but ending at a 4. This new-to-me author managed to reel me in when I thought for sure this story was going to be a real miss for me. (This is a book that was perhaps written for a younger demographic than myself, but I ended up really liking it.) Well done! Rachel John. :D I think the audiobook of KEEP IT TOGETHER with dual narrators would be a very nice listen. (As a mother of 3 boys) I especially appreciated Issac’s perspective.
1= dnf/What was that?; 2= Nope, not for me; 3= This was okay/cute; 3.5= I enjoyed it; 4= I ENDED UP ENJOYING THIS QUITE A BIT; 5= I Loved it, it was great! (I seldom give 5 Stars).
Phoenix ~
Carmen Ortega, 26, is employed at a new on-line Dating app company, GoWithFriends. Carmen’s job includes locating, testing, and setting up possible date venues for the members of their dating club.
Issac Romano, 27, is a heartache from Carmen’s teenage past, and co-owns and operates a local florist business in town. Maria is the neighborhood Matchmaker. She knows Carmen’s parents and also knows Issac through the floral shop. Maria pressures both Carmen and Issac independently to allow her to match them each on two dates, (although neither is thrilled). One of those two dates matches Issac and Carmen together. On a date that could go either way, Issac and Carmen decide what they can agree they both want in a relationship going forward. The past brought pain; could the future bring renewed friendship and lasting joy instead?
Quotes ~
> “I really thought Friends Forever was the way to go here.” Carmen
“Have you ever considered that what you were looking for was friends first?” Issac answers.
Comments ~
1) KEEP IT TOGETHER is bk4 in Rachel John’s “Sworn to Loathe You” series. I haven’t read the other books in this series and found this does standalone with no cliffhangers and it’s own HEA. Brief mention is made of the friend (coworker) who featured in the previous book. KET is written in dual POV - alternating between Carmen and Issac/Zak.
2) Hmm. This is the kind of book (family) where everyone knows everyone else’s business. People interrupt each other’s personal outings, demanding assistance for less than vital business. Everything must be dropped at once to attend to a family drama. (I have a friend whose family is like this. There is Always some drama or emergency. I find such dynamics utterly exhausting). So while some readers might enjoy these regular exchanges and even find them funny or quirky, I found myself pulling back.
3) Partly due to the aforementioned, it took me awhile to get into this book. KEEP IT TOGETHER is a rather slow moving story with character development and a slow burn “Friends to More” relationship occuring. The FMC has been burned in past relationships and when she was a young teenager, by this particular guy, Issac. Carmen’s past has taught her to not trust men in relationships but rather “friend zone” them all. Since she began this strategy, it has worked out well enough except that Carmen actually feels lonely when she stops long enough to consider where her life is heading. Issac is at a place in his life where he is ready to find “the right woman” who will simply “Click” with him (and eventually marry her). When Issac bumps into Carmen (from his past) and gets the date with her, he wants to get past their bad “break-up” from when they were both 13yrs and move on, to see if there might be something more for the two of them. But Carmen has stalled out as far as relationships go, doesn’t trust men, and isn’t sure if the dating game is worth the potential hurt - even with someone she once knew and liked more than anyone else.
4) KEEP IT TOGETHER mentions “Control” personality types who prefer keeping things the way they are because then they feel more comfortable, more in control (and seemingly more safe). This thought resonated with me because I prefer stability. Change and spontaneity are not my friends. Hmm.
5) By the end of this book, I was actually all in. It just took me awhile to get there. I purchased my own copy of KEEP IT TOGETHER and I am thinking now that I should probably reread it at some point. There are certain aspects of this book that I really liked (after the midpoint or so). I could understand where Carmen was coming from and I appreciated the maturity Issac had gained as an adult. Youth is seldom kind. I enjoyed the full circle of this story.
READER CAUTION ~ This is a Clean, slow burn read suitable, IMO, for YA readers.
PROFANITY - None.
VIOLENCE - None.
SEXUAL SITUATIONS - None.
1= dnf/What was that?; 2= Nope, not for me; 3= This was okay/cute; 3.5= I enjoyed it; 4= I ENDED UP ENJOYING THIS QUITE A BIT; 5= I Loved it, it was great! (I seldom give 5 Stars).
Phoenix ~
Carmen Ortega, 26, is employed at a new on-line Dating app company, GoWithFriends. Carmen’s job includes locating, testing, and setting up possible date venues for the members of their dating club.
Issac Romano, 27, is a heartache from Carmen’s teenage past, and co-owns and operates a local florist business in town. Maria is the neighborhood Matchmaker. She knows Carmen’s parents and also knows Issac through the floral shop. Maria pressures both Carmen and Issac independently to allow her to match them each on two dates, (although neither is thrilled). One of those two dates matches Issac and Carmen together. On a date that could go either way, Issac and Carmen decide what they can agree they both want in a relationship going forward. The past brought pain; could the future bring renewed friendship and lasting joy instead?
Quotes ~
> “I really thought Friends Forever was the way to go here.” Carmen
“Have you ever considered that what you were looking for was friends first?” Issac answers.
Comments ~
1) KEEP IT TOGETHER is bk4 in Rachel John’s “Sworn to Loathe You” series. I haven’t read the other books in this series and found this does standalone with no cliffhangers and it’s own HEA. Brief mention is made of the friend (coworker) who featured in the previous book. KET is written in dual POV - alternating between Carmen and Issac/Zak.
2) Hmm. This is the kind of book (family) where everyone knows everyone else’s business. People interrupt each other’s personal outings, demanding assistance for less than vital business. Everything must be dropped at once to attend to a family drama. (I have a friend whose family is like this. There is Always some drama or emergency. I find such dynamics utterly exhausting). So while some readers might enjoy these regular exchanges and even find them funny or quirky, I found myself pulling back.
