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Like Pineapple on Pizza
When life throws you lemons, you make lemonade…
Cienna is determined to honor her grandmother’s legacy by becoming the next principal at her school. With the board of trustees watching her every move, she’s laser-focused on proving herself—while trying to forget the whirlwind summer romance who ghosted her months ago. Everything is under control… until he walks through her classroom door on the first day of school, hand in hand with a child who’s undeniably his.
When life gives you pineapples, you put them on pizza.
Reed thought he had life figured endless vacations and zero responsibilities. But one phone call turned his carefree world upside down. Now he’s juggling custody battles, parenting mishaps, and the reappearance of the woman he never quite got over—the one who’s as off-limits as she is unforgettable.
As Reed and Cienna navigate their unexpected reunion, old sparks ignite amid new challenges. She pushes him to rise above his past, and he dares her to see herself beyond the confines of her career. But with so much at stake, can they find a way to create something sweet out of the chaos life has served them—or will their second chance slip away for good?
Cienna is determined to honor her grandmother’s legacy by becoming the next principal at her school. With the board of trustees watching her every move, she’s laser-focused on proving herself—while trying to forget the whirlwind summer romance who ghosted her months ago. Everything is under control… until he walks through her classroom door on the first day of school, hand in hand with a child who’s undeniably his.
When life gives you pineapples, you put them on pizza.
Reed thought he had life figured endless vacations and zero responsibilities. But one phone call turned his carefree world upside down. Now he’s juggling custody battles, parenting mishaps, and the reappearance of the woman he never quite got over—the one who’s as off-limits as she is unforgettable.
As Reed and Cienna navigate their unexpected reunion, old sparks ignite amid new challenges. She pushes him to rise above his past, and he dares her to see herself beyond the confines of her career. But with so much at stake, can they find a way to create something sweet out of the chaos life has served them—or will their second chance slip away for good?
- GenresRomance
370 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 4, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
November 4, 2025
4 ⭐
Thank you Love Notes PR and the author for giving me this copy in exchange for my honest opinion of the book.
Okay, this book was really cute. I absolutely loved the relationship between Cici, Abi, and Reed. At the beginning of the book, I was worried that the "relationship" between Reed and Cici would be too monotonous, but luckily it wasn't.
I loved the character development and all the way they were portrayed in the book. I definitely recommend it.
Thank you Love Notes PR and the author for giving me this copy in exchange for my honest opinion of the book.
Okay, this book was really cute. I absolutely loved the relationship between Cici, Abi, and Reed. At the beginning of the book, I was worried that the "relationship" between Reed and Cici would be too monotonous, but luckily it wasn't.
I loved the character development and all the way they were portrayed in the book. I definitely recommend it.
October 20, 2025
ARC REVIEW
As someone who firmly believes pineapple can go on pizza (and its good) I immediately knew I wanted to read this book.
I fell hard and fast for Reed - their "couples massage scene" was wooh - lives rent free in my head.
Watching Reed interact with Abi and take uncle mode into dad mode was inspiring, especially as he navigated healing through his grief.
1-2 on the spice scale
tropes
meet cute
uncle turned guardian
teacher FMC
forced proximity
healing x grief
As someone who firmly believes pineapple can go on pizza (and its good) I immediately knew I wanted to read this book.
I fell hard and fast for Reed - their "couples massage scene" was wooh - lives rent free in my head.
Watching Reed interact with Abi and take uncle mode into dad mode was inspiring, especially as he navigated healing through his grief.
1-2 on the spice scale
tropes
meet cute
uncle turned guardian
teacher FMC
forced proximity
healing x grief
November 10, 2025
🍍 ARC Review: Like Pineapple on Pizza by Amber Mae
✨ Description
When self-confessed cat lady and awkward romantic Cienna joins her friends on a cruise for a bachelorette trip, she doesn’t expect a dare to change everything. Tasked with approaching the hottest guy at the bar, she stumbles into Reed; charming, smooth-talking, and instantly intrigued by her rambling nerves. What begins as flirty banter turns into something genuine as they keep running into each other onboard. Reed, a photographer on the cruise for work, invites Cienna to join him on a couples-day experience he doesn’t want to attend alone. Between parasailing, massages, and heart-melting conversations, sparks fly fast.
But after promising to stay in touch, Reed disappears. Months later, Cienna, now back in her Melbourne kindergarten classroom and stepping up into a leadership role, thinks the whirlwind is behind her… until Reed walks into her school with his niece, Abi, in tow. What follows is a tender, slow-burn second-chance romance about love, loss, and finding the courage to let someone back in, even when life gets complicated.
💬 Review (Spoilers Ahead!)
I absolutely adored the premise of this story. It’s got all the escapist charm of a holiday romance, but with the emotional grounding of a contemporary love story. Cienna and Reed’s first meeting on the cruise had me hooked immediately. The dynamic between her sweet, bumbling awkwardness and his smooth confidence felt natural, funny, and full of chemistry. Their day together on the couples’ excursion, parasailing, massages, and all, built that connection so beautifully. You can feel the energy between them grow, and by the time they’re roped into the couples’ 20-questions game, you’re just as invested as they are. I loved that Reed gave up the prize suite for Cienna and her friends, it was such a selfless move that instantly made him more than just a typical holiday fling hero.
Then, just as everything seems perfect, the story takes a turn. Three months later, Cienna’s been ghosted, and the spark that once defined her is dimmed by disappointment. Seeing her back in her classroom, focused on her career and her students, really captured the resilience so many teachers embody. And then Reed reappears, walking into her classroom on the first day of term with his “daughter,” who we soon learn is actually his niece, Abi. The shock, the awkwardness, the buried emotions, it’s all so believable.
From that point on, the novel turns into a beautiful story of reconnection. The tension between them feels real and earned; both are trying to do the right thing in difficult circumstances. Cienna’s anxiety about her new leadership role and the pressure to stay professional adds real emotional weight, while Reed’s quiet grief and devotion to Abi give him depth beyond the charming traveller. I truly felt their internal tug-of-war, that ache between responsibility and desire.
What stands out most is how authentic the emotions are. It’s not over-the-top or soapy; it’s grounded and heartfelt. Cienna and Reed’s relationship grows with care, and when the slow-burn finally pays off, it’s perfectly intimate - detailed, loving, and written with genuine tenderness. Abi is the cherry on top: the kind of fictional child who steals every scene she’s in, full of light and innocence without ever feeling forced.
As a teacher, I did raise an eyebrow at the logistics of a 28-year-old school principal and the ethics of dating a student’s guardian, BUT if you suspend disbelief a little, it works within the world Amber Mae builds. It’s a small detail in an otherwise beautiful, feel-good story that’s full of warmth, growth, and connection.
Like Pineapple on Pizza is sweet without being saccharine, a story about two imperfect people meeting at the right time and learning that love doesn’t have to be flawless to be fulfilling.
⭐ Rating: 4.5/5
🌶️ Spice: 3/5 - tender, sensual, and full of emotional intimacy
💔 Tropes: Vacation romance • Second chance • Teacher + guardian • Found family • Single guardian • Forced proximity
💫 Vibe: Wholesome, slow-burn, and beautifully grounded. A story of love, loss, and finding joy again when you least expect it.
✨ Description
When self-confessed cat lady and awkward romantic Cienna joins her friends on a cruise for a bachelorette trip, she doesn’t expect a dare to change everything. Tasked with approaching the hottest guy at the bar, she stumbles into Reed; charming, smooth-talking, and instantly intrigued by her rambling nerves. What begins as flirty banter turns into something genuine as they keep running into each other onboard. Reed, a photographer on the cruise for work, invites Cienna to join him on a couples-day experience he doesn’t want to attend alone. Between parasailing, massages, and heart-melting conversations, sparks fly fast.
But after promising to stay in touch, Reed disappears. Months later, Cienna, now back in her Melbourne kindergarten classroom and stepping up into a leadership role, thinks the whirlwind is behind her… until Reed walks into her school with his niece, Abi, in tow. What follows is a tender, slow-burn second-chance romance about love, loss, and finding the courage to let someone back in, even when life gets complicated.
💬 Review (Spoilers Ahead!)
I absolutely adored the premise of this story. It’s got all the escapist charm of a holiday romance, but with the emotional grounding of a contemporary love story. Cienna and Reed’s first meeting on the cruise had me hooked immediately. The dynamic between her sweet, bumbling awkwardness and his smooth confidence felt natural, funny, and full of chemistry. Their day together on the couples’ excursion, parasailing, massages, and all, built that connection so beautifully. You can feel the energy between them grow, and by the time they’re roped into the couples’ 20-questions game, you’re just as invested as they are. I loved that Reed gave up the prize suite for Cienna and her friends, it was such a selfless move that instantly made him more than just a typical holiday fling hero.
Then, just as everything seems perfect, the story takes a turn. Three months later, Cienna’s been ghosted, and the spark that once defined her is dimmed by disappointment. Seeing her back in her classroom, focused on her career and her students, really captured the resilience so many teachers embody. And then Reed reappears, walking into her classroom on the first day of term with his “daughter,” who we soon learn is actually his niece, Abi. The shock, the awkwardness, the buried emotions, it’s all so believable.
From that point on, the novel turns into a beautiful story of reconnection. The tension between them feels real and earned; both are trying to do the right thing in difficult circumstances. Cienna’s anxiety about her new leadership role and the pressure to stay professional adds real emotional weight, while Reed’s quiet grief and devotion to Abi give him depth beyond the charming traveller. I truly felt their internal tug-of-war, that ache between responsibility and desire.
What stands out most is how authentic the emotions are. It’s not over-the-top or soapy; it’s grounded and heartfelt. Cienna and Reed’s relationship grows with care, and when the slow-burn finally pays off, it’s perfectly intimate - detailed, loving, and written with genuine tenderness. Abi is the cherry on top: the kind of fictional child who steals every scene she’s in, full of light and innocence without ever feeling forced.
As a teacher, I did raise an eyebrow at the logistics of a 28-year-old school principal and the ethics of dating a student’s guardian, BUT if you suspend disbelief a little, it works within the world Amber Mae builds. It’s a small detail in an otherwise beautiful, feel-good story that’s full of warmth, growth, and connection.
Like Pineapple on Pizza is sweet without being saccharine, a story about two imperfect people meeting at the right time and learning that love doesn’t have to be flawless to be fulfilling.
⭐ Rating: 4.5/5
🌶️ Spice: 3/5 - tender, sensual, and full of emotional intimacy
💔 Tropes: Vacation romance • Second chance • Teacher + guardian • Found family • Single guardian • Forced proximity
💫 Vibe: Wholesome, slow-burn, and beautifully grounded. A story of love, loss, and finding joy again when you least expect it.
October 27, 2025
Like Pineapple On Pizza 🍍
Firstly,I want to thank LoveNotes PR & Amber Mae for trusting me with this ARC!💛
Cienna is determined to continue her grandmother's legacy in teaching,with the ultimate goal is to become the principal at her school,while the man that had her falling in love in the summer & then disappeared,lives rent free into her mind.
Reed has a 0 responsibility life ,until he must face parenting & custody battles.At the same time,a woman who changed his brain chemistry in the past comes back into his life,with a role that makes him to constrained to see her every day.
But after all,maybe this is not unfortunate at all & pineapple always comes back to pizza!
What a gut wrenching romance that was 🥹.The way Mae stirs love,grief & life is wonderful.
To start with,the story started extremely strong,going towards sarcasm,something that got me as a reader,& we are still in chapter 1!More,there was not actual fake dating,BUT accidental one for some pages.-I think this is my new favourite sub-trope🥹
As for the characters,I loved all Reed,Cienna& Abby.
Reed,fell first,we got all his thoughts & emotions,from first seat view since page 1 until epilogue.He is a deeply emotional guy,with a ton of backstory that will have you say: sh*t man are you okay?
Cienna,on the other hand was a ray of sushine for the whole book!As a kindergarden teacher,we see how she deals with children every day & that she can get into ANY role she is needed to!
Now,my favourite Abi!-grab a cup of tea I have A LOT to say.
The main thing that standed out was that Abi were not just there as a side character.She had her OWN story to tell.Her OWN thoughts to express & her OWN character.
I can surerly say that,I do not see it a lot of children in books of that kind.Usually,they are just there and us,as reader,we never get their point of view and what they feel.Okay,we have a single parent or whatever romance that needs a child to be there,but when this child have lost a parent or both,how do they actually feel?Mae really answeared that question.
Plus,my little girl was such ,such a lady.My absolute favourite scene of her was on the 63%,read and you will remeber me .💫
Going into the romance,IT WAS FIRE.
There was a lot of connection moments before those two gave in,with that making it go smoothly & being enjoyable.Due to the nature of the book,they weren't just romantic partners.They were support system to each other,with a true meaningful connection since the start of their journey!Lastly,their relationship got through a big rock that,for me at least,was WORSE that a 3rd act breakup.
As you understand,there is literally nothing bad to say about Like Pineapple on Pizza,so I cannot do anything else that recommend it!
Out on Nov,4th🍕
5⭐
Firstly,I want to thank LoveNotes PR & Amber Mae for trusting me with this ARC!💛
Cienna is determined to continue her grandmother's legacy in teaching,with the ultimate goal is to become the principal at her school,while the man that had her falling in love in the summer & then disappeared,lives rent free into her mind.
Reed has a 0 responsibility life ,until he must face parenting & custody battles.At the same time,a woman who changed his brain chemistry in the past comes back into his life,with a role that makes him to constrained to see her every day.
But after all,maybe this is not unfortunate at all & pineapple always comes back to pizza!
What a gut wrenching romance that was 🥹.The way Mae stirs love,grief & life is wonderful.
To start with,the story started extremely strong,going towards sarcasm,something that got me as a reader,& we are still in chapter 1!More,there was not actual fake dating,BUT accidental one for some pages.-I think this is my new favourite sub-trope🥹
As for the characters,I loved all Reed,Cienna& Abby.
Reed,fell first,we got all his thoughts & emotions,from first seat view since page 1 until epilogue.He is a deeply emotional guy,with a ton of backstory that will have you say: sh*t man are you okay?
Cienna,on the other hand was a ray of sushine for the whole book!As a kindergarden teacher,we see how she deals with children every day & that she can get into ANY role she is needed to!
Now,my favourite Abi!-grab a cup of tea I have A LOT to say.
The main thing that standed out was that Abi were not just there as a side character.She had her OWN story to tell.Her OWN thoughts to express & her OWN character.
I can surerly say that,I do not see it a lot of children in books of that kind.Usually,they are just there and us,as reader,we never get their point of view and what they feel.Okay,we have a single parent or whatever romance that needs a child to be there,but when this child have lost a parent or both,how do they actually feel?Mae really answeared that question.
Plus,my little girl was such ,such a lady.My absolute favourite scene of her was on the 63%,read and you will remeber me .💫
Going into the romance,IT WAS FIRE.
There was a lot of connection moments before those two gave in,with that making it go smoothly & being enjoyable.Due to the nature of the book,they weren't just romantic partners.They were support system to each other,with a true meaningful connection since the start of their journey!Lastly,their relationship got through a big rock that,for me at least,was WORSE that a 3rd act breakup.
As you understand,there is literally nothing bad to say about Like Pineapple on Pizza,so I cannot do anything else that recommend it!
Out on Nov,4th🍕
5⭐
November 9, 2025
ARC Review
"Like Pineapple On Pizza"
by Amber Mae @authorambermae
🍍 Travel romance
🍕 Forced proximity
🍍 Secret relationship
🍕 Taboo-ish pining
🍍 Single parent (uncle turned guardian)
🍕 Inner monologues
🍍 Forehead kisses
I have to be full disclosure here: do you know when you pick a book by the cover? Well, I picked this one for the title 🤭
I love pineapple on my pizza (I know, shame on me and fruit on pizza, really? Yep, been there, done that.) so I thought: well, I want to read where this one goes.
This book is unbelievably the debut album from this author. How is this even possible? Because it is funny since the FIRST line; it is FULL of love; the main characters are AMAZING; the teasing between them is of the charts.
It follows Cienna, a kindergarten teacher, and Reed, a cruise photographer.
Cienna's inner voice, which is a side character by itself for me, is absolutely wonderfully written.
And little Abigail is a sparkly unicorn of light.
This book is a work of art. Truly incredible.
Thank you to the author and Love Notes PR @lovenotes.pr for this ARC. It will go directly (and stay there) to my favorite books.
---
some my favorite quotes:
"Well, what would you say if you weren't pretending?" His voice tickled my ear.
Smiling into my words, I whispered, "Pineapple goes on pizza."
He had the audacity to wink and lift a brow. Were our eyebrows having a love affair? That's a dangerous game, man.
"You play dirty."
Those three little words from her pretty mouth lit me up. This wallflower turned into a vixen right before my eyes.
"You have no idea."
"I guess you'll have to show me"
The look he gave me unleashed a fit of butterflies in my stomach.
"But all of you," he whispered, "is all I want."
His eyes were a swirling midnight forest locked on mine.
Each movement stoked the inferno growing deep inside, a fever striking at my core.
"What was the best part of your day?"
"You."
"I'll kiss you with more finesse when I can stop worrying that it'll be the last time I get your lips."
It felt good to be needed. It felt good to belong. It felt good to be... loved.
"Like Pineapple On Pizza"
by Amber Mae @authorambermae
🍍 Travel romance
🍕 Forced proximity
🍍 Secret relationship
🍕 Taboo-ish pining
🍍 Single parent (uncle turned guardian)
🍕 Inner monologues
🍍 Forehead kisses
I have to be full disclosure here: do you know when you pick a book by the cover? Well, I picked this one for the title 🤭
I love pineapple on my pizza (I know, shame on me and fruit on pizza, really? Yep, been there, done that.) so I thought: well, I want to read where this one goes.
This book is unbelievably the debut album from this author. How is this even possible? Because it is funny since the FIRST line; it is FULL of love; the main characters are AMAZING; the teasing between them is of the charts.
It follows Cienna, a kindergarten teacher, and Reed, a cruise photographer.
Cienna's inner voice, which is a side character by itself for me, is absolutely wonderfully written.
And little Abigail is a sparkly unicorn of light.
This book is a work of art. Truly incredible.
Thank you to the author and Love Notes PR @lovenotes.pr for this ARC. It will go directly (and stay there) to my favorite books.
---
some my favorite quotes:
"Well, what would you say if you weren't pretending?" His voice tickled my ear.
Smiling into my words, I whispered, "Pineapple goes on pizza."
He had the audacity to wink and lift a brow. Were our eyebrows having a love affair? That's a dangerous game, man.
"You play dirty."
Those three little words from her pretty mouth lit me up. This wallflower turned into a vixen right before my eyes.
"You have no idea."
"I guess you'll have to show me"
The look he gave me unleashed a fit of butterflies in my stomach.
"But all of you," he whispered, "is all I want."
His eyes were a swirling midnight forest locked on mine.
Each movement stoked the inferno growing deep inside, a fever striking at my core.
"What was the best part of your day?"
"You."
"I'll kiss you with more finesse when I can stop worrying that it'll be the last time I get your lips."
It felt good to be needed. It felt good to belong. It felt good to be... loved.
November 8, 2025
ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: 4.3 ⭐️
sᴘɪᴄᴇ: 3 🌶
Whether you like pineapple on pizza or not, you will love this second chance rom-com. A story about loss & finding love in unexpected places, it begins with a meet-cute on a cruise between Cienna & Reed. It's where Cienna reveals her love for pineapple pizza, which becomes a bit of an on-going theme. Their initial connection felt so natural, despite their random encounter. So when Cienna is "ghosted" by Reed, you feel terrible for her, but fate clearly has something else in store...
There's the single parent trope, which is delicately handled when Reed becomes the legal guardian of his niece. A travel photographer & adrenaline junkie, he's out of his comfort zone with mismatched dino socks, juice boxes & sprinkle ice cream. However, his love & dedication to his niece was undeniable.
There's a bit of forbidden romance when Reed re-appears in Cienna's life after showing up at her kindergarten classroom with his niece. It was so sweet how these two worked together to help his niece adjust after a devastating loss. I loved how Cienna really stepped up to support both Reed and his niece, while he showed her what a healthy relationship looked like.
Like pineapple, the story is sweet, but also juicy. There were spicier moments that didn't feel gratuitous, especially given all the sexual chemistry between the MCs. It's a bit of a slower burn, but realistic given their delicate situation.
I truly enjoyed how heartfelt 𝐿𝑖𝑘𝑒 𝑃𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑙𝑒 𝑂𝑛 𝑃𝑖𝑧𝑧𝑎 was and so impressed that this is Amber's debut! It has the perfect mix of humour, spice & drama. A big thanks to Amber Mae & Love Notes PR for giving me the opportunity to read the eARC. The book is available now!
sᴘɪᴄᴇ: 3 🌶
Whether you like pineapple on pizza or not, you will love this second chance rom-com. A story about loss & finding love in unexpected places, it begins with a meet-cute on a cruise between Cienna & Reed. It's where Cienna reveals her love for pineapple pizza, which becomes a bit of an on-going theme. Their initial connection felt so natural, despite their random encounter. So when Cienna is "ghosted" by Reed, you feel terrible for her, but fate clearly has something else in store...
There's the single parent trope, which is delicately handled when Reed becomes the legal guardian of his niece. A travel photographer & adrenaline junkie, he's out of his comfort zone with mismatched dino socks, juice boxes & sprinkle ice cream. However, his love & dedication to his niece was undeniable.
There's a bit of forbidden romance when Reed re-appears in Cienna's life after showing up at her kindergarten classroom with his niece. It was so sweet how these two worked together to help his niece adjust after a devastating loss. I loved how Cienna really stepped up to support both Reed and his niece, while he showed her what a healthy relationship looked like.
Like pineapple, the story is sweet, but also juicy. There were spicier moments that didn't feel gratuitous, especially given all the sexual chemistry between the MCs. It's a bit of a slower burn, but realistic given their delicate situation.
I truly enjoyed how heartfelt 𝐿𝑖𝑘𝑒 𝑃𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑙𝑒 𝑂𝑛 𝑃𝑖𝑧𝑧𝑎 was and so impressed that this is Amber's debut! It has the perfect mix of humour, spice & drama. A big thanks to Amber Mae & Love Notes PR for giving me the opportunity to read the eARC. The book is available now!
November 5, 2025
*Thank you to Love Notes PR and the author, Amber Mae for E ARC, in exchange for an honest review*
I’m in love.
It didn’t take me long to be captured by Cienna and Reed’s story. The moment that the two of them met on the cruise, you could practically feel the connection between them. I adored the way that the cruise brought the two of them together. The scenes between the two of them were my favorites, and I couldn’t seem to get enough of them. I loved the bond the two of them shared, and when they were together, they were happy. I think I knew that the two of them belonged with each other before they did. I was curious to see what would happen between the two of them once they saw each other again.
Abi. I adored her. I loved her personality, and you couldn’t help but fall in love with her. The bond she had with Cienna made me smile; it was clear how much she loved Cienna. I also loved how Abi tried to make everyone happy. I’m still smiling while writing about her. I do believe that she helped Reed heal. That’s what I loved about Reed: how much he loved Abi.
Like Pineapple On Pizza is much more than a romance story. It’s a story about healing, family, friendships, and second chances. I liked the way Amber developed the relationship between Reed and Cienna; it felt real, and the bond between Cienna, Reed, and Abi. This book had me going through a variety of emotions; I’m still thinking about the story. This was a beautifully written debut novel, and I cannot wait to see what the author has in store for us next!
I’m in love.
It didn’t take me long to be captured by Cienna and Reed’s story. The moment that the two of them met on the cruise, you could practically feel the connection between them. I adored the way that the cruise brought the two of them together. The scenes between the two of them were my favorites, and I couldn’t seem to get enough of them. I loved the bond the two of them shared, and when they were together, they were happy. I think I knew that the two of them belonged with each other before they did. I was curious to see what would happen between the two of them once they saw each other again.
Abi. I adored her. I loved her personality, and you couldn’t help but fall in love with her. The bond she had with Cienna made me smile; it was clear how much she loved Cienna. I also loved how Abi tried to make everyone happy. I’m still smiling while writing about her. I do believe that she helped Reed heal. That’s what I loved about Reed: how much he loved Abi.
Like Pineapple On Pizza is much more than a romance story. It’s a story about healing, family, friendships, and second chances. I liked the way Amber developed the relationship between Reed and Cienna; it felt real, and the bond between Cienna, Reed, and Abi. This book had me going through a variety of emotions; I’m still thinking about the story. This was a beautifully written debut novel, and I cannot wait to see what the author has in store for us next!
November 4, 2025
This is one of those things that causes so many arguments - but not in my house.
We are obsessed with pizza but there's no situation ever, when you should put pineapple on pizza! Just no!
Knowing that, you might be surprised about just how much I had to have this book!
I was just so drawn to this title and cute cover image and had to find out which of our characters was the "pineapple devil"!
From the cover, this looked like a standard quick read romcom, so when I spotted that this was over 450 pages, I was a little shocked - but there was so, so much more to this read and I honestly went on a rollercoaster of emotions throughout.
I loved that we got to see all the different pov's through this book as, given the content, we really did need to see the individual feelings and emotions and to feel the connection that the characters had with each other - all around, not just the romance.
I loved Reed and Abi and their story and journey was heartbreaking, but also beautiful.
Seeing how Cienna interacted with each of them and how she became such a great support for them both was so good.
Obviously we do see a great romantic connection forming between Reed and Cici and their chemistry was strong.
They had an interesting backstory which unfolded gradually and for all that they tried, they just couldn't deny that connection they had all along.
This was such an immersive read and something that I really wasn't expecting.
My first by this author, but I'm looking forward to seeing more from them soon.
We are obsessed with pizza but there's no situation ever, when you should put pineapple on pizza! Just no!
Knowing that, you might be surprised about just how much I had to have this book!
I was just so drawn to this title and cute cover image and had to find out which of our characters was the "pineapple devil"!
From the cover, this looked like a standard quick read romcom, so when I spotted that this was over 450 pages, I was a little shocked - but there was so, so much more to this read and I honestly went on a rollercoaster of emotions throughout.
I loved that we got to see all the different pov's through this book as, given the content, we really did need to see the individual feelings and emotions and to feel the connection that the characters had with each other - all around, not just the romance.
I loved Reed and Abi and their story and journey was heartbreaking, but also beautiful.
Seeing how Cienna interacted with each of them and how she became such a great support for them both was so good.
Obviously we do see a great romantic connection forming between Reed and Cici and their chemistry was strong.
They had an interesting backstory which unfolded gradually and for all that they tried, they just couldn't deny that connection they had all along.
This was such an immersive read and something that I really wasn't expecting.
My first by this author, but I'm looking forward to seeing more from them soon.
November 3, 2025
I was given an ARC of this book for my honest review.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
What to expect:
🥰 Single Parent
🤭 Taboo-ish/Secret Relationship
🧡 Forced Proximity
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Cienna “Cici” Vilotta is a kindergarten teacher in line for a promotion to principal at the school her late grandmother founded. She meets Reed on a cruise a few months before his niece ends up as her student.
Reed Marsh is a bachelor who travels as a photographer, and is on the cruise for work. He meets Cici and is pretty smitten, but because of a death in his family, he becomes sole caregiver to his niece, Abigail “Abi” Elizabeth Marsh.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I enjoyed the storyline for this book. A couple times it frustrated me, but overall it was really good.
Reed and Cici have a fun start to their relationship, meeting on a cruise, only to have it abruptly change due to a death in the family. This causes Reed to unintentionally ghost Cici for a couple of months, before meeting her again as the sole guardian of his five year old niece, Abi. She ends up in Cici's class.
They can't seem to stay away from each other, even though they each have something major going on in their life. (He has a custody battle going on with his mom and stepfather. She has a big promotion to becoming principal.)
Many times they reference Pineapple, and I will not lie, it got annoying sometimes. It annoyed me because I wanted Pineapple pizza!
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
What to expect:
🥰 Single Parent
🤭 Taboo-ish/Secret Relationship
🧡 Forced Proximity
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Cienna “Cici” Vilotta is a kindergarten teacher in line for a promotion to principal at the school her late grandmother founded. She meets Reed on a cruise a few months before his niece ends up as her student.
Reed Marsh is a bachelor who travels as a photographer, and is on the cruise for work. He meets Cici and is pretty smitten, but because of a death in his family, he becomes sole caregiver to his niece, Abigail “Abi” Elizabeth Marsh.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I enjoyed the storyline for this book. A couple times it frustrated me, but overall it was really good.
Reed and Cici have a fun start to their relationship, meeting on a cruise, only to have it abruptly change due to a death in the family. This causes Reed to unintentionally ghost Cici for a couple of months, before meeting her again as the sole guardian of his five year old niece, Abi. She ends up in Cici's class.
They can't seem to stay away from each other, even though they each have something major going on in their life. (He has a custody battle going on with his mom and stepfather. She has a big promotion to becoming principal.)
Many times they reference Pineapple, and I will not lie, it got annoying sometimes. It annoyed me because I wanted Pineapple pizza!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 4, 2025
The moment I stumbled across this book I was instantly curious about it. I've been looking forward to this debut ever since! I got right into this story. I so enjoyed it!
Cienna and Reed's journey captured my attention so quickly! Reed is a photographer and Cienna is a teacher. The two of them collide on a cruise and have stayed with each other's hearts. Little did Reed and Cienna know that they'd be reunited in Cienna's classroom. Will Cienna and Reed take a chance on what they have and be together despite everything?
From the moment they met to how they were brought back into each other's lives, both Cienna and Reed had me so into their journey. It made me happy that the cruise brought them together. I didn't know how Reed and Cienna would deal with being around each other again and everything between them.
Cienna and Reed had me feeling so much and many moments got me right in the chest! They both had things going on in their lives and it made them even more relatable to me. I so admired how Reed stepped up to be a parent and Cienna's dedication to the school. The chemistry between Reed and Cienna was so good! These two were so cute together.
With Like Pineapple on Pizza, Amber Mae has created such a good debut that brought realness, teacher x photographer, single parent, and it had me feeling so much! I'm looking forward to more from this author! 🍍🍕
*I volunteered to read and review a copy of this book from Love Notes PR / the author*
Cienna and Reed's journey captured my attention so quickly! Reed is a photographer and Cienna is a teacher. The two of them collide on a cruise and have stayed with each other's hearts. Little did Reed and Cienna know that they'd be reunited in Cienna's classroom. Will Cienna and Reed take a chance on what they have and be together despite everything?
From the moment they met to how they were brought back into each other's lives, both Cienna and Reed had me so into their journey. It made me happy that the cruise brought them together. I didn't know how Reed and Cienna would deal with being around each other again and everything between them.
Cienna and Reed had me feeling so much and many moments got me right in the chest! They both had things going on in their lives and it made them even more relatable to me. I so admired how Reed stepped up to be a parent and Cienna's dedication to the school. The chemistry between Reed and Cienna was so good! These two were so cute together.
With Like Pineapple on Pizza, Amber Mae has created such a good debut that brought realness, teacher x photographer, single parent, and it had me feeling so much! I'm looking forward to more from this author! 🍍🍕
*I volunteered to read and review a copy of this book from Love Notes PR / the author*
November 8, 2025
First and foremost pineapple DOES GO ON PIZZA!!🍕🍍
This book was such a cozy read with amazingly written and complex characters, may I say Abi was my favourite one? Is so rare to find a book with children in it where they are not overwritten or under written, or their intelligence does not match their age and it makes me cringe, but not Abigail she was perfectly 5 and enjoyable to read.
Honestly I do wish the cruise part would have been more compact just to spend more time in their everyday life figuring out their relationship!
~Blurb~
Cici is a preschool teacher and she met Reed on a cruise when he was working as a travel photographer and they have a whirlwind romance but when it is time to take it to real life he doesnt appear and she's left waiting for him.
3 Months later after Cici thinking and overthinking what happened in that cruise she's surprised by the fact that one of her student's parents is in fact Reed.
Reed's life takes a 180 turn when on the last day on his love andenture on a cruise he receives the call that changed everything his sister passed away in an accident and he must fly home to take care of his 5y/o niece.
Tropes:
🍍 RomCom
🍕 Forced Proximity
🍍Second Chance
🍕Vacation Fling
🍍Single Parent
🍕Forehead Kissed
🍍Forbidden Romance
Pineapple on Pizza by Amber Mae is already out and available on kindle, make sure to check it out!
Thanks to Amber Mae and Love Notes PR for sending this ARC in exchange for my honest review
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
🌶️🌶️
This book was such a cozy read with amazingly written and complex characters, may I say Abi was my favourite one? Is so rare to find a book with children in it where they are not overwritten or under written, or their intelligence does not match their age and it makes me cringe, but not Abigail she was perfectly 5 and enjoyable to read.
Honestly I do wish the cruise part would have been more compact just to spend more time in their everyday life figuring out their relationship!
~Blurb~
Cici is a preschool teacher and she met Reed on a cruise when he was working as a travel photographer and they have a whirlwind romance but when it is time to take it to real life he doesnt appear and she's left waiting for him.
3 Months later after Cici thinking and overthinking what happened in that cruise she's surprised by the fact that one of her student's parents is in fact Reed.
Reed's life takes a 180 turn when on the last day on his love andenture on a cruise he receives the call that changed everything his sister passed away in an accident and he must fly home to take care of his 5y/o niece.
Tropes:
🍍 RomCom
🍕 Forced Proximity
🍍Second Chance
🍕Vacation Fling
🍍Single Parent
🍕Forehead Kissed
🍍Forbidden Romance
Pineapple on Pizza by Amber Mae is already out and available on kindle, make sure to check it out!
Thanks to Amber Mae and Love Notes PR for sending this ARC in exchange for my honest review
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
🌶️🌶️
November 6, 2025
Like Pineapple On Pizza is available! I shared the cover reveal a few months ago and then was honored with receiving an ARC! Thank you! 💌
What to expect:
🍍 Single “Parent”
🍕 Secret Relationship
🍍 Forced Proximity
Cienna is determined to honor her grandmother’s legacy by becoming the next principal at her school. With the board of trustees watching, she’s focused on proving herself—and forgetting the summer fling who ghosted her months ago. Everything’s under control… until he walks into her classroom on the first day, with his child! Reed thought he had life figured out—then one call turned everything upside down. Now he’s juggling custody battles, parenting mishaps, and the reappearance of the woman he never got over. As they navigate their unexpected reunion, old sparks reignite amidst chaos. She challenges him to grow up and he dares her to dream. But with so much at stake can they turn life’s mess into something sweet— or will their second chance slip away?
I loved that I was reading this book on a cruise… when Cienna and Reed met at a bar, on a cruise!
The scene where Cienna reads to Abi 🥹😭 I’d love to read more about Cienna and Reed. I also appreciated that there wasn’t necessarily a 3rd act break - up (a deal breaker for me). The dynamic, connection, the EVERYTHING about them was adorable and I loved it, just like I love pineapple on pizza!
What to expect:
🍍 Single “Parent”
🍕 Secret Relationship
🍍 Forced Proximity
Cienna is determined to honor her grandmother’s legacy by becoming the next principal at her school. With the board of trustees watching, she’s focused on proving herself—and forgetting the summer fling who ghosted her months ago. Everything’s under control… until he walks into her classroom on the first day, with his child! Reed thought he had life figured out—then one call turned everything upside down. Now he’s juggling custody battles, parenting mishaps, and the reappearance of the woman he never got over. As they navigate their unexpected reunion, old sparks reignite amidst chaos. She challenges him to grow up and he dares her to dream. But with so much at stake can they turn life’s mess into something sweet— or will their second chance slip away?
I loved that I was reading this book on a cruise… when Cienna and Reed met at a bar, on a cruise!
The scene where Cienna reads to Abi 🥹😭 I’d love to read more about Cienna and Reed. I also appreciated that there wasn’t necessarily a 3rd act break - up (a deal breaker for me). The dynamic, connection, the EVERYTHING about them was adorable and I loved it, just like I love pineapple on pizza!
November 12, 2025
I was about to get ridiculed for my choice in pizza topping, endlessly teased, for sure, but the thought of him picking out a pineapple just for my sake made my heart want to explode from my chest.
“You got a pineapple.” My voice was mostly a squeak.
“I did.”
This book was SO precious, and as someone who loves pineapple on pizza, I loved it even more because of that! The character development of Cici felt so relatable, and I loved the overall relationship between her, Reed, and Abi; she was so adorable! It was so refreshing to see how Cici and Reed handled their respective professional and emotional commitments and issues, while still clearly wanting to pursue something with each other, and learning to balance all of those things in order to make things work. This was such a fun read, and I can't wait to see what else the author does next!
🍍 Forced Proximity
🍍 Vacation Fling
🍍 Second Chance
🍍 Single Parent
🍍 Slow Burn
🍍 Teacher FMC x Photographer MMC
🍕 Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
🍕 Characters: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
🍕 Plot: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
🍕 World Building: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
🍕 Spice (if any): 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
🍕 Ending: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Thank you again to the author and Love Notes PR for the ARC! 🧡
🧡 Like my review? Follow me on my Bookstagram to see more of my reviews & bookish content 🧡
“You got a pineapple.” My voice was mostly a squeak.
“I did.”
This book was SO precious, and as someone who loves pineapple on pizza, I loved it even more because of that! The character development of Cici felt so relatable, and I loved the overall relationship between her, Reed, and Abi; she was so adorable! It was so refreshing to see how Cici and Reed handled their respective professional and emotional commitments and issues, while still clearly wanting to pursue something with each other, and learning to balance all of those things in order to make things work. This was such a fun read, and I can't wait to see what else the author does next!
🍍 Forced Proximity
🍍 Vacation Fling
🍍 Second Chance
🍍 Single Parent
🍍 Slow Burn
🍍 Teacher FMC x Photographer MMC
🍕 Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
🍕 Characters: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
🍕 Plot: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
🍕 World Building: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
🍕 Spice (if any): 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
🍕 Ending: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Thank you again to the author and Love Notes PR for the ARC! 🧡
🧡 Like my review? Follow me on my Bookstagram to see more of my reviews & bookish content 🧡
October 27, 2025
⭐️📚ARC Book Review⭐️📚
I’ll admit it: I was hooked before I even cracked the cover - because YES, I firmly believe pineapple belongs on pizza 🍍🍕 and the title made me grin from the start.
Thank you to @lovenotes.pr and @authorambermae for allowing me to be an ARC for this book.
This story delivers on that quirky promise: Cienna, driven and razor-focused on stepping into a big role in her school, has it all under control……..UNTIL the summer romance hot ginger guy she’s been trying to forget suddenly walks into her classroom - hand in hand with a kid. Whoa, a child that is undeniably his - this is where chaos (in the best way) kicks in.
Then we have Reed; the carefree vacations, zero responsibilities…… UNTIL life throws him a pineapple curveball in the form of unexpected parent- duty and the woman he never got over. Cue sparks and the emotional stakes.
What works:
💙 the chemistry between them is warm, funny and grounded
🍍I loved how the “pineapple on pizza” metaphor echoes their relationship: maybe unconventional, maybe frowned on by some - but somehow just right
💙 supporting characters feel real, and the family/guardian dynamics add depth beyond the romance
💕 if you’re anti-pineapple on pizza (gasp😱) you may side-eye the metaphor - but just go with it.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
If you’re anything like me (and firmly #TeamPIneappleOnPizza), this is a must-read.
I’ll admit it: I was hooked before I even cracked the cover - because YES, I firmly believe pineapple belongs on pizza 🍍🍕 and the title made me grin from the start.
Thank you to @lovenotes.pr and @authorambermae for allowing me to be an ARC for this book.
This story delivers on that quirky promise: Cienna, driven and razor-focused on stepping into a big role in her school, has it all under control……..UNTIL the summer romance hot ginger guy she’s been trying to forget suddenly walks into her classroom - hand in hand with a kid. Whoa, a child that is undeniably his - this is where chaos (in the best way) kicks in.
Then we have Reed; the carefree vacations, zero responsibilities…… UNTIL life throws him a pineapple curveball in the form of unexpected parent- duty and the woman he never got over. Cue sparks and the emotional stakes.
What works:
💙 the chemistry between them is warm, funny and grounded
🍍I loved how the “pineapple on pizza” metaphor echoes their relationship: maybe unconventional, maybe frowned on by some - but somehow just right
💙 supporting characters feel real, and the family/guardian dynamics add depth beyond the romance
💕 if you’re anti-pineapple on pizza (gasp😱) you may side-eye the metaphor - but just go with it.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
If you’re anything like me (and firmly #TeamPIneappleOnPizza), this is a must-read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 2, 2025
This book took a bit longer to read due to wanting to savor it and not have it end. This book made me go through the emotions with the characters. You will meet so many characters that you love, to a few that you can’t stand and wished never came into the book. You will also go through screaming fits as to no this shouldn’t be happening.
Cici is a character so relatable that you can’t help but to cheer on throughout the entire book. You also, can’t help but get mad at in a few areas. What I loved was how amazing she was with the children in the book, how devoted she was, she even put her happiness on the back burner due to how devoted she was to her job.
Reed is fully swoon worthy, everything about him just was perfect. At the beginning he made me laugh, to making me angry, however, there was a beautiful reason to why he made everyone angry. He was kind, witty and so full of life.
I promise you, you will love this book and it’s so worth the anticipation and wait of events. You will not regret it.
Warning, there is spice in this book and family loss and grief to overcome. I promise it’s worth reading and overcoming the warnings.
Cici is a character so relatable that you can’t help but to cheer on throughout the entire book. You also, can’t help but get mad at in a few areas. What I loved was how amazing she was with the children in the book, how devoted she was, she even put her happiness on the back burner due to how devoted she was to her job.
Reed is fully swoon worthy, everything about him just was perfect. At the beginning he made me laugh, to making me angry, however, there was a beautiful reason to why he made everyone angry. He was kind, witty and so full of life.
I promise you, you will love this book and it’s so worth the anticipation and wait of events. You will not regret it.
Warning, there is spice in this book and family loss and grief to overcome. I promise it’s worth reading and overcoming the warnings.
November 4, 2025
Happy Release Day!
@ambermae
Like Pineapple on Pizza is such a cute book; packed with powerful emotions from grief to love, open door spice (not too shabby), and pineapple on pizza of course!
Reed, Abi & Cici are such a dream team together. The sarcasm and banter were some of my favorite aspects of this book. From carefree cruise life to stressful real life; both Reed and Cici need to figure out how to join their chaos and be happy.
Without giving too many spoilers I really enjoyed the ride. Right off the bat I fell in love with Cici’s awkwardness and Reed overzealous charisma and charm. Then, reality sets in and Abi joins the scene….and Jill 🙄. Let me just say, I *almost* still don’t forgive Jill haha but as a mom myself, I kinda had to in the end lol when you read it, you’ll get it and I want you all to come back and tell me your feelings!
The spice was nice, without taking away from the story itself. The vibes are great and I give it 4/5 stars.
Thank you to #lovenotespr and Amber Mae for giving me the opportunity to read this ahead of time!
#likepineappleonpizza #ambermaeauthor #newbook #review #bookreview #readingbrooks #booksta #bookstagram #bookish #romance
@ambermae
Like Pineapple on Pizza is such a cute book; packed with powerful emotions from grief to love, open door spice (not too shabby), and pineapple on pizza of course!
Reed, Abi & Cici are such a dream team together. The sarcasm and banter were some of my favorite aspects of this book. From carefree cruise life to stressful real life; both Reed and Cici need to figure out how to join their chaos and be happy.
Without giving too many spoilers I really enjoyed the ride. Right off the bat I fell in love with Cici’s awkwardness and Reed overzealous charisma and charm. Then, reality sets in and Abi joins the scene….and Jill 🙄. Let me just say, I *almost* still don’t forgive Jill haha but as a mom myself, I kinda had to in the end lol when you read it, you’ll get it and I want you all to come back and tell me your feelings!
The spice was nice, without taking away from the story itself. The vibes are great and I give it 4/5 stars.
Thank you to #lovenotespr and Amber Mae for giving me the opportunity to read this ahead of time!
#likepineappleonpizza #ambermaeauthor #newbook #review #bookreview #readingbrooks #booksta #bookstagram #bookish #romance
October 17, 2025
⭐️ 4/5
This was such a cute and heartwarming read. I loved Reed and Cienna’s dynamic! The way their relationship developed felt so natural and full of genuine care. Reed’s love for Abigail and how deeply he wanted to protect her melted my heart, and Cienna’s bond with Abigail was just as beautiful. She loved that little girl like her own, and those moments between them were some of my favorites in the whole book.
I also appreciated how Cienna had such a strong support system and how she never lost sight of who she was, even when things got complicated with her job and Jill (ugh, don’t get me started on Jill!). Thankfully, there was some redemption toward the end with Jill realizing Cienna encouraged her daughter’s love for reading, and Reed’s mom finally leaving that awful stepfather.
And the ending? Perfect. Seeing Cienna finally get her promotion felt so well-deserved after everything she went through. Sweet, full of heart, and quietly empowering. Like Pineapples on Pizza was definitely a 4-star read for me. 🍍❤️
This was such a cute and heartwarming read. I loved Reed and Cienna’s dynamic! The way their relationship developed felt so natural and full of genuine care. Reed’s love for Abigail and how deeply he wanted to protect her melted my heart, and Cienna’s bond with Abigail was just as beautiful. She loved that little girl like her own, and those moments between them were some of my favorites in the whole book.
I also appreciated how Cienna had such a strong support system and how she never lost sight of who she was, even when things got complicated with her job and Jill (ugh, don’t get me started on Jill!). Thankfully, there was some redemption toward the end with Jill realizing Cienna encouraged her daughter’s love for reading, and Reed’s mom finally leaving that awful stepfather.
And the ending? Perfect. Seeing Cienna finally get her promotion felt so well-deserved after everything she went through. Sweet, full of heart, and quietly empowering. Like Pineapples on Pizza was definitely a 4-star read for me. 🍍❤️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 3, 2025
A strong debut from the author, looking forward to reading some more from her.
Reed and Cienna’s connection felt so real and made the story a breeze to get through. Their relationship grew in such a natural way, filled with true care for each other. I was especially touched by how devoted Reed was to Abigail; his protectiveness was super sweet, and Cienna’s relationship with Abigail was just as lovely to watch.
One thing I really liked was how Cienna always leaned on her strong group of friends and never lost her sense of self. Reed’s challenges as a new parent and his commitment to figuring it out really tugged at my heartstrings, too.
The ending wrapped everything up so nicely; sweet, heartfelt, and uplifting in a quiet way. It wasn’t just satisfying for the main characters; even side characters got their moments, like Reed’s mom finally standing by her son and granddaughter, and Jill coming to understand Cienna.
All in all, this left me feeling warm and satisfied, and I’d definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a sweet story about love, growth, and family.
Reed and Cienna’s connection felt so real and made the story a breeze to get through. Their relationship grew in such a natural way, filled with true care for each other. I was especially touched by how devoted Reed was to Abigail; his protectiveness was super sweet, and Cienna’s relationship with Abigail was just as lovely to watch.
One thing I really liked was how Cienna always leaned on her strong group of friends and never lost her sense of self. Reed’s challenges as a new parent and his commitment to figuring it out really tugged at my heartstrings, too.
The ending wrapped everything up so nicely; sweet, heartfelt, and uplifting in a quiet way. It wasn’t just satisfying for the main characters; even side characters got their moments, like Reed’s mom finally standing by her son and granddaughter, and Jill coming to understand Cienna.
All in all, this left me feeling warm and satisfied, and I’d definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a sweet story about love, growth, and family.
October 27, 2025
I received this book as an ARC and am so grateful to have had the opportunity to read it! I really liked the premise of the book and the main characters had a lot of sweet moments. If you love books with a lot of fluff and with a man that feels like he was made for women, this book is for you! Reed was quite literally built to make women swoon— he is the guy who does everything right (and can lowkey probably read minds).
That being said, I feel like the characters were also missing a lot of nuance. They felt a bit like caricatures and they were missing a lot of the range that put them into “real human being” category. I loved all the chemistry on the cruise between Cici and Reed (though not a huge fan of her Cici’s friends) and would have loved if the cruise were told as a flashback after Reed and Cici’s meeting on the first day of school. It would have worked better with the pacing, in my opinion.
Overall, this book was a cute, easy read and is a promising debut novel!
That being said, I feel like the characters were also missing a lot of nuance. They felt a bit like caricatures and they were missing a lot of the range that put them into “real human being” category. I loved all the chemistry on the cruise between Cici and Reed (though not a huge fan of her Cici’s friends) and would have loved if the cruise were told as a flashback after Reed and Cici’s meeting on the first day of school. It would have worked better with the pacing, in my opinion.
Overall, this book was a cute, easy read and is a promising debut novel!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 16, 2025
Cienna, una maestra de kínder introvertida y amante del café, acepta acompañar a sus amigas a un crucero para celebrar la despedida de soltera de una de ellas. Entre juegos con forma de pene, risas y copas rosadas, lo último que esperaba era conocer al tipo más guapo del barco: Reed, un fotógrafo pelirrojo con una sonrisa capaz de desarmar a cualquiera.
Lo que empieza como un juego y una apuesta termina convirtiéndose en algo más profundo, con conversaciones sinceras, atracción irresistible y la promesa de una conexión que podría sobrevivir incluso después del crucero. Pero entre malentendidos, miedos y la realidad que los espera en tierra firme, ambos deberán decidir si el amor (como la piña en la pizza) realmente puede funcionar pese a las diferencias.
Gracias Love Notes PR por el ARC.
Lo que empieza como un juego y una apuesta termina convirtiéndose en algo más profundo, con conversaciones sinceras, atracción irresistible y la promesa de una conexión que podría sobrevivir incluso después del crucero. Pero entre malentendidos, miedos y la realidad que los espera en tierra firme, ambos deberán decidir si el amor (como la piña en la pizza) realmente puede funcionar pese a las diferencias.
Gracias Love Notes PR por el ARC.
October 26, 2025
There was so much packed into this book and it was such a fun ride. It starts off with Cienna on a cruise with her best friends for a Bachelorette party, follows her through her job as a kindergarten teacher trying to go for a principal promotion all while getting into a relationship with Reed.
Reed has his own stuff going on as a traveling photographer who met Cienna on the cruise, to losing a family member and stepping into the role of parent.
I really enjoyed this book because yes it did have romance but I found Amber focused more on the actual relationship between characters in a realistic way. Romantic relationships, work relationships, friend relationships and family relationships
Reed has his own stuff going on as a traveling photographer who met Cienna on the cruise, to losing a family member and stepping into the role of parent.
