Book Review: Love, in English (Love, in English #1) by Karina Halle

 SYNOPSIS:

He’s thirty-eight. I’m twenty-three.

He speaks Spanish. I speak English.

He lives in Spain. I live in Canada.

He dresses in thousand-dollar suits. I’m covered in tattoos.

He’s married and has a five-year old daughter.

I’m single and can’t commit to anyone or anything.

Until now. Because when they say you can’t choose who you fall in love with, boy ain’t that the f*#king truth.

***

To a restless dreamer like Vera Miles, it sounded like the experience of a lifetime. Instead of spending her summer interning for her astronomy major, she would fly to Spain where she’d spend a few weeks teaching conversational English to businessmen and women, all while enjoying free room and board at an isolated resort. But while Vera expected to get a tan, meet new people and stuff herself with wine and paella, she never expected to fall in love.

Mateo Casalles is unlike anyone Vera has ever known, let alone anyone she’s usually attracted to. While Vera is a pierced and tatted free spirit with a love for music and freedom, Mateo is a successful businessman from Madrid, all sharp suits and cocky Latino charm. Yet, as the weeks go on, the two grow increasingly close and their relationship changes from purely platonic to something…more.

Something that makes Vera feel alive for the first time.

Something that can never, ever be.

Or so she thinks.

MY REVIEW:

It was my first time reading a Karina Halle book and I have no tinge of regret! The moment I read the opening statement of the story, I was glued. The author had a way of drawing you from page to page and letting you stay there while she proficiently play with your wits and emotions. The words and how they were written were perfectly mixed that I could feel the sincerity and the realness of the feelings and the thoughts of the character. 

Being in Vera's point-of-view was fun, painful, and insightful. She's a character I've never met in all other books I have read but I have met someone like her in real life. She wasn't ideal. She was real. And I loved that about her. Her personality and character had a core, not just a mere result of vanity like most heroines in a typical romance. 

The author did something so amazing with this book. In all other books, I felt like an audience, simply an observer in the story. But in LiE, she made me feel like I’m this person. Like I know Vera very well. Like I was her. Her writing prowess made me feel intense effects of feeling, owning almost all of the emotions. The pain, happiness, excitement and all other emotions I felt were so honest, sincere and strong as if they were my own. 

The pain when her mother and sister insulted Vera hit me straight through my heart. It made me think, "Ah, this is us." That was exactly how we viewed other women. It's a prejudice and a stereotype. That's why I'm very thankful that I read this book because now I can listen, now I can understand, and now I can have an open mind.

When I decided to read this book, I didn't really expect to learn so much from it. The lessons within this story were so blunt and relatable. I think I just highlighted my whole kindle file. There are times when I have to stop, close my eyes and take a moment to breathe because the scenes have successfully penetrated my heart and played with my emotions. 

And good Lord, it has a sequel. Excuse me while I buy another box of tissue.