I was sent a free copy of Love at First by Kate Clayborn by She Speaks as part of the She Speaks Book Club. All opinions are my own.
About Love At First:
A sparkling and tender novel from the acclaimed author of Love Lettering, full of bickering neighbors, surprise reunions, and the mysterious power of love that fans of Christina Lauren, Sarah Hogle, and Emily Henry will adore.
Sixteen years ago, a teenaged Will Sterling saw—or rather, heard—the girl of his dreams. Standing beneath an apartment building balcony, he shared a perfect moment with a lovely, warm-voiced stranger. It’s a memory that’s never faded, though he’s put so much of his past behind him. Now an unexpected inheritance has brought Will back to that same address, where he plans to offload his new property and get back to his regular life as an overworked doctor. Instead, he encounters a woman, two balconies above, who’s uncannily familiar . . .
No matter how surprised Nora Clarke is by her reaction to handsome, curious Will, or the whispered pre-dawn conversations they share, she won’t let his plans ruin her quirky, close-knit building. Bound by her loyalty to her adored grandmother, she sets out to foil his efforts with a little light sabotage. But beneath the surface of their feud is an undeniable connection. A balcony, a star-crossed couple, a fateful meeting—maybe it’s the kind of story that can’t work out in the end. Or maybe, it’s the perfect second chance . . .
Buy Love at First
About the Author:
Kate Clayborn is the two-time RITAⓇ Award-nominated author of highly acclaimed romantic comedies, including Love Lettering, Love at First, and the Chance of a Lifetime series. Her novels have been named Best Romances of the Year by O, The Oprah Magazine, Entertainment Weekly, The Washington Post, Buzzfeed, Romper, and more. She lives in Virginia and can be found online at KateClayborn.com.
Praise for Love at First:
“Kate Clayborn’s writing is a study in syntax and rhythm; her storytelling is a perfect example of patience and pacing. With her trademark eye to detail of setting and scene, she has built a pitch-perfect love story, in a precious world-within-the-world setting, and honest-to-god the most delightful cast of characters I’ve met in ages. Tonally perfect, deeply romantic, and exquisitely crafted, Clayborn delivers a modern romance masterpiece.“
—New York Times bestseller Christina Lauren
“Kate Clayborn’s luminously beautiful Love at First is playful, heartbreaking, wise, and wonderful. I adored this story about two souls finding their way out of loss and grief and forging their own paths to true love.”
—Ruby Lang, author of Playing House
“Will and Nora’s chemistry and the quirky side characters keep the pages turning. Clayborn’s fans will be pleased.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Clayborn explores the experience of falling in love in a Chicago apartment building in a contemporary romance that will resonate with city dwellers and rural readers alike…A superb cast of characters rounds out this sweet, slow-burn romance.”
—Booklist
“A Mary Balogh–style love story…The comforting rewrite of Romeo and Juliet you didn’t know you needed.”
—Kirkus Reviews
My Opinion:
Nora lives in an apartment building with an endearing and eclectic mix of people that consider themselves family more than anything else. When one of them dies and leaves his unit to a stranger who plans to use the apartment as a short term rental for vacationers it is as if someone was trying to break up their little family. Can Nora get him to change his mind?
The thing is, Nora knows this stranger. He’s the voice she talked to when she was a teenager and Will has never forgotten her. But he is not convinced that his plan will be the ruination of everything that the residents have. In fact, he really wants little or nothing to do with what he is feeling for Nora or developing any kind of relationship with the people in the building. But we all know this is not how romantic novels work and he finds the quirky neighbors worming their way into his life and Nora well, she was already in his heart.
Will it all work out? I’m not going to tell you! Just know this is a fun, light read that will be perfect to lift spirits in these crazy times we are living in right now. And there are kittens. How can you not love a book that has kittens – right? Love at First gives you a roster of fun, crazy characters and a very charming love story.
And kittens.
Rating:
4.5
