Fictional-ish by Natalina Reis
Fictional-ish (ARC) was graciously provided to me by Hot Tree Promotions for an honest review. I have voluntarily read this book and have provided my honest opinion.
“A Gripping and Heart-Warming Read..”
A heart-breaking and gripping read had this reader on a ferris wheel of thoughts and emotions throughout most of this new read. Between moments filtered with gushy heart-shaped eyes to moments with an over-whelming need to seriously have an eye-opening discussion with some of the characters, to wanting to take a quick trip to Scotland and Australia, this new story was one that kept me on my toes.
When I first came across an upcoming release from an author who I had read before, and LOVED, I practically fangirled upon seeing this new book predicting and hoping that it would be equally great. Hope being an operative word here.. What I did find is that this story has many different components each of which had me on the proverbial fence as I read this new story.
Fictional-ish, by Natalina Reis, is a very interesting story with an interesting storyline, a gripping, lengthy and varied plot, a beautiful setting, and, plentiful characters.
As mentioned briefly, this is an interesting and somewhat thought-provoking story. It’s title very interestingly ties in with the storyline in ways that had this reader needing to stop frequently and allow it’s connection to soak in to a somewhat buzzing mind. Regardless, I was really on the fence as I read through this story. While there were many moments when I had melted, as the storyline and a few of the characters were just wonderful as they wore their hearts on their sleeves, who I needed to squeeze-hug tightly, right along others who meant well, and then..then there was a copious amount of moments when the characters just got on my last nerve, who..just need to grow the heck up. #Justsayin
Despite gravitating towards this story for the beautiful cover, thinking its storyline revolved around love and a bookstore, it is in this reader’s opinion, that it is only a part of the plot..despite having such beauty to it. In all honesty, much of this story is about the affects of a clingy, verbally abusive, horribly vindictive, spiteful young woman and those who are affected by her antics.
That all being said, despite having for some reason, a somewhat difficult time with the writing, as there were many confusing moments due to either a need for more depth, development or even for clarification, it is still a uniquely heart-warming story that I was so glad for its HEA that despite the need for more of an ending, I still enjoyed it as a whole. 🙂
*star rating: 3.90 ‘I liked it’ stars*
Author of We Will Always Have the Closet, Desert Jewel, and Loved You Always, Natalina wrote her first romance in collaboration with her best friend at the age of 13. Since then she has ventured into other genres, but romance is first and foremost in almost everything she writes.After earning a degree in tourism and foreign languages, she worked as a tourist guide in her native Portugal for a short time before moving to the United States. She lived in three continents and a few islands, and her knack for languages and linguistics led her to a master’s degree in education. She lives in Virginia where she has taught English as a Second Language to elementary school children for more years than she cares to admit.
Natalina doesn’t believe you can have too many books or too much coffee. Art and dance make her happy and she is pretty sure she could survive on lobster and bananas alone. When she is not writing or stressing over lesson plans, she shares her life with her husband and two adult sons.
