A TRIP OF BUDDING ROMANCE
rating: 3 stars

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC! MINIMAL SPOILERS AHEAD!

In Kianna Alexander's LGBTQ+ romance, Patricia Monroe-or often goes by the nickname Peaches-works as a barber, and has growing eyes for Jamie Hunt. Jamie, who also has her mind set on Peaches constantly, has hopes of getting closer to her. Jamie finds an opportunity to take Peaches with her while on a road trip for the college of her dreams, where the two learn to let their emotions carry themselves further. Each of their lives hold their own problems, ranging from family issues to finding out what they truly want to do. But there's one problem Peaches and Jamie have in common: should they really be doing this? Are we right for each other? Yet the two cannot let themselves go from each other in any way.

When I was skimming through NetGalley and laid eyes on this book, the characters and summary immediately captivated me. I love to hear and read LGBTQ+ romances, especially when they're between people of color. The representation with every character were good touches. The characters of Peaches and Jamie intrigued me as I continued to read on and learn their stories, and I like how the two took some time to get to know each other first. I don't typically like romances where they soon start diving into each other, but I felt like this plot line made it suitable. I do have some mixed feelings about the plot though, as I wish we got to see some more information and development regarding Peaches and Jamie's family issues. The plot did go a bit slow for me, but it was easy to keep up with. There could have been more development included for Peaches and Jamie to go through with their growing romance, but the plot made it easy for them to slip up. I don't know if it's just me, but the spice was the main thing carrying this romance, and I prefer romances that have more conversation, and I feel like Peaches and Jamie needed just that.

Can't Let Her Go releases June 20, 2023!

I was super excited to read this one but unfortunately it fell very flat, it just seemed so unrealistic in how some of the characters would react to things that it put me off.

This was a cute friends to lovers romance. It took me a little bit longer than I wanted to read, but overall it was good.

Friends to lovers? There’s a lot to consider, a lot to hope for, and a lot at risk in a steamy and emotional romance by the bestselling author of Can’t Resist Her.

Peaches Monroe and Jamie Hunt are core members of their Texas friend squad and have so much in common. They’re successful at their careers in personal care. They take Austin’s “Keep It Weird” vibe to heart, each leaning into their own unique talents and sense of style. And they’re both ready to go on to even bigger things. Is pushing past the boundaries of friendship into something deeper one of them? The red-hot fantasy is there…but so is real life.

Jamie’s college dreams will take her far from her hometown. She’s already road-tripping to possibilities from San Antonio to Houston. And Peaches has obligations of her own. Not only is she planning to expand her business, but she’s taking care of her family after her mother’s passing, leaving her overwhelmed and under pressure.

No matter how perfect Jamie and Peaches are for each other, is this the right time for romance? Finding their true selves comes first. Only then can they hope to pursue a future of lasting love—together.

If you've read any of Alexander's other stories, you know that she gives great rom-com premise, with substantial steam: this title gives more of the same.

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

2.5

I really wanted to like this, and I tried my hardest, I really did but there are just too many things that make it more bad than good.

Firstly, the good stuff: it's diverse and does a good job of touching on complicated family dynamics. Sapphic, black women, women in STEM - it's great; there's a fantastic cast of characters that make the story well-rounded and light, the women love each other and support one another through thick and thin, and I love the ride-or-die dynamic. Feminism and feminine energy are off the charts. The two main characters also deal with complicated families, and how one is taken advantage of and the other is invisible. This also makes the found family dynamic so much more real. The complex family relationship was done well, I liked the nuance the author incorporates and that both Peaches and Jamie stood up for themselves to their parents and siblings. I think that's all that I can say that I enjoyed.

The narration is very wattpad. It gives unfinished, first-draft vibes and it is such a disappointment. The characters and their relationships, despite my liking of the found family dynamic, fall extremely flat and suffer from 'main character syndrome', which can be jarring to read at times. Peaches and Jamie's relationship also suffers a lot from emotional and physical depth; whilst the sex scenes were amazing, I felt like the important, more emotional parts of their relationship were underplayed greatly for their sexual compatibility. That would have been good to explore more, and give a good insight into sapphic relationships relating to sexual and emotional depth. Also Jamie really got on my nerves for her thinking she can treat Peaches like trash and still be forgiven for it - the relationship was extremely rocky and the way that the writing interprets is so incredibly troubling for me. I mostly also don't like the way characters talk - it's giving fanfiction.

Overall, this should have been rewritten two or three more times, and should have been edited HEAVILY. The makings of a great story are there, it just needs to be pulled out of the ground and allowed to grow in the sun.

I wanted to like this book, but it took me a while to get into it. Beautiful cover tho. The book got boring at some point; unsure if it was because I didn't like the writing style.
I love Jaime and Peaches. They both had so much potential but missing something to keep me interested.
I liked the friend group, diversity, and inclusivity.

This is an awesome Black, sapphic romance, set in Austin and featuring a host of fabulous secondary characters as well.

DNF @ 53%

I was so hyped for this book, but I just couldn't get through it. I don't think I was vibing with the writing style, however I might give it another go in the future.

NetGalley ARC Educator 550974

P and J go together like peanut butter and jelly. Though at times some like the peanut butter with bananas. Their availability didn't always line up but if it did, ohh the sparks would fly. Friends to lovers has been done many times but Ms. Alexander has done it WELL. A lovely, slow building romance with many real life scenarios mixed in.

I absolutely adore this cover and was hoping I would the book as well. However, that was not the case and I'm truly bummed about it. I am DNFing at 13%. The writing style is just not for me and comes across as very juvenile. I am not able to fully get into the story and I find my mind wanting to wander or read something else.

Thanks so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc!

Can best friends become lovers or just be best friends? Is it the timeless question we need to ask when it comes to Peaches Monroe and her childhood friend, Jamie Hunt. The core of their friendship group they have everything going for them - they are successful in their own careers as they live in the beautiful Austin in Texas. But soon they are torn aprt when Jamie finds himself road dreaming about college away from their home town,

Then there is Peaches who has the world on her shoulders; the main breadwinner after her mother's passing she'd do anything to keep her family together but also building her business. But will these two see what has always been right in front of them: that they are destin to be more than friends? Maybe lovers? Is now the right time for them in this beautiful story of love, friendship and family.

This is a wonderful novel by Kianna Alexander (I'm a bit in love with her name) and one that is a must read for June.

This was a good book anything friends to lover trope is a win for me. Jamie and Peaches can they go past their friendship to pursue something bigger and will it work out? You'll have to find out. I love the character development for both characters throughout the book.

I received this book complimentary from NetGalley but all opinions are my own.

I really liked this. It was a sweet romance and the misunderstandings were interesting not annoying. Peaches and Jamie were very right together though you don’t get much of seeing that - it felt like a glimpse into their lives as a whole which was a great take I haven’t seen in a long while.
There was a bit of fat phobia I noticed which bothered me but otherwise it was great.

Can't Let Her Go is a feel-good romcom that reads fast and easy, topped with sweer dialogue and sort-of unrealistic settings that, knowing the genre it belongs to, it feels refreshing. The representation is amazing and I really enjoyed reading a sapphic story witht he same cheesiness straight couples had been given for decades now. I would totally recommend if you're looking for something cute to read.

Thank you NetGalley and Montlake for the ARC in exchange of a honest review!

This book was fine, but I was a little disappointed. I was SUPER excited for this one and the dialogue just felt very clunky/not really something someone would really say.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Peaches and Jamie are in the same close friendship group when they decide to take things a bit further…

I’m really on the fence with this ☹️ I wanted to like it but I just wasn’t hooked by anything? There was a lot of side characters so it got a bit confusing for me when none of them really played that big a role.. I also wasn’t a fan of Jamie, I thought she was just very spoiled and stroppy 😂 I do like Peaches though and I liked the diversity amongst the friendship group. I just think the story didn’t really go anywhere? There was so many red flags that cropped up that I just wasn’t rooting for them to be together

THANK YOU NET GALLEY AND PUBLISHER FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO READ THIS. That being said, rating and feelings are my own:

I was excited to read this, and I am glad I read it...do not get me wrong, but I did not love this book. It was just okay in my opinion. The story seems a tad overused. Had me laughing at some points and rolling my eyes at others. Not my cup of tea but I can see how this can be a major book!

This had everything to be good but it was a bit of a let down for me.
It had a lot of fun and nice moments and I was really wondering how should I score it but it felt so unrealistic to me. And I know it’s fiction but when it’s this genre, I play this movie in my mind and this story just felt very unrealistic and not at all what someone would act in real life.
Will probably give it another try once it’s officially out.

Absolutely loved this story the concept was amazing I love this author this is the second book I read from this author.

I want to first thank NetGalley for this ARC, and say that all opinions remain my own.

I absolutely loved this book. I am so glad I read it so far in advance.

Peaches is a masculine presenting lesbian who owns her own barber shop, and is in a friend group with Jamie. Jamie is a femme lesbian, who is a manicurist.

I think my favourite part of this book was the open communication between the women. If there was ever an issue, it was fully talked out before moving on and that was refreshing to see.

It was also really hot. The women have amazing chemistry, and I loved reading about their relationship.

I loved this, read it!