💕🌆 "Love At First" (2021) 🌆💕 - Book Review

 

MY REVIEW

 

Paperback: 320 pages

Publisher: Kensington (February 23, 2021)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1496725190

ISBN-13: 978-1496725190

 

“Sixteen years ago, a teenaged Will Sterling saw—or rather, heard—the girl of his dreams. Standing beneath an apartment building balcony, he shared a perfect moment with a lovely, warm-voiced stranger. It’s a memory that’s never faded, though he’s put so much of his past behind him. Now an unexpected inheritance has brought Will back to that same address, where he plans to offload his new property and get back to his regular life as an overworked doctor. Instead, he encounters a woman, two balconies above, who’s uncannily familiar . . .
 
 No matter how surprised Nora Clarke is by her reaction to handsome, curious Will, or the whispered pre-dawn conversations they share, she won’t let his plans ruin her quirky, close-knit building. Bound by her loyalty to her adored grandmother, she sets out to foil his efforts with a little light sabotage. But beneath the surface of their feud is an undeniable connection. A balcony, a star-crossed couple, a fateful meeting—maybe it’s the kind of story that can't work out in the end. Or maybe, it’s the perfect second chance . . .”

 

Thank you in advance to the publisher, Kensington, for providing a complimentary advanced review copy through Bookish First. A positive review was not required or requested, and all words are my own. 

This isn’t my first experience with the author’s work. Last year I won Love Lettering through Kensington’s “Between the Chapters Club”. I really wasn’t too impressed with it. I wasn’t so sure I wanted to read anything else by the author again, but I don’t believe in writing off an author because of one bad experience or because I didn’t care for something in a book. That’s definitely not fair to the author. And, it isn’t fair to the reader because they might miss out on something as a result. One bad book experience doesn’t warrant a complete ban of the person’s work. I know I would appreciate a second chance, so it is only polite and respectful to show that grace on someone else. 

 

That’s why when I saw this book; I first tried to win a copy through Goodreads. After two failed attempts (obviously I lost both times), when I saw it on BookishFirst, I decided to claim it with points. Perhaps I should’ve taken the Goodreads losses as a hint that it wasn’t meant to be. Still, I don’t like just giving up.  

 

I was immediately drawn to the beautiful and whimsical purple cover. The plot sounded interesting – absolutely adorable. But, as with some books I’ve read here recently, there is a difference between the cutesy blurb and the story between the covers. Sometimes it’s the same and connects, other times? It’s a loss. 

 

This was a sad mix of cutesy premise, cutesy dialogue, but yet it suffered something along the lines of the delivery and journey. After reading some other reviews – I do feel somewhat relieved I wasn’t the only one seeing that. 

 

The writing could be engaging at times, and there was SOME good dialogue between the characters. But, despite the premise, it did not win me over. 

 

Despite the cute feeling of this book, this is NOT a clean read by any means. There are “s” bombs as well as “f” bombs. The word a$$ is also used. And, there is an on-page scene with some descriptive language used. For those looking for a clean, fun read – this is definitely not it. 

 

Besides Will and Nora, there were a LOT of characters to try to keep up with. At times it was a bit overwhelming to keep track of them as well as their place in the story, and the relevance they played in it. 

 

This story begins (or rather the prologue) when Will is 15; his mother is at his uncle’s apartment to ask a favor, one that Donny doesn’t want to do. But, it is here that Will hears Nora and falls in love with her – or rather her voice. Clayborn’s writing in that moment is real, visceral, and heart-breaking. Though, right off we don’t know what the favor is or why Donny won’t help his sister. 

 

Sixteen (16) years later, Will (now a doctor) has to stay in Donny’s apartment for a year to inherit it. Of course, he has other ideas for it, which is not sitting well with the residents, particularly Nora. The author did a great job with the pros and cons of short term rentals known as AirBnBs. 

 

While Will has unpleasant memories of his uncle (and by extension the apartment) from that one night, the other residents were seemingly fond of the man; and upon learning about Will’s plans – borrowed items tend to start showing up to show their appreciation for Donny. Yet, we don’t learn that much about the man – only the residents’ version versus Will’s memory. That’s one of the reasons Will doesn’t want anything to do with the apartment. 

 

To prevent Will from trying to fulfill his goal, the residents begin a zany campaign to kill him with kindness – from loads of food to fake poetry readings. While some of the ideas work, it isn’t changing Will’s mind. 

 

His feelings for Nora shift and wane – he cares for her, the idea of her, but also sees who she is here in this moment. 

 

The reader sees this sweet moment when, after finding some abandoned kittens, Nora gets sick and asks Will to stay with her to keep her company. It is a touching “feel-good” moment which doesn’t last too long, 

 

Nora reveals to Will her attachment to her own outdated apartment – it belonged to her grandmother. Nora was closer to the woman due to the fact of her own parents being rather “distant” due to their work. Thus, despite Nonna’s passing – Nora is holding on to the past.

 

Will finally reveals his own past – that Donny didn’t want to aid his dying parents, namely by taking him in. As a result, teen Will had to take over as an adult and handle everything from paying bills to burying his parents on his own. Thus being a teen and a caregiver was a taxing toll on him. It would likely be a toll on any adult. 

 

Due to the recent pandemic, this might be a bit triggering to some readers.  Thus this is namely the reason he doesn’t want the place. Nora finally understands, and Will asks her to keep the secret. There is no reason for the other residents to know. 

 

When Nora is feeling a bit better, Will leaves. 

 

After two weeks, he is still thinking of her. She brings him dinner at work. She also wants her apartment like his – not a short term rental, but redesigned. The two eventually kiss which leads into much more. 

 

Nora begins to realize that the apartment she is living in is more her Nonna’s than her own. 

 

Another back story is a crazy relationship between Will’s fellow doctor and his ex-wife. While divorced the two seem to still care about each other and begin “dating” again. Thus, it is that relationship that Will realizes his own issues with commitment stem from his parents and not wanting to be like them. 

 

Will then decides to fight for Nora as he begins to realize he has genuine feelings for her.

 

At the same time, Nora is out in California dealing with her job. After working remotely due to Nonna being ill, Nora has to return to California. But, she, like a friend/co-worker has become disenfranchised due to changes inside the workplace. 

 

Despite their past, their current issues – Will and Nora do eventually find a way together. At times it felt a bit forced and unnatural. I really couldn’t relate to or connect to them as a couple. The other characters felt more like filler than natural and organic.

 

Will and Nora’s job back ground and issues, while trying to be interesting, do lack substance. The storylines also feel like filler and not something that is natural and connected to the story. 

 

While I didn’t exactly hate this book, it isn’t something I was overly fond of either. At times it did feel like a chore to read and I had to push on to get it done.

 

Thankfully this is a standalone read. 

 

I’m sure the author’s fans will more than likely enjoy this read. As much as I tried to give the author a second chance, I likely won’t be reading her stuff again. 

 

 

 

RATING:

 

2 ⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Goodreads (Rating Definition: “It was Ok”)

 

3 ⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Bookbub (Rating Definition: “Okay”)

 

3 ⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Personal Rating (see rating explanation in this blog: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2020/01/rating-system-2020-changes.html)

 

 

 

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

 

Kate Clayborn is the critically acclaimed author of six novels. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Oprah Magazine, Entertainment Weekly, Bookpage, and more. By day she works in education, and by night (and sometimes, by very early morning) she writes contemporary romances about smart, strong, modern heroines who face the world alongside true friends and complicated families. She resides in Virginia with her husband and their dog.