What do you think?
Rate this book
Words on Candy Hearts
“There are two kinds of men,” Mom said. “Rich bastards and poor bastards. Neither will give a crap about your brains or personality, so go for the one with the money.”
Beautiful PhD student Clara Zapata has never subscribed to the theory that men only care about looks, but after getting dumped by her fiancé for gaining weight, she’s starting to think her gold-digging mother is on to something. If men are going to treat her like a trophy, why shouldn’t she treat them like a credit card?
“There are two kinds of women,” Dad said. “Pretty bitches and ugly bitches. They’ll both be more interested in the divorce settlement than the marriage, so go for the hottie.”
All heir-in-waiting Ian Dunning has ever wanted was the love of a good woman. But after being seduced and abandoned by yet another gold digger, he’s beginning to lose hope of ever finding real love. If the only thing women will ever want him for is his money, why shouldn’t he just chase after the ones with the biggest boobs and the fewest brain cells?
What happens when this cynical son of a billionaire gets stuck on a disastrous road trip with the jaded daughter of a gold digger? Will Ian and Clara follow in their parents’ footsteps, or will they find true love?
Beautiful PhD student Clara Zapata has never subscribed to the theory that men only care about looks, but after getting dumped by her fiancé for gaining weight, she’s starting to think her gold-digging mother is on to something. If men are going to treat her like a trophy, why shouldn’t she treat them like a credit card?
“There are two kinds of women,” Dad said. “Pretty bitches and ugly bitches. They’ll both be more interested in the divorce settlement than the marriage, so go for the hottie.”
All heir-in-waiting Ian Dunning has ever wanted was the love of a good woman. But after being seduced and abandoned by yet another gold digger, he’s beginning to lose hope of ever finding real love. If the only thing women will ever want him for is his money, why shouldn’t he just chase after the ones with the biggest boobs and the fewest brain cells?
What happens when this cynical son of a billionaire gets stuck on a disastrous road trip with the jaded daughter of a gold digger? Will Ian and Clara follow in their parents’ footsteps, or will they find true love?
268 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 26, 2022
127 people are currently reading
5850 people want to read
About the author
Augusta Reilly
3 books64 followersBestselling comedy writer Augusta Reilly is a former stand-up comic whose work has been covered by the New York Daily News, The Village Voice, NY1 News, Time Out, The Comedy Bible, and many others. As a comedian, she has performed at multiple venues including The Comic Strip, Gotham Comedy Club, and The New York Comedy Club. Her bestselling comedy, Words on Candy Hearts, reached #1 in Comedy on Amazon UK, #1 in Comedy and Absurdist Fiction in Australia, and #2 in Comedy behind Trevor Noah in the US.
In alternate incarnations, she has been an accountant, a translator, and a prolifically (if not proudly) published pulp fiction author. She is a graduate of McGill University and divides her time between El Paso County, Colorado and Montreal, Quebec.
In alternate incarnations, she has been an accountant, a translator, and a prolifically (if not proudly) published pulp fiction author. She is a graduate of McGill University and divides her time between El Paso County, Colorado and Montreal, Quebec.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
May 23, 2022
4.5 stars rounded up
This book was delightful! Absolutely hilarious at points. I was literally laughing out loud. The main characters, Clara and Ian, are both great and the dual POV didn’t feel odd or one sided at all. The side characters are great, too. I love Clara’s mum. She’s the best! My one critique is that the plot takes place over a very short span of time and while it didn’t feel overly clunky or off kilter, it did just seem slightly unrealistic. But that’s probably me just being nit picky. On the whole this book was charming and would be a perfect beach read this summer!
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book was delightful! Absolutely hilarious at points. I was literally laughing out loud. The main characters, Clara and Ian, are both great and the dual POV didn’t feel odd or one sided at all. The side characters are great, too. I love Clara’s mum. She’s the best! My one critique is that the plot takes place over a very short span of time and while it didn’t feel overly clunky or off kilter, it did just seem slightly unrealistic. But that’s probably me just being nit picky. On the whole this book was charming and would be a perfect beach read this summer!
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 19, 2022
Clara has been raised to think a man would only love her for her looks, but she’s never believed it - until her fiancé dumps her for gaining 15 pounds. By contrast, Ian’s billionaire father has raised him to “go for the hottie”, since he believes women are only interested in his money. Ian himself has trouble believing that, until his fiancée leaves him over signing a pre-nup. When Clara and Ian accidentally meet, hilarity ensues and maybe even a chance at true love.
This book was a quick and fun read! Going into it, I was expecting a regular rom-com but I found it be very unique. Maybe it was Clara and Ian’s easy banter (their misunderstandings had me laughing out loud multiple times), that made them so endearing. The entire book takes place basically within a day’s time period which I thought was unique, and made for an easy summer read.
Thank you to Augusta Reilly and Getredpr for the ARC! “Words on Candy Hearts” releases July 26th.
This review will be posted to my Instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly 😊
This book was a quick and fun read! Going into it, I was expecting a regular rom-com but I found it be very unique. Maybe it was Clara and Ian’s easy banter (their misunderstandings had me laughing out loud multiple times), that made them so endearing. The entire book takes place basically within a day’s time period which I thought was unique, and made for an easy summer read.
Thank you to Augusta Reilly and Getredpr for the ARC! “Words on Candy Hearts” releases July 26th.
This review will be posted to my Instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly 😊
February 25, 2024
3.2 stars Quick easy read. Had some laughs with it but kind of cheesy at times. It was a cute little romance novel.
January 5, 2025
A highly entertaining, quick, no angst read. The entire book takes place in roughly 14 hours (except for the epilogue) there is going to be instant attraction. There is also some of the funniest miscommunications where I literally had to stop reading and find someone to share in the hilarious dialogue. Clara Zapata is working on her PhD at Columbia studying birds. After getting drinks with her mother she passes out in her car outside the bar. When she awakes she finds the car she is in belongs to Ian Dunning. He’d been having drinks with his dad and found Clara. Because she’s jammed her keys into his ignition he offers to pay her to drive home which is a couple of hours away. It turns into forced proximity and a little bit of mayhem. But it does allow them to talk a lot and learn about each other. Ian is a successful computer programmer but more importantly he is the only child of a philandering billionaire father.
This is the second book I’ve read by the author and I’ve enjoyed both. The humor is delightful. There is a lot of time spent talking about her mom and his dad and their philosophies. That of course shows the couples insecurities and where they come from. The two flashback scenes to their childhoods were surprisingly moving. I’m just not sure I bought into the whole insta love leading to a HEA, but the epilogue helps. Thank you to NetGalley, Rhapsodic Press and the author for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. (3.5 stars)
This is the second book I’ve read by the author and I’ve enjoyed both. The humor is delightful. There is a lot of time spent talking about her mom and his dad and their philosophies. That of course shows the couples insecurities and where they come from. The two flashback scenes to their childhoods were surprisingly moving. I’m just not sure I bought into the whole insta love leading to a HEA, but the epilogue helps. Thank you to NetGalley, Rhapsodic Press and the author for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. (3.5 stars)
October 25, 2022
*Netgalley Ebook
This is such a sweet story. I really enjoyed it from start to finish.
It made me laugh with all of the quirky moments throughout. Especially all of the misinformation that Ian was taking in throughout the story.
I loved the relationship that Clara had with her mom.
Ian was such an authentic person and Clara was a strong woman who didn’t compromise who she was to impress anyone. They really balanced each other.
The fact that Clara was thought to be a lady of the night in the beginning had me cracking up.
It was a good book and if this month wasn’t so busy I could’ve easily devoured it in a couple of days.
I definitely recommend it and think it would make an adorable movie.
This is such a sweet story. I really enjoyed it from start to finish.
It made me laugh with all of the quirky moments throughout. Especially all of the misinformation that Ian was taking in throughout the story.
I loved the relationship that Clara had with her mom.
Ian was such an authentic person and Clara was a strong woman who didn’t compromise who she was to impress anyone. They really balanced each other.
The fact that Clara was thought to be a lady of the night in the beginning had me cracking up.
It was a good book and if this month wasn’t so busy I could’ve easily devoured it in a couple of days.
I definitely recommend it and think it would make an adorable movie.
July 11, 2022
Words on Candy Hearts by Augusta Reilly
"Words on Candy Hearts is the book you have been looking for!"-Books and Pens on Green Gables
How can a woman having drinks with her mom and a guy having dinner with his dad lead to "mistaken car identity" and BIG misunderstandings?
Clara should have been getting ready to get married but instead she's out for drinks with her mom, hearing—again—her mom's thoughts about men. And with boxes of candy heart cupcakes in her car that were for her wedding. Her canceled wedding...because she gained weight and her fiance broke off the engagement. Yep. That's why. You won't believe when or how he did it!
Ian is out to dinner with his billionaire father. Still upset that his fiance broke off their engagement when he asked for a pre-nup that his dad insisted on. His dad is sharing his philosophy on women. Eye roll... again. How can a dad and son be so different?
A great book! Laughs! Serious moments too as Clara and Ian's chance meeting takes them through some deep feelings through to some clarity they have needed.
Highly recommended five star book!!
"Words on Candy Hearts is the book you have been looking for!"-Books and Pens on Green Gables
How can a woman having drinks with her mom and a guy having dinner with his dad lead to "mistaken car identity" and BIG misunderstandings?
Clara should have been getting ready to get married but instead she's out for drinks with her mom, hearing—again—her mom's thoughts about men. And with boxes of candy heart cupcakes in her car that were for her wedding. Her canceled wedding...because she gained weight and her fiance broke off the engagement. Yep. That's why. You won't believe when or how he did it!
Ian is out to dinner with his billionaire father. Still upset that his fiance broke off their engagement when he asked for a pre-nup that his dad insisted on. His dad is sharing his philosophy on women. Eye roll... again. How can a dad and son be so different?
A great book! Laughs! Serious moments too as Clara and Ian's chance meeting takes them through some deep feelings through to some clarity they have needed.
Highly recommended five star book!!
May 27, 2024
It's been a long time since a book has surprised me by making me spontaneously laugh out loud, but Words on Candy Hearts by Augusta Reilly did just that. And not just one time either. I found myself laughing and chuckling my way through this fun and quirky romance.
The dialogue is witty and quick, and the fact that almost the entire book takes place over a period of a day, and in a variety of vehicles no less, makes the skill with which Reilly presents the transition from the two main characters hating each other to falling in love even more remarkable. The back and forth point of view from Clara to Ian provides plenty of humour and keeps the story moving along quickly, and keeps the reader eagerly turning the pages.
Words on Candy Hearts is light-hearted and a joy to read. Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC.
The dialogue is witty and quick, and the fact that almost the entire book takes place over a period of a day, and in a variety of vehicles no less, makes the skill with which Reilly presents the transition from the two main characters hating each other to falling in love even more remarkable. The back and forth point of view from Clara to Ian provides plenty of humour and keeps the story moving along quickly, and keeps the reader eagerly turning the pages.
Words on Candy Hearts is light-hearted and a joy to read. Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC.
September 1, 2022
Ian is the wealthy son of a billionaire who has been told women will only love him for his money so he might as well make the most of it and get a good-looking one. Clara is a PhD candidate who has been told men will only love her for her looks, so she might as well pick a rich one to end up with. Neither of them loved this message and spent their whole lives being fearful of it. When a drunken mistake forces them to band together, they find a sympathetic kindred spirit to talk out their romantic and family histories with. Although, this was made comphooked. And hilarious because Ian originally assumes Clara is a hooker.
This had me quite literally laughing out loud. The first quarter was ridiculous in the best way. I thought the initial gag of their awkward meeting would get old but it really didn't until right when it ended. The author had an excellent sense for how far and long to take jokes and sentimental chapters or memories.
I thought the ending got a little too cheesy and sappy, but it was cute and a great HEA to give them both. There was a lot of fun cheese. Some unrealistic, but perfect entertainment for someone who wants a light, fast-moving humorous but also sweet romcom. This was a fun ride and would make an adorable movie!
You have: mistaken identity, environmental activist working against corporate greed, forced proximity, road trip, an old journal, a romantic cabin, a prison visit and paparazzi. There is a lot going on and it all happens in a day. But I never felt rushed. It was silly but you were all in for it. Definitely worth reading!
Thanks so much Get Red PR Books for my advanced copy
This had me quite literally laughing out loud. The first quarter was ridiculous in the best way. I thought the initial gag of their awkward meeting would get old but it really didn't until right when it ended. The author had an excellent sense for how far and long to take jokes and sentimental chapters or memories.
I thought the ending got a little too cheesy and sappy, but it was cute and a great HEA to give them both. There was a lot of fun cheese. Some unrealistic, but perfect entertainment for someone who wants a light, fast-moving humorous but also sweet romcom. This was a fun ride and would make an adorable movie!
You have: mistaken identity, environmental activist working against corporate greed, forced proximity, road trip, an old journal, a romantic cabin, a prison visit and paparazzi. There is a lot going on and it all happens in a day. But I never felt rushed. It was silly but you were all in for it. Definitely worth reading!
Thanks so much Get Red PR Books for my advanced copy
July 23, 2022
Clara Zapata, 28, has recently been dumped by her fiancé just before their wedding because she gained 15 pounds. Clara has been working hard to become an Ornithologist. She and her mother, 49, are out having drinks as she explains to her daughter that to men, her body is more importance than her intelligence. So, always go for the man with the money.
Leaving the bar with a lot of alcohol in her system, Clara mistakenly gets in another person’s car instead of her own. That’s when she meets the owner, Ian Dunning, whose gold-digging girlfriend dumped him some time ago. The two of them end up chatting and they set off on a road trip as Clara gives him a ride home.
Ian is the son of a wealthy billionaire but Clara doesn’t know that. They just enjoy chatting about their problems with their love problems. As the day wears on, they continue together as they dodge the paparazzi while munching on Clara’s wedding cupcakes with candy hearts on them.
There is so much laugh-out-loud humor in this book. There is also some serious and enlightening discussions between Clara and Ian that showed their deepest emotions. Their parents also add so much humor. Her Mom is the best and I want to be just like her when I grow up! Sit back and have some good laughs.
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Leaving the bar with a lot of alcohol in her system, Clara mistakenly gets in another person’s car instead of her own. That’s when she meets the owner, Ian Dunning, whose gold-digging girlfriend dumped him some time ago. The two of them end up chatting and they set off on a road trip as Clara gives him a ride home.
Ian is the son of a wealthy billionaire but Clara doesn’t know that. They just enjoy chatting about their problems with their love problems. As the day wears on, they continue together as they dodge the paparazzi while munching on Clara’s wedding cupcakes with candy hearts on them.
There is so much laugh-out-loud humor in this book. There is also some serious and enlightening discussions between Clara and Ian that showed their deepest emotions. Their parents also add so much humor. Her Mom is the best and I want to be just like her when I grow up! Sit back and have some good laughs.
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
July 16, 2022
The story follows Clara, who just got dumped by her boyfriend and is in a bar receiving advice from her mom to become a gold digger while Ian is also in a similar yet different position. He is also in a bar opposite from the one Clara is in getting advice from his dad that women are only good as trophy wives and nothing else. When Ian finds Clara in his car when he is about to leave the adventure of their lifetime begins.
I loved the storyline. I like romances where the characters spend a lot of time together so you guys can guess how much I would love a book where the characters are forced to spend time even though they can’t get away any faster. I loved the writing too as it had me imagining all those fun and crazy moments taking place in front of me and at times I just couldn’t control my laughter.
I also loved the characters and their development. I liked how both shared the same vulnerabilities yet were different in their own ways. I loved how their attraction grew slowly instead of instant love.
I highly recommend this book to every romance and rom com lover especially one that is looking for a book that has a lot of crazy moments and equally emotional ones.
I loved the storyline. I like romances where the characters spend a lot of time together so you guys can guess how much I would love a book where the characters are forced to spend time even though they can’t get away any faster. I loved the writing too as it had me imagining all those fun and crazy moments taking place in front of me and at times I just couldn’t control my laughter.
I also loved the characters and their development. I liked how both shared the same vulnerabilities yet were different in their own ways. I loved how their attraction grew slowly instead of instant love.
I highly recommend this book to every romance and rom com lover especially one that is looking for a book that has a lot of crazy moments and equally emotional ones.
July 12, 2022
Thank you @getredbooks and @augustareillyauthor for a spot on tour and a gifted ebook of 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐲 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬.
Clara Zapata is an intelligent, beautiful Ph.D. student in ornithology who has just been jilted by her fiancé. After too many drinks with her wild mother, Clara mistakenly climbs into Ian Dunning - mega-billionaire heir apparent’s car by mistake and passes out.
Let the miscommunication begin! Ian assumes Clara just got done doing her “night job,” but he also hides the fact of who his famous daddy is. There is a lot of misunderstanding at the beginning between the two, but it makes for some seriously hilarious dialogue.
I had so much fun reading this. In just a day, Clara and Ian get into all sorts of craziness- car rides, ditching photographers, eating her would-be wedding cupcakes, to sharing intimate childhood memories.
𝘛𝘳𝘶𝘭𝘺 𝘦𝘯𝘫𝘰𝘺𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 - a perfect read to give you a smile or a good laugh.
Clara Zapata is an intelligent, beautiful Ph.D. student in ornithology who has just been jilted by her fiancé. After too many drinks with her wild mother, Clara mistakenly climbs into Ian Dunning - mega-billionaire heir apparent’s car by mistake and passes out.
Let the miscommunication begin! Ian assumes Clara just got done doing her “night job,” but he also hides the fact of who his famous daddy is. There is a lot of misunderstanding at the beginning between the two, but it makes for some seriously hilarious dialogue.
I had so much fun reading this. In just a day, Clara and Ian get into all sorts of craziness- car rides, ditching photographers, eating her would-be wedding cupcakes, to sharing intimate childhood memories.
𝘛𝘳𝘶𝘭𝘺 𝘦𝘯𝘫𝘰𝘺𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 - a perfect read to give you a smile or a good laugh.
July 7, 2022
Words on Candy Hearts by Augusta Reilly is a breakout romantic comedy I didn't see coming. Taking place in the span of a day, this instant romance between Clara and Ian is magic. I laughed more reading this book then I have with a lot of other books in a long time and it was so enjoyable. This is a story that everyone can relate to when you're having "one of those days" and things just keep happening. In this case, the "I can't believe this is happening" moments turn into good. The banter alone is enough to make someone want to read this book. I definitely recommend!
July 21, 2022
Words On Candy Hearts
By Augusta Reilly
4/5🌟🌟🌟🌟
I received a ARC for Netgalley in exchange for a honest review. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this book.
-This book was such a cute, fun, and fast read! I had a good laugh reading this book! 😊
Claire and Ian were super hilarious and their character were so different for each other that made it more perfect. I loved that they had to spend their time in a car together. And believe or not its the best time to get to know someone. I like how they had similar thoughts, a lot in common and they both wanted some one who loved them for what they are.
One thing I wasn't too much of a fan was that she had to use the bathroom to much, and stop to many times. Also, the overweight thing: She was not overweight, I wasn't a fan of that.
Overall, Cute story. I would recommend this book if you want a quick funny book.
By Augusta Reilly
4/5🌟🌟🌟🌟
I received a ARC for Netgalley in exchange for a honest review. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this book.
-This book was such a cute, fun, and fast read! I had a good laugh reading this book! 😊
Claire and Ian were super hilarious and their character were so different for each other that made it more perfect. I loved that they had to spend their time in a car together. And believe or not its the best time to get to know someone. I like how they had similar thoughts, a lot in common and they both wanted some one who loved them for what they are.
One thing I wasn't too much of a fan was that she had to use the bathroom to much, and stop to many times. Also, the overweight thing: She was not overweight, I wasn't a fan of that.
Overall, Cute story. I would recommend this book if you want a quick funny book.
June 13, 2022
✅️ Opposites attract
✅️ Forced proximity
✅️ Duel POV
✅️ Rom-Com
Clara is a PhD student studying ornithology🐦, who is recently single and Ian is a billionaire's son💰, the most eligible bachelor.
Their meet-cute was funny and the story was quite entertaining and had me laughing out loud at their banter. 😆💄
I enjoyed that each of the main characters was unique (slightly curvy h and some hearing loss H).
I disliked their parents.
I know it was vital to the whole story, but I felt there was too much time dedicated to the parent's flaws/insecurities and it didn't need to be repeated throughout the story as much.
I also disliked how many times she had to pee...? I didn't think it was a cute quirk. 😣🤷🏻♀️
Overall, I enjoyed this story and was the first book I have read from this author. I enjoyed the writing style and will be looking forward to her next book! ❤
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this eARC!
✅️ Forced proximity
✅️ Duel POV
✅️ Rom-Com
Clara is a PhD student studying ornithology🐦, who is recently single and Ian is a billionaire's son💰, the most eligible bachelor.
Their meet-cute was funny and the story was quite entertaining and had me laughing out loud at their banter. 😆💄
I enjoyed that each of the main characters was unique (slightly curvy h and some hearing loss H).
I disliked their parents.
I know it was vital to the whole story, but I felt there was too much time dedicated to the parent's flaws/insecurities and it didn't need to be repeated throughout the story as much.
I also disliked how many times she had to pee...? I didn't think it was a cute quirk. 😣🤷🏻♀️
Overall, I enjoyed this story and was the first book I have read from this author. I enjoyed the writing style and will be looking forward to her next book! ❤
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this eARC!
August 19, 2022
I cannot remember the last time I had this much fun reading a book. So many laugh out loud moments. Be forewarned do not have any beverages while you read this one. I just about spit out my wine but it was well worth it !
I was sending screenshots to my friend and finally she said “Stop. I’m going to buy my own copy right now”
Words on Candy Hearts is a quick, fun read that takes place over 24 hours. The story is told from a dual POV (Clara and Ian) and the back and forth chemistry between them is hilarious. While it seems unlikely our MC's will go from mistaken identity to instant love in such a short time, Augusta totally makes it work. Highly recommend this one for your last blast of summer beach outing.
Thank you to GetRedPR and NetGalley for my complimentary eArc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I was sending screenshots to my friend and finally she said “Stop. I’m going to buy my own copy right now”
Words on Candy Hearts is a quick, fun read that takes place over 24 hours. The story is told from a dual POV (Clara and Ian) and the back and forth chemistry between them is hilarious. While it seems unlikely our MC's will go from mistaken identity to instant love in such a short time, Augusta totally makes it work. Highly recommend this one for your last blast of summer beach outing.
Thank you to GetRedPR and NetGalley for my complimentary eArc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 15, 2022
This was a quick and fun read! It’s perfect for a pool day or plane ride. Miscommunication/instant love aren’t my favorite but I still found this book enjoyable. The whole book takes place over 24 hours and our main characters have similar background stories. There were a few details that took me out of the story but not everybody notices that kind of thing and it wasn’t make or break for me. Overall, this is a great feel good book that is sure to get you out of a reading slump or just brighten up your day!
Big thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Big thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
June 6, 2022
This was a funny light read about two people stuck together for 24 hours who have really similar life stories. I loved the way their thoughts echoed each other’s when the POVs switched. Each character was well developed and had their own personality. I thought a lot of the scenes were hilarious and enjoyed every chapter. Would recommend to anyone looking for a quick and amusing read!
September 20, 2022
This book was laugh out loud funny and so worth the read. Clara and Ian are both out with parents following their respective breakups, they end up meeting after Clara drunkenly mistakes his car for hers and passes out in it. The plot takes place over a 14 hour period so it's fairly fast-paced but still a great read. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy.
July 19, 2022
[I received a digital arc for an honest review]
Words on Candy Hearts by Augusta Reilly is quick, easy romantic comedy. There was so much that I really enjoyed about this one. The non-stop sarcasm and banter between the two main characters and their awkward and ridiculous "meet cute". I really liked the dynamic between the two of them right from the start. They are both very likeable characters, especially when they open up about their upbringings that shaped them to be the adults they are today. Their story is fast-paced, it literally takes place in a 24-hour period, and there are no dragging points of the story.
Unfortunately, there are a few details holding me back from giving it higher than three stars. One was the way the characters made fun of the male lead losing his hearing. I felt like this could have been a great opportunity to have great disability rep, but instead it's used as a joke and punchline, which made me uncomfortable. Then there's the one and only intimate scene in the book. It doesn't happen until the very end of the book, and it felt completely unnecessary. This coming from a reader who says the more smut the better, lol These two build a relationship based on their similarities and differences and they bond over them. Maybe if the intimate scene had blown me away I wouldn't have commented on it, but it was choppy and underwhelming, I honestly could have done without it all together.
Overall, Words on Candy Hearts by Augusta Reilly is a cute rom com filled with insta-love, forced proximity, mini road trips, believing in your self worth, and copious amounts of cupcakes.
Words on Candy Hearts by Augusta Reilly is quick, easy romantic comedy. There was so much that I really enjoyed about this one. The non-stop sarcasm and banter between the two main characters and their awkward and ridiculous "meet cute". I really liked the dynamic between the two of them right from the start. They are both very likeable characters, especially when they open up about their upbringings that shaped them to be the adults they are today. Their story is fast-paced, it literally takes place in a 24-hour period, and there are no dragging points of the story.
Unfortunately, there are a few details holding me back from giving it higher than three stars. One was the way the characters made fun of the male lead losing his hearing. I felt like this could have been a great opportunity to have great disability rep, but instead it's used as a joke and punchline, which made me uncomfortable. Then there's the one and only intimate scene in the book. It doesn't happen until the very end of the book, and it felt completely unnecessary. This coming from a reader who says the more smut the better, lol These two build a relationship based on their similarities and differences and they bond over them. Maybe if the intimate scene had blown me away I wouldn't have commented on it, but it was choppy and underwhelming, I honestly could have done without it all together.
Overall, Words on Candy Hearts by Augusta Reilly is a cute rom com filled with insta-love, forced proximity, mini road trips, believing in your self worth, and copious amounts of cupcakes.
July 20, 2022
This! This is how you do miscommunication and insta-love.
I think this might have been the funniest book I’ve ever read. I’m talking tummy cramps and tears down my face funny!
I somehow went from cringing at the degrading of women from the second chapter to dying of laughter by the 4th and then swooning by the end. The entire book was a quick witty read and takes place over the span of a day following our characters Clara and Ian as they end up stuck spending the day together after Clara, in a drunk haze; got her keys stuck in the ignition of Ian’s car. From the moment they meet it’s instant comedy. From miscommunication, to hidden identity, to constant erections, this book will have you gasping for air from laughing so hard.
Things I liked:
* Clara and Sara’s dynamic
* The miscommunications ( This is a first!)
* The sweet and tender moments
* Dual POV’s
Things I didn’t overly like:
* The repetitive dialogue entering each chapter
Overall I loved that while this book had me crying from laughing so hard, it also had its sweet and tender moments and that Clara was so relatable. It was a quick and enjoyable read and something I would definitely recommend for anyone looking for a good laugh. Words On Candy Hearts is truly a comedic gem!
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
I think this might have been the funniest book I’ve ever read. I’m talking tummy cramps and tears down my face funny!
I somehow went from cringing at the degrading of women from the second chapter to dying of laughter by the 4th and then swooning by the end. The entire book was a quick witty read and takes place over the span of a day following our characters Clara and Ian as they end up stuck spending the day together after Clara, in a drunk haze; got her keys stuck in the ignition of Ian’s car. From the moment they meet it’s instant comedy. From miscommunication, to hidden identity, to constant erections, this book will have you gasping for air from laughing so hard.
Things I liked:
* Clara and Sara’s dynamic
* The miscommunications ( This is a first!)
* The sweet and tender moments
* Dual POV’s
Things I didn’t overly like:
* The repetitive dialogue entering each chapter
Overall I loved that while this book had me crying from laughing so hard, it also had its sweet and tender moments and that Clara was so relatable. It was a quick and enjoyable read and something I would definitely recommend for anyone looking for a good laugh. Words On Candy Hearts is truly a comedic gem!
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 13, 2022
This was a first time read for me by this author and it definitely won't be my last. I found it to be an absolutely delightful and cute story. It was an insta-love story with a fun and entertaining storyline and was a quick read. The story caught my attention from the beginning and held it all the way through. I enjoyed the writing style, it kept me interested and engaged and I had a lot of fun reading this book. The storyline flowed nicely and the romance was wonderful and there were plenty of humorous moments that had me laughing out loud or just generally left me with a smile on my face. I totally got caught up in Clara and Ian's story. This was a fun and easy read. The characters were interesting and I enjoyed the witty banter between Clara and Ian. A fun flirty romantic comedy that I am happy to have had the opportunity to read!
I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.
I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.
![Profile Image for Amy [Book Addict Reviews].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1572307419i%2F47676940._UY200_CR0%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
July 22, 2022
This was just a fun, hilarious, and lighthearted romance between two strangers who have a series of misadventures.
Clara and Ian are both absolutely enjoyable characters. They don’t really like each other when they first cross paths, but over the course of time they spend together they form a friendship and really start to form a connection. There is a level of attraction between them, but they don’t think much of it.
I adored the overall story and misadventures that occur. It was super funny at times. The secondary characters are also fantastic, especially Clara’s mom. Their relationship was different but I liked it.
If you’re looking for a strangers to lovers, rom com check this one out.
Clara and Ian are both absolutely enjoyable characters. They don’t really like each other when they first cross paths, but over the course of time they spend together they form a friendship and really start to form a connection. There is a level of attraction between them, but they don’t think much of it.
I adored the overall story and misadventures that occur. It was super funny at times. The secondary characters are also fantastic, especially Clara’s mom. Their relationship was different but I liked it.
If you’re looking for a strangers to lovers, rom com check this one out.
July 26, 2022
I read this book in one day, it was a quick and enjoyable story that I found hard to put down. I would have given it another half star if it weren’t for the instant love trope weaved in. Let’s just say I’m very torn while writing this! I want to love it and feel that I do, but at the same time my rational brain is saying “things just don’t work this way.”
Things I liked:
- The banter and chemistry between the 2 main characters
- The very unique storyline: finding love in an extremely unconventional way
- The character development was definitely not lacking and only added to my strong liking for this book
- The backstory of both main characters (this is the first book that has made me cry!)
Things I didn’t like:
- The timeline. Falling in love with a person in a day. The timeline is what made the book a little unbelievable and predictable to me.
- I didn’t care too much for the focus on the main character’s weight.
- Some of the language used to paint a picture for the supporting characters was a little too much for me, but at the same time, probably not too far off given the person.
Read this if you like:
- Enemies to lovers trope
- Instant love trope
- Forced Proximity trope
- A fast-paced yet enjoyable read
- HEAs
- Books that evoke a range of emotions
Overall, this book was delightful and I’d recommend it to anyone that reads the romance genre.
Things I liked:
- The banter and chemistry between the 2 main characters
- The very unique storyline: finding love in an extremely unconventional way
- The character development was definitely not lacking and only added to my strong liking for this book
- The backstory of both main characters (this is the first book that has made me cry!)
Things I didn’t like:
- The timeline. Falling in love with a person in a day. The timeline is what made the book a little unbelievable and predictable to me.
- I didn’t care too much for the focus on the main character’s weight.
- Some of the language used to paint a picture for the supporting characters was a little too much for me, but at the same time, probably not too far off given the person.
Read this if you like:
- Enemies to lovers trope
- Instant love trope
- Forced Proximity trope
- A fast-paced yet enjoyable read
- HEAs
- Books that evoke a range of emotions
Overall, this book was delightful and I’d recommend it to anyone that reads the romance genre.
September 20, 2023
I laughed so hard at parts of this. Ok the cataplexy hit and I laughed so hard I couldn’t breathe and made a whistling noise like a tea kettle. The cataplexy is a medical condition and happens with fear and hilarity…At one point it made me laugh so hard I couldn’t breathe and panicked into a panic attack. Now I let myself get to that state of laughter and for cataplexy to hit…that’s the highest praise. I laughed so hard reading this that my dad seemed to be alarmed at the behavior. It’s good to keep people on their toes. 🤣🤣🤣
July 28, 2022
Oh my goodness this was a delight to read.
Meet cute premise? Hilarious and original. Characters? Complex, hilarious, and immediately likeable. Banter? Hilarious. Do you see the theme here?
On top of having me actually laughing out loud, this had a lot of emotional weight to it. And Reilly did a great job of explaining Clara and Ian’s backgrounds without being heavy handed or cringeworthy.
I would definitely recommend this if you’re looking for a quick read.
Meet cute premise? Hilarious and original. Characters? Complex, hilarious, and immediately likeable. Banter? Hilarious. Do you see the theme here?
On top of having me actually laughing out loud, this had a lot of emotional weight to it. And Reilly did a great job of explaining Clara and Ian’s backgrounds without being heavy handed or cringeworthy.
I would definitely recommend this if you’re looking for a quick read.
September 26, 2022
4.5 stars rounded up!
I've never laughed this much while reading a book. Me reading this book is the epitome of Lmao-ing. You can bet that I'll be going around the city forcing everyone to read this because it's seriously one of the most adorable books I've ever read.
I've never laughed this much while reading a book. Me reading this book is the epitome of Lmao-ing. You can bet that I'll be going around the city forcing everyone to read this because it's seriously one of the most adorable books I've ever read.
October 9, 2022
Such a cute & fun rom-com! I loved this book and the fact that the author is from CO just makes me like it more!
February 2, 2024
Cute, funny, totally farfetched…gotta love that book candy. Love that it’s by a Colorado author.
July 23, 2022
If you're looking for a fast-paced, low-angst romance, this is it! The main characters, Clara and Ian, are delightful in this enemies-to-lovers story with plenty of hi-jinks and mishaps. Augusta Reilly keeps the tone light and comedic, with interesting, fleshed-out characters. 4.5 stars.
**I received a ARC in exchange for a honest review. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this book.**
**I received a ARC in exchange for a honest review. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this book.**
June 19, 2022
Clara’s mom always told her that men only wanted men wanted women as a trophy so might as well make the best of it. Ian’s dad always said women are gold diggers and might as well go for a woman who looks good. Clara meets Ian when she accidentally mistakes his car for her when she is drunk and wakes up in his car . Ian automatically assumes she’s a hooker and tries to get rid of her; things start to go awry when he locks all of his belongings -keys included -inside his car . Now stuck on a road trip with Clara they are forced to be with each other. As feelings start to shift and walls come down, will it be enough for them to find what they always wanted, or will their parents ill advised words prevent them from love .
Okay so this book was adorable . I loved how intuitive they both were with what the other was feeling in the dialogue . It was cool to see how each picked up on what the other could possibly be thinking without letting them know. Clara was so independent and really stood her ground and didn’t let rude remarks from Ian tear her down. Ian was super defensive at first because of his own experiences, but eventually he saw Clara for who she is and not what he was afraid she would be.
I did like the banter and relationship between the both of them, but I did think the pace of the book was a tad too fast . Especially the last 3 chapters to the epilogue ; I totally understand the epilogue was a year later, but the ending of the last chapter to that was a tad too big of a jump. I also didn’t feel like we got to know the characters as much as I would of liked and we didn’t see much character growth.
Overall , this was a cute story and I did enjoy it. 3.5 stars for me
Okay so this book was adorable . I loved how intuitive they both were with what the other was feeling in the dialogue . It was cool to see how each picked up on what the other could possibly be thinking without letting them know. Clara was so independent and really stood her ground and didn’t let rude remarks from Ian tear her down. Ian was super defensive at first because of his own experiences, but eventually he saw Clara for who she is and not what he was afraid she would be.
I did like the banter and relationship between the both of them, but I did think the pace of the book was a tad too fast . Especially the last 3 chapters to the epilogue ; I totally understand the epilogue was a year later, but the ending of the last chapter to that was a tad too big of a jump. I also didn’t feel like we got to know the characters as much as I would of liked and we didn’t see much character growth.
Overall , this was a cute story and I did enjoy it. 3.5 stars for me
Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews