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What do you do when your mind tells you to move on, but your heart tells you to stay?
Alicia Powell Torres is sick of her joyless career, in a town full of painful memories. She wants to seize life again and she won't get that by staying still. It's time for a big change, and Brooklyn seems like the right place for a fresh start. Gathering her courage, she begins the arduous process of selling her family home and leaving her past behind.
But before she can pack everything up, her childhood friend and neighbor Gabo returns to town with sexy smiles, his dinner invites, his collection of steamy romance books, and his big...goals. He also brings memories best left in the past. She struggles to keep him at a distance, but he lights her up like no one else ever could. The temptation he offers is impossible to resist and if she doesn't get away soon, she’ll end up hurting him, and herself in the process.
Gabriel Miller Garcia has always been cautious, but when he returns to his home town, he bumps into the love of his life, the one that got away. Being around Alicia again has him tempted to take a chance, but a fateful day from their youth threatens his hopes for a bright future together. Losing her again isn't an option, so Gabriel will risk it all to keep Alicia from the bright lights of Brooklyn, but will his rekindling of her fire be too late, or will love light the way to a future together…
Content Death off pageGrief and Mild DepressionConvalescent Parent (cancer) on page
Alicia Powell Torres is sick of her joyless career, in a town full of painful memories. She wants to seize life again and she won't get that by staying still. It's time for a big change, and Brooklyn seems like the right place for a fresh start. Gathering her courage, she begins the arduous process of selling her family home and leaving her past behind.
But before she can pack everything up, her childhood friend and neighbor Gabo returns to town with sexy smiles, his dinner invites, his collection of steamy romance books, and his big...goals. He also brings memories best left in the past. She struggles to keep him at a distance, but he lights her up like no one else ever could. The temptation he offers is impossible to resist and if she doesn't get away soon, she’ll end up hurting him, and herself in the process.
Gabriel Miller Garcia has always been cautious, but when he returns to his home town, he bumps into the love of his life, the one that got away. Being around Alicia again has him tempted to take a chance, but a fateful day from their youth threatens his hopes for a bright future together. Losing her again isn't an option, so Gabriel will risk it all to keep Alicia from the bright lights of Brooklyn, but will his rekindling of her fire be too late, or will love light the way to a future together…
Content Death off pageGrief and Mild DepressionConvalescent Parent (cancer) on page
317 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 16, 2021
294 people are currently reading
791 people want to read
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February 14, 20252.5/3 ? Idk undecided
This was so cute for a minute but my goodness they pissed me off. TALK TO EACH OTHER DAMN.
This was so cute for a minute but my goodness they pissed me off. TALK TO EACH OTHER DAMN.
January 13, 2024
2.5 stars
This book needed another round or two of editing. The dialogue was stilted and felt a bit unnatural for two 30-something POC characters living in Florida. Contractions would have fixed some of those issues, but the lack of them made the characters seem too formal. There were also a lot of grammatical errors throughout, many of which would have been caught with Microsoft Word alone.
Gabo and Alicia both annoyed me and I did not feel particularly invested in them getting together. Other than them being friends for so long, I didn't feel any real chemistry between them. I felt slightly more sympathetic toward Alicia after learning what Gabo did that caused them to lose touch, but I think that reveal came too late in the book. So many of their issues could have been solved just by actually talking to each other, and I felt like their lack of communication dragged the book out and made it longer than it needed to be.
I'll give the second book a try because the premise is much more interesting to me, but I simply did not enjoy this one.
This book needed another round or two of editing. The dialogue was stilted and felt a bit unnatural for two 30-something POC characters living in Florida. Contractions would have fixed some of those issues, but the lack of them made the characters seem too formal. There were also a lot of grammatical errors throughout, many of which would have been caught with Microsoft Word alone.
Gabo and Alicia both annoyed me and I did not feel particularly invested in them getting together. Other than them being friends for so long, I didn't feel any real chemistry between them. I felt slightly more sympathetic toward Alicia after learning what Gabo did that caused them to lose touch, but I think that reveal came too late in the book. So many of their issues could have been solved just by actually talking to each other, and I felt like their lack of communication dragged the book out and made it longer than it needed to be.
I'll give the second book a try because the premise is much more interesting to me, but I simply did not enjoy this one.
April 25, 2022
good but not good for me.
I enjoyed enough of this to continue reading. I was intrigued enough to want to see how it all would wrap up. I enjoyed Gabo being a literal book boyfriend. But the rest just wasn’t my cup of tea. Frankly, Gabo didn’t do nearly enough groveling. Alicia had to do to much of the emotional labor. And Gabo never fought hard enough for her in my opinion. He always walked away when he needed to draw closer. Also, the writing style wasn’t my favorite either. But I’ve heard amazing things about book 2 so I’ll be back!
I enjoyed enough of this to continue reading. I was intrigued enough to want to see how it all would wrap up. I enjoyed Gabo being a literal book boyfriend. But the rest just wasn’t my cup of tea. Frankly, Gabo didn’t do nearly enough groveling. Alicia had to do to much of the emotional labor. And Gabo never fought hard enough for her in my opinion. He always walked away when he needed to draw closer. Also, the writing style wasn’t my favorite either. But I’ve heard amazing things about book 2 so I’ll be back!
March 7, 2023
4 ⭐️
2 🌶️
Loved loved loved. Childhood friends to lovers which I don’t even usually like but I’m telling you - AH Cunningham is just perfection and her audios are elite.
Gave + Alicia 💕 ugh I LOVE THEM
2 🌶️
Loved loved loved. Childhood friends to lovers which I don’t even usually like but I’m telling you - AH Cunningham is just perfection and her audios are elite.
Gave + Alicia 💕 ugh I LOVE THEM
July 13, 2022
from the very first couple pages of this book, i knew it was going to be one of my favorite reads this year. i saw myself in alicia so many times i had to check the cover to make sure i didn’t write this damn book. the way alicia’s depression was written made me feel like i was standing in the mirror. the feeling of emptiness or feeling like life is moving while you’re standing still or the desperate want to change your surroundings in hopes that it will erase all the pain you’re going through. chile, i can go on forever.
then there’s gabo. baby was down bad over alicia til the very end. he had his moments where i wanted to go up side his head but he is truly book boyfriend goals. he reads romance books. he has a kindle. he sent alicia books with underlying messages while they were estranged. and the best of all, he lets her live out her favorite spice scenes. what’s not your love?!
alight was a beautiful book about two best friends finally putting all their shit on the table and trying to right the wrongs of their past. there were moments where i felt like their conflict kind of dragged but overall, i still loved this book and would probably read it again
then there’s gabo. baby was down bad over alicia til the very end. he had his moments where i wanted to go up side his head but he is truly book boyfriend goals. he reads romance books. he has a kindle. he sent alicia books with underlying messages while they were estranged. and the best of all, he lets her live out her favorite spice scenes. what’s not your love?!
alight was a beautiful book about two best friends finally putting all their shit on the table and trying to right the wrongs of their past. there were moments where i felt like their conflict kind of dragged but overall, i still loved this book and would probably read it again
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 21, 2022
I did not care about either of them by the 50% mark, but I refused to DNF so here we are.
November 19, 2021
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/🌶🌶🌶🌶
Tropes: Childhood best friends to strangers to lovers, Second Chance Romances, friends with benefits, and Miscommunication
Favorite Quote: “she is everything, and she is it for me”
Synopsis: Alicia and Gabriel “Gabo” have been friends since they were children! And after years apart they are finally in the same place at the same time but can they work through their feelings and make it work?
My thoughts: This story was BEAUTIFUL! I loved the talk of grief and how we see the way it truly impacts someone! I loved how we got to see so much of Gabo’s feelings in this story! Alicia is Panamanian and Jamaican so I loved seeing those conversations and having to translate them!
I think Gabo and Alicia were the perfect fit, but I wish the ending wasn’t so rushed and we saw more of them after everything was said and done! I also wish someone would’ve talked to Alicia about therapy earlier in the book!
Also GABO!? GABRIEL!? That’s a man right there oh my word!!! He was so hot lol I loved that he started reading romance books to connect with her and they started acting out the spicy scenes 🥵
My only complaint is that I feel like it took a really long time to figure out why they had a fallin out! But other then that it was amazing!!!
