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Damned and Beautiful
Grief is a powerful thing but love conquers all.
A friends-to-lovers romance
A man whose love and compassion was only reserved for a select few, Ezra West was cold-shouldered, skeletons hanging in his closet from his dark past that continues to lurk over his life even over half a decade later. With the painful reminder in the form of his six-year-old, Marguerite he soon comes to realize her unhappiness and the fact he barely knew his daughter. In an effort to fix their relationship, he decides a change in scenery is what they need, even if it means going back to the hell he ran away from.
The plan was not to become acquainted with his daughter's English teacher. The plan was not to enjoy her company, to relish her smiles, find pleasure in watching her beautiful dark skin radiate against the light. and as terrified as he was, he couldn't stay away.
And that temptation was Iridessa Zola.
The woman knew pining over her student’s father was probably against some regulation. that finding excuses to see his face around the small town of Haven Harbour was probably creepy. All signs pointed to pursuing him being a bad idea. But the man with his green eyes and rose hand tattoo was too irresistible. and no matter how hard he tried to push her away, she only pulled harder. She wanted him - even if it possibly meant breaking both their hearts in the end.
But hearts be damned.
A friends-to-lovers romance
A man whose love and compassion was only reserved for a select few, Ezra West was cold-shouldered, skeletons hanging in his closet from his dark past that continues to lurk over his life even over half a decade later. With the painful reminder in the form of his six-year-old, Marguerite he soon comes to realize her unhappiness and the fact he barely knew his daughter. In an effort to fix their relationship, he decides a change in scenery is what they need, even if it means going back to the hell he ran away from.
The plan was not to become acquainted with his daughter's English teacher. The plan was not to enjoy her company, to relish her smiles, find pleasure in watching her beautiful dark skin radiate against the light. and as terrified as he was, he couldn't stay away.
And that temptation was Iridessa Zola.
The woman knew pining over her student’s father was probably against some regulation. that finding excuses to see his face around the small town of Haven Harbour was probably creepy. All signs pointed to pursuing him being a bad idea. But the man with his green eyes and rose hand tattoo was too irresistible. and no matter how hard he tried to push her away, she only pulled harder. She wanted him - even if it possibly meant breaking both their hearts in the end.
But hearts be damned.
- GenresRomance
436 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 10, 2024
5 people are currently reading
127 people want to read
About the author
Monica Lu
2 books14 followersMonica Lu is a black African-Canadian woman who’s been loving books since the days of reading Dork Diaries. One faithful summer she decided to finally pursue her dreams of publishing her own stories. Her books contain swoony love stories filled with mostly POC MC’s, always pulling inspiration from various childhood favorites. When she’s not fighting her over-planning brain, she’s probably talking someone’s ear off over her latest favorite read.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
May 10, 2024
4.5 star
thank you to the author for the arc!!
this book is so sweet but also so emotional i am the embodiment of this emoji rn: 🥹
everything about this book just works so well for me, the writing flows so nicely and the length of the book is a bit more to the longer side but it's perfect for me.
iris is such a great main character to read about, she is very relatable (she has a cat and is a fangirl) and i loved reading about her job as a teacher. also, all the marvel references and her obsession with wandavision is so real, this reminds me i need to do a rewatch soon. ezra on the other hand is so book bf material hello?? he folds her origami, that's literally so cute wtf. the slow burn definitely burned very slowly but i love it sm, they have amazing chemistry (it destroyed me). also, shoutout to maggie & pebbles for being absolute cuties <3
overall, this book made me kick my feet and giggle AND made me want to give these characters a big hug. if you're looking for a romance that both breaks your heart and puts it back together, this one is for you!!
thank you to the author for the arc!!
this book is so sweet but also so emotional i am the embodiment of this emoji rn: 🥹
everything about this book just works so well for me, the writing flows so nicely and the length of the book is a bit more to the longer side but it's perfect for me.
iris is such a great main character to read about, she is very relatable (she has a cat and is a fangirl) and i loved reading about her job as a teacher. also, all the marvel references and her obsession with wandavision is so real, this reminds me i need to do a rewatch soon. ezra on the other hand is so book bf material hello?? he folds her origami, that's literally so cute wtf. the slow burn definitely burned very slowly but i love it sm, they have amazing chemistry (it destroyed me). also, shoutout to maggie & pebbles for being absolute cuties <3
overall, this book made me kick my feet and giggle AND made me want to give these characters a big hug. if you're looking for a romance that both breaks your heart and puts it back together, this one is for you!!
May 5, 2024
“Grief is a powerful thing, but love conquers all”
I don’t think I’ve read a book that talked about grief, love, and life beautifully and delicately like this one. There is something raw and vulnerable that quickly captures you from the beginning until the end.
Monica Lu wrote something so special and endearing. For that, I am so grateful I got the opportunity to read this as an ARC.
Oh Ezra West. Someone give this man a damn hug🥺 He can be grumpy, but not mean. He may seem aloof but only because of the walls he built around him. But once you get to know the man with the green eyes and rose hand tattoo, all hearts be damned.
Iridessa Zola. The full of life English teacher. With a baggage of her own, she approaches every day like it could be her last. But when Ezra West walked in her life, no matter how hard he tried to push away, she pulled harder.
Ezra and Iridessa are the epitome of how powerful love can be. Love lives, grows, hopes–but above all, love heals.
Things I loved:
-dual POV
-letters/text scenes
-single dad trope
-slow burn
I don’t think I’ve read a book that talked about grief, love, and life beautifully and delicately like this one. There is something raw and vulnerable that quickly captures you from the beginning until the end.
Monica Lu wrote something so special and endearing. For that, I am so grateful I got the opportunity to read this as an ARC.
Oh Ezra West. Someone give this man a damn hug🥺 He can be grumpy, but not mean. He may seem aloof but only because of the walls he built around him. But once you get to know the man with the green eyes and rose hand tattoo, all hearts be damned.
Iridessa Zola. The full of life English teacher. With a baggage of her own, she approaches every day like it could be her last. But when Ezra West walked in her life, no matter how hard he tried to push away, she pulled harder.
Ezra and Iridessa are the epitome of how powerful love can be. Love lives, grows, hopes–but above all, love heals.
Things I loved:
-dual POV
-letters/text scenes
-single dad trope
-slow burn
May 6, 2024
Thank you, thank you Miss Monica for the eARC!
I adored this story. Iris and Ezra are two people healing from very different, but traumatic losses. It was so sweet reading and learning about them and their stories (honestly, kinda felt like I was unravelling a mystery ahahah). Seeing two characters and their healing journeys was encouraging. As someone who’s dealt with my own fair share of love and loss. As sad as I am that other people do have to deal with these things, it is nice and reassuring to know that I’m not alone in grief or healing processes. Iris and Ezra are just two examples of what healing may look like, and I can’t wait for what’s next in this series.
Also, listen to Likewise on Friday to hear more about Damned and Beautiful from Miss Monica herself! heheh
I adored this story. Iris and Ezra are two people healing from very different, but traumatic losses. It was so sweet reading and learning about them and their stories (honestly, kinda felt like I was unravelling a mystery ahahah). Seeing two characters and their healing journeys was encouraging. As someone who’s dealt with my own fair share of love and loss. As sad as I am that other people do have to deal with these things, it is nice and reassuring to know that I’m not alone in grief or healing processes. Iris and Ezra are just two examples of what healing may look like, and I can’t wait for what’s next in this series.
Also, listen to Likewise on Friday to hear more about Damned and Beautiful from Miss Monica herself! heheh
June 2, 2024
Thank you to my lovely and wonderful girl Moni for sending me an arc of her amazing book! I am so proud of you babygirl!!! You gifted the world with your amazing words and I can’t wait for everyone to fall in love with your characters!!! This book truly healed my soul in a way I didn’t know I needed to be heal😭 this book was soooo cute and has MAJOR sitcom/romcom vibes which at first I kinda didn’t like but then as I read more I started to enjoy! I absolutely loved these characters especially Ezra and Maggie! Maggie was the cutest little thing everaaaa! Her little sass and quick whit was to die for I truly am a sucker for kids😭. I loved when she was in a scene because everything she said was just so stinkin cute. And OH MY GAWD EZRA🛐 this man is quite literally the book definition of a perfect man. He is broody/grouchy and soft all at the same time😩 I loved every little thing he did for Iris. That man was so fully whipped and Iris walked him like a mf dog👏 he always paid attention to the little details when it came to Iris and always listened to her. He literally had my heart melting the whole boom. I also connected with Iris so much throughout the book she was really relatable with all her struggles and fears she had! Also she’s a marvel queen what’s not to love about her?! 😍😍 That women really did persevered in spite of everything she was going through and that was truly admirable!! She knew what she wanted and lived her life to the fullest! The romance between Ezra and Iris was so beautiful like I truly cannot think of any other way to describe it other than utterly beautiful! Watching them fall in love and over come their struggles, fears and lies was addicting. And omg the plot twist at the end I COULDNT BREATHE I WAS SOBBING YALL. There is so much more to talk about but y’all just have to get the book and see 😉 because it truly was Damned and beautiful 💗💖
May 11, 2024
♥ — an arc review!!
damned and beautiful follows ezra and iris as their relationship blossoms. and just like every flower once it blooms, it is a beautiful journey. a journey that had me in tears yet also had me smiling and giggling.
from the beginning on, i knew that iris is my girl. she is fun, she is sweet and she is every reader personified, regardless if it is because of her want to collect books, her love for romance, or her passion to be as poetic as possible. as ezra puts it, her words are beautiful.
and it’s that beauty she brings into his life. ezra seems like the stereotypical male main character at the start. he’s grumpy, serious and stoic, however, you come to gradually realise that he’s much more than that. he went through so much, and loves so hard. ezra is like a coconut, hard from the outside, soft in the inside.
whilst reading the book, you can’t escape the love and care monica put into this book. it’s gorgeous in all its words, and it’s incredible for it being her debut. i look forward to future books of hers and thank you for allowing me to read it early.
damned and beautiful coming out today!!!
with love, eka 🫶🏾
ps: carpe diem. seize the day, my loves!!
damned and beautiful follows ezra and iris as their relationship blossoms. and just like every flower once it blooms, it is a beautiful journey. a journey that had me in tears yet also had me smiling and giggling.
from the beginning on, i knew that iris is my girl. she is fun, she is sweet and she is every reader personified, regardless if it is because of her want to collect books, her love for romance, or her passion to be as poetic as possible. as ezra puts it, her words are beautiful.
and it’s that beauty she brings into his life. ezra seems like the stereotypical male main character at the start. he’s grumpy, serious and stoic, however, you come to gradually realise that he’s much more than that. he went through so much, and loves so hard. ezra is like a coconut, hard from the outside, soft in the inside.
whilst reading the book, you can’t escape the love and care monica put into this book. it’s gorgeous in all its words, and it’s incredible for it being her debut. i look forward to future books of hers and thank you for allowing me to read it early.
damned and beautiful coming out today!!!
with love, eka 🫶🏾
ps: carpe diem. seize the day, my loves!!
June 12, 2024
“𝘐 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘯.“
☆ ☆. 75
𝐀 𝐆𝐑𝐔𝐌𝐏𝐘 𝐱 𝐒𝐔𝐍𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐄 𝐒𝐌𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐓𝐎𝐖𝐍 𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄 that follows Iridessa Zola, a teacher, and hotel CEO, Ezra West.
I do want to keep this review short and straight to the point. What brought me to this book is the pretty cover and the grief that comes with it because I love angst.
However, there was just something about this book I just couldn’t enjoy fully.
Slow burns are my holy grail, but this was just a bit too slow. Things didn’t start picking up until the 85%-90% bracket, in my opinion.
The FMC is sweet and bubbly. And the MMC is a grump who’s soft for his girl, but I didn’t feel the chemistry between these two. I also don’t think the MMC had enough chapters in his POV. 13 out 40 plus epilogue was only given to him.
In a romance, I feel like seeing both characters equally is important because I want to get to know him. Ezra felt more like a side character. We learned about him in Iris’s POV than his.
There were other factors that didn’t have me enjoy the story either, but nothing do get into.
Overall, the story was okay.
☆ ☆. 75
𝐀 𝐆𝐑𝐔𝐌𝐏𝐘 𝐱 𝐒𝐔𝐍𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐄 𝐒𝐌𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐓𝐎𝐖𝐍 𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄 that follows Iridessa Zola, a teacher, and hotel CEO, Ezra West.
I do want to keep this review short and straight to the point. What brought me to this book is the pretty cover and the grief that comes with it because I love angst.
However, there was just something about this book I just couldn’t enjoy fully.
Slow burns are my holy grail, but this was just a bit too slow. Things didn’t start picking up until the 85%-90% bracket, in my opinion.
The FMC is sweet and bubbly. And the MMC is a grump who’s soft for his girl, but I didn’t feel the chemistry between these two. I also don’t think the MMC had enough chapters in his POV. 13 out 40 plus epilogue was only given to him.
In a romance, I feel like seeing both characters equally is important because I want to get to know him. Ezra felt more like a side character. We learned about him in Iris’s POV than his.
There were other factors that didn’t have me enjoy the story either, but nothing do get into.
Overall, the story was okay.
May 17, 2024
Ezra and Iredessa meet in the most unexpected way - literally she runs into him. Then their paths never seem to uncross. Meeting at the market, where she works, he is everywhere she does in this small town. It would not be so bad if he was not a mouth watering Greek god and she cannot seem to keep her eyes off every time she sees him. With his heartbreaking past and her health concerns, can these two ever move past the sexual tension and lingering eyes they have for each other? Or will their chance at true love pass them by?
This book was FILLED with cute moments, banter, adorable origami surprises, a genius 6 year old, and tension. It is a slow burn to get to the spicy scenes but these two keep you interested. I will say that the revelation of Ezra’s past and Iris’ health concerns make this book a little heart breaking.
-Kayla/Hot.Bookmance
This book was FILLED with cute moments, banter, adorable origami surprises, a genius 6 year old, and tension. It is a slow burn to get to the spicy scenes but these two keep you interested. I will say that the revelation of Ezra’s past and Iris’ health concerns make this book a little heart breaking.
-Kayla/Hot.Bookmance
May 7, 2024
This story is so beautiful and moving in so many ways. I haven’t ever before read a book with a similar premise, and I adore the way Monica so lyrically sucked me into the story. From the prologue, I knew I was in for a story that was going to be an emotional journey (in the best way).
“I’ve felt grief before. I’ve felt death before. But somehow, the aching feeling in my chest is ten times harder than the last time.”
The characters were each so dynamic, and it was so easy to immerse yourself into their ways of thinking. The slow burn was burning, and I was yearning. Also my jaw was so dropped because the story kept unfolding in ways I wasn’t expecting. Beautifully done, and I cannot wait for what’s next in the beautifully healing series!
Thank you Monica for the arc, for everyone interested it’s out May 10th!
August 31, 2024
2.5 stars
This book is the perfect example of a book that has so much freaking potential but desperately needed an editor. Or two. Besides being riddled with grammatical errors, there were so many inconsistencies and inaccuracies within the characters, their jobs, settings, and even some plot holes. I see the potential in this author's writing and the cover is so freaking beautiful but this book...a mess, I fear.
This book is the perfect example of a book that has so much freaking potential but desperately needed an editor. Or two. Besides being riddled with grammatical errors, there were so many inconsistencies and inaccuracies within the characters, their jobs, settings, and even some plot holes. I see the potential in this author's writing and the cover is so freaking beautiful but this book...a mess, I fear.
June 11, 2024
my heart is so happy. rtc
May 18, 2024
Okay Damned and beautiful is actually a beautiful tale of love, growth, emotional and physical struggles but also about people who give you safe space to heal and glow. The story revolves around Iridessa and Ezra- the school teacher and a single dad. Both being haunted by their own secrets and scars that might not be visible but are as painful as they can me. When Iridessa is asked to teach a younger class she doesnt know that the man she has been crushing on will turn out to be her student's dad. What's more crazy? He feels the same. For him she is the literally sunshine and so he tries to give it all.
I am a fan for single dad romance, even better when the fmc is not a nanny and this book was right up my alley. I loved it through and through and it is one gorgeous debut.
I am a fan for single dad romance, even better when the fmc is not a nanny and this book was right up my alley. I loved it through and through and it is one gorgeous debut.
June 24, 2024
5/5
Thank you so much, Monica, for giving me a chance to meet Ezra, Iridessa and Maggie before the rest of the world
Prepare to be swept off your feet by Monica Lu's stunning debut book, Damned & Beautiful. From the very first page, Monica really captured me with her storytelling and unforgettable characters, making it hard to believe that this is her first book. It's a book that grabs hold of your heartstrings from the very first page and refuses to let go, leaving an indelible mark on your soul long after you've turned the final page.
At the heart of the story lies a breathtaking romance between two captivating individuals, Ezra and Iridessa. The chemistry between them is palpable from their enchanting meet cute to the tender moments that unfold as their relationship blossoms. Their relationship doesn't unfold in a whirlwind; instead, it simmers, allowing for genuine moments of growth and discovery. Each witty exchange and heartfelt moment is written with precision that really drew me deeper into the magnetic pull between Ezra and Iridessa. As the pages turn, it becomes increasingly clear that these characters are not just perfect for each other; they are essential to each other's growth and happiness.
One of the novel's many strengths is its richly developed characters. From Ezra, the grumpy yet devoted single father, to Iridessa, the pure sunshine heroine, each character leaps off the page with depth and authenticity. Maggie, Ezra's daughter deserves a special mention. She is such an endearing, bright and adorable girl, whose presence adds an extra layer of emotion to the story.
Set against the backdrop of a charming small town, Monica skillfully weaves together a story of emotions, that drew me into a world filled with heartache, hope, and ultimately, love. I experienced all the highs and lows alongside her characters, and I loved every second of it.
Monica Lu has truly outdone herself with this stunning debut, and I, for one, cannot wait to see what she has in store for us next. With its irresistible blend of heart, humor, and passion, this is a book that will leave you breathless and longing for more. Simply put: WOW!
Thank you so much, Monica, for giving me a chance to meet Ezra, Iridessa and Maggie before the rest of the world
Prepare to be swept off your feet by Monica Lu's stunning debut book, Damned & Beautiful. From the very first page, Monica really captured me with her storytelling and unforgettable characters, making it hard to believe that this is her first book. It's a book that grabs hold of your heartstrings from the very first page and refuses to let go, leaving an indelible mark on your soul long after you've turned the final page.
At the heart of the story lies a breathtaking romance between two captivating individuals, Ezra and Iridessa. The chemistry between them is palpable from their enchanting meet cute to the tender moments that unfold as their relationship blossoms. Their relationship doesn't unfold in a whirlwind; instead, it simmers, allowing for genuine moments of growth and discovery. Each witty exchange and heartfelt moment is written with precision that really drew me deeper into the magnetic pull between Ezra and Iridessa. As the pages turn, it becomes increasingly clear that these characters are not just perfect for each other; they are essential to each other's growth and happiness.
One of the novel's many strengths is its richly developed characters. From Ezra, the grumpy yet devoted single father, to Iridessa, the pure sunshine heroine, each character leaps off the page with depth and authenticity. Maggie, Ezra's daughter deserves a special mention. She is such an endearing, bright and adorable girl, whose presence adds an extra layer of emotion to the story.
Set against the backdrop of a charming small town, Monica skillfully weaves together a story of emotions, that drew me into a world filled with heartache, hope, and ultimately, love. I experienced all the highs and lows alongside her characters, and I loved every second of it.
Monica Lu has truly outdone herself with this stunning debut, and I, for one, cannot wait to see what she has in store for us next. With its irresistible blend of heart, humor, and passion, this is a book that will leave you breathless and longing for more. Simply put: WOW!
June 5, 2024
4.5 stars. This book pulled all my heart strings. This book showed how grief and love intertwined and how healing can come in the most unexpected ways. Iris and Ezra made me experience love in a whole other and beautiful way. Ezra being a single father and learning to navigate and grow in his relationship with Maggie was so cute to see. And how Iris and Maggie interacted made me fall in love with both of them more. The plot twist at the end did get me, but made feel how extra beautiful the overall love story is!
May 20, 2024
ARC Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
🌶️🌶️.5
🎀
Firstly, thank you to Monica for the change to read her debut, in exchange for an honest and fair review.
j enjoyed this review and the premises of the story. This is such a beautiful story of grief and healing, and taking that grief to foster their relationship was so genuine.
I love the small town, teacher x single parent story. Iridessa “Iris” is a poc English teacher in Haven Harbour and Ezra is the billionaire CEO of Westernia Industries & single dad to Maggie - Iris and Ezra’s meet cute happens when she literally runs into him & continues to run into him over town, until they can’t deny their attraction any further.
I would recommend this read if you’re a fan of a cute slow burn, small town romance & supporting indie authors!!
🎀
Grief is a powerful thing - but love conquers all
✨the fun stuff
💗 Grumpy x Sunshine
💗 English Teacher x Single Dad
💗 Slow Burn
💗 Friends to Lovers
💗Boy Obsessed FMC
💗She Falls First, He Falls Harder
💗 Funny Banter
💗 Small Town
💗 Interracial Couples
💗 Story about Grief, Love & Life
✨the deats
A man whose love and compassion was only reserved for a select few, Ezra West was cold-shouldered, skeletons hanging in his closet from his dark past that continues to lurk over his life even over half a decade later. With the painful reminder in the form of his six-year-old, Marguerite he soon comes to realize her unhappiness and the fact he barely knew his daughter. In the efforts of fixing their relationship, he decides a change in scenery was what they needed, even if it meant going back to the hell he ran away from.
The plan was not to become acquainted with his daughter’s English teacher. The plan was not to enjoy her company, to relish her smiles, find pleasure in watching her beautiful dark skin radiate against the light. And as terrified as he was, he couldn’t stay away.
And that temptation was Iridessa Zola.
The woman knew pining over her student’s father was probably against some regulation. that finding excuses to see his face around the small town of Haven Harbour was probably creepy. All signs pointed to pursuing him being a bad idea. but the man with his green eyes and rose hand tattoo was too irresistible. And no matter how hard he tried to push her away, she only pulled harder. She wanted him - even if possibly it meant breaking both their hearts in the end.
But hearts be damned.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
🌶️🌶️.5
🎀
Firstly, thank you to Monica for the change to read her debut, in exchange for an honest and fair review.
j enjoyed this review and the premises of the story. This is such a beautiful story of grief and healing, and taking that grief to foster their relationship was so genuine.
I love the small town, teacher x single parent story. Iridessa “Iris” is a poc English teacher in Haven Harbour and Ezra is the billionaire CEO of Westernia Industries & single dad to Maggie - Iris and Ezra’s meet cute happens when she literally runs into him & continues to run into him over town, until they can’t deny their attraction any further.
I would recommend this read if you’re a fan of a cute slow burn, small town romance & supporting indie authors!!
🎀
Grief is a powerful thing - but love conquers all
✨the fun stuff
💗 Grumpy x Sunshine
💗 English Teacher x Single Dad
💗 Slow Burn
💗 Friends to Lovers
💗Boy Obsessed FMC
💗She Falls First, He Falls Harder
💗 Funny Banter
💗 Small Town
💗 Interracial Couples
💗 Story about Grief, Love & Life
✨the deats
A man whose love and compassion was only reserved for a select few, Ezra West was cold-shouldered, skeletons hanging in his closet from his dark past that continues to lurk over his life even over half a decade later. With the painful reminder in the form of his six-year-old, Marguerite he soon comes to realize her unhappiness and the fact he barely knew his daughter. In the efforts of fixing their relationship, he decides a change in scenery was what they needed, even if it meant going back to the hell he ran away from.
The plan was not to become acquainted with his daughter’s English teacher. The plan was not to enjoy her company, to relish her smiles, find pleasure in watching her beautiful dark skin radiate against the light. And as terrified as he was, he couldn’t stay away.
And that temptation was Iridessa Zola.
The woman knew pining over her student’s father was probably against some regulation. that finding excuses to see his face around the small town of Haven Harbour was probably creepy. All signs pointed to pursuing him being a bad idea. but the man with his green eyes and rose hand tattoo was too irresistible. And no matter how hard he tried to push her away, she only pulled harder. She wanted him - even if possibly it meant breaking both their hearts in the end.
But hearts be damned.
May 9, 2024
“What is grief, if not love persevering.”❤️🩹
If I had to describe this whole book with just 2 Emojis, then 💔-❤️🩹 are the perfect emojis!
My Marvel loving heart was so happy to read a book where the characters love the MCU💖
This book broke my heart but healed it too🥹 Can’t believe that this is a DEBUT book!!
I received an E-ARC of this book (Thank You, Monica Lu) and here's my honest take!
Damned & Beautiful: A Heartfelt Journey of Healing and Love💖
Wow, this book! Get ready for an emotional rollercoaster packed with laughter, tears, and a love story that will melt your heart.🥹
Damned & Beautiful by Monica Lu isn't just a romance, it's a story about healing from loss and finding the strength to love again.❤️🩹✨
Iris and Ezra are the stars of the show. Iris, the sunshine-y English teacher, and Ezra, the grumpy-but-sweet single dad, who makes origami for Iris. But when their paths collide, sparks fly. Their banter is fun and cute, and their slow-burn romance will have you rooting for them from page one.🥰
But this book is so much more than just a meet-cute. Both Iris and Ezra carry the weight of their past. The way Monica Lu explores grief is raw and beautiful, reminding us that love and hope can bloom even in the darkest places.🌷
Here's what I loved:
The characters: You'll fall head-over-heels for Iris and Ezra, and Maggie and the supporting cast is fantastic.😘
The writing: Monica Lu's prose is captivating, weaving a story that's both heartwarming and heartbreaking.💝
The slow burn: The chemistry between Iris and Ezra is undeniable, and the wait for them to finally confess their feelings is pure torture (in the best way possible!).😘
The emotional journey: This book will make you laugh, cry, and everything in between. But trust me, it's worth the ride.🥰
A few minor things to keep in mind:
The spice level is mild🌶️🌶️. This is more of a sweet and steamy slow burn than a scorching read.
Get ready for the feels! This book deals with grief and loss, so have some tissues handy.
Overall, Damned & Beautiful is a must-read for anyone who loves a good romance with a healthy dose of emotional depth releasing on 10th May! I can't wait to see what Monica Lu does next!🤗
If I had to describe this whole book with just 2 Emojis, then 💔-❤️🩹 are the perfect emojis!
My Marvel loving heart was so happy to read a book where the characters love the MCU💖
This book broke my heart but healed it too🥹 Can’t believe that this is a DEBUT book!!
I received an E-ARC of this book (Thank You, Monica Lu) and here's my honest take!
Damned & Beautiful: A Heartfelt Journey of Healing and Love💖
Wow, this book! Get ready for an emotional rollercoaster packed with laughter, tears, and a love story that will melt your heart.🥹
Damned & Beautiful by Monica Lu isn't just a romance, it's a story about healing from loss and finding the strength to love again.❤️🩹✨
Iris and Ezra are the stars of the show. Iris, the sunshine-y English teacher, and Ezra, the grumpy-but-sweet single dad, who makes origami for Iris. But when their paths collide, sparks fly. Their banter is fun and cute, and their slow-burn romance will have you rooting for them from page one.🥰
But this book is so much more than just a meet-cute. Both Iris and Ezra carry the weight of their past. The way Monica Lu explores grief is raw and beautiful, reminding us that love and hope can bloom even in the darkest places.🌷
Here's what I loved:
The characters: You'll fall head-over-heels for Iris and Ezra, and Maggie and the supporting cast is fantastic.😘
The writing: Monica Lu's prose is captivating, weaving a story that's both heartwarming and heartbreaking.💝
The slow burn: The chemistry between Iris and Ezra is undeniable, and the wait for them to finally confess their feelings is pure torture (in the best way possible!).😘
The emotional journey: This book will make you laugh, cry, and everything in between. But trust me, it's worth the ride.🥰
A few minor things to keep in mind:
The spice level is mild🌶️🌶️. This is more of a sweet and steamy slow burn than a scorching read.
Get ready for the feels! This book deals with grief and loss, so have some tissues handy.
Overall, Damned & Beautiful is a must-read for anyone who loves a good romance with a healthy dose of emotional depth releasing on 10th May! I can't wait to see what Monica Lu does next!🤗
May 6, 2024
- - - - -
"Dreams are the canvases of the soul, movies of forgotten thoughts...And that nightmares were the echoes of the heart’s pain.”
- Iris
- - - - -
When I tell you I SMILE, GIGGLED, LAUGH AND WAS KICKING MY FEET IN THE AIR!!! AAHHHHH😆😆💗💗
This book was so freaking good!! Iridessa Zola and Ezra West have this funny yet amusing yet everything chemistry!!! Like Ohmygosh I couldn't get enough of them!! Then there is Pebbles who is Iris's cat and Maggie who is Ezra's daughter!
Gosh, I smiled from the VERY beginning of this book. I fell in love with the main characters as well as Dawn and Rosetta. Let's not forget about Xavier who happens to be the "only friend" Ezra has as well as Dahlia who had assisted Ezra. This book follows Iris who is an English teacher at a high school where she teaches juniors and then gets a new job at an elementary school teaching third grade. Ezra is a CEO of a very well known hotel chain and he has moved back to his small town of Harbour Haven to have a better lifestyle for his daughter.
Iris has a condition where she has random nose bleeds due to low iron and Ezra has nightmares from his past being back in the small town.
The banter with these two was so funny as well with the other characters! 👏😩
I truly connected where Iris talks to her cat because I'm like that with my dog! And the (SPOILER ALERT) reference where she talks about Barbie and then the Swan Lake movie - which is one of my fav comfort movies!!
I love every bit of this book and it felt like watching or living in it. Like a movie!! 💗🤌
The ending of this book was absolutely, beautifully, written!! Damned and Beautiful is now one of my new favs!!😆
Monica!!! You as your very first deut novel I am honored to have ready Iris and Erza's story!! Thank you for bringing these characters and making me feel as if I were with them🥹👏👏
My goodness!! I definitely 1000% recommend you guys reading this! I'm not much a slow burn girlie, but this one ATE!!😍
5/5 ⭐
2/5 🌶️
"Dreams are the canvases of the soul, movies of forgotten thoughts...And that nightmares were the echoes of the heart’s pain.”
- Iris
- - - - -
When I tell you I SMILE, GIGGLED, LAUGH AND WAS KICKING MY FEET IN THE AIR!!! AAHHHHH😆😆💗💗
This book was so freaking good!! Iridessa Zola and Ezra West have this funny yet amusing yet everything chemistry!!! Like Ohmygosh I couldn't get enough of them!! Then there is Pebbles who is Iris's cat and Maggie who is Ezra's daughter!
Gosh, I smiled from the VERY beginning of this book. I fell in love with the main characters as well as Dawn and Rosetta. Let's not forget about Xavier who happens to be the "only friend" Ezra has as well as Dahlia who had assisted Ezra. This book follows Iris who is an English teacher at a high school where she teaches juniors and then gets a new job at an elementary school teaching third grade. Ezra is a CEO of a very well known hotel chain and he has moved back to his small town of Harbour Haven to have a better lifestyle for his daughter.
Iris has a condition where she has random nose bleeds due to low iron and Ezra has nightmares from his past being back in the small town.
The banter with these two was so funny as well with the other characters! 👏😩
I truly connected where Iris talks to her cat because I'm like that with my dog! And the (SPOILER ALERT) reference where she talks about Barbie and then the Swan Lake movie - which is one of my fav comfort movies!!
I love every bit of this book and it felt like watching or living in it. Like a movie!! 💗🤌
The ending of this book was absolutely, beautifully, written!! Damned and Beautiful is now one of my new favs!!😆
Monica!!! You as your very first deut novel I am honored to have ready Iris and Erza's story!! Thank you for bringing these characters and making me feel as if I were with them🥹👏👏
My goodness!! I definitely 1000% recommend you guys reading this! I'm not much a slow burn girlie, but this one ATE!!😍
5/5 ⭐
2/5 🌶️
May 13, 2024
“To be yours…it would be the greatest love”
★ ★ ★ ★ ★/5
“What is grief, if not love persevering.”
I was so happy to receive this arc since I’ve been eyeballing this story since November☺️
I loved the romance and all the little details in between but overall this book was a story about loss, grief, and love
Iris was so gorgeously written, she was sweet, strong, witty, and total book/MCU girl
I absolutely loved Ezra, from the start I thought he was a grumpy single dad, but the more he was shown the more you see he was so much more.
Maggie was such a cutie, I’m usually not a fan of the single parent tropes or anything involving kids but it’s growing on me and I really enjoyed how it plays a roll in Iris and Ezra’s story. Also big shoutout to Ms Pebbles, she’s an absolute star and has my heart😚
I can’t believe this is Monica’s first book!! it was incredible, you can feel all the love and care put into these characters🩷
★ ★ ★ ★ ★/5
“What is grief, if not love persevering.”
I was so happy to receive this arc since I’ve been eyeballing this story since November☺️
I loved the romance and all the little details in between but overall this book was a story about loss, grief, and love
Iris was so gorgeously written, she was sweet, strong, witty, and total book/MCU girl
I absolutely loved Ezra, from the start I thought he was a grumpy single dad, but the more he was shown the more you see he was so much more.
Maggie was such a cutie, I’m usually not a fan of the single parent tropes or anything involving kids but it’s growing on me and I really enjoyed how it plays a roll in Iris and Ezra’s story. Also big shoutout to Ms Pebbles, she’s an absolute star and has my heart😚
I can’t believe this is Monica’s first book!! it was incredible, you can feel all the love and care put into these characters🩷
May 10, 2024
😭😭💝💝🥹🥹 happy release day to the most beautiful book ever.
i’m in awe of this story & these characters 🥹💝💓a perfect story of love and loss 😭😭😭had me crying and screaming and falling over!
ezra and iris are so cute together and GOD THEIR TENSION!!! so well done. (and maggie is adorable hello?!!!) my heart was with iris the whole time i felt so much for her & ugh im so glad she’s happy. she’s so relatable it HURTS !!!! the way her grief was written…. in my head forever.
tropes: 🤭💝
grumpy x sunshine
slow burn
single dad
GIRL I WAS KICKING MY FEET THE WHOLE TIME!!! i can’t wait for the next book i need it SO BAD !!!
thank u for the arc 💝congrats beautiful
i’m in awe of this story & these characters 🥹💝💓a perfect story of love and loss 😭😭😭had me crying and screaming and falling over!
ezra and iris are so cute together and GOD THEIR TENSION!!! so well done. (and maggie is adorable hello?!!!) my heart was with iris the whole time i felt so much for her & ugh im so glad she’s happy. she’s so relatable it HURTS !!!! the way her grief was written…. in my head forever.
tropes: 🤭💝
grumpy x sunshine
slow burn
single dad
GIRL I WAS KICKING MY FEET THE WHOLE TIME!!! i can’t wait for the next book i need it SO BAD !!!
thank u for the arc 💝congrats beautiful
September 2, 2024
A Different Story
I loved the premise to this book. It had a lot of heartache and was very emotional, especially towards the end. I will say there are grammatical errors, but if you can get past that and just read the message of the book it was enjoyable.
I believe this author show promise for her future books. I would be willing to pick up another book of her in the future.
I loved the premise to this book. It had a lot of heartache and was very emotional, especially towards the end. I will say there are grammatical errors, but if you can get past that and just read the message of the book it was enjoyable.
I believe this author show promise for her future books. I would be willing to pick up another book of her in the future.
June 18, 2024
Getting an arc was so cool!!! But I genuinely do not think I’ll ever finish this book. The first half of the book was cutie, but sooooo many editing errors. Also, if a teacher said the things she said and acted the way she did they would get fired
Read
August 1, 2024dnf. i really tried my best to get through it but barely made it to the halfway mark before deciding it just wasn’t for me
June 14, 2024
𝗮𝗿𝗰 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄
5,0★♾️
💌🍨💐💫🪽🍰
Damned and Beautiful is a book about Ezra West, a man with a dark past who realizes he barely knew his daughter, to fix their relationship he decides to return to the small town he grew up in, but the plan wasn’t to meet his daughter’s English teacher and start wanting more of the woman’s company and smiles.
GET READY TO SCREAM, CRY AND FALL IN LOVE with DAB! 🫶🏽 this book cured my slump, im not kidding! the minute i picked up i couldn’t do anything other than read it all at once! DAB is very easy to read and identify with the mcs. every character in this story is so precious! i simply adore Iridessa, she’s a fmc i relate a lot, i love her funny personality, i laughed in every chap of hers, her making Ezra blushing is everything to me! Maggie’s an adorable child, sometimes i wanted to go into the book just to hug this little girl! the father and daughter scenes were really cute, also i still don’t know how to say about Ezra without saying how BEAUTIFUL, PERFECT AND WONDERFUL this man is! I love the fact that he’s the grumpy guy stereotype: tall, all tattooed and a sarcastic brunette, but at the same time a shy and insecure little baby in relation to Iris!!!!!! 🤭💕
long story short YOU NEED TO READ IT if you like:
💌 black woman x white man
🌹 strangers to friends to lovers
💌 small town romance
🌹 single parent
please add DAB to your TBR! i also highly recommend it to anyone looking for an easy-to-understand English read! 📖
I’m so proud of Monica for writing this stunning book, it’s her first release! 💗 thank you so much for this ARC, bestie! love love love DAB world and I can’t wait to read the next books! 😍 I WANNA LIVE IN HAVEN HARBOUR
5,0★♾️
💌🍨💐💫🪽🍰
Damned and Beautiful is a book about Ezra West, a man with a dark past who realizes he barely knew his daughter, to fix their relationship he decides to return to the small town he grew up in, but the plan wasn’t to meet his daughter’s English teacher and start wanting more of the woman’s company and smiles.
GET READY TO SCREAM, CRY AND FALL IN LOVE with DAB! 🫶🏽 this book cured my slump, im not kidding! the minute i picked up i couldn’t do anything other than read it all at once! DAB is very easy to read and identify with the mcs. every character in this story is so precious! i simply adore Iridessa, she’s a fmc i relate a lot, i love her funny personality, i laughed in every chap of hers, her making Ezra blushing is everything to me! Maggie’s an adorable child, sometimes i wanted to go into the book just to hug this little girl! the father and daughter scenes were really cute, also i still don’t know how to say about Ezra without saying how BEAUTIFUL, PERFECT AND WONDERFUL this man is! I love the fact that he’s the grumpy guy stereotype: tall, all tattooed and a sarcastic brunette, but at the same time a shy and insecure little baby in relation to Iris!!!!!! 🤭💕
long story short YOU NEED TO READ IT if you like:
💌 black woman x white man
🌹 strangers to friends to lovers
💌 small town romance
🌹 single parent
please add DAB to your TBR! i also highly recommend it to anyone looking for an easy-to-understand English read! 📖
I’m so proud of Monica for writing this stunning book, it’s her first release! 💗 thank you so much for this ARC, bestie! love love love DAB world and I can’t wait to read the next books! 😍 I WANNA LIVE IN HAVEN HARBOUR
May 29, 2024
This is really a good romance read for me!
The characters were so unique! I love how Ezra has that seemingly cold personality from the outside but he’s actually such a great guy. Iridessa is such a fun character! I love her bookshelves 🤭 also, Marguerite is so cute! I normally don’t really like single parent trope in books but this one was done so well! A special mention to Dawn because I love her character!
The story was so good! For me, I feel like I didn’t see that twist coming towards the end (I don’t know if it’s meant to be a plot twist? But you best believe I gasped when I found out). I honestly got somewhat a bit bored in the middle of the book but the ending was so good that it made up for it. I think it’s because the slow burn was real slow 🙈 I absolutely loved the ending tho, I feel like it’s perfect.
Overall, I would really recommend this book! It has the grumpy sunshine trope, small town, also did I mention the quotes in this book are amazing? I love them so much <3
Thank you to for giving me the chance to read an arc of your book in exchange of an honest review.
The characters were so unique! I love how Ezra has that seemingly cold personality from the outside but he’s actually such a great guy. Iridessa is such a fun character! I love her bookshelves 🤭 also, Marguerite is so cute! I normally don’t really like single parent trope in books but this one was done so well! A special mention to Dawn because I love her character!
The story was so good! For me, I feel like I didn’t see that twist coming towards the end (I don’t know if it’s meant to be a plot twist? But you best believe I gasped when I found out). I honestly got somewhat a bit bored in the middle of the book but the ending was so good that it made up for it. I think it’s because the slow burn was real slow 🙈 I absolutely loved the ending tho, I feel like it’s perfect.
Overall, I would really recommend this book! It has the grumpy sunshine trope, small town, also did I mention the quotes in this book are amazing? I love them so much <3
Thank you to for giving me the chance to read an arc of your book in exchange of an honest review.
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