What do you think?
Rate this book
If I'm Being Honest
Brooklyn tends to be pessimistic. Raised by her mother and the prized possession of her absent father, she’s always felt caught between two worlds: who she is and who her parents expect her to be. As a result, she decides to spend the summer in Boston supporting her mom after the divorce and discovering where she fits in.
Eli manages a bookstore better than he manages his friends, family, and his broken heart. A wealth of knowledge in women’s fiction, he so easily slips in under Brooklyn’s skin. More annoying than his perfect face is how he can read her like every book he keeps stocked on the shelves.
The only problem is Eli refuses to open up.
When hearts collide, one is bound to break. Can Brooklyn piece together Eli’s mysterious past before the summer ends? Or will she go back to LA disappointed that she’s been right all along, and love doesn’t conquer all?
Eli manages a bookstore better than he manages his friends, family, and his broken heart. A wealth of knowledge in women’s fiction, he so easily slips in under Brooklyn’s skin. More annoying than his perfect face is how he can read her like every book he keeps stocked on the shelves.
The only problem is Eli refuses to open up.
When hearts collide, one is bound to break. Can Brooklyn piece together Eli’s mysterious past before the summer ends? Or will she go back to LA disappointed that she’s been right all along, and love doesn’t conquer all?
- GenresRomance
405 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 2, 2023
21 people are currently reading
435 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
May 18, 2023
Do you ever read a book and you have so many thoughts but you just can’t think of the words to do them or the book justice? Yeah…that’s me right now.
If I’m Being Honest is Kristin’s third book and she’s an Indie author you’re gonna want to watch y’all.
This book has it all…bookstore meet cute, strangers to lovers, summer romance, mental health and grief awareness…it’s like the trifecta but with five things, whatever that is 😂
Eli and Brooklyn promptly broke my heart and repaired it about 5,000 times and I’ll be honest, I had my doubts that Eli would be able to recover from his traumatic history. Silly me. With Brooklyn by his side (not to mention Tess and Carter), there was nothing these two couldn’t conquer and I wish I could read it again for the first time ❤️
*Trigger Warnings*
•suicide
•PTSD
•parental gaslighting
•survivor’s guilt
•panic attacks/anxiety
If I’m Being Honest is Kristin’s third book and she’s an Indie author you’re gonna want to watch y’all.
This book has it all…bookstore meet cute, strangers to lovers, summer romance, mental health and grief awareness…it’s like the trifecta but with five things, whatever that is 😂
Eli and Brooklyn promptly broke my heart and repaired it about 5,000 times and I’ll be honest, I had my doubts that Eli would be able to recover from his traumatic history. Silly me. With Brooklyn by his side (not to mention Tess and Carter), there was nothing these two couldn’t conquer and I wish I could read it again for the first time ❤️
*Trigger Warnings*
•suicide
•PTSD
•parental gaslighting
•survivor’s guilt
•panic attacks/anxiety
May 2, 2023
I recommend this book if you like-
* Bookstore Romance
* Strangers to Lovers
* Pop Culture References
Trigger Warnings-
* Suicide and Death
* Mental Illness, Anxiety and PTSD
My thoughts-
I applaud all authors who write about issues that are stigmatized and or hard to write/talk about. Kristin beautifully wrote about mental health and grief and loss.
Eli and Brooklyn were such a cute pair. I loved how they were both trying to find and heal themselves. I am rooting for them forever and always. Who doesn’t love a good bookstore romance?
This book gave me all the emotions. The last few chapters really ripped my heart. I cried, I laughed, I loved, I cringed all the feelings. I recommend to really look over the trigger warnings and make sure you are in a safe space.
I want to thank Kirstin Marzullo for gifting me an ARC in exchange for my honest review. I am excited to continue reading Kristin Marzullo’s beautiful work.
* Bookstore Romance
* Strangers to Lovers
* Pop Culture References
Trigger Warnings-
* Suicide and Death
* Mental Illness, Anxiety and PTSD
My thoughts-
I applaud all authors who write about issues that are stigmatized and or hard to write/talk about. Kristin beautifully wrote about mental health and grief and loss.
Eli and Brooklyn were such a cute pair. I loved how they were both trying to find and heal themselves. I am rooting for them forever and always. Who doesn’t love a good bookstore romance?
This book gave me all the emotions. The last few chapters really ripped my heart. I cried, I laughed, I loved, I cringed all the feelings. I recommend to really look over the trigger warnings and make sure you are in a safe space.
I want to thank Kirstin Marzullo for gifting me an ARC in exchange for my honest review. I am excited to continue reading Kristin Marzullo’s beautiful work.
June 4, 2023
3.5 Stars
Such a touching story about life and love through the good and bad. The storyline was enjoyable - not entirely predictable, but nothing out of left field either. My main issue was with the writing, which felt choppy and a little rough around the edges. The acknowledgements start with the author admitting she wrote this story in 2 weeks, and it shows.
Such a touching story about life and love through the good and bad. The storyline was enjoyable - not entirely predictable, but nothing out of left field either. My main issue was with the writing, which felt choppy and a little rough around the edges. The acknowledgements start with the author admitting she wrote this story in 2 weeks, and it shows.
November 17, 2024
This book is generally harmless, but theres certain aspects that really irk me so imma rant about them 😛😛😛
Numero uno, the main character is an emo stereotype. Im sorry, but you’re 23 and have PURPLE highlights??? And im supposed to take you seriously??? Actually i refuse to believe these characters are in their 20s. Like gurl theres no way ur still torn up about your parents divorce when you can pay taxes.
Second, this book has a WEIRD amount of typos. Like is it really that hard to proofread??? You’re telling me no editor, or family member, could’ve given it the old once-over and said “hey doll, you forgot a letter here,” or “you wrote she instead of he when talking ab a guy” (both things that were in the book). Nothing tells me you don’t care ab your book like typos MAKING THE FINAL CUT.
Also, the pacing of this book is weird. Like why am i 20% in and the characters are going thru a break up when they’ve known each other for three days max. Then there’s like three climaxes and suddenly everyone’s mental health problems are cured! I GUESS IT WAS THE POWER OF LOVE!!!!!!!
WAIT I FORGOT THE WORST PART. This boy recommends her. Colleen Hoover. If a boy ever recommended a colleen hoover book to me, im running in the opposite direction. Save urself girl.
But like it was ok ig.
Numero uno, the main character is an emo stereotype. Im sorry, but you’re 23 and have PURPLE highlights??? And im supposed to take you seriously??? Actually i refuse to believe these characters are in their 20s. Like gurl theres no way ur still torn up about your parents divorce when you can pay taxes.
Second, this book has a WEIRD amount of typos. Like is it really that hard to proofread??? You’re telling me no editor, or family member, could’ve given it the old once-over and said “hey doll, you forgot a letter here,” or “you wrote she instead of he when talking ab a guy” (both things that were in the book). Nothing tells me you don’t care ab your book like typos MAKING THE FINAL CUT.
Also, the pacing of this book is weird. Like why am i 20% in and the characters are going thru a break up when they’ve known each other for three days max. Then there’s like three climaxes and suddenly everyone’s mental health problems are cured! I GUESS IT WAS THE POWER OF LOVE!!!!!!!
WAIT I FORGOT THE WORST PART. This boy recommends her. Colleen Hoover. If a boy ever recommended a colleen hoover book to me, im running in the opposite direction. Save urself girl.
But like it was ok ig.
April 20, 2025
Omg this book, this author.
Trigger warning if you are one that have a hard time with books dealing suicide than this book may not be for you…
But you can’t get past that trigger warning and want a book with main Male Character is the one being saved and by the main Female Character than this book is for you…. It’s not saving in the way you think…
This books goes through so many twist and turns, happy tears and sad tears, frustrating moments and some unbelievable brave moments… so much more
So many people can Relate to Eli, and so many could relate to Brooklyn… Kristen Marzullo is an unbelievable gifted storyteller and writer.
Please if you don’t feel happy remember you are not alone and you are loved and wanted in this world… you are not burden to anyone and worthy.
Trigger warning if you are one that have a hard time with books dealing suicide than this book may not be for you…
But you can’t get past that trigger warning and want a book with main Male Character is the one being saved and by the main Female Character than this book is for you…. It’s not saving in the way you think…
This books goes through so many twist and turns, happy tears and sad tears, frustrating moments and some unbelievable brave moments… so much more
So many people can Relate to Eli, and so many could relate to Brooklyn… Kristen Marzullo is an unbelievable gifted storyteller and writer.
Please if you don’t feel happy remember you are not alone and you are loved and wanted in this world… you are not burden to anyone and worthy.
Read
March 20, 2024These reviews… I don’t UNDERSTAND. I went into this so HYPED UP.
First of all, THE LACK OF COMMAS THROUGHOUT THIS BOOK. GOODNESS. Like terrible. I can deal with some but it was effecting the writing and how some sentences made sense.
This story was very basic. Nothing special about it. I don’t understand the 4.75 user rating. I only finished because I’m not a quitter. Would NOT recommend.
2 stars because it does deal with suicide and I’m all for mentioning that because it’s not talked about enough but it’s only touched on that at the very end.
First of all, THE LACK OF COMMAS THROUGHOUT THIS BOOK. GOODNESS. Like terrible. I can deal with some but it was effecting the writing and how some sentences made sense.
This story was very basic. Nothing special about it. I don’t understand the 4.75 user rating. I only finished because I’m not a quitter. Would NOT recommend.
2 stars because it does deal with suicide and I’m all for mentioning that because it’s not talked about enough but it’s only touched on that at the very end.
November 20, 2023
I thought this was a super cute romance between Brooklyn and Eli.
We follow Brooklyn who is moving to Boston with her mom. At 23, she is still trying to figure out who she is and her outlook on love. We find out that she didn't have the best up bringing and she is trying to understand how relationships can work when she has had such a bad example of love from her parents failed marriage. She meets Eli and that all changes. The whole book is how Brooklyn builds her relationship with Eli and the big secret he is hiding from her.
I had an idea of what the secret was as I was reading with the tons of context clues and the content warnings. I was correct but I found the overall impact of what happened just left me wanting more. Maybe it is from my obsession with true crime but I wanted to know more about why Skylar did what she did and how she did it. It seems like Eli's pain after losing Skylar cold have been expanded on a bit more in the flashback and give us more into his mind but we didnt see that.
There were also times it felt a bit slow for my liking but I enjoyed this read nonetheless.
I loved seeing Silas and Marlene as well as Tess and Carters relationships blooming alongside Brooklyn and Eli. Those relationships are what helped Brooklyn understand the love does exist and it doesn't look like two people fighting all the time. Seeing how much Brooklyn matures in just one short summer was fun to read about. In the beginning she sounds a bit like a cynical teenager, but as her relationship with Eli progressed we see her understand what her parents went through. She finally understood that love is messy, complicated, and can leave you a weeping ball in your bed, but loving someone is so worth it when two people are willing to work through the shit they are dealing with for each other.
Overall I did like this read and would recommend it to others who aren't looking for something too intense but can be a bit of a tear jerker.
We follow Brooklyn who is moving to Boston with her mom. At 23, she is still trying to figure out who she is and her outlook on love. We find out that she didn't have the best up bringing and she is trying to understand how relationships can work when she has had such a bad example of love from her parents failed marriage. She meets Eli and that all changes. The whole book is how Brooklyn builds her relationship with Eli and the big secret he is hiding from her.
I had an idea of what the secret was as I was reading with the tons of context clues and the content warnings. I was correct but I found the overall impact of what happened just left me wanting more. Maybe it is from my obsession with true crime but I wanted to know more about why Skylar did what she did and how she did it. It seems like Eli's pain after losing Skylar cold have been expanded on a bit more in the flashback and give us more into his mind but we didnt see that.
There were also times it felt a bit slow for my liking but I enjoyed this read nonetheless.
I loved seeing Silas and Marlene as well as Tess and Carters relationships blooming alongside Brooklyn and Eli. Those relationships are what helped Brooklyn understand the love does exist and it doesn't look like two people fighting all the time. Seeing how much Brooklyn matures in just one short summer was fun to read about. In the beginning she sounds a bit like a cynical teenager, but as her relationship with Eli progressed we see her understand what her parents went through. She finally understood that love is messy, complicated, and can leave you a weeping ball in your bed, but loving someone is so worth it when two people are willing to work through the shit they are dealing with for each other.
Overall I did like this read and would recommend it to others who aren't looking for something too intense but can be a bit of a tear jerker.
April 9, 2023
4,25🌟
Please check TW before reading: Suicide, mental illness, anxiety, PTSD…
“That’s what you do when you love someone. You hold them during the good moments, and you hold them harder during the bad ones”
I read If I’m being honest in less than a day. I was hooked and couldn’t put it down. I liked its pace.
If I’m being honest was such an emotional read. I cried several time, it really was painful; it broke my heart more than one time. I even had tears in my eyes while writing the review. I also had time when I was smiling, laughing. If I’m being honest was a mix of many emotions.
Brooklyn, our main FMC don’t trust in love because of her childhood with her parents’ divorce. She just moved on to a new city. I liked seeing what Eli’s grieve did to Brooklyn.
Eli, oh my god he made me cry a lot. I really connect with his character, how he try to move on with what happened to his “ex-girlfriend”. I loved seeing him angry, heartbroken… But he is also such a gentleman, and you can only love him.
Kristin was very good at writing her characters. They were so real and I felt attached to them from the start on If I’m being honest.
Brooklyn & Eli gave me lots of butterflies in my stomach. I loved their banter that was funny. There was some spice scenes. I loved following their journey.
This book is great if you’re looking for a complex romance with heartbreaking character. It's not just a love story but a story about getting better after traumas!
Please check TW before reading: Suicide, mental illness, anxiety, PTSD…
“That’s what you do when you love someone. You hold them during the good moments, and you hold them harder during the bad ones”
I read If I’m being honest in less than a day. I was hooked and couldn’t put it down. I liked its pace.
If I’m being honest was such an emotional read. I cried several time, it really was painful; it broke my heart more than one time. I even had tears in my eyes while writing the review. I also had time when I was smiling, laughing. If I’m being honest was a mix of many emotions.
Brooklyn, our main FMC don’t trust in love because of her childhood with her parents’ divorce. She just moved on to a new city. I liked seeing what Eli’s grieve did to Brooklyn.
Eli, oh my god he made me cry a lot. I really connect with his character, how he try to move on with what happened to his “ex-girlfriend”. I loved seeing him angry, heartbroken… But he is also such a gentleman, and you can only love him.
Kristin was very good at writing her characters. They were so real and I felt attached to them from the start on If I’m being honest.
Brooklyn & Eli gave me lots of butterflies in my stomach. I loved their banter that was funny. There was some spice scenes. I loved following their journey.
This book is great if you’re looking for a complex romance with heartbreaking character. It's not just a love story but a story about getting better after traumas!
April 14, 2023
❗️PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU CHECK TW’s❗️
If I’m being honest, broke my so much. For the last 6 chapters or so I was literally in tears and had to stop reading to gather myself.
✅I absolutely adored the concept of Eli and Brooklyn’s first few meetings. I mean a cute meet up in a book store😍 I swooned so hard!!
✅Eli emotions were so raw and real. I loved that the author didn’t rush or brush over his trauma. You live in the trauma and really learn to heal and get through throughout this book. Just a big topic can sometimes not be done right in books. But it was beautifully written, as someone who has experienced it myself.
✅ I really felt for Brooklyn not knowing what was going on and everyone else knowing before her. But I loved how patient and understanding she was
💭The different mentions of books throughout if I’m being honest was brilliant. I definitely have to go and read the mentioned books for myself!!!
❌ Only critique, is maybe would have liked there to have been some POV from Eli. It would definitely have been even more powerful. But not necessarily a bad thing.
❌ Silas was definitely an arsehole for how he treated Eli!! But I was really happy with how the author resolved this towards the end.
This book follows both MC’s learning to heal from their own different traumas and supporting each other. However, also learning to go after what they want for themselves!!
I would recommend if you like:
📚 Book store meet
📚 Summer romance
📚 strangers to lovers
📚 Grief, loss, mental health awareness
Thank you to Kristin Marzullo for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
If I’m being honest, broke my so much. For the last 6 chapters or so I was literally in tears and had to stop reading to gather myself.
✅I absolutely adored the concept of Eli and Brooklyn’s first few meetings. I mean a cute meet up in a book store😍 I swooned so hard!!
✅Eli emotions were so raw and real. I loved that the author didn’t rush or brush over his trauma. You live in the trauma and really learn to heal and get through throughout this book. Just a big topic can sometimes not be done right in books. But it was beautifully written, as someone who has experienced it myself.
✅ I really felt for Brooklyn not knowing what was going on and everyone else knowing before her. But I loved how patient and understanding she was
💭The different mentions of books throughout if I’m being honest was brilliant. I definitely have to go and read the mentioned books for myself!!!
❌ Only critique, is maybe would have liked there to have been some POV from Eli. It would definitely have been even more powerful. But not necessarily a bad thing.
❌ Silas was definitely an arsehole for how he treated Eli!! But I was really happy with how the author resolved this towards the end.
This book follows both MC’s learning to heal from their own different traumas and supporting each other. However, also learning to go after what they want for themselves!!
I would recommend if you like:
📚 Book store meet
📚 Summer romance
📚 strangers to lovers
📚 Grief, loss, mental health awareness
Thank you to Kristin Marzullo for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 9, 2023
If I’m being honest, this book was SO good. Brooklyn, our FMC, is very empathetic and has a huge heart, even when shes not sure what love is. Eli, our MMC, is quiet, guarded, and still struggling with a difficult past, affraid to let people in. When Brooklyn and Eli first cross paths it’s an instant draw to each other, although Brooklyn doesn’t get that vibe.
As a reader, this story connects with you by being told around a bookstore and newish books. It mentions a few books I myself have read. So when Eli, suggests a book I’ve read to her, after her encounter with another that made her cry , I said, “Nooo, that one is going to make her cry too!” out loud while reading. This book keeps you guessing about Eli’s past and why he is the way he is. It takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions.
• instant connection
• grief / loss
• reconnections
• happy ending
“But that’s the downside to love,……In order to have it, we risk getting hurt,”
“But I do think no matter who you love, the only real guarantee in life is that we will get hurt. It’s just a matter of how we choose to move forward from those experiences.”
“That’s what you do when you love someone. You hold them during the good moments, and you hold them harder during the bad ones.”
TW: talks of suicide, anxiety attacks.
As a reader, this story connects with you by being told around a bookstore and newish books. It mentions a few books I myself have read. So when Eli, suggests a book I’ve read to her, after her encounter with another that made her cry , I said, “Nooo, that one is going to make her cry too!” out loud while reading. This book keeps you guessing about Eli’s past and why he is the way he is. It takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions.
• instant connection
• grief / loss
• reconnections
• happy ending
“But that’s the downside to love,……In order to have it, we risk getting hurt,”
“But I do think no matter who you love, the only real guarantee in life is that we will get hurt. It’s just a matter of how we choose to move forward from those experiences.”
“That’s what you do when you love someone. You hold them during the good moments, and you hold them harder during the bad ones.”
TW: talks of suicide, anxiety attacks.
February 19, 2023
Trigger Warnings:
Suicide
Mental Health
Explicit Sex Scenes
Survivors Guilt
Childhood Trauma
Brooklyn is spending the summer with her mother in Boston leaving her father in LA. After her parents divorce she had to deal with her mother's hatred for her father and her fathers lack of presence while growing up and blaming her mother for his failing directors career. Brooklyn is in her twenties and has no idea what she wants out of life. She learns that her mother is attending a grief group and book club to help her deal with emotions from her divorce. Her mother is trying to find herself and move on from the pain. Wanting to maybe join her mom reading group she goes to the local book shop where she meets Eli. Eli owns an bookstore and helps Brooklyn with books to read especially women's literature. Brooklyn and Eli's attraction is a enemies to lover, but not really enemies. Eli seems to understand Brooklyn more than she knows herself. As their relationship grows and Brooklynn learns more about Eli she falls deep, but Eli's secrets may tear them apart.
This book is so emotional like the last six chapters I was in tears. This is a book that will definitely pull at your heart strings and give you insight into survivors guilt and how it really effects people. I love this story so good!
Suicide
Mental Health
Explicit Sex Scenes
Survivors Guilt
Childhood Trauma
Brooklyn is spending the summer with her mother in Boston leaving her father in LA. After her parents divorce she had to deal with her mother's hatred for her father and her fathers lack of presence while growing up and blaming her mother for his failing directors career. Brooklyn is in her twenties and has no idea what she wants out of life. She learns that her mother is attending a grief group and book club to help her deal with emotions from her divorce. Her mother is trying to find herself and move on from the pain. Wanting to maybe join her mom reading group she goes to the local book shop where she meets Eli. Eli owns an bookstore and helps Brooklyn with books to read especially women's literature. Brooklyn and Eli's attraction is a enemies to lover, but not really enemies. Eli seems to understand Brooklyn more than she knows herself. As their relationship grows and Brooklynn learns more about Eli she falls deep, but Eli's secrets may tear them apart.
This book is so emotional like the last six chapters I was in tears. This is a book that will definitely pull at your heart strings and give you insight into survivors guilt and how it really effects people. I love this story so good!
April 16, 2023
First of all, thank you once again to my friend and indie author Kristin for sharing an advanced copy of her third book. When I say her books keep getting better and better, I mean it! This standalone romance is a roller coaster of emotions. When Brooklyn moves to Boston for the summer with her mom, she doesn’t know what to expect. She only knows she’s unhappy with her job and her life and is still hiding her talents for singing and songwriting. Enter Eli, the magnetic and at times grumpy bookstore owner. But he’s got a secret he’s not willing to divulge, nor is anyone else around them. Throughout the book we see Brooklyn and Eli grow and become more vulnerable and honest not only with each other but also with themselves. They face hard things. Their love story is not always perfect. But it’s real. Kristin’s characters are so relatable, as usual. And I really appreciate her openness with mental health discussions in this story, as that affects my life as well. What are you waiting for?? Grab this one immediately!
Read this if you like…
🥰 Love stories you want to root for
🌶️ Spicy scenes
🥹 Vulnerability
📚 Book and pop culture references (Swift, Hoover, Styles, and the like)
❗️ Difficult but important discussions about mental health
CW: anxiety and suicide
Read this if you like…
🥰 Love stories you want to root for
🌶️ Spicy scenes
🥹 Vulnerability
📚 Book and pop culture references (Swift, Hoover, Styles, and the like)
❗️ Difficult but important discussions about mental health
CW: anxiety and suicide
May 2, 2023
"That's what you do when you love someone. You hold them during the good moments, and you hold them harder during the bad ones"
First of all, THE MEET CUTE 😫😫😫 if I had a say in how I meet my guy it would be like this. Him working in a bookstore and our next conversations and few meet-ups being about books or more specifically women’s fiction.
Everything about this book and characters is so real, raw and perfectly paced. It’s one of those stories where you completely forget that you’re reading and get so lost in the characters and plot. The banter was so good and the chemistry was undeniable. And you know it’s written well when you love the side characters too!
For so many reasons I’m always very sceptic about stories that revolves around trauma or mental health. But Kristen definitely nailed it with how everything was done. It was realistic and inspiring and not rushed.
Some of the popular booktok books are mentioned in here and we get Eli and Brooklyn’s opinions on them. It felt real relatable and kinda cool knowing what they’re talking about. I’m also convinced to read In Five Years now because of this story.
tropes :
🎨 strangers to lovers
📖 summer romance
🎨 grief, loss, mental health awareness
📖 pop culture references
As always, don’t forget to check out the trigger warnings! Stay safe and remember that you are loved. (By me😙)
February 20, 2023
Let me start out by saying, I adore Brooklyn & Eli! If you’re looking for a book that has complex main characters who are trying to heal themselves after trauma while also navigating the feelings associated with loving someone, I really do think you’ll enjoy this one!
From their first awkward encounter, I knew I was going to get sucked into this book & sucked in I was! I often found myself chanting “kiss, kiss, kiss” and when they FINALLY did I was so happy! Also let’s not forget about the very 🔥 make out session in the bookstore that made me want them to complete the encounter, if ya know what I mean 😏
There also multiple speeches that happen that made me tear up - the one that really hit my heart the most was when Brooklyn apologizes to her mother. It’s such a beautiful way to show her healing!
As far as things I didn’t like?
The writing was not my exact style, so I found some of the wording to be super repetitive. (The word “breathy” is used to describe their talking so much).
Other than that, I really enjoyed this book!
Thank you to the author, Kristin Marzullo, for providing me with a free digital ARC of this in exchange for my honest opinion!
From their first awkward encounter, I knew I was going to get sucked into this book & sucked in I was! I often found myself chanting “kiss, kiss, kiss” and when they FINALLY did I was so happy! Also let’s not forget about the very 🔥 make out session in the bookstore that made me want them to complete the encounter, if ya know what I mean 😏
There also multiple speeches that happen that made me tear up - the one that really hit my heart the most was when Brooklyn apologizes to her mother. It’s such a beautiful way to show her healing!
As far as things I didn’t like?
The writing was not my exact style, so I found some of the wording to be super repetitive. (The word “breathy” is used to describe their talking so much).
Other than that, I really enjoyed this book!
Thank you to the author, Kristin Marzullo, for providing me with a free digital ARC of this in exchange for my honest opinion!
February 23, 2023
Great story-building, perfect romance, and definitely worth the read.
I think this is a perfect romance book with all emotions in perfect proportions as the story leads between a bookstore manager,Eli & a heartbruised(by her dad)girl, Brooklyn . Sure, there is a great spice (🔥🔥🔥) in this novel. Sprinkled throughout the book are a few scenes where Eli & Brooklyn meet, chat, support each, flirt more, sleep together, have a misunderstanding, anxiety attacks (trigger warning ⚠️) beautiful outfits, bond between mom & daughter & her friends and finally on the way to love(they reach at end?🤔). Very fantastic read and all woven around the important aspects of life.
I absolutely plan to reread this book as I adored the story building, loved the Boston setting(small town romance kinda vibes), and was intrigued by all of the side characters. If you enjoy a solid romantic books with feelings other than love too (just like the real life), you might enjoy it as much as I did.
I received an eArc from the author & I'm glad for this opportunity.
I think this is a perfect romance book with all emotions in perfect proportions as the story leads between a bookstore manager,Eli & a heartbruised(by her dad)girl, Brooklyn . Sure, there is a great spice (🔥🔥🔥) in this novel. Sprinkled throughout the book are a few scenes where Eli & Brooklyn meet, chat, support each, flirt more, sleep together, have a misunderstanding, anxiety attacks (trigger warning ⚠️) beautiful outfits, bond between mom & daughter & her friends and finally on the way to love(they reach at end?🤔). Very fantastic read and all woven around the important aspects of life.
I absolutely plan to reread this book as I adored the story building, loved the Boston setting(small town romance kinda vibes), and was intrigued by all of the side characters. If you enjoy a solid romantic books with feelings other than love too (just like the real life), you might enjoy it as much as I did.
I received an eArc from the author & I'm glad for this opportunity.
March 19, 2023
“That’s what you do when you love someone. “You hold them during the good moments, and you hold them harder during the bad ones.” 🎨🎵💕🫶🏻
Available worldwide in paperback 5/2!
Pre-order on B&N online & Amazon.
🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻5
I’m bawling.😭❤️ No, seriously I really am. This book right here is what I love about Kristin’s writing. There is so much emotion and vulnerability tucked into these pages. If I’m Being Honest is one of my new favorite books of all time. The main characters Eli & Brooklyn just jumped out of the pages. Their personalities and love for each other really shined throughout the book and brought out the true meaning of love and the love for life. Please pick this book up and read it. It’s so honest and gut-wrenchingly beautiful in every way. 🎨🎵🫶🏻💕
P.S- I LOVED the Harry Styles and Taylor Swift references, PLUS the amazing playlist included.
Available worldwide in paperback 5/2!
Pre-order on B&N online & Amazon.
🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻5
I’m bawling.😭❤️ No, seriously I really am. This book right here is what I love about Kristin’s writing. There is so much emotion and vulnerability tucked into these pages. If I’m Being Honest is one of my new favorite books of all time. The main characters Eli & Brooklyn just jumped out of the pages. Their personalities and love for each other really shined throughout the book and brought out the true meaning of love and the love for life. Please pick this book up and read it. It’s so honest and gut-wrenchingly beautiful in every way. 🎨🎵🫶🏻💕
P.S- I LOVED the Harry Styles and Taylor Swift references, PLUS the amazing playlist included.
March 26, 2023
Okay you all hear me out!! I AMMMM OVERLY OBSESSED WITH THIS BOOK. IT BROKE MY HEART BUT THEN FIXED IT AGAIN. ! So heartbreaking, emotional yet real😭I couldn't get enough of Eli and Brooklyn (New York iykyk🙈) what a dream couple they are. Ofc they both have some things to deal with but they are still accepting each other.
Also they books kristin mentioned are one of my fav. ahhh😭ugly love for example.
The plot twist wow hit hard. At some point I was expecting it👀bc I overthink some situations too much haha but oh boy. Some things did take an unaccepted turn😩👀
But wow Kristins writing style. I nevet want to stop reading her books😭
This book is a MASTERPIECE!!!!!!!
This became my second fav book of all time!!. Kristin my dear friend. If you are reading this: you have outdone yourself and you were born to be an author PERIOD🤍
Also they books kristin mentioned are one of my fav. ahhh😭ugly love for example.
The plot twist wow hit hard. At some point I was expecting it👀bc I overthink some situations too much haha but oh boy. Some things did take an unaccepted turn😩👀
But wow Kristins writing style. I nevet want to stop reading her books😭
This book is a MASTERPIECE!!!!!!!
This became my second fav book of all time!!. Kristin my dear friend. If you are reading this: you have outdone yourself and you were born to be an author PERIOD🤍
April 26, 2023
Wow, wow, wow!
If I’m Being Honest, is an absolute wonder.
The story is filled with complex emotions and events that each of us can relate to no matter if it’s heartbreak, tragedy, guilt, or healing. This book will surely put you in your feels as we follow our MC Brooklyn & Eli’s journey in finding themselves while falling head over heels for each other. Plus, it was so cool to read and recognize some of the books, songs, and pop culture references that were mentioned. It was quite satisfying in a way and made the story feel even more real.
Honestly, 5/5 ⭐️ Kristin. You’ve outdone yourself. You’ve created such beautiful characters with emotions that are grounded and real. I’m really excited to see what you’ll create next and how you’ll top this already perfect fictional boyfriend character that is Eli.
April 26, 2023
4 Stars
Please check trigger warnings.
If I'm being honest, I really liked this book. See what I did there? lol.
Okay seriously, this book was really good. I mean the 2 Main characters, met at a bookstore. I loved how Kristin tied in popular books throughout the story.
This book is a rollercoaster of emotions so be prepared. I found myself getting frustrated with Brooklyn at times, because she kept going back and forth with her feeling about Eli, as well as with issues with her parents, but she worked it out.
Kristin's writing really makes you feel the emotions of these characters. There was so much character growth throughout this book, not only with the 2 main characters but with the side characters as well.
I am so glad that I got the opportunity to read this book. Thank you Kristin Marzullo for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Please check trigger warnings.
If I'm being honest, I really liked this book. See what I did there? lol.
Okay seriously, this book was really good. I mean the 2 Main characters, met at a bookstore. I loved how Kristin tied in popular books throughout the story.
This book is a rollercoaster of emotions so be prepared. I found myself getting frustrated with Brooklyn at times, because she kept going back and forth with her feeling about Eli, as well as with issues with her parents, but she worked it out.
Kristin's writing really makes you feel the emotions of these characters. There was so much character growth throughout this book, not only with the 2 main characters but with the side characters as well.
I am so glad that I got the opportunity to read this book. Thank you Kristin Marzullo for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
April 30, 2023
Brooklyn and Eli. They meet in a bookstore, *ugh* how cute. Brooklyn stumbles into Turning Pages while in Boston visiting her mom for the summer. There, she meets Eli, the grumpy manager with a heart of gold but it’s got some thorns. While Brooklyn and Eli fall, they also have to break down walls that they intentionally built to keep others out due to their difficult pasts.
If I’m Being Honest was a great example of loving someone unconditionally and the patience it takes to love someone who is hurting and has mental health issues. In this case, anxiety.
🖤As always please check your content warnings as there are some heavy topics discussed in this book and your mental health is important 🖤
My thoughts:
•So many great pop culture and book references
•Eli is literally so swoon worthy.
•I cried on multiple occasions but it was worth the ride.
If I’m Being Honest was a great example of loving someone unconditionally and the patience it takes to love someone who is hurting and has mental health issues. In this case, anxiety.
🖤As always please check your content warnings as there are some heavy topics discussed in this book and your mental health is important 🖤
My thoughts:
•So many great pop culture and book references
•Eli is literally so swoon worthy.
•I cried on multiple occasions but it was worth the ride.
April 12, 2023
f I’m being honest, I really fucking love this book.
Oh my dang goodness.
I would like to firmly thank antibiotics, Pedialyte, and mostly Kristin Marzullo for giving me life this week. I was severely lacking a much-needed dose of serotonin (and many other emotions).
There is so much to say here, but I do NOT want to give anything away because that would be such a grand disservice to future readers.
I fell more in love with this story with each page. And, as expected, I tore through this.
It’s a story I will certainly come back to. It gave me my fav lil' spark of creative energy that makes me bubble with giddiness and love for the bookish world.
If I’m Being Honest is so well written. It’s a must-read. And gives you all the feels--- the good, the bad, the spicy.
Oh my dang goodness.
I would like to firmly thank antibiotics, Pedialyte, and mostly Kristin Marzullo for giving me life this week. I was severely lacking a much-needed dose of serotonin (and many other emotions).
There is so much to say here, but I do NOT want to give anything away because that would be such a grand disservice to future readers.
I fell more in love with this story with each page. And, as expected, I tore through this.
It’s a story I will certainly come back to. It gave me my fav lil' spark of creative energy that makes me bubble with giddiness and love for the bookish world.
If I’m Being Honest is so well written. It’s a must-read. And gives you all the feels--- the good, the bad, the spicy.
March 3, 2023
Literally so good!! I wasn’t quite sure what to fully expect with this one but it superseded any expectations I may have had. It goes through all sides of love. The hurt and pain, the heartache, as well as the safety and comfort you can feel with a partner. It shows that No relationship is perfect and there is not one definition of love. To each person love can look and mean different things. Although I was not expecting the book to develop the way it did, it was super relatable. The feelings and internal battles each person struggles with is so relatable.
March 13, 2023
I could not stop reading this book once I started, I fell for the storyline right away and I loved how everything played out. It wasn’t your normally boy meets girl, falls in love, happily ever after story. It was messy and sad but so wholesome and real. I loved how Kristin brought to light the feelings of others in sad/heartbreaking situations and gave insight to how people feel when having to go through hard times. I am so glad I got a chance to read this for Kristin and I cannot wait to read more for her!
June 3, 2024
Looking for an emotional but heartwarming book? Grab this one! (And some tissues…)
You are going to cry but you will love it too.
It’s an adorable meet cute. She goes to his bookstore and gives her book suggestions. They have this fun banter about the books. But the MMC is hot and cold. He gives her a bit of whiplash but then his own story starts to unfold.
I think this is a great book! It’s also written by an indie author. If you are looking for those hidden gem books-this is one of them. 🥰
You are going to cry but you will love it too.
It’s an adorable meet cute. She goes to his bookstore and gives her book suggestions. They have this fun banter about the books. But the MMC is hot and cold. He gives her a bit of whiplash but then his own story starts to unfold.
I think this is a great book! It’s also written by an indie author. If you are looking for those hidden gem books-this is one of them. 🥰
May 30, 2023
Loved this book
I don't want to spoil the book I was able to easily connect what the plot twist was but, it was an amazing book. This was my first book from this author and she made me fall in.lobe with the characters. Their story was so real and honest. I also really liked that their story was the main point if the writing focusing on their growth. What a great book to read don't miss out.
I don't want to spoil the book I was able to easily connect what the plot twist was but, it was an amazing book. This was my first book from this author and she made me fall in.lobe with the characters. Their story was so real and honest. I also really liked that their story was the main point if the writing focusing on their growth. What a great book to read don't miss out.
February 27, 2023
My first ever ARC 🥹
This was an absolutely beautiful and heartbreaking story. I came to love the characters for all their qualities and flaws and truly felt for each one when their truths came out.
I haven’t found myself crying over books much, but the last 20% of this book had me in TEARS!
Also I loved all of the trending book references and the 1D/Harry Styles mentions 🫶🏻🫶🏻
This was an absolutely beautiful and heartbreaking story. I came to love the characters for all their qualities and flaws and truly felt for each one when their truths came out.
I haven’t found myself crying over books much, but the last 20% of this book had me in TEARS!
Also I loved all of the trending book references and the 1D/Harry Styles mentions 🫶🏻🫶🏻
March 27, 2023
I could NOT put this book down. I was immediately pulled into it and on edge reading it each day. I can’t describe the emotions this book put me through. Brooklyn was such an amazing and strong character. Eli had been through an unthinkable trauma. This story unfolded beautifully. I gotta say I will definitely be hitting this authors backlist because I was definitely blown away.
October 4, 2023
This was one was pretty adorable. What I loved about it is that throughout it references some pretty famous recent romance books which if you are a romance reader at all will instantly recognize. It deals with some pretty heavy topics, Eli trying to come to terms with his past gf's suicide. Brooklyn trying to save Eli from himself was a great read. I wish this was in duel POV though. And you could tell it was by an indie author, I.e. a lot of grammatical errors. I'm not sure how I stumbled upon this book as it only has like 100 reviews on here but it should be talked about more.
August 30, 2025
I absolutely loved this book! Brooklyn and Eli have a romance that blooms and grows in such a genuine way. And the looming past Eli is holding on to keeps an ever present cloud of reality. This had me laughing, crying, and audibly gasping. After finishing this book, Kristin Marzullo is now an auto buy author for me.
June 30, 2023
I was so beyond pleasantly surprised by this book! After seeing one TikTok about it, I instantly downloaded it and consumed it in 24 hours. Eli is the most perfectly imperfect man, and I loved watching his and Brooklyn’s “ugly” love story unfold.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews