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It Must Be Love
Can my love erase her scars? Even the ones that I caused…
She's my friend's sister and I know she’s always had a crush on me. It makes me uncomfortable. When she came back to Boston to take care of her dying father, I made sure she had a job in my tech company.
According to her boss, she's an introverted software genius. According to my girlfriend, she's plain and boring. According to her brother, she has no social life and is damaged.
The worst part of the story? She overhears me say I think she has no curves, no fashion sense and was hired as a favor to her brother. All true at the time!
But when we are forced to work together on a project, her brilliance, resilience, and hidden depths challenge everything I thought I knew about myself and my feelings for her.
As barriers break and truths emerge, I'm on a mission not just to win her heart but to prove love can transcend past judgments and scars.
This book
✔️ He’s her brother's best friend
✔️ He’s the CEO of the company she works for
✔️ Another woman drama
✔️ She falls first, but he falls harder
✔️ Angst, drama, groveling
✔️ No cheating
It Must Be Love is a standalone billionaire forbidden romance that is A Modern Vintage Romance. It brings back the nostalgia of classic romances, but with a modern twist. Meet alpha men who know how to wound and how to grovel. Meet strong women who know how to hold their own.
She's my friend's sister and I know she’s always had a crush on me. It makes me uncomfortable. When she came back to Boston to take care of her dying father, I made sure she had a job in my tech company.
According to her boss, she's an introverted software genius. According to my girlfriend, she's plain and boring. According to her brother, she has no social life and is damaged.
The worst part of the story? She overhears me say I think she has no curves, no fashion sense and was hired as a favor to her brother. All true at the time!
But when we are forced to work together on a project, her brilliance, resilience, and hidden depths challenge everything I thought I knew about myself and my feelings for her.
As barriers break and truths emerge, I'm on a mission not just to win her heart but to prove love can transcend past judgments and scars.
This book
✔️ He’s her brother's best friend
✔️ He’s the CEO of the company she works for
✔️ Another woman drama
✔️ She falls first, but he falls harder
✔️ Angst, drama, groveling
✔️ No cheating
It Must Be Love is a standalone billionaire forbidden romance that is A Modern Vintage Romance. It brings back the nostalgia of classic romances, but with a modern twist. Meet alpha men who know how to wound and how to grovel. Meet strong women who know how to hold their own.
292 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2024
About the author
Maya Alden
32 books517 followersA top 20 Amazon Bestselling Author, Maya Alden pens angsty contemporary romances.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 140 reviews
July 4, 2024
And here we are again, with another pathetic doormat FMC who has a crush on a despicable arrogant turd of a MC and keeps getting her pitiful heart broken time and again, only to start a relationship with the said turd the moment he starts showing her attention, after years of disrespect, demeaning, insults and what not.
At this point, I am not angry at the author, who loves to show her hate for the female gender by writing such garbage ,I am disappointed in myself for falling again for the author's synopsis, hoping that this would be the book where the fmc annihilates her crush and moves on to loving and marrying a right, respectful loving man.
At this point, I am not angry at the author, who loves to show her hate for the female gender by writing such garbage ,I am disappointed in myself for falling again for the author's synopsis, hoping that this would be the book where the fmc annihilates her crush and moves on to loving and marrying a right, respectful loving man.
July 17, 2024
The hero does redeem himself eventually, but, honestly, he's so mean at the beginning it's hard to get over. Boogenhagen's Be happy the heroine is happy goes into play.
July 4, 2024
A bit odd that the author mentions that the h has brown skin due to her African heritage but they chose a cover model that does not represent this at all.
July 4, 2024
i am never going to understand why this author writes women the way she does.
of course the heroine is a virgin because reasons.
of course she is so desperate for the hero, she doesn't care that he's treated her like shit for years. and even though the hero has proven that she is NOT the kind of woman he wants (that's why he has a girlfriend he has amazing sex with), she somehow convinces herself that HE is the kind of man she should waste her time on.
i just can't.
#authornotforme
of course the heroine is a virgin because reasons.
of course she is so desperate for the hero, she doesn't care that he's treated her like shit for years. and even though the hero has proven that she is NOT the kind of woman he wants (that's why he has a girlfriend he has amazing sex with), she somehow convinces herself that HE is the kind of man she should waste her time on.
i just can't.
#authornotforme
July 5, 2024
Not me taking my makeup clown off because I read a Maya Alden book and liked it🧍♀️
This is sorta slow burn-ish with a mean MMC and this author’s typical FMC who’s tortured, not that beautiful by society’s standard, her family (in this case her brother) hates her.
Noticed how I said mean MMC and not cruel? Because for Maya Alden’s standard, Amias is not a misogynistic pig who I wished to sautéed his balls and mince his face.
Also, Naya is my most favorite FMC by a mile. She has the typical body betraying syndrome but this girl has the brain. She doesn’t need lobotomy to replace her doormat tendencies. She can control her stupid hormones and act like a decent human being with a backbone. I love her. She deserved all the world. Which is again, a first for me from this author’s repertoire.
Amias is a friend of Nolan who is the brother of Naya. She always has a crush on him and everyone and their mother father brother and sister knows this including Amias. He at first is uncomfortable with this crush of hers (later we will know that it’s because Amias always has a crush on her too but she’s not his usual type of woman that’s why he acts like the stupid asshole that he is because he can’t fathom why he would be attracted to a mousy girl)
She came to work for his company and that’s where Amias came to know Naya.
Now this girl… I cried reading her struggles, she’s fucking strong, emotionally and mentally. Even though she likes Amias, she doesn’t let him walk all over her. She acts indifferent towards him, Amias was the one who bends backwards to accommodate to her mental state, her own pace, her wants, her needs.
I love the progression of their relationship because it is always on Naya’s terms.
This author made me believe the MMC’s redemption as sincere and genuine and that is hard to accomplish for me and again, that is a first because for some reason, Maya Alden hates women and loves garbage asshole men…but not in this book. I’m so glad to see character development, hope this continues.
As usual there is OW drama because Alden can’t think of other conflicts other than pitting women against women. But I swear it’s minuscule compared to Naya’s own journey to self-worth so *I* didn’t mind it much.
The best character in this is Naya’s bestie that I forgot the name 🤠 Darius?? Dereck?? It starts with a D I swear! LMAO I forgot but I promise he is hilarious and the bestest!
This is sorta slow burn-ish with a mean MMC and this author’s typical FMC who’s tortured, not that beautiful by society’s standard, her family (in this case her brother) hates her.
Noticed how I said mean MMC and not cruel? Because for Maya Alden’s standard, Amias is not a misogynistic pig who I wished to sautéed his balls and mince his face.
Also, Naya is my most favorite FMC by a mile. She has the typical body betraying syndrome but this girl has the brain. She doesn’t need lobotomy to replace her doormat tendencies. She can control her stupid hormones and act like a decent human being with a backbone. I love her. She deserved all the world. Which is again, a first for me from this author’s repertoire.
Amias is a friend of Nolan who is the brother of Naya. She always has a crush on him and everyone and their mother father brother and sister knows this including Amias. He at first is uncomfortable with this crush of hers (later we will know that it’s because Amias always has a crush on her too but she’s not his usual type of woman that’s why he acts like the stupid asshole that he is because he can’t fathom why he would be attracted to a mousy girl)
She came to work for his company and that’s where Amias came to know Naya.
Now this girl… I cried reading her struggles, she’s fucking strong, emotionally and mentally. Even though she likes Amias, she doesn’t let him walk all over her. She acts indifferent towards him, Amias was the one who bends backwards to accommodate to her mental state, her own pace, her wants, her needs.
I love the progression of their relationship because it is always on Naya’s terms.
This author made me believe the MMC’s redemption as sincere and genuine and that is hard to accomplish for me and again, that is a first because for some reason, Maya Alden hates women and loves garbage asshole men…but not in this book. I’m so glad to see character development, hope this continues.
As usual there is OW drama because Alden can’t think of other conflicts other than pitting women against women. But I swear it’s minuscule compared to Naya’s own journey to self-worth so *I* didn’t mind it much.
The best character in this is Naya’s bestie that I forgot the name 🤠 Darius?? Dereck?? It starts with a D I swear! LMAO I forgot but I promise he is hilarious and the bestest!
July 4, 2024
DNF
I’ve decided I’m too Latina and too proud for this author ‘s books I just can’t anymore
The things He said about her are awful but all the things He thinks about her in the first two chapters are worst ! Honestly I’m sick about these poor, lonely and scarred heroines and the rich, handsome playboy heroes, just no, sorry
I’ve decided I’m too Latina and too proud for this author ‘s books I just can’t anymore
The things He said about her are awful but all the things He thinks about her in the first two chapters are worst ! Honestly I’m sick about these poor, lonely and scarred heroines and the rich, handsome playboy heroes, just no, sorry
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July 3, 2024DNF
Just FYI for ppl that don't like it. All this hero talks about is how amazing the sex is he has with the OW. I got about 20% and he was still with her and mentioning it over and over. I had to stop bc in a book about how unattractive the heroine is you don't need to rub that aspect in. On top of that the heroine is an inexperienced virgin who has been pining for him all his life while he has been having an amazing life and sex life. I'm so tired of this trope.
Just FYI for ppl that don't like it. All this hero talks about is how amazing the sex is he has with the OW. I got about 20% and he was still with her and mentioning it over and over. I had to stop bc in a book about how unattractive the heroine is you don't need to rub that aspect in. On top of that the heroine is an inexperienced virgin who has been pining for him all his life while he has been having an amazing life and sex life. I'm so tired of this trope.
July 4, 2024
PS: The use of "Krav Maga" which is the martial arts used by the IOF has immediately taken out one star from a would-be four-star rating
This is the best book I've read from Maya so far.
I gave her latest 1 star, so to be fair, I tried this one as a last resort
and it is good
But I have to be clear one thing
If Amias, the main male lead, was on fire and I am the only one around, I wouldn't even piss on him to save his life. In fact, I would sit and enjoy the show.
Having said that, I do not think this falls under betrayal/grovel, it is more insensitive/redemption
Naya overhears Amias (do people really name their kids Amias??? i like the name) telling HIS GIRLFRIEND how Naya is plain, boring, and has no fashion sense.
So Naya and Amias are not together, they are acquaintance at most and work-colleges.
Amias saying that behind her back is considered insensitive
him being harsh on her during work margins on bullying
but NOT BETRAYAL
What is betrayal is him having emotional cheating on his girlfriend and touching another woman while still committed!!! Even when your girlfriend is the devil's spawn
I liked Naya. I liked how she chose her battles, How she stood up eventually to Amias
I liked the somehow decent attempt Amias made to gain her love, and how he finally stood up for her
I liked the friends, Darren and Hayens, they were very decent and perceptive.
Her is what I didn't like
The repetitive characterization in most of Maya's books
it's like her characters are copy paste of themselves, just change the name
The girl is usually the shy, virgin/almost virgin one, unsure of herself, the plain jane that everyone picks on. She never has support from her family. She has a previous trauma that makes her insecure about her looks and needs to be assured over and over and over that she is beautiful. She wears baggy clothes, rarely wears makeup up and NEVER EVER wants any gifts from the love interest.
The boy is the handsome, popular, rich, confident one who has a smile that drops panties!! He is always surrounded by supermodels, his girlfriend is the hottest most beautiful girl, but then he is tired of this and goes for the plain jane because he suddenly realizes she is his type!
It's just the same scenario over and over from the same author.
Also, and this did not affect the rating, the grammar mistakes and missing words in this book are ridiculous. There are hundreds of free correction apps if you don't have a beta team.
This is the best book I've read from Maya so far.
I gave her latest 1 star, so to be fair, I tried this one as a last resort
and it is good
But I have to be clear one thing
If Amias, the main male lead, was on fire and I am the only one around, I wouldn't even piss on him to save his life. In fact, I would sit and enjoy the show.
Having said that, I do not think this falls under betrayal/grovel, it is more insensitive/redemption
Naya overhears Amias (do people really name their kids Amias??? i like the name) telling HIS GIRLFRIEND how Naya is plain, boring, and has no fashion sense.
So Naya and Amias are not together, they are acquaintance at most and work-colleges.
Amias saying that behind her back is considered insensitive
him being harsh on her during work margins on bullying
but NOT BETRAYAL
What is betrayal is him having emotional cheating on his girlfriend and touching another woman while still committed!!! Even when your girlfriend is the devil's spawn
I liked Naya. I liked how she chose her battles, How she stood up eventually to Amias
I liked the somehow decent attempt Amias made to gain her love, and how he finally stood up for her
I liked the friends, Darren and Hayens, they were very decent and perceptive.
Her is what I didn't like
The repetitive characterization in most of Maya's books
it's like her characters are copy paste of themselves, just change the name
The girl is usually the shy, virgin/almost virgin one, unsure of herself, the plain jane that everyone picks on. She never has support from her family. She has a previous trauma that makes her insecure about her looks and needs to be assured over and over and over that she is beautiful. She wears baggy clothes, rarely wears makeup up and NEVER EVER wants any gifts from the love interest.
The boy is the handsome, popular, rich, confident one who has a smile that drops panties!! He is always surrounded by supermodels, his girlfriend is the hottest most beautiful girl, but then he is tired of this and goes for the plain jane because he suddenly realizes she is his type!
It's just the same scenario over and over from the same author.
Also, and this did not affect the rating, the grammar mistakes and missing words in this book are ridiculous. There are hundreds of free correction apps if you don't have a beta team.
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July 6, 2024I don’t remember anything about this book so I’m not going to rate it ( I read this books 2 days ago btw😬)
July 9, 2024
Hmmm... I don't know how to feel about this author. I've read a few of her books, but they all seem to have similar formulaic plot. The FMC is looked at as frumpy. Forgotten by family, unloved etc. It's gets tiring because it's always poor me. Everyone picking on the ugly duckling who is actually beautiful of course. The MMC is always rich, successful and dislikes the FMC, but actually really likes because he's just ignoring his feelings. I think the reason I'm not vibing with this author is because the MMCs are weaklings. They're always lead around by their dick or family members letting them make choices for them. This book was ok. I may keep looking through her books to see if I can make one work
December 17, 2024
I read this one a few months back but I was so disgusted when I finished it that I couldn’t even bring myself to revisit it in a review. I did a little skimmy skim read to refresh my memory and now I wish my memory had not been refreshed. I was much happier when I didn’t remember this book.
I believe that Maya Alden had a bully when she was younger. This bully was cruel and made her life a living hell every day for years. Maya despised this bully and vowed to one day get her revenge. That bully’s name? Naya
Maya clearly hates the h, Naya. Wait..Naya/Maya?? Is Naya based on MAYA?? Did she base the worst female character she’s ever written on herself? Holy shit. This explains everything. She’s written herself as Naya to punish herself for never writing a redeemable Hero.
I believe that Maya Alden had a bully when she was younger. This bully was cruel and made her life a living hell every day for years. Maya despised this bully and vowed to one day get her revenge. That bully’s name? Naya
Maya clearly hates the h, Naya. Wait..Naya/Maya?? Is Naya based on MAYA?? Did she base the worst female character she’s ever written on herself? Holy shit. This explains everything. She’s written herself as Naya to punish herself for never writing a redeemable Hero.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 8, 2024
2 stars. I kinda am addicted to this series purely for how outlandishly “wtf am I reading” it is. Like genuinely, the men in these books are downright condemnable for being THAT bad. Still, I will keep checking out each book in this series that seems remotely interesting in blurb.
September 1, 2024
The author can write. The story was good but there were a few things that bugged me. Granted partly because those points bug me in general but also I think these need to really make sense to the overall story. If logically it does not make sense or it is completely unrealistic then in my opinion it does not work for the overall story. So, we have a rich MMC who is in a relationship with a nasty shallow but hot woman where the sex is amazing (a point the MMC brings up internally more than once) also she was up to try things. He is friends with the MFC brother who is a douche and his equally nasty shallow wife. The MFC has been back home working for the MMC company for 3 years. He has known her since she was young like early teens. She has had a crush on him for years. She is closed off in general due to being shy and an accident that left her with scars on her legs lower body. The MMC is 35 and it’s mentioned that she is 6 years younger? So the MMC is just working more with the MFC due to her direct boss being off on parent leave. He is a giant ass to her and everyone notices it. She overhears him talking to the girlfriend saying nasty things about her body and her being boring as fuck. This is another stab in her already self esteem issues. Everyone in her immediate circle treats her badly. The MMC the girlfriend the brother and his wife. She has a good friend who treats her like a queen. First his internal thoughts on his life the girlfriend and the MFC paints him in a super selfish way. Not to mention superficial. He waits way too long to break it off with the girlfriend. Immediately after he is going after the MFC it felt like he did not want to give up the girlfriend unless he was sure about the MFC. No matter how nasty she was this did not paint the MMC in a good light. He was using her plain and simple and the longer he dragged it on the more sure she was they were getting engaged. So no matter how I felt about her he did her dirty. It also did not feel realistic that someone with thoughts on beauty would do a 180 on it. If there had been more internal thoughts on the MFC in a positive light I would have bought the out of the blue attraction more. Instead it felt like the MFC was plain and boring still and I could understand him admiring her for what she had done for her father but was still wondering where this lust came from all of the sudden besides running into her and seeing her body in form fitting clothes. The talk of him watching her for years ya ok so in all that time you never examined how you felt. Again made him seem self absorbed and not worthy. On to the MFC this is one of my biggest pet peeves in a romance novel. She is a virgin. The author tried to explain it away by her being shy than the self esteem issues from her scars. This is another reason why I was not in full confidence of their love story. You have a shy girl by the authors description is plain that has a huge crush on the MMC since she was 13 (started when she overheard him stand up to her brother on not helping her). So she had no boyfriend’s and is then in this horrible accident that the MMC never knew about where she was in hospital with surgery on surgeries. Her nasty sister in law says nasty things about her scars along with her brother and even the MMC girlfriend yet he did not know anything about it. Why? Was he never told or did not care enough to really listen. So because of her scaring she never lets anyone close. Then her long time crush who literally has treated her like crap who just broke up with his nasty girlfriend wants her scars and all. It felt like she was so starved for attention never been in a relationship never had sex she had no point of comparison that this was about being desperate for that connection not this grand love story. I would have bought more into it if she had had sex with a couple different people one being after the accident. If she knew what a relationship was like and what good sex was like. She I think was a little too forgiving on how he had treated her. I also found the sex while steaming a bit cringy meaning all of a sudden they are going at it like rabbits and he thinks about their sex life like he did with the ex that it was amazing. Yes he thinks it was the best of his life in another internal thought but it felt kind of gross after getting his thoughts for a chunk of the book on sex with the OW. Also, the whole thing with his Mom did not feel realistic. Overall their relationship was cute but I did not finish it believing in their love story fully. If there is one thing I want from a romantic relationship romance book is to believe in their love and relationship that it’s end game for both fully and completely. That being said I still rated 4 because the writing was good and there was great potential for a grand love story with a few tweaks. I can’t dock too much because that’s more a preference not a deal breaker.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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July 13, 2024DNF'd - was bored
August 17, 2024
Liked it.
Angst, growth, drama, heartfelt hurt, growth oh right I said that. For a 35 yo man Amias was a bit dense. But when he finally woke up and saw the world in colour he realised his faults and grew. We also witnessed Naya grown from a shy mousy thing to a bolder stronger woman who stood up for herself, and part of that was thanks to Amias. Very much enjoyed
Angst, growth, drama, heartfelt hurt, growth oh right I said that. For a 35 yo man Amias was a bit dense. But when he finally woke up and saw the world in colour he realised his faults and grew. We also witnessed Naya grown from a shy mousy thing to a bolder stronger woman who stood up for herself, and part of that was thanks to Amias. Very much enjoyed
August 11, 2024
3.5ish. The cover subtitle, "A Modern Vintage Romance" is apropos: this has the brief, concentrated intensity of an old-school Harlequin/Mills & Boon category romance with maybe 70% less sexism. Not no sexism, just less.
Amias is a douchebag CEO hero whose type is "convenient". Naya is a shy, mousy, virginal heroine who's loved the hero from afar since she was a teen (and is a doormat for her huge d-bag of a brother and his social-climbing wife). Modern twist: she's not the hero's put-upon secretary, but a put-upon brilliant programmer.
There's some OW drama as Amias's long-term off-and-on gf Ann is witchy with a capital B in that old-school way (remember, less sexism, not no sexism). I didn't love how quickly Amias went from her to Naya, but it's an homage to category romances and those always moved quickly to fit everything in.
I did like that Naya had a spine, she just didn't show it in a flashy way. No matter how much I would've liked to see her deliver a set down to her brother, she wouldn't because a) he's her brother even if he's a douche and b) she loves her nephew. (And don't worry, she has pals who are great at delivering set downs.) I would've liked Amias to spend a bit more time on his self-reflection and personal growth. He was such a meanie for no good reason and for it to be felt like a bit of a cop-out.
Still, it's sweet and enjoyable overall.
Amias is a douchebag CEO hero whose type is "convenient". Naya is a shy, mousy, virginal heroine who's loved the hero from afar since she was a teen (and is a doormat for her huge d-bag of a brother and his social-climbing wife). Modern twist: she's not the hero's put-upon secretary, but a put-upon brilliant programmer.
There's some OW drama as Amias's long-term off-and-on gf Ann is witchy with a capital B in that old-school way (remember, less sexism, not no sexism). I didn't love how quickly Amias went from her to Naya, but it's an homage to category romances and those always moved quickly to fit everything in.
I did like that Naya had a spine, she just didn't show it in a flashy way. No matter how much I would've liked to see her deliver a set down to her brother, she wouldn't because a) he's her brother even if he's a douche and b) she loves her nephew. (And don't worry, she has pals who are great at delivering set downs.) I would've liked Amias to spend a bit more time on his self-reflection and personal growth. He was such a meanie for no good reason and for it to be felt like a bit of a cop-out.
Still, it's sweet and enjoyable overall.
June 30, 2024
I think Naya is my new hero!! She loves wholeheartedly, she is dedicated, loyal and a fierce survivor.
She's had a crush on her brother's friend, Amias forever. He never noticed her, he barely spoke to her. Even once she started working at his company, they barely interacted.
Things changed, the view of his world shifted ever so slightly on its axis....what was happening? What were these feelings?? Why did Naya irritate him so damn much???
The love and protection I felt for Naya while reading this was profound! It was huge! I have so much respect and admiration for her. She has had to overcome so much in her life. Living with the pain and suffering didn't squash her soul completely. She took it all in her stride, with one foot in front of the other, she moved on. She moved forward.
Amias was a complete ass! He was rude when he did talk to Naya. He was distant, cold and dismissive. A complete jerk. Until he wasn't.
So many people in this book made my blood boil. The anger was literally seeping from my pores. No-one deserves to disrespect and disregard Naya was subjected to, especially by members of her own family. It broke my heart.
Darren is a king! What a freaking legend of a friend.
So much raw emotion was felt in this story. It was beautiful! It was confronting! It was real!
What an absolutely amazing read!!!
She's had a crush on her brother's friend, Amias forever. He never noticed her, he barely spoke to her. Even once she started working at his company, they barely interacted.
Things changed, the view of his world shifted ever so slightly on its axis....what was happening? What were these feelings?? Why did Naya irritate him so damn much???
The love and protection I felt for Naya while reading this was profound! It was huge! I have so much respect and admiration for her. She has had to overcome so much in her life. Living with the pain and suffering didn't squash her soul completely. She took it all in her stride, with one foot in front of the other, she moved on. She moved forward.
Amias was a complete ass! He was rude when he did talk to Naya. He was distant, cold and dismissive. A complete jerk. Until he wasn't.
So many people in this book made my blood boil. The anger was literally seeping from my pores. No-one deserves to disrespect and disregard Naya was subjected to, especially by members of her own family. It broke my heart.
Darren is a king! What a freaking legend of a friend.
So much raw emotion was felt in this story. It was beautiful! It was confronting! It was real!
What an absolutely amazing read!!!
November 8, 2024
I literally could not. The writing was not for me. Plus the MMC was beyond unlikeable. I forgive A LOT of shit when it comes to my MMC’s but this guy legit was garbage. The way he would think/speak about her was awful. There was no underlying tension or him trying to act a certain way like some bully romances do that I eat up. The way he spoke about her and thought of her you could tell he truly meant it. It wasn’t just a cover or him trying to hide a connection. He legit was a trash human to her. I’ll leave some fun quotes below so you can catch the gist. I’m all for character growth and shitty mistakes/bullying but this was just not good.
“fucking hell, now I was getting hard thinking about curve-less drab Naya?”
“I was getting sex on the regular with Ann. Damn good sex. She was wanton and ready to try anything. This mouse probably just did missionary. She'd be too vanilla for me”
“"Do you think I'm so fucking shallow that I saw her that day in workout gear and finally admitted my attraction to her?" I wondered aloud. "Yeah, you are that shallow,"
“fucking hell, now I was getting hard thinking about curve-less drab Naya?”
“I was getting sex on the regular with Ann. Damn good sex. She was wanton and ready to try anything. This mouse probably just did missionary. She'd be too vanilla for me”
“"Do you think I'm so fucking shallow that I saw her that day in workout gear and finally admitted my attraction to her?" I wondered aloud. "Yeah, you are that shallow,"
May 4, 2024
Maya does it again. I honestly don’t think Maya could do any wrong at the moment, her writing just seems to get better and better.
I absolutely loved and devoured Naya and Amias’s story. A great brother’s best friend (though her brother is horrid), age gap, she falls first, he falls harder story. I really enjoyed Darren and his relationship with Naya.
I loved that Naya found the courage to stand up for herself and grew into the person she should be instead of meekly agreeing with everybody.
A great story, well written as always, can’t wait to read the next one.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I absolutely loved and devoured Naya and Amias’s story. A great brother’s best friend (though her brother is horrid), age gap, she falls first, he falls harder story. I really enjoyed Darren and his relationship with Naya.
I loved that Naya found the courage to stand up for herself and grew into the person she should be instead of meekly agreeing with everybody.
A great story, well written as always, can’t wait to read the next one.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 30, 2024
I didn’t like the MMC, Amias. They mentioned groveling and there was none, but I also feel like there wasn’t much to grovel for but he definitely needed to apologize for being a dickhead. It was boring, cringy, not really romantic once Amias and Naya got together, they just jumped right into it. 🫤
Just throwing this out there, maybe it only bugged me? But the FMC is described as Sudanese and African American with melanin skin, why is there a Caucasian chick on the book cover? Lol would’ve been nice if there was a POC on the cover.
Just throwing this out there, maybe it only bugged me? But the FMC is described as Sudanese and African American with melanin skin, why is there a Caucasian chick on the book cover? Lol would’ve been nice if there was a POC on the cover.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 13, 2024
Fun, but what the hell?!
So the story is fun. The side characters…wow. Naya’s brother and sister-in-law and Amias’ gf are vile. They treat Maya so poorly because she makes them feel bad about themselves. It was good to see them all get called out for who they were.
Naya’s growth is impressive, even if it is slow. Amias is initially arrogant and gradually changes his behaviour. I’m glad they got their HEA.
So the story is fun. The side characters…wow. Naya’s brother and sister-in-law and Amias’ gf are vile. They treat Maya so poorly because she makes them feel bad about themselves. It was good to see them all get called out for who they were.
Naya’s growth is impressive, even if it is slow. Amias is initially arrogant and gradually changes his behaviour. I’m glad they got their HEA.
July 6, 2024
This was recommended by a friend and I loved it! Plenty of angst and awful betrayals topped off with some great grovel and a sweet HEA. I binged it in one sitting.
October 18, 2024
2.5/5 ⭐️
November 3, 2024
Be cautious about tiktok's recommendations.
July 5, 2024
3.25✨’s
Three of the stars are for Naya and the .25 star is for Darren. I really enjoyed this heroine and her personality. Darren was amazing and I wish he was the hero of this story.
I didn’t ever grow to care for the hero or see any real growth in his character. The journey of the romantic arc felt uneven and the ending was very abrupt.
With all of that said, I enjoyed the spirit of the story even though some elements didn’t work for me.
Three of the stars are for Naya and the .25 star is for Darren. I really enjoyed this heroine and her personality. Darren was amazing and I wish he was the hero of this story.
I didn’t ever grow to care for the hero or see any real growth in his character. The journey of the romantic arc felt uneven and the ending was very abrupt.
With all of that said, I enjoyed the spirit of the story even though some elements didn’t work for me.
July 6, 2024
I’m a sucker for a unrequited love etc but the h was too pathetic even for me and the hero was a scumbag and I don’t know how a normal woman being will wake up in the morning and get herself off with the thought of the hero in her mind. This is a dnf for me because of this scene. He treated her horribly how can she still get hot for him idk. She heard him said horrible things about her to his girlfriend and still likes him. And don’t let me talk about the girlfriend thing. He finds the heroine attractive after he saw her in her gym attire and thought at first she was a sexy random woman. After the scene he starterd lusting after her. Disgusting behavior and not the direction I thought the author was going to go. I thought he was going to fall in love with h because of her personality but no after he saw her actual hot body he steered imagining her lips aorund his co@k with his girlfriend by his side . Ew I will not read the author anytime soon she disappoints with everything even tho the premises are good.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 23, 2024
3.5 stars
This author writes amazing angsty, heartbreaking scenes, but I always end up feeling like the reconciliation/endings are rushed.
This author writes amazing angsty, heartbreaking scenes, but I always end up feeling like the reconciliation/endings are rushed.
October 30, 2024
I don't know why I keep reading this authors books.... there's no amount of grovelling in the world to excuse her MMCs actions and the FMCs are always pushovers.
This guy literally saw her in tight clothes and that's all it took for him to stop being an ass? LOL and the excuse that he's always liked her? Fuck off. Get out of here.
This guy literally saw her in tight clothes and that's all it took for him to stop being an ass? LOL and the excuse that he's always liked her? Fuck off. Get out of here.
June 2, 2024
“You've changed my life in ways I can't even begin to describe, and I can't imagine a future without you in it.”
It Must Be Love by Maya Alden is perfect for fans of angsty brother’s best friend romances. Although this book does focus on the love story between Naya and Amias, it beautifully captures the importance of loving and standing up for yourself.
In the beginning of the story, Naya is a mousy girl who’s afraid of disappointing other people. She does everything with love and kindness even if other people are unkind to her. She struggles with self-love due to a traumatic accident that occurred in her past. However, she makes extreme character development as she learns to love and stand up for herself. I truly admired her character.
Amias is a broody CEO who doesn’t always treat Naya as he should because of the things he’s heard about her. However, throughout the book he realizes the impact of his actions and learns more about Naya. He becomes infatuated with her and changes his entire perspective.
The romance in this book was great and the relationship between the characters develops nicely. I highly recommend reading!
It Must Be Love by Maya Alden is perfect for fans of angsty brother’s best friend romances. Although this book does focus on the love story between Naya and Amias, it beautifully captures the importance of loving and standing up for yourself.
In the beginning of the story, Naya is a mousy girl who’s afraid of disappointing other people. She does everything with love and kindness even if other people are unkind to her. She struggles with self-love due to a traumatic accident that occurred in her past. However, she makes extreme character development as she learns to love and stand up for herself. I truly admired her character.
Amias is a broody CEO who doesn’t always treat Naya as he should because of the things he’s heard about her. However, throughout the book he realizes the impact of his actions and learns more about Naya. He becomes infatuated with her and changes his entire perspective.
The romance in this book was great and the relationship between the characters develops nicely. I highly recommend reading!
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