Layla

 

When Leeds meets Layla, he’s convinced he’ll spend the rest of his life with her—until an unexpected attack leaves Layla fighting for her life. After weeks in the hospital, Layla recovers physically, but the emotional and mental scarring has altered the woman Leeds fell in love with. In order to put their relationship back on track, Leeds whisks Layla away to the bed-and-breakfast where they first met. Once they arrive, Layla’s behavior takes a bizarre turn. And that’s just one of many inexplicable occurrences.

Feeling distant from Layla, Leeds soon finds solace in Willow—another guest of the B&B with whom he forms a connection through their shared concerns. As his curiosity for Willow grows, his decision to help her find answers puts him in direct conflict with Layla’s well-being. Leeds soon realizes he has to make a choice because he can’t help both of them. But if he makes the wrong choice, it could be detrimental for all of them. - excerpt from Goodreads.

Layla by Colleen Hoover explores different area and perspective. This book was written in the male perspective and started off with a heavy sense of mystery. I would say I was definitely surprised for a first half of the story. This review will be short because much of it will be spoilers if I talked about the plot itself. I can share that the characters are unique and their experiences worthy of your attention. I liked how the author transition between two timelines, how going back and forth is the key to my constant drawn to the book.

I love how real the feelings of Leeds is, how honest he is in his thoughts. Although he tries his best in saving the relationship, you can also feel how weary he is. As for Layla, you do not get her perspective but her reactions to Leeds. When another important character like Willow is introduced into the story, your curiosity as a reader will rub on, that wanting to know how things will end up.

I was quite anxious to complete the book and get to the ending and to my relief it was less than 300 pages long. This is definitely one of the shortest Colleen Hoover book I've read. I don't absolutely love it like some of the other titles but overall this was a good book. It highlights the changes of human when met with tragedy, it talks about love in a way that it recognizes familiarity and also being able to grow as well. The thing that I did not like about this book is that the setting is quite stuck but I understand it's because of the nature of the situation that Leeds, Layla and Willow is caught in.  Anymore comments will lead to spoilers. so just get ready for mystery, love and human principles that needs to be questioned. This is probably the first Colleen Hoover book that I won't re-read as knowing the ending gives away to all the mystery.

You had me at Hola

Leading Ladies do not end up on tabloid covers. 

After a messy public breakup, soap opera darling Jasmine Lin Rodriguez finds her face splashed across the tabloids. When she returns to her hometown of New York City to film the starring role in a bilingual romantic comedy for the number one streaming service in the country, Jasmine figures her new “Leading Lady Plan” should be easy enough to follow—until a casting shake-up pairs her with telenovela hunk Ashton Suárez. 

Leading Ladies don’t need a man to be happy. 

After his last telenovela character was killed off, Ashton is worried his career is dead as well. Joining this new cast as a last-minute addition will give him the chance to show off his acting chops to American audiences and ping the radar of Hollywood casting agents. To make it work, he’ll need to generate smoking-hot on-screen chemistry with Jasmine. Easier said than done, especially when a disastrous first impression smothers the embers of whatever sexual heat they might have had. 

Leading Ladies do not rebound with their new costars. 

With their careers on the line, Jasmine and Ashton agree to rehearse in private. But rehearsal leads to kissing, and kissing leads to a behind-the-scenes romance worthy of a soap opera. While their on-screen performance improves, the media spotlight on Jasmine soon threatens to destroy her new image and expose Ashton’s most closely guarded secret. - excerpt from Goodreads.

You had me at Hola by Alexis Dara is a sexy book with a charming and loving story. Firstly I love alternating point of views, as I'm always curious how both characters react and the thoughts in their heads. The book having a drama script in it as well kept me well entertained. From who they are individually and how both of them are different when with each other, it was laid out carefully with the mindset of growth and changes. I love how the author is writing about a culture that I know not much of. I am definitely feel inferior when Spanish was used in the book and having to search those words was a little bit tedious when you're in the mood of continuous reading. So I just went with the flow of words and figured out the meaning after some time.

The tension and interactions between Jasmine and Ashton was so sexy, exciting and well you just want more to happen between them. I enjoyed their personalities and also their background. The value of family and individuality is strongly highlighted in the book. I love the pacing of the book as well as the inclusion of scripts of the drama they are working on. Jasmine's cousins brought so much fun and laughing moments in the story, the great relationship and bond they have is something I craved for myself. I do yearn for that sisterhood where you can just rant and discuss about anything with them, that they also have your best interest always.

Lastly, the struggles these people go through for the colour of their skin is a great lesson for readers. It helps broaden our views slightly and hopefully manage to touch some people to not be judgy and instead have acceptance. Lately I have been reading books that is much more diverse instead of picturing characters to be white skin. I definitely learnt a lot and appreciate that more and more culture are told in romance stories, it can be romantic and meaningful at the same time. I think this is a unique romance novel on its own and am excited as we see more of a diverse ethnicity mentioned and many stories of theirs to be told.