Sweet Thing

The Moody Reader

Sweet thing, indeed.

Okay, Never thought I would love this book so much. I can still feel that tangible feeling it left me after I finished it. To be honest, I was bored yesterday so I so picked it up because of the the adorable cover and I'm so glad I did! When I read the sweet thing, what really caught me was the prologue. It was unique, captivating, creative and clever in a good way.

But, wait. Before I discuss what I felt about this book. Let me just give you a piece of advice. If you're looking for a very fast-pace romantic novel and you're not into novel with a slow building. Well, Sweet Thing is clearly not for you. Understand? Good.

Yes, this novel was slow. Despite that, it was written thoroughly and thoughtfully. show more Sweet Thing has this vibe I've been searching for; that slow yet gentle, carefree and refreshing vibe. It gave me more time to know the characters well. Especially Mia and Will since they are the main protagonists of this book.

First, Mia. Everyone who read this book would say she was the most annoying heroine ever. Yes, she WAS. But what I loved about her is that she's real. She is just a human who made stupid mistakes. The good thing was, she learned from it and I was happy when she took a step forward. It was really touching moment watching her grow. It's like watching flowers blooming. It was beautiful and heart-warming. Will, on the other hand, was so adorable, sweet and very compassionate. He never took advantage of Mia and he gave her space even though it was hurting him like hell. Let me throw a quote, this is one of the most painful moments on the book:

”Just let me kiss your mouth,” he whispered, his eyes pleading.“

God. It was heartbreaking. Anyway, I was also captivated by his love for music and he wasn't afraid to stand. He wasn't scared to follow his dreams even thought his family is not supporting him. He didn't give a shit what other people think. That's what I love about Will.

These two people are two musicians brought up together by fate or maybe it was divine intervention (I'm quoting the book!) it doesn't really matter. Their love for music was enthralling, mesmerizing and moving.

While reading Sweet Thing, I felt like I was really there; watching, listening, feeling it. I felt their love, their pain, their struggles, their joy. It was like, these characters are real and they are my friends.

This book gave me something I know I will cherish someday. Before I read this, I kept asking myself the most terrifying question ever. ''Am I really making the right choices?'' Like Mia, I was scared. I'm always afraid to take a risk. I'm still in that absorbing-and-learning- I-don't-know-when-I-will-change-kind-of-process but I know what this book is trying to convey.

1.Don't be afraid to take chances
2.Don't be afraid to make mistakes because we are only just humans and it's part of the life
3.It doesn't really matter whether it's the right choice or the wrong one. The important thing is that you are happy
4.Lastly, love life and life will love you back

Still, I want to say thank you to the author, Renee Carlino, for making this wonderful piece of literature. I know someday, I will be brave like Mia and Will... I'm still learning though and like Lauren said:

“Wisdom is not the same as information; it's something entirely different. It's often mistaken for good advice, but wisdom cannot be imparted to someone. Wisdom can only be earned.” show less

**Received this book as an ARC from the author for an honest review**

Where to start with this book. I have so many things flying around in my head right now. The typicals of this book? Chance encounter.... have an attraction.... run into another again.... brooding musician and guarded woman.... he loves her, she can't let her walls down....

That's where the typical stops and the meat of the story begins! You are probably thinking that I just described the story, but, alas, I didn't. That is just the overlying theme, but NOT the story in itself! Unlike most books, this is a slow and more drawn out story. It doesn't take place of a few weeks or months. It's a span of over a year. One long year in the lives of Will and Mia. Their story is show more one that will make you smile. You will frown, and maybe cry or yell, somewhere in the middle (more than once). But overall, you will sit back and feel their overwhelming sense of love and longing.

The characters in this book are so real and likable, I almost wonder who their muses are. Even when you think you have lost your love of some of the characters, they draw you right back in with their redeeming qualities of just being human. Renee has done a wonderful job at making her characters display very real emotions and reactions. I hope to see more books come across my screen from her in the future show less

I'm so surprised I didn't dnf this. I've read a lot of fluffy romances that hit all the tropes but this was just about my limit. Literally the only reason I finished it was because I felt sorry for Will. The main character is, by far, the least enjoyable mc I've read about in a while and I read Vicious where the main character is quite literally at least a sociopath. I've read books where the mc has trouble realizing they're in love or have a hard time opening up to that but this took it to a new unpleasant extreme that just made me want the love interest to go find someone better and be happy.

**Received this book as an ARC from the author for an honest review**

Where to start with this book. I have so many things flying around in my head right now. The typicals of this book? Chance encounter.... have an attraction.... run into another again.... brooding musician and guarded woman.... he loves her, she can't let her walls down....

That's where the typical stops and the meat of the story begins! You are probably thinking that I just described the story, but, alas, I didn't. That is just the overlying theme, but NOT the story in itself! Unlike most books, this is a slow and more drawn out story. It doesn't take place of a few weeks or months. It's a span of over a year. One long year in the lives of Will and Mia. Their story is show more one that will make you smile. You will frown, and maybe cry or yell, somewhere in the middle (more than once). But overall, you will sit back and feel their overwhelming sense of love and longing.

The characters in this book are so real and likable, I almost wonder who their muses are. Even when you think you have lost your love of some of the characters, they draw you right back in with their redeeming qualities of just being human. Renee has done a wonderful job at making her characters display very real emotions and reactions. I hope to see more books come across my screen from her in the future show less

“You are your mother and your father. You are your experiences and your fears and the love you let yourself feel. You are your degree and your talent and your passion. You are your pain, your joy, and your fantasies. You are me and Sheil and Jenny and Will and every person that touches your soul… but most of all you are you, whoever you dream that to be.”

Sometimes it's not about the destination... Sometimes it's more about the heartwarming, touching, and mistake-ridden journey that one takes to get there. And with Mia Kelly, that's exactly it. After her father's death, Mia finds herself en route to New York City in order to take over the cafe that her father had poured his heart and soul into. She finds a second family in the show more quirky employees of Kell's, and even a new roommate in the man who happened to sit beside her on that flight from Detroit to New York City.

Will Ryan is everything that Mia's father was: handsome, sweet, kind... Yet wandering across that very line that Mia refuses to cross. Will is a musician, playing in bars and clubs, working as a bartender, and despite all of the craziness in his life, finds himself desperately and hopelessly in love with Mia. As the two straddle the line between friends and more, it may be Mia's fear - of becoming her mother, of not belonging, of losing herself, of committing to a man who has seemingly thrown away his future - that threatens for her to lose not only the man who has unknowingly captured her heart, but her one shot at living her passion in this life, which happens to be the same as his, and what brought them together in the first place... Music.

“Yes, committing yourself to someone requires a leap of faith—that’s why it’s so hard for some."

This book didnt get to me as much as I thought it would. While the story itself is great, and the lessons in life that it provides is limitless, I just couldn't get into it as much as other readers have. I found Mia's back and forth treatment of Will irritating and selfish. And I hated that about her, that she could string him along as she did and became angry when he finally reached a limit. I liked Will well enough. I loved that he knew what he wanted and disregarded what everyone around him thought about it. I adored the Kell's employees and Mia's friends. Despite being minor characters, Martha and Sheil were my favourites. The characters are well-written and Mia and Will surely bring out the best in each other.

Sweet Thing is a story of loss and love and growing up and just life. And I really liked that, all of the growth that happened between the main characters and their journey to get to that final destination, that happily ever after that all people want in life. And it has taught me that just because your life is not what you expected it to be, doesn't mean that it's not the life that your meant to live. At any age, we can grow and learn from the mistakes that we've made. And Mia and Will show us exactly that.

“It’s the only way to know you’re really in love, when you ask the question would it be harder to watch him die, or to know he’ll watch me die? Is there more mercy in being the one who does the watching or in being the one who does the dying? It’s when you realize what mercy-killing actually means, it’s when you actually care to the point of tormenting worry. It’s not roses and white horses, it’s fucking brutal and it can send a person running for the hills. To love is brave.”

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Mia Kelley moves to the East Village after her father passes away to run his café. She meets a cute musician called Will Ryan who is developing a following for his music and they form a close friendship, but Mia is afraid of love and everything that comes with it.

I wanted to give Mia a good talking to. She had a plan for her life and the fact that it did not seem to be going according to plan, she was frozen with fear. Ultimately, Mia had to realize that life and love rarely go according to plan, that we all have to adapt and make the best of what life gives to us and sometimes that we don’t even know what’s best for us.

I have been meaning to read this forever.. I don't know what was stopping me, but I am kicking myself now! I totally loved this story! It was sweet and very angsty at times. I love, love, love Will!

The only little issue, is I hate a MC that's in denial about her feelings. It just isn't personally me, and I did feel if she would've given into her feelings, there could've been some more moments between the lovers that were sweet, and less that ripped your heart out. Other than that, I totally thought Carlino's writing was great, the plot and banter in the beginning was awesome. I will definitely read the next book in this series!!