source: ARC from author
rating:★★★★✩
from goodreads:
Sophia Santana spent ten years selflessly caring for her family, sidelining her own needs and desires. That experience showed her that life only offers happy endings to some, and she's not one of them. Disillusioned and burnt out, she impulsively bids on a “mystery date” package at a charity auction, hoping for a night of no-strings-attached excitement.
Leo Barnes is a retired soap opera star, once known by every housewife in America. Currently, he's a devoted single dad to ten-year-old twins, jaded by the dating scene and annoyed when he discovers his agent signed him up for the mystery date Sophia won without his knowledge.
Until he meets her and his world tilts on its axis. Her authenticity awakens long-forgotten desires in him, but she’s determined to keep things casual and doesn't believe in romantic relationships any more than he does. Leo refuses to give up on the possibility of something real, vowing to become the soap opera hero he pretended to be and prove that their fairy tale ending can only happen together.
Can Sophia overcome her fears and go after what she wants?
my review:
i really liked this book, it would have been 5 stars for me if the ending gave me a little more. overall, the book was really good and it kept me interested the whole way through. i love the 3rd person view in this story because it makes it easier to follow on who is talking in the moment, it also gives the sense of painting a picture and letting it all really develop in your head. i really liked the “caretaker trying to find their way in the world” theme because as the first daughter in a hispanic family your role is to be the caretaker forever and always. this book definitely was a slow burn but not so slow that you were bored, it was the perfect speed. i wanted to keep reading just to find out where they went and how it all fell into place. i did like the ending but i would have loved to see how the relationship as a family dynamic developed. i also want to know more about cass and how everything goes for her.
Leo Barnes is a retired soap opera star, once known by every housewife in America. Currently, he's a devoted single dad to ten-year-old twins, jaded by the dating scene and annoyed when he discovers his agent signed him up for the mystery date Sophia won without his knowledge.
Until he meets her and his world tilts on its axis. Her authenticity awakens long-forgotten desires in him, but she’s determined to keep things casual and doesn't believe in romantic relationships any more than he does. Leo refuses to give up on the possibility of something real, vowing to become the soap opera hero he pretended to be and prove that their fairy tale ending can only happen together.
Can Sophia overcome her fears and go after what she wants?
my review:
i really liked this book, it would have been 5 stars for me if the ending gave me a little more. overall, the book was really good and it kept me interested the whole way through. i love the 3rd person view in this story because it makes it easier to follow on who is talking in the moment, it also gives the sense of painting a picture and letting it all really develop in your head. i really liked the “caretaker trying to find their way in the world” theme because as the first daughter in a hispanic family your role is to be the caretaker forever and always. this book definitely was a slow burn but not so slow that you were bored, it was the perfect speed. i wanted to keep reading just to find out where they went and how it all fell into place. i did like the ending but i would have loved to see how the relationship as a family dynamic developed. i also want to know more about cass and how everything goes for her.
i really liked sophia because she was a strong independent person but also had that soft side that really needed to lean in on her family but still didn't really know how. watching her develop in the therapy and mental health aspect was great because it really gives people a sense of hope that if someone who went through so much can gain control over their life and emotions again.
i didnt know how to feel about leo in the beginning but i really started liking him as the book progressed. he seemed like he was going to be the typical famous douche but he turned into a total sweetheart, the love he had for his girls really translated over into his relationship with sophia and even cass.
love, within reason still might be my favorite evie ocampo book but this one definitely is a close second. everything about it was great. i cant wait to read more from her. thank you to everalda and her team for allowing me to be one of the first to read this book!
favorite quotes:
“stepping away from what’s not working is so important.”
favorite quotes:
“stepping away from what’s not working is so important.”
“it was something he hadn’t known he was missing until now—someone to stand beside him, not just watch from the sidelines.”