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It Must Be Love
Can my love erase her scars? Even the ones that I caused…
She's my friend's sister and I know she’s always had a crush on me. It makes me uncomfortable. When she came back to Boston to take care of her dying father, I made sure she had a job in my tech company.
According to her boss, she's an introverted software genius. According to my girlfriend, she's plain and boring. According to her brother, she has no social life and is damaged.
The worst part of the story? She overhears me say I think she has no curves, no fashion sense and was hired as a favor to her brother. All true at the time!
But when we are forced to work together on a project, her brilliance, resilience, and hidden depths challenge everything I thought I knew about myself and my feelings for her.
As barriers break and truths emerge, I'm on a mission not just to win her heart but to prove love can transcend past judgments and scars.
This book
✔️ He’s her brother's best friend
✔️ He’s the CEO of the company she works for
✔️ Another woman drama
✔️ She falls first, but he falls harder
✔️ Angst, drama, groveling
✔️ No cheating
It Must Be Love is a standalone billionaire forbidden romance that is A Modern Vintage Romance. It brings back the nostalgia of classic romances, but with a modern twist. Meet alpha men who know how to wound and how to grovel. Meet strong women who know how to hold their own.
She's my friend's sister and I know she’s always had a crush on me. It makes me uncomfortable. When she came back to Boston to take care of her dying father, I made sure she had a job in my tech company.
According to her boss, she's an introverted software genius. According to my girlfriend, she's plain and boring. According to her brother, she has no social life and is damaged.
The worst part of the story? She overhears me say I think she has no curves, no fashion sense and was hired as a favor to her brother. All true at the time!
But when we are forced to work together on a project, her brilliance, resilience, and hidden depths challenge everything I thought I knew about myself and my feelings for her.
As barriers break and truths emerge, I'm on a mission not just to win her heart but to prove love can transcend past judgments and scars.
This book
✔️ He’s her brother's best friend
✔️ He’s the CEO of the company she works for
✔️ Another woman drama
✔️ She falls first, but he falls harder
✔️ Angst, drama, groveling
✔️ No cheating
It Must Be Love is a standalone billionaire forbidden romance that is A Modern Vintage Romance. It brings back the nostalgia of classic romances, but with a modern twist. Meet alpha men who know how to wound and how to grovel. Meet strong women who know how to hold their own.
330 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2024
1376 people are currently reading
763 people want to read
About the author
Maya Alden
52 books1,101 followersA top 20 Amazon Bestselling Author, Maya Alden pens angsty contemporary romances.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 258 reviews
July 4, 2024
And here we are again, with another pathetic doormat FMC who has a crush on a despicable arrogant turd of a MC and keeps getting her pitiful heart broken time and again, only to start a relationship with the said turd the moment he starts showing her attention, after years of disrespect, demeaning, insults and what not.
At this point, I am not angry at the author, who loves to show her hate for the female gender by writing such garbage ,I am disappointed in myself for falling again for the author's synopsis, hoping that this would be the book where the fmc annihilates her crush and moves on to loving and marrying a right, respectful loving man.
At this point, I am not angry at the author, who loves to show her hate for the female gender by writing such garbage ,I am disappointed in myself for falling again for the author's synopsis, hoping that this would be the book where the fmc annihilates her crush and moves on to loving and marrying a right, respectful loving man.
July 4, 2024
A bit odd that the author mentions that the h has brown skin due to her African heritage but they chose a cover model that does not represent this at all.
July 4, 2024
i am never going to understand why this author writes women the way she does.
of course the heroine is a virgin because reasons.
of course she is so desperate for the hero, she doesn't care that he's treated her like shit for years. and even though the hero has proven that she is NOT the kind of woman he wants (that's why he has a girlfriend he has amazing sex with), she somehow convinces herself that HE is the kind of man she should waste her time on.
i just can't.
#authornotforme
of course the heroine is a virgin because reasons.
of course she is so desperate for the hero, she doesn't care that he's treated her like shit for years. and even though the hero has proven that she is NOT the kind of woman he wants (that's why he has a girlfriend he has amazing sex with), she somehow convinces herself that HE is the kind of man she should waste her time on.
i just can't.
#authornotforme
July 17, 2024
The hero does redeem himself eventually, but, honestly, he's so mean at the beginning it's hard to get over. Boogenhagen's Be happy the heroine is happy goes into play.
November 16, 2025
It was a pleasant reading though it was kind of off putting how many times is mentioned that the heroine is shy, non confrontational, etc etc. I'm all about knowing the characters but I believe there's a fine line before overdoing
July 4, 2024
DNF
I’ve decided I’m too Latina and too proud for this author ‘s books I just can’t anymore
The things He said about her are awful but all the things He thinks about her in the first two chapters are worst ! Honestly I’m sick about these poor, lonely and scarred heroines and the rich, handsome playboy heroes, just no, sorry
I’ve decided I’m too Latina and too proud for this author ‘s books I just can’t anymore
The things He said about her are awful but all the things He thinks about her in the first two chapters are worst ! Honestly I’m sick about these poor, lonely and scarred heroines and the rich, handsome playboy heroes, just no, sorry
Read
July 3, 2024DNF
Just FYI for ppl that don't like it. All this hero talks about is how amazing the sex is he has with the OW. I got about 20% and he was still with her and mentioning it over and over. I had to stop bc in a book about how unattractive the heroine is you don't need to rub that aspect in. On top of that the heroine is an inexperienced virgin who has been pining for him all his life while he has been having an amazing life and sex life. I'm so tired of this trope.
Just FYI for ppl that don't like it. All this hero talks about is how amazing the sex is he has with the OW. I got about 20% and he was still with her and mentioning it over and over. I had to stop bc in a book about how unattractive the heroine is you don't need to rub that aspect in. On top of that the heroine is an inexperienced virgin who has been pining for him all his life while he has been having an amazing life and sex life. I'm so tired of this trope.
July 5, 2024
Not me taking my makeup clown off because I read a Maya Alden book and liked it🧍♀️
This is sorta slow burn-ish with a mean MMC and this author’s typical FMC who’s tortured, not that beautiful by society’s standard, her family (in this case her brother) hates her.
Noticed how I said mean MMC and not cruel? Because for Maya Alden’s standard, Amias is not a misogynistic pig who I wished to sautéed his balls and mince his face.
Also, Naya is my most favorite FMC by a mile. She has the typical body betraying syndrome but this girl has the brain. She doesn’t need lobotomy to replace her doormat tendencies. She can control her stupid hormones and act like a decent human being with a backbone. I love her. She deserved all the world. Which is again, a first for me from this author’s repertoire.
Amias is a friend of Nolan who is the brother of Naya. She always has a crush on him and everyone and their mother father brother and sister knows this including Amias. He at first is uncomfortable with this crush of hers (later we will know that it’s because Amias always has a crush on her too but she’s not his usual type of woman that’s why he acts like the stupid asshole that he is because he can’t fathom why he would be attracted to a mousy girl)
She came to work for his company and that’s where Amias came to know Naya.
Now this girl… I cried reading her struggles, she’s fucking strong, emotionally and mentally. Even though she likes Amias, she doesn’t let him walk all over her. She acts indifferent towards him, Amias was the one who bends backwards to accommodate to her mental state, her own pace, her wants, her needs.
I love the progression of their relationship because it is always on Naya’s terms.
This author made me believe the MMC’s redemption as sincere and genuine and that is hard to accomplish for me and again, that is a first because for some reason, Maya Alden hates women and loves garbage asshole men…but not in this book. I’m so glad to see character development, hope this continues.
As usual there is OW drama because Alden can’t think of other conflicts other than pitting women against women. But I swear it’s minuscule compared to Naya’s own journey to self-worth so *I* didn’t mind it much.
The best character in this is Naya’s bestie that I forgot the name 🤠 Darius?? Dereck?? It starts with a D I swear! LMAO I forgot but I promise he is hilarious and the bestest!
This is sorta slow burn-ish with a mean MMC and this author’s typical FMC who’s tortured, not that beautiful by society’s standard, her family (in this case her brother) hates her.
Noticed how I said mean MMC and not cruel? Because for Maya Alden’s standard, Amias is not a misogynistic pig who I wished to sautéed his balls and mince his face.
Also, Naya is my most favorite FMC by a mile. She has the typical body betraying syndrome but this girl has the brain. She doesn’t need lobotomy to replace her doormat tendencies. She can control her stupid hormones and act like a decent human being with a backbone. I love her. She deserved all the world. Which is again, a first for me from this author’s repertoire.
Amias is a friend of Nolan who is the brother of Naya. She always has a crush on him and everyone and their mother father brother and sister knows this including Amias. He at first is uncomfortable with this crush of hers (later we will know that it’s because Amias always has a crush on her too but she’s not his usual type of woman that’s why he acts like the stupid asshole that he is because he can’t fathom why he would be attracted to a mousy girl)
She came to work for his company and that’s where Amias came to know Naya.
Now this girl… I cried reading her struggles, she’s fucking strong, emotionally and mentally. Even though she likes Amias, she doesn’t let him walk all over her. She acts indifferent towards him, Amias was the one who bends backwards to accommodate to her mental state, her own pace, her wants, her needs.
I love the progression of their relationship because it is always on Naya’s terms.
This author made me believe the MMC’s redemption as sincere and genuine and that is hard to accomplish for me and again, that is a first because for some reason, Maya Alden hates women and loves garbage asshole men…but not in this book. I’m so glad to see character development, hope this continues.
As usual there is OW drama because Alden can’t think of other conflicts other than pitting women against women. But I swear it’s minuscule compared to Naya’s own journey to self-worth so *I* didn’t mind it much.
The best character in this is Naya’s bestie that I forgot the name 🤠 Darius?? Dereck?? It starts with a D I swear! LMAO I forgot but I promise he is hilarious and the bestest!
July 4, 2024
PS: The use of "Krav Maga" which is the martial arts used by the IOF has immediately taken out one star from a would-be four-star rating
This is the best book I've read from Maya so far.
I gave her latest 1 star, so to be fair, I tried this one as a last resort
and it is good
But I have to be clear one thing
If Amias, the main male lead, was on fire and I am the only one around, I wouldn't even piss on him to save his life. In fact, I would sit and enjoy the show.
Having said that, I do not think this falls under betrayal/grovel, it is more insensitive/redemption
Naya overhears Amias (do people really name their kids Amias??? i like the name) telling HIS GIRLFRIEND how Naya is plain, boring, and has no fashion sense.
So Naya and Amias are not together, they are acquaintance at most and work-colleges.
Amias saying that behind her back is considered insensitive
him being harsh on her during work margins on bullying
but NOT BETRAYAL
What is betrayal is him having emotional cheating on his girlfriend and touching another woman while still committed!!! Even when your girlfriend is the devil's spawn
I liked Naya. I liked how she chose her battles, How she stood up eventually to Amias
I liked the somehow decent attempt Amias made to gain her love, and how he finally stood up for her
I liked the friends, Darren and Hayens, they were very decent and perceptive.
Her is what I didn't like
The repetitive characterization in most of Maya's books
it's like her characters are copy paste of themselves, just change the name
The girl is usually the shy, virgin/almost virgin one, unsure of herself, the plain jane that everyone picks on. She never has support from her family. She has a previous trauma that makes her insecure about her looks and needs to be assured over and over and over that she is beautiful. She wears baggy clothes, rarely wears makeup up and NEVER EVER wants any gifts from the love interest.
The boy is the handsome, popular, rich, confident one who has a smile that drops panties!! He is always surrounded by supermodels, his girlfriend is the hottest most beautiful girl, but then he is tired of this and goes for the plain jane because he suddenly realizes she is his type!
It's just the same scenario over and over from the same author.
Also, and this did not affect the rating, the grammar mistakes and missing words in this book are ridiculous. There are hundreds of free correction apps if you don't have a beta team.
This is the best book I've read from Maya so far.
I gave her latest 1 star, so to be fair, I tried this one as a last resort
and it is good
But I have to be clear one thing
If Amias, the main male lead, was on fire and I am the only one around, I wouldn't even piss on him to save his life. In fact, I would sit and enjoy the show.
Having said that, I do not think this falls under betrayal/grovel, it is more insensitive/redemption
Naya overhears Amias (do people really name their kids Amias??? i like the name) telling HIS GIRLFRIEND how Naya is plain, boring, and has no fashion sense.
So Naya and Amias are not together, they are acquaintance at most and work-colleges.
Amias saying that behind her back is considered insensitive
him being harsh on her during work margins on bullying
but NOT BETRAYAL
What is betrayal is him having emotional cheating on his girlfriend and touching another woman while still committed!!! Even when your girlfriend is the devil's spawn
I liked Naya. I liked how she chose her battles, How she stood up eventually to Amias
I liked the somehow decent attempt Amias made to gain her love, and how he finally stood up for her
I liked the friends, Darren and Hayens, they were very decent and perceptive.
Her is what I didn't like
The repetitive characterization in most of Maya's books
it's like her characters are copy paste of themselves, just change the name
The girl is usually the shy, virgin/almost virgin one, unsure of herself, the plain jane that everyone picks on. She never has support from her family. She has a previous trauma that makes her insecure about her looks and needs to be assured over and over and over that she is beautiful. She wears baggy clothes, rarely wears makeup up and NEVER EVER wants any gifts from the love interest.
The boy is the handsome, popular, rich, confident one who has a smile that drops panties!! He is always surrounded by supermodels, his girlfriend is the hottest most beautiful girl, but then he is tired of this and goes for the plain jane because he suddenly realizes she is his type!
It's just the same scenario over and over from the same author.
Also, and this did not affect the rating, the grammar mistakes and missing words in this book are ridiculous. There are hundreds of free correction apps if you don't have a beta team.
