Nate Edwards is hot. So freaking hot. And kind. And supportive. And caring. He's worlds away from the other college guys I've dated and exactly the type of guy I need in my life. He's the real deal. Loving him should have been easy. And yet... Our story isn't so straightforward. It took three seconds to feel a connection, three weeks to fall in love, and three people to ruin it all. The worst part... One of them was me.
So I found it hard to write this review. The reason for that was I personally didn’t love it but I didn’t dislike it either, It was a shot, cute and easy to read. A great debut from the author. She has a lovely writing style and I really look forward to more from her.
I don’t ever enjoy writing negative reviews and it’s not per-say one it’s just some bits I couldn’t get behind.
Like no matter how nice of a person you are, I feel like if you are as insecure as Cory was you wouldn’t push you now boyfriend to go along with what he did. Yes I can see some reasoning as to why she did but at the same time those insecurities would have ruined her one way or the other.
I think Nate should have fought more for Cory and their relationship.
Cory was super sweet, beautiful inside and out. She didn’t have things easy growing up living a hand to mouth life which does explain some of why she did what she did. She’s not had things easy with past relationships either, which no matter how much she tells herself she’s over it and can move on they are always there at the back of her mind.
Nate’s handsome, cute and wants Cory something fierce! He does some serious stupid things, keeps believing someone he should and puts faith in their friendship.. when really he should have been looking at her like an ex girlfriend with motive.
They both were too kind, too trusting and if i’m honest a bit naive. To believe they could go along with what there were and not have it effect them or to end with a set time frame.
Cory has had a serious crush on Nate for a long time, she believes he doesn’t see her but in fact he has been watching her just as much as she has him.
Again I did like this read, it had seriously cute and romantic moments. It just wasn’t fully for me.
wow this book was amazing. i absolutely adored cory and nate so much as well as their story. i think after reading this one, it filled in some blanks to their relationship that was portrayed in ‘when nothing else matters’, which was amazing.
i absolutely adore and love cory and nate so much. they’re so adorable, gah. the fact that cory had doubts before getting into a relationship with nate where she then learns that not each guy are the same is amazing. and nate, gah this man, he does anything to prove why he is worth it especially with an ex still in his life, gee. overall this book was a quick and a sweet read!
First of all let me say the trope in this book?? CANT be topped, fake daiting but on a different Level? You will feel so many emotions, you better be prepared!!
I really enjoyed getting to know Cory and Nate better. I also felt several emotions while reading, which just made the book more realistic for me. A love story isn't always as easy as it seems from the outside.
I've locked Cory right into my heart. She is a good person who believes in the good in people. She likes to give everyone a second chance and puts the feelings of others ahead of her own. Not to forget, however, that Cory is also a very strong women, which has to deal a lot with her past.
Nate is a football player, popular, hot and Cory's crush. The only question is : what happens if it turns out that Nate also had a long crush on Cory?
The two were just too cute together, the more first dates they had, the more I took both of them into my heart and loved them even more.
Let me say the plot twists definitely shocked me and the fact that Liv was so annoying and stubborn made me really mad at times. I don't understand how people can wish you so little luck? Even if Liv was annoying, the book ended perfectly. I truly mean it when i say, there could have been no better einzig for Cory and Nate!!
Okay, what??? Literally 3 chapters in and you ask that. I get it’s a novella but why suddenly get all deep and shit when this is your first time meeting!!! You have no idea what the other person thinks!!! 🤦🏻♀️
This book is such a breath of fresh air. I read this book in less than 5 hours because I could not put it down. Katherine has become my new favorite author. Her writing is perfection. I love the chapters being from both perspective. Nate and Cory are just so real, and their characters are portrayed perfectly. It was just the right amount of drama to make it realisitic. This is definitely one I would recommend to everyone. I can't wait to see what other stories come out of this. Im ready for more.
I loved this book. Cory and Nates story is super sweet and heartwarming with the right amount of angst and drama. The perfect read for an evening. Can't wait for Summers story 💕
I loved them til I almost didn’t, then loved them again. I use the term roller coaster often in my reviews pretty loosely but THIS... The way I could be laughing on one page then sobbing hysterically on another baffles me.
While I’m not the biggest fan of his actions (I thought he was kinda oopid at times), I still loved the vulnerability we get to see. Really wanted to see some grovelling though, it kinda cuts off at the end. I wanted to bubble wrap Cory so bad. That girl deserves the world. Or at least some banging sushi!!
I was hoping this would fill some missing pieces in book ones timeline but it kinda just left room for interpretation instead. Also, the time jumps tripped me out. It’s real fast paced which is great cause it doesn't drag but it also made it hard to remember where I was in the year so I'd have to go back and re-calculate 😂 Still loved it though, mainly cause I loved Cory <3
*upon reflection, I realise this was published before 'When Nothing Else Matters* so that debunks my missing pieces comment :))
There’s so much love and heart in this novella. I’ve got a thing for the first time the main male character makes me swoon. Nate winked, and I was in! When you read a college romance, you hope for a guy like Nate. He’s the Jane Austen type of gentleman. Even when he’s not being a gentleman, he still is! With the way Corey stares at Nate during class, it’s a wonder she isn’t failing. And then we find out how long Nate has had his eyes on Corey…and I thought he made me swoon before! Since they spent a whole lot of time looking at a distance, I definitely consider their first ‘meeting’ as a meet cute! It’s sweet watching Corey and Nate trip over their words and struggle to keep their eyes and hands off each other. Even though Corey loves every second of it, Nate isn’t satisfied with their first date and wants a redo. And then wants a redo again and again. As sweet as everything is, Corey struggles to move forth with their relationship because of her past with men. And then when you add in the drama with Nate’s ex and his family…well, it would be easy for them to take the easy path and go their separate ways. But, the universe won’t allow it. And more importantly, neither will Nate! They have such a strong, beautiful love. They say all the right words, look at each other in all the right ways. Their bodies are magnets. I knew by 50% that I had no issue rating this 4 stars. The 5th star hung in the balance waiting to see how Nate and Corey moved forth. I am SO excited to read Summer and Dylan’s story in When Nothing Else Matters! This is such a great group of friends, and I can’t wait to explore more!
Little Bit count: 8
My Favorite Quotes: • ‘I’ve waited too long to be with this girl. I’m not going to f!ck it up.’ • “I want you to kiss me like you really want to.” • “We need to stop right now, or I’ll never be able to.” • “You’re my little bit of sunshine.” • “I’m so f!cking in love with you I can’t see straight.” • “I won’t break.” “But I might.” • “That was everything.” • “I want the next hand, the only hand to touch me, to be yours.” • “That is my girl, right there.” • “I’ve got you.” • “I feel it, too.” • “It’s always been you.”
7/10 Dirty Birdy 6/10 Instalove 7/10 Meet Cute 7/10 Second Chance 9/10 Series
This; was a super sweet novella! If you're looking for a short, fun read to read while by the pool or at the beach, this is the book for you!
Cory and Nate are a super sweet couple that made me smile! Cory and Nate are both in the same college class together. While Cory likes Nate, she is too scared to approach him until her best friend and roommate, Summer, pushes her to make a move. Nate has liked Cory for a while. They get to know each other through a series of terrible dates that were cute to read because they weren't terrible at all. But these two get into a little bit of drama when Nate's past comes back to get him and; Cory's insecurities get the best of her.
I loved their disastrous date retries and laughed too hard at their scenes. When they confessed their love for each other, it gave me the biggest smile! Everyone should be told they love someone like their moment. I'm a sucker for double POV! There was some spice in this book between these two. 🌶️🥵 And that ending! 🥰🌶️
If you love a college sports romance with spice and some drama, you're going to love this! I can't wait to read the second book and follow Summer and Dylan's story.
For all my sports and college romance lovers, for those of you who love not only the main characters in a book, but the secondary characters too—this novella and series is for you!
Ain’t No Sunshine is Katherine’s first book and novella in her Heart Strings series and believe me when I tell you that you’ll absolutely fall in love!!!! (I have 🙋🏽♀️)
This being Katherine’s first release, I was pleasantly surprised at how addictive and easy this was to read. Written in dual POV, her writing is impeccable and I was happily whisked away into the world of all things Cory and Nate, so wound up in their world!
Cory and Nate both attend college and are in the same class. Cory has harbored a secret crush on him and when Nate winks at her at the end of class one day, she goes into overdrive (as did I *swoon*)
Too nervous to do anything about it, her best friend Summer takes matters into her own hands and declares herself matchmaker, where one night at their local bar she spots Nate and his best friend Dylan (be prepared to meet Dylan!!!! 😍🥵) and she plays the game of “Haaave you met Cory?” (Any HIMYM fans will hear Summer saying that 🤣)
Things kick off and even though Cory and Nate’s relationship is somewhat of the insta-love type, Katherine did an incredible job of making it so believable and real.
Nate is the boyfriend we all want. A caring, compassionate, funny, smoking hot NFL player who knows his way around in the bedroom. I loved the fact that he was crushing on Cory from afar, completely unaware she was doing the same.
Everything is perfect until Nate’s past catches up with him and things suddenly take a turn for the worst. Cory’s struggling to process what’s happening and her insecurities from past relationships get the better of her.
Even though I wanted to slap both of them at times, I understood their insecurities and why they did what they did. They both loved hard and I was 100% here for it! 🙋🏽♀️
Congratulations to Katherine on an incredible debut novella! 😘 Just wait until When Nothing Else Happens is released where you get more of Summer and Dylan!!!! Be prepared, it’s so SO GOOD!! 😍
This is Katherine’s first book of the Heartstrings series.
This is a short novella but Katherine manages to squeeze so much content into it without it feeling rushed. Nate and Cory are both in the same class in college and develop a relationship after Summer, Cory’s friend tells her to step up and ask Nate out as she has been watching him from afar for a while. It turns out Nate has been trying to get the courage to ask her out too. They try to get to know each other with one bad date after another where Nate requests a do-over after each one due to things not quite going to plan, but things take a turn when Nate’s past catches up with him and Cora’s insecurities get the better of her.
This is a wonderful and heartwarming story which I desperately needed after the recent books I’ve read, I can’t wait to see where Katherine takes us with this series the supporting characters which we have already been introduced to are certainly intriguing me. Congratulations Katherine on a brilliant debut novella I’m excited to read more, you deserve all the praise and success coming your way!
this book Was my first read by this author. I’ve never really been into insta love as I’m more of a slow burn kind of a girl. However Katherines writing is amazing I loved it . She definetly captures Cory and Nate’s story so well that The insta love really was not a big deal. I was instantly hooked from the first page and I instantly fell in love with every character in this book except for liv that girl got on my nerves a lot and I hate her haha she makes me want to punch her out. However Cory and Nate Are definitely soulmates and I am glad that they got their HEA even though it was a ride. I can not wait to read summer and Dylan’s story. Definitely will be wanting to read more from this author.
This Novella…I just…there are so many words and none at the same time! Brava Katherine Jay! I fell in love with Cory and Nate while reading When Nothing Else Matters, but so much of them was missing and I was left a bit confused and bewildered about them. This was written first, but it filled in all those gaps, and I’m glad I read it after WNEM. Cory has her own personal things to deal with after her previous boyfriends, and Nate has things to deal with from back home. Both of them have so much to overcome in this book. I feel like if I say much, I’m going to spoil every little bit of them. It’s cute, emotional, and everything I needed about these two wonderful characters!
I could not put this book down. From the moment it was released and downloaded on my kindle until the very last page. I cried big ugly tears, I belly laughed, I fell in love with these characters. This book, Katherine’s writing, made me feel something that a book hasn’t made me feel in a while. This was so far beyond any already high expectation I had before reading!
This story is heartbreaking and hopeful and just so amazing! I love Nate and Cory - struggles and all. Their story was beautifully written and I am so looking forward to the continuation of this series!
Oh. My. Word. It's short and sweet. And just bloody lovely. These 2 put my little heart and emotions through the wringer. Congratulations to Katherine. I'm really excited to read more by you. It's hard to believe that this is a debut novel. You can't help but fall in love with the characters, apart from Liv 🤬. Sometimes they both needed their heads bashed together, but all in all my heart is happy!!
A sweet and fun novella, this made for the perfect isolation read. Each character was extremely loveable, and I really enjoyed the point of view switches between Nate and Cory with each chapter. Overall, a fantastic debut from Katherine, and I highly recommend ‘It Ain’t No Sunshine’ to anyone and everyone.
Aww .. young love .. 😍 Katherine's debut couldn't be more perfect with this novella.. Cory and Nate have a lot to work for, but love is what keeps them going strong .. I absolutely loved it, this novella is gonna make you swoon, fall in love, be angry, hate some characters, have your heart beating in your hands, and surrender to .. love .. I can't wait to read more about Katherine's works ❤👌
I loved this one. It is absolutely adorable. I went from swooning to blushing to being on a Rollercoaster of emotions once their relationship is being tested. I love all the little moments, the chemistry and steaminess between Nate and Cory is 💯😍
I loved the ‘insta-love’ connection between Cory and Nate and felt like the really author captured the way this can feel all consuming and life altering.
Even though it’s a short story and can be read in a few hours - there is still plenty of depth and development of the characters and some great side characters.
We already know Cory’s best friend Summer is getting her own book, and I cannot wait for that! And tell me Shane is going to get his own book too?!
The chemistry between Nate and Cory was so good and there’s some great spice! The pair of them go through a quite a lot of drama and there are times when you feel like banging their heads together to sort themselves out but they’re the cutest couple and you can’t help but root for them!
Overall this was such an enjoyable, easy read that’s left me ready for more from Katherine Jay!
Even though this was a novella it still was packed in the emotions department. I felt the love, the commitment, and even the disappointment. While reading this I did question if the Noah was stupid and I came to the conclusion he was only half as dumb as I thought.
I want to say there was an instant connection but it was a connection from a distance. While I loved their connection I also questioned it simply because of the stupid mistakes Noah made. Was Cory justified in her feelings and action? Of course because who wouldn't feel the way that she did given the situation. I won't say much because I don't want to give much away I will say it does have a HEA.
I read "When Nothing Else Matters" first so I knew Cory & Nate's relationship was more complicated than it appeared. There's no way I would have guessed what the deal actually was - and it did not work for me. What did work was Nate. He always tries to work through problems and issues and situations by communicating. Cory's relationship hang-ups didn't make sense to me. Yes, she had been hurt in the past, but she is an optimistic person so her difficulty trusting seemed rather extreme.
This book is such a great read if you love meant-to-be characters that have to go through a little drama and angst as they grow. Cory and Nate did not disappoint. Everything they felt for one another was genuine and raw, which lead to some truly sweet, steamy, fun, and intense moments. Love this book and this couple. Cannot wait to read more of this series and author.
This was a super cute romance whirlwind between Nate and Cory. It is also quite the emotional rollercoaster ride.
Cory is the nicest human I have probably ever read about. She is so sweet, thoughtful, and loving to those she cares about. Nate is kind, attentive, and charismatic. These two in a relationship was adorable. My heart hurt for Cory in the situation she found herself in.
Not a fan of Liv. 0/10 would recommend. She is honestly every girlfriend's worst nightmare.
Cory and Nate had a lot of problems to work through individually and as a couple. They grew threw it.
The epilogue made my heart burst from my chest it is was so sweet! Ugh I just love a good epilogue and Katherine delivered.
This little novella packed so much emotion! Nate and Corey fall hard and fast for each other but nothing is always easy so they have to work hard to get to their HEA. Both Nate and Corey have many demons to battle before they can truly be with each other. There were times I really wanted to slap Nate so he could get his head out of his a** 😅 but all in all it was sweet, emotional and a pretty fast read.
If you don’t like OW drama, avoid this like the plague.
The OW drama is the entire book pretty much and it’s ~so dumb~. Nate’s ex Liv won’t get her trust fund unless they’re dating so she pretends they got back together. But she doesn’t tell him, she tells his parents? And he just thinks oh she must have a good reason. Well if you’re still friends, why didn’t she just ask you?
And then the martyr Cory pushes him to help Liv, making her own self miserable for no reason. If Liv needed the money for something important, Cory’s selflessness would make more sense to me. But it’s not, and Liv of course still loves Nate and wants to be together.
Nate is of course oblivious and dumb. Let’s Liv kiss him, doesn’t believe that she wants him back. She eventually claims they’re engaged. He seems like he’ll stick up for him and Cory but never really does??
Angst angst angst, they usually have sex or make out instead of talking things out, they break up for a while.
And then magically at the end, he’s high and apparently “cozy” with a girl and doesn’t realize it. Charming. They talk in the morning and boom are back together.
Ugh.
I needed more moments of them without all the problems they bring upon themselves.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
katherine’s debut novella, a light summer romance read that is perfect to fit in between more intense reads🥰 ain't no sunshine is a new adult college romance filled with humor, angst and heat. this novella contains insta-love that's put to the test, fake dating of a different kind, and scary carnival rides. nate is so sweet and caring, he’s just the perfect boyfriend🥹 he’s so patient with her and was so considerate when they slept together for the first time! he’s also pretty funny, always saying the right things and throwing something funny in there to lighten the mood and make cory feel more at ease. even though sometimes i wanted to slap some sense into him, he always knew what to say! a light, easy and little bit spicy read😮💨🌶 really enjoyed this, and can’t wait for katherine’s debut novel in summer ahhhh💗