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Hot Nights, Cold Shoulders
In search of good material for her book, an aspiring writer accepts a summer invitation from her high school bully and finds, amid obscene wealth and old wounds, the forbidden love she never planned for.
Isabel Martinez has everything she needs to finally write her book—except an idea. When her high school tormentor, the beautiful and moneyed Natalia Aranaz, extends an inexplicable invitation to spend the summer in her world of private jets and old money, Isabel's practical instincts say no, but her writer's instincts say yes. She arrives with a notebook and a plan, and immediately encounters Kieran O'Connor: a shy, handsome, and prodigiously talented Irish painter who has spent the last year haunted by a face he believes his sleeping mind invented and who, the moment Isabel steps through the door, understands that she was never imaginary at all. The only problem: Natalia's feelings for him are the worst-kept secret in the room.
What builds between Isabel and Kieran is achingly tender, charged, and dangerous: late-night conversations about art and its place in this world; a shared commitment to their creativity that makes them feel less alone; and a mutual attraction they are both too principled and too frightened to name. Isabel has survived too much to be careless with other people's feelings, and Kieran has spent his whole life making himself easy to be around, editing his own needs out of the picture to keep the peace. But their connection becomes increasingly difficult to ignore—something neither restraint nor reason can fully contain. For Kieran, it threatens the fragile equilibrium he’s spent years maintaining, pushing him toward choices that could upend everything. For Isabel, it stirs a longing she’s worked hard to keep buried, asking more of her than she’s willing to give. The closer they get, the harder it is to pretend this is fleeting—or safe. And as the summer deepens, the question isn’t whether they feel it, but whether they’ll risk everything to face what it might become.
Hot Nights, Cold Shoulders is Gaskell's most ambitious novel to date, a book that wears its summer-romance clothes over something altogether more searching. Beneath the forbidden attraction and the sun-drenched setting lies a story about what it costs to forgive, what it means to finally be witnessed, and what happens when two people choose each other—and their true selves, over all the noise—instead. It is a love story about becoming: Isabel, as she grows into her voice; Kieran into his courage, and both of them into something neither saw coming.
Isabel Martinez has everything she needs to finally write her book—except an idea. When her high school tormentor, the beautiful and moneyed Natalia Aranaz, extends an inexplicable invitation to spend the summer in her world of private jets and old money, Isabel's practical instincts say no, but her writer's instincts say yes. She arrives with a notebook and a plan, and immediately encounters Kieran O'Connor: a shy, handsome, and prodigiously talented Irish painter who has spent the last year haunted by a face he believes his sleeping mind invented and who, the moment Isabel steps through the door, understands that she was never imaginary at all. The only problem: Natalia's feelings for him are the worst-kept secret in the room.
What builds between Isabel and Kieran is achingly tender, charged, and dangerous: late-night conversations about art and its place in this world; a shared commitment to their creativity that makes them feel less alone; and a mutual attraction they are both too principled and too frightened to name. Isabel has survived too much to be careless with other people's feelings, and Kieran has spent his whole life making himself easy to be around, editing his own needs out of the picture to keep the peace. But their connection becomes increasingly difficult to ignore—something neither restraint nor reason can fully contain. For Kieran, it threatens the fragile equilibrium he’s spent years maintaining, pushing him toward choices that could upend everything. For Isabel, it stirs a longing she’s worked hard to keep buried, asking more of her than she’s willing to give. The closer they get, the harder it is to pretend this is fleeting—or safe. And as the summer deepens, the question isn’t whether they feel it, but whether they’ll risk everything to face what it might become.
Hot Nights, Cold Shoulders is Gaskell's most ambitious novel to date, a book that wears its summer-romance clothes over something altogether more searching. Beneath the forbidden attraction and the sun-drenched setting lies a story about what it costs to forgive, what it means to finally be witnessed, and what happens when two people choose each other—and their true selves, over all the noise—instead. It is a love story about becoming: Isabel, as she grows into her voice; Kieran into his courage, and both of them into something neither saw coming.
Unknown Binding
First published March 10, 2026
About the author
Carina Gaskell
6 books108 followersCarina Gaskell writes multicultural romance novels led by Filipina characters. She believes that romance is political, from who gets their Happy Ever After to how they get it and why. She seeks to explore the intersections of love, art, culture, and politics in her work, and publishes independently as praxis.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
March 12, 2026
જ⁀➴ 2.5 stars (rounded up to 3)
Thank you to Carina Gaskell and Love Notes PR for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. Hot Nights, Cold Shoulders is out now!
⊹₊⟡⋆🎨🖌️⋆⟡₊⊹🎨🖌️⋆⟡₊⊹🎨🖌️⋆⟡₊⊹🎨🖌️⋆⟡₊⊹🎨🖌️⋆⟡₊⊹🎨🖌️⋆⟡₊⊹🎨🖌️⋆⟡₊⊹🎨🖌️⋆⟡₊⊹🎨
I felt so conflicted reading this book. It was as if it was trying to be a little bit of everything all at the same time, and yet I still found some aspects of the book very well done and written.
Isabel Martinez has dreams of becoming a writer and making a name for herself. When her mentor/boss tells her to come up with a pitch for a book by the end of the summer, she's ready to kickstart her writing career...except she has no idea what to write about. When her high school bully, Natalia Aranaz, randomly invites her to come spend time with her and her friends–most of whom were also Isabel's high school bullies—she takes this as an opportunity to gather intel on how the upper 1% of Manila's population lives and write a book based on them. Upon arriving, she meets the mysterious, quiet, Kieran O'Connor, an artist struggling with a creative block who has a deadline to have pieces made for an art exhibition by the end of the summer. As both of them help each other through their creative blocks, they grow closer together, but will they become something more?
The first thing I loved about this story was the setting. It takes place in the Philippines, and the descriptions of the settings, the atmosphere, the climate, and the culture all made me feel like I was there myself! I also loved the diversity of the characters; the characters were from all around the world, ranging from Spain, Ireland, the US, the Philippines, and more, and there was some LGBTQ+ rep with a side character who's bisexual.
I loved Isabel and Kieran's relationship. It was the kind of wholesome relationship that you'd want to have in real life. They were so gentle with each other, and the conversation just always seemed to flow between them. It was as if they were two pieces in a puzzle that fit perfectly together. (Like, come on. Look at the cover. The way Kieran's looking at Isabel? Adorable.)
There was also a lot of political commentary about freedom, the right to express oneself, the upper class, and the history of The Philippines and Ireland, where Kieran's from. I thought the commentary was something worth noting because I ended up learning a lot about the history behind both countries and the political scene and climate in each of them. Isabel and Kieran bond over discussions like these, and I like how they ended up growing closer together and finding common ground despite being on opposite sides of the world.
There were a few things I found somewhat jarring while reading the book:
⟡⋆🎨The random book references: So, you've heard of pop culture references in books, from movies, TV shows, singers, bands, etc., but what about books? And I'm not just talking name-dropping a title here and there, I really mean like, name-dropping a book and then just randomly quoting things from the book in a monologue and then doing a mini literary analysis on it out of nowhere. I feel like that happened a LOT in the beginning of the book. I get it, Isabel works in the publishing world so her reading a lot of books and being able to talk about them makes sense, but it felt so jarring to me to be reading her POV talking about how she's nervous about hanging out with Natalia and her clique and then just randomly being like, "Oh yeah, it's like X book and how XYZABC happens in the book and this is the message I should take away from that."
⟡⋆🎨The talks of religion: This is something that was mentioned as a trigger warning on Love Notes PR's website when I signed up for the book, but I figured it would be worth mentioning here anyways for people who aren't aware: Isabel is VERY Catholic. The Philippines as a country as a whole is predominantly Catholic, so it makes sense that she's very in touch with her faith and wants to grow stronger in that. As someone who was also raised Catholic, I understand where she's coming from, but I feel like it got to be a little too preachy at times to the point where it could alienate an audience. I have nothing against people who are very in touch with their beliefs and their faith, but even I felt like this was too much for me.
⟡⋆🎨Natalia and her friend group: I'm sorry, but they were written like Disney Channel movie villains. The things they would say and do to Isabel the entire trip (except for a few characters) were just absolutely childish and immature. Mind you, these characters are all in their early to mid-twenties, and they're still calling Isabel names and laughing and snickering at her like they're all still in middle school? I wanted to punch all of them for doing that to Isabel, but I also find it hard to believe that Isabel would even want to go hang out with her high school bullies for months on end, let alone wanting to stay and TRY to make them friends with her after everything they've done to her in the past. Maybe it's because I've been bullied myself growing up, so I've become more of a petty person since then, but I wouldn't have taken any of that BS from them lying down. The only bright side to this is that there is mental health rep in the story with Isabel as she struggles with her bipolar II disorder and how it's affected her. It's sad that it's because of how she was treated by Natalia and her friends, but seeing the rep in the books was nice.
⟡⋆🎨The spice: I'm cringing thinking about it now. I'm sorry, but it had to be said. I'll include the cringy bits that drove me nuts in a spoiler section below.
Overall, this book had a lot of great commentary, a great atmosphere and setting, a diverse cast of characters, but there was also a lot that I couldn't look past to make this a five-star read. I'd be willing to read more from the author in the future since this seems to be a series, but this book personally wasn't a favorite of mine.
⊹₊⟡⋆🎨🖌️⋆⟡₊⊹🎨🖌️⋆⟡₊⊹🎨🖌️⋆⟡₊⊹🎨🖌️⋆⟡₊⊹🎨🖌️⋆⟡₊⊹🎨🖌️⋆⟡₊⊹🎨🖌️⋆⟡₊⊹🎨🖌️⋆⟡₊⊹🎨
Trigger/content warnings: bullying, sexual content (1.25-1.5/5 on my personal scale, but this rating may vary from person to person with their own comfort level with spice in books), sexual harassment, institutionalization, recounted thoughts of suicide, talks of religion
SPOILER SECTION BELOW:
almost there....
SPOILER SECTION:
Isabel has a daddy kink. I know some people don't care, but seeing Isabel yell, "Oh, daddy, I'm going to come" and Kieran saying, "Yes, baby, come for daddy" just made me physically cringe.
Isabel and Kieran need to figure out and educate themselves on safe sex practices. Literally, both of them are virgins, and the first time they do it, Isabel tells him to finish inside her because she was feeling a little spicy that day? Then Isabel spends like, 3-5 chapters freaking out about whether or not she was pregnant. Like, be so for real. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. (She didn't get pregnant.)
Thank you to Carina Gaskell and Love Notes PR for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. Hot Nights, Cold Shoulders is out now!
"Sometimes the world waits for us to be the person we need to be in order to create something. We have to live life in order to depict it."
⊹₊⟡⋆🎨🖌️⋆⟡₊⊹🎨🖌️⋆⟡₊⊹🎨🖌️⋆⟡₊⊹🎨🖌️⋆⟡₊⊹🎨🖌️⋆⟡₊⊹🎨🖌️⋆⟡₊⊹🎨🖌️⋆⟡₊⊹🎨🖌️⋆⟡₊⊹🎨
I felt so conflicted reading this book. It was as if it was trying to be a little bit of everything all at the same time, and yet I still found some aspects of the book very well done and written.
Isabel Martinez has dreams of becoming a writer and making a name for herself. When her mentor/boss tells her to come up with a pitch for a book by the end of the summer, she's ready to kickstart her writing career...except she has no idea what to write about. When her high school bully, Natalia Aranaz, randomly invites her to come spend time with her and her friends–most of whom were also Isabel's high school bullies—she takes this as an opportunity to gather intel on how the upper 1% of Manila's population lives and write a book based on them. Upon arriving, she meets the mysterious, quiet, Kieran O'Connor, an artist struggling with a creative block who has a deadline to have pieces made for an art exhibition by the end of the summer. As both of them help each other through their creative blocks, they grow closer together, but will they become something more?
The first thing I loved about this story was the setting. It takes place in the Philippines, and the descriptions of the settings, the atmosphere, the climate, and the culture all made me feel like I was there myself! I also loved the diversity of the characters; the characters were from all around the world, ranging from Spain, Ireland, the US, the Philippines, and more, and there was some LGBTQ+ rep with a side character who's bisexual.
I loved Isabel and Kieran's relationship. It was the kind of wholesome relationship that you'd want to have in real life. They were so gentle with each other, and the conversation just always seemed to flow between them. It was as if they were two pieces in a puzzle that fit perfectly together. (Like, come on. Look at the cover. The way Kieran's looking at Isabel? Adorable.)
There was also a lot of political commentary about freedom, the right to express oneself, the upper class, and the history of The Philippines and Ireland, where Kieran's from. I thought the commentary was something worth noting because I ended up learning a lot about the history behind both countries and the political scene and climate in each of them. Isabel and Kieran bond over discussions like these, and I like how they ended up growing closer together and finding common ground despite being on opposite sides of the world.
There were a few things I found somewhat jarring while reading the book:
⟡⋆🎨The random book references: So, you've heard of pop culture references in books, from movies, TV shows, singers, bands, etc., but what about books? And I'm not just talking name-dropping a title here and there, I really mean like, name-dropping a book and then just randomly quoting things from the book in a monologue and then doing a mini literary analysis on it out of nowhere. I feel like that happened a LOT in the beginning of the book. I get it, Isabel works in the publishing world so her reading a lot of books and being able to talk about them makes sense, but it felt so jarring to me to be reading her POV talking about how she's nervous about hanging out with Natalia and her clique and then just randomly being like, "Oh yeah, it's like X book and how XYZABC happens in the book and this is the message I should take away from that."
⟡⋆🎨The talks of religion: This is something that was mentioned as a trigger warning on Love Notes PR's website when I signed up for the book, but I figured it would be worth mentioning here anyways for people who aren't aware: Isabel is VERY Catholic. The Philippines as a country as a whole is predominantly Catholic, so it makes sense that she's very in touch with her faith and wants to grow stronger in that. As someone who was also raised Catholic, I understand where she's coming from, but I feel like it got to be a little too preachy at times to the point where it could alienate an audience. I have nothing against people who are very in touch with their beliefs and their faith, but even I felt like this was too much for me.
⟡⋆🎨Natalia and her friend group: I'm sorry, but they were written like Disney Channel movie villains. The things they would say and do to Isabel the entire trip (except for a few characters) were just absolutely childish and immature. Mind you, these characters are all in their early to mid-twenties, and they're still calling Isabel names and laughing and snickering at her like they're all still in middle school? I wanted to punch all of them for doing that to Isabel, but I also find it hard to believe that Isabel would even want to go hang out with her high school bullies for months on end, let alone wanting to stay and TRY to make them friends with her after everything they've done to her in the past. Maybe it's because I've been bullied myself growing up, so I've become more of a petty person since then, but I wouldn't have taken any of that BS from them lying down. The only bright side to this is that there is mental health rep in the story with Isabel as she struggles with her bipolar II disorder and how it's affected her. It's sad that it's because of how she was treated by Natalia and her friends, but seeing the rep in the books was nice.
⟡⋆🎨The spice: I'm cringing thinking about it now. I'm sorry, but it had to be said. I'll include the cringy bits that drove me nuts in a spoiler section below.
Overall, this book had a lot of great commentary, a great atmosphere and setting, a diverse cast of characters, but there was also a lot that I couldn't look past to make this a five-star read. I'd be willing to read more from the author in the future since this seems to be a series, but this book personally wasn't a favorite of mine.
⊹₊⟡⋆🎨🖌️⋆⟡₊⊹🎨🖌️⋆⟡₊⊹🎨🖌️⋆⟡₊⊹🎨🖌️⋆⟡₊⊹🎨🖌️⋆⟡₊⊹🎨🖌️⋆⟡₊⊹🎨🖌️⋆⟡₊⊹🎨🖌️⋆⟡₊⊹🎨
Trigger/content warnings: bullying, sexual content (1.25-1.5/5 on my personal scale, but this rating may vary from person to person with their own comfort level with spice in books), sexual harassment, institutionalization, recounted thoughts of suicide, talks of religion
SPOILER SECTION BELOW:
almost there....
SPOILER SECTION:
Isabel has a daddy kink. I know some people don't care, but seeing Isabel yell, "Oh, daddy, I'm going to come" and Kieran saying, "Yes, baby, come for daddy" just made me physically cringe.
Isabel and Kieran need to figure out and educate themselves on safe sex practices. Literally, both of them are virgins, and the first time they do it, Isabel tells him to finish inside her because she was feeling a little spicy that day? Then Isabel spends like, 3-5 chapters freaking out about whether or not she was pregnant. Like, be so for real. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. (She didn't get pregnant.)
March 18, 2026
3.5 ⭐
loved it but i drew the line at calling him daddy in bed 😁
loved it but i drew the line at calling him daddy in bed 😁
March 9, 2026
ARC Opportunity from Love Notes PR 💘💕💖💓💝
Is this my first 5-star read of 2026?! Yup. I loved every second of this! Isabel and Kieran are adorable, the perfect mixture of naive and spicy; Obsessed with how their relationship developed! Everything was timed perfectly for me… Not one page is wasted and that plot twist?! I can’t wait to see how this series continues, I’m invested! 🫡
Painter x Writer 🎨
Secret Dating 💌
Forbidden Love 🤭
Summer Vacation 🏝️
Ensamble Cast 💞
Religious FMC 🙏🏻
Dual POV 👫🏻
Diverse Representation 🎗️
Plot Twist 🫨
Is this my first 5-star read of 2026?! Yup. I loved every second of this! Isabel and Kieran are adorable, the perfect mixture of naive and spicy; Obsessed with how their relationship developed! Everything was timed perfectly for me… Not one page is wasted and that plot twist?! I can’t wait to see how this series continues, I’m invested! 🫡
Painter x Writer 🎨
Secret Dating 💌
Forbidden Love 🤭
Summer Vacation 🏝️
Ensamble Cast 💞
Religious FMC 🙏🏻
Dual POV 👫🏻
Diverse Representation 🎗️
Plot Twist 🫨
February 28, 2026
Hot Nights,Cold Shoulders 🌴
Firstly,I want to thank LoveNotes PR & Carina Gaskell for trusting me with this ARC!💜
Isabel's high school bully invites her to spend the summer together .Ew no,right?However,what if this is her opportunity,to gather some material for her one and only dream : writing.
Kieran was always going around the plan. & finally he is tired of playing it safe.
Before I say ANYTHING,I will just say ALL THIS BECAUSE OF A M A N.(thank you)
Now,getting into the story I can surely say it shattered my heart into pieces from the first page to the last.I literally cried so much.
Not only about Isabel and her personal struggles,but there were so many heartbreaking moments in general,and as you read you will view that even the ones,have such a heartbreaking story and traumas that you will sob for sure,of course without that meaning their actions can be justified because of this fact.
Specifically,getting into our main girl,we see a girl that has been always through a lot & she carries that with her deeply.However,that did not stopped her from getting out of this abyss and trying to live to the fullest.In this story it is one of the few times that I want the good things (romance,friendship,happiness ) to rush to come to her.Like girl,I do not want a slow burn,give this girl WHAT SHE DESERVES.
& of course she got it to the fullest (with my reading it with tearing eyes)🥹
Kieran,was also a really good guy that supported and loves Isa in a way no one ever did.(thank you for your services🫡 ).As an individual,he carries A LOT of stuff inside his soul,and Isabel helped him a lot,without her even understanding it (cutie🫶🏻)
Lastly,I want to point out the unique set up that the story had because if you ask me personally I have not ever read something similar,& yes of course I LOVED IT.
Out on Mar 10th🍦
5⭐
Firstly,I want to thank LoveNotes PR & Carina Gaskell for trusting me with this ARC!💜
Isabel's high school bully invites her to spend the summer together .Ew no,right?However,what if this is her opportunity,to gather some material for her one and only dream : writing.
Kieran was always going around the plan. & finally he is tired of playing it safe.
Before I say ANYTHING,I will just say ALL THIS BECAUSE OF A M A N.(thank you)
Now,getting into the story I can surely say it shattered my heart into pieces from the first page to the last.I literally cried so much.
Not only about Isabel and her personal struggles,but there were so many heartbreaking moments in general,and as you read you will view that even the ones,have such a heartbreaking story and traumas that you will sob for sure,of course without that meaning their actions can be justified because of this fact.
Specifically,getting into our main girl,we see a girl that has been always through a lot & she carries that with her deeply.However,that did not stopped her from getting out of this abyss and trying to live to the fullest.In this story it is one of the few times that I want the good things (romance,friendship,happiness ) to rush to come to her.Like girl,I do not want a slow burn,give this girl WHAT SHE DESERVES.
& of course she got it to the fullest (with my reading it with tearing eyes)🥹
Kieran,was also a really good guy that supported and loves Isa in a way no one ever did.(thank you for your services🫡 ).As an individual,he carries A LOT of stuff inside his soul,and Isabel helped him a lot,without her even understanding it (cutie🫶🏻)
Lastly,I want to point out the unique set up that the story had because if you ask me personally I have not ever read something similar,& yes of course I LOVED IT.
Out on Mar 10th🍦
5⭐
March 9, 2026
ARC provided by Lovenotes pr 💌
4.5 ⭐️!!
I adored this book so much.
hot nights & cold shoulders by carina gaskell was SUCH a good time. the tension?? insane. the chemistry?? even worse (in the best way). this book had my full attention as every interaction felt like it was one step away from either a kiss or utmost fear.
i loved the banter and the emotional push and pull between them. it felt messy and real, and i’ve always loved characters who clearly care about each other but are too stubborn to admit it at first. the slow build made the wait so worthwhile.
the only reason it’s not a full 5 stars for me is that it was a little slow in the beginning yet i still wanted to know more. by the end i was not ready to say goodbye to kieran and isabel. as us irish and kieran would say, “ní neart go cur le chéile.” there is no strength without unity, isabel and kieran are stronger together than apart which makes it easier to part ways with them, knowing they are safe with each other.
if you like:
✶ tension you could cut with a knife
✶ banter & emotional chaos
✶ complicated feelings
✶ romances that feel a little too real
i would highly recommend this book!
4.5 ⭐️!!
I adored this book so much.
hot nights & cold shoulders by carina gaskell was SUCH a good time. the tension?? insane. the chemistry?? even worse (in the best way). this book had my full attention as every interaction felt like it was one step away from either a kiss or utmost fear.
i loved the banter and the emotional push and pull between them. it felt messy and real, and i’ve always loved characters who clearly care about each other but are too stubborn to admit it at first. the slow build made the wait so worthwhile.
the only reason it’s not a full 5 stars for me is that it was a little slow in the beginning yet i still wanted to know more. by the end i was not ready to say goodbye to kieran and isabel. as us irish and kieran would say, “ní neart go cur le chéile.” there is no strength without unity, isabel and kieran are stronger together than apart which makes it easier to part ways with them, knowing they are safe with each other.
if you like:
✶ tension you could cut with a knife
✶ banter & emotional chaos
✶ complicated feelings
✶ romances that feel a little too real
i would highly recommend this book!
March 3, 2026
when i say finishing this book in one sitting was the best feeling of my life and i’d do it all over again to experience isabel and kieran’s story, i mean it!!
i’ve never seen so many turn of events in a book, ones that i least expected to happen. the plot twists had my jaw DROPPED.
isabel… my heart goes all out to her. reading her story broke me. seeing everything she had to endure all her life, i just want to give her the biggest hug. and kieran, while he may not have seen what happened to isabel firsthand, he was the pillar she never knew she needed most; likewise for her to him. no matter the circumstances, they always find their way to one another <3
i loved the themes explored especially ones when the two conversed; the cruelest parts of history, the arts, reevaluating ones values, and how change can happen, or in some cases—never. truly an amazing read :))
lastly thank you to carina for providing me with an e-arc of her book! 💜
i’ve never seen so many turn of events in a book, ones that i least expected to happen. the plot twists had my jaw DROPPED.
isabel… my heart goes all out to her. reading her story broke me. seeing everything she had to endure all her life, i just want to give her the biggest hug. and kieran, while he may not have seen what happened to isabel firsthand, he was the pillar she never knew she needed most; likewise for her to him. no matter the circumstances, they always find their way to one another <3
i loved the themes explored especially ones when the two conversed; the cruelest parts of history, the arts, reevaluating ones values, and how change can happen, or in some cases—never. truly an amazing read :))
lastly thank you to carina for providing me with an e-arc of her book! 💜
Read
February 25, 2026Isabel siempre ha intentado dejar atrás los años que marcaron su adolescencia, especialmente el daño causado por Natalia, la chica rica que convirtió su vida escolar en una pesadilla. Ahora, años después y mientras intenta convertirse en escritora, recibe una inesperada invitación para pasar el verano en la lujosa casa de aquella misma persona que una vez la humilló públicamente. Lo que parece una oportunidad absurda pronto se transforma en algo imposible de ignorar, ya que Isabel ve la posibilidad de sanar viejas heridas y encontrar inspiración para la historia que podría cambiar su futuro.
___
Cuando la mamá la animó a ir a al casa de la bully no lo podía creer y cuando se descubrió porque apoyaba tanto que se perdonaran e hicieran amigas, fue peor.
Gracias Love Notes PR por el ARC.
___
Cuando la mamá la animó a ir a al casa de la bully no lo podía creer y cuando se descubrió porque apoyaba tanto que se perdonaran e hicieran amigas, fue peor.
Gracias Love Notes PR por el ARC.
March 10, 2026
Carina excelled at this toothachingly sweet romance that, at the same time, makes you question, and rage against, the system!
Isabel had my heart from the very first chapter, in which we witness her getting bullied in school. Everything she went through made me ache for her and love her more and more, and I hate the fact that some children have to go through this at such a young age. Carina has written this story marvelously, slowly building the characters and broadening the story while also making it addictive in a way that tv shows are — all of which has made me binge read it in two days! I loved Kieran, and I loved how their relationship developed. I adored their conversations, and my favorite parts were the reflections on how the rich treat everyone and everything around them.
I would highly recommend this! There's a lot more to this story than you would think, and if you haven't read Carina's books already, what are you even doing!!? I love how I always learn so much about the Philippines through her stories!
A huge thank you to Love Notes PR and the author for sending me an ARC of this book!
Isabel had my heart from the very first chapter, in which we witness her getting bullied in school. Everything she went through made me ache for her and love her more and more, and I hate the fact that some children have to go through this at such a young age. Carina has written this story marvelously, slowly building the characters and broadening the story while also making it addictive in a way that tv shows are — all of which has made me binge read it in two days! I loved Kieran, and I loved how their relationship developed. I adored their conversations, and my favorite parts were the reflections on how the rich treat everyone and everything around them.
I would highly recommend this! There's a lot more to this story than you would think, and if you haven't read Carina's books already, what are you even doing!!? I love how I always learn so much about the Philippines through her stories!
A huge thank you to Love Notes PR and the author for sending me an ARC of this book!
March 15, 2026
thank you to lovenotes PR for this ARC opportunity! I had such high hopes for this because I love messy entanglements but it just didn’t move me. it was honestly giving disney dcom energy with the way her high school “bullies” spoke about her. natalia and kieran were so cute but not convincing as a couple. maybe I’m just in a slump and this is something I need to pick up at another time. I felt a little rushed to get the review out in time.
April 12, 2026
I honestly really liked this book, mainly because of how layered and complex the characters were (I love overanalyzing characters, lol). They made me question a lot of their decisions, but at the same time, I still found myself empathizing with them because of their past and everything that shaped them.
Tbh, it’s not easy to write a story that tackles societal norms, mental and emotional layers, and cultural perspectives (especially with elements from both Philippines and Ireland) but this book delivered really well. I initially thought this would lean more into literary fiction, but the romance between Isabel and Keiran didn’t get overshadowed at all. Instead, it blended so naturally into the story that I found myself learning from it while also smiling (and blushing a little) over their “hot nights” together.
Even though I liked this book, I can’t really say it’s one of my personal favorites. But I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a romance with a lot of depth and complexity to think about.
Tbh, it’s not easy to write a story that tackles societal norms, mental and emotional layers, and cultural perspectives (especially with elements from both Philippines and Ireland) but this book delivered really well. I initially thought this would lean more into literary fiction, but the romance between Isabel and Keiran didn’t get overshadowed at all. Instead, it blended so naturally into the story that I found myself learning from it while also smiling (and blushing a little) over their “hot nights” together.
Even though I liked this book, I can’t really say it’s one of my personal favorites. But I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a romance with a lot of depth and complexity to think about.
March 8, 2026
ARC Review of Hot Nights, Cold Shoulders by Carina Gaskell! A cute summer love story with depth. The MMC Kieran was a sweetheart and the FMC Isabel was honest, messy, and real which I appreciate. I enjoyed learning more about the Philippines and even some Irish history and culture as well. I also liked the art elements. I loved the unexpected twist and ending 🥰 Be sure to add this to your TBR! It’s releasing on March 10th!
What to expect:
🎨 Painter x Writer
👀 Secret Dating
🤭 Forbidden Love
🏝️ Summer Vacation
💞 Ensemble Cast
Thank you again to the author and Love Notes PR for the advanced copy!
What to expect:
🎨 Painter x Writer
👀 Secret Dating
🤭 Forbidden Love
🏝️ Summer Vacation
💞 Ensemble Cast
Thank you again to the author and Love Notes PR for the advanced copy!
March 15, 2026
this book doesn’t make any fucking sense??? why would your bully that you haven’t seen since you were 15 invite you to spend the summer with her and her friends?? i imagine there’s an explanation for this later after i DNFed, but even if it’s valid, why the FUCK would the fmc accept??? the whole friend group is just fucking awful and irredeemable. every single one. even the ones that don’t suck that much DO suck for being complicit in the behavior of the rest. including the mmc. speaking of, why the fuck is the mmc friends with these people??? he talks about how toxic they are and essentially never says a good word but he still spends all his time with them??? what the fuck is this book??? i feel like im going crazy
March 9, 2026
actual rating: 4.25
I was on an active search for Filipino-authored books when Hot Nights, Cold shoulders came across my radar, and the premise had me instantly hooked. A girl gets invited by her high school bully to join her at her mansion for the summer, and she accepts, if only as field research on the cruel and rich to base her manuscript off of. What are her bully’s intentions? And what will happen when she captures the eye of the boy who’s off-limits?
The main characters
Isabel was the perfect recipe for a great protagonist: motivated, empathetic and insecure. Sitting in the backseat of Isabel’s mind felt like viewing the world from the perspective of someone who has been to a lot of therapy (she has), done a lot of extracurricular reading (she has) and dedicated a good portion of her life psychoanalysing people for fun.
The reader is introduced to Isabel in this blazing, unadulterated form. Then comes in Natalia Aranez. I was compelled by the power Isabel allowed Natalia to have over her healing, and the loyalty she held towards someone who she didn’t owe loyalty to. Many will find it difficult to identify with Isabel’s righteous sense of good, especially when handing Natalia the keys to redemption comes at her own expense. Readers don’t need to relate to Isabel in that respect, but it is worth learning from her.
Kieran was the tortured (nocturnal?) artist of the two. Mysterious and reserved, or more accurately shy and observant, you wonder how he got involved with Natalia’s toxic friend group.
I had a love-hate relationship with Kieran (which is a good thing!). Love interests can and should be flawed in ways which aren’t befitting of a male hero who solves all of the female lead’s problems without developing themselves in any meaningful way.
I loved how devout he was towards Isabel and how he provided her a safe space. His intelligence and sensitivity made him a great sparring partner for her, and his artistic lens made him a grade A+ worshiper of all things Isabel. He was swoonworthy by definition, but his inaction wasn’t something that could be washed away by yearning glances. Importantly, he had his own fears, insecurities, and growth to be had.
The romance
I enjoyed the pacing at the start of the book where Kieran watches Isabel from afar, whilst quietly fighting in her corner. The growth of their secret friendship felt natural through their short but meaningful interactions.
There is a turning point in their relationship, which is followed by a ‘synopsis’ of the little things they’d learnt about each other over the next couple days. Whilst this did the job at telling the reader they’d gotten closer, these conversations are some of the ones I look forward to when reading. After the buildup, I personally would’ve preferred reading those conversations happening in real time, even if only in snippets.
Though I initially thought Kieran having dreamt of Isabel before having met her was a cute red string gimmick, at some point the repeated references to Isabel being the ‘girl from my dreams’ made me wonder how much of Kieran’s feelings had been been the result of a self-fulfilling prophecy. To some extent, I worried that he was falling for the idea of Isabel, especially factoring in their dynamic as artist and muse.
Ironically, my favourite scenes from the book were of Isabel as his muse. Their sex scenes, too, were some of my favourite moments between them: tender explorations of each other’s bodies, which escalated into them sneaking behind everyone’s back. Intermixed with many scenes of hurt/comfort, I became sufficiently convinced that they’d come to know each other.
Other praise
I am not deeply spiritual but Isabel’s faith was a big part of her character and provided great insight on discussions of faith versus desire, and faith regardless of religion. There were also discussions on art accessibility, which I hadn’t deeply considered before.
I felt Isabel’s bipolar disorder and were handled with care. It was a part of her character but it wasn’t defining.
Gaskell’s own experiences with the wealthy elite in the Philippines was used to paint an imaginable picture of opulence and debauchery. It was grand but also wrought with toxic dynamics. To contrast, Isabel’s close relationship with her mother was much more familiar to me and the Filipino household I grew up in.
Natalia was a standout villain, cruel but sympathetic. The way her attitude towards Isabel fluctuated, gave me as the reader emotional whiplash. The ensemble cast were also well fleshed out, constantly making me wonder where they would stand at the end. I’m also hoping that Rocío, Isabel’s protective and much more well-off friend, will get her own book (I’m hooked!).
Ultimately, I found the ending to be fitting for all the characters (except Rocío, please Carina give her her own book).
Final thoughts
Much as I’d expected, ‘Hot Nights, Cold Shoulders’ wasn’t a wish-fulfilling revenge story. It was a story of growth and acceptance. I’d recommend this book for those who’ve wanted to be accepted. For those who love art and those who love love. And for those who’ve been to hell and come back from it.
rep: Filipina FMC, Irish MMC, bipolar disorder rep, Filipino side characters, lesbian moms
cw (full list from author’s website):
Thank you to Carina Gaskell and Love Notes PR for sending me an ARC!
I was on an active search for Filipino-authored books when Hot Nights, Cold shoulders came across my radar, and the premise had me instantly hooked. A girl gets invited by her high school bully to join her at her mansion for the summer, and she accepts, if only as field research on the cruel and rich to base her manuscript off of. What are her bully’s intentions? And what will happen when she captures the eye of the boy who’s off-limits?
The main characters
“The moon is full. It strikes me that I haven’t looked up in so long. I always stared straight ahead, or otherwise at my feet.”
Isabel was the perfect recipe for a great protagonist: motivated, empathetic and insecure. Sitting in the backseat of Isabel’s mind felt like viewing the world from the perspective of someone who has been to a lot of therapy (she has), done a lot of extracurricular reading (she has) and dedicated a good portion of her life psychoanalysing people for fun.
The reader is introduced to Isabel in this blazing, unadulterated form. Then comes in Natalia Aranez. I was compelled by the power Isabel allowed Natalia to have over her healing, and the loyalty she held towards someone who she didn’t owe loyalty to. Many will find it difficult to identify with Isabel’s righteous sense of good, especially when handing Natalia the keys to redemption comes at her own expense. Readers don’t need to relate to Isabel in that respect, but it is worth learning from her.
“A man must know his limits, and I’m afraid Isabel lies miles and miles outside of mine.”
Kieran was the tortured (nocturnal?) artist of the two. Mysterious and reserved, or more accurately shy and observant, you wonder how he got involved with Natalia’s toxic friend group.
I had a love-hate relationship with Kieran (which is a good thing!). Love interests can and should be flawed in ways which aren’t befitting of a male hero who solves all of the female lead’s problems without developing themselves in any meaningful way.
I loved how devout he was towards Isabel and how he provided her a safe space. His intelligence and sensitivity made him a great sparring partner for her, and his artistic lens made him a grade A+ worshiper of all things Isabel. He was swoonworthy by definition, but his inaction wasn’t something that could be washed away by yearning glances. Importantly, he had his own fears, insecurities, and growth to be had.
The romance
I enjoyed the pacing at the start of the book where Kieran watches Isabel from afar, whilst quietly fighting in her corner. The growth of their secret friendship felt natural through their short but meaningful interactions.
There is a turning point in their relationship, which is followed by a ‘synopsis’ of the little things they’d learnt about each other over the next couple days. Whilst this did the job at telling the reader they’d gotten closer, these conversations are some of the ones I look forward to when reading. After the buildup, I personally would’ve preferred reading those conversations happening in real time, even if only in snippets.
Though I initially thought Kieran having dreamt of Isabel before having met her was a cute red string gimmick, at some point the repeated references to Isabel being the ‘girl from my dreams’ made me wonder how much of Kieran’s feelings had been been the result of a self-fulfilling prophecy. To some extent, I worried that he was falling for the idea of Isabel, especially factoring in their dynamic as artist and muse.
Ironically, my favourite scenes from the book were of Isabel as his muse. Their sex scenes, too, were some of my favourite moments between them: tender explorations of each other’s bodies, which escalated into them sneaking behind everyone’s back. Intermixed with many scenes of hurt/comfort, I became sufficiently convinced that they’d come to know each other.
Other praise
I am not deeply spiritual but Isabel’s faith was a big part of her character and provided great insight on discussions of faith versus desire, and faith regardless of religion. There were also discussions on art accessibility, which I hadn’t deeply considered before.
I felt Isabel’s bipolar disorder and were handled with care. It was a part of her character but it wasn’t defining.
Gaskell’s own experiences with the wealthy elite in the Philippines was used to paint an imaginable picture of opulence and debauchery. It was grand but also wrought with toxic dynamics. To contrast, Isabel’s close relationship with her mother was much more familiar to me and the Filipino household I grew up in.
Natalia was a standout villain, cruel but sympathetic. The way her attitude towards Isabel fluctuated, gave me as the reader emotional whiplash. The ensemble cast were also well fleshed out, constantly making me wonder where they would stand at the end. I’m also hoping that Rocío, Isabel’s protective and much more well-off friend, will get her own book (I’m hooked!).
Ultimately, I found the ending to be fitting for all the characters (except Rocío, please Carina give her her own book).
Final thoughts
Much as I’d expected, ‘Hot Nights, Cold Shoulders’ wasn’t a wish-fulfilling revenge story. It was a story of growth and acceptance. I’d recommend this book for those who’ve wanted to be accepted. For those who love art and those who love love. And for those who’ve been to hell and come back from it.
rep: Filipina FMC, Irish MMC, bipolar disorder rep, Filipino side characters, lesbian moms
cw (full list from author’s website):
Thank you to Carina Gaskell and Love Notes PR for sending me an ARC!
March 17, 2026
I promised myself I’d consume more long-form content because my attention span has been getting shorter by the day, but I did not expect a full-blown telenovela in book form to arrive at my doorstep.
Thank you to @carinagaskellwrites and Love Notes PR for letting me read an eARC before its release. There’s something about early access that always feels like being handed a secret before the rest of the world catches on.
At the center of the story is Isabel, a personal assistant with dreams of becoming a writer. She has ambition and opportunity, but absolutely no idea what story she wants to tell. Her solution? Accepting a summer invitation from her former high school bully. Questionable, yes, yet strangely fitting. After all, they do say trauma fuels art, and revisiting the past might just spark the novel she’s been trying to write. There, she meets Kieran, a painter struggling through a creative drought. He’s meant to be preparing for an upcoming exhibit but finds himself unable to produce anything meaningful. Watching Isabel and Kieran circle each other, both desperate for inspiration while resisting their growing feelings, was equal parts frustrating and compelling. It’s the kind of tension that has you internally screaming at fictional characters.
What I appreciated most about this book is how imperfect everyone feels. The characters are painfully aware of the ethical gray areas they're standing in. They hesitate, they pull away, they try to do the “right thing.” It leans into the classic will-they-won’t-they dynamic, and the emotional tension born from their stubbornness keeps the story engaging throughout.
The romance unfolds through secret glances and late-night moments that feel as thrilling as they are risky. It embraces the forbidden love and secret relationship dynamic, and while their dynamic is very much a slow burn, once it does catch, it blazes like HOO! The emotional stakes do not rely on shocking twists but on something far more effective, the fear of hurting others and the uncertainty of whether desire is worth the consequences.
The dual perspective works surprisingly well. Isabel’s chapters read like a writer searching for material, constantly observing and processing, while Kieran’s voice leans into prose and imagery. felt like I was seeing both the mind and the heart of the story, and it made the story hit even harder.
There is also an underlying social commentary that stood out to me. Wealth functions as a kind of social gravity in the story. Natalia’s money does not just create the setting, it sets the social temperature. Her friends benefit from the lifestyle she provides, and in turn, they quietly enable her behavior. The lack of accountability within her circle becomes frustrating in a very real way. It highlights how social groups often protect the person with the most influence rather than the one who has been wronged.
The summer setting enhances everything, the drama, the luxury, and the simmering tension. There is a subtle Gossip Girl-esque energy that makes the slow burn feel even more heightened. The writing itself is emotionally expressive without tipping into melodrama, and while heavier themes are present, they remain grounded and readable.
That said, there were a couple of aspects that did not fully work for me. Faith was mentioned numerous times throughout the book. While I understand its importance to the characters, the way it was woven into the narrative did not always resonate. At times, it felt more stated than shown, and I found myself skimming certain sections. This may simply come down to personal perspective. Readers who share that faith may connect with it more deeply. And while I loved the shock of the last few pages, the resolution afterward felt somewhat quick. I needed a few more pages to just sit with it through all the rage and then breathe. The book was a rollercoaster but then the brakes came on a little too fast.
In the end, I did hope for things to get better and a sort of happily ever after. I was too optimistic. Alas, this is not one of those books. It’s morally complicated and wonderfully human. And honestly? I kind of enjoyed that about it.
Thank you to @carinagaskellwrites and Love Notes PR for letting me read an eARC before its release. There’s something about early access that always feels like being handed a secret before the rest of the world catches on.
At the center of the story is Isabel, a personal assistant with dreams of becoming a writer. She has ambition and opportunity, but absolutely no idea what story she wants to tell. Her solution? Accepting a summer invitation from her former high school bully. Questionable, yes, yet strangely fitting. After all, they do say trauma fuels art, and revisiting the past might just spark the novel she’s been trying to write. There, she meets Kieran, a painter struggling through a creative drought. He’s meant to be preparing for an upcoming exhibit but finds himself unable to produce anything meaningful. Watching Isabel and Kieran circle each other, both desperate for inspiration while resisting their growing feelings, was equal parts frustrating and compelling. It’s the kind of tension that has you internally screaming at fictional characters.
What I appreciated most about this book is how imperfect everyone feels. The characters are painfully aware of the ethical gray areas they're standing in. They hesitate, they pull away, they try to do the “right thing.” It leans into the classic will-they-won’t-they dynamic, and the emotional tension born from their stubbornness keeps the story engaging throughout.
The romance unfolds through secret glances and late-night moments that feel as thrilling as they are risky. It embraces the forbidden love and secret relationship dynamic, and while their dynamic is very much a slow burn, once it does catch, it blazes like HOO! The emotional stakes do not rely on shocking twists but on something far more effective, the fear of hurting others and the uncertainty of whether desire is worth the consequences.
The dual perspective works surprisingly well. Isabel’s chapters read like a writer searching for material, constantly observing and processing, while Kieran’s voice leans into prose and imagery. felt like I was seeing both the mind and the heart of the story, and it made the story hit even harder.
There is also an underlying social commentary that stood out to me. Wealth functions as a kind of social gravity in the story. Natalia’s money does not just create the setting, it sets the social temperature. Her friends benefit from the lifestyle she provides, and in turn, they quietly enable her behavior. The lack of accountability within her circle becomes frustrating in a very real way. It highlights how social groups often protect the person with the most influence rather than the one who has been wronged.
The summer setting enhances everything, the drama, the luxury, and the simmering tension. There is a subtle Gossip Girl-esque energy that makes the slow burn feel even more heightened. The writing itself is emotionally expressive without tipping into melodrama, and while heavier themes are present, they remain grounded and readable.
That said, there were a couple of aspects that did not fully work for me. Faith was mentioned numerous times throughout the book. While I understand its importance to the characters, the way it was woven into the narrative did not always resonate. At times, it felt more stated than shown, and I found myself skimming certain sections. This may simply come down to personal perspective. Readers who share that faith may connect with it more deeply. And while I loved the shock of the last few pages, the resolution afterward felt somewhat quick. I needed a few more pages to just sit with it through all the rage and then breathe. The book was a rollercoaster but then the brakes came on a little too fast.
In the end, I did hope for things to get better and a sort of happily ever after. I was too optimistic. Alas, this is not one of those books. It’s morally complicated and wonderfully human. And honestly? I kind of enjoyed that about it.
March 8, 2026
3.5 stars
Thank you so much to Love PR Notes and the author, Carina Gaskell, for giving me the opportunity to read this as an ARC.
Isabel Martinez has big dreams: to one day be a published author, so while she is working as a personal assistant, she is given the opportunity to write her book. While she’s still analyzing this, she receives an invitation for a summer trip from her high school nemesis. At first, Isabel’s response is very adamant in not wanting to go, but she sees an opportunity for her book. In this trip, she will meet Keiran, an artist who is face the worse artist block and he is supposed to have collection ready for his mom’s gallery.
In this trip, both will face their fears and their feelings for each other.
Isabel is very relatable character in terms of how navigating life and friendship. Due to extreme bullying in high school, she developed severe depression, which is something that most of the times gets overlooked or not taken seriously, which is why for me was a shock that she accepted to go on this trip. However, is demonstrates a strong resilience from her to try and make amends with Natalia and the whole group.
I really enjoyed the development of Isabel and Keiran’s love story, it felt right paced and almost as a first love (not sure if it is the case).
While I respect faith in whatever religion you may believe in, sometimes is felt a little like they were trying for the reader to join a cult (I know is not the case, but it felt a little too much).
The plot twist did not see it coming, however it was perfect, however, I would have wish to see some regret or redemption arc for certain characters.
The writing was excellent, very close to the reader and expressing the inner feelings of Isabel towards everything that happened to her.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Muchas gracias a Love PR Notes y a la autora, Carina Gaskell, por darme la oportunidad de leer este libro como ARC.
Isabel Martínez tiene grandes sueños: algún día ser una autora publicada, así que mientras trabaja como asistente personal, se le presenta la oportunidad de escribir su libro. Mientras aún lo analiza, recibe una invitación para un viaje de verano de su némesis de la escuela. Al principio, Isabel se muestra muy firme en su negativa a ir, pero ve una oportunidad para su libro. En este viaje, conocerá a Keiran, un artista que enfrenta el peor bloqueo artístico y se supone que debe tener una colección lista para la galería de su madre.
En este viaje, ambos enfrentarán sus miedos y sus sentimientos mutuos.
Isabel es un personaje con el que es muy fácil identificarse en cuanto a su forma de navegar la vida y la amistad. Debido al acoso escolar extremo que sufrió, desarrolló una depresión severa, algo que la mayoría de las veces se pasa por alto o no se toma en serio. Por eso, para mí fue un shock que aceptara ir a este viaje. Sin embargo, demuestra una gran resiliencia para intentar reconciliarse con Natalia y todo el grupo.
Disfruté mucho el desarrollo de la historia de amor entre Isabel y Keiran; se sintió con un ritmo adecuado y casi como un primer amor (no estoy segura de si es así).
Si bien respeto la fe en cualquier religión, a veces se sintió como si intentaran que el lector se uniera a una secta (sé que no es así, pero se sintió un poco excesivo).
El giro de la trama no lo preví, pero fue perfecto. Sin embargo, me hubiera gustado ver algún arco de arrepentimiento o redención para ciertos personajes.
La escritura fue excelente, muy cercana al lector y expresando los sentimientos más profundos de Isabel hacia todo lo que le sucedió.
Thank you so much to Love PR Notes and the author, Carina Gaskell, for giving me the opportunity to read this as an ARC.
Isabel Martinez has big dreams: to one day be a published author, so while she is working as a personal assistant, she is given the opportunity to write her book. While she’s still analyzing this, she receives an invitation for a summer trip from her high school nemesis. At first, Isabel’s response is very adamant in not wanting to go, but she sees an opportunity for her book. In this trip, she will meet Keiran, an artist who is face the worse artist block and he is supposed to have collection ready for his mom’s gallery.
In this trip, both will face their fears and their feelings for each other.
Isabel is very relatable character in terms of how navigating life and friendship. Due to extreme bullying in high school, she developed severe depression, which is something that most of the times gets overlooked or not taken seriously, which is why for me was a shock that she accepted to go on this trip. However, is demonstrates a strong resilience from her to try and make amends with Natalia and the whole group.
I really enjoyed the development of Isabel and Keiran’s love story, it felt right paced and almost as a first love (not sure if it is the case).
While I respect faith in whatever religion you may believe in, sometimes is felt a little like they were trying for the reader to join a cult (I know is not the case, but it felt a little too much).
The plot twist did not see it coming, however it was perfect, however, I would have wish to see some regret or redemption arc for certain characters.
The writing was excellent, very close to the reader and expressing the inner feelings of Isabel towards everything that happened to her.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Muchas gracias a Love PR Notes y a la autora, Carina Gaskell, por darme la oportunidad de leer este libro como ARC.
Isabel Martínez tiene grandes sueños: algún día ser una autora publicada, así que mientras trabaja como asistente personal, se le presenta la oportunidad de escribir su libro. Mientras aún lo analiza, recibe una invitación para un viaje de verano de su némesis de la escuela. Al principio, Isabel se muestra muy firme en su negativa a ir, pero ve una oportunidad para su libro. En este viaje, conocerá a Keiran, un artista que enfrenta el peor bloqueo artístico y se supone que debe tener una colección lista para la galería de su madre.
En este viaje, ambos enfrentarán sus miedos y sus sentimientos mutuos.
Isabel es un personaje con el que es muy fácil identificarse en cuanto a su forma de navegar la vida y la amistad. Debido al acoso escolar extremo que sufrió, desarrolló una depresión severa, algo que la mayoría de las veces se pasa por alto o no se toma en serio. Por eso, para mí fue un shock que aceptara ir a este viaje. Sin embargo, demuestra una gran resiliencia para intentar reconciliarse con Natalia y todo el grupo.
Disfruté mucho el desarrollo de la historia de amor entre Isabel y Keiran; se sintió con un ritmo adecuado y casi como un primer amor (no estoy segura de si es así).
Si bien respeto la fe en cualquier religión, a veces se sintió como si intentaran que el lector se uniera a una secta (sé que no es así, pero se sintió un poco excesivo).
El giro de la trama no lo preví, pero fue perfecto. Sin embargo, me hubiera gustado ver algún arco de arrepentimiento o redención para ciertos personajes.
La escritura fue excelente, muy cercana al lector y expresando los sentimientos más profundos de Isabel hacia todo lo que le sucedió.
March 5, 2026
actual rating: 3.75 ⭐️
what was that last minute plot twist?!?!? INSANE!!
thank you so much to Ms. Carina and Love Notes PR for giving me an opportunity to be one of the ARC readers 💌
this is a contemporary romance about confronting the past and risking your heart for something real. we follow isabel martinez, a personal assistant who dreams of becoming a writer, as she’s pulled into a glamorous summer that forces her to face old wounds and unexpected emotions, especially when she reconnects with kieran, a reserved artist who quietly gets under her skin. under warm nights and lingering tension, sparks build between them, and isabel must decide if she’ll keep protecting herself or finally take a chance on the kind of love that could change everything
i really enjoyed reading this one. the characters surprisingly gets on my skin (which i considered really good. even if most of the characters are naturally annoying. you got to get the feels right?)
𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝:
💌 the tension between isabel and kieran. it wasn’t rushed, you could feel the slow burn building
💌 how emotionally layered the story was
💌 the summer setting: warm nights, soft moments, and that intimate atmosphere that made everything feel heightened
💌 the realistic miscommunication and emotional push-and-pull (frustrating but believable)
💌 the writing style: emotional but easy to read, nothing overly dramatic
💌 how it made you root for them even when they were being stubborn
𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐞:
⭐️ while i respect isabel’s faith and have nothing against religion, the frequent mentions of God and religious beliefs personally made me a little uncomfortable. i think it’s because i tend to prefer romance stories where faith isn’t emphasized as much, so it sometimes pulled me out of the emotional flow of the scenes
⭐️ after the big plot twist, the story felt a bit rushed for me. i was hoping for more emotional unpacking or deeper consequences, but it wrapped up so quickly that i found myself thinking, “that’s it?” instead of fully sitting with the impact
⭐️ as someone who’s more introverted, i struggled with the idea of isabel willingly going to a party hosted by people who hurt her in the past. i understand it was important for the plot, but emotionally i kept wanting to protect her. it stressed me out more than it excited me
⭐️ i genuinely enjoyed the spice and the chemistry, but the “daddy” dynamic just wasn’t for me. it’s purely a personal preference thing. it made me cringe a little, even though i know other readers might love it
overall, i had fun reading this one. it made me realize so much. i’d highly recommend this to readers who love emotional slow-burn romances with strong faith elements, lots of tension, and a touch of spice. especially those who enjoy seeing guarded characters slowly soften for the right person
what was that last minute plot twist?!?!? INSANE!!
thank you so much to Ms. Carina and Love Notes PR for giving me an opportunity to be one of the ARC readers 💌
this is a contemporary romance about confronting the past and risking your heart for something real. we follow isabel martinez, a personal assistant who dreams of becoming a writer, as she’s pulled into a glamorous summer that forces her to face old wounds and unexpected emotions, especially when she reconnects with kieran, a reserved artist who quietly gets under her skin. under warm nights and lingering tension, sparks build between them, and isabel must decide if she’ll keep protecting herself or finally take a chance on the kind of love that could change everything
i really enjoyed reading this one. the characters surprisingly gets on my skin (which i considered really good. even if most of the characters are naturally annoying. you got to get the feels right?)
𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝:
💌 the tension between isabel and kieran. it wasn’t rushed, you could feel the slow burn building
💌 how emotionally layered the story was
💌 the summer setting: warm nights, soft moments, and that intimate atmosphere that made everything feel heightened
💌 the realistic miscommunication and emotional push-and-pull (frustrating but believable)
💌 the writing style: emotional but easy to read, nothing overly dramatic
💌 how it made you root for them even when they were being stubborn
𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐞:
⭐️ while i respect isabel’s faith and have nothing against religion, the frequent mentions of God and religious beliefs personally made me a little uncomfortable. i think it’s because i tend to prefer romance stories where faith isn’t emphasized as much, so it sometimes pulled me out of the emotional flow of the scenes
⭐️ after the big plot twist, the story felt a bit rushed for me. i was hoping for more emotional unpacking or deeper consequences, but it wrapped up so quickly that i found myself thinking, “that’s it?” instead of fully sitting with the impact
⭐️ as someone who’s more introverted, i struggled with the idea of isabel willingly going to a party hosted by people who hurt her in the past. i understand it was important for the plot, but emotionally i kept wanting to protect her. it stressed me out more than it excited me
⭐️ i genuinely enjoyed the spice and the chemistry, but the “daddy” dynamic just wasn’t for me. it’s purely a personal preference thing. it made me cringe a little, even though i know other readers might love it
overall, i had fun reading this one. it made me realize so much. i’d highly recommend this to readers who love emotional slow-burn romances with strong faith elements, lots of tension, and a touch of spice. especially those who enjoy seeing guarded characters slowly soften for the right person
March 10, 2026
This story follows Isabel, a Filipino aspiring author who travels to spend the summer with people connected to a painful part of her past. The invitation came from someone who once made her life miserable, so honestly, if it were me, I would never have stepped foot there. Isabel goes anyway, hoping to use the experience as research, and I have to give her credit for that courage. She’s introverted, thoughtful, and trying to turn her past into something meaningful through her writing. That’s where she meets Kerian, an Irish artist spending the summer with his friends while dealing with a frustrating creative block. I had to smile for a second because he reminded me of my Rafayel for a moment. Kerian himself was interesting, but his friends? Absolutely not my favorite people🤢, and Isabel definitely had a rough time around them.
One thing I really appreciated was learning more about Bipolar II through Isabel’s character. As a chronic illness girlie myself, I could genuinely empathize with parts of her journey and the way her condition was portrayed. The book also leans heavily into religion and frequently references God. While I’ve read plenty of spicy romances with characters connected to churches before and had no issue with it, the constant mentions here felt a bit overwhelming for me personally. That’s completely a personal preference though. The story also dives a lot into history and politics, which made it informative, but at times it also slowed the reading experience for me. Especially when the world already feels like it’s on fire, I look to books as an escape, and this one kept pulling me back into reality 😭.
The romance itself felt a little different from what I expected. Despite the cute cover, the spice level was pretty low and the steamy moments felt rushed to me. The book moves quickly, but the overall vibe felt closer to general fiction than a traditional romance. That said, I still enjoyed Carina’s writing and the story overall. It even inspired me to start listening to Tagalog love songs, and honestly, if I could translate them I feel like I could sing along in English. The music has a charm that reminds me of the kind of emotional love songs we rarely hear in K-pop or Western music anymore. Carina is a new-to-me author and I’m glad I gave this ARC a chance. If you enjoy artist x aspiring author , summer romance, virgin MCs, and disability rep, this might work really well for you.
This is my honest opinion for the ARC I received. Thanks to Carina and Love Notes PR for the opportunity.
One thing I really appreciated was learning more about Bipolar II through Isabel’s character. As a chronic illness girlie myself, I could genuinely empathize with parts of her journey and the way her condition was portrayed. The book also leans heavily into religion and frequently references God. While I’ve read plenty of spicy romances with characters connected to churches before and had no issue with it, the constant mentions here felt a bit overwhelming for me personally. That’s completely a personal preference though. The story also dives a lot into history and politics, which made it informative, but at times it also slowed the reading experience for me. Especially when the world already feels like it’s on fire, I look to books as an escape, and this one kept pulling me back into reality 😭.
The romance itself felt a little different from what I expected. Despite the cute cover, the spice level was pretty low and the steamy moments felt rushed to me. The book moves quickly, but the overall vibe felt closer to general fiction than a traditional romance. That said, I still enjoyed Carina’s writing and the story overall. It even inspired me to start listening to Tagalog love songs, and honestly, if I could translate them I feel like I could sing along in English. The music has a charm that reminds me of the kind of emotional love songs we rarely hear in K-pop or Western music anymore. Carina is a new-to-me author and I’m glad I gave this ARC a chance. If you enjoy artist x aspiring author , summer romance, virgin MCs, and disability rep, this might work really well for you.
This is my honest opinion for the ARC I received. Thanks to Carina and Love Notes PR for the opportunity.
April 27, 2026
✿ 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀 ✿
🎨 Painter x Writer
🤭 Secret Dating
🏝️ Summer Vacation
🏠 Forced proximity
⛪️ Religious FMC
💕 Dual POV
🌏 Diverse Representation
🧠 Mental health rep
“𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗜 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝗜𝘀𝗮𝗯𝗲𝗹'𝘀 𝗲𝘆𝗲𝘀, 𝗜 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱. 𝗜 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝗺𝘆 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘁, 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲. 𝗦𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗿. 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲.”
As always, I loved the way Carina puts phrases together, it’s like poetry! I also loved the Philippines setting, she always describes it so well and I can picture it so vividly! It makes a refreshing change from the classic city or small town locations of most romance books.
It was interesting because, whilst it was a romance, there was a big emphasis on the different classes and it offered different insights and perspectives to religion, art, politics and social hierarchy. I also found the discussion about art and politics quite profound but appreciated that it was done in a casual way so it came across as educational and informative rather than “preachy”.
As far as the actual story went, at times it felt like it wasn’t going anywhere because we still didn’t have much context as to why Isabel had been invited in the first place, and there was no big resolution at the end so it almost felt a bit redundant. It didn’t captivate me as much as some of her previous books, but I was also in a bit of a slump when I read it so that might have contributed to it!
I liked Isabel and Kieran as a couple, they were well suited and brought out the best in each other! However the romance itself felt a little rushed and I would have loved to have found out more about Kieran’s dreams and to have experienced that in the story before he met Isabel.
I’m no stranger to spice in books, but I did inwardly cringe at Isabel calling Kieran “daddy”, it just didn’t feel like it fit them as characters and ruined the vibe for me a bit.
I was genuinely shocked by the twist, I didn’t see it coming!!
If you liked this or you want to give Carina’s writing another go, I’d highly recommend her Invincible Summer series!! It’s made up of 3 beautiful novellas and the first one is my favourite of all of her books!! 💗
Thank you Carina for the review copy! 💘
🎨 Painter x Writer
🤭 Secret Dating
🏝️ Summer Vacation
🏠 Forced proximity
⛪️ Religious FMC
💕 Dual POV
🌏 Diverse Representation
🧠 Mental health rep
“𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗜 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝗜𝘀𝗮𝗯𝗲𝗹'𝘀 𝗲𝘆𝗲𝘀, 𝗜 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱. 𝗜 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝗺𝘆 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘁, 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲. 𝗦𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗿. 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲.”
As always, I loved the way Carina puts phrases together, it’s like poetry! I also loved the Philippines setting, she always describes it so well and I can picture it so vividly! It makes a refreshing change from the classic city or small town locations of most romance books.
It was interesting because, whilst it was a romance, there was a big emphasis on the different classes and it offered different insights and perspectives to religion, art, politics and social hierarchy. I also found the discussion about art and politics quite profound but appreciated that it was done in a casual way so it came across as educational and informative rather than “preachy”.
As far as the actual story went, at times it felt like it wasn’t going anywhere because we still didn’t have much context as to why Isabel had been invited in the first place, and there was no big resolution at the end so it almost felt a bit redundant. It didn’t captivate me as much as some of her previous books, but I was also in a bit of a slump when I read it so that might have contributed to it!
I liked Isabel and Kieran as a couple, they were well suited and brought out the best in each other! However the romance itself felt a little rushed and I would have loved to have found out more about Kieran’s dreams and to have experienced that in the story before he met Isabel.
I’m no stranger to spice in books, but I did inwardly cringe at Isabel calling Kieran “daddy”, it just didn’t feel like it fit them as characters and ruined the vibe for me a bit.
I was genuinely shocked by the twist, I didn’t see it coming!!
If you liked this or you want to give Carina’s writing another go, I’d highly recommend her Invincible Summer series!! It’s made up of 3 beautiful novellas and the first one is my favourite of all of her books!! 💗
Thank you Carina for the review copy! 💘
April 7, 2026
This book is something.
I've read a few books from Carina Gaskell as well, and one thing I love about this author is her ability to always make me write down a word (or save it somewhere) and look for its meaning. I learned a lot of new words from this one just like how the other books made me go looking into a dictionary!
HNCS was so easy to read. It was smooth, cute, hot (oh, so very hot in some pages), and interesting at the same time. First, very commendable, how this author smoothly encapsulated the tragic yet truthful situation in the Philippines for a long time now. Those hard conversations between Kieran and Isabel, it's rare to see that in a romance book. Aside from politics and corruption, this book also surprisingly tackled sexuality while moving around Christianity at the same time. This book talked about women, objectification, art, art and women objectification -- all of which was refreshing and interesting to see in a romance book. It was bold and straightforward; it made me think I had a free editorial inside a romance book (which I enjoyed, by the way).
This book is the personified (if that's even the right term) version of that secret love and that burning passion between two people who are clearly into each other and would risk everything or lose everything if their love is brought out in the open. As a reader, it felt like I was also tiptoeing around their friends while they sneak out! Hahaha. I think that's a good thing for the author, to have your reader feel that kind of tense. I really loved this book - it accompanied me through work, traffic, and commute but it was hard as fuck to read in public because of the scenes! Hahaha.
To add to this already long review, I did wish there was a background something or a past something as to why Kieran knew or saw her in a dream a year before they even met. That would've been so nice, but to each his own! I loved how this plot was literally a Filipino classic drama - the illegitimate children, the mistresses, the step siblings and all.
Overall, this was worth every minute of my time. I'd love to see how Rocio and Joaqs story will unfold *wink*!
I've read a few books from Carina Gaskell as well, and one thing I love about this author is her ability to always make me write down a word (or save it somewhere) and look for its meaning. I learned a lot of new words from this one just like how the other books made me go looking into a dictionary!
HNCS was so easy to read. It was smooth, cute, hot (oh, so very hot in some pages), and interesting at the same time. First, very commendable, how this author smoothly encapsulated the tragic yet truthful situation in the Philippines for a long time now. Those hard conversations between Kieran and Isabel, it's rare to see that in a romance book. Aside from politics and corruption, this book also surprisingly tackled sexuality while moving around Christianity at the same time. This book talked about women, objectification, art, art and women objectification -- all of which was refreshing and interesting to see in a romance book. It was bold and straightforward; it made me think I had a free editorial inside a romance book (which I enjoyed, by the way).
This book is the personified (if that's even the right term) version of that secret love and that burning passion between two people who are clearly into each other and would risk everything or lose everything if their love is brought out in the open. As a reader, it felt like I was also tiptoeing around their friends while they sneak out! Hahaha. I think that's a good thing for the author, to have your reader feel that kind of tense. I really loved this book - it accompanied me through work, traffic, and commute but it was hard as fuck to read in public because of the scenes! Hahaha.
To add to this already long review, I did wish there was a background something or a past something as to why Kieran knew or saw her in a dream a year before they even met. That would've been so nice, but to each his own! I loved how this plot was literally a Filipino classic drama - the illegitimate children, the mistresses, the step siblings and all.
Overall, this was worth every minute of my time. I'd love to see how Rocio and Joaqs story will unfold *wink*!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 27, 2026
**ARC REVIEW**
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.75/5)
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of Hot Nights, Cold Shoulders by Carina Gaskell, and the moment it landed in my inbox, I immediately downloaded it and started reading. Suffice to say… I devoured it.
This story hit much closer to home than I expected, and not just because Isabel and I share the same surname. I saw so much of myself in her. Her struggle with not fitting in, being bullied, and that constant feeling of needing to shrink herself to be accepted… it hurt in a very real way. Some scenes felt painfully familiar.
I related to her even more because of how openly her faith journey was written. I loved the quiet threads of faith woven throughout the story. They felt like gentle reminders to me, too, that God is always with me and that I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Watching Isabel hold onto her faith and build that strong relationship with God after everything she endured was so beautiful. I genuinely cried... because in many ways, it mirrored my own journey.
Kieran, our male lead, completely won me over. He respected Isabel’s boundaries. He protected her when his friends tried to embarrass her. And when it mattered most? He chose her over toxic friendships. The way he truly listened to her, engaged with her instead of trying to fix or control her. It made all the difference. He comforted her when she needed it. He wasn’t just romantic. Kieran was intentional.
And I can’t forget Rocio, Isabel’s best friend. She reminded me so much of my own best friend: fiercely loyal, steady, and always present. Isabel’s biggest cheerleader and, when necessary, her protector. That kind of friendship representation will always have a special place in my heart.
Hot Nights, Cold Shoulders was emotional, healing, and full of heart. There were so many lessons woven into its pages, and it ended up being such a deeply meaningful read for me.
And yes… I enjoyed the spice too. 🌶️
I absolutely cannot wait for more stories in this series!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.75/5)
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of Hot Nights, Cold Shoulders by Carina Gaskell, and the moment it landed in my inbox, I immediately downloaded it and started reading. Suffice to say… I devoured it.
This story hit much closer to home than I expected, and not just because Isabel and I share the same surname. I saw so much of myself in her. Her struggle with not fitting in, being bullied, and that constant feeling of needing to shrink herself to be accepted… it hurt in a very real way. Some scenes felt painfully familiar.
I related to her even more because of how openly her faith journey was written. I loved the quiet threads of faith woven throughout the story. They felt like gentle reminders to me, too, that God is always with me and that I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Watching Isabel hold onto her faith and build that strong relationship with God after everything she endured was so beautiful. I genuinely cried... because in many ways, it mirrored my own journey.
Kieran, our male lead, completely won me over. He respected Isabel’s boundaries. He protected her when his friends tried to embarrass her. And when it mattered most? He chose her over toxic friendships. The way he truly listened to her, engaged with her instead of trying to fix or control her. It made all the difference. He comforted her when she needed it. He wasn’t just romantic. Kieran was intentional.
And I can’t forget Rocio, Isabel’s best friend. She reminded me so much of my own best friend: fiercely loyal, steady, and always present. Isabel’s biggest cheerleader and, when necessary, her protector. That kind of friendship representation will always have a special place in my heart.
Hot Nights, Cold Shoulders was emotional, healing, and full of heart. There were so many lessons woven into its pages, and it ended up being such a deeply meaningful read for me.
And yes… I enjoyed the spice too. 🌶️
I absolutely cannot wait for more stories in this series!
March 2, 2026
The storyline of Hot Nights, Cold Shoulders was absolutely amazing. High school, for so many of us, really is this story — when hormones are raging, mental health becomes its own battle, cliques form and bullying is very real. Who we are as adults is shaped so much by those experiences, especially those ones that often haunt us at 3 a.m. By the end of this book, I was in tears.
The God element was something I truly appreciated. I loved that it wasn’t fully tied to a specific church or denomination. Youth group is mentioned a few times, but faith felt personal rather than institutional. I especially loved how they connected over both being believers within their friend group. Faith is woven throughout the story in a natural way, and I appreciated that representation.
One thing I didn’t realize going in was that the book includes some bilingual elements. While I appreciate the authenticity it adds, I do wish there had been more context or light translation for readers who only speak English or aren’t familiar with certain terms.
The sexual health and pregnancy risk stood out to me. I understand that education varies by location and access, but at times it felt frustrating watching the characters knowingly take risks and treat emergency contraception as a temporary birth control plan. Combined with the strong emphasis on youth group, this occasionally made the characters read slightly younger than their intended age.
There were a couple of twists — one in particular that I didn’t see coming until it was right in front of me. And the ending? It was refreshing. The bond between them will never be strong, and I appreciated that realism. So many stories lean into dramatic redemption arcs or neatly packaged “everyone gets what they deserve” endings. We love a sweeping, fictional happily-ever-after — that’s why we read romance, right?
But this felt different.
This was the kind of happily-ever-after most people actually receive. Messy. Imperfect. Real. And honestly? That was refreshing to see in a romance.
The God element was something I truly appreciated. I loved that it wasn’t fully tied to a specific church or denomination. Youth group is mentioned a few times, but faith felt personal rather than institutional. I especially loved how they connected over both being believers within their friend group. Faith is woven throughout the story in a natural way, and I appreciated that representation.
One thing I didn’t realize going in was that the book includes some bilingual elements. While I appreciate the authenticity it adds, I do wish there had been more context or light translation for readers who only speak English or aren’t familiar with certain terms.
The sexual health and pregnancy risk stood out to me. I understand that education varies by location and access, but at times it felt frustrating watching the characters knowingly take risks and treat emergency contraception as a temporary birth control plan. Combined with the strong emphasis on youth group, this occasionally made the characters read slightly younger than their intended age.
There were a couple of twists — one in particular that I didn’t see coming until it was right in front of me. And the ending? It was refreshing. The bond between them will never be strong, and I appreciated that realism. So many stories lean into dramatic redemption arcs or neatly packaged “everyone gets what they deserve” endings. We love a sweeping, fictional happily-ever-after — that’s why we read romance, right?
But this felt different.
This was the kind of happily-ever-after most people actually receive. Messy. Imperfect. Real. And honestly? That was refreshing to see in a romance.
March 11, 2026
Hot Nights, Cold Shoulders Review 🎨📖
I have never read a book by Carina Gaskell before, and after this one, I will definitely read more of her books. Thank you Carina and Love PR for sending me this book.
First of all, I loved getting to know more about Filipino culture. I loved how Isabel talks passionately about her country and how she says that most people want to leave it, but not her. Her country is her home and where she wants to be.
In this book, we have Isabel. She lives a simple life with her mom and her best friend. She dreams about being a writer and just keeps swimming through life. Little did she know that when she received an invitation to spend the summer with a girl who had bullied her in school, her life would be forever changed.
And we have Kieran, an artist who is currently dealing with a mental block. His parents are pressuring him, but his inspiration has decided to take a vacation, so what does he do? The same.
I do believe it was love at first sight for Kieran. Somehow, someway, his subconscious already knew about Isabel, and he was waiting for her.
Isabel, I don’t even have words for her. First, I have to say she is brave. To go spend the whole summer with someone who was so cruel to her, and to even consider forgiving her, that’s brave. And she is good, so good. Even when she is down, she tries to be her best. She tries to fit in, she goes beyond what she wants and believes so people can see that she is trying, and still it’s never enough. Until Kieran.
These two are the cutest together. Their conversations are meaningful, the time they spend together has real value, and after one summer, they are more in love than seems possible.
I will say that the plot surprised me a little. For the best part of the book I had no idea what was happening, and even though it is a cliché, I liked it.
It was a really enjoyable read and a very sweet story. I will give it 4.5 ⭐ and will definitely read more books by Carina, hopefully also Rocío’s story. 🎨📖
I have never read a book by Carina Gaskell before, and after this one, I will definitely read more of her books. Thank you Carina and Love PR for sending me this book.
First of all, I loved getting to know more about Filipino culture. I loved how Isabel talks passionately about her country and how she says that most people want to leave it, but not her. Her country is her home and where she wants to be.
In this book, we have Isabel. She lives a simple life with her mom and her best friend. She dreams about being a writer and just keeps swimming through life. Little did she know that when she received an invitation to spend the summer with a girl who had bullied her in school, her life would be forever changed.
And we have Kieran, an artist who is currently dealing with a mental block. His parents are pressuring him, but his inspiration has decided to take a vacation, so what does he do? The same.
I do believe it was love at first sight for Kieran. Somehow, someway, his subconscious already knew about Isabel, and he was waiting for her.
Isabel, I don’t even have words for her. First, I have to say she is brave. To go spend the whole summer with someone who was so cruel to her, and to even consider forgiving her, that’s brave. And she is good, so good. Even when she is down, she tries to be her best. She tries to fit in, she goes beyond what she wants and believes so people can see that she is trying, and still it’s never enough. Until Kieran.
These two are the cutest together. Their conversations are meaningful, the time they spend together has real value, and after one summer, they are more in love than seems possible.
I will say that the plot surprised me a little. For the best part of the book I had no idea what was happening, and even though it is a cliché, I liked it.
It was a really enjoyable read and a very sweet story. I will give it 4.5 ⭐ and will definitely read more books by Carina, hopefully also Rocío’s story. 🎨📖
March 16, 2026
Hot Nights, Cold Shoulders
Personal assistant to a literary rockstar, Isabel Martinez has always dreamed of publishing her own book. When the opportunity comes knocking, she discovers that she's completely unprepared, with no ideas to pursue. As if things can't get worse, her high school bully, Natalia Aranaz, invites her to spend the summer together, after a near decade of radio silence. Despite her reservations, Isabel accepts, hoping she can mine her past for good material.
What to expect:
🎨 Painter x Writer
👀 Secret Dating
🤭 Forbidden Love
🏝️ Summer Vacation
💞 Ensemble Cast
Ik kreeg dit boek als arc super bedankt @lovenotes.pr and @carinagaskellwrites.
Het begin van dit boek vond ik leuk. Het verhaal verliep vlot, ik was erg nieuwsgierig hoe het verder ging. De personages waren ook leuk, ieder een heel ander karakter maar toch een soort vriendengroep. Ergens rond het midden wat het verhaal mij alleen kwijt. Ook kreeg geloof voor mij een beetje de overhand. Op het begin was dat helemaal niet, maar halverwege werd het voor mij net iets te veel benoemd denk ik. Verder gebeurde er net iets te veel door elkaar, maar het einde was wel weer beter. Ik denk dat dit boek gewoon niet voor mij was, maar wellicht wel voor jou!
I received this book as an ARC, super thanks @lovenotes.pr and @carinagaskellwrites.
I liked the beginning of this book. The story flowed smoothly, and I was very curious to see how it would continue. The characters were also fun; each had a very different personality yet formed a kind of group of friends. Somewhere around the middle, however, the story lost me. Also, faith started to take over a bit for me. That wasn't the case at the beginning, but halfway through, I think it was mentioned just a little too much. Furthermore, there was just a bit too much happening at once, but the ending was better. I think this book just wasn't for me, but perhaps it is for you!
⭐️⭐️ sterren
#lezenisontspanning #neverstopreading #spreadthebooklove #reading #bookstagramreadsmarch
Personal assistant to a literary rockstar, Isabel Martinez has always dreamed of publishing her own book. When the opportunity comes knocking, she discovers that she's completely unprepared, with no ideas to pursue. As if things can't get worse, her high school bully, Natalia Aranaz, invites her to spend the summer together, after a near decade of radio silence. Despite her reservations, Isabel accepts, hoping she can mine her past for good material.
What to expect:
🎨 Painter x Writer
👀 Secret Dating
🤭 Forbidden Love
🏝️ Summer Vacation
💞 Ensemble Cast
Ik kreeg dit boek als arc super bedankt @lovenotes.pr and @carinagaskellwrites.
Het begin van dit boek vond ik leuk. Het verhaal verliep vlot, ik was erg nieuwsgierig hoe het verder ging. De personages waren ook leuk, ieder een heel ander karakter maar toch een soort vriendengroep. Ergens rond het midden wat het verhaal mij alleen kwijt. Ook kreeg geloof voor mij een beetje de overhand. Op het begin was dat helemaal niet, maar halverwege werd het voor mij net iets te veel benoemd denk ik. Verder gebeurde er net iets te veel door elkaar, maar het einde was wel weer beter. Ik denk dat dit boek gewoon niet voor mij was, maar wellicht wel voor jou!
I received this book as an ARC, super thanks @lovenotes.pr and @carinagaskellwrites.
I liked the beginning of this book. The story flowed smoothly, and I was very curious to see how it would continue. The characters were also fun; each had a very different personality yet formed a kind of group of friends. Somewhere around the middle, however, the story lost me. Also, faith started to take over a bit for me. That wasn't the case at the beginning, but halfway through, I think it was mentioned just a little too much. Furthermore, there was just a bit too much happening at once, but the ending was better. I think this book just wasn't for me, but perhaps it is for you!
⭐️⭐️ sterren
#lezenisontspanning #neverstopreading #spreadthebooklove #reading #bookstagramreadsmarch
May 8, 2026
It’s always meaningful to see and feel represented in the books I consume, and I'm grateful to the Filipino authors who continue to put the Philippines on the literary map.
I don't think I can be concise with my overall review because this book challenged my belief system than I expected it to. It shed light to many issues I assume are important to the author: politics in art and writing, mental health, sex education, bullying, to name a few. I really appreciate the effort to make this work relevant beyond simply being a contemporary romance novel.
I think the characters were fairly likeable; they felt believable and real. Each of them had their own flaws, and I think that's what made them loveable to some extent. I empathized with Isabel, though I didn't confine myself solely to her perspective. She is a deeply hurt character and I expected her worldview to be narrower than what it actually was. Kieran, meanwhile, is an isolated artist in many senses, and his exposure to Isabel was necessary to confronting his passiveness. I think they suit each other well, although my personal preference leans toward dynamics that are more contrasting than theirs.
Natalia's friend group felt like the typical "it" crowd, and although the author tried to give each of them distinct personalities and depth, many details went over my head. It may be a me problem. At some point, I found myself overwhelmed trying to decide whether to focus more on their individual personalities and "colors", if you will, or on the political and social nuances unfolding behind the scenes. I would've loved to explore more of Natalia's and Tita's stories, without necessarily giving them their own POVs. Alvaro can suck it up—I didn't care much for him lol.
I had so many thoughts about both the premise and the plot, so in that regard, I can definitely say I enjoyed this book. I'm giving it 4/5 stars!
I don't think I can be concise with my overall review because this book challenged my belief system than I expected it to. It shed light to many issues I assume are important to the author: politics in art and writing, mental health, sex education, bullying, to name a few. I really appreciate the effort to make this work relevant beyond simply being a contemporary romance novel.
I think the characters were fairly likeable; they felt believable and real. Each of them had their own flaws, and I think that's what made them loveable to some extent. I empathized with Isabel, though I didn't confine myself solely to her perspective. She is a deeply hurt character and I expected her worldview to be narrower than what it actually was. Kieran, meanwhile, is an isolated artist in many senses, and his exposure to Isabel was necessary to confronting his passiveness. I think they suit each other well, although my personal preference leans toward dynamics that are more contrasting than theirs.
Natalia's friend group felt like the typical "it" crowd, and although the author tried to give each of them distinct personalities and depth, many details went over my head. It may be a me problem. At some point, I found myself overwhelmed trying to decide whether to focus more on their individual personalities and "colors", if you will, or on the political and social nuances unfolding behind the scenes. I would've loved to explore more of Natalia's and Tita's stories, without necessarily giving them their own POVs. Alvaro can suck it up—I didn't care much for him lol.
I had so many thoughts about both the premise and the plot, so in that regard, I can definitely say I enjoyed this book. I'm giving it 4/5 stars!
March 16, 2026
Hot Nights, Cold Shoulders is a story about faith, friendship, heartbreak, love, hate, and forgiveness. Despite everything thrown at Isabel, she continuously shows up with grace and patience… girl 😭😭..
The story starts off with an absolute nightmare of a flashback, horrors of being a girl in high school. Think, rich mean girl picks on poor nice girl to make herself feel better about herself. Hmm… I wonder, why? 👀💭
Not too long after, we’re brought to present day… come to find out Isabel has landed herself an amazing job as a personal assistant to an amazing literary genius, who challenges her to write HER story. Before she can even get into planning for her book’s plot, she receives a mysterious invitation from her high school bully on an all expenses paid summer trip. Reluctantly, convinced by both her mom and best friend that this could be good for her, she accepts.
As you follow along Isabel’s journey of self discovery, you meet more characters that make you start to question… what did I get myself into?! The tea is SCORCHING 🥵 . You meet someone named Natalia (😅), someone named Kieran (😍)… and so many more characters 👀!
Reading this story was an emotional rollercoaster for sure! I saw so much of myself in Isabel’s character. No matter how bad someone treats her, she always tries to give them the benefit of the doubt. Additionally, she’s a great friend to her bestie and an even better daughter to her mom. Deeper in the book, she finds out more about herself. She’s shocked with life changing news that she learns and rather than spiral, which would’ve quite literally would’ve been valid, she leans on her support system and finds the light at the end of the tunnel. If you’re looking for a heartwarming story that inspires you to be creative and try something new, this read is for you!
Add Hot Nights, Cold Shoulders to your TBR list TODAY ⬇️⬇️
The story starts off with an absolute nightmare of a flashback, horrors of being a girl in high school. Think, rich mean girl picks on poor nice girl to make herself feel better about herself. Hmm… I wonder, why? 👀💭
Not too long after, we’re brought to present day… come to find out Isabel has landed herself an amazing job as a personal assistant to an amazing literary genius, who challenges her to write HER story. Before she can even get into planning for her book’s plot, she receives a mysterious invitation from her high school bully on an all expenses paid summer trip. Reluctantly, convinced by both her mom and best friend that this could be good for her, she accepts.
As you follow along Isabel’s journey of self discovery, you meet more characters that make you start to question… what did I get myself into?! The tea is SCORCHING 🥵 . You meet someone named Natalia (😅), someone named Kieran (😍)… and so many more characters 👀!
Reading this story was an emotional rollercoaster for sure! I saw so much of myself in Isabel’s character. No matter how bad someone treats her, she always tries to give them the benefit of the doubt. Additionally, she’s a great friend to her bestie and an even better daughter to her mom. Deeper in the book, she finds out more about herself. She’s shocked with life changing news that she learns and rather than spiral, which would’ve quite literally would’ve been valid, she leans on her support system and finds the light at the end of the tunnel. If you’re looking for a heartwarming story that inspires you to be creative and try something new, this read is for you!
Add Hot Nights, Cold Shoulders to your TBR list TODAY ⬇️⬇️
April 4, 2026
I finished this last April 1 when my book club had a discussion with the author. The author gave me the book in exchange of an honest review.
This book is about Isabel Martinez who gets invited to an all-expense paid vacation from one of her high school bullies, and then gets actually a whirlwind romance with one of her bullies' friends.
For me, it was a refreshing rwad since I like romance (with some spice), and the way it was set felt like I was living in Crazy Rich Asians, but Filipino version. I like how the main characters share their histories together, and at the same time how they are attacted to each other, considering the guy dreamt of her a year before meeting her.
I'd want a guy like Kieran who keeps on yearning for her and how he treats her well while being woth a friend group that went either lukewarm or cold on Isabel while she was with them.
For Natalia, she's your typical Queen Bee who gets everything at a snap of her fingers for herself and her friends. She's also your typical spoiled brat who thinks the world revolves around her. While at the topic, I wanted more of Chiara's and Ravina's sides to think that I'd want to become friends with them (and who are loyal to her).
Also, can we please talk about Rocio because we need a bestie/people who are like her? 😭💖 She's that one friend who is on your wavelength and has your back when times are rough.
The story is simple, delectable, and enriching to the point where you want to get engaged with Isabel's and Kieran's point of views. I especially enjoyed where they shared histories of their respective heritages, and it made me feel like I wanted to join in their conversation. The only thing that felt a bit forced was the ending (where it really ended with Natalia and Isabel), but overall, the story is easy to follow and engaging.
This book is about Isabel Martinez who gets invited to an all-expense paid vacation from one of her high school bullies, and then gets actually a whirlwind romance with one of her bullies' friends.
For me, it was a refreshing rwad since I like romance (with some spice), and the way it was set felt like I was living in Crazy Rich Asians, but Filipino version. I like how the main characters share their histories together, and at the same time how they are attacted to each other, considering the guy dreamt of her a year before meeting her.
I'd want a guy like Kieran who keeps on yearning for her and how he treats her well while being woth a friend group that went either lukewarm or cold on Isabel while she was with them.
For Natalia, she's your typical Queen Bee who gets everything at a snap of her fingers for herself and her friends. She's also your typical spoiled brat who thinks the world revolves around her. While at the topic, I wanted more of Chiara's and Ravina's sides to think that I'd want to become friends with them (and who are loyal to her).
Also, can we please talk about Rocio because we need a bestie/people who are like her? 😭💖 She's that one friend who is on your wavelength and has your back when times are rough.
The story is simple, delectable, and enriching to the point where you want to get engaged with Isabel's and Kieran's point of views. I especially enjoyed where they shared histories of their respective heritages, and it made me feel like I wanted to join in their conversation. The only thing that felt a bit forced was the ending (where it really ended with Natalia and Isabel), but overall, the story is easy to follow and engaging.
March 9, 2026
refreshing is what this book is to me. it's exactly what i needed to get my reading spark back. i'm not even joking—i finished 62% of this book in 5 hours !!! 🤯 the book is character-driven and multilayered; offers so so much more than a typical romance book. there are some parts of the story where i wanted to be explained like how was the Kieran dreaming of Isabel long before they even met other than just fate. ultimately, it didn't find it to have ruined the reading journey anyway.
i enjoyed reading about Isabel; she was unapologetic about who she was, what she stands for, what she feels, and even how she chooses to handle whatever life hurled at her. high respect for everyone like Isabel who went through hard times and still come out with a soft heart. i learned from Isabel a lot and can only hope to be half as compassionate as her. the antagonist's story was a little soap opera-ish for me, but still liked how this book wrapped up the friendship, or lack thereof. not every relationship has to end with a grand reconciliation or a life-altering punishment; that sometimes, it's best to just leave things be.
my favorite part was how the book tapped on socio-political topics that left me lots of pieces to reflect on. my level of empathy for one because there were points made in the book that made so much sense but tbh, i'm really not ready to hear out yet (disturb the comfortable or something, am i right?). but i'm happy to have been exposed to it for a chance to ponder on it and maybe find peace with in time. understandably, there wasn't much of a deep dive into said issues but it feels good to read it in a contemporary romance book and hope that it reaches the right audience.
i enjoyed reading about Isabel; she was unapologetic about who she was, what she stands for, what she feels, and even how she chooses to handle whatever life hurled at her. high respect for everyone like Isabel who went through hard times and still come out with a soft heart. i learned from Isabel a lot and can only hope to be half as compassionate as her. the antagonist's story was a little soap opera-ish for me, but still liked how this book wrapped up the friendship, or lack thereof. not every relationship has to end with a grand reconciliation or a life-altering punishment; that sometimes, it's best to just leave things be.
my favorite part was how the book tapped on socio-political topics that left me lots of pieces to reflect on. my level of empathy for one because there were points made in the book that made so much sense but tbh, i'm really not ready to hear out yet (disturb the comfortable or something, am i right?). but i'm happy to have been exposed to it for a chance to ponder on it and maybe find peace with in time. understandably, there wasn't much of a deep dive into said issues but it feels good to read it in a contemporary romance book and hope that it reaches the right audience.
March 5, 2026
NO SPOILERS
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ open door sex scenes late into the story, think Titanic
I really appreciated how relatable and believable Isabel is as a character. She isn’t written as fragile, even though she carries deep wounds from the bullying she experienced. Her trauma and the ways she reacts to situations feel very understandable given what she went through, which made her character feel very real.
The romance is a strong slow burn, and the tension and chemistry between Isabel and Kieran are very well developed. Kieran is a complex character: supportive, intentional, protective, and clearly flawed, but also willing to grow. That balance makes him compelling rather than idealized.
Rocio, Isabel’s best friend, is another highlight. She’s incredibly supportive and protective, the kind of friend everyone deserves. Even though we never meet Rocio’s boyfriend in the book, the way he’s described made me want to kick him on her behalf just to protect her.
I also appreciated the political commentary throughout the story. To me, existence itself is political, and the book acknowledges that through its discussions and character interactions. It feels especially well researched in its portrayal of the intersection between Filipino and Irish heritage.
Finally, I liked that the story didn’t shy away from conversations about faith. I am not religious at all but since the Philippines is a deeply religious country—whether through Catholicism or Islam—it felt authentic to see faith woven into the narrative rather than ignored.
Thank you LoveNotes PR and Ms. Carina Gaskell for the opportunity to ARC Read for this ✨
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ open door sex scenes late into the story, think Titanic
I really appreciated how relatable and believable Isabel is as a character. She isn’t written as fragile, even though she carries deep wounds from the bullying she experienced. Her trauma and the ways she reacts to situations feel very understandable given what she went through, which made her character feel very real.
The romance is a strong slow burn, and the tension and chemistry between Isabel and Kieran are very well developed. Kieran is a complex character: supportive, intentional, protective, and clearly flawed, but also willing to grow. That balance makes him compelling rather than idealized.
Rocio, Isabel’s best friend, is another highlight. She’s incredibly supportive and protective, the kind of friend everyone deserves. Even though we never meet Rocio’s boyfriend in the book, the way he’s described made me want to kick him on her behalf just to protect her.
I also appreciated the political commentary throughout the story. To me, existence itself is political, and the book acknowledges that through its discussions and character interactions. It feels especially well researched in its portrayal of the intersection between Filipino and Irish heritage.
Finally, I liked that the story didn’t shy away from conversations about faith. I am not religious at all but since the Philippines is a deeply religious country—whether through Catholicism or Islam—it felt authentic to see faith woven into the narrative rather than ignored.
Thank you LoveNotes PR and Ms. Carina Gaskell for the opportunity to ARC Read for this ✨
March 11, 2026
ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ ꜰᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀᴅᴠᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴄᴏᴘʏ ʀᴇᴄᴇɪᴠᴇᴅ ꜰʀᴏᴍ LoveNotesPR.
ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: 4.5/5
ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ:
This had to be my very first romance ARC to date, and a first book I read, written by a fellow Filipino like myself. Truthfully, even though I felt like there was a lot more potential between Isabel and Kieran's relationship, the pacing of their relationship is typical of a summer romance. I can't expect a painfully slow burn when realistically, they only have a few weeks to themselves. The dreams Kieran had months before meeting Isabel initially felt a bittle off for me, in a way that it didn't make quite sense to me (although maybe I'd also want to dream about my future partner and unknowingly write songs about them and mention them there 😁). Still, the romance had me giggle because of how Isabel initially reacted. Girl is finally in love!
All in all, as much as Kieran is supposed to be my favorite here, I think Isabel deserved that spot more. That girl has been through everything. This book embraced the inner struggles of having to forgive someone who isn't even willing to ask for an apology or understanding for their wrongdoings, then also to have her learn how to forgive herself for not knowing things. With that being said, I feel like Isabel showed a kind of resilience that isn't always often bragged about or seen by people. It's something not everyone has the guts to have, and yet the FMC managed to pull through smoothly.
My only question is: will Natalia get her own ARC redemption story? 👀 that would be interesting!
PS. Not me having an actual crush on Kieran though 👀😩 HELP!
ꜰᴀᴠᴇ ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀs: Isabel!
ʀᴇᴄᴏᴍᴍᴇɴᴅᴇᴅ?: I'd love to read the books in this series in the future!
ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: 4.5/5
ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ:
This had to be my very first romance ARC to date, and a first book I read, written by a fellow Filipino like myself. Truthfully, even though I felt like there was a lot more potential between Isabel and Kieran's relationship, the pacing of their relationship is typical of a summer romance. I can't expect a painfully slow burn when realistically, they only have a few weeks to themselves. The dreams Kieran had months before meeting Isabel initially felt a bittle off for me, in a way that it didn't make quite sense to me (although maybe I'd also want to dream about my future partner and unknowingly write songs about them and mention them there 😁). Still, the romance had me giggle because of how Isabel initially reacted. Girl is finally in love!
All in all, as much as Kieran is supposed to be my favorite here, I think Isabel deserved that spot more. That girl has been through everything. This book embraced the inner struggles of having to forgive someone who isn't even willing to ask for an apology or understanding for their wrongdoings, then also to have her learn how to forgive herself for not knowing things. With that being said, I feel like Isabel showed a kind of resilience that isn't always often bragged about or seen by people. It's something not everyone has the guts to have, and yet the FMC managed to pull through smoothly.
My only question is: will Natalia get her own ARC redemption story? 👀 that would be interesting!
PS. Not me having an actual crush on Kieran though 👀😩 HELP!
ꜰᴀᴠᴇ ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀs: Isabel!
ʀᴇᴄᴏᴍᴍᴇɴᴅᴇᴅ?: I'd love to read the books in this series in the future!
April 4, 2026
𐙚⋆°｡⋆♡ ── 4.25 stars
i knew i had to read this the second my eyes landed on this beautiful cover. the colour choices, the lettering, THEM?!! i want to stare at it for hours!!
anywho! moving on to the story, i was very pleasantly surprised with how unique the story was - especially in comparison to many romance stories ive consumed. it was filled with lots of awareness to historical and also very relevant information regarding colonization, identity in a way, and so much more! i loved the importance of learning that very different cultures (irish and filipino) have lots in common, especially because of the british. i think colonization is something many people brush over and don't care to talk about when it's so important. i learned a lot while reading this story and carina has found herself a devoted fan. there was topics of religion and christianity in a different light than what you'd typically find, isabel isn't keen on everything the church follows but she still has a relationship with God + it helped her in terms of her mental health and everything she's struggled with. seeing some more woke perspectives and things i can somewhat agree with in the romance genre is kind of healing, especially when isabel was mocked by the other people for being religious in some ways.
the romance between them felt so natural and just so comforting, these two people who should basically have nothing in common, they were connected by their history and love of art and people. it wasn't perfect in any ways, as they both were new to many things and learning each other as they spent time together at night.
i loved isabel's friendship with her best friend, having a really good person in your corner is SO important and they had a healthy relationship. she was raised by a single mom and had no idea who her father was - the ending was a bit crazy LOL like i did not expect that at all!
a thing i found a bit off putting was him being really cold to her when they first met because he was attracted to her and had been dreaming of her for a year... i get that he feels nervous and anxious yk but she was really anxious about hanging out with her high school bullies and her new friendgroup over the summer... the worst thing is an attractive guy being rude to you. a very minor thing which made me a bit uncomfortable is when she called him 'daddy' during the intimate scenes, i usually do not care at all when this happens - kinks and all whatever, but usually it's between mature characters yk like not shaming at all !!!! i get it lol but these two mcs are virgins and are pretty young and literally the same age, it didn't really fit imo but like i said a very minor part of the story.
overall a very beautiful story and unique book i'll be thinking of for a while now, the cover is ingrained in my head and i yearn to visit manilla one day (justine this is about you!) i think it's so important to diversify your palettes and understand other people's perspectives and learning about all kinds of history in the day and with how convenient everything is right now, there really isn't an excuse for not educating yourself if you live somewhere these things are easy to reach.
there's so much to say but i really think you should give this story a shot!
thank you SO much carina for sending me a digital arc!
i knew i had to read this the second my eyes landed on this beautiful cover. the colour choices, the lettering, THEM?!! i want to stare at it for hours!!
anywho! moving on to the story, i was very pleasantly surprised with how unique the story was - especially in comparison to many romance stories ive consumed. it was filled with lots of awareness to historical and also very relevant information regarding colonization, identity in a way, and so much more! i loved the importance of learning that very different cultures (irish and filipino) have lots in common, especially because of the british. i think colonization is something many people brush over and don't care to talk about when it's so important. i learned a lot while reading this story and carina has found herself a devoted fan. there was topics of religion and christianity in a different light than what you'd typically find, isabel isn't keen on everything the church follows but she still has a relationship with God + it helped her in terms of her mental health and everything she's struggled with. seeing some more woke perspectives and things i can somewhat agree with in the romance genre is kind of healing, especially when isabel was mocked by the other people for being religious in some ways.
the romance between them felt so natural and just so comforting, these two people who should basically have nothing in common, they were connected by their history and love of art and people. it wasn't perfect in any ways, as they both were new to many things and learning each other as they spent time together at night.
i loved isabel's friendship with her best friend, having a really good person in your corner is SO important and they had a healthy relationship. she was raised by a single mom and had no idea who her father was - the ending was a bit crazy LOL like i did not expect that at all!
a thing i found a bit off putting was him being really cold to her when they first met because he was attracted to her and had been dreaming of her for a year... i get that he feels nervous and anxious yk but she was really anxious about hanging out with her high school bullies and her new friendgroup over the summer... the worst thing is an attractive guy being rude to you. a very minor thing which made me a bit uncomfortable is when she called him 'daddy' during the intimate scenes, i usually do not care at all when this happens - kinks and all whatever, but usually it's between mature characters yk like not shaming at all !!!! i get it lol but these two mcs are virgins and are pretty young and literally the same age, it didn't really fit imo but like i said a very minor part of the story.
overall a very beautiful story and unique book i'll be thinking of for a while now, the cover is ingrained in my head and i yearn to visit manilla one day (justine this is about you!) i think it's so important to diversify your palettes and understand other people's perspectives and learning about all kinds of history in the day and with how convenient everything is right now, there really isn't an excuse for not educating yourself if you live somewhere these things are easy to reach.
there's so much to say but i really think you should give this story a shot!
thank you SO much carina for sending me a digital arc!
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