3) Partly due to the aforementioned, it took me awhile to get into this book. KEEP IT TOGETHER is a rather slow moving story with character development and a slow burn “Friends to More” relationship occuring. The FMC has been burned in past relationships and when she was a young teenager, by this particular guy, Issac. Carmen’s past has taught her to not trust men in relationships but rather “friend zone” them all. Since she began this strategy, it has worked out well enough except that Carmen actually feels lonely when she stops long enough to consider where her life is heading. Issac is at a place in his life where he is ready to find “the right woman” who will simply “Click” with him (and eventually marry her). When Issac bumps into Carmen (from his past) and gets the date with her, he wants to get past their bad “break-up” from when they were both 13yrs and move on, to see if there might be something more for the two of them. But Carmen has stalled out as far as relationships go, doesn’t trust men, and isn’t sure if the dating game is worth the potential hurt - even with someone she once knew and liked more than anyone else.
4) KEEP IT TOGETHER mentions “Control” personality types who prefer keeping things the way they are because then they feel more comfortable, more in control (and seemingly more safe). This thought resonated with me because I prefer stability. Change and spontaneity are not my friends. Hmm.
5) By the end of this book, I was actually all in. It just took me awhile to get there. I purchased my own copy of KEEP IT TOGETHER and I am thinking now that I should probably reread it at some point. There are certain aspects of this book that I really liked (after the midpoint or so). I could understand where Carmen was coming from and I appreciated the maturity Issac had gained as an adult. Youth is seldom kind. I enjoyed the full circle of this story.
READER CAUTION ~ This is a Clean, slow burn read suitable, IMO, for YA readers.
PROFANITY - None.
VIOLENCE - None.
SEXUAL SITUATIONS - None.
October 31, 2023
Keep It Together: A Sweet Friends to Lovers Romantic Comedy
By: Rachel John
Pub Date: Nov 1st
📚242 pages
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5
🌶️ .5/5
🤍He falls first
🤍Rom Coms
🤍Friends to Lovers
🤍Dual Perspective
🤍Sweet Romance
I am crazy about banter, I absolutely love it and this book had Lots! Carmen and Isaac are absolutely precious together, they are my new favorite book couple. This needs to turn into a Hallmark movie, like seriously!!
I loved how well different characters of the book gave depth and dimension to the story. They each had such fun personalities that gave so much to the book. The neighbor, Carmen and Issac's family's, the bingo gang (that was one of my favorite parts of the book). I also loved that I could see a play off on Isaacs sister Grace and Dean, that will DEFINITELY be a book I will read in a heartbeat!
If you like sweet romance stories, I recommend looking into all of Rachel John's books ♡
Thanks to the author and book funnel for providing an ARC Ebook copy in exchange for an honest review.
Book Synopsis: (found on Goodreads)
"It's not awkward unless we make it awkward.
Carmen... I’ve forgiven Isaac for being a jerk to me when we were kids, but while my grudge against him is gone, my fears are alive and well. I don't care how much chemistry there is between us. I’m done with guys and their commitment issues, and I’ve found a way to make life a whole lot easier.
I friend-zone them. Every single one.
It’s worked super well. Until now.
Isaac isn't like other guys. He knows all about the friendship-only box I’ve shoved him into and constantly teases me about it. It’s not the elephant in the room. It’s his favorite joke.
The line between goofiness and flirtation is growing thinner with every interaction. Isaac hasn’t just charmed my parents and all the senior citizens we pick up for bingo night. He’s also winning me over, and I’m terrified.
Isaac... I couldn’t have designed a person more perfectly apt to make me lose my mind than the grown-up version of Carmen Ortega. I already knew she was funny, adventurous, and kind to a fault. But adding attraction to that is like pouring lighter fluid on a campfire.
Telling her how I feel will send her running in the other direction, so I make jokes. If she wants to see the truth in the words, it’s right there.
She can try to set me up with her friends, sic her neighborhood matchmaker on me, and ban me from bringing her flowers. For now.
I won’t step a toe across the line without her permission, but I’m not afraid of the long game. Carmen is the goal, and I plan to show her what being friends forever really means."
By: Rachel John
Pub Date: Nov 1st
📚242 pages
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5
🌶️ .5/5
🤍He falls first
🤍Rom Coms
🤍Friends to Lovers
🤍Dual Perspective
🤍Sweet Romance
I am crazy about banter, I absolutely love it and this book had Lots! Carmen and Isaac are absolutely precious together, they are my new favorite book couple. This needs to turn into a Hallmark movie, like seriously!!
I loved how well different characters of the book gave depth and dimension to the story. They each had such fun personalities that gave so much to the book. The neighbor, Carmen and Issac's family's, the bingo gang (that was one of my favorite parts of the book). I also loved that I could see a play off on Isaacs sister Grace and Dean, that will DEFINITELY be a book I will read in a heartbeat!
If you like sweet romance stories, I recommend looking into all of Rachel John's books ♡
Thanks to the author and book funnel for providing an ARC Ebook copy in exchange for an honest review.
Book Synopsis: (found on Goodreads)
"It's not awkward unless we make it awkward.
Carmen... I’ve forgiven Isaac for being a jerk to me when we were kids, but while my grudge against him is gone, my fears are alive and well. I don't care how much chemistry there is between us. I’m done with guys and their commitment issues, and I’ve found a way to make life a whole lot easier.
I friend-zone them. Every single one.
It’s worked super well. Until now.
Isaac isn't like other guys. He knows all about the friendship-only box I’ve shoved him into and constantly teases me about it. It’s not the elephant in the room. It’s his favorite joke.
The line between goofiness and flirtation is growing thinner with every interaction. Isaac hasn’t just charmed my parents and all the senior citizens we pick up for bingo night. He’s also winning me over, and I’m terrified.
Isaac... I couldn’t have designed a person more perfectly apt to make me lose my mind than the grown-up version of Carmen Ortega. I already knew she was funny, adventurous, and kind to a fault. But adding attraction to that is like pouring lighter fluid on a campfire.
Telling her how I feel will send her running in the other direction, so I make jokes. If she wants to see the truth in the words, it’s right there.
She can try to set me up with her friends, sic her neighborhood matchmaker on me, and ban me from bringing her flowers. For now.
I won’t step a toe across the line without her permission, but I’m not afraid of the long game. Carmen is the goal, and I plan to show her what being friends forever really means."
Read
October 14, 2023Keep It Together: A Sweet Friends to Lovers Romantic Comedy
By: Rachel John
Pub Date: Nov 1st
If you enjoy...
