Marina Adair’s Hopeless Romantic should come with this warning label: “Before beginning this book, assure that you have sufficient time to complete it in one sitting because you will.” Marina Adair intersperses riotously funny scenes with drool-worthy descriptions that keep the story moving so fast the reader can’t turn pages quickly enough. Beckett Hayes seems flighty until her Asperger syndrome brother and father and emotional support animal training business reveal themselves. Adair presents the Asperger syndrome challenges with sensitivity and caring. She creates humor in situations that grow out of characters’ and animals’ juxtaposition, where readers would expect problems and find them. Hopeless Romantic is a wild ride into romance.

A great read!

Beckett has known Levi for years, but now that their friends are engaged, they are seeing each other more. Beckett is tied to the town, looking after her father and her younger brother, and Levi is on a countdown to leaving, wanting to take the trip on his boat that he has had planned for years. With such different plans do they stand a chance together?

Looking forward to Gray getting his own book next!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing an ARC of Hopeless Romantic in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed Marina Adair's first book in this series, RomeAntically Challenged, so I was thrilled to see that there was a sequel involving two of the characters from the same group of friends. This started out as a very sweet, cute romance between Levi and Beckett, and hit some deeper points with Beckett's business and her family. But the last 1/3 or so of the book was extremely rushed, with the ending seeming very abrupt. I expected to see some sort of epilogue, but no - the abrupt ending was it! Overall I do recommend this story but I would have appreciated more to the story/ending.

I am a member of Marina Adair's A-DAIRING Reader group and received a free ARC of Hopeless RomeAntic from NetGalley for an honest review. I can truly say, that I absolutely loved Hopeless RomeAntic the second book in the When in Rome series by Marina Adair. Hopeless RomeAntic is one of the best romantic comedies that I have read recently. Marina Adair has shown that she is a master storyteller and I love her romantic comedies. I love the characters and the setting of Rome, Rhode Island in Hopeless RomeAntic. I absolutely loved every page and could not put it down. I love that Hopeless RomeAntic is narrated from the viewpoint of the main characters. I really enjoy getting the perspective from those characters. I love getting inside their minds and knowing their thoughts and how they really feel. Hopeless RomeAntic is a love at first sight story, even though it took the main characters several years to admit their feelings for one another. It is filled with heartbreaking and heartwarming moments. I love the lighter moments where I find myself smiling and laughing out loud. It is also filled with bittersweet moments that cause me to sigh, say aww to myself with tears filling my eyes . Hopeless RomeAntic is filled with such moments, with so much emotion and so much more, including laughter. It is filled with all those things that we have come to love and expect in romantic comedy, especially the poignant and bittersweet moments that filled this page turner, and the surprise plot-twists. Hopeless RomeAntic is the story of Beckett Hayes, a caregiver for her father, Jeffrey and brother, Thomas, both on the autism spectrum and the owner of her own small business, Consider it Done, a personal concierge service and Levi Rhodes, who runs his family's bar, Crow's Nest and marina. Both Beckett and Levi have always put their family's wants and needs ahead of their own. Beckett is training a chicken to be a emotional support animal for a local girl and heads into the Crow's Nest, to pick up a to-go order, even though the Crow's Nest does not offer take out. Things change that night for her and Levi. The start a relationship, knowing there is a definite end date, Levi is planning on a sailing adventure, sixteen years in the making, one he had planned on taking with his late father before his death. He put his life on hold following the death of his father and then the unplanned pregnancy of his older sister, Michelle with Paisley. I love Levi's relationship with Paisley, and her other two Dads, Gray and Emmitt. I love that Beckett has changed Levi and therefore, changes his relationship with Paisley. I love the set of rules that they establish for their relationship. Levi is one of the first men who takes time with Thomas, and that warms Beckett's heart. Levi admits that he has had feelings for Beckett from the first time he saw her several years ago. My heart broke when Levi got so angry at Beckett for putting her family first, when he was celebrating Emmitt's bachelor party on his boat. I love how the plot twist gets resolved and how Beckett and Levi get the happily ever after that they deserve. Both Beckett and Levi change each other's lives because of their love. My favorite part of the story when both Levi and Beckett change their rules, it was truly a poignant moment when both of the walls that they built around their hearts tumbled down. It was an incredible love story with amazing characters. Once again, Hopeless RomeAntic is filled with all the things that I have come to love and expect in a Marina Adair romantic comedy, and she truly did not disappoint me with Hopeless RomeAntic. Looking forward to reading the next book in the When in Rome series. Highly recommend this incredible page turner.

I'm so sorry, I've prided myself on never doing this on Netgalley but I can't get past the second chapter of this book. I have trieddddd but this book is just not for me. I'm giving it 3 stars because it is probably for some people. If "Hot Mess Quirky Woman takes chicken (yes, actual living chicken) into bar with Hot But Unattainable Barman" sounds like the recipe for HILARITY to you, then you're probably gonna love this. If it makes your eyeballs roll the entire way into the back of your skull, it's probably not for you. The author's mention of controversial organisation Autism Speaks in her dedication, and the use of the concept of emotional service animals as basically the prop of the joke in the first chapter just feels... off to me. I can't bring myself to continue. Thank you for the opportunity to give it a try.

Thank you Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC of Hopeless RomeAntic by Marina Adair. Since I hadn't read the first book in the series, RomeAntically Challenged, I decided to start with that book. Honestly, I didn't love that one and wasn't looking forward to reading this one but I was pleasantly surprised and liked this one much better. I think it helps that I was familiar with the characters and the relationship between Emmitt, Levi, Grey, and Paisley as well as Annie and Beckett so not as much background was needed in this book as the first one.

I loved Levi and Beckett as a couple. Their banter was amazing and had me laughing out loud. He had such patience and was sympathetic to Beckett's needs and obligations but he also recognized her need to take time for herself. The interesting thing was, it also helped him realize that he also needed to take the same time for himself. it reminds us all that while we are all so busy taking care of our families, its important that we are taking care of ourselves as well.

This book also did a wonderful job showing how families of people with autism live their everyday lives. It shows how people struggle starting their own business and also running their own business. It brings to light the work/life balance and also the guilt parents often put on their children, even if they aren't meaning to. The book just felt like real life, at times. I mean, the emotional support chicken was HILARIOUS but definitely not real life. :)

There were a few loose ends I would have like to have tied up but they didn't take away from the story overall. Hoping there is a third book in the series so that Grey can have another chance at love.
#MarinaAdair #RomeRhodeIsland #Autism #Family #Obligations #Love #Friends #WorkLifeBalance #AdultFiction #BeachRead

This started out really sweet and funny. However, it started to drag in the middle but then rushed right through tohe end. I thought there might be an epilogue for a few months later but nope.

Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve been hooked by Marina from the first book I read of hers. Her witty humor and family dynamics will hook you from the beginning and keep you coming back for more. She has a way that makes you really want to be a character in that book. This series is no different. As hopeless romantic is the second book in her new series she has managed to yet again captivate me with some out loud laughing and a few tears along the way. I’m very thankful to be apart of her advanced reading group

This book is hopelessly romantic, and passionate, and silly, and touching, and frustrating, and absolutely wonderful. I felt all the tension and emotion, fear and affection, love and responsibility that Levi and Beckett both dealt with in their daily lives, and I loved watching their relationship grow and unfold. A heartwarming story with laughs, tears, and all the feels. Excellent!

A solid romance with a zany heroine, a too-hot-to-handle hero, and a strong supporting cast.

Rating: 3.5/5

Hopeless Romantic is the second book in the When in Rome series and does what every good stand alone series installment should do - it draws you in. While there are illusions to the first book throughout, Levi and Beck's story is extremely engaging and does an excellent job at being its own work. From watching Beck bring Gregory in to the bar, to cringing your way through some of Levi's more hairbrained moments, Adair's characters are unapologetically sincere and a delight to read.

However, there were certain plot points in the story that could have been more thought out. I wish we could have seen more of Levi engaging with Thomas before 'Tommy' becomes the norm (that whole relationship felt a little rushed) and I really, really had hoped to see more of Paisley throughout. As such a big part of Levi's life, the teenager felt like the least baked character in the whole book and she truly deserved better. I'm all here for the three-dads plot line, though, and really enjoyed watching Gray, Emmit, and Levi navigate the whims, waning, and wiles of a their teenage star. Maybe Paisley deserves her own book..? (I'd so buy that).

Also, the pacing of the book fell flat at times. Lots of slow burn leading up to the big boom, but very little resolution on the other side. Jeffrey and Beck wouldn't have resolved their issues as fast as they seem to at the end of the book, and Thomas' last big adventure was a little jarring.

Overall, I am definitely satisfied with Hopeless Romantic for all that it is. A solid plot, engaging characters, and some seriously tender moments all make the book a fantastic read.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Kennsington. All of the opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own..

Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington Publishing for proving me with this ARC!

I didn't realize this was the second book in a series! I found the story heartwarming and sweet. I really enjoyed the banter from the beginning and found that Beckett and Levi had a lot of chemistry; I especially enjoyed how they worked well, to be honest, and to hold each other accountable. However, I really wish I had read Book 1 first. I think it would've given me better insight into the characters and their history. This book gave us just enough of a recap but I still wish I read Book 1.

Nonetheless, I enjoyed seeing Beckett handle her family dynamic. I found her feelings very relatable (as someone who also has a family that requires extra care). Her insistent that everything is fine, having to drop everything to make pick up another family issue. You really sympathized with her greatly. Levi was also great. His thought-process was nice to read. I loved his relationship with his family members and how the author realistically portrayed him dealing with his grief.

I have a little issue with the pace of the story though. Most of the beginning of the book felt really slow and dragged, not much going on besides highlighting the many family obligations that both Beckett and Levi have to deal with and how they are both so very overwhelmed with it all. The second half picks up but everything starts going too fast. I think a neater finish was needed to entice us to read the next book.

Overall, it was a good read! It had humor and romance. I appreciated how the author brought awareness to autism spectrum disorder.

I will skip my synopsis that I usually begin with since I’m not recommending this to my patrons. My comments are only for the editors.
I was never able to warm up to the main character. True, she was quirky and vulnerable, two thing that really endear me to a character but she didn’t seem authentic to me. I found her brother endearing and real but not so her father. Levi was more of an engaging character but still not so real because I couldn’t see his interest in Beckett. I absolutely loved the concept of three dads for Paisley! That was a fun subplot that really worked.

I really liked Romeantically Charged so I jumped at the chance to read Hopeless Romeantic, the second book in the series, and I was not disappointed. I adored the connection between Beckett and Levi so much, his slow and steady, reliable nature and her flighty, sometimes spastic exterior and fiercely loyal countenance were the perfect combination! I actually thought that Hopeless Romeantic was even better than the first book!

LOVED IT. it's probably technically a stand alone, but definitely helped by reading the first one in the series before it, which was also excellent. Quick easy read, very fun read while still handling important things, as the first book did. CAN NOT WAIT for the next in the series.

I loved traveling back to Rome, Rhode Island. Following this trip of "dads" is such a highlight.

In this installment we follow the Uncle Dad Levi and watch him slowly realize his life partner had been in the same town all along.

We come to really fall for Beckett and how chaotic her life is. Watching her find a balance for her self and her family was at times really difficult. Adair really helps the reader understand how taxing, and yet wonderful, living with special needs family members can be.

My only criticism is that this was so slow for a quite a while whilst the plot built and then it rushed downhill. I feel like I missed out on quite a bit. I still have many questions.

I hope we soon get Grays story and can have a bit of closure for this one.

Thank you Kensington and Netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book is adorable! I mean I loved it it’s a perfect romantic comedy with some deeper issues involved. I loved both the main characters and was rooting for them the entire time -
The pacing was well done and the character development was great. I have to read the first book now (and enjoyed that you didn’t have to read the first book to follow along with this storyline). Coming from an east coaster I always am thrown towards East coast storylines also.
My only gripe is I need an epilogue ! What happened next :) can we have that added in! I just didn’t want it to end.
For discussing mental health and autism the writer did An amazing job as well. It has depth and added to the characters needs and objectives.
Overall I recommend will be recommending to friends and will now be reading book 1 also.

I hate to use the overused phrase “I couldn’t put it down” but seriously - I couldn’t put it down! The laundry didn’t get done and dinner was cereal or whatever the family could get for themselves. It is a tear jerker which I’m not really a fan of but the happy ending makes up for it! This is the 2nd in the series (3 books?). I do think reading the books in order is best. This could probably be a stand alone but knowing some background does help understand some situations. Definitely add this to your must read list!

Quirky, lighthearted and funny- I enjoyed Adair’s Hopeless Romantic. It was just what I needed to curl up with this weekend and it did not disappoint! I was not expecting so much humor and the characters were well developed and real- including the animals: Gregory Pecker! HA!

Thank you Net Galley for an ARC of Hopeless Romantic. This was a cute fun romance. It was a quick read and i was done in no time.

I received a arc copy through NetGalley for a honest read..

Hopeless Romantic was my first read by Marina Adair. It has me laughing out loud, I highly recommend this 4 star ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ read.

Happy Reading
Lisa