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Burn for You
May Whitley has always been the definition of independent, never one to let any place—or person—hold her down for long. So when she finds herself putting down roots in the picturesque town of Ruby Cove, it’s a surprise even to her. But as much as Ruby Cove is starting to feel like home, its small-town charm comes with one major downside—there’s no escaping Rafael Deo, the town’s grumpiest and most infuriating man, who’s had it out for her since she arrived.
Rafael Deo is perfectly content with his solitary life, even if it’s not exactly what he envisioned for himself. Serious has never been his thing anyway, and an endless string of one-night stands is much easier to manage while running Ruby Cove’s busiest restaurant. But when his passion for cooking starts to fade, only to be replaced by the thrill of arguing with a fiery blonde who knows just how to get under his skin, he finds himself questioning everything he thought he wanted.
When fate intervenes and forces May and Rafael to share a roof, they must confront the heat between them and decide if their constant clashing will smother the flames, or ignite a love neither of them expected.
Rafael Deo is perfectly content with his solitary life, even if it’s not exactly what he envisioned for himself. Serious has never been his thing anyway, and an endless string of one-night stands is much easier to manage while running Ruby Cove’s busiest restaurant. But when his passion for cooking starts to fade, only to be replaced by the thrill of arguing with a fiery blonde who knows just how to get under his skin, he finds himself questioning everything he thought he wanted.
When fate intervenes and forces May and Rafael to share a roof, they must confront the heat between them and decide if their constant clashing will smother the flames, or ignite a love neither of them expected.
338 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 17, 2025
18 people are currently reading
501 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 136 reviews
February 5, 2025
⁀ ⊹ ₊ “You know you’re kinda stuck with me now. Like forever and ever.”
burn for me plunges into the well-loved hate to love theme, mixing forced proximity with a strong undercurrent of attraction. the story revolves around may and rafael as their first encounter is anything but friendly. their personalities clash dramatically, their living styles are completely different, and their exchanges are filled with enough sarcasm to make a cactus wilt.
the highlight of this book is definitely the chemistry between may and rafael. the author, skillfully creates characters with relatable flaws and motivations. their ongoing arguments are genuinely fun, filled with clever comebacks and unspoken tension that simmers just below the surface.
⁀ ⊹ ₊ “They’re what make you, you. I wouldn’t have fallen in love with you if you weren’t a little bit crazy. If you weren’t strong and rude."
what makes this book unique is that rafael develops feelings first. this adds depth and vulnerability to his character. watching him navigate his initial dislike for may while grappling with feelings he can't ignore is truly engaging.
the book does have some flaws. the plot outside of the romance felt underdeveloped, which sometimes takes away from the overall enjoyment of the story, leaving me wishing for more depth. additionally, the supporting characters lacked depth.
⁀ ⊹ ₊ "I love you, May, more than I ever thought was possible. Screw whatever unwritten rule is sitting between us where we don’t talk about how we feel for each other.”
despite these small issues, burn for me is a fun read for anyone looking for a light and steamy romance. the mix of clever dialogue, building tension, and the unique twist of the boy falling first creates an engaging story. in the end, it is a delightful and captivating tale about how love can grow in the most surprising situations, even among laundry piles and passive-aggressive notes.
3.75 stars ⊹
⤿ hate to love
⤿ age gap
⤿ he falls first
⤿ grumpy x sunshine
⤿ slowburn
⤿ roommates
⤿ forced proximity
⤿ taunting nicknames
⤿ found family
thank you to luna literary management for providing me with e-arc in exchange for my honest review!
౨ৎ ⋮ more by birdie charles
─ bound to you (the ruby cove #1)
February 10, 2025
4.25 ⭐️
”i think i want to forget everything i thought i knew and instead learn something new with him.“
may and raf were so freaking cute together! their banter and push-and-pull relationship prior to finally getting together kept me on my toes and i was living for it.
i adored may’s cottage, and the way it was described was perfect, so much so that i could see it in my head and now i want to live there. her obsession with mugs was adorable and so meaningful, especially when raf ended up getting her one for his own house just for her. i totally understood her apprehension when it came to relationships, specifically with men, and i didn’t blame her for being closed off at all. after what she’d been through, she absolutely deserved raf and his big heart.
raf felt like such a golden retriever to me, even when he was trying his hardest to hate may (he couldn’t). i love a mmc that’s tortured by one woman he can’t get out of his head. his willingness to be patient and wait for the woman he wanted was everything that may deserved, and she was everything that he deserved. when it came to his restaurant, he just needed a little push from someone that meant something to him, even if he didn’t realise that person was may at first, she truly brought out the best in him.
thank you so much to luna literary management and the author for the e-arc! 🌙
★ age gap
★ small town
★ hate to love
★ grumpy x sunshine
★ roommates to lovers
”i think i want to forget everything i thought i knew and instead learn something new with him.“
may and raf were so freaking cute together! their banter and push-and-pull relationship prior to finally getting together kept me on my toes and i was living for it.
i adored may’s cottage, and the way it was described was perfect, so much so that i could see it in my head and now i want to live there. her obsession with mugs was adorable and so meaningful, especially when raf ended up getting her one for his own house just for her. i totally understood her apprehension when it came to relationships, specifically with men, and i didn’t blame her for being closed off at all. after what she’d been through, she absolutely deserved raf and his big heart.
raf felt like such a golden retriever to me, even when he was trying his hardest to hate may (he couldn’t). i love a mmc that’s tortured by one woman he can’t get out of his head. his willingness to be patient and wait for the woman he wanted was everything that may deserved, and she was everything that he deserved. when it came to his restaurant, he just needed a little push from someone that meant something to him, even if he didn’t realise that person was may at first, she truly brought out the best in him.
thank you so much to luna literary management and the author for the e-arc! 🌙
★ age gap
★ small town
★ hate to love
★ grumpy x sunshine
★ roommates to lovers
February 18, 2025
Yayy for the h of this book for having a good sex life, which is rare in romance books but i'm also not a fan of H walking in on her screwing 2 diff men on page and this happens at his workplace and at his own home. i'd be grossed out if the tables were turned and she walked in on him screwing ow, so this was in such a bad taste 🫣
February 17, 2025
Burn For You by Bridie Charles
4/5⭐
3/5🌶️
"I hate you because I can't stop thinking about you. I burn for you, May. Every single cell in my body lights on fire when you're near me."
This book took me on an emotional rollercoaster—I laughed, smiled, swooned, felt frustrated, and even a bit sad. Rafael and May have this hilarious love-hate relationship, which I couldn’t get enough of! Their bickering and the way they annoy each other is so entertaining, and the attraction between them is undeniable (even if they both wish it wasn’t)! When they finally kiss? Talk about fireworks!
From the moment Rafael and May met, there was no love lost. They can’t stand each other, and their personalities clash—Rafael is the grumpy chef, and May is the sunshine barista. But then life forces them to live under one roof, and everything starts to change for them.
May has such a vibrant personality! She’s independent, brave, strong, and full of life. She’s been through a lot, which is why she chooses to avoid relationships and stick to one-night stands. I can see why she feels that way, but it was a bit frustrating at times to see her stubbornness. Watching her character grow and slowly open up to Rafael was truly heartwarming.
Rafael’s journey is equally touching. After losing his parents and Nonna, he’s been feeling pretty lonely, especially since his sister has left him too. He’s feeling a bit less enthusiastic about a job he usually loves. I loved how he can’t seem to shake off his feelings for May, even though he wants to hate her! I loved how attentive he became toward her, and his patience was so sweet. He slowly earns her trust, and in return, she helps him find joy again.
The themes of found family and friendship in this book are just wonderful. Plus, the setting of Ruby Cove sounds absolutely beautiful and makes me want to visit! I loved these characters, and I’m so excited to read the next book in the series!
"The butterflies in my stomach don't go crazy, they don't flutter, they're settled. I feel warm. I feel safe. I think I have always felt like that in Rafael's presence."
4/5⭐
3/5🌶️
"I hate you because I can't stop thinking about you. I burn for you, May. Every single cell in my body lights on fire when you're near me."
This book took me on an emotional rollercoaster—I laughed, smiled, swooned, felt frustrated, and even a bit sad. Rafael and May have this hilarious love-hate relationship, which I couldn’t get enough of! Their bickering and the way they annoy each other is so entertaining, and the attraction between them is undeniable (even if they both wish it wasn’t)! When they finally kiss? Talk about fireworks!
From the moment Rafael and May met, there was no love lost. They can’t stand each other, and their personalities clash—Rafael is the grumpy chef, and May is the sunshine barista. But then life forces them to live under one roof, and everything starts to change for them.
May has such a vibrant personality! She’s independent, brave, strong, and full of life. She’s been through a lot, which is why she chooses to avoid relationships and stick to one-night stands. I can see why she feels that way, but it was a bit frustrating at times to see her stubbornness. Watching her character grow and slowly open up to Rafael was truly heartwarming.
Rafael’s journey is equally touching. After losing his parents and Nonna, he’s been feeling pretty lonely, especially since his sister has left him too. He’s feeling a bit less enthusiastic about a job he usually loves. I loved how he can’t seem to shake off his feelings for May, even though he wants to hate her! I loved how attentive he became toward her, and his patience was so sweet. He slowly earns her trust, and in return, she helps him find joy again.
The themes of found family and friendship in this book are just wonderful. Plus, the setting of Ruby Cove sounds absolutely beautiful and makes me want to visit! I loved these characters, and I’m so excited to read the next book in the series!
"The butterflies in my stomach don't go crazy, they don't flutter, they're settled. I feel warm. I feel safe. I think I have always felt like that in Rafael's presence."
February 7, 2025
This was a really cute book! Rafael and May start off hating each other (not sure if we get their first meeting in the previous book because I felt like the reason they hated each other wasn’t well explained) but end up reluctantly falling in love. They had a sweet relationship with some really nice moments and I liked how they learned to trust each other. Rafael got his big heroic moment which was fun and I felt like it was a really crucial turning point in their relationship. Not a lot happened in this book but it did have good vibes and fun characters.
Read if you like;
-hate to love
-forced proximity
-small town (in Italy!)
-spicy
-grumpy x sunshine
Thank you to Bridie Charles and Luna Literary for the ARC!!
Read if you like;
-hate to love
-forced proximity
-small town (in Italy!)
-spicy
-grumpy x sunshine
Thank you to Bridie Charles and Luna Literary for the ARC!!
February 8, 2025
As usual, with some of my less positive reviews, I beg and plead: if you are the author, don’t read this. I understand the work that’s put into this so I don’t want to diminish your enthusiasm and I do want to continue to enjoy your work.
…. : if you are a reader that loved this book, opinions are personal and the same as I understand your love of this work, understand my opinion of it.
_____________________
I wanted to love this, I really did. Meeting May and Rafael in Bound to you was exciting, how much potential they had and I love a good enemies to lovers.
And for the first 50% it was not bad. May had some questionable moments in my opinion, but nothing that made me dislike her. Until we got to the 70%-80% mark. I can understand her trauma, her past, her upbringing… all of that shaping her decisions and her views, but what she did was not right in my eyes. And then when I started to forgive her and move on, she does something again at the 95% mark. And then there was no redeeming her.
Rafael takes all the stars I’m giving this book. That man was patient, understanding, selfless, vulnerable, open, caring… I could go on and on. And I’m not someone who prefers her mmc to her fmc, but in this case it was a no brainer.
He deserved to be chased after at points, to be groveled at, but of course he’s too understanding and forgives and forgets.
I will be reading the rest of the series because I like the writing, the setting and the hints of the future couples.
Thank you Luna Literary for the e-arc and the author too!!
…. : if you are a reader that loved this book, opinions are personal and the same as I understand your love of this work, understand my opinion of it.
_____________________
I wanted to love this, I really did. Meeting May and Rafael in Bound to you was exciting, how much potential they had and I love a good enemies to lovers.
And for the first 50% it was not bad. May had some questionable moments in my opinion, but nothing that made me dislike her. Until we got to the 70%-80% mark. I can understand her trauma, her past, her upbringing… all of that shaping her decisions and her views, but what she did was not right in my eyes. And then when I started to forgive her and move on, she does something again at the 95% mark. And then there was no redeeming her.
Rafael takes all the stars I’m giving this book. That man was patient, understanding, selfless, vulnerable, open, caring… I could go on and on. And I’m not someone who prefers her mmc to her fmc, but in this case it was a no brainer.
He deserved to be chased after at points, to be groveled at, but of course he’s too understanding and forgives and forgets.
I will be reading the rest of the series because I like the writing, the setting and the hints of the future couples.
Thank you Luna Literary for the e-arc and the author too!!
February 9, 2025
omg i was excited to be back at ruby cove and this book surpassed and exceeded all of my expectations!!!! i got the chance to read Bound to You first and this book made me be even more invested and connected with this cute and amazing group of people.
the hate do be HATING omg the tension throughout this book i am so obsessed i absolutely love the contrast in the personality of may and rafael. From BTY i knew they were going to be something else. Bridie did an amazing job at building the tension and hate in such an intense way. i truly have no notes.
i love how vulnerable both characters are in their own way, and even though there's a little of stubbornness when it comes to communicating with each of them, it makes it so real when it comes to think their reasoning of they way they act. it just adds so much to each character.
just like in BTY, the setting and ambiance in this book is absolutely amazing. i would give my life to go to ruby cove and just stay there forever.
i can’t explain how hooked this book had me, it was so ADDICTIVE and just amazing. i am truly without words wow please listen to me when i tell you I COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN !! i am still thinking about them i cannot STOP thinking about them. do yourself a favor please.
thank you bridie and luna management for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!
out feb 17th, 2025⭐️
the hate do be HATING omg the tension throughout this book i am so obsessed i absolutely love the contrast in the personality of may and rafael. From BTY i knew they were going to be something else. Bridie did an amazing job at building the tension and hate in such an intense way. i truly have no notes.
i love how vulnerable both characters are in their own way, and even though there's a little of stubbornness when it comes to communicating with each of them, it makes it so real when it comes to think their reasoning of they way they act. it just adds so much to each character.
just like in BTY, the setting and ambiance in this book is absolutely amazing. i would give my life to go to ruby cove and just stay there forever.
i can’t explain how hooked this book had me, it was so ADDICTIVE and just amazing. i am truly without words wow please listen to me when i tell you I COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN !! i am still thinking about them i cannot STOP thinking about them. do yourself a favor please.
thank you bridie and luna management for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!
out feb 17th, 2025⭐️
February 6, 2025
OUT FEBRUARY 17TH!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes 🪴
☀️ Book to in the Ruby Cove series
☀️ Roommates
☀️ Hate to love
☀️ Age gap
☀️ Grumpy x sunshine
☀️ Slow BURN
☀️ Small town in Italy
☀️ Open door spice
☀️ Taunting nicknames
First of all, thank you so so much Bridie for letting me read your work early 🫶🏻 I’m your biggest fan 💗
Where do I even start!! Burn for you was one of my most anticipated books of 2025 and FUCK, it didn’t disappoint at all. We get to follow May and Rafael in this book, the grumpy Italian hottie, Rafael. And the bossy blondie reader, May. They absolutely HATE each other since day one.
May and Rafael had a special place in my heart since I read bound to you in December. Now that i finally read their story, they own my heart 🥹 the growing in this book. How May helps Rafael with finding his place and helping him with his struggles. THE COMMUNICATION!!!!! How they literally safe each other. Bridie did such a good job with this book, I can’t get over it 🥹🫶🏻
And hello??? The hate to love, was so well written. So many hate to love books are rushed, and after 3 chapters they like and love each other. But this was the best slow hate to love I read so far, and also my first hate to love I absolutely LOVED 🤭
Again thank you so so much Bridie for the opportunity to read your baby before it get released 🫶🏻 I can’t wait to be back in Ruby Cove ☀️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes 🪴
☀️ Book to in the Ruby Cove series
☀️ Roommates
☀️ Hate to love
☀️ Age gap
☀️ Grumpy x sunshine
☀️ Slow BURN
☀️ Small town in Italy
☀️ Open door spice
☀️ Taunting nicknames
First of all, thank you so so much Bridie for letting me read your work early 🫶🏻 I’m your biggest fan 💗
Where do I even start!! Burn for you was one of my most anticipated books of 2025 and FUCK, it didn’t disappoint at all. We get to follow May and Rafael in this book, the grumpy Italian hottie, Rafael. And the bossy blondie reader, May. They absolutely HATE each other since day one.
May and Rafael had a special place in my heart since I read bound to you in December. Now that i finally read their story, they own my heart 🥹 the growing in this book. How May helps Rafael with finding his place and helping him with his struggles. THE COMMUNICATION!!!!! How they literally safe each other. Bridie did such a good job with this book, I can’t get over it 🥹🫶🏻
And hello??? The hate to love, was so well written. So many hate to love books are rushed, and after 3 chapters they like and love each other. But this was the best slow hate to love I read so far, and also my first hate to love I absolutely LOVED 🤭
Again thank you so so much Bridie for the opportunity to read your baby before it get released 🫶🏻 I can’t wait to be back in Ruby Cove ☀️
March 25, 2025
4.5** 🤩
UGH this was SO CUTE!!!! I absolutely loved the first book and when I found out that the second book was about Rafael and May I knew it would be one of my favorites. I felt like I could relate to the female main character in so many ways! May and Rafael’s relationship was so fun to watch unravel. As a girl who loves the enemies to lovers trope, I was head over heels from the jump! And then you add age gap? I was sold before I even picked up the book! I have absolutely love reading the Ruby Cove series and getting to know each of the characters and their back stories. I cannot wait to see who the next book follows!
-
A special thank you to Bridie Charles, the queen herself, for the ARC copy of Burn for You!! After falling in love with this world in the first book, I was so happy to have gotten the ARC for the second one as well 🥹
-
tropes:
- enemies to lovers
- grumpy x sunshine
- age gap
- fiery fmc
- temporary roommates
UGH this was SO CUTE!!!! I absolutely loved the first book and when I found out that the second book was about Rafael and May I knew it would be one of my favorites. I felt like I could relate to the female main character in so many ways! May and Rafael’s relationship was so fun to watch unravel. As a girl who loves the enemies to lovers trope, I was head over heels from the jump! And then you add age gap? I was sold before I even picked up the book! I have absolutely love reading the Ruby Cove series and getting to know each of the characters and their back stories. I cannot wait to see who the next book follows!
-
A special thank you to Bridie Charles, the queen herself, for the ARC copy of Burn for You!! After falling in love with this world in the first book, I was so happy to have gotten the ARC for the second one as well 🥹
-
tropes:
- enemies to lovers
- grumpy x sunshine
- age gap
- fiery fmc
- temporary roommates
December 20, 2025
Arc Review ✨
Rating:6 ⭐ s
I . Freaking . LOVED this one . Based on Italy first off ?? The Italian men ?? Chefs kiss . I loved how this gave genuine hate to love , like they genuinely could not stand Each other and the stuff they did to each other ? LMAOO to get a rise out of one another ? Had my jaw on the floor from the very beginning, and don't get me STARTED on the grumpy man ! Absolutely YES . this book gave what it needed to give. I remember begining to end , I can tell you every detail. It gave heartache , it gave hate and it gave love and it was just everything. Such a great read and I can't wait to read the 1st book and the 3rd book that isn't out yet . Y'all go give this one a read whew
Release : Feb 11
Rating:6 ⭐ s
I . Freaking . LOVED this one . Based on Italy first off ?? The Italian men ?? Chefs kiss . I loved how this gave genuine hate to love , like they genuinely could not stand Each other and the stuff they did to each other ? LMAOO to get a rise out of one another ? Had my jaw on the floor from the very beginning, and don't get me STARTED on the grumpy man ! Absolutely YES . this book gave what it needed to give. I remember begining to end , I can tell you every detail. It gave heartache , it gave hate and it gave love and it was just everything. Such a great read and I can't wait to read the 1st book and the 3rd book that isn't out yet . Y'all go give this one a read whew
Release : Feb 11
February 18, 2025
4.5 stars ✨
This book was a total dream 😭😭 Let me just go ahead and download Duolingo to start learning Italian…
May, the “little spitfire,” was incredibly bold and lively. She doesn’t live her life by anyone else’s rules, which was very admirable. I loved that the story wasn’t centered on May pursuing some big dream. She’s still a strong, independent woman with her own interests and plans, but she also isn’t hyper-focused on one goal, doesn’t make work her entire world, or let it define her completely. She’s simply passionate about life and appreciates the beauty and tranquility of the everyday—it was inspiring.
