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This one HURT, in all of the most tenderly brutal ways. Several times, I caught myself unconsciously rubbing my chest while reading, trying to make the ACHE dissipate. That’s how invested I was in this couple finding their way together, even when the path there was treacherous. Their every interaction was charged and full of tension – of all kinds. I loved how raw and emotional it got, which paired perfectly with the vibrant, banter-filled moments when they gave into the attraction that sparked between them. It’s got some serious sexual tension and the kind of spice where the intimacy bleeds from the page. I adored the sweetheart of a hero. And as much as I’d typically be driven a little crazy by the reluctant heroine, I truly could see where she was coming from. The forbidden element plays a major role in the story, so I was glued to the edge of my seat, aching to see them find a way through. It’s a little stunning that it’s a debut, and easily one of the most memorable books I’ve read this year.
This romance won’t be for everyone, there is definitely some heavy, potentially triggering content. The story follows Helen, a woman who has never fully healed from the death of her sister 13 years ago. When Helen’s sister was 16, she intentionally walked in front of a car and ended her life. Her death has shaped Helen into the woman she is today, and the emotional wounds still feel raw whenever they’re exposed. Helen has thrown herself into her career, and she’s reached a new level of success – her YA book series is being turned into a TV show, and Helen will be included in the writing process. Things seem to be heading in the right direction until Helen enters the writer’s room that first day and sees Grant… the man who was driving the car that struck her sister. He’s not a man Helen wants to get to know better, but their work situation means they’ll be spending every day together for the foreseeable future – and there’s no avoiding the way their lives are forever tied together.
I knew next to nothing about the story before diving in, I just loved the blurb. So I was shocked when I read the acknowledgments and discovered that this debut author is the screenwriter of Emily Henry’s upcoming film. That’s quite the pedigree, and this story lives up to the promise. It’s so layered and nuanced, with moments that had me tearing up, laughing, smiling, and even fanning myself. It truly put me through my paces emotionally, and it is a romance through and through. Since Helen and Grant work together, there’s tons of forced proximity and so many tense interactions. I loved watching them slowly shift from adversaries to reluctant co-workers to something more, and I really did empathize with both characters. The accident has changed Grant just as much as it did Helen, and my heart hurt for the ways he was broken. It’s not a particularly tropey read, but you could call this a “he falls first, black cat/golden retriever, forbidden romance.” Grant is such a compelling character (loved him!), and he makes the perfect complement to the more reluctant Helen. There’s a definite push/pull situation that cranked up the angst and tension, but I loved the way these two kept finding their way together. My love for the story grew and grew, and it’s the kind of book that I will remember for a long time. I loved it!
Releases on April 9th – preorder today!
Amazon: https://amzn.to/48VjZqf
Blurb:
A sexy and emotional enemies-to-lovers romance guaranteed to pull on your heartstrings and give you a book hangover from brilliant new voice Yulin Kuang.
Helen Zhang hasn’t seen Grant Shepard once in the thirteen years since the tragic accident that bound their lives together forever.
Now a bestselling author, Helen pours everything into her career. She’s even scored a coveted spot in the writers’ room of the TV adaptation of her popular young adult novels, and if she can hide her imposter syndrome and overcome her writer’s block, surely the rest of her life will fall into place too. LA is the fresh start she needs. After all, no one knows her there. Except…
Grant has done everything in his power to move on from the past, including building a life across the country. And while the panic attacks have never quite gone away, he’s well liked around town as a screenwriter. He knows he shouldn’t have taken the job on Helen’s show, but it will open doors to developing his own projects that he just can’t pass up.
Grant’s exactly as Helen remembers him—charming, funny, popular, and lovable in ways that she’s never been. And Helen’s exactly as Grant remembers too—brilliant, beautiful, closed off. But working together is messy, and electrifying, and Helen’s parents, who have never forgiven Grant, have no idea he’s in the picture at all.
When secrets come to light, they must reckon with the fact that theirs was never meant to be any kind of love story. And yet… the key to making peace with their past—and themselves—might just lie in holding on to each other in the present.
Releases on April 9th – preorder today!
Amazon: https://amzn.to/48VjZqf
About the Author:
Yulin Kuang is a screenwriter and director, whose credits include The CW’s I Ship It and Hulu’s Dollface. She was once fired from a Hallmark movie for being ‘too hip for Hallmark’ and is the adapting screenwriter of Emily Henry’s People We Meet On Vacation, as well as the writer/director of the forthcoming Beach Read film for 20th Century Studios. She lives in Pasadena with her husband Zack and their orange cat, Eloise.
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