What do you think?
Meant for More
Bloom
Maybe in another life, we would have been more than this.
More than just friends. Best friends, really.
Instead, I watch you with your arms around another. Your sweet words and that usual charm directed towards someone else.
It’s okay—I was never meant to be yours to begin with.
Carter
Countless memories and lingering moments have shifted into a startling perspective.
I’ve spent my years chasing my dreams, my ideal girls, my career in football.
But then it happened, over the course of one night, my entire vision centered around someone I didn’t anticipate.
A girl who has been here all along.
Maybe in another life, we would have been more than this.
More than just friends. Best friends, really.
Instead, I watch you with your arms around another. Your sweet words and that usual charm directed towards someone else.
It’s okay—I was never meant to be yours to begin with.
Carter
Countless memories and lingering moments have shifted into a startling perspective.
I’ve spent my years chasing my dreams, my ideal girls, my career in football.
But then it happened, over the course of one night, my entire vision centered around someone I didn’t anticipate.
A girl who has been here all along.
282 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 26, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews
March 31, 2021
2.5 stars ✩⋆
well this was kind of a mess. i should not read friends to lovers books back to back - *cough* malina *cough* - they're giving me a headache.
friends to lovers/unrequited trope would always be a double-edged sword for me because sometimes, the angst is just *chefs kiss* even though there are some elements that i absolutely loathe and i guess i just love stressing myself out so sometimes i like it, i even welcome it so there's that. but sometimes... it's just- well, (childhood) friends to lovers usually goes like this:
and well, ya know. this is annoying af because you're telling me if there hasn't been another man interested in the best friend, the boy wouldn't have "seen" the girl?? yeah, no.
for the most part, this is exactly what happened here but the difference is there are TWO girls in the trio of best friends, Liv (OW), Bloom (h) and Carter (H). Carter noticed Liv first and had a thing with her for a couple months and then Benj (OM) suddenly comes along and shows interest in Bloom so obviously that's when Carter started "seeing" Liv for the first time. so there's this weird love square thing in the first half.
i did like some parts as i thought the sexual tension was immaculate and the writing was good! i can also appreciate the author giving a trigger warning in the beginning (spoilers // h's dad committed suicide) so thanks for that. if you like angst, and have no qualms about love square drama, then you'd like this.
but anyways, because of the dumbassery of the characters imma rant a little bit so,
✧✦ SPOILERS AHEAD ✦✧
we know Liv and Carter have been keeping their "thing" a secret while Bloom is "sister-zoned" for 2 months(?) now but obviously Bloom isn't a dumbass
that's lovely.
and you know, in almost all of these childhood friends to lovers books i've read, it's usually just the main characters having special connection right? well here, both Liv and Bloom are equally close to him because they've all been best friends since they were kids buuuut again, he noticed Liv first
first of all ew (because he thought about this even after he kissed Bloom). and second, im still salty about this by the way because eeeww. and Carter was exploring a relationship with her until Benj comes along and Carter finds out that Bloom is a virgin... and now suddenly Carter has all these feelings for Bloom just because of... this..??
i'm not convinced whatsoever because i mean- that fast? really? is he a fucking gemini is that it (no offense to geminis by the way, as a virgo i love geminis)? how can one's feelings switch up so quickly and so strongly i don't understand. and then this lovely scene comes up where Carter and Liv are making out, touching her ass and grinding on each other (around 32%), even after Carter started to have all these feelings for Bloom and we find out that these two have actually been making out behind Bloom's back for a couple of months now.
hahaha *eye twitches* that's cute.
and you know, what happens next?? you guys know what happens next??? well, this dick went to Blooms workshop because she was upset and well, one thing lead to another, and they hook up when he literally just made out with the OW moments ago. and this isn't the only time by the way, a week goes by and he's still spending time with Liv (idk if they did anything) and during his football game Liv kisses Carter, Bloom goes to the bathroom because she saw this and then Carter kisses her, AND THEN she goes out to stargaze with Benj AND THEN makes out with him, goes home because she's confused af AND THENNN hooks up with Carter...
so basically, they're all just exchanging DNA's at this point i guess. Chuck? Blair? Serena? Nate?? is that you?
silverlining tho, Carter ended it with Liv faster than Bloom ended it with Benj. i also like the fact Carter longed for Bloom more and Bloom wasn't hung up on Carter but obviously, her feelings with Benj was annoying as hell too. but guess what!! this isn't the end of this weird ass love square by the way, we find out that Liv and Benj were sleeping together behind both of Carter and Bloom's back so here i am thinking... wtf was the point??? and y'all know how they found out? huh? well, Carter and Bloom hid in a closet because they heard a couple going inside the room, said couple was Liv and Benj, they start having sex, and Carter and Bloom watch while, ya know, Carter touches her... yeah.
in conclusion, everything is a mess and they're all f a k e f r i e n d s
honestly, i just couldn't connect with all of the characters because they annoyed me too much. and Carter's feelings switched real fast and when i mean fast, i mean in a day. he had genuine feelings for Liv who he most likely shares the same connection he has with Bloom and then when he finds out about Benj and the fact she's a virgin he suddenly has these intense feelings for Bloom? he went on and on about how he was exploring a relationship with Liv and suddenly he doesn't care anymore and just wants to bone Bloom? nah i don't buy it.
and that whole love square resolution wasn't really addressed properly. like, does Carter still have not-so-friendly feelings for Liv? did Liv even have real feelings for Carter? or was she using him to make Benj jealous? were Liv and Benj sleeping with each other this whole time? i need answers pls.
✦✧ ✧✦
there are some cute parts here that i liked, the pottery scene inspired by the movie Ghost? *chefs kiss* (but obviously Carter making out with Liv before this scene happened tainted things). and i do actually like the writing and how i can feel the longing from the characters (mostly on Carter's side). and the storyline with the dad made me tear up a little bit that was really sad.
but ugh i just can't with the love square drama y'all.
anyways, if there's a book about Liv and Benj, i ain't opposed to reading their side honestly. i wanna know why they're dumb af so there's that.
well this was kind of a mess. i should not read friends to lovers books back to back - *cough* malina *cough* - they're giving me a headache.
friends to lovers/unrequited trope would always be a double-edged sword for me because sometimes, the angst is just *chefs kiss* even though there are some elements that i absolutely loathe and i guess i just love stressing myself out so sometimes i like it, i even welcome it so there's that. but sometimes... it's just- well, (childhood) friends to lovers usually goes like this:
1. girl and boy are childhood bffs
2. girl has been in love with boy since forever but boy is obviously a blind dumbass
3. girl stays in the sidelines (never dating and is a virgin- this is very specific by the way) while boy becomes, you guessed it, a ✨ho✨
4. someone is suddenly interested in the girl, boy finally gets his head outta his ass and "sees" his best friend for the first time because obviously when another dude is sniffing around it's unacceptable.
and well, ya know. this is annoying af because you're telling me if there hasn't been another man interested in the best friend, the boy wouldn't have "seen" the girl?? yeah, no.
for the most part, this is exactly what happened here but the difference is there are TWO girls in the trio of best friends, Liv (OW), Bloom (h) and Carter (H). Carter noticed Liv first and had a thing with her for a couple months and then Benj (OM) suddenly comes along and shows interest in Bloom so obviously that's when Carter started "seeing" Liv for the first time. so there's this weird love square thing in the first half.
i did like some parts as i thought the sexual tension was immaculate and the writing was good! i can also appreciate the author giving a trigger warning in the beginning (spoilers // h's dad committed suicide) so thanks for that. if you like angst, and have no qualms about love square drama, then you'd like this.
but anyways, because of the dumbassery of the characters imma rant a little bit so,
✧✦ SPOILERS AHEAD ✦✧
we know Liv and Carter have been keeping their "thing" a secret while Bloom is "sister-zoned" for 2 months(?) now but obviously Bloom isn't a dumbass
"It's in the way he watches her sometimes, in the moments she's looking away or laughing at someone else's joke. It's in the intensity of his gaze when she's off on her own. He's always watching her, in different ways than he usually watches me."
that's lovely.
and you know, in almost all of these childhood friends to lovers books i've read, it's usually just the main characters having special connection right? well here, both Liv and Bloom are equally close to him because they've all been best friends since they were kids buuuut again, he noticed Liv first
"I like her, I do. More than a friend, definitely. She's bright and beautiful and supportive. She's hardworking and devoted and funny as hell when she wants to be. I definitely enjoy making out with her, and I love how she knows what she's doing."
first of all ew (because he thought about this even after he kissed Bloom). and second, im still salty about this by the way because eeeww. and Carter was exploring a relationship with her until Benj comes along and Carter finds out that Bloom is a virgin... and now suddenly Carter has all these feelings for Bloom just because of... this..??
i'm not convinced whatsoever because i mean- that fast? really? is he a fucking gemini is that it (no offense to geminis by the way, as a virgo i love geminis)? how can one's feelings switch up so quickly and so strongly i don't understand. and then this lovely scene comes up where Carter and Liv are making out, touching her ass and grinding on each other (around 32%), even after Carter started to have all these feelings for Bloom and we find out that these two have actually been making out behind Bloom's back for a couple of months now.
"But damn she feels good, and it's not like we haven't kissed or made out before. We have, far too many times than I'd like to admit, and for some reason, a jolt of guilt sparks in my chest when I think about the fact that Bloom hasn't known for a while."
hahaha *eye twitches* that's cute.
and you know, what happens next?? you guys know what happens next??? well, this dick went to Blooms workshop because she was upset and well, one thing lead to another, and they hook up when he literally just made out with the OW moments ago. and this isn't the only time by the way, a week goes by and he's still spending time with Liv (idk if they did anything) and during his football game Liv kisses Carter, Bloom goes to the bathroom because she saw this and then Carter kisses her, AND THEN she goes out to stargaze with Benj AND THEN makes out with him, goes home because she's confused af AND THENNN hooks up with Carter...
so basically, they're all just exchanging DNA's at this point i guess. Chuck? Blair? Serena? Nate?? is that you?
silverlining tho, Carter ended it with Liv faster than Bloom ended it with Benj. i also like the fact Carter longed for Bloom more and Bloom wasn't hung up on Carter but obviously, her feelings with Benj was annoying as hell too. but guess what!! this isn't the end of this weird ass love square by the way, we find out that Liv and Benj were sleeping together behind both of Carter and Bloom's back so here i am thinking... wtf was the point??? and y'all know how they found out? huh? well, Carter and Bloom hid in a closet because they heard a couple going inside the room, said couple was Liv and Benj, they start having sex, and Carter and Bloom watch while, ya know, Carter touches her... yeah.
in conclusion, everything is a mess and they're all f a k e f r i e n d s
honestly, i just couldn't connect with all of the characters because they annoyed me too much. and Carter's feelings switched real fast and when i mean fast, i mean in a day. he had genuine feelings for Liv who he most likely shares the same connection he has with Bloom and then when he finds out about Benj and the fact she's a virgin he suddenly has these intense feelings for Bloom? he went on and on about how he was exploring a relationship with Liv and suddenly he doesn't care anymore and just wants to bone Bloom? nah i don't buy it.
and that whole love square resolution wasn't really addressed properly. like, does Carter still have not-so-friendly feelings for Liv? did Liv even have real feelings for Carter? or was she using him to make Benj jealous? were Liv and Benj sleeping with each other this whole time? i need answers pls.
✦✧ ✧✦
there are some cute parts here that i liked, the pottery scene inspired by the movie Ghost? *chefs kiss* (but obviously Carter making out with Liv before this scene happened tainted things). and i do actually like the writing and how i can feel the longing from the characters (mostly on Carter's side). and the storyline with the dad made me tear up a little bit that was really sad.
but ugh i just can't with the love square drama y'all.
anyways, if there's a book about Liv and Benj, i ain't opposed to reading their side honestly. i wanna know why they're dumb af so there's that.
April 23, 2021
3.5 stars
It's official. I am coming out as a voyeur. There are a few things you should know about this story as well, though. Very few but they are ImpOrtAnT.
Carter's hand falls to my panties and dips inside of them, and just as Benj thrusts forward and into Liv, Carter's fingers slide down my pussy and inside of me. I gasp and shift forward uncontrollably, but he quickly locks me in place while his fingers pump in and out of me.
His other hand slides over my mouth, muffling my sounds while my head falls back against his shoulder.
My eyes shut uncontrollably, but I can hear Liv and Benj fucking just feet away from us. She's moaning, and Benj is whispering filthy things I know Carter can hear as well.
This entire situation is lighting me on fire.
*cough-cough* So, the love birds of the book, Bloom and Carter, were sneaking around in Carter's bedroom in the hopes of finding a bit of privacy (tough luck, he-he) when out of the blue the missing parts (Benji and Liv) of the whole love square squad going on in this book crashed in Carter's BEDROOM (privacy is not a kink of these characters here as u can see) like they owned the damn place and started fucking on his goddamn bed like horny rabbits WHILE Bloom and Carter were hiding in the closet. Don't even ask me why. It is complicated.
IS THE ENTIRE SITUATION LIGHTENING YOU ON FIRE? But let's remember that we shouldn't be so selfish? After all, Bloom had her orgasm so we gotta be really happy for her u know?:
So, I surrender to this, the orgasm twisting inside of me while I watch Benj fuck Liv on Carter's bed.
I wanted to be a lil grossed out by the fact that these two little voyeurs were getting it on secretly while watching how their almost-been-boyfriend and almost-been-girlfriend were entangled in the embrace of all-consuming passion (I am sure now everyone who is reading this is truly grossed out). I even wanted Carter to be grossed out by the fact that his bffs were doing their dirty business on HIS bed (hallo, get a room, i would scream from the closet) and staining his sheets without even asking for permission to do so but oh well. Stranger things happen. So we both, Carter and I, were obviously okay with the whole craze. Let's see if the next piece of valuable info will light you on fire.
If you think that this is all that there was to it, you are truly delusional cuz right after our horny rabbits flee the scene of shame and utter embarrassment to the whole of the human race, Carter and Bloom get on the same damn bed, which has obviously been a witness to lots of lewdness (poor piece of innocent furniture), and fuck there for the 1st time. Not 2 minutes passed. Romantic first time, isn't it? I mean they are all old friends, almost family, so I guess they all kept it in the family?
Does it make sense that I was entertained? Or liked Carter? Or was bored with Bloom? Or wanted to slut-shame Liv and Benji? No??
I liked the writing style and despite finding the cheesiest, weirdest shit on the pages of this book, I think it had great potential. Absolutely every absurd thing found in the story, like for example out of the blue love/lust that childhood friends started developing for each other, could have made sense if the author did not begin the story with Carter falling for one of the die-hard-friends trio, Liv, then suddenly falling out of her and falling for our heroine Bloom at the exact moment when their college buddy Benji expressed his interest in her. Yeah, there were some lame ass talks with minor characters who claimed that Carter ALWAYS looked at Bloom differently, since the times when they were both in diapers and bla bla bla, but it was oh-so-lame because at the very beginning we are told that Carter has something going on with Liv. The story says that Liv, Carter and Bloom have been buddies since forever without actually giving us any solid background so that feel their bond. We don't get the opportunity to watch their dynamics for a while first.
I also did not like the tragic and unnecessary situation with Bloom's father because the story was hilarious up until this point and then BOOM it went straight to dramatic kind of a thing with quite a bit of suffering and Bloom's tantrums.
Carter, if we overlook his initial bullshit with out of nowhere feelings for Liv and then for Bloom (lmao, what a mess), was my type of guy because I love possessive, domineering and full of themselves men who occasionally display their sweet, tender and caring side. When he pulled his head out of his ass (and that was pretty fast), he had eyes only for Bloom which was exactly what I needed. On this positive note I am making my farewell because studying is a bitch if u know what I mean.
p.S. I don't even know if there is cheating in the book because yeah everyone kissed everyone and was sneaking around but at the same time Carter/Liv and Bloom/Benji did not put a label on whatever was going on between them. Carter only kissed Liv, Bloom only kissed Benji before they realised who they really want and then u already know what kind of shit happened. Guess they all deserved each other. Thank god I do not have friends like that lmaooo
For more info about this fcking mess consult Mel's awesome review cuz I am shit at retelling the plot and I have no idea how to make it make sense.
It's official. I am coming out as a voyeur. There are a few things you should know about this story as well, though. Very few but they are ImpOrtAnT.
Carter's hand falls to my panties and dips inside of them, and just as Benj thrusts forward and into Liv, Carter's fingers slide down my pussy and inside of me. I gasp and shift forward uncontrollably, but he quickly locks me in place while his fingers pump in and out of me.
His other hand slides over my mouth, muffling my sounds while my head falls back against his shoulder.
My eyes shut uncontrollably, but I can hear Liv and Benj fucking just feet away from us. She's moaning, and Benj is whispering filthy things I know Carter can hear as well.
This entire situation is lighting me on fire.
*cough-cough* So, the love birds of the book, Bloom and Carter, were sneaking around in Carter's bedroom in the hopes of finding a bit of privacy (tough luck, he-he) when out of the blue the missing parts (Benji and Liv) of the whole love square squad going on in this book crashed in Carter's BEDROOM (privacy is not a kink of these characters here as u can see) like they owned the damn place and started fucking on his goddamn bed like horny rabbits WHILE Bloom and Carter were hiding in the closet. Don't even ask me why. It is complicated.
IS THE ENTIRE SITUATION LIGHTENING YOU ON FIRE? But let's remember that we shouldn't be so selfish? After all, Bloom had her orgasm so we gotta be really happy for her u know?:
So, I surrender to this, the orgasm twisting inside of me while I watch Benj fuck Liv on Carter's bed.
I wanted to be a lil grossed out by the fact that these two little voyeurs were getting it on secretly while watching how their almost-been-boyfriend and almost-been-girlfriend were entangled in the embrace of all-consuming passion (I am sure now everyone who is reading this is truly grossed out). I even wanted Carter to be grossed out by the fact that his bffs were doing their dirty business on HIS bed (hallo, get a room, i would scream from the closet) and staining his sheets without even asking for permission to do so but oh well. Stranger things happen. So we both, Carter and I, were obviously okay with the whole craze. Let's see if the next piece of valuable info will light you on fire.
If you think that this is all that there was to it, you are truly delusional cuz right after our horny rabbits flee the scene of shame and utter embarrassment to the whole of the human race, Carter and Bloom get on the same damn bed, which has obviously been a witness to lots of lewdness (poor piece of innocent furniture), and fuck there for the 1st time. Not 2 minutes passed. Romantic first time, isn't it? I mean they are all old friends, almost family, so I guess they all kept it in the family?
Does it make sense that I was entertained? Or liked Carter? Or was bored with Bloom? Or wanted to slut-shame Liv and Benji? No??
I liked the writing style and despite finding the cheesiest, weirdest shit on the pages of this book, I think it had great potential. Absolutely every absurd thing found in the story, like for example out of the blue love/lust that childhood friends started developing for each other, could have made sense if the author did not begin the story with Carter falling for one of the die-hard-friends trio, Liv, then suddenly falling out of her and falling for our heroine Bloom at the exact moment when their college buddy Benji expressed his interest in her. Yeah, there were some lame ass talks with minor characters who claimed that Carter ALWAYS looked at Bloom differently, since the times when they were both in diapers and bla bla bla, but it was oh-so-lame because at the very beginning we are told that Carter has something going on with Liv. The story says that Liv, Carter and Bloom have been buddies since forever without actually giving us any solid background so that feel their bond. We don't get the opportunity to watch their dynamics for a while first.
I also did not like the tragic and unnecessary situation with Bloom's father because the story was hilarious up until this point and then BOOM it went straight to dramatic kind of a thing with quite a bit of suffering and Bloom's tantrums.
Carter, if we overlook his initial bullshit with out of nowhere feelings for Liv and then for Bloom (lmao, what a mess), was my type of guy because I love possessive, domineering and full of themselves men who occasionally display their sweet, tender and caring side. When he pulled his head out of his ass (and that was pretty fast), he had eyes only for Bloom which was exactly what I needed. On this positive note I am making my farewell because studying is a bitch if u know what I mean.
p.S. I don't even know if there is cheating in the book because yeah everyone kissed everyone and was sneaking around but at the same time Carter/Liv and Bloom/Benji did not put a label on whatever was going on between them. Carter only kissed Liv, Bloom only kissed Benji before they realised who they really want and then u already know what kind of shit happened. Guess they all deserved each other. Thank god I do not have friends like that lmaooo
For more info about this fcking mess consult Mel's awesome review cuz I am shit at retelling the plot and I have no idea how to make it make sense.
March 30, 2021
2.25 stars ⭐️
“Fire and ice colliding in something forbidden. Melting together to create a new piece. Her own creativity and passion flowing through our touch while my dominance and need fueled the foundation”
Hi, don’t you love it when everyone loves a book but you dislike it? Please tell me I’m not the only one.
Where do I start with this book? Maybe I’m now a psychopath cause where are the ✨emotions✨ everyone was going on about in the reviews😭
I’m the girl who cries a lot. When I’m happy, I cry. When I’m sad I cry but my emotions went off with this one and maybe its good because then i would throw this off and set this book on fire (which i technically can’t cause i read on my ipad but you get the point). Too aggressive? Oops-
As I was saying, there wasn’t even a single emotion I felt while reading this. This book was a mess. I didn’t connect to the characters at all. I felt no romance between the MCs. It felt more like yk forced love? Idk. It just didn’t seem like “true” love. *whispers* God,help me i read too much😭. The love triangle (or square) felt like author was out of a plotline and i went like omg why don’t I add this necessary plot to make it interesting. Guess what? It didn’t. It felt even more dumb cause ughhhh. I’m so mad someone help me.
Carter was the well..Carter. The guy develops feelings for our h Bloom out of the blue when he’s involved with Liv.
“I like her, I do. More than a friend, definitely. She’s bright and beautiful and supportive. She's hardworking and devoted and funny as hell when she wants to be. I definitely enjoy making out with her, and I love how she knows what she's doing.
But then there's Bloom.”
I usually don’t have problem with Insta love but this was chaos. There was no development. Hell, he realised that he liked her once he got go know that she was virgin and then he saw her like in another way? Sounds weird and uncomfortable to me. There wasn’t even conversation between Carter and bloom which shows us that they were really good friends beside one scene that too was in their past which didn’t help my case at all.
Bloom. What can i say? I wanted to love her, I really did but damn my emotionless self couldn’t give a single fuck. When one wants to help us and we don’t need their help we should just decline them but no, baby bloom had to get mad and shout at benji which made me mad😩 I liked her connection with her dad.
—SPOILER—
AND LOVE SQUARE. I’m sorry but did i mention, it was worthless? It made me hate the book even more. The weird plot twist that benji and liv were sleeping with each other felt so off like ???
Overall, bye cause I can’t do this anymore. It wasn’t good. I agree it had a lot of potential, I mean, the blurb sounded great but the book was meh.
Imma go listen to t-swift cause I need to check if i can still feel emotions and I haven’t actually turned into a psychopath.
“Fire and ice colliding in something forbidden. Melting together to create a new piece. Her own creativity and passion flowing through our touch while my dominance and need fueled the foundation”
Hi, don’t you love it when everyone loves a book but you dislike it? Please tell me I’m not the only one.
Where do I start with this book? Maybe I’m now a psychopath cause where are the ✨emotions✨ everyone was going on about in the reviews😭
I’m the girl who cries a lot. When I’m happy, I cry. When I’m sad I cry but my emotions went off with this one and maybe its good because then i would throw this off and set this book on fire (which i technically can’t cause i read on my ipad but you get the point). Too aggressive? Oops-
As I was saying, there wasn’t even a single emotion I felt while reading this. This book was a mess. I didn’t connect to the characters at all. I felt no romance between the MCs. It felt more like yk forced love? Idk. It just didn’t seem like “true” love. *whispers* God,help me i read too much😭. The love triangle (or square) felt like author was out of a plotline and i went like omg why don’t I add this necessary plot to make it interesting. Guess what? It didn’t. It felt even more dumb cause ughhhh. I’m so mad someone help me.
Carter was the well..Carter. The guy develops feelings for our h Bloom out of the blue when he’s involved with Liv.
“I like her, I do. More than a friend, definitely. She’s bright and beautiful and supportive. She's hardworking and devoted and funny as hell when she wants to be. I definitely enjoy making out with her, and I love how she knows what she's doing.
But then there's Bloom.”
I usually don’t have problem with Insta love but this was chaos. There was no development. Hell, he realised that he liked her once he got go know that she was virgin and then he saw her like in another way? Sounds weird and uncomfortable to me. There wasn’t even conversation between Carter and bloom which shows us that they were really good friends beside one scene that too was in their past which didn’t help my case at all.
Bloom. What can i say? I wanted to love her, I really did but damn my emotionless self couldn’t give a single fuck. When one wants to help us and we don’t need their help we should just decline them but no, baby bloom had to get mad and shout at benji which made me mad😩 I liked her connection with her dad.
—SPOILER—
AND LOVE SQUARE. I’m sorry but did i mention, it was worthless? It made me hate the book even more. The weird plot twist that benji and liv were sleeping with each other felt so off like ???
Overall, bye cause I can’t do this anymore. It wasn’t good. I agree it had a lot of potential, I mean, the blurb sounded great but the book was meh.
Imma go listen to t-swift cause I need to check if i can still feel emotions and I haven’t actually turned into a psychopath.
March 28, 2023
2.25 stars
A lot of times I’ll pick up new authors (especially from KU) and fall in love with their books. I was hoping that would have happened with Meant for More but unfortunately, this one just wasn’t for me. It was messy (but not in a good way) and the pacing was way off. There was Carter and Bloom, but also Liv and Benj. It was this weird little love square. I could go on about the things that didn’t work for me (the hero specifically), but honestly I’m not here to bash the book or the author. I’ll just leave it that this one didn’t work for me.
A lot of times I’ll pick up new authors (especially from KU) and fall in love with their books. I was hoping that would have happened with Meant for More but unfortunately, this one just wasn’t for me. It was messy (but not in a good way) and the pacing was way off. There was Carter and Bloom, but also Liv and Benj. It was this weird little love square. I could go on about the things that didn’t work for me (the hero specifically), but honestly I’m not here to bash the book or the author. I’ll just leave it that this one didn’t work for me.
March 29, 2021
***5 "The Trio!!!" stars***
AVAILABLE NOW!!!
"Sometimes we have to make the wrong choices in order to understand the gravity of the right ones."
The truth is that I was flirting with Liza James for a while now and I decided that the time for me had come to finally see with my very own eyes what all this ranging is over this author!!!
And OMG!!! Was i living under a rock??? Because I wasn't prepared of what I've read in here and of how many feelings Liza James stirred inside of me with only a chapter in...
I had such a long time to be wrapped in such sweet agony... On so many antsy moments and i believe that I overenjoyed what Liza James was offering me in here with her amazing writing...
"Our souls don't intend on hurting others. We don't go out deliberately damaging the people we care about."
Well... This was an amazing story of friends turned to lovers, but I wish I could say that it was simple like that.
There were more parts in here that were demanding our attention and things were getting even more complicated with every page that I was reading...
I won't hide to you that the author made my heart beat wildly many times and that I got frustrated over and over again, while I was reading this seemingly simple, but at the same outstanding story...
The sweet agony of what would happen, the antsy moments, the intensity of our heroes's feelings were getting under my skin and I was feeling like I was living through them!!!
"Why does it have to feel so incredibly perfect and be so destructively wrong?"
Bloom, Carter and Liv were best friends since middle school and while they are currently on college, their friendship had stayed impact... They are always there for each other, no matter what, but lately Bloom is starting to see that something is changing between Carter and Liv and she just have to accept it, even though she doesn't like it.
You see, Bloom was always drown toward Carter, but these two were never meant to be...
But he and Liv??? They could be something more... So, she just have to let go and start living her own life and Benj's interest on her is something welcomed at this certain moment....
"He's like a brother to me, really. A big, handsome, incredibly popular and successful football star- brother."
Carter is a hotheaded male like every other college boy out there. He has goals and aspirations and he has Bloom and Liv who are the two most important people on his life... But lately, he had started to come closer with Liv in a different way, even though Bloom was always his precious and untouchable best friend, that he would protect with everything he had...
And then Benj, his best friend had decided that he wanted Bloom for himself, and Carter had started feel weirdly over that possibillity.
And now, he can't seem to stay away from Bloom and to try to get under her skin, as she is under his skin.
"I've known you since you were eight... And I feel like I've never actually see you before. Why have I not seen you?"
What a mess they had created here!!! Not only Bloom and Carter, but Liv and Benj as well...
Nope, it is not what you are thinking, but honestly, I can not explain to you the mess in here...
The only thing that I can share is that this story was sooo intense that it was leaving me breathless over and over again. I was cursing Liza for what she was doing to me, but at the same time, it was so intoxicating that i couldn't walk away from the wreckage that I was seeing coming my way...
And I loved every single moment in here!!!! And I just need more!!!
"We were never supposed to happen. We would have by now if we were."
What can I say about Carter and Bloom??
I fell irrevocable in love with both of them... They had a very long road ahead of them to untangle their newfound feelings, but they burrowed into my heart and I don't believe that they can ever leave from there. These two were always meant for more, even though it took them some time to figure it out!!!
"When will you understand we shouldn't be together, Carter?"
"Never."
Bloom was the sweetest creature out there and she deserved to be loved in the way that Carter could love her. She was thinking less of her and she just needed someone to show her the way...
She had a difficult life and fate had more pain reserved for her, but Carter was her rock and he could make her believe in life, love and herself again.
"He feels like my other half, the other piece to my heart and soul."
What can I say for Carter??? He just climbed upon my heart as one of the best book boyfriends out there, even though I have to admit that in the beginning I wasn't having much faith on him... But he proved me wrong over and over again and I loved his big heart full of Bloom. The intensity that was loving her was giving me goosebumps.
"You've wrecked my world, and I don't know how to get it back under control."
For the end, I left my reservations...
I won't hide to you that I was thinking to 'punish' Liza by cutting a half star cause she left unfinished business in here with Liv and Benj and I'm having so many questions that need answers.
But I have faith on her that she will deliver a new book in this world and she will make me to fall in love and to see again my beloved characters from here.
Liza, I'm waiting impatiently!!!
"At the end of the day, you have to go where your soul is calling you. You have to follow the path and where it leads you."
**I received an ARC for the exchange of an honest review**
AVAILABLE NOW!!!
"Sometimes we have to make the wrong choices in order to understand the gravity of the right ones."
The truth is that I was flirting with Liza James for a while now and I decided that the time for me had come to finally see with my very own eyes what all this ranging is over this author!!!
And OMG!!! Was i living under a rock??? Because I wasn't prepared of what I've read in here and of how many feelings Liza James stirred inside of me with only a chapter in...
I had such a long time to be wrapped in such sweet agony... On so many antsy moments and i believe that I overenjoyed what Liza James was offering me in here with her amazing writing...
"Our souls don't intend on hurting others. We don't go out deliberately damaging the people we care about."
Well... This was an amazing story of friends turned to lovers, but I wish I could say that it was simple like that.
There were more parts in here that were demanding our attention and things were getting even more complicated with every page that I was reading...
I won't hide to you that the author made my heart beat wildly many times and that I got frustrated over and over again, while I was reading this seemingly simple, but at the same outstanding story...
The sweet agony of what would happen, the antsy moments, the intensity of our heroes's feelings were getting under my skin and I was feeling like I was living through them!!!
"Why does it have to feel so incredibly perfect and be so destructively wrong?"
Bloom, Carter and Liv were best friends since middle school and while they are currently on college, their friendship had stayed impact... They are always there for each other, no matter what, but lately Bloom is starting to see that something is changing between Carter and Liv and she just have to accept it, even though she doesn't like it.
You see, Bloom was always drown toward Carter, but these two were never meant to be...
But he and Liv??? They could be something more... So, she just have to let go and start living her own life and Benj's interest on her is something welcomed at this certain moment....
"He's like a brother to me, really. A big, handsome, incredibly popular and successful football star- brother."
Carter is a hotheaded male like every other college boy out there. He has goals and aspirations and he has Bloom and Liv who are the two most important people on his life... But lately, he had started to come closer with Liv in a different way, even though Bloom was always his precious and untouchable best friend, that he would protect with everything he had...
And then Benj, his best friend had decided that he wanted Bloom for himself, and Carter had started feel weirdly over that possibillity.
And now, he can't seem to stay away from Bloom and to try to get under her skin, as she is under his skin.
"I've known you since you were eight... And I feel like I've never actually see you before. Why have I not seen you?"
What a mess they had created here!!! Not only Bloom and Carter, but Liv and Benj as well...
Nope, it is not what you are thinking, but honestly, I can not explain to you the mess in here...
The only thing that I can share is that this story was sooo intense that it was leaving me breathless over and over again. I was cursing Liza for what she was doing to me, but at the same time, it was so intoxicating that i couldn't walk away from the wreckage that I was seeing coming my way...
And I loved every single moment in here!!!! And I just need more!!!
"We were never supposed to happen. We would have by now if we were."
What can I say about Carter and Bloom??
I fell irrevocable in love with both of them... They had a very long road ahead of them to untangle their newfound feelings, but they burrowed into my heart and I don't believe that they can ever leave from there. These two were always meant for more, even though it took them some time to figure it out!!!
"When will you understand we shouldn't be together, Carter?"
"Never."
Bloom was the sweetest creature out there and she deserved to be loved in the way that Carter could love her. She was thinking less of her and she just needed someone to show her the way...
She had a difficult life and fate had more pain reserved for her, but Carter was her rock and he could make her believe in life, love and herself again.
"He feels like my other half, the other piece to my heart and soul."
What can I say for Carter??? He just climbed upon my heart as one of the best book boyfriends out there, even though I have to admit that in the beginning I wasn't having much faith on him... But he proved me wrong over and over again and I loved his big heart full of Bloom. The intensity that was loving her was giving me goosebumps.
"You've wrecked my world, and I don't know how to get it back under control."
For the end, I left my reservations...
I won't hide to you that I was thinking to 'punish' Liza by cutting a half star cause she left unfinished business in here with Liv and Benj and I'm having so many questions that need answers.
But I have faith on her that she will deliver a new book in this world and she will make me to fall in love and to see again my beloved characters from here.
Liza, I'm waiting impatiently!!!
"At the end of the day, you have to go where your soul is calling you. You have to follow the path and where it leads you."
**I received an ARC for the exchange of an honest review**
lost-interest
April 9, 2021I was interested in a love square - yes, indeed I was... I needed some angst but then I read my friend Mel's awesome review and saw what kind of a mess it is and how distasteful it all is. So nope, not touching this book at all...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
March 26, 2021
The blurb for this book got me and I knew I had to read this book. It screamed angst with a side of friends to lovers and I was all in!
Liza is a new author to me and I was immediately taken in by her words and the way she told the story.
Bloom, Liv and Carter have been best friends for years, however, Bloom has started to notice things between Liv and Carter changing, looks lingering and little touches and although she has never thought of Carter that way she can’t help but feel things are about to change between them all.
When Carter’s friend, Benj, shows an interest in Bloom, he starts getting a little jealous in a way he hasn’t before and not understanding these new feelings he has for both Bloom and Liv. When he gets drunk at a party and Bloom takes him home they share a moment so intense that it ends up changing everything for them. But in the morning things are different, Bloom is with Benj and Carter is with Liv.
The angst in this book near had me putting it down a few times, afraid to see what was coming next but I tortured myself and pushed on. Bloom and Carter are intense and are all kinds of sexy and when they knew how real their feelings were for each other nothing could hold them back.
Bloom is such a resilient character and I loved her so much. I loved her free and easy go lucky character who was a little bit innocent, but wasn’t shy. She has an alcoholic father and no matter how he treats her or speaks to her, bringing her down, she always wants to find the good in him.
Carter. Oh, I had my doubt about him early on but he won me over with his intensity for Bloom and how much he wanted her. When Bloom's world was crashing down, he was there, supporting her, giving her the strength she needed and not letting himself get pushed away by her.
I am so glad I went for this read, it’s slow-burn filled with angst that I have been needing to read in a book to make me feel and the anxiety I had at parts was real! It isn’t an easy read, nor plain sailing for them, but what they go through and have to endure makes the story all worth it and I can’t wait to read more from Liza.
Although we get a HEA for Bloom and Carter, the story of Liv and Benj is one I need! Please tell me it’s coming? That bedroom scene was all kinds of crazy and a little fucked up 🔥☺️.
There were unexpected moments that had me getting the tissues out, so beware if you have triggers - alcoholism/addiction/suicide.
ARC received for an honest opinion
____________________
Overall Ratings;
POV - Dual
Hero - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heroine - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Story - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Steam - ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Chemistry - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Liza is a new author to me and I was immediately taken in by her words and the way she told the story.
Bloom, Liv and Carter have been best friends for years, however, Bloom has started to notice things between Liv and Carter changing, looks lingering and little touches and although she has never thought of Carter that way she can’t help but feel things are about to change between them all.
When Carter’s friend, Benj, shows an interest in Bloom, he starts getting a little jealous in a way he hasn’t before and not understanding these new feelings he has for both Bloom and Liv. When he gets drunk at a party and Bloom takes him home they share a moment so intense that it ends up changing everything for them. But in the morning things are different, Bloom is with Benj and Carter is with Liv.
The angst in this book near had me putting it down a few times, afraid to see what was coming next but I tortured myself and pushed on. Bloom and Carter are intense and are all kinds of sexy and when they knew how real their feelings were for each other nothing could hold them back.
Bloom is such a resilient character and I loved her so much. I loved her free and easy go lucky character who was a little bit innocent, but wasn’t shy. She has an alcoholic father and no matter how he treats her or speaks to her, bringing her down, she always wants to find the good in him.
Carter. Oh, I had my doubt about him early on but he won me over with his intensity for Bloom and how much he wanted her. When Bloom's world was crashing down, he was there, supporting her, giving her the strength she needed and not letting himself get pushed away by her.
I am so glad I went for this read, it’s slow-burn filled with angst that I have been needing to read in a book to make me feel and the anxiety I had at parts was real! It isn’t an easy read, nor plain sailing for them, but what they go through and have to endure makes the story all worth it and I can’t wait to read more from Liza.
Although we get a HEA for Bloom and Carter, the story of Liv and Benj is one I need! Please tell me it’s coming? That bedroom scene was all kinds of crazy and a little fucked up 🔥☺️.
There were unexpected moments that had me getting the tissues out, so beware if you have triggers - alcoholism/addiction/suicide.
ARC received for an honest opinion
____________________
Overall Ratings;
POV - Dual
Hero - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heroine - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Story - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Steam - ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Chemistry - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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March 31, 2021
I wanted to read this but mostly to see if it was going to be what I thought it was
So let me break it down
FuCK Boi carter is fucking around with one of his friends the super hot liv who he thinks is gorgeous
And don’t worry right before and I do mean like one scene right before he’s with the suppose to be heroine
Liv starts grinding on him and he’s into it but don’t worry he feels a tiny spark of guilt then it’s stops only because Benji interrupts them
So then he goes to bloom because she’s upset and they get it on yayyyyyy thank god that’s what we was all hoping for right.
And then you have bloom the” not like other girls”
Jesus fucking Chris please god I will pay for anyone to get read of that sentence.
Anyway she low key loves carter but won’t admit it so she starts hooking to with good ole Ben but she really wants carter god know why?
So Basically every one just wants every one at this point because it’s college and there all friends and why not right that’s deep right?
I guess?
Look y’all are easy if this made you cry because all it did was give me a headache from rolling my eyes from the cliches
And dick head of a whore fuck boi little man hero
And of fucking corse virgin heroine her first sexual experience has got to be with a a guy full of stds who also got the hots for her friends mmmm dream boat I tell ya
The sex scenes are evens a cringe dude no just no
You call that hot... I call that basic
So let me break it down
FuCK Boi carter is fucking around with one of his friends the super hot liv who he thinks is gorgeous
And don’t worry right before and I do mean like one scene right before he’s with the suppose to be heroine
Liv starts grinding on him and he’s into it but don’t worry he feels a tiny spark of guilt then it’s stops only because Benji interrupts them
So then he goes to bloom because she’s upset and they get it on yayyyyyy thank god that’s what we was all hoping for right.
And then you have bloom the” not like other girls”
Jesus fucking Chris please god I will pay for anyone to get read of that sentence.
Anyway she low key loves carter but won’t admit it so she starts hooking to with good ole Ben but she really wants carter god know why?
So Basically every one just wants every one at this point because it’s college and there all friends and why not right that’s deep right?
I guess?
Look y’all are easy if this made you cry because all it did was give me a headache from rolling my eyes from the cliches
And dick head of a whore fuck boi little man hero
And of fucking corse virgin heroine her first sexual experience has got to be with a a guy full of stds who also got the hots for her friends mmmm dream boat I tell ya
The sex scenes are evens a cringe dude no just no
You call that hot... I call that basic
March 26, 2021
I’m convinced Liza James can write any genre, any trope, any theme, because Meant for More delivers the same raw, turbulent, and profound reading experience that I’ve come to expect from her as an author- in a genre and trope that is a marked difference from her established work. Friends to lovers, new adult, sports romance - but this story has a deep emotional center and is dripping in angst. And I was totally enthralled- from start to finish.
Bloom is one of my favorite heroines of all time- I feel such a personal affinity for her journey. Liza gives her such dynamism and depth as a character. She’s such an open and free spirit- she accepts without judgement, loves without conditions, is kind and generous to those that don’t always deserve it. She’s passionate and creative- she sees the possibility in the world around her, but she’s also stoic and patient. She’s an introvert at home in her own skin- quiet in the way she situates herself in the world around her, radically unique but familiar and open. But her love- her big heart is what I adored the most, she’s a brave heroine in how generously she loves. She immediately spoke to my soul, I felt like I was breathing her every word.
Carter, though, took me a minute to understand. Which makes sense- he’s a bit confused. I wanted them to be more decisive early on, to help ME understand. But that’s what makes his story, and his connection with Bloom so dynamic and interesting- it’s messy and hard to unpack, especially at first. But Carter pieces it together- and the more time I spent in his head, the more I loved him. His authenticity, his gentle care, the friend he’s been to many, and his unmovable passion. His initial uncertainty somehow gives him more integrity- makes his emotional journey more genuine, and I found myself loving how focused he was on doing his own emotional work to figure out what Bloom meant to him.
Their story is MESSY- complicated dynamics, confusing emotions, sexual tension, secrets, and all that new adult angst. There are parts of this story that aren’t my normal thing and sometimes bother me in NA stories- including a love triangle for portions (in fact, it was more like a love quadrilateral), and I do think we have some unresolved questions that I wanted a bit more closure on….but this story consumed me entirely, that those things barely impacted me. I was a goner for these two- desperately aching for them to just give in. Liza so brilliantly builds a chemistry between them that is equal parts tender intimacy and profound longing. Even before they realize their feelings, we sense the longing between them, the invisible tether between their souls just begging for them to open their eyes. These two just fit so well together- they complement one another, understand each other, two halves of one beating heart. I was as desperate for them as they were for each other.
Sometimes I wonder if Liza James can see inside my soul. How does she so intimately understand the nuances and complications of my own lived experience? I have an uncanny level of similarities to Bloom- from my complicated relationship with my father that had the exact same journey as Bloom’s, to my own meaningful sweater, even my own relationships to ceramics and pottery. Bloom’s story feels partly my own- profoundly personal and exposing. But regardless of my personal connections to aspects of Bloom’s story, I’d still have a deep intimacy with this character, because of the poignant emotional resonance Liza brings to every story she tells. What connects me so deeply with Bloom aren’t just the literal ways our stories jive- what connects me to her is the ways in which Liza so vulnerable exposes her heart to us- her soul, her feelings, her emotive journey. Because Liza tells stories about existential pain, the life changing moments both big and small that force us as people to confront ourselves- to face who and what we are, and the hard work it takes to figure out who we want to be. Her story telling is raw, emotionally exposing, resonant no matter what genre she’s writing because of the universality of that emotional experience, of the everyday emotional trauma we experience as human beings just trying to figure out how to BE. And that makes her voice as an author so authentic- so moving and complex, because she explores the raw and gritty quest of identity, and the ways in which loving another can challenge, catalyze, or even destroy our conception of self.
And Meant for More does just that- confront dynamics and feelings that challenge the safety, the very fabric of who Bloom and Carter think they are- and who they think they are to each other. These two have to break outside of their comfortable box to explore what existed all along but they couldn’t see- or perhaps wouldn’t. And I love how Liza lets it be messy- because figuring out your path IS messy. Existential progress requires mistakes, bad decisions, unexpected changes and tensions, and yes, even pain. That’s how we grow as humans- and that is how Bloom and Carter grow, too. Sometimes we have to make the wrong choices to understand what our soul truly wants, to know the RIGHT choices. To find ourselves. That’s complicated and hard- but beautiful and true.
I’m so excited that Liza decided to lean into this story and genre, and I’m even more excited about what is to come from her next!
Bloom is one of my favorite heroines of all time- I feel such a personal affinity for her journey. Liza gives her such dynamism and depth as a character. She’s such an open and free spirit- she accepts without judgement, loves without conditions, is kind and generous to those that don’t always deserve it. She’s passionate and creative- she sees the possibility in the world around her, but she’s also stoic and patient. She’s an introvert at home in her own skin- quiet in the way she situates herself in the world around her, radically unique but familiar and open. But her love- her big heart is what I adored the most, she’s a brave heroine in how generously she loves. She immediately spoke to my soul, I felt like I was breathing her every word.
Carter, though, took me a minute to understand. Which makes sense- he’s a bit confused. I wanted them to be more decisive early on, to help ME understand. But that’s what makes his story, and his connection with Bloom so dynamic and interesting- it’s messy and hard to unpack, especially at first. But Carter pieces it together- and the more time I spent in his head, the more I loved him. His authenticity, his gentle care, the friend he’s been to many, and his unmovable passion. His initial uncertainty somehow gives him more integrity- makes his emotional journey more genuine, and I found myself loving how focused he was on doing his own emotional work to figure out what Bloom meant to him.
Their story is MESSY- complicated dynamics, confusing emotions, sexual tension, secrets, and all that new adult angst. There are parts of this story that aren’t my normal thing and sometimes bother me in NA stories- including a love triangle for portions (in fact, it was more like a love quadrilateral), and I do think we have some unresolved questions that I wanted a bit more closure on….but this story consumed me entirely, that those things barely impacted me. I was a goner for these two- desperately aching for them to just give in. Liza so brilliantly builds a chemistry between them that is equal parts tender intimacy and profound longing. Even before they realize their feelings, we sense the longing between them, the invisible tether between their souls just begging for them to open their eyes. These two just fit so well together- they complement one another, understand each other, two halves of one beating heart. I was as desperate for them as they were for each other.
Sometimes I wonder if Liza James can see inside my soul. How does she so intimately understand the nuances and complications of my own lived experience? I have an uncanny level of similarities to Bloom- from my complicated relationship with my father that had the exact same journey as Bloom’s, to my own meaningful sweater, even my own relationships to ceramics and pottery. Bloom’s story feels partly my own- profoundly personal and exposing. But regardless of my personal connections to aspects of Bloom’s story, I’d still have a deep intimacy with this character, because of the poignant emotional resonance Liza brings to every story she tells. What connects me so deeply with Bloom aren’t just the literal ways our stories jive- what connects me to her is the ways in which Liza so vulnerable exposes her heart to us- her soul, her feelings, her emotive journey. Because Liza tells stories about existential pain, the life changing moments both big and small that force us as people to confront ourselves- to face who and what we are, and the hard work it takes to figure out who we want to be. Her story telling is raw, emotionally exposing, resonant no matter what genre she’s writing because of the universality of that emotional experience, of the everyday emotional trauma we experience as human beings just trying to figure out how to BE. And that makes her voice as an author so authentic- so moving and complex, because she explores the raw and gritty quest of identity, and the ways in which loving another can challenge, catalyze, or even destroy our conception of self.
And Meant for More does just that- confront dynamics and feelings that challenge the safety, the very fabric of who Bloom and Carter think they are- and who they think they are to each other. These two have to break outside of their comfortable box to explore what existed all along but they couldn’t see- or perhaps wouldn’t. And I love how Liza lets it be messy- because figuring out your path IS messy. Existential progress requires mistakes, bad decisions, unexpected changes and tensions, and yes, even pain. That’s how we grow as humans- and that is how Bloom and Carter grow, too. Sometimes we have to make the wrong choices to understand what our soul truly wants, to know the RIGHT choices. To find ourselves. That’s complicated and hard- but beautiful and true.
I’m so excited that Liza decided to lean into this story and genre, and I’m even more excited about what is to come from her next!
March 23, 2021
AUTHORS STOP MAKING ME CRY CHALLENGE!! I just wanna live a sweet romance vicariously through fictional characters and not get my heart shattered in the process...
"𝑰 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒏. 𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒘𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒘𝒂𝒚, 𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒑𝒂𝒕𝒉."
4.5 || Don't be fooled by the blurb and go into this thinking it's just a friends-to-lovers sports romance. NOOOO, there's much more going on here; relatable characters, a passionate romance 🔥, pain and a lot of angst.
This is my first book by this author and I will definitely go to her when I want to cry a little. This was for sure a bittersweet read that left me with a lot of feels, and aren't those the best kind of books? I hope we can have something on Liv and Benj soon too 👀!
ARC provided in exchange of an honest review.
"𝑰 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒏. 𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒘𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒘𝒂𝒚, 𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒑𝒂𝒕𝒉."
4.5 || Don't be fooled by the blurb and go into this thinking it's just a friends-to-lovers sports romance. NOOOO, there's much more going on here; relatable characters, a passionate romance 🔥, pain and a lot of angst.
This is my first book by this author and I will definitely go to her when I want to cry a little. This was for sure a bittersweet read that left me with a lot of feels, and aren't those the best kind of books? I hope we can have something on Liv and Benj soon too 👀!
ARC provided in exchange of an honest review.
March 26, 2021
This was my first time reading this author, but I've been in the mood for an angsty college romance (something I thought I would never say, lol) so when I first read this blurb I was hooked! Best friends to lovers, sort of forbidden love triangle, PLUS college sports thrown in there too? SIGN ME UP. And while I did have a few issues here and there with how cohesive the story was, ultimately this was a really good college romance with all the feels!
Bloom and Carter -- as well as Liv-- have all been a trio for years. They are the best of friends, even though they are so uniquely different: Carter is the football star, Liv is the happy go lucky party girl with so much heart, and Bloom is the quiet one, content with staying in the shadows, who feels absolutely *everything.* These three are definitely more like family than friends, but they fit in the best of ways. But Bloom can feel things changing between all of them, especially since Liv and Carter seem to be growing closer, and then her sudden attraction to Carter too (and vice versa) throws them all off balance, and THEN there's the introduction to Carter's best football friend, and this angsty foursome have some difficult and heartbreaking challenges ahead of them. Especially when they are all keeping secrets.
I was pleasantly surprised by the direction this story took took us: it's not your usual college romance. Sure, Carter has been with other women before Bloom, but once he acknowledges that his feelings for Bloom have changed in ways he never expected, she is all he can see. He's not screwing his way through the college campus to get over his feelings, but rather HE is the one pursing HER, which I loved. Plus their friendship underneath the attraction and intensity of their love is just so pure and perfect. He is definitely her safe place, and I am so glad that Bloom had that, especially with what she's dealing with in her personal life. (No spoilers, but I definitely felt all the feels!)
My only complaint, is that there were quite a few things that were just left hanging: for example, Bloom never confronted Benji (the other person in this quad-thrupple *winks*) about what she found out regarding Liv, nor did she ever explicitly tell him about her feelings for Carter. Nor did we see exactly why Carter's own home life was so strained -- we were told that he and his dad never got along multiple times, but there was no interaction between them at all. And then the time jumps at the end (though they weren't very far in the future) through me for a bit as well. I'm hoping we will get Bengi's and Liv's story since there is obviously SO much to tell, and the angst between them is giving me all the feels already! I'm hoping the lingering questions I have will be cleared up in their book!
Despite those few things that didn't feel quite right to me, this is still a very well written romance! I wasn't expecting all the heat either, and that was a GREAT surprise. The filthier my romances are, the better in my opinion, but DAAMMN, Carter has such a dirty mouth. I loved it!! Also, you may be needing tissues close by for that ending!
I will definitely be reading more from this author in the future!
**I received an ARC of this book and these are my honest opinions!**
Bloom and Carter -- as well as Liv-- have all been a trio for years. They are the best of friends, even though they are so uniquely different: Carter is the football star, Liv is the happy go lucky party girl with so much heart, and Bloom is the quiet one, content with staying in the shadows, who feels absolutely *everything.* These three are definitely more like family than friends, but they fit in the best of ways. But Bloom can feel things changing between all of them, especially since Liv and Carter seem to be growing closer, and then her sudden attraction to Carter too (and vice versa) throws them all off balance, and THEN there's the introduction to Carter's best football friend, and this angsty foursome have some difficult and heartbreaking challenges ahead of them. Especially when they are all keeping secrets.
I was pleasantly surprised by the direction this story took took us: it's not your usual college romance. Sure, Carter has been with other women before Bloom, but once he acknowledges that his feelings for Bloom have changed in ways he never expected, she is all he can see. He's not screwing his way through the college campus to get over his feelings, but rather HE is the one pursing HER, which I loved. Plus their friendship underneath the attraction and intensity of their love is just so pure and perfect. He is definitely her safe place, and I am so glad that Bloom had that, especially with what she's dealing with in her personal life. (No spoilers, but I definitely felt all the feels!)
My only complaint, is that there were quite a few things that were just left hanging: for example, Bloom never confronted Benji (the other person in this quad-thrupple *winks*) about what she found out regarding Liv, nor did she ever explicitly tell him about her feelings for Carter. Nor did we see exactly why Carter's own home life was so strained -- we were told that he and his dad never got along multiple times, but there was no interaction between them at all. And then the time jumps at the end (though they weren't very far in the future) through me for a bit as well. I'm hoping we will get Bengi's and Liv's story since there is obviously SO much to tell, and the angst between them is giving me all the feels already! I'm hoping the lingering questions I have will be cleared up in their book!
Despite those few things that didn't feel quite right to me, this is still a very well written romance! I wasn't expecting all the heat either, and that was a GREAT surprise. The filthier my romances are, the better in my opinion, but DAAMMN, Carter has such a dirty mouth. I loved it!! Also, you may be needing tissues close by for that ending!
I will definitely be reading more from this author in the future!
**I received an ARC of this book and these are my honest opinions!**
March 26, 2021
✨ ARC Provided ✨
𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘴, 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘤, 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴?
Oh how I adored these two characters, this book, and this story!
Bloom is the quiet semi shy artist whose passion lies in her ceramic pottery. Carter is the “stereotypical” football jock whose goal is to be eligible or the draft. The two along with their best friend Liv have been best friends for years. At first everything was platonic, but sometimes friendship can lead to more, especially when the friendship runs as deep as Bloom and Carter’s.
Bloom is such a beautiful pure character I loved how realistic she felt to me, her awkwardness, her shyness, and the way she felt so genuine and real.
Carter is the football quarterback who didn’t feel like a stereotype, which I loved about him. He was so kind, genuine, and caring, especially for Bloom and Liv.
I loved watching these two fall in love and navigate their lives and feelings. Overall I found their relationship so pure and real, even with everything going on they truly read like an endgame couple🖤
𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘴, 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘤, 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴?
Oh how I adored these two characters, this book, and this story!
Bloom is the quiet semi shy artist whose passion lies in her ceramic pottery. Carter is the “stereotypical” football jock whose goal is to be eligible or the draft. The two along with their best friend Liv have been best friends for years. At first everything was platonic, but sometimes friendship can lead to more, especially when the friendship runs as deep as Bloom and Carter’s.
Bloom is such a beautiful pure character I loved how realistic she felt to me, her awkwardness, her shyness, and the way she felt so genuine and real.
Carter is the football quarterback who didn’t feel like a stereotype, which I loved about him. He was so kind, genuine, and caring, especially for Bloom and Liv.
I loved watching these two fall in love and navigate their lives and feelings. Overall I found their relationship so pure and real, even with everything going on they truly read like an endgame couple🖤
March 23, 2021
Cue the heart flutters. Friends to Lovers is so underrated in my opinion and this book right here gave me ALL THE FEELS.
Carter, Bloom, and Liv have been best friends since they were kids but somewhere along the lines, Liv and Carter started to grow closer. Bloom doesn't understand why it bothers her to see them together and doesn't want their dynamic to change. Carter doesn't understand why he's bothered by his friend, Benji, wanting to date Bloom. It's a big, messy love square and I was here for it.
Liza is an incredible writer and the tension was EVERYTHING. That pottery scene? I can't, omg.
5/5 ⭐ 3.5/5 🌶
ARC provided by Wildfire PR
Carter, Bloom, and Liv have been best friends since they were kids but somewhere along the lines, Liv and Carter started to grow closer. Bloom doesn't understand why it bothers her to see them together and doesn't want their dynamic to change. Carter doesn't understand why he's bothered by his friend, Benji, wanting to date Bloom. It's a big, messy love square and I was here for it.
Liza is an incredible writer and the tension was EVERYTHING. That pottery scene? I can't, omg.
5/5 ⭐ 3.5/5 🌶
ARC provided by Wildfire PR
March 25, 2021
I loved Bloom and Carter's friendship/relationship. Bloom is really just this down-to-earth girl, doesn't drink/party, works, and focuses on school. Carter is the quarterback and looking to get drafted into the NFL after the current season. Liz finishes off the trio. However, I didn't care for Liz. Maybe it was the fact that I realized I don't know that I'm a fan of love triangles because honestly, that's what this was. It took away from the story I thought. In one breath you think Liz is this amazing friend who is there to help you, and then you find out she's running her mouth about you to guys.
Bloom and Carter really work through some things together. But they come out so much stronger for it.
This book was a friends-to-lovers, sports romance, angsty, love-triangle that also has a lot of pain and could draw some deep emotions for some. Overall it was a really good book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Bloom and Carter really work through some things together. But they come out so much stronger for it.
This book was a friends-to-lovers, sports romance, angsty, love-triangle that also has a lot of pain and could draw some deep emotions for some. Overall it was a really good book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 30, 2021
2 stars.
I was quite disappointed with this book. It had a good story line and plot, but the way it was delivered really let it down. There were so many abrupt scenes that didn't need to be there to be fair.
I was quite disappointed with this book. It had a good story line and plot, but the way it was delivered really let it down. There were so many abrupt scenes that didn't need to be there to be fair.
nope-nope-nope
March 28, 2021Virgin and manwhore with the added bonus that he is into her best friend before her 🙄 arent romance authors tired of this plot yet? Also it's a triangle between hero, heroine and the best friend...they are all supposed to best friends or something
March 25, 2021
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
tw// mentions of s*uicide
What can I say.. I finished this book in one day so giving it 5 stars is well deserved. It’s a cute friends-to-lovers story that will make you laugh, cry.. basically feel all the emotions you need when reading a book.
I will be honest that from the very first moment since I found out about this book, I was scared to read it. I dislike love triangles not because they are not good, but because I get way too frustrated, and the blurb gave me the vibe this will be it? But I was SO. DAMN. WRONG. And I definitely recommend this to all of you, because you will fall deeply in love the way I did - trust me.
Bloom was so amazing and I’m so glad we got a character that loves pottery - this is the first time I read about a character loving this, so it was refreshing for me to read about this hobby. Bloom was really great and such a genuinely nice person, she was never selfish but always cared about others. Considering the fact that she hasn’t had it the easiest in past and that things around her and her best friend Carter started shifting from the „normal“ slightly, she was still willing to sacrifice her happiness and I really admired her for that.
Carter was so charming that I immediately fell in love with him. His personality was amazing, and I liked that he, comparing to Bloom, was slightly selfish but it added to their relationship dynamic. I’m glad that we got this really great hero that never, ever, treated Bloom like a doormat. From the very first moment, even though things weren’t playing into „their cards“, he treated her perfectly and it made me tear up quite a few times.
The reason why I love this story so much is because it’s about building a relationship and switching from being best friends to being a couple. They had up and downs, but their path was, in my opinion, very well written. I have been a fan of Liza for a while now, so it didn’t surprise me how great this was. I also love that this book doesn’t only look at Bloom and Carter, but it talks about other issues that surround them. It's amazing that it wasn't just about them and their drama.
I also liked the side characters - all of them added sparks to the story. I kind of wish we got more of Lucas as he seemed like a really nice person. I really enjoyed this and I’m glad I decided to read it - it was really amazing and I can definitely recommend this story to all of you!
***
Follow me on Instagram for book edits.
tw// mentions of s*uicide
What can I say.. I finished this book in one day so giving it 5 stars is well deserved. It’s a cute friends-to-lovers story that will make you laugh, cry.. basically feel all the emotions you need when reading a book.
I will be honest that from the very first moment since I found out about this book, I was scared to read it. I dislike love triangles not because they are not good, but because I get way too frustrated, and the blurb gave me the vibe this will be it? But I was SO. DAMN. WRONG. And I definitely recommend this to all of you, because you will fall deeply in love the way I did - trust me.
Bloom was so amazing and I’m so glad we got a character that loves pottery - this is the first time I read about a character loving this, so it was refreshing for me to read about this hobby. Bloom was really great and such a genuinely nice person, she was never selfish but always cared about others. Considering the fact that she hasn’t had it the easiest in past and that things around her and her best friend Carter started shifting from the „normal“ slightly, she was still willing to sacrifice her happiness and I really admired her for that.
Carter was so charming that I immediately fell in love with him. His personality was amazing, and I liked that he, comparing to Bloom, was slightly selfish but it added to their relationship dynamic. I’m glad that we got this really great hero that never, ever, treated Bloom like a doormat. From the very first moment, even though things weren’t playing into „their cards“, he treated her perfectly and it made me tear up quite a few times.
The reason why I love this story so much is because it’s about building a relationship and switching from being best friends to being a couple. They had up and downs, but their path was, in my opinion, very well written. I have been a fan of Liza for a while now, so it didn’t surprise me how great this was. I also love that this book doesn’t only look at Bloom and Carter, but it talks about other issues that surround them. It's amazing that it wasn't just about them and their drama.
I also liked the side characters - all of them added sparks to the story. I kind of wish we got more of Lucas as he seemed like a really nice person. I really enjoyed this and I’m glad I decided to read it - it was really amazing and I can definitely recommend this story to all of you!
***
Follow me on Instagram for book edits.
March 21, 2021
"𝑶𝒖𝒓 𝒔𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒔 𝒅𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒐𝒏 𝒉𝒖𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒔. 𝑾𝒆 𝒅𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒈𝒐 𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒅𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒃𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝒅𝒂𝒎𝒂𝒈𝒊𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒘𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕."
I’m usually one of those readers who highlights everything in books but with this one I simply couldn’t because I became that engrossed in it.
Everything about Carter and Bloom’s story completely drew me in and I never wanted leave; The slow burning angst, the characters connection, their sexual tension, their heartbreak and all the supporting characters were everything I love in a book. Not to mention with Liza James’ writing style I truely felt as though I was the experiencing everything the characters were.
If you love a slow burn angsty, friends to lovers collage sports romance, then I suggest you do yourself a favour and read this novel.
Ms Liza James, you’ve created a masterpiece and I honestly cannot wait to read more of your work. Also please give Liv and you know who their own story, I need to know more !!!
Thank you to Liza James and Wildfire Marketing Solutions for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Please note: This book does contain topics that some readers may find triggering.
I’m usually one of those readers who highlights everything in books but with this one I simply couldn’t because I became that engrossed in it.
Everything about Carter and Bloom’s story completely drew me in and I never wanted leave; The slow burning angst, the characters connection, their sexual tension, their heartbreak and all the supporting characters were everything I love in a book. Not to mention with Liza James’ writing style I truely felt as though I was the experiencing everything the characters were.
If you love a slow burn angsty, friends to lovers collage sports romance, then I suggest you do yourself a favour and read this novel.
Ms Liza James, you’ve created a masterpiece and I honestly cannot wait to read more of your work. Also please give Liv and you know who their own story, I need to know more !!!
Thank you to Liza James and Wildfire Marketing Solutions for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Please note: This book does contain topics that some readers may find triggering.
March 29, 2021
Incredible
Man what a read. I loved this book wholeheartedly. The writing was fab and made me feel things, the subject and topics gah so very real that we all need to remember and think about. I loved the story and how the relationships developed and the character, Bloom is a sweetheart and Carter is a gem. Loved it.
Man what a read. I loved this book wholeheartedly. The writing was fab and made me feel things, the subject and topics gah so very real that we all need to remember and think about. I loved the story and how the relationships developed and the character, Bloom is a sweetheart and Carter is a gem. Loved it.
February 28, 2021
Home. He always feels like home.
Do you enjoy friends to lovers, sports romance and just the right amount of emotion? Liza continues to show how versatile she is as a writer and nails it!! Carter and Bloom stole my heart easily. Especially Carter, because he totally surprised me!! I was not expecting him to be so... sexy. Reliable. And just perfect. I know if I were in Bloom’s shoes, I’d want someone like Carter holding my hand through it.
Heavy topics are covered in this story, but our leading characters push through and come out strong. The angst, steam and emotional punch is well balanced and I’m excited to see if Liza revisits this world.
Do you enjoy friends to lovers, sports romance and just the right amount of emotion? Liza continues to show how versatile she is as a writer and nails it!! Carter and Bloom stole my heart easily. Especially Carter, because he totally surprised me!! I was not expecting him to be so... sexy. Reliable. And just perfect. I know if I were in Bloom’s shoes, I’d want someone like Carter holding my hand through it.
Heavy topics are covered in this story, but our leading characters push through and come out strong. The angst, steam and emotional punch is well balanced and I’m excited to see if Liza revisits this world.
May 28, 2021
"I've always noticed you. Even when we were younger, and when I thought about our future, you were never not in it. Does that make sense?"
3.5/5
This was my first book by this author, and other than a best friends to lovers romance, I didn't know what to expect from it. I enjoyed Carter and Bloom's story, and the angst and sexual tension between them were amazing. Meant for More was also an emotional read, so overall, it had everything I look for in a book. However, the love triangle quickly turned into a love square was dragged out for too long, and actually never really addressed which was a bit frustrating because the characters are all friends. I need answers about what happened between Liv and Benj!! I also would have liked more information and flashbacks on Liv, Carter, and Bloom's friendship as it was more of a telling without showing situation. Anyway, I hope Liv and Benj get their book, I'm really curious about these two!
March 27, 2021
Liza James has the uncanny ability of being able to write different stories and characters in different genres that always suck you in even if it's a genre you don't typically read. Each character ir story has at least one subject or event that is relatable to the reader in some way. Some part of each book always touches the reader deeper than you can imagine.
I loved Bloom and her quirkiness. Carter and his dominant badass QB style who was also soft and overly protective of Bloom and Liv. Liv rubbed me the wrong way from the very beginning and I don't know why. I just wasn't a fan. Benji, I wanted to know more.
I don't read soft or sweet romances and don't typically watch them either. They're just not for me. They're almost always predictable. This book was the same for me in that sense. I felt like parts if it were predictable which left little to be guessed or discovered in certain aspects. But back to Liza's ability to suck you in, there were parts that I wasn't expecting that made me question some things.
The friendship dynamic was great between Carter, Liv, and Bloom. Benj entered later but seemed to fit right in. I do wish we would have gotten more background and childhood memories from them. I also wanted more on Liv and Benj as there were secrets eluded to but never explored. Also the changing and shifting relationships were not addressed and I felt like some things would have caused more disruption and divide than they seemed to.
All in all it was a cute little college romance with the sorority and fraternity parties and hookups. Some childhood friendships going in different directions and exploring a more mature nature.
I rated this based on Liza's writing and story telling abilities because that's what drew me in and kept me reading. I didn't rate it on the story itself because like I said soft sweet romances aren't my thing but I love Liza and will read outside my comfort zone if its from her.
I loved Bloom and her quirkiness. Carter and his dominant badass QB style who was also soft and overly protective of Bloom and Liv. Liv rubbed me the wrong way from the very beginning and I don't know why. I just wasn't a fan. Benji, I wanted to know more.
I don't read soft or sweet romances and don't typically watch them either. They're just not for me. They're almost always predictable. This book was the same for me in that sense. I felt like parts if it were predictable which left little to be guessed or discovered in certain aspects. But back to Liza's ability to suck you in, there were parts that I wasn't expecting that made me question some things.
The friendship dynamic was great between Carter, Liv, and Bloom. Benj entered later but seemed to fit right in. I do wish we would have gotten more background and childhood memories from them. I also wanted more on Liv and Benj as there were secrets eluded to but never explored. Also the changing and shifting relationships were not addressed and I felt like some things would have caused more disruption and divide than they seemed to.
All in all it was a cute little college romance with the sorority and fraternity parties and hookups. Some childhood friendships going in different directions and exploring a more mature nature.
I rated this based on Liza's writing and story telling abilities because that's what drew me in and kept me reading. I didn't rate it on the story itself because like I said soft sweet romances aren't my thing but I love Liza and will read outside my comfort zone if its from her.
March 20, 2021
Hi friends! Let me tell you about this book I read 😍 This story tackles the messy and charming friends to lovers tale that is easily one of my favourites of 2021.
-᪥𝓑𝓵𝓸𝓸𝓶 & 𝓒𝓪𝓻𝓽𝓮𝓻᪥-
Best friends since childhood with an unshakable bond of co-dependence through trauma bonding, love and understanding. Everything is seemingly perfect and comfortable until... Something shifts, feelings that you have flourish into something more, in an instant. Liza addresses the age old question... Do nurtured friendships easily slide a into romantic relationships?
𝓑𝓵𝓸𝓸𝓶 is an incredible character with strong integrity, I couldn’t help fall in love with her. She is a genuine and bright light, even when faced with devastatingly hard situations. Her empathy and pure heart makes her a favourite for me among Liza’s characters.
𝓒𝓪𝓻𝓽𝓮𝓻 is the blue eyed boy next door, college QB, and set to draft high in the NFL. But he is also sweet and unbelievably caring, attentive and intuitive. All qualities needed for a great friend or lover. He is just so refreshingly perfect and I really love that!!
Their chemistry and dynamic is undeniable which makes for a really heart achingly & beautifully executed story. Liza has scored a touchdown with this light and emotional journey between two destined souls. She has again shown that she is wildly talented, she can literally write ANY DAMN THING!
-᪥𝓑𝓵𝓸𝓸𝓶 & 𝓒𝓪𝓻𝓽𝓮𝓻᪥-
Best friends since childhood with an unshakable bond of co-dependence through trauma bonding, love and understanding. Everything is seemingly perfect and comfortable until... Something shifts, feelings that you have flourish into something more, in an instant. Liza addresses the age old question... Do nurtured friendships easily slide a into romantic relationships?
𝓑𝓵𝓸𝓸𝓶 is an incredible character with strong integrity, I couldn’t help fall in love with her. She is a genuine and bright light, even when faced with devastatingly hard situations. Her empathy and pure heart makes her a favourite for me among Liza’s characters.
𝓒𝓪𝓻𝓽𝓮𝓻 is the blue eyed boy next door, college QB, and set to draft high in the NFL. But he is also sweet and unbelievably caring, attentive and intuitive. All qualities needed for a great friend or lover. He is just so refreshingly perfect and I really love that!!
Their chemistry and dynamic is undeniable which makes for a really heart achingly & beautifully executed story. Liza has scored a touchdown with this light and emotional journey between two destined souls. She has again shown that she is wildly talented, she can literally write ANY DAMN THING!
March 30, 2021
This story blew me away! It’s simply amazing! Bloom and Carter’s story is angsty it’s steamy it’s emotional it gave me ALL THE FEELS ! Liza James might of tried the lighter side of romance but her passion her emotions it was all there ! When I heard she was coming out with something lighter than what she is used to writing or known for I knew I had to read it and I’m so glad that I did! This story was beautiful intense and steamy hot it touched on some heavy issues and our characters persevered through them . Carter and Blooms story packed such an emotional gut punch these two characters definitely own my heart and I can’t recommend it enough!
April 4, 2024
this man woke up one day and decided to fuck his best friend then realized that he loves her 🙄 that’s a big BS to the end and where tf was my epilogue???
March 26, 2021
4.5 "SOMETHING IS DIFFERENT" STARS
I was two chapters in when I realized this book was going to be something amazing. Usually books will start a bit slow and build from there, but it was not the case with this one. For me it started with a bang and after only a couple of pages I was already hooked and I stayed that way till after the acknowledgements.
I forgot how amazing the friends to lovers trope can be since it's been so long since I read a book that had it. If I stop right now to think the name of a book in that genre nothing comes to mind, but Meant for More is a book I will remember for a long time.
I truly believe there are people in the world that are meant to be, it may take them time to realize that, like it happened with Bloom and Carte but there will come a moment where the chemistry will win and if you are paying close attention you won't let that moment pass you by. Bloom and Carter had their moment, they were not expecting it, but once you realize you found your person there is no escaping it.
"While we have been best friends forever, there's a part of me that's always been drawn to him. It's his energy, his voice, the way he holds himself amongst everyone else."
In this book I really liked both main characters. Bloom was so relatable, she wasn't perfect, she made some mistakes, she frustrated me but I really felt for and with her. I admired how independent, passionate, strong and genuine she was. Now Carter, he was always so sure of himself and his feelings for her, he is so sweet and caring, I loved how he didn't let her close herself off, he made her talk even when she didn't want to so there was no misunderstanding between them.
"I know you since you were eight, and I feel like I've never actually seen you before. Why have I not seen you?"
Since the beginning they had such a beautiful relationship, being friends first they were always there to support each other, they knew one another like no one else did so it was easy to go from friends to lovers. I liked that it wasn't all smooth sailing though, there were some mess and angst relationship wise that kept my eyes glued to the pages.
"All of the sudden, she's exactly where I need to be heading. It doesn't feel new, it doesn't feel surprising even. It just feels...warm."
Even though I am focusing more on their relationship as to not give any spoilers, this book is so much more than just an amazing love story. It brings to light some heavy and important topics that need to be discussed and the author does that in such a heartbreaking and beautiful way that got me sobbing in some parts but so happy and light by the end. This was my first book by her but it won't be the last, she made me feel so many emotions and truly captivated me with her story-telling.
P.S. Shoutout to the Ghost scene it was EPIC!!!
*𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸.
I was two chapters in when I realized this book was going to be something amazing. Usually books will start a bit slow and build from there, but it was not the case with this one. For me it started with a bang and after only a couple of pages I was already hooked and I stayed that way till after the acknowledgements.
I forgot how amazing the friends to lovers trope can be since it's been so long since I read a book that had it. If I stop right now to think the name of a book in that genre nothing comes to mind, but Meant for More is a book I will remember for a long time.
I truly believe there are people in the world that are meant to be, it may take them time to realize that, like it happened with Bloom and Carte but there will come a moment where the chemistry will win and if you are paying close attention you won't let that moment pass you by. Bloom and Carter had their moment, they were not expecting it, but once you realize you found your person there is no escaping it.
"While we have been best friends forever, there's a part of me that's always been drawn to him. It's his energy, his voice, the way he holds himself amongst everyone else."
In this book I really liked both main characters. Bloom was so relatable, she wasn't perfect, she made some mistakes, she frustrated me but I really felt for and with her. I admired how independent, passionate, strong and genuine she was. Now Carter, he was always so sure of himself and his feelings for her, he is so sweet and caring, I loved how he didn't let her close herself off, he made her talk even when she didn't want to so there was no misunderstanding between them.
"I know you since you were eight, and I feel like I've never actually seen you before. Why have I not seen you?"
Since the beginning they had such a beautiful relationship, being friends first they were always there to support each other, they knew one another like no one else did so it was easy to go from friends to lovers. I liked that it wasn't all smooth sailing though, there were some mess and angst relationship wise that kept my eyes glued to the pages.
"All of the sudden, she's exactly where I need to be heading. It doesn't feel new, it doesn't feel surprising even. It just feels...warm."
Even though I am focusing more on their relationship as to not give any spoilers, this book is so much more than just an amazing love story. It brings to light some heavy and important topics that need to be discussed and the author does that in such a heartbreaking and beautiful way that got me sobbing in some parts but so happy and light by the end. This was my first book by her but it won't be the last, she made me feel so many emotions and truly captivated me with her story-telling.
P.S. Shoutout to the Ghost scene it was EPIC!!!
*𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸.
Read
March 26, 20215/5 🌟
~ ARC provided in exchange for an honest review ~
HOW?! How did Liza take a hardcore enemies to lovers fan like me and make me fall in love with a friends to lovers?
I loved this book and the characters SO MUCH. Carter and Bloom were electric and had this beautiful connection. I could feel the draw they had towards each other almost like it came to life off the pages. AND THE SEXUAL TENSION. THE LOVE.. SQUARE?? I WAS BREAKING A SWEAT.
Ok back to the characters 😹 They just felt so real and more than a fraternity football jock/sorority artist archetype. There was so much substance to each of them that it made you fall in love and feel understood.
Bloom made me FEEL SEEN. She was introverted, awkward, creative, passionate, and so fucking giving.
Carter was 🥵. He also was so loving and in tune with Bloom’s needs. He knew her better than he did himself.
Their gradual progression of giving into this connection while making their friendship even stronger was truly one of the best parts of the story. Amongst all the romance, other relationships these characters had and serious topics addressed made me want to scream cry because Liza wrote them so well.
I just- I can’t recommend this enough. READ THIS BOOK.
~ ARC provided in exchange for an honest review ~
HOW?! How did Liza take a hardcore enemies to lovers fan like me and make me fall in love with a friends to lovers?
I loved this book and the characters SO MUCH. Carter and Bloom were electric and had this beautiful connection. I could feel the draw they had towards each other almost like it came to life off the pages. AND THE SEXUAL TENSION. THE LOVE.. SQUARE?? I WAS BREAKING A SWEAT.
Ok back to the characters 😹 They just felt so real and more than a fraternity football jock/sorority artist archetype. There was so much substance to each of them that it made you fall in love and feel understood.
Bloom made me FEEL SEEN. She was introverted, awkward, creative, passionate, and so fucking giving.
Carter was 🥵. He also was so loving and in tune with Bloom’s needs. He knew her better than he did himself.
Their gradual progression of giving into this connection while making their friendship even stronger was truly one of the best parts of the story. Amongst all the romance, other relationships these characters had and serious topics addressed made me want to scream cry because Liza wrote them so well.
I just- I can’t recommend this enough. READ THIS BOOK.
July 15, 2022
Carter was everything in an ml.he was bossy, compassionate,caring,kind and awesome at American football.
I was so much more relatable to liv than bloom at the start
The way she carried herself was just how i like to. Trying new things,loving makeup, competitive,social
Are all my traits
And bloom is the completely opposite of me
So opening up to her and her personality was a bit difficult for me...
But i started liking her personality so much and was not quite comfortable with liv being her bestfriend cause she did a few things that pissed me off and weren't... nice
In chapter 14 Carter was talking about how uniquely he and bloom connect with each other and that she would not feel it with someone else. But what about him.he was still confused right? He was still kinda cheating on liv.he was having feelings for both of them. So did he admit that he wanted bloom and not liv? I was confused. In his pov in the previous CHP , he said he had feelings for both
But now in bloom's pov he said that what they had was unique and that he wanted her... So wht was actually true?
The big party scene was frickin messed up and i loved it!
"Your dad loved you more than anyone in the entire world. But not even you could have changed this. He gave you that last day as your final memory of him, and it’s a beautiful, beautiful thing, Bloom."
This line was so beautiful and heart touching! I loved it!
However i didn't like how Carter liked liv a lot as he said at first but suddenly his feelings for her completely vanished and he started feeling things for bloom AND before that he was calling bloom her SISTER
I was so much more relatable to liv than bloom at the start
The way she carried herself was just how i like to. Trying new things,loving makeup, competitive,social
Are all my traits
And bloom is the completely opposite of me
So opening up to her and her personality was a bit difficult for me...
But i started liking her personality so much and was not quite comfortable with liv being her bestfriend cause she did a few things that pissed me off and weren't... nice
In chapter 14 Carter was talking about how uniquely he and bloom connect with each other and that she would not feel it with someone else. But what about him.he was still confused right? He was still kinda cheating on liv.he was having feelings for both of them. So did he admit that he wanted bloom and not liv? I was confused. In his pov in the previous CHP , he said he had feelings for both
But now in bloom's pov he said that what they had was unique and that he wanted her... So wht was actually true?
The big party scene was frickin messed up and i loved it!
"Your dad loved you more than anyone in the entire world. But not even you could have changed this. He gave you that last day as your final memory of him, and it’s a beautiful, beautiful thing, Bloom."
This line was so beautiful and heart touching! I loved it!
However i didn't like how Carter liked liv a lot as he said at first but suddenly his feelings for her completely vanished and he started feeling things for bloom AND before that he was calling bloom her SISTER
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 3, 2021
WHAT CAN I SAY?! Well first off I’m going to say this- I am not a contemporary reader- I like my books DARK DARK! That’s one of the reason why I fell in love with Liza’s writing. So I’m not going to lie , I went in on this book with doubts that it would satisfy me not because Liza isn’t an amazing writer but because I don’t like the sweet stuff
BUT LET ME TELL YOU- I was slapped in the face and boy was I wrong! This book is FIVE STARS and if you get the chance to read it- do it.
The story between the two characters was so perfectly written- I was drawn to bloom
Since the first page. She kind of reminded me of myself a little bit. She loves soo hard and has a free spirit. I love her. It’s like every decision, every spoken word, her thoughts, just resonated with me.
Carter OH CARTER!!!! First off- he ain’t your typical bad boy but I fell hard for him. He’s so devoted to his friends and to bloom OMG THAT CONNECTION. Even though it was def like waves crashing l.
The build up between these two will get make you want to pull them of these books and slap them to open their eyes! But they really do fit perfectly- the ying to the yang
I wasn’t expecting the outcome actually- without spoiling anything but that’s what makes me love this book even more- the turns! The push and pulls- the crash (remember I said it was like waves crashing)
Warning this book will make you laugh- will make you cry and will make you punch the air but that’s what makes this book so perfect!!
Five stars my lady! Liza can truly write any genre and this is just another example of her great work
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