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Regretfully Yours #5
Evan: A Short Story
231 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 20, 2026
About the author
Maya Alden
65 books1,279 followersA top 20 Amazon Bestselling Author, Maya Alden pens angsty contemporary romances.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 212 reviews
May 20, 2026
Pathetically predicable
It's not even fun to read these books anymore, because we know what to expect: the main male character does something unforgivable, and the female main character forgives it anyway. She whines about how hot he is the whole time he's crushing her spirit, and even though she fakes being tough, underneath she's still a doormat and we can see it in her chapters when she's thinking about spreading her legs no matter what he's done. It's getting gross.
It's not even fun to read these books anymore, because we know what to expect: the main male character does something unforgivable, and the female main character forgives it anyway. She whines about how hot he is the whole time he's crushing her spirit, and even though she fakes being tough, underneath she's still a doormat and we can see it in her chapters when she's thinking about spreading her legs no matter what he's done. It's getting gross.
May 20, 2026
I really had high hopes for this one...
I couldn't quite bring myself to give it more than 3 stars.
There were a couple of things that got on my nerves. I am a Hispanic-American female, I love my culture very much, but Navya got on my nerves with this obsession with her Indian culture. The Bollywood references, which felt like every 5 minutes, was exhausting. Seriously... there is probably not a Hispanic on the planet that does not watch Spanish novelas (soap operas). That does not mean we sit there and compare everything to a novela. It was just too much. This author likes to make her characters minorities, which is fine, but it just seems like whatever ethnicity they are completely defines them and that's just not true. Especially if you grew up in the states. You mix your culture with American culture, but it doesn't define who you are. Then the references to things that are so entrenched in Indian culture, but is so far removed from the rest of us, with no real explanation (and let's be real... if the author had to explain all these references then the book would have been 600 pages long). It's also funny because Evan was Italian and there weren't that many references about Italian culture.
The other thing that annoyed me is the author tried to make this mature woman and in her head she just wasn't.
I really thought I was gonna love this one, but it missed the mark.
I couldn't quite bring myself to give it more than 3 stars.
There were a couple of things that got on my nerves. I am a Hispanic-American female, I love my culture very much, but Navya got on my nerves with this obsession with her Indian culture. The Bollywood references, which felt like every 5 minutes, was exhausting. Seriously... there is probably not a Hispanic on the planet that does not watch Spanish novelas (soap operas). That does not mean we sit there and compare everything to a novela. It was just too much. This author likes to make her characters minorities, which is fine, but it just seems like whatever ethnicity they are completely defines them and that's just not true. Especially if you grew up in the states. You mix your culture with American culture, but it doesn't define who you are. Then the references to things that are so entrenched in Indian culture, but is so far removed from the rest of us, with no real explanation (and let's be real... if the author had to explain all these references then the book would have been 600 pages long). It's also funny because Evan was Italian and there weren't that many references about Italian culture.
The other thing that annoyed me is the author tried to make this mature woman and in her head she just wasn't.
I really thought I was gonna love this one, but it missed the mark.
May 20, 2026
I’m always a little skeptical with books that primarily have 5 star reviews from ARC readers and no genuine reviews. As a long time reader of Alden’s, I’ve noticed her books becoming more and more performative. They very much read as a white person trying way too hard and it comes off as superficial. Also side note - I’ve read fantasy books with entirely made up languages that didn’t require me to go and translate every other sentence like this book did. From French, to Hindi to Italian - it was excessive (I’m being slightly hyperbolic). This book, like several of her other recent works, also really plays up the stereotypical “she’s not like other girls”. I was really excited to have a South Asian FMC (extra bonus that she’s a nurse) but this book just fell flat for me.
This quote is from another of Alden’s books, and adequately sums up the icky performative feeling her books are giving me.
"As for me, with my half-Italian father, quarter-Native American maternal grandmother, and quarter-British maternal grandfather, I was also far from typical Anglo-Saxon, though I often passed for it." - an excerpt from No Ordinary Love by Maya Alden. Wtf.
This quote is from another of Alden’s books, and adequately sums up the icky performative feeling her books are giving me.
"As for me, with my half-Italian father, quarter-Native American maternal grandmother, and quarter-British maternal grandfather, I was also far from typical Anglo-Saxon, though I often passed for it." - an excerpt from No Ordinary Love by Maya Alden. Wtf.
May 21, 2026
This was so painfully cliché. As an Indian myself, i was horrified by the curse words. In India curse words don’t work the same way they do in western countries and some of them genuinely made me cringe. No decent Indian person with a gentle upbringing, who has lived their whole life abroad would casually use such crass and vulgar language.
And what was with the whole Bollywood obsession? Your ethnicity is a part of who you are not your entire identity. Indians don’t think the way this fmc was portrayed thinking.
And what was with the whole Bollywood obsession? Your ethnicity is a part of who you are not your entire identity. Indians don’t think the way this fmc was portrayed thinking.
May 20, 2026
Ok
Same old plot
virgin women settling for a bare minimum old guy.
Its like the sweetest taboo just less smut
Same old plot
virgin women settling for a bare minimum old guy.
Its like the sweetest taboo just less smut
Read
May 25, 2026God why do I even bother with this author?!
19% on chapter four and we are nowhere near the betrayal. It should take no more than two chapters to set up the relationship and the betrayal scene. Then a few chapters of betrayal. Then a few more chapters of remorse and angst. Then the redemption and or recovery for the characters and relationship. ESPECIALLY as this author will rob the reader of over 30% of the book for promo material at the end. So it is absolutely PIVOTAL for this author to GET TO THE FUCKING POINT.
I really need to stop wasting my money on this author. I love the betrayal scenes she writes but that’s it. The MMC’s are always atrocious and rarely redeemable. And the HEA’s are never earned. But when the author writes blatant racism of her characters family(ies) on page or when she takes too long world building for worlds that aren’t worth reading about because of said racism and elitism then I feel like I’m going to yell. I don’t read romance to be frustrated like this. And we haven’t even gotten the couple together at all yet.
They have only just met. The MMC is a typical asshole manchild who can’t regulate his emotions in a professional setting and takes it out on everyone in the room with him, in particular the FMC. Even after he realizes his mistake he continues his bad behavior. But then later he apologizes like I should believe it. NO! He has shown you who he is! This is what I’m saying. This is gaslighting. Abuse a person then convince them that’s not you and per the blurb of this story after a two year relationship dump her for someone more suitable to his lifestyle, family and wealth by showing the FMC that he never respected her. She was only good enough to sleep with.
HELLO! That first impression was who he always was. It shouldn’t be a surprise when it reared its ugly head later in the story. Which is the only reason I read these stories. I want that gut punch of the betrayal. The problem is that I won’t feel that since he has already shown his red flags and the FMC chose to ignore them and have a relationship with him anyway. This now became a FMC problem, as it was on her to make better decisions.
Now all I can hope for is that she owns her mistakes and makes him burn for it. But considering who this author is I most likely won’t even get a glass of something thrown in his face for his absurd audacity. Ugh. I’m dreading continuing this book. This author is so unfulfilling and disappointing to me.
19% on chapter four and we are nowhere near the betrayal. It should take no more than two chapters to set up the relationship and the betrayal scene. Then a few chapters of betrayal. Then a few more chapters of remorse and angst. Then the redemption and or recovery for the characters and relationship. ESPECIALLY as this author will rob the reader of over 30% of the book for promo material at the end. So it is absolutely PIVOTAL for this author to GET TO THE FUCKING POINT.
I really need to stop wasting my money on this author. I love the betrayal scenes she writes but that’s it. The MMC’s are always atrocious and rarely redeemable. And the HEA’s are never earned. But when the author writes blatant racism of her characters family(ies) on page or when she takes too long world building for worlds that aren’t worth reading about because of said racism and elitism then I feel like I’m going to yell. I don’t read romance to be frustrated like this. And we haven’t even gotten the couple together at all yet.
They have only just met. The MMC is a typical asshole manchild who can’t regulate his emotions in a professional setting and takes it out on everyone in the room with him, in particular the FMC. Even after he realizes his mistake he continues his bad behavior. But then later he apologizes like I should believe it. NO! He has shown you who he is! This is what I’m saying. This is gaslighting. Abuse a person then convince them that’s not you and per the blurb of this story after a two year relationship dump her for someone more suitable to his lifestyle, family and wealth by showing the FMC that he never respected her. She was only good enough to sleep with.
HELLO! That first impression was who he always was. It shouldn’t be a surprise when it reared its ugly head later in the story. Which is the only reason I read these stories. I want that gut punch of the betrayal. The problem is that I won’t feel that since he has already shown his red flags and the FMC chose to ignore them and have a relationship with him anyway. This now became a FMC problem, as it was on her to make better decisions.
Now all I can hope for is that she owns her mistakes and makes him burn for it. But considering who this author is I most likely won’t even get a glass of something thrown in his face for his absurd audacity. Ugh. I’m dreading continuing this book. This author is so unfulfilling and disappointing to me.
May 21, 2026
Another zero, mostly…
Evan is the MMC, obviously, and he’s a neurosurgeon. Navya is the FMC and an OR nurse. He’s Italian and she’s Indian. Which doesn’t mean anything other than his family does wine. Evan is the only one in the family who is not in their wine business.
The couple do not hit it off! He’s jet lagged and emotionally drained due to his grandmother passing. He does a very dumb thing in the operating room… But they start meeting, and he has some rules that he makes very clear. Just fun, nothing else.
His grandfather wants him to marry so he breaks it off and gets immediately engaged to a truly nasty woman who is a friend of the family and works for them too. She’s aiming for a CEO spot and is a seriously mean girl.
This is an average read, and it’s mainly because this is no different from many of this author’s other works. The Hero is really more of a Zero, and this FMC just suffers in silence. He eventually gets his head out and there’s a sort of HEA.
Ok read. Not bad and not great or spectacular. Just… fine.
Evan is the MMC, obviously, and he’s a neurosurgeon. Navya is the FMC and an OR nurse. He’s Italian and she’s Indian. Which doesn’t mean anything other than his family does wine. Evan is the only one in the family who is not in their wine business.
The couple do not hit it off! He’s jet lagged and emotionally drained due to his grandmother passing. He does a very dumb thing in the operating room… But they start meeting, and he has some rules that he makes very clear. Just fun, nothing else.
His grandfather wants him to marry so he breaks it off and gets immediately engaged to a truly nasty woman who is a friend of the family and works for them too. She’s aiming for a CEO spot and is a seriously mean girl.
This is an average read, and it’s mainly because this is no different from many of this author’s other works. The Hero is really more of a Zero, and this FMC just suffers in silence. He eventually gets his head out and there’s a sort of HEA.
Ok read. Not bad and not great or spectacular. Just… fine.
May 21, 2026
Lately, all her books seem the same and I don’t understand why she insists on making the hero or heroine speak another language or have a different culture or nationality.
It’s always a french person, indian, italian, or whatever else. As if everyone has to be something different for it to be okay to write about them.
And then she throws in words from that language so that we,the readers can see how much effort the author put into writing that book….along with 20 others that same year. honestly, I really don’t know why I keep trying to read her
It’s always a french person, indian, italian, or whatever else. As if everyone has to be something different for it to be okay to write about them.
And then she throws in words from that language so that we,the readers can see how much effort the author put into writing that book….along with 20 others that same year. honestly, I really don’t know why I keep trying to read her
May 20, 2026
Foreign language sayings disrupted the flow
The angst and grovel were great as always with Maya, but I wasn't a fan of the way the translations for the Hindi and Italian sayings that were used were listed at the end of the chapter. It definitely disrupted the flow of reading.
Other than that, I enjoyed this novella, looking forward to reading Foxes!
The angst and grovel were great as always with Maya, but I wasn't a fan of the way the translations for the Hindi and Italian sayings that were used were listed at the end of the chapter. It definitely disrupted the flow of reading.
Other than that, I enjoyed this novella, looking forward to reading Foxes!
May 20, 2026
It Really Disgusts Me, Reading His Excuses, Reading Him Create A Narrative Of Self Saviour Syndrome About How He Didn't Realise What He Was Choosing
As always, Alden has an egotistical MMC who never surrenders control of the situation.
I see Male Supremacy and White Supremacy all through this hospital and he doesn't do enough to address that behaviour.
Unless he can be honest about what systems he abused her with, then hes not stitching a wound, hes distracted by his own paper cuts.
None of his apologies feel genuine they feel rehearsed and controlling.
Ugh the way the hospital Communally Abuses her into forgiving him, and he sends fucking flowers, how slow, stunted and shallow.
A white male Social Abuser never stops Socially Abusing an Indian woman, even at the end, abusing her with deliberate emotional infections because he realised he liked the doormat, controlling her, and not the uncontrollable Arabella.
She really is just a convenient hole for him.
And he demonstrated that with his choices and she still normalised it.
How appropriate that you bring up Jane Eyre, the girl who married a racist abuser and attempted bigamist.
Kept his wife locked up drove her imsame after stealing her families lands in Jamaica.
Ugh.
Men that demand eye contact are so cold turkey, they can't make you come so they make you a deer in the headlights.
Ugh.
Nah bored of the Mills and Boon fucking, grow up.
Make his ego bleed.
Instead everyome forgives him for her.
Its so gross the racist cunts.
Her brother is toxic as fuck, normalising her trauma bond with her abuser.
As always, Alden has an egotistical MMC who never surrenders control of the situation.
I see Male Supremacy and White Supremacy all through this hospital and he doesn't do enough to address that behaviour.
Unless he can be honest about what systems he abused her with, then hes not stitching a wound, hes distracted by his own paper cuts.
None of his apologies feel genuine they feel rehearsed and controlling.
Ugh the way the hospital Communally Abuses her into forgiving him, and he sends fucking flowers, how slow, stunted and shallow.
A white male Social Abuser never stops Socially Abusing an Indian woman, even at the end, abusing her with deliberate emotional infections because he realised he liked the doormat, controlling her, and not the uncontrollable Arabella.
She really is just a convenient hole for him.
And he demonstrated that with his choices and she still normalised it.
How appropriate that you bring up Jane Eyre, the girl who married a racist abuser and attempted bigamist.
Kept his wife locked up drove her imsame after stealing her families lands in Jamaica.
Ugh.
Men that demand eye contact are so cold turkey, they can't make you come so they make you a deer in the headlights.
Ugh.
Nah bored of the Mills and Boon fucking, grow up.
Make his ego bleed.
Instead everyome forgives him for her.
Its so gross the racist cunts.
Her brother is toxic as fuck, normalising her trauma bond with her abuser.
May 21, 2026
So, they meet for the first time in the operating room, he’s very obnoxious and knows it—he apologizes and insists on taking her out to dinner as part of the apology, which is somewhat refreshing for a MA hero. But then he turns into a family pleasing snob, gets engaged to the OW and breaks the FMC’s heart. Realizing he doesn’t want to please his family and dumps the fiancée and begs his way back into the FMC’s life.
The whole thing is very meh.
The whole thing is very meh.
May 22, 2026
Surely there's a law somewhere that says a neurosurgeon can't be the king of TSTLdom? Because Evan reigns supreme 🙄
May 22, 2026
Notes for me
Evan - well respected surgeon
Navya - OR nurse. Proud of Indian heritage
They meet in OR and he is arrogant and horrible specifically to her. Another nurse admits to setting something up wrong, but he stares at and blames Navya.
After surgery he says to not be scheduled with her again. Another Dr says she’s one of the best. He responds “Then your best is disappointing “
Come to find out a different nurse said he was hot and he thought it was Navya. By the time he figured it out he’d already been rude.
He takes her to an apology dinner and it turns physical. He sets rules they can only have sex/fun, no type of relationship and he doesn’t stay the night. She surprised him by saying ok. He only takes her to places they won’t be recognized and never his apartment.
He meets his Nonno at a vineyard. He’s on his deathbed. Arabella is a girl from Italy his family wants him to marry. Nonno insists on it. He tells Arabella he does not love her. She tells him she’s loved him all her life and he will learn.
He breaks it off with Navya after they were together 6 months. Right after they are intimate in a work call room. He asks if she’s ok. She lies and says yes. He responds “Good. I don’t need the drama. Last time I ended something the dr lost it in the OR”
She meets her friend at a bar. Evan is there but neither see each other. He tells his friend he ended it and she took it fine. The manhoe friend mentions her being a virgin so Navya is mortified Evan talked about it. And the dagger to the heart - Navya was a convenient distraction but she could never compete with Arabella since she is well educated and from an elite family.
Let the grovel commence.
Evan - well respected surgeon
Navya - OR nurse. Proud of Indian heritage
They meet in OR and he is arrogant and horrible specifically to her. Another nurse admits to setting something up wrong, but he stares at and blames Navya.
After surgery he says to not be scheduled with her again. Another Dr says she’s one of the best. He responds “Then your best is disappointing “
Come to find out a different nurse said he was hot and he thought it was Navya. By the time he figured it out he’d already been rude.
He takes her to an apology dinner and it turns physical. He sets rules they can only have sex/fun, no type of relationship and he doesn’t stay the night. She surprised him by saying ok. He only takes her to places they won’t be recognized and never his apartment.
He meets his Nonno at a vineyard. He’s on his deathbed. Arabella is a girl from Italy his family wants him to marry. Nonno insists on it. He tells Arabella he does not love her. She tells him she’s loved him all her life and he will learn.
He breaks it off with Navya after they were together 6 months. Right after they are intimate in a work call room. He asks if she’s ok. She lies and says yes. He responds “Good. I don’t need the drama. Last time I ended something the dr lost it in the OR”
She meets her friend at a bar. Evan is there but neither see each other. He tells his friend he ended it and she took it fine. The manhoe friend mentions her being a virgin so Navya is mortified Evan talked about it. And the dagger to the heart - Navya was a convenient distraction but she could never compete with Arabella since she is well educated and from an elite family.
Let the grovel commence.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 26, 2026
Dear Maya,
I want to share my honest feedback about your book. I think you have potential, and the fact that you’ve come this far and have many readers shows that people see value in your work. That’s why I hope you take this as constructive criticism.
However, I feel like the story structure and plot are becoming repetitive. This particular book did not feel very engaging or memorable to me. As a reader, I found it quite predictable and, at times, boring. I also had to skip some parts in the beginning because it didn’t hold my interest.
I’m not Indian, but I feel that the way the heroine speaks sometimes, especially the use of vulgar or unrealistic language, does not feel natural or believable for mature and professional people, especially those working abroad. It made some parts uncomfortable to read.
Evan also didn’t feel like a strong or attractive hero character, and overall the story didn’t stand out for me. I think the idea has potential, but the execution could be improved.
I would really encourage you to revisit your writing style, character development, and plot ideas. Many readers, including myself, expect more growth in terms of depth, originality, and emotional impact. I’ve read many of your books before, but I feel less interested in continuing unless there is clear improvement.
I hope you take this as honest feedback from a reader who wants to see your work get better.
I want to share my honest feedback about your book. I think you have potential, and the fact that you’ve come this far and have many readers shows that people see value in your work. That’s why I hope you take this as constructive criticism.
However, I feel like the story structure and plot are becoming repetitive. This particular book did not feel very engaging or memorable to me. As a reader, I found it quite predictable and, at times, boring. I also had to skip some parts in the beginning because it didn’t hold my interest.
I’m not Indian, but I feel that the way the heroine speaks sometimes, especially the use of vulgar or unrealistic language, does not feel natural or believable for mature and professional people, especially those working abroad. It made some parts uncomfortable to read.
Evan also didn’t feel like a strong or attractive hero character, and overall the story didn’t stand out for me. I think the idea has potential, but the execution could be improved.
I would really encourage you to revisit your writing style, character development, and plot ideas. Many readers, including myself, expect more growth in terms of depth, originality, and emotional impact. I’ve read many of your books before, but I feel less interested in continuing unless there is clear improvement.
I hope you take this as honest feedback from a reader who wants to see your work get better.
May 24, 2026
ends at page 185 out of 231 - MMC isn’t horrendous and MFC actually had a backbone
So a good 4th of this book is Ads for her other books. So you’re paying to read ads to hopefully generate more income for the author.
Book was a lot of TELL and not SHOW. The main characters barely spend any time on screen and spice is low low low. They spend more time talking to supporting characters.
I will say the author has a formula - and they way she cranks out books soo quickly leave several open questions about her methods, imo —
….but she’s dialed back on the MMC being absolutely horrendous and unredeemable and instead, has their transgressions being mild (instead of like, having the MFC get thrown in jail, or a s33x tape, or losing her job and her house, IYKYK it’s how her earlier work is like, etc) and now she writes the MFC with an actual backbone that doesn’t cave immediately. I will say I like it. Much less enraging and I’m more likely to Isley with the characters more realistically.
Evan did grovel - but I would’ve appreciated more showing and not telling. It would’ve made it more impactful. But I love Navya’d strength - she held firm on a lot of things and even tossed the trash he said about her back in his face.
Overall it’s decent - could’ve done without the heavy emphasis on a minority culture the author is just guessing at (she does this with her Savannah series as well)
So a good 4th of this book is Ads for her other books. So you’re paying to read ads to hopefully generate more income for the author.
Book was a lot of TELL and not SHOW. The main characters barely spend any time on screen and spice is low low low. They spend more time talking to supporting characters.
I will say the author has a formula - and they way she cranks out books soo quickly leave several open questions about her methods, imo —
….but she’s dialed back on the MMC being absolutely horrendous and unredeemable and instead, has their transgressions being mild (instead of like, having the MFC get thrown in jail, or a s33x tape, or losing her job and her house, IYKYK it’s how her earlier work is like, etc) and now she writes the MFC with an actual backbone that doesn’t cave immediately. I will say I like it. Much less enraging and I’m more likely to Isley with the characters more realistically.
Evan did grovel - but I would’ve appreciated more showing and not telling. It would’ve made it more impactful. But I love Navya’d strength - she held firm on a lot of things and even tossed the trash he said about her back in his face.
Overall it’s decent - could’ve done without the heavy emphasis on a minority culture the author is just guessing at (she does this with her Savannah series as well)
May 21, 2026
I tried. I only got a few chapters in and I was exhausted trying to translate all the languages used. It takes away from the story. Every time I had to pause to translate a word, I had to go back and read it again in the context. It doesn’t make me think more of a character because they think in their native language. It comes across as an author trying to create characters with a background they’re not a familiar with.
It felt phony. Maybe if I just knew the struggle of the characters, regardless of race/ethnicity then I’d know whether the story was worth a read. I genuinely don’t spend too much time worrying which continent a character descended from. I care about their story, their struggles and whether they overcome them.
This isn’t the first author to do this and it won’t be the last.
I’ve read entire worlds created out of thin air with religious beliefs and languages that felt more genuine than this did.
Maybe I’ll try again later but for now it was a miss right off the bat.
It felt phony. Maybe if I just knew the struggle of the characters, regardless of race/ethnicity then I’d know whether the story was worth a read. I genuinely don’t spend too much time worrying which continent a character descended from. I care about their story, their struggles and whether they overcome them.
This isn’t the first author to do this and it won’t be the last.
I’ve read entire worlds created out of thin air with religious beliefs and languages that felt more genuine than this did.
Maybe I’ll try again later but for now it was a miss right off the bat.
May 21, 2026
4/5⭐️ The queen of betrayal and grovel has done it again. If you like getting your heart ripped out, then you will love Evan. Navya Rana is an accomplished OR nurse who is comfortable in her body and her identity. When grumpy neurosurgeon Evan Vincenzo enters her OR and reprimands her for mistakes she didn’t make, she decides that he is on her not-so-nice list. But realizing his mistake, Evan apologizes and invites her to dinner – a dinner that turns into a hot but secret love affair. But like all secret affairs, this one was not meant to last, especially since Evan has responsibilities to his family who expects him to marry someone they’ve chosen. Upon getting engaged, Evan breaks it off with Navya but not just breaks it off. . .he also humiliates her when she overhears him tell his friend that she was merely a convenience. But Navya does not sulk or break down after Evan’s betrayal, she instead finds her true value. Seeing her confidence and professionalism, Evan realizes his mistake and knows he’s going to have to grovel so hard to get her back. . .that’s if he can get her back. I loved Navya! Her little Bollywood quips made her so relatable. I love that she never felt pressured to change. And that’s why this one delivered a hard gut punch. Evan made such a big mistake and Navya deserves so much more. But the grovel is good! And I love the lovable Nonno. Evan is Maya Alden at her best.
May 20, 2026
Better than this authors recent attempts, namely due to the fact that MMC wasn’t a woman hating pig, for the most part.
It’s a short story, easy to read, a little boring in places (crammed with lots of in-depth descriptions of food and other cultural aspects that felt forced at times), but overall ok.
Footnote: I enjoy reading about characters from different countries and cultures, but in Aldens most recent books it feels very forced, almost as if she’s been googling how to create diversity as opposed to allowing the characters to flow.
Also, whilst I’m white British and probably not qualified to understand, surely people of other cultures do not wear it like a billboard around their necks? I mean, I adore a Sunday roast and always watch the kings speech on Christmas Day, but I don’t compare everything to a Yorkshire pudding, nor do I think about the ties to my heritage every single moment. 🤷♀️
It’s a short story, easy to read, a little boring in places (crammed with lots of in-depth descriptions of food and other cultural aspects that felt forced at times), but overall ok.
Footnote: I enjoy reading about characters from different countries and cultures, but in Aldens most recent books it feels very forced, almost as if she’s been googling how to create diversity as opposed to allowing the characters to flow.
Also, whilst I’m white British and probably not qualified to understand, surely people of other cultures do not wear it like a billboard around their necks? I mean, I adore a Sunday roast and always watch the kings speech on Christmas Day, but I don’t compare everything to a Yorkshire pudding, nor do I think about the ties to my heritage every single moment. 🤷♀️
April 26, 2026
Maya, I truly love all your books!!!
These novellas though are seriously becoming my favorites! It’s amazing how you give us so much into such a short story!
I love Navya! She let go when she needed to and didn’t give in quickly! Looove it!
I loooved Evan’s parts when he realized his mistakes! The emotions you give me are just chef’s kiss!
Highly recommend!
These novellas though are seriously becoming my favorites! It’s amazing how you give us so much into such a short story!
I love Navya! She let go when she needed to and didn’t give in quickly! Looove it!
I loooved Evan’s parts when he realized his mistakes! The emotions you give me are just chef’s kiss!
Highly recommend!
May 26, 2026
Loved it
Evan is a TSTL Neurosurgeon who has misguided loyalties to family obligations. Navya is a super sweet, smart Nurse who always puts others before herself. This was a great overheard betrayal, angst, grovel, redemption story. Her finding her worth and him finding his courage. Them both learning to communicate their truths and fighting for their hea.
Evan is a TSTL Neurosurgeon who has misguided loyalties to family obligations. Navya is a super sweet, smart Nurse who always puts others before herself. This was a great overheard betrayal, angst, grovel, redemption story. Her finding her worth and him finding his courage. Them both learning to communicate their truths and fighting for their hea.
May 20, 2026
The writing was more telling I didn’t like the story at all it was just boring
May 20, 2026
Am I going to read it? Yes
Will I be underwhelmed? Also, yes.
Not much different than her book with the nurse named Reggie except that Reggie had money and the misunderstanding was different.
Will I be underwhelmed? Also, yes.
Not much different than her book with the nurse named Reggie except that Reggie had money and the misunderstanding was different.
May 21, 2026
I fell in love with her poker face since the first chapter and fell in love with her courage during the family lunch...
All in all Maya never fails to make me emotional with her novellas
All in all Maya never fails to make me emotional with her novellas
May 22, 2026
loved the humor!
I really loved the humor is this book! Navya was so refreshing and honest. Evan did his groveling like a pro! Highly recommend this one!
I really loved the humor is this book! Navya was so refreshing and honest. Evan did his groveling like a pro! Highly recommend this one!
May 23, 2026
Entertaining novella. I like the pace of these stories and I though the characters were well-developed. This one didn’t have as much gut punch, but still enjoyable.
May 21, 2026
Ugh
I just can’t with some of her books. I don’t know why she wants to create the most out there diverse group of people that’s not even realistic with names you can’t pronounce and if I have to keep clicking on asterisks to know what the people are talking about, those are not characters that are relatable and that I wanna read about. I should not have to stop multiple times in the first chapter of the book to look up the meanings of words. I might as well just buy a book in Chinese and get translation software. This was really disappointing and it was a DNF for me.
I just can’t with some of her books. I don’t know why she wants to create the most out there diverse group of people that’s not even realistic with names you can’t pronounce and if I have to keep clicking on asterisks to know what the people are talking about, those are not characters that are relatable and that I wanna read about. I should not have to stop multiple times in the first chapter of the book to look up the meanings of words. I might as well just buy a book in Chinese and get translation software. This was really disappointing and it was a DNF for me.
May 20, 2026
4.5⭐️
It never ceases to amaze me how emotionally impactful Maya can invest me in such a brief amount of pages. Navya has quickly become one of my favorite heroines. She is unfailingly kind, unexpectedly hilarious, and laced with a strength of spirit that most of us merely strive for. And yet through all of these unwavering qualities, Navya is beautifully human with her insecurities and moments of self doubt.
A competent and passionate surgical nurse, Navya seeks to take care of her patients and loved ones with no thought to herself. She yearns for love but it has often been an afterthought in the pressures of supporting her family. She is therefore unprepared for the explosive chemistry she has with the new attending neurosurgeon, especially after such a humiliating introduction.
What starts as an illicit affair, turns to heartache as Evan and Navya navigate a shared workspace in the aftermath. Evan must learn how to change the horrific reflection of his miss handling of Navya’s heart. He must sit in his discomfort and try to become a man worthy of possible forgiveness.
If you love a story with a visceral gut punch and beautiful redemption, I urge you to check out this new installment on the Regretfully Yours series when it releases on May 20th.
It never ceases to amaze me how emotionally impactful Maya can invest me in such a brief amount of pages. Navya has quickly become one of my favorite heroines. She is unfailingly kind, unexpectedly hilarious, and laced with a strength of spirit that most of us merely strive for. And yet through all of these unwavering qualities, Navya is beautifully human with her insecurities and moments of self doubt.
A competent and passionate surgical nurse, Navya seeks to take care of her patients and loved ones with no thought to herself. She yearns for love but it has often been an afterthought in the pressures of supporting her family. She is therefore unprepared for the explosive chemistry she has with the new attending neurosurgeon, especially after such a humiliating introduction.
What starts as an illicit affair, turns to heartache as Evan and Navya navigate a shared workspace in the aftermath. Evan must learn how to change the horrific reflection of his miss handling of Navya’s heart. He must sit in his discomfort and try to become a man worthy of possible forgiveness.
If you love a story with a visceral gut punch and beautiful redemption, I urge you to check out this new installment on the Regretfully Yours series when it releases on May 20th.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I don’t even know how to put this into proper words because this book really got under my skin in the most annoying way possible. Navya has that quiet kind of presence where she doesn’t need to act big to feel important, and she’s funny without trying too hard and strong without making a whole speech about it, and the way she loves is so careful and soft that you just want to protect her even though she clearly does not need saving from anyone.
And then Evan shows up with all his sharp edges and his temper and that frustrating energy of someone who says the wrong thing and then goes “I didn’t mean it like that” like that fixes everything, and at first you’re just sitting there like okay sir, relax, but then he actually apologizes and you can tell it’s real, and then all of a sudden they’re sharing dinners and laughing and falling into something way bigger than either of them is ready for, and you can feel the whole thing building even when you know it’s probably going to hurt.
The part that really wrecked me, though, is Navya going into it with this tiny little hope she barely even lets herself feel, because she has spent so long looking after everyone else that she doesn’t even know what it means to be chosen properly, and then Evan turns around and hides her like she’s something to be ashamed of, and that moment when she hears him talking about her like she’s nothing, yeah, that one hurts in a deep disgusting way. And the worst part is she still has to keep functioning, still has to go to work and breathe and act normal while everything inside her is probably cracking.
But what I loved most, maybe even more than the romance itself, is how she puts herself back together without making a scene about it, just little by little, quietly choosing herself over and over until she remembers she was whole before him and she will still be whole after him, and if he gets another chance it’s because he actually earned it, not because she needed him.
And Evan, as annoying as he is at first, ends up being painfully human too, because he thinks he can keep his life in neat little boxes, like family expectations here, career there, Navya hidden away where nobody has to know, and then everything falls apart and he’s left sitting with what he did and finally understands that he threw away the one person who actually saw him. His grovel is not some huge dramatic movie scene, it’s slower and more awkward and somehow more heartbreaking because it feels like watching a person learn how to be gentle after spending too long being careless, and the way he keeps showing up without demanding anything, just proving he’s changed, that gets to you even if you’re trying not to let it.
Her family sucks, his fiancée sucks, the whole situation is a mess, but the story somehow turns all that into healing, into two people breaking open just enough to figure out who they are supposed to be. By the end it’s not even just about them ending up together, it’s about Navya learning to take up space and Evan learning how to love someone out loud.
And then Evan shows up with all his sharp edges and his temper and that frustrating energy of someone who says the wrong thing and then goes “I didn’t mean it like that” like that fixes everything, and at first you’re just sitting there like okay sir, relax, but then he actually apologizes and you can tell it’s real, and then all of a sudden they’re sharing dinners and laughing and falling into something way bigger than either of them is ready for, and you can feel the whole thing building even when you know it’s probably going to hurt.
The part that really wrecked me, though, is Navya going into it with this tiny little hope she barely even lets herself feel, because she has spent so long looking after everyone else that she doesn’t even know what it means to be chosen properly, and then Evan turns around and hides her like she’s something to be ashamed of, and that moment when she hears him talking about her like she’s nothing, yeah, that one hurts in a deep disgusting way. And the worst part is she still has to keep functioning, still has to go to work and breathe and act normal while everything inside her is probably cracking.
But what I loved most, maybe even more than the romance itself, is how she puts herself back together without making a scene about it, just little by little, quietly choosing herself over and over until she remembers she was whole before him and she will still be whole after him, and if he gets another chance it’s because he actually earned it, not because she needed him.
And Evan, as annoying as he is at first, ends up being painfully human too, because he thinks he can keep his life in neat little boxes, like family expectations here, career there, Navya hidden away where nobody has to know, and then everything falls apart and he’s left sitting with what he did and finally understands that he threw away the one person who actually saw him. His grovel is not some huge dramatic movie scene, it’s slower and more awkward and somehow more heartbreaking because it feels like watching a person learn how to be gentle after spending too long being careless, and the way he keeps showing up without demanding anything, just proving he’s changed, that gets to you even if you’re trying not to let it.
Her family sucks, his fiancée sucks, the whole situation is a mess, but the story somehow turns all that into healing, into two people breaking open just enough to figure out who they are supposed to be. By the end it’s not even just about them ending up together, it’s about Navya learning to take up space and Evan learning how to love someone out loud.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Evan
Regretfully Yours Series
Maya Alden
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating System (as of 8/14/2025):
⭐: It was a struggle to read. I almost DNF
⭐⭐: This could have been so much better.
⭐⭐⭐: Good/Average
⭐⭐⭐⭐: Great book. I will probably reread it.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: I absolutely loved this book.
***********************************************************************
Tropes:
💕MF Romance
💕Novella
💕Overheard
💕Second Chance
💕Part of a Series
💕Secret Romance
💕Medical Romance
💕BIPOC Representation
💕Grovel to HEA
💕Virgin
**********************************************************************
Spice: 🔥🔥🔥
Spice Level Rating System (as of 9/4/25)
🔥: Clean. Handholding. Kissing.
🔥🔥: Non-Descriptive/Implied on Page Sex
🔥🔥🔥: Hot-Descriptive on Page Sex
🔥🔥🔥🔥: So Hot—Do Not Read in Public
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥: Oh My-BDSM. Blood Play. Smut.
************************************************************************
THIS BOOK IS PART OF A SERIES OF NOVELLAS. IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO READ THE OTHER NOVELLAS.
Quote:
Getting dumped, I have learned from hard-won experience, does wonders for charity.
Summary:
MMC is the new surgeon at the hospital the FMC works at. Their first meeting is in the OR and does not go well. As an apology the MMC takes the FMC to dinner. This leads to a relationship. A relationship the MMC wants to keep secret. MMC is from a wealthy family and due to be engaged. FMC gets dumped by the MMC and soon after overhears what the MMC truly thinks about her. Grovel to HEA.
Review:
In the beginning I hated the MMC. He came off as an ass and wanted the FMC to have a stronger backbone. I truly believe when you have such strong feelings for a character the author has done their job.
This novella gives a big punch in short story form. It was jet the right length. I really liked it and loved to watch the MMC grovel. The FMC stood her ground until he earned her.
Grovel to HEA Romance Authors Recommendations:
Groveltohea (Wattpad Author)
Maya Alden
Natasha Anders
Cate C Wells
Christine Michelle
BIBLIODARLING | BOOKISH LIFE, TBRs & READING CHALLENGES GROUP (GOODREADS)
https://www.goodreads.com/group/invit...
*****************************************************************************
FOLLOW ME ON:
INSTAGRAM📢
https://www.instagram.com/bibliodarling/
SUBSTACK📢 https://open.substack.com/pub/mterron...
TIKTOK📢
https://www.tiktok.com/@bibliodarling...
WATTPAD📢
BiblioDarling (@BiblioDarling) - Wattpad
INKITT📢
https://inkitt.com/BiblioDarling
Regretfully Yours Series
Maya Alden
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating System (as of 8/14/2025):
⭐: It was a struggle to read. I almost DNF
⭐⭐: This could have been so much better.
⭐⭐⭐: Good/Average
⭐⭐⭐⭐: Great book. I will probably reread it.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: I absolutely loved this book.
***********************************************************************
Tropes:
💕MF Romance
💕Novella
💕Overheard
💕Second Chance
💕Part of a Series
💕Secret Romance
💕Medical Romance
💕BIPOC Representation
💕Grovel to HEA
💕Virgin
**********************************************************************
Spice: 🔥🔥🔥
Spice Level Rating System (as of 9/4/25)
🔥: Clean. Handholding. Kissing.
🔥🔥: Non-Descriptive/Implied on Page Sex
🔥🔥🔥: Hot-Descriptive on Page Sex
🔥🔥🔥🔥: So Hot—Do Not Read in Public
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥: Oh My-BDSM. Blood Play. Smut.
************************************************************************
THIS BOOK IS PART OF A SERIES OF NOVELLAS. IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO READ THE OTHER NOVELLAS.
Quote:
Getting dumped, I have learned from hard-won experience, does wonders for charity.
Summary:
MMC is the new surgeon at the hospital the FMC works at. Their first meeting is in the OR and does not go well. As an apology the MMC takes the FMC to dinner. This leads to a relationship. A relationship the MMC wants to keep secret. MMC is from a wealthy family and due to be engaged. FMC gets dumped by the MMC and soon after overhears what the MMC truly thinks about her. Grovel to HEA.
Review:
In the beginning I hated the MMC. He came off as an ass and wanted the FMC to have a stronger backbone. I truly believe when you have such strong feelings for a character the author has done their job.
This novella gives a big punch in short story form. It was jet the right length. I really liked it and loved to watch the MMC grovel. The FMC stood her ground until he earned her.
Grovel to HEA Romance Authors Recommendations:
Groveltohea (Wattpad Author)
Maya Alden
Natasha Anders
Cate C Wells
Christine Michelle
BIBLIODARLING | BOOKISH LIFE, TBRs & READING CHALLENGES GROUP (GOODREADS)
https://www.goodreads.com/group/invit...
*****************************************************************************
FOLLOW ME ON:
INSTAGRAM📢
https://www.instagram.com/bibliodarling/
SUBSTACK📢 https://open.substack.com/pub/mterron...
TIKTOK📢
https://www.tiktok.com/@bibliodarling...
WATTPAD📢
BiblioDarling (@BiblioDarling) - Wattpad
INKITT📢
https://inkitt.com/BiblioDarling
Displaying 1 - 30 of 212 reviews