What do you think?
Rate this book
Picture of Anger: Grief in the Low Country book 1
“I sat with my anger long enough, until she told me her real name was grief”-
C.S. Lewis
Katie’s life was completely destroyed when her mother died. Forced to leave everything she had known to move to Charlston, SC with her estranged grandparents is a living hell. The only glimmer of hope is she will be going to college after the summer. Katie is ready to put the last few months behind her and never look back. That means, no friendships, no attachments, no love. However there is one guy that will not take no for an answer, he’s cocky, obnoxious, annoying and unfortunately perfect. She has to keep him away or become everything her mother despised.
Jasper left Charleston for Yale with his whole life planned out for him. Ivy league college, law school, then to take his father’s place as the south's top attorney. However, he quickly realized it wasn't what he wanted. Jasper was so close to making a new life where he would be respected as himself, not just his fathers son. Then unfortunately, one night he made a poor decision that landed him right back under his thumb. Now he’s back, angry and with nothing to look forward to. That is until he meets the girl next door. The further she pushes him away the more he wants her. Can he get the girl or will his secret mistake come back to rip everything to shreds?
Katie’s life was completely destroyed when her mother died. Forced to leave everything she had known to move to Charlston, SC with her estranged grandparents is a living hell. The only glimmer of hope is she will be going to college after the summer. Katie is ready to put the last few months behind her and never look back. That means, no friendships, no attachments, no love. However there is one guy that will not take no for an answer, he’s cocky, obnoxious, annoying and unfortunately perfect. She has to keep him away or become everything her mother despised.
Jasper left Charleston for Yale with his whole life planned out for him. Ivy league college, law school, then to take his father’s place as the south's top attorney. However, he quickly realized it wasn't what he wanted. Jasper was so close to making a new life where he would be respected as himself, not just his fathers son. Then unfortunately, one night he made a poor decision that landed him right back under his thumb. Now he’s back, angry and with nothing to look forward to. That is until he meets the girl next door. The further she pushes him away the more he wants her. Can he get the girl or will his secret mistake come back to rip everything to shreds?
415 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 21, 2025
8 people are currently reading
38 people want to read
About the author
Marissa Durham
4 books19 followersMarissa Durham lives in South Carolina, where she does photography full-time. Mainly known in her small town for her love of art in any form. In her downtime she loves reading or watching reruns. With a slight addiction to ice coffee (black) she stays busy doing something productive in all art fields. She started writing because she had a weird dream one night that wouldn’t leave her alone. Once she sat down she realized she had something inside that still needed healing. She opened herself up and allowed the words to spill out. She has three amazing children and has been married for over a decade to the love of her life.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
May 28, 2025
I absolutely loved this book! I could not put it down the moment I started reading it. The was Jasper was always getting under Katie’s skin and then the spice made it sooo worth it!
January 4, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – A Heartfelt Masterpiece That Will Wreck You in the Best Way
Oh. My. Heart. A Picture of Anger by Marissa Durham is not just a book—it’s an emotional journey that reaches into your soul, squeezes, and leaves you breathless. I’m sitting here trying to piece myself back together after being utterly wrecked in the most beautiful way possible.
Katie’s story is raw, heartbreaking, and so achingly real. She’s lost her mom, her home, her sense of self, and now she’s stuck in Charleston, clinging to the promise of college like it’s her lifeline. She’s built these walls so high, you don’t just see her pain—you feel it. And then there’s Jasper, who crashes into her world with all his charm, swagger, and hidden wounds. He’s got his own ghosts to fight, and watching these two broken souls collide is like watching a fire spark in the middle of a storm.
The push and pull between Katie and Jasper is everything. Every moment of connection, every glance, every word is charged with a tension so powerful it hurts—in the best way. Katie’s fear of becoming everything her mother despised is heartbreaking, and Jasper’s desperate need to prove he’s more than his past is gut-wrenching. These two are so flawed, so human, that you can’t help but fall in love with them as they learn to love themselves.
And let’s talk about the emotions. The moments of vulnerability, of quiet strength, of raw honesty—they’ll break you wide open. Durham’s writing doesn’t just tell a story; it lives and breathes. It’s in the way she paints Charleston with its haunting beauty, the way she makes Katie’s pain feel like your own, and the way she shows that even in the darkest moments, there’s a glimmer of hope.
This is more than a romance. It’s a story about healing, about finding yourself when everything feels lost, about love in its rawest, purest form. A Picture of Anger will make you cry, but it will also make you believe in the strength of the human spirit.
Marissa Durham, thank you for this stunning, soul-deep story. It’s one I’ll carry with me for a long, long time, also when can I have the next one???
Oh. My. Heart. A Picture of Anger by Marissa Durham is not just a book—it’s an emotional journey that reaches into your soul, squeezes, and leaves you breathless. I’m sitting here trying to piece myself back together after being utterly wrecked in the most beautiful way possible.
Katie’s story is raw, heartbreaking, and so achingly real. She’s lost her mom, her home, her sense of self, and now she’s stuck in Charleston, clinging to the promise of college like it’s her lifeline. She’s built these walls so high, you don’t just see her pain—you feel it. And then there’s Jasper, who crashes into her world with all his charm, swagger, and hidden wounds. He’s got his own ghosts to fight, and watching these two broken souls collide is like watching a fire spark in the middle of a storm.
The push and pull between Katie and Jasper is everything. Every moment of connection, every glance, every word is charged with a tension so powerful it hurts—in the best way. Katie’s fear of becoming everything her mother despised is heartbreaking, and Jasper’s desperate need to prove he’s more than his past is gut-wrenching. These two are so flawed, so human, that you can’t help but fall in love with them as they learn to love themselves.
And let’s talk about the emotions. The moments of vulnerability, of quiet strength, of raw honesty—they’ll break you wide open. Durham’s writing doesn’t just tell a story; it lives and breathes. It’s in the way she paints Charleston with its haunting beauty, the way she makes Katie’s pain feel like your own, and the way she shows that even in the darkest moments, there’s a glimmer of hope.
This is more than a romance. It’s a story about healing, about finding yourself when everything feels lost, about love in its rawest, purest form. A Picture of Anger will make you cry, but it will also make you believe in the strength of the human spirit.
Marissa Durham, thank you for this stunning, soul-deep story. It’s one I’ll carry with me for a long, long time, also when can I have the next one???
January 3, 2025
This book!
There are no words that seem adequate enough to describe how I feel about this book!
When i finished this book my eyes were swollen and burning.
My nose was stuffy.
My heart was shredded and pieced back together, but there is still a couple of gaping holes that can't be repaired.
I'm in love, and I'm heartbroken.
I'm happy, and I'm devastated.
I feel so many things at once.
For starters. I read this book during the writing process. For a First time Arthor this book is amazing.
Just by the title you know this book will take you on an emotional roller-coaster.
This book is Grief, spice, new adult, boy next book summer romance.
JASPER IS 😝🥰😍😭😱😡❤️💔❤️❤️
WHEN He said "Ride me Kid" I died!🫡
And the Dock scene!! OMG the Dock scene!!😜💥🔥🔥
This book has a good bit of spice and It has a great plot development.
A great read.
The release date is in March so I highly recommend and can not wait for the rest of the series.
There are no words that seem adequate enough to describe how I feel about this book!
When i finished this book my eyes were swollen and burning.
My nose was stuffy.
My heart was shredded and pieced back together, but there is still a couple of gaping holes that can't be repaired.
I'm in love, and I'm heartbroken.
I'm happy, and I'm devastated.
I feel so many things at once.
For starters. I read this book during the writing process. For a First time Arthor this book is amazing.
Just by the title you know this book will take you on an emotional roller-coaster.
This book is Grief, spice, new adult, boy next book summer romance.
JASPER IS 😝🥰😍😭😱😡❤️💔❤️❤️
WHEN He said "Ride me Kid" I died!🫡
And the Dock scene!! OMG the Dock scene!!😜💥🔥🔥
This book has a good bit of spice and It has a great plot development.
A great read.
The release date is in March so I highly recommend and can not wait for the rest of the series.
July 5, 2025
This book took me through every emotion and an entire box of kleenex. Jasper is the man I never knew I needed...but sadly he will never be mine. He only has eyes for Kat.
The fast and hard fall between Kat and Jasper was so much fun to watch. I couldn't imagine a world where they did not end up together. Thank goodness the author allowed us to have the happy ending they deserved.
I know that there are at least four more books...but I am going to need those now please.
The fast and hard fall between Kat and Jasper was so much fun to watch. I couldn't imagine a world where they did not end up together. Thank goodness the author allowed us to have the happy ending they deserved.
I know that there are at least four more books...but I am going to need those now please.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 25, 2025
I picked up this ARC expecting to laugh and fan my face at the spicy scenes, but I wasn’t prepared to ugly cry from Katie’s grief over losing her mother. I had to read it twice—mourning with her, pulling myself together, and diving back in. Katie already feels out of place living with her socialite grandmother, and now, with her mother’s loss, she’s struggling to keep up appearances growing something more with Jaspers. I love reading characters with strong personalities, and this author delivers. I can’t wait to read more from Marissa!
March 21, 2025
I devoured this book! I always say I’m not a traditional romance reader typically but I may need to stop that because I literally read this book in 12 hours! This book outline grief and the anger you can feel because of it so well. It also shows what can happen with love and support. I adore the family relationship and how that grew and developed. I also loved the ending. I can’t wait to read the entire series.
March 8, 2025
Great job writing your first book Marissa! You left me with a cliff hanger and can’t wait for the second book! Please let me ARC the second book 🙏🤞🤞
After finishing the Empyrean Series by Rebecca Yarros, which I read all 3 books in a month and a half, I was in a book slump. I was able to fly through this book within a couple days and got me out of my book funk. This was a fast pace read and kept me engaged the whole time.
Now let’s talk about the spice. To be honest, I wasn’t sure how much spice was going to be in this book. I thoroughly underestimated this book and level of spiciness. The dock scene = my favorite, chef’s kiss 🥵🥵
When I think about this book, I can’t imagine losing my mom and then having to move to a different state to live with my grandparents who I really don’t have a relationship with. For Katie, this was a short term circumstance as she would be headed to Duke University in the fall. With no plans to build any friendships, that is when you find yourself having to make unexpected life choices and meeting the love of your life, Jasper. Little does Katie know, this unexpected man has a secret of his own. Katie needs to decide which route she plans to pursue, after she finds out Jasper’s secret, which inevitably was what resulted in her mother’s death.
After finishing the Empyrean Series by Rebecca Yarros, which I read all 3 books in a month and a half, I was in a book slump. I was able to fly through this book within a couple days and got me out of my book funk. This was a fast pace read and kept me engaged the whole time.
Now let’s talk about the spice. To be honest, I wasn’t sure how much spice was going to be in this book. I thoroughly underestimated this book and level of spiciness. The dock scene = my favorite, chef’s kiss 🥵🥵
When I think about this book, I can’t imagine losing my mom and then having to move to a different state to live with my grandparents who I really don’t have a relationship with. For Katie, this was a short term circumstance as she would be headed to Duke University in the fall. With no plans to build any friendships, that is when you find yourself having to make unexpected life choices and meeting the love of your life, Jasper. Little does Katie know, this unexpected man has a secret of his own. Katie needs to decide which route she plans to pursue, after she finds out Jasper’s secret, which inevitably was what resulted in her mother’s death.
March 9, 2025
Picture of Anger was an ARC read for me. I enjoyed the book, but I would definitely say that there were some things that I had a hard time with.
The story is about Katie, who has lost her mom to a drunk driver. She is now forced to stay with her grandparents, whom she does not have the best relationship with. She meets the local player, Jasper, and from that moment on she and Jasper develop feelings for one another… but Jasper is keeping a secret of his own. Katie must learn how to deal with her grief before she can deal with Jasper’s secret and make their relationship work.
This story felt forced. Some of the plot seemed forced, some of the dialogue seemed forced, and I even thought that the characters’ relationships seemed forced. It was hard for me to take serious because of this factor. I think that if the story focused more on building the relationship between Katie and Jasper, and less about the smut between them, then the story would have had potential to rate higher for me. However, I did enjoy the premise of the book, and the cliffhanger definitely makes me curious what will happen in the second book.
The story is about Katie, who has lost her mom to a drunk driver. She is now forced to stay with her grandparents, whom she does not have the best relationship with. She meets the local player, Jasper, and from that moment on she and Jasper develop feelings for one another… but Jasper is keeping a secret of his own. Katie must learn how to deal with her grief before she can deal with Jasper’s secret and make their relationship work.
This story felt forced. Some of the plot seemed forced, some of the dialogue seemed forced, and I even thought that the characters’ relationships seemed forced. It was hard for me to take serious because of this factor. I think that if the story focused more on building the relationship between Katie and Jasper, and less about the smut between them, then the story would have had potential to rate higher for me. However, I did enjoy the premise of the book, and the cliffhanger definitely makes me curious what will happen in the second book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 13, 2025
When I read this book’s synopsis, I just knew I had to dive right in! Here’s your warning: prepare for some tears along the way. This author has crafted a story that’s overflowing with emotions, and it’s done so beautifully. The grief, anger, and secrets woven throughout felt incredibly real—like I could truly step into the characters' shoes.
Now, let’s talk about the spice! Holy moly! There are several chapters that had me feeling giddy, desperately clinging to the pages and not wanting to put the book down. I’d rate this a solid 3 spice read—just the right amount to keep the heart racing! 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Katie and Jasper’s story is truly one of a kind. I was left yearning for more, yet the book ended in a way that felt respectful and complete. Still, I can’t shake the desire to know more about their relationship, their families, and their friendships.
If you’re looking for a book that will tug at your heartstrings and keep you engaged from beginning to end, this is it. I would absolutely love the opportunity to read more from Marissa Durham in the future.
Now, let’s talk about the spice! Holy moly! There are several chapters that had me feeling giddy, desperately clinging to the pages and not wanting to put the book down. I’d rate this a solid 3 spice read—just the right amount to keep the heart racing! 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Katie and Jasper’s story is truly one of a kind. I was left yearning for more, yet the book ended in a way that felt respectful and complete. Still, I can’t shake the desire to know more about their relationship, their families, and their friendships.
If you’re looking for a book that will tug at your heartstrings and keep you engaged from beginning to end, this is it. I would absolutely love the opportunity to read more from Marissa Durham in the future.
February 20, 2025
This book I got as an arc and it was such a great read!! My favorite of the year so far! I was in a big reading slump and I flew through this book. I also have never fell inlove with a side character so fast in my life but I can NOT wait for Thad’s book!
This book starts with Katie a young lady who just lost her mom to a drunk driving accident. She is forced to spend the summer with her rich grandparents who kicked her mom out when she got pregnant. Jasper seems like a normal rich f***boy whose parents bailed him out of some kind of trouble that got him kicked out of college. His mom and her grandmother hate each other but have the same social circles so they see each other around and the chemistry is popping. She doesn’t want anything holding her there.
I don’t want to give away to much buttttt there is more spice then i originally thought by the cover but it was extremely HOT! I really like characters at the beginning to really not like them in the middle to loving them and understanding them at the end. Other characters I hated at the beginning and love and understood in the middle to the end. What I took from this book is everyone processes grief differently and we should have compassion and understanding that open and honest communication even though sometimes it hurts in the end it is worth it. Thank you for reading my ramble. Til next time ✌️
This book starts with Katie a young lady who just lost her mom to a drunk driving accident. She is forced to spend the summer with her rich grandparents who kicked her mom out when she got pregnant. Jasper seems like a normal rich f***boy whose parents bailed him out of some kind of trouble that got him kicked out of college. His mom and her grandmother hate each other but have the same social circles so they see each other around and the chemistry is popping. She doesn’t want anything holding her there.
I don’t want to give away to much buttttt there is more spice then i originally thought by the cover but it was extremely HOT! I really like characters at the beginning to really not like them in the middle to loving them and understanding them at the end. Other characters I hated at the beginning and love and understood in the middle to the end. What I took from this book is everyone processes grief differently and we should have compassion and understanding that open and honest communication even though sometimes it hurts in the end it is worth it. Thank you for reading my ramble. Til next time ✌️
February 22, 2025
Overall, I did really enjoy this book. It was a good read and I think a really good first book for this author. I will definitely be interested in continuing the series once they’re out.
I both like and dislike that the story picked up quickly. I guess I wish there was more angst between the main characters. It was insta love, insta obsession. I think if there was more scenes of them interacting and learning more about each other before their relationship started it would have worked better.
Also some the dialogue was weird and confusing. Like I wouldn’t really understand what they were trying to say. Might be weird, but I wished there was more communication during the intimate times. And when it was over they just went about their business.
The only other thing was I felt like a lot of stuff was just mentioned and not done. It was just talked about what they did or what happened.
But like I said, I really did like the book! It wasn’t bad or boring. I liked all the side character and made me excited to see what would happen in their books. Would definitely recommend!!
I both like and dislike that the story picked up quickly. I guess I wish there was more angst between the main characters. It was insta love, insta obsession. I think if there was more scenes of them interacting and learning more about each other before their relationship started it would have worked better.
Also some the dialogue was weird and confusing. Like I wouldn’t really understand what they were trying to say. Might be weird, but I wished there was more communication during the intimate times. And when it was over they just went about their business.
The only other thing was I felt like a lot of stuff was just mentioned and not done. It was just talked about what they did or what happened.
But like I said, I really did like the book! It wasn’t bad or boring. I liked all the side character and made me excited to see what would happen in their books. Would definitely recommend!!
February 25, 2025
I loved this book ! Read this as an arc and loved every second of this book the ups and downs of all the characters. I devoured this book thank banter between the two main characters was cute and fun. Side characters stand out and oh how I want more books on Thad and Jess so bad please !! So many others I want to read about as well Thad’s sister Maggie and Bryson like what on earth happened I need to know ! Overall I’m begging for more and can’t wait to read more books
September 5, 2025
I loved this book! The dialogue was great and so was the spice. Every time I read "the look," I just had to giggle. Impressive book!
February 22, 2025
This book does an amazing job including funny banter, miscommunication, and smut with just the right amount of plot. I fell in love with not just the main characters but also several of the side characters. This book gave me all the feels I needed to get me out of my book slump. I can’t wait to see what Marissa does with her side characters and other books in the series.
February 21, 2025
Loved this small town romance. Male MC ego and attitude make him the loveable ________. I fell in love with these two characters and they're dynamic. Can't wait for more from this author.
February 20, 2025
I loved this book!! I was hooked from the very first page. Loved Jasper and Katie.
March 21, 2025
Did I stay awake until 2 am to finish this book, yes I did! Do I regret it…. Zero regrets!
I have never had a MMC make me instantly dislike him so much as Jas did, only to completely fall in love with him!
This book has the whole enemies-to-lovers, and life after loss tropes down to a perfect science. The ending left me with so many unanswered questions that I cannot wait for book two to come out.
I have never had a MMC make me instantly dislike him so much as Jas did, only to completely fall in love with him!
This book has the whole enemies-to-lovers, and life after loss tropes down to a perfect science. The ending left me with so many unanswered questions that I cannot wait for book two to come out.
May 9, 2025
Dnf At 27%
Might try again at a later date
Might try again at a later date
March 14, 2025
Coming soon 3.21.2025
Katie’s life was completely destroyed when her mother died. Forced to leave everything she had known to move to Charlston, SC with her estranged grandparents is a living hell. The only glimmer of hope is she will be going to college after the summer. Katie is ready to put the last few months behind her and never look back. That means, no friendships, no attachments, no love. However there is one guy that will not take no for an answer, he’s cocky, obnoxious, annoying and unfortunately perfect. She has to keep him away or become everything her mother despised.
Jasper left Charleston for Yale with his whole life planned out for him. Ivy league college, law school, then to take his father’s place as the south's top attorney. However, he quickly realized it wasn't what he wanted. Jasper was so close to making a new life where he would be respected as himself, not just his fathers son. Then unfortunately, one night he made a poor decision that landed him right back under his thumb. Now he’s back, angry and with nothing to look forward to. That is until he meets the girl next door. The further she pushes him away the more he wants her. Can he get the girl or will his secret mistake come back to rip everything to shreds?