Read
July 6, 2024I don’t remember anything about this book so I’m not going to rate it ( I read this books 2 days ago btw😬)
July 9, 2024
Hmmm... I don't know how to feel about this author. I've read a few of her books, but they all seem to have similar formulaic plot. The FMC is looked at as frumpy. Forgotten by family, unloved etc. It's gets tiring because it's always poor me. Everyone picking on the ugly duckling who is actually beautiful of course. The MMC is always rich, successful and dislikes the FMC, but actually really likes because he's just ignoring his feelings. I think the reason I'm not vibing with this author is because the MMCs are weaklings. They're always lead around by their dick or family members letting them make choices for them. This book was ok. I may keep looking through her books to see if I can make one work
June 26, 2025
Oh my goodness. Somehow I downloaded this and started reading it thinking it was her newest book and I am 56% through and I am horrified at the hero and his always thinkig about how great sex was with his current girlfriend. and how great in bed she is. There's even a start of a sex scene where he is getting oral from the bitchy girlfriend.
Okay I just finished it and I never felt the love.in this one. It seemed off and his turnaround was so quick. Then she slept on the bed where he had sex with his ex! I would have changed that. No way would I want that. Her brother and wife were couch canoes and the whole book was contrived. It was instant smarmy and over at 80%. It just didn't feel right. No tummy flutters, no way feeling at the end. Just not for me. I do like this author though and I will.read again, but this one just didn't touch my heart. He was with Ann over half of the book too. Maybe that is why.the 25% on the true romance felt off. I can't even believe I read it but.I did. Maybe I am a big girl.now! Lol.
Okay I just finished it and I never felt the love.in this one. It seemed off and his turnaround was so quick. Then she slept on the bed where he had sex with his ex! I would have changed that. No way would I want that. Her brother and wife were couch canoes and the whole book was contrived. It was instant smarmy and over at 80%. It just didn't feel right. No tummy flutters, no way feeling at the end. Just not for me. I do like this author though and I will.read again, but this one just didn't touch my heart. He was with Ann over half of the book too. Maybe that is why.the 25% on the true romance felt off. I can't even believe I read it but.I did. Maybe I am a big girl.now! Lol.
December 17, 2024
I read this one a few months back but I was so disgusted when I finished it that I couldn’t even bring myself to revisit it in a review. I did a little skimmy skim read to refresh my memory and now I wish my memory had not been refreshed. I was much happier when I didn’t remember this book.
I believe that Maya Alden had a bully when she was younger. This bully was cruel and made her life a living hell every day for years. Maya despised this bully and vowed to one day get her revenge. That bully’s name? Naya
Maya clearly hates the h, Naya. Wait..Naya/Maya?? Is Naya based on MAYA?? Did she base the worst female character she’s ever written on herself? Holy shit. This explains everything. She’s written herself as Naya to punish herself for never writing a redeemable Hero.
I believe that Maya Alden had a bully when she was younger. This bully was cruel and made her life a living hell every day for years. Maya despised this bully and vowed to one day get her revenge. That bully’s name? Naya
Maya clearly hates the h, Naya. Wait..Naya/Maya?? Is Naya based on MAYA?? Did she base the worst female character she’s ever written on herself? Holy shit. This explains everything. She’s written herself as Naya to punish herself for never writing a redeemable Hero.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 24, 2025
3.3- sooooo addictive but damn the MMC pmo sometimes. And the fmc’s evil brother 🤮🤮🤮
Intense, short, fun, angsty 🔥🔥🔥. Very toxic though!!
Intense, short, fun, angsty 🔥🔥🔥. Very toxic though!!
January 14, 2025
This isn’t a five star worth grovel worthy read, id say more of a 3.5 ⭐️. I enjoyed it but she should have crashed out on his ass.
February 17, 2025
I thought I’d reviewed this one already. I reread it. I enjoyed this book. I thought the H’s 180 from one woman to another was abrupt. Also the h’s insecurity and self-deprecation got a bit tiresome. Overall it was an enjoyable, angsty read.
I am confused about the cover because the h’s skin color is referred to as darker and she supposedly has African heritage.
I am confused about the cover because the h’s skin color is referred to as darker and she supposedly has African heritage.
March 9, 2025
4.5 ⭐ because it was too short 😭
I loved this so much 😍 Even though the hero was despicable arrogant stupid at the start but he redeemed himself so well and the heroine was so lovely but people used her kindness against her but i liked her growth in the end when she starts to say no to the things she won't accept again.
The angst here was so good i cried with the heroine every time she talks about her body and scars because i have the same insecurities like her.
Tropes:
Grovelling
Scared heroine
Virgin heroine
Other woman drama
I loved this so much 😍 Even though the hero was despicable arrogant stupid at the start but he redeemed himself so well and the heroine was so lovely but people used her kindness against her but i liked her growth in the end when she starts to say no to the things she won't accept again.
The angst here was so good i cried with the heroine every time she talks about her body and scars because i have the same insecurities like her.
Tropes:
Grovelling
Scared heroine
Virgin heroine
Other woman drama
December 24, 2025
Liked more on the reread
November 8, 2024
2 stars. I kinda am addicted to this series purely for how outlandishly “wtf am I reading” it is. Like genuinely, the men in these books are downright condemnable for being THAT bad. Still, I will keep checking out each book in this series that seems remotely interesting in blurb.
February 26, 2025
okay maya alden… i see you girl
September 1, 2024
The author can write. The story was good but there were a few things that bugged me. Granted partly because those points bug me in general but also I think these need to really make sense to the overall story. If logically it does not make sense or it is completely unrealistic then in my opinion it does not work for the overall story. So, we have a rich MMC who is in a relationship with a nasty shallow but hot woman where the sex is amazing (a point the MMC brings up internally more than once) also she was up to try things. He is friends with the MFC brother who is a douche and his equally nasty shallow wife. The MFC has been back home working for the MMC company for 3 years. He has known her since she was young like early teens. She has had a crush on him for years. She is closed off in general due to being shy and an accident that left her with scars on her legs lower body. The MMC is 35 and it’s mentioned that she is 6 years younger? So the MMC is just working more with the MFC due to her direct boss being off on parent leave. He is a giant ass to her and everyone notices it. She overhears him talking to the girlfriend saying nasty things about her body and her being boring as fuck. This is another stab in her already self esteem issues. Everyone in her immediate circle treats her badly. The MMC the girlfriend the brother and his wife. She has a good friend who treats her like a queen. First his internal thoughts on his life the girlfriend and the MFC paints him in a super selfish way. Not to mention superficial. He waits way too long to break it off with the girlfriend. Immediately after he is going after the MFC it felt like he did not want to give up the girlfriend unless he was sure about the MFC. No matter how nasty she was this did not paint the MMC in a good light. He was using her plain and simple and the longer he dragged it on the more sure she was they were getting engaged. So no matter how I felt about her he did her dirty. It also did not feel realistic that someone with thoughts on beauty would do a 180 on it. If there had been more internal thoughts on the MFC in a positive light I would have bought the out of the blue attraction more. Instead it felt like the MFC was plain and boring still and I could understand him admiring her for what she had done for her father but was still wondering where this lust came from all of the sudden besides running into her and seeing her body in form fitting clothes. The talk of him watching her for years ya ok so in all that time you never examined how you felt. Again made him seem self absorbed and not worthy. On to the MFC this is one of my biggest pet peeves in a romance novel. She is a virgin. The author tried to explain it away by her being shy than the self esteem issues from her scars. This is another reason why I was not in full confidence of their love story. You have a shy girl by the authors description is plain that has a huge crush on the MMC since she was 13 (started when she overheard him stand up to her brother on not helping her). So she had no boyfriend’s and is then in this horrible accident that the MMC never knew about where she was in hospital with surgery on surgeries. Her nasty sister in law says nasty things about her scars along with her brother and even the MMC girlfriend yet he did not know anything about it. Why? Was he never told or did not care enough to really listen. So because of her scaring she never lets anyone close. Then her long time crush who literally has treated her like crap who just broke up with his nasty girlfriend wants her scars and all. It felt like she was so starved for attention never been in a relationship never had sex she had no point of comparison that this was about being desperate for that connection not this grand love story. I would have bought more into it if she had had sex with a couple different people one being after the accident. If she knew what a relationship was like and what good sex was like. She I think was a little too forgiving on how he had treated her. I also found the sex while steaming a bit cringy meaning all of a sudden they are going at it like rabbits and he thinks about their sex life like he did with the ex that it was amazing. Yes he thinks it was the best of his life in another internal thought but it felt kind of gross after getting his thoughts for a chunk of the book on sex with the OW. Also, the whole thing with his Mom did not feel realistic. Overall their relationship was cute but I did not finish it believing in their love story fully. If there is one thing I want from a romantic relationship romance book is to believe in their love and relationship that it’s end game for both fully and completely. That being said I still rated 4 because the writing was good and there was great potential for a grand love story with a few tweaks. I can’t dock too much because that’s more a preference not a deal breaker.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 27, 2025
The MC was so unlikeable. The FMC was bland. The editing was garbage.
January 20, 2025
That's His Type? Might As Well Reworded, "I Like That You Perform Challenging Me While Submitting To Me." GTFO. What About Her Do You Like? Other Than Her Reactions TO OTHERS?
Sooooo tired of this childish simplications of lifelong trauma as a little bit of pain. How nice and simple and surface-level her trauma is, for she never once learns to dissociate from him.
Interesting.
I assume she has not Neuroplastic tissue impacts because its all good when someone romantically involved with someone else, touches you.
His revelation about her shouldn't be so self-involved.
Try to convince us all you want, but the only thing this man finds attractive about her, is that she's attracted to him.
Its kinda really chronic.
And I'm not sure he authentically sees her at the end.
He's far too quick with the Therapy Speak resolutions so never ever has to sit with the emotional consequences of his choices.
The Choice Feminists would rather Men still be allowed to poke and tease Neurodiverse women because it makes them feel good.
The Neoliberal Fascist focus on Fashion reminds me that we have evidence of this lifestyle being imported to Ireland ro specifically depower women, who wore the same clothes as men, until the Brits came.
But then, I'm not so absent of Conflicts in my life, that I need to frame toxic people as havinf "good fashion sense."
Yeah, Culture Vultures have "good fashion sense."
Do Neoliberals even have an identity that doesn't change every season, depending on the socioeconomically deprived subculture they are appropriating?
If Naya was real, she's have realised that Amios's lifestyle directly causes hers and people like hers, disproportiinately.
Its not his personal interaction, toxic though they are, that are his most narcissistic trait but that he didn't start giving company cars to everyone, and only offered it to her like it shouldn't be a syandard that everyone can afford a home and car and he literally gets where he is, accepting he denies that to most people.
She folds way too easy for me not to feel like he just loves that she folds and follows him, and has no personality to speak of that is proactive.
Everyone has to tell him she's good.
Over and over.
This is Neoliberal drivel, and no doubt its a nice short story that uses therapy speak for the not actually sick Neoliberal women, but are just confused.
Why are all of your heroines mixed race?
I get "inclusive" but mixed race isn't a single identity and they way the men really objectify them, especially their ethnicity and pain.
Personally, I hate when a man makes her vulnerable moments, about him.
The way he cries all over her, emotionally dominating a situation she evidently wanted to control, so he depowered her.
Ugh.
Maybe thats the difference between anecdotal trauma and long term trauma, the small moments meaning something.
This is why the Mixed Race stuff pisses me off.
That would make the Heroines trauma more complex, instead he weaponises and simplifies her trauma to get under her skin.
Imagine being attracted to someone because their main trait is that they let you forget them long-term, and offer short-term resistance so you can validate for yourself that you aren't doing what you know you are doing.
But this is the difference between a Neoliberal and a Neosocialist.
Neoliberals will pretend your words are the only way to clearly communicate, when he's known from the communication of her body language, what her feelings were all along.
Its why when the camels back broke, he started to get pissed, because she was learning to choose herself.
And then it all got made about him again.
And he loves that she let it.
Green Pilled Patriarchial Parable of Toxicity for the Unseen, Unloved and utterly Unfucked, but otherwise, Fed, to live through what they think trauma is, when they can't even fathom the complexities beyond the anecdotes.
Sooooo tired of this childish simplications of lifelong trauma as a little bit of pain. How nice and simple and surface-level her trauma is, for she never once learns to dissociate from him.
Interesting.
I assume she has not Neuroplastic tissue impacts because its all good when someone romantically involved with someone else, touches you.
His revelation about her shouldn't be so self-involved.
Try to convince us all you want, but the only thing this man finds attractive about her, is that she's attracted to him.
Its kinda really chronic.
And I'm not sure he authentically sees her at the end.
He's far too quick with the Therapy Speak resolutions so never ever has to sit with the emotional consequences of his choices.
The Choice Feminists would rather Men still be allowed to poke and tease Neurodiverse women because it makes them feel good.
The Neoliberal Fascist focus on Fashion reminds me that we have evidence of this lifestyle being imported to Ireland ro specifically depower women, who wore the same clothes as men, until the Brits came.
But then, I'm not so absent of Conflicts in my life, that I need to frame toxic people as havinf "good fashion sense."
Yeah, Culture Vultures have "good fashion sense."
Do Neoliberals even have an identity that doesn't change every season, depending on the socioeconomically deprived subculture they are appropriating?
If Naya was real, she's have realised that Amios's lifestyle directly causes hers and people like hers, disproportiinately.
Its not his personal interaction, toxic though they are, that are his most narcissistic trait but that he didn't start giving company cars to everyone, and only offered it to her like it shouldn't be a syandard that everyone can afford a home and car and he literally gets where he is, accepting he denies that to most people.
