Cover Image: Sweet Talk

Sweet Talk

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Member Reviews

After reading the ARC for Call Me Maybe, I knew I had to read this one too, and oh my god! Not once did I think that I would somehow fall in love with this one more than the last one. I was pretty bummed when there wasn't an epilogue for the last one, but this book was a total package. Like, the first chapter in and I was laughing, in awe and so in love with the characters that I was unable to put it down until I finished it. I am in love with how the author writes and the way she introduced everything. The twists, the character developments, the intensity, the fun - it was honestly the no more or less, just the right amount. I just know this will be one book I'll keep on coming back to.
Such a quick, fun and hilarious read.

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The relationship in Sweet Talk is just that, sweet, but I found the dynamic in Call Me Maybe to be just that bit funnier, wittier and more adorable. I felt like the side plotlines overtook some of the character development, leaving me wanting them to get to together, but not quite caring about it happening.

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⭐️ ⭐️⭐️💫


Sweet Talk by Cara Bastone is a super cute love story.

Before I go deeper into the review, thank you NetGalley and Headline (publisher) for this ARC in exchange for an independent and honest review.

Sweet Talk is the perfect book to break a reading slump. Sadly I was deep into one for nearly 5 weeks and I should have tried this book sooner. It had me grinning from beginning to end. If you had a bad week, a reading slump or just need a cute story that is easy to read and will bring a smile to your face, then this is your perfect book.

The story basically tells what happens when two insomniacs connect through a wrong number. Eliot sends a late message to his sister but turns out he sent it to the mysterious JD.

The female MC, aka, JD, aka mysterious girl so you read the book to find out who she is…is funny but she had been carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders. She takes care of everything and everyone but never puts herself first. She is super loyal, strong and terribly cool.
Eliot is a sweety, he is really lovable and gentle and cute. I really laughed a lot with both of them. He is not the typical perfect man, with an amazing body and super rich. He is an everyday kind of dorky one, with problems and for a change, felt real!


Shaking a bit my usual go to, this is a friends to lovers romance and was easy and seamless.
If you have audible, then I recommend you to listen to the audiobook. It is included with your subscription and I have to say the audiobook is just perfect. Also, if you enjoyed this book, there is a second book (note that this is a standalone, so it is self conclusive but you met the characters in Sweet Talk) focused on another couple and I’m hoping that it will be as good as this one. Best part, it is also included with your audible subscription!
Note: this is a romance story but no smut. However, is such a cute story that you won’t miss it.

If you are looking for:

⚜️Cinnamon rolls male MC
⚜️Cool and badass female MC
⚜️Cute and adorable love story
⚜️Vulnerable, easy to love and authentic characters

Then you will enjoy this book.

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This book was so addicting!! The plot was so intriguing, and made me just want to keep reading and reading! Here is the summary: It's officially booty o'clock, I'm alone again in my kitchen choking down a slice of terrible chocolate cake...and I'm pretty sure I just got drunk texted by the man I have a ginormous crush on.

I've been daydreaming about Eliot Hoffman's dimples for two months, and even though I'm sure this was a mistake on his end, it doesn't mean it's not an opportunity on mine.

It's the middle of the night, and I just wanna talk to him. So I text him back.

And then somehow we keep talking . . . ALL NIGHT. We're both insomniacs, so talking all night soon turns into talking EVERY night. And talking about nothing soon turns into talking about something. And here we go from in-depth analysis of reality TV to my relationship with my family, to his amazing artwork. There's no topic we don't cover . . .

Except for who I really am.

It's the only question of his I won't answer.

As my crush turns into an avalanche of Eliot, I think of him all the time now. But if he knew who I was, the entire house of cards we've built this relationship on would come toppling down.

I want him to be mine, but we might never be more than just a sweet dream . . .

The characters were amazing, and I love this book !

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A slow read, that definitely wasn’t for me! I need more than one kiss and a few phone calls to feel the romance. When Jessie receives a late night text from a number, she knows exactly who it is. She has been dreaming of him ever since they met. He's kind, charming, and handsome.

*record scratch* Except Eliot doesn't know who he is texting... He unfortunately saved her number under random letters and accidentally texted her instead of his booty call. Deciding to talk over the phone, they realize they share multiple qualities. They are both insomniacs and love baking shows. Finding comfort in each other, they become secret friends, without truly knowing each other's identity. If Eliot were to discover who Jessie was, he might never want to talk to her again. The only option they have is to learn to trust and love.

tropes: strangers to friends to lovers, clean romance, disability rep (dyslexia), and reverse grumpy sunshine

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my opinion.

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Excuse me while I go binge this authors entire backlist. The story is so swoony and uhhh -- be still my heart. You want to read this!!

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This was a lovely romcom! I throughly enjoyed following Jessie and Eliot’s story! It was such a refreshing concept- and one I can’t say I have read before.

A wrong number turns into a soothing friendship, one that helps both people come to terms with how they see themselves. Eventually opposites attract and love develops. Obviously, the perfect equation for a romance read.

It was light and fluffy; and at times dragged on longer than necessary. All in all, a great quick read!

I was given an ARC of this story to read; but thoughts and opinions are all my own. Thank you to @netgalley and @headlinebooks for the chance to read this title.

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This was so cute! I enjoyed it. It was a quick and fun read, which is exactly what I needed when I picked it up. I enjoyed the dynamic between the two characters and the cover itself is just attention grabbing. It isn't perfect but I did quite love and enjoy it.

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SWEET TALK was a sweet romance between two people who unexpectedly find themselves on the phone together late one night.

I enjoyed their banter, as well as the suspense leading up to their eventual IRL meetup. Eliot knows that he's met JD (Jessie) before -- that's why he has her number saved in his phone -- but she resists telling him who she is (and the contact didn't include her name). I sort of got that, but I'm generally in favor of more open communication than secrets when it comes to matters of the heart. Not to mention, it felt unfair of Jessie to withhold certain information from Eliot...

It must be said that SWEET TALK was "scripted exclusively for audio." That means there were pages of dialogue -- fun! -- without any "Eliot said," "JD said," and so on. I don't understand why the e-book editor didn't add in simple notation for those of us reading with our eyes (i.e. E: and J: ahead of the dialogue). I had to reread several parts to figure out who was speaking, interrupting the flow of the story for me.

Cara Bastone remains a romance author whose writing I really enjoy, so I of course liked SWEET TALK -- but its storyline/reading it via e-book just didn't quite sing to me.

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A sweet and unique story of unexpectedly connecting with someone. With the anonymity, the couple is able to help each move through recent trauma. I really enjoyed this very quick read.

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The second book in Cara Bastone's Love Lines series. These are companion novels and can be read as standalones, but you do get more out of reading these in order. Sweet Talk follows the brother of the protagonist (Vera) from the first book (Call Me Maybe) in his own phone-based romance that is referred to in the preceding story.

Eliot is struggling to sleep late one night and accidentally sends a voice note to the wrong person in his contacts; her name is saved as a jumble of letters and he's forgotten who the contact is. The two fall into an easy habit of conversation every night as they both deal with their insomnia but the voice at the end of Eliot's phone is reluctant to tell him who she is. She's had a crush on him since she met him but is sure that if she tells him the truth about herself, he won't ever speak to her again. And she's enjoying their conversations too much to risk that happening.

The relationship in Sweet Talk is just that, sweet, but I found the dynamic in Call Me Maybe to be just that bit funnier, wittier and more adorable. I felt like the side plotlines overtook some of the character development, leaving me wanting them to get to together, but not quite caring about it happening.

Overall, it's a lovely book, one that can be easily read in one sitting with a series of hot drinks and the occasionally 'aww'.

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4.5 Stars

Y’all – this book was not on my radar at all. It was a total the-cover-made-me-do-it and by do it I mean click on it in netgalley. I finished it in less than 24 hours. It was such a delight! The majority of the book is late-night dialogue between two people who are somewhat strangers and it reeled me in from the first page. I’m a sucker for cute texts and good dialogue and this had it all. It made me laugh, it gave me all the feels and Eliot is just an adorable, bumbling, genuine guy. I got some Ted Lasso vibes. If you want something fun, light and charming, I highly recommend it. I am definitely downloading her previous book – I’m so glad I discovered this author!

Quote: "It’s like when you’re in a room full of people you don’t know, somewhere in the back of your head it starts to feel like maybe that room is the whole world, but then the person you’re waiting for comes in and you remember that you’re not alone in the world? That you have that person right there. And that they came all the way there to sit next to you.”

Song for Jessie and Eliot: H.O.L.Y by Florida Georgia Line. “I couldn’t find a day I didn’t feel alone, I never meant to cry, started losing hope. But somehow, baby, you brother through and saved me. You’re an angel, tell me you’re never leaving, ‘Cause you’re the first thing I know I can believe in.”

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If you're in a reading slump then this is the book to get you out of it, its a nice light read. Quite emotional in places but thats not a bad thing, especially if you're feeling emotional anyway and need a good cry.
When I say its a light read, I mean its short so if you dont feel like a long book but just something to occupy a few hours then its a good book to read.
It follows Jessie and Elliot, a late night text that turns into a series of late night texts and calls, do they really know each other and can they overcome the obstacle that's stopping them being together?
I've never read a book by this author but this book has me researching other books by her so I can read more of her writing.

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This was my first Cara Bastone book but it will not be my last. I needed something short, sweet, and adorable and this checked all of my boxes.
Sweet Talk follows Eliot and Jessie, two fellow insomniacs who get in touch after Eliot text the wrong number and get to Jessie. Even though Jessie knows who Eliott is, Eliott didn’t save Jessie’s number correctly and therefore has no idea who he’s talking to. Throughout many adorable voice memo to text conversations and phone calls, Elliot tries to guess who Jessie is and they slowly form a very cute bond.
The characters of Eliot and Jessie A very unlike any other characters I have ever read about. I really like how their characters kind of go against typical gender norms, Eliott is sensitive and scattered brain and Jesse is bad ass and takes no shit but together, they form a wonderful relationship.
One thing that I loved about this book was how the complications unfolded. At first I couldn’t understand what reason would they’d be for Jessie not to tell Elliot who she was. But as the story went on it was clear what a complicated situation she was in and even though I knew it would have a happy ending I was on the edge of my seat praying that they will be together.

As someone who has grown up on romcoms, I love anytime a classic romcom trope is made to be more modern and gets another life. I feel like the you’ve got mail storyline is something that has been revamped a lot recently in a lot of books but this book was able to do it in a way then I only felt fresh, it felt totally new

I gave this book four stars and not five stars just because it was a sweet story but not very substantial. I also wished that we got even a tiny bit more of the two of them physically together. However, if you are looking for a quick read that will have you smiling, this is the one that you need to pick up.

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This was a cute romance and a quick read. I did read it in one sitting because I was dying to know who the characters were. I guessed it early ish on, but it was enjoyable to put the pieces together. It did feel like the characters were a little young, even though they said Eliot was in his mid thirties. Some of the dialogue felt a little immature. While I did get some information about both characters, I never felt as though I knew either of them. There is absolutely no spice, so I don’t think I’d consider it a slow burn as there is never any tension. All in all, a sweet and fast read.

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Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for providing me an e-copy to review of SWEET TALK by Cara Bastone.

This book was a different take on a romance novel. The two characters, Jessie and Eliot, meet through an accidental text. They begin texting each other, then talking to each other. Jessie keeps putting off meeting Eliot IRL because of an event that happened to affect Eliot's life. I can't say more than that because … spoilers!

The point it, because she kept putting off meeting, their relationship grew through cell phones. And not just texting, but actual conversations on the phone. I loved this part because I am a big believer in how sometimes actual writing (or texting as the case nowadays) has such an impact, sometimes even more than actual talking face-to-face.

So through modern technology these two get to know each other.

What's also interesting is there is not a lot of "romantic" talk. They get to know each other as friends.

I think this book is perfect for those who love sweet, Hallmark Christmas movies. It's a hopeful romance also involving family loyalties and overcoming a trauma, but without the steamy parts.

I rate SWEET TALK four out of five stars.

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Thank you NetGalley for gifting me the copy of Sweet Talk.

I absolutely loved this book. I couldn’t get enough of this book and I could read about them forever!

The saying opposites attract is so right when it comes to this book and these characters.

JD and Eliot are freaking perfect!!! I have to admit that these two characters are now my favorite book people.

Eliot is a very sweet soul! He definitely doesn’t judge a book by its cover! (Once you read this book, you will totally get what I am saying)

Jessie deserves so much! This girl is everything any woman wants to be. She is hard and soft all in one. She is my hero and she is incredibly fierce!

Totall best relationship EVER!

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Jessie knows Elliot. Elliot knows Jessie as the 'super' for his building.

But a late-night message of contacting the wrong number leads the two characters into nighttime talking and helping one another get to sleep.

So while Eliot is still guessing who this mysterious JD is, Jessie is hiding her identity and a secret from him.

This book had me giddy. I loved the high school-styled romance; staying up late speaking to a guy you fancy. Falling asleep with the phone stuck to your cheek. I could imagine the character's faces grinning so hard you could feel their face hurt.

Bastone writes an uplifting, funny and romantic novel; one I couldn't put down.

If your looking for an enjoyable romantic read this is one for you. And for those who may feel romance is dead this novel will give you faith again!

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When a voice message to a wrong number results in late night texts and messages between Jessie and Elliot, they didn’t anticipate how much they enjoyed each other’s company, let alone, starting to fall in love.

Both Jessie and Elliot have insomnia, and their chats help them get through the night- watching a certain British baking show simultaneously while on the phone. They get to know each other in some way, but Jess keeps her identity hidden from Elliot. Feeling that as soon as he finds out who she is, there is no room for friendship and romance.

I enjoyed reading about their back stories, and when Elliot and Jessie finally met in real life, the story is not rushed.

I didn’t realise this was actually book 2 in a series until after I finished the book, but Sweet Talk is perfectly fine as a stand-alone romance novel. Super cute and fabulous read!

Thank you NetGalley and Headline Books for my free copy in exchange for my honest unedited review.

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Thank you @netgalley @carabastone and @headlineeternal for this eARC in exchange of my honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Sweet Talk by Cara Bastone

Jessie is a badass that gets a late night text from her crush, Eliot. The only problem is, he messaged her by mistake and has no idea who she is. They continue talking daily, with the only piece of information not exchanged being who she is. And chances are, once he finds out, he won’t want anything left to do with her.

This was a really cute book! Jessie is this incredibly strong character that is able to take care of herself and everyone else around her, but she needs to start putting herself first. Eliot is this teddy bear that couldn’t hurt a fly. He finds himself in embarrassing situations consistently and needs a confidence boost. The banter between the two is just so much fun to follow. Definitely one to read!

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