In the beginning, Amina got on every last one of Gemini’s nerves. I could feel his exasperation through the page. 🤣
I really enjoyed watching them get to know each other and seeing their love story unfold through conversations and intentional moments. Their dates, the vulnerability, Gemini’s constant reassurance, and the way he offered Amina such a soft love were all highlights for me. I also appreciated how Amina trusted him and showed genuine interest in his world, even though it was vastly different from her own.
This somehow managed to be an instalove with slow-burn energy at the same time. Usually when a couple gets together early, the remaining conflict comes from external forces. That wasn’t really the case here. Instead, the pacing gave it that slow-burn feel because, even as an established couple, they were still learning each other and deepening their relationship.
I did find it difficult to stay engaged at times, though. The writing felt a bit wordy in places, and the editing was a little rough, which disrupted the flow for me.
Overall, I enjoyed it for what it was. Gemini and Amina’s relationship had a sweetness to it that kept me invested, even if the story itself didn’t fully hold my attention throughout.
Amina is back in Miami after her fiancé in London ends up being a dudd. Gemini is her best friend’s older brother and a truck driver. Gemini is about to go back on the road for two months, so his sister suggests Amina goes with him and lord was that a rocky start lol. At first Amina and Gemini got on eachother’s last nerve lol. It took them a lil bit but they got it together. I enjoyed watching the development of their friendship turned relationship. The story really takes its time. Plus Gemini was turning Amina every which way but loose in that truck lol. A time was had. I enjoyed this. I would recommend.
This book was like therapy wrapped in a love story.
My girl Diamond gave us a beautiful slow burn that proves healing can show up when you least expect it. Watching Amina and Gemini go from strangers to something so genuine had me smiling the entire journey.
If you love emotional romance, road trips, and characters who heal each other without trying to “fix” one another, don’t sleep on this one. This ride was worth every mile.
Hm, I have some thoughts. The synopsis of this book sounds like it would be my cup of tea. So, I checked it out and didn't love it. It was alright but I had to start skimming at 50% of the book.
Gemini was an okay MMC; he was not the best. I have read about much worse MMCs, but he was still not a stand-up guy like he claimed to be. In the beginning, when he cut off the FWB thing he had with that woman, he wasn't as cruel as other mmcs have been about it. He was upfront with the woman (can't remember her name) and he didn't make her feel bad about her feelings (I have read lots of novels where men were always on about how women always fall for them even when they cannot give them what they want, and how some authors write the situations in a way that makes the man out to be savage or some shit like that, but that was not the case here). He was very respectful, and the situation ended mutually. He was also clearly a traditional man about certain things in this novel (paying for everything...) which i did not seem to mind, until it bled into iffy places. The situation where Amina got drunk and he didn't take advantage of her (which is the bare minimum, you're not supposed to do that anyway, dude), he kept mentioning that situation over and over and I kept thinking, "do you want a cookie?", like we get it. Kept saying how he was a person of good character, but in the same breath, mentioned how if Amina were his girl at that point, he would have had sex with her, because he knows that she would have truly wanted it then. Committed relationship=/= consent. If she were your girl, and you had sex with her while she was that intoxicated, that would not be consensual. Another situation is where he asked her to take her IUD as his birthday present. Do I even have to say anything about that? Even if he were joking, it is not funny at all. Anyway, as an MMC, I would rate him a 6.9/10.
Amina, on the other hand. I liked her for the most part. She was cool, however, she was always crying every second, which in the beginning, it was understandable because of her breakup (Fuck Jacob btw), but it got to a point where she was crying every second, I mean she cried over some stranger's baby shower. Girl, c'mon. She's also an annoying drunk icl 😭. Wdym you're crying because he won't have sex with you? Girl, I know you're drunk but pls tighten up a bit. Fwoof. Stop embarrassing me. She was also annoying in the beginning, but like I said before the breakup. She also gave pick-me at times. "When I'm in a relationship, I'm very submissive." Girl...enough. As an FMC, I would give her a 7/10
The other characters were just...there. It felt like they didn't really have anything else to them. On paper, they seem like background characters (jobs, what they are like...), but it felt like the main characters used them as relationship milestones. Like how the readers find out how they feel based on a phone call with one of them. Gianna's phone call with both of them and Gem's dad and Grandma's conversation with him are some examples. Oh and what happened to Olivia? We never heard from her again after that weird-ass convo she tried to have with Amina.
Lastly, the writing...
It needed some more editing (I didn't mind it too much), and to be more concise. "Wanted to know /let so-and-so know" was mentioned SO MANY TIMES. Like, there needs to be some variety to the writing. There were also so many unnecessary details here like this. I do not need things repeated back to me because I already know; it has been mentioned millions of times already.
All in all, I still had a fun time reading this sometimes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
First, thank you for creating characters with more common Black features and still making them beautiful. Marked safe from another book where everybody fine is light-skinned with green, hazel, or gray eyes. It’s not a huge deal, but when it’s so common in African American and Urban fiction, it becomes a problem. Black is beautiful too! I also loved that this book brought certain conversations to the forefront. PWI vs HBCU. I enjoyed the different points of view during those discussion and the messages about us as Black women.
Now, about the characters… At first, I wanted to wring Amina’s neck for giving our man such a hard time, but I was so happy Gemini wasn’t letting up on her. He ain’t give a damn how sad she was. He talked his shit, and I was here for it. I dead ass said, “Mina, please!” at the exact same time Gemini did. I cheesed the whole time because I knew a beautiful love story was brewing.
Oooh, but… when they finally started getting along and falling in love, what a treat. Like, I needed me a Gemini. That man was amazing. Like, AMAZING. He was patient with her allowing her to get over her hurt. Hell he helped. He stood on everything he said. He was reassuring, protective, and made it clear that he wanted her. He didn’t just talk about loving her either. He showed it through the way he handled her, supported her, and made her feel safe.
This was a slow burn instalove if that makes sense lol. Like I think with 444 pages. More time should have passed. I mean I felt the real love because they spent everyday together for weeks.
Gemini was also a man who had the utmost respect for Black women. I mean, look at how he treated his mother, sister, and granny. Listen… GREEN FLAG! You hear me?
My issue… why did Amina cry the whole damn book? I really wanted her to stfu with all that crying. Damn, she cried because the sky was blue! I cannot stand a crybaby FMC. The crying was overkill. Amina wasn’t just traumatized by what happened to her father. She was traumatized by everything because she cried about everything!
Anyway, this was a good love story. It dragged a little in some places, but I still enjoyed their romance. Diamond writes the hell out of a romance. This was different for her, and I enjoyed it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I enjoyed me some Gemini and Amina. It was like a forced proximity mixed with frenemies to lovers. Lovers indeed 🤭 wheewwwww the chemistry once they got it locked in was something else. Loved Gemini’s love of black women and his appreciation of their creation. Amina’s softness as a woman is something I feel can be disregarded at times in society so i appreciated her femininity and girliness. Both educated and in lanes I feel can be overlooked or over saturated with a certain type of people and I loved how they dominated both fields and winning at it. Other than that just very tiny typos and Amina’s beginning of her journey that annoyed me with her behavior and reason of situation which I found funny cause Gemini wasn’t playing that and called crap out lol. But as usual Diamond always delivers for me 🙌.
This was my first book from Ms Diamond after seeing her post on Threads. This was honestly one of the best books I’ve read this year. 😊 It’s definitely a slow burn but it progresses so nothing feels drawn out. You really feel like you’re on the truck with Gemini and Amina, you can see the chemistry growing. I absolutely loved Gemini and just how intentional he was. No confusion at all what his plans were. The admiration that he holds for BLACK WOMEN is also another reason he’s Bae…love that. There was very low angst which I appreciated. The MMC and FMC actually used their words..a concept 🫠 so no need for unnecessary drama. I was at 60% had to pause reading to reach out to inquire about a physical copy. This is definitely one that’s going to be on my bookshelf.
forced proximity | frenemies to lovers | his sister’s best friend ✨
imagine mourning the end of a relationship and your best friend suggest a road trip with her brother who you still hold a grudge against because he put a lizard down your shirt while yall was kids 🤣🤣🤣
“I loved overly feminine, and girly women, and she was just that.” ✨
amina & gemini’s story was refreshing. he wasn’t playing no games about her even when she didn’t even want to be around him. she made the choice to live on his truck for 2 months to get over a heartbreak and ended up falling for the one she least expected.
“Amina did this thing where she would pout, and to me, that was the sexiest shit ever.” ✨
take the high maintenance boujie girl and put her on the road for 2 months and watch what happens 🙃
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I feel like you have to believe in fairytales to love this story. The beginning was a little rocky for me, almost a dnf, but I stuck with it because I have faith in my girl Diamond and she is one my favorite authors to read. The beginning of the book just wasn’t flowing for me and it just seemed too unrealistic. But baby when I say I fell in love with Amina and Gemini on that truck. Once I was in, I was all in and I couldn’t put it down. Gemini is now my favorite mmc and the only reason I gave it 4 stars is because of the beginning. It’s a great read especially if you believe in fairytales.
I love Diamond's books especially from her being from Miami like myself, but this book lacked excitement and drama like all her other books. I loved the truck driver plot but there was nothing else. *Spoiler alert* The term Shotgun wedding means someone is pregnant and forced to marry the term you were looking for was eloped and it was repeated over and over used incorrectly. When I saw over 400 pages I was excited because I knew it was going to be full of drama and excitement but it wasn't. Just ok for me.
Not many books where I finish reading & can’t stop thinking about the characters. Gemini & Amina gave me all the feels. The story line, the emotions. I felt like I was in the truck, on the road with them & didn’t want it to end. Literally stayed up all night finishing.
It’s been a minute since I’ve written an review but I’m coming back to it. With that said I’m bias on this author because she writes nothing but fire in my opinion. Out of all the years I’ve been reading her works she never disappoints. She puts her all into her craft and you can read and feel it. Basically you can NEVER go wrong picking up one of her books
I need a Gemini in my life cause he’s bae, I loveeedd this story!!!!
And where Gemini is my new book bae, I loved everything about this love story from beginning to end!Just read it, you won’t be disappointed and I’m soooo happy for Amina because at first she had me nervous!Diamond you did that!!!
Listen you did the instant love story so eloquently mannn Diamond you are beast when it comes to this writing!!! Gemini and Amina were perfection!!! I hate the story is over but boyyy did I love reading it!!! Thank you 😊
When I tell you i was in slump !!! Then BOOM here comes Diamond saving the the Urban world. Perfect story, Gemini is HIM ! Ugh it was beautiful.. hopefully Gianna gets a cute little story
Im so sad that I finish this book. I have to give diamond her flowers, because she took us this journey, that was thought out and well written. Gemini was a man man! And Amina didn't stand a chance. Two thumbs up!!
Diamond always have me blushing, smiling and sliding down the wall with my tongue out with her stories🤣😝 Good read as always. Don't matter what she writes she's a beast at it can't wait for another drop!!
Yes, yes, yes! This story was AMAZING! I loved everything about it, now this is how you write a love story highlighting the beauty of Black Love! Ah, Gemini was HIM! Such a great read, you will laugh, cry, get angry and hold your breath…well written!🖤
She really did her thing with this one. You could feel everything that she was feeling through the pages. The way he treated her and loved on her. His patience with her. Let’s not even get into the sex! Because baby that rain scene. Phenomenal