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Paradise Romance #2
All the Reasons I Need
Kate Owens has kept her attraction to her best friend Mo Calloway a carefully guarded secret for years. But some secrets you can’t hide forever and she’s worried that Mo is beginning to suspect her feelings.
It’s harder than ever to pretend there’s nothing going on when a reservation mistake on a trip to Mexico leads to Kate sharing Mo’s bed for five long nights.
One fateful vacation could change everything. But are Kate and Mo ready to risk their friendship for a chance at love?
Genre: Romance
Editor: Medora MacDougall
Cover Designer: Judith Fellows
It’s harder than ever to pretend there’s nothing going on when a reservation mistake on a trip to Mexico leads to Kate sharing Mo’s bed for five long nights.
One fateful vacation could change everything. But are Kate and Mo ready to risk their friendship for a chance at love?
Genre: Romance
Editor: Medora MacDougall
Cover Designer: Judith Fellows
286 pages, Paperback
Published August 15, 2019
37 people are currently reading
315 people want to read
About the author
Jaime Clevenger
38 books335 followersJaime Clevenger lives with family in Colorado. Most days are spent working as a veterinarian. Writing is a side gig but also a true love. Hobbies include swimming, karate, dreaming about beach vacations, and convincing random strangers to share their life story. Bonus points are given if they include a good romance—whether or not there’s a happy ending.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
August 13, 2019
This was the book I needed. I had a pretty awful day today and on top of that I have been in a rut of so-so books. This book came at the perfect time and lifted my reading spirits up. It wasn’t too much of a surprise to me as I like Clevenger and this was the follow-up to my favorite book of hers, Three Reasons to Say Yes. This wasn’t as fantastic as Three Reasons, but I’m not complaining. I had high expectations for this book and it didn’t disappoint.
While I do think you could start here if you had to, I would recommend reading Three Reasons before this book. The main characters from Three Reasons are the secondary characters in this book and the secondary characters in Three Reasons are the mains in this book. Having the background from both couples by reading Three Reasons first will only enhance this book, plus Three Reasons is wonderful so you would not want to miss it anyway.
One of the reasons I love Three Reasons so much is that Clevenger wrote such strong secondary characters in Kate and Mo. I fell for them almost as much as the main characters, so to have them get their own book I was excited. This is a story about two best friends since college that have a ton of chemistry but have never done anything about it. Is this finally their chance at a relationship of have they waited too long?
I have to admit I did not expect this book to be so angsty. It was emotional and caused me to grab a few tissues. This is the kind of angst I personally like. Angst that seems believable and angst that the characters try to work out together even if they don’t always do a good job at it. I did want to shake some sense into Kate more than once, but Clevenger wrote her well. She almost verged at being unlikeable at times but I understood her and her actions/thinking. In my opinion this is how you are supposed to write flawed and sometimes unlikeable characters by still making the reader care about them. I have to give big props to Clevenger because too many authors can’t write that balance, and as a reader, you just end up not liking the character which can ruin a whole story.
For you romance fans out there, while this is emotional, have no fear this book is swimming in chemistry. There was not a second of doubt in my mind that these two characters loved each other, even without ever voicing it or acting on it. Now that is pretty impressive if you ask me. I like a good best friends to lovers story but the sparks have to be there and luckily there is no doubt with this book. I don’t think anyone will complain about the steamy sex scenes either.
If you are looking for a well written, angsty romance, look no further. This is an easy romance for me to recommend. I think with this series, Clevenger is at the top of her writing game and I can’t wait to see what she puts out next.
An ARC was given to me for a honest review.
While I do think you could start here if you had to, I would recommend reading Three Reasons before this book. The main characters from Three Reasons are the secondary characters in this book and the secondary characters in Three Reasons are the mains in this book. Having the background from both couples by reading Three Reasons first will only enhance this book, plus Three Reasons is wonderful so you would not want to miss it anyway.
One of the reasons I love Three Reasons so much is that Clevenger wrote such strong secondary characters in Kate and Mo. I fell for them almost as much as the main characters, so to have them get their own book I was excited. This is a story about two best friends since college that have a ton of chemistry but have never done anything about it. Is this finally their chance at a relationship of have they waited too long?
I have to admit I did not expect this book to be so angsty. It was emotional and caused me to grab a few tissues. This is the kind of angst I personally like. Angst that seems believable and angst that the characters try to work out together even if they don’t always do a good job at it. I did want to shake some sense into Kate more than once, but Clevenger wrote her well. She almost verged at being unlikeable at times but I understood her and her actions/thinking. In my opinion this is how you are supposed to write flawed and sometimes unlikeable characters by still making the reader care about them. I have to give big props to Clevenger because too many authors can’t write that balance, and as a reader, you just end up not liking the character which can ruin a whole story.
For you romance fans out there, while this is emotional, have no fear this book is swimming in chemistry. There was not a second of doubt in my mind that these two characters loved each other, even without ever voicing it or acting on it. Now that is pretty impressive if you ask me. I like a good best friends to lovers story but the sparks have to be there and luckily there is no doubt with this book. I don’t think anyone will complain about the steamy sex scenes either.
If you are looking for a well written, angsty romance, look no further. This is an easy romance for me to recommend. I think with this series, Clevenger is at the top of her writing game and I can’t wait to see what she puts out next.
An ARC was given to me for a honest review.
February 29, 2020
Kate and Mo are two adorable dumbasses, in love with each other. They kept waiting for the other to ask them out for SIXTEEN YEARS. So many times one of them would hint they had feelings for the other and then instantly go nevermind(I MIND DAMMIT!). The slowburn was fun kind of frustrating, it never got boring. I loved the easy, flirty dialogues between Mo and Kate. Basically all they did was flirt and freak out.
Going in I didn't know this book would have such a serious storyline. Poor Kate, her whole family was garbage. Compared to other friends to lovers books, here the MCs especially Kate's reasons for not acting on her feelings are understandable. While I really liked it, the book did lose some of it's charm near the end.
Going in I didn't know this book would have such a serious storyline. Poor Kate, her whole family was garbage. Compared to other friends to lovers books, here the MCs especially Kate's reasons for not acting on her feelings are understandable. While I really liked it, the book did lose some of it's charm near the end.
August 4, 2019
All the Reasons I Need is the second novel in the Paradise series. It is not quite as good as its great predecessor Three Reasons to Say Yes, but is not too far behind. The main characters here, Kate and Mo, were the secondary character in the first one, and the mains from that one, Julia, Reed and the kids, are here in a more than secondary role. They are nicely blended in this plot without being forced, and there is even a promising secondary character that can continue this lovely series. For full comprehension, it is recommended to read Three Reasons to Say Yes first, but not mandatory. Do it anyway, you will not regret it.
All the Reasons I Need is a very good romance, but not a light one. It deals with some unpleasant events from Kate's past, and she can be very trying person because of it. While sometimes frustrating, the chemistry between her and Mo worked. The author quite successfully leads them to their happy ending without unrealistically reducing life problems and situations.
I sincerely recommend this book, and am really looking forward to the next installment in the series.
4.25 stars
August 4, 2019
*A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher.*
All the Reasons I Need is a very good romance, but not a light one. It deals with some unpleasant events from Kate's past, and she can be very trying person because of it. While sometimes frustrating, the chemistry between her and Mo worked. The author quite successfully leads them to their happy ending without unrealistically reducing life problems and situations.
I sincerely recommend this book, and am really looking forward to the next installment in the series.
4.25 stars
August 4, 2019
*A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher.*
August 2, 2019
I'm a big fan of "Three Reasons to Say Yes" and was waiting for the second part! This was a very enjoyable read. I liked almost every aspect of it, starting from the amazing dialogue between the MCs (the connection was very strong and i loved the banter between the 2 MCs), and a glimpse of what life has become of Julia and Reed from book 1 in the series.
What i liked most about it is that it wasnt just an enjoyable fluffy romance, but rather it tackled some very heavy topics like eating disorders and another topic that i dont want to reveal so as not to spoil the book. At the beginning i was extremely annoyed with Kate, her self-loathing, insecurity and at a certain point i really wanted to bang her head with my kindle to wake her the f**k up! but then once the story developed, i tolerated her character and at times felt very sorry for her (she still annoyed the hell out of me though).
It is interesting that if you look at the book from outside it seems that it is a light read, but if you think about it more, this wasn't what i expected and it made it a lot more interesting for me!
One thing that was very evident from the first book in the series was the ability of the author to create amazing secondary characters, and this continued quite well in the second book and i am interested to read about Terry the doctor :)
The only thing i wouldve liked to see is a stronger ending with a bit more details! but i am hoping that there would be a third one in the series!
I highly recommend this book, but i would suggest that you read the first part.
"I received an ARC for an honest review."
What i liked most about it is that it wasnt just an enjoyable fluffy romance, but rather it tackled some very heavy topics like eating disorders and another topic that i dont want to reveal so as not to spoil the book. At the beginning i was extremely annoyed with Kate, her self-loathing, insecurity and at a certain point i really wanted to bang her head with my kindle to wake her the f**k up! but then once the story developed, i tolerated her character and at times felt very sorry for her (she still annoyed the hell out of me though).
It is interesting that if you look at the book from outside it seems that it is a light read, but if you think about it more, this wasn't what i expected and it made it a lot more interesting for me!
One thing that was very evident from the first book in the series was the ability of the author to create amazing secondary characters, and this continued quite well in the second book and i am interested to read about Terry the doctor :)
The only thing i wouldve liked to see is a stronger ending with a bit more details! but i am hoping that there would be a third one in the series!
I highly recommend this book, but i would suggest that you read the first part.
"I received an ARC for an honest review."
August 19, 2019
After reading Three Reasons to Say Yes I found myself more interested in Mo & Kate's story than that of main characters Julia & Reed. And now we finally get to read all about their epic romance. Sort of.. they'll get there.. any day now. *sigh*
Obviously Mo & Kate do become a couple eventually but the road to them getting to that stage is long, winding, bumpy and downright aggravating. Granted Kate has a lot on her plate and these issues do not go away overnight. They are things that she will have to deal with for the rest of her life.
However she has already been dealing with them by seeking help for quite a long time. So why did it feel like these obstacles were used as an excuse to keep her distance from the woman she's been in love with for the past 16 years?
I got really fed up with all the back and forth that was crammed into this book and I hate how much Mo's character was turned into a punching bag for Kate and all her insecurities. Their relationship and friendship felt very one sided at times.
If you're looking for something angsty to read look no further. Even when I thought at one point that I was in the clear from all the drama, the author decided to pile on another heap.
A great read for some but not for me. Ends in a 2,75* rating.
Obviously Mo & Kate do become a couple eventually but the road to them getting to that stage is long, winding, bumpy and downright aggravating. Granted Kate has a lot on her plate and these issues do not go away overnight. They are things that she will have to deal with for the rest of her life.
However she has already been dealing with them by seeking help for quite a long time. So why did it feel like these obstacles were used as an excuse to keep her distance from the woman she's been in love with for the past 16 years?
I got really fed up with all the back and forth that was crammed into this book and I hate how much Mo's character was turned into a punching bag for Kate and all her insecurities. Their relationship and friendship felt very one sided at times.
If you're looking for something angsty to read look no further. Even when I thought at one point that I was in the clear from all the drama, the author decided to pile on another heap.
A great read for some but not for me. Ends in a 2,75* rating.
August 3, 2019
I utterly loved Jaime Clevenger's "Three Reasons To Say Yes," Book 1 of the Paradise Romance series (and my first book of hers), which incidentally made my favourite lesfic books of 2018. So when I heard that there was going to be a sequel exploring the romance between Mo and Kate, the secondary characters featured in Book 1, who were Julia's BFFs, I was thrilled! "All The Reasons I Need," whilst can be read as a stand-alone, if you ask me, I would highly recommend reading Book 1 first simply because Mo and Kate were heavily featured in it with details about their characters and relationship. That said, Clevenger did give a general recap about what transpired between these two best mates in Book 1 in this installment. But I'd still recommend giving "Three Reasons..." a read, perhaps after reading this sequel if not before.
Mo and Kate. I was intrigued by their characters and their relationship as part of the trio of BFFs since college sixteen years ago - Julia, Mo and Kate - when they were introduced in Book 1. Their relationship got even closer as they ended up spending most of the time with each other when Julia was busy falling in love with Reed whilst they were all on holiday in Hawaii. Things happened which led to the start of this story.
Full commentary here... In Bugs' Own Words
**I was given, with much thanks and appreciation, an ARC of this book, by Bella via NetGalley, in return for an honest review.
Mo and Kate. I was intrigued by their characters and their relationship as part of the trio of BFFs since college sixteen years ago - Julia, Mo and Kate - when they were introduced in Book 1. Their relationship got even closer as they ended up spending most of the time with each other when Julia was busy falling in love with Reed whilst they were all on holiday in Hawaii. Things happened which led to the start of this story.
Full commentary here... In Bugs' Own Words
**I was given, with much thanks and appreciation, an ARC of this book, by Bella via NetGalley, in return for an honest review.
August 8, 2019
First things first: I love the friendship between Kate, Mo and Julia. I love how Mo and Kate were there all the way for Julia in Three Reasons to Say Yes and how Julia’s there for them both in this one.
Having recently come out as bisexual, Kate is doing her best not to let what she sees as a crush on her best friend Mo ruin their friendship. The thing is, it’s not a crush, she’s been attracted to Mo from day one, when they became roomates at college sixteen years ago, but wasn’t ready to act on it for the longest time. She knows Mo loves her but she’s not sure it goes deeper than friendship, and even if it did, she doesn’t want to foist her issues on her.
The issues Kate was mentioned as having in book 1 are at the center of All the Reasons I Need. She’s facing them in the bravest way, and it made me feel so proud of her (I know she’s a fictional character, so what). Sure, she can be annoying, not being able to make up her mind, but she’s got reasons, which can’t be said for all lesfic characters acting the same way.
This book is much darker than the previous one, which was more about romance and families (remember the twins? they’re baaaaack). This is about trust, and faith in a way. Trusting the one you love to still love you once they know all your secrets, trusting yourself with that love, having faith in what you can achieve and what you deserve.
It’s not a light read but Clevenger manages to still keep it sweet, and sexy. Once again, the characters she creates have depth and layers, and the angst they go through – and make the reader go through – is coherent and justified.
This can probably be read as a standalone but I would recommend reading Three Reasons to Say Yes first, as much for Julia and Reed’s story as for the substantial glimpses into Mo and Kate’s relationship so far.
I received a free copy from the publisher for an honest review.
Having recently come out as bisexual, Kate is doing her best not to let what she sees as a crush on her best friend Mo ruin their friendship. The thing is, it’s not a crush, she’s been attracted to Mo from day one, when they became roomates at college sixteen years ago, but wasn’t ready to act on it for the longest time. She knows Mo loves her but she’s not sure it goes deeper than friendship, and even if it did, she doesn’t want to foist her issues on her.
The issues Kate was mentioned as having in book 1 are at the center of All the Reasons I Need. She’s facing them in the bravest way, and it made me feel so proud of her (I know she’s a fictional character, so what). Sure, she can be annoying, not being able to make up her mind, but she’s got reasons, which can’t be said for all lesfic characters acting the same way.
This book is much darker than the previous one, which was more about romance and families (remember the twins? they’re baaaaack). This is about trust, and faith in a way. Trusting the one you love to still love you once they know all your secrets, trusting yourself with that love, having faith in what you can achieve and what you deserve.
It’s not a light read but Clevenger manages to still keep it sweet, and sexy. Once again, the characters she creates have depth and layers, and the angst they go through – and make the reader go through – is coherent and justified.
This can probably be read as a standalone but I would recommend reading Three Reasons to Say Yes first, as much for Julia and Reed’s story as for the substantial glimpses into Mo and Kate’s relationship so far.
I received a free copy from the publisher for an honest review.
January 23, 2020
This is book two of the ‘Paradise romance’ series by this author. I absolutely loved book one, ‘Three reasons to say yes‘ which was one of my favourites of 2018. Even though these are standalone romances, you will be able to catch up with the story of Julia and Reed from book one, so I recommend to listen to them in chronological order to enjoy it fully. Abby Craden narrates both and she keeps all the characters’ voices the same so you can listen to one after the other.
Kate Owens and Mo Calloway have been friends since college and, with time, it’s been harder for Kate to hide her feelings from Mo. When a reservation mistake on a trip to Mexico leads them to share the same bed, she realises that maybe the attraction is mutual but, will they risk their friendship for a chance at love?
Despite what the title and cover might suggest, ‘All the reasons I need’ is not a light summer listen. It’s a slow burn romance with a good amount of self-introspection and angst. Compared to book one, there is more drama, the characters are more conflicted and have a lot of baggage. Both women have some serious baggage and a shared story of repressed feelings that Ms. Craden performs exceptionally.
I’ve read this book some months before listening to the audiobook. Kate is a very conflicted character with low self-esteem and a past that haunts her and, despite Mo has a good upbringing and a supporting family, her apparent confident exterior is just a screen that hides insecurities of her own. There is a good amount of mutual second-guessing in both leads’ actions despite their long-running attraction which came close to annoy me. But, I have to admit that, for me, the audiobook was more palatable than the book. I’m not sure why, but maybe it’s because I’m a fan of the narrator and she makes every story more realistic and absorbing. Despite this slight annoyance, it was good to catch up with the leads of book one and their children and to meet a new character who hopefully will star in a future installment of the series.
Trigger warning alert. There is a flashback scene of sexual abuse that might upset some readers though it’s very short.
Included for free with your Scribd subscription. Duration: 8 hours.
Overall, a good friends-to-lovers lesbian romance audiobook with quite a bit of drama and angst. 4 stars for the story, 5 stars for the narration. 4.5 stars.
See all my reviews at www.lezreviewbooks.com
Kate Owens and Mo Calloway have been friends since college and, with time, it’s been harder for Kate to hide her feelings from Mo. When a reservation mistake on a trip to Mexico leads them to share the same bed, she realises that maybe the attraction is mutual but, will they risk their friendship for a chance at love?
Despite what the title and cover might suggest, ‘All the reasons I need’ is not a light summer listen. It’s a slow burn romance with a good amount of self-introspection and angst. Compared to book one, there is more drama, the characters are more conflicted and have a lot of baggage. Both women have some serious baggage and a shared story of repressed feelings that Ms. Craden performs exceptionally.
I’ve read this book some months before listening to the audiobook. Kate is a very conflicted character with low self-esteem and a past that haunts her and, despite Mo has a good upbringing and a supporting family, her apparent confident exterior is just a screen that hides insecurities of her own. There is a good amount of mutual second-guessing in both leads’ actions despite their long-running attraction which came close to annoy me. But, I have to admit that, for me, the audiobook was more palatable than the book. I’m not sure why, but maybe it’s because I’m a fan of the narrator and she makes every story more realistic and absorbing. Despite this slight annoyance, it was good to catch up with the leads of book one and their children and to meet a new character who hopefully will star in a future installment of the series.
Trigger warning alert. There is a flashback scene of sexual abuse that might upset some readers though it’s very short.
Included for free with your Scribd subscription. Duration: 8 hours.
Overall, a good friends-to-lovers lesbian romance audiobook with quite a bit of drama and angst. 4 stars for the story, 5 stars for the narration. 4.5 stars.
See all my reviews at www.lezreviewbooks.com
August 25, 2019
This is book two of the ‘Paradise romance’ series by this author. I absolutely loved book one, ‘Three reasons to say yes‘ which was one of my favourites of 2018. Even though these are standalone romances, the reader will catch up with the story of Julia and Reed from book one, so I recommend to read them in chronological order to enjoy it fully.
Kate Owens and Mo Calloway have been friends since college and, with time, it’s been harder for Kate to hide her feelings from Mo. When a reservation mistake on a trip to Mexico leads them to share the same bed, she realises that maybe the attraction is mutual but, will they risk their friendship for a chance at love?
‘All the reasons I need’ is a slow burn romance with a good amount of self-introspection and angst. Compared to book one, there is more drama, the characters are more conflicted and have a lot of baggage. It’s written in third person from the exclusive point of view of Kate, so the reader has direct access to her insecurities and low-self esteem. Some readers might have preferred the story written in first person point of view to keep the narrative distance to a minimum but I think that the author pulls it through without problems.
Despite what the title and cover might suggest, this is not a light summer read. Both women have some serious baggage and a shared story of repressed feelings. There is a short flashback scene of sexual abuse that might upset some readers though it’s only a few paragraphs long. Kate is a very conflicted character with low self-esteem and a past that haunts her and, despite Mo has a good upbringing and a supporting family, her apparent confident exterior is just a screen that hides insecurities of her own.
There is a good amount of mutual second-guessing in their actions despite their long-running attraction which sometimes defies common sense and came close to annoy me. Despite this, it was good to catch up with the leads of book one and their children and to meet a new character who hopefully will star in a future installment of the series.
Overall, a good friends to lovers lesbian romance book with quite a bit of drama and angst. 4 stars.
ARC provided by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Kate Owens and Mo Calloway have been friends since college and, with time, it’s been harder for Kate to hide her feelings from Mo. When a reservation mistake on a trip to Mexico leads them to share the same bed, she realises that maybe the attraction is mutual but, will they risk their friendship for a chance at love?
‘All the reasons I need’ is a slow burn romance with a good amount of self-introspection and angst. Compared to book one, there is more drama, the characters are more conflicted and have a lot of baggage. It’s written in third person from the exclusive point of view of Kate, so the reader has direct access to her insecurities and low-self esteem. Some readers might have preferred the story written in first person point of view to keep the narrative distance to a minimum but I think that the author pulls it through without problems.
Despite what the title and cover might suggest, this is not a light summer read. Both women have some serious baggage and a shared story of repressed feelings. There is a short flashback scene of sexual abuse that might upset some readers though it’s only a few paragraphs long. Kate is a very conflicted character with low self-esteem and a past that haunts her and, despite Mo has a good upbringing and a supporting family, her apparent confident exterior is just a screen that hides insecurities of her own.
There is a good amount of mutual second-guessing in their actions despite their long-running attraction which sometimes defies common sense and came close to annoy me. Despite this, it was good to catch up with the leads of book one and their children and to meet a new character who hopefully will star in a future installment of the series.
Overall, a good friends to lovers lesbian romance book with quite a bit of drama and angst. 4 stars.
ARC provided by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
September 6, 2019
All the Reasons I Need is the second book in a series about three best friends who roomed together in college 16 years ago with this one focusing on Mo and Kate. Book 1 was about the third roomie, Julia, and it was a 2018 favorite of mine.
Kate is a successful charity fundraising director who comes from big Texas money and dysfunctional parents. She has feelings for Mo but has never told her. Although Kate’s a good character, I genuinely wish we had gotten Mo’s pov instead. Mo is the much more dynamic character and the story brightens every time she is on the page. She’s brilliant, gorgeous, charismatic and leads a no holds barred kind of life. Instead, we get Kate’s perspective and witness her internal struggles which are incredibly sad, especially as we learn the true origin of her turmoil.
I don’t think the story gels until the halfway point when honest communication finally comes into play and only gets narratively interesting at the 2/3 mark when the book evolves beyond the romance. At that point, it’s as if the story is freed from the confines of Kate’s “Mo loves me/Mo loves me not” mental loop and morphs into highlighting the reality of friends becoming lovers and the fears in facing demons from the past. So I do like the book and it’s worth reading, especially if you’re following the series, but it might wear on the patience of some readers in the beginning so be prepared.
Read courtesy of Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Kate is a successful charity fundraising director who comes from big Texas money and dysfunctional parents. She has feelings for Mo but has never told her. Although Kate’s a good character, I genuinely wish we had gotten Mo’s pov instead. Mo is the much more dynamic character and the story brightens every time she is on the page. She’s brilliant, gorgeous, charismatic and leads a no holds barred kind of life. Instead, we get Kate’s perspective and witness her internal struggles which are incredibly sad, especially as we learn the true origin of her turmoil.
I don’t think the story gels until the halfway point when honest communication finally comes into play and only gets narratively interesting at the 2/3 mark when the book evolves beyond the romance. At that point, it’s as if the story is freed from the confines of Kate’s “Mo loves me/Mo loves me not” mental loop and morphs into highlighting the reality of friends becoming lovers and the fears in facing demons from the past. So I do like the book and it’s worth reading, especially if you’re following the series, but it might wear on the patience of some readers in the beginning so be prepared.
Read courtesy of Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 10, 2019
When I read the first book in the Paradise Series Three Reasons to Say Yes, I noted that Julia’s sidekicks, Mo and Kate were not the usual wing-women and didn’t have much in the way of sage advice to offer anybody. Well, here they are in their own story and not much has changed. Kate has had a crush on her friend Mo for years but hasn’t had the awareness of her own sexuality or courage to do anything about it. A holiday in Mexico and a booking mishap lands them both in the same room.
Having come across these two in the first book, this is exactly how I would have expected their relationship to go, especially if they ever manage to cross the line from friendship to love. I found Mo a lot easier to understand and felt that Kate’s issues were a little too easily resolved.
It’s an easy enough romance with the tension that goes with people who aren’t sure if they want to risk a valuable friendship for desire. I enjoyed it, but not quite as much as “Three Reasons to Say Yes”.
Book received from Netgalley and Bella Books for an honest review.
Having come across these two in the first book, this is exactly how I would have expected their relationship to go, especially if they ever manage to cross the line from friendship to love. I found Mo a lot easier to understand and felt that Kate’s issues were a little too easily resolved.
It’s an easy enough romance with the tension that goes with people who aren’t sure if they want to risk a valuable friendship for desire. I enjoyed it, but not quite as much as “Three Reasons to Say Yes”.
Book received from Netgalley and Bella Books for an honest review.
October 19, 2021
Best friends.
Mo and Kate piqued my interest when they were side characters in the book that preceded this (Three Reasons To Say Yes). They are best friends together with Julia and had been in love with each other for 16 years. Their feelings are not a well-kept secret and everyone around them knows. Mo and Kate themselves look like they know how the other feels too but other times it seems like they don't.
I love the best friends to lovers trope. I really do, and Mo and Kate have chemistry. But it's frustrating to see them go about in circles, sometimes looking like they're gonna blurt out a declaration of love, but never finish what they set out to say. It's a slowburn and I lost count of the times I facepalmed myself listening to this till it hurt. I know Kate has issues, big ones to overcome, I get that. But this went on for far too long and Mo could have said something first.
On a positive note, Abby Craden did a wonderful job with the narration.
Mo and Kate piqued my interest when they were side characters in the book that preceded this (Three Reasons To Say Yes). They are best friends together with Julia and had been in love with each other for 16 years. Their feelings are not a well-kept secret and everyone around them knows. Mo and Kate themselves look like they know how the other feels too but other times it seems like they don't.
I love the best friends to lovers trope. I really do, and Mo and Kate have chemistry. But it's frustrating to see them go about in circles, sometimes looking like they're gonna blurt out a declaration of love, but never finish what they set out to say. It's a slowburn and I lost count of the times I facepalmed myself listening to this till it hurt. I know Kate has issues, big ones to overcome, I get that. But this went on for far too long and Mo could have said something first.
On a positive note, Abby Craden did a wonderful job with the narration.
August 14, 2019
ARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I had high hopes for this one, having recently read Three Reasons to Say Yes and enjoyed it. This isn’t quite as good as that one though.
So, this features the two BFFs from Three Reasons, Kate and Mo. In the first book we’re told that they both love each other, but haven’t gotten around to admitting it because they’re best friends and also Kate has ISSUES. The issues are hinted at in book one and the reveal of the issues drags on for too long here.
I also have to say that I think this book would have been better if it had begun right after where the first book left off, rather than having a gap, because there was really no reason for these two to wait a whole nother year to admit their feelings, frankly their lack of ability to come out and admit what they wanted from each other was annoying in book one and that did not improve here.
Kate’s issues, while serious, were also weird, in that they weren’t anything that you wouldn’t share with people who have loved and supported you for 16 years, and I honest to god could not figure out why she’d kept it from her friends (and Julia still doesn’t know by the end!) for so long. But whatever. There’s also a lot of repetition from book 1 around Mo’s relationship issues and her bi-phobia, and I got sick of that very quickly. I’ve read a few reviews where the reviewers said they didn’t like Kate, but Mo was the main issue for me (Kate was annoying towards the end with her ‘not worthy’ stuff but Mo annoyed me for most of the book). The whole ‘forced to share a bed while on holiday’ thing was also a trope I could have lived without.
On the flip side I loved catching up with Julia/Reed and the twins, and hot Dr Terri, who featured briefly in book 1 also was a highlight, I loved her and actually wished she and Kate had gotten together instead. I assume she’ll get her own book (which will no doubt feature some sort of group trip). I also liked that Clevenger includes characters who don’t always have huge amounts of sexual experience and that this series includes multiple POC characters.
This was an ok sequel but didn’t quite live up to Three Reasons, I’m looking forward to Terri’s book though. I guess I’d give this around 3.5, rounded up.
I had high hopes for this one, having recently read Three Reasons to Say Yes and enjoyed it. This isn’t quite as good as that one though.
So, this features the two BFFs from Three Reasons, Kate and Mo. In the first book we’re told that they both love each other, but haven’t gotten around to admitting it because they’re best friends and also Kate has ISSUES. The issues are hinted at in book one and the reveal of the issues drags on for too long here.
I also have to say that I think this book would have been better if it had begun right after where the first book left off, rather than having a gap, because there was really no reason for these two to wait a whole nother year to admit their feelings, frankly their lack of ability to come out and admit what they wanted from each other was annoying in book one and that did not improve here.
Kate’s issues, while serious, were also weird, in that they weren’t anything that you wouldn’t share with people who have loved and supported you for 16 years, and I honest to god could not figure out why she’d kept it from her friends (and Julia still doesn’t know by the end!) for so long. But whatever. There’s also a lot of repetition from book 1 around Mo’s relationship issues and her bi-phobia, and I got sick of that very quickly. I’ve read a few reviews where the reviewers said they didn’t like Kate, but Mo was the main issue for me (Kate was annoying towards the end with her ‘not worthy’ stuff but Mo annoyed me for most of the book). The whole ‘forced to share a bed while on holiday’ thing was also a trope I could have lived without.
On the flip side I loved catching up with Julia/Reed and the twins, and hot Dr Terri, who featured briefly in book 1 also was a highlight, I loved her and actually wished she and Kate had gotten together instead. I assume she’ll get her own book (which will no doubt feature some sort of group trip). I also liked that Clevenger includes characters who don’t always have huge amounts of sexual experience and that this series includes multiple POC characters.
This was an ok sequel but didn’t quite live up to Three Reasons, I’m looking forward to Terri’s book though. I guess I’d give this around 3.5, rounded up.
August 4, 2019
I could not wait for this follow-up to 'Three Reasons To Say Yes.'
When you love a book so much, there is always the fear that your high expectations will not be met with future installments. No worries with this one.
Mo and Kate were tiptoeing around each other in book one. So it makes sense that this story would center around them and provide resolution to those outstanding questions we had. What are Kate's issues that she would not even voice to her best friends? And what is the long history between Mo and Kate that has kept them from dating?
The author continues with high quality writing, believable dialogue, and hurt-your-heart-so-good moments. There is just something about how Clevenger tells a story that sucks you in.
Another book, another vacation destination. The group of friends have swapped waterfalls in Hawaii for snorkeling and beaches in Mexico. I enjoyed the activities more in this one than the last. Ping pong, salsa dancing, and rides around the island vs. hotel pools and drives to waterfalls.
The last book dealt with Julia's sexual issues, Reed's commitment issues, and a serious illness. In this one, all of the issues have to do with Kate. This was the ONLY small problem I had. I felt like it could have been a tad stronger if the issues were balanced between multiple characters like before. Because I got a BIT annoyed with Kate. Her insecurities seemed repetitive and sometimes contrived to keep Kate and Mo apart.
But who really cares about that?! It was so good that it didn't matter much in the grand scheme of things. This made me laugh, kept my heart working overtime, and caused me to cry a few times. Mo and Kate are so cute together. You could really tell that they were so comfortable together after 16 years of friendship. So it was unique in that way of only being awkward because of potentially crossing over to something more. Anyhow, I loved it.
If there is a book three, I propose a Julia and Reed wedding in Lake Tahoe as the setting.
I recommend this to everyone who loved 'Three Reasons To Say Yes' And if you didn't read that, then I recommend you read it. Then read this. You won't be disappointed.
I received an ARC from the publisher for an honest review.
When you love a book so much, there is always the fear that your high expectations will not be met with future installments. No worries with this one.
Mo and Kate were tiptoeing around each other in book one. So it makes sense that this story would center around them and provide resolution to those outstanding questions we had. What are Kate's issues that she would not even voice to her best friends? And what is the long history between Mo and Kate that has kept them from dating?
The author continues with high quality writing, believable dialogue, and hurt-your-heart-so-good moments. There is just something about how Clevenger tells a story that sucks you in.
Another book, another vacation destination. The group of friends have swapped waterfalls in Hawaii for snorkeling and beaches in Mexico. I enjoyed the activities more in this one than the last. Ping pong, salsa dancing, and rides around the island vs. hotel pools and drives to waterfalls.
The last book dealt with Julia's sexual issues, Reed's commitment issues, and a serious illness. In this one, all of the issues have to do with Kate. This was the ONLY small problem I had. I felt like it could have been a tad stronger if the issues were balanced between multiple characters like before. Because I got a BIT annoyed with Kate. Her insecurities seemed repetitive and sometimes contrived to keep Kate and Mo apart.
But who really cares about that?! It was so good that it didn't matter much in the grand scheme of things. This made me laugh, kept my heart working overtime, and caused me to cry a few times. Mo and Kate are so cute together. You could really tell that they were so comfortable together after 16 years of friendship. So it was unique in that way of only being awkward because of potentially crossing over to something more. Anyhow, I loved it.
If there is a book three, I propose a Julia and Reed wedding in Lake Tahoe as the setting.
I recommend this to everyone who loved 'Three Reasons To Say Yes' And if you didn't read that, then I recommend you read it. Then read this. You won't be disappointed.
I received an ARC from the publisher for an honest review.
January 21, 2020
I give this one 3.5 stars as a book. The narration for both books is done by Abby Craden and she's one of my favorite narrators so 5 star on her end. I gave the book 3.5 stars because I felt there were a lot of issues that were not fully addressed of Kate's. It was mentioned, then pretty much blown over and considering how much of a driving force it was in the book it just didn't feel right. Regardless it's still a good read and addition to the first book.
October 21, 2019
What a fantastic follow up to what was one of my favourite books from last year.
I hope this isn’t the end for this series. I’m so invested now and can’t wait to read more from these characters.
To read my full review click the link below:
https://lesreveur.com/2019/10/14/all-...
I hope this isn’t the end for this series. I’m so invested now and can’t wait to read more from these characters.
To read my full review click the link below:
https://lesreveur.com/2019/10/14/all-...
September 8, 2022
I love this woman's books - full of well thought angst, you can hear Kate's brain ticking. Stay up far too late finishing it - love it.
January 25, 2023
Angsty as hell. Abby Craden is phenomenal.
You know there are times when you find a series, but you look forward to one book in particular. This was what happened to me, I had to read Three Reasons to Say Yes first because my OCD made me…
I wish I enjoyed this book more.
First, I expected to have Mo and Kate's points of view. Both are part of a friend's group, including Julia, why do we only get to know Kate's side?
A lot of the angst happened because they didn’t want to ruin their friendship, but they already had.
I think that Mo was in a very comfortable position. She leaves Kate alone to do everything about their relationship.
Mo is a serial dater, I mean you do what you do but people need to learn how to be alone for their own good.
The end was nice. Kinda. Lol!
You know there are times when you find a series, but you look forward to one book in particular. This was what happened to me, I had to read Three Reasons to Say Yes first because my OCD made me…
I wish I enjoyed this book more.
First, I expected to have Mo and Kate's points of view. Both are part of a friend's group, including Julia, why do we only get to know Kate's side?
A lot of the angst happened because they didn’t want to ruin their friendship, but they already had.
I think that Mo was in a very comfortable position. She leaves Kate alone to do everything about their relationship.
Mo is a serial dater, I mean you do what you do but people need to learn how to be alone for their own good.
The end was nice. Kinda. Lol!
May 12, 2021
I actually like this second book of the series more than the first one. The first one was to me about growing and accepting oneself and that with some help and love and acceptance from friends and “the one”, one is good enough as one is.
This one to me is much deeper. Cause it’s about healing ❤️🩹. About overcoming. About taking risks when all one’s life, one has only been hurt and pushed to fit into certain boxes, whether these boxes fit or not.
This second book of the “paradise islands” series (idk if that’s the right name, sorry Jaime 😁) picks up where the first one left off. And this one is about Mo and Cate, Julie’s best friends from book one. And yes, they are on another holiday, one year later. Life before the pandemic. Not that I could afford vacations in paradise islands before the pandemic either, but now I have a “better excuse” 😁
Anyways, back to the book. It is told from Cate’s POV. And it’s amazing to me how Jaime showcases her inner thoughts, feelings and traumatic past experiences. I never had one word for a human being, but for Jaime my word is “intertwining”, which she is so good at in her books.
One of my favourite scenes in this book is one who imo illustrates the depth and the writing talent of Jaime. It’s how with one sentence where Cate thinks why she won’t comment on Mo’s faith, Jaime showcases so many reflections and opinions and how one’s words may influence not only another person, but also a whole situation and the whole dynamic in a relationship. I was really impressed by this apparently insignificant detail in the scene, but this stuff remained with me because of Jaime’s writing.
And this book gets better the longer it goes. It seems as Jaime is finding her groove. The way she describes different types of kissing in chapter 16 did all kinds of wonderful romantic and sexy things to me. Yeah yeah, I know TMI 😁
It’s a wonderful book is all I am saying. Low angst and turns in the flow with Jaime throwing surprises at me nearly every chapter especially after the first half of the book.
I also realized it’s Cate and not Kate. But that’s what audiobooks will do to you 😁. Abby Craden does a great job, I find the MCs voices to fit their personalities and how I see them, perfectly.
So do yourself a favour and read this book or at least add it to your tbr list. On to number three for me 😊
This one to me is much deeper. Cause it’s about healing ❤️🩹. About overcoming. About taking risks when all one’s life, one has only been hurt and pushed to fit into certain boxes, whether these boxes fit or not.
This second book of the “paradise islands” series (idk if that’s the right name, sorry Jaime 😁) picks up where the first one left off. And this one is about Mo and Cate, Julie’s best friends from book one. And yes, they are on another holiday, one year later. Life before the pandemic. Not that I could afford vacations in paradise islands before the pandemic either, but now I have a “better excuse” 😁
Anyways, back to the book. It is told from Cate’s POV. And it’s amazing to me how Jaime showcases her inner thoughts, feelings and traumatic past experiences. I never had one word for a human being, but for Jaime my word is “intertwining”, which she is so good at in her books.
One of my favourite scenes in this book is one who imo illustrates the depth and the writing talent of Jaime. It’s how with one sentence where Cate thinks why she won’t comment on Mo’s faith, Jaime showcases so many reflections and opinions and how one’s words may influence not only another person, but also a whole situation and the whole dynamic in a relationship. I was really impressed by this apparently insignificant detail in the scene, but this stuff remained with me because of Jaime’s writing.
And this book gets better the longer it goes. It seems as Jaime is finding her groove. The way she describes different types of kissing in chapter 16 did all kinds of wonderful romantic and sexy things to me. Yeah yeah, I know TMI 😁
It’s a wonderful book is all I am saying. Low angst and turns in the flow with Jaime throwing surprises at me nearly every chapter especially after the first half of the book.
I also realized it’s Cate and not Kate. But that’s what audiobooks will do to you 😁. Abby Craden does a great job, I find the MCs voices to fit their personalities and how I see them, perfectly.
So do yourself a favour and read this book or at least add it to your tbr list. On to number three for me 😊
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 14, 2019
I will admit that I had a bit of trouble with All the Reasons I Need by Jaime Clevenger, mainly during the first half of the book. I had difficulty connecting with Kate, one of the two main characters. I kept reading, though, because despite my problem with that character, I could tell this is a well-written story with an interesting premise, and I wanted to give it every chance. I’m really glad I did, because the more I read, the more hooked I became.
This is a friends-to-lovers tale. Kate and Mo have been best friends since their college days, and both secretly have been in love with the other almost as long. Both, however, were afraid that if they shared their feelings with the other, it could end up destroying their friendship, a common theme in this type of story. Added to this, however, are Kate’s secrets that she has never revealed to any of her friends, especially Mo. These secrets drive her actions with Mo for most of the story. They are also the root cause of most of the angst that runs through this novel.
Ms. Clevenger has created a beautiful romance with complicated and intriguing characters. The story is charming with a heartwarming and satisfying conclusion.
I realized after part way through the tale that I was reading a sequel to the book Three Reasons to Say Yes which has Kate and Mo as secondary characters. This could be one of the reasons that I had trouble getting into this book at the beginning. It is quite possible I missed something from the first book that I needed to connect with Kate in this one. This means that I am going to suggest you read both books in order. I know I ended up very happy I read this novel, and I will be looking to read the first as well.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bella Books for an honest review.
Rainbow Reflections:
https://rainbowreflections.home.blog/
This is a friends-to-lovers tale. Kate and Mo have been best friends since their college days, and both secretly have been in love with the other almost as long. Both, however, were afraid that if they shared their feelings with the other, it could end up destroying their friendship, a common theme in this type of story. Added to this, however, are Kate’s secrets that she has never revealed to any of her friends, especially Mo. These secrets drive her actions with Mo for most of the story. They are also the root cause of most of the angst that runs through this novel.
Ms. Clevenger has created a beautiful romance with complicated and intriguing characters. The story is charming with a heartwarming and satisfying conclusion.
I realized after part way through the tale that I was reading a sequel to the book Three Reasons to Say Yes which has Kate and Mo as secondary characters. This could be one of the reasons that I had trouble getting into this book at the beginning. It is quite possible I missed something from the first book that I needed to connect with Kate in this one. This means that I am going to suggest you read both books in order. I know I ended up very happy I read this novel, and I will be looking to read the first as well.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bella Books for an honest review.
Rainbow Reflections:
https://rainbowreflections.home.blog/
August 2, 2019
I enjoyed book 1 in the Paradise series and gave it 4 stars. When I started this one, I was trying to remember the supporting characters and sorta came up blank. Now i think I need to reread. Anywho. All the Reasons I Need is not what Three Reasons to Say Yes was for me. I swear I wanted to throttle Kate. There really hasn't been that many romance that I have read where one of the main MC's drove me crazy like this. Maybe I would have been able to enjoy this more if it wasn't Kate's story. I like Mo alot and think I would have enjoyed this more if Mo was able to tell her side of the story. I have never really been into butch, but Mo seemed sexy af. I also felt the chemistry between the two MCs. Kate just drove me to want to drink. I understand that Kate really did have issues but Kate's indecision, self doubt and insecurities was just too much for me. I did enjoy most of the other parts of the book (well those twins were way more annoying in this one than book 1). :)
I will rate this one 3 stars.
This arc was provided by netgalley and the publisher for an honest review.
I will rate this one 3 stars.
This arc was provided by netgalley and the publisher for an honest review.
September 16, 2021
Well, I went into this one not being a big fan the two mains that were introduced in book one, and I gotta say, that continued throughout. I did not really enjoy this one.
August 5, 2019
After reading Three Reasons to Say Yes I was pretty sure that there was going to be a follow on book for Mo and Kate. The two characters and their complex relationship were introduced and woven into the first book; but, things were left decidedly unresolved (for them). It was actually a nice way to set things up as Mo and Kate were such strong secondary characters in the first book, they are pretty well established and developed by the time that All the Reasons I Need hit the virtual book stand. I would strongly recommend reading the first book as it lays the groundwork for Mo and Kate and also because it was a great book in its own right.
This is a friends to lovers romance that is sixteen years in the making – so expect a slow burn. Spending a week sharing a resort room (with only one bed) isn’t going to be enough to resolve a decade and a half of unrequited love (on both Kate and Mo’s part). We start off the story with another trip to paradise – Mexico this time, basically picking up from the end of Three Reasons to Say Yes. Although Julia and Reed (and the Tasmanian Devil twins) are in the book, they are relegated to secondary characters who are there more as the bastions of rationale thinking. Although I really like Julia and Reed – they are obviously happy and we really don’t need to revisit how happy they are together. This book is all about Kate and Mo.
The story is told in third person POV from Kate’s perspective so you gain a tremendous amount of insight into a rather complex character. Mo’s is developed primarily through Kate’s viewpoint, with her own actions and words providing a clearer picture of her motivations. There’s a bit of flashbacks to fill in some gaps in Mo and Kate’s relationship that weren’t covered in the last book and provide a larger context of the friendship between Julia, Kate and Mo.
The tension that is hinted at during Three Reasons to Say Yes becomes the focal point of this book – in the first book there’s a strong undercurrent of attraction and mixed messages between Kate and Mo. Kate also comes out in Three Reasons to Say Yes, which just exacerbates the unspoken issues between the two.
This is a character driven romance – Kate has a lot of internal conflict as she struggles to define herself. The secrets she has kept from Mo and Julia have eaten away at her self-confidence and self-esteem and has created a seemingly inescapable cycle of never thinking she’s good enough or that anyone will want her for who she is, but has to fit other’s expectations. She spends most of the book pushing Mo away despite the deep emotions she feels for her friend – she struggles with what is right for Mo versus what is right for her.
Mo, for her part, is just as much to blame. She’s obviously head over heels in love with Kate but won’t take the chance. She seems to convince herself that she should move on, and not wait for Kate to come to her senses, but never really does. Instead she bounces from relationship to relationship with women who are obviously not good for her and self-sabotages any relationship before it can succeed.
At points I found myself rolling my eyes at Kate and Mo – they have spent the last sixteen dancing around each other, both too cautious, unsure or afraid to upset their friendship by admitting to the rather obvious deep feelings. Never in my life have I wanted two characters to get blindingly drunk, screw and get on with it already. Like Nike says – Just Do It!
There’s a lot more angst and baggage in this book and is definitely a more introspective story. There’s a number of issues being dealt with in this book (mostly by Kate) and they are not exploited or overwrought – Clevenger deftly weaves them in as part of the overall story and the impacts that they have had on the characters. If you aren’t a fan of slow burn type romance that is driven by lack of communication and unspoken longing/love, this may not be the best book for you.
Clevenger does do a great job with the characters and it’s a strong follow up, that isn’t a formulaic repeat, to Three Reasons to Say Yes.
I can easily seeing a third installment in the Paradise Series focusing on Terri, an early on potential love interest for Kate who developed into a strong supporting character in the early part of the book.
Recommended
This is a friends to lovers romance that is sixteen years in the making – so expect a slow burn. Spending a week sharing a resort room (with only one bed) isn’t going to be enough to resolve a decade and a half of unrequited love (on both Kate and Mo’s part). We start off the story with another trip to paradise – Mexico this time, basically picking up from the end of Three Reasons to Say Yes. Although Julia and Reed (and the Tasmanian Devil twins) are in the book, they are relegated to secondary characters who are there more as the bastions of rationale thinking. Although I really like Julia and Reed – they are obviously happy and we really don’t need to revisit how happy they are together. This book is all about Kate and Mo.
The story is told in third person POV from Kate’s perspective so you gain a tremendous amount of insight into a rather complex character. Mo’s is developed primarily through Kate’s viewpoint, with her own actions and words providing a clearer picture of her motivations. There’s a bit of flashbacks to fill in some gaps in Mo and Kate’s relationship that weren’t covered in the last book and provide a larger context of the friendship between Julia, Kate and Mo.
The tension that is hinted at during Three Reasons to Say Yes becomes the focal point of this book – in the first book there’s a strong undercurrent of attraction and mixed messages between Kate and Mo. Kate also comes out in Three Reasons to Say Yes, which just exacerbates the unspoken issues between the two.
This is a character driven romance – Kate has a lot of internal conflict as she struggles to define herself. The secrets she has kept from Mo and Julia have eaten away at her self-confidence and self-esteem and has created a seemingly inescapable cycle of never thinking she’s good enough or that anyone will want her for who she is, but has to fit other’s expectations. She spends most of the book pushing Mo away despite the deep emotions she feels for her friend – she struggles with what is right for Mo versus what is right for her.
Mo, for her part, is just as much to blame. She’s obviously head over heels in love with Kate but won’t take the chance. She seems to convince herself that she should move on, and not wait for Kate to come to her senses, but never really does. Instead she bounces from relationship to relationship with women who are obviously not good for her and self-sabotages any relationship before it can succeed.
At points I found myself rolling my eyes at Kate and Mo – they have spent the last sixteen dancing around each other, both too cautious, unsure or afraid to upset their friendship by admitting to the rather obvious deep feelings. Never in my life have I wanted two characters to get blindingly drunk, screw and get on with it already. Like Nike says – Just Do It!
There’s a lot more angst and baggage in this book and is definitely a more introspective story. There’s a number of issues being dealt with in this book (mostly by Kate) and they are not exploited or overwrought – Clevenger deftly weaves them in as part of the overall story and the impacts that they have had on the characters. If you aren’t a fan of slow burn type romance that is driven by lack of communication and unspoken longing/love, this may not be the best book for you.
Clevenger does do a great job with the characters and it’s a strong follow up, that isn’t a formulaic repeat, to Three Reasons to Say Yes.
I can easily seeing a third installment in the Paradise Series focusing on Terri, an early on potential love interest for Kate who developed into a strong supporting character in the early part of the book.
Recommended
May 19, 2021
Kate and Mo seem destined to be together. They have been best friends for 16 yrs. Kate however has never been completely honest and open about her past which still has control over her. Kate was her own worst enemy during most of the story. Mo gets credit for not giving up on them. Kate needs to face the past and let go of it. I really love these characters and am glad there is one more story. Abby Craden was awesome as always as the narrator.
April 3, 2020
Okay, this book irratated me so much. I wanted to end it so many times. But I hang in there. I really don't like stories with one POV. I want to know what is going in the the minds of both our MCs. Anyway, they were both frustrating that it doesn't matter to me what either of them was thinking. The one BRIGHT side is that Mo Calloway is a black woman. Kate has had a hard life but I still can't like her. Her imagination that Mo doesn't want her and all she does to push Mo away was beyond frustrating. And Mo... I will just let you read the book. I also wanted more of the twins and Julia.
Another bright light is Reed's Doctor friend Terri. I just saw that the next book in the series is starring her and that makes my heart very happy. I can't wait to read that and forget this one. The first book is awesome, this one was I could've skipped to Terri's book. Waiting eagarly for that one.
Another bright light is Reed's Doctor friend Terri. I just saw that the next book in the series is starring her and that makes my heart very happy. I can't wait to read that and forget this one. The first book is awesome, this one was I could've skipped to Terri's book. Waiting eagarly for that one.
September 1, 2022
I'm devastated I didn't like this more. The first half was so promising as I completely loved the vibe between Mo and Kate in the first book in the series, Three Reasons to Say Yes. There's a whole lot of angst in this, and at a few points in the novel I started to think that maybe they'd be better as friends. Their miscommunication was epic, and their relationship dynamics just felt a tad off.
Abby Craden did an excellent job at narrating though, as always.
Abby Craden did an excellent job at narrating though, as always.
August 14, 2019
This is my first book that I have read by this author. I have always been meaning to read something by this author and until now, haven't had a chance. This book is book 2 of a series which I didn't realise to start with but it wouldn't be me if I didn't start in the middle of a series.
I was hooked to this book from beginning to end. The characters were a great bunch. Mo, Kate & Julia were friends in college and have remained friends ever since. This book takes place 16 years later and is the story of Mo & Kate.
I loved the story line. I loved Mo from the very beginning but Kate grated on my nerves for the first half of the book. I felt like knocking her head against a wall or giving her a good shake. The secondary characters were all a great bunch. My favourite would be Terri, whom, I hope, the author will write her story in the future. The pace was just right.
Although I have read this book without reading book 1 in the series, I feel you need to read book 1 if you want to get all the character background information. Although, in saying that, it can be read as a stand-a-lone book. I hope to be reading book 1 soon.
I would highly recommend giving this book a read.
I received an ARC copy of the book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.
I was hooked to this book from beginning to end. The characters were a great bunch. Mo, Kate & Julia were friends in college and have remained friends ever since. This book takes place 16 years later and is the story of Mo & Kate.
I loved the story line. I loved Mo from the very beginning but Kate grated on my nerves for the first half of the book. I felt like knocking her head against a wall or giving her a good shake. The secondary characters were all a great bunch. My favourite would be Terri, whom, I hope, the author will write her story in the future. The pace was just right.
Although I have read this book without reading book 1 in the series, I feel you need to read book 1 if you want to get all the character background information. Although, in saying that, it can be read as a stand-a-lone book. I hope to be reading book 1 soon.
I would highly recommend giving this book a read.
I received an ARC copy of the book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.
February 3, 2021
Clevenger’s Three Reasons to Say Yes had three college friends: Julie, Kate and Mo. That book was about Julie finding her perfect partner. But there was all this barely concealed attraction and simmering sexual tension between Kate and Mo which left us wanting a book about those two. This is that book.
Read the full review @ https://bestlesficreviews.blogspot.co...
Read the full review @ https://bestlesficreviews.blogspot.co...
August 30, 2019
I adored this book - I think this was even better than the first book! I don't think it's totally necessary to read the first book (Julia and Reed's Story) - this book follows Kate and Mo's story - but it's a great book as well so it definitely doesn't hurt. It was nice to catch up with Julia and Reed and see where their story is at.
Kate and Mo have known each other since their first day at college, and Kate has had feelings for Mo essentially since that first moment. Ever since leaving her boyfriend and coming out the year before, she's tried to keep her distance from Mo to keep her feelings at bay. But when the friends go on vacation together, old attraction bubbles to the surface, and Kate is afraid her feelings will ruin their friendship forever.
The chemistry was out of this world. The author created this insane tension between them, which combined with the love that has been simmering between them for years, this story was just absolute fire. I loved that Clevenger was able to keep their relationship fresh and move their relationship forward even though they'd known each other so long. There were still so many things to discover about each other, and I think it's very realistic when you find the person you're meant to be with for the rest of your life, there's always something new to discover and love about that person. The setting was absolutely dreamy as well. Not to mention, I love the good, old, share-a-bed trope. It never gets old. This book was pretty much perfection in my eyes and I'm going to be sure to get the paperback to enjoy over and over.
I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Kate and Mo have known each other since their first day at college, and Kate has had feelings for Mo essentially since that first moment. Ever since leaving her boyfriend and coming out the year before, she's tried to keep her distance from Mo to keep her feelings at bay. But when the friends go on vacation together, old attraction bubbles to the surface, and Kate is afraid her feelings will ruin their friendship forever.
The chemistry was out of this world. The author created this insane tension between them, which combined with the love that has been simmering between them for years, this story was just absolute fire. I loved that Clevenger was able to keep their relationship fresh and move their relationship forward even though they'd known each other so long. There were still so many things to discover about each other, and I think it's very realistic when you find the person you're meant to be with for the rest of your life, there's always something new to discover and love about that person. The setting was absolutely dreamy as well. Not to mention, I love the good, old, share-a-bed trope. It never gets old. This book was pretty much perfection in my eyes and I'm going to be sure to get the paperback to enjoy over and over.
I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 22, 2021
This second installment of the Paradise Romance Series was much different than the first. There was much more angst in this book. It just had a different tone in general. It was needed for the main character’s situation. This one had some difficult topics. Clavenger did a good job navigating each of them. Unlike the first book this was a slow burn. It was very good, just a different tone than the first. So if you are expecting light and sexy this one isn’t a good pick. Nevertheless, it’s realistic and very sweet.
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