Rafael…what a man!! He was soooo patient and considerate and had the biggest heart. He was so obsessed with May, but he also maintained his self-respect and stood on business when it came to her whole “I want you but won’t let myself be with you” phase. I really liked how the book explored his depression. It was very subtle and didn’t fit the stereotypical “can’t get out of bed” image. Instead, his character portrayed the often overlooked numbness that can come after losing a loved one. All of a sudden, your greatest passion doesn’t mean much anymore. When the thing you love so much is tied to the memory of someone who’s gone, you feel lost, unsure of how to regain that spark—or if you even can.
I feel like a partner should complement you, which is why I fell so in love with May and Rafael’s relationship.
For May, her passion wasn’t tied to just one thing, she was living day by day, finding joy in the current moment and appreciating the ordinary. Her mug collection, cozy cottage, and pop music jam sessions might seem like nothing special, but those small things are what make life itself so precious. As Rafael falls in love with May, he’s also falling in love with this same outlook, and that’s why he was able to fall in love with cooking and running the restaurant again.
Rafael is the stable, safe space that May needed. This was a real slow burn, and it made perfect sense for the characters. May has been through so much—it’s understandable that she would guard her heart so closely. I loved that Rafael always made sure that she knew she was in control. She set the pace, he followed her lead, supporting every decision (the epilogue?!?! OMG his response to her big news was so perfect!! I was swooning!!). May was very closed off, unwilling to let herself be vulnerable around anyone except Isla. In contrast, Rafael was ready with open arms to, hoping for someone to love and care for again, yearning for a house filled with warm smiles and laughter.
They weren’t exactly opposites, but their differences made them exactly what the other needed.
On a lighter note, their chemistry was phenomenal! I loved the tension and playful banter. They had so much fire and passion. I wished they had kept up some of that competitive spirit (it would’ve made the smut even more interesting), but I was still happy with their dynamic.
I also liked that they addressed the age gap (nine years). It was very brief, but I still appreciated that it was actually brought up. 25 and 34 isn’t that wild, but it’s still a wide enough gap to recognize that they may be at different stages and need to address what their intentions are at this point.
I loved loved loved that May points out the suddenness of their relationship—they went from hating each other, to hooking up, to Rafael claiming he cared about her. It already sounds suspicious, but considering all of her trust issues, it sounds extra alarming and for good reason. Rafael’s explanation of not actually hating her since way long ago was also perfect. A lot of people don’t like enemies-to-lovers in contemporary romance because it often doesn’t feel like actual hate, and these characters basically points that out perfectly while using it to the story’s advantage. Yes, they probably didn’t actually hate each other, which makes their love feel all the more believable.
I absolutely adored the portrayal of this small Italian town and May’s cottage. Everything about these spaces sounded so peaceful and lovely. The descriptions painted very vivid, homey pictures. I always thought that maybe small-town romance isn’t my thing, but it actually is, I just need it to be set outside of the US 😭😭
Adding to that, I loved the found family aspect. Everyone was so supportive and provided one another with a welcoming, safe space. I’m obsessed with their late night ice skating adventure. I really hope we’ll get Heath’s book 😫😫 The man sounds so dreamy!!
I do wish we got a little more insight into May’s big move from NYC to Italy. I understand that book one starts with her and her Isla planning to spend the summer in Ruby Cove, but since I didn’t read it, I’m a little confused about why they chose to visit, why May was looking to scrub herself from her past, and why she decided to stay long term.
The ending is the main reason I couldn’t give this book five stars. The VERY late “this is getting too real” freakout was just absurd. And the fact that it was resolved so quickly after the most basic conversation with Isla made the whole thing feel unnecessarily dramatic. It wasn’t even entertaining, just frustrating.
Some other minor elements I didn’t enjoy:
There were a few pop culture references sprinkled in throughout for the first two-thirds of the book. This felt so randomly placed. While I’m glad there were only a few, most of them felt a little unnecessary and kind of took me out of the story for a moment.
There were some scenes where I had to suspend disbelief a little too much, like Rafael hiking back down to the cabin while making out with May, May abandoning her shift at the bar to chase after Rafael, May raising her hand to her mouth despite being handcuffed to the table next to the couch, and the oddly short timeline of 2-3 people renovating a restaurant without all of them working on the project full-time.
Also, why does everyone call May “March?!” I feel like I’m missing something here 😫
Overall, this was such a dreamy and heartfelt story. I loved May and Rafael’s fiery chemistry set against the cozy small-town backdrop. I think I’ve found a new favorite Indie author! I’m suspecting Marina and Miles are next up for the Ruby Cove series 👀🤩🤭❤️
Thank you very much to Bridie Charles and Luna Literary Management for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!!
This book was a total dream 😭😭 Let me just go ahead and download Duolingo to start learning Italian…
May, the “little spitfire,” was incredibly bold and lively. She doesn’t live her life by anyone else’s rules, which was very admirable. I loved that the story wasn’t centered on May pursuing some big dream. She’s still a strong, independent woman with her own interests and plans, but she also isn’t hyper-focused on one goal, doesn’t make work her entire world, or let it define her completely. She’s simply passionate about life and appreciates the beauty and tranquility of the everyday—it was inspiring.
Rafael…what a man!! He was soooo patient and considerate and had the biggest heart. He was so obsessed with May, but he also maintained his self-respect and stood on business when it came to her whole “I want you but won’t let myself be with you” phase. I really liked how the book explored his depression. It was very subtle and didn’t fit the stereotypical “can’t get out of bed” image. Instead, his character portrayed the often overlooked numbness that can come after losing a loved one. All of a sudden, your greatest passion doesn’t mean much anymore. When the thing you love so much is tied to the memory of someone who’s gone, you feel lost, unsure of how to regain that spark—or if you even can.
I feel like a partner should complement you, which is why I fell so in love with May and Rafael’s relationship.
For May, her passion wasn’t tied to just one thing, she was living day by day, finding joy in the current moment and appreciating the ordinary. Her mug collection, cozy cottage, and pop music jam sessions might seem like nothing special, but those small things are what make life itself so precious. As Rafael falls in love with May, he’s also falling in love with this same outlook, and that’s why he was able to fall in love with cooking and running the restaurant again.
Rafael is the stable, safe space that May needed. This was a real slow burn, and it made perfect sense for the characters. May has been through so much—it’s understandable that she would guard her heart so closely. I loved that Rafael always made sure that she knew she was in control. She set the pace, he followed her lead, supporting every decision (the epilogue?!?! OMG his response to her big news was so perfect!! I was swooning!!). May was very closed off, unwilling to let herself be vulnerable around anyone except Isla. In contrast, Rafael was ready with open arms to, hoping for someone to love and care for again, yearning for a house filled with warm smiles and laughter.
They weren’t exactly opposites, but their differences made them exactly what the other needed.
On a lighter note, their chemistry was phenomenal! I loved the tension and playful banter. They had so much fire and passion. I wished they had kept up some of that competitive spirit (it would’ve made the smut even more interesting), but I was still happy with their dynamic.
I also liked that they addressed the age gap (nine years). It was very brief, but I still appreciated that it was actually brought up. 25 and 34 isn’t that wild, but it’s still a wide enough gap to recognize that they may be at different stages and need to address what their intentions are at this point.
I loved loved loved that May points out the suddenness of their relationship—they went from hating each other, to hooking up, to Rafael claiming he cared about her. It already sounds suspicious, but considering all of her trust issues, it sounds extra alarming and for good reason. Rafael’s explanation of not actually hating her since way long ago was also perfect. A lot of people don’t like enemies-to-lovers in contemporary romance because it often doesn’t feel like actual hate, and these characters basically points that out perfectly while using it to the story’s advantage. Yes, they probably didn’t actually hate each other, which makes their love feel all the more believable.
I absolutely adored the portrayal of this small Italian town and May’s cottage. Everything about these spaces sounded so peaceful and lovely. The descriptions painted very vivid, homey pictures. I always thought that maybe small-town romance isn’t my thing, but it actually is, I just need it to be set outside of the US 😭😭
Adding to that, I loved the found family aspect. Everyone was so supportive and provided one another with a welcoming, safe space. I’m obsessed with their late night ice skating adventure. I really hope we’ll get Heath’s book 😫😫 The man sounds so dreamy!!
I do wish we got a little more insight into May’s big move from NYC to Italy. I understand that book one starts with her and her Isla planning to spend the summer in Ruby Cove, but since I didn’t read it, I’m a little confused about why they chose to visit, why May was looking to scrub herself from her past, and why she decided to stay long term.
The ending is the main reason I couldn’t give this book five stars. The VERY late “this is getting too real” freakout was just absurd. And the fact that it was resolved so quickly after the most basic conversation with Isla made the whole thing feel unnecessarily dramatic. It wasn’t even entertaining, just frustrating.
Some other minor elements I didn’t enjoy:
There were a few pop culture references sprinkled in throughout for the first two-thirds of the book. This felt so randomly placed. While I’m glad there were only a few, most of them felt a little unnecessary and kind of took me out of the story for a moment.
There were some scenes where I had to suspend disbelief a little too much, like Rafael hiking back down to the cabin while making out with May, May abandoning her shift at the bar to chase after Rafael, May raising her hand to her mouth despite being handcuffed to the table next to the couch, and the oddly short timeline of 2-3 people renovating a restaurant without all of them working on the project full-time.
Also, why does everyone call May “March?!” I feel like I’m missing something here 😫
Overall, this was such a dreamy and heartfelt story. I loved May and Rafael’s fiery chemistry set against the cozy small-town backdrop. I think I’ve found a new favorite Indie author! I’m suspecting Marina and Miles are next up for the Ruby Cove series 👀🤩🤭❤️
Thank you very much to Bridie Charles and Luna Literary Management for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!!
March 5, 2025
ARC REVIEW
Burn For You by Bridie Charles
⭐️⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/ 5
🌶️🌶️/5
This book is for you if you like:
🔥 Hate to love
🔥 Small town romance
🔥 Grumpy x sunshine
🔥 Roommates
🔥 Age gap (25/34)
“I hate you because I can’t stop thinking about you. I burn for you, May. Every single cell in my body lights on fire when you’re near me”
THE SLOW BURNNNNNNN… brb still recovering!
I really enjoyed this book. I found myself not being able to think about much else and needing to immediately read the next page!
I am a sucker for a hate to love or enemies to lovers trope. This book delivered this to me SO WELL!!
This is book 2 in the Ruby Cove series. I have not read book 1, but you can read Burn For You as a standalone which I loved! I’m sure there will be small connections between books but nothing that would drastically change your understanding. I am running to read book 1!!
The Ruby Cove series has forever altered my brain chemistry 🥹
Thank you so much to Bridie Charles for this beautiful ARC. I NEED MORE 😩
Burn For You by Bridie Charles
⭐️⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/ 5
🌶️🌶️/5
This book is for you if you like:
🔥 Hate to love
🔥 Small town romance
🔥 Grumpy x sunshine
🔥 Roommates
🔥 Age gap (25/34)
“I hate you because I can’t stop thinking about you. I burn for you, May. Every single cell in my body lights on fire when you’re near me”
THE SLOW BURNNNNNNN… brb still recovering!
I really enjoyed this book. I found myself not being able to think about much else and needing to immediately read the next page!
I am a sucker for a hate to love or enemies to lovers trope. This book delivered this to me SO WELL!!
This is book 2 in the Ruby Cove series. I have not read book 1, but you can read Burn For You as a standalone which I loved! I’m sure there will be small connections between books but nothing that would drastically change your understanding. I am running to read book 1!!
The Ruby Cove series has forever altered my brain chemistry 🥹
Thank you so much to Bridie Charles for this beautiful ARC. I NEED MORE 😩
February 15, 2025
4.5⭐️
I’m a sucker a good enemies to lovers book and Burn For You delivered! May and Rafael dislike each other from the moment they met and love getting a rise out of each other. They live to push each other’s buttons and are always trying to one up the other.
When May’s house is damaged in a fire and she has nowhere to go, Rafe reluctantly lets her stay with him. The tension of living under one roof led to some amazing banter and chemistry! They bond over past traumas and slowly break down each other’s walls. Their love story is so beautiful and raw and I loved every minute of it!
The found family in this book was so good! I loved all the side characters and hope more of them get their own books!
I’m a sucker a good enemies to lovers book and Burn For You delivered! May and Rafael dislike each other from the moment they met and love getting a rise out of each other. They live to push each other’s buttons and are always trying to one up the other.
When May’s house is damaged in a fire and she has nowhere to go, Rafe reluctantly lets her stay with him. The tension of living under one roof led to some amazing banter and chemistry! They bond over past traumas and slowly break down each other’s walls. Their love story is so beautiful and raw and I loved every minute of it!
The found family in this book was so good! I loved all the side characters and hope more of them get their own books!
February 7, 2025
5/5⭐️
4/5🌶️
BEST BOOK EVER OUT 17/2/2025!!!!
Bridie thank you so much i got the opportunity to read this before it comes out.💕💕 This is my first ARC ever and i believe it will also be the best one.
Let’s say i loved every single thing in this book. The characters, the plot and the smut OH MY GOD. I love this world and friendgroup. May and Rafael are written so beautiful and i love love love this couple, i kind of see myself in May so i really enjoyed her story because i wanted to know more about her since chapter 1 from bound to you.
Tropes:
🌻Hate to love
🌻Roommates
🌻Age gap
🌻Open door spice
🌻Taunting nicknames
🌻Grumpy x sunshine
🌻Small town (in Italy)
I can’t wait for the next book in this series and I can’t wait to know about who it will be💌💌
4/5🌶️
BEST BOOK EVER OUT 17/2/2025!!!!
Bridie thank you so much i got the opportunity to read this before it comes out.💕💕 This is my first ARC ever and i believe it will also be the best one.
Let’s say i loved every single thing in this book. The characters, the plot and the smut OH MY GOD. I love this world and friendgroup. May and Rafael are written so beautiful and i love love love this couple, i kind of see myself in May so i really enjoyed her story because i wanted to know more about her since chapter 1 from bound to you.
Tropes:
🌻Hate to love
🌻Roommates
🌻Age gap
🌻Open door spice
🌻Taunting nicknames
🌻Grumpy x sunshine
🌻Small town (in Italy)
I can’t wait for the next book in this series and I can’t wait to know about who it will be💌💌
February 16, 2025
3.25 ⭐
Before I begin I want to thank the author, Bridie Charles, for giving me this ARC.
I enjoyed reading this. I really liked the banter and the push and pull. The soft gestures were my favorite, along with the dynamics in the friend group. This, in my opinion, saved the book when it felt a bit long-winded.
I just felt like it was a bit too long. I'm not saying the book was too long or that I don't like reading long books; it's just that some things felt a bit stretched out.
I know that sounded a bit harsh; it's just how I feel about it. But that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy reading this. I would recommend this book if you like small town romances and hate-to-love.
Before I begin I want to thank the author, Bridie Charles, for giving me this ARC.
I enjoyed reading this. I really liked the banter and the push and pull. The soft gestures were my favorite, along with the dynamics in the friend group. This, in my opinion, saved the book when it felt a bit long-winded.
I just felt like it was a bit too long. I'm not saying the book was too long or that I don't like reading long books; it's just that some things felt a bit stretched out.
I know that sounded a bit harsh; it's just how I feel about it. But that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy reading this. I would recommend this book if you like small town romances and hate-to-love.
March 27, 2025
Rounding down from 2.5. I probably should’ve DNF’d early on when there was a whole chapter about a game of cornhole lol.
My problems with this book: I didn’t feel any chemistry between May and Rafael and it made all their interactions and the pacing of their romance feel a little bizarre. Way too many side characters that I couldn’t keep straight and didn’t care about enough to bother. And it felt like it could’ve been set anywhere, the Italian vibes and atmosphere weren’t coming through which was disappointing.
My problems with this book: I didn’t feel any chemistry between May and Rafael and it made all their interactions and the pacing of their romance feel a little bizarre. Way too many side characters that I couldn’t keep straight and didn’t care about enough to bother. And it felt like it could’ve been set anywhere, the Italian vibes and atmosphere weren’t coming through which was disappointing.
February 17, 2025
Okay to start off, I fell in love with both Rafael and May while reading the first book in the series, and they kept growing on me through Burn for you!!
I really love May, her witty comments and the way she teases Rafael!! I love her personality, her flaws really made her feel as a real person, it was heartwarming to see her character grow!
Rafael, I loved how he was absolutely gone for May!! He really made sure she felt safe and gave her time to figure out her feelings, all at the same time he had his own struggles!
I had SO much fun reading their bickering, I loved seeing their relationship develop, how the bickering was companioned by banter<3
The stunning cover really exudes the same warm feeling as the setting of Ruby cove, as does all of its inhabitants! I especially love Leo and Heath! Both of which I hope will get their own books!<3
I really need to share this teeny tiny spoiler too so the rest can you save for after you’ve read the book!
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Okay here is the spoiler
I really had to stop myself from writing in the paragraph about Rafael that he literally would walk through fire for her!! Like yes please give me someone who’d walk through a fire for me!!
I really love May, her witty comments and the way she teases Rafael!! I love her personality, her flaws really made her feel as a real person, it was heartwarming to see her character grow!
Rafael, I loved how he was absolutely gone for May!! He really made sure she felt safe and gave her time to figure out her feelings, all at the same time he had his own struggles!
I had SO much fun reading their bickering, I loved seeing their relationship develop, how the bickering was companioned by banter<3
The stunning cover really exudes the same warm feeling as the setting of Ruby cove, as does all of its inhabitants! I especially love Leo and Heath! Both of which I hope will get their own books!<3
I really need to share this teeny tiny spoiler too so the rest can you save for after you’ve read the book!
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Okay here is the spoiler
I really had to stop myself from writing in the paragraph about Rafael that he literally would walk through fire for her!! Like yes please give me someone who’d walk through a fire for me!!
March 2, 2025
When I first read Bound to You and met Raf and May as side characters I couldn't wait to get into their story. Raf and May have a great love-hate relationship but some of the things May did in the book irked me. I loved it overall though.
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thank you to Luna Literary and Bridie Charles for an eARC of Burn for You in exchange for my honest review. all thoughts are my own.
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thank you to Luna Literary and Bridie Charles for an eARC of Burn for You in exchange for my honest review. all thoughts are my own.
March 14, 2025
4.25 ⭐️ okay yes i finished it in a day bc it was such a cute & fun book !!! enemies to lovers AND set in italy, chefs kiss (literally tho) 🫶🏼
February 9, 2025
ARC Review🔥🇮🇹🍝🌷,
3,5 /5⭐️ 2,5 /5🌶️
Bridie Charles’ Burn for Me is an engaging take on the classic enemies-to-lovers trope, including forced proximity with undeniable chemistry. The story follows May and Rafael, whose initial interactions are anything but warm. Their clashing personalities, opposite lifestyles, and sharp-witted banter set the stage for a slow-burn romance filled with tension, sarcasm, and emotional depth.
One of the novel’s standout elements for me is Rafael’s character . Unlike many romance novels, Burn for Me flips the script by having the male lead fall first. His patience, vulnerability, and unwavering devotion add layers to his character, making him the true heart of the story.
May, on the other hand, is more divisive. While her past and trauma add depth to her character, some of her decisions—especially in the latter half of the book—make her harder to root for. Around the 70–80% mark, her actions take a frustrating turn in my opinion, and just as redemption seems possible, another misstep at 95% leaves a lingering sense of disappointment. Rafael, with all his kindness and understanding, deserved more in terms of effort and understanding from May.
The romance itself is well written, full of tension and sharp dialogue that keeps the pages turning. However, the plot outside the central relationship feels underdeveloped, and the supporting characters lack the depth needed to make a lasting impact. Additionally, a few unnecessary scenes slow the pacing, making the book feel longer than it needs to be.
Despite these issues, Burn for Me is an enjoyable read for fans of steamy, banter-filled romances. The enemies-to-lovers dynamic is executed well, and Rafael’s character alone makes this book worth picking up. If you love stories where love blossoms in the most unexpected places—through passive-aggressive notes and reluctant cohabitation—then this one is for you.
Tropes🇮🇹
•Roommates
•Hate to Love
•Small Town in Italy
•Grumpy x Sunshine
•Taunting Nicknames
• Age Gap
• Open Door Spice
Burn for you will be available on the 17.2.25, so make sure you pre-order it🤭
💐thank you to luna literary management for providing me with e-arc in exchange for my honest review!💐
3,5 /5⭐️ 2,5 /5🌶️
Bridie Charles’ Burn for Me is an engaging take on the classic enemies-to-lovers trope, including forced proximity with undeniable chemistry. The story follows May and Rafael, whose initial interactions are anything but warm. Their clashing personalities, opposite lifestyles, and sharp-witted banter set the stage for a slow-burn romance filled with tension, sarcasm, and emotional depth.
One of the novel’s standout elements for me is Rafael’s character . Unlike many romance novels, Burn for Me flips the script by having the male lead fall first. His patience, vulnerability, and unwavering devotion add layers to his character, making him the true heart of the story.
May, on the other hand, is more divisive. While her past and trauma add depth to her character, some of her decisions—especially in the latter half of the book—make her harder to root for. Around the 70–80% mark, her actions take a frustrating turn in my opinion, and just as redemption seems possible, another misstep at 95% leaves a lingering sense of disappointment. Rafael, with all his kindness and understanding, deserved more in terms of effort and understanding from May.
The romance itself is well written, full of tension and sharp dialogue that keeps the pages turning. However, the plot outside the central relationship feels underdeveloped, and the supporting characters lack the depth needed to make a lasting impact. Additionally, a few unnecessary scenes slow the pacing, making the book feel longer than it needs to be.
Despite these issues, Burn for Me is an enjoyable read for fans of steamy, banter-filled romances. The enemies-to-lovers dynamic is executed well, and Rafael’s character alone makes this book worth picking up. If you love stories where love blossoms in the most unexpected places—through passive-aggressive notes and reluctant cohabitation—then this one is for you.
Tropes🇮🇹
•Roommates
•Hate to Love
•Small Town in Italy
•Grumpy x Sunshine
•Taunting Nicknames
• Age Gap
• Open Door Spice
Burn for you will be available on the 17.2.25, so make sure you pre-order it🤭
💐thank you to luna literary management for providing me with e-arc in exchange for my honest review!💐
February 24, 2025
I really wanted to love this one more than I did. I absolutely loved Rafael's character and his willingness to always communicate openly to May no matter what. I liked May's character at the beginning of the story but as it progressed, I didn't love her. While I understood her decisions and why she made them, it was frustrating to read. Especially when it felt like they resolved the issue and then it popped up again.
I did enjoy Bridie's writing style and how easy it was to fly through the book. It did drag at some points for me, and others it felt like we were skipping around. I did adore the way the town was described and how easily Bridie's writing made it to picture the town and the characters. I ADORED the supporting characters and what they brought to the table. I loved that we got to dip into the other characters stories a little and open up to the future stories of Ruby Cove.
Overall, while I enjoyed the book as a whole. I was still disappointed at some points, in the characters, the plot, and the storytelling. I love the characters so much I will definitely be picking up the rest of the books in Ruby Cove. I'm so invested in all the characters and what they'll bring to this tiny town.
I did enjoy Bridie's writing style and how easy it was to fly through the book. It did drag at some points for me, and others it felt like we were skipping around. I did adore the way the town was described and how easily Bridie's writing made it to picture the town and the characters. I ADORED the supporting characters and what they brought to the table. I loved that we got to dip into the other characters stories a little and open up to the future stories of Ruby Cove.
Overall, while I enjoyed the book as a whole. I was still disappointed at some points, in the characters, the plot, and the storytelling. I love the characters so much I will definitely be picking up the rest of the books in Ruby Cove. I'm so invested in all the characters and what they'll bring to this tiny town.
February 20, 2025
When I found out that Burn for You was going to be May & Rafael's story, I squealed! Their banter had me obsessed with them since the first interaction. They hate each other with a burning passion, and you know what happens when the passion collides. 😏🥵
I really love how they butt heads so much but also have some very tender moments. They are so real with eachother and I love that. And then there's the spicy moments, like excuse me sir.. he really let the intrusive thoughts win when he opens that door.. and when he pulls her off their other friends lap and brings her to the supply closet..
No surprise that my favourite was the waterfall moments (and after 🥵) this man makes out with her while carrying her the whole hike back to his cabin. 🌲🥾
If you love meddling friends, roommates walking in on a solo session, grumpy chefs, waterfall moments, "hate" f*cking, fun mugs, and fire rescues... who doesn't... then you NEED to read this book.
I really love how they butt heads so much but also have some very tender moments. They are so real with eachother and I love that. And then there's the spicy moments, like excuse me sir.. he really let the intrusive thoughts win when he opens that door.. and when he pulls her off their other friends lap and brings her to the supply closet..
No surprise that my favourite was the waterfall moments (and after 🥵) this man makes out with her while carrying her the whole hike back to his cabin. 🌲🥾
If you love meddling friends, roommates walking in on a solo session, grumpy chefs, waterfall moments, "hate" f*cking, fun mugs, and fire rescues... who doesn't... then you NEED to read this book.
March 12, 2025
I was so excited for Rafael and May’s book! I immediately liked both of them when we met them in the first book.
I loved everything about Raf! He was so understanding and patient.
May had a lot of things she needed to work though and she had great character growth by the end of the book! I will say though she frustrated me a lot throughout the book. Some of her choices I was just like girl whyyyy.
The hate to love trope was written so well!
I’m loving this series and the setting of Ruby Cove and it being in Italy! I’m excited for the next book!
Rating ⭐️: 4/5
Spice 🌶️: 2.5/5
☀️ Hate to love
☀️ Roommates
☀️ Grumpy x sunshine
☀️ Age gap
☀️ Small town
☀️ Found family
☀️ Slow burn
☀️ Enemies to lovers
Thank you to the author and Luna Literary for the arc!
I loved everything about Raf! He was so understanding and patient.
May had a lot of things she needed to work though and she had great character growth by the end of the book! I will say though she frustrated me a lot throughout the book. Some of her choices I was just like girl whyyyy.
The hate to love trope was written so well!
I’m loving this series and the setting of Ruby Cove and it being in Italy! I’m excited for the next book!
Rating ⭐️: 4/5
Spice 🌶️: 2.5/5
☀️ Hate to love
☀️ Roommates
☀️ Grumpy x sunshine
☀️ Age gap
☀️ Small town
☀️ Found family
☀️ Slow burn
☀️ Enemies to lovers
Thank you to the author and Luna Literary for the arc!
February 9, 2025
Loved every moment of it! I love a man who can speak his feelings and make a girl feel special and that is exactly what Rafael did 🥰
Their journey together was so much fun and all the banter they had with each other made this book everything you need!
With romance, humour, kindness and so full of emotion it made it a perfect fast paced, easy to read book
“That’s not gonna work for me. Now that I’ve got a taste of you, I don’t think I can remember how it feels to hate you.”
“ I will do everything in my power to never make you feel the way you’re so scared of feeling again.
Excerpt from
Burn For You
Bridie Charles
This material may be protected by copyright.
Their journey together was so much fun and all the banter they had with each other made this book everything you need!
With romance, humour, kindness and so full of emotion it made it a perfect fast paced, easy to read book
“That’s not gonna work for me. Now that I’ve got a taste of you, I don’t think I can remember how it feels to hate you.”
“ I will do everything in my power to never make you feel the way you’re so scared of feeling again.
Excerpt from
Burn For You
Bridie Charles
This material may be protected by copyright.
February 17, 2025
Thank you Luna Literary and Birdie Charles for selecting me this e-Arc in exchange for an honest review!
This is a great book for those who want to read something fun, cozy and a steamy romance. I loved how the tension was built between the two characters and that the MMC falls first.
One of my favorite tropes in this book is the age gap and slow burn. I thought Birdie did well building up the slowburn and made up for it. I did feel some lack of character development throughout the book with the characters and wish we got improvement on that. Especially adding more details why the characters hated each other at first.
Overall this was a cute story and would recommend this to others :)
This is a great book for those who want to read something fun, cozy and a steamy romance. I loved how the tension was built between the two characters and that the MMC falls first.
One of my favorite tropes in this book is the age gap and slow burn. I thought Birdie did well building up the slowburn and made up for it. I did feel some lack of character development throughout the book with the characters and wish we got improvement on that. Especially adding more details why the characters hated each other at first.
Overall this was a cute story and would recommend this to others :)
February 8, 2025
thank you so much to Bridie Charles for sending me an ARC of “Burn for You”!
this was a very sweet small town romance set in italy featuring
🎀 hate-to-love
🔐 forced proximity
🗣️ banter
🔥 open door scenes
🏡 found family friend group
🇮🇹 chef/restaurant owner mmc
🇺🇸 new to town fmc finding her way
❤️🩹 a scary event bringing them together & helping them connect to overcome their trust issues
i think there were some points where i wanted a bit more of seeing how rafael and may came to better understand, trust, and support each other. however, it was still a very fun read!
this was a very sweet small town romance set in italy featuring
🎀 hate-to-love
🔐 forced proximity
🗣️ banter
🔥 open door scenes
🏡 found family friend group
🇮🇹 chef/restaurant owner mmc
🇺🇸 new to town fmc finding her way
❤️🩹 a scary event bringing them together & helping them connect to overcome their trust issues
i think there were some points where i wanted a bit more of seeing how rafael and may came to better understand, trust, and support each other. however, it was still a very fun read!
February 16, 2025
i had such a blast with this one!! dare i say it… i liked it wayyyy more than book 1 tbh the tension was SO. GOOD the slow burn was MWAHHHH
i loved how may and rafael immediately clashed from the moment they met and the way their relationship progressed. may learning to trust was a loooong process but it was worth it <3 wanna give everyone the biggest hug!! the friendships were so wholesome i loved everyone so much
SPITFIRE!! im such a sucker for nicknames im obsessed with this one raf had for may 🔥
i cannot wait to see who’s getting their happily ever after next 👀
the epilogue having one of my favorite tropes was a nice touch
i loved how may and rafael immediately clashed from the moment they met and the way their relationship progressed. may learning to trust was a loooong process but it was worth it <3 wanna give everyone the biggest hug!! the friendships were so wholesome i loved everyone so much
SPITFIRE!! im such a sucker for nicknames im obsessed with this one raf had for may 🔥
i cannot wait to see who’s getting their happily ever after next 👀
the epilogue having one of my favorite tropes was a nice touch
February 16, 2025
4.5⭐️
Wow! my first Bridie book and it did not disappoint!👏🏼
enemies to lovers? hate to love? grumpy x sunshine?
SAY LESS!
the tension, the chemistry, the banter - SO good! I will definitely be recommending this book for a while. I loved Rafael and May’s relationship so much and the way they connected and bonded over past trauma, truly heartwarming 🫶🏼
thank you to Bridie and Luna Literary Management for letting me read this as an ARC! 🫶🏼👏🏼
Wow! my first Bridie book and it did not disappoint!👏🏼
enemies to lovers? hate to love? grumpy x sunshine?
SAY LESS!
the tension, the chemistry, the banter - SO good! I will definitely be recommending this book for a while. I loved Rafael and May’s relationship so much and the way they connected and bonded over past trauma, truly heartwarming 🫶🏼
thank you to Bridie and Luna Literary Management for letting me read this as an ARC! 🫶🏼👏🏼
May 31, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
okay I’m so obsessed with Bridies writing! I’ve absolutely fallen in love with ruby cove and I can’t wait to read the next book my god! like honestly I loved both Rafael and May!! Watching the tension slowly melt into affection was addictive, I also loved that the timeline fully interconnected with the first book! Reading them back to back was so incredibly satisfying!
Overall, I’m having an absolute blast! I loved Rafael and Mays story and I’m honestly in love with this entire group of characters!! And I absolutely can’t wait to read the next book 🔨☕️🍳
okay I’m so obsessed with Bridies writing! I’ve absolutely fallen in love with ruby cove and I can’t wait to read the next book my god! like honestly I loved both Rafael and May!! Watching the tension slowly melt into affection was addictive, I also loved that the timeline fully interconnected with the first book! Reading them back to back was so incredibly satisfying!
Overall, I’m having an absolute blast! I loved Rafael and Mays story and I’m honestly in love with this entire group of characters!! And I absolutely can’t wait to read the next book 🔨☕️🍳
February 22, 2025
‼️ARC REVIEW‼️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Love May and Rafael’s hateful energy and banter towards one another. This fueled so much of the book’s plot and made it even sweeter when they realized it wasn’t all hatred between them. ❤️
I hadn’t read the first book in the series, but could definitely still understand the back story of each character.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Love May and Rafael’s hateful energy and banter towards one another. This fueled so much of the book’s plot and made it even sweeter when they realized it wasn’t all hatred between them. ❤️
I hadn’t read the first book in the series, but could definitely still understand the back story of each character.
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