Thoughts
I loved this book!
The story builds tension between Katie and Jasper. Their interactions are filled with verbal sparring and undeniable chemistry. Katie is determined to resist Jasper's advances, but she is also drawn to him. This story gives Gilmore Girls vibes and I loved every page!
This book does end of a cliffhanger but it’s the perfect cliffhanger to edge us into book 2! I can’t wait to read it.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
Katie’s life was completely destroyed when her mother died. Forced to leave everything she had known to move to Charlston, SC with her estranged grandparents is a living hell. The only glimmer of hope is she will be going to college after the summer. Katie is ready to put the last few months behind her and never look back. That means, no friendships, no attachments, no love. However there is one guy that will not take no for an answer, he’s cocky, obnoxious, annoying and unfortunately perfect. She has to keep him away or become everything her mother despised.
Jasper left Charleston for Yale with his whole life planned out for him. Ivy league college, law school, then to take his father’s place as the south's top attorney. However, he quickly realized it wasn't what he wanted. Jasper was so close to making a new life where he would be respected as himself, not just his fathers son. Then unfortunately, one night he made a poor decision that landed him right back under his thumb. Now he’s back, angry and with nothing to look forward to. That is until he meets the girl next door. The further she pushes him away the more he wants her. Can he get the girl or will his secret mistake come back to rip everything to shreds?
Thoughts
I loved this book!
The story builds tension between Katie and Jasper. Their interactions are filled with verbal sparring and undeniable chemistry. Katie is determined to resist Jasper's advances, but she is also drawn to him. This story gives Gilmore Girls vibes and I loved every page!
This book does end of a cliffhanger but it’s the perfect cliffhanger to edge us into book 2! I can’t wait to read it.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
October 20, 2025
This book had me feeling all kinds of different emotions. There was even a point I almost didn’t even want to finish reading because my mind automatically goes to the worst case scenarios and I didn’t want to feel that heartbreak but I’m glad I kept reading.
I love the way Jas treated Katie and the way he always put her first. The way he changed his outlook over her just made me swoon! “I want you, broken-hearted and smart mouthed.” And “People think men don’t or shouldn’t show their hurt; it makes them weak. I call bullshit.”
Katie just tugged me by the heartstrings. I absolutely love her character. She had me laughing and crying because I can relate to her. When she said “He’s lucky I didn’t haul the slut off the side of this yacht to meet Ariel and Flounder.” I cried laughing! But on a serious note I felt her when I read “Grief doesn't play by rules on a chart or any timeline.” I loved how strong minded she was and not just focusing on Jas but how she knew she needed to focus on herself and her mental health.
The most important takeaways from this book is it’s okay for boys/men to show their feelings, it’s okay for girls/women to focus on themselves and do what’s best for them and a boy/man be there for her however she needs until she’s ready, therapy is normal and dealing with grief instead of continuing to let it control you. Katie’s grandparents healing in their marriage and realizing their faults and working themselves out while being there for their granddaughter.
I love the way Jas treated Katie and the way he always put her first. The way he changed his outlook over her just made me swoon! “I want you, broken-hearted and smart mouthed.” And “People think men don’t or shouldn’t show their hurt; it makes them weak. I call bullshit.”
Katie just tugged me by the heartstrings. I absolutely love her character. She had me laughing and crying because I can relate to her. When she said “He’s lucky I didn’t haul the slut off the side of this yacht to meet Ariel and Flounder.” I cried laughing! But on a serious note I felt her when I read “Grief doesn't play by rules on a chart or any timeline.” I loved how strong minded she was and not just focusing on Jas but how she knew she needed to focus on herself and her mental health.