Tropes: Childhood best friends to strangers to lovers, Second Chance Romances, friends with benefits, and Miscommunication
Favorite Quote: “she is everything, and she is it for me”
Synopsis: Alicia and Gabriel “Gabo” have been friends since they were children! And after years apart they are finally in the same place at the same time but can they work through their feelings and make it work?
My thoughts: This story was BEAUTIFUL! I loved the talk of grief and how we see the way it truly impacts someone! I loved how we got to see so much of Gabo’s feelings in this story! Alicia is Panamanian and Jamaican so I loved seeing those conversations and having to translate them!
I think Gabo and Alicia were the perfect fit, but I wish the ending wasn’t so rushed and we saw more of them after everything was said and done! I also wish someone would’ve talked to Alicia about therapy earlier in the book!
Also GABO!? GABRIEL!? That’s a man right there oh my word!!! He was so hot lol I loved that he started reading romance books to connect with her and they started acting out the spicy scenes 🥵
My only complaint is that I feel like it took a really long time to figure out why they had a fallin out! But other then that it was amazing!!!
September 20, 2022
I have no idea how I stumbled across this book but I am pretty happy that I did. First of all I love the cover! It very much gives the energy that Alicia gives in this book. I will say that this book is so heavy with grief (TW for loss of a parent and cancer), but it also childhood best friends to lovers, second chance romance goodness. I love the steamy and sweet banter between Gabo and Alicia. I love Gabo as the hero of this book, he is a "romance book reading, I've loved you since before I knew what love was" hero and I was here for it. Such book boyfriend material. This book is duel POV which I love, but we also get lots of flashbacks, until we find out what tore the MC's apart, and really loved that. I love the family/friend group, and I love the talks of food and Afo-Latina rep in this book. Also the fat rep in this book was great. I love how confident Alicia was and how attracted to her Gabo was, her weight was never used negatively. Alight checks off all of my romance book boxes, it is sweet, steamy and swoony. I found myself not only laughing, but a little sad about the heavy parts; and I think that just goes to show how well written this book is. I will be looking for more books from this author in the future!
September 6, 2023
This was a super sweet and sexy second chance/friends to lovers/ big nosey family romance. From the moment these two childhood neighbors/ best friends reunite, sparks fly, and I was here for it. Alicia was ready to move away and start a new life, but Gabriel was determined not to let her go again. I adored him from start to finish. Alicia was as stubborn as they came. She was in protection mode. But there is just something about her childhood best friend and those sparks that they never got to fully explore. This one was good. Happy reading!
February 9, 2022
Man i really wanted to love this. I mean it was fine and I will probably read book 2 but... there were so many grammatical and structural things i couldn't look past. I wish there was more editing. I wanted a bit more from the plot as well . ah well
February 22, 2023
"His body must have known before his eyes were able to register what he was about to see. His body went cold, then hot the sensation resembling an utter change in matter where your atoms and molecules rearrange themselves as they recognize that your life is about to change, and your body could not stay in the same state of inertia. "
Now normally I don't do long quotes in my reviews but this here was amazing! Gabo and Alicia's friends to strangers to lovers story is one I am totally here for. Their story follows the struggles of miscommunication, grief and the lack of courage. They were best friends who were too young and scared to tell each other how they felt. Well, they are no longer teenagers or young adults so they so be able to reconnect and talk about their true feelings, right? Follow them as they navigate through reconnecting and trying to get over a rocky past.
This is my second book by A.H. Cunningham and she did not disappoint. I can wait to read the other two stories in this series! Now let me run and get my man to read romance novels like Gabo so we can talk about the spice!
Now normally I don't do long quotes in my reviews but this here was amazing! Gabo and Alicia's friends to strangers to lovers story is one I am totally here for. Their story follows the struggles of miscommunication, grief and the lack of courage. They were best friends who were too young and scared to tell each other how they felt. Well, they are no longer teenagers or young adults so they so be able to reconnect and talk about their true feelings, right? Follow them as they navigate through reconnecting and trying to get over a rocky past.
This is my second book by A.H. Cunningham and she did not disappoint. I can wait to read the other two stories in this series! Now let me run and get my man to read romance novels like Gabo so we can talk about the spice!
October 21, 2024
This was a good read a best friends to lovers is a sweet spot for me. Alicia got in my nerves at the end though, like please!!! A.H. got us together in the end though…lol definitely continuing the series.
October 19, 2022
A solid 3.5 stars!
As this is the authors first novel I felt it executed the friends to lovers to exes to friends to lovers (lol) trope very well.
I look forward to reading more by the author!
As this is the authors first novel I felt it executed the friends to lovers to exes to friends to lovers (lol) trope very well.
I look forward to reading more by the author!
November 4, 2023
This was a fun childhood friends to lovers
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July 25, 2024Don’t care enough.
dnf
March 13, 2024I DNFd on page one 💀 this is a new record.
February 1, 2025
Listened to the audio which isn’t listed as an option. Not entirely for me but I do love this author.
February 14, 2022
A Teenage Love
Alicia and Gabo were once inseparable from the time she was 12 years old and had just moved to Florida from NY. If you'd ask, nothing could come between them. Something did, and left a hole for both of them when they were in college. She refused every attempt he'd make to contact her. Now, he's back in Florida after living in NY and she's trying to sell her parents home and move to NY. Things are becoming Alicia and Gabo again. They're living right behind each other, they're leaving the gate unlocked, they're cooking for one another, and goddess Gabo reads romance novels...catch me I'm falling. Alicia has a lot of baggage and she thinks moving away will solve her problems, even when everyone is telling her to reconsider. When she and Gabo become homie, lover, friends and she starts working with his nonprofit she begins to question her desire to leave. Gabo doesn't want to lose her again, but doesn't want to pressure her but she's his everything... Always has been. This book gave me life. This friends to lovers was everything because of the depth in which the two knew each other. What pulled them apart wasn't inconsequential, but because it was discovered when she was already hurt by others she loved it made it that much worse. When you're hurting like that, you're not going to listen to reason. I loved everything about this book. Family, friendship, tradition, A man reading romance, the heat, the blending of cultural dishes! It's a book you don't want to miss.💕💕💕💕
Alicia and Gabo were once inseparable from the time she was 12 years old and had just moved to Florida from NY. If you'd ask, nothing could come between them. Something did, and left a hole for both of them when they were in college. She refused every attempt he'd make to contact her. Now, he's back in Florida after living in NY and she's trying to sell her parents home and move to NY. Things are becoming Alicia and Gabo again. They're living right behind each other, they're leaving the gate unlocked, they're cooking for one another, and goddess Gabo reads romance novels...catch me I'm falling. Alicia has a lot of baggage and she thinks moving away will solve her problems, even when everyone is telling her to reconsider. When she and Gabo become homie, lover, friends and she starts working with his nonprofit she begins to question her desire to leave. Gabo doesn't want to lose her again, but doesn't want to pressure her but she's his everything... Always has been. This book gave me life. This friends to lovers was everything because of the depth in which the two knew each other. What pulled them apart wasn't inconsequential, but because it was discovered when she was already hurt by others she loved it made it that much worse. When you're hurting like that, you're not going to listen to reason. I loved everything about this book. Family, friendship, tradition, A man reading romance, the heat, the blending of cultural dishes! It's a book you don't want to miss.💕💕💕💕
December 5, 2022
I am not sure I read the same book as everyone else. Alicia was really on my nerves, every time Gabo tried to talk to her and tell her the truth or try to explain what happened in the past she would shut down and talk about how she couldn't handle it right now and they would talk later. Then she got mad that he wasn't 100% with her when all of her words and actions indicated that she couldn't handle the truth. HEAVY EYE ROLL!!! I hate miscommunication like this. The whole book was one miscommunication after another and some sex mixed in the middle.
Lastly, read this one DO NOT LISTEN to the audio book. The accent of the female narrator is absolute TRASH!!!
Lastly, read this one DO NOT LISTEN to the audio book. The accent of the female narrator is absolute TRASH!!!
September 28, 2023
The overall concept of the friends to lovers storyline was good. I LOVED how she incorporated a lot of POC routines such as wrapping our hair in silk scarves, mention of silk pillowcases to protect our natural hair. All the different ethnic food dishes. I could really visualize and appreciated all these mentions. The only thing that drove me bananas was the amount of ERRORS while reading. Book definitely could have used 1 or 2 more rounds with a proofreader/editor. Overall it was a good story. I’m always down for a happy ending.
August 25, 2025
More of 4.75⭐️ I just really enjoyed this book. The writing just pulled me in and I had to take breaks because I did not want the story to end. Gabo has my heart because he was willing for all risks and just acknowledged his past mistakes and behavior. Alicia, she had me frustrated in scenes but I just love her and I loved that she broke out of her shell. Definitely need a physical copy. A.H Cunningham books are on my most favorite reads.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 13, 2024
*3,75
Um bom livro, mas me lembrou o porquê de eu não gostar tanto de second chance romances.
Não consegui me conectar tanto com os personagens e gostaria de ter entendido mais cedo na história o motivo pelo qual eles não deram certo 15 anos antes. Mas ao mesmo tempo, achei o motivo underwhelming.
Mas de maneira geral, achei a história interessante, os personagens secundários eram super engraçados e os narradores entregaram tudo.
Um bom livro, mas me lembrou o porquê de eu não gostar tanto de second chance romances.
Não consegui me conectar tanto com os personagens e gostaria de ter entendido mais cedo na história o motivo pelo qual eles não deram certo 15 anos antes. Mas ao mesmo tempo, achei o motivo underwhelming.
Mas de maneira geral, achei a história interessante, os personagens secundários eram super engraçados e os narradores entregaram tudo.
February 7, 2023
A Rollercoaster of Emotions
Alicia was so exhausting at moments. The back and forth at her big age had me putting this book down for a moment. The moments I enjoyed was everything about the Jamaican culture. I too loss my Jamaican dad 5 years ago. There were so many heartfelt moments with the food and music.
I’m so glad it all worked out in the end and true love prevailed.
Alicia was so exhausting at moments. The back and forth at her big age had me putting this book down for a moment. The moments I enjoyed was everything about the Jamaican culture. I too loss my Jamaican dad 5 years ago. There were so many heartfelt moments with the food and music.
I’m so glad it all worked out in the end and true love prevailed.
April 13, 2022
Obsessed with this book and I mean obsessed. It’s got me out of my reading slump and has made my standards for love go higher! (The scene were Gabo confesses he buys romance books after catching Alicia reading a raunchy romance and when they read one together HOT)
So Alicia and Gabo have been best friends since they were kids. Things changed as they get older, they become young adults, feelings grow and tension is getting hot. Things happen and because of the maturity of Alicia and Gabo they go their separate ways with a lot of things said and stop speaking.
Now a adult Alicia is not the person she once was and is grieving for her dad and suffering a mild depression. It’s awful really because Alicia shuts out the people she loves most afraid of getting hurt again by them. She’s at a point in her life we’re she thinks she needs to move away to move on with her life and become her old usual happy self. Gabo comes along after so many years and puts a spanner in the works. Gabo was set on making things right with Alicia as soon as he gets home. His constant yearning for her made my heart break. Some of the stuff he said was so sweet!Being mature adults now they can’t hide their attraction but with Alicia wanting to move she can only give Gabo so much.
This book was a perfect amount of sweet and spice. Alicia and Gabo are the cutest hottest couple ever. I loved how Gabo always called her Ali instead of Alicia when he was being sweet to her and every scene when they were talking about books/reading them it made me fall in love with them even more. The tension between them was fire but their was always this underlying tenderness because they new they had to handle each other with care. Their was so much unsaid between the two and you saw this from the chapters that were in the past when they were kids. Gabo really did give Alicia his 100% but her trust issues stem from the past were her grief and mild depression started. She really needed to work on herself to get better and to not hurt the people she loved anymore. Gabo froze when he needed to step up but he was unsure of were he stood when they were kids and now as adults.
This book was beautiful about growth, grief, depression, love and it had all the feels. It was written beautifully! The characters were great! So many bouncy characters and great friendships!
So Alicia and Gabo have been best friends since they were kids. Things changed as they get older, they become young adults, feelings grow and tension is getting hot. Things happen and because of the maturity of Alicia and Gabo they go their separate ways with a lot of things said and stop speaking.
Now a adult Alicia is not the person she once was and is grieving for her dad and suffering a mild depression. It’s awful really because Alicia shuts out the people she loves most afraid of getting hurt again by them. She’s at a point in her life we’re she thinks she needs to move away to move on with her life and become her old usual happy self. Gabo comes along after so many years and puts a spanner in the works. Gabo was set on making things right with Alicia as soon as he gets home. His constant yearning for her made my heart break. Some of the stuff he said was so sweet!Being mature adults now they can’t hide their attraction but with Alicia wanting to move she can only give Gabo so much.
This book was a perfect amount of sweet and spice. Alicia and Gabo are the cutest hottest couple ever. I loved how Gabo always called her Ali instead of Alicia when he was being sweet to her and every scene when they were talking about books/reading them it made me fall in love with them even more. The tension between them was fire but their was always this underlying tenderness because they new they had to handle each other with care. Their was so much unsaid between the two and you saw this from the chapters that were in the past when they were kids. Gabo really did give Alicia his 100% but her trust issues stem from the past were her grief and mild depression started. She really needed to work on herself to get better and to not hurt the people she loved anymore. Gabo froze when he needed to step up but he was unsure of were he stood when they were kids and now as adults.
This book was beautiful about growth, grief, depression, love and it had all the feels. It was written beautifully! The characters were great! So many bouncy characters and great friendships!
June 18, 2025
4.25 stars
"He had cared for her for so long, that the feelings were all one in his heart, friendship, love, passion, he didn't know where one began and the other one ended."
"He recognized her essence even after all these years."
"Slowly her eyes moved up, and he was confronted with reluctance but what captivated him, was the longing and tenderness that told him he was not in this alone."
This is a cute slow burn (definitely worth the wait, the spice was good) of childhood best friends to lovers. I listened to the audio, and I really enjoyed the voice narrators a lot. Alicia and Gabo's chemistry is *chefs kiss* , the connection when they were in high school to the connection as adults was intense and beautiful. I like how the author was able to provided small bits of their story in high school throughout the story has the current / present time of their relationship rekindled and developed. This story felt real and a few hiccups between the two made sense and I liked that, because it made the story feel real and accurate when it comes to people dealing with grief and navigating life as well. I like that an important theme that was expressed in the story is both Alicia and Gabo pushing and trying their best to make sure their work impact people that look like them and extending that additional protection for people that look like them. They always made a conscious decision to always make sure their work and impact was going to the right resources and people.
I really enjoyed this story a lot and I love the way the author intertwined Caribbean cultures into the story effortlessly. To the foods, dialects, music, families, and more, it was never a mistake of the identities of Alicia and Gabo, and their authenticity of being Black unapologetically. Some moments of this story was very happy and some moments were very sad, and I think that is why I resonate with the story a lot. Alicia is super relatable with her experience at her job and the micro aggressions she experiences, and even her still dealing with grief and just trying to figure out what she wants to do with her life. I absolutely adored her character a lot! Gabo definitely matched Alicia's energy and I loved seeing them grow together individually and as a couple. I'm excited to continue to read the next book in the series.
"He had cared for her for so long, that the feelings were all one in his heart, friendship, love, passion, he didn't know where one began and the other one ended."
"He recognized her essence even after all these years."
"Slowly her eyes moved up, and he was confronted with reluctance but what captivated him, was the longing and tenderness that told him he was not in this alone."
This is a cute slow burn (definitely worth the wait, the spice was good) of childhood best friends to lovers. I listened to the audio, and I really enjoyed the voice narrators a lot. Alicia and Gabo's chemistry is *chefs kiss* , the connection when they were in high school to the connection as adults was intense and beautiful. I like how the author was able to provided small bits of their story in high school throughout the story has the current / present time of their relationship rekindled and developed. This story felt real and a few hiccups between the two made sense and I liked that, because it made the story feel real and accurate when it comes to people dealing with grief and navigating life as well. I like that an important theme that was expressed in the story is both Alicia and Gabo pushing and trying their best to make sure their work impact people that look like them and extending that additional protection for people that look like them. They always made a conscious decision to always make sure their work and impact was going to the right resources and people.
I really enjoyed this story a lot and I love the way the author intertwined Caribbean cultures into the story effortlessly. To the foods, dialects, music, families, and more, it was never a mistake of the identities of Alicia and Gabo, and their authenticity of being Black unapologetically. Some moments of this story was very happy and some moments were very sad, and I think that is why I resonate with the story a lot. Alicia is super relatable with her experience at her job and the micro aggressions she experiences, and even her still dealing with grief and just trying to figure out what she wants to do with her life. I absolutely adored her character a lot! Gabo definitely matched Alicia's energy and I loved seeing them grow together individually and as a couple. I'm excited to continue to read the next book in the series.
November 28, 2024
*3.5 STARS*
So, I read another of this author's books, Plié and I LOVED it. And when I say love, I mean it. I find myself thinking about how soon is too soon for a reread on that one. But before I wax poetic about that book (I do think a reread will be in order very soon), I have to stay on task about this book.
I will say that this one was ok. I wasn't blown away the way I was with Plié, but I like the friends to lovers and the second chance romance aspects of the book, but Alight didn't gel for me. This was the author's debut novel so I am happy to say that she's grown as a writer. But, I felt taken out of the story a lot because of that.
Another issue I had was that these two who were BFFs at one point, just didn't talk enough. There was alot of their inner thoughts but not enough of them taking to each other and of course that lead to a lot of problems.
I enjoyed the story and the characters but wanted it to be a bit more polished. But, since I know how good the author will get, I am looking forward to continuing this series at some point. But first, I will have to do that reread I've been dreaming about...
So, I read another of this author's books, Plié and I LOVED it. And when I say love, I mean it. I find myself thinking about how soon is too soon for a reread on that one. But before I wax poetic about that book (I do think a reread will be in order very soon), I have to stay on task about this book.
I will say that this one was ok. I wasn't blown away the way I was with Plié, but I like the friends to lovers and the second chance romance aspects of the book, but Alight didn't gel for me. This was the author's debut novel so I am happy to say that she's grown as a writer. But, I felt taken out of the story a lot because of that.
Another issue I had was that these two who were BFFs at one point, just didn't talk enough. There was alot of their inner thoughts but not enough of them taking to each other and of course that lead to a lot of problems.
I enjoyed the story and the characters but wanted it to be a bit more polished. But, since I know how good the author will get, I am looking forward to continuing this series at some point. But first, I will have to do that reread I've been dreaming about...
November 15, 2021
*ARC provided for an honest review*
4/5⭐️
4/5🌶
Tropes:
- childhood best friends to strangers to lovers
- second chance romance
- friends with ✨benefits ✨
Alicia has plans to improve her life but what happens when her childhood friend moves back to town only months before she plans to move?
Let’s just say he has his own plans to convince her to stay.
I’m going to start this off by saying how much I loved all the characters! Alicia and Gabo were perfect and can we just talk about all the family! Loved every second.
The spice was SO GOOD! I tend to steer clear from the friends with benefits tropes but I will admit it does produce some damn good spice. Plus this one was done very well.
Now, in all honesty I don’t mind 3rd person POV in fact sometimes I prefer it. In this case it was a bit harder for me to feel completely connected as it felt like I was an outsider watching in, which is rare for me when reading.
Other than that I felt the story was very well done! Quick, steamy, and well developed. I need my own Gabo thank you very much!
4/5⭐️
4/5🌶
Tropes:
- childhood best friends to strangers to lovers
- second chance romance
- friends with ✨benefits ✨
Alicia has plans to improve her life but what happens when her childhood friend moves back to town only months before she plans to move?
Let’s just say he has his own plans to convince her to stay.
I’m going to start this off by saying how much I loved all the characters! Alicia and Gabo were perfect and can we just talk about all the family! Loved every second.
The spice was SO GOOD! I tend to steer clear from the friends with benefits tropes but I will admit it does produce some damn good spice. Plus this one was done very well.
Now, in all honesty I don’t mind 3rd person POV in fact sometimes I prefer it. In this case it was a bit harder for me to feel completely connected as it felt like I was an outsider watching in, which is rare for me when reading.
Other than that I felt the story was very well done! Quick, steamy, and well developed. I need my own Gabo thank you very much!
January 20, 2024
" I miss being your person "
the good : the characters are well fleshed out, layered and compelling. the relationships surrounding the main couple are fun and dynamic. the writting is engaging.
" Sometimes, I’m mad at him for coming so late into my life and expecting me to stop everything for one more chance. "
the bad : the flashbacks were not doing it for me. the tension lasted for the whole book about why they had a falling out and i was over it. every single supporting character is asking the main couple about their relationship even tho they were never a couple, including an old lady at the grocery store. i didn't need multiple iterations of the same conversation. this didn't need to be this long. i also wasn't a fan about the fact that Alicia has to do all this therapy and healing to be with him while he's good. even tho he also had thing to work through.
i will read more from this author. this just wasn't for me. the second book looks promising.
the good : the characters are well fleshed out, layered and compelling. the relationships surrounding the main couple are fun and dynamic. the writting is engaging.
" Sometimes, I’m mad at him for coming so late into my life and expecting me to stop everything for one more chance. "
the bad : the flashbacks were not doing it for me. the tension lasted for the whole book about why they had a falling out and i was over it. every single supporting character is asking the main couple about their relationship even tho they were never a couple, including an old lady at the grocery store. i didn't need multiple iterations of the same conversation. this didn't need to be this long. i also wasn't a fan about the fact that Alicia has to do all this therapy and healing to be with him while he's good. even tho he also had thing to work through.
i will read more from this author. this just wasn't for me. the second book looks promising.
September 27, 2023
Gabo and Alicia were best friends who grew up together, backyards facing each other, each having their turn crushing on each other, pulling closer and then backing away. They haven't spoken in years, but now Gabo's moving back home to start a nonprofit with his friend Mason and Alicia is in her parent's house to sell it to she can find happiness somewhere else. And now they're in each other's space again.
So I love a good friends to lovers and some angst is nice, but I think this one gave me a bit too much. Alicia's unhappiness was palpable and her insistence on glossing over it and running away made me sad. Gabo was able to bring some light back into her life, but their reluctance to have a simple conversation with each other was a little exhausting. I loved how passionate they were, how well they knew each other, how easy it was for them to get into a rhythm. That was my favorite part. Mariana and Aayala, and Mason were a fun supporting cast for them. I liked them having a safety net of friendship. But Alicia seemed intent on making Gabo take the weight of the bridge between them and I didn't think that was fair. I understand the grief that came along with her father and his diagnosis, but honestly I didn't think he did anything wrong respecting his wishes. Gabo sent a lot of mixed signals and didn't sort out his feelings fast enough and for that he should have taken his blame and apologized, but the rest? Alicia's grief was in the way of her seeing herself clearly. All in all, they were meant to be and I love it when that happens. They were a very hot couple with a ton of history. It's a great recipe for love.
So I love a good friends to lovers and some angst is nice, but I think this one gave me a bit too much. Alicia's unhappiness was palpable and her insistence on glossing over it and running away made me sad. Gabo was able to bring some light back into her life, but their reluctance to have a simple conversation with each other was a little exhausting. I loved how passionate they were, how well they knew each other, how easy it was for them to get into a rhythm. That was my favorite part. Mariana and Aayala, and Mason were a fun supporting cast for them. I liked them having a safety net of friendship. But Alicia seemed intent on making Gabo take the weight of the bridge between them and I didn't think that was fair. I understand the grief that came along with her father and his diagnosis, but honestly I didn't think he did anything wrong respecting his wishes. Gabo sent a lot of mixed signals and didn't sort out his feelings fast enough and for that he should have taken his blame and apologized, but the rest? Alicia's grief was in the way of her seeing herself clearly. All in all, they were meant to be and I love it when that happens. They were a very hot couple with a ton of history. It's a great recipe for love.
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