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Lovesick #1
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Ida Simpson knows what it means to have a terrible day. Her boyfriend of six months broke up with her over the phone; a thief stole the very phone she was using to beg her man to reconsider, and she ended up accidentally hurling the robber into traffic.
It’s the definition of a craptastic day.
When Ida meets an arrogant doctor with a marshmallow heart and a little boy that needs a champion, she realizes that not all horrible days are as bad as they seem.
With the help of a stubborn police officer and a kind social worker, Ida digs deep to find the courage to let loose and play.
It’s the definition of a craptastic day.
When Ida meets an arrogant doctor with a marshmallow heart and a little boy that needs a champion, she realizes that not all horrible days are as bad as they seem.
With the help of a stubborn police officer and a kind social worker, Ida digs deep to find the courage to let loose and play.
316 pages, ebook
First published October 26, 2016
275 people are currently reading
400 people want to read
About the author
Nia Arthurs
165 books983 followersFrom an early age, Nia knew she wanted to be a writer and actively began chasing that dream when she was a teenager.
Nia writes interracial romance and contemporary romance with guaranteed happy endings. She loves strong heroines and swoon-worthy heroes, and just enough spice and drama to keep things interesting!
Look for the Taming Series (Taming Mr. Jerkface, Taming Mr. Charming, Taming Mr. Know-It-All, and Taming Mr. Darcy) in ebook format.
And catch up with Nia on Facebook @authorniaarthurs. Happy Reading!
Nia writes interracial romance and contemporary romance with guaranteed happy endings. She loves strong heroines and swoon-worthy heroes, and just enough spice and drama to keep things interesting!
Look for the Taming Series (Taming Mr. Jerkface, Taming Mr. Charming, Taming Mr. Know-It-All, and Taming Mr. Darcy) in ebook format.
And catch up with Nia on Facebook @authorniaarthurs. Happy Reading!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
December 27, 2016
Oh, this one's definitely my favorite Nia Arthurs book, I've read it about 6 times already and I still can't get enough of it, sigh, actually, I think that I'm going to read it again right now....
March 4, 2017
Ok
This book was OK, but didn't draw me in. It was extremely clean. There wasn't even kissing. Ida was a bit much for me. She definitely came across as desperate. Parker wasn't anything special.
This book was OK, but didn't draw me in. It was extremely clean. There wasn't even kissing. Ida was a bit much for me. She definitely came across as desperate. Parker wasn't anything special.
August 14, 2023
Too much happening in such a short amount of time and most of it wasn’t believable. The story had potential
1.5 Stars
1.5 Stars
March 9, 2023
That adage is so true, hurt people, hurt people!
That was the case with Ida who had spent her entire life trying to compensate for someone else's shortcomings and trauma so naturally when her would be robber was hurt during their scuffle, that she would rush to try to make things better for him. The Social Worker in me applauds her going above and beyond to help these children. My guess is what was happening to them resonated with how she was first treated as a child on up to and including adulthood! I credit Parker for providing the motivation to help Ida stand up first for the children she was trying to help and finally for herself!! That true love came out of her self discovery and self love is a bonus! I enjoyed Parker and Ida's story very, very much. Great job Nia.
That was the case with Ida who had spent her entire life trying to compensate for someone else's shortcomings and trauma so naturally when her would be robber was hurt during their scuffle, that she would rush to try to make things better for him. The Social Worker in me applauds her going above and beyond to help these children. My guess is what was happening to them resonated with how she was first treated as a child on up to and including adulthood! I credit Parker for providing the motivation to help Ida stand up first for the children she was trying to help and finally for herself!! That true love came out of her self discovery and self love is a bonus! I enjoyed Parker and Ida's story very, very much. Great job Nia.
June 11, 2022
Sweet
These two are so obvious to liking each other and it was so sweet how they eventually got together. I also liked this was set in Belize with a diverse cast of characters and a range of social topics.
CN: mugging, someone hit by a car, police violence, foster care system, child abuse/neglect, mention of gang participation, stalking, kidnapping, attempted murder, panic attacks
These two are so obvious to liking each other and it was so sweet how they eventually got together. I also liked this was set in Belize with a diverse cast of characters and a range of social topics.
CN: mugging, someone hit by a car, police violence, foster care system, child abuse/neglect, mention of gang participation, stalking, kidnapping, attempted murder, panic attacks
July 26, 2023
Loose, Flat & Simple
I read this book because I had read other books by Nia Arthurs. I don't remember them being this uninteresting. Ida Simpson is an African-American woman with seemingly no self worth. Everyone takes advantage of her - her ex-fiance, her coworker, her boss and her Mom.
After being robbed by a 15 year old, who is subsequently hit by a car, she goes to the hospital to check on him. She meets Dr. Park Kang-Dae, an Asian doctor, and finds out that the teenager has a 6 year brother who is home alone and will soon be picked up by Social Services. She thinks she's responsible for the 6 year old and decides to foster him. The story goes downhill from there.
You know that Dr. Park Kang-Dae is her love interest even though there's no attraction between them, sexual or otherwise. This is supposedly a clean romance, however there's nothing romantic about the book. Park decides she needs his protection and get very angry when he sees others taking advantage of her, even the teenager. The book continues in a simplistic, very flat manner.
The book doesn't flow at all and is often very choppy. You wonder why her lazy coworker, boss or mother are even in the book. There's no backstory, other than them misusing her. The story is poorly developed, making her actions to help the 6 year old unrealistic. The issues of Social Services putting kids in foster care and teenaged black boys going to prison are real life issues. The way those issues were handled in this book was unbelievable. We don't even need to mention the crazy nurse who was in love with Park. He was extremely rude to her even though Ida told him the woman was in love with him.
Park was always there for her though I never understood why. There was absolutely no connection between them. He helped her with the hospital bill which wasn't her responsibility. He got his brother, the lawyer, to help the 15 year old because she wanted to help him.
Had the plot been fully developed with more backstory given to the characters, the book could have been very good. Even clean romances need some steam and attraction between the main characters. Yes, you can have steamy attraction without sex. There was one kiss at the end letting you know there's a HEA. This will probably keep me from reading other books by this author.
I read this book because I had read other books by Nia Arthurs. I don't remember them being this uninteresting. Ida Simpson is an African-American woman with seemingly no self worth. Everyone takes advantage of her - her ex-fiance, her coworker, her boss and her Mom.
After being robbed by a 15 year old, who is subsequently hit by a car, she goes to the hospital to check on him. She meets Dr. Park Kang-Dae, an Asian doctor, and finds out that the teenager has a 6 year brother who is home alone and will soon be picked up by Social Services. She thinks she's responsible for the 6 year old and decides to foster him. The story goes downhill from there.
You know that Dr. Park Kang-Dae is her love interest even though there's no attraction between them, sexual or otherwise. This is supposedly a clean romance, however there's nothing romantic about the book. Park decides she needs his protection and get very angry when he sees others taking advantage of her, even the teenager. The book continues in a simplistic, very flat manner.
The book doesn't flow at all and is often very choppy. You wonder why her lazy coworker, boss or mother are even in the book. There's no backstory, other than them misusing her. The story is poorly developed, making her actions to help the 6 year old unrealistic. The issues of Social Services putting kids in foster care and teenaged black boys going to prison are real life issues. The way those issues were handled in this book was unbelievable. We don't even need to mention the crazy nurse who was in love with Park. He was extremely rude to her even though Ida told him the woman was in love with him.
Park was always there for her though I never understood why. There was absolutely no connection between them. He helped her with the hospital bill which wasn't her responsibility. He got his brother, the lawyer, to help the 15 year old because she wanted to help him.
Had the plot been fully developed with more backstory given to the characters, the book could have been very good. Even clean romances need some steam and attraction between the main characters. Yes, you can have steamy attraction without sex. There was one kiss at the end letting you know there's a HEA. This will probably keep me from reading other books by this author.
December 23, 2016
Play is a very sweet, chaste love story between soft-hearted Ida and dedicated doctor Parker.
One of the things I enjoyed is that there's very little drama between Ida and Parker. No miscommunications. No noble idiocy. They do butt heads, but it's never due to being withholding and they talk about their problems, rather than run away.
I appreciate a hero who doesn't need to "come to terms" with his feelings. Supposedly smart characters who need to be all but browbeat into realizing that they love the other are one of my least favorite romance tropes.
Also: yay for interracial romance!
What keeps me from giving this a better rating is that I couldn't get on board with the writing. It took me longer than it should have--totally my bad--to realize the story takes place in Belize. (There are references to Belizean this or that, but I wasn't sure if that meant that they were in a Belizean community in another country, or in that country.)
The characters are very one-dimensional, especially the villains. I all but expected one of them to literally twirl a mustache in a scene.
This one was not for me, but I strongly encourage anyone to download the sample from Amazon to try it out. If you like the sample, the book is for you!
One of the things I enjoyed is that there's very little drama between Ida and Parker. No miscommunications. No noble idiocy. They do butt heads, but it's never due to being withholding and they talk about their problems, rather than run away.
I appreciate a hero who doesn't need to "come to terms" with his feelings. Supposedly smart characters who need to be all but browbeat into realizing that they love the other are one of my least favorite romance tropes.
Also: yay for interracial romance!
What keeps me from giving this a better rating is that I couldn't get on board with the writing. It took me longer than it should have--totally my bad--to realize the story takes place in Belize. (There are references to Belizean this or that, but I wasn't sure if that meant that they were in a Belizean community in another country, or in that country.)
The characters are very one-dimensional, especially the villains. I all but expected one of them to literally twirl a mustache in a scene.
This one was not for me, but I strongly encourage anyone to download the sample from Amazon to try it out. If you like the sample, the book is for you!
Read
February 2, 2017BBBBBBOOOOOOOOOOORRRRRRRRRRRRRIIIIIINNNNNNGGGGGGG
August 22, 2022
Fine enough story I guess, but it was pretty boring. Honestly, I didn’t really feel any chemistry between the main couple much.
December 5, 2023
After reading Subscribe To Love: An AMBW Fake Relationship Romance from Nia Arthurs, I can say I enjoyed this one 10x more for some reason. I think it was just the type of romance in this book I enjoyed more than StL. The ML is more straightforward with his interest in the FL. Furthermore, the way his interest is portrayed is very fun in my eyes. The ML is obviously smitten by the FL and makes it apparently clear, but never in an overboard, uncomfortable way. I also really enjoyed the storyline. Even though things seemed to really get down to the wire near the end, I was still very happy with the story overall.
One thing I have noticed with Nia Arthurs stories (based off only the two books I have read so far) is that they can feel as if they ended abruptly. This may be because there's not much that can be said once the couple gets together; but even the couple forming seems very abrupt despite there being enough lead up. I'm not sure why I feel this way toward these stories' endings, but I do.
Overall, I very fun read.
One thing I have noticed with Nia Arthurs stories (based off only the two books I have read so far) is that they can feel as if they ended abruptly. This may be because there's not much that can be said once the couple gets together; but even the couple forming seems very abrupt despite there being enough lead up. I'm not sure why I feel this way toward these stories' endings, but I do.
Overall, I very fun read.
March 29, 2023
I read Nia Arthurs books before and knew that I was in for a slow burn with less spice than I'm used to reading in my romance. I still end up mostly enjoying them. This book started off pleasant as it developed the characters and showed Parker's growing feelings for Ida as he assists her with the troubled boys. I was enjoying myself up until the rushed last half of the book. The climax was so sloppy that it drastically cheapened the rest of the story. Before I knew it, I was at the epilogue that was setting up the next book and was told that Ida and Parker's friendship progressed to something more rather than shown. This was a 2 1/2 star rated book because it was good before the story derailed into a mess. I'd probably check out the other stories in this series since I still do care about the fate of these characters. I especially like that Mateo, the boy who robbed Ida and ends up being fostered by her, grows up and gets his own story in the last book. Hopefully, the other books doesnt have the same issues.
June 22, 2022
A CLEAN but forgettable IR story
Story had great potential but there were too many "things". Crappy ex, crappy boss and co-worker, oblivious love interest, unrequited love, aggro for no reason cops, randomly brought up race issues.
Just seemed like a bit too many plot devices and story points. I wanted to like it but there wasnt enough of anything. No build up to a real relationship. Parker and Ida are clueless and insufferable for most of the book until they just arent anymore with no explanation.
Just needed a bit more.
There wasnt enough to sell me on checking out Bk 2 of the friend either. Unfortunate because being in a AMBW IR myself, I love a good AMBW story - but this was not it.
Glad it was free though, would have been bummed if Id had to pay.
Pretty good length though.
Story had great potential but there were too many "things". Crappy ex, crappy boss and co-worker, oblivious love interest, unrequited love, aggro for no reason cops, randomly brought up race issues.
Just seemed like a bit too many plot devices and story points. I wanted to like it but there wasnt enough of anything. No build up to a real relationship. Parker and Ida are clueless and insufferable for most of the book until they just arent anymore with no explanation.
Just needed a bit more.
There wasnt enough to sell me on checking out Bk 2 of the friend either. Unfortunate because being in a AMBW IR myself, I love a good AMBW story - but this was not it.
Glad it was free though, would have been bummed if Id had to pay.
Pretty good length though.
November 1, 2025
not what I was expecting- but in a good way
This was chaos. Wildly unpredictable. Manic almost. Like a rollercoaster you can’t see the end off. Ida, Parker, and a handful of associated characters who shape up into a really 👀👀 interesting ride. I think what I liked about it was that it wasn’t what I was expecting. Only after starting this book did I realize I had already just read another AMBW book by this author called prickly romance, which I loved five stars and then I think it was expecting a similar type of story as well as author cadence in the writing, but this was so different than that. I truly enjoyed it simply because I was compelled to see what would happen next.
This was chaos. Wildly unpredictable. Manic almost. Like a rollercoaster you can’t see the end off. Ida, Parker, and a handful of associated characters who shape up into a really 👀👀 interesting ride. I think what I liked about it was that it wasn’t what I was expecting. Only after starting this book did I realize I had already just read another AMBW book by this author called prickly romance, which I loved five stars and then I think it was expecting a similar type of story as well as author cadence in the writing, but this was so different than that. I truly enjoyed it simply because I was compelled to see what would happen next.
September 28, 2022
3.6.
A very cute, clean romance that begged for more romance. Funny throughout, with some serious emotional moments. Very much a tale of self love and confidence too. Good pacing and length, too.
Although the romantic tension has a nice burning edge, it could've used an actual satisfying release of it. The only kiss they share is a peck mentioned in passing at the very end. I was hoping their first kiss could have been special, hyped up, not stuffed in the footnotes! The moment in the story where they almost kissed could have just been a kiss, imo. A satisfying, full bodied portrayal of the romance would've been much appreciated.
A very cute, clean romance that begged for more romance. Funny throughout, with some serious emotional moments. Very much a tale of self love and confidence too. Good pacing and length, too.
Although the romantic tension has a nice burning edge, it could've used an actual satisfying release of it. The only kiss they share is a peck mentioned in passing at the very end. I was hoping their first kiss could have been special, hyped up, not stuffed in the footnotes! The moment in the story where they almost kissed could have just been a kiss, imo. A satisfying, full bodied portrayal of the romance would've been much appreciated.
November 28, 2022
If I could, I'd give this book somewhere between a 3.5-3.7.
At it's core, this book was a really sweet story that was more about a young woman (Ida) learning to love herself. I did enjoy the interactions between Ida and Parker but it felt more like fluff than true romance. The writing could be shaky at times and some of the characters were a little 1D and almost stereotypical but I actively decided to not let it detract from my overall enjoyment. And I really appreciate the trigger warnings.
If I could get a little more spice in the romance and some characters reworked, it would be a great quick rainy day romance read.
At it's core, this book was a really sweet story that was more about a young woman (Ida) learning to love herself. I did enjoy the interactions between Ida and Parker but it felt more like fluff than true romance. The writing could be shaky at times and some of the characters were a little 1D and almost stereotypical but I actively decided to not let it detract from my overall enjoyment. And I really appreciate the trigger warnings.
If I could get a little more spice in the romance and some characters reworked, it would be a great quick rainy day romance read.
June 20, 2022
Delightful
WOW this book will easily steal your heart. It's a powerful combination of sadness and excitement that will give you so much romance. I enjoyed both of these characters they are so amazing and together they are just pure romance. Add in their drama with tons of emotions plus some intriguing twists and turns then you have a story that's full of feelings and so amazing, you will enjoy their relationship and the secondary characters as they seemed to all work so well together. This story is truly delightful and I Highly Recommend Reading it.
WOW this book will easily steal your heart. It's a powerful combination of sadness and excitement that will give you so much romance. I enjoyed both of these characters they are so amazing and together they are just pure romance. Add in their drama with tons of emotions plus some intriguing twists and turns then you have a story that's full of feelings and so amazing, you will enjoy their relationship and the secondary characters as they seemed to all work so well together. This story is truly delightful and I Highly Recommend Reading it.
May 22, 2023
Park and Ida 🥰🥰 are one of the best workers to lovers romances I’ve read!
The slow, realistic chemistry!
The fact that it’s in Belize, a beautiful 🤩 underrated country other than New York or LA!
And the fact that Parker is both brave for his girl and good with kids!!! 😍☺️🤩🤩🤩😘
What made me drop a star?
The nightmarish domestic violence our FMC faced and the traumatic injuries insider by a scorned former flame. (When Sabrina put a DRUG needle 💉 into Santi! I cringed and felt terrified!) 😬
The slow, realistic chemistry!
The fact that it’s in Belize, a beautiful 🤩 underrated country other than New York or LA!
And the fact that Parker is both brave for his girl and good with kids!!! 😍☺️🤩🤩🤩😘
What made me drop a star?
The nightmarish domestic violence our FMC faced and the traumatic injuries insider by a scorned former flame. (When Sabrina put a DRUG needle 💉 into Santi! I cringed and felt terrified!) 😬
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 14, 2024
Good quick read
I liked the resistance of Ida as she struggled with the interracial romance, it rang true. It was handled nicely. The pace was good as they navigated the challenges of falling in love. It kinda felt rushed at the end. The story had so much more that could have been expanded on that I was disappointed that it wasn't. More of how Mateo fit in, how was Santa after the incident, what happened to the aunt? Did Dr. Park's father have issues? So many unanswered questions. I liked the story concept, it just felt rushed.
I liked the resistance of Ida as she struggled with the interracial romance, it rang true. It was handled nicely. The pace was good as they navigated the challenges of falling in love. It kinda felt rushed at the end. The story had so much more that could have been expanded on that I was disappointed that it wasn't. More of how Mateo fit in, how was Santa after the incident, what happened to the aunt? Did Dr. Park's father have issues? So many unanswered questions. I liked the story concept, it just felt rushed.
June 9, 2022
Ida and Parker
Wonderful book. It captured me on the first page! SPOILER ALERT…It was about Ida and how she had been treated her whole life…people walking over her, beginning with her mother. Her mother would beat her, tell her she was worthless and Ida began to believe it. She had no self worth…no self value. Until Parker showed her that she was valuable. She didn’t let anyone treat her like she was nothing ever again.
Wonderful book. It captured me on the first page! SPOILER ALERT…It was about Ida and how she had been treated her whole life…people walking over her, beginning with her mother. Her mother would beat her, tell her she was worthless and Ida began to believe it. She had no self worth…no self value. Until Parker showed her that she was valuable. She didn’t let anyone treat her like she was nothing ever again.
March 9, 2024
Cute
At the beginning of the book Ida came across as waaaay to desperate. It was more than a little fringe for me. At the end we see some of why that may have been the case, but it was still a bit much for me.
Parker's switch from unfeeling resident to bending over backwards for the fmc was also a bit quicker than I'd expected.
All in all it's a cute story, with some drama at the end - even if it was a little eye roll inducing.
At the beginning of the book Ida came across as waaaay to desperate. It was more than a little fringe for me. At the end we see some of why that may have been the case, but it was still a bit much for me.
Parker's switch from unfeeling resident to bending over backwards for the fmc was also a bit quicker than I'd expected.
All in all it's a cute story, with some drama at the end - even if it was a little eye roll inducing.
May 25, 2022
First book by Ms Arthurs and it was a good read. Ida found out she needed to love herself and stop trying to always please others. Parker was just being himself and realized how he slowly was falling for Ida. An interesting read on interracial relationships. Parker talk to his family about the relationship and he also saw how people would act with them being a couple.
September 29, 2023
Started off annoying with how much of a doormat she seemed but it was a sweet read. Some parts of Ida, I could identify with. Some snippets even helped me with a new personal realization. The 11th hour drama wasn’t necessary imo and escalated quickly. This book didn’t have one kiss or intimate scene in it but I still enjoyed.
October 22, 2023
Love comes in many ways
Great story. Love has no color in life. Unconditional acceptance of love is needed. This story sheds light on how we can help our children in the community and support them with our love. How a mix of ethnicity and culture come together to become a family.
Great story. Love has no color in life. Unconditional acceptance of love is needed. This story sheds light on how we can help our children in the community and support them with our love. How a mix of ethnicity and culture come together to become a family.
June 18, 2025
Loosen Up To Love... ❤️
This is a cool, funny and beautiful love story of Parker and Ida. Love knows no boundaries. It creeps into your life as and when it wants.
I just couldn't put the book down until I was done reading it. It's a story I can read again. Great writing, Nia Arthurs 👏 👍
This is a cool, funny and beautiful love story of Parker and Ida. Love knows no boundaries. It creeps into your life as and when it wants.
I just couldn't put the book down until I was done reading it. It's a story I can read again. Great writing, Nia Arthurs 👏 👍
July 26, 2017
Ok, read
This story had potential,but could use some more development of the main characters. In a sense, I felt cheated. Maybe it was written to make me read the next book in the series, which I will...☺
This story had potential,but could use some more development of the main characters. In a sense, I felt cheated. Maybe it was written to make me read the next book in the series, which I will...☺
May 14, 2022
I like it
It was a good book, just wish it wasn't rushed. The ending and plot. No details on it about the young man living with her. Or how their relationship after she foster both brothers.
It was a good book, just wish it wasn't rushed. The ending and plot. No details on it about the young man living with her. Or how their relationship after she foster both brothers.
May 17, 2022
loved it
I absolutely loved it. It was funny but it had drama. I was rooting for IDA. I liked Parker. Sabrina and Jeremy, give me a break. The story had a good advice, love yourself.
I absolutely loved it. It was funny but it had drama. I was rooting for IDA. I liked Parker. Sabrina and Jeremy, give me a break. The story had a good advice, love yourself.
December 14, 2022
I loved every minute
Very interesting start,the story had everything, fun, laughter, frustration with the heroine, sadness, surprise, waiting,...but a lovely ending!I definitely will be reading more stories from Nia
Very interesting start,the story had everything, fun, laughter, frustration with the heroine, sadness, surprise, waiting,...but a lovely ending!I definitely will be reading more stories from Nia
April 12, 2023
Great Story!!
Loosen Up To Love by Nia Arthurs is a sweet and simple story of learning to love yourself. Then, finding the one who lifts you up and loves you through your pain, sadness and darkness. Ida, Parker, Santiago and Mateo found that awesome love in each other! 😍😍
Loosen Up To Love by Nia Arthurs is a sweet and simple story of learning to love yourself. Then, finding the one who lifts you up and loves you through your pain, sadness and darkness. Ida, Parker, Santiago and Mateo found that awesome love in each other! 😍😍
April 19, 2023
Lovesick series a breath of springs
Love the book is was lovely so enjoying funny and tense at time but very, very interesting. I would recommend this book / and any thing MS nia write. Can wait for her next series 😍😍😍💐
Love the book is was lovely so enjoying funny and tense at time but very, very interesting. I would recommend this book / and any thing MS nia write. Can wait for her next series 😍😍😍💐
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews