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Take All the Time You Need
Riley Chase is taking her sweet time to move on.
Working as a painter in the West Village in New York City, Riley is still reeling from the loss of her fiancé, Grant, three years later, until an unexpected rent hike forces her to move out of the apartment she shared with him. She takes it as a chance to start anew, at the encouragement of her therapist. After answering a request for a proposal to paint a mural in The Red Kettle, a new restaurant owned by none other than Jae Cho, the wickedly handsome chef who just moved into her old apartment.
As Riley and Jae work together to get the restaurant ready for opening night, Jae learns of Riley’s well-meaning but ultimately futile attempts to make a dating app profile. Jae can’t stand to watch his new employee flounder in love—or get kidnapped by a serial killer before she finishes painting his mural— and promises to help get her profile in order including a practice date in exchange for her painting the mural for free. Riley questions what it means to “move on” from her late fiancé, and from the place she called home for so long—all while trying to not fall for her new neighbor who can’t seem to help but feed her dumplings and take her on long walks through NYC.
Maybe it isn’t too late for love after all.
Working as a painter in the West Village in New York City, Riley is still reeling from the loss of her fiancé, Grant, three years later, until an unexpected rent hike forces her to move out of the apartment she shared with him. She takes it as a chance to start anew, at the encouragement of her therapist. After answering a request for a proposal to paint a mural in The Red Kettle, a new restaurant owned by none other than Jae Cho, the wickedly handsome chef who just moved into her old apartment.
As Riley and Jae work together to get the restaurant ready for opening night, Jae learns of Riley’s well-meaning but ultimately futile attempts to make a dating app profile. Jae can’t stand to watch his new employee flounder in love—or get kidnapped by a serial killer before she finishes painting his mural— and promises to help get her profile in order including a practice date in exchange for her painting the mural for free. Riley questions what it means to “move on” from her late fiancé, and from the place she called home for so long—all while trying to not fall for her new neighbor who can’t seem to help but feed her dumplings and take her on long walks through NYC.
Maybe it isn’t too late for love after all.
254 pages, ebook
First published September 24, 2024
4 people are currently reading
237 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
August 19, 2024
DNF [■■■□□□□□□□] 30%
Take this review with a grain of salt. My perspective is limited as I didn't delve far enough into the book to foresee its full development. However, I have read enough to know that this book isn't for me.
─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *. read on for a more in-depth review .* :☆ﾟ. ───
✒️ the writing
⤷ The writing comes across as very juvenile. It doesn't start this way, mind you, but the quality of writing noticeably declined as the story progressed, and I couldn't get past the lack of consistency. I struggled particularly with the portrayal of emotions later on, where instead of experiencing them alongside the characters, it often felt like it was being explained to me, weakening the impact of Riley's grief.
⤷ The strength of the narrative lies in the vivid descriptions of the character's surroundings, but the weakness lies in the poorly written dialogue, which often feels unrealistic and unnatural. The conversations come off as very thoughtless and silly, and so do the characters, which I'll get into later on.
⤷ The story is riddled with grammatical errors and missing punctuation, indicating the need for thorough editing before publication.
🎥 the plot
⤷ I dove into this because I love stories about grief and the journey characters embark on to overcome it. Initially, we get a good portrayal of Riley's grief over her deceased fiance, Grant. As she navigated through memories in their shared apartment, clinging to remnants of his presence, I became invested in her story and found myself rooting for her. The opening scene was promising, but things went downhill after that, and my enthusiasm waned as the story progressed.
⤷ I found the setup of the romance disappointing. The idea of a nice landlord who chooses his next tenant based on how handsome he is, to facilitate a romantic setup and help Riley move on feels not only unrealistic but outright cheesy. Or perhaps cringe would be the better word, considering landlords should not be meddling in tenants' personal lives or sharing their personal details with strangers, which brings me to my next concern.
💗 the romance
⤷ I had hoped that Jae and Riley would get to know each other gradually and authentically, rather than having Riley's landlord spill her life story to Jae before they even met. What struck me as even more weird was Jae's initial pushiness, the kind of behavior only handsome guys can get away with, but which could easily be seen as "harassment" from someone less conventionally attractive.
To illustrate, picture a complete stranger who just moved into your apartment being overly familiar with you, bluntly telling you, "you're lonely," and detailing your habits like how you order food delivery five days a week and rarely leave your home except to walk your dog (all this information he'd gathered from the landlord, might I add), as if it's any of his damn business. They met briefly yesterday—wouldn't that be unsettling for anyone? It certainly would be for me. But I guess some things work in fiction, but not real life. This storyline just didn't appeal to me.
🧸 the characters
⤷ Jae's actions struck me as strange in the beginning—he seemed so intent on helping Riley despite being a stranger. I wonder if there's a plot twist ahead that might justify his insistence on getting close to her, but I haven't read far enough to know. Just two days after they meet, he tells her, "I know you've been burned before, okay? But I won't do that to you," trying to persuade Riley to let him teach her how to date. It all felt too familiar—like, chill bro, you've barely spoken to her for a total of five minutes.
⤷ As for Riley, I understand grief can be unpredictable, hitting hard one moment and fading the next. However, I found it hard to grasp her character. She spends a night in tears after downloading a dating app, feeling like she just "fucked another man" (her words, not mine) and was betraying her deceased fiancé, only to spend the next morning ogling at Jae's tattooed arms and "nice ass." When Jae steps away briefly to cook, she muses, "I haven't seen him in awhile. I miss his presence." Girl, I get it's been three years since you got laid, but he's just in the kitchen—and it's been a few days since you met.
⤷ That said, it felt very insta-lust. It lacked the expected buildup that would have made it more meaningful had she found herself falling for him gradually—if that love or attraction slowly crept up on her despite her grief, taking her by surprise. The internal conflict—the guilt of moving on—and the eventual acceptance as she learns to let it go and let love in, could have been a beautiful narrative arc. Unfortunately, her fixation on his good looks and her excessive swearing grated on me.
⤷ The landlord. Yes, yes, some of you might find him endearing. But as an adult fiction, I expected more realistic characterization, not characters who feel more like caricatures.
I find the dialogue in this book often comes across as silly and unnatural, not just in this instance but in many conversations throughout. To keep this review concise, I'll leave it at that.
-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈
bottom line: juvenile writing, unrealistic characterization, unnatural dialogue. i have more qualms, but I don't want to turn anyone away from giving this a shot. it didn't work for me, but it doesn't mean others won't enjoy it. if the premise is interesting to you, don't let this review deter you from reading this book. you might find yourself enjoying it.
-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈
Thanks to Cate Summers, Xpresso Book Tours, and Netgalley for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Take this review with a grain of salt. My perspective is limited as I didn't delve far enough into the book to foresee its full development. However, I have read enough to know that this book isn't for me.
─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *. read on for a more in-depth review .* :☆ﾟ. ───
✒️ the writing
⤷ The writing comes across as very juvenile. It doesn't start this way, mind you, but the quality of writing noticeably declined as the story progressed, and I couldn't get past the lack of consistency. I struggled particularly with the portrayal of emotions later on, where instead of experiencing them alongside the characters, it often felt like it was being explained to me, weakening the impact of Riley's grief.
⤷ The strength of the narrative lies in the vivid descriptions of the character's surroundings, but the weakness lies in the poorly written dialogue, which often feels unrealistic and unnatural. The conversations come off as very thoughtless and silly, and so do the characters, which I'll get into later on.
⤷ The story is riddled with grammatical errors and missing punctuation, indicating the need for thorough editing before publication.
🎥 the plot
⤷ I dove into this because I love stories about grief and the journey characters embark on to overcome it. Initially, we get a good portrayal of Riley's grief over her deceased fiance, Grant. As she navigated through memories in their shared apartment, clinging to remnants of his presence, I became invested in her story and found myself rooting for her. The opening scene was promising, but things went downhill after that, and my enthusiasm waned as the story progressed.
