Lezersrecensie
Authentic, raw & spicy!
A.H. Monroe created a wonderful slow-burn romance story here, starring Elma & Armin, our two Bosnian main characters. The pacing was perfect — not too fast, not too slow, but just right. This was the perfect way to make the reader feel like their relationship evolved naturally & authentically, as they slowly, but surely, try to overcome their personal differences & learn to see the best in one another.
The secrecy of their relationship makes for some of the most hilarious & memorable moments. One scene that stood out to me was the restaurant where Elma is on a date with one of Armin’s associates, only for Armin & Alina to be there too. The jealousy practically jumps off the page & I couldn’t get enough of it. There’s just something so attractive about a man staking his claim on a woman, or am I wrong?
Instead of the typical surroundings of New York, Seattle, or some other cliché American citie, Monroe chose Antwerp, a city in Belgium, as the setting for this book. Honestly, such a breath of fresh air! Belgium, known as a cultural melting pot, seems like the perfect place for all of this to unfold, including the immersion of the numerous Bosnian, Belgian & Turkish cultural elements.
Kudoes to Monroe’s advanced writing style! Her use of an extensive vocabulary feels intentional & refined, but stays accessible at the same time. It’s easy to read, easy to connect with. One of the more memorable spicy scenes — the infamous restaurant scene — made me SCREAM (no spoilers here, just read it & thank me later!). The most emotional moment, however, has to be Elma’s confrontation with Camilla in Armin’s basement. It’s so raw & emotional I could feel it in my very core. I even found myself shivering & tearing up, it just hit me that hard..
Mental health representation is a very touchy subject, but was handled with the utmost care & cautiousness here. I wasn’t sure how it would be introduced, but it turns out to be thorougly woven into the story line, adding an extra layer of mystery. A very important element that elevates the story line to a whole new level.
Last, but not least - let’s talk about thé star of the show — M. Call me crazy, but I’m a big fan of his sadistic, cold-hearted persona, especially in combination with his dark sense of humor. He’s the kind of character you can’t help but be intrigued by & I’m secretly hoping he returns at some point.
Brilliant character development, humor-induced secrecy, cultural richness & emotional depth? If this seems up your ally, you shouldn’t think twice! I’m already counting down the days until we can return to the cosy, chaotic streets of Antwerp for the next book!
The secrecy of their relationship makes for some of the most hilarious & memorable moments. One scene that stood out to me was the restaurant where Elma is on a date with one of Armin’s associates, only for Armin & Alina to be there too. The jealousy practically jumps off the page & I couldn’t get enough of it. There’s just something so attractive about a man staking his claim on a woman, or am I wrong?
Instead of the typical surroundings of New York, Seattle, or some other cliché American citie, Monroe chose Antwerp, a city in Belgium, as the setting for this book. Honestly, such a breath of fresh air! Belgium, known as a cultural melting pot, seems like the perfect place for all of this to unfold, including the immersion of the numerous Bosnian, Belgian & Turkish cultural elements.
Kudoes to Monroe’s advanced writing style! Her use of an extensive vocabulary feels intentional & refined, but stays accessible at the same time. It’s easy to read, easy to connect with. One of the more memorable spicy scenes — the infamous restaurant scene — made me SCREAM (no spoilers here, just read it & thank me later!). The most emotional moment, however, has to be Elma’s confrontation with Camilla in Armin’s basement. It’s so raw & emotional I could feel it in my very core. I even found myself shivering & tearing up, it just hit me that hard..
Mental health representation is a very touchy subject, but was handled with the utmost care & cautiousness here. I wasn’t sure how it would be introduced, but it turns out to be thorougly woven into the story line, adding an extra layer of mystery. A very important element that elevates the story line to a whole new level.
Last, but not least - let’s talk about thé star of the show — M. Call me crazy, but I’m a big fan of his sadistic, cold-hearted persona, especially in combination with his dark sense of humor. He’s the kind of character you can’t help but be intrigued by & I’m secretly hoping he returns at some point.
Brilliant character development, humor-induced secrecy, cultural richness & emotional depth? If this seems up your ally, you shouldn’t think twice! I’m already counting down the days until we can return to the cosy, chaotic streets of Antwerp for the next book!
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