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Making Time for Us
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Making Time for Us is a steamy, fun, and low-drama romance novel that offers a realistic look into a long-term and healthy marriage's journey to renewing romance.
Romance after marriage and kids requires a little extra work… and a lot of creativity.
Ellie has loved Marco Garcia since they were 18. He was her first love, and he will be her last. But long gone are the days of stolen glances and butterflies from every touch. After 16 years together, the responsibilities of adulthood and parenting their 4 young children together seem to demand all their time and energy.
When Ellie’s youngest children start school, she questions her role as a stay-at-home mom. At the same time, she is grateful to finally have the time she needs to catch her breath so she can figure out who she is and what she wants from this stage of her life, outside of being a mother. At the top of her list: reigniting the passion with her husband that’s been waiting on the back burner for years — and maybe even finding the elusive ‘O’ again.
Marco is blindsided when Ellie approaches him asking for more spice and fun in their love life. He didn’t realize she thought something was missing. He loves her and has always respected that her primary focus has been on their kids, not their relationship. After 12-hour shifts as a small-town police officer, there’s not much left for that part anyway. Confused, and a little hurt, Marco tries to find the meaning behind her request and a way to fulfill it.
Both unsure how to move forward, they have to figure it out together or suffer a far worse fate: a marriage that lacks passion ’til death do them part.
Making Time for Us is a steamy, fun, and low-drama romance novel that offers a realistic look into a long-term and healthy marriage's journey to renewing romance.
Romance after marriage and kids requires a little extra work… and a lot of creativity.
Ellie has loved Marco Garcia since they were 18. He was her first love, and he will be her last. But long gone are the days of stolen glances and butterflies from every touch. After 16 years together, the responsibilities of adulthood and parenting their 4 young children together seem to demand all their time and energy.
When Ellie’s youngest children start school, she questions her role as a stay-at-home mom. At the same time, she is grateful to finally have the time she needs to catch her breath so she can figure out who she is and what she wants from this stage of her life, outside of being a mother. At the top of her list: reigniting the passion with her husband that’s been waiting on the back burner for years — and maybe even finding the elusive ‘O’ again.
Marco is blindsided when Ellie approaches him asking for more spice and fun in their love life. He didn’t realize she thought something was missing. He loves her and has always respected that her primary focus has been on their kids, not their relationship. After 12-hour shifts as a small-town police officer, there’s not much left for that part anyway. Confused, and a little hurt, Marco tries to find the meaning behind her request and a way to fulfill it.
Both unsure how to move forward, they have to figure it out together or suffer a far worse fate: a marriage that lacks passion ’til death do them part.
246 pages, Paperback
Published July 13, 2022
13 people are currently reading
1173 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
October 6, 2022
First of all, I LOVE that this is a super steamy romance about a married couple reconnecting after losing themselves in raising kids and everyday life - no major drama or fights, just rediscovering the passion. I need more authors to write about this please! But also, this needed a strong editor and about 6 more honest beta reads. I cringed hard at some of the phrasing and descriptions. A for effort and originality and C for craft.
Source: purchased Kindle book
Source: purchased Kindle book
August 27, 2022
I wanted to love this book. Really, because its unusual for a book to focus on a married couple trying to navigate their own personal lives and desires while being exhausted parents. From that perspective I was very appreciative of some of the book. Some of the language I found cheesy and repetitive, snd this was a lot “porn-ier” than I was anticipating it being. Not my favorite but not the worst thing I’ve read either.
July 30, 2022
I loved that this book wasn't about two single people finding love. Marco and Ellie have been in the trenches of marriage and parenthood for years. It felt very realistic to me. They both love each other and have just fallen into the routine of life. Ellie's personal journey of finding herself leads to a jumpstart of her marriage. It is a sweet AND spicy read, and I enjoyed it!
August 9, 2022
Making Time for Us by Nichole St. Matthews is a contemporary romance focusing on a married couple WITH KIDS!
When I first heard about this book, I knew that I HAD to read it! The cover design drew me in, but what really hooked me was the premise of the book. Ellie and her husband Marco have been together for 16 years and have 4 children. When Ellie’s youngest children start school, she begins to question her role as a stay-at-home mom. She yearns to find out who she is, apart from being a mom. Along the way, she realizes that she wants to reignite the spark between she and Marco. At first, Marco is shocked because he was content…he didn’t feel like their relationship was lacking anything. However, he loves Ellie and is willing to take the steps needed to help her get what she wants and needs. What follows is a sweet and spicy 🌶 journey that only two people who are truly comfortable with each other could endure.
This story is told in alternating perspectives between Ellie and Marco, which I think really helped me love both characters. I love the way that we, as readers, are able to see their internal thoughts and how much they both truly love each other! Despite the sweet cover, this book contains quite a bit of spice as Ellie and Marco seek out passion within their marriage. I don’t typically like reading a lot of spicy scenes, but this time I didn’t mind. I think it’s because I could relate better to the characters and what their relationship was like than I can with a typical romance novel. While there is plenty of spice, Ellie and Marco also continue their journey as parents, work on their relationship with other relatives, and deal with other challenges along the way. These other elements fit in well with the story and kept me wondering how things were going to play out.
I’m going to rate this book 5 stars because I feel like it’s a niche sub genre and I would love to see more books like this (especially by the same author). The book is self-published, so I did find some typos along the way, but overall I felt like the story itself was entertaining and well-written and I can’t really ask for more than that!
When I first heard about this book, I knew that I HAD to read it! The cover design drew me in, but what really hooked me was the premise of the book. Ellie and her husband Marco have been together for 16 years and have 4 children. When Ellie’s youngest children start school, she begins to question her role as a stay-at-home mom. She yearns to find out who she is, apart from being a mom. Along the way, she realizes that she wants to reignite the spark between she and Marco. At first, Marco is shocked because he was content…he didn’t feel like their relationship was lacking anything. However, he loves Ellie and is willing to take the steps needed to help her get what she wants and needs. What follows is a sweet and spicy 🌶 journey that only two people who are truly comfortable with each other could endure.
This story is told in alternating perspectives between Ellie and Marco, which I think really helped me love both characters. I love the way that we, as readers, are able to see their internal thoughts and how much they both truly love each other! Despite the sweet cover, this book contains quite a bit of spice as Ellie and Marco seek out passion within their marriage. I don’t typically like reading a lot of spicy scenes, but this time I didn’t mind. I think it’s because I could relate better to the characters and what their relationship was like than I can with a typical romance novel. While there is plenty of spice, Ellie and Marco also continue their journey as parents, work on their relationship with other relatives, and deal with other challenges along the way. These other elements fit in well with the story and kept me wondering how things were going to play out.
I’m going to rate this book 5 stars because I feel like it’s a niche sub genre and I would love to see more books like this (especially by the same author). The book is self-published, so I did find some typos along the way, but overall I felt like the story itself was entertaining and well-written and I can’t really ask for more than that!
August 26, 2022
There wasn't really much plot here - a married couple tries to reprioritize their relationship - and throughout the book really suffered from too much telling (through couples therapy) and not enough showing (through actual plot and storytelling. The characters were either unambiguously good and flawless (so a little boring) or cartoonishly bad. Still, it's nice to read a contemporary romance featuring married characters with children, and this was a steamy one! I'd rate this as just okay, 2.5 stars
Read it because:
Saw an Instagram post comparing it to Bromance Book Club.
Side rant: Also I know indie authors don't have the same resources as mainstream authors, but the spelling errors and inconsistency in spelling one of the kids' names (Jonathan? Johnathan?) was insanely distracting.
Read it because:
Saw an Instagram post comparing it to Bromance Book Club.
Side rant: Also I know indie authors don't have the same resources as mainstream authors, but the spelling errors and inconsistency in spelling one of the kids' names (Jonathan? Johnathan?) was insanely distracting.
October 5, 2022
I found this book so relatable and much needed for the time of life I am in now. As a mom who has stayed at home with her kids since birth I can understand where Ellie is coming from when she feels lost after her kids have gone off to school. I admired Ellie for all the steps she takes to find herself again in this novel - I found her really inspirational. I did not expect the amount of steam that was in this book, though… but, I didn’t hate it! Marriage is hard, but marriage with kids feels impossible most days. I found Ellie and Marco’s relationship relatable as well.
Read this if you:
▪️ Are a parent
▪️Enjoy romance
▪️Are a soul searching momma like myself!
Thank you to the author for my copy!
Read this if you:
▪️ Are a parent
▪️Enjoy romance
▪️Are a soul searching momma like myself!
Thank you to the author for my copy!
August 2, 2022
Finally a romance story that I could see myself as the leading lady! This is Nichole's premier novel and she did amazing. The journey that Ellie and Marco travel on is one that tugs are your heart and you can relate to 100%. Ellie and Marco have been together since they were 18 and are now married with 4 little ones. Their marriage has hit a romance slump and together they embark on a journey to re-ignite the passion that they had many years ago. Nichole brings you along through the realities of married life with sick kiddos, demanding jobs, kid school requirements, and general life struggles. She shows you that romance is not dead in "old" married couples. I adored her writing style and realistic depiction of those spicy moments between couples who are not young and carefree. It felt great to be represented in a romance novel as a married wife with a kid. Romance exists in all stages of life and this book is a perfect read for all married mamas!
Thank you Nichole for the gifted copy in exchange for my 100% honest review.
Thank you Nichole for the gifted copy in exchange for my 100% honest review.
August 1, 2022
Wow! I’ve never read a book like this before. This couple is already married and in a solid, happy relationship, but they feel like something is a bit off so they work together to figure it out. There is never any thought that they won’t work it out… because they are both totally in love and committed to making it work.
It really resonated with me because the couple has been married 16 years and he’s a police officer. My husband of 14 years is an officer as well. However, I don’t think you need to be married to someone in law enforcement to feel a connection to the story… anyone married or in a committed relationship would appreciate it.
Check out this debut author! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Oh and it’s also steamy haha 🌶🌶🌶🌶
It really resonated with me because the couple has been married 16 years and he’s a police officer. My husband of 14 years is an officer as well. However, I don’t think you need to be married to someone in law enforcement to feel a connection to the story… anyone married or in a committed relationship would appreciate it.
Check out this debut author! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Oh and it’s also steamy haha 🌶🌶🌶🌶
August 23, 2022
There are many times in a marriage where struggle fosters growth and that growth is needed to strengthen the bond as we get older and change. That's what true love does - it gives you room to grow, then falls in love with who you've become again."
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Ellie and Marco have been married for 13 years, and have 4 children. Now that all of the kids are in school, Ellie is trying to figure herself out again, and that includes her relationship with Marco. They love each other so much, but kids, jobs, and life in general sometimes puts them as a couple on the back burner. Hoping to add the spice back into their relationship they start making time for them.
I think this is one of the first books that addresses the season in marriage that so many of us go through - feeling like you're going through the motions and that you want to find who you are again, as an individual and as a couple. You can be happily married, but still want to feel the flame burning again!
I related to this story so so much. So many times I thought to myself I'm Ellie, and my husband is Marco and this is the realist portrayal of a marriage I've read! And wow, I'm not alone in my thoughts, feelings, wants and needs. And the reminder that its okay to let go of the mom guilt, do stuff for yourself, and moms can be hot too!
I laughed at so many parts. I choked back tears because I finally felt seen. And also - the spice my friends 🌶🌶🌶. Yep that's right, married people still have hot sex. 🔥😉
Nichole did a phenomenal job of telling the story and keeping me hooked from the first page. And the last little ending was the icing on the cake!! This was exactly the "untraditional romance" I needed in my life - a love story about two very real married people with kids.
This is a book for everyone, but especially the moms (and dads too) who want to get their groove back. ❤️❤️
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Ellie and Marco have been married for 13 years, and have 4 children. Now that all of the kids are in school, Ellie is trying to figure herself out again, and that includes her relationship with Marco. They love each other so much, but kids, jobs, and life in general sometimes puts them as a couple on the back burner. Hoping to add the spice back into their relationship they start making time for them.
I think this is one of the first books that addresses the season in marriage that so many of us go through - feeling like you're going through the motions and that you want to find who you are again, as an individual and as a couple. You can be happily married, but still want to feel the flame burning again!
I related to this story so so much. So many times I thought to myself I'm Ellie, and my husband is Marco and this is the realist portrayal of a marriage I've read! And wow, I'm not alone in my thoughts, feelings, wants and needs. And the reminder that its okay to let go of the mom guilt, do stuff for yourself, and moms can be hot too!
I laughed at so many parts. I choked back tears because I finally felt seen. And also - the spice my friends 🌶🌶🌶. Yep that's right, married people still have hot sex. 🔥😉
Nichole did a phenomenal job of telling the story and keeping me hooked from the first page. And the last little ending was the icing on the cake!! This was exactly the "untraditional romance" I needed in my life - a love story about two very real married people with kids.
This is a book for everyone, but especially the moms (and dads too) who want to get their groove back. ❤️❤️
August 1, 2022
sweet and sexy
Nichole St. Matthews’s debut novel was a sweet story between Ellie and Marco, who, like many, put their marriage on the back burner to focus on their family. Ellie, feeling the rut of motherhood and routine put herself out of her comfort zone to reclaim the spark and passion she and Marco once had. This book speaks to moms and housewives everywhere feeling the strain of balancing children, while still embracing sexuality and individuality. Great job Nichole! Can’t wait for book 2!
Nichole St. Matthews’s debut novel was a sweet story between Ellie and Marco, who, like many, put their marriage on the back burner to focus on their family. Ellie, feeling the rut of motherhood and routine put herself out of her comfort zone to reclaim the spark and passion she and Marco once had. This book speaks to moms and housewives everywhere feeling the strain of balancing children, while still embracing sexuality and individuality. Great job Nichole! Can’t wait for book 2!
August 1, 2022
refreshing take on life after kids
Rekindling their romance, Ellie and Marco embark down a road of finding themselves again, four kids and years later, things can start to look like Groundhog Day.
This story reminds you that communication is always key in a relationship. The spark is still there, they just need to ignite it!!
Humor,spice and reality. This book is great for any moms looking for something that may hit home.
Rekindling their romance, Ellie and Marco embark down a road of finding themselves again, four kids and years later, things can start to look like Groundhog Day.
This story reminds you that communication is always key in a relationship. The spark is still there, they just need to ignite it!!
Humor,spice and reality. This book is great for any moms looking for something that may hit home.
July 28, 2022
I got to read this manuscript before it was a book. It's a very interesting premise within the romance/women's literature category: a romance about a couple that's already married. So many stories pair attractive young people and abandon them at happily ever after. This story is for those of us old enough to know that's not how to world works. Life throws obstacles in a happy couple's way, and sometimes, like the heroine Ellie, you look in the mirror and hardly recognize yourself. Nicole St. Matthews sets out to create a romance reflecting the realistic struggles of moms in the thick of parenting young kids--something obviously close to her heart. Not so romantic? Think again.
August 10, 2022
I felt like I was literally reading my life story in these pages!
Ellie and Marco have been together since college. They have been married 13 years and have 4 beautiful children. Somewhere along the way, they have unintentionally put everything else above their marriage. This book is about them finding their way back to prioritizing their marriage. I loved the real and sometimes hard conversations between these characters. I also love that they went to therapy together. Romance isn’t just for new couples! This book is sweet, swoon worthy, and s p i c y 🔥. Great read and reminders for all married couples!
Ellie and Marco have been together since college. They have been married 13 years and have 4 beautiful children. Somewhere along the way, they have unintentionally put everything else above their marriage. This book is about them finding their way back to prioritizing their marriage. I loved the real and sometimes hard conversations between these characters. I also love that they went to therapy together. Romance isn’t just for new couples! This book is sweet, swoon worthy, and s p i c y 🔥. Great read and reminders for all married couples!
July 24, 2022
I could not put this book down! I have replayed scenes from this book in my head over and over! This will definitely be one of my books that I re-read numerous times.
October 18, 2022
first book in a month and it took me way longer than usual to read. it was boring. liked the concept but it lacked depth and plot
October 17, 2022
4,5⭐
La verdad que dudaba entre cuatro y cinco estrellas, pero es el último libro de mi "reto" de este año y me alegra un montón que haya podido leerlo.
No os podéis imaginar lo bonito que es y todo sin ser super cursi, o por lo menos a mí me lo ha parecido así. Es una pareja intentando volver a priorizar su relación después de haber tenido cuatro hijos. La protagonista comienza a darse cuenta que necesitan volver a conocerse (íntimamente, also) y tener más tiempo para ellos. El prota, Marco, what a man. Tiene punto de vista dual así que vas sabiendo qué piensan los dos.
Me parece un libro bastante realista que toca muchos temas como el volver a quererse a uno mismo después de haber tenido cuatro hijos y lo que te cambia el cuerpo después de eso, que no pasa nada por priorizarte a ti de vez en cuando en vez de a tus hijos, de comunicarte con tu pareja, los altos y altibajos de una relación... No sé, me ha encantado la verdad y es bastante ligero de leer, sin drama en exceso, solo ellos dos intentando volver a encontrarse y ser felices porque se quieren mucho. Y las escenas lunita, well done, creo que también es una parte muy importante la parte íntima de una relación y también lo tratan en el libro.
La verdad que dudaba entre cuatro y cinco estrellas, pero es el último libro de mi "reto" de este año y me alegra un montón que haya podido leerlo.
No os podéis imaginar lo bonito que es y todo sin ser super cursi, o por lo menos a mí me lo ha parecido así. Es una pareja intentando volver a priorizar su relación después de haber tenido cuatro hijos. La protagonista comienza a darse cuenta que necesitan volver a conocerse (íntimamente, also) y tener más tiempo para ellos. El prota, Marco, what a man. Tiene punto de vista dual así que vas sabiendo qué piensan los dos.
Me parece un libro bastante realista que toca muchos temas como el volver a quererse a uno mismo después de haber tenido cuatro hijos y lo que te cambia el cuerpo después de eso, que no pasa nada por priorizarte a ti de vez en cuando en vez de a tus hijos, de comunicarte con tu pareja, los altos y altibajos de una relación... No sé, me ha encantado la verdad y es bastante ligero de leer, sin drama en exceso, solo ellos dos intentando volver a encontrarse y ser felices porque se quieren mucho. Y las escenas lunita, well done, creo que también es una parte muy importante la parte íntima de una relación y también lo tratan en el libro.
September 10, 2022
This was so good! It was so great reading a book about two mature characters. This was a breath of fresh air. Ellie and Marco's relationship was so heartwarming to read about. Their kids and the side characters were amazing. I think this is one of the most realistic books I've read in a long time. All in all this was a very enjoyable read.
August 26, 2022
✰✰✰.𝟽𝟻 sᴛᴀʀs
i don't think i've read a book like this before but ohmygosh this was so cute🤧
i don't think i've read a book like this before but ohmygosh this was so cute🤧
September 23, 2022
Calling all booksta couples & parents! This one’s for us. This book honestly couldn’t have come at a more perfect time in my life.
Life can get so busy, especially being a parent of toddlers. When you become a parent, your main priority is your children. And sometimes, even when we don’t want to admit it, our spouse & marriage can take a backseat. I felt like I needed this one right now with how busy our lives have become. I could see so many similarities between Ellie & Marco’s relationship to my own with my husband. I laughed a bunch and nodded along with so much that happened in this one. It was SO relatable! I definitely recommend picking this one up if you’re a parent in the thick of everything! 4 ⭐️s
Life can get so busy, especially being a parent of toddlers. When you become a parent, your main priority is your children. And sometimes, even when we don’t want to admit it, our spouse & marriage can take a backseat. I felt like I needed this one right now with how busy our lives have become. I could see so many similarities between Ellie & Marco’s relationship to my own with my husband. I laughed a bunch and nodded along with so much that happened in this one. It was SO relatable! I definitely recommend picking this one up if you’re a parent in the thick of everything! 4 ⭐️s
August 22, 2022
This is Nichole’s debut novel and I think she did a terrific job! As a mom of littles I can only imagine how much hard work and late hours she had to put in to make this book a success and to bring a contemporary romance to us married mamas that is super relatable and fun.
The book follows Ellie and Marco, a couple who have been married for 13 years, have 4 kids, and are trying to make time for their marriage in between school runs and his taxing and time-consuming job as a cop.
This was such a different romance than I’ve ever read because it didn’t feel as much like ‘fiction’. So many of the moments in this book I have lived or seen in the lives of my friends. I 100% understood the way Ellie feels about being exhausted all of the time, about not knowing how to feel when she has time to herself, mom guilt… It really was a breath of fresh air to see those struggles in the life of a main character.
I also loved that this wasn’t just a cutesy romance where they just magically fall deeper in love again and everything is perfect… nah, this is a spicy romance where they have to work at getting their groove back and finding that passion they’ve been missing, and dang do they 🥵
I was also excited to see therapy portrayed as something positive, something that any of us could use or could turn to for our everyday struggles. I’m a big proponent of therapy and loved seeing it in this book!
I won’t give it all away but this is a sweet (and spicy) romance for the moms out there that would love to see a genuine portrayal of mom life, marriage, and the other funny and not so funny realities of life in print. I think you’ll love it and get a some good laughs. Plus you’ll be supporting a mom like you who put it all out there to bring this book into the world!
The book follows Ellie and Marco, a couple who have been married for 13 years, have 4 kids, and are trying to make time for their marriage in between school runs and his taxing and time-consuming job as a cop.
This was such a different romance than I’ve ever read because it didn’t feel as much like ‘fiction’. So many of the moments in this book I have lived or seen in the lives of my friends. I 100% understood the way Ellie feels about being exhausted all of the time, about not knowing how to feel when she has time to herself, mom guilt… It really was a breath of fresh air to see those struggles in the life of a main character.
I also loved that this wasn’t just a cutesy romance where they just magically fall deeper in love again and everything is perfect… nah, this is a spicy romance where they have to work at getting their groove back and finding that passion they’ve been missing, and dang do they 🥵
I was also excited to see therapy portrayed as something positive, something that any of us could use or could turn to for our everyday struggles. I’m a big proponent of therapy and loved seeing it in this book!
I won’t give it all away but this is a sweet (and spicy) romance for the moms out there that would love to see a genuine portrayal of mom life, marriage, and the other funny and not so funny realities of life in print. I think you’ll love it and get a some good laughs. Plus you’ll be supporting a mom like you who put it all out there to bring this book into the world!
September 13, 2022
I liked the idea of this book so much that I was drooling to read it. Unfortunately it didn’t live up to what it could have been, in my opinion. It captured the way you and your priorities change when becoming a mother but it didn’t have the suspense it needed. It just jumped into the husband being completely understanding, and totally open to all of the things the wife said, this was very sweet but made for a boring story.
August 11, 2022
A cute real-world romance. Worth a read :)
August 16, 2022
💗 I had to sit with this book for a bit before reviewing because it made me feel so much and because I felt like Nichole was writing my life (I even have four kids including a set of twins like the book’s couple).
💜 Making Time For Us is a romance, but it’s not your typical romance. It’s about a married couple - Ellie and Marco - with four kids who love each other, but have given their lives over to work and raising their children. As a consequence, their fun and romance has fallen flat. After going to therapy, Ellie decides it’s time to do something about it. Together she and Marco invest in time with each other and begin to do things they’ve never done before - both in and out of the bedroom. 😏
💗 My Take 💗
This book made me feel so much. I felt Marco and Ellie’s pain as they struggled with making time for one another. I loved that Nichole shows that, in marriage, you’ve already built trust with your partner, giving you the comfort to try new things. And she doesn’t shy away from real fights couples have. It’s romantic, it’s fun, and it’s super spicy!
This book also inspired me to make time for my husband and me. If that’s not a resounding endorsement, I don’t know what is!
💜 Making Time For Us is a romance, but it’s not your typical romance. It’s about a married couple - Ellie and Marco - with four kids who love each other, but have given their lives over to work and raising their children. As a consequence, their fun and romance has fallen flat. After going to therapy, Ellie decides it’s time to do something about it. Together she and Marco invest in time with each other and begin to do things they’ve never done before - both in and out of the bedroom. 😏
💗 My Take 💗
This book made me feel so much. I felt Marco and Ellie’s pain as they struggled with making time for one another. I loved that Nichole shows that, in marriage, you’ve already built trust with your partner, giving you the comfort to try new things. And she doesn’t shy away from real fights couples have. It’s romantic, it’s fun, and it’s super spicy!
This book also inspired me to make time for my husband and me. If that’s not a resounding endorsement, I don’t know what is!
September 9, 2022
this was so boring😭 so so boring. hated the dialogue for some reason?? it didn’t feel like it was a real person taking it just felt like they were saying text, does that make sense??? anyway i hated this 🥲 half is just my preference but i would not recommend. so soso so cringy also.
October 27, 2023
nothing pisses me off in a book more than when an author hints at kink and then doesn't actually write actually, i was very much looking forward to a continuation of 'oh daddy' in the book but got nada.
i felt this book had the potential to be one of the greats but the author was so obsessed with not actually making their marriage that bad that she didn't do this justice. she kept hinting at deeper frustrations but then didn't do anything about them for example marcos exhaustion and his inability to always do something when he gets home, and ellies annoyance that he has to be nagged to do stuff, and leaves projects half finished.
i liked the exploration of their sex life however, but the actual fixing of their marriage was woefully incomplete and i know they're getting divorced.
(if you want to read this done well read love her or lose her by tessa bailey where they actually find the root cause of their issues and fix their marriage from top to bottom not just on the surface)
i felt this book had the potential to be one of the greats but the author was so obsessed with not actually making their marriage that bad that she didn't do this justice. she kept hinting at deeper frustrations but then didn't do anything about them for example marcos exhaustion and his inability to always do something when he gets home, and ellies annoyance that he has to be nagged to do stuff, and leaves projects half finished.
i liked the exploration of their sex life however, but the actual fixing of their marriage was woefully incomplete and i know they're getting divorced.
(if you want to read this done well read love her or lose her by tessa bailey where they actually find the root cause of their issues and fix their marriage from top to bottom not just on the surface)
December 25, 2022
Holy spice!! 🥵 Nichole told me it was spicy, but mother of Pearl. I was not ready 🤣
I connected with Ellie so much. She’s a mom who loves her children more than life, but has lost herself along the way. I feel like a lot of us parents can feel that, or have felt that at some point.
So Ellie decides she is determined to bring back some personal joy and also find the spark with her husband again…another thing that has been put on the back burner.
This book was very relatable and easy to get lost in. Ellie and Marco represent so many married couples with children, and seeing their journey to find their fire again was something I haven’t seen in any other book I’ve read. Which is extremely rare nowadays!
Thank you so much for your beautiful book, Nichole! 💜 I loved it.
I connected with Ellie so much. She’s a mom who loves her children more than life, but has lost herself along the way. I feel like a lot of us parents can feel that, or have felt that at some point.
So Ellie decides she is determined to bring back some personal joy and also find the spark with her husband again…another thing that has been put on the back burner.
This book was very relatable and easy to get lost in. Ellie and Marco represent so many married couples with children, and seeing their journey to find their fire again was something I haven’t seen in any other book I’ve read. Which is extremely rare nowadays!
Thank you so much for your beautiful book, Nichole! 💜 I loved it.
April 19, 2023
I read this book in one sitting. As a stay at home mom of two (now teenage) daughters and wife of almost 21 years this story closely related to the journey my own husband and I went through to reconnect and reprioritize our marriage over even our kids. I also worked with a therapist and I appreciated how the author took away the stigma of “why can’t we just work it out on our own”? While the intimacy between the main characters was pretty steamy, I also appreciated the vulnerability of two people who have been together for so long but daring to speak up and claim better sexual satisfaction for themselves. I thought the approach of sharing their own insecurities with various aspects of their sexual relationship was entirely relatable.
May 19, 2023
WILL GET YOU OUT OF YOUR SLUMP
I started reading this in November 2022 when i was in a really bad slump, 2 months not being able to read💀
Saw this book, loved the premise and thought "why not" and BOOM, i read 50%, didn't complete it all as i had ARC deadlines approaching but i was then was able to pick up the ARCs and actually read them.
This continued and so whenever I would get into the funk, i would read a few pages of this book and FINALLY, now in May 2023 I completed this book.
💌 "You have to make the time and energy for each other, because one day when your kids are gone and your house is quiet, you still want to be madly in love.” 💌
It's super REAL and sweet and has all the reality and there's nothing not to love <3
I started reading this in November 2022 when i was in a really bad slump, 2 months not being able to read💀
Saw this book, loved the premise and thought "why not" and BOOM, i read 50%, didn't complete it all as i had ARC deadlines approaching but i was then was able to pick up the ARCs and actually read them.
This continued and so whenever I would get into the funk, i would read a few pages of this book and FINALLY, now in May 2023 I completed this book.
💌 "You have to make the time and energy for each other, because one day when your kids are gone and your house is quiet, you still want to be madly in love.” 💌
It's super REAL and sweet and has all the reality and there's nothing not to love <3
October 5, 2022
the first part and whole theme was intriguing for me.. but the rest of them felt like too good to be true. I mean come on, such healthy, non toxic parenting, friendships, relationships does even exist? am i at the wrong side??! like ppl are just expressing and others are just admitting their mistakes and making ammends!!?? woah that's soooooo fiction. this book wasn't for me. this book is for those who always knew every side of healthiness but but but this book is also for the mothers and have sane husbands who will support them through thick and thin.. otherwise just dump him
March 28, 2023
So the sound of this book sounded ideal! I'm married with kids and I was excited to explore feelings that I may have or had and have something to relate to but this book felt very on the surface. Even though I liked some of the messages through out, one of the things I didnt like was how the broken relationship with her MIL was, it gave me a bad taste. Also, the 🌶 felt too strong for my taste. Some of it made me feel uncomfortable. But some people may still enjoy this more than I did, I just got bored quickly.
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