She folds way too easy for me not to feel like he just loves that she folds and follows him, and has no personality to speak of that is proactive.
Everyone has to tell him she's good.
Over and over.
This is Neoliberal drivel, and no doubt its a nice short story that uses therapy speak for the not actually sick Neoliberal women, but are just confused.
Why are all of your heroines mixed race?
I get "inclusive" but mixed race isn't a single identity and they way the men really objectify them, especially their ethnicity and pain.
Personally, I hate when a man makes her vulnerable moments, about him.
The way he cries all over her, emotionally dominating a situation she evidently wanted to control, so he depowered her.
Ugh.
Maybe thats the difference between anecdotal trauma and long term trauma, the small moments meaning something.
This is why the Mixed Race stuff pisses me off.
That would make the Heroines trauma more complex, instead he weaponises and simplifies her trauma to get under her skin.
Imagine being attracted to someone because their main trait is that they let you forget them long-term, and offer short-term resistance so you can validate for yourself that you aren't doing what you know you are doing.
But this is the difference between a Neoliberal and a Neosocialist.
Neoliberals will pretend your words are the only way to clearly communicate, when he's known from the communication of her body language, what her feelings were all along.
Its why when the camels back broke, he started to get pissed, because she was learning to choose herself.
And then it all got made about him again.
And he loves that she let it.
Green Pilled Patriarchial Parable of Toxicity for the Unseen, Unloved and utterly Unfucked, but otherwise, Fed, to live through what they think trauma is, when they can't even fathom the complexities beyond the anecdotes.
Read
July 13, 2024DNF'd - was bored
July 6, 2024
I’m a sucker for a unrequited love etc but the h was too pathetic even for me and the hero was a scumbag and I don’t know how a normal woman being will wake up in the morning and get herself off with the thought of the hero in her mind. This is a dnf for me because of this scene. He treated her horribly how can she still get hot for him idk. She heard him said horrible things about her to his girlfriend and still likes him. And don’t let me talk about the girlfriend thing. He finds the heroine attractive after he saw her in her gym attire and thought at first she was a sexy random woman. After the scene he starterd lusting after her. Disgusting behavior and not the direction I thought the author was going to go. I thought he was going to fall in love with h because of her personality but no after he saw her actual hot body he steered imagining her lips aorund his co@k with his girlfriend by his side . Ew I will not read the author anytime soon she disappoints with everything even tho the premises are good.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 17, 2024
Liked it.
Angst, growth, drama, heartfelt hurt, growth oh right I said that. For a 35 yo man Amias was a bit dense. But when he finally woke up and saw the world in colour he realised his faults and grew. We also witnessed Naya grown from a shy mousy thing to a bolder stronger woman who stood up for herself, and part of that was thanks to Amias. Very much enjoyed
Angst, growth, drama, heartfelt hurt, growth oh right I said that. For a 35 yo man Amias was a bit dense. But when he finally woke up and saw the world in colour he realised his faults and grew. We also witnessed Naya grown from a shy mousy thing to a bolder stronger woman who stood up for herself, and part of that was thanks to Amias. Very much enjoyed
March 18, 2025
Naya and Amias are my favorite Maya Alden couple.
Naya is an absolute angel who is treated poorly by her brother, sister in law and Amias who is her boss,
She has been in love with Amias for years and he resents that fact because she is not what he believes his life partner should be.
There will be OW drama, OM drama and overheard hurtful words. Amias not only redeems himself but his handling of Naya’s trauma is amazing.
So worth reading.
Naya is an absolute angel who is treated poorly by her brother, sister in law and Amias who is her boss,
She has been in love with Amias for years and he resents that fact because she is not what he believes his life partner should be.
There will be OW drama, OM drama and overheard hurtful words. Amias not only redeems himself but his handling of Naya’s trauma is amazing.
So worth reading.
October 30, 2024
I don't know why I keep reading this authors books.... there's no amount of grovelling in the world to excuse her MMCs actions and the FMCs are always pushovers.
This guy literally saw her in tight clothes and that's all it took for him to stop being an ass? LOL and the excuse that he's always liked her? Fuck off. Get out of here.
This guy literally saw her in tight clothes and that's all it took for him to stop being an ass? LOL and the excuse that he's always liked her? Fuck off. Get out of here.
October 17, 2025
Summary: This is a contemporary romance.
Additional tropes:
✅ Overheard
✅ Other woman drama
✅ Close proximity
Detailed spoilers/trigger warnings (if any) and final thoughts can be found below.
The FMC is Naya. She’s works at a company where the CEO is her brother’s friend and someone she has had always had a crush on. The book begins with an overhead scene that has the FMC questioning everything she thought. Being that she is non-confrontational and hates conflict, she doesn’t address what was heard.
She had been in a car accident when she was younger, which left her body disfigured. Because of this, she has severe confidence issues, which doesn’t match well with the other parts of her personality. So for a lot of of the book, the FMC goes through it. She faces a lot of critique, criticism, and hurtful words, and all of these leave a mark on her.
The MMC is Amias. And for all intents and purposes, he has and does act in the way that his family, society, and his friends expect him to. Working with the FMC has been slightly uncomfortable for him. Initially, he attributed this discomfort to the fact that he knew the FMC had a crush on him. But as some time passes, he realizes it’s because he doesn’t like the person that he has become, and being around the FMC has forced that mirror to go up in front of him. So he changes it, and in doing that, he allows himself to be open to the possibility that the FMC is the one for him. It takes her a while to get to the point where she truly trusts in what he is saying.
But as the book progresses, his love provides some healing for her. Not just her emotional self, but her mental self as well. And this helps her to develop into a new and stronger person, one that stands up for herself and doesn’t let people continue to walk all over her. She is setting boundaries for herself and demanding they be respected. This awakening allows her the chance of the possibility of a loving and lasting relationship with the MMC.
⚠️SPOILERS/SPICE/DETAILED TRIGGERS⚠️
*The FMC suffers from severe body dysmorphia which is absolutely heartbreaking.
*The OW drama is mild to moderate in the story.
🌶️: 2/5: The FMC had absolutely no experience and let’s just say the MMC had a really fun time teaching her stuff 🥵
Final thoughts: I really enjoyed the book. As is the case with Maya’s books, your heart will break for the FMC making her happily ever after that much better. I was missing some closure with her brother. I had hoped something would happen that allowed her to have her nephew in her life, but I understand there is only so much story that can be put it the story.
This truly was a story of growth and development of both characters. The FMC growing into herself, and becoming confident to set boundaries to the people that had been horrible to her. And the MMC breaking away from what his family and society expected of him because of who he was, to allow himself to truly become who he was meant to be so in that respect, they both healed something for each other, which added a little bit more to their relationship. As I said, I really enjoyed this book and definitely recommend it.
Additional tropes:
✅ Overheard
✅ Other woman drama
✅ Close proximity
Detailed spoilers/trigger warnings (if any) and final thoughts can be found below.
The FMC is Naya. She’s works at a company where the CEO is her brother’s friend and someone she has had always had a crush on. The book begins with an overhead scene that has the FMC questioning everything she thought. Being that she is non-confrontational and hates conflict, she doesn’t address what was heard.
She had been in a car accident when she was younger, which left her body disfigured. Because of this, she has severe confidence issues, which doesn’t match well with the other parts of her personality. So for a lot of of the book, the FMC goes through it. She faces a lot of critique, criticism, and hurtful words, and all of these leave a mark on her.
The MMC is Amias. And for all intents and purposes, he has and does act in the way that his family, society, and his friends expect him to. Working with the FMC has been slightly uncomfortable for him. Initially, he attributed this discomfort to the fact that he knew the FMC had a crush on him. But as some time passes, he realizes it’s because he doesn’t like the person that he has become, and being around the FMC has forced that mirror to go up in front of him. So he changes it, and in doing that, he allows himself to be open to the possibility that the FMC is the one for him. It takes her a while to get to the point where she truly trusts in what he is saying.
But as the book progresses, his love provides some healing for her. Not just her emotional self, but her mental self as well. And this helps her to develop into a new and stronger person, one that stands up for herself and doesn’t let people continue to walk all over her. She is setting boundaries for herself and demanding they be respected. This awakening allows her the chance of the possibility of a loving and lasting relationship with the MMC.
⚠️SPOILERS/SPICE/DETAILED TRIGGERS⚠️
*The FMC suffers from severe body dysmorphia which is absolutely heartbreaking.
*The OW drama is mild to moderate in the story.
🌶️: 2/5: The FMC had absolutely no experience and let’s just say the MMC had a really fun time teaching her stuff 🥵
Final thoughts: I really enjoyed the book. As is the case with Maya’s books, your heart will break for the FMC making her happily ever after that much better. I was missing some closure with her brother. I had hoped something would happen that allowed her to have her nephew in her life, but I understand there is only so much story that can be put it the story.
This truly was a story of growth and development of both characters. The FMC growing into herself, and becoming confident to set boundaries to the people that had been horrible to her. And the MMC breaking away from what his family and society expected of him because of who he was, to allow himself to truly become who he was meant to be so in that respect, they both healed something for each other, which added a little bit more to their relationship. As I said, I really enjoyed this book and definitely recommend it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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