How Sweet It Is by Dylan Newton Book Review

“He could write a romance. Living it? That was a completely different story.”

(pg. 75)

About

Author: Dylan Newton

Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance

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Synopsis

Event planner Kate Sweet is famous for creating the perfect happily-ever-after moment for her clients’ dream weddings. So how is it that her best friend has roped her into planning a bestselling horror writer’s book launch extravaganza? But the second Kate meets—or rather, accidentally maims—the drop-dead-hot Drake Matthews, her well-ordered life quickly transforms into an absolute nightmare.

Drake Matthews is tired of the spotlight and tired of his reputation as the Knight of Nightmares. He’s really a nice guy! But he’s not prepared for Kate, a fearless agent of chaos in steel-tipped stilettos, or for that sweet sting of attraction he feels for her. She’s inspiring him to take his writing in a whole new direction—one that no one expects. Because now Kate and Drake are changing up the rules, and this plot twist might just surprise everyone . . . including themselves.

Review

Spoilers Contained Below

To those who dream of happily ever afters,

II love a book where one of the characters is a writer because it feels like a fun quirk because books involve writing. How Sweet It Is was every bit as sweet as it was funny, cute, and endearing.

Kate Sweet has one of the coolest careers I’ve heard of in a while. Usually in books someone is a writer, chef, baker, teacher, social media influencer, or rich. But no one has written about a party—oops, where are my manners—-I meant EVENT planner before, and I loved that.

“Throwing parties is like blowing a soap bubble—fun, but quickly over and forgotten. But event planning is like crafting a sphere out of iridescent glass and gifting it to someone forever. Events are momentous. . . If I screw up—don’t-triple-check every minuscule detail—I’ve shattered that delicate sphere. Yet, if I do my job right, it creates a magical memory my clients will forever treasure.”

(pg. 43)

I think event planning is such a cool but challenging job. People underestimate non-traditional jobs a lot and mistake them for being easy, when all jobs are challenging in their own ways. When Kate went on her spiel about event planning, I could understand how stressful it is to plan a full scale event and make sure everything is near perfect because if it is not, the event could be ruined, and no one enjoys themselves at a ruined event. I feel like even planning brings about the same feelings when you plan a wedding or a birthday party because you have to think about the food, maybe the flowers, the table seating, the party favors, the events, the outfits, the theme, and all of that adds up to one stress-induced headache. I don’t think I could even plan because I would be too overworked and overwhelmed. I like to write things down and make plans, but plan a whole thing that other people should enjoy . . . yea, not my thing 😅.

So I respected Kate’s job.

But Kate’s parents gave her shiz for what she did. Like I said before, people underestimate non-traditional jobs because they’re either too unheard of or they worry about their child’s stability. With this upcoming generation or the generation I am, we have all these non-traditional ways and professions that more people are exploring, which is exciting. But many parents who grew up with financial hardships see these non-traditional jobs as unstable because they are so new or maybe they do not understand these jobs. I don’t know if event planning was a job back then, but I could understand why Kate’s parents were scared for her, but that didn’t excuse the way they made her feel like shiz for her career choice. People should do what they are passionate about and what makes them happy, and people should support what others choose. Will people always agree with what someone does? Probably not. But it’s not their life, so it’s not their choice or their say. I didn’t feel like it helped that Kate’s parents were in one of the most prestigious careers out there: they were in the medical field. I mean, every parent either wants their child to be 1) a doctor or 2) a lawyer 😂. As an Asian, that’s what I heard a lot growing up, and a nurse too. But parents only say these professions because they pay well and they don’t want us to struggle as much as they did, which is understandable. But Kate’s parents constantly asking her about taking the MCAT or doing some job shadowing at the hospital didn’t show that they supported her career choice. It was passive aggressive because it sent the message to Kate that they thought she shouldn’t be an event planner and she should be a doctor like them and the sister. Good for the sister for actually wanting to be a doctor, but they shouldn’t have guilted Kate to feel like she should be a doctor.

Because her parent’s disapproval was quite apparent, it made Kate feel insecure or wrong for following her career path. The only way she felt her parents would finally approve of what she was doing or see her job as something of worth was if she won that distinguished EVPLEX award for event planning. Different people won the Evplex and I think the Evplex was run by this rich dude named Evan. Kate had her sights on being nominated and winning the Evplex because then  her parents would respect her for event planning and stop nagging her about going to medical school. Honestly, I was irritated for her. Let Kate do her thing! I think they just didn’t understand what she did to appreciate it, and that maybe if they knew how hard she worked and the heart and soul she put into her work, then maybe they would have respected her. I wanted to tell Kate that she didn’t need to win some award to feel validated in her career because she was already doing amazing things that she should be IMMENSELY proud of. Kate built a career for herself from the ground up and she branched out to hiring people. She made a name for herself with all her clients, she had a webpage, she had special moments that everyone loved. She was a business woman and an event planner. She was kicking butt, and if her parents couldn’t see that, then that’s on them 👏🏼!

But alas, Kate wanted to win the Evplex to prove something to her parents, so part of being nominated, Kate took on an event for the Knight of Nightmares because the publicity would be great and it would get her name out there. The Knight of Nightmares felt like bit of a stretch 🤪. Did Drake really give nightmares??? I mean, why was he called a knight? The nightmare part made sense; I’m overthinking this. But Drake, the Knight of Nightmares wrote all these gory, horrific thriller books, which cool for him. He was a renowned writer that other people loved and would stalk his creepy house. There were a lot of rumors about him and the conditions he lived in and wrote in. They all seemed like outlandish rumors that people wanted to believe because he was a horror or thriller writer. There’s always some sort of mystery with writers because they have their own life and sometimes you wonder where they draw inspiration from. Honestly, Drake was really on brand with the whole thriller and horror thing based on his enigma personality and his home.

My first impression of Drake was that he seemed like a shy over-thinker 😅. I mean that in the nicest way possible because I am a shy over-thinker. He gave me shy over-thinker vibes with his POV because it seems like he was really in his head with overanalyzing a scene or he was very observative of his surroundings. I could relate to Drake in this way because I’m a writer and I over analyze conversations, body language, or whatever. And I’m also very in-tune with my surroundings. I think it’s the writer part of us that hones in on the fine details of a situation and that translates to our writing being detailed. I also felt like her perspective chapters had a lot of inner monologue with Drake talking to himself and thinking about if he did this right or said this wrong or if how other people thought about what he said or did. I’m the same way, and it can be a cluster of so many things you’re processing at once that you come across quiet or shy because you’re trying to think of what to say or you don’t know what to say or do. So sometimes it takes a while for something to land or to figure out what comes next. That’s how I felt Drake processed a situation. I don’t know if he was shy necessarily, but shyness isn’t always quiet and nice, sometimes it’s quiet and angry. Or it comes off as angry or aggressive when really it’s a defense for not knowing how to process or understand a situation, so it makes someone burst in that way. I’m not a shyness expert, but I did grow up, and still very much am a shy person, so that’s my perspective on things. I just felt like I could relate to Drake a lot. I kind of wonder though, why Drake was an over thinker and if that stemmed from his parents? Did they make him feel like he always had to overthink?

On the flipped side, I also felt like Drake didn’t know how to read the room. He was observant for sure, but then Kate would talk and it felt like he didn’t emotionally understand what was wrong or how she felt to properly respond. I don’t know if this was part of his shyness or because he just wasn’t around many people. I think he was secluded and isolated in his grandma’s house. when you don’t have conversations or connections with people for so long, you become out of practice with communicating or understanding others. Especially in the past year, this was something I felt like I had to relearn as well. The first time I went out in public when restrictions eased open, I remember thinking, “How do I look at people?” or “What do I say?” or “Gosh, where do I put my hands?” I don’t know. I was in my head the whole time because I hadn’t talked to people in over a year, that being around people made me forget how to be a human being 😅. I slowly learned, and Drake did too, but it made me kind of sad to think about how we were two isolated people. Sometimes writing can also be a very isolating profession because you write by yourself with only a computer, yourself, and your mind—-all scary, deep things. And sometimes being in your own company for so long, makes you forget that things aren’t always read or imagined as you see them.

I could also understand Drake as a writer.

“The hardest part of his job was the fact that his imagination never took a break. Ever. His mind was always in high gear, presenting all sorts of mental pictures of fake scenarios that were usually more drama than reality.”

(pg. 44)

Writers or creatives have these magical brains that constantly see the world for what it could be rather than what it is. We don’t just see a building as a building, but a building that is housing secret vampires that are on a stakeout or whatever. We don’t just see a cute couple walking in a park, we see a friendship to lovers romance blooming and this is their first date and their having a cute conversation to connect and then one of them will fall or slip and the other will catch them and they will kiss and blah blah blah blah blah. We see everything and more. A lot of the time it’s a beautiful and wonderful thing, and I love that my brain processes things in a magical filter. Sometimes our minds also process things very darkly, heavily, and deeply. Both sides of the spectrum are incredible. It’s a gift. Many times, I feel like I can’t turn it off either because when I see something, I feel like it can be writing inspiration for the next story or a cute scene. During the summer, I had my writing brain on because I wasn’t in school so I could focus on my projects. But I remember I would just run outside and my mind would spark with a scene change or something new I could write, like a book idea. It feels like finding the last piece in the puzzle, and it’s such an elation. It’s cool and fun to be a writer or to have a vast imagination to draw from. A lot of the time, I ask myself how do authors even come up with the ideas they write? I’m talking about Cassandra Clare, Leigh Bardugo, V.E. Schwab, Tahereh Mafi, Sarah J. Maas. You know, the queens and the greatest. Like wow. What imagination and depth. Gosh, I would love to pick their brains, but I would also be kind of scared 🤪. Not gonna lie.

Being a writer is also a non-conventional job because money comes in when you sell your book or when your book makes sales. I heard that you don’t get paid for the sales until a while later, but I could be wrong. I’m probably wrong, I don’t know anything because I haven’t sold or published a book yet. But it can be an unstable job and that’s why I hear some authors have two jobs, but some work as full time authors because they can make a living with the income they have, which I mean GO YOU! But I liked that Kate and Drake had unconventional jobs and how Kate’s job was explored as a profession no one knew about or respected, but Drake was respected in his work. It was probably because Drake had a fanbase, but I think that you don’t need validation to know that what you are doing is right for you as long as it makes you happy and you just go for it. Because honestly, we should try to do what we dreamed of doing because the worst thing is that we get a no or that it doesn’t work out. At least then, we know we tried or we tried and we keep going.

As an author, there is a different level of responsibility or expectations. I don’t know much about being a published author but I know that many published authors have an agent, an editor, and maybe a publicist sometimes. I also know that many authors have to promote their book. Authors promote their work on social media, and they constantly do give-aways to hype up the book because if they don’t hype up the book, no one will. I mean, loyal readers will, but we can’t always assume. Promoting a book takes work, and it isn’t something I thought about as being part of an author until I started my bookstagram and followed all these authors who would promote their book. I don’t mind them promoting their books because that’s how I get news of new reads, but they’re only doing what they need to do to make a living and get the word out there. I respect it. I also respect the engagement authors have with their readers.

“A writer is nothing without readers.”

(pg. 105)

I know not all authors have time to engage with their readers because they are busy with their writing. But I find it so cool when an author spends time answering questions or chatting with readers about what they wrote because I feel like books become a shared space and a fun conversation. I also love talking about books with people, but I don’t live in a town or with people in my life who enjoy reading, so often I don’t talk about books to anyone. That’s why I kind of have a blog because it’s my way of expressing all the love or emotions I feel with what I read 🥰. It’s also really interesting to hear an author’s take about what they wrote or why or how they wrote something. I love hearing the inspiration behind a scene or book. I love also getting to know an author because many times they seem like faces on the back of a cover and we know the bare minimum about who they are, but yet, I know authors are these amazingly wonderful people who created these worlds, characters, and words. And that’s so amazing and cool. How could you not want to know more about them? I want to know about what inspired their writing or what made them a writer? I just want to know the human who brought me so much joy, love, and pain with books and to thank them for giving me an outlet where I feel happy, safe, and alive. I don’t know. I have so much appreciation for authors. I just want to note, authors don’t need to share things they don’t want to or are not comfortable sharing, which is completely fine! I just love getting to know people.

I think that Drake had such a strong connection to his readers, which I loved. I truly thought it was so genuine that he would always take the time to sign people’s books even if he was busy or he felt awkward. Always. What a wholesome thing to do. I can only imagine how weirdly cool it would be to be an author and sign a book because someone loved your work and wanted to connect with you through a signature. Thinking about it, I think about how I buy signed books from favorite authors because I (hopefully 🤞🏼) will meet them one day, but so far I have not. And with this pandemic, I don’t know about that. But I buy signed books because I want to feel connected or it feels validating of some sorts to have the person who wrote the book sign the story I loved so much. It feels wholesome like the author knows me or took the time to want to connect with me too. Books connect people and it’s such a beautiful space to share stories and be heard when spoken words can’t be heard but felt.

I love books 💙.

It also must be pretty wild and cool to think about all the people you might meet as an author who connect and love your story. I’m a big Christine Riccio fan because I have followed her since middle school. I watched her videos because it felt like a friend talking to me about how they felt about a book when I had no one to talk to. When she became an author and wrote Again, But Better, I can’t even begin to describe how I needed to read that book when I did. I read ABB when I was a freshman in college and was going through a depressive moment. I felt like college was the most lonely thing ever and that things wouldn’t get better. But after I read ABB, I realized that it was okay if college wasn’t everything I thought it was going to be, and that things would get better. Sometimes people feel the same sense of sadness and loneliness as I did, but I would have never known that if I hadn’t read ABB when I did. I also wouldn’t have felt less alone in that moment if I hadn’t read ABB. Being a senior in college now, I can say it does get better, maybe not perfect, but better. But I think that’s also why books and authors have such a special relationship because we connect on so many levels and depths of the human emotion and experience and we support each other through the words we find connection in.

One of my favorite moments from the book was when Drake met Judy 🥺💙.

I LOVED Judy. This was such a special and wholesome moment . . . like I could not.

I loved how Judy just went up to Drake and was like, I don’t have a book for you to sign, but I am living proof that your books matter. If I was Drake, I would have been tearing up or balling my eyes out already. When Judy shared her story and upbringing, the tears just fell, but then when she talked about how she found Drake’s book and how much his work helped her reconnect with her brother and how it gave her a safe escape from the harsh realities of life, I was A GONER. I just could relate to Judy SO MUCH 😭. I don’t have a similar story to Judy, but I have faced hardships growing up and books were the things that brought me the most safety and comfort in a crumbling world. I remember distinctly in 8th grade when I was going through a really rough patch, I carried around my BIG A** copy of City of Heavenly Fire because it felt like a teddy bear of comfort when school and home weren’t safe or happy places. I remember it was just when I got into The Mortal Instrument series and COHF just came out and I read it and carried it around that whole week. I got looks for sure, but as self-conscious as I was as a pre-teen, it didn’t bother me that people judged that I carried around a 600 or 700 page brick with me everyday for a week. I was happy and I felt comforted that I had this whole world of people and characters that I loved and felt connected to. And books just have that immense power to connect and bring comfort in our hard times because it shows us a world where things are complicated, but there is more light and hope ahead. It also helps to have people who you feel like are real enough to love you or be with you when you feel so alone in this world. I just wanted to hug Judy because I felt her 💙. I have to say moments with Judy are moments I think why authors do what they do—-the connection.

But I also think about how as a reader, I would love to meet an author and properly thank them for all they have given me.

I genuinely mean that. Look at me, tearing up as I write this.

Authors don’t know how far or deep their words run.

And then you have people like the girl in the elevators who say sign my tits 😂. That CRACKED me up because what a contrast from Judy! But gosh, I hope no author has actually had to do that. I mean, no judgement if you have or you have done what the girl in the elevator has done, but read the room is all I can say to that 🙈.

Also, with being an author, sometimes authors are put into this niche.

“It was better to forget this stupid historical romance novel and remember what paid the bills on this house, the local veterans’ shelter, and where the funds had come from for both of his brothers’ start-up businesses: his horror books. That’s what he needed to figure out—how to get rid of his writer’s block for Twisted Twin and get the thing done already, cash the check, and move on to the next one, and the next one.

Lather, rinse, repeat. Until he was dead.”

(pg. 81)

Well, the last part was pretty darn morbid, but I understood where Drake was coming from.

Some authors are known for a certain genre, but when they branch out of that genre, sometimes it might not be the most receptive by their readers. I think it’s because readers are so used to the author writing one way, that when they write something different, it either disappoints them or astounds them in a good way. Most times, I think it’s the latter because authors have a range and they should be able to write whatever they feel like writing. They shouldn’t just be stuck to one genre because that’s what they started with or what they are known for. I feel like it’s also unfair to place authors or writers in one box when no one just writes one thing, and there is nothing wrong if someone only writes one genre because maybe that’s what they love and what they are good at. But people should have the creative freedom to try new things if they want and not feel bad that others might not like it or that it’s the wrong direction.

I know when Tahereh Mafi wrote A Very Large Expanse of Sea, I was super excited because I loved the Shatter Me series, and it was cool that she was going to do contemporary romance. I liked that 💙. I also loved that Colleen Hoover went from New Adult romance to thriller and horror with Verity and Layla. I really did not see that one coming. I remember when I saw Verity come out, I was like “What is this?” 😆 Not in a bad way, but a this-doesn’t-look-like-romance-to-me. I was just shocked at first because it was such a difference from the CoHo books I read, but I genuinely enjoyed Layla. I have a book review for it. I can link it below. But what I am saying is that even though I was so used to these authors writing in one genre, it was such a fun and nice change to see their range of writing and creativity. I was immensely proud of them.

So, I wanted to tell Drake to just write his historical romance if that was what was giving him joy and passion. Forcing writing is not going to help you write anything. And writing something you aren’t passionate about, isn’t going to help either. I feel like there was a lot of pressure Drake put on himself and others put on him to continue to write horror. If he opened up to his agent about what he was actually writing, I think the agent would understand. I mean, shouldn’t the agent encourage the author to write what they are comfortable or want to write? Honestly, get you an agent who supports what you want to do.

I thought it was quite cute and romantic how he wanted to write a story based on his grandparents’ love story. What a sweetheart romantic indeed. I found it cute how he also used his grandparents letters as inspiration or how he lived in his grandparents house, which was filled with inspiration about their great love. I also loved the moment he took Kate to meet his Grandma. My heart melted at that scene because I don’t think Drake lets many people into his life. So, the fact he let Kate in and let him meet his Grandma, felt special.

Kate was special to him for many reasons.

The first time Kate and Drake met, they basically were groping each other, which was WEIRD 🤪. If I was Drake, I would have felt like my personal boundaries were gone that day. I knew that Kate was being chased by an innocent shih tzu because the cover had one. She thought she was being chased by a big dog, which, honey, I would have run into the arms of the Knight of Nightmares too 😂. Gosh, but big dogs scare me, especially if they are running. Little dogs who have a big bark and jump scare me. I like the dogs who just smile at you and wag their tongues. Drake was a bit overwhelmed with the whole being mauled by Kate thing and fired her that day. I could understand how he must have felt, but I also thought his shy rudeness was coming off. He just needed to chill about the situation and look at it from afar; he was a bit hasty.

But I loved how Drake’s brothers talked him down. I loved Drake’s brothers, Ryker and Zander. They were both such wholesome and cool dudes. I just want to place the bets. now that the next book is about Imani and Zander. I call it. They had this flirtatious chemistry all throughout the book that was hard to deny, or at least Zander got all choked up whenever Imani was around, which we love when a guy gets nervous because a powerful, confident boss a** woman. I bet the third book is about Ryker and his love life,I would love to read about him—both of them really. I feel like Kiersten could get her own book too. That would be interesting and fun. I also thought Ryker and Zander were always super supportive of Drake and vice versa. I loved how Drake supported his brother’s endeavors and donated to the military. We love to see a humble King. I also teared up with how after Drake lost his other dog and went through a rough patch, Zander secretly got Drake Sasha (the shih tzu). Drake found Sasha in crate with a collar sitting in front of his gate like someone left her there, when actually Zander left Sasha there as a gift because he knew how sad Drake had been 🥺. If that’s not the sweetest thing you have ever heard, I don’t know what is! Get you a bro who gets you a dog because he feels like you need companionship. I also loved when Drake felt like shiz in the end, they were both supportive in getting him out of bed and to his book launch because they wouldn’t let him miss it. We love bros who support each other 💙.

Moving on from the brothers, they talked some sense into him in rehiring Imani and Kate as the event planner. Honestly, if I was Drake, I would have felt like Kate’s original plan was a bit much because it screamed too for lack of a better word, cheugy. It was too lame, try-hard haunted house vibes. I was not here for it for Drake. If that was his event, I would have laughed. I haven’t been to a book event before, but I’m pretty sure that they don’t do something super duper grand or extra. I mean, good for the author if there is an audience for that, but I would not. I liked how Kate tried to dial it down to Drake’s comfort level while also keeping true to her extravagant roots or the immense detail she puts into her work.

But part of the reason Drake also agreed to rehire Kate was because he was using her for research. He claimed he never felt as alive then when Kate jumped his bones or entered his life, which I mean, DUH! Of course when someone jumps your bones and adds something exciting, that’s prime writing inspiration. The thing I didn’t like about their relationship and arrangement at first was that Drake wasn’t completely honest about his intentions about how he was using Kate for writing inspiration. He told her that she would help him with research, and I guess she was, but not in the way she thought. I felt like he could have been more upfront with saying that he was using events in their life as scenes in his new book because it felt deceptive what he was making her do without her knowing it was for “research.”

For one, going into the crypt. I mean, was that necessary 😂?

That was just plain WEIRD. If I was Kate, I wouldn’t have cared how famous he is for his writing or that I was supposed to help him conduct research! Going into a crypt was above her pay grade 😆. I WOULD NOT. He could go in here by himself if he really wanted research.

“Then he snatched up his legal pad and pen, marveling that this woman—basically a stranger—was willing to crawl into a tomb because she believed his books were . . . good for the world?”

(pg. 122)

Must have been some strong belief because gosh darn.

That was another thing I admired about Kate—her determination and unwavering support. I loved how no matter when Drake doubted or down played his writing, she always uplifted him. I loved that. Because Drake was a great writer, heck, a best-selling writer and he should not feel embarrassed or ashamed for being proud of that. I feel like creatives can put a lot of pressure on ourselves to outdo ourselves and if we don’t we feel like a failure. Or we live in this constant stasis of imposter syndrome like we aren’t good at what we do, but I think we should give ourselves more credit for trying and for writing what we feel. It’s not easy to put words to emotions and make others feel that emotion or experience. I feel like Drake’s doubt also stemmed from being hard on himself. We can be our own worst critic. But we need to be kind to ourselves and talk to ourselves like we would a friend. Like Kate was talking to him as an encouraging friend. I also believed Kate’s support came from a place of knowing what it was like for others not to support what you do. She didn’t want anyone else to feel invalidated or like no one believed in them because it’s a sucky feeling. It sucks the life of you and makes you question if you should keep doing what you’re doing. So I appreciated Kate for being Drake’s number one supporter even if she hadn’t read any of his work before.

“This book deserves to be published, especially if it has been living in your head for so long.”

(pg. 282)

I also liked the stained glass scene. They were in the crypt and saw a stained glass window that streamed in colorful light. I thought it was funny that Kate thought about creating a necklace as a present for a bride if someone got married in the crypt. I mean, who would get married in a crypt out of all places? Not that I judge, but . . . . OUT OF ALL PLACES? Not that I judge 🙈. When I read that she would create the stained glass as a piece of jewelry, I had a feeling this tidbit might come back up in the future, maybe in a romantic moment 😉. Why else would Dylan Newton include this cryptic scene 😉. I don’t know if that was a pun, but I’ll take it.

They also had an interesting conversation about their fears. Drake’s was rejection, which makes sense. No one likes being rejected, but being in a creative career, you often face a lot of rejection at first. Afterward, some people may still reject you or not agree with your work and that’s hard because it places expectations on your shoulders. So, I could understand how Drake felt. Kate didn’t want to let people down, which is a whole psychological thing I can get into. She doesn’t like letting people down because deep down she felt like she let down her parents by not becoming a doctor, so now she feels like she can’t let anyone down because it feels like others were right about her making the wrong choice. I could feel for Kate because no one wants to let anyone down either, but there was also immense expectation on her shoulders.

They could relate to the fear they felt from others accepting their professions because it was unconventional. So they had pressure on their shoulders and Kate had a bat in her hair.

Yea, the bat in the hair??!?!?!?!?!

I’M SORRY. NOT WITH THIS PANDEMIC 😅. Absolutely not. Hard no. I am triggered. Just no.

Also, Drake kept saying how he liked her after the crypt scene, which cool. But the thing I couldn’t buy was if he liked her because he was the first woman in a long time that he kind of had a lot of action with or because he liked the fantasy version of Kate that he built up in his head? You know. Because at this point he was going full throttle with his romance book and using Kate as his muse, so whenever he wrote about Kate through his characters, I wasn’t sure if he liked Kate or who he thought Kate was. Or maybe it was the other way around and he actually did like Kate and it showed through his writing. I believed more of the latter later in the book because it seemed like he genuinely did like her. But at first, yea, it felt like he liked the idea of who Kate was because she was so new and fresh in his life. Side tangent, what is up with EVERY single male character or writer having a six pack ab??? I want to know their writing regimen that gives them a six pack because a girl needs to know 🤪? No, but seriously, I’ve read a lot of YA my entire life and this past year and not a single character male character did not have abs. Where are these 16 year olds getting abs? This is absolutely not related, but I thought about how Kate asked Drake if he was photoshopped because he had killer abs.

No wonder he was a horror writer. Killer abs 😂.

Attack of the Killer Abs. I see a best seller there.

But after the crypt scene, I still found it wrong that he used her for research without being upfront. I didn’t appreciate him faking a limp just so Kate could cook for him and he could use it in a stellar scene. Bro, she was onto you!!! If he was going to fake limp, he should have remembered which leg he limped on 👏🏼!! I get it though, I like to write based on experience and inspiration, but it felt wrong that he pretended to be injured and made Kate do the work while he was soaking up content. He was getting the content baby content 😉. If you know, you know.

The Wizard of Oz fall event was a whole level of lets-try-to-create-sexual-tension and make it awkward. Not in a bad way, but a what the heck is going on way. How did we go from a crypt to a fall fair with Drake’s junk sticking out of his robotic front trunk. I don’t know. I felt like it was objectifying that the other women ogled Drake. I would have felt uncomfortable like him. What made me super uncomfortable was when Kate created shorts to cover his front junk and had to kneel in front of him. I WAS CRINGING.

“Her voice was not much above a whisper, as she gazed up at him, knife in hand. “Do you trust me?”

(pg. 198)

I LITERALLY thought of ALADDIN 😂!!!

I WAS CACKLING.

Sis was going to cut him some pants and she’s acting like she’s doing some grand gesture when really she is in the most awkward and uncomfortable position in front of his junk, slashing some pants. Like what???? I could not. Kneels sis, Kneel!

Also, I freaking loved Patty, Drake’s mom. What a great woman. We love a mom who embarrasses the son. After Kate made Drake some pants for his Tin Man junk, they shared a kiss, and Patty went backstage to scold Drake for not coming on stage and her freaking mic was on. We love to hear it 😂! I would have been MORTIFIED. Good thing I wasn’t them. I also loved how when we first met Patty, she was super kind and warm to Kate because she could sense Kate was having a bad day. So Patty closed down her bakery and she listened to Kate talk and provided her tips on how to get closer to Drake. Little did Kate know Patty was Drake’s mom, but I still appreciated how kind Patty was to just listen to Kate. I feel like Patty’s the kind of person who would listen to anyone and everyone and be a non-judgmental and safe place to go to. She seemed so awesome.

After Drake and Kate kissed, you could tell how much Drake was overthinking the kiss. I understood his perspective though because he was the boss and Kate was planning his event. They wanted to keep a professional relationship, but honestly they crossed a professional relationship when she kneeled near his junk. But being inside Drake’s head made me release how much I overthink as well because Kate literally didn’t say anything about regretting the kiss or the kiss being unprofessional. We knew she was cool with it because she wanted to kiss him. But Drake kept creating these scenarios of ideas In his head that she regretted it or was mad at him when she really wasn’t. His thoughts made me think about how we can create things in our minds and believe them enough that we feel it’s true, but we need to remind ourselves that sometimes—- a lot of the times—-the narratives we create on others in our heads aren’t true. Kate wasn’t upset with him and I wanted to tell him to stop overanalyzing everything in such a negative light because she’s just enjoying herself at the fair, not trying to avoid him or anything. Gosh, I can see how overthinking now is not always the healthiest. It’s something we both need to work on.

It was only right after they kissed that he opened up about Kate being his muse, which when put that way doesn’t sound so deceiving. It actually sounds sweet 😉. Get it?

“Did you hear that? You’re getting the VIP experience tonight.”

(pg. 218)

Yea, she was 😏.

Carl and I were on the same wavelength. We know what VIP treatment means.

For someone who overthinks, he sure knows what a girl wants 💙.

I have to admit, I loved the Niagara book conference thing. I mean, just WOW.

First, he said PRIVATE HELICOPTER.

Then he said, PRIVATE PILOT.

Then he said, a tour above Niagara. EXCUSE ME. WOW.

I mean how freaking romantic that he flew her over Niagara with the water rushing down and the rainbow shining and the Maid of Mist moment. It was just such a stunningly beautiful orchestrated romantic plan.

And this guy thought he couldn’t write a romance?????? Bro, you just executed a romance 👏🏼!!!

I also loved when they took such a cute and happy photo together. I already thought to myself, “This is going to be the photo they are going to look back on and think I fell in love with the other person at that exact moment.” I loved that for them. Honesty, let’s go Drake. He knows what VIP treatment means. He knows how to treat a woman. Dang, some guy barely text you back and we have Drake over here flying you over Niagara 😅. Get someone who goes the extra mile. No less.

I also loved that when they got to the convention place, Kate was so cool about Drake signing all the fans’ books. Drake ex, Rachel would have thrown a hissy fit for waiting the entire time, but Kate created the line, took orders or whatever. She was super patient and organized and she wanted Drake to make time for his fans. I loved that she didn’t make him feel uncomfortable signing books because I feel like if someone truly supported and loved Drake, they would understand that his fans mean a lot to him and that that should mean a lot to them too. So I appreciated Kate helping him with his impromptu book signing. I also have to say, Kate and Drew popped off on Evan and Rachel at this dinner thing. Kate was like, “I’m going to get some tonight!” Yea, she was. Let’s rub it in Rachel’s face Kate!

Rachel sounds like grade A trash. I’m sorry, but if she was writing about how gosh darn awful being with Drake was before they even broke up to profit on their relationship, that’s not it sis. Also, dating a rich older guy screams, I like your money more than I do you. She said, I got me a sugar daddy and I don’t need anyone else. Drake really dodged a basketball with her.

I also loved how in the moment Kate realized that she didn’t need an Evplex to prove anything to anyone; that winning the award and sucking up to Evan and Rachel wasn’t worth it. Honestly, if you have to prove yourself or your worth to someone just for them to appreciate you, they are not the right people you should be surrounding yourself with. Kate was always enough and I’m glad we dropped this whole Evplex thing because it didn’t seem to be going anywhere. I also wondered how you judged an event because that’s entirely subjective. I guess the same can be said about other awards, but good for Kate still.

I also liked when they crashed the wedding and. tried to disguise Drake to be incognito. You know, I always wondered how no one noticed Clark Kent or Kara Danvers when they just wore glasses, but I feel like the whole glasses thing does throw people off. I think they call it the Tony Hawk effect or something, but I’m glad they had a good time.

They really took their good time to the next level because what did I tell you . . .

HE SAID VIP TREATMENT 👏🏼🤪!

No, seriously! When Drake wore that suit and Kate wore that stunning dress with the heels, I was like, those are coming off tonight.

“Drake stumbled in the hallway. “Wait. You brought a condom?”

Kate used her key card to unlock her door, her face flushing a crimson sunset even as she thrust her chin at him in challenge, shaking her head. “Nope. I brought nine.”

. . .When he was sure he had himself under control, he brought his head back up, chuckling in awe. “I’m so damn glad you are a planner, Kate Sweet.”

(pg. 269)

HAHAHAHAHA. I cackled. We love a planner 😂.

Kudos to Drake for being the only guy who was actually not presumptuous when he said I didn’t want to be presumptuous and bring a condom.

Taking a big step with Drake was a huge deal for Kate because she wasn’t one for relationships. I understood and respected her perspective because as an older woman, you’re expected to get married and have children. But not everyone wants to get married and have children and I don’t think it’s anyone’s business to ask someone if they are married or if they are trying to have a baby. I also don’t think it’s right for people to shame or instigate that a woman or a person should get married or have a baby because that is none of their concern. That’s up for someone to decide. Also, as a woman, many people assume the woman will just sit pretty at home, sweeping, cooking, and whatnot. I don’t who still has this age old idea because we live in the 21st century. But Kate was not about to sit pretty at home. She was a mother forking business woman with a booming career. She don’t got or want the  time, nor does she want time to sit pretty at home, waiting for some man who should be able to take care of himself. Kate has been in relationships, but nothing that lasted because she never found someone who respected her hustling nature. So, it felt like she was always skeptical to be with someone because she didn’t want to choose her business over a guy, which she should never. But it also felt like a part of Kate was lonely because she would come home to an empty house and a dead succulent. That’s pretty sad. I remember when I lived in the dorm by myself, I would go back to my room and it would be empty, dark, and dreary. I had never felt more alone or sadder than I did when I was dorming. It took a while for me to be okay, but I still felt that creeping loneliness and I felt that’s how Kate felt.

After Kate met Drake’s grandma, I felt like she got a tinkling of wanting to settle down or slow down because she saw the idyllic home and the love Drake had for his grandma, that that made her think that her life was a bit fast-paced. I agree that we can get so caught up in the hustle of work or trying to prove ourselves, especially as a woman, that we forget that it’s okay to slow down. It’s also completely okay to want to get married and have kids when you are ready.

“How long had she been constantly rushing toward a goal, never realizing a cliff was just ahead, but springing toward it, nevertheless, because what else was there except her career? Maybe Drake was the guy she’d never thought was out there.”

(pg. 278)

I liked that Drake was so receptive to Kate’s wishes of not wanting to be the typical housewife. We love a progressive king. I liked how he didn’t care if she didn’t cook or clean, or how open he was to writing wherever her career took her. We also love a supportive king. What a great man. It just goes to show you that the right person, the supportive person, is out there and to not settle.

Drake was the guy.

I also loved how Drake gave Kate his manuscript. I thought it was super sweet because Kate was going to read one of his books—finally. But the sentiment was also special because you have to trust someone immensely to want them to read your manuscript. A manuscript is such a vulnerable, probably at its rawest form, a person’s heart and Drake opened his heart to Kate by giving her his writing. I would be honored if I was Kate.

When she went to that cafe to read his book and she rushed out of there, I was already shaking my head. I knew she would forget the manuscript!!!!!! I felt it in my jumped bones. I manifested that someone was going to leak that manuscript.

“Duuuude,” the voice mail began, “why didn’t you tell me you wrote smut? I love smut. I want the sex scenes. Pronto.”

(pg. 290)

Freaking Zander! We were on the same wavelength for sure 😂💙.

I felt Drake was going to murder her . . . and write a book about it. Lived to tell the tale 😂.

“I thought it was taken care of, until Imani called me. It was a mistake, Drake. That’s all.”

“That’s the only true thing you’ve said this whole call. It was a mistake. All of it. Trust you, having you help me research, introducing you to my family, sleeping with you, for [gosh] sake—all of it was a mistake. My mistake,” Drake said.

(pg. 294)

Dang, his reaction was brutal. His jacka** was showing 🤪. He seriously didn’t need to be rude to Kate because what happened was an understandable mistake. She was caught up in this new crisis with the whole haunted house event book thing that she left his manuscript on the table. But he didn’t need to throw everything they’ve been through together back in her face as a mistake.

That was a low.

But I get it, he was overthinking the worst in the situation and blaming Kate. He thought that his agent was not going to like the surprise romance and that his fans weren’t going to be supportive. I also understood why Drake was spiraling because he was in that relationship with Rachel where she also used him for money. So, when it seemed like Kate leaked the manuscript he shared with her in confidence because he trusted her, of course he would be steaming at the buns. What is up with all my buns puns? I’m on a roll 😉. Okay, I’m done for now. Anyway, I get it, but I think he knew Kate enough to know that he wouldn’t sell him out like that. But that’s hard when the past has told you otherwise. But he did not need to pop off on Kate like that. Just let her explain and then process it and then have a civil conversation when. When you’re heated in the moment, I feel like all rationality goes out the window.

You know, for a second, I thought how wild would it be if we did a 180 and Judy leaked the book 😆? That would have been wild. I’m glad we didn’t take that route. We love Judy.

I felt terrible for Kate because she still wanted to finish planning his event. Gosh, I give her credit for rolling with the changes from haunted house to a black and white theme because she remembered how much Drake liked black and white silent movies. I thought that was a neat idea because it fit his new book well, while adding a personal touch. I also felt awful for her because she was planning the event for someone she thought hated her guts now—knew hated her guts now. It also just said a lot about the kind of person Kate was to still go through with planning his launch because she meant no harm to him and she was more than professional. I respected her so much. Kate also showed how much she cared about her work, and that she wouldn’t let some mean boss tell her off. I wanted to hug Kate when she looked at the picture of them all smiley in Niagara. It was the last and only picture they had as a happy couple.

You know what I love about the side characters in a book? They talk some sense into the main characters who screwed up. I’m looking at you Drake. I loved that Ryker and Zander gave it to Drake straight in how he was being a butthole to Kate because they knew what she did was an honest mistake and Drake still couldn’t see it.

“Love is probably the only thing on this planet worth fighting for. Worth losing everything for. You’re a fool if you let pride stand in your way.”

(pg. 305)

I think Ryker should follow in his little bro’s footsteps and do some romance writing because he sounds like a hopeless romantic.

Drake knew he was an idiot and tried to make it up to Kate.

Inviting Kate’s parents and sister to his book launch wasn’t part of his grand plan, but he invited them when Kate and him were starting to have a crush on each other. I knew he invited Kate’s family out of the kindness of his heart and he wanted them to see what Kate did and be proud of her—-as they should. At the moment, when he invited them, the one thing that went through my mind was that this was not a good idea. I don’t think she ever invited her parents to an event because they would berate or judge her. They kind of laid it on thick with Kate when they saw her and the event. I also loved that Kiersten, Kate’s sister, stood up for Kate in telling their parents to stop reminding Kate to take the MCAT. I honestly want to know more about Kiersten because she sounds kind of cool; anyone who stands up for someone they love is cool in my book. As much as Kate’s parents were rude to Kate at the event, I feel like there was miscommunication because they wanted her to be the hospital event planner and that was why they constantly tried to reach her. But I don’t blame Kate for ignoring her parents calls when history has shown they only called to invalidate her passion. I think it was a good start to want Kate to be the hospital event planner because it said they were open to Kate’s job. I also think they were starting to see that she did more than blow up balloons and throw streamers.

I thought her wow moment with the bookmarks was pretty darn cool. Good for her for keeping with her brand.

I also thought it was cute Drake actually got her the stained glass crypt necklace. I told you that scene was significant 😉. You know, marry a writer because they really are good with words. They have the best dialogue for a making-up scene.

“I love you, Kate Sweet. And I want to see what our next chapter brings.”

. . . “There can be only one logical plan.” Kate curled her fingers into the hair at the back of his neck, tugging him back to her lips. “I am the Queen of Happily Ever Afters, after all.”

(pg. 329)

Yea, she was.

The whole getting back together scene was cute, but I would have liked more conversation between Drake and Kate about his insecurities and his past trust. I also wanted more heart to hearts between them throughout the story. I liked that we got cutesy moments like the fall fair thing and the times they spent in the Drake Manor, but I wanted a proper date or a moonlight walk or something more. I wanted to understand them more as people and maybe their upbringing or their likes and dislikes. There was a lot of sexual tension scenes, which is natural for a new adult, but give me the non-sexual build up of a relationship. Give me the honesty and vulnerability. That’s not to say I didn’t like their relationship in the end, I just wanted more or to know more about them because all I knew about Drake was that he was a good guy who wrote books and didn’t like rejection. He liked dogs and hated his ex. Kate couldn’t keep a plant alive, she loves fairy tale endings, she’s a loyal and hard worker, and she also likes small dogs. I don’t know something was missing.

The epilogue though, was INCREDIBLE. I love an epilogue. I loved that Drake was writing romance and that he was a best-seller in that genre too. I would have liked to see if the Nana read or heard the book Memory Lane. I think that would have been sweet if she did 💙. I also loved loved loved the wedding. For 0.5 seconds I genuinely thought they were going to get married in a crypt 😂. I mean, my brain wasn’t wrong for going there because they did talk about it and he got her a crypt necklace and he was the Knight of Nightmares. I wouldn’t put it past them. I’m glad they didn’t.

Gosh darn, the ode to the Niagara Maid of the Mist and the first time they fell in love was perfect—-chef’s kisses. I loved how they had it on the boat and everyone was wearing rain coats to not get wet/splashed. I also loved the magical rainbow and the happily ever after and they will be together until the end. Drake spoke beautifully and wrote beautifully. What a cute wedding. I might just have to look into that place for the future 😉.

I am happy for their futures and careers.

Overall, the first 200 or so pages were really slow for me because there were a lot of random or awaked moments that felt forced in creating this sexually charged relationship or something. There was also the research deception that I was not a fan of in the beginning because that didn’t seem romantic to me. But after the Niagara and VIP experience, the story really picked up and became more interesting and romantic and that’s where I fell in love with the characters a bit more and their journeys. I still reel back to the moment with Judy because I could relate to Judy as a reader so much. That’s so weird that she wasn’t even a main or side character but she resonated with me that much. I also would have liked more family resolution between Kate and her parents because they were open to her event planning, it didn’t mean they respected or understood it. I think Kate talked to them about how their lack of support made her feel or how their comments about medical school made her feel. She should be honest and set those boundaries because if they don’t know that those comments are hurting her, they might still do it. I also wanted more Sasha, Imani, and Kiersten. I feel like Sasha was cheated. She dropped off the face of this book. I bet she wasn’t at the wedding (rightfully so for her safety, but still)! The dog 😩.

I’m excited for Zander or Ryker’s story next.

Anyway, what was your favorite part of the book? Least favorite part? 

What did you think of the book? Let me know below in the comments as I love hearing from you all 💕

Who is your Drake Matthews—-the author who helped you through heavy times?

I hope you have a beautiful day whenever and wherever you might be reading this 😊.

And as always, with love,

Rating

3.64 Full Bloom Flowers

Characters: I liked Kate as the strong, kick butt boss woman she was. I also liked Drake because I could understand him as an over thinker and writer.

Plot: I liked that Dylan Newton explored the realities writer’s and those with non-traditional jobs face. I also liked the romantic ending 💙

Writing: The beginning was kind of slow, but the story picked up after the Niagara adventure they take

Romance: Slow and awkward in the beginning, and cute and happy in the end