The most important takeaways from this book is it’s okay for boys/men to show their feelings, it’s okay for girls/women to focus on themselves and do what’s best for them and a boy/man be there for her however she needs until she’s ready, therapy is normal and dealing with grief instead of continuing to let it control you. Katie’s grandparents healing in their marriage and realizing their faults and working themselves out while being there for their granddaughter.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 13, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. There was a good balance between smut and plot which I loved! It was difficult to read at times due to grammatical errors/sentence structure/spelling errors however I did enjoy reading it. I’m excited to read the next book in this series to see what happens with Jess! It was difficult for me to picture the characters (I feel like there could have been more descriptions of Katie and Jasper). I did LOVE reading about Katie making the decision to go to therapy and work on herself prior to continuing her relationship with Jasper. As someone whose husband was grieving the loss of his parents in the beginning of our relationship, I was very interested to see grief through Katie’s eyes to better understand what he was going through. Thank you so much for sending me an e-book copy Marissa! I can’t wait for book 2!🫶
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 12, 2025
This book is so cozy, it’s like coming home and watching your comfort show for the first time. The southern dialect and witty banter are everything! Katie is a little annoying at first, but the author does a great job of character development that left me wishing for more! The spice is ghost pepper level, if you covered it in whipped cream. Jasper is a riot, had me laughing out loud! The side characters are well planned, I need their stories too! Great job to this debut author, can’t wait to read the next!
March 22, 2025
Katie’s mom dies and she is forced to live with her stuffy grandparents until college starts. Jasper, the frustrating boy next door shakes up her bland life. Will a secret ruin everything?
I plowed through this book in a few hours! It was so good. I just loved the chemistry and banter between the couple. I am a sucker for he falls first/harder. The spice was very, very nice. I also really enjoyed seeing some of the side characters develop and learn from the past. This is the first book in a series so I am excited to see what happens next.
I plowed through this book in a few hours! It was so good. I just loved the chemistry and banter between the couple. I am a sucker for he falls first/harder. The spice was very, very nice. I also really enjoyed seeing some of the side characters develop and learn from the past. This is the first book in a series so I am excited to see what happens next.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 9, 2025
Be still my heart! This book has a little bit of everything in it! Love, loss, anger, grief, betrayal, family bonding, friendships... just to name a few. I went through several emotions while reading this book, and I loved every minute of it. I had a couple wth moments, but it all worked out in the end. It touches on mental health, a girl (and her grandparents) dealing with a tragic loss within their family. I dont want to give too much away, but you really should check this book out! And btw.. the spice... chefs kiss! 😁 As always, happy reading!
March 4, 2025
When I first saw the description of this book I knew I had to read it. I was lucky enough to receive an ARC copy and was so right with my first impression. This is a fabulous book that follows Katie through her loss while trying to move forward including making new friends and more. I loved all the characters and truly hope we find out more of her best friend's story. Highly recommend!
March 23, 2025
Marissa’s debut novel was nothing shy of perfection! I was blown away with how this became a favourite for me. All the feels were felt, plus a whole lot of spice. I will say if you don’t like a fast paced story or insta love this might not be for you. But I know I’m looking forward to what’s to come next.
March 2, 2025
This book is absolutely amazing. The author did phenomenal on her debut book. This is amazing writing. And anyone else who says differently can eat a shoe.
This is good.
This is good.
May 25, 2025
I liked the book and plan on reading more from her!
March 6, 2025
This was super fun, especially if you watched & loved Gilmore Girls. Very similar vibes.
I absolutely adore these characters, Katie & Jasper, and their hate at first sight, then the quick switch for Jasper, and the slow progression for Katie. Not to mention all the beautiful friendships that are formed and family healing that our FMC experiences.
Now I need these side characters to get their own books soon, bc I fell in love with them too!!
4⭐️ 3.5🌶️ Loved getting to ARC this one!
I absolutely adore these characters, Katie & Jasper, and their hate at first sight, then the quick switch for Jasper, and the slow progression for Katie. Not to mention all the beautiful friendships that are formed and family healing that our FMC experiences.
Now I need these side characters to get their own books soon, bc I fell in love with them too!!
4⭐️ 3.5🌶️ Loved getting to ARC this one!
March 16, 2025
I picked up this ARC expecting to enjoy a nice romance. This ended up being so much more than a simple romance. I can't imagine losing your mom and then going somewhere completely different with grandparents you barely know. The loss of her mom and distant grandparents along with Jasper and Katie's bestie. The emotions that Jasper and Katie have were very refreshing. I truly enjoyed this book. I cannot wait for the next one.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews