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Sucre Coeur #2
Certainly, Possibly, You
Sarita Sengupta is in her last semester of grad school and has finally realized she doesn’t have a career plan, a girlfriend, or a clear outlook on life. She works as a pastry shop’s head decorator, but is otherwise drifting without direction until a friend’s birthday party ends with her waking up in surprise next to Maritza Quiñones, a pretty ballroom dancer whose cheerful charm and laser focus sets Sarita on a path to making all of the choices she’s been avoiding.
324 pages, Paperback
First published October 6, 2016
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June 20, 2017
"Certainly, Possibly, You" is the second book in a series that revolves around characters that work at a bakery called 'Sucre Coeur'. The first and third book focus on a M/M relationship while this one was F/F.
Being that I didn't read the other books in the series, yes, I'd consider this a standalone. There's certainly reference to the events in book one but it wasn't integral to the plot in this story.
On the whole, I found this to be an okay read that left me with more of a blasé feel. This is due to all aspects, characters and plot, just being overly simple and kept in the two-dimensional realm. The love story was uncomplicated and smooth, villains were easily identified, and I could see the author put in conflicts to add tension but predictability stole away any anxiety I should've felt as the reader.
What I did like is that the entire cast, with the exception of one or two side characters, is non-white. The love interests here are Sarita, who is Indian, and Mari (Maritza) who is Puerto Rican. The family scenes give us their cultures through food, language, and sometimes clothing so the ethnicity here is richer than just a quick mention of race.
And, the families of Sarita and Mari, though traditional in some respects, are completely accepting of their children's sexual preference and their partners. Sarita is lesbian while Mari is bisexual.
The crux of the story is about Sarita and Mari kicking off their romance at a time in their lives where they have very little time to give, due to Sarita working towards her Ph.D. and Mari, a professional ballroom dancer, training towards a dance competition. The book has some family drama, work drama, and miscommunication/not-communication drama thrown into the mix.
If you're looking for a simple, not very deep, straight forward romance or want a read with characters of diversity you may enjoy this.
Being that I didn't read the other books in the series, yes, I'd consider this a standalone. There's certainly reference to the events in book one but it wasn't integral to the plot in this story.
On the whole, I found this to be an okay read that left me with more of a blasé feel. This is due to all aspects, characters and plot, just being overly simple and kept in the two-dimensional realm. The love story was uncomplicated and smooth, villains were easily identified, and I could see the author put in conflicts to add tension but predictability stole away any anxiety I should've felt as the reader.
What I did like is that the entire cast, with the exception of one or two side characters, is non-white. The love interests here are Sarita, who is Indian, and Mari (Maritza) who is Puerto Rican. The family scenes give us their cultures through food, language, and sometimes clothing so the ethnicity here is richer than just a quick mention of race.
And, the families of Sarita and Mari, though traditional in some respects, are completely accepting of their children's sexual preference and their partners. Sarita is lesbian while Mari is bisexual.
The crux of the story is about Sarita and Mari kicking off their romance at a time in their lives where they have very little time to give, due to Sarita working towards her Ph.D. and Mari, a professional ballroom dancer, training towards a dance competition. The book has some family drama, work drama, and miscommunication/not-communication drama thrown into the mix.
If you're looking for a simple, not very deep, straight forward romance or want a read with characters of diversity you may enjoy this.
December 13, 2017
The Awesome:
1. The cover. Given publishing's criminal penchant for whitewashing as well as the dearth of high quality stock photos featuring PoC, and given the erasure of darker skinned Indian characters due to their own problems with colorism, this cover is all kinds of YES!!! She's gorgeous and I support any publisher/author who is willing to put PoC front and center.
2. Sarita and Maritza. Queer PoC couples are rare in books which makes no sense. #Representationmatters and it's past time LGBTQ books start reflecting diversity in their communities and in the world. These two are cute, and they make mistakes in not communicating. I'm not into angsty love stories, especially with LGBTQ books. It's actually nice to read about a same sex couple having the same problems without everything being about 'da gay'. Outside of Sarita's self-centered sister whose homophobia had zilch to do with hating lesbians, their biggest issues were centered around their growing relationship and their divergent paths in life.
3. The diversity. It is not hard to write diversely. I don't know why some authors behave like it is. There is no excuse for a lily white world given the easy access to the internet. There is no excuse to stereotype unless an author just wants to be ignorant. Lissa Reed's Seattle is the city I know. The city that despite gentrification is still full of vibrant communities filled with a wealth of diverse stories and people. Of course, Craig and Alex revisit as well as Sarita and Maritza's close families.
4. The food. Don't read while hungry. If Sucre Coeur doesn't exist someone needs to make it happen - stat. I love the pun too. I knew two years of French would eventually come in handy.
5. Ballroom dancing. I'm not into the whole Dancing With the Stars thing, but I did enjoy the glimpse into the world of competitive dancing.
6. Safe and sexy lesbian sex. Some readers may find dental dams unsexy, but I liked this touch. I also liked how both young women had healthy sex lives before they meet. Given the questionable popularity of "accidental pregnancy" romances in which grown ass people who are supposed to be intelligent and driven somehow manage to forget using birth control, it's nice to read about smart characters respect themselves and their partners until tested and/or ready to commit.
7. Maritza is bisexual. I would have liked this explored a bit more, especially given Sarita's initial reaction. Some readers thought there was some biphobia happening but I didn't get that vibe. With that said, I would have liked more of a discussion between the two of them.
What I hated:
1. Nicky. Standard asshat villain. Glad he got his in the end.
2. Anjali, Sarita's sister. What was her problem?
Off to read the last book of the series. I hope Alex won't annoy me as much as he did in the first book.
1. The cover. Given publishing's criminal penchant for whitewashing as well as the dearth of high quality stock photos featuring PoC, and given the erasure of darker skinned Indian characters due to their own problems with colorism, this cover is all kinds of YES!!! She's gorgeous and I support any publisher/author who is willing to put PoC front and center.
2. Sarita and Maritza. Queer PoC couples are rare in books which makes no sense. #Representationmatters and it's past time LGBTQ books start reflecting diversity in their communities and in the world. These two are cute, and they make mistakes in not communicating. I'm not into angsty love stories, especially with LGBTQ books. It's actually nice to read about a same sex couple having the same problems without everything being about 'da gay'. Outside of Sarita's self-centered sister whose homophobia had zilch to do with hating lesbians, their biggest issues were centered around their growing relationship and their divergent paths in life.
3. The diversity. It is not hard to write diversely. I don't know why some authors behave like it is. There is no excuse for a lily white world given the easy access to the internet. There is no excuse to stereotype unless an author just wants to be ignorant. Lissa Reed's Seattle is the city I know. The city that despite gentrification is still full of vibrant communities filled with a wealth of diverse stories and people. Of course, Craig and Alex revisit as well as Sarita and Maritza's close families.
4. The food. Don't read while hungry. If Sucre Coeur doesn't exist someone needs to make it happen - stat. I love the pun too. I knew two years of French would eventually come in handy.
5. Ballroom dancing. I'm not into the whole Dancing With the Stars thing, but I did enjoy the glimpse into the world of competitive dancing.
6. Safe and sexy lesbian sex. Some readers may find dental dams unsexy, but I liked this touch. I also liked how both young women had healthy sex lives before they meet. Given the questionable popularity of "accidental pregnancy" romances in which grown ass people who are supposed to be intelligent and driven somehow manage to forget using birth control, it's nice to read about smart characters respect themselves and their partners until tested and/or ready to commit.
7. Maritza is bisexual. I would have liked this explored a bit more, especially given Sarita's initial reaction. Some readers thought there was some biphobia happening but I didn't get that vibe. With that said, I would have liked more of a discussion between the two of them.
What I hated:
1. Nicky. Standard asshat villain. Glad he got his in the end.
2. Anjali, Sarita's sister. What was her problem?
Off to read the last book of the series. I hope Alex won't annoy me as much as he did in the first book.
April 25, 2018
I am in love with Lissa Reed's writing style as well as the people introduced in Definitely, Maybe, Yours that I immediately jumped into this second book (PS: I actually won this book on giveaway two years ago!). I mean, I couldn't WAIT to read about Sarita and her love interest.
Guess what, I loved this better than book #1!! Go figure! *laugh*. I mean, I loved Craig but I was slightly frustrated with Alex there. In this book, however, I thought both Sarita and Maritza to be ABSOLUTELY ADORABLE together. I found myself grinning widely over their first awkwardness (they went home together after a LOT of drinks and dancing, and ended up, well, not exactly remembering each other's names) which later of course turns into relationship CUTENESS.
Sarita and Maritza's chemistry is sparkling -- and I loved the additional new characters introduced by way of their relationship. In addition to Craig, Alex, Devesh, and Sunil, we have Maritza's younger brother, Javier, her mother Susana, her friend Grace, as well her dance teacher Fred. These people are fabulous secondary characters, which made the Sucre Coeur universe so lively, and entertaining.
Another thing I love from these books is how Reed adds other things outside of the relationship. For me that's important because it makes the story grounded. You still deal with other people when you start a relationship, right? Family, co-worker, friends, even enemies. I never believe the whole "the world is just for the two of you" saying when you're in love. Not like you spend 24 hours only with your love interest in real world, no?
So here we have Sarita's long-time strained relationship with his oldest sister -- my God, Anjali is such a b*tch, her reason for antagonizing Sarita makes me want to slap her in the face. We also have Sarita's worrying about her life choices ... wondering whether it's all worth it when everybody else she knows seem to have a firm life decision / life path to take.
We also have Maritza dealing with her ex-boyfriend who currently also acts as her dance partner (Nicky is SUCH A JACKA$$!); but also contemplating another life decision that will take her away from Seattle, which can jeopardize the blooming relationship with Sarita.
All of this makes a fulfilling story for me. The ending feels HFN rather than HEA, but there's book three already released so maybe I can get update on these girls there. Although I also hope that it doesn't finish right at that moment ; and that's the reason why i can't give it more than 4-stars at the moment.
Guess what, I loved this better than book #1!! Go figure! *laugh*. I mean, I loved Craig but I was slightly frustrated with Alex there. In this book, however, I thought both Sarita and Maritza to be ABSOLUTELY ADORABLE together. I found myself grinning widely over their first awkwardness (they went home together after a LOT of drinks and dancing, and ended up, well, not exactly remembering each other's names) which later of course turns into relationship CUTENESS.
Sarita and Maritza's chemistry is sparkling -- and I loved the additional new characters introduced by way of their relationship. In addition to Craig, Alex, Devesh, and Sunil, we have Maritza's younger brother, Javier, her mother Susana, her friend Grace, as well her dance teacher Fred. These people are fabulous secondary characters, which made the Sucre Coeur universe so lively, and entertaining.
Another thing I love from these books is how Reed adds other things outside of the relationship. For me that's important because it makes the story grounded. You still deal with other people when you start a relationship, right? Family, co-worker, friends, even enemies. I never believe the whole "the world is just for the two of you" saying when you're in love. Not like you spend 24 hours only with your love interest in real world, no?
So here we have Sarita's long-time strained relationship with his oldest sister -- my God, Anjali is such a b*tch, her reason for antagonizing Sarita makes me want to slap her in the face. We also have Sarita's worrying about her life choices ... wondering whether it's all worth it when everybody else she knows seem to have a firm life decision / life path to take.
We also have Maritza dealing with her ex-boyfriend who currently also acts as her dance partner (Nicky is SUCH A JACKA$$!); but also contemplating another life decision that will take her away from Seattle, which can jeopardize the blooming relationship with Sarita.
All of this makes a fulfilling story for me. The ending feels HFN rather than HEA, but there's book three already released so maybe I can get update on these girls there. Although I also hope that it doesn't finish right at that moment ; and that's the reason why i can't give it more than 4-stars at the moment.
June 15, 2017
Before we start I just want to say I'm heart-broken that this book and me didn't click. I wanted it so bad.
Certainly, Possibly, You is NA romance about Sarita and Maritza falling in love and figuring their life. Sarita is an Indian-American, a lesbian, a philosophy post-grade and cake decorator. She's a bit lost in the world, not sure if getting a philosophy PhD is what she wants to do. Maritza is Latinx ballroom dance, she's ambitious, driven and she's preparing for big audition is crucial point to start her career as a professional dancer. Also she's bisexual and she's amazing, I love her.
The premise sounds good, unfortunately the book has failed to do it for me, but let start with the good.
The Good.
- Diverse cast of characters! I'm always here for diversity in books and I feel like this is a case of diversity done right. The characters are stereotyped carbon copy of real people. We have here a big family of Indian Americans. Sengupta family consists of two loving caring parents, gay son who's happily married, daughter with husband and kids and lesbian daughter who's one of the MC. The other MC is Mari, I loved her family. Quiñones matriarch is Susana and she's supportive and badass. Mari has a younger brother Javi who's a college student. I love their sibling dynamic. And so on and so forth.
- I like supportive parents in fiction. I'm so over the trope lets-hate-our-queer-child. Both Sarita and Mari's parents are lovely.
- Two MCs had great chemistry together. Their romance had lots of potential but I couldn't focus on it because I was caught up on The Bad.
The Bad.
I doubt I'll read other books in the series.
TW: abuse, threats, manipulation, homophobia. (Instances of them, they were challenged and addressed as harmul)
Certainly, Possibly, You is NA romance about Sarita and Maritza falling in love and figuring their life. Sarita is an Indian-American, a lesbian, a philosophy post-grade and cake decorator. She's a bit lost in the world, not sure if getting a philosophy PhD is what she wants to do. Maritza is Latinx ballroom dance, she's ambitious, driven and she's preparing for big audition is crucial point to start her career as a professional dancer. Also she's bisexual and she's amazing, I love her.
The premise sounds good, unfortunately the book has failed to do it for me, but let start with the good.
The Good.
- Diverse cast of characters! I'm always here for diversity in books and I feel like this is a case of diversity done right. The characters are stereotyped carbon copy of real people. We have here a big family of Indian Americans. Sengupta family consists of two loving caring parents, gay son who's happily married, daughter with husband and kids and lesbian daughter who's one of the MC. The other MC is Mari, I loved her family. Quiñones matriarch is Susana and she's supportive and badass. Mari has a younger brother Javi who's a college student. I love their sibling dynamic. And so on and so forth.
- I like supportive parents in fiction. I'm so over the trope lets-hate-our-queer-child. Both Sarita and Mari's parents are lovely.
- Two MCs had great chemistry together. Their romance had lots of potential but I couldn't focus on it because I was caught up on The Bad.
The Bad.
I doubt I'll read other books in the series.
TW: abuse, threats, manipulation, homophobia. (Instances of them, they were challenged and addressed as harmul)
October 7, 2016
Reviewed for Just Love
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
Let me start by saying that I did not read this book under ideal circumstances. All told, it took me two weeks from start to finish; partly because I didn’t have much free time, but also because this book simply did not call to me after a long day. Overall, it was a well-written book but there were a few things that kept me from giving it a higher rating.
Right off the bat, there was a minor incident of unexplained biphobia (or what I could only assume was biphobia) when Sarita learned of Mari’s bisexuality. It was a very brief moment that was brushed aside and forgiven, but I couldn’t help but find it off-putting. I fully expected there to be a story behind Sarita’s reaction further along in the book, but to my dismay, there was none.
Another moment that gave me pause, also early on the in the book was, well, dental dam. Yes, safe sex, I know, but I can’t lie, the way it was written pulled me completely out of the scene. At the risk of sounding shallow, I was relieved that it only came up the one time, and yes, our heroines went on to have sizzling and safe sex thereafter.
Speaking of which, our two gorgeous heroines had great chemistry and were just so darned cute together. However, I felt that their relationship never really progressed beyond the early dating or hanging out stage, so when conflict arose, I felt that both women were putting the cart before the horse in regards to their future together. I could understand Mari withholding her future plans from Sarita in the event things didn’t work out, but Sarita totally lost me when her brain went into overdrive and started planning on following Mari wherever Mari’s career may take her.
Despite Sarita being the primary of the two main characters, I felt her perspective lacked depth and I had a difficult time relating to her. I loved that there was a lot of interaction with her (mostly) awesome family. There was even an interesting subplot involving her parents, as well as dealings with her hateful older sister. Drama with her sister did play itself out, but I was hoping for more in terms of her parents’ big news. In many ways, I liked Mari’s character more – her family was just as awesome (okay fine, I have a soft spot for loving POC families), and her love for dance and her drive to succeed really shone through. With Sarita, I wasn’t even convinced she liked Philosophy, never mind that she wanted to continue with her doctorate after grad school (which conveniently fell in line with her plans to be with Mari).
If you’ve read the first book in this series (which I highly recommend), you already know that this particular author is not afraid to capture our hearts through our stomachs. Not only were there delicious baked goods courtesy of the bakery where Sarita works, there was also yummy Indian and Latin home cooking. A simple word of advice: Have strawberry milk and chocolate muffins handy.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
Let me start by saying that I did not read this book under ideal circumstances. All told, it took me two weeks from start to finish; partly because I didn’t have much free time, but also because this book simply did not call to me after a long day. Overall, it was a well-written book but there were a few things that kept me from giving it a higher rating.
Right off the bat, there was a minor incident of unexplained biphobia (or what I could only assume was biphobia) when Sarita learned of Mari’s bisexuality. It was a very brief moment that was brushed aside and forgiven, but I couldn’t help but find it off-putting. I fully expected there to be a story behind Sarita’s reaction further along in the book, but to my dismay, there was none.
Another moment that gave me pause, also early on the in the book was, well, dental dam. Yes, safe sex, I know, but I can’t lie, the way it was written pulled me completely out of the scene. At the risk of sounding shallow, I was relieved that it only came up the one time, and yes, our heroines went on to have sizzling and safe sex thereafter.
Speaking of which, our two gorgeous heroines had great chemistry and were just so darned cute together. However, I felt that their relationship never really progressed beyond the early dating or hanging out stage, so when conflict arose, I felt that both women were putting the cart before the horse in regards to their future together. I could understand Mari withholding her future plans from Sarita in the event things didn’t work out, but Sarita totally lost me when her brain went into overdrive and started planning on following Mari wherever Mari’s career may take her.
Despite Sarita being the primary of the two main characters, I felt her perspective lacked depth and I had a difficult time relating to her. I loved that there was a lot of interaction with her (mostly) awesome family. There was even an interesting subplot involving her parents, as well as dealings with her hateful older sister. Drama with her sister did play itself out, but I was hoping for more in terms of her parents’ big news. In many ways, I liked Mari’s character more – her family was just as awesome (okay fine, I have a soft spot for loving POC families), and her love for dance and her drive to succeed really shone through. With Sarita, I wasn’t even convinced she liked Philosophy, never mind that she wanted to continue with her doctorate after grad school (which conveniently fell in line with her plans to be with Mari).
If you’ve read the first book in this series (which I highly recommend), you already know that this particular author is not afraid to capture our hearts through our stomachs. Not only were there delicious baked goods courtesy of the bakery where Sarita works, there was also yummy Indian and Latin home cooking. A simple word of advice: Have strawberry milk and chocolate muffins handy.
October 6, 2016
I was going to try to make this eloquent, because the book deserves it, but that’s not working so well, so instead, here’s a list of things you’ll get to enjoy if you read Certainly, Possibly, You, the second delightful book in the Sucre Coeur series by Lissa Reed:
- a hilarious, relatable opening scene;
- two vivacious leading ladies: Sarita, a philosophy grad student and head decorator at a bakery, and Maritza, a star ballroom dancer in the making;
- guest appearances by Craig and Alex (and Fitz!) from Definitely, Maybe, Yours;
a highly irritating (to put it mildly) villain you will want to call many creative names and possibly injure;
- two drastically different approaches to familial relations;
- a bit of angst and a fair dose of steaminess;
- a dazzling array of secondary characters you’ll want to get their own novels;
- and, of course, LOTS of delicious-sounding food, just as in the first book. Don’t read this one hungry.
Certainly, Possibly, You is available Oct. 6 from Interlude Press. (And if you haven’t already, you should read Definitely, Maybe, Yours, first. You could read CPY without reading DMY, in theory, but why deny yourself that pleasure?)
(Full disclosure: I was given an ARC of the book in exchange for a review.)
- a hilarious, relatable opening scene;
- two vivacious leading ladies: Sarita, a philosophy grad student and head decorator at a bakery, and Maritza, a star ballroom dancer in the making;
- guest appearances by Craig and Alex (and Fitz!) from Definitely, Maybe, Yours;
a highly irritating (to put it mildly) villain you will want to call many creative names and possibly injure;
- two drastically different approaches to familial relations;
- a bit of angst and a fair dose of steaminess;
- a dazzling array of secondary characters you’ll want to get their own novels;
- and, of course, LOTS of delicious-sounding food, just as in the first book. Don’t read this one hungry.
Certainly, Possibly, You is available Oct. 6 from Interlude Press. (And if you haven’t already, you should read Definitely, Maybe, Yours, first. You could read CPY without reading DMY, in theory, but why deny yourself that pleasure?)
(Full disclosure: I was given an ARC of the book in exchange for a review.)
October 9, 2016
Absolutely delicious. Wonderful rom-com feel from the very start with incredible leading ladies, falling in love, dealing with vengeful exes, meddling family members and well-intended friends, Sarita and Maritza fall in love and find happily ever after despite it all.
Reed does it so well with incredible, relatable leads in Maritza and Sarita; wonderful, amazing people whose ambitions and personal lives are difficult to navigate, but they meet in the most adorable meet-cute morning-after scenario and then start dating from there. Sarita is the head cake decorator at a fine bakery establishment and also struggling with her PHD program; academic woes ring very realistic and relatable. Martiza works in a Italian restaurant and also is a very talented ballroom dancer, with dreams of making the big time, her hopes pinging on a huge dance audition coming up. Girl meets girl, girls run into complications, and there's a mad rush for love confessions and making it all worth it. No spoilers, but if you love rom-coms and that desperate, final moment to prove yourself-- this novel is definitely for you.
I loved all the characters, the incredible support and each character is a story unto themselves, warm and inviting, the Sucre Coeur universe is incredibly welcoming and wonderful. Delightful, delightful, delightful.
Reed does it so well with incredible, relatable leads in Maritza and Sarita; wonderful, amazing people whose ambitions and personal lives are difficult to navigate, but they meet in the most adorable meet-cute morning-after scenario and then start dating from there. Sarita is the head cake decorator at a fine bakery establishment and also struggling with her PHD program; academic woes ring very realistic and relatable. Martiza works in a Italian restaurant and also is a very talented ballroom dancer, with dreams of making the big time, her hopes pinging on a huge dance audition coming up. Girl meets girl, girls run into complications, and there's a mad rush for love confessions and making it all worth it. No spoilers, but if you love rom-coms and that desperate, final moment to prove yourself-- this novel is definitely for you.
I loved all the characters, the incredible support and each character is a story unto themselves, warm and inviting, the Sucre Coeur universe is incredibly welcoming and wonderful. Delightful, delightful, delightful.
November 2, 2016
Lissa Reed, the way I see it, specialises in something that I happen to love: smooshy, heart-warming, tummy-swooshing, romance. And this follow up to her gloriously wonderful Definitely, Maybe, Yours is no exception to that. It's a joy to read, with a cast of characters that you'll fast want to be best friends with. Add to that some genuinely heart-felt struggles and scenes, and you have yourself a pretty perfect novel to curl up with on a cool wintery evening.
October 8, 2016
I've been looking forward to this book ever since I finished "Definitely, Maybe, Yours". Loved that book, hated that it ended WAY before I was ready to say goodbye to the characters. So I was thrilled to finally get to dive into the Sucre Coeur world again, and this newest installment in the series totally topped my expectations :-)
As last time, Lissa Reed fills the story to the brim with vibrant characters that jump straight off the page, and I don't mean just the protagonists. I love Devesh and Sunil (who am I kidding, I loved even the small glimpse we got of them in DMY) and Sarita's family at large, I love supportive Craig and Alex, I love Mari's brother Javi, I love Fred the dance instructor, and I absolutely love to hate the story's villain Nicky. (I kind of missed Connor, though, I wish he'd made an appearance, too.)
I'm not going to spoil the plot, but I am going to tell you it's going to take you on a crazy but immensely enjoyable rollercoaster ride and will have you go, "Oh wow, didn't see that one coming!" more than once. And when you're done reading, you're going to sigh in satisfaction, dunk one more cookie into your coffee/tea (seriously, never read these books without snacks at the ready) and wonder how long a time lapse is reasonable before you can start reading DMY and CPY all over again :-)
As last time, Lissa Reed fills the story to the brim with vibrant characters that jump straight off the page, and I don't mean just the protagonists. I love Devesh and Sunil (who am I kidding, I loved even the small glimpse we got of them in DMY) and Sarita's family at large, I love supportive Craig and Alex, I love Mari's brother Javi, I love Fred the dance instructor, and I absolutely love to hate the story's villain Nicky. (I kind of missed Connor, though, I wish he'd made an appearance, too.)
I'm not going to spoil the plot, but I am going to tell you it's going to take you on a crazy but immensely enjoyable rollercoaster ride and will have you go, "Oh wow, didn't see that one coming!" more than once. And when you're done reading, you're going to sigh in satisfaction, dunk one more cookie into your coffee/tea (seriously, never read these books without snacks at the ready) and wonder how long a time lapse is reasonable before you can start reading DMY and CPY all over again :-)
June 4, 2017
Gah, but I loved this book. It's light and fun and sexy, but still with enough emotional heft to make me want to punch the villain's lights out. I'm a pretty equal-opportunity reader when it comes to romance (m/m, f/f, m/f, or what you will), but in terms of storytelling, I know what I love. I appreciate characters that unquestionably themselves, a plot with unstoppable momentum, sparkling chemistry, and enough complexity to allow even the worst villain to remain recognizably human. This is why I keep coming back to Reed's writing and Sucre Coeur's world. I know that she will create a story that is a pleasure to read, but that won't just evaporate after the last page. I remember her characters, I care for them, and I desperately want to see them succeed.
In Certainly, Possibly, You, I found myself particularly fond of Sarita. I don't think it's just because I'm also a grad student (although it was refreshing to see a believable representation of a humanities grad student in a book that wasn't focused on mocking academia, bless). In lesser hands, her self-doubt could have been frustrating to read, but Reed gave her an arc that was as satisfying as any physical quest.
I highly recommend Certainly, Possibly, You, as well as the first book in the series, and I'm excited to jump into the third book in August!
In Certainly, Possibly, You, I found myself particularly fond of Sarita. I don't think it's just because I'm also a grad student (although it was refreshing to see a believable representation of a humanities grad student in a book that wasn't focused on mocking academia, bless). In lesser hands, her self-doubt could have been frustrating to read, but Reed gave her an arc that was as satisfying as any physical quest.
I highly recommend Certainly, Possibly, You, as well as the first book in the series, and I'm excited to jump into the third book in August!
October 15, 2016
Actual rating, 3.5 stars for me. I like this series and the characters all around, but with Certainly, Possibly, Yours I became too bothered with one secondary character's involvement with Mari and Sarita's story :/ and for me it seemed to take away from this adorable, sweet, and sexy budding romance over the constant reminder that Mari's mistaken hook-up with her ballroom dancing partner, Nicky, was the worst idea ever.
I mean everyone kept bring it up. On top of that, it seemed to shout over the message the author was trying to give regarding the dismissal and assumptions bisexual individuals encounter from others who either don't believe in our existence or can't consciously understand that it isn't rooted in some purely weird sexual desire or that it isn't a result of an inability to decide.
I also had issues with some of Sarita's character development being pushed to the back burner as the story progressed but overall, I did enjoy this book. Full review to come soon.
I mean everyone kept bring it up. On top of that, it seemed to shout over the message the author was trying to give regarding the dismissal and assumptions bisexual individuals encounter from others who either don't believe in our existence or can't consciously understand that it isn't rooted in some purely weird sexual desire or that it isn't a result of an inability to decide.
I also had issues with some of Sarita's character development being pushed to the back burner as the story progressed but overall, I did enjoy this book. Full review to come soon.
December 15, 2016
Oh boy I read this whole novel with a smile. I want to live in this universe and know these humans. Even when there were difficulties and conflict, and there were some, the writing is full of bubbling hope and the characters are charming. It’s so easy to see why these women delight one another.
Ms. Reed does a number of things extraordinarily well. The immediate bright chemistry between the leads, the romcom with its tangles and humour and circumstance. And the characterization. The whole world with interlinked friends and neighbours and workplaces and a background that feels like it’s really there.
I haven’t read the first novel in the series and while I should definitely DO THAT, I didn’t feel like I lost parts of this story.
This book was just what I hoped, a bubbly rollercoaster full of romance and sweet drama and fun and a whole lot of queerness.
Ms. Reed does a number of things extraordinarily well. The immediate bright chemistry between the leads, the romcom with its tangles and humour and circumstance. And the characterization. The whole world with interlinked friends and neighbours and workplaces and a background that feels like it’s really there.
I haven’t read the first novel in the series and while I should definitely DO THAT, I didn’t feel like I lost parts of this story.
This book was just what I hoped, a bubbly rollercoaster full of romance and sweet drama and fun and a whole lot of queerness.
November 4, 2017
It’s frustrating that Nicky made this book so unpleasant to read, because the romance was ADORABLE and Maritza and Sarita already had so much interesting (and not unpleasant to read) things going on in their lives. Would have been a solid 4 otherwise.
Read
October 31, 2016Yet another cute one!
February 14, 2019
CERTAINLY, POSSIBLY, YOUR (Sucre Coeur #2)
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• ⭐️: 4,0/5
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💬: Sarita is a woman working part time as the head decorator at a baker while she finishes her PhD on philosophy. Maritza is a ballroom dancer that while she trains for the next competition, she works at a pizzeria. These both women meet and sparks fly!
While dealing with family drama, an horrible dance partner and future of a relationship...Sarita and Maritza need to be open about their fears and problems. Communication is everything and at the beginning of their relationship there is a lack of, but later on they learn more and more about each other.
Fortunately, they have amazing friends that are always helping them see the light or even be a shoulder to cry on (maybe have a dinner to ramble about everything). Getting a glimpse of these friendships are so important to understand the characters and Fred own my heart. He is the best father figure that Maritza could have and he is just adorable, I love how everyone including him hated that horrible human being called Nicky.
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• ⭐️: 4,0/5
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💬: Sarita is a woman working part time as the head decorator at a baker while she finishes her PhD on philosophy. Maritza is a ballroom dancer that while she trains for the next competition, she works at a pizzeria. These both women meet and sparks fly!
While dealing with family drama, an horrible dance partner and future of a relationship...Sarita and Maritza need to be open about their fears and problems. Communication is everything and at the beginning of their relationship there is a lack of, but later on they learn more and more about each other.
Fortunately, they have amazing friends that are always helping them see the light or even be a shoulder to cry on (maybe have a dinner to ramble about everything). Getting a glimpse of these friendships are so important to understand the characters and Fred own my heart. He is the best father figure that Maritza could have and he is just adorable, I love how everyone including him hated that horrible human being called Nicky.
December 23, 2016
Original review on Molly Lolly
Three and a half stars!
I adored the first half of this book. Like give-it-all0the-stars-in-the-history-of-stars level of adoration. The way Sarita and Maritza meet, the way they dance around each other and fall into this sorta kinda relationship but not because they are both intensely busy. But they make the time and enjoy each other. And everyone is rooting for them and you just WANT them to make it because it’ll make life happy forever and ever if they do. You can tell they’re going to have to work at it but you’re eager to see that happen. Plus we get to see Alex and Craig some more, along with the rest of the Sucre Coeur gang.
Then Sarita’s family problem crept in. I didn’t get why Sarita’s parents let Anjila act like that to Sarita in their presence. Sure, you can’t change how one of your children is influenced when they move away from home. But you sure as heck can let them know you absolutely will not stand for your oldest child to tear down your youngest child regularly. But the parents allowed that behavior for TEN YEARS! When it comes out the real reason behind Anjila’s behavior towards Sarita it made even less sense. When everyone in Sarita’s family coddle Anjila and allowed her to run rampant with her hate they told Sarita her feelings didn’t matter as much and it’s ok Anjila tore her down every single time they saw each other. And that didn’t sit well with me and I was angry along with Sarita. I feel like Sarita far more restraint than I ever would have if something like that happened to me.
And then Maritza’s dancing issues happened. She didn’t talk about her problems with anyone. She kept vital information from Sarita. I can understand why she didn’t want Sarita to leave her over it, Maritza should have given Sarita more credit. Had they sat down and had an actual conversation about it they would have been on the same page and worked towards where Sarita made the same decision she did in the end. When it got to the point Nicky acted the way he did, Maritza should have gone to someone-Fred or her mom maybe?-for helo. Maritza let Nicky go too far too long. I was so proud of Fred and Maritza when they finally put Nicky in his place. It should have happened far sooner, but I cheered when it did.
I struggled to understand why they both wouldn’t confide in each other with their problems. Sure, you don’t want to be all problems all the time at the start of a relationship, and you don’t want to be seen as crazy either. But I’m not comfortable with the notion of not talking to your partner at all because it’s “too soon”. However I did like they both bowed to work on it in the future. They both realized they needed to talk more and share their troubles so they don’t become bigger problems that will break them apart.
In the end I wanted more and better from these two. I do have faith they’re going to try harder going forward. They’re going to work hard to have their relationship ensure the struggles of distance and crazy things life throws in their path. I would love to see more from them to know how they’re doing and how they work. I’m hoping for more books in the series so we can see the Sucre Coeur gang again. I would love to see more of them get happy endings they so justly deserve.
Three and a half stars!
I adored the first half of this book. Like give-it-all0the-stars-in-the-history-of-stars level of adoration. The way Sarita and Maritza meet, the way they dance around each other and fall into this sorta kinda relationship but not because they are both intensely busy. But they make the time and enjoy each other. And everyone is rooting for them and you just WANT them to make it because it’ll make life happy forever and ever if they do. You can tell they’re going to have to work at it but you’re eager to see that happen. Plus we get to see Alex and Craig some more, along with the rest of the Sucre Coeur gang.
Then Sarita’s family problem crept in. I didn’t get why Sarita’s parents let Anjila act like that to Sarita in their presence. Sure, you can’t change how one of your children is influenced when they move away from home. But you sure as heck can let them know you absolutely will not stand for your oldest child to tear down your youngest child regularly. But the parents allowed that behavior for TEN YEARS! When it comes out the real reason behind Anjila’s behavior towards Sarita it made even less sense. When everyone in Sarita’s family coddle Anjila and allowed her to run rampant with her hate they told Sarita her feelings didn’t matter as much and it’s ok Anjila tore her down every single time they saw each other. And that didn’t sit well with me and I was angry along with Sarita. I feel like Sarita far more restraint than I ever would have if something like that happened to me.
And then Maritza’s dancing issues happened. She didn’t talk about her problems with anyone. She kept vital information from Sarita. I can understand why she didn’t want Sarita to leave her over it, Maritza should have given Sarita more credit. Had they sat down and had an actual conversation about it they would have been on the same page and worked towards where Sarita made the same decision she did in the end. When it got to the point Nicky acted the way he did, Maritza should have gone to someone-Fred or her mom maybe?-for helo. Maritza let Nicky go too far too long. I was so proud of Fred and Maritza when they finally put Nicky in his place. It should have happened far sooner, but I cheered when it did.
I struggled to understand why they both wouldn’t confide in each other with their problems. Sure, you don’t want to be all problems all the time at the start of a relationship, and you don’t want to be seen as crazy either. But I’m not comfortable with the notion of not talking to your partner at all because it’s “too soon”. However I did like they both bowed to work on it in the future. They both realized they needed to talk more and share their troubles so they don’t become bigger problems that will break them apart.
In the end I wanted more and better from these two. I do have faith they’re going to try harder going forward. They’re going to work hard to have their relationship ensure the struggles of distance and crazy things life throws in their path. I would love to see more from them to know how they’re doing and how they work. I’m hoping for more books in the series so we can see the Sucre Coeur gang again. I would love to see more of them get happy endings they so justly deserve.
November 13, 2016
Reviewed for From Top to Bottom Reviews.
I got a copy of this book from the publisher in return of an honest review.
Certainly, Possibly, You starts with Sarita being surprised by a stranger the morning after she partied a tiny bit too hard. ;)
Turns out the "stranger" is Mari. Someone she met the night before and took home with her. I really loved that scene and was instantly "in the story". Such a first meeting, or well more like a meet again. But still, so cute; I was smiling like a fool the whole time I read it. What follows is an awkward encounter of Mari with Craig, Sarita's boss at Sucre Coeur. I think that scene when Sarita and Maritza meet again and the part where Mari and Craig meet (plus the phone call with Alex (Craig's partner) afterwards) was one of the highlights of this book. So adorable and relatably awkward.
Sarita is the head-decorator at Sucre Coeur and a grad student. She's almost done, but has no idea what she wants to do afterwards.
Maritza on the other hand is the complete opposite. She's a ball-room dancer and knew what she wanted to do with her life when she was a little kid. She's worked hard to achieve her dreams and is so close to getting what she wants. She just has to get through the last couple of months with her dancing partner (whom she doesn't really like, to put it nicely ;) ).
I really liked this book and the chemistry between both protagonists but somehow I didn't love it as much as the first book in the series. Partly because this book is more focused on the problems they have in their private life and less about them as a couple in a relationship. Although I very much enjoyed to see the strong familial connection. My favourite is definitely Devesh, he's the amazing older brother I always wanted, and I hope to see more of him in the next book.
Although I didn't fell in love with this as much as with the first book, I still liked this one a lot and let me warn you that this series is lethal when you're trying to eat more healthy or if you're on a diet, because the descriptions in this book of the cakes, cupcakes and other sweets will make you hungry. Add to that we have yummy bengali food that will make your mouth water.
One thing that didn't really feel logical to me was the reason for Anjalis homophobia. It just didn't feel real. I understood that she was hurt. And that's not what I didnt like. What seemed.. off was that after all those years she never once talked about it. And that she couldn't see that it wasn't her sister's fault.
At the end of the book everything went kind of fast and I would have liked to have a bit more closure, maybe an epiloge. But maybe we'll see or hear about Mari and Sarita in the next book.
Overall a great addition to this series and I'm looking forward to the next book. Recommended!
I got a copy of this book from the publisher in return of an honest review.
Certainly, Possibly, You starts with Sarita being surprised by a stranger the morning after she partied a tiny bit too hard. ;)
Turns out the "stranger" is Mari. Someone she met the night before and took home with her. I really loved that scene and was instantly "in the story". Such a first meeting, or well more like a meet again. But still, so cute; I was smiling like a fool the whole time I read it. What follows is an awkward encounter of Mari with Craig, Sarita's boss at Sucre Coeur. I think that scene when Sarita and Maritza meet again and the part where Mari and Craig meet (plus the phone call with Alex (Craig's partner) afterwards) was one of the highlights of this book. So adorable and relatably awkward.
Sarita is the head-decorator at Sucre Coeur and a grad student. She's almost done, but has no idea what she wants to do afterwards.
Maritza on the other hand is the complete opposite. She's a ball-room dancer and knew what she wanted to do with her life when she was a little kid. She's worked hard to achieve her dreams and is so close to getting what she wants. She just has to get through the last couple of months with her dancing partner (whom she doesn't really like, to put it nicely ;) ).
I really liked this book and the chemistry between both protagonists but somehow I didn't love it as much as the first book in the series. Partly because this book is more focused on the problems they have in their private life and less about them as a couple in a relationship. Although I very much enjoyed to see the strong familial connection. My favourite is definitely Devesh, he's the amazing older brother I always wanted, and I hope to see more of him in the next book.
Although I didn't fell in love with this as much as with the first book, I still liked this one a lot and let me warn you that this series is lethal when you're trying to eat more healthy or if you're on a diet, because the descriptions in this book of the cakes, cupcakes and other sweets will make you hungry. Add to that we have yummy bengali food that will make your mouth water.
One thing that didn't really feel logical to me was the reason for Anjalis homophobia. It just didn't feel real. I understood that she was hurt. And that's not what I didnt like. What seemed.. off was that after all those years she never once talked about it. And that she couldn't see that it wasn't her sister's fault.
At the end of the book everything went kind of fast and I would have liked to have a bit more closure, maybe an epiloge. But maybe we'll see or hear about Mari and Sarita in the next book.
Overall a great addition to this series and I'm looking forward to the next book. Recommended!
January 24, 2017
Was thinking of giving a 4.5 stars, but after giving some thought, I have to give it a 4 stars.
I mean this book is adorable. There is a lot of chemistry between the two ladies, Sarita and Maritza, with just the right amount of angst. The friendship and family relationship is also well written buutttttt......
....
The reason it lost a whole star is because there is a biphobia scene(??? this is questionable i supposed) near the beginning of the story Thanksfully, thats the end of it
I mean this book is adorable. There is a lot of chemistry between the two ladies, Sarita and Maritza, with just the right amount of angst. The friendship and family relationship is also well written buutttttt......
....
The reason it lost a whole star is because there is a biphobia scene(??? this is questionable i supposed) near the beginning of the story Thanksfully, thats the end of it
October 11, 2016
The Sweetest Sequel
Certainly, Possibly, You was everything I could have hoped for as a follow up to its delightful predecessor. The characters are bright, funny, and relatable, the drama is engaging and exciting, and Sarita and Mari's relationship kept my heart in all varying degrees of squigy feelings. Overall, everything you could ever want or hope for in a romance novel, CPY delivers.
Certainly, Possibly, You was everything I could have hoped for as a follow up to its delightful predecessor. The characters are bright, funny, and relatable, the drama is engaging and exciting, and Sarita and Mari's relationship kept my heart in all varying degrees of squigy feelings. Overall, everything you could ever want or hope for in a romance novel, CPY delivers.
Shelved as 'dnf'
August 21, 2017DNF at 55%
There is sexual harassment throughout the story. It escalates at 50% though, and I am not up for reading that right now. I may pick it up again later.
Trigger warnings
There is sexual harassment throughout the story. It escalates at 50% though, and I am not up for reading that right now. I may pick it up again later.
Trigger warnings
Read
October 7, 2016I’ve been a fan of Lissa’s work long before I knew she was writing them; I just knew the writing was amazing and I loved to revisit the stories whenever I could. Then she started writing the Sucre Coeur series and I begged her to let me read Definitely, Maybe, Yours because I knew it would be fantastic and it was. I loved the characters and the story and the world she created within that book. I wanted more and we’re blessed that Lissa has obliged and wrote this one.
I was given a sneak peek at it while she was still writing, not much, but I instantly fell in love with these characters as well. Sarita was familiar from the first book, but how can you not fall in love with Mari right from her introduction? She’s cute and quirky and a fissure of happiness and so damn delightful that I knew I wanted to know more of her. Lissa’s ability to write such deep and well thought out characters continues to astound me.
Lissa gives you everything you could want from a f/f couple with this book. There’s happiness and romance (though, thank god Sarita isn’t a hard case like Alex; I love the boy but I spent 90% of the first book wanting to knock him upside the head), sexy times (because yes), and the inevitable twist and turns of bad stuff happening to good people. Everything is done in such a way that you’re able to relate to it and you cheer for the girls to make it through, right down to the last page. (Cutting it kind of close there, weren’t you, Sarita, you stubborn thing.) There are times when you hold your breath, hoping they’ll work things out, hoping that this particular obstacle won’t end up being a problem, that this thing won’t be the thing that breaks the camel’s overfilled back. (Anyone else wanna kick Nicky’s butt with me?)
There’s dancing, frosting, coffee, nagging families, and everything that makes you think that maybe there’s someone out there for you, too. You’ll cheer for Mari and Sarita, just as you did for Alex and Craig, hoping that innate human stubbornness won’t trump the love these two women obviously have for each other. The characters jump out of the page with each turn and I, for one, was sad to see their story come to an end.
What amazing story will Lissa have for us next? I don’t know, but I’m certainly, definitely, excited for it.
I was given a sneak peek at it while she was still writing, not much, but I instantly fell in love with these characters as well. Sarita was familiar from the first book, but how can you not fall in love with Mari right from her introduction? She’s cute and quirky and a fissure of happiness and so damn delightful that I knew I wanted to know more of her. Lissa’s ability to write such deep and well thought out characters continues to astound me.
Lissa gives you everything you could want from a f/f couple with this book. There’s happiness and romance (though, thank god Sarita isn’t a hard case like Alex; I love the boy but I spent 90% of the first book wanting to knock him upside the head), sexy times (because yes), and the inevitable twist and turns of bad stuff happening to good people. Everything is done in such a way that you’re able to relate to it and you cheer for the girls to make it through, right down to the last page. (Cutting it kind of close there, weren’t you, Sarita, you stubborn thing.) There are times when you hold your breath, hoping they’ll work things out, hoping that this particular obstacle won’t end up being a problem, that this thing won’t be the thing that breaks the camel’s overfilled back. (Anyone else wanna kick Nicky’s butt with me?)
There’s dancing, frosting, coffee, nagging families, and everything that makes you think that maybe there’s someone out there for you, too. You’ll cheer for Mari and Sarita, just as you did for Alex and Craig, hoping that innate human stubbornness won’t trump the love these two women obviously have for each other. The characters jump out of the page with each turn and I, for one, was sad to see their story come to an end.
What amazing story will Lissa have for us next? I don’t know, but I’m certainly, definitely, excited for it.
August 13, 2017
I like Ms Reed's writing style, and this book is not different.
It started out fun, with a not quite successful, because too drunk to do anything, one night stand resulting in dating. But it happened quickly and the ending was too predictable. So a nice summer read, but not as special as I hoped it would be.
It started out fun, with a not quite successful, because too drunk to do anything, one night stand resulting in dating. But it happened quickly and the ending was too predictable. So a nice summer read, but not as special as I hoped it would be.
February 6, 2018
Cute for the most part, mercifully lacking of insta-love, but ultimately trite in its conflict and resolution, with an unrealistic and unhealthy HEA, which could have been corrected with minor changes like the length of their relationship. On top of this, the ethnic diversity feels very perfunctory and reduced to a few words and food (not that it's the worst I've seen, but that didn't help).
November 7, 2018
Sweet
This was so lovely. *happy sigh* Warm and real and intense at times, but mostly, just two girls falling in love and dealing with life. Not too angsty, a good pace and flow. Super cute.
This was so lovely. *happy sigh* Warm and real and intense at times, but mostly, just two girls falling in love and dealing with life. Not too angsty, a good pace and flow. Super cute.
May 12, 2017
Cute and fun.
It's the second in the series, but it can be read on its own too.
It's the second in the series, but it can be read on its own too.
Read
August 16, 2022
Trigger & Content Warnings
Queermisia
Sexual harassment
Queermisia
Sexual harassment
August 8, 2020
Like eating carrots. Healthy? Sure! Satisfying? Not so much.
February 12, 2017
This is the second book in the Sucre Coeur series, which revolves around the lives of the folks who work at the Sucre Coeur bakery. While DEFINITELY, MAYBE YOURS focused on the get-together of bakery manager and debonair British feller Craig Oliver with photographer Alex Scheff (a friend of-friend-of- guy), CERTAINLY tells the story of bakery assistant Sarita (who’s friends with Craig) and ballroom dancer Maritza (who’s friends with Alex).
Maritza’s on her way up the dancy-pants ladder; she and her partner Nicky have made a name for themselves on the dancy-pants circuit. Sarita is an Amy Winehouse-haired graduate student trying to get somewhere, too. Both women are working in the service industry (Sarita at the bakery, Maritza as a waitress at a meatball-and-sauce joint) in Seattle when they’re introduced to each other at Alex’s studio party. The novel begins when Sarita wakes up hung over and surprised to find Maritza wearing Sarita’s T-shirt and little else. Though they have a bit of a rocky start, they do wind up starting something real with each other and it’s lovely.
Trouble is, of course, right there waiting. While Sarita’s brother Devesh and his husband Sunil are supportive, Sarita’s sister Anjali is a homophobic jerk, and her parents announce that they’re leaving the country (but not because of Anjali—I realize how that sounded). Maritza, for her part, must struggle with her nasty (and rather homophobic) dance partner/ex-lover Nicky, who turns out to be a vain, moustache-twirling villain who tries to wreck everything that’s blooming. (Which makes me giggle, thinking of him in shiny spandex dance pants and an unbuttoned satin shirt, machinating.) There’s missed connections, attempted blackmail, chiffon and muffins, all leading up to the moment when a huge opportunity for Maritza also brings the threat of distance to the new relationship between Maritza and Sarita.
There’s lots to like here: the characters are all believable and complex, just stubborn enough to be interesting but still real. There are enough missed connections and difficult communications to lay a great backdrop of dramatic tension. There are likeable characters for whom you want to root and there’s dancing and food. And there are (at least in mention) teacup Dobermans. (Dobermen?)
The jerks here (especially Anjali) have real motivation and aren’t just cardboard cutout antagonists and senseless homophobes. The good folks aren’t be-haloed innocents, either. Everybody gets a story and a complex inner life. There’s even a recipe for baked goods at the back of the book.
I do have one very strong criticism and word of warning to readers: my copy did not come with a cookie, and I feel that a book series which revolves around the lives of people who work in a bakery should most definitely include a cookie.
Maritza’s on her way up the dancy-pants ladder; she and her partner Nicky have made a name for themselves on the dancy-pants circuit. Sarita is an Amy Winehouse-haired graduate student trying to get somewhere, too. Both women are working in the service industry (Sarita at the bakery, Maritza as a waitress at a meatball-and-sauce joint) in Seattle when they’re introduced to each other at Alex’s studio party. The novel begins when Sarita wakes up hung over and surprised to find Maritza wearing Sarita’s T-shirt and little else. Though they have a bit of a rocky start, they do wind up starting something real with each other and it’s lovely.
Trouble is, of course, right there waiting. While Sarita’s brother Devesh and his husband Sunil are supportive, Sarita’s sister Anjali is a homophobic jerk, and her parents announce that they’re leaving the country (but not because of Anjali—I realize how that sounded). Maritza, for her part, must struggle with her nasty (and rather homophobic) dance partner/ex-lover Nicky, who turns out to be a vain, moustache-twirling villain who tries to wreck everything that’s blooming. (Which makes me giggle, thinking of him in shiny spandex dance pants and an unbuttoned satin shirt, machinating.) There’s missed connections, attempted blackmail, chiffon and muffins, all leading up to the moment when a huge opportunity for Maritza also brings the threat of distance to the new relationship between Maritza and Sarita.
There’s lots to like here: the characters are all believable and complex, just stubborn enough to be interesting but still real. There are enough missed connections and difficult communications to lay a great backdrop of dramatic tension. There are likeable characters for whom you want to root and there’s dancing and food. And there are (at least in mention) teacup Dobermans. (Dobermen?)
The jerks here (especially Anjali) have real motivation and aren’t just cardboard cutout antagonists and senseless homophobes. The good folks aren’t be-haloed innocents, either. Everybody gets a story and a complex inner life. There’s even a recipe for baked goods at the back of the book.
I do have one very strong criticism and word of warning to readers: my copy did not come with a cookie, and I feel that a book series which revolves around the lives of people who work in a bakery should most definitely include a cookie.
February 20, 2017
This story centers around two people who meet and in a short time start to get serious about each other.Sarita and Maritza are introduced by friends at a party and from that night on take it one day at a time.Each have busy lives and things that they must do but they find inbetween times to see each other.Important information is held back to help protect the time they have together and feelings get hurt when it is revealed by a different source.It takes people close to them to get them back together and working together to see where the future goes.I was well entertained and am looking forward to more.
October 6, 2016
A Joyfully Jay review.
3.25 stars
Certainly, Possibly, You is the follow up to Definitely, Maybe, Yours, but can be enjoyed as a stand alone. I enjoyed that first book both due to the characters and the writing style and was looking forward to being back in that world. The book opens with two characters that are smart and sassy and their initial meet up scene was quite entertaining. After that, this book dragged for me and kept spiraling downward with each secondary plotline that was introduced. The book is character driven, but not relationship driven as the focus was on the womens’ careers and family lives. I kept waiting for that spark to come back, but the storylines didn’t hold my interest.
We met Sarita in the first book and she is still the head cake decorator at the bakery Craig manages. She’s trying to finish grad school while working and now she has cute Maritza on her mind. She also has family issues, namely her sister who hates her. Sarita is close to her brother who is gay and Sarita always just thought her sister was homophobic, but it runs deeper than that as she’s particularly cruel to Sarita. The family drama becomes melodramatic and I couldn’t buy into the sister’s explanation and then what her brother had to say for himself afterward.
Maritza is fairing better at home, but her dance partner, Nicky, is another story. Nicky was the character that no one had one positive thing to say about so then it was like there was a big flashing sign over him that there would be drama with him–and there was. But it was a tired plot device that had me really just squinting at the page as it didn’t enhance the story for me. There was also a reference to same-sex marriage not being legal in all 50 states and for a new release, that should have been updated.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
3.25 stars
Certainly, Possibly, You is the follow up to Definitely, Maybe, Yours, but can be enjoyed as a stand alone. I enjoyed that first book both due to the characters and the writing style and was looking forward to being back in that world. The book opens with two characters that are smart and sassy and their initial meet up scene was quite entertaining. After that, this book dragged for me and kept spiraling downward with each secondary plotline that was introduced. The book is character driven, but not relationship driven as the focus was on the womens’ careers and family lives. I kept waiting for that spark to come back, but the storylines didn’t hold my interest.
We met Sarita in the first book and she is still the head cake decorator at the bakery Craig manages. She’s trying to finish grad school while working and now she has cute Maritza on her mind. She also has family issues, namely her sister who hates her. Sarita is close to her brother who is gay and Sarita always just thought her sister was homophobic, but it runs deeper than that as she’s particularly cruel to Sarita. The family drama becomes melodramatic and I couldn’t buy into the sister’s explanation and then what her brother had to say for himself afterward.
Maritza is fairing better at home, but her dance partner, Nicky, is another story. Nicky was the character that no one had one positive thing to say about so then it was like there was a big flashing sign over him that there would be drama with him–and there was. But it was a tired plot device that had me really just squinting at the page as it didn’t enhance the story for me. There was also a reference to same-sex marriage not being legal in all 50 states and for a new release, that should have been updated.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
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