4.35 stars ✨
A charming love story about two people who initially have trouble committing to each other because their fathers traumatized them 😖😅
Sophia is a firecracker! She’s very committed to her work, but has lost sight of her dreams. I really appreciated how the author portrayed the hopelessness that comes with feeling like your career has stalled. It was very relatable—the feeling of being stuck, and then, in the struggle of just trying to get by, you forget what the long-term goal even was, and eventually you get too comfortable with where you are. It’s heartbreaking and really made me emphasize with her character.
Lorenzo is a man of ACTION. He’s such a protector, always making Sophia feel safe and consistently proving how much he cares about her. Also, the fact that he read ALL of her work?! 😫 UGH, I love when people are supportive of their artistic loved ones and actually take the time to engage with their art. Sophia can have a real attitude sometimes, but he likes how mean she is 😭😭 “There’s nothing I love more than the fire of a woman who pushes back. Insults only make me more eager to provoke a reaction. There’s nothing like the thrill coursing through my body right now at the bite of her voice” (45). I love how they both test each other and the tension that builds because of it.
I also love that they’re so mesmerized by each other, and how that admiration inspired their very fitting nicknames—Blue and Ace.
“She’s ready to push me off a cliff, but all I can focus on is the wild intensity of them, a mix of danger and beauty that’s impossible to ignore. ‘Your eyes are so…blue,’ I find myself saying, mesmerized” (47).
“You can tell he’s in his element. He radiates calmness, his face completely unreadable. The way he moves so effortlessly, looking at his hand without betraying a single emotion, and the way his piercing gaze follows the cards the dealer places, is mesmerizing” (118).
Their relationship is packed with tension—I loved it! Sophia brings the fire while Lorenzo brings the passion. They’re a perfect match.
In terms of the writing, there were a couple of things I really enjoyed. First, the descriptions!! The author provides just enough details to immerse readers without overwhelming us with fluff. For example: “His woodsmoke cologne envelope me as I’m trying to mentally kick those memories away from me. The smell of pine and cedar hits me first. Such a rich, earthy aroma, like the comforting embrace of a roaring fire. It’s faintly sweet, too, with a hint of burning maple. The scent perfectly suits him—strong, manly, dangerous, and surprisingly sweet” (93). The sights, the smells, the vibes—everything is painted vividly to bring the story to life.
Also, the way that they describe each other’s qualities and the way it makes them feel makes the characters feel real and makes the romance almost tangible. There were some very poetic moments that just made me swoon: “…whatever it takes, I’m going to be the one to make her laugh like this more often. I want to see her eyes shine and spark with pure joy. Sophia’s laugh is something the world should hear. It’s the kind of laugh I want to take a piece of and tuck into my cold heart. It’s the kind of laugh that makes my problems go away. It’s the kind of laugh I can find myself falling for, simply because it comes from her” (208). They’re so obsessed with each other—THIS is what I need from a romance novel.
Secondly, I really appreciated the way domestic abuse is discussed, with empathy for all victims, including the children. Lorenzo makes Sophia feel validated, and she shows compassion toward her mother for being too scared to get their family out of that situation. It was a very thoughtful and nuanced approach.
There were a few aspects of the writing that I wasn’t a fan of. Most notably, there were many instances of “telling” rather than “showing,” especially with Sophia’s slightly toxic behaviors. For example, when she refuses to let herself be vulnerable around her besties, she outright explains why she chooses to keep things bottled up and puts on a sunshine smile instead (54). I wanted to see this play out. I don’t need the author to tell me so early on in the story that this is what she does and the why behind it. Later on, Sophia tells us that she seeks challenges as a way of returning to her complicated past (123). Again, I don’t want the text to analyze her character for me, let ME do that. Part of the fun of reading is uncovering the layers of the characters as you delve deeper into their story.
Another thing that really disappointed me is the fact that this is called the Windy City billionaire series, but so little of this book actually takes place in Chicago. Most of the story occurs in another country and two different states. I just wish the setting was incorporated more into the plot.
The characters’ movements could’ve been varied a little more. Lorenzo was constantly fisting his hair, and so were some of the other male characters, which made the whole thing very repetitive.
As much as I enjoy Taylor Swift’s music, I do not want to read her lyrics in a book 😭 Granted, I only saw it once (probably because I don’t know that many of her lyrics), but even that felt like too much 🙃
Personally, I’m not a fan of when romance books talk about romance books. Mostly, characters will say things like, “oh, that only happens in romance books.” I guess it’s supposed to feel like a cool, breaking the fourth wall moment, but it just feels lazy. Also, people don’t really talk like that in real life. I have never heard someone clarify that we’re not living in a fictional novel.
The ending was kind of ridiculous. You’re telling me that in 2025, Miss Girl did not have a strong password?!?! PLEASE.
Overall, this is a romance story full of fire and passion, and I was hooked. Sophia and Lorenzo complement each other in all the best ways! I just wish the Windy City setting had played a greater role in the plot, and that the story had given more show than tell when it came to character flaws.
Thank you very much to Yinn Quirós for the ARC of this book! This is my honest review. All opinions are my own.