◇Rom Coms
◇Friends to Lovers tropes
◇Fast-paced stories
◇Sweet Romances
I recommend Keep It Together. The main characters were super cute, and this was a great read between heavier books or nonfiction books.
If you like sweet short romance stories, I recommend looking into all of Rachel John's books ♡
Thanks to the author and book funnel for providing an ARC Ebook copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Book Synopsis: (found on Amazon)
"It's not awkward unless we make it awkward.
Carmen... I’ve forgiven Isaac for being a jerk to me when we were kids, but while my grudge against him is gone, my fears are alive and well. I don't care how much chemistry there is between us. I’m done with guys and their commitment issues, and I’ve found a way to make life a whole lot easier.
I friend-zone them. Every single one.
It’s worked super well. Until now.
Isaac isn't like other guys. He knows all about the friendship-only box I’ve shoved him into and constantly teases me about it. It’s not the elephant in the room. It’s his favorite joke.
The line between goofiness and flirtation is growing thinner with every interaction. Isaac hasn’t just charmed my parents and all the senior citizens we pick up for bingo night. He’s also winning me over, and I’m terrified.
Isaac... I couldn’t have designed a person more perfectly apt to make me lose my mind than the grown-up version of Carmen Ortega. I already knew she was funny, adventurous, and kind to a fault. But adding attraction to that is like pouring lighter fluid on a campfire.
Telling her how I feel will send her running in the other direction, so I make jokes. If she wants to see the truth in the words, it’s right there.
She can try to set me up with her friends, sic her neighborhood matchmaker on me, and ban me from bringing her flowers. For now.
I won’t step a toe across the line without her permission, but I’m not afraid of the long game. Carmen is the goal, and I plan to show her what being friends forever really means."
By: Rachel John
Pub Date: Nov 1st
If you enjoy...
◇Rom Coms
◇Friends to Lovers tropes
◇Fast-paced stories
◇Sweet Romances
I recommend Keep It Together. The main characters were super cute, and this was a great read between heavier books or nonfiction books.
If you like sweet short romance stories, I recommend looking into all of Rachel John's books ♡
Thanks to the author and book funnel for providing an ARC Ebook copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Book Synopsis: (found on Amazon)
"It's not awkward unless we make it awkward.
Carmen... I’ve forgiven Isaac for being a jerk to me when we were kids, but while my grudge against him is gone, my fears are alive and well. I don't care how much chemistry there is between us. I’m done with guys and their commitment issues, and I’ve found a way to make life a whole lot easier.
I friend-zone them. Every single one.
It’s worked super well. Until now.
Isaac isn't like other guys. He knows all about the friendship-only box I’ve shoved him into and constantly teases me about it. It’s not the elephant in the room. It’s his favorite joke.
The line between goofiness and flirtation is growing thinner with every interaction. Isaac hasn’t just charmed my parents and all the senior citizens we pick up for bingo night. He’s also winning me over, and I’m terrified.
Isaac... I couldn’t have designed a person more perfectly apt to make me lose my mind than the grown-up version of Carmen Ortega. I already knew she was funny, adventurous, and kind to a fault. But adding attraction to that is like pouring lighter fluid on a campfire.
Telling her how I feel will send her running in the other direction, so I make jokes. If she wants to see the truth in the words, it’s right there.
She can try to set me up with her friends, sic her neighborhood matchmaker on me, and ban me from bringing her flowers. For now.
I won’t step a toe across the line without her permission, but I’m not afraid of the long game. Carmen is the goal, and I plan to show her what being friends forever really means."
November 6, 2023
Carmen and Isaac. I LOVE them. Their story has second-chance vibes tossed in with the best kind of friends to more. Carmen is quirky, sweet, and fun. Isaac is a cinnamon roll, the perfect book boyfriend. I loved them together so much that I just had to make a reel. 🤍
Things I Loved:
-Grace and Piper
-Maria and her book 😂
-Pen pal letters
-Winnie
-Tip jar
-“In a few hours, I’d be rolling in a fifteen-passenger van with a bunch of senior citizens and Carmen. I. Could. Not. Wait.”
-Bingo nights
-Uncle G
-“I stood there a long time, getting way too comfortable with the impending sense of doom settling in my heart. Carmen was going to be the death of me.”
-Jacket
-Lava cake aspirations
-“Okay, here’s the truth. I don’t want to lose you again. You’ve become very important to me in a ridiculously short amount of time, and it’s scaring me.” “I feel the same way.”
-Dibs
-Hugs
-Beebee and Mimi
-Gathering facts
-“Cheek kisses were cute between platonic friends, or whatever the line was we were telling ourselves these days.”
-“This was a very bad idea, like when you tell yourself not to read another page of a good book, and the next thing you know it’s three a.m. and your eyes feel like they’re bleeding.”
-“You make me… lighter. All the time. Like there’s nothing we can’t figure out. How do you do that?” He shrugged. “I don’t know. I feel the same way about you.”
-Point-of-no-return
-“I really thought friends forever was the way to go here,” I mumbled into the folds of his jacket. Isaac rested his head on top of mine. “Have you ever considered that maybe what you’ve been looking for is friends first?”
-Date (with other people) fails
-“Isaac wasn’t just anybody.”
-Keychain
-“Sometimes showing restraint is the bravest thing we can do.”
-Food thief
-“I love you so much it hurts sometimes.” “It’s not supposed to hurt.” “Well, it does when you keep it to yourself and hope the other person doesn’t catch on to what an obsessed fan she has for a friend.”
-The whole ending 🤍
This was such a heartwarming story of forgiveness, vulnerability, and taking down walls with plenty of laughs, amusing old people, sweet friendships, and tons of chemistry thrown in. Don’t miss out.
Things I Loved:
-Grace and Piper
-Maria and her book 😂
-Pen pal letters
-Winnie
-Tip jar
-“In a few hours, I’d be rolling in a fifteen-passenger van with a bunch of senior citizens and Carmen. I. Could. Not. Wait.”
-Bingo nights
-Uncle G
-“I stood there a long time, getting way too comfortable with the impending sense of doom settling in my heart. Carmen was going to be the death of me.”
-Jacket
-Lava cake aspirations
-“Okay, here’s the truth. I don’t want to lose you again. You’ve become very important to me in a ridiculously short amount of time, and it’s scaring me.” “I feel the same way.”
-Dibs
-Hugs
-Beebee and Mimi
-Gathering facts
-“Cheek kisses were cute between platonic friends, or whatever the line was we were telling ourselves these days.”
-“This was a very bad idea, like when you tell yourself not to read another page of a good book, and the next thing you know it’s three a.m. and your eyes feel like they’re bleeding.”
-“You make me… lighter. All the time. Like there’s nothing we can’t figure out. How do you do that?” He shrugged. “I don’t know. I feel the same way about you.”
-Point-of-no-return
-“I really thought friends forever was the way to go here,” I mumbled into the folds of his jacket. Isaac rested his head on top of mine. “Have you ever considered that maybe what you’ve been looking for is friends first?”
-Date (with other people) fails
-“Isaac wasn’t just anybody.”
-Keychain
-“Sometimes showing restraint is the bravest thing we can do.”
-Food thief
-“I love you so much it hurts sometimes.” “It’s not supposed to hurt.” “Well, it does when you keep it to yourself and hope the other person doesn’t catch on to what an obsessed fan she has for a friend.”
-The whole ending 🤍
This was such a heartwarming story of forgiveness, vulnerability, and taking down walls with plenty of laughs, amusing old people, sweet friendships, and tons of chemistry thrown in. Don’t miss out.
November 20, 2023
"This man. How did he bait me into flirting with him so easily? I'd much prefer his talents were of the showy variety. Tap dancing. Water glass music. Anything but competitive flirting."
"You're still a ten. You'd be a ten with the stomach flu wearing a hotdog suit."
"Attraction is more than what you see with your eyes. It's those little quirks that make her fun to be around. The way she smells, or sighs, or the feel of her next to you. It's the things she worries about that you wish you could fix. It's all of her. And the more you get to know her, the more you're dying for her time, her attention, hoping to make her laugh. She makes everything better."
Read if you like:
* Dual POV
* Friends to Lovers
* Second Chance Vibes
* Pen Pals
* Matchmaking
* He Falls First
* Quirky FMC
I LOVE Carmen and Isaac! This book is quirky, charming, funny, and heartwarming. I love the full spectrum of the relationship between Carmen and Isaac and how we are given bits of their history as we go along. Carmen friend zoned Isaac hard and fast when they reconnected and Isaac was patient, willing to take what he could get and desperate to not lose her friendship again. I loved watching Carmen genuinely forgive Isaac and then seeing how their relationship was able to progress from there. I adored all of the external relationships in this book, both familial and friendly/neighborly.
Favorites:
* Maria the Matchmaker
* Old letter/emails
* Senior Bingo
* Uncle G, Man of Mystery
* Beebee and Mimi
* Finding scars
* Sisters before misters
* Jealousy at the food trucks
* Accidentally early April Fools Day prank
* Six extra ounces
* Monologuing to no one
* Felting group chats
* Selfies
* Where's Waldo?
* "She's taken"
* Cheek Kisses
* "Sir, we were having a moment here."
I can't wait to see which characters in this series get their story next. My fingers are crossed for Grace and Dean!!!
"You're still a ten. You'd be a ten with the stomach flu wearing a hotdog suit."
"Attraction is more than what you see with your eyes. It's those little quirks that make her fun to be around. The way she smells, or sighs, or the feel of her next to you. It's the things she worries about that you wish you could fix. It's all of her. And the more you get to know her, the more you're dying for her time, her attention, hoping to make her laugh. She makes everything better."
Read if you like:
* Dual POV
* Friends to Lovers
* Second Chance Vibes
* Pen Pals
* Matchmaking
* He Falls First
* Quirky FMC
I LOVE Carmen and Isaac! This book is quirky, charming, funny, and heartwarming. I love the full spectrum of the relationship between Carmen and Isaac and how we are given bits of their history as we go along. Carmen friend zoned Isaac hard and fast when they reconnected and Isaac was patient, willing to take what he could get and desperate to not lose her friendship again. I loved watching Carmen genuinely forgive Isaac and then seeing how their relationship was able to progress from there. I adored all of the external relationships in this book, both familial and friendly/neighborly.
Favorites:
* Maria the Matchmaker
* Old letter/emails
* Senior Bingo
* Uncle G, Man of Mystery
* Beebee and Mimi
* Finding scars
* Sisters before misters
* Jealousy at the food trucks
* Accidentally early April Fools Day prank
* Six extra ounces
* Monologuing to no one
* Felting group chats
* Selfies
* Where's Waldo?
* "She's taken"
* Cheek Kisses
* "Sir, we were having a moment here."
I can't wait to see which characters in this series get their story next. My fingers are crossed for Grace and Dean!!!
November 15, 2023
“”Yes, of course I want us to be friends again.” I’d never wanted anything more in my entire life.”
When Isaac and Carmen ran into each other, after knowing each other as children, Carmen thinks that Isaac doesn’t remember her. But, he does…and isn’t sure how to make amends for how he hurt her in the past. A year later, a matchmaking mama intervenes and lets Isaac chose two dates from her book of potential matches. He sees Carmen’s name and jumps at the chance to try again. Carmen has sworn off dating, always moving guys to a friend zone, but she gives Isaac an opportunity, only foreseeing a one and done date. What she doesn’t expect is that her childhood pen pal has turned into a kind and caring man who makes her question her friends only rule. Will she be willing to give her and Isaac a real second chance that could change everything?
This is such a wonderful friends to more love story! Isaac and Carmen stole my heart and I enjoyed watching them and the way their care for each other was rediscovered and grew deeper. Their relationships with their families was also very wonderful- I loved the way Isaac took care of his sister and niece, and his neighbors, and the wonderful relationship Carmen has with her parents and siblings. I thought the way the author portrayed the beauty of love being built on a friendship was so beautiful! Also, their date nights brought me joy- I loved Bingo nights, food truck visits with the girls, and her felting group chats that he always seemed to stumble upon!
“He chose friendship over losing me, and I would not forget it. I would be the best old/new friend he ever had.”
“People shouldn’t have to outgrow their quirks and blend in unless they wanted to.”
I hope you love this one as much as I do!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
When Isaac and Carmen ran into each other, after knowing each other as children, Carmen thinks that Isaac doesn’t remember her. But, he does…and isn’t sure how to make amends for how he hurt her in the past. A year later, a matchmaking mama intervenes and lets Isaac chose two dates from her book of potential matches. He sees Carmen’s name and jumps at the chance to try again. Carmen has sworn off dating, always moving guys to a friend zone, but she gives Isaac an opportunity, only foreseeing a one and done date. What she doesn’t expect is that her childhood pen pal has turned into a kind and caring man who makes her question her friends only rule. Will she be willing to give her and Isaac a real second chance that could change everything?
This is such a wonderful friends to more love story! Isaac and Carmen stole my heart and I enjoyed watching them and the way their care for each other was rediscovered and grew deeper. Their relationships with their families was also very wonderful- I loved the way Isaac took care of his sister and niece, and his neighbors, and the wonderful relationship Carmen has with her parents and siblings. I thought the way the author portrayed the beauty of love being built on a friendship was so beautiful! Also, their date nights brought me joy- I loved Bingo nights, food truck visits with the girls, and her felting group chats that he always seemed to stumble upon!
“He chose friendship over losing me, and I would not forget it. I would be the best old/new friend he ever had.”
“People shouldn’t have to outgrow their quirks and blend in unless they wanted to.”
I hope you love this one as much as I do!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
December 6, 2023
Do you know what my favorite thing about picking up a contemporary romance by Rachel John is? It’s that they are all such sweet and fun reads, the kind of books adults can love while also containing the kind of content that makes me perfectly comfortable recommending them to teenagers. I highly recommend checking them out and especially want to share how much I absolutely loved reading Keep It Together. This story had me smiling and remembering why her books are such feel-good romances with characters and situations so relatable.
Carmen and Isaac were pen-pals turned friends once upon a time, until they weren’t and let’s just say, it wasn’t a happy end to a friendship. When the two bump into each other years later, Isaac is determined to wait things out until Carmen is ready for him to make a move. With the help of a hilariously overbearing matchmaking neighbor, Isaac gets his shot and I loved watching the two find their way back to the friend zone and then into the more than friends’ zone.
Not only was this story a happy read that just filled my cup, but I love how Carmen was quirky and did her own thing and was trying to be comfortable with who she was. The best part was Isaac seeing her for who she was and loving all those little things about her that others didn’t always appreciate. It was so positive and inspiring, add the humor and romance and this book was a winner for me. I enjoyed all the flirting between Isaac and Carmen especially when they weren’t supposed to be flirting.
Honestly, I cannot wait for what’s next after reading this book because it made me so happy to read. Definitely recommend this story.
I received an advance reader copy of this novel. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Carmen and Isaac were pen-pals turned friends once upon a time, until they weren’t and let’s just say, it wasn’t a happy end to a friendship. When the two bump into each other years later, Isaac is determined to wait things out until Carmen is ready for him to make a move. With the help of a hilariously overbearing matchmaking neighbor, Isaac gets his shot and I loved watching the two find their way back to the friend zone and then into the more than friends’ zone.
Not only was this story a happy read that just filled my cup, but I love how Carmen was quirky and did her own thing and was trying to be comfortable with who she was. The best part was Isaac seeing her for who she was and loving all those little things about her that others didn’t always appreciate. It was so positive and inspiring, add the humor and romance and this book was a winner for me. I enjoyed all the flirting between Isaac and Carmen especially when they weren’t supposed to be flirting.
Honestly, I cannot wait for what’s next after reading this book because it made me so happy to read. Definitely recommend this story.
I received an advance reader copy of this novel. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
October 15, 2023
Keep It Together is the fourth book in the Sworn To Loathe You series. This could definitely be read just fine as a standalone if you have not yet read the previous books.
This was such a cute read! Carmen and Isaac were so sweet together. Oftentimes in friends to lovers stories, so much of the story revolves around the friends not admitting to themselves or the other person that they have feelings... and you just find yourself wanting to shake some sense into them. This one felt a bit different though. First of all, the two had been friends as children, had a falling out and have been reunited at the start of the story... so there was a history, but their adult friendship was brand new. Isaac's interest is pretty clear right from the start... but she has a strict 'friends only' rule after past hurts. I love how respectful he is of her boundaries. His interest is there, and they both know it... but he doesn't push it and shows up for her as she needs him--- just a friend. With some occasional flirting, of course! I found myself really enjoying every minute with these two--- and their somewhat quirky (and meddlesome) friends and family. Seriously, they made going to bingo sound like an absolute blast! They had me laughing out loud several times throughout the story. They were easy characters to root for and I definitely found myself doing just that. If you're looking for a sweet friends to more story, this is definitely one you'll want to check out.
Keep It Together is a closed-door romance with kisses only and no language.
**I received an ARC for consideration. All opinions are my own.
This was such a cute read! Carmen and Isaac were so sweet together. Oftentimes in friends to lovers stories, so much of the story revolves around the friends not admitting to themselves or the other person that they have feelings... and you just find yourself wanting to shake some sense into them. This one felt a bit different though. First of all, the two had been friends as children, had a falling out and have been reunited at the start of the story... so there was a history, but their adult friendship was brand new. Isaac's interest is pretty clear right from the start... but she has a strict 'friends only' rule after past hurts. I love how respectful he is of her boundaries. His interest is there, and they both know it... but he doesn't push it and shows up for her as she needs him--- just a friend. With some occasional flirting, of course! I found myself really enjoying every minute with these two--- and their somewhat quirky (and meddlesome) friends and family. Seriously, they made going to bingo sound like an absolute blast! They had me laughing out loud several times throughout the story. They were easy characters to root for and I definitely found myself doing just that. If you're looking for a sweet friends to more story, this is definitely one you'll want to check out.
Keep It Together is a closed-door romance with kisses only and no language.
**I received an ARC for consideration. All opinions are my own.
December 17, 2023
Isaac and Carmen
Second chance (childhood), friends to lovers, pen pals.
Love all these nosy neighbors and family member. Carmen was so quick to forgive, Isaac is open and flirty while still respecting her boundaries. Love that Sadie and Denver show up (they’re still my absolute favorites)!
It’s cute how much Isaac likes entrepreneurs and what a good encouraging uncle he is. He’s also super kind even on his bad and embarrassing date.
I don’t feel like I connected that much with them and some of the funny moments fell a little flat.
Favorite moments:
“How dare he be intrigued by the cleaned-up, grown-up version of me when he couldn’t even remember breaking my awkward middle-school heart?”
“Ear ogling. This is what I’d come to.”
“In a few hours, I’d be rolling in a fifteen-passenger van with a bunch of senior citizens and Carmen. I. Could. Not. Wait.”
“I stood there a long time, getting way too comfortable with the impending sense of doom settling in my heart. Carmen was going to be the death of me.”
“This was a very bad idea, like when you tell yourself not to read another page of a good book, and the next thing you know it’s three a.m. and your eyes feel like they’re bleeding.”
“This was a very bad idea, like when you tell yourself not to read another page of a good book, and the next thing you know it’s three a.m. and your eyes feel like they’re bleeding.”
“Carmen: Guys. I’ve changed my mind. I want to pursue Isaac. Kimber: Odds are good you’ll catch him. I don’t think he’ll run very far.”
“”Because fries taste better stolen.””
Second chance (childhood), friends to lovers, pen pals.
Love all these nosy neighbors and family member. Carmen was so quick to forgive, Isaac is open and flirty while still respecting her boundaries. Love that Sadie and Denver show up (they’re still my absolute favorites)!
It’s cute how much Isaac likes entrepreneurs and what a good encouraging uncle he is. He’s also super kind even on his bad and embarrassing date.
I don’t feel like I connected that much with them and some of the funny moments fell a little flat.
Favorite moments:
“How dare he be intrigued by the cleaned-up, grown-up version of me when he couldn’t even remember breaking my awkward middle-school heart?”
“Ear ogling. This is what I’d come to.”
“In a few hours, I’d be rolling in a fifteen-passenger van with a bunch of senior citizens and Carmen. I. Could. Not. Wait.”
“I stood there a long time, getting way too comfortable with the impending sense of doom settling in my heart. Carmen was going to be the death of me.”
“This was a very bad idea, like when you tell yourself not to read another page of a good book, and the next thing you know it’s three a.m. and your eyes feel like they’re bleeding.”
“This was a very bad idea, like when you tell yourself not to read another page of a good book, and the next thing you know it’s three a.m. and your eyes feel like they’re bleeding.”
“Carmen: Guys. I’ve changed my mind. I want to pursue Isaac. Kimber: Odds are good you’ll catch him. I don’t think he’ll run very far.”
“”Because fries taste better stolen.””
October 16, 2023
Alright, so sometimes you read a book and you can’t get it out of your head (in a good way!) This is one of those books. I absolutely loved this story about Isaac and Carmen. And now I NEED Grace and Dean’s story. And I want a story about Winnie and Eddie.
Carmen is so stinking adorable. She’s fun and quirky and has just given up on dating for a while. She was burned as a kid by a friendship and all the guys she has dated do not appreciate her quirks. Thankfully that hasn’t made her weak. She is comfortable with herself, just not comfortable with the idea of dating for a while. Her family loves and dotes on her and she adores her family even if they can be a bit crazy.
Isaac is just wonderful. He may have made a mistake as a kid but there was a lot of pressure on him and he has grown up to be a doting brother and uncle. He feels like he has a duty to take care of everyone and has to learn that while being a servant is incredible he can’t hide all of his feelings from everyone.
Carmen and Isaac have such a fun friendship together. I loved seeing their relationship grow. This is one of those books that had me goofily smiling throughout the entirety of it. I am so excited to read more books by Rachel John.
I was given an ARC copy of this book. All opinions are my own!
Carmen is so stinking adorable. She’s fun and quirky and has just given up on dating for a while. She was burned as a kid by a friendship and all the guys she has dated do not appreciate her quirks. Thankfully that hasn’t made her weak. She is comfortable with herself, just not comfortable with the idea of dating for a while. Her family loves and dotes on her and she adores her family even if they can be a bit crazy.
Isaac is just wonderful. He may have made a mistake as a kid but there was a lot of pressure on him and he has grown up to be a doting brother and uncle. He feels like he has a duty to take care of everyone and has to learn that while being a servant is incredible he can’t hide all of his feelings from everyone.
Carmen and Isaac have such a fun friendship together. I loved seeing their relationship grow. This is one of those books that had me goofily smiling throughout the entirety of it. I am so excited to read more books by Rachel John.
I was given an ARC copy of this book. All opinions are my own!
October 30, 2023
If I'm laughing out loud before the end of the first chapter, I always know I'm going to love the story. If I'm crying laughing....even better. And Rachel John DID. NOT. DISAPPOINT!
I could not put this book down. It was full of swoon, sizzle and witty dialogue. I loved that Carmen's and Isaac's pull towards one another was already evident so early in the story yet I could really feel her struggle.
I also loved how Isaac never pushed Carmen but let things in their relationship move at a pace she was comfortable with as much as he wished they would move faster.
Favorite quotes:
Carmen: "Reacting to the sight of him was a casualty of having such a pretty pretty man friend. After a while, I wouldn't even notice."
Isaac: "I couldn't have designed a person more perfectly apt to make me lose my mind. I already knew she was funny, adventurous, friendly, and goofy. But adding attraction to that was like pouring lighter fluid on a campfire."
What you can expect:
*laugh out loud
*friends to lovers
*kisses only
*sweet, clean friends to lovers romance
*he falls first
**I received an advance copy of this book in return for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
4.5 stars
I could not put this book down. It was full of swoon, sizzle and witty dialogue. I loved that Carmen's and Isaac's pull towards one another was already evident so early in the story yet I could really feel her struggle.
I also loved how Isaac never pushed Carmen but let things in their relationship move at a pace she was comfortable with as much as he wished they would move faster.
Favorite quotes:
Carmen: "Reacting to the sight of him was a casualty of having such a pretty pretty man friend. After a while, I wouldn't even notice."
Isaac: "I couldn't have designed a person more perfectly apt to make me lose my mind. I already knew she was funny, adventurous, friendly, and goofy. But adding attraction to that was like pouring lighter fluid on a campfire."
What you can expect:
*laugh out loud
*friends to lovers
*kisses only
*sweet, clean friends to lovers romance
*he falls first
**I received an advance copy of this book in return for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
4.5 stars
October 20, 2023
This is a sweet romcom that didn't leave out the com. Sometimes I don't see the com in romcoms but this one made me laugh out loud. I loved the banter between Carmen and Isaac. It was obvious that they enjoyed playing off of each other.
I'd say this is a second chance romance (one of my fav tropes) but it is really more of a second chance friendship that doesn't take too long to turn to love. I loved how patient Isaac was. He never pushed Carmen for more than she was willing to give to their relationship. He is really pretty ideal as a love interest. And they had a great friendship both as kids and then as adults. I liked the characters. Carmen is a bit quirky and fun. Isaac is the kind of guy that hangs out with his elderly neighbors just to make them happy and mows their lawn for them.
While I don't think that either of their families are big in numbers, they felt big in personality. I loved them. And I adored the busybody, matchmaking neighbor (another fav trope) that no one can say no to.
This is a fun, light read. Very enjoyable.
No sex, language or violence
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.
I'd say this is a second chance romance (one of my fav tropes) but it is really more of a second chance friendship that doesn't take too long to turn to love. I loved how patient Isaac was. He never pushed Carmen for more than she was willing to give to their relationship. He is really pretty ideal as a love interest. And they had a great friendship both as kids and then as adults. I liked the characters. Carmen is a bit quirky and fun. Isaac is the kind of guy that hangs out with his elderly neighbors just to make them happy and mows their lawn for them.
While I don't think that either of their families are big in numbers, they felt big in personality. I loved them. And I adored the busybody, matchmaking neighbor (another fav trope) that no one can say no to.
This is a fun, light read. Very enjoyable.
No sex, language or violence
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.
October 24, 2023
He's got to escape the friend zone and win her heart-and her trust back.
The book introduced us to Carmen, a woman working a fun office job who has a thing for the florist who comes by their office to drop off orders. Turns out it's more than just a crush, and she doesn't know whether she wants revenge or to kiss him.
After her next door neighbor and self proclaimed matchmaker plays cupid with the two, we learn there's a much deeper history and connection and Issac will stop at nothing to earn her trust.
**
This was absolutely the sweetest book I've read in a long time. Issac, our MMC gives cinnamon roll/golden retriever energy and I'm here for it! Carmen is a curvy goddess who won't stand down and the two together are absolutely hysterical. Throw in a nosy, quirky neighbor, a florist older sister and adorable niece, and Carmen starts to realize that maybe those feelings she'd thought to have long since buried are still there.
I would definitely recommend the book for anyone looking for a cute, breath of fresh air adult contemporary romance as a start to the holiday season!
Keep It together Releases November 1st, 2023!
The book introduced us to Carmen, a woman working a fun office job who has a thing for the florist who comes by their office to drop off orders. Turns out it's more than just a crush, and she doesn't know whether she wants revenge or to kiss him.
After her next door neighbor and self proclaimed matchmaker plays cupid with the two, we learn there's a much deeper history and connection and Issac will stop at nothing to earn her trust.
**
This was absolutely the sweetest book I've read in a long time. Issac, our MMC gives cinnamon roll/golden retriever energy and I'm here for it! Carmen is a curvy goddess who won't stand down and the two together are absolutely hysterical. Throw in a nosy, quirky neighbor, a florist older sister and adorable niece, and Carmen starts to realize that maybe those feelings she'd thought to have long since buried are still there.
I would definitely recommend the book for anyone looking for a cute, breath of fresh air adult contemporary romance as a start to the holiday season!
Keep It together Releases November 1st, 2023!
October 26, 2023
What a perfect addition to a highly fun and entertaining romcom series!
Carmen friend-zones every guy who shows interest in her and then they run, but Isaac is different. He is willing to stick around and be her friend but after a while, that may not be enough for her...
Isaac can't believe it when Carmen walks back into his life. She immediately friend-zones him but Isaac is here for the long game and is willing to wait and see where the attraction between them goes.
What to expect:
Friends to lovers
Dual POV
He falls first
Childhood friends
Reluctant matchmaking
So much flirting!
Bingo nights
The bad dates
Great chemistry
Oh my word, SO many lol moments and some seriously hilarious and quirky side characters. But I can't neglect to mention the rom part of this romcom because Isaac's flirting game is on.point. Is there anything swoonier than a guy who falls first and is willing to play the long game?
Rachel John always delivers with her romances and I have enjoyed every book in this series. If you are a fan of sweet friends to lovers romcoms, then you need to add this one to your reading list! 4.5 stars
I received a complimentary copy but a positive review was not required.
Carmen friend-zones every guy who shows interest in her and then they run, but Isaac is different. He is willing to stick around and be her friend but after a while, that may not be enough for her...
Isaac can't believe it when Carmen walks back into his life. She immediately friend-zones him but Isaac is here for the long game and is willing to wait and see where the attraction between them goes.
What to expect:
Friends to lovers
Dual POV
He falls first
Childhood friends
Reluctant matchmaking
So much flirting!
Bingo nights
The bad dates
Great chemistry
Oh my word, SO many lol moments and some seriously hilarious and quirky side characters. But I can't neglect to mention the rom part of this romcom because Isaac's flirting game is on.point. Is there anything swoonier than a guy who falls first and is willing to play the long game?
Rachel John always delivers with her romances and I have enjoyed every book in this series. If you are a fan of sweet friends to lovers romcoms, then you need to add this one to your reading list! 4.5 stars
I received a complimentary copy but a positive review was not required.
October 31, 2023
Carmen and Isaac's love story may just be the sweetest one I've read in a long time!
Carmen loves felting, sweaters, and felting pins to wear on her sweaters. Isaac loves finding reasons to do deliveries at Carmen's work just so he can see her. Both of them remember the past but yet neither wants to speak on it. Until...Maria comes along and no one tells Maria no. Let's just say their first date did not go as planned.
Carmen's quirky family is such a trip and the bingo crew makes it all the funnier. Isaac and his sister have a great relationship working together and Grace's daughter is absolutely adorable. The family members and friends brought great layers to the story and often set the scene for something that would happen further into the book.
I couldn't help but cheer Carmen and Isaac on from chapter 1. 2 people accepting each other, forgiveness, and friendship that blossoms to love is how I would describe their love story. I really enjoyed their story and I would not be sad to see a part 2 of their story.
Thank you to Rachel John and Bookfunnel for providing an advanced copy to read!
Carmen loves felting, sweaters, and felting pins to wear on her sweaters. Isaac loves finding reasons to do deliveries at Carmen's work just so he can see her. Both of them remember the past but yet neither wants to speak on it. Until...Maria comes along and no one tells Maria no. Let's just say their first date did not go as planned.
Carmen's quirky family is such a trip and the bingo crew makes it all the funnier. Isaac and his sister have a great relationship working together and Grace's daughter is absolutely adorable. The family members and friends brought great layers to the story and often set the scene for something that would happen further into the book.
I couldn't help but cheer Carmen and Isaac on from chapter 1. 2 people accepting each other, forgiveness, and friendship that blossoms to love is how I would describe their love story. I really enjoyed their story and I would not be sad to see a part 2 of their story.
Thank you to Rachel John and Bookfunnel for providing an advanced copy to read!
October 20, 2023
I really enjoyed this sweet and emotional (at times) story filled with love and humor. Carmen and Isaac are too cute for words.
Carmen and Isaac were childhood friends, best friends, until something happened and Carmen was left heartbroken.
Years later, Carmen and Isaac’s paths cross, but Carmen can’t let go of her anger and hurt.
Isaac wants back in Carmen’s life and to prove to her that he’s the one for her. Unfortunately, Carmen is determined to keep him in the friend zone because she doesn’t think her heart could take it again. But that doesn’t deter Isaac. He’s determined to show her just how much she means to him and how amazing she is just by being a supportive friend. Filled with lots of cuteness and funny characters along the way.
Some of the goodies:
🩵He falls first
🩵Matchmaking neighbor
🩵Friends to Lovers
🩵Quirky, adorable FMC
🩵Sweet cinnamon roll MMC
🩵Chemistry 🥰
🩵Carmen’s close knit family
This sweet story releases November 1st
Thanks to Bookfunnel and the author, I received an advanced free copy and am voluntarily leaving my honest review.
November 2, 2023
This book centers on Isaac and Carmen who are thrown together as adults in a matchmaking scheme. This wasn’t their first meet cute though. They were elementary school pen pals that stop being friends during the awkward teen years. So they have this amazing past bestie friendship that is now buried under hurt feelings, guilt, and regrets. Now though the air is cleared and their friendship starts over but heading somewhere new and a little bit scary. There could be something wonderful ahead but only if they can keep it all together….
This is probably one of my favorite books that I’ve read this year. And I’ve read a whole lot. I love the back and forth of long time friends. The little memory recalls that popped up. The comfortable affection that Carmen showed. The senior citizens and their bingo runs. Reading this book was like being wrapped up in warm fluffy blankets. It made me laugh out loud and feel so happy getting lost in this story. So hard to put this book down to go to work!
I love that this was a clean and wholesome book. It still was super swoony with the kisses it had but the focus was on their friendship and then getting stubborn Carmen to admit that she was in love with Isaac. I highly recommend this read!
Rating: G, clean, wholesome, triggers: self worth issues.
This is probably one of my favorite books that I’ve read this year. And I’ve read a whole lot. I love the back and forth of long time friends. The little memory recalls that popped up. The comfortable affection that Carmen showed. The senior citizens and their bingo runs. Reading this book was like being wrapped up in warm fluffy blankets. It made me laugh out loud and feel so happy getting lost in this story. So hard to put this book down to go to work!
I love that this was a clean and wholesome book. It still was super swoony with the kisses it had but the focus was on their friendship and then getting stubborn Carmen to admit that she was in love with Isaac. I highly recommend this read!
Rating: G, clean, wholesome, triggers: self worth issues.
November 4, 2023
I know I’ve said this a lot but this is the first book I’ve read from Rachel John and it didn’t take long for me to know I’ve missed out.
Some favorite things:
The Barbie and bag of hair emails
Carmen’s parents and family
Grace and Piper and Dean.
Mimi and Beebee.
I enjoyed the unique plot of the story. Carmen and Isaac are old pen pals. Carmen remembers him, (Isaac) Zac doesn’t remember her. Or so we are lead to believe. He actually adores her.
I loved how Carmen listened to his explanation. How their friendship picked up right where it ended. Even though someone wanted more but the other was scared.
I adored their friendship and what a great guy Isaac was. The bingo friends were hilarious. Uncle G had me laughing out loud. What I loved and appreciated the most was that Carmen was always herself, no matter what. This is a great story, with fun and different characters. I will trying to catch up on Rachel’s other books as soon as I can!
I received an eARC from the author. All views and opinions expressed are my own.
Some favorite things:
The Barbie and bag of hair emails
Carmen’s parents and family
Grace and Piper and Dean.
Mimi and Beebee.
I enjoyed the unique plot of the story. Carmen and Isaac are old pen pals. Carmen remembers him, (Isaac) Zac doesn’t remember her. Or so we are lead to believe. He actually adores her.
I loved how Carmen listened to his explanation. How their friendship picked up right where it ended. Even though someone wanted more but the other was scared.
I adored their friendship and what a great guy Isaac was. The bingo friends were hilarious. Uncle G had me laughing out loud. What I loved and appreciated the most was that Carmen was always herself, no matter what. This is a great story, with fun and different characters. I will trying to catch up on Rachel’s other books as soon as I can!
I received an eARC from the author. All views and opinions expressed are my own.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews