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The Meeting Point
What if the Lift driver who finds your cheating boyfriend's phone holds the directions to true love?
'Who are you and why do you have my boyfriend's phone?'
'He left it in my car. You must be the blonde in the red dress? I'm the Lift driver who dropped you two off earlier.'
And with these words, the life of the brunette and t-shirt wearing Maya Maas is turned upside down. Having planned to surprise her boyfriend, she finds herself single and stranded in an unknown city on her birthday.
So when the mystery driver rescues Maya with the suggestion that she cheers herself up at a nearby beach town, she jumps at the chance to get things back on track. She wasn't expecting a personalised itinerary or the easy companionship that comes from opening up to a stranger via text, let alone the possibility it might grow into something more...>
'Who are you and why do you have my boyfriend's phone?'
'He left it in my car. You must be the blonde in the red dress? I'm the Lift driver who dropped you two off earlier.'
And with these words, the life of the brunette and t-shirt wearing Maya Maas is turned upside down. Having planned to surprise her boyfriend, she finds herself single and stranded in an unknown city on her birthday.
So when the mystery driver rescues Maya with the suggestion that she cheers herself up at a nearby beach town, she jumps at the chance to get things back on track. She wasn't expecting a personalised itinerary or the easy companionship that comes from opening up to a stranger via text, let alone the possibility it might grow into something more...>
389 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 2, 2021
About the author
Olivia Lara
2 books335 followersBorn and raised in Romania, in a family of book lovers and storytellers, Olivia studied marketing, communications, and photography, and worked as a journalist for a newspaper and news television network.
An unapologetic citizen of the world, she spent a few years in Greece, Sweden, and France (which will always have a special place in her heart), before settling in the US. Olivia now lives in sunny California with her photographer husband and daughter, where she works as a marketing executive and writes. Oh, and let's not forget the ever-growing menagerie that completes the family: Pumpkin—the hyper-active Maine Coon-orange tabby mix, three black cats: Shadow, Pepper, and Salem and the newest addition, a siamese kitten, Frumpy.
When she's not writing or thinking about writing, Olivia reads (across all genres), watches old movies and collects vintage books, vinyl, and eerie paintings. And if she's out and about, she's either taking photos, riding a bike, or trying to take photos while riding a bike (not a good idea!)
SOMEDAY IN PARIS, her debut, published by Head of Zeus in May 2020 became a B&N, Apple, Kobo and Amazon Top 100 Bestseller and was shortlisted for the Romantic Fantasy Novel Award in 2021. Her second novel, THE MEETING POINT, was published again by Head of Zeus, on September 2 2021, as an ebook (and hit the Apple Industry charts, BN bestseller list and was a top 50 Amazon bestseller). THE MEETING POINT paperback will be published on December 9, 2021 in the UK, and in April 2022 in the US.
Join Olivia's mailing list: http://bit.ly/2IPvm9i
Learn more about Olivia on:
www.olivia-lara.com
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/olilara_writes
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/olivialara....
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/olivialaraau...
Add Someday in Paris to your TBR list: http://bit.ly/SomedayinParis
Add The Meeting Point to your TBR list: http://bit.ly/TheMeetingPoint-GR
An unapologetic citizen of the world, she spent a few years in Greece, Sweden, and France (which will always have a special place in her heart), before settling in the US. Olivia now lives in sunny California with her photographer husband and daughter, where she works as a marketing executive and writes. Oh, and let's not forget the ever-growing menagerie that completes the family: Pumpkin—the hyper-active Maine Coon-orange tabby mix, three black cats: Shadow, Pepper, and Salem and the newest addition, a siamese kitten, Frumpy.
When she's not writing or thinking about writing, Olivia reads (across all genres), watches old movies and collects vintage books, vinyl, and eerie paintings. And if she's out and about, she's either taking photos, riding a bike, or trying to take photos while riding a bike (not a good idea!)
SOMEDAY IN PARIS, her debut, published by Head of Zeus in May 2020 became a B&N, Apple, Kobo and Amazon Top 100 Bestseller and was shortlisted for the Romantic Fantasy Novel Award in 2021. Her second novel, THE MEETING POINT, was published again by Head of Zeus, on September 2 2021, as an ebook (and hit the Apple Industry charts, BN bestseller list and was a top 50 Amazon bestseller). THE MEETING POINT paperback will be published on December 9, 2021 in the UK, and in April 2022 in the US.
Join Olivia's mailing list: http://bit.ly/2IPvm9i
Learn more about Olivia on:
www.olivia-lara.com
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/olilara_writes
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/olivialara....
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/olivialaraau...
Add Someday in Paris to your TBR list: http://bit.ly/SomedayinParis
Add The Meeting Point to your TBR list: http://bit.ly/TheMeetingPoint-GR
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,036 reviews
August 17, 2021
Sweet, swoon, heartfelt, extremely romantic!
Poor Maya Maas is having one of the most complicated days of her life! First she deals with a narcissist author who rejects to interview with her which results with being fired from the newspaper she’s working for 4 years and when she decides to make a surprise appearance in San Francisco to meet with her boyfriend David at her birthday, a Lyft Driver answers David’s phone, telling her he left the phone as he also left with a hot blonde he was making out at the back seats of the car.
Maya’s day couldn’t get worse but luckily kind hearted ride share driver is also great consultant with tour guiding skills sends her to take a quick trip to Carmel to celebrate her birthday with adventurous journey!
Maya seems like falls in love at first text. She never sees, hears the guy. They connect via texts and she truly has one of the best journeys of her life. As the day ends, both of them agree at a meeting point! It’s time to meet face to face!
But sometimes truly goes wrong and it takes one year for Maya to gather her wits, listening to her heart, returning back to Carmel to find out to meet with real Max for good!
But her path crosses with twin siblings: Ethan and Celine! Ethan might know Max too well, who also used their one day experience as a source of his latest book! Yes. He’s highly praised author. Interesting fact is Maya also wrote about her one day adventure.
Which side of the story is true? Could Ethan be the key to truly meet with Max and find her own HEA ? Could she have a chance to find her own happiness instead of writing fictional stories or sharpening matching skills around the people she meets?
The big twist is so foreseeable from the beginning but blooming romance, high chemistry, extra amazing gestures give you so many awwww moments which make you connected with the characters and enjoy your sweet ride!
I’m rounding 3.5 stars to 4 even though there are so many cliches, it was still lovely, heart melting experience I like to have! Definitely a promising feel good romance makes you smile so much and plan an urgent trip to Carmel as like I’m doing right now!
This is second book of Olivia Lara. Her debut was historical romance which proves she can create amazing stories in both genres awakening my romcom craving!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Aria&Aries for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
Poor Maya Maas is having one of the most complicated days of her life! First she deals with a narcissist author who rejects to interview with her which results with being fired from the newspaper she’s working for 4 years and when she decides to make a surprise appearance in San Francisco to meet with her boyfriend David at her birthday, a Lyft Driver answers David’s phone, telling her he left the phone as he also left with a hot blonde he was making out at the back seats of the car.
Maya’s day couldn’t get worse but luckily kind hearted ride share driver is also great consultant with tour guiding skills sends her to take a quick trip to Carmel to celebrate her birthday with adventurous journey!
Maya seems like falls in love at first text. She never sees, hears the guy. They connect via texts and she truly has one of the best journeys of her life. As the day ends, both of them agree at a meeting point! It’s time to meet face to face!
But sometimes truly goes wrong and it takes one year for Maya to gather her wits, listening to her heart, returning back to Carmel to find out to meet with real Max for good!
But her path crosses with twin siblings: Ethan and Celine! Ethan might know Max too well, who also used their one day experience as a source of his latest book! Yes. He’s highly praised author. Interesting fact is Maya also wrote about her one day adventure.
Which side of the story is true? Could Ethan be the key to truly meet with Max and find her own HEA ? Could she have a chance to find her own happiness instead of writing fictional stories or sharpening matching skills around the people she meets?
The big twist is so foreseeable from the beginning but blooming romance, high chemistry, extra amazing gestures give you so many awwww moments which make you connected with the characters and enjoy your sweet ride!
I’m rounding 3.5 stars to 4 even though there are so many cliches, it was still lovely, heart melting experience I like to have! Definitely a promising feel good romance makes you smile so much and plan an urgent trip to Carmel as like I’m doing right now!
This is second book of Olivia Lara. Her debut was historical romance which proves she can create amazing stories in both genres awakening my romcom craving!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Aria&Aries for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
September 2, 2021
A cute and romantic story in a fabulous setting!
After Maya gets fired, she flies to San Francisco to surprise her boyfriend, but finds out he's cheating on her from the lift driver who dropped him off.. Alone in an unfamiliar city, Maya jumps at the driver's suggestion to visit Carmel-by-the-sea. He plays tour guide, and they get to know each by text on a magical day. What adventure will Maya discover, and will she meet the driver, Max face to face?
First of all, I loved the setting for this book! I googled Carmel-by-the-sea to see if it is a real place, and not only is it real, but it's every bit as gorgeous and quirky as described! Beautiful and unique, with a great small town feel, I am now desperate to go!
I adored the personal itinerary given to Maya by Max! What a lovely thing to do for someone, who has been dealt a crappy hand, and on their birthday no less! You can't beat personal recommendations!
The friendships built up in this book were cute, and I loved how Maya slotted in so easily, like she was always meant to be there!
Both Maya, and another character were writers, and that was a nice touch. I loved how Maya would people watch, and then write HEA's for those people, and for the people she met!😍
The uplifting feel of the book was nice, I never felt that Maya's own HEA was in any danger! I can imagine reading this by the beach or pool in the summer!
However, I'm not keen on insta-love, so that aspect didn't work for me! I also didn't like the lack of communication/lying between the characters, it was frustrating.
I felt like I was stuck in Maya's head, she had so many monologues cataloguing her every thought, feeling and conversation in detail, which dragged a bit.
The Meeting Point was also terribly predictable! I saw the twist coming from the first few pages..
So despite being cute and uplifting, this romance didn't quite give me the feels. There wasn't enough chemistry, and ultimately I couldn't get past the secrets and lies. It has been compared to Mhairi McFarlane's books, and having just enjoyed a book by this author, there is just no comparison for me.
The ratings are high so far, for this sweet story though, so if you don't mind insta-love and communication problems, then definitely give this rom-com a shot! 🏖🏖🏖
Many thanks to NetGalley and Aria & Aries for my ARC, in exchange for an honest review
After Maya gets fired, she flies to San Francisco to surprise her boyfriend, but finds out he's cheating on her from the lift driver who dropped him off.. Alone in an unfamiliar city, Maya jumps at the driver's suggestion to visit Carmel-by-the-sea. He plays tour guide, and they get to know each by text on a magical day. What adventure will Maya discover, and will she meet the driver, Max face to face?
First of all, I loved the setting for this book! I googled Carmel-by-the-sea to see if it is a real place, and not only is it real, but it's every bit as gorgeous and quirky as described! Beautiful and unique, with a great small town feel, I am now desperate to go!
I adored the personal itinerary given to Maya by Max! What a lovely thing to do for someone, who has been dealt a crappy hand, and on their birthday no less! You can't beat personal recommendations!
The friendships built up in this book were cute, and I loved how Maya slotted in so easily, like she was always meant to be there!
Both Maya, and another character were writers, and that was a nice touch. I loved how Maya would people watch, and then write HEA's for those people, and for the people she met!😍
The uplifting feel of the book was nice, I never felt that Maya's own HEA was in any danger! I can imagine reading this by the beach or pool in the summer!
However, I'm not keen on insta-love, so that aspect didn't work for me! I also didn't like the lack of communication/lying between the characters, it was frustrating.
I felt like I was stuck in Maya's head, she had so many monologues cataloguing her every thought, feeling and conversation in detail, which dragged a bit.
The Meeting Point was also terribly predictable! I saw the twist coming from the first few pages..
So despite being cute and uplifting, this romance didn't quite give me the feels. There wasn't enough chemistry, and ultimately I couldn't get past the secrets and lies. It has been compared to Mhairi McFarlane's books, and having just enjoyed a book by this author, there is just no comparison for me.
The ratings are high so far, for this sweet story though, so if you don't mind insta-love and communication problems, then definitely give this rom-com a shot! 🏖🏖🏖
Many thanks to NetGalley and Aria & Aries for my ARC, in exchange for an honest review
October 15, 2021
3.5*
I had somewhat of a love-dislike relationship with this book. Pull up a chair and I’ll explain.
The premise grabbed me right away and knew it was a must-read for me!
Maya wants to surprise her boyfriend who’s presently across the country in California on business. It’s Maya’s birthday and her surprise is making a last minute trip to join him. Only it doesn’t go as planned.
Far from it.
Arriving in California, Maya texts her boyfriend, but oddly, the texts she receives are from a total stranger. The mystery texter is a Lift driver who discovered the phone in his car after dropping off a “couple” who were so engaged with their “activities” they didn’t notice their phone left behind.
Now she has a choice. Stay at the airport or follow the suggestion of the Lift driver offering to personally guide her around Carmel by the Sea. He’ll text her all the sites to see. She agrees to his proposition and proceeds to have the best night of her life! And instantly begins falling hard for this unknown Lift driver.
The second half of the book is where I struggled. Once Maya returns to California and begins tracking down the Lift driver, the mood of the book shifted from sweet and cute to lies and deceit. At times perhaps a bit stalkerish too?🤷🏻♀️ All the cuteness and hope of falling in love just seemed to vanish.
As I said, I love the premise and I do believe in Maya’s ability to fall hard and fast for this stranger. Simply, I love…love!
Just the way the big reveal unfolded left me a bit cold.☹️
I hope it works out better for you!
Posted to: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...
Thank you to NetGalley and Aria & Aries
I had somewhat of a love-dislike relationship with this book. Pull up a chair and I’ll explain.
The premise grabbed me right away and knew it was a must-read for me!
Maya wants to surprise her boyfriend who’s presently across the country in California on business. It’s Maya’s birthday and her surprise is making a last minute trip to join him. Only it doesn’t go as planned.
Far from it.
Arriving in California, Maya texts her boyfriend, but oddly, the texts she receives are from a total stranger. The mystery texter is a Lift driver who discovered the phone in his car after dropping off a “couple” who were so engaged with their “activities” they didn’t notice their phone left behind.
Now she has a choice. Stay at the airport or follow the suggestion of the Lift driver offering to personally guide her around Carmel by the Sea. He’ll text her all the sites to see. She agrees to his proposition and proceeds to have the best night of her life! And instantly begins falling hard for this unknown Lift driver.
The second half of the book is where I struggled. Once Maya returns to California and begins tracking down the Lift driver, the mood of the book shifted from sweet and cute to lies and deceit. At times perhaps a bit stalkerish too?🤷🏻♀️ All the cuteness and hope of falling in love just seemed to vanish.
As I said, I love the premise and I do believe in Maya’s ability to fall hard and fast for this stranger. Simply, I love…love!
Just the way the big reveal unfolded left me a bit cold.☹️
I hope it works out better for you!
Posted to: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...
Thank you to NetGalley and Aria & Aries
April 12, 2022
I'm crying this was so PERFECT😭❤️
It's a cute heartwarming and the perfect comfort read.
Tropes- Second chance, small town, hidden identity and HEA.
TW- Infidelity⚠️
The plot revolves around our main character - Maya Maas, who is working as a journalist and wants to be a writer. Maya hates her job, and has a rocky relationship with her long term boyfriend. She soon finds her life falling apart, until she recieves a text form our Mystery Man- the Lyft driver. She proceeds to find that Mystery Man and we see her on a life changing adventure.
Honestly, it's just so well written. I couldn't help but devour it. Maya though a bit oblivious is a very likable lead. Our Mystery Man is pretty good himself and is full of charm. He's reserved, opinionated and a total romantic. The chemistry between the two is amazing. The supporting characters are great as well, I immediately took a liking to them.
While the book is amazing, I did feel the Mystery Man could've revealed himself a bit earlier and the ending was slightly rushed (but the whole story makes up for it). I wanted to see more of the two together.
Would totally recommend it if you need a nice comforting and a quick romance read. There's no spice in it, it's clean.
eARC provided by Netgalley for an honest review.
It's a cute heartwarming and the perfect comfort read.
Tropes- Second chance, small town, hidden identity and HEA.
TW- Infidelity⚠️
The plot revolves around our main character - Maya Maas, who is working as a journalist and wants to be a writer. Maya hates her job, and has a rocky relationship with her long term boyfriend. She soon finds her life falling apart, until she recieves a text form our Mystery Man- the Lyft driver. She proceeds to find that Mystery Man and we see her on a life changing adventure.
Honestly, it's just so well written. I couldn't help but devour it. Maya though a bit oblivious is a very likable lead. Our Mystery Man is pretty good himself and is full of charm. He's reserved, opinionated and a total romantic. The chemistry between the two is amazing. The supporting characters are great as well, I immediately took a liking to them.
While the book is amazing, I did feel the Mystery Man could've revealed himself a bit earlier and the ending was slightly rushed (but the whole story makes up for it). I wanted to see more of the two together.
Would totally recommend it if you need a nice comforting and a quick romance read. There's no spice in it, it's clean.
eARC provided by Netgalley for an honest review.
August 26, 2021
How sweet it is!!! 😍
Maya is on her way from NYC to San Francisco to surprise her boyfriend that is there on business. It's her birthday, their relationship has been a bit rocky, and she's hoping that this will be just the thing they need to bring them back together again.
She arrives and texts him. No answer. Texts again. No answer. Where is he?
Finally a text arrives asking who she is. Apparently her boyfriend left his cell phone in the back of a Lyft drivers car. The texter asks if she's the blonde that had been with her boyfriend when he dropped them off at a restaurant. Maya can't believe it. She is definitely not blonde and now not only is her birthday ruined but her entire life.
The mystery texter feels terrible at delivering this horrible news. He had no idea. He never would have said anything otherwise. In an effort to make both himself and her feel better he hatches a plan that takes Maya on an adventure through the lovely town of Carmel-by-the-Sea. For the next twenty four hours he texts her places to go and things to do and Maya ends up having the time of her life. If only she could meet this mystery man. They agree, finally, to meet and watch the sunrise together before she leaves on her flight but circumstances get in their way and she finds herself back in NYC wondering what happened. Where did he go and better yet WHO is he?
This was so darn cute but I will admit that it took me a little time to warm to the story but once I did this book took off and I could hardly put it down. Many people are turned off by insta-love stories. I questioned it at first then told my inner cynic to shut the f up. Just enjoy what's happening. So that's what I did and I was rewarded with an adorable and heartwarming story. I loved ALL of the characters except for the cheating boyfriend of course. How often does that happen? But my most favorite part may have been the locale itself: Carmel-by-the-Sea. OMG. Have you all seen pictures of this place? If you haven't then you should hit up google for a look see. Needless to say I was checking out how much round trip tickets are while I was reading this. Some day I will visit mark my words on that! Is this a little predictable? Yeah, it is but it in no way hindered my reading experience. I was too enthralled, too attached to the characters, too invested to give a hoot if my predictions were right. Olivia Lara you have made a fan out of me! 4 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Aria and Aries for my copy.
Maya is on her way from NYC to San Francisco to surprise her boyfriend that is there on business. It's her birthday, their relationship has been a bit rocky, and she's hoping that this will be just the thing they need to bring them back together again.
She arrives and texts him. No answer. Texts again. No answer. Where is he?
Finally a text arrives asking who she is. Apparently her boyfriend left his cell phone in the back of a Lyft drivers car. The texter asks if she's the blonde that had been with her boyfriend when he dropped them off at a restaurant. Maya can't believe it. She is definitely not blonde and now not only is her birthday ruined but her entire life.
The mystery texter feels terrible at delivering this horrible news. He had no idea. He never would have said anything otherwise. In an effort to make both himself and her feel better he hatches a plan that takes Maya on an adventure through the lovely town of Carmel-by-the-Sea. For the next twenty four hours he texts her places to go and things to do and Maya ends up having the time of her life. If only she could meet this mystery man. They agree, finally, to meet and watch the sunrise together before she leaves on her flight but circumstances get in their way and she finds herself back in NYC wondering what happened. Where did he go and better yet WHO is he?
This was so darn cute but I will admit that it took me a little time to warm to the story but once I did this book took off and I could hardly put it down. Many people are turned off by insta-love stories. I questioned it at first then told my inner cynic to shut the f up. Just enjoy what's happening. So that's what I did and I was rewarded with an adorable and heartwarming story. I loved ALL of the characters except for the cheating boyfriend of course. How often does that happen? But my most favorite part may have been the locale itself: Carmel-by-the-Sea. OMG. Have you all seen pictures of this place? If you haven't then you should hit up google for a look see. Needless to say I was checking out how much round trip tickets are while I was reading this. Some day I will visit mark my words on that! Is this a little predictable? Yeah, it is but it in no way hindered my reading experience. I was too enthralled, too attached to the characters, too invested to give a hoot if my predictions were right. Olivia Lara you have made a fan out of me! 4 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Aria and Aries for my copy.
June 30, 2021
4.5 ⭐
Wow, I really enjoyed this story! I wrote a much more in-depth review on my blog, so you can check my thoughts there. All I’m gonna say here is that I am really, really, really glad I got a chance to read an early copy of this book. Out of all the books I've got from NetGalley so far, I think this is my favorite.
If you usually like this type of books or if you are in a mood for a light, fluffy contemporary romance, I’d definitely recommend this one, especially if you are OK with the usual tropes. This was one of the best romances I read this year…
Thank you to the #NetGalley and to the author and publisher for providing me with an ARC of The Meeting Point by Olivia Lara in exchange for an honest review.
You can find my full review on my book blog NovelOnMyMind.
❤️️ ❤️️ ❤️️
Wow, I really enjoyed this story! I wrote a much more in-depth review on my blog, so you can check my thoughts there. All I’m gonna say here is that I am really, really, really glad I got a chance to read an early copy of this book. Out of all the books I've got from NetGalley so far, I think this is my favorite.
If you usually like this type of books or if you are in a mood for a light, fluffy contemporary romance, I’d definitely recommend this one, especially if you are OK with the usual tropes. This was one of the best romances I read this year…
Thank you to the #NetGalley and to the author and publisher for providing me with an ARC of The Meeting Point by Olivia Lara in exchange for an honest review.
You can find my full review on my book blog NovelOnMyMind.
❤️️ ❤️️ ❤️️
April 3, 2022
Okay, I'm speechless. Already lost sleep having to read this in 1 sitting as I could NOT put this down. About 2 people with a chance meeting by texts. Follows 2 writers