Autoren-Bilder

Kate Bromley

Autor von Talk Bookish to Me

3 Werke 411 Mitglieder 19 Rezensionen Lieblingsautor von 1 Lesern

Werke von Kate Bromley

Talk Bookish to Me (2019) 310 Exemplare
Here for the Drama (2022) 59 Exemplare
Ciao For Now (2023) 42 Exemplare

Getagged

Wissenswertes

Mitglieder

Rezensionen

Good premise. And for those who did not finish the book, I say you missed the best part. It takes time to heal and Kara Sullivan had six months in Italy to work things out. Ms. Bromley dug more into Kate’s psyche and the process as things went along. Forgiveness is tough and difficult to write about as well. Ms. Bromley handled it with tenderness. Fine work.
 
Gekennzeichnet
penelopemarzec | 14 weitere Rezensionen | Jan 14, 2024 |
Truly charming romance between the lovely Violet and the reserved yet charming Matt. Violet is a fashion student years older than her peers. At 20 she left fashion school to follow a man who then left her (he is selfish, but as time goes on in the book it becomes clear that both of them know that though they like each other, maybe even love each other as friends, they are not a match but they have been together so long they are terrified to let go of one another.) She returns to fashion school without financial or moral support from her parents who want her to just grow up and be an art teacher. Finally graduating at 29 she lacks confidence and is terrified she will prove her parents right even though she has worked very hard and knows she is good at what she does. Her school (clearly it is FIT but it is never named) has a competition where the top 3 fashion design students go to Rome and intern at a top fashion house and get advice and ideas for creating a 5 piece mini-collection where one will be named the winner. (Why Rome and not Milan? No clue.) Think Making the Cut without cameras and without Heidi and her MILLION DOLLARS! Violet meets Matt, a showrunner for a popular streaming space-romance, her first day in Rome. He is immediately smitten but does not show it. She is immediately annoyed. After a first rancorous meeting they find out Violet is spending the month at Matt's mother's villa, as is Matt. Matt is terrified he is unable to commit (there are reasons for this) so he eschews romance but wants it from Violet. Violet is afraid she will ruin her professional life by following a guy like she did before, but is drawn to Matt. And Matt is adorable. Anxious and self-protective by nature Matt tears down his walls for Violet, but her fears get in the way.

The closed door romance is really healthy and adult and sweet most of the time. I enjoyed the fashion design info. It was interesting to hear about how things are constructed, fabrics created. and bodies measured. (There is a sexy measurement scene, and those are words I never expected to string together.) I think there were pretty significant pacing issues. Events occur, and there is very little to connect them. People are enemies and then suddenly besties. Americans show up in a room filled with Italian couturiers and fabric designers and instantaneously those Italian women become her fairy godmothers. Still, this was a lot of fun, and neither of the MCs give up everything for one another, instead they pledge to prioritize their relationship alongside their demanding careers and their friends and families. I would say this is a 3.5, rounded up because I felt very connected to the characters (who are so much more like me and my friends were at around 30 -- focused on building careers and travel and building "forever" relationships -- than all these books where women hang out and watch reality television with their besties while drinking sweet and unappealing cocktails.) Also big points for the Capri set scenes which were so breezy and satisfying and made me start looking at fights and hotels for vacation next year.
… (mehr)
½
 
Gekennzeichnet
Narshkite | 1 weitere Rezension | Aug 1, 2023 |
Ciao For Now was surprisingly profound for a romantic comedy. There were so many memorable quotes, life affirming moments, and eye opening proclamations that you finish the book inspired and invigorated - ready to see what life truly has to offer if you are willing to put yourself out there and not take "no" for an answer.

“It’s never too late to live your dream”. That or “When in Rome…”, either case, Violet is taking both head on as she lands in Rome and gears up for an internship of a lifetime. Fresh off winning her placement along with two of her classmates, Violet is ready to embrace everything Rome has to offer - the food, the inspiration, and apparently the floor of a café as she face plants into a table after believing she has seen her ex half way across the world. Attempting to pick up her dignity along with a stranger's now smashed laptop off the floor, Violet comes face to face with a handsome (and rightfully irate) stranger who is, thanks to her, also covered in coffee. Attempting to rectify the situation, Violet offers to replace Matt’s coffee (which he accepts) and the laptop (which, thank heavens, he declined that offer!) The two quickly find that they go together like oil and water. Violet, dying to escape this increasingly painful situation, takes her leave when her friend and fellow internship winner Marco appears. Continuing on to her final destination and determined to leave her very embarrassing mishap with an unnecessarily (yet insanely attractive) man behind, Violet finally arrives at the professor’s residence that will be her little slice of heaven for the next three weeks. Excited beyond belief for her first night in Rome, geared up to meet the professor, and full of so many possibilities, Violet’s positive outlook comes crashing down when her personal antagonist steps through the terrace! Shocked to see Matt again, Violet quickly discovers Matt (or as his mother reveals - Matteo) is the professor’s son and will also be staying at the apartment while she is there. Not excited about having to deal with the bane of her existence under one roof, Violet attempts a truce (after a little well earned payback) so she can focus on her project. She wasn’t prepared for the U-turn their relationship was about to take.

What I like about it: I will admit at first, I wasn’t sure if this book was for me but when Violet shifts from killing Matteo with kindness to petty payback, I was hooked. When she dropped the people pleasure act and showed her true colors, I witnessed a Violet I could get behind and the story became so much more enjoyable. Her sarcasm, witty comebacks, off the cusp internal comments, all of it just kept me laughing. Whether they were fighting each other or falling for each other, Matteo and Violet together were some of the best moments - especially when he let his guard down and loosened up around her.

What I love about it: While I was not be able to empathize with Violet’s character initially, I did genuinely like her and her swift and devious delivery when it comes to Matteo. Marco is an absolute keeper! He is so dramatic in the best of ways! The author is also a master with dialogue. The back and forth is so engaging, you feel like you are at a ping pong match.

What I don’t like about it: For the first couple of chapters, who Violet was as a character was a little too ambiguous. We are introduced to her with very little background but we are suppose to connect with her. Without a proper introduction to who she is as a person, she didn’t initially make an impression so again, it was very difficult to empathize or even sympathize with her character. Instead, you find yourself in the role of a simple onlooker/observer - completely detached from the events transpiring in the café. For this reason, her situation with Matteo was somewhat confusing because she seemed to be more irritated with him than the situation justified. As the reader, I understood I was suppose to take her side but it didn’t make any sense why. As the book progresses and more is revealed about Violet, you find the connection that is needed to truly settle into the book.

As for the spice - while there is an intimate scene in the book, if removed - it wouldn’t take much away from it. The almost moments were hotter, more intimate, more enticing. If this went from a semi open door book to a closed door romance, again - it would still be just as enjoyable!

Looking closely at Violet, she is the textbook example of overthinking and not trusting oneself. I get it - she did what she believed was right and it blew up in her face. How can she trust an inner voice that lead her astray before. The downside - without that trust, she second guessed everything! Her goals, her designs, her dreams, people’s intent. Everything has to be analyzed, questioned, reviewed, and picked to pieces. Mix in the need to please and that poor girl was a walking mess.

Once we got into the heart of this book, there is just SO much to take away from it. I couldn't get enough of it and absolutely adored how it ended. As my first book by Kate Bromley, I had to get use to her writing style but once I did, I couldn't put it down and can't wait to pick up something else by her.
… (mehr)
 
Gekennzeichnet
romcombc | 1 weitere Rezension | Jul 23, 2023 |

Listen

Auszeichnungen

Dir gefällt vielleicht auch

Nahestehende Autoren

Statistikseite

Werke
3
Mitglieder
411
Beliebtheit
#59,241
Bewertung
½ 3.6
Rezensionen
19
ISBNs
31
Sprachen
3
Favoriten
1

Diagramme & Grafiken