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Dodge Cove #1
No Love Allowed
It's all fun and parties until someone falls in love in this modern fairy tale from author Kate Evangelista.
Caleb desperately needs a fake girlfriend. Either he attends a series of parties for his father’s law firm with a pretty girl on his arm, or he gets shipped off to Yale to start a future he’s not ready for and isn’t sure he wants. And sadly, the last unattached girl in his social circle has just made the grievous mistake of falling in love with him. Fortunately, Didi, recently fired waitress and aspiring painter, is open to new experiences. As the summer ticks by in a whirl of lavish parties, there’s only one rule: They must not fall in love!
Caleb desperately needs a fake girlfriend. Either he attends a series of parties for his father’s law firm with a pretty girl on his arm, or he gets shipped off to Yale to start a future he’s not ready for and isn’t sure he wants. And sadly, the last unattached girl in his social circle has just made the grievous mistake of falling in love with him. Fortunately, Didi, recently fired waitress and aspiring painter, is open to new experiences. As the summer ticks by in a whirl of lavish parties, there’s only one rule: They must not fall in love!
244 pages, Paperback
First published April 19, 2016
44 people are currently reading
2714 people want to read
About the author
Kate Evangelista
15 books875 followersKate Evangelista is a young adult writer, creative writing teacher, and a mother to six rambunctious cats. Born in the Philippines, she attended college in De La Salle University – Manila and holds a Bachelor’s of Arts in Literature and a Master’s in Creative Writing. She got her start publishing with small presses like the now defunct Crescent Moon Press until she moved on to medium presses like Entangled Teen and eventually being selected as part of Swoon Reads’ third season of authors. Her debut novel, TASTE, even became an Amazon bestseller. Her latest novel, THE BOYFRIEND BRACKET (Swoon Reads, 2018), was well received by NPR and is now in the running for a movie adaptation with the A&E Network.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 313 reviews
May 24, 2016
So umm how do you write a review when you can't remember half of the plot except random words LIKE,
-cliffs
-paint
-car
-makeovers
-glitter
Errr I'm sure there were a lot of them,but my brain refuses to remember any of it.
Some days back, I was looking for a light summery feel good romance that would require zero brain cells. My expectations were the usual, shits and giggles type time pass. But what I got was Na-ish angst and a lol, I've bipolar something which left me thinking, Do people really think that following some mental illness related blogs on tumblr will give them exactly knowledge and the right to use serious problems as plot devices . Cliches??I'm okay with them in romance novels because,
Romance nowadays = (Cliches)+2-3 perfect people in triangle/square+Death to ensure the love is eternal
cough*TFIOS*cough
But what really bugs me is is the wrong portrayal of a disease whether mental or physical OR social matter just to add a tragic backstory to the characters.
*insert a verbiage paragraph with big mouthy words about how BP is more than just mood swings*
Okay, so lets see what I can remember , *snort*
----So what-his-name again??is a:
❶ Manwhore
❷ Your typical jerk who thinks every girl is bad except you know who.
❸ A man-slut transforming magically after the h appears with Villon as background music
❹ ALLLLLLLLL ✔
----So, what's-her-name again??????is a:
❶ Special snowflake
❷ Manic pixie dream girl
❸ Someone in a romance novel
❹ ALLLLLLLLLL ✔
----Thoughts at the end of the book,after a few days:
❶ Meh
❷ Bleh
❸ IDK except some dialogues were funny
❹ ALLLLLLL ✔
TWO STARS.
February 27, 2017
Review posted on Fafa's Book Corner !
Beware spoilers ahead!
This book was recommended to me by Irena ! Click on her name to read her review.
I had heard about this book through Netgalley. I tried requesting it but got denied. Back in 2015 I went on the Swoon Reads website and read the sample. It was around 48 pages long. At the time I found that I didn't really like it. While it was engaging and I liked the characters I didn't like the writing style. I saw Irena's review and decided to give it another go. I am happy to say that I enjoyed it!
The book begins with Caleb dumping his girlfriend Amber. When they started dating he made it very clear to her that he wanted a no strings attached relationship. At the time Amber agreed and they begun dating. Then at a party Amber tells Caleb that she loves him. Caleb realizes that he needs to act fast. So he told her to meet him at a restaurant. The break up isn't really going well. Amber has burst into tears And now everyone is looking at him. To calm things down Caleb asks for water.
Diana 'Didi' is not having a good day. Her mother forgot to pay the electricity and her alarm clock didn't go off. Waking up late she couldn't find her lucky boots and took some clothes that looked relatively clean. And the bad day seems to continue. That rich brat has successfully caused that girl to cry.
While Didi is giving them their water she hears her name being called. She turns around and trips on her untied shoe laces sending the water tumbling down on the girls head. The girl makes a big show of calling Didi names and shrieking. Blissfully she leaves. This leaves Caleb and Didi together to clean up the mess. Didi's worsens and she angrily quits.
Caleb decides to take a smoke break. He runs into Didi and she takes a drag. Then all of a sudden Didi jumps into the water. Terrified Caleb jumps after her and the two talk. After a very personal conversation the two go their separate ways.
When Caleb arrives home his father surprises him. Now of course his father is usually very angry so that's not out of the ordinary. It's what his father says that surprises him. Apparently after the break up Amber ran straight to her father. Who then called Caleb's father. Caleb's father tells him that this is the last straw and that he won't allow Caleb to take his gap year across Europe.
Caleb has been looking forward to taking his gap year because he can take a break from responsibility and going to law school. Caleb then negotiates with his father. He explains that he can't change what happened with Amber but he can do whatever his father asks to make it up to him. Caleb's father then says that he wants to have Caleb intern at his firm. And on top of that Caleb will have to attend all the functions.
Caleb calls an emergency meeting with his cousin Nathan and their friend Preston. As the three of them talk, Preston points out that the only reason Caleb's father is only caring about Caleb's date record because Amber's father is one of his clients. He's afraid of losing an important client. Caleb realizes that because he is single all the women will try to set him up with their female relatives. Nathan offhandedly mentions that Caleb needs to find a fake girlfriend. Caleb decides to ask Didi.
I honestly did not expect to like it this much! When I read the beginning for the second time I thought that I would rate this three stars. The book is written in third person, switching between Didi and Caleb's point of view. It's written in third person for the sake of being vague. Specifically with Didi's character. The second time around I actually liked the writing style.
The only reason Didi agrees to be a fake girlfriend is because she was bored and wanted to get a glimpse of Caleb's world. Didi isn't exactly poor but her family aren't rich either. Her father left her and her mother when she was eight years old. Her mother juggles many jobs to pay for Didi's medicines. Didi works as well but for the duration of the book she doesn't have a job. It is implied for a majority of the book that Didi has a mental illness. But it isn't until the end where it's revealed what her mental illness is. Didi has an excellent relationship with her mother; they're close.
Caleb is rich. He's got life pretty easy. When he was 12 years old his mother committed suicide. He doesn't know what happened his father refuses to talk about it. Since then his father has buried himself in his work. He became cold and ignored Caleb. Caleb has vowed to never fall in love least he turns out like his dad. While Caleb isn't close with his father he is close with his cousins Nathan and Natasha. And their mutual friend Preston.
I really loved how No Love Allowed focused on family relationships! I loved Natasha and Nathan! Whenever they came in I started laughing. I liked Preston even if he was very quite. And Didi's mom was sweet.
I enjoyed reading about Didi and Caleb's relationship and their characters! I liked how honest and loyal Caleb was. And I liked how Didi wasn't afraid to speak her mind and let her emotions show. Even if she was surrounded by the very rich fake crowd. Their friendship was sweet and I liked seeing them becoming something more.
I only had two problems with No Love Allowed. I wish that Didi's mental illness was revealed earlier so that I could learn about it and see more of Didi's growth. And I didn't like how things ended with Caleb and his father. They got into an argument but Caleb's father actually started being nice to him and you never see where that goes.
Overall this was a really fun book! I recommend it to contemporary fans.
Beware spoilers ahead!
This book was recommended to me by Irena ! Click on her name to read her review.
I had heard about this book through Netgalley. I tried requesting it but got denied. Back in 2015 I went on the Swoon Reads website and read the sample. It was around 48 pages long. At the time I found that I didn't really like it. While it was engaging and I liked the characters I didn't like the writing style. I saw Irena's review and decided to give it another go. I am happy to say that I enjoyed it!
The book begins with Caleb dumping his girlfriend Amber. When they started dating he made it very clear to her that he wanted a no strings attached relationship. At the time Amber agreed and they begun dating. Then at a party Amber tells Caleb that she loves him. Caleb realizes that he needs to act fast. So he told her to meet him at a restaurant. The break up isn't really going well. Amber has burst into tears And now everyone is looking at him. To calm things down Caleb asks for water.
Diana 'Didi' is not having a good day. Her mother forgot to pay the electricity and her alarm clock didn't go off. Waking up late she couldn't find her lucky boots and took some clothes that looked relatively clean. And the bad day seems to continue. That rich brat has successfully caused that girl to cry.
While Didi is giving them their water she hears her name being called. She turns around and trips on her untied shoe laces sending the water tumbling down on the girls head. The girl makes a big show of calling Didi names and shrieking. Blissfully she leaves. This leaves Caleb and Didi together to clean up the mess. Didi's worsens and she angrily quits.
Caleb decides to take a smoke break. He runs into Didi and she takes a drag. Then all of a sudden Didi jumps into the water. Terrified Caleb jumps after her and the two talk. After a very personal conversation the two go their separate ways.
When Caleb arrives home his father surprises him. Now of course his father is usually very angry so that's not out of the ordinary. It's what his father says that surprises him. Apparently after the break up Amber ran straight to her father. Who then called Caleb's father. Caleb's father tells him that this is the last straw and that he won't allow Caleb to take his gap year across Europe.
Caleb has been looking forward to taking his gap year because he can take a break from responsibility and going to law school. Caleb then negotiates with his father. He explains that he can't change what happened with Amber but he can do whatever his father asks to make it up to him. Caleb's father then says that he wants to have Caleb intern at his firm. And on top of that Caleb will have to attend all the functions.
Caleb calls an emergency meeting with his cousin Nathan and their friend Preston. As the three of them talk, Preston points out that the only reason Caleb's father is only caring about Caleb's date record because Amber's father is one of his clients. He's afraid of losing an important client. Caleb realizes that because he is single all the women will try to set him up with their female relatives. Nathan offhandedly mentions that Caleb needs to find a fake girlfriend. Caleb decides to ask Didi.
I honestly did not expect to like it this much! When I read the beginning for the second time I thought that I would rate this three stars. The book is written in third person, switching between Didi and Caleb's point of view. It's written in third person for the sake of being vague. Specifically with Didi's character. The second time around I actually liked the writing style.
The only reason Didi agrees to be a fake girlfriend is because she was bored and wanted to get a glimpse of Caleb's world. Didi isn't exactly poor but her family aren't rich either. Her father left her and her mother when she was eight years old. Her mother juggles many jobs to pay for Didi's medicines. Didi works as well but for the duration of the book she doesn't have a job. It is implied for a majority of the book that Didi has a mental illness. But it isn't until the end where it's revealed what her mental illness is. Didi has an excellent relationship with her mother; they're close.
Caleb is rich. He's got life pretty easy. When he was 12 years old his mother committed suicide. He doesn't know what happened his father refuses to talk about it. Since then his father has buried himself in his work. He became cold and ignored Caleb. Caleb has vowed to never fall in love least he turns out like his dad. While Caleb isn't close with his father he is close with his cousins Nathan and Natasha. And their mutual friend Preston.
I really loved how No Love Allowed focused on family relationships! I loved Natasha and Nathan! Whenever they came in I started laughing. I liked Preston even if he was very quite. And Didi's mom was sweet.
I enjoyed reading about Didi and Caleb's relationship and their characters! I liked how honest and loyal Caleb was. And I liked how Didi wasn't afraid to speak her mind and let her emotions show. Even if she was surrounded by the very rich fake crowd. Their friendship was sweet and I liked seeing them becoming something more.
I only had two problems with No Love Allowed. I wish that Didi's mental illness was revealed earlier so that I could learn about it and see more of Didi's growth. And I didn't like how things ended with Caleb and his father. They got into an argument but Caleb's father actually started being nice to him and you never see where that goes.
Overall this was a really fun book! I recommend it to contemporary fans.
April 20, 2016
Actual rating: 4,5 stars
Attention: You can win yourself a copy of this book on my blog. Enter here: https://bookdustmagic.wordpress.com/2...
Do you see this girl? Pls imagine her as me trying to convice you to read this book.
„Love destroys people to the point where they don’t even care who else they hurts in the process.“
It has been three days since I finished this book and still, it is all I’m thinking about.
Ask me why is that, what makes this novel so special that it captures my mind like there’s no important things in my life, and I problably wouldn’t know what to tell you.
But what I do know is that I don’t think that any review I write for this piece can do it justice.
The story is written in third person, following two perspectives: Caleb’s and DiDi’s.
Caleb comes from a wealthy family and all he wants is to have a gap year between going to college, so he could travel trough Europe with his cousin Nathan. In order to earn that, he has to spend the summer attending certain events with his family, and have a girl that will make him a company.
That’s where Didi comes in. She’s a girl raised by a single mother, not poor but definitely far from being rich. She agrees to pretend to be Caleb’s girlfriend for the summer, so she could experience the lifestyle she never had. Also, Caleb agreed to pose her for her painting, since she’s an artist.
They make an agreement: One mustn’t fall in love with the other.
What took me by surprise in this story is it’s characers and how the story kept me inrigued.
Nor Caleb or Didi were likeable. They were gray, had their flaws, but still, I cared about them and wanted to know everything about them: why they acted the way they did, what made them think the certain way and how they are going to deal with cards that life throws at them.
This is the story you read for it’s completeness. Even though main characters aren’t the ones you want to befriend, you still root for them and want the best for them.
Side characters are so interesting, I really got attached to Preston, Nathan and Natasha.
They have that impact on you as a reader: you want to know more about them.
When I heard that the story about Preston and Nathan is planned to be published later this year, I welcomed the news with all my heart.
Although at first this novel gives an impression as a cute ya spring/summer read, with it’s goergous cover and warm colors, that is not the case.
Yes, it does have cute moments and swoon worthy situations, but it also deals with some serious topics like mental illness and suicide.
I think when it comes to those, the writer did her research well.
What I liked the most about this book is Didi’s passion for Van Gogh. You can feel it trough the whole novel.
The story starts with quote by Van Gogh, and when following Didi’s perspective you can notice that everyday things like clouded sky reminds her of his work. She also talks about him with passion, but still she doesn’t overdo it.
Her affection for Van Gogh’s work and him as an artist is almost touchable, like it has a personality on it’s own (just like Paris had in Stephanie Perkin’s Anna and the French Kiss).
This novel also has some beautiful, memorable scenes, like 4th July scene and the one at (almost) very end with paintings.
The story is not only full of vizuals, but music also plays a part in it. Not a big one, but you can still feel it.
I guess it had an impact on the author while she was creating her story.
The writing style is good and you can speed trough this book.
It is not poetic and has not many memorable quotes, but it is still really beautiful.
I couldn’t help but be reminded of Katie McGarry‘s books while reading.
The writing style is still very different from McGarry’s, but I think that her fans would enjoy this novel as well.
Note: I got this book for free via Netgalley in an exchange for an honest review. Thank you Macmillan Children's Publishing Group.
Read this and more reviews on my blog: http://bookdustmagic.wordpress.com
Attention: You can win yourself a copy of this book on my blog. Enter here: https://bookdustmagic.wordpress.com/2...
Do you see this girl? Pls imagine her as me trying to convice you to read this book.
„Love destroys people to the point where they don’t even care who else they hurts in the process.“
It has been three days since I finished this book and still, it is all I’m thinking about.
Ask me why is that, what makes this novel so special that it captures my mind like there’s no important things in my life, and I problably wouldn’t know what to tell you.
But what I do know is that I don’t think that any review I write for this piece can do it justice.
The story is written in third person, following two perspectives: Caleb’s and DiDi’s.
Caleb comes from a wealthy family and all he wants is to have a gap year between going to college, so he could travel trough Europe with his cousin Nathan. In order to earn that, he has to spend the summer attending certain events with his family, and have a girl that will make him a company.
That’s where Didi comes in. She’s a girl raised by a single mother, not poor but definitely far from being rich. She agrees to pretend to be Caleb’s girlfriend for the summer, so she could experience the lifestyle she never had. Also, Caleb agreed to pose her for her painting, since she’s an artist.
They make an agreement: One mustn’t fall in love with the other.
What took me by surprise in this story is it’s characers and how the story kept me inrigued.
Nor Caleb or Didi were likeable. They were gray, had their flaws, but still, I cared about them and wanted to know everything about them: why they acted the way they did, what made them think the certain way and how they are going to deal with cards that life throws at them.
This is the story you read for it’s completeness. Even though main characters aren’t the ones you want to befriend, you still root for them and want the best for them.
Side characters are so interesting, I really got attached to Preston, Nathan and Natasha.
They have that impact on you as a reader: you want to know more about them.
When I heard that the story about Preston and Nathan is planned to be published later this year, I welcomed the news with all my heart.
Although at first this novel gives an impression as a cute ya spring/summer read, with it’s goergous cover and warm colors, that is not the case.
Yes, it does have cute moments and swoon worthy situations, but it also deals with some serious topics like mental illness and suicide.
I think when it comes to those, the writer did her research well.
What I liked the most about this book is Didi’s passion for Van Gogh. You can feel it trough the whole novel.
The story starts with quote by Van Gogh, and when following Didi’s perspective you can notice that everyday things like clouded sky reminds her of his work. She also talks about him with passion, but still she doesn’t overdo it.
Her affection for Van Gogh’s work and him as an artist is almost touchable, like it has a personality on it’s own (just like Paris had in Stephanie Perkin’s Anna and the French Kiss).
This novel also has some beautiful, memorable scenes, like 4th July scene and the one at (almost) very end with paintings.
The story is not only full of vizuals, but music also plays a part in it. Not a big one, but you can still feel it.
I guess it had an impact on the author while she was creating her story.
The writing style is good and you can speed trough this book.
It is not poetic and has not many memorable quotes, but it is still really beautiful.
I couldn’t help but be reminded of Katie McGarry‘s books while reading.
The writing style is still very different from McGarry’s, but I think that her fans would enjoy this novel as well.
Note: I got this book for free via Netgalley in an exchange for an honest review. Thank you Macmillan Children's Publishing Group.
Read this and more reviews on my blog: http://bookdustmagic.wordpress.com
March 4, 2020
No Love Allowed was a book that was on my radar and I had even requested it, but unfortunately was turned down. Which was why I jumped at the chance to be part of this review tour. And guess what? I absolutely loved this book.
This was my first every ‘fake girlfriend’ kind of read. I know that trope is one that appears in a few YA romances, but none in any of the books I had bothered to pick up myself. Now that I have had a taste of this one, I know I am just going to want more. The book gave a very plausible reason for Caleb needing a fake girlfriend – he was just trying to pass through a high class internship without girls being shoved his way throughout the whole summer. But there was a lot more to this one than the cute romance that was indeed just that – very, very cute.
There was also a wonderful writing style that simply drew me into the book. I haven’t had too much time for reading lately but it only took me the space of a day to start and finish this book because there was something about the way that it was written that gripped me. I didn’t want to put the book down at all.
I also really loved the main character. Sure, Didi had her moods, but she was the kind of girl who was confident and didn’t take any rubbish from anyone. She was strong and would give you a good talking to if you deserved it. At the beginning we get to know that she has a mental illness, and I liked the role it played in the novel. Didi takes medication so it doesn’t usually get too bad, and I liked how she described it and the fact that it wasn’t the biggest contender in the novel. It was simply something she had to live with. The description for the way it made her feel was perfectly well done.
Caleb was also another character I had to love. He was the kind of guy who knew what he wanted in life, and always kept a cool exterior when really there is a lot more emotional depth to him. He has an amazing band of friends too who are the secondary characters – Nathan, Preston and some more. I liked them all and they were all pretty well developed as well. The friendship dynamics between the group made me smile. It Was so sweet.
The contrast in wealth was also something fairly intriguing to read about here. There was Didi, whose mother works two jobs to pull through for them, and then there was Caleb who came from a rich family. I liked the way money was addressed. And I have to say, Didi’s attitude was similar to mine. She didn’t want to be showered with gifts simply because they had money to spare. It just didn’t fit right with her and if I was in her position, I’d probably feel the same way.
The ending was so cute. It bordered a little on the cheesy side but hey, I like cheesy. Everyone can do with a little cheese sometimes :3
A very good pick me up read. I want to try more from this author!
This review and more can be found on Olivia's Catastrophe: https://oliviascatastrophe.com/2016/0...
This was my first every ‘fake girlfriend’ kind of read. I know that trope is one that appears in a few YA romances, but none in any of the books I had bothered to pick up myself. Now that I have had a taste of this one, I know I am just going to want more. The book gave a very plausible reason for Caleb needing a fake girlfriend – he was just trying to pass through a high class internship without girls being shoved his way throughout the whole summer. But there was a lot more to this one than the cute romance that was indeed just that – very, very cute.
There was also a wonderful writing style that simply drew me into the book. I haven’t had too much time for reading lately but it only took me the space of a day to start and finish this book because there was something about the way that it was written that gripped me. I didn’t want to put the book down at all.
I also really loved the main character. Sure, Didi had her moods, but she was the kind of girl who was confident and didn’t take any rubbish from anyone. She was strong and would give you a good talking to if you deserved it. At the beginning we get to know that she has a mental illness, and I liked the role it played in the novel. Didi takes medication so it doesn’t usually get too bad, and I liked how she described it and the fact that it wasn’t the biggest contender in the novel. It was simply something she had to live with. The description for the way it made her feel was perfectly well done.
Caleb was also another character I had to love. He was the kind of guy who knew what he wanted in life, and always kept a cool exterior when really there is a lot more emotional depth to him. He has an amazing band of friends too who are the secondary characters – Nathan, Preston and some more. I liked them all and they were all pretty well developed as well. The friendship dynamics between the group made me smile. It Was so sweet.
The contrast in wealth was also something fairly intriguing to read about here. There was Didi, whose mother works two jobs to pull through for them, and then there was Caleb who came from a rich family. I liked the way money was addressed. And I have to say, Didi’s attitude was similar to mine. She didn’t want to be showered with gifts simply because they had money to spare. It just didn’t fit right with her and if I was in her position, I’d probably feel the same way.
The ending was so cute. It bordered a little on the cheesy side but hey, I like cheesy. Everyone can do with a little cheese sometimes :3
A very good pick me up read. I want to try more from this author!
This review and more can be found on Olivia's Catastrophe: https://oliviascatastrophe.com/2016/0...
March 11, 2016
This is my first Evangelist story and I have to say I love what she did with the story even though it wasn't perfect by any means.
I love that more and more authors are branching out and stepping into some very unfamiliar tropes and topics that are so important for young readers and old alike to have out there. With important information about mental illness and mental awareness of all kinds. I love that more and more people are talking about things that were once considered taboo and that they are approaching and handling them well.
Add in a great plot line, lovable characters that are both feisty, damaged, and not perfect and you have one fun, emotional read that was every bit as enjoyable as it was hard to put down.
It wasn't at all what I was expecting and in this case, it worked. I'm glad I took a chance and read this, imperfections and all.
*ARC copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
I love that more and more authors are branching out and stepping into some very unfamiliar tropes and topics that are so important for young readers and old alike to have out there. With important information about mental illness and mental awareness of all kinds. I love that more and more people are talking about things that were once considered taboo and that they are approaching and handling them well.
Add in a great plot line, lovable characters that are both feisty, damaged, and not perfect and you have one fun, emotional read that was every bit as enjoyable as it was hard to put down.
It wasn't at all what I was expecting and in this case, it worked. I'm glad I took a chance and read this, imperfections and all.
*ARC copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
October 17, 2016
There's some shallow and superficial parts that pertain to the clothes, but at least it wasn't everywhere and all the time. And some parts really were super cheesyC but I still ended up liking it. Their chemistry is pretty strong and that was my main focus.
I wanted to find out more about why she has to take medication but I didn't feel like it was part of the story. The focus is solely on the romance, so I guess it wasn't needed? I also wished the author made her Filipino-American instead of the usual "default."
Reminded be a lot of THE FILL-IN BOYFRIEND by Kasie West. A cute and fluffy read that you can gobble up in one sitting. The fake relationship story-line works well here and I couldn't help but have a big smile by the end.
RATING 4/5
QUOTES
"Many viewed mental illness as a weakness. To her it was like being alone in the ocean, holding a kite string in one hand and an anchor chain in the other and finding the balance so she wouldn't sink."
"She didn't fit his usual profile. She was too open, too…real, for the lack of a better word. His world revolved around the fake—where everyone pretended for the sake of appearances." (49)
"This was the first time he had ever encountered someone who didn't want something." (55)
"Is that your cell phone in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?" (75)
"I like everything about you. Down to the way you start with black coffee, then end with two sugars and creams." (160)
"Every time she entered a room the air grew lighter." (171)
I wanted to find out more about why she has to take medication but I didn't feel like it was part of the story. The focus is solely on the romance, so I guess it wasn't needed? I also wished the author made her Filipino-American instead of the usual "default."
Reminded be a lot of THE FILL-IN BOYFRIEND by Kasie West. A cute and fluffy read that you can gobble up in one sitting. The fake relationship story-line works well here and I couldn't help but have a big smile by the end.
RATING 4/5
QUOTES
"Many viewed mental illness as a weakness. To her it was like being alone in the ocean, holding a kite string in one hand and an anchor chain in the other and finding the balance so she wouldn't sink."
"She didn't fit his usual profile. She was too open, too…real, for the lack of a better word. His world revolved around the fake—where everyone pretended for the sake of appearances." (49)
"This was the first time he had ever encountered someone who didn't want something." (55)
"Is that your cell phone in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?" (75)
"I like everything about you. Down to the way you start with black coffee, then end with two sugars and creams." (160)
"Every time she entered a room the air grew lighter." (171)
June 26, 2019
Really cheesy and a bit unrealistic but still entertaining. It tackles mental illness on a surface level because the focus of the story is really the romance. The plot is sort of cliche-ish but the author still managed to make it somehow still refreshing and interesting. It actually makes me proud because the author is a fellow Filipino but I wouldn’t have known because her mastery of the English language is as if it’s her first language.
Sorry I couldn’t say more as I was still in a heavy case of brain fog when I read this but I do remember reading it very quickly which I attribute to the easy writing and abundant metaphors which sometimes I thought were silly but still cute.
March 16, 2016
I always love this sort of set up, so I was excited to see how it played out.
I liked Didi and Caleb. They are adorable together and I liked how the chemistry played out. Nathan and Tash were hands down the best part of the story and I would greedily read a companion book about either of them.
There was one aspect that I wasn't sure about.
Overall, it was a cute, quick read with an ending I enjoyed.
**Huge thanks to Swoon Reads for sending me the arc**
I liked Didi and Caleb. They are adorable together and I liked how the chemistry played out. Nathan and Tash were hands down the best part of the story and I would greedily read a companion book about either of them.
There was one aspect that I wasn't sure about.
Overall, it was a cute, quick read with an ending I enjoyed.
**Huge thanks to Swoon Reads for sending me the arc**
May 26, 2016
You'll probably have guessed by now, that contemporary books are some of my most loved, with fantasy being the only other genre I read as much. The whole fake boy/girl-friend trope is one of the best used in YA contemporaries, and I can't get enough of these types of books. When I first heard about No Love Allowed, I knew I needed to get my hands on this book, and I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed the book.
No Love Allowed is about Caleb and Didi, who are enjoying their summer after senior year. Caleb is a bit of a man whore, and has burnt through all the girls he knows, including the daughter of one of his father's most important clients. As punishment, Caleb's father makes him intern at this law firm over the summer, and if he messes up anything, he can kiss his gap year in Europe goodbye, and will be on his way to Yale before he even knows it. To make life more easier, especially with the amount of company parties he's expected to attend, he needs to find a fake girlfriend, and turns to someone unexpected - Didi, the ex-waitress at his club, who witnessed his disastrous break up attempt. Didi, who has no plans for summer, especially now that she has no job, and really needs the money, decides 'what the hell', and agrees to act as Caleb's fake girlfriend. Both agree not to fall in love, after all, it's just for the summer, but as you can expect, this isn't the case.
I really enjoyed both main characters. Caleb, though from a rich and privileged family, wasn't the happiest. His father basically ignores him, and if it wasn't for his cousins, Nathan and Natasha, he would have had a truly awful childhood. He can't wait to leave Dodge Cove and that whole life behind when he's in Europe, but knowing his father could mess up all the plans makes him take a step back and re-evaluate his life. I felt like his character really grew during the course of the book, and I like to think that will continue in the companion book.
Didi took a bit to get used to. I normally avoid books that have to do with mental health, especially after reading another book recently with a bipolar character and really disliking it. However, in No Love Allowed, I felt like the mental health aspect was dealt with really well - I'm no expert or anything, so I might be wrong. We saw the ups and downs that Didi faced by being bipolar, and how it not only affects the life of the person with the condition, but also the lives of their loved ones, especially Didi's mother. I loved her mam, who was working so many jobs to help cover the costs of her medication, and wanted to protect her, but understood that Didi had her own life, and couldn't be wrapped in cotton wool.
The secondary characters of Nathan and Natasha were wonderful. They were there for both Didi and Caleb, and honestly made the story a whole lot better. I'm really looking forward to the companion book, No Holding Back, which is about Nathan.
The romantic aspect, whilst a big part of the story, wasn't the only plot. The relationship of Didi and Caleb's was very swoony - it lived up to the publisher's name - and it felt real, not forced at all. Both character's gradually fell for one another, but they also respected their budding friendship. By being friends before they allowed their feelings to come into play, they really understood each other more, and I think that's what made it seem like a proper relationship, and not one that's been forced just for the plot.
I enjoyed this book a lot, and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys YA contemporaries, especially those with the fake relationship trope. I haven't read anything by Evangelista before, but I enjoyed her writing style, can't wait to see more.
No Love Allowed is about Caleb and Didi, who are enjoying their summer after senior year. Caleb is a bit of a man whore, and has burnt through all the girls he knows, including the daughter of one of his father's most important clients. As punishment, Caleb's father makes him intern at this law firm over the summer, and if he messes up anything, he can kiss his gap year in Europe goodbye, and will be on his way to Yale before he even knows it. To make life more easier, especially with the amount of company parties he's expected to attend, he needs to find a fake girlfriend, and turns to someone unexpected - Didi, the ex-waitress at his club, who witnessed his disastrous break up attempt. Didi, who has no plans for summer, especially now that she has no job, and really needs the money, decides 'what the hell', and agrees to act as Caleb's fake girlfriend. Both agree not to fall in love, after all, it's just for the summer, but as you can expect, this isn't the case.
I really enjoyed both main characters. Caleb, though from a rich and privileged family, wasn't the happiest. His father basically ignores him, and if it wasn't for his cousins, Nathan and Natasha, he would have had a truly awful childhood. He can't wait to leave Dodge Cove and that whole life behind when he's in Europe, but knowing his father could mess up all the plans makes him take a step back and re-evaluate his life. I felt like his character really grew during the course of the book, and I like to think that will continue in the companion book.
Didi took a bit to get used to. I normally avoid books that have to do with mental health, especially after reading another book recently with a bipolar character and really disliking it. However, in No Love Allowed, I felt like the mental health aspect was dealt with really well - I'm no expert or anything, so I might be wrong. We saw the ups and downs that Didi faced by being bipolar, and how it not only affects the life of the person with the condition, but also the lives of their loved ones, especially Didi's mother. I loved her mam, who was working so many jobs to help cover the costs of her medication, and wanted to protect her, but understood that Didi had her own life, and couldn't be wrapped in cotton wool.
The secondary characters of Nathan and Natasha were wonderful. They were there for both Didi and Caleb, and honestly made the story a whole lot better. I'm really looking forward to the companion book, No Holding Back, which is about Nathan.
The romantic aspect, whilst a big part of the story, wasn't the only plot. The relationship of Didi and Caleb's was very swoony - it lived up to the publisher's name - and it felt real, not forced at all. Both character's gradually fell for one another, but they also respected their budding friendship. By being friends before they allowed their feelings to come into play, they really understood each other more, and I think that's what made it seem like a proper relationship, and not one that's been forced just for the plot.
I enjoyed this book a lot, and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys YA contemporaries, especially those with the fake relationship trope. I haven't read anything by Evangelista before, but I enjoyed her writing style, can't wait to see more.
November 15, 2020
1.5
Fact: If you melt this book in the microwave, there's a 100% chance you'll have enough cheese to cover your nachos.
Caleb is a snobby, rich playboy witha secret heart of gold. He dates and dumps girls like Kleenex. After one of his conquests grows an attachment to him, he dumps her in the middle of a restaurant and she runs off, screaming and crying. The waitress, Didi, happens to witness this traumatic encounter and drops her tray. Caleb reaches forward to help and they lock eyes and hands. Accidentally, of course. He only wants to comfort her. Oh, God. Blue eyes. Is that a fleck of gold?
Fact: If you melt this book in the microwave, there's a 100% chance you'll have enough cheese to cover your nachos.
Caleb is a snobby, rich playboy with
April 23, 2022
Such a fresh voice and a lovely take on YA Romcoms. Loved it.
Things I liked:
⭐The couple: They didn't acted like the typical teen couple but were rather mature that I actually became fond of!
⭐The lead's passion. It's painting and well, I can be partial to that hobby....
⭐ The issues in the book. There are some issues about parental pressure and mental health and I think they are handled very well.
⭐ The overall story: The scenery, side characters, writing, were handled on a nice level!
Things I liked:
⭐The couple: They didn't acted like the typical teen couple but were rather mature that I actually became fond of!
⭐The lead's passion. It's painting and well, I can be partial to that hobby....
⭐ The issues in the book. There are some issues about parental pressure and mental health and I think they are handled very well.
⭐ The overall story: The scenery, side characters, writing, were handled on a nice level!
August 17, 2016
I read this contemporary romance for the #BuwanNgMgaAkdangPinoy; a month celebrating the works of Filipino Authors. This is my first Kate Evangelista Book and I noticed that the settings of her novels are abroad so this book doesn't feel like home but somehow I admire her for pulling this off.
I mostly read contemporary romance from American authors and I'm used to them writing in slang but in this book it took me awhile to get used to the writing style. They tend to be verbose and there is just something about it that made me remember my English teacher(LOL^^) I dunno maybe it's just me but it bothered me a bit. I didn't struggle that much because after five chapters the words are flowing slowly and I was able to concentrate more on the story.
The book is pretty cliched. To keep other rich girls away from him, rich boy Caleb asked Didi, a girl with with a bipolar disorder to be his fake girlfriend for the summer . The title of this book is No loved Allowed right?!?? but of course eventually they will fall in love. The book lacked character development, and I would have like it better if the author had written more about Didi's mental disorder but she kept the story light by not delving into it. I dunno if that's a bad thing though because I certainly read this with the intention of keeping me entertained and not to exhaust me. So if you're a reader who really wants a love story that focus more on the mental disorder then you'll surely be disappointed. However if you want something light and quick then I'll gladly recommend this book, And there's an awesome extra on how to plan your own roaring twenties party. Ha!
I mostly read contemporary romance from American authors and I'm used to them writing in slang but in this book it took me awhile to get used to the writing style. They tend to be verbose and there is just something about it that made me remember my English teacher(LOL^^) I dunno maybe it's just me but it bothered me a bit. I didn't struggle that much because after five chapters the words are flowing slowly and I was able to concentrate more on the story.
The book is pretty cliched. To keep other rich girls away from him, rich boy Caleb asked Didi, a girl with with a bipolar disorder to be his fake girlfriend for the summer . The title of this book is No loved Allowed right?!?? but of course eventually they will fall in love. The book lacked character development, and I would have like it better if the author had written more about Didi's mental disorder but she kept the story light by not delving into it. I dunno if that's a bad thing though because I certainly read this with the intention of keeping me entertained and not to exhaust me. So if you're a reader who really wants a love story that focus more on the mental disorder then you'll surely be disappointed. However if you want something light and quick then I'll gladly recommend this book, And there's an awesome extra on how to plan your own roaring twenties party. Ha!
May 10, 2017
Another book that I loved!!! A while ago I read 'The Fill In Boyfriend' by Katie West which in ways is similar to this book. I loved this book cos it was from his perspective and hers also. I did not see the accident near the end coming, that was totally a shock. Another thing I loved was when Caleb found out Didi had a mental illness he didn't run, it didn't change his love for her. At one point I didn't think they would get back together, but what a date!!!! He put on such a lovely evening for Didi and finished in such a beautiful way.
March 26, 2016
*ARC provided by Kate Evangelista (the author) thru Pinoy Book Tours for review. *
I’m so grateful and excited to be able to join the blog tour for this book. This is my first novel by Kate Evangelista and I did enjoy reading it.
The plot of No Love Allowed is – let’s be honest – nothing new. Two people pretending to be in a relationship to escape some life matters is honestly nothing new if you’ve been an avid reader of YA, NA or even romance novels. I myself am really partial to fake-relationship kind of stories but wth if it sounds good and it captured my interest I will really be up for it. And No Love Allowed is one of those stories that I’m happy to jump into. And I’m definitely happier because I actually devoured this book in one sitting. ;)
The pretty setting of Dodge Cove was really suitable for the story of Caleb and Didi. Two people who lives on the both ends of a small town. Literally and socially. They may both live at Dodge Cove but they are galaxies apart.
Caleb is the good-looking, rich and emotionally unavailable guy who goes out of his relationships once feelings start to mixed in.
Didi , on the other hand, is a painter who has a Bipolar Disease who’s job is to wait tables to help her mom with her medical bills.
The first few pages into reading this, I did quite have a hard time adjusting on how the story was written. Connecting with Caleb and Didi didn’t happen in an instant. We actually don’t have the sparks on the first few pages. In fact, I actually had a hard time connecting with them. But luckily, as the story progress, we get to know more about these two main characters.
The secondary characters – Nathan, Natasha and Preston all add up major squad goals for this story.
Caleb and Didi are both awesome characters however; I do have some hold backs about them. Caleb and Didi’s characters did open up as the story progress but I didn’t really see their characters developed.
“It’s all fun and parties until someone falls in love.”
The thing about this book that really sold me out is that though insta-love is “quite” there but there is a slow-burn on their relationship as well. In the beginning we saw Caleb and Didi confident enough that none of them will fall for each other as they make their arrangements. They come from different lives and social ladder for God’s sake, but who would’ve thought that something deep inside them, they have a lot of similarities. Yes, it started as faux and they are actually annoyed with each other at the beginning. But we saw how their fake relationship turned into something that is real. I’m a huge sucker for sweet and romantic moments and those moments of Caleb and Didi are really endearing to read.
Overall, No Love Allowed is one quick, fun and sweet read. I definitely love Caleb and Didi's chemistry. And I will definitely be on the lookout for more of Kate Evangelista.
*For more reviews, please feel free to visit Reads and Thoughts*
May 23, 2016
This review and more can be found on my book blog Le Book Chronicles
I got this book as an eARC through NetGalley a few months ago but have only just now got around to reading it. I was so excited for this book, I didn't really read much of the synopsis but from what I could gather it was similar to The Fill-In Boyfriend by Kasie West (which I loved). However, No Love Allowed really wasn't my cup of tea and I didn't enjoy it at all.
First off, I really disliked the characters. I felt like there was no reason for me to like them, and I knew nothing about them pretty much. Caleb was a snobby sort. He did go through some character development but he was still arrogant and just so full of himself. Didi was just plain annoying to me. I didn't like her attitude and I felt like her decisions were just ridiculous. Her mother was just as bad, she would try and seem responsible but she would willingly let her daughter do whatever the hell she wanted and then pretend to not know? I just felt like that was strange.
I also felt like some of the plot lines were unnecessary for the story i.e. mental illness, neglect etc. I didn't like the way mental illness was portrayed in this book. It made it slightly romanticized in my opinion and I just didn't appreciate that.
As well as disliking the characters, I didn't feel like they had a very strong dynamic or even a connection at all. As I was reading I wasn't even rooting for anyone because I didn't see a reason for them being together, let alone falling in love? Basically Caleb bought Didi art supplies and Didi had a pretty face and unusual personality. I don't feel like they communicated at all and their relationship just really didn't sit well with me.
The side characters, particularly Nathan, were OK but again I didn't feel anything for them and I feel like Nathan was being classed as the stereotypical gay guy, giving Didi makeovers and dressing her up and buying her clothes etc.
This review and more can be found on my book blog
So basically, there wasn't really anything that I enjoyed about this book (although the cover is fab). That's not to say that someone else might not enjoy it. It was a very quick read and the writing was easy to read so if you do think that this is something you might like, give it a go because you might love it. There are definitely quite a few positive reviews for this book out there, so if you're interested in it go give those a read :)
Would I recommend? No
For fans of: Quick, cheesy YA romance
Overall rating: 1.5/5
*This book was provided to me via eArc through NetGalley. This has in no way effected my thoughts and opinions of this book.
I got this book as an eARC through NetGalley a few months ago but have only just now got around to reading it. I was so excited for this book, I didn't really read much of the synopsis but from what I could gather it was similar to The Fill-In Boyfriend by Kasie West (which I loved). However, No Love Allowed really wasn't my cup of tea and I didn't enjoy it at all.
First off, I really disliked the characters. I felt like there was no reason for me to like them, and I knew nothing about them pretty much. Caleb was a snobby sort. He did go through some character development but he was still arrogant and just so full of himself. Didi was just plain annoying to me. I didn't like her attitude and I felt like her decisions were just ridiculous. Her mother was just as bad, she would try and seem responsible but she would willingly let her daughter do whatever the hell she wanted and then pretend to not know? I just felt like that was strange.
I also felt like some of the plot lines were unnecessary for the story i.e. mental illness, neglect etc. I didn't like the way mental illness was portrayed in this book. It made it slightly romanticized in my opinion and I just didn't appreciate that.
As well as disliking the characters, I didn't feel like they had a very strong dynamic or even a connection at all. As I was reading I wasn't even rooting for anyone because I didn't see a reason for them being together, let alone falling in love? Basically Caleb bought Didi art supplies and Didi had a pretty face and unusual personality. I don't feel like they communicated at all and their relationship just really didn't sit well with me.
The side characters, particularly Nathan, were OK but again I didn't feel anything for them and I feel like Nathan was being classed as the stereotypical gay guy, giving Didi makeovers and dressing her up and buying her clothes etc.
This review and more can be found on my book blog
So basically, there wasn't really anything that I enjoyed about this book (although the cover is fab). That's not to say that someone else might not enjoy it. It was a very quick read and the writing was easy to read so if you do think that this is something you might like, give it a go because you might love it. There are definitely quite a few positive reviews for this book out there, so if you're interested in it go give those a read :)
Would I recommend? No
For fans of: Quick, cheesy YA romance
Overall rating: 1.5/5
*This book was provided to me via eArc through NetGalley. This has in no way effected my thoughts and opinions of this book.
March 4, 2017
I chose to read this book because it is totally unlike what I would normally read or even write. First of all I was struck by the simplicity of the plot, the characters and the style of prose. There was little or no literary embellishments or conceits of any kind - no fairies, angels, paranormal happenings or events of any kind - just a straight forward psychological novel about a young rich kid called Caleb, his wealthy asshole of a dad and an interesting meeting with a young girl from the other side of the tracks called Didi.
The plot actually reminded me a bit of Deepa Mehta's Indian diaspora film Bollywood/Hollywood where the wealthy Indian hero of the story, after the death of his fiance, has to find a fake girlfriend to please his mother and, after some upheavals in their relationship, he eventually falls in love with her. In this book the fake girlfriend is an ex-waitress called Didi who accepts a deal from Caleb to attend a summer of parties in exchange for him acting as her artistic model. Unlike the heroine in Bollywood/Hollywood, she won't take money for the job, but instead asks Caleb to act as an artists model for her paintings.
There are a few interesting and humorous bits in the book - such as when after splitting up with his girlfriend, the father demands that Caleb attends all the firm's summer events in exchange for a gap year in Europe before he goes to Yale. Caleb hates his father but this doesn't stop him from making his Faustian deal with him and prostituting himself in exchange for a year in Europe. Didi is not much nobler in her motives - she accepts Caleb's offer because she finds the experience of a summer of parties with the rich and famous and a hot guy beside her very appealing. She is an artist however and her only price for her services is Caleb posing for her.
Inevitably they fall in love - perhaps too easily and predictibly. There are only one or two small hiccups such as when Caleb's jealous ex girlfriend threatens to expose her and of course when she meets Caleb's father and there is heaps of friction between them.
As I say, I liked the plot and theme of the book which reminded me of one of my favourite Indian diaspora movies. The crossing of class barriers was also a nice touch. But I did miss some of the Hollywood drama, or melodrama, where you are biting your nails and grinding your teeth to see if the couple will really come together in the end. As I say they met and fell in love and ran off into the sunset together a bit too easily and unbelievably.
Still it was interesting for me to read a book that was so uncompromisingly normal and without any otherworldly, parnormal or mythological elements.
I might try it again some time.
The plot actually reminded me a bit of Deepa Mehta's Indian diaspora film Bollywood/Hollywood where the wealthy Indian hero of the story, after the death of his fiance, has to find a fake girlfriend to please his mother and, after some upheavals in their relationship, he eventually falls in love with her. In this book the fake girlfriend is an ex-waitress called Didi who accepts a deal from Caleb to attend a summer of parties in exchange for him acting as her artistic model. Unlike the heroine in Bollywood/Hollywood, she won't take money for the job, but instead asks Caleb to act as an artists model for her paintings.
There are a few interesting and humorous bits in the book - such as when after splitting up with his girlfriend, the father demands that Caleb attends all the firm's summer events in exchange for a gap year in Europe before he goes to Yale. Caleb hates his father but this doesn't stop him from making his Faustian deal with him and prostituting himself in exchange for a year in Europe. Didi is not much nobler in her motives - she accepts Caleb's offer because she finds the experience of a summer of parties with the rich and famous and a hot guy beside her very appealing. She is an artist however and her only price for her services is Caleb posing for her.
Inevitably they fall in love - perhaps too easily and predictibly. There are only one or two small hiccups such as when Caleb's jealous ex girlfriend threatens to expose her and of course when she meets Caleb's father and there is heaps of friction between them.
As I say, I liked the plot and theme of the book which reminded me of one of my favourite Indian diaspora movies. The crossing of class barriers was also a nice touch. But I did miss some of the Hollywood drama, or melodrama, where you are biting your nails and grinding your teeth to see if the couple will really come together in the end. As I say they met and fell in love and ran off into the sunset together a bit too easily and unbelievably.
Still it was interesting for me to read a book that was so uncompromisingly normal and without any otherworldly, parnormal or mythological elements.
I might try it again some time.
August 11, 2017
Thanks to Raincoast Books for sending me an ARC of this book! All opinions are my own.
I really enjoyed this book. It had vibes of a modern day Gatsby with a dash of Abbi Glines' Sea Breeze series.
Basically, this is a story about a rich guy Caleb, who's bitter about love because of his mothers death, and a girl from the other side of the tracks, Didi.
I really liked the storyline and the characters in this story. I liked how even at events, Didi didn't try to be anyone she wasn't. She was brutally honest and she told it like it was.
The ending seemed a little rudimentary but I still enjoyed the book overall.
I definitely recommend this if you are looking for a love story that's a little bit different, and has a great swoony guy!
I really enjoyed this book. It had vibes of a modern day Gatsby with a dash of Abbi Glines' Sea Breeze series.
Basically, this is a story about a rich guy Caleb, who's bitter about love because of his mothers death, and a girl from the other side of the tracks, Didi.
I really liked the storyline and the characters in this story. I liked how even at events, Didi didn't try to be anyone she wasn't. She was brutally honest and she told it like it was.
The ending seemed a little rudimentary but I still enjoyed the book overall.
I definitely recommend this if you are looking for a love story that's a little bit different, and has a great swoony guy!
March 26, 2018
1.5 stars
So, uhm... how does one write a review when you can't even remember the plot? I just knew I didn't like this book and was sorely disappointed. Three years after reading this novel and the disappointment is yet to leave my body. Hah.
So, uhm... how does one write a review when you can't even remember the plot? I just knew I didn't like this book and was sorely disappointed. Three years after reading this novel and the disappointment is yet to leave my body. Hah.
September 30, 2014
(Source: Read for free at swoonreads.com)
This was a really sweet YA contemporary romance, and I loved the chemistry between Didi and Caleb.
Didi was a really sweet girl, and it was admirable how she wasn’t afraid to stand up and say what was on her mind. I found it really sweet the way she was so clueless about what to wear to a garden party, and the way she kept purposefully forgetting Amber’s name was quite funny.
The storyline in this was pretty good, and it wasn’t too predictable. I liked the way that Caleb never expected to develop feelings himself, and it was sweet the way he was bowled over by Didi.
The ending to this was really good, and I didn’t expect the twists that we got. The ‘happily ever after’ was a little cheesy, but Didi and Caleb deserved it after everything they’d been through.
Overall; good YA contemporary romance,
7.5 out of 10.
This was a really sweet YA contemporary romance, and I loved the chemistry between Didi and Caleb.
Didi was a really sweet girl, and it was admirable how she wasn’t afraid to stand up and say what was on her mind. I found it really sweet the way she was so clueless about what to wear to a garden party, and the way she kept purposefully forgetting Amber’s name was quite funny.
The storyline in this was pretty good, and it wasn’t too predictable. I liked the way that Caleb never expected to develop feelings himself, and it was sweet the way he was bowled over by Didi.
The ending to this was really good, and I didn’t expect the twists that we got. The ‘happily ever after’ was a little cheesy, but Didi and Caleb deserved it after everything they’d been through.
Overall; good YA contemporary romance,
7.5 out of 10.
Read
November 1, 2014Currently up and free to read over at Swoon Reads!
October 25, 2016
Check out my review here: http://thepaige-turner.com/book-revie...
April 16, 2017
At first, I thought it was just a typical new adult contemporary romance book but i can't be more mistaken. full review to come in the blog.
Update : Review on https://thequeenreads.wordpress.com/2...
Update : Review on https://thequeenreads.wordpress.com/2...
June 8, 2016
So, I'm a huge fan of fake-dating and no-strings-attached type of YA stories. There's just something about it that I just cannot simply pass, so when I got No Love Allowed I was stoked to start it right away. I think it would fill in my craving for a good romance where the boy and girl have conflicted emotions toward each other.
The book is typically about two teenagers who caught themselves falling in love with each other in a fake-dating situation. The two main characters, Caleb and Didi embarked on a summer fake-fling along with Caleb's number one rule in fake-dating – Didi is not allowed to fall in love with him. Along their just-pretending relationship, one fell in love and the other was conflicted at first, but still in the end fell for the other. To be honest, they succeeded in making me not fall in love with either of them. I liked them both together in the story, because they were both cute and fun in some aspects, but mostly, the annoying parts outweighed the good.
No Love Allowed was written unsatisfactory. I'm sorry, but it didn't work for me. The way it was written wasn't that easy to get along with. The words weren't put together quite right. They were complicated and sometimes may confuse the reader what it really wants to imply, so it makes it harder to enjoy. Honestly, I skipped most of the paragraphs I think were unnecessary to the story. Just full of blah-blahs that didn't really contribute to the story development.
The characters didn't have any depths, no character growth over the story, and they seem to have no personality at all. All I know is that one of them enjoy this certain hobby and the other just wants to get away and travel. The secondary characters were undeveloped, and I really didn't enjoy them when I could have if only I knew them better. I don't want to give anything too much, so I'll just leave it here so when you get to read the book, you'll understand why.
The story is a hundred and ten overflowing of clichè and predictability. It's not that I totally didn't like the story, because some parts still made me smile and take in the quirkiness, sass and lightheartedness. While some parts were sweet and endearing, I found reading it not quite enjoyable overall. I also felt like mostly it was trying hard and orchestrated. Like the line up of things were forced. More so, I think that most of the dialogues have been used in way too many romantic movies, same goes for a lot of the sweet moments making it too overused and clichè. The predictability was a major flaw as well. My guesses were right the whole time making me all go "wtf is this". Like you could go skip a chapter and you would know what happened and you wouldn't feel lost.
To cap this, I honestly think that No Love Allowed really had a big potential. There was so much more that could have been done with the book. The plot and world-building, the characters' personality, the mental illness, the characters' families. I personally think these were all undeveloped elements that could have made a major contribution to the betterment of the story. I hated that despite the romantic chemistry, there could have been so much more. However, I still recommend it if you want some brain-candy read or want a feel-good type of story for the summer. ☺
The book is typically about two teenagers who caught themselves falling in love with each other in a fake-dating situation. The two main characters, Caleb and Didi embarked on a summer fake-fling along with Caleb's number one rule in fake-dating – Didi is not allowed to fall in love with him. Along their just-pretending relationship, one fell in love and the other was conflicted at first, but still in the end fell for the other. To be honest, they succeeded in making me not fall in love with either of them. I liked them both together in the story, because they were both cute and fun in some aspects, but mostly, the annoying parts outweighed the good.
No Love Allowed was written unsatisfactory. I'm sorry, but it didn't work for me. The way it was written wasn't that easy to get along with. The words weren't put together quite right. They were complicated and sometimes may confuse the reader what it really wants to imply, so it makes it harder to enjoy. Honestly, I skipped most of the paragraphs I think were unnecessary to the story. Just full of blah-blahs that didn't really contribute to the story development.
The characters didn't have any depths, no character growth over the story, and they seem to have no personality at all. All I know is that one of them enjoy this certain hobby and the other just wants to get away and travel. The secondary characters were undeveloped, and I really didn't enjoy them when I could have if only I knew them better. I don't want to give anything too much, so I'll just leave it here so when you get to read the book, you'll understand why.
The story is a hundred and ten overflowing of clichè and predictability. It's not that I totally didn't like the story, because some parts still made me smile and take in the quirkiness, sass and lightheartedness. While some parts were sweet and endearing, I found reading it not quite enjoyable overall. I also felt like mostly it was trying hard and orchestrated. Like the line up of things were forced. More so, I think that most of the dialogues have been used in way too many romantic movies, same goes for a lot of the sweet moments making it too overused and clichè. The predictability was a major flaw as well. My guesses were right the whole time making me all go "wtf is this". Like you could go skip a chapter and you would know what happened and you wouldn't feel lost.
To cap this, I honestly think that No Love Allowed really had a big potential. There was so much more that could have been done with the book. The plot and world-building, the characters' personality, the mental illness, the characters' families. I personally think these were all undeveloped elements that could have made a major contribution to the betterment of the story. I hated that despite the romantic chemistry, there could have been so much more. However, I still recommend it if you want some brain-candy read or want a feel-good type of story for the summer. ☺
May 12, 2016
"She had a smile that could light up a room. Every time she entered a space the air grew lighter."
I can't say that No Love Allowed is unlike other books that I've already read, because it isn't. As I've been saying, it's no secret that I've grown fond of cliche stories and I probably know what's going to happen half of the time, but that doesn't mean I don't enjoy it any less. Sure, I crave for new and refreshing stories now and then, but that doesn't stop me from appreciating stories I've grown to love. This one, though common, has some unique key elements and qualities that made it stand a little bit above other similar books I've read. It dealt with mental illnesses, death, and loss, which is highly-appreciated. Although it has potential and I did somehow enjoy it, I hoped for a better relationship build-up between the two MCs, and maybe less predictable scenarios.
Over-all, I'd give this 3.5/4 stars!
"For a first kiss, amid the fireworks exploding above them, it was amazing. Each pass their lips made tugged at her, begging her to draw him closer. It was as if an invisible string bound her heart to his, and no matter what happened nothing could cut the connection between them."
February 10, 2017
*I received an ARC from the author, Kate Evangelista and it didn't, in any way, affect my review
I first read a snippet of Didi and Caleb's story on Swoon Reads through Kate back then. I didn't finish reading this that time, because I got busy with college. But I'm glad I did now.
The plot wasn't new to me. I've seen so many be-my-fake-lover-but-don't-fall-in-love-with-me stories in dramas or in other books BUT this one is an attention-grabber. Not that I don't like fake-relationship kind of stories, in fact, I find them amusing. lol
No Love Allowed was fast, easy and quirky read which was just the perfect read for what I was looking for after reading five consecutive fantasy reads. lol
Didi and Caleb's story was cute, and fun with bits of drama to add up some spice. It was well-balanced. Plus, great characters. I love Natasha, Preston and most specially, Nathan.
Overall, a perfect choice if you're looking for an easy and entertaining read.
Look forward on its official release on April 2016.
Read my full review at The Nocturnal Fey
I first read a snippet of Didi and Caleb's story on Swoon Reads through Kate back then. I didn't finish reading this that time, because I got busy with college. But I'm glad I did now.
The plot wasn't new to me. I've seen so many be-my-fake-lover-but-don't-fall-in-love-with-me stories in dramas or in other books BUT this one is an attention-grabber. Not that I don't like fake-relationship kind of stories, in fact, I find them amusing. lol
No Love Allowed was fast, easy and quirky read which was just the perfect read for what I was looking for after reading five consecutive fantasy reads. lol
Didi and Caleb's story was cute, and fun with bits of drama to add up some spice. It was well-balanced. Plus, great characters. I love Natasha, Preston and most specially, Nathan.
Overall, a perfect choice if you're looking for an easy and entertaining read.
Look forward on its official release on April 2016.
Read my full review at The Nocturnal Fey
October 4, 2014
Warning You Might Fall In Love With Me was a good read.
Didi and Caleb made a great couple!
Didi made me laugh, and i liked how she wasn't afraid about letting people know what she thought. Caleb wasn't a very likable character at the start, but after a few chapters he won me over.
The ending was good, and had a few twists that i didn't expect.
Overall, A sweet contemporary read.
Didi and Caleb made a great couple!
Didi made me laugh, and i liked how she wasn't afraid about letting people know what she thought. Caleb wasn't a very likable character at the start, but after a few chapters he won me over.
The ending was good, and had a few twists that i didn't expect.
Overall, A sweet contemporary read.
August 20, 2016
It's a cute read and the plot is nice, loved all the friendships and the girl power and the diverse characters, but this story is lacking. I just felt like I wanted more development of the main characters, the author told us of their issues, but the importance of their issues kind of got lost into all the fluff, I guess. Maybe a first-person perspective would have helped this book more...
October 19, 2014
Definitely enjoyed reading it. Though it took me awhile to finish it due to being so busy with work. But finally! Done with it today. It's been fun. And I will definitely read Nate and Preston's story, soon! :)
July 4, 2019
Two wonderful books in a row! This was such an easy fun read! I loved DiDi and I loved Caleb so much that I couldn’t wait to see how things would turn out for them! This was the best book to read during the summer, seeing how it takes place in the summer, and honestly it was so adorable that alone made it a five star read!
Longer review coming soon! :)
Longer review coming soon! :)
August 24, 2019
Actual rating: 3.75
Really appreciated the bipolar rep! We need more romcoms with neurodivergent MCs were their story isn't prevailed by their mental illness. I also enjoyed Didi's artistic and creative mind and appreciated her close relationship with her mom. On that note, I kinda wished Caleb had more going on for him than being rich and wanted a more nuanced/developed arc for him and his dad.
Really appreciated the bipolar rep! We need more romcoms with neurodivergent MCs were their story isn't prevailed by their mental illness. I also enjoyed Didi's artistic and creative mind and appreciated her close relationship with her mom. On that note, I kinda wished Caleb had more going on for him than being rich and wanted a more nuanced/developed arc for him and his dad.
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