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Twelve Hours in Manhattan

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Two worlds. One heart. Twelve hours.

Bianca Maria Curtis is at the brink of losing it all when she meets Eric at a bar in Manhattan. Eric, as it turns out, is the famous Korean drama celebrity Park Hyun Min, and he’s in town for one night to escape the pressures of fame. From walking along Fifth Avenue to eating ice cream at Serendipity to sharing tender moments on top of the Empire State building, sparks fly as Bianca and Eric spend twelve magical hours far away from their respective lives. In that time, they talk about the big stuff: love, life, and happiness, and the freedom they both seek to fully exist and not merely survive.

But real life is more than just a few exhilarating stolen moments in time.

As the clock strikes the twelfth hour, Bianca returns back to the life she detests to face a tragedy that will test her strength and resolve—and the only thing she has to keep going is the memory of a man she loves in secret from a world away.

312 pages, Paperback

Published April 18, 2023

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4637 people want to read

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Maan Gabriel

5 books59 followers

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 121 reviews
Profile Image for acupofteaandabookplease.
198 reviews15 followers
March 6, 2023
Thank you to Netgalley and She Writes Press for the copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

I've struggled the first part of the book because of the minute-by-minute writing (I discovered I don't like it ;-) but as soon as I've started the 2nd part of the book, it all made sense. I loved how cute the 2 main characters are and I enjoyed discovering their journey through their pains and struggles.

This book is more about their personal journey than specifically their love story but it makes it... more real.
Profile Image for Bookish Thais💌.
110 reviews46 followers
March 21, 2023
“I’m all his and he’s all mine”


2⭐️
I would like to start this review off hy thanking NetGalley, the author along with She Writes Press for providing me with a free ARC in return for an honest review.

The Plot
I just want to make this clear that I was going to DNF this book so many times but I kept pushing through it in hopes that it would get better. It didn’t. I liked the K-pop touch that this book gave because I person have never read a book which includes a K-pop idol so that’s a good aspect of this book that it’s original. The bad thing is that the plot is dragged a lot and it’s really un organized. I’m not sure if that was done with a purpose to reflect the main character’s life but it felt very overwhelming to me as a reader. I felt like many things were added to the plot for the sake of a word count. I really wanted to like this book but I just couldn’t! There was a point where the plot piqued my interest like when her job was involved but other than that, I was very bored most of the time and didn’t want to read this book.

The Characters
Bianca
At first I could sympathize with Bianca and her life situation especially when that plot twist came about. But then she kept crying and crying every chapter and she just became annoying. I understand that what she was going through was “difficult” but there was no need for her to be crying over such nonsense things. For the most part, I couldn’t even understand what she was crying for.

Eric
I don’t have much to say about Eric other than that he was portrayed to be this nice and kind idol who truly likes his job and not the fame. I didn’t feel any connection towards him and my emotions are quite… blank. The thing is that he fell very flat to me. Both him and Bianca along with any other characters in the book.

—————————————————————

I personally didn’t enjoy this book but I kept pushing because I really wanted to give it a chance but that almost lead to me ending up in a reading slump which I happily over came very quickly. I just don’t think that this author’s writing is for me and that’s ok.
Profile Image for christinac_reads.
535 reviews81 followers
July 10, 2024
DNF at 3% because:

“He's definitely not from around here. He's obviously of Asian descent—Korean or Japanese, maybe. Although I'm no expert on race or cultures of any kind, I know this because I'm a Korean drama, or K-drama, expert—a fan. This is a little trivia about me.”

-

“His English is impeccable, though you can definitely hear a hint of an endearing, sexy accent.”

-

"My name is Eric."
"Bianca."
"I can give you my Korean name, but it might be hard to remem-ber," he says jokingly.
"Yeah, I'll stick with Eric," I joke right back

-

What the actual fuck?
Profile Image for Reading_ Tamishly.
5,302 reviews3,462 followers
March 9, 2023
If you love fairy tales/hallmark movies/older k drama, you will most probably like this.

Pick this up if you like reading about meet cute/insta love/old happy ending romance.

It is the story of a frustrated young woman who’s at the brink of becoming homeless with no one she could turn to. She meets a handsome stranger at the bar where she’s pouring her woes.

If I was a lot younger than I am now, I would have probably enjoyed this book. However, the characters need more charm and spontaneity I feel.

It gets too long towards the second half. I feel the story would be so much better with lesser parts.

Thank you, She Writes Press, for the advance reading copy.
Profile Image for ree.
196 reviews27 followers
March 7, 2023
2.5 stars
Bianca is at the brink of losing it all when she meets Eric at a bar in Manhattan. Eric who turns out to be a famous Korean celebrity and is in town for a night wanting to escape the pressures of fame. Walking along Fifth Avenue to eating ice cream, sharing moments on top of the empire state, sparks fly as Bianca and Eric spend 12 hours far far away from their respective lives. During their time together, they talk about the big stuff: love, life, and happiness, and the freedom they both seek to fully exist and not merely survive.
As the clock strikes the twelfth hour, Bianca returns to the life she detests to face a tragedy that will test her strength and resolve, and the only thing she has to keep going is the memory of a man she loves in secret from a world away.

Ahhhh, this was quite hard to rate because I didn't love it nor hate the book, so I have settled for 2.5 stars!! The whole concept was interesting but however, it felt a bit flat for me and I couldn't get into the characters. Part 1 and the second half felt like they were completely different stories.

Thank you to Netgalley and She writes press for this ARC, Twelve Hours in Manhattan comes out on the 18th of April!!
Profile Image for Arystine.
236 reviews6 followers
May 5, 2023
“Every time life seems perfect, I get scared.”

One night in NYC, Bianca Curtis is on the brink of hitting rock bottom when she struck an unexpected friendship with a handsome stranger. It took her awhile to figure out that this guy who introduced himself as “Eric”’is actually her favorite Korean heartthrob. After the twelve hours she spent with Eric, can Bianca easily go back to her real life issues?

Celebrity romance is always a good idea.💕 I am such a fan of this trope. Realistically speaking, who would not be mesmerized with a celebrity crush, especially if he turns out to be attentive, gentleman, and more? Believe me, I can relate as I myself could not forget a few seconds photo op with a celebrity crush in Boracay during my 20s.😁

While the premise of the book would mislead you that this is a fluffy, serendipitous read, the story actually tackled serious issues and unforeseeable twists (I don’t want to discuss more in order to avoid spoilers). This may be immediately categorized as contemporary romance, but the story may likewise be tagged as women’s fiction since it also focused on Bianca’s self rediscovery. The story is told in the PoV of Bianca, and I admire her resilience when it comes to love. I also like stories about starting over since there is nothing more inspiring than pushing that reset button and finding out that after hitting rock bottom, there is no way to go but up.😊

May I also say that the story flowed smoothly? Although there were surprises here and there that made me gasp, the author pulled it off and made me want to know more, asap.😁 I appreciate how the story is not just focused on the romance, it’s also a bit character-driven and I enjoyed reading about Bianca’s personal journey. Expect that there will be parts of the story that will make you proud of having a Filipino parent upbringing.

This is the 3rd story by @maan_gabriel that I’ve read and I swear I’m looking forward to reading more books by her as she often features strong,independent women. This is also the 1st book I’ve read for #StanAsianAuthors2023 #aapimonth 😍
Profile Image for Beyond the Pages with Eva K.
3,045 reviews165 followers
March 2, 2024
Quick Summary: A delightfully serendipitous women's fiction/romance

My Review: Twelve Hours in Manhattan by Maan Gabriel is a new classic love story. It has all of the elements of a K-drama mixed with all of the brilliance of a contemporary romance.

About the Book: Is it possible to meet the love of your life after a chance encounter? Is it possible for two lives to cross paths numerous times and be unaffected? Is it possible to share a heartfelt connection that can stand the test of time?

When Bianca Maria Curtis and Park Hyun Min (Eric) randomly meet, little did they know how they would forever impact each other.

My Final Say: This is a diamond find. People definitely should not sleep on this lovely story. It was a deep, emotional read. Ultimately, it was a love story that happened to feature a beautiful romance. It was a story about being brave enough to find, to have, and to keep love, but it was also a story about being courageous enough to love self and to find oneself worthy of the good things that are deserved. I absolutely loved it!

Other: Readers who are looking for stories akin to Serendipity, An Affair to Remember, or Sleepless in Seattle, this would do you well to read. It's all about those right person, wrong time...until the right time comes along vibes. Think K-drama and you've got it.

* I really liked the diversity of the characters. This was a huge plus for so many reasons. Bravo!

Rating: 5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Re-read: Yes
Keeper: Yes
Favorites Shelf: Yes
Status/Level: 💎💖

A most sincere thank you is extended to the author, to the publisher (She Writes Press), and to NetGalley. I am incredibly appreciative to have been granted the opportunity to review this title. I cannot say enough good things about this work. I look forward to reading more from this writer.
Profile Image for Jess.
247 reviews14 followers
February 11, 2023
Thank you netgalley for the e arc in exchange for a honest review.

Twelves Hours in Manhattan is a romance novel about Bianca and Eric (a famous Korean actor) at a bar and spend 12 amazing hours together before going their separate and then 2 years later finding their way back to each other.

Honestly I didn't love or not like this book. I didn't feel the connection between the characters at all and the characters themselves fell flat.
Profile Image for Tiffany.
596 reviews12 followers
July 21, 2023
While I enjoyed the thought of two people meeting and falling in love in the span of 12 hours (I love Serendipity), this just didn't feel authentic to me. There was something missing that kept me from fully believing these two characters would be together forever after a night exploring NYC. It was fun and easy to get wrapped up in their adventures though. And I will always love the thought of a famous person falling for someone outside of their circle.
Profile Image for Nadia.
556 reviews
February 13, 2023
I was expecting a rom com that would make me laugh or even giggle a bit. Unfortunately, this was a bit more of a serious story about loving oneself. There were many sad moments. Not much romance and the main couple were not very interesting together. I'm a bit disappointed.

I received this ARC from the publisher and Netgalley for my honest review.
Profile Image for Mai H..
1,352 reviews793 followers
2023
June 7, 2024
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and She Writes Press
Profile Image for Han.
128 reviews18 followers
February 25, 2023
TW Topics: Abortion, drugs, overdose, death, infidelity.

I was beyond excited for this story when I found out I was approved for it, but all I ended up feeling was disappointment if I’m honest. I love stories about second chances and where two worlds collide but this isn’t became repetitive. The contestant mention of him being someone famous and her being someone that was classed as a ‘nobody’ was draining. It was almost as if the main character saw Eric just as someone famous rather than a normal human. The connection between Eric and Bianca felt forced. Eric is often seemed as hopeful while Bianca’s is shown to be very outspoken with a very little filter.

At one point, I wanted to stop reading this story until I reached the plot twist and THAT was when I was hooked, the fact that Bianca’s world was not all it seemed, it was not something I expected but I loved that it happened, that her world suddenly got turned upside down and that change was due, it was because of this that her life changed and she got to experience the life she always wanted.

Without giving away too much of a spoiler, the second chance that took place between Eric and Bianca was beautiful and I’m glad that they both got their chance at love, but that soon turned into disappointment when the ending felt too rushed and I was sat there kind of wondering what the whole point of the story was when the ending was so rushed…

Ending this review on a positive note, I loved Bianca’s mum and how kind she was, she and her partner (Bianca’s father) got their happy ending and that was something I was rooting for. The dynamics between characters were beautiful and Bianca has such a good support system surrounding her, especially through her hard times, I love that the author bought attention to certain topics that were sensitive because it bought realisation to numerous things.
Profile Image for Gina Marie (OMG_look_at_her_books).
288 reviews45 followers
March 23, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 stars

I absolutely loved this book!🥹💗

🚕Summary🚕
Bianca Maria Curtis is at one of the lowest points in her life when she meets Eric at a bar in Manhattan one magical night. Eric turns out to be the famous Korean drama celebrity Park Hyun Min and is in town for one night to escape the pressures of fame.

The two spend 12 hours together in the city talking about love, life, and happiness. When Bianca returns back to her life she detests, a tragedy strikes that will test her strength and resolve. Only the memory of a man she loves in secret keeps her going.


🌆Review🌆
I was invested from the first line until the last and did not want to put this book down! This book had me feeling all of the feels and I was a bit sad to say goodbye to these characters when I finished the book. One chapter I’m literally laughing out loud, the next I’m utterly shocked, and then I’m balling my eyes out! I wish I could join Bianca and her friends for a cocktail in Manhattan too.

I love a good romance book with a HEA, but this book was so much more than that. This book touches on some heavy topics, but it also emphasizes the importance of being happy with oneself. I highly recommend this beautiful novel releasing April 18th!

Age Rec: 16+

Thank you so much to Spark Point Studio for sending me an ARC!

@omg_look_at_her_books
Profile Image for Jasmine.
448 reviews6 followers
April 2, 2023
Review: 3.75 stars

Thank you to Netgalley and She Writes Press for the copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

This book gave me Serendipity vibes where 2 strangers with completely different lives met by chance and offered each other companionship for 12 hours touring Manhattan together and parted due to circumstances. Little did they know, they were given a second change due to determination and fate to be together. 

I do love the concept of the story and am a sucker for anything featuring a k-singer/actor. I do love those little twists the author did add to the novel. It makes the story itself entertaining. Although, I wasn't too big fan of the ending as it felted a little rushed. 

This story is also more chicklit based where the each character is undergoing some personal journey in some way having baggage in their lives with romance feeling like an afterthought.  While the premise of the story is good, I felt like some of the characters were sadly lacking and there was a lot of time jumps in between. Eric is portrayed as this nice, charming, kind man but other than that, it feels like he lacks substance as a character. I do enjoyed Bianca's character where she is portrayed as person who picks up the pieces of her life and became successful after going through some tough times. The fact that she had a group of friends that support her success was wonderful to see. I also enjoyed the diversity rep with Bianca as a Filipino-American and Eric a Korean. 

If you love hallmark movies, insta-love, fairytales and k-drama, this book is a great read! 
Profile Image for Kay J.
367 reviews36 followers
February 10, 2023
O my goodness Maan Gabriel did it to again.... I'm all over the place with my emotions....I loved, loved, loved this story. Bianca was such a sweetie and broken. But I loved how she was surrounded by ones who genuinely cared about her. And Eric. I kind of wish he was a real actor to see some of his movies. I've not watched any K-dramas but I'm kind of intrigued to do so. This book had so many beautiful quotes too I loved when Bianca and her mom sat and really talked and the advice she gave her....always listen to your mom, they know what their talking about 💕💞☺️

quotes from Bianca's mom

"It's okay to mourn over yourself l, because once you're done crying and screaming....that's when you'll truly be free."

"You need to accept the person you've become. Love her. Be proud of her....Don't let insecurity eat you alive."
Profile Image for Megan Bal.
Author 3 books18 followers
April 14, 2023
Sigh. I think I disliked this book because I built it up in my head. Based on the cover, title, and synopsis, I thought it would be about a fun, exciting night in NYC comparable to Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen or something lol. This was like the opposite of that. It was so slow and serious. And I thought practically the whole book would take place over a 12 hour span but it was only like the first third of the book! The middle third was boring. And then the end was so abrupt!

Thanks to Netgalley for the arc! Unfortunately, this book was not for me
Profile Image for Shafira.
63 reviews17 followers
April 16, 2023
I just finished reading Twelve Hours in Manhattan, and I gotta say, it was just okay.

The main characters, Bianca and Eric, were pretty dull and I couldn't really get a sense of their connection. They spend 12 hours together at a bar, which sounds like a dream, but even that didn't make their relationship feel any more exciting. The only thing that kept me reading was the hope that they would finally get together, but even that was a bit lackluster.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC.
Profile Image for Maranda Barry.
338 reviews3 followers
February 21, 2023
This one just never took off. Interesting enough when Park (Eric) and Bianca meet. They keep suspending their inevitable departure from each other, but even the hours they spend together lack spark.

Then there's the long game, and the "aha!" moment that everyone can see coming from a mile away.

This was just a mediocre story.

Overall: 3 stars

I'll tell my students about: sex, alcohol, drugs, overdoses,family trauma, LGBTQIA+

**Thank you to NetGalley and She Writes Press for the free ARC prior to publication. All opinions expressed are my own.**
Profile Image for Elyssa.
692 reviews2 followers
April 1, 2024
This was a book I read. This review may be harsh so let me sandwich with positive things: I did not DNF this and was able to read it quickly!! I liked Marco!
The negative: It made no sense, especially in the first twelve hours. Conversation jumping was bad, no flow. The author also treated addiction poorly, then would backtrack saying "I know it wasn't something Tommy(?) could help but.." Let me emphasize, TOO MUCH JUMPING AROUND. There is also a moment toward the end that, again, made no sense. No explanation, nothing. It was meant to move the plot along but I felt so confused during those chapters. Also, the grammar/editing got sloppy toward the end.
Other positive thing: I enjoyed the style of the epilogue.
Profile Image for Meg.
298 reviews6 followers
April 9, 2023
Thank you to Netgalley, and She Writes Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I DNF this book. I just couldn't connect with the FMC, and to be honest with how the book was written. I'm sure this will appeal to many people, but it just wasn't for me.
Profile Image for Yasmin.
73 reviews9 followers
July 14, 2023
I I had tried many times with this book but every time I picked it up, I just couldn’t get into the story. This is more of a slow paced novel focusing on the characters, a woman struggling with her love life and on the brink of losing it all and a famous k-pop star who is wanting to escape the pressures of fame. After meeting by chance, they open up about their struggles and through this they are able to help each other grow. I liked the inclusion of K-pop touch which gave it a unique element which was interesting, however I did find that the plot dragged out at points which made it hard for me to get into the flow of the book. I had gone into this book imagining that it’ll be something lighthearted and joyous, instead this had more serious topics and a somber tone which I wasn’t expecting. This novel has a thoughtful concept however this book just wasn’t for me.

Many thanks to She Writes Press and Netgalley for sending me this ARC in exchange for a review.
Profile Image for ♡• Ellie •♡.
143 reviews112 followers
December 23, 2023
3.5 ⭐
Idk, this was a cute book for sure, just not very engaging (for me). I get that it doesn't really have a plot, but still... I didn't get really far enough to get a feel for the characters, but they seemed pretty average... A meet-cute for sure! 😄 My one update that I posted on here was "no plot, just vibes", and really, that's all it is. I'll probably pick it up again when I'm in the right mood for a cute vibey romance :D
Profile Image for Oksana (myreadsjournal).
338 reviews34 followers
April 10, 2023
Wow, what a ride this book's been!

This book is not your go-to if you're looking for something fun, entertaining and light to read. I'm actually still trying to recover from everything Twelve Hours In Manhattan made me feel and I'm not sure I'm being 100% successful right now.

The story follows Bianca Curtis who is, literally, at the brink of losing everything: she didn't get the job she was sure she would, and she's about to get evicted from her house. So she decides that the best decision in the middle of all is to get drunk in a bar in Manhattan.

Enters Eric - a mysterious, thoughtful and handsome stranger who starts conversation with Bianca and who, as Bianca finds out a bit later, is the most famous Korean celebrity - Park Hyun Min.
Hyun Min is actually in New York City for one night only to escape the pressure of his own fame.

Conversation after conversation, these two strangers spend 12 magical hours together, pouring their heart and soul out for one another, and falling in love.

I adored getting to know Bianca and Eric. Biana with Eric. Eric with Bianca.
Them meeting, become acquainted, getting to know the struggles and dreams they didn't dare to share with closest friends, and seeing them creating something so especial that only belongs to the two of them.
Their connection is unique and their love is so special, and whilst going through the book you just want to press pause and live in those 12 hours forever, where they're happy and when they're together and where real life doesn't get in the way.

But as Cinderella's fairytale came to an end, Bianca, too, must return to her life and say goodbye to this beautiful stranger who, in just 12 hours, changed her life forever. Little did Bianca know that the scary reality waiting for her wasn't only about losing her house, but about a big tragedy she definitely wasn't expecting.

Even though this book has romance and second chances and the long journey towards true love, it's full of so many sad, tragic moments that just make your heart ache. It really is more about Bianca's personal journey and getting to where she's supposed to rather than a love story.
I genuinely feel for Bianca. She's a strong woman, but it was painful to get to know her life and everything she's been though all the years.
But it also makes me happy the long way she went and that, ultimately, she really got her life to a place she wanted to.

"I've missed you more than you'll ever know. And I've fantasized seeing you somewhere, anywhere. I've practiced what I'd say to you in my head over and over. (...) I spent twelve short hours in Manhattan. (...) And now you're here, and I've found it. In you."

"What? Did you find?"

"Love."

Thank you NetGalley, She Writes Press and Maan Gabriel for the ARC of this book.
Profile Image for Diane RB (booksandthensome).
221 reviews8 followers
May 7, 2023
Last week, I started a few pages but I had to work so I couldn’t continue. Two days ago I picked it up again and then I couldn’t stop. I prepared for an emotional read and true enough, I cried so many times my heart has bruised. What a ride! It was cute, then heavy then healing and finally, happy. My heart is well again. ❤️

Bianca and Eric’s story is indeed extraordinary. What are the odds that we’ll share an intimate encounter with a Korean superstar - on our lowest day at that? And this is where the book delivers the swoon, banters and tons of kdrama vibes- a treat for us seeking the type of romance that somewhat exists only in fantasies. I’m a believer in fate and serendipity. The question is, where does it go from there?

The chance meeting that became a 12-hour bonding constituted the first of the three-part story. If you’ve watched and loved Before Sunrise, you might also love the honest and freeing conversations between Bianca and Eric. It helped of course, that in my mind Eric is Hyun Bin. Eric’s actions reminded me so much of the video clips going around on social media. Eric is indeed Hyun Bin! I imagined Bianca as Anne Curtis in her angsty roles- scarred yet strong. Fighting but depleted. Then, boom! Goodbye, part 1. The book is much more than the romance.

Part 2 is where we got to immerse in Bianca’s story. Her crisis, secrets and regrets. I felt the heavy baggage from her past dragging until the present. There was the guilt that suffocates her, and just plain surrender and resignation. She seemed stuck in a dark place, yearning for the girl she once was, and losing hope over the woman she could’ve become. Everything in the story felt so raw that it hurt. But trust me, it is not all sadness and despair. This is actually a story of getting back up, forgiveness and hope.

Part 3 is for you to find out. I love how unpredictable the plot is. I’m caught off guard by several twists- and I appreciate how the side characters are intriguing too. It goes to show how family and friends help lift us, that they have been there all along.

There were so many touching moments, especially when affirming words are said when they are needed the most. Let us always remember that we have people rooting for us, and that belief strengthens our core. But first, we have to root for ourselves.

Believe in yourself first. Forgive. Things take time. Take it slow. Stop and process things. There are so many life lessons from Twelve Hours in Manhattan. I recommend it for every woman on a journey like me.

Thank you so much for this story, Maan Gabriel!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
193 reviews6 followers
April 18, 2023
Thank you to She Writes Press & Tabitha Bailey as well as the Author Maan Gabriel for the ebook ARC of this novel.

"After a chance meeting in New York city, Bianca Curtis and “Eric,” better known as insanely famous Korean actor Park Hyun Min, spend twelve perfect hours together only to be torn apart at the end of the night by the realities of their very distinct worlds. But their story isn’t even close to over yet…

For readers who love the hugely popular k-dramas and works by Jen Frederick, Susan Park, Tif Marcelo, and Axie Oh , Twelve Hours in Manhattan (April 18, 2023 – She Writes Press) is a fun and intriguing character-driven story where two people come together to escape one’s work failures as the other tries to escape overwhelming success and fame with an inescapable draw between them."

I am not a k-drama person and I don't think I've read any of the authors listed in the blurb, yet, but they will be added to my TBR. When Bianca first meets "Eric" she doesn't realize at first he's one of her favorite Asian actors...she's on the verge of broken in so many ways and just wants to get drunk, and is a good part of the way there when he starts talking to her at a bar. They end up spending the next twelve hours together, telling each other things only strangers who will never see each other can say, and then as all good things end, she has to go home to New Jersey and her slowly exploding life.

Without giving it all away skip two years and they meet again. Things are different for both of them so they decide to see if the connection and sparks they didn't act on last time are still there and they are. Again...bad stuff breaks them apart.

This book is about a woman finding herself, being able to define herself outside of a relationship or job and then acknowledging she deserves good things. I enjoyed Bianca and Eric's story. Bianca's storyline alone is worth reading this book. The romance is there but it's not SPICY, so if you like it a little less detailed you will appreciate this book.
203 reviews3 followers
November 28, 2023
Thank you NetGalley, publishers, and Maan Gabriel for gifting me a copy of Twelve Hours in Manhattan in return for my honest opinion.

2.5/5 stars

Two worlds. One heart. Twelve hours.
Bianca Maria Curtis is at the brink of losing it all when she meets Eric at a bar in Manhattan. Eric, as it turns out, is the famous Korean drama celebrity Park Hyun Min, and he’s in town for one night to escape the pressures of fame. From walking along Fifth Avenue to eating ice cream at Serendipity to sharing tender moments on top of the Empire State building, sparks fly as Bianca and Eric spend twelve magical hours far away from their respective lives. In that time, they talk about the big stuff: love, life, and happiness, and the freedom they both seek to fully exist and not merely survive.

But real life is more than just a few exhilarating stolen moments in time.

As the clock strikes the twelfth hour, Bianca returns to the life she detests to face a tragedy that will test her strength and resolve—and the only thing she has to keep going is the memory of a man she loves in secret from a world away.

The first part of this book was s struggle to get through, add that to the fact that the second part of this book felt like a completely different book it just made it tough to get through. The premise of the book was really cool, but it fell flat for me. I also didn't feel like the characters connected or that they were very interesting. While there wasn't anything majorly bad with this book there also wasn't anything good about it either. All-in-all I read it but it wasn't very memorable.
Profile Image for Steph.
13 reviews1 follower
February 19, 2023
Firstly, a big thank you to NetGalley and She Writes Press for the ARC.

This was a 3 star read for me. I am very 50/50 with this book, but there is just something missing that makes this book fall a little flat. The concept is really good, and the first part where we see Becca and Eric/Park Hyun Min’s meet-cute is very indulgent. The first part gets you invested in the story, but then the rest of the book unfortunately isn’t as good.

This book reads a bit like a fan fiction – unrealistic, cringey. Because of this, I found it hard to keep myself invested in the story and the characters. Things felt rushed, and some parts didn’t feel like they fit with the story, such as the situation with her mum and dad and their story.

I do love a cheesy romance from time to time, and I so desperately wanted to enjoy this book because what’s more exciting than a romance set in NYC, but I just couldn’t get emotionally invested because of how unrealistic everything was. The plot wasn’t on a steady path – the time jump from part 1 to part 2 was a lot, and we didn’t get to stay in moments long enough to get invested.

I hate giving negative reviews but this book didn’t quite deliver for me. It starts off so well with their meet-cute, but then everything goes a little bit all over the place. This book does have some good, romantic moments, but it just needs something more to get the emotional investment from the readers.
Profile Image for Lommie.
244 reviews5 followers
March 17, 2023
Thank you very much to the publisher, She Writes Press and @netgalley for making it possible to enjoy this such opportunity to read an eARC. All opinions are my own.

What are the chances that may might have happened in 12 hours when the only person they decided to talk to that night in all of NYC is a celebrity and a fan? Can a celebrity fall in love with a fan?

The first part of the book had whisk me away on a very interesting premise of a story. Personally, this is one of the fantasies I always indulge myself in my daydreaming – to randomly meet a complete stranger whom you’ll feel an instant connection with. That someone who will not judge. What only matters to us is the story we share to one another. Then, we’ll never expect to see each other again, even in our wildest dreams.

On the second part, the relationship between Bianca and Eric progressed nicely as Bianca explored her feelings and the difficulties that would follow. It focused on the build-up of their love and it felt very slow and at the same time very fast.

Lastly, the ending was pretty satisfying and neatly wrapped.

In conclusion, this book was a hit or miss. Although what I did find very interesting was the motivational texts throughout the read. Here were some to name a few:

• “A stranger as an anchor is what I need tonight. Someone who doesn’t know me or my sorrows..”
• Even if the story starts out dark, finding that light somewhere in the story matters to me
Profile Image for Just Love books.
638 reviews16 followers
April 21, 2023
It all happened as a chance encounter between two perfect strangers both facing major internal problems. For Bianca her entire world was crashing down around her, where as Eric just wanted to get a bit of normalness while adjusting to his K-Drama stardom. The two instantly click and share a night full of memories and wonder together but after 12 hours reality comes crashing back in and they are both forced to face their real lives. Fast forward 2 years and fate has brought these two back together but are they ready this time for a real chance at happily ever after?

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I wanted to love this book, I really did. However I just couldn't help but feel that this was not the book for me. With such a pretty cover I had been expecting this to be a cute little romance set in a picturesque city however this turned out to be a much deeper read about self discovery.

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As much as I liked that both main characters connected on the fact that they were both kind of lost and trying to find themselves, I just couldn't fully get invested in the story. I will say that a lot of deep and heavy topics are touched in this book and I did find myself sheding a tear or two. But as far as romance went I found it to be lacking, there was this insta love/ meet cure moment at first and then it all just kind of fizzled out.

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If you are looking for a book on self discovery then I would recommend reading this book.
222 reviews1 follower
February 28, 2023
Twelve Hours in Manhattan is the story of Bianca as she grows and learns to love and advocate for herself.
Bianca is in New York City pitching herself for a job. They cut her off mid-way through and turn her down. This was her last chance. She feels so defeated and small. So, she decides to go to a bar to drown it all out.
While there, a stranger talks to her after hearing her explain about the job on the phone to her friend. At first she is annoyed with this man, but then their conversation becomes pleasant, witty, and easy. The man gets a table and leaves, and she surprisingly misses him, but he comes back to invite her to his table.
She goes and then realizes that this stranger is actually the main actor from so many of the K-dramas she has been obsessing over, Park Hyun Min. He had called himself Eric, so at first she hadn't placed him. She fan girls a bit, but then their connection continues to grow. They are both open and honest with each other. It's easier because he leaves in the morning and she knows she will never see him again. Their connection is real despite being over such a short period of time. By the end of their twelve hours, they are both falling in love.
But not everything is as it seems, and more than this night isn't a possibility for Bianca. What follows is a well told story about self-acceptance, growth, and love. I highly recommend this book!
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