e-ARC, 350 pages
Release Date: March 21, 2023
Published by: Webster Avenue Publishing
Read from: February 22- March 17, 2023
Stand-alone
Source: Author (I received an e-ARC of this book from the author in exchange for a just and honest review. This did nothing to influence my review.)
TW: Abuse to a Minor in Foster Care, Death of a parent, Incarceration of a parent mentioned,
For Readers Interested In: Black Romance, Adult, Weddings, Wedding Reality Shows like Love is BlindWhy Knot take a chance at love?
Evelyn Townsend is the friend your parents warned you about. She’s always jumping off bridges with reckless abandon. So when a reality show promises the opportunity to meet her perfect match, Evelyn is all in. There’s just one major catch … her soulmate will be picked by a panel of experts, and she doesn’t get to meet him until they are face to face at the end of the aisle.
Quincy Parrish has played it safe his entire life. When he steps way out of his comfort zone and auditions for a reality television show, he never expected to be picked. Quincy doesn’t believe in the concept of soulmates, and the chances this arranged marriage will work are slim to none. But he’s messed up his love life for the past thirty-five years. Maybe a group of experts can do a better job.
After the “I dos” comes the getting to know one another. Living together, meeting the family, and revealing secrets all while cameras follow their every move. Evelyn and Quincy can’t deny their chemistry, but can they get past the spectacle of the ever-present cameras and crew to find something real? A chance at love is better odds than nothing, even if that means falling in love while the whole world is watching.
*MY THOUGHTS*
It didn’t take much for me to ask to be on the ARC team for this one. I had seen from the author’s previous posts that the book was about a wedding and then the cover dropped. Anddddd I was done for. This book ticked every Nikki box there was. It’s a romance, there’s a wedding, it’s Black Romance, and the cover is gorgeous. (Listen, it doesn’t take much lol) So when I started reading this and saw that the inside was also amazing, I was pleasantly surprised.
I’m always surprised when I find a book by an author I’ve never read before is a home run for me. Like what have I been doing? Why have I never read their work before? And now Kasha is one of those authors. I loved her writing style. I’m talking like I had 6 highlights before Chapter 3. The chapters are a little long for my taste, but that’s a me thing. I know some people don’t mind. Also I was so hooked I remember talking to my Kindle like they could hear me. I had to settle for updating my Goodreads status a million times because I remember wanting to shake Evelyn at one point. I really felt like I was watching the show, Why Knot.
The characters were both great thought they both had some trauma from their past regarding their parents. Evelyn’s mom was a piece of work who acted as if she was embarrassed by her. And then there was Quincy’s childhood and being brought up in the foster care system. I really hurt for both of them. But them together as adults was a force to be reckoned with. They complimented each other so well! I remember thinking this had to be part of Thompson’s lived experiences because man this story just feels so real. There’s no way this connection should feel like this.
Their romance was amazing. Like it might sound cliche, but I have no other way to say it lol I don’t know what else to say. I was for real when I said it felt like a lived experience because it really reminded me of me and my husband. Like this is a story of REAL LOVE. It made me really excited to be in this wedding that I’m in today actually. This is why I wanted to make sure this was posted today. Go check out my social media in the evening for my review there.
The only thing that bugged me was the third act break up. I was hoping we didn’t get one, but yes there is one. And it’s pretty late in the game too. And well, I didn’t think it was warranted. That’s why I was yelling at the book. I wanted to shake the two of them. It was a misunderstanding that never should have happened, but once it did, it spiraled and no one could do anything about it. I was disappointed in one of them for saying something and then when it came to it, they folded and left the other person high and dry. It just made me a little mad that they didn’t even listen to their own advice.
The friend group was also really great. And there was some promising sparks that flew between some people from the friends group. I did wish Thompson explored that a little more. Quincy said he had a problem with it, but it was never really explained if he was serious or why that was. I’m guessing if we get another book in this “universe” that might be the book that tells all. Or at least I hope it is. Because I’d really like to know lol
Overall, I give this
