Amelia is a painter who prefers colors to conversations and solitude to crowds. She keeps her world small, her heart guarded, and her feelings buried deep.
Then comes Liam. Far too confident, persistent, used to getting what he wants.
When their paths cross, it’s more eye-rolls than heart-eyes. But Liam is annoyingly persistent. He breaks through her walls, one patient moment at a time. From strangers to enemies to friends to lovers.
But there is one Brian—the only love Amelia has ever truly known. Both want her heart. One holds it. The other waits for it.
A slow-burn, character-driven soft romance about timing, healing, and choice. Perfect for fans of love triangles, enemies-to-lovers, introvert heroines, and persistent heroes.
I’m an author, and I’ve been writing since I was fifteen — long before I ever thought I’d share them with the world. Of course, it is more of a hobby — a way to capture the stories and ideas that popped into my head whenever inspiration struck. Writing isn’t my full-time job (it’s not even related to my work), but it’s always been a passion I couldn’t let go of.
I’ve always adored stories with intense chemistry, steamy moments, emotional twists, and relatable characters — especially friends to lovers, enemies to lovers, first love, and coming-of-age romances that stick with you long after the last page. For years, I kept my writing private, but I finally decided to share it with the world.
Self-publishing through Amazon KDP turned out to be less terrifying than I expected (thankfully no extroversion required!). After countless hours of editing, revising, and learning, I released my first book — and I’m already deep into the sequel, which honestly has stolen my heart even more than the first.
Disclosure: I received an Advance Reader Copy (ARC) of this book in exchange for an honest review. As someone who loves supporting indie authors, I always aim to share thoughtful, fair feedback. While I have personal reading preferences like a love for fantasy, horses, or specific tropes, I never let that impact my rating unless it is relevant to the book’s intent or audience. I review with the genre and readership in mind.
Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Spice: YA (fade to black)
Unrequited love, imperfection, brokenness and realism. This book baffled me with how deeply it pulled me in, taking me on a journey of longing, pain and vulnerability. I don’t think I’ve ever wanted two characters to end up together more than I wanted Amelia and Liam.
Brian feels like that character we all have in our life, the one who keeps us as their safety net, gives us just enough attention to keep the butterflies alive, and makes us measure our worth through their opinion and actions. I felt so much sympathy for Amelia, and I related to her painfully deeply.
It amazed me how such a short story could convey so much! Someone described the book as “Summer on canvas,” and I can only agree. Summer-we long for it, expect so much from it, but the heat and weight of it hurts. Then autumn comes, full of color, and suddenly you can breathe again, finally free to enjoy life. Summer is Brian. Autumn is Liam. And I love Liam.
My absolute favourite quote from the book: "I am broken, Liam. You talked about red flags, I have dozens," I said trying to laugh it off, but couldn't. "Red's my favorite color," he said with a smile.
A cozy, tender romance that feels like summer on canvas. Through painting, family dinners, and quiet moments, Liam and Amelia build a love story that’s soft, artistic, and heartfelt. The art imagery makes this book stand out, though a little repetitive at times. Perfect if you love slow, intimate romances where love is painted in the smallest details.
I can completely relate to the struggle of putting off reading *Color Me Yours* by Anita Verugi. Sometimes, we shy away from stories that we know will resonate deeply with our own experiences. For me, that was the case here. Most people who know me are aware that I can often devour books in a day. Yet, this 154-page story took me two days to finish. While it’s a shorter read, it truly packed an emotional punch.
Connecting with Amelia felt so personal and profound; I often found myself pausing just to take a breath. The author has done such a beautiful job in portraying both Amelia and Liam. Their journey highlights the rawness of vulnerability, the complexities of imperfection, and the feelings of loneliness that many of us can understand. It’s a reminder of how crucial it is to have understanding and support in our lives, and how vital it is to never give up on love.
Liam plays a crucial role in helping Amelia step out of her comfort zone and embrace what a healthy relationship can be. This is such a contrast to the toxic safety net she had with Brian. I felt every bit of joy when Amelia and Liam finally found their way to each other at the end. Having been in similar situations before, I can truly appreciate the depth of Amelia’s growth and the satisfaction of seeing her achieve her happily ever after with Liam. It’s a journey that many of us can relate to, and it’s incredibly heartwarming to witness.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Color Me Yours by Anita Verugi Pub date: September 5, 2025
Thank you to the author, Anita Verugi, for approving me as an ARC reader.
I read this book in one day. It was so easy to read and fall into the story.
This was such a cute story. There was depth to it but it was more focused on the positive aspects of falling for someone. I love how easy it was to read and the way that the two main characters were able to connect with each other. Liam was swoon worthy for sure and Amelia had so much to offer, I related to he so much. Sometimes you just know. There were two love triangles and it made more sense this way because sometimes that's how things go. You can't help how you feel about someone and the timing of the situation.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I read this in one sitting 🙂↔️ this book had so many emotions I don’t know what to say?? I’m SO glad of how the story played out but I wish there was a dual POV for Liam’s feelings 🥺
Thank you for sending me an ARC!!
Favourite quotes. 🎨 “I am broken, Liam. You talked about red flags, I have dozens,” I said trying to laugh it off, but couldn’t. “Red’s my favorite color,”
🎨 “What if everything in the world were a misunderstanding, what if laughter were really tears?”
If you're searching for a book that embodies the very best of a Hallmark movie; all the warmth, charm, and feel good romance, then "Color Me Yours" is an absolute must read. From the first bout of flirtation between the main characters, I found myself quite literally smiling and kicking my feet. This isn't just a story; it's an immersive, cozy read that had me curled in a ball on my recliner, wrapped in a blanket, and frequently blushing at the sheer sweetness and palpable chemistry. The author masterfully builds the romantic tension, a slow burn that keeps you invested and yearning for the next stolen glance or witty remark, brilliantly creating a narrative that leaves you not only satisfied but genuinely longing for more time with these individuals. If you like heartwarming romance, engaging characters, and a story that feels like a warm hug for your soul, please read this book!
Thank you for the arc Anita! I loved this book. The complex emotions of relationships that aren’t working, the reluctance to leave the familiar and run after something that feels right. It had emotion depth for sure that was completely relatable
I would love to know more about the main character, the history of her and her love of art, as a fellow artist. It was such a great theme, and was a great snippet of the main characters life. I finished it in one sitting!!
Y’all! Amelia would rather blend colors than feelings, but enter Liam—the cocky, persistent hero who crashes into her quiet world like neon on a gray canvas. Their enemies-to-lovers slow burn? 🔥 Delicious.
But then there’s Brian… the ghost of her first love, holding a piece of her heart. Cue angst, longing, and all the messy emotions.
Anita Verugi paints this story with rich, sensory writing—you feel the brushstrokes of every heartbreak and every spark. A little heavy on introspection at times, but the payoff? Gorgeous.
Soft, character-driven, tender, and frustrating in the best way—this triangle doesn’t make you roll your eyes, it makes you ache. 💔💖
“Some stories aren’t written in words, but in glances, patience, and the courage to let someone in." 💭 #AmeliaAndLiam
Anita Verugi’s Color Me Yours is a slow-burn romance that feels like watching love being painted, layer by layer. 🎨✨ Amelia’s quiet world and Liam’s persistence collide in a story about trust, healing, and finding the courage to love again.
I’ll start by saying that this book had great potential for me because of the beautiful storyline we get here. I loved the story and the characters. I loved our FMC, even though she frustrated me sometimes and made me want to scream at her to wake up and see what was right in front of her. I love that shy and broken part of her that explains why she makes the choices she does. Now, Liam, he was a great MMC. We have that “he fell first” trope with him and it shows. You can really feel his longing for Amelia and it broke my heart to see her turn him away so many times. 🥺
Like I said, the storyline was very good and I know that with a few more pages and a bit more detail, it could have been something amazing for me. 🤩 The artistic world, the characters and the emotions in this book are beautiful. I just felt like the story moved a little too fast, jumping from one day to the next and leaving me with the feeling that I was missing something and the feeling of wanting more. That’s the only reason I’m giving it a 3.5, because overall, I really did love the book! 🖤
Tropes you’ll find in the book: - Enemies to friends to lovers - Slow burn - Love triangle - Artist - He fall first