Ever since he was a kid and made a wish on his family’s iconic Wishing Rose, his romantic relationships have been cursed to end. Following his most recent (and extremely public) dumping, Grant is languishing in a hot Chicago summer, abandoning his beloved design projects to sink back into depression. But when his family suggests spending the summer helping his aunt and uncle refurbish their beautiful but rundown B&B and vineyard—the home of the Wishing Rose that changed everything for him—Grant decides to accept. Maybe he can finally find a way to recover his creative spark...and break his curse.
But things at the vineyard are not what Grant expects. The place is in almost total disrepair, and—even worse—the person his relatives hired to help is his former childhood crush, Ben—the first boy who broke his heart.
As their chemistry sparks and the summer heats up, the wedge between them can’t be ignored. But while they race to restore the B&B in time for the beloved local rose festival, grumpy but lovable Ben starts to break through Grant’s carefully crafted defenses. Can Grant find a way to overcome his curse and open his heart, even when it’s broken? (Pub Date: Jul 16, 2024)
I was very excited to read this book because it combined second-chance romance, healing, family. However, the main character was such a bore that even if the story had more magic than I had even expected, it wasn't enough to make us forget his Beast side.
And yes, this story is somewhat inspired in the story of Beauty and the Beast. Grant is so broken after years of feeling cursed by his family's legend, he decides to go back to his grandparents' B&B where it all started. That's where he meets again the cause for his curse, Ben, the childhood crush who broke his heart.
This is a 2.5 I rounded up because I suspect my sole problem with this book was Grant. There are some great aspects in it in spite of him, even if they weren't enough to make the story more enjoyable.
Though inspired in Beast's story, there isn't so much from it that it will feel repetitive; and that's one thing I liked. Little by little, we catch the references. It did feel magical.
Grant's story as he fights with himself for being gay as young to the point he believes he's cursed for not accepting it is heartbreaking regardless of how insufferable he was. I also liked the story of the family, the conflicts and the way they are solved as the story goes.
I'm not sure I understood Ben well, but whatever I could get from Grant and his behavior made me feel it served both well getting together... Unfortunately, it's not a love story that had me cheering or feeling my heart throb for them.
When a romance book has a couple that aren't really charismatic, it's a little hard to enjoy it. It's about taste though, and you could find yourself relating to Grant or Ben or both. I also suspect this may have a little of the author's own life story, because some points read personal. As a straight woman, there's a lot I would never understand, that wouldn't resound with me but would with others. So I'd say it's a book that is worth giving a chance, if only for the story surrounding the main one.
Honest review based on an ARC provided by Netgalley. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.
Rating: 3 out of 5.
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