I really enjoyed this book because yes it did have romance but I found Amber focused more on the actual relationship between characters in a realistic way. Romantic relationships, work relationships, friend relationships and family relationships
November 1, 2025
From the very first chapter. Cienna was sweet, introverted, and easy to root for, and Reed totally stole my heart. Their chemistry was gentle but deep, and I liked how their relationship built slowly, with humor and healing mixed in. Reed’s story hit me hard, seeing him go from fun photographer to uncle turned dad mode while dealing with grief was touching. And CiCi stepping in to help, always kind but strong, made me love her even more. The writing felt natural and easy to read. A love story about healing, second chances, and finding warmth after loss. Thank you so much to the author and Love Notes PR for giving me the opportunity to read the book in advance, I received this for free and I'm leaving an honest review.
November 4, 2025
ARC READ, 3.5⭐️
First, I’d like to thank Love Notes PR and Amber Mae for this opportunity. They asked for my truthful opinion of the book, here it is:
To be honest, the first quarter of the book was a bit hard to get through for me. Maybe I just wasn’t in the mood. I think it could have been shorter, or integrated as flashbacks later on in the book. But after the first quarter, it was quick to read and very enjoyable. The drama wasn’t « too much », and the characters had some depth, the « mean » people really being mean, and the ones having a redemption arc not coming out of the blue.
I didn’t put 5 stars because of the whole first arc, but 4 stars because I love Abi and the battles fought in this book speak to me.
Lovely read, would recommend.
First, I’d like to thank Love Notes PR and Amber Mae for this opportunity. They asked for my truthful opinion of the book, here it is:
To be honest, the first quarter of the book was a bit hard to get through for me. Maybe I just wasn’t in the mood. I think it could have been shorter, or integrated as flashbacks later on in the book. But after the first quarter, it was quick to read and very enjoyable. The drama wasn’t « too much », and the characters had some depth, the « mean » people really being mean, and the ones having a redemption arc not coming out of the blue.
I didn’t put 5 stars because of the whole first arc, but 4 stars because I love Abi and the battles fought in this book speak to me.
Lovely read, would recommend.
November 5, 2025
Arc review.💋🖤
I’d love to thank the author for giving me this opportunity for reading this arc. I enjoyed it very much.♥️♥️
This story was such a fun read, I absolutely fell in love with the characters, the development throughout the story, the story and dynamics between these characters were amazing. They collided so perfectly. The tension, the romance.⁉️⁉️ Absolutely perfection, it was more than just romance, it was love, it was pure and meaningful, they knew what they were doing, it was cute and absolutely beautiful.♥️♥️
Overall, I’d recommend reading this novel, it was an amazing read. Thank you so much Amber for this wonderful story, these characters hold a special place in my heart.💋💋🖤
I’d love to thank the author for giving me this opportunity for reading this arc. I enjoyed it very much.♥️♥️
This story was such a fun read, I absolutely fell in love with the characters, the development throughout the story, the story and dynamics between these characters were amazing. They collided so perfectly. The tension, the romance.⁉️⁉️ Absolutely perfection, it was more than just romance, it was love, it was pure and meaningful, they knew what they were doing, it was cute and absolutely beautiful.♥️♥️
Overall, I’d recommend reading this novel, it was an amazing read. Thank you so much Amber for this wonderful story, these characters hold a special place in my heart.💋💋🖤
November 17, 2025
Has the pleasure of receiving this book as a an ARC and enjoyed every second of it.
4.5 rating on Storygraph.
This book kind of gave me an everything pizza, something for everyone. I am not sure the last time I read 50 pages to start and cackling the whole time to also tearing up while the main characters work through grief of different ways. Fresh grief and old grief.
I thought this book did a beautiful job of representing the parents that try their best everyday and might not be biological but step up and do the job each day!
I’m also a sucker for a single parent romance, especially a struggling but doing their best girl dad!
Abbigail is the cute 5 year old and I like to imagine that her and her fox live the fullest life.
4.5 rating on Storygraph.
This book kind of gave me an everything pizza, something for everyone. I am not sure the last time I read 50 pages to start and cackling the whole time to also tearing up while the main characters work through grief of different ways. Fresh grief and old grief.
I thought this book did a beautiful job of representing the parents that try their best everyday and might not be biological but step up and do the job each day!
I’m also a sucker for a single parent romance, especially a struggling but doing their best girl dad!
Abbigail is the cute 5 year old and I like to imagine that her and her fox live the fullest life.
October 20, 2025
This being a debut is crazy. It's actually so good and I'm obsessed. Reed and Cici had the best chemistry on the cruise and I was looking forward to what would happen after. I guessed from the description of the book but I was wrong. It was a lot more depressing but it just added to the depth of the book. Cici fit right into the family and became a mother figure to Abi. They tried to resist being together because she is his niece's teacher but it didn't last very long. She was going over to their house almost every day. I just loved this so much and I can't wait to read what she writes next.
I received an arc from love notes pr.
I received an arc from love notes pr.
October 21, 2025
*3⭐️3🌶️ (look on my profile to see what my ratings mean to me)
**ARC REVIEW**
First of all I would like to thank Amber Mae and LoveNotesPr for allowing me to read this ARC.
Main Tropes:
Dual POV
Forced Proximity
Second Chance Romance
Single Parent
Secret Romance
Points I enjoyed in this book:
Finally Found Another Person Who Likes Pineapple On Pizza
Abi
The Drama
The Banter
Friendships
Didn’t like/ improve:
In this book I wished there was more spice. I also wished we got some flashbacks in the story from the main characters past. I did enjoy this book and I look forward to reading more from Amber Mae.
**ARC REVIEW**
First of all I would like to thank Amber Mae and LoveNotesPr for allowing me to read this ARC.
Main Tropes:
Dual POV
Forced Proximity
Second Chance Romance
Single Parent
Secret Romance
Points I enjoyed in this book:
Finally Found Another Person Who Likes Pineapple On Pizza
Abi
The Drama
The Banter
Friendships
Didn’t like/ improve:
In this book I wished there was more spice. I also wished we got some flashbacks in the story from the main characters past. I did enjoy this book and I look forward to reading more from Amber Mae.
November 4, 2025
What a phenomenal debut romance novel! This book was a breath of fresh air and also completely heartbreaking at the same time!
Cienna is definitely awkward and a bit of a disaster but she also has the biggest heart and cares so deeply. Shes trying to make her late grandmother proud by becoming the new principal of the school her grandmother opened years ago. On a vacation cruise she has the most perfect meet cute with Reed the traveling photographer. They really hit it off and things keep interfering with their timing. Well Reed ghosts her.
Well the next time they meet is in her kindergarten classroom 😳
I truly loved this romance And all the directions it took to get to the HEA. Highly recommend 🖤💕🖤
Cienna is definitely awkward and a bit of a disaster but she also has the biggest heart and cares so deeply. Shes trying to make her late grandmother proud by becoming the new principal of the school her grandmother opened years ago. On a vacation cruise she has the most perfect meet cute with Reed the traveling photographer. They really hit it off and things keep interfering with their timing. Well Reed ghosts her.
Well the next time they meet is in her kindergarten classroom 😳
I truly loved this romance And all the directions it took to get to the HEA. Highly recommend 🖤💕🖤
November 9, 2025
I absolutely loved this book! I thought the story was very captivating. The plot and characters were well-developed. This is an open-door romance, but the focus was the story which I loved. I thought the two main characters had amazing chemistry, which was crucial with the setup of this particular story. It’s not easy to pull off some of the tropes in this one, and I applaud Amber’s writing. The fact that this is her debut is even more impressive. I am looking forward to her future novels. (Also, I loved the red haired MMC representation!)
Thank you to Love Notes PR and Amber Mae for the opportunity be an early reader with an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Love Notes PR and Amber Mae for the opportunity be an early reader with an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
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