I felt like this book was okay!! The main characters were alright, the story was alright. There wasn't really anything throughout the book that gave me that "i gotta keep reading this, omg" feeling. With that, I don't want to say that it is a bad romance book, because it is cute!! Just was alright.

"Twelve Hours in Manhattan" is a captivating tale of self-discovery and love, centering around Bianca's journey of personal growth and empowerment.

After facing rejection in her job pitch, Bianca finds solace in a bar, where an unexpected encounter with a stranger turns into a delightful and meaningful conversation. To her surprise, she discovers that the man is none other than Park Hyun Min, the famous actor from her beloved K-dramas, who had introduced himself as Eric. Their connection deepens as they share genuine and honest moments together, knowing their time is limited.

As their twelve hours unfold, Bianca and Park Hyun Min find themselves falling in love. However, hidden complexities and the reality of their situation threaten their budding relationship. The story beautifully explores themes of self-acceptance, personal growth, and the power of love.

With its well-crafted narrative, "Twelve Hours in Manhattan" offers a heartfelt and engaging reading experience. I highly recommend this book to those seeking a compelling tale of love and self-discovery.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this book!

Such an adorable read. I loved the concept of this book and it did not disappoint. I am looking forward to reading more by the author!

I really enjoyed this book.
One of my favorite things is the fact that it deviates from the typical romcom where everything is sunshine and rainbows and actually shows us the hardships the characters are going through.

Do not be deceived by the cover. This is not a romantic comedy type of book. I should have learned from the author's previous book, After Perfect, that Bianca's love story is not a fairytale. Meeting Eric was like reading the movies Serendipity and Before Sunrise. Her real life outside Manhattan was complicated. I felt her sadness and dilemmas. My heart ached for Bianca. She deserved to be happy, but most of all, she earned to heal. A person can only handle too much in life, but she did. I loved how she was surrounded by supportive friends. When love came knocking on her hearts' door again, as a reader, I had hesitancy just like Bianca. Everything was too good to be true. Everything was falling into place career-wise, and then here came love. That's the magic of the author. She makes you feel the emotions of her characters. The book was divided into 3 parts. She makes you feel loved, understood, torn, broken, hopeful, hesitant, courageous, and healed, which made Part 3 of the book, in a way, insufficient. The ending felt rushed just because I wasn't ready for the story to end. I wanted to know more about what happens next for Bianca and Eric. I even wanted to know what happened to Diana and her love story. This book was more than a second-chance romance. It's also a second chance for happiness and freedom.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book.

A funny Rom-com with a great meet cute! I really enjoyed reading this one.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for this review copy

Have you missed the fun kind of rom-coms where you just want to dive into the story for the fun of it? Twelve Hours in Manhattan felt like that cozy rom-com that you used to love when you still entertained the idea of literal meet-cutes turning into absolutely beautiful stories.

Well, our protagonist is kind of having a bad day, when she decides to go to this place to at least buy herself some kind of time before she eventually faces her life again. That's where she meets the charming prince of her story. And from there the fairy-tale-esque ride of emotions starts.

It's really cute. Maybe if you are into complex stories, you wouldn't see the appeal on a greater level. But if you love the actually cute rom-coms where you can just relax, not a lot of stressing just the fluffy beautiful vibes that warms your heart, you'd definitely like it. It has everything, that classic rom-com feel, one of them is famous trope, a time crunch because you literally can guess from the title - that factor keeps the pacing really well, and obviously the setting of New York. Having New York, especially Manhattan as the background of a romance is chery on top! Twelve Hours in Manhattan by Maan Gabriel will surely make you feel good and give you all the amazing vibes that you need after a long tiring day.

this was such a fun read!! it gave me everything i was looking for in a book!! i'm so thankful to netgalley that i got to read this one early. it was a pure delight and everyone should read it!!

cute. loved this as a quick lil read. would recommend.

- thanks to netgalley & the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

Let me start with... I LOVE Hallmark movies, cheesy romance, clichés, etc. etc., but.. this book still somehow fell a bit flat for me. I was excited to read a book that had K-Pop involvement, I'm newly addicted to the K dramas and such, but that did not compensate for the... scattered (?) feeling plot. And maybe this is my fault, but I was hoping the rom-com, boy that melts you where you're standing, chemistry-filled romance that even if there are some plot holes or shortcomings-- you don't care, because you laughed and maybe cried and the guy was hot but unexplainably sweet with personality quirks that are to die for. I didn't have any issues with Bianca's character, but I certainly didn't feel any of the above over Eric.

I think there were some nice moments, but for a romance novel titled Twelve Hours in Manhattan, I expected more sweep-you-off-your-feet, and I would have liked a bit more time spent on flushing out the details to feel complete instead of just... words for the sake of words.

2.5 stars rounded up

Thank you to NetGalley and She Writes Press for sending a copy for an honest review

After reading the synopsis I'm immediately want to read this book because who doesn't love a romance book with a KPOP star in it? (I mean probably someone who's not into Kpop)

I do enjoy reading it, I love how the author made this book focused on Bianca's self discovery and how she overcomes her issues. It turned out that this book talked about more serious issues than I though it's, but it's still good!

My main issue was the character sometimes felt a little bit flat to me, and that the plot could feel a little bit drag at some point and it lead to the ending felt a little bit rushed.

Overall, a good book and I would recommend this to my friend with a note for the trigger warning

As a disclaimer, I ended up DNFing this book. I'm writing a review because I do not think the book was necessarily a bad book. I think it will be enjoyable to many, but it just wasn't for me. I thought the whole premise of the book was cute. The main character is about $5 away from living out of her car and just bombed a pitch that could possibly save her from being homeless. She meets a mega super K pop star in the bar where she's drowning her sorrows. The two romp around NYC together discovering things about themselves. There was an undercurrent of religion running through the book that I totally wasn't prepared for. So, be aware of that before you pick up this book. I enjoyed the general sightseeing aspect of the book. They went to Serendipity and St. Patrick's Cathedral. It's kind of a mini tour through NYC. So if you are interested in that I would say go for it. Like I said, this book just wasn't for me, but I think if you like Rom-coms and don't mind casual mentions of Catholicism I think you'll enjoy it! This is also a good pick for AAPI month, as the author is a Phillipina.

Twelve Hours in Manhattan by Maan Gabriel is a slow burn romance. I wanted to love this because the premise was so cute and had so much potential. However, I didn't feel the chemistry between Bianca and Eric even though everyone would love for their celebrity crush to fall head over heals for them. The writing just wasn't there for me.

I really enjoyed the overall storyline, but I felt like it skipped ahead into the future too often. This made it difficult to really feel connected to the story. The first part of the book felt really cohesive, and then it just started skipping forward and was a bit confusing.

"12 Magical Hours" is a heartwarming romance novel that explores the power of connection and the possibility of love in unexpected places. The novel follows the story of Bianca Maria Curtis and Park Hyun Min, two individuals from vastly different worlds who cross paths for a brief but unforgettable encounter in New York City.

The author expertly weaves together the complex themes of love, life, and happiness, painting a vivid picture of the intense emotions that can arise when two people connect on a deep level. The chemistry between Bianca and Eric is palpable from their first meeting, and the reader is drawn into their story as they explore the city and share intimate moments.

The novel is also a poignant exploration of the challenges faced by those in the public eye, as Eric struggles with the pressures of fame and the desire for a normal life. Bianca, too, is facing her own struggles, as she grapples with a tragic event that threatens to derail her life.

Overall, "12 Magical Hours" is a beautifully written novel that will leave readers feeling moved and inspired. With its engaging characters, emotional depth, and unforgettable romance, this book is sure to captivate readers from beginning to end.

This was a great book about finding the love of your life and only having twelve hours with them. I really liked this book and I think the library patrons will too.

the plot was cute, but i really struggled getting into this one. i wasn't able to finish it- it started to feel like a chore just to read this book.

I was disappointed. The pacing messed with me a bit and this felt like it was trying to be the adult version of the YA book The Sun Is Also a Star. I really couldn’t connect with either of the characters and struggled to get behind their developing relationship. I almost DNF’d but forced myself to keep going in the hope it would turn around. In the end, I can’t say I regret reading it but there are other books on my list I wish I had read instead.

This book is for those who love a slow burn romance. We meet Bianca in a bar, where she is having a breakdown. Her life is a complete mess, and she's trying to accept that she isn't going to follow her dream of living in New York City. She runs into Eric, who we soon learn is a famous Korean actor. He and Bianca spend 12 hours in Manhattan together. During this time, they reveal some of their darkest secrets with each other; however, Bianca knows she must return to the reality of her life and leaves suddenly.
This book reflects on Bianca's traumatic past and how she must overcome that to find happiness within herself before falling in love with someone else. I personally don't like reading slow burns, but if that's your preference, definitely check this one out.

“It’s okay to mourn over yourself, because once you’re done crying and screaming, that’s when you’ll truly be free. […] You need to accept the person you’ve become. Love her. Be proud of her. Don’t live with regret. Don’t let insecurity eat you alive. You are worth it. Forgive her.”

In Maan Gabriel’s second novel, Twelve Hours in Manhattan, we meet Bianca Curtis, a woman who is on the brink of losing everything when she meets Eric at a bar in Manhattan where she’s dwelling on her misery. Eric turns out to be one of the most famous Korean actors at the time, Park Hyun Min, and is in town for one night only to escape the pressures of fame and celebrity life. The two of them spend the following twelve hours together walking along 5th Ave, getting ice cream, and even sharing moments at the top of the Empire State. During their time together, they talk about life, love, happiness, and freedom—the freedom that both of them so desperately seek, thus proving that sometimes confiding in a stranger and pouring out all your worries is all one ever needs to feel seen, heard, and understood. But not all that glitters is gold and after those twelve hours pass, and Bianca returns to the life she wants to escape from, a tragedy strikes that will test all her strength. Only the memory of the man she met one magical night will keep her going. Will life make their universes collide again?

Premise aside, Twelve Hours in Manhattan is a bit more serious and tragic than it’s made to look like with some extremely heavy topics and sad moments explored, so definitely check the trigger warnings before you dive into it as this is not a light-hearted rom-com read.

When part one—along with that magical night—ends, the event that turns Bianca’s life is jarring and gut-wrenching. It’s a huge emotional shift not also in the story, but narration wise and feels like a whole different book. It’s the catalyst that will spark a change in Bianca and help her experience the life she’s always dreamed of, not without the help of an incredible support system.

As for the characters, sometimes they felt a bit flat and whilst it’s easy to empathise with them, it’s also hard to connect with them at times on a deeper level, especially with Eric. The constant reminder of her being a “nobody” and him being the “big star” feels a bit repetitive and their connection feels a bit forced at times too, but it still makes for a nice read. The side characters are loveable, especially Bianca’s mother, who offers a great deal of advice on life, love, grieving, and forgiveness. As for Bianca and Eric’s relationships, the second chances are lovely and one can’t help but root for them so they get their chance at love and freedom. Their meet-cute pulls you in as it’s amiable and enchanting, and gives this K-drama feel to the story.

Despite the somewhat rushed ending, the story is engrossing and sentimental. Whether it’s ones career, obligations, people in one’s life, fame, or whatever else, it all circles back to that fear that prevents people from being truly free. A freedom that also comes from grieving and forgiving oneself from past decisions and experiences that can be traumatising. These are recurrent themes in the story and the novel goes back and forth to really delve into this the whole way through. Gabriel definitely knows how to keep the readers hooked and emotionally invested.

All in all, Twelve Hours in Manhattan is a story of second chances, love, acceptance, overcoming, and forgiving oneself—perfect for those who like fairytales and older k-dramas or a meet-cute romance with a darker undertone by exploring drama and pain.