⤷ I found the setup of the romance disappointing. The idea of a nice landlord who chooses his next tenant based on how handsome he is, to facilitate a romantic setup and help Riley move on feels not only unrealistic but outright cheesy. Or perhaps cringe would be the better word, considering landlords should not be meddling in tenants' personal lives or sharing their personal details with strangers, which brings me to my next concern.
💗 the romance
⤷ I had hoped that Jae and Riley would get to know each other gradually and authentically, rather than having Riley's landlord spill her life story to Jae before they even met. What struck me as even more weird was Jae's initial pushiness, the kind of behavior only handsome guys can get away with, but which could easily be seen as "harassment" from someone less conventionally attractive.
To illustrate, picture a complete stranger who just moved into your apartment being overly familiar with you, bluntly telling you, "you're lonely," and detailing your habits like how you order food delivery five days a week and rarely leave your home except to walk your dog (all this information he'd gathered from the landlord, might I add), as if it's any of his damn business. They met briefly yesterday—wouldn't that be unsettling for anyone? It certainly would be for me. But I guess some things work in fiction, but not real life. This storyline just didn't appeal to me.
🧸 the characters
⤷ Jae's actions struck me as strange in the beginning—he seemed so intent on helping Riley despite being a stranger. I wonder if there's a plot twist ahead that might justify his insistence on getting close to her, but I haven't read far enough to know. Just two days after they meet, he tells her, "I know you've been burned before, okay? But I won't do that to you," trying to persuade Riley to let him teach her how to date. It all felt too familiar—like, chill bro, you've barely spoken to her for a total of five minutes.
⤷ As for Riley, I understand grief can be unpredictable, hitting hard one moment and fading the next. However, I found it hard to grasp her character. She spends a night in tears after downloading a dating app, feeling like she just "fucked another man" (her words, not mine) and was betraying her deceased fiancé, only to spend the next morning ogling at Jae's tattooed arms and "nice ass." When Jae steps away briefly to cook, she muses, "I haven't seen him in awhile. I miss his presence." Girl, I get it's been three years since you got laid, but he's just in the kitchen—and it's been a few days since you met.
⤷ That said, it felt very insta-lust. It lacked the expected buildup that would have made it more meaningful had she found herself falling for him gradually—if that love or attraction slowly crept up on her despite her grief, taking her by surprise. The internal conflict—the guilt of moving on—and the eventual acceptance as she learns to let it go and let love in, could have been a beautiful narrative arc. Unfortunately, her fixation on his good looks and her excessive swearing grated on me.
⤷ The landlord. Yes, yes, some of you might find him endearing. But as an adult fiction, I expected more realistic characterization, not characters who feel more like caricatures.
"So, you picked out a new tenant just for me?"
"Give him a chance. He takes lots of girls on dates. Could you be next?
I find the dialogue in this book often comes across as silly and unnatural, not just in this instance but in many conversations throughout. To keep this review concise, I'll leave it at that.
-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈
bottom line: juvenile writing, unrealistic characterization, unnatural dialogue. i have more qualms, but I don't want to turn anyone away from giving this a shot. it didn't work for me, but it doesn't mean others won't enjoy it. if the premise is interesting to you, don't let this review deter you from reading this book. you might find yourself enjoying it.
-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈
Thanks to Cate Summers, Xpresso Book Tours, and Netgalley for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review!
August 21, 2024
2.5 stars rounded down
so sorry did not enjoy this at all
i finished it tho
it’s probably because i’m reading a book about another grant who is well,alive.
anyway jae is nice to an extent but like i did not get the romance aspect at all.
anyway thank you netgalley and the publisher this review is my own (obviously)
so sorry did not enjoy this at all
i finished it tho
it’s probably because i’m reading a book about another grant who is well,alive.
anyway jae is nice to an extent but like i did not get the romance aspect at all.
anyway thank you netgalley and the publisher this review is my own (obviously)
July 30, 2024
3.25 stars, rounded down to 3
This book had great bones! However, there were too many inconsistencies and plot holes that kept pulling me out of the story. Still, it was a quick read and it wasn’t awful, despite the inconsistencies.
Thank you to NetGalley for the arc. All opinions expressed are my own.
This book had great bones! However, there were too many inconsistencies and plot holes that kept pulling me out of the story. Still, it was a quick read and it wasn’t awful, despite the inconsistencies.
Thank you to NetGalley for the arc. All opinions expressed are my own.
August 9, 2024
2.5 ⭐️
First of all, thank you author and NetGalley for the ARC!
This book really piqued my interest because of its trope—love after grief. It's unusual for me to read a romance book like this.
The book started off amazing, but it all went downhill due to inconsistencies in the story. I hoped the author would focus more on the love itself rather than sexual attraction, so the concept of love after grief would be more emphasized and appreciated. It’s just odd that the FMC suddenly remembers her dead ex-fiancé after describing how attractive another man is or after having phone sex—which, btw, made me cringe and laugh at the same time 😆. I understand that including smuts is common now, but I wish it had been toned down a bit. I even skipped some parts where J and R were sexualizing each other.
Again, this book had a lot of potential but ended up feeling like another wattpad-style story. I’m giving it 2.5 stars cuz there are parts that are really good. This book is really promising and contains scenes that will hook you. I’m not sure if it's possible, but I hope the author will rewrite it to have a more mature plot (while still maintaining the cozy vibes) and fix the grammatical and typographical errors.
First of all, thank you author and NetGalley for the ARC!
This book really piqued my interest because of its trope—love after grief. It's unusual for me to read a romance book like this.
The book started off amazing, but it all went downhill due to inconsistencies in the story. I hoped the author would focus more on the love itself rather than sexual attraction, so the concept of love after grief would be more emphasized and appreciated. It’s just odd that the FMC suddenly remembers her dead ex-fiancé after describing how attractive another man is or after having phone sex—which, btw, made me cringe and laugh at the same time 😆. I understand that including smuts is common now, but I wish it had been toned down a bit. I even skipped some parts where J and R were sexualizing each other.
Again, this book had a lot of potential but ended up feeling like another wattpad-style story. I’m giving it 2.5 stars cuz there are parts that are really good. This book is really promising and contains scenes that will hook you. I’m not sure if it's possible, but I hope the author will rewrite it to have a more mature plot (while still maintaining the cozy vibes) and fix the grammatical and typographical errors.
July 29, 2024
Books that make me think about the Wandavision quote; "What is grief if not love persisting?"
August 14, 2024
First off, thank you NetGalley for this arc!
Going into this I had a GOOD feeling about it (I love crying), and I most definitely had a couple tears. I love the relationship that Riley and Jae grew together. It shows that through facing your grief, you can let people in to help you through it, and maybe that’s actually what you need. In this book I felt the growth that Riley achieved, and it was just so heartwarming to see her transform into her happy self.
Loved this so much & would recommend to anyone going through grief, especially ones that have a harder time facing it.
Going into this I had a GOOD feeling about it (I love crying), and I most definitely had a couple tears. I love the relationship that Riley and Jae grew together. It shows that through facing your grief, you can let people in to help you through it, and maybe that’s actually what you need. In this book I felt the growth that Riley achieved, and it was just so heartwarming to see her transform into her happy self.
Loved this so much & would recommend to anyone going through grief, especially ones that have a harder time facing it.
August 10, 2024
A great little story about second chances and managing grief. I really loved exploring Jae and Riley’s story and I thought the way the author portrayed navigating grief was wonderful.
PROS:
- Both characters are incredibly likable. Jae and Riley are both flawed but normal people. In a world of romance novels where the characters are a little above and beyond, it was awesome to read a story that felt like these two could be your own friends.
- The way the stages of grief were shown felt so realistic. As someone who also has lost important young people in my 20s, it felt so real and comforting.
- The story itself is honestly so cute! This is such a realistic story and I really enjoyed the ride!
CONS:
- The book was SUCH a slow burn (loved it) but they fell in love very fast afterwards. Wish it was a little longer to make sense with the satisfying slow burn.
- Some things took me out of the story a little. You can’t buy and renovate an apartment but also rent? Phone sex when you live a floor apart and you JUST declared you liked each other? Sometimes the dialogue felt a little British and formal too. Also not sure why Jae went from being super cinnamon roll-y and then in bed using “good girl” in a place it didn’t belong and generally being kind of aggressive. Just did not fit his personality. Did it ruin the book for me? No, but it definitely took me out of the story for a bit.
- The fake dating premise really didn’t need to be there. This could have been a great meet cute story where they became friends and he set her up with his friends but made himself jealous with it. The fake dating angle felt really forced. Didn’t ruin it for me at all but definitely was a little weird.
Honestly though, so often I read ARCs of romance novels and they just try to do a trope checklist or tell a story that is far fetched or whatever. This one was SO cute, the premise was more original than most, and the characters were refreshingly normal and likable. I would definitely read more from this author in the future!!
I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
PROS:
- Both characters are incredibly likable. Jae and Riley are both flawed but normal people. In a world of romance novels where the characters are a little above and beyond, it was awesome to read a story that felt like these two could be your own friends.
- The way the stages of grief were shown felt so realistic. As someone who also has lost important young people in my 20s, it felt so real and comforting.
- The story itself is honestly so cute! This is such a realistic story and I really enjoyed the ride!
CONS:
- The book was SUCH a slow burn (loved it) but they fell in love very fast afterwards. Wish it was a little longer to make sense with the satisfying slow burn.
- Some things took me out of the story a little. You can’t buy and renovate an apartment but also rent? Phone sex when you live a floor apart and you JUST declared you liked each other? Sometimes the dialogue felt a little British and formal too. Also not sure why Jae went from being super cinnamon roll-y and then in bed using “good girl” in a place it didn’t belong and generally being kind of aggressive. Just did not fit his personality. Did it ruin the book for me? No, but it definitely took me out of the story for a bit.
- The fake dating premise really didn’t need to be there. This could have been a great meet cute story where they became friends and he set her up with his friends but made himself jealous with it. The fake dating angle felt really forced. Didn’t ruin it for me at all but definitely was a little weird.
Honestly though, so often I read ARCs of romance novels and they just try to do a trope checklist or tell a story that is far fetched or whatever. This one was SO cute, the premise was more original than most, and the characters were refreshingly normal and likable. I would definitely read more from this author in the future!!
I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 20, 2024
The grief depicted in this book felt very raw and real. Riley's struggle with grief and letting go of the past was portrayed really beautifully.
"'How did you move on?'
'I didn't move on. I just moved forward.'"
I loved reading about Riley navigating through her guilt of trying to go on with her life while still wanting to hang on to what she lost. Her progress in her grief felt relatable and freeing.
I really liked Jae's patience with Riley and him understanding that she's still grieving. His love and feelings expressed through his cooking really highlighted his connection with cooking and how he felt attached to his family through it. They worked well together. They fit together like puzzle pieces.
I liked the author's writting style. It was easy to digest and went by quickly but was still beautiful.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
"'How did you move on?'
'I didn't move on. I just moved forward.'"
I loved reading about Riley navigating through her guilt of trying to go on with her life while still wanting to hang on to what she lost. Her progress in her grief felt relatable and freeing.
I really liked Jae's patience with Riley and him understanding that she's still grieving. His love and feelings expressed through his cooking really highlighted his connection with cooking and how he felt attached to his family through it. They worked well together. They fit together like puzzle pieces.
I liked the author's writting style. It was easy to digest and went by quickly but was still beautiful.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
August 6, 2024
Thank you, author and publisher, for the advance reading copy.
I would say the dealing with grief and pain, loneliness and aloofness of the main character is very realistic. However, I couldn’t enjoy the writing and the interactions between the characters.
I would say the dealing with grief and pain, loneliness and aloofness of the main character is very realistic. However, I couldn’t enjoy the writing and the interactions between the characters.
September 24, 2024
Take All the Time You Need by Cate Summers ARC Review
After losing her fiance to brain cancer and grieving for 3 years, it's finally time for Riley to move on with her life. The first step is moving out of the apartment they shared. As she's leaving, crying, she meets the man who is moving into the apartment. Embarrassment and grief make her lash out at him, but he still offers to be her friend. Jae is a chef, and he's opening a restaurant nearby. Riley is an artist, but hasn't painted in far too long. Jae commissions a mural for the restaurant from Riley, and they start to spend each day together as she paints and he cooks.
Riley has decided she deserves love again and wants to start dating and Jae offers to help her practice.
These two have a sweet little friendship with mutual admiration. Riley breaks down over and over due to her grief, and Jae is there to comfort her. He's perpetually patient, understanding, and encouraging. He's also a smoke show! I definitely have a crush on this man. (And I'm not the only one.)
The story takes us on a journey of loss, grief, guilt, self discovery, friendship, and love. It shows the intricacies of life after loss. The ups and downs, the one-step-forward two--steps-back of it all.
Overall, I liked this book. However, there were many places in the book that had confusing imagery/flowery writing that I felt didn't make a lot of sense. I don't know if I could stand reading the full scientific term "cl*toris" one more time. It seemed awkward. I had a few problems with possible inconsistencies and errors, but this was an advanced copy, so they may have been fixed for the final copy, so I won't hold that against the author.
Tropes: 1st person single narrative, love after loss, forced proximity, neighbors, annoyance to friends to lovers.
4⭐️ 2🌶️
I read an advanced copy of the book, and these are my honest opinions. Thank you to NetGalley and the author.
After losing her fiance to brain cancer and grieving for 3 years, it's finally time for Riley to move on with her life. The first step is moving out of the apartment they shared. As she's leaving, crying, she meets the man who is moving into the apartment. Embarrassment and grief make her lash out at him, but he still offers to be her friend. Jae is a chef, and he's opening a restaurant nearby. Riley is an artist, but hasn't painted in far too long. Jae commissions a mural for the restaurant from Riley, and they start to spend each day together as she paints and he cooks.
Riley has decided she deserves love again and wants to start dating and Jae offers to help her practice.
These two have a sweet little friendship with mutual admiration. Riley breaks down over and over due to her grief, and Jae is there to comfort her. He's perpetually patient, understanding, and encouraging. He's also a smoke show! I definitely have a crush on this man. (And I'm not the only one.)
The story takes us on a journey of loss, grief, guilt, self discovery, friendship, and love. It shows the intricacies of life after loss. The ups and downs, the one-step-forward two--steps-back of it all.
Overall, I liked this book. However, there were many places in the book that had confusing imagery/flowery writing that I felt didn't make a lot of sense. I don't know if I could stand reading the full scientific term "cl*toris" one more time. It seemed awkward. I had a few problems with possible inconsistencies and errors, but this was an advanced copy, so they may have been fixed for the final copy, so I won't hold that against the author.
Tropes: 1st person single narrative, love after loss, forced proximity, neighbors, annoyance to friends to lovers.
4⭐️ 2🌶️
I read an advanced copy of the book, and these are my honest opinions. Thank you to NetGalley and the author.
August 29, 2024
What a beautiful love story and what a respectful and beautiful display of what grieving is like. The writer really showed a beautiful journey of the fmc going through the first stages of grief and feeling like she could never love again, to finally allowing herself to be happy. She really had me rooting for her.
And the mmc is just a dream man. So respectful, loving, caring, understanding, patient... And hot.
I really haven't got anything bad to say about this book.
And the mmc is just a dream man. So respectful, loving, caring, understanding, patient... And hot.
I really haven't got anything bad to say about this book.
August 14, 2024
This book is an emotional story about a woman finding love in the midst of grief. Riley has spent three years hiding from life while working through grief over the passing of her fiancé. But when she has to move out of the apartment they shared, she struggles to move on.
Enter Jae, the new tenant. When he hires Riley to paint a mural in his new restaurant, the two end up getting more than just a mural or a paycheck.
In this emotional romance, you get to go along with these two as Riley learns that moving forward and moving on aren’t the same while Jae supports her. A touching mix of love, grief, and connection, this book will have you feeling deeply for both of the characters.
Enter Jae, the new tenant. When he hires Riley to paint a mural in his new restaurant, the two end up getting more than just a mural or a paycheck.
In this emotional romance, you get to go along with these two as Riley learns that moving forward and moving on aren’t the same while Jae supports her. A touching mix of love, grief, and connection, this book will have you feeling deeply for both of the characters.
July 28, 2024
I was excited to read this romance as it has a plot that is not often explored and one of my favorites: love after loss.
I liked the journey the MC was on and having it from her POV was interesting. At times it was like reading her stream of consciousness, which proved to share a lot. This book is raw and honest. I felt my own sense of grief at points, imagining how I would cope with the same things.
There were some issues that kept me from getting invested fully. The dialogue is choppy and hostile. I’m not sure if it was an issue of the humor not coming through or what. Also, because I read an ARC, there were so many inconsistencies that hopefully are cleaned up in the final. Those inconsistencies pulled me from the story too many times.
I also thought the characters as a couple needed more development and conflict. Everything seemed to be resolved through telling the other person not to feel that way. It just felt too simple for the complexities of the topic. It also bugged me that the love interest basically swoops in to rescue the MC, that was a disappointing arc to the story.
Overall this is a fast read and it was sweet. I’m not sure I would recommend as there are stronger books in the genre.
I liked the journey the MC was on and having it from her POV was interesting. At times it was like reading her stream of consciousness, which proved to share a lot. This book is raw and honest. I felt my own sense of grief at points, imagining how I would cope with the same things.
There were some issues that kept me from getting invested fully. The dialogue is choppy and hostile. I’m not sure if it was an issue of the humor not coming through or what. Also, because I read an ARC, there were so many inconsistencies that hopefully are cleaned up in the final. Those inconsistencies pulled me from the story too many times.
I also thought the characters as a couple needed more development and conflict. Everything seemed to be resolved through telling the other person not to feel that way. It just felt too simple for the complexities of the topic. It also bugged me that the love interest basically swoops in to rescue the MC, that was a disappointing arc to the story.
Overall this is a fast read and it was sweet. I’m not sure I would recommend as there are stronger books in the genre.
July 23, 2024
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️.5 (4.5/5)
🌶
Thank you Cate Summers for an early release ARC of this book.
Triggers:
off-page death (pre-plot)
grief
death of a partner (pre-plot)
anxiety
family trauma
Favorites:
nosey landlord who you can't help but love
Taming of the strew fake dating meets forced proximity
food = love language
artist finding herself again
de-stigmatizes grief and trauma groups
non-white main characters (mmc and friends)
mmc who isn't 100% straight <--I loved that this wasn't a major plot point--it just was! 👏 👏
I finished this book on my kindle in like 4 hours. I loved it! I loved all of the characters and I loved that the fmc's grief was so hard to read because it felt so real. I believed every second of it and found myself wondering about the author's well-being. LOL
If you need to a good reason make yourself cry, read this book and you will SOB! SOB! 😭
The writing was really easy to follow and a breath of fresh air. I can see this book on the shelves of indie bookstores EASILY! I loved how fast-paced the slow burn was...I mean, you'll get it when you read it. Just trust me.
I can't wait to read more from this author's future books!
🌶
Thank you Cate Summers for an early release ARC of this book.
Triggers:
off-page death (pre-plot)
grief
death of a partner (pre-plot)
anxiety
family trauma
Favorites:
nosey landlord who you can't help but love
Taming of the strew fake dating meets forced proximity
food = love language
artist finding herself again
de-stigmatizes grief and trauma groups
non-white main characters (mmc and friends)
mmc who isn't 100% straight <--I loved that this wasn't a major plot point--it just was! 👏 👏
I finished this book on my kindle in like 4 hours. I loved it! I loved all of the characters and I loved that the fmc's grief was so hard to read because it felt so real. I believed every second of it and found myself wondering about the author's well-being. LOL
If you need to a good reason make yourself cry, read this book and you will SOB! SOB! 😭
The writing was really easy to follow and a breath of fresh air. I can see this book on the shelves of indie bookstores EASILY! I loved how fast-paced the slow burn was...I mean, you'll get it when you read it. Just trust me.
I can't wait to read more from this author's future books!
August 18, 2024
[arc review]
Thank you to NetGalley and Xpresso Book Tours for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Take All The Time You Need releases September 24, 2024
After three years, Riley is finally taking the steps to move on with her life after her fiancé died of cancer. She moves into a smaller unit a few floors down and befriends the new tenant of her old place when he commissions her to paint a mural in his new restaurant.
Romances with grief as a main theme are my bread and butter, coupled with an Asian lead who’s a chef (aka me but the opposite gender), I really thought this would’ve been something great (it wasn’t).
This debut missed the mark on writing, character likeability, and plot progression. With many typos (ending a finished sentence of dialogue with a comma instead of a period, or calling a white-collared job “white-color” for example) and the inability to stay consistent with tense choices or plot points, it was difficult to latch onto the narrative.
Riley’s act of jumping straight into dating didn’t make sense for her characterizations and felt forced.
I think the author tried to go for a grumpy x sunshine dynamic, but the stilted and unnatural dialogue throughout made it read like a rude fmc paired with an invasive mmc.
The way Jae handled his mother’s MS was not well thought out in the slightest. Any chef knows how relentless and laborious work days can get, so it made absolute no sense for Jae to come to the realization that he wouldn’t be able to provide the care his mother needed until after he moved and renovated two apartments.
I really do hope this goes through another round of edits, not only to fix the grammatical errors, but to iron out major plot and character inconsistencies.
— How was Grant a major designer of the building at the age of 22 (he died at 23), with a keen eye and expensive taste, yet the building was falling apart less than 5 years later? It makes zero sense that Grant and Riley were fresh out of college and had a rental unit with herringbone and quartz finishes, when other units had vinyl countertops and laminate floors. I guarantee you, no one invests in renovation changes that lavish and extensive when you don’t own the place.
— What was the point of introducing Rishi when everything that followed from Jae was so counterintuitive and didn’t align with how Stuart described him?
— Why would you have a Korean mmc with his own restaurant, cooking dishes like bulgogi, but then put halo halo on the menu which is Filipino? It’s giving all Asian’s are the same and I don’t know the difference.
— Did Jae buy the West Village apartment, or was he renting? He mentions having to sell it, but then also mentions breaking his lease early, which don’t go hand in hand with each other.
Thank you to NetGalley and Xpresso Book Tours for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Take All The Time You Need releases September 24, 2024
After three years, Riley is finally taking the steps to move on with her life after her fiancé died of cancer. She moves into a smaller unit a few floors down and befriends the new tenant of her old place when he commissions her to paint a mural in his new restaurant.
Romances with grief as a main theme are my bread and butter, coupled with an Asian lead who’s a chef (aka me but the opposite gender), I really thought this would’ve been something great (it wasn’t).
This debut missed the mark on writing, character likeability, and plot progression. With many typos (ending a finished sentence of dialogue with a comma instead of a period, or calling a white-collared job “white-color” for example) and the inability to stay consistent with tense choices or plot points, it was difficult to latch onto the narrative.
Riley’s act of jumping straight into dating didn’t make sense for her characterizations and felt forced.
I think the author tried to go for a grumpy x sunshine dynamic, but the stilted and unnatural dialogue throughout made it read like a rude fmc paired with an invasive mmc.
The way Jae handled his mother’s MS was not well thought out in the slightest. Any chef knows how relentless and laborious work days can get, so it made absolute no sense for Jae to come to the realization that he wouldn’t be able to provide the care his mother needed until after he moved and renovated two apartments.
I really do hope this goes through another round of edits, not only to fix the grammatical errors, but to iron out major plot and character inconsistencies.
— How was Grant a major designer of the building at the age of 22 (he died at 23), with a keen eye and expensive taste, yet the building was falling apart less than 5 years later? It makes zero sense that Grant and Riley were fresh out of college and had a rental unit with herringbone and quartz finishes, when other units had vinyl countertops and laminate floors. I guarantee you, no one invests in renovation changes that lavish and extensive when you don’t own the place.
— What was the point of introducing Rishi when everything that followed from Jae was so counterintuitive and didn’t align with how Stuart described him?
— Why would you have a Korean mmc with his own restaurant, cooking dishes like bulgogi, but then put halo halo on the menu which is Filipino? It’s giving all Asian’s are the same and I don’t know the difference.
— Did Jae buy the West Village apartment, or was he renting? He mentions having to sell it, but then also mentions breaking his lease early, which don’t go hand in hand with each other.
September 15, 2025
ARC
eARC recieved from NetGalley.
I did want to like this. The book starts off so well. And then you're hit with inconsistent writing quality, inconsistent pacing, and inconsistent characters(!). Nothing made me want to continue reading, not even curiosity.
I couldn't get past all the awkward/ hostile and unrealistic dialogue. see:
That's not something you tell to someone (especially your tenant) who has lost their fiancé! It doesn't matter that it's been three years - another thing I felt was odd - Riley could live on donations for three whole years in NYC??
Jae's entrance felt out of place too. For a story about managing grief, it would've made more sense for the characters to tell each other about their loss. Instead, Jae already knows about Riley losing her fiancé because the landlord told him everything 😭 what?
burned??? man what are you talking about? Her fiancé died! that's not 'burned', she's grieving!
There's about a month before this releases so it's probably impossible. Still, I hope it goes through another round of editing - to fix the grammatical errors, improve Jae's character (he's way too pushy), remove inconsistencies, and improve the plot.
eARC recieved from NetGalley.
I did want to like this. The book starts off so well. And then you're hit with inconsistent writing quality, inconsistent pacing, and inconsistent characters(!). Nothing made me want to continue reading, not even curiosity.
I couldn't get past all the awkward/ hostile and unrealistic dialogue. see:
"So, you picked out a new tenant just for me?"
"Give him a chance. He takes lots of girls on dates. Could you be next?
That's not something you tell to someone (especially your tenant) who has lost their fiancé! It doesn't matter that it's been three years - another thing I felt was odd - Riley could live on donations for three whole years in NYC??
Jae's entrance felt out of place too. For a story about managing grief, it would've made more sense for the characters to tell each other about their loss. Instead, Jae already knows about Riley losing her fiancé because the landlord told him everything 😭 what?
"I know you've been burned before, okay? But I won't do that to you"
burned??? man what are you talking about? Her fiancé died! that's not 'burned', she's grieving!
There's about a month before this releases so it's probably impossible. Still, I hope it goes through another round of editing - to fix the grammatical errors, improve Jae's character (he's way too pushy), remove inconsistencies, and improve the plot.
September 15, 2024
I thought that this was a cute read about working on coming to terms with losing a loved one. Riley has trouble accepting that she deserves to find love again and be happy after losing her fiancé Grant as quickly as she did. Jae just so happens to be the one that's moving into her old apartment and hires Riley to paint a mural in his new restaurant. I love that she was able to develop a friendship with Jae though and he was so understanding with her feelings and helped her with her guilt. He becomes protective over her at the start because she's still unsure of getting back out there into the dating scene again and Jae makes a deal that he'll help her by doing practice dates. It was at this point I knew Jae was already falling for Riley, but he didn't want to pressure her which was really sweet. He knew she needed a friend first and that's exactly what he did until she was ready.
I did find some grammar issues throughout my copy of the book as well that I had to take a second to reread at some spots so hopefully those can be fixed.
I received this as an ARC from netgalley.
I did find some grammar issues throughout my copy of the book as well that I had to take a second to reread at some spots so hopefully those can be fixed.
I received this as an ARC from netgalley.
August 5, 2024
I liked the premise of the book, and thought it talked about love after loss with a lot of emotional depth. The actual meat of the book felt really disconnected from the preceding chapters and I was struggling to figure out how the plot moved from Point A to Point B.
ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review :)
ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review :)
August 6, 2024
Thank you Cate Summers and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.
I'm honestly surprised by the negative reviews of this book. I devoured the first half of this book, and it got me out of my reading slump!
I was a little hesitant to pick this one up because I prefer lighthearted books. I was worried the premise would be too heavy. I thought Riley's grief was well written, well handled, and not too much of a distraction to the book. However, given her history, I wish the story was more drawn out and it took more time for them to fall in love. It was a little too instalove/lust.
I LOVED Jae. He's a golden retriever but not in an annoying or over the top way. I liked that he was patient and understanding of Riley, and her past was not a major conflict in their relationship.
I agree with some of the other reviews about plot holes/things that don't make sense. To me, they were not a distraction because I enjoyed the book and it's not uncommon for romance novels to have plot holes. They were just things I noted.
I'm honestly surprised by the negative reviews of this book. I devoured the first half of this book, and it got me out of my reading slump!
I was a little hesitant to pick this one up because I prefer lighthearted books. I was worried the premise would be too heavy. I thought Riley's grief was well written, well handled, and not too much of a distraction to the book. However, given her history, I wish the story was more drawn out and it took more time for them to fall in love. It was a little too instalove/lust.
I LOVED Jae. He's a golden retriever but not in an annoying or over the top way. I liked that he was patient and understanding of Riley, and her past was not a major conflict in their relationship.
I agree with some of the other reviews about plot holes/things that don't make sense. To me, they were not a distraction because I enjoyed the book and it's not uncommon for romance novels to have plot holes. They were just things I noted.
August 22, 2024
Riley Chase, a young woman who lost her fiancé to brain cancer, is the kind of character that makes you wonder how anyone, especially Grant, could have loved her in the first place. After her loss, Riley made a series of terrible choices that led her to move into a new apartment, where she meets Jae. But grief doesn’t transform people; it only amplifies what’s already there, and for Riley, that means an unlikable, overly hostile, and hypocritical personality. Her grief doesn’t excuse her behavior; it simply sharpens her flaws, making it impossible to root for her as a leading character.
The group therapy sessions on grief in feel ham-fisted and out of place, adding little to the narrative except awkwardly shoehorned elements. Riley’s judgment of other participants, who have faced far worse hardships than her own, is particularly off-putting. Her dismissive attitude towards those who are struggling more deeply undermines the sincerity of these therapy scenes and adds to the already frustrating portrayal of her character.
Jae isn’t much better. He comes across as pushy, aggressive, and immature, like that kid on the playground who doesn’t really want a toy but doesn’t want anyone else to have it either. Instead of being upfront about his feelings, Jae resorts to juvenile antics, bullying Riley because he can’t admit that he actually likes her. His behavior doesn’t add depth to the story but instead drags it down, making their dynamic frustrating rather than compelling.
To make matters worse, the love story feels rushed at the end, with a lack of chemistry between Riley and Jae that leaves the conclusion far from fulfilling. It’s hard to believe these two could ever form a healthy relationship when they’re both toxic on their own and just as bad together. The ending doesn’t feel like a triumph of love but more like two dysfunctional people settling because they can’t do any better.
Adding to the frustration are the copious amounts of typos, lack of continuity, and glaring grammar and syntax errors that litter the book. These issues are so frequent that they pull you out of the story, making it hard to stay engaged. It’s clear that these errors should have been addressed long before the book reached readers, but instead, they distract from an already weak narrative.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
The group therapy sessions on grief in feel ham-fisted and out of place, adding little to the narrative except awkwardly shoehorned elements. Riley’s judgment of other participants, who have faced far worse hardships than her own, is particularly off-putting. Her dismissive attitude towards those who are struggling more deeply undermines the sincerity of these therapy scenes and adds to the already frustrating portrayal of her character.
Jae isn’t much better. He comes across as pushy, aggressive, and immature, like that kid on the playground who doesn’t really want a toy but doesn’t want anyone else to have it either. Instead of being upfront about his feelings, Jae resorts to juvenile antics, bullying Riley because he can’t admit that he actually likes her. His behavior doesn’t add depth to the story but instead drags it down, making their dynamic frustrating rather than compelling.
To make matters worse, the love story feels rushed at the end, with a lack of chemistry between Riley and Jae that leaves the conclusion far from fulfilling. It’s hard to believe these two could ever form a healthy relationship when they’re both toxic on their own and just as bad together. The ending doesn’t feel like a triumph of love but more like two dysfunctional people settling because they can’t do any better.
Adding to the frustration are the copious amounts of typos, lack of continuity, and glaring grammar and syntax errors that litter the book. These issues are so frequent that they pull you out of the story, making it hard to stay engaged. It’s clear that these errors should have been addressed long before the book reached readers, but instead, they distract from an already weak narrative.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
September 11, 2024
---
**🎨 *Take All The Time You Need* by Cate Summers 🎨**
**⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars)**
Cate Summers' *Take All The Time You Need* is a heartfelt and emotional romance that beautifully captures the struggles of grief and finding love again after loss. Riley Chase, an artist still grieving the loss of her fiancé three years later, is forced to move out of the apartment they once shared. This leads her to Jae Cho, the charming and handsome chef who just moved into her old apartment and needs a mural for his new restaurant, The Red Kettle.
The chemistry between Riley and Jae is undeniable as they work together on the mural, and Jae's well-meaning attempts to help Riley navigate the dating world add a layer of lightness and humor to the story. I loved the way Riley's journey toward healing was portrayed—slow, thoughtful, and not without setbacks. Jae's gentle encouragement and care for her was endearing, especially as he feeds her dumplings and takes her on long, thoughtful walks through New York City.
Summers does a wonderful job blending romance with the exploration of grief, making this a touching and reflective read. It’s a story about moving forward, accepting love when it comes, and finding beauty in the unexpected.
**💬 Favorite Quote:**
*"Sometimes, moving on isn't about leaving someone behind; it's about making space for something new."*
---
**✨ Highlights:**
- **Character Depth**: Riley’s emotional journey is raw and relatable, and Jae is a perfect balance of humor and heart.
- **Setting**: New York City feels alive in this novel, with the West Village adding a rich backdrop to Riley and Jae’s developing relationship.
- **Themes**: Grief, healing, and the slow rediscovery of love are at the heart of this story, making it a touching and reflective read.
---
If you enjoy slow-burn romance with deep emotional resonance, *Take All The Time You Need* will tug at your heartstrings while leaving you hopeful for second chances at love.
See more reviews at:
Casla Reads
*I received this book through NetGalley as an ARC reader. This will not in any way affect my thoughts or opinions on the book.*
---
**🎨 *Take All The Time You Need* by Cate Summers 🎨**
**⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars)**
Cate Summers' *Take All The Time You Need* is a heartfelt and emotional romance that beautifully captures the struggles of grief and finding love again after loss. Riley Chase, an artist still grieving the loss of her fiancé three years later, is forced to move out of the apartment they once shared. This leads her to Jae Cho, the charming and handsome chef who just moved into her old apartment and needs a mural for his new restaurant, The Red Kettle.
The chemistry between Riley and Jae is undeniable as they work together on the mural, and Jae's well-meaning attempts to help Riley navigate the dating world add a layer of lightness and humor to the story. I loved the way Riley's journey toward healing was portrayed—slow, thoughtful, and not without setbacks. Jae's gentle encouragement and care for her was endearing, especially as he feeds her dumplings and takes her on long, thoughtful walks through New York City.
Summers does a wonderful job blending romance with the exploration of grief, making this a touching and reflective read. It’s a story about moving forward, accepting love when it comes, and finding beauty in the unexpected.
**💬 Favorite Quote:**
*"Sometimes, moving on isn't about leaving someone behind; it's about making space for something new."*
---
**✨ Highlights:**
- **Character Depth**: Riley’s emotional journey is raw and relatable, and Jae is a perfect balance of humor and heart.
- **Setting**: New York City feels alive in this novel, with the West Village adding a rich backdrop to Riley and Jae’s developing relationship.
- **Themes**: Grief, healing, and the slow rediscovery of love are at the heart of this story, making it a touching and reflective read.
---
If you enjoy slow-burn romance with deep emotional resonance, *Take All The Time You Need* will tug at your heartstrings while leaving you hopeful for second chances at love.
See more reviews at:
Casla Reads
*I received this book through NetGalley as an ARC reader. This will not in any way affect my thoughts or opinions on the book.*
---
September 14, 2024
e-ARC from NetGalley.
Some books just work for me, and this is one of them.
This is a story about grief and healing. Our protagonist lost her fiance to an abrupt and brutal kind of cancer just three years ago. Since then, she's been both drowning in grief and guilting herself out of trying to find even a modicum of happiness. Now, rising rent has forced her out of the apartment she shared with her fiance. On the way out, she meets the new tenant: Handsome Korean-American chef, Jae Cho.
From the moment they meet, there's some very obvious chemistry. And, as the story continues, I fell in love with their dynamic. Riley felt so relatable to me, and Jae was so sweet. Their interactions were funny, and the way Jae would randomly act like a middle school boy talking to his crush absolutely sent me. There were moments they had together where the constant synonyms and metaphors were a bit much, but the things these two made me feel? Let's just say I was grinning like an idiot.
This isn't a perfect book. There were elements of Jae's story that were introduced but never explored, chief among them being his mother's lack of support. There were also a few very obvious inconsistencies in the story - despite Jae knowing about Riley's loss before they even meet, there are times when it seems like he isn't aware of it - and we had three separate conversations about where he learned to cook with three different answers. While distracting, though, these did not pull me out of the story enough for it to truly bother me.
In the end, this is a wonderful story about learning to love again. If you love strangers to friends to lovers as much as I do, this will be a hit. And, if the love interested uttering the line "I'm her best friend" does something to your heart? Prepare accordingly.
Some books just work for me, and this is one of them.
This is a story about grief and healing. Our protagonist lost her fiance to an abrupt and brutal kind of cancer just three years ago. Since then, she's been both drowning in grief and guilting herself out of trying to find even a modicum of happiness. Now, rising rent has forced her out of the apartment she shared with her fiance. On the way out, she meets the new tenant: Handsome Korean-American chef, Jae Cho.
From the moment they meet, there's some very obvious chemistry. And, as the story continues, I fell in love with their dynamic. Riley felt so relatable to me, and Jae was so sweet. Their interactions were funny, and the way Jae would randomly act like a middle school boy talking to his crush absolutely sent me. There were moments they had together where the constant synonyms and metaphors were a bit much, but the things these two made me feel? Let's just say I was grinning like an idiot.
This isn't a perfect book. There were elements of Jae's story that were introduced but never explored, chief among them being his mother's lack of support. There were also a few very obvious inconsistencies in the story - despite Jae knowing about Riley's loss before they even meet, there are times when it seems like he isn't aware of it - and we had three separate conversations about where he learned to cook with three different answers. While distracting, though, these did not pull me out of the story enough for it to truly bother me.
In the end, this is a wonderful story about learning to love again. If you love strangers to friends to lovers as much as I do, this will be a hit. And, if the love interested uttering the line "I'm her best friend" does something to your heart? Prepare accordingly.
August 27, 2024
Three years after the agonizing death of her fiancé, artist Riley is forced by economics to move out of their beloved apartment and into a much smaller unit on a lower floor. Having a last look around while cradling the last of her boxes, she hears the distinct rattle of keys in the lock and the gorgeous but unwelcome new tenant Jae enters. Though he briefly apologizes for popping in, he spreads his himbo-like positivity and majesty unwanted suggestions about Riley despite having never met her before. Angry and overcome by grief, she loses it and storms off to her new depressing digs. Assessing the situation after a good cry, Riley realizes that she’s been stuck in complete inertia since her beloved Grant died, barely living, but for her routine of walking and feeding her dog and she resolves to take steps to change things up.
In the ensuing days and weeks, Jae coaxes Riley into painting a mural in his soon to be open restaurant in exchange for dating tips. After some disastrous moments, Riley finds she’s hopelessly drawn to Jae.
Can they move forward together? Or is their connection doomed to fail as an experiment?
What I appreciated most about this fairly short read was the messiness of it all: there are no slick, well rehearsed lines, in fact some of the dialogue is a bit of a head scratch, and the phone sex scene was inadvertently funny, but it all seems perfectly in keeping with someone who’s not in a great headspace. There’s also some glaring continuity issues with remodeling timelines and some other inconsistencies, but overall I really enjoyed it.
I was furnished an advance reader copy from NetGalley, and I’m sharing my honest thoughts.
In the ensuing days and weeks, Jae coaxes Riley into painting a mural in his soon to be open restaurant in exchange for dating tips. After some disastrous moments, Riley finds she’s hopelessly drawn to Jae.
Can they move forward together? Or is their connection doomed to fail as an experiment?
What I appreciated most about this fairly short read was the messiness of it all: there are no slick, well rehearsed lines, in fact some of the dialogue is a bit of a head scratch, and the phone sex scene was inadvertently funny, but it all seems perfectly in keeping with someone who’s not in a great headspace. There’s also some glaring continuity issues with remodeling timelines and some other inconsistencies, but overall I really enjoyed it.
I was furnished an advance reader copy from NetGalley, and I’m sharing my honest thoughts.
September 9, 2024
2.5 ⭐️ rounded up to 3
——————————————
Take all the time you need is about finding love after loss. One of my favourite tropes, if done right.
Everyone deals with grief in their own way, and you can clearly see Riley struggling to find her way back to life after her loss.
Jae, our MMC also has his own struggles with familial expectations and the story brings both of them together to do what exactly - I’m not sure.
Yes, to find love since it’s a love story at the end and all but I struggle to see this. The premise of the story is great but the execution was lacking.
Perhaps that’s to do with the fact that this book is less than 200 pages, but the pacing was a little wild. The characters could have used a little more development to add more colour to their personality. For example, as the story progresses, you are told Riley is finding other aspects of her personality apart from grief but is it clear in the way she acts? Not so much.
There were quite a few inconsistencies and the dialogue was choppy. It felt a little too high school in the way both the characters were acting and this is not YA! The intimate scenes felt like they didn’t really belong and were there just for the sake of it.
I really hate writing negative reviews but eeek. It was easy and quick read but does it do what it promises to? I’m not so sure. A little more editing and it has the potential to be so much better than it is.
——————————
The entire time I was reading it, I was thinking about rereading When Ashes Fall by Marni Mann!! Is that bad lol???
——————————
*All opinions are my own. Thank you NetGalley and the author for providing me with an arc in exchange of an honest review.
——————————————
Take all the time you need is about finding love after loss. One of my favourite tropes, if done right.
Everyone deals with grief in their own way, and you can clearly see Riley struggling to find her way back to life after her loss.
Jae, our MMC also has his own struggles with familial expectations and the story brings both of them together to do what exactly - I’m not sure.
Yes, to find love since it’s a love story at the end and all but I struggle to see this. The premise of the story is great but the execution was lacking.
Perhaps that’s to do with the fact that this book is less than 200 pages, but the pacing was a little wild. The characters could have used a little more development to add more colour to their personality. For example, as the story progresses, you are told Riley is finding other aspects of her personality apart from grief but is it clear in the way she acts? Not so much.
There were quite a few inconsistencies and the dialogue was choppy. It felt a little too high school in the way both the characters were acting and this is not YA! The intimate scenes felt like they didn’t really belong and were there just for the sake of it.
I really hate writing negative reviews but eeek. It was easy and quick read but does it do what it promises to? I’m not so sure. A little more editing and it has the potential to be so much better than it is.
——————————
The entire time I was reading it, I was thinking about rereading When Ashes Fall by Marni Mann!! Is that bad lol???
——————————
*All opinions are my own. Thank you NetGalley and the author for providing me with an arc in exchange of an honest review.
February 9, 2025
I read this book as an ARC on Net Galley.
The story is mainly about Riley and her journey through grief and healing after experiencing a significant loss. As seek seeks to move on, she is hired for a project where she meets Jae. What starts as a friendship slowly hints at something more, but the journey is anything but straightforward. The novel is largely focused on Riley's journey to healing through personal growth, self acceptance, and opening herself up to love again. Summers does a great job portraying grief and capturing the complexities of healing, showing that it's not a linear process. This lends itself to the slow burn romance between Riley and Jae which is founded upon deep trust and emotional support, making their relationship realistic and genuine. The character development for Riley is deep and much of the story is focused on her story and features a lot of her own internal dialogue. Riley does spend a lot of time in her head and seems to revisit the same spaces. This did feel a little monotonous at times and I did lose interest at a few points.
Take All the Time You Need is an emotionally rich story with a meaningful message about healing, but its slow pacing and introspective nature might not be for everyone. If you enjoy deeply reflective, character-focused romances with minimal external drama, this could be a great fit. But if you prefer a romance with more community and a broad cast of characters with multiple plot lines throughout the storytelling, this one may not be a good fit for you.
Tropes
-Second Chance Romance
-Slow Burn
-Friends to Lovers
-Healing Through Love
-Small Town Romance
-Emotional Baggage
The story is mainly about Riley and her journey through grief and healing after experiencing a significant loss. As seek seeks to move on, she is hired for a project where she meets Jae. What starts as a friendship slowly hints at something more, but the journey is anything but straightforward. The novel is largely focused on Riley's journey to healing through personal growth, self acceptance, and opening herself up to love again. Summers does a great job portraying grief and capturing the complexities of healing, showing that it's not a linear process. This lends itself to the slow burn romance between Riley and Jae which is founded upon deep trust and emotional support, making their relationship realistic and genuine. The character development for Riley is deep and much of the story is focused on her story and features a lot of her own internal dialogue. Riley does spend a lot of time in her head and seems to revisit the same spaces. This did feel a little monotonous at times and I did lose interest at a few points.
Take All the Time You Need is an emotionally rich story with a meaningful message about healing, but its slow pacing and introspective nature might not be for everyone. If you enjoy deeply reflective, character-focused romances with minimal external drama, this could be a great fit. But if you prefer a romance with more community and a broad cast of characters with multiple plot lines throughout the storytelling, this one may not be a good fit for you.
Tropes
-Second Chance Romance
-Slow Burn
-Friends to Lovers
-Healing Through Love
-Small Town Romance
-Emotional Baggage
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 25, 2024
A widow finds love again in this charming story of loss and friendship and finding yourself along the way.
I love books where one (or both) of the MCs love language is cooking, so I really, really liked how that aspect was thrown in here. It had my mouth watering for Jae to cook something up for myself!
Although too fast-paced for me, the romance was sweet and tender, and I rooted for the MCs throughout the whole thing! They clicked perfectly, and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing their romance bloom.
What I didn’t like, however, was the dialogue; at times, it could be really cringey and questionable to the point where I often found myself getting the ick.
I also believe that if this book were a slow burn, it would have been a great read! It felt very insta-lovey, and I really don’t like that trope.
The plot genuinely grabbed my interest, and if executed better, it could’ve been more enjoyable. I hope one day we get a revised edition because this had so much potential!
But all this to say, I did like most of this book! Even though it was not the best, it certainly wasn’t horrible in any way. I strongly encourage people to give it a try! It is worth a read.
No hate to the author!!! I truly liked the writing at times, and I am really looking forward to more from her.
Tropes/micro tropes:
Friends to lovers
They’re neighbors
He’s her dating coach
He fell first
Insta love
3.5⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
I love books where one (or both) of the MCs love language is cooking, so I really, really liked how that aspect was thrown in here. It had my mouth watering for Jae to cook something up for myself!
Although too fast-paced for me, the romance was sweet and tender, and I rooted for the MCs throughout the whole thing! They clicked perfectly, and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing their romance bloom.
What I didn’t like, however, was the dialogue; at times, it could be really cringey and questionable to the point where I often found myself getting the ick.
I also believe that if this book were a slow burn, it would have been a great read! It felt very insta-lovey, and I really don’t like that trope.
The plot genuinely grabbed my interest, and if executed better, it could’ve been more enjoyable. I hope one day we get a revised edition because this had so much potential!
But all this to say, I did like most of this book! Even though it was not the best, it certainly wasn’t horrible in any way. I strongly encourage people to give it a try! It is worth a read.
No hate to the author!!! I truly liked the writing at times, and I am really looking forward to more from her.
Tropes/micro tropes:
Friends to lovers
They’re neighbors
He’s her dating coach
He fell first
Insta love
3.5⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
September 25, 2024
💜ARC REVIEW💜
Tropes:
Grumpy X Sunshine
Dating Lessons
Chef X Painter
Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Favorite Character:
Riley Chase
One of my favorite quotes:
“I live and love because I loved him, and I do because I owe it to myself to make up for the time I spent not letting myself do those things.”
Quick Summary:
Riley Chase has finally made the decision to move out of her apartment that she shared with her late fiancé. The same day that she moves out, she meets Jae Cho, who is moving into her old apartment. Riley decides to take on a painting job that happens to be at the restaurant that Jae is planning to open. Riley has decided to attempt dating and requests Jae to help her. Throughout the book, Riley starts to come to terms with her grief, and realizes that closing herself off, will cause her to be alone for the rest of her life.
Overall Review:
One of my favorite aspects of the book was that it was in NYC. I absolutely love the city and hearing so many references made me feel really connected. When it comes to the romance aspect of the book, it was very wholesome. I loved that Jae gave Riley the space she needed to figure out her grief and what she truly wants for her future. He never forced his love on her or gave her an ultimatum. This was a really cute and short read !
Thank you to Cate Summers for the opportunity to read this ARC! Congratulations on your first book !
Tropes:
Grumpy X Sunshine
Dating Lessons
Chef X Painter
Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Favorite Character:
Riley Chase
One of my favorite quotes:
“I live and love because I loved him, and I do because I owe it to myself to make up for the time I spent not letting myself do those things.”
Quick Summary:
Riley Chase has finally made the decision to move out of her apartment that she shared with her late fiancé. The same day that she moves out, she meets Jae Cho, who is moving into her old apartment. Riley decides to take on a painting job that happens to be at the restaurant that Jae is planning to open. Riley has decided to attempt dating and requests Jae to help her. Throughout the book, Riley starts to come to terms with her grief, and realizes that closing herself off, will cause her to be alone for the rest of her life.
Overall Review:
One of my favorite aspects of the book was that it was in NYC. I absolutely love the city and hearing so many references made me feel really connected. When it comes to the romance aspect of the book, it was very wholesome. I loved that Jae gave Riley the space she needed to figure out her grief and what she truly wants for her future. He never forced his love on her or gave her an ultimatum. This was a really cute and short read !
Thank you to Cate Summers for the opportunity to read this ARC! Congratulations on your first book !
August 17, 2024
4.5 stars. Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to receive an advanced e-copy in exchange for a review.
Content warning for grief!
This book follows Riley who is dealing with the loss of her fiancée. She moves out of her old apartment only to find another man is moving in the exact same day. They get off on the wrong foot but when she agrees to paint a mural at the man (Jae)’s restaurant they form a deep connection and a great friendship. She eventually decides she’s ready to love again after losing her fiancée to brain cancer so she installs a dating app. She’s so out of practice Jae offers to take her on practice dates. She accepts. The only problem is the undeniable spark between them. On one particular date Jae gets very jealous and admits he doesn’t want to see Riley going on dates with anyone but him. Their love is gentle, slow and has healing elements. Watch as Riley learns it’s okay to remember the fast and still move forward.
Thank you Netgalley
Content warning for grief!
This book follows Riley who is dealing with the loss of her fiancée. She moves out of her old apartment only to find another man is moving in the exact same day. They get off on the wrong foot but when she agrees to paint a mural at the man (Jae)’s restaurant they form a deep connection and a great friendship. She eventually decides she’s ready to love again after losing her fiancée to brain cancer so she installs a dating app. She’s so out of practice Jae offers to take her on practice dates. She accepts. The only problem is the undeniable spark between them. On one particular date Jae gets very jealous and admits he doesn’t want to see Riley going on dates with anyone but him. Their love is gentle, slow and has healing elements. Watch as Riley learns it’s okay to remember the fast and still move forward.
Thank you Netgalley
August 23, 2024
Thanks Net Galley for this ARC in exchange for my review.
This book was CUTE! I enjoyed it.
It is an easy read had some cute banter and spice (3/5 for spice)
I really loved walking with Riley though her Greif and finding love again and the patient Jae had. I feel this was handled really well, and showed that love for someone who has passed and a now can coexist. I feel the author did a good job of portraying this.
I wish this book had a little more character development - I wanted to know the characters more deeply especially Jae, I feel I got to know Riley and who she was after her loss, but I would have liked some before. Also personally I was not a huge fan of the spice (the phone was kinda cringe for me). I would have liked some moments with Jae mom and seeing that story line come full circle and her coming to see him in action.
Overall it was a good book. I give is a 3.25*
This book was CUTE! I enjoyed it.
It is an easy read had some cute banter and spice (3/5 for spice)
I really loved walking with Riley though her Greif and finding love again and the patient Jae had. I feel this was handled really well, and showed that love for someone who has passed and a now can coexist. I feel the author did a good job of portraying this.
I wish this book had a little more character development - I wanted to know the characters more deeply especially Jae, I feel I got to know Riley and who she was after her loss, but I would have liked some before. Also personally I was not a huge fan of the spice (the phone was kinda cringe for me). I would have liked some moments with Jae mom and seeing that story line come full circle and her coming to see him in action.
Overall it was a good book. I give is a 3.25*
August 29, 2024
Reading this felt like going through the fan fiction of a mature teenager imagining grown up emotions - especially after grief. I saw another reviewer note this as "wattpad-style" which is also quite accurate. While the writing flows well enough, the set up and structure of the story mean that you never learn enough about your characters to empathize with them, and certain side characters (e.g. the male lead's mom) appear and disappear throughout the course as their use in the plot becomes less obvious. I can make peace with a predictable plot, but in this case there is no character study or insight to keep you interested. Even the grief seems like a plug to sell the rest of the uninspiring romance.
This review was provided thanks to an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
This review was provided thanks to an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
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