Trzydziestoczteroletnia Sophie Wren zawsze stawiała na bezpieczeństwo. Rutyna, choć nużąca, zapewniała jej stabilność, o którą walczyła, odkąd weszła w dorosłość. Ostatnio przy zdrowych zmysłach trzymają ją jednak tylko kawa, głośna muzyka i sarkazm. Po zakończeniu kolejnego związku z niewłaściwym mężczyzną oraz latach niedoceniania w pracy, dochodzi do spóźnionego wniosku, że najwyższy czas narozrabiać i złamać kilka zasad.
Niechętnie przystaje na propozycję wyjścia z siostrą do baru, nawet jeśli Lola jest jej otwartym na świat przeciwieństwem. Sophie spodziewa się muzyki na żywo, kilku intrygujących zdjęć, które wrzuci na swój instagramowy profil eyeforani, a także lekkiego kaca. Cieszy się więc, gdy wieczór okazuje się tak udany, jak tego pragnęła.
A nawet bardziej.
Nie zdaje sobie jednak sprawy, że w tej samej chwili przeznaczenie ma już wobec niej inne plany. Obecność w odpowiednim miejscu i czasie, post w mediach społecznościowych, który staje się viralem oraz wścibska siostra sprawiają, że jej życie nagle przestaje być nudne.
Ever St. Clair już z definicji jest zakazany. Piękny, melancholijny muzyk uosabia pokusę zrodzoną z żywej wyobraźni Sophie, która nie przestaje o nim fantazjować. Wielowarstwowa, magnetyczna osobowość mężczyzny zmusza ją do przewartościowania dotychczasowego życia, odrzucenia wątpliwości i żądania od świata czegoś więcej.
Świat jej oczami to wesoła, szczera, zmysłowa historia o zdejmowaniu masek, pokazywaniu lękom środkowego palca, a przede wszystkim pogoni za marzeniami.
Lover of good music, good books, good coffee, and good people. Collector of tattoos. Lucky wife of my favorite human. Lucky mom of my other favorite human. Mostly lucky minion of two divas disguised as sausage dogs.
I have missed Kim Holden’s words. This book was epic. It had the best twists and turns, amazing characters, and some time spent with beloved favorites. Honestly, I couldn’t have loved it more. I went in completely blind because it’s a Kim book and it kept me smiling. I loved it and I hope Kim keeps on writing because this was incredible. Sophie and Ever forever!
Kim, how I missed you! The story felt like a perfect, tight hug and even though it was sliiightly predictable at times, I found myself grinning for the whole second part, just charmed by the Good Guy, Fierce Girl and the warmth conveyed by the writing. Also, I love good found family trope, so seeing Gus, Franco and girls again almost made me cry, it’s like a long awaited reunion with friends I haven’t seen for years 😭
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ⊹₊ ˚‧┈┈┈┈✿ ɢᴇɴᴇʀᴀʟ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛꜱ ✿┈┈┈┈‧ ˚ ₊⊹ Warning, my review will contain spoilers as a big part of the plot is my problem with this book and I want to openly mention it.
If I could've given this a 1,5 I would've.. I decided to round it up as my 1 stars are for books that pissed me off. This didn't piss me off but it really annoyed me. I'm 90% sure this book is a Sleep Token "fanfic" and I did not want to read that. The blurb never mentions anything about a masked band and the reveal is done so late that I didn't wanna DNF anymore. I am a fan of ST so for me this was really weird, it was obvious who this was about.. Besides that... The dialogue in this book is sooo fake, every single person talks like they’re delivering a motivational speech or a perfectly crafted quote. Everyone tells FMC stuff like "You are amazing, you can do it, you're so authentic, you're you" and it just felt so staged. With barely any interaction MMC says about FMC: "She's more than a breath of fresh air; she’s the entire goddamn atmosphere. There’s a realness that’s quickly becoming an addiction. Ahe’s giving me authenticity I thought had vanished from the world" and at only 24% in he says "Women like you terrify small men. I know we just met, but I can tell, without a shadow of a doubt, you’re smart, and clever, and quick-witted, and nervy, and unique, and self-assured." what guy says this?? It was really annoying to keep reading this overhyped way of talking about FMC, instalove galore. The writing itself wasn't my style either, and FMC was horny over everything, she talks about her "clit throbbing" 20% in because MMC says "Goodnight Sophie", yes... really.
There was nothing I liked about this book, and I think that this book only works for people who: Don't mind ST "fanfic" (or don't know them), are a fan of the author, like instalove and lots of validation in their books.
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ⊹₊ ˚‧┈┈┈┈⋆ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴇʟᴀᴛɪᴏɴꜱʜɪᴘ ⋆┈┈┈┈‧ ˚ ₊⊹ Ugh. This is so instalove and unbelievable. There is absolutely no chemistry on page for me yet MMC is basically obsessed with her from the start. At day 1 of meeting eachother they laugh at something together and she describes this as "Laughing with someone like this is so rare. It’s pure and intimate like nothing else, because it can’t be faked or forced. It’s validation that ties two souls together, like splicing a vein and bleeding out into the other. Pure connection." ?? It's written in such a dramatic way, for what?
There is also a really long string of chapters that is basically the mc's hanging out with mc's from previous books and from reading the reviews afterwards, apparently fans of this author absolutely loved reading about them. I went in thinking this was a standalone book (as advertised) and I had no clue who these people were and didn't care about them, it was sooooo boring as a non-fan. I feel like it's kinda strange to advertise this as a standalone when it's very interconnected. I felt left out.
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ⊹₊ ˚‧┈┈┈┈ꨄ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴍᴜᴛ ꨄ┈┈┈┈‧ ˚ ₊⊹ It’s explicit open door and shows up early, but instead of being hot it’s mostly cringe. I will rest my case with this scene that happens after sex: "Touching you, feeling you, fucking you…I assure you, I am not the one who possesses the magic.” Looping my arms around his neck, I rest my forehead against his. “I feel like we should test the magic cock or magic cunt theory again to be sure.” ???
Loved loved loved loved loved Every minute of it. From Big Dave and Lola to the obvious love for Sleep Token.
I cheered and clapped out loud when a certain rock star appeared and I was singing along to Iris because Iris is the dog’s bollocks of songs.
Kim Holden has music in her heart and in her veins. She just knows that feeling of being so utterly high on live music. That feeling of your blood vibrating to the beat and nothing in the world can top it. This book feels like that moment. I had goosebumps when Thicker Than Blood performed. The impromptu concert outside the venue because not all the queue of people can get in - excellent; I wish I was there watching them perform in the beer garden.
I need an Ever T-shirt in my life and I am definitely drinking Margaritas tonight.
This book has made me high on life.
Also, Mabel is badass and I want to be her when I grow up.
But not really because my thoughts are screaming, matching the racing of my heart, and the goosebumps covering my body.
Kim Holden is a legend beyond all legends. Eye For an I is an incredible story and I loved Sophie! The hot rocker dudes definitely didn’t hurt either.
Lola is likely my favorite, the younger sassier sister is just too close to my reality to have any ill feelings.
I laughed out loud, highlighted so many passages, giggled while kicking my feet, and full blown swooned so many times. Kim’s writing pulls you in so deeply that at one point, while reading in bed, I looked up waiting for Hannah to walk back into the room… totally embarrassing but a true testament to Kim’s magic.
The visits from Gus and Franco nearly made my heart explode. Might need a Bright Side reread.
The angst and romantic build up is glorious. There’s a small part at the beginning of part two where I said, “WTF?!” but it all made sense in the next chapter and was a perfect addition to the story.
If you don’t believe in true love before you read EFAI, you absolutely will after.
This story is everything! Love every single character and especially revisiting my friends from Bright Side. Such a lovely reminder to be true to yourself and let your light shine in these dark times!
This is a review of the audiobook. The audiobook features duet narration by Amelie Griffin & Alex Kydd
I love duet narration. It turns an amazing audiobook into something spectacular. And this audiobook is incredible.
This contemporary romance features rock star, found family and reverse age gap tropes. This book is quite spicy. But it also includes lots of witty banter. It deals with serious issues. But it’s also hilarious. So lots of romantic comedy vibes.
I read Bright Side more than a decade ago. That story has stuck with me. It is the book that made me cry the most and feel the most. So when I found out that the author had written a new book (after so long) I was thrilled.
The heroine is 34 year old Sophie. Eye For An I is her Instagram photography page.
Jesse and Ever are brothers and their band’s name is Thicker Than Water. Ever is 26. The book features so much about the music industry and rockstars. But it also has a wonderful romance, amazing friendships and some awesome reveals.
This is my first time listening to Amelie Griffin. She is a revelation. I am obsessed and I now want her to narrate every audiobook I listen to.
This is also my first time listening to Alex Kydd. His raspy voice worked so well for the male characters in this book.
This is a sexy contemporary romance. But it’s also about family. Sophie and her sister Lola have such an incredible bond. And I just loved Lola so much. I also adored Lola’s son Benji. They are such an amazing family.
The supporting characters in this book are the best. One of my favorite characters, especially on the audiobook is Mabel. She is Sophie and Lola’s older friend and neighbor who owns their house.
The book features cameos from some of the author’s most beloved characters. This book can be read as a standalone. However fans of the author’s most popular series will definitely be so happy to see some of their favorite characters again.
Overall this book is wonderful. It’s emotional. It’s sexy. But it’s also full of so much fun banter. Listening to it made me so happy.
Thanks to One Night Stand Studios for the audiobook.
You had me at Rock Star Romance. As always. I loved this! It was so sweet and funny and rockstary and sexy and heartbreaking and just beautiful. I would so watch the TV show!
Czytałem w ramach współpracy recenzenckiej z Wydawnictwem Hype / Filia .
Czy tak jak ja lubicie wątki w książce osób dorosłych , z którymi możecie się bardziej utożsamić? Poznajemy główną bohaterkę Sophie 34- letnią kobietę , która poświęca się na rzecz innych , wiążąc ledwo koniec z końcem , z pomocą siostry i jej syna i woli poukładane życie , zaplanowane w kalendarzu . Ale jednak jedna chwila potrafi zaburzyć wszystko co dotychczas sobie ułożyła w życiu , mianowicie chłopak z którym była Chance , zerwał z nią , w pracy wszystko się jej kompiluje można rzecz . Pewnego wieczoru jej ukochana siostra Lola , zabiera ją do pubu w którym gra pewien zespół, uwielbia robić zdjęcia na social media , ale pod pseudonimem, nie wierzy , że ma talent do fotografii, robi to dla siebie . Choć dzięki temu poznaje “ Good Guya “, który zauważa jej zdjęcia i zaczynają ze sobą pisać. Jest to opowieść o age gap , czy jest to mój ulubiony motyw ? Niekoniecznie , ale jeśli bohaterowie dobrze się w swoim towarzystwie czują , to najważniejsze,bardzo dobrze mi się ją czytało , bardzo wiele jest tutaj cytatów z życia wzięte , sporo motywacji , found family , co bardzo lubię , emocji i doświadczeń. Druga część trochę była pospieszona , chaotyczna , wiele bohaterów nagle się pojawiło , co muszę dodać to ci bohaterowie, to są Ci co wystąpili w “ Promyczku “ , relacja bohaterów była nazbyt pośpieszona . Muzyka też tutaj gra ogromną rolę w historii . Co prawda były urocze momenty , te smutne też , na niektórych scenach się zaśmiałem i tupałem nogami , bo się coś udało bohaterom . Bohaterowie wiele przeszli w przeszłości , co na teraźniejszość swoje piętno odcisnęło i muszą się odnaleźć w nowej rzeczywistości. Jest to historia , która opowiada o tym , że nigdy nie jest za późno na zmianę swojego życia , nawet jeśli się tego boimy , bo spełniamy tym swoje marzenia i większe ambicje.
This is such a great story!! I will never pass up a rockstar romance, it is one of my favorite tropes. And normally, I expect them to be angsty and emotional, but it was refreshing to have one be so humorous and sweet. Kim definitely put her own spin on it. I also love a reverse age gap, and the way Ever is devoted to Sophie had my heart melting. My favorite aspect is probably Sophie’s development, and the reminder that it’s never too late to chase a new dream. And the side characters deserve a big shout out!! I couldn’t get enough of them.
You will especially appreciate this if you’re a fan of the Bright Side series by this author!
🎙️𝗔𝗨𝗗𝗜𝗢𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞 ⇣ Narrated in duet by Alex Kydd and Amelie Griffin - These two kept me so entertained, I didn’t even realize how much time had gone by as I binged this audio. They both gave amazing performances, and I loved their voices for all of the characters. @alexanderkydd @ameliegriffinnarrator Produced by One Night Stand Studios👏🏼👏🏼
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁 ⇣ Rockstar romance Rom-com Reverse age gap Found family Forced proximity Fierce feminine energy Touch her and ☠️ vibes Workplace Dual POV Spice
Completely, wholly obsessed! Anything Kim Holden writes is magic! I have fallen in love with these characters and LOVED getting cameos from past characters 🥹🥹
„Świat jej oczami” to książka, przy której momentami czułam, jakbym sama była główną bohaterką.
Poznajemy historię Sophie czyli 34-letniej kobiety, która zawsze wybiera bezpieczne i stabilne rozwiązania. Ma bardzo niskie poczucie własnej wartości, trudno jej otworzyć się przed partnerami i nie lubi się wychylać. Pracuje zdalnie, mieszka z siostrą i siostrzeńcem, a jej życie wydaje się w miarę poukładane. Wszystko zmienia się jednak w chwili, gdy chłopak z nią zrywa. Jej życie prywatne praktycznie przestaje istnieć, a przyszłość zawodowa staje pod znakiem zapytania.
Od samego początku Sophie wydaje się bardzo autentyczną bohaterką. Ma świetne poczucie humoru, cięty język, a od codzienności w korporacji odrywa ją fotografia i muzyka.
Ever to muzyk, który na zewnątrz sprawia wrażenie chłodnego i opanowanego. Wydaje się mieć wszystko pod kontrolą, jednak w jego głowie panuje chaos, z którym nie do końca potrafi sobie poradzić.
Czy ta dwójka będzie w stanie się porozumieć? Czy przeciwieństwa naprawdę się przyciągają?
Sophie zmaga się z problemami, które dotyczą wielu kobiet - nie wierzy w siebie, umniejsza swojej wartości i nie potrafi przyjmować komplementów. Autorka pokazuje, że czasami warto zaryzykować i wyjść ze swojej strefy komfortu, aby odnaleźć siebie.
Od początku książka skupia się na emocjach, przezwyciężaniu własnych słabości i rozwoju bohaterów. Niestety, ostatnie sto stron okazało się dla mnie zbyt przegadane. Dialogi niewiele wnosiły do fabuły, przez co akcja momentami wyraźnie zwalniała.
Mimo to książkę czyta się bardzo szybko, a lekki styl autorki sprawia, że trudno się od niej oderwać. To idealna lektura na lato, chwilami zabawna, chwilami przygnębiająca, ale z mocnym i skłaniającym do refleksji przekazem.
Wyjdźcie ze swojej strefy komfortu, czekam tam na was cały świat i nieskończone możliwość.
When Kim Holden surprises you with a new book, you HAVE to read it.
And of course it's fluffing brilliant.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Oh Kim... you minx you. Surprising your readers with a new book when you said you were done writing? That is doing epic. To say you made a legion of readers ridiculously happy would be an understatement.
What you will get when you pick up this book is a beautiful romance between a rockstar and a budding photographer. Or so you think. This book is so, so much more than that. To limit the depth of this story to a simple romance would do it such an injustice. Don’t get me wrong, the romance between the main characters is scorching HAWT, a surprising detour from typical Kim Holden writing, and I am so HERE. FOR. IT!
You see, within the pages of this book, we watch our main character Sophie face her fears and discover her inner goddess. Despite being in the middle of a career crisis, she, and her sister head out for a night on the town where she discovers a new band, Thicker Than Water. As an amateur photographer, Sophie takes a few memorable photos of the show and posts them on her Instagram page eye.for.an.i. What happens next catapults Sophie’s “boring” existence into something out of this world. She gets asked to join the band on their tour to take photographs --- and you know, meet, and perhaps fall in love with one of the musicians... hello, Evermore! *swoon*
Can we talk about Ever for a moment? His protectiveness and devotion for both Sophie and his family is beyond swoonworthy. You just have to read the book to appreciate how well Kim captured it.
The supporting characters in this story are some of the bests in a book I have read in an exceptionally long time. Lola, Sophie’s sister, is the epitome of who you want in your corner to push you to be the best version of yourself. She’s the ultimate cheerleader, hilarious, and just the right amount of trouble. Benji, Lola’s son and Sophie’s nephew, seems like the adult of the group, the level head and keeper of sanity. Jesse, Ever’s brother and the other half of Thicker Than Water, provided comic relief, but you know deep down he had depth you hope Kim will explore (*hint*). Then there is Mabel, their elderly neighbor, who is the ultimate shenanigator, and who I strive to be when I grow up.
In true Kim fashion, she got me all caught up in my feels a few times, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. They weren’t sad feels, they were overcome with all the good vibes feels.
With a few cameos from characters you do not want to miss, Eye for an I will easily be one of my top reads of the year.
It has been years since Kim Holden released a new book, and let me tell you, this one was absolutely worth the wait! This book is all about facing your fears, saying yes to the things you love, and chasing your passions even when you do not know how it will turn out. Kim Holden’s character development is perfection; you feel like you know these characters in real life, hearing their voices and feeling their emotions right on the page. It has everything: romance, rock and roll, steamy sex, the best family dynamics, and a full roller coaster of emotions that gave me chills and goosebumps. Fans of Brightside will be thrilled by the surprises waiting for them in this story. I am in awe of Kim. She did it again. And yes, I might be biased as the self-appointed head of her fan club, but this book truly is everything. Take off your earrings, grab this book, and let’s go raise some hell!
📚 𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎: 🎸Rockstar romance 💕Reverse age gap 🫶🏼Found family 😅Witty Banter 🎶Music-Driven 🥰Heartwarming sibling relationships 📱Endless DMs 🖕🏼A fuck-it tally list 🔥Sexy as hell 💀Touch her and die vibes 💪🏽Fierce feminine energy 🗣️Multiple POVs
⚠️ 𝙏𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙜𝙚𝙧 𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨: Domestic abuse, Infidelity.
📸𝕄𝕐 ℝ𝔸𝕋𝕀ℕ𝔾📸 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
💕Q U O T E S: “𝒦𝒾𝒸𝓀 𝒻𝑒𝒶𝓇 𝒾𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓉𝓊𝓈𝒽; 𝒾𝓉'𝓈 𝓉𝒾𝓂𝑒 𝓉𝑜 𝓇𝒶𝒾𝓈𝑒 𝓈𝑜𝓂𝑒 𝒽𝑒𝓁𝓁, 𝓂𝓎 𝒹𝑒𝒶𝓇." “𝒮𝒽𝑒'𝓈 𝓂𝑜𝓇𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓃 𝒶 𝒷𝓇𝑒𝒶𝓉𝒽 𝑜𝒻 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝓈𝒽 𝒶𝒾𝓇; 𝓈𝒽𝑒'𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝑒𝓃𝓉𝒾𝓇𝑒 𝑔𝑜𝒹𝒹𝒶𝓂𝓃 𝒶𝓉𝓂𝑜𝓈𝓅𝒽𝑒𝓇𝑒.”
Eye for an I by Kim Holden is simply put a masterpiece.
And no, I am not exaggerating.
Kim has a way of brining her audience into a storyline and not letting go.
To say I fell in love with Soph, Lola, Benji, Mabel, Ever, and Jesse is an understatement.
They each show us not only the power of a strong female who has an incredible support system and friends and family who get each other, but also the connections we can each make with souls who are truly good in this world.
We may not always have confidence in ourselves, but boy is it amazing when others realize how special each of us are in our own ways, and make us acknowledge our strengths.
Even when we didn’t truly realize we possess them.
This is what Kim pulls out of her characters and relays to her readers.
The ability to call someone out who is not a good soul, and support the ones who are.
And in the end, making us all better people for having read her words that literally sink into our hearts and soul.
And true bonus points for the Easter Egg surprises Kim blesses her readers with. If you know you know.
"The world loves to pigeon-hole women: you’re the fun one or the boring one, the smart one or the creative one, the outspoken one or the kind one. Defy the labels. Be them all.”
May we all find our Thicker Than Water people and someone to hold our earrings!!
3.75 stars Reverse Age Gap · Hidden Identity · Duet Narration
This was my first book by Kim Holden, and I’m really glad I both read and listened, the duet-style audio by Alex Kydd and Amelie Griffin was genuinely great.
I’d been craving a rockstar romance, and this definitely delivered on that, along with found family and hidden identity elements. The reverse age gap isn’t something I usually go for, but I actually liked how it was handled here, it never felt overly pushed or constantly brought up. There’s also a layer of mental health representation woven in, which added some extra depth without taking over the story.
The second part has a reveal I didn’t really see coming, which added to the overall experience, but the pacing slowed down for me there and it started to drag slightly compared to the first half.
Overall, I had a good time with this one, even if it didn’t fully hold my attention all the way through.
I really didn’t think I’d be writing another review for Kim Holden but luckily, here I am! What a gift this writer has given us! After a loooooong haitus, Kim knocks our socks off with a HUGE surprise! And let me tell you just how much I LOVED this book!
Eye for an I is a fun, sexy take on a rockstar romance 💘 and I am here for it 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻. Ever is the best parts of Gus, Franco and Keller all blended in a mixer and poured over ice topped off with a lovely little umbrella and slurped on a hot day. I freaking LOVED how perfect this character embodied a talented musician with a heart of gold 💛. And he’s beautiful!
I could gush over this book all day long but just trust me when I say, fans of the Brightside series will not be disappointed. Bravo Kim!!!! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
"All you need in life is someone who gets you. And even when they don't agree with you, they help you anyway."
"You're not ordinary. I've seen your photos-ordinary people dont see the world through the eyes you do."
"She's more than a breath of fresh air; she's the entire goddamn atmosphere."
Eye for an I By Kim Holden
📷 📷
When I tell you, that for me, this book was perfection, it was. It checked every single box for me. It's laugh out loud funny, its sweet, and mysterious and swoony and dont forget hot. 🔥🔥 I truly hung on to every word I read and I didn't want it to end.
This is Sophie Wrens' story. She is fresh out of a relationship, with a douchebag I might add, and in a job that really doesn't make her happy. So her sister invites her out to see a band play for some post break up fun. Sophie takes some pictures which is her true passion, tags the band on social media and steps out of her comfort zone. And bam....they go viral. She also starts an online friendship with a mystery man. Aka "GoodGuy." Their friendship is effortless. With the help of her sister and "GoodGuy", they encourage her to push herself.
"In with the hell yeah, out with the hell no."
So she goes on an adventure. An adventure of a lifetime. And says yes to all the things even if it scares the ish out of her.
This book was like a giant loving comfort hug from Kim. Who gives the best hugs ever. Its about found family and pushing yourself. And if you want it bad enough, you just need the right people around you cheering you on. And you can achieve it. I cried and I laughed and I will be re reading it VERY SOON. Kim, thank you for existing and giving us this story. I feel like it was such a gift. 🩷🤘🏼🩷🤘🏼.
I know it wasn't written FOR me. But I'm telling myself it was. There is just so much that I love in this story. And the HEAVY metal music/music vibes were the BEST part. (Are we all obsessed with Sleep Token?) I've kind of been on a rockstar kick over the last few months, and I've actually enjoyed all of them.... but this one STOLE my heart.
As a long time reader of Kim, the chapters with visitors from some of our old friends was EXACTLY what my heart needed. I loved everyone in this book. A human as genuine as Kim put just as many genuine characters in this story. Ever and Sophie were spot on with chemistry! Sophie and Lola were the best sibling duo ever! And I want to be Mabel when I grow up!
You definitely don't have to read the Bright Side books in order to enjoy this one, but I'm telling you, you're going to WANT to.
Rockstar romance Workplace Reverse Age gap Found family Dual POV - 1st person
Duet narration - Alex Kydd & Amelia Griffin These two narrators were perfection for this book. They compliment each others voices so well. I truly enjoyed their performance.
My first book by Kim Holden and my goodness I loved every minute of this book. I love the characters. While the story isn't exactly realistic it still felt very real to me. The characters are relatable and loveable. Within the first 5 minutes of the audiobook I laughed out loud and I had multiple moments throughout the rest of the book that had me laughing, smiling, and cheering for this group of characters. I love a book that can have me grinning from ear to ear while I drive down the road. It makes it a true experience to listen to. The writing is in depth and great character development was accomplished.
Sophie is living with her sister and nephew working from home at a job that she does not love but she is thriving at regardless. The company merges with another company and suddenly she finds herself in a position of possible unemployment also having gone through a recent break up with a jerk that did not appreciate her fantastic personality. A night out to see a band with her sister leads to new adventures and a new life path for Sophie that she never could have seen coming.
Ever oh Ever I fell in love with you just as Sophie did and I know that is exactly what Kim was going for. Ever is in a two man band with his outgoing and vivacious brother, but Ever has some secrets he has been keeping close to his chest. Throughout this book they come to light and he find that he has found the support system in friends and found family that he needed. Ever is the sweetest but sexiest guy, and he has a dirty mouth. I LOVED HIM!
I can not say enough about how much I enjoyed this book. I want to re-listen to it again and I just finished it! This book gives all the feels of finding love and family in an unlikely way. Dreams coming true and just a feel good listen. The characters react so honestly and without judgement to each other. There is zero miscommunication happening between these pages and I loved how they talk everything out with love and understanding in their hearts. Fabulously written and performed.
Thank you Kim Holden and One night stands studios for the advanced listener copy.
There is something so beautifully unique about Kim’s writing, that when you start reading you know it’s her writing but yet every story is also so beautifully unique. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “The world loves to pigeon-hole women: you’re the fun one or the boring one, the smart one or the creative one, the outspoken one or the kind one. Defy the labels. Be them all.”
I loved everything about this book. Both Sophie and Ever are such deeply, well developed characters. Watching their growth not just from the past but with each other and as individuals was amazing. There’s so much relatability in these characters inner thoughts, how they think and feel. I had no idea where their story was going and it was such a delightful surprise to read as everything came together for them.
As always, Kim has written some unforgettable side characters. Jesse has that tortured soul mixed with a lot of humour. Mabel is a baddie and I want to be her when I grow up too. Lola and Benji are just epic. So many comedic moments from them both. I love how supportive they are to Soph and learning about them individually. I wouldn’t be sad to see a L&J story (just saying) and I have no doubt those two together in a story would have me crying from laughter.
I loved getting to see some very special characters from Kim’s other books. Absolutely nostalgic and epic. The women lifting each other up throughout this book was everything. Hell yeah to girl power!
**What an amazing surprise book release. I had come to terms with the fact that The Other Side was the grand finale to Kim’s writing. So this is such a treat. I am beyond grateful to be able to read another masterpiece!
Kim Holden pisze niesamowite historie, które zawsze wywołują we mnie dużo skrajnych emocji. Do tej pory jeszcze żadna jej książka mnie nie zawiodła. Dlatego moje oczekiwania względem jej najnowszej książki były spore.
🎼 Czasami dopiero wtedy, gdy nasze życie wywraca się do góry nogami, zaczynamy dostrzegać, jak bardzo utknęliśmy w miejscu. Dokładnie tak dzieje się w przypadku Sophie, której związek kończy się w bolesny sposób. To jednak właśnie ten moment staje się dla niej początkiem czegoś zupełnie nowego. Za namową siostry Sophie postanawia na chwilę zapomnieć o rutynie i zrobić coś spontanicznego. I chyba sama nie spodziewa się, dokąd zaprowadzi ją ta jedna decyzja. Dzięki viralowemu postowi otrzymuje propozycję, która brzmi jak spełnienie marzeń, kobieta ma wyruszyć w trasę koncertową z zespołem i zostać ich prywatną fotografką. Dla Sophii, która przez lata wybierała to, co bezpieczne i znane, jest to ogromny krok poza własną strefę komfortu. 🎼
„Świat jej oczami” to historia, która potrafi wywołać w czytelniku niezwykłą gammę przeróżnych emocji. Jeśli chodzi o historie Kim Holden to biorę je w ciemno. Jeszcze nigdy nie zawiodłam się na tej autorce i jest ona jedną z moich ulubionych! Za każdym razem serwuje nam historię, która jest mało przewidywalna i potrafi chwycić za serce. Jak dla mnie ta historia to zdecydowanie coś więcej niż romans. To opowieść o odwadze, nowych początkach i odkrywaniu własnej wartości. O tym, że czasami trzeba wyjść poza to, co znane i bezpieczne, żeby w końcu naprawdę zacząć żyć.
Bardzo spodobała mi się relacja Sophie i Evera, która rozwijała się powoli, bez pośpiechu i wielkich deklaracji. Ich uczucie stopniowo potęgowało, dzięki sile małych gestów, rozmów i wzajemnego poznawania. Różnica wieku między nimi zupełnie mi nie przeszkadzała. Wręcz przeciwnie. Oboje mieli za sobą trudne doświadczenia i oboje doskonale wiedzieli, jak ważne jest wsparcie drugiej osoby. Ona wyrażała siebie poprzez fotografię, on poprzez muzykę. Ich pasje stały się czymś, co ich połączyło, ale przede wszystkim znaleźli wzajemne zrozumienie.
Ogromną rolę odgrywa tutaj również muzyka, która nie jest jedynie dodatkiem czy tłem do rozwoju wydarzeń, a wręcz stała się częścią historii i nadała jej własny rytm i wyjątkowy klimat. Koncerty, próby, życie w trasie i świat muzyków sprawiają, że czytelnik z łatwością zanurza się w rzeczywistości bohaterów i ma ochotę zostać w niej na dłużej. 🎼
„Świat jej oczami” to piękna historia. Autorka przedstawia solidną historię o odnajdywaniu siebie, o akceptacji, o miłości, która dojrzewa na naszych oczach. Uczucie, jakie połączyło głównych bohaterów było niesamowicie intensywne i zarazem niewinne. Ta książka jest do bólu szczera i prawdziwa, dlatego tak bardzo mi się spodobała. Nie ma w niej sztuczności, ani słodkości. Jest naprawdę dobra, dlatego jeśli macie okazję, to sięgnijcie po tę książkę! Kim Holden po raz kolejny udowadnia, że doskonale potrafi opowiadać o emocjach w sposób szczery i poruszający.💕💕💕
Związek Sophie kończy się w dość przykry sposób jednak to właśnie dzięki tej sytuacji kobieta postanawia posłuchać się siostry i porzuca swą dotychczasową rutynę. Za sprawą jednego viralowego posta dziewczyna otrzymuje propozycję nie do odrzucenia - wyruszyć w trasę koncertową z zespołem jako ich prywatny fotograf. Wyjście ze strefy komfortu nie jest łatwe, jednak każda chwila uzmysławia Sophie, że było warto. A jako bonus: znajomość z najprzystojniejszym członkiem zespołu. Wszystko wydaje się układać idealnie… do chwili, gdy okazuje się, że ta dwójka znała się już dużo wcześniej. Co tak naprawdę ich łączy?
„Świat jej oczami” jest świetną historią, która pokazuje, że rutyna i życie „w bezpieczny” sposób są przereklamowane. Ta historia udowadnia, że warto podążać za marzeniami a droga do nich jest równie ciekawa i satysfakcjonująca jak samo osiągnięcie celu. Powieść ta jest świetną propozycją na wakacyjny czas - lekka, wzruszająca a zarazem motywująca do działania sprawi, że nie raz uśmiech pojawi wam się na twarzy. W samym środku szalonej trasy koncertowej znajdziecie także pełen emocji romans, który rozwija się między głównymi bohaterami. Świat jej oczami to must read tego lata.
"My heart's been in your pocket since the first day we met."
I liked this one overall. It had great female energy from the start that made me laugh. It had swoon, tension and intrigue. But it lost a bit of steam for me in the second half. I felt like the storyline was trying to do a little too much. But the cameo's from the Bright Side crew were perfection. You don't have to have to have read those books to enjoy this one-but it will make the story all the more sweeter.
I have never read a book by Kim Holden, that did not make me cry. I feel like she sees me through her writing. In so many of her books has been these relatable moments. These book features one of my favorite songs. It also features themes I am too familiar with.
I loved the characters, the writing. All the feels. I wish I could read it again for the first time.
The scream I screamed. I was absolutely loving Sophie, Ever, Lola, Benji, Jesse and Mabel but when you took us back to San Diego I died and went to heaven.
I read this book into the wee hours of the night which my Alarm will regret but I never will.
Kim, thank you for coming back to us even for one; it was epic.