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A review by lezreadalot
American Love Story by Adriana Herrera
4.0
I was a big guy, people usually approached with caution, but Easton came to me like he was coming home.
Ohhhhhh this one got me good. I've been loving all of Herrera's romances that deal with Dreamers, and I found this one especially appealing. Two guys who are bad at emotions in different ways (though Patrice takes the cake and then some), a long year of pining between meeting and reuniting, learning to trust and let go, all against a backdrop of escalating racially motivated traffic stops in the city. Real life issues belong in books and I'm glad to see them, but sometimes they can be... idk clumsily written? Not here; I think the author did a fantastic job. These events were motivated by real life, and they weren't written in like, a flowery and OTT way; just facts. There was one moment that was so tense and scary and well-written, it had me on the edge of my seat (even though in the back of my mind I was like "It's a romance novel! It'll be fine! Probably..."). I adored Patrice and Easton. Patrice's hot and cold routine in the first parts of the book were frustrating, but ultimately understandable, given the kind of person he is, so reluctant to open up. I'm glad Easton didn't take it all lying down. And without getting spoilery, I'm gladder that the issue of privilege was handled in such a competent, pragmatic way. Easton wasn't coddled, and he also wasn't just a stock white dude.
I really like how things tied up, and I loved all of their intimate moments and how close they became, even when Patrice was being a butt. There were some lovely sentiments about love and relationships throughout. And the B plot kiddos were so cute. T__T
Really well done.
Ohhhhhh this one got me good. I've been loving all of Herrera's romances that deal with Dreamers, and I found this one especially appealing. Two guys who are bad at emotions in different ways (though Patrice takes the cake and then some), a long year of pining between meeting and reuniting, learning to trust and let go, all against a backdrop of escalating racially motivated traffic stops in the city. Real life issues belong in books and I'm glad to see them, but sometimes they can be... idk clumsily written? Not here; I think the author did a fantastic job. These events were motivated by real life, and they weren't written in like, a flowery and OTT way; just facts. There was one moment that was so tense and scary and well-written, it had me on the edge of my seat (even though in the back of my mind I was like "It's a romance novel! It'll be fine! Probably..."). I adored Patrice and Easton. Patrice's hot and cold routine in the first parts of the book were frustrating, but ultimately understandable, given the kind of person he is, so reluctant to open up. I'm glad Easton didn't take it all lying down. And without getting spoilery, I'm gladder that the issue of privilege was handled in such a competent, pragmatic way. Easton wasn't coddled, and he also wasn't just a stock white dude.
I really like how things tied up, and I loved all of their intimate moments and how close they became, even when Patrice was being a butt. There were some lovely sentiments about love and relationships throughout. And the B plot kiddos were so cute. T__T
Really well done.