I loved this book SO MUCH! Why did it take me so long to read it? I cannot WAIT till the next one in December!

Our school has a summer reading program where we give interested students a copy of a book. The idea is not to test them on the material, not to require a response. We just want to keep them reading over the break. However, this requires that we pick really good titles for the program, otherwise, the kids will not read the book. We often have to sort through many titles to find the one book that will capture students' interest. Divine Rivals may be that book for this year! Teen journalists that fall in love, all while their world is being destroyed by the Gods - the kids are going to love it!

I have now read this book 3 times. I also was lucky and got the Fairyloot edition in my subscription box. I have read almost 70 books this year, and this one easily became my number 1 read. It was such a fresh story unlike any I had read before. And beyond that, the writing was beautiful.

Ruthless Vows cannot come out fast enough.

I downloaded this book off the READ NOW shelf because the cover intrigued me. After hearing the buzz about it on social media, I purchased a hardcover book without even knowing what the book was about. I am so glad I finally got to it. This is sure going to be one of my top 5 star reads for 2023. I loved the banter between Iris and Roman. It had a slow feel to it but kept me engaged in wanting more of this story. I will sure be buying the next book in the series.

Divine Rivals is a beautiful new take on the 'enemies to lovers' trope with an added twist of one sided secret penpal's. Thrust into a world in the cusp of a divine war, our two main characters battle it out in the cutthroat world of publishing, However, once magical typewriters enter the mix, bonds are created, and soon love finds a way to bring the two together despite the current state of the world they inhabit.

Rebecca Ross brings a fresh take on the concept of war torn love letters through her magical realism. With beautifully written characters struggling to find each other in a war waged by two immortal beings, Ross sinks her literary teeth in fast. Writing a novel that you can't help but devour. And once you get to the twist ending, you'll be fighting for the next book just to see how everything plays out. (I know I did).

I read it in a day because I couldn't put it down! The rivalry between Iris and Roman immediately hooked me and their budding relationship kept me riveted. The world-building was phenomenal, I could picture Oath and the war-front and every location described perfectly. I cannot wait for the sequel!

I am definitely not the intended audience for this book. I requested the arc to get out of my comfort zone, and I like the author’s adult novels so I wanted to see her YA debut. I’m not sure what my opinion actually says about the novel, but I’ve never been more compelled to finish a book just for the writing. I wasn’t invested in the plot or the characters. I just found the writing to be so beautiful that I kept on reading. This book is written well. And the plot could be interesting to many. And I’m sure the “enemies to lovers” is a big selling point, but I found their rivalry a little lackluster. But Roman and Iris were cute. The concept is unique. And I stayed merely for the writing.

5 stars. I'm sure it's more 4 or 4.5 but the high the story gave me means it's 5 stars. This is the kind of enemies to lovers that I love the most. Two people trying to reach the same achelievment that only one person can have but they both want it for vastly different reasons. Then add the war, her missing brother, losing her mother, AND THAT FRICKEN ENDING and BAM perfection. I teared up so many times through this book and I cannot wait for Ruthless Vows.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book, as this book has already been published, I will not share my review on Netgalley at this time.

I had zero clue what to expect going into this one and I loved it! I don’t want to say too much but I loved the magic, the letter writing and oh man the way this ended! I need book 2!
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Thank you #wednesday and #NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
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This YA enemies to lovers romance about journalists set in a war torn world dominated by which god you follow was very interesting! There’s a mix of magic and a world war 1/2 vibe that makes it feel old and new. Perfect for any historical/fantasy romance fans of YA.

<b> <I> Thank you so much to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with a free copy of "Diving Rivals” by Rebecca Ross in exchange for an honest review. All of the following opinions are formulated on my own. Any quotes in this review should be cross-referenced with the final copy for any possible edits.</I> </b>

<b> Overall rating: </b> 5 out of 5 stars

<b> Favorite quote(s): </b> <i>"The days to come will only grow darker. And when you find something good? You hold on to it. You don't waste time worrying about things that won't even matter in the end. Rather, you take a risk for that light.”</i>

<b> My review: </b> I was very wary of this book when I began it because the concept seemed absurd and could have very easily gone badly. But this... I have no words for how much I loved every aspect of it. The quotes in this book is heartbreakingly accurate. Everything the story strikes such a chord in you and I'm so glad I did not read this right when it came out because I will be counting down the days until Ruthless Vows. I need it NOW!!!!!!! The author truly has a way with words and you bet I'll be adding her backlist to my TBR and I suggest everyone else do the same.

<b> If you liked these, you will probably like this book:</b>
- Serpent and Dove
- A Girl of Fire and Thorns
- Grave Mercy
- One Dark Window


<b> Will I finish the series? </b> Absolutely!!!

<b> Notable Themes, Elements, and Tropes: </b>
- Penpals/Letters
- Rivals to Lovers
- Wartorn country
- Found family
- Heartbreaking romance

I know I’ve been very anti-YA for a while. That’s because YA fantasy is usually all angsty love triangles and ordinary people destined to be the One to save humanity. This is none of those things. It’s a gorgeous enemies-to-lovers romance set against the backdrop of a war between gods. The writing is gorgeous, the characters feel real, and the story is full of adventure, tension, romance, and heartache. I absolutely loved it. The only complaint I have is that it is not a standalone and I have to wait until at lest December 26th of this year for the sequel.

This book is honestly one of the most amazing books that I've read this year. While I am unsure if Ross meant to, it felt like she took Hades, Persephone and Orpheus and melded them together to get her story for the Gods which made my mythology loving heart sing. Then the idea of magical typewriters connecting our two main humans together, giving them a way to see each other for who they really were past their real world thoughts was epic. The ending though was heartbreaking and made me wish that I had book two right in front of me so I could dive right in.

This book was exactly what I needed, and I absolutely loved the character development, building plot line, and historical inspiration. It is a must-read for 2023 and is still one I talk about all the time.

Five Stars!!!

My first Rebecca Ross
Rivals to Lovers

The letters going to Roman had me kicking my feet up in glee.

I was enjoying it in the beginning but I got pulled in a lot more as soon as it became dual perspective

This was the first book in a bit to break through my aimless mood reading and make me want to continue reading. The prose was great and I did enjoy the story. I normally don’t like the “I have to do as my parents say” trope, especially when the characters are adults, but Roman is was young enough and has guilt keeping him tethered to make the trope work for me. And even then he does try to assert his own choices.

The tension of you the reader and Roman knowing something Iris doesn’t is so delicious when reading from Iris’ perspective. Definitely had me kicking my feet up with glee at times.

I think the last half of the novel struggled with pacing. The war that was such an after-thought at the beginning came to the forefront but not enough to build out the story. The whole time reading it, I just wanted it to be a standalone even though I could tell it wasn’t going to be. I feel like the world building was lacking if this was meant to be a multibook series.

I will read the next book but I do kind of wish it was a complete story and not a series.

Is historical fantasy a category? Because this is how I would label this book. I read this in one sitting and enjoyed the story between two journalists linked by a You've-Got-Mail concept, happening amidst a war between two gods.

I can't wait to see what happens with the next installment.

5 stars! This books was everything! The romance between Iris and Roman was one of my favorite love stories I’ve ever read. The fantasy elements could have been stronger, but they were still interesting and I’m sure they will be explored more in book two. The ending of the book wasn’t my favorite; I feel like it could have been executed a little better. However, I still loved the book and could not put it down!

i knew even before i started this that i would love it. rebecca ross never fails to blow me away, and that definitely applies to this book. the concept is unlike anything i’ve ever read. two rivaling journalists competing for a position where they get to write about a war going on between the gods, only to end up being connected through magical typewriters. with magic being in the book, rebecca ross always laces her words and characters with magic.

i also need to speak to her about the ending. why does she keep doing this? they did not deserve that

Thank you very much for the opportunity to read this book early! I really enjoyed it. I thought the writing was very well done, and the story kept me interested. I believe my students/patrons would also love this book and will be acquiring it for the library!