Hello everyone! Welcome to yet another book review, which ended up being one of my favourite ones that I’ve read this year. I’ve been always a dark romance reader, but romance is something I’ve been spending time with for the past few years. It is new, and there isn’t much that I read, however, I am happy to announce to you that I am in love with academic/sports settings. This book gave me everything I needed in every possible way, and I am so happy that I’ve read it. Just the bare fact that the author is actually part of this academic field and knows every detail she gives in the book made me happy enough. However, there is so much we need to talk about. Let’s get in the review, shall we? 🌸🥲
The book starts off with our main character Olive with burning eyes in the middle of a laboratory bathroom. She can’t see because she has expired contact lenses that burn her eyes, and she has a brief conversation with a man who looks very tall and completely black in the middle of the bathroom, their cute conversation ends up with her being more motivated than ever to choose to work in her degree.
Then we go to the next chapter, and it starts with the infamous scene, olive in the middle of a corridor kissing the young hotshot professor and well-known ass named, Adam Carlsen. She’s trying to make her best friend feel good about having feelings towards her ex-boyfriend, and though she has tried it several times before, Anh is sceptical and wishes to keep her best friend above any of her feelings, and poor Olive has only one choice. Kissing Adam, the big bad professor in front of Anh to prove that she is over from her ex; not that she was interested too much to begin with.
Then the book takes up the pace from that point on. Adam and Olive decide to fake a relationship, just to convince Anh and something Adam keeps a secret for a while. Let’s say he needs to be “seem settled” because he needs something from the university, regarding his project. The tension between our two main characters is almost visible throughout the book but they both are focused on their own work as well, which brought an incredibly well-balanced romance to read. I really like the way they were connected to each other, although they have started off as a fake dating couple, they care about each other a lot, and throughout the book, you slowly and surely see them caring about each other more.
Olive is struggling like every researcher, and Adam is struggling like every researcher, but the best part is their unconditional support of each other. The fact that Adam decided to help her achieve her dreams of researching cancer (this hit home hard, I will be honest, I cried my eyes out on several pages), the fact that Olive helped him to break his shell and show the amazing person he actually is to the people around them. It was just a heart-warming story in every possible way, and I binged the book. I am a slow reader, unfortunately, however, I binged this book at my own pace. There was understanding, slight drama caused by a horrible person, respectful and growing relationship, and amazing side characters with solid backgrounds, opinions and voices in the plot. I loved every part of it. I am kind of sad for not reading it back when it was the most popular but late is better than never right? 🌸
I highly suggest those who love a heart-warming romance book with successful characters. Both of them know what they want and work for it. Both of them show their love and care and that one spicy scene in the hotel? OHOHOHOHOHO. It was worth the wait and the tension for gods’ sake. This book was solid 5⭐s for me! What are you doing now? GO GO AND READ IT!
Until I see you in my next blog friends! 💕✨
Luster of Books 