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Love in Seattle #1
Dear Amelia
Dear Amelia, I love you...
Advice columnist, Amelia Reinhardt, had been told her entire life that she was destined for greatness. After gracing the cover of a popular magazine that highlights black professionals, Amelia knew she’d finally made it. Now that her career was taking off, she no longer had an excuse to ignore the storm brewing between her and the man she’s known her entire life.
Real estate mogul, Israel Holloway, has worked tirelessly his entire adult life to get to where he wanted to be. So, working hard to get who he wanted to be with was a task he had no problem taking on. Israel longed to be the number one man in his best friend’s life, and in an attempt to win her heart, he turns to the one thing he knows will get her attention and keep it. But will it?
Signed, someone very close to you.
*please note, this is book one in a four book series but can be read as a standalone novel.
Advice columnist, Amelia Reinhardt, had been told her entire life that she was destined for greatness. After gracing the cover of a popular magazine that highlights black professionals, Amelia knew she’d finally made it. Now that her career was taking off, she no longer had an excuse to ignore the storm brewing between her and the man she’s known her entire life.
Real estate mogul, Israel Holloway, has worked tirelessly his entire adult life to get to where he wanted to be. So, working hard to get who he wanted to be with was a task he had no problem taking on. Israel longed to be the number one man in his best friend’s life, and in an attempt to win her heart, he turns to the one thing he knows will get her attention and keep it. But will it?
Signed, someone very close to you.
*please note, this is book one in a four book series but can be read as a standalone novel.
158 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 9, 2021
338 people are currently reading
1848 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 235 reviews
August 3, 2021
3.5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Dear Amelia was rather disappointing. I struggled with finishing this book. It was inconsistent with regards to enjoyment. At times it was good and other times it teetered on boring. Amelia was entirely too needy. She required too much affirmation from other people. You're this, you're that, it's okay to be this, it's okay to feel that. Ugh! She was exhausting! The constant second guessing drove me insane! While Amelia annoyed me at times, I did like her and Israel as a couple. Israel was the best. His affection for Amelia was adorable and sweet. When he took her on the helicopter ride back to Cali, I actually said, "awwwwww" out loud. I just loved how in love he was with her which, is why it annoyed me how Amelia kept questioning their relationship. This book had zero drama but, I'm thinking it actually could've used some. The author made a point of playing up Amelia's neighbor's attraction to her. Israel didn't like him and thought he was creepy and Buster didn't like him either. So, I just knew something was going to pop off between them. But, alas, nothing happened. Maybe that will come in one of the other books. Dear Amelia was an okay read but, it didn't pack a punch. I just hope the books on the other Holloway Brothers come better than this one. Oh, and FYI, the phrase "everyone who is everyone" is incorrect. The correct idiom is "everyone who is anyone." A little research goes a long way.
Dear Amelia was rather disappointing. I struggled with finishing this book. It was inconsistent with regards to enjoyment. At times it was good and other times it teetered on boring. Amelia was entirely too needy. She required too much affirmation from other people. You're this, you're that, it's okay to be this, it's okay to feel that. Ugh! She was exhausting! The constant second guessing drove me insane! While Amelia annoyed me at times, I did like her and Israel as a couple. Israel was the best. His affection for Amelia was adorable and sweet. When he took her on the helicopter ride back to Cali, I actually said, "awwwwww" out loud. I just loved how in love he was with her which, is why it annoyed me how Amelia kept questioning their relationship. This book had zero drama but, I'm thinking it actually could've used some. The author made a point of playing up Amelia's neighbor's attraction to her. Israel didn't like him and thought he was creepy and Buster didn't like him either. So, I just knew something was going to pop off between them. But, alas, nothing happened. Maybe that will come in one of the other books. Dear Amelia was an okay read but, it didn't pack a punch. I just hope the books on the other Holloway Brothers come better than this one. Oh, and FYI, the phrase "everyone who is everyone" is incorrect. The correct idiom is "everyone who is anyone." A little research goes a long way.
March 25, 2022
3.5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was a really nice friends to lovers story...this was the story of Amelia & Israel who were neighbors and grew up together being best friends...the catch to this story was each of them had a crush on one another (real SUPRISE)....The were truly best friends in every sense of the word and Amelia did not want the budding relationship to interrupt their friendship...Israel wasn't worried about that, he simply wanted to love and take care of Amelia's heart...it was a cute and endearing story. Benjamin Charles and Morae Brehon did a wonderful job narrating this story.
This was a really nice friends to lovers story...this was the story of Amelia & Israel who were neighbors and grew up together being best friends...the catch to this story was each of them had a crush on one another (real SUPRISE)....The were truly best friends in every sense of the word and Amelia did not want the budding relationship to interrupt their friendship...Israel wasn't worried about that, he simply wanted to love and take care of Amelia's heart...it was a cute and endearing story. Benjamin Charles and Morae Brehon did a wonderful job narrating this story.
March 5, 2023
I loved the Dear Amelia concept . I was charmed by Amelia and Israel's displays of affection. The chemistry is certainly there, but there's just something about being friends first and then lovers that just hits different. I simply wanted Amelia to be more confident in their relationship as she was in their friendship because there was no drama and everything went fairly well.
July 5, 2023
amazing!
Loved everything about this book! It’s a friends to lovers story. Asia will pen a love story and she did just that with this book. I loved the Dear Amelia column! Amelia & Israel have been friends for 20+ years, they’ve experienced losses and highs with each other but clearly they have stronger feelings. It was super sweet and sexy. And also, the story was relatable, especially with Amelia talking about the loss of her mother. I love stories that give me feelings and strong takeaways. I truly loved this book! I listened to the audiobook, as well as read the e-book along and the narrators were amazing. Well produced audiobook.
Loved everything about this book! It’s a friends to lovers story. Asia will pen a love story and she did just that with this book. I loved the Dear Amelia column! Amelia & Israel have been friends for 20+ years, they’ve experienced losses and highs with each other but clearly they have stronger feelings. It was super sweet and sexy. And also, the story was relatable, especially with Amelia talking about the loss of her mother. I love stories that give me feelings and strong takeaways. I truly loved this book! I listened to the audiobook, as well as read the e-book along and the narrators were amazing. Well produced audiobook.
April 28, 2023
dear amelia by asia monique
-love in seattle series no. 1-
•childhood friends to lovers
•fast paced novella [under 200 pages]
although this was cute, i find many childhood friends to lovers are missing tension/angst.. it was boring & i found myself skimming
tw⚠️: mentions of depression, suicide, death of a parent & grief
-love in seattle series no. 1-
•childhood friends to lovers
•fast paced novella [under 200 pages]
although this was cute, i find many childhood friends to lovers are missing tension/angst.. it was boring & i found myself skimming
tw⚠️: mentions of depression, suicide, death of a parent & grief
April 23, 2023
This was a cute and short friends to lovers story. A very easy read with a little spice. Black love will do it for me every time.I definitely can’t wait to get into the other three brothers stories. Love stories about successful black men and women *chefs kiss*. Definitely adding Israel to my book boyfriend list. Lol
April 5, 2023
4.5 ⭐ 😍 🤗 🔥
I really enjoyed this story; I am looking forward to reading more from this author.
Trope: Black Love, grief, childhood friends to lovers, found family
Enjoyment: 4 ⭐
Character development: 4 ⭐
Emotional: 3.5 ⭐
Sweet: 4 ⭐
Romance: 4 ⭐
Heat\steam: 3 ⭐
Intrigue:3 ⭐
Action:0
Violence,:0
Story\plot: 3 ⭐
World Building: 4⭐
Enjoy!!!
I really enjoyed this story; I am looking forward to reading more from this author.
Trope: Black Love, grief, childhood friends to lovers, found family
Enjoyment: 4 ⭐
Character development: 4 ⭐
Emotional: 3.5 ⭐
Sweet: 4 ⭐
Romance: 4 ⭐
Heat\steam: 3 ⭐
Intrigue:3 ⭐
Action:0
Violence,:0
Story\plot: 3 ⭐
World Building: 4⭐
Enjoy!!!
March 27, 2023
I actually loved how much Israel loved Amelia. The things he says to her honestly just makes you wish it were you. He is the most thoughtful person ever. But this story is not my favorite, it fell flat at times and I was bored. This is best friends to lovers and everything was so fast paced, I wish this book was longer so I could’ve connected so much more to this couple. They had some very cute scenes together, but they definitely will not be on my mind after this review. I fell in love with the family dynamic in this book, and the scenes with everyone together made me so excited to read the other books in this series. You can really feel the love pouring out of the pages with this family. 🫶🏾
December 16, 2023
3.5 🌟
I debated for a while with this. I don’t really like friends to lovers.
Amelia was sweet and Isreal had BDE. I like how their relationship was more to both of them, I like how they both knew they wanted each other and was going to get there eventually. I’m actually happy Is decided to win over her readers as well as her. I think this was cute and quick read.
I debated for a while with this. I don’t really like friends to lovers.
Amelia was sweet and Isreal had BDE. I like how their relationship was more to both of them, I like how they both knew they wanted each other and was going to get there eventually. I’m actually happy Is decided to win over her readers as well as her. I think this was cute and quick read.
August 14, 2024
I liked the found family, friends to lovers, and the advice column aspect of this. Overall, it was a cute and a teensy bit emotional of a read. Honestly, it was just what I needed and so it’s getting 4 stars lol.
May 12, 2021
Oh my goodness Asia! You have such a way of crafting feel good love stories girl! ❤️ Not only do the stories make you feel the love, but you build families from the strong friendships of your characters! Nothing beats friends who are family! Israel and Amelia were just adorable! Two childhood friends who have loved each other forever, trying to find their way, moving past their friendship into more. The way that they appreciated, supported, and cared for each other was so beautiful! They also both shared a common bond of losing their mothers, in a traumatic way. Amelia, felt responsible for not knowing that her mother was struggling, and held onto that pain and grief. Israel, fought hard to take care of and be there for everyone around him, as his mother made him believe that love would be his downfall. Together, with their families, they learned to push past their grief; forgive themselves and learn that none of what happened was their fault. Smiling, and heart feeling heavy at the same time! This was a friend to lovers story for the books! Those Holloway men! Can't wait to learn more about them. Great read! Bravo! 👍👍👍
April 13, 2023
The found family in this book including biological family is top tier in my humble opinion! The friends to lovers element was pure perfection and truly everything I look for when it comes to this top tier trope for me personally! Amelia and Israel are both really fucking amazing and resilient characters despite what they both have gone through specifically with deaths of their mothers and the grief that came along for both of them and the guilt they both almost let consume them! Holy shit!
April 10, 2024
Asia Monique has that effect on me. 12 pages into the book it was already 5 stars across the board. Her writing is what pulls me in. Like in all the books I’ve read by her there was not an annoying mc, cringy conversation, or a boring plot. She just writes some good short books that keeps you wanting more. I love this book it was so cute. Normally I find friends to lovers boring but of course Asia made it short, simple. And cute.
May 11, 2021
It gets better each time
You all with each new story, it gets better each time. Amelia was an absolute sweetheart, and she and Israel were relationship goals for sure. Friends to lovers are my go-to for a good read. The story and this couple, yeah! Perfect.
You all with each new story, it gets better each time. Amelia was an absolute sweetheart, and she and Israel were relationship goals for sure. Friends to lovers are my go-to for a good read. The story and this couple, yeah! Perfect.
March 1, 2023
i absolutely adore friends to lovers and this was rlly cute and quick 😚🤌
September 4, 2022
4.5/5! I really liked this. Will definitely read all the books in the series.
April 10, 2023
3.5/5 ⭐️
- This book gave me dreamland billionaires vibes and I really loved the storyline!! I love how you immediately are immersed into the characters, their history, and their lives so you really start to love them from the very beginning of the book.
- I’m always a sucker for cute dates and this book had so many of them!! It was honestly so cute seeing them go on a bookstore date and they had one of the most extravagant dates that I have probably ever read in a book!! I won’t spoil it, but it was truly so cute. The dead amelia concept was so cute too and reading everything that people would write into her was so fun to read.
- The absolute biggest downfall of this book was how short it is! It felt like a novella instead of an actual book with depth. It was barely over 150 pages and this book definitely could have been a much higher rating if it were twice as long. Would have loved to see more dates, learn more about their friendship prior to dating, and honestly this is the first time ever that I actually wanted a third act breakup! The relationship didn’t have enough time to develop and I wish I had more time with them!
- This book gave me dreamland billionaires vibes and I really loved the storyline!! I love how you immediately are immersed into the characters, their history, and their lives so you really start to love them from the very beginning of the book.
- I’m always a sucker for cute dates and this book had so many of them!! It was honestly so cute seeing them go on a bookstore date and they had one of the most extravagant dates that I have probably ever read in a book!! I won’t spoil it, but it was truly so cute. The dead amelia concept was so cute too and reading everything that people would write into her was so fun to read.
- The absolute biggest downfall of this book was how short it is! It felt like a novella instead of an actual book with depth. It was barely over 150 pages and this book definitely could have been a much higher rating if it were twice as long. Would have loved to see more dates, learn more about their friendship prior to dating, and honestly this is the first time ever that I actually wanted a third act breakup! The relationship didn’t have enough time to develop and I wish I had more time with them!
October 3, 2023
When I read romance, I am being reminded how sapphic I truly am. There were scenes in the book where I was like "she's doing this for a MAN?!" but I still found it cute that Amelia reciprocated Israel's devotion and love. They are so sweet together and I am so happy that they both had feelings for each other and there wasn't that weird friends to lovers thing where there was a love triangle for one person to realize it.
This was grown and sexy, but at times, it felt a bit boring. The sex scenes were nice, but I guess I wanted more tension as their love was pouring into each other.
This was grown and sexy, but at times, it felt a bit boring. The sex scenes were nice, but I guess I wanted more tension as their love was pouring into each other.
January 30, 2024
I love the whole Dear Amelia concept. The way Israel loved on Amelia out loud and in public warmed my heart. Even as friends, they were so good to one another. Even with familial issues, (grief, addiction, abandonment, etc.) they always had each other’s back.
There’s nothing better than your chosen family. I love to see it. I’m looking forward to reading the rest of this series to see if the rest of the Holloway men are as lovely as Israel.
Trope: Best friends to lovers
There’s nothing better than your chosen family. I love to see it. I’m looking forward to reading the rest of this series to see if the rest of the Holloway men are as lovely as Israel.
Trope: Best friends to lovers
August 16, 2024
Cute short story! But it was just a little too perfect for me, maybe that’s a personality flaw but so be it lol like it was just such a steady love story I was waiting for some twists and turns and all I got was a regulated nervous system. If you need something steady though, and don’t enjoy recreational trauma…guaranteed serotonin.
Also I love that there are trigger warnings before you read, very important!
Also I love that there are trigger warnings before you read, very important!
July 4, 2025
(3.5⭐️) A really cute friends to lovers romance. No drama or tension, despite touching on a couple of tough subjects like suicide, addiction, and parental loss. The book has some signature Asia Monique elements like the close knit family relationships as well as the aspect of found family. This would be a nice palate cleanser if you’ve read some heavier things and just want something that feels soft and sweet.
May 11, 2021
I have no words..
OMG! ASIA! Ma'am you put your entire foot in this story! I was hooked from the first page. This was a new and innovative twist on a classic story line and I loved it!! Meli and Is were perfect for each other. The friend turned family dynamic made my heart so happy and the love and support between the siblings was everything. I am so ready to read about the Holloway men finding love.
OMG! ASIA! Ma'am you put your entire foot in this story! I was hooked from the first page. This was a new and innovative twist on a classic story line and I loved it!! Meli and Is were perfect for each other. The friend turned family dynamic made my heart so happy and the love and support between the siblings was everything. I am so ready to read about the Holloway men finding love.
February 2, 2024
This was a cute fairytale romance. I loved everything about it. we love a man that takes woman to the bookstore and let her get whatever she wants especially vintage one. I love the name Amelia Jade I love how all the brothers had names that started with I. I love the writing style and the spiciness. 2/5 wish it was more spicy.
February 20, 2023
The story about 4 successful black men finding love is beyond necessary! I loved Amelia and Israel’s relationship, the beginning, middle, & end. However, the story felt a little unfinished to me. The book was too short, I wish there was more. This was a decent book & I’m on to the next one.
September 8, 2023
FRIENDS TO LOVERS
I CRIED AT 7:30 AM AND NOW IM GOING BED
BEAUTIFUL STORY ABOUT HEALING AND GENTLE LOVE BETWEEN TEO CHARACTERS
ALL CHARACTERS ARE BLACK
I LOVE SEING BLACK PEOPLE AKA MY PEOPLE SO HAPPY AND IN LOVE MAKES NY HEART HAPPY
DID I MENTION I CRIED
I CRIED AT 7:30 AM AND NOW IM GOING BED
BEAUTIFUL STORY ABOUT HEALING AND GENTLE LOVE BETWEEN TEO CHARACTERS
ALL CHARACTERS ARE BLACK
I LOVE SEING BLACK PEOPLE AKA MY PEOPLE SO HAPPY AND IN LOVE MAKES NY HEART HAPPY
DID I MENTION I CRIED
February 10, 2023
Just a good love story.
August 4, 2023
I am not a friends to lovers person or a huge novella person, but this made me cry soooo 5 stars lmao. Loved this couple.
November 27, 2023
3.5 ⭐️
“To my eleven- year old self, we got the girl and life is fucking great”
like that was too cute I’m so happy for them🥹
“To my eleven- year old self, we got the girl and life is fucking great”
like that was too cute I’m so happy for them🥹
August 15, 2024
4 stars Really sweet
April 28, 2023
3.5 ⭐️
I loved the dates the characters went on, the focus on family and the letters shared in this book.
I loved the dates the characters went on, the focus on family and the letters shared in this book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 235 reviews