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The Road to Madison
As the sole heir to her family’s banking empire, a lot is expected of Madison Prescott. Falling in love with her childhood friend Ana Perez was not in the cards. As Madison’s father puts it, “A gay daughter? Married to the maid’s daughter? Running my company? Over my dead body.”
By the time George Prescott dies, it’s been 15 years since Madison and Ana were ripped apart by his lies. They haven’t spoken since, but Madison has spent every minute waiting for this day to come. Unfortunately, it turns out time doesn’t heal all wounds. Why was Madison willing to give up everything in the face of her father’s threats, and why can she never tell Ana the truth about what really separated them?
Caught between a present they can’t trust and a past they can’t forget, Madison and Ana must decide if this is their second chance, or their final heartbreak.
Cover Artist: Tammy Sedick
Genres: Contemporary / Romance
Tags: Financial gap/Class disparity, New York City, Multicultural, Big City, Friends to Lovers Romance, Reunion Romance, Virgins/First Love, Second Chance at Love
By the time George Prescott dies, it’s been 15 years since Madison and Ana were ripped apart by his lies. They haven’t spoken since, but Madison has spent every minute waiting for this day to come. Unfortunately, it turns out time doesn’t heal all wounds. Why was Madison willing to give up everything in the face of her father’s threats, and why can she never tell Ana the truth about what really separated them?
Caught between a present they can’t trust and a past they can’t forget, Madison and Ana must decide if this is their second chance, or their final heartbreak.
Cover Artist: Tammy Sedick
Genres: Contemporary / Romance
Tags: Financial gap/Class disparity, New York City, Multicultural, Big City, Friends to Lovers Romance, Reunion Romance, Virgins/First Love, Second Chance at Love
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First published May 14, 2019
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353 people want to read
About the author
Elle Spencer
11 books511 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 reviews
May 3, 2019
2.5 Stars. Well here comes a potentially unpopular review. I really struggled with this. This is my first time reading Spencer and after all the talk about how wonderful Casting Lacey was, I had high hopes for this book. On top of that all the early reviews/ratings for this book were 4 or 5 stars. Maybe that is part of the problem, maybe my expectations were too high? It’s also been cold and rainy here and I’m not feeling 100%. I haven’t seen the sun in days, maybe my mood is grumpy? I just don’t know. I tried to find something I liked about this book but it just wasn’t for me.
This book felt like a soap opera, but not a good soap opera. Have you ever watched say General Hospital? The show might not be for you but it’s interesting and has some good actors. But then you flip to another channel, to another soap opera and you just scratch your head. Who’s actually watching this soap opera? Why is everyone’s acting so over the top that people seem like living cartoon characters? Unfortunately that’s what I felt this book was like.
This is exes who hate each other storyline. Actually it’s only one person who everyone hates, but that is the basic storyline. So we start the book knowing that something bad happened for all this hate, but what? The book answers that with my favorite literary choice (just kidding) flashbacks. Flashbacks how I hate thee, let me count the ways. The main problem was the flashbacks spend so much time on what went wrong, that I don’t know what went right. Why did these two love each other so much that there is such hate now? Why is this “the one who got away” type storyline? Besides them being friends since they were kids, I never felt an actual romantic connection. I needed something in the flashbacks to tie the rest of the book together.
When it came to the mains themselves, I guess they were okay. One was always crying and the other was always mad. I didn’t have any big issues with them but I felt like I only knew them on the surface. They were a little two dimensional for my tastes. It was the secondary characters that really bothered me. The “mother”, the “villain”, they all felt like big fat stereotypes to me so that didn’t work either.
There were also just cheesy moments and choices I didn’t care for. I would read a line and just start head scratching again. Or I would read something and roll my eyes so hard I was worried they would stick. I’m going to put one of those rolling my eyes moments behind a spoiler, for an example.
I can’t recommend this book at all. However, I’m an outlier already. Other people clearly liked this book so please read some other reviews before you make a decision either way. I think I will still read Casting Lacey, but I have to admit I’m a little gun shy on this author now.
An ARC was given to me for a honest review.
This book felt like a soap opera, but not a good soap opera. Have you ever watched say General Hospital? The show might not be for you but it’s interesting and has some good actors. But then you flip to another channel, to another soap opera and you just scratch your head. Who’s actually watching this soap opera? Why is everyone’s acting so over the top that people seem like living cartoon characters? Unfortunately that’s what I felt this book was like.
This is exes who hate each other storyline. Actually it’s only one person who everyone hates, but that is the basic storyline. So we start the book knowing that something bad happened for all this hate, but what? The book answers that with my favorite literary choice (just kidding) flashbacks. Flashbacks how I hate thee, let me count the ways. The main problem was the flashbacks spend so much time on what went wrong, that I don’t know what went right. Why did these two love each other so much that there is such hate now? Why is this “the one who got away” type storyline? Besides them being friends since they were kids, I never felt an actual romantic connection. I needed something in the flashbacks to tie the rest of the book together.
When it came to the mains themselves, I guess they were okay. One was always crying and the other was always mad. I didn’t have any big issues with them but I felt like I only knew them on the surface. They were a little two dimensional for my tastes. It was the secondary characters that really bothered me. The “mother”, the “villain”, they all felt like big fat stereotypes to me so that didn’t work either.
There were also just cheesy moments and choices I didn’t care for. I would read a line and just start head scratching again. Or I would read something and roll my eyes so hard I was worried they would stick. I’m going to put one of those rolling my eyes moments behind a spoiler, for an example.
I can’t recommend this book at all. However, I’m an outlier already. Other people clearly liked this book so please read some other reviews before you make a decision either way. I think I will still read Casting Lacey, but I have to admit I’m a little gun shy on this author now.
An ARC was given to me for a honest review.
March 28, 2020
This book takes itself way too seriously. A few scenes made me feel like a jerk because I don't think I was supposed to laugh. It was like an old movie, full of dramatics. But if you can get over that it isn't half bad. I really liked Madison and Ana. They were always brooding over each other like it was a job. I would be more annoyed with Ana for not forgiving Madison if I wasn't such a sucker for angst. But seriously "Alicia Keys –If I Ain’t Got You" is what makes Ana realize that she should be with Maddy, not Maddy's billion love confessions or even her own mother's advice dafuq?
April 18, 2019
I fell in love with Elle Spencer's writing style after I stumbled open Casting Lacey. Such a fun read with a fabulous push-pull dynamic between the two leading ladies, it really had that something special that makes a book memorable. The Road to Madison is no different, this book will break your heart, make you smile and have your fingers crossed that true love wins in the end. A damn fine read!
When we meet the two main characters Madison Prescott has just buried her father. This is a man she despised with her whole being. She is standing by his grave glad that he is gone and can no longer control her life. Ana Perez picks that exact moment, graveside, to reappear fifteen years later. Ana and Madison were childhood sweethearts. Star crossed lovers from a different class, madly in love but torn apart by the cruelness of George Prescott and the power and influence he yielded. In Madison's dreamworld, once her father was out of the picture, she could reclaim the love the heart of the girl she once let go. The only problem is Ana's heart has never healed and she has never forgiven Madison for turning her back on their future.
Elle Spencer weaves a tale of full of sadness, remorse but one filled with those little moments that make you have the flutters. Her characters are well developed, the dialogue is seamless and natural, you really get thrown right into Madison and Anna's world. You feel what they feel. This book grabbed my attention and had me turning the pages through the night. A delightful story that I thoroughly enjoyed. I cannot wait for the next adventure Elle Spencer takes me on.
When we meet the two main characters Madison Prescott has just buried her father. This is a man she despised with her whole being. She is standing by his grave glad that he is gone and can no longer control her life. Ana Perez picks that exact moment, graveside, to reappear fifteen years later. Ana and Madison were childhood sweethearts. Star crossed lovers from a different class, madly in love but torn apart by the cruelness of George Prescott and the power and influence he yielded. In Madison's dreamworld, once her father was out of the picture, she could reclaim the love the heart of the girl she once let go. The only problem is Ana's heart has never healed and she has never forgiven Madison for turning her back on their future.
Elle Spencer weaves a tale of full of sadness, remorse but one filled with those little moments that make you have the flutters. Her characters are well developed, the dialogue is seamless and natural, you really get thrown right into Madison and Anna's world. You feel what they feel. This book grabbed my attention and had me turning the pages through the night. A delightful story that I thoroughly enjoyed. I cannot wait for the next adventure Elle Spencer takes me on.
June 15, 2019
So Elle Spencer was a very nice addition to my author list with Casting Lacey and obviously I was very excited to read this one. There were some mixed reviews and that’s why I went in with no expectations and thank god for that because this one actually clicked with me:)
I’ve always liked the rich/poor girl storyline but this one was done very nicely! The emotions were too real , and the MCs so believable.
I totally recommend this but it’s not for you if you don’t tolerate angst because, ladies and ladies, this is FULL of angst and not the smooth kind of angst, no it’s the real deal :)
I want to keep this review short because sometimes all you gotta do is recommend it :) so go for it , go through the emotional roller coaster that I went through and ENJOY :)
This is a solid 4 for me!
I received an ARC for an honest review.
I’ve always liked the rich/poor girl storyline but this one was done very nicely! The emotions were too real , and the MCs so believable.
I totally recommend this but it’s not for you if you don’t tolerate angst because, ladies and ladies, this is FULL of angst and not the smooth kind of angst, no it’s the real deal :)
I want to keep this review short because sometimes all you gotta do is recommend it :) so go for it , go through the emotional roller coaster that I went through and ENJOY :)
This is a solid 4 for me!
I received an ARC for an honest review.
May 4, 2019
Look no further for extravagance and theatrics. The Road to Madison is full of serial drama.
Madison is the only heir to her father George Madison III's company and fortune. For the past 15 years, she has been being groomed to take over. A fortuitous incident brings her face to face with her past.
Ana is a successful business woman who has done everything she can to make a name for herself in the world. The last 15 years has been full of hard work and meaningless flings. She will not open her heart to anyone after Madison so thoroughly ruined her long ago.
I didn't want to put this down. I felt like I had to know what happened so many years ago to create such a major conflict between the two main characters. Once that was revealed, I couldn't imagine anything ever healing the wounds they shared.
My favorite type of stories are ones filled with emotional drama. This one is chalk full of heated conversations, tension filled interactions, internal suffering, and making silly decisions because the hurt is oh so unbearable. Frustrations rise as characters cannot get beyond their stubborn pride to move toward any positive resolution. It's the best kind of torture.
There are a few reasons that I am taking a star off. The flashbacks were not in any type of order. It left me constantly confused and wondering where I was at in the timeline of the past. And 'going steady' was used a couple of times and that threw me out of the story because I had to remind myself that I was not reading a book set in the 50s/60s.
I recommend this to people who love romance, angst, hurting so good, DRAMA, over the top theatrics, and empanadas.
I received an ARC from the publisher for an honest review
Madison is the only heir to her father George Madison III's company and fortune. For the past 15 years, she has been being groomed to take over. A fortuitous incident brings her face to face with her past.
Ana is a successful business woman who has done everything she can to make a name for herself in the world. The last 15 years has been full of hard work and meaningless flings. She will not open her heart to anyone after Madison so thoroughly ruined her long ago.
I didn't want to put this down. I felt like I had to know what happened so many years ago to create such a major conflict between the two main characters. Once that was revealed, I couldn't imagine anything ever healing the wounds they shared.
My favorite type of stories are ones filled with emotional drama. This one is chalk full of heated conversations, tension filled interactions, internal suffering, and making silly decisions because the hurt is oh so unbearable. Frustrations rise as characters cannot get beyond their stubborn pride to move toward any positive resolution. It's the best kind of torture.
There are a few reasons that I am taking a star off. The flashbacks were not in any type of order. It left me constantly confused and wondering where I was at in the timeline of the past. And 'going steady' was used a couple of times and that threw me out of the story because I had to remind myself that I was not reading a book set in the 50s/60s.
I recommend this to people who love romance, angst, hurting so good, DRAMA, over the top theatrics, and empanadas.
I received an ARC from the publisher for an honest review
May 8, 2019
When I first started this book, I thought, Aha! I see why this story divided people into two different camps.
Rich girl (Madison George Prescott) and the maid’s daughter (Ana Margareta Maria Perez) are in a forbidden romance. Dark family secrets, shady characters, and non stop high drama provide the atmosphere. The story is non linear, at times haphazardly so, especially in the beginning. It seemed like the author cut the 20 year timeline into pieces, threw them into the air, and how they landed is how the bits got told. Then around the 1/3 mark, the rhythm kicked in and the narrative was easier to follow.
How you approach this story is the key to whether you’ll enjoy it or not.
I honestly kept thinking, this author’s been binging on Univision, Telemundo, or some other Spanish language network because The Road to Madison is very much a Telenovela. I’m sure many are familiar with the Mexican TV staple of Telenovelas due to the big fandom for Juliantina. Novelas are basically melodramatic serial tv shows with epic twists and turns, buried family history, bed hopping except for the main couple who are usually star crossed lovers. Think American Soap Operas on steroids.
Road to Madison basically adds up to one big, fun mess and somewhere in my brain, I swear I heard the soaring music after each reveal and would chuckle afterwards. The ending was abrupt but no big deal for me because I wasn’t taking this story too seriously anyway. Just enjoyed it for what it was.
Because I’m giving an honest review, I want to add that what I felt hurt the book most and frustrated many readers were the rapid fire time jumps. Had the story been told in chronological order or even had the scenes been longer before jumping, I believe the book would have been more impactful. ARC read courtesy of Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Rich girl (Madison George Prescott) and the maid’s daughter (Ana Margareta Maria Perez) are in a forbidden romance. Dark family secrets, shady characters, and non stop high drama provide the atmosphere. The story is non linear, at times haphazardly so, especially in the beginning. It seemed like the author cut the 20 year timeline into pieces, threw them into the air, and how they landed is how the bits got told. Then around the 1/3 mark, the rhythm kicked in and the narrative was easier to follow.
How you approach this story is the key to whether you’ll enjoy it or not.
I honestly kept thinking, this author’s been binging on Univision, Telemundo, or some other Spanish language network because The Road to Madison is very much a Telenovela. I’m sure many are familiar with the Mexican TV staple of Telenovelas due to the big fandom for Juliantina. Novelas are basically melodramatic serial tv shows with epic twists and turns, buried family history, bed hopping except for the main couple who are usually star crossed lovers. Think American Soap Operas on steroids.
Road to Madison basically adds up to one big, fun mess and somewhere in my brain, I swear I heard the soaring music after each reveal and would chuckle afterwards. The ending was abrupt but no big deal for me because I wasn’t taking this story too seriously anyway. Just enjoyed it for what it was.
Because I’m giving an honest review, I want to add that what I felt hurt the book most and frustrated many readers were the rapid fire time jumps. Had the story been told in chronological order or even had the scenes been longer before jumping, I believe the book would have been more impactful. ARC read courtesy of Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 16, 2019
This is a second chance story with angst. But, aren't all second chance stories 'angsty'?
Madison Prescott is the only heir to a multimillion dollar company and estate. Raised by her conservative father, her path in life has been predetermined by her last name. This is derailed by the maid's daughter, Ana Perez, when they met at 8 and 7 yrs old respectively. Now in their 30s, 15 yrs after Madison proposed then abandoned Ana, her father died. Can Madison pursue the love of her life once again, or are the wounds she created too deep for Ana's heart to overcome?
This tale, no doubt, does contain some dramatic moments. The narration alternates between the present and the past, the last one providing the backdrop to the feelings that are told in the present. The memories served to enhance the story and did not distract nor confused me from the current story line as some other authors have done in the past. Ms Spencer kept these memories short and the story flow benefited as a result.
As raw as the emotions are in the present for the obvious loss of what they could have had, the flashbacks serve to cement the relationship as one that could have thrived in years to come. Where I would question teenagers being a viable long term couple, Madison and Ana seem real and strong. The details about their sweet words and gestures sure fueled the romantic in me. Their chemistry was undeniable and is what made this book worth reading. As I told my good friend, I managed to read this one in a relatively short period of time and while working long hours everyday. That is the ultimate proof of how I was engaged and needed to see these two gals find each other again.
The drawback in this story is a couple of events that seemed a little too far fetched and dramatic. However, just like the flashbacks, the author moved past these quickly and before I could start rolling my eyes the story moved forward and onto safer grounds. If you do not like drama and angst, pass this one up.
A quick shoutout to Tammy Seidick, designer of yet another fabulous cover. Clean, sharp and with that wonderful red dress, this cover caught my attention ever since I first saw it.
Overall a good second chance romance with angst. 3.5
ARC generously provided to me by BSB via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Madison Prescott is the only heir to a multimillion dollar company and estate. Raised by her conservative father, her path in life has been predetermined by her last name. This is derailed by the maid's daughter, Ana Perez, when they met at 8 and 7 yrs old respectively. Now in their 30s, 15 yrs after Madison proposed then abandoned Ana, her father died. Can Madison pursue the love of her life once again, or are the wounds she created too deep for Ana's heart to overcome?
This tale, no doubt, does contain some dramatic moments. The narration alternates between the present and the past, the last one providing the backdrop to the feelings that are told in the present. The memories served to enhance the story and did not distract nor confused me from the current story line as some other authors have done in the past. Ms Spencer kept these memories short and the story flow benefited as a result.
As raw as the emotions are in the present for the obvious loss of what they could have had, the flashbacks serve to cement the relationship as one that could have thrived in years to come. Where I would question teenagers being a viable long term couple, Madison and Ana seem real and strong. The details about their sweet words and gestures sure fueled the romantic in me. Their chemistry was undeniable and is what made this book worth reading. As I told my good friend, I managed to read this one in a relatively short period of time and while working long hours everyday. That is the ultimate proof of how I was engaged and needed to see these two gals find each other again.
The drawback in this story is a couple of events that seemed a little too far fetched and dramatic. However, just like the flashbacks, the author moved past these quickly and before I could start rolling my eyes the story moved forward and onto safer grounds. If you do not like drama and angst, pass this one up.
A quick shoutout to Tammy Seidick, designer of yet another fabulous cover. Clean, sharp and with that wonderful red dress, this cover caught my attention ever since I first saw it.
Overall a good second chance romance with angst. 3.5
ARC generously provided to me by BSB via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 14, 2019
Oh this is fraught with heartbreak and angst. In a good way though – not the heartbreak and angst – for the tension and suspense a second chance romance creates. Madison Prescott fell in love with her childhood friend, Ana Perez, when she was 8-years-old. Her father didn’t want his daughter to even be friends with the maid’s daughter let alone allow her to be gay or in love with her. On the day of his funeral, Madison sees Ana again.
When I’m in the mood, this type of story where a couple finally get a chance at re-uniting, and all the past pain that goes with it, really appeals to me. All too often though, the story is fairly predictable and I often think that the reason the couple originally parted ways is something that could have been fixed with a little conversation. This is not one of those and it sets it apart.
I enjoyed the pace and liked both main characters. There are lots of flashbacks that are non-linear which added to the unravelling of the story. The only thing that I was a little disappointed by was that I was put through all their hurt and sadness without little return on my investment of time. I would have like a little more expression of love between them to counterbalance the trauma.
Book received from Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.
When I’m in the mood, this type of story where a couple finally get a chance at re-uniting, and all the past pain that goes with it, really appeals to me. All too often though, the story is fairly predictable and I often think that the reason the couple originally parted ways is something that could have been fixed with a little conversation. This is not one of those and it sets it apart.
I enjoyed the pace and liked both main characters. There are lots of flashbacks that are non-linear which added to the unravelling of the story. The only thing that I was a little disappointed by was that I was put through all their hurt and sadness without little return on my investment of time. I would have like a little more expression of love between them to counterbalance the trauma.
Book received from Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.
May 13, 2019
I basically started this story lying in bed one morning and didn’t put it down (or leave the house) until I finished it. I was entranced from the first chapter and hung on every word until it was finished.
Ana and Madison were madly in love when they were teenagers. But when Madison’s father puts a stop to their relationship they are both left heart broken with no one ever quite measuring up to each other. When Madison’s father dies they bump into each other at the funeral and chemistry and love bubbles back to the surface. But can they ever really be together when the past still haunts them?
This book gave me all the feels. Elle Spencer is fast becoming one of my favourite authors. She transports me into the story and I feel like I’m living vicariously through the characters. The pace was perfect, especially for this love story. It gave the reader the time to understand the characters and their past and why they were so cautious.
The book is written in the present but there are flashbacks to the relationship Maddie and Anna have as teenagers. The love they feel as kids is so potent that you understand the degree of heart break they both went through. Maddie and Ana are the very definition of soul mates. They complete each other and their second chance at being together is so beautiful. I mean don’t get me wrong Elle Spencer makes you work for it as they navigate their feelings but at no point do you question their love. It’s at the forefront from the first chapter.
The love scenes were intimate while hot and passionate. Even as teenagers the tentative touches and exploration was written beautifully.
The secondary characters were so important in this story and I think I bonded with them... well, the nice ones anyway. Especially Kris and Scott whom I just loved every time they got page time. I’m kinda hoping Kris gets her own love story... she certainly deserves it.
All in all this was a fantastic story!
5 stars
Ana and Madison were madly in love when they were teenagers. But when Madison’s father puts a stop to their relationship they are both left heart broken with no one ever quite measuring up to each other. When Madison’s father dies they bump into each other at the funeral and chemistry and love bubbles back to the surface. But can they ever really be together when the past still haunts them?
This book gave me all the feels. Elle Spencer is fast becoming one of my favourite authors. She transports me into the story and I feel like I’m living vicariously through the characters. The pace was perfect, especially for this love story. It gave the reader the time to understand the characters and their past and why they were so cautious.
The book is written in the present but there are flashbacks to the relationship Maddie and Anna have as teenagers. The love they feel as kids is so potent that you understand the degree of heart break they both went through. Maddie and Ana are the very definition of soul mates. They complete each other and their second chance at being together is so beautiful. I mean don’t get me wrong Elle Spencer makes you work for it as they navigate their feelings but at no point do you question their love. It’s at the forefront from the first chapter.
The love scenes were intimate while hot and passionate. Even as teenagers the tentative touches and exploration was written beautifully.
The secondary characters were so important in this story and I think I bonded with them... well, the nice ones anyway. Especially Kris and Scott whom I just loved every time they got page time. I’m kinda hoping Kris gets her own love story... she certainly deserves it.
All in all this was a fantastic story!
5 stars
May 6, 2019
I was quite into this one at the beginning. What potential! Super wealthy MC Madison who is the only heir to a family business falling for her maid's daughter Ana? Not new content, but the story starts with a bang, where the two meet up at the grave of Madison's father for the first time in 15 years, and both are successful, wealthy, gorgeous women with a boatload of history and angst and turmoil between them. I was all into this rather cheesy but well fleshed out drama! Let's go, says I! I found the first part edgy and electric as these two navigate their present with ties from their past. How can trust be rebuilt? Will love prevail? Or has too much damage been done?
However, the book really lost steam midway through and didn't pick back up, unfortunately. We find out why Madison stepped away from the love of her life, and the reasons were actually quite believable, if not stereotypical. But Ana's reluctance and full blown anger gets tiresome, as does Madison's constant crying, and there is a lot of repetition for the rest of the book. The two women who started off intriguing me at the beginning totally blew it and I ended up not liking either.
The flashbacks were confusing as well, as they didn't follow any kind of timeline but jumped around. It went from present day, back to 1994, then 2003, then 1997, onto 2001, then present, etc. While I am actually a fan of the flashback formula, as I find I get way more oomph out of the characters, this one felt choppy and unbalanced, because not enough was focused on their love for one another, or what made them actual soulmates, but more what was keeping them apart. Damn you, George Prescott III. What a horrible horrible man. Even in death we see his influence to cause Ana harm, with an incoming odd scene involving that made me shake me head in confusion as to just how this added anything to the story.
At least, I thought, I can look forward to the sex! There is a constant burn between the two MCs that is pretty great, they are hot and simmering and I was really rooting for the lead up to..........meh. There was barely any sexy times. We read about how raw and passionate lovers they were the past (no details though) and how they still long for one another and I was gearing up for the payout (am I a creep?), but all we readers get is a short fumbling scene near the end. Aw man! Ms. Spencer is normally better at this chemistry thing. You can already predict the ending, which unfortunately gets tied up in an extremely short few pages after all the baggage we are subjected to.
*Much thanks to NetGalley for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review!*
However, the book really lost steam midway through and didn't pick back up, unfortunately. We find out why Madison stepped away from the love of her life, and the reasons were actually quite believable, if not stereotypical. But Ana's reluctance and full blown anger gets tiresome, as does Madison's constant crying, and there is a lot of repetition for the rest of the book. The two women who started off intriguing me at the beginning totally blew it and I ended up not liking either.
The flashbacks were confusing as well, as they didn't follow any kind of timeline but jumped around. It went from present day, back to 1994, then 2003, then 1997, onto 2001, then present, etc. While I am actually a fan of the flashback formula, as I find I get way more oomph out of the characters, this one felt choppy and unbalanced, because not enough was focused on their love for one another, or what made them actual soulmates, but more what was keeping them apart. Damn you, George Prescott III. What a horrible horrible man. Even in death we see his influence to cause Ana harm, with an incoming odd scene involving that made me shake me head in confusion as to just how this added anything to the story.
At least, I thought, I can look forward to the sex! There is a constant burn between the two MCs that is pretty great, they are hot and simmering and I was really rooting for the lead up to..........meh. There was barely any sexy times. We read about how raw and passionate lovers they were the past (no details though) and how they still long for one another and I was gearing up for the payout (am I a creep?), but all we readers get is a short fumbling scene near the end. Aw man! Ms. Spencer is normally better at this chemistry thing. You can already predict the ending, which unfortunately gets tied up in an extremely short few pages after all the baggage we are subjected to.
*Much thanks to NetGalley for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review!*
May 8, 2019
It was just okay. I had high hopes for this book because I loved Casting Lacey.
The drama and villain(s) were like in a bad soap opera. There was lots of angst. At first I cared about the MCs and then it was dragging, so I was bored. Secondary characters didn't add anything good to the story. I thought Ana's mother and Maddy's husband were a bit selfish.
Overall its a 2.75⭐ read. I usually don't like second chance romances but I thought I should give it a try. So now I decided to stick to what I really like. And this is my 700th book 📚
The drama and villain(s) were like in a bad soap opera. There was lots of angst. At first I cared about the MCs and then it was dragging, so I was bored. Secondary characters didn't add anything good to the story. I thought Ana's mother and Maddy's husband were a bit selfish.
Overall its a 2.75⭐ read. I usually don't like second chance romances but I thought I should give it a try. So now I decided to stick to what I really like. And this is my 700th book 📚
May 15, 2019
I've been a fan on this author since her fanfic days...and boy, did she write some good ones. I loved Casting Lacey, probably one of my faves from last year. I was excited to read this one and I really like how it started out.
I found both of the mains to be likeable even when considering Madison's actions in the past. Speaking of the past, I don't totally love flashbacks. Personally I'd rather the book start in the past and then jump to the present if needed. At least these flashbacks were pretty short.
I completely understood and agreed with Ana's anger. She didn't know the motivations behind Madison's actions. I did feel like she was a little wishy-washy with her interactions with Maddy towards the end, though.
I like a side of angst with my romance, but this was a main course of angst. I could deal with Madison's dad's antics while he was alive, but him still pulling strings from the grave was a bit much.
I really felt the chemistry between the two and was immediately rooting for them from the beginning. It was hard not to. I felt their love for each other from beginning to end.
This is definitely a book worth reading.
(A copy was generously provided by BSB via NetGalley)
I found both of the mains to be likeable even when considering Madison's actions in the past. Speaking of the past, I don't totally love flashbacks. Personally I'd rather the book start in the past and then jump to the present if needed. At least these flashbacks were pretty short.
I completely understood and agreed with Ana's anger. She didn't know the motivations behind Madison's actions. I did feel like she was a little wishy-washy with her interactions with Maddy towards the end, though.
I like a side of angst with my romance, but this was a main course of angst. I could deal with Madison's dad's antics while he was alive, but him still pulling strings from the grave was a bit much.
I really felt the chemistry between the two and was immediately rooting for them from the beginning. It was hard not to. I felt their love for each other from beginning to end.
This is definitely a book worth reading.
(A copy was generously provided by BSB via NetGalley)
August 8, 2019
I had some level of expectations when ‘The road to Madison’ was first on pre-order especially given that I thoroughly enjoyed reading Casting Lacey and Forget Her Not, both were one of the first few lesfic that I read after going on a really really reaaally long reading hiatus!
And when TRTM is out, reviews weren’t all that great. Took the plunge nonetheless and am glad that I did - cos I loved it! There’s just so much angst, so much drama and was just so full of emotion which makes reading it all the more interesting, for me at least. It’s a mix of friend to lover, rich/poor girl, high powered, first love, forbidden love, second chances storyline, all mixed into one, which really had me hooked from the first page. There were many flashbacks which were kept short and shed some light on Madison and Ana’s present predicament. The romance between Madison and Ana during their early years and how they came together had my heart fluttering at times. And how they came apart and sacrificed love and life made it all so anguish. It’s one helluva roller coaster ride!
A solid 5 for me
And when TRTM is out, reviews weren’t all that great. Took the plunge nonetheless and am glad that I did - cos I loved it! There’s just so much angst, so much drama and was just so full of emotion which makes reading it all the more interesting, for me at least. It’s a mix of friend to lover, rich/poor girl, high powered, first love, forbidden love, second chances storyline, all mixed into one, which really had me hooked from the first page. There were many flashbacks which were kept short and shed some light on Madison and Ana’s present predicament. The romance between Madison and Ana during their early years and how they came together had my heart fluttering at times. And how they came apart and sacrificed love and life made it all so anguish. It’s one helluva roller coaster ride!
A solid 5 for me
May 17, 2019
ARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is my first full length book by this author. I read Unforgettable which is two novellas in the one book. They were just ok but I wanted to see what the author could do with more time to flesh things out. Unfortunately, the answer is too much.
Ok, this features Madison, who is a poor little rich girl, with a complete douchebag for a father (George), and the other MC is Ana, who is George’s maid’s daughter. The girls grew up together, fell in love and then were forced apart.
The story starts with George’s death, because this is the catalyst for Madison to be able to reconnect with Ana, only Ana wants no part of this, because she was WRONGED, WRONGED I TELL YOU (and Ana tells everyone that, repeatedly). So, basically this is a story about Madison wanting to get back with Ana, Ana finding out the whys and wherefores of what happened (in all honesty Madison’s reason for leaving her was pretty legitimate) and Ana telling everyone she didn’t care no matter what the reason and wouldn’t ever take Madison back, when everyone knew she would eventually.
One of main reasons I dislike ‘reunion’ stories is because whatever broke the main couple up originally usually takes up too much space in the story. Here it takes up all the space. There’s so much DRAMA. And crying. Did I mention that Madison spends a good deal of time crying? Madison is kind of a wimp. The flashbacks also didn’t help. Maybe if they’d been chronological it would have worked better, but all the jumping around was enough to make me seasick.
Sometimes authors write love/hate relationships, where both characters dislike each other but they fall in love anyway, this is a different type of love/hate, because Madison loves Ana and would get back with her in an instant but Ana doesn’t like Madison to start with due to REASONS and is pretty awful to her all the way through. She also strings her girlfriend/fiancé along, which is another mark in the no column.
There’s also a ridiculous subplot involving Madison’s family that was inserted just to provide some different drama and also fabricate a reason to force Ana back into Madison’s orbit (seriously, this book involved so many tropes it was hard to keep track of them all. It was like reading a telenova, only they’re usually entertaining). Even with all of this and knowing everything that had driven them apart, Ana still acts like a petulant two year old, and can’t get over herself enough to be happy. The eventual coming together happens right at the end of the book, by which time I was so far from caring, I was in another country. I didn’t like these two together (mostly because I couldn’t stand Ana), so the HEA fell flat.
I’m not sure why this wasn’t called The Road To Ana, since that’s actually the way it was written. 2 stars, frankly even that feels high.
This is my first full length book by this author. I read Unforgettable which is two novellas in the one book. They were just ok but I wanted to see what the author could do with more time to flesh things out. Unfortunately, the answer is too much.
Ok, this features Madison, who is a poor little rich girl, with a complete douchebag for a father (George), and the other MC is Ana, who is George’s maid’s daughter. The girls grew up together, fell in love and then were forced apart.
The story starts with George’s death, because this is the catalyst for Madison to be able to reconnect with Ana, only Ana wants no part of this, because she was WRONGED, WRONGED I TELL YOU (and Ana tells everyone that, repeatedly). So, basically this is a story about Madison wanting to get back with Ana, Ana finding out the whys and wherefores of what happened (in all honesty Madison’s reason for leaving her was pretty legitimate) and Ana telling everyone she didn’t care no matter what the reason and wouldn’t ever take Madison back, when everyone knew she would eventually.
One of main reasons I dislike ‘reunion’ stories is because whatever broke the main couple up originally usually takes up too much space in the story. Here it takes up all the space. There’s so much DRAMA. And crying. Did I mention that Madison spends a good deal of time crying? Madison is kind of a wimp. The flashbacks also didn’t help. Maybe if they’d been chronological it would have worked better, but all the jumping around was enough to make me seasick.
Sometimes authors write love/hate relationships, where both characters dislike each other but they fall in love anyway, this is a different type of love/hate, because Madison loves Ana and would get back with her in an instant but Ana doesn’t like Madison to start with due to REASONS and is pretty awful to her all the way through. She also strings her girlfriend/fiancé along, which is another mark in the no column.
There’s also a ridiculous subplot involving Madison’s family that was inserted just to provide some different drama and also fabricate a reason to force Ana back into Madison’s orbit (seriously, this book involved so many tropes it was hard to keep track of them all. It was like reading a telenova, only they’re usually entertaining). Even with all of this and knowing everything that had driven them apart, Ana still acts like a petulant two year old, and can’t get over herself enough to be happy. The eventual coming together happens right at the end of the book, by which time I was so far from caring, I was in another country. I didn’t like these two together (mostly because I couldn’t stand Ana), so the HEA fell flat.
I’m not sure why this wasn’t called The Road To Ana, since that’s actually the way it was written. 2 stars, frankly even that feels high.
May 13, 2019
I received an ARC from Netgalley.
This is a typical forbidden romance story between rich girl Madison Prescott and poor girl Ana Perez, when they're suddenly ripped apart by Madison's father George who is set on making Madison the perfect heir for his company. 15 years later Ana and Madison meet again when George dies. Madison is set on making everything okay between the two but Ana still feels betrayed and heartbroken.
I'm not sure how I feel about this book, 40% in I was ready to just DNF it but I continued and it actually ended up getting better.
I think the one thing I didn't like about this book was the writing. All the different perpectives left me pretty confused at times and made it feel like I was watching a tv show.The flashbacks left me confused a lot of the time as well, and I had to go back and re-read certain things to understand what was going on.
I think what made it better towards the end though was that it focused more on just the two main characters and not everyone around them as well. All scenes between Madison and Ana were great and filled with passion and chemistry. It was super angst filled as well, maybe a little too much at times for my liking.
It wasn't my favorite book ever but I did end up liking it more than I thought when I started it. I have another Elle Spencer book on my shelf and I will definently give her another chance.
I ended up giving this book 3/5 stars and I would recommend it if you're a fan of forbidden romances that includes a lot of angst but also cute, romantic scenes.
This is a typical forbidden romance story between rich girl Madison Prescott and poor girl Ana Perez, when they're suddenly ripped apart by Madison's father George who is set on making Madison the perfect heir for his company. 15 years later Ana and Madison meet again when George dies. Madison is set on making everything okay between the two but Ana still feels betrayed and heartbroken.
I'm not sure how I feel about this book, 40% in I was ready to just DNF it but I continued and it actually ended up getting better.
I think the one thing I didn't like about this book was the writing. All the different perpectives left me pretty confused at times and made it feel like I was watching a tv show.The flashbacks left me confused a lot of the time as well, and I had to go back and re-read certain things to understand what was going on.
I think what made it better towards the end though was that it focused more on just the two main characters and not everyone around them as well. All scenes between Madison and Ana were great and filled with passion and chemistry. It was super angst filled as well, maybe a little too much at times for my liking.
It wasn't my favorite book ever but I did end up liking it more than I thought when I started it. I have another Elle Spencer book on my shelf and I will definently give her another chance.
I ended up giving this book 3/5 stars and I would recommend it if you're a fan of forbidden romances that includes a lot of angst but also cute, romantic scenes.
June 11, 2019
I have read both of Elle Spencer's previous releases and when this one came out I was on the fence about reading it. Some reviews were really great but it's those few that were a bit not that kept me from really going in for the read. After reading it though, I am glad that I did because even though I didnt absolutely positively love it, it was a type of book that I do enjoy. It's a friends to lovers, second chances, rich girl poor girl, light angst, cheesy (pretty cheesy if I have to admit), drama filled with just right amount of angst, and most importantly to me, an ending that makes me happy.
Now there are flashbacks throughout the book. And I will admit that I am not a fan of flashbacks when it really lends no purpose. At the beginning, I was okay with them. It served the purpose to let the reader know, and build up, what happened between Ana and Madison. However, after that was revealed I didnt see the point of it. Reminiscing i get, actual flashback not so much at that point in the book. The secondary characters, mainly Carmen and Scott, were good additions. The Alberto (or was it Albert) character reminded me of the "bad guy" from Disney's Meet the Robinsons. Don't know why but that's what he looked like to me. Anyway, Kris was a character I wished played a bigger role and I do hope she may get her own book because she got the short end of the stick in the end.
I enjoyed this book.
***An ARC for an honest review from Netgalley***
Now there are flashbacks throughout the book. And I will admit that I am not a fan of flashbacks when it really lends no purpose. At the beginning, I was okay with them. It served the purpose to let the reader know, and build up, what happened between Ana and Madison. However, after that was revealed I didnt see the point of it. Reminiscing i get, actual flashback not so much at that point in the book. The secondary characters, mainly Carmen and Scott, were good additions. The Alberto (or was it Albert) character reminded me of the "bad guy" from Disney's Meet the Robinsons. Don't know why but that's what he looked like to me. Anyway, Kris was a character I wished played a bigger role and I do hope she may get her own book because she got the short end of the stick in the end.
I enjoyed this book.
***An ARC for an honest review from Netgalley***
June 19, 2020
I'm so glad I didn't pay any attention to some of the reviews for this book. I almost didn't read it because of the bad reviews. I loved this story so it's a good lesson for me to not pay attention to other peoples negative opinions.
Madison Prescott is the heir to an immense fortune and even greater family responsibilities. She meets Ana Perez when they are both young. Ana is the new maids daughter but Madison doesn't see that when she looks at Ana. They become inseparable and eventually plan to marry.
Madison Prescott is the heir to an immense fortune and even greater family responsibilities. She meets Ana Perez when they are both young. Ana is the new maids daughter but Madison doesn't see that when she looks at Ana. They become inseparable and eventually plan to marry.
May 11, 2019
As a teenager, Madison Prescott, the sole heir to her family’s banking empire, falls in love with Ana Perez, the maid’s daughter. Madison’s father doesn’t approve of their relationship and, through threats and lies, he forces Madison to break up with Ana. Fifteen years later, when her father dies, Madison is determined to make amends but Ana feels betrayed and hurt. It seems that time doesn’t heal all wounds, or does it?
This is the third book by Elle Spencer whose writing career started with the acclaimed bestseller ‘Casting Lacey’. I find her books on the angsty side and this one was no exception. ‘The road to Madison’ is, in my opinion, her weakest novel and, by far, the most dramatic. I know that many readers like a good amount of drama in their lesfic romances and might disagree with this review but I think that this story is borderline with melodramatic.
The novel is told by multiple points of view, which is not necessarily a problem, but in this case, it seems that some characters only have a voice to urge the mains to get together. As a consequence, some secondary characters sound too unrealistic and excessively honourable. Of course, there is nothing wrong with ethical characters, but their widespread presence in this story makes their voices sound very similar.
As the story takes place in two time periods, now and fifteen years ago, there are a few flashbacks intertwined with the present. I felt that they were a lost opportunity to showcase the strong bond and love between the characters that justified such amount of heartbreak and angst. In my opinion, Ms. Spencer fails in building up their chemistry at the start of their relationship. ‘At seventeen’ by Gerri Hill, while not perfect, is a prime example on how to describe the intimacy between teenagers, a long-lasting love that makes it worth fighting for in adulthood, despite the dispute that separates them. In ‘The road to Madison’, however, pain and conflict outplay love and chemistry, which sometimes made me wonder if their relationship was really worth fighting for.
Overall, an ok romance with a great amount of drama and angst. 3 stars.
ARC provided by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
See all my reviews at www.lezreviewbooks.com
This is the third book by Elle Spencer whose writing career started with the acclaimed bestseller ‘Casting Lacey’. I find her books on the angsty side and this one was no exception. ‘The road to Madison’ is, in my opinion, her weakest novel and, by far, the most dramatic. I know that many readers like a good amount of drama in their lesfic romances and might disagree with this review but I think that this story is borderline with melodramatic.
The novel is told by multiple points of view, which is not necessarily a problem, but in this case, it seems that some characters only have a voice to urge the mains to get together. As a consequence, some secondary characters sound too unrealistic and excessively honourable. Of course, there is nothing wrong with ethical characters, but their widespread presence in this story makes their voices sound very similar.
As the story takes place in two time periods, now and fifteen years ago, there are a few flashbacks intertwined with the present. I felt that they were a lost opportunity to showcase the strong bond and love between the characters that justified such amount of heartbreak and angst. In my opinion, Ms. Spencer fails in building up their chemistry at the start of their relationship. ‘At seventeen’ by Gerri Hill, while not perfect, is a prime example on how to describe the intimacy between teenagers, a long-lasting love that makes it worth fighting for in adulthood, despite the dispute that separates them. In ‘The road to Madison’, however, pain and conflict outplay love and chemistry, which sometimes made me wonder if their relationship was really worth fighting for.
Overall, an ok romance with a great amount of drama and angst. 3 stars.
ARC provided by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
See all my reviews at www.lezreviewbooks.com
May 16, 2019
The Road to Madison by Elle Spencer is a well-written contemporary romance by an obviously talented author. This is the story of Madison Prescott, the privileged daughter of a wealthy banking CEO, and Ana Perez, the daughter of one of the Prescott’s maids. Both girls started out as best friends and as they grew, this friendship became much more, in spite of Madison’s father.
George Madison was a bigoted, evil man who cared for no one but himself and what he thought his legacy should be. We find out though flashbacks the evil he did to these women, starting when they were young girls, to keep them apart. The major part of the story takes place after George Madison dies and most of the damage has been done to Madison and Ana’s relationship. Now the two have to decide if there is any love left and if they can overcome what was done to them. Is George Madison really finished though? Can he still affect these two even from the grave?
This is one angst ridden story! There were moments when I was wondering if I was reading a lesbian version of Romeo and Juliet. Murphy’s Law ran rampant over these two poor women. In spite of this, I was caught up in the story from the very first page and could not put it down. I had to see if Madison and Ana would ever have some kind of happy-ever-after, so I read through this book in almost record time. That is why I say Ms. Spencer is a very talented author. She caught my attention on the first page, and I was compelled to keep reading until the very end. That is the mark of an exceptional writer.
(By the way, I’m definitely glad I read to the end of the book.)
If you love a good contemporary romance that is full of angst, then this is the book for you.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.
George Madison was a bigoted, evil man who cared for no one but himself and what he thought his legacy should be. We find out though flashbacks the evil he did to these women, starting when they were young girls, to keep them apart. The major part of the story takes place after George Madison dies and most of the damage has been done to Madison and Ana’s relationship. Now the two have to decide if there is any love left and if they can overcome what was done to them. Is George Madison really finished though? Can he still affect these two even from the grave?
This is one angst ridden story! There were moments when I was wondering if I was reading a lesbian version of Romeo and Juliet. Murphy’s Law ran rampant over these two poor women. In spite of this, I was caught up in the story from the very first page and could not put it down. I had to see if Madison and Ana would ever have some kind of happy-ever-after, so I read through this book in almost record time. That is why I say Ms. Spencer is a very talented author. She caught my attention on the first page, and I was compelled to keep reading until the very end. That is the mark of an exceptional writer.
(By the way, I’m definitely glad I read to the end of the book.)
If you love a good contemporary romance that is full of angst, then this is the book for you.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.
May 23, 2019
This is my second book by Elle Spencer (I didn’t read the novellas between Casting Lacey and this, don’t know why, didn’t happen yet). Casting Lacey was much more fun, and there’s a lot more angst in this one, but angst is okay, this story wouldn’t make sense otherwise. It's also nice to see this author is able to go in various directions.
At first The Road to Madison reminded me of At Seventeen (one of my favorite novels by Gerri Hill) but more from the rich girl POV. Then it got even more tragic.
The going back and forth in no logical chronological order lost me at times, but it wasn’t a real problem.
Also, the moment when Ana’s mother changes her mind about Madison felt slightly rushed, though I guess the shock of the revelation could explain it (I’m trying not to spoil anything so my apologies if this review is a bit muddled).
While I was hoping Ana would see the light too, I get why she’d be reluctant and wary. And though I wasn’t a fan of the twist that brought her and Madison together (I’m not spoiling anything, it’s a romance, you know where it’s headed), I rather like Ana’s take on how every one had been treating her and trying to protect her.
All in all, I might not have loved The Road to Madison as much as I love Casting Lacey (which is one of my favorite books ever), but it was a very enjoyable (in an angsty way) read, that I’d recommend to anyone who loves a good romance, second chances and/or family issues.
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
At first The Road to Madison reminded me of At Seventeen (one of my favorite novels by Gerri Hill) but more from the rich girl POV. Then it got even more tragic.
The going back and forth in no logical chronological order lost me at times, but it wasn’t a real problem.
Also, the moment when Ana’s mother changes her mind about Madison felt slightly rushed, though I guess the shock of the revelation could explain it (I’m trying not to spoil anything so my apologies if this review is a bit muddled).
While I was hoping Ana would see the light too, I get why she’d be reluctant and wary. And though I wasn’t a fan of the twist that brought her and Madison together (I’m not spoiling anything, it’s a romance, you know where it’s headed), I rather like Ana’s take on how every one had been treating her and trying to protect her.
All in all, I might not have loved The Road to Madison as much as I love Casting Lacey (which is one of my favorite books ever), but it was a very enjoyable (in an angsty way) read, that I’d recommend to anyone who loves a good romance, second chances and/or family issues.
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
May 9, 2019
4.5 Stars. I enjoyed this book a lot. Madison Prescott is the heir to her family business, and is raised by her terrible, harsh father. Her father separates her from the love of her live, Ana Perez. Ana is the maid's daughter who Madison befriends at 8 and they are inseparable ever since. They eventually fall in love and can't keep away from each other. Eventually, Madison's father finds a way to separate them through a secret in Ana's family. Madison and Ana are separated for 15 years, until Madison's father finally dies. By this point in time, Madison is married and Ana has learned to not trust anyone and is changed forever by Madison dumping her for no reason. Once Madison's father is dead, all Madison wants to do is make it up to Ana, but Ana is no so quick to forgive.
I really enjoyed this book. I loved all the tension in the novel, as Ana and Madison decide all their current feelings for each other. This book goes back and forth between past and present which makes the novel interesting, as the past explained how they met, their first kiss, etc. I somewhat wish that there was more present, as I sometimes felt like there were not enough interactions between Ana and Madison in the present. There was a lot of them not talking to each other and avoiding each other. I liked all the tension, but I wish once the tension was gone, there was more focus on them together. There was not much focus on Ana and Madison together. I always wish there was more of that relationship. There was a lot of tension and lead up which I always love in novels. I would recommend this novel, it was a great read.
I really enjoyed this book. I loved all the tension in the novel, as Ana and Madison decide all their current feelings for each other. This book goes back and forth between past and present which makes the novel interesting, as the past explained how they met, their first kiss, etc. I somewhat wish that there was more present, as I sometimes felt like there were not enough interactions between Ana and Madison in the present. There was a lot of them not talking to each other and avoiding each other. I liked all the tension, but I wish once the tension was gone, there was more focus on them together. There was not much focus on Ana and Madison together. I always wish there was more of that relationship. There was a lot of tension and lead up which I always love in novels. I would recommend this novel, it was a great read.
May 5, 2019
I'll say just one thing about this book: What a son of a bitch this George Prescott was!
Well, two things: I really hate flashbacks!!!
Well, two things: I really hate flashbacks!!!
February 16, 2023
My feelings on this one are mixed. On the one hand, I liked the premise of the story and the connection the two characters had. On the other hand, I felt like the obstacles were legitimate, but the way they were dealt with…well, I feel like a lot of the lies and secrets were unnecessary and weakly justified, so that kind of detracts from the believability for me – it makes it feel a bit like a telenovela and not in a great way.
Additionally, I didn’t enjoy the plethora of perspectives. Off the top of my head, I can recall bits of the story being told from the POV of: the father, the mother, the aunt, the driver, the assistant, and the henchman – in addition to the two main characters, of course. When you pair the very frequent perspective shifts with the constant back-and-forth timeline bouncing between the MCs’ childhood romance and their current circumstances (think Then & Now by McCallan), it was just a lot.
This point is definitely more of a me thing, but I’ll mention it anyway. Maybe I’ve been spoiled by authors like Noyes and Sinclair, but the ‘single sex scene @80% or later’ (in this case, all the way at the end) is just so dry and predictable. *Spoiler alert:* the drama lasts riiiiiiiiiight up to the end in this one.
My last nitpick – and this feels blasphemous to say – is that I hated Lori Prince’s voice/accent for one of the side characters, Carmen, who plays a significant role in the story. Otherwise, her narration was great as always, but that character’s lines just bugged me.
Overall, I’m left feeling like it was just okay and I wanted to like it more than I did.
Additionally, I didn’t enjoy the plethora of perspectives. Off the top of my head, I can recall bits of the story being told from the POV of: the father, the mother, the aunt, the driver, the assistant, and the henchman – in addition to the two main characters, of course. When you pair the very frequent perspective shifts with the constant back-and-forth timeline bouncing between the MCs’ childhood romance and their current circumstances (think Then & Now by McCallan), it was just a lot.
This point is definitely more of a me thing, but I’ll mention it anyway. Maybe I’ve been spoiled by authors like Noyes and Sinclair, but the ‘single sex scene @80% or later’ (in this case, all the way at the end) is just so dry and predictable. *Spoiler alert:* the drama lasts riiiiiiiiiight up to the end in this one.
My last nitpick – and this feels blasphemous to say – is that I hated Lori Prince’s voice/accent for one of the side characters, Carmen, who plays a significant role in the story. Otherwise, her narration was great as always, but that character’s lines just bugged me.
Overall, I’m left feeling like it was just okay and I wanted to like it more than I did.
February 27, 2020
Loved it!!! This book gets you so involved that you cannot stop reading! Ana and Madison are the perfect couple. Too bad they have a roadblock and loose so much time because of some stupid man!!! I loved everything about this book. Of course, the end was awesome.
May 6, 2019
I don't do long reviews a lot but I guess I had high hopes for this book and author. And I loved 'Casting Lacey" very much (it's a reread of mine).
Getting to the point. The whole time "too obvious" was screaming as I read this book. No more so than the gun scene. It started off so well. The tension at the funeral, I loved.
I'm a tosser for angsty romance paired with ex lovers theme is gem, but things weakened dramatically for me when Ana's paternity was revealed. A couple of things got to me.
The conversation between Maddy and Carmen over it felt ludicrous. Too forgiving, too ideal. Ten years plus forgiven, no doubt, no second guessing, it made the reason Maddy stayed away so trivial... A mother who did what she had to keep her daughter safe and happy, it felt so uncharacteristic how she dealt with Maddy's revelation.
There's a lot of hysterics and mental breakdowns, I expected more stoic fronts from the two mains who've not seen one another in so long; what with one full of deep regrets and one supposedly harbouring deep hatred.
Ana is so spiteful and her theatric tantrums are unappealing yet she's described as sweet and endearing, I just found it hard to comprehend her moments of dispair. Wishful thinking, I wanted Ana to be more humble.
Things got very frustrating, it wasn't angst anymore... The pace of the book was a blur, jumping weeks and months when there's conflict, it was hard to keep track.
If not a novel, this book would be great with telenovela lovers... There's great chemistry between the characters, I can't deny that.
But I was left feeling things were too easy for an angst book, almost too fairytale vibe. A cliché. The flashback style didn't do it justice. I found it weird most characters had their own pov. Where things went wrong imo? The dialogues were very bland and direct, no subtlety for interpretation, that's where the cliché feel probably came from.
I don't discredit it to those looking for an easy read, tolerable heaps of angsty moments between mains. Maybe for those who have a deep seated regret and longing over an ex can appreciate this style. Just wasn't for me, but I'm still going to keep an eye for this author's future works.
Getting to the point. The whole time "too obvious" was screaming as I read this book. No more so than the gun scene. It started off so well. The tension at the funeral, I loved.
I'm a tosser for angsty romance paired with ex lovers theme is gem, but things weakened dramatically for me when Ana's paternity was revealed. A couple of things got to me.
The conversation between Maddy and Carmen over it felt ludicrous. Too forgiving, too ideal. Ten years plus forgiven, no doubt, no second guessing, it made the reason Maddy stayed away so trivial... A mother who did what she had to keep her daughter safe and happy, it felt so uncharacteristic how she dealt with Maddy's revelation.
There's a lot of hysterics and mental breakdowns, I expected more stoic fronts from the two mains who've not seen one another in so long; what with one full of deep regrets and one supposedly harbouring deep hatred.
Ana is so spiteful and her theatric tantrums are unappealing yet she's described as sweet and endearing, I just found it hard to comprehend her moments of dispair. Wishful thinking, I wanted Ana to be more humble.
Things got very frustrating, it wasn't angst anymore... The pace of the book was a blur, jumping weeks and months when there's conflict, it was hard to keep track.
If not a novel, this book would be great with telenovela lovers... There's great chemistry between the characters, I can't deny that.
But I was left feeling things were too easy for an angst book, almost too fairytale vibe. A cliché. The flashback style didn't do it justice. I found it weird most characters had their own pov. Where things went wrong imo? The dialogues were very bland and direct, no subtlety for interpretation, that's where the cliché feel probably came from.
I don't discredit it to those looking for an easy read, tolerable heaps of angsty moments between mains. Maybe for those who have a deep seated regret and longing over an ex can appreciate this style. Just wasn't for me, but I'm still going to keep an eye for this author's future works.
May 11, 2019
I loved this! Tons of angst and drama from the first page! It has almost all my favorite tropes: rich/poor, second chance romance, flashbacks, angst, drama. From the description I thought the story was written for me :D It was almost impossible to put it down and I didn’t want it to end.
This one is one of the few books I would love to know what the characters are up to a few months after the story ends. I liked the characters and dialog. It has a few unlikable characters that at times feel like they’re right out of a Mexican telenovela, but I didn’t mind them at all, I like drama :) Waiting for Elle Spencer’s next novel!
This one is one of the few books I would love to know what the characters are up to a few months after the story ends. I liked the characters and dialog. It has a few unlikable characters that at times feel like they’re right out of a Mexican telenovela, but I didn’t mind them at all, I like drama :) Waiting for Elle Spencer’s next novel!
June 7, 2019
This was a difficult one to rate... the way it started, it seemed to have so much potential, and I was excited to see how it would unfold. But then... it just sort of dwindled into this unoriginal telenovela type thing and... oh well...
May 5, 2019
* ARC received from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.
I literally adored "Casting Lacey" and "Forget her not" so I was really excited for Spencer's new book. I received the copy yesterday and I couldn't wait to go back at home so I could start reading it!
Unfortunately since the first few pages I started feeling like I was reading something between a copy of a bad Almodovar script and a Mexican Telenovela.
Madison and Ana were childhood sweethearts who were forcefully separated because Madison's father wouldn't accept the relationship between his daughter and the daughter of his maid.
After his death Madison can't wait to contact Ana again and start to rebuilt the connection that was lost for so many years.
What I liked from this book: some chapters that reminded me of Elle Spencer's usual writing with her witty dialogues and the fast pace.
What I didn't like : sadly most of the main and secondary characters left me indifferent but what really was a deal breaker for me is that I couldn't stand Ana at all. I really don't understand what Madison found in her because even with all these flashbacks, I just wasn't able to see all of Ana's magnificence and what really made her unforgettable to Madison! In "Casting Lacey" you could really feel the passion, the lust and the love between the MCs. In this book Madison is always crying or is sad and Ana is always drunk or mad at what happened like 15 years ago. Basically it's a repetitive plot with the addition of too many POVs and flashbacks.
Overall I feel bad giving a negative feedback mainly because Elle Spencer is one of my favorite new authors. I just think that this book wasn't for me and as I see from the reviews I'm the minority here. Anyway I still can't wait to read more about her feature stories!
I literally adored "Casting Lacey" and "Forget her not" so I was really excited for Spencer's new book. I received the copy yesterday and I couldn't wait to go back at home so I could start reading it!
Unfortunately since the first few pages I started feeling like I was reading something between a copy of a bad Almodovar script and a Mexican Telenovela.
Madison and Ana were childhood sweethearts who were forcefully separated because Madison's father wouldn't accept the relationship between his daughter and the daughter of his maid.
After his death Madison can't wait to contact Ana again and start to rebuilt the connection that was lost for so many years.
What I liked from this book: some chapters that reminded me of Elle Spencer's usual writing with her witty dialogues and the fast pace.
What I didn't like : sadly most of the main and secondary characters left me indifferent but what really was a deal breaker for me is that I couldn't stand Ana at all. I really don't understand what Madison found in her because even with all these flashbacks, I just wasn't able to see all of Ana's magnificence and what really made her unforgettable to Madison! In "Casting Lacey" you could really feel the passion, the lust and the love between the MCs. In this book Madison is always crying or is sad and Ana is always drunk or mad at what happened like 15 years ago. Basically it's a repetitive plot with the addition of too many POVs and flashbacks.
Overall I feel bad giving a negative feedback mainly because Elle Spencer is one of my favorite new authors. I just think that this book wasn't for me and as I see from the reviews I'm the minority here. Anyway I still can't wait to read more about her feature stories!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 14, 2019
I think I fall in the middle of the road with this one. It started off pretty good and I liked both MCs - Madison Prescott and Ana Perez. I especially like the romance between them as they grew up. I can agree with the Author's assessment that they are soul mates. Unfortunately, they break up in the early twenties for and unknown reason (which you do find out later). This leave Ana to hate Madison. Even Ana's mom Carmen dislikes Madison and tells her so. This books gets a little weird after the Madison/Carmen moment. One, how does Madison end up at Carmen's house? That was so out of the blue. Two, all the flashbacks. They were out of order and would have progressed better if they weren't really flashbacks. At one point, there is a moment where Madison and Ana talk about something from the past. I think the book as a whole would have worked better without the flashbacks. Also at some point I think I begin to dislike Ana as she holds onto her anger even after finding out why Madison broke it off. Lastly, Madison's dad. Can't he just go away!!!! Like he his totally over the top and it's just goes on way to long. I believe another reviewer mentions that it is Soap Opera like. I would have to agree with that assessment.
Now, even thought i just said all the negative things about this one, I still thought it was readable and a decent read. It kept me interested so I will rate it 3 stars.
This ARC was provided by Netgalley and the Publisher for an honest review.
Now, even thought i just said all the negative things about this one, I still thought it was readable and a decent read. It kept me interested so I will rate it 3 stars.
This ARC was provided by Netgalley and the Publisher for an honest review.
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May 3, 2019I've been struggling with writing something up for this one. I'm going to forego a rating for now.
This is very angsty. Don't get me wrong - I love angst. But this this book just seemed overwrought and was a bit heavy handed - which surprised me as I really enjoyed Casting Lacey by Spencer. If you like angst and have a better tolerance, then this may be something you enjoy more than I did.
The story flips between timelines focusing on Madison and Ana's early friendship turning to romance and the ultimate betrayal that has led them to the present situation where there's a serious amount of hate, regret, and general angst. It helps put things into perspective but I found that the flashbacks were sweet and innocent and didn't match the intensity of their feelings in the present and left me thinking Ana and Madison needed to just move the hell on - without one another.
The villians are villianous, the hate is vitriolic and the plot seemed uneven and not overly realistic, where everything was sort of piled in a hodgepodge of plot points that aren't fully explored or necessarily resolved. I also didn't think that the writing style was as refined as I remember from Spencer's other book. I finished The Road to Madison wondering if this was an early draft or fanfic that could have stood a bit more polishing and refinement to tighten the storyline and characters.
This one just didn't do it for me - but I won't give up on Spencer.
This is very angsty. Don't get me wrong - I love angst. But this this book just seemed overwrought and was a bit heavy handed - which surprised me as I really enjoyed Casting Lacey by Spencer. If you like angst and have a better tolerance, then this may be something you enjoy more than I did.
The story flips between timelines focusing on Madison and Ana's early friendship turning to romance and the ultimate betrayal that has led them to the present situation where there's a serious amount of hate, regret, and general angst. It helps put things into perspective but I found that the flashbacks were sweet and innocent and didn't match the intensity of their feelings in the present and left me thinking Ana and Madison needed to just move the hell on - without one another.
The villians are villianous, the hate is vitriolic and the plot seemed uneven and not overly realistic, where everything was sort of piled in a hodgepodge of plot points that aren't fully explored or necessarily resolved. I also didn't think that the writing style was as refined as I remember from Spencer's other book. I finished The Road to Madison wondering if this was an early draft or fanfic that could have stood a bit more polishing and refinement to tighten the storyline and characters.
This one just didn't do it for me - but I won't give up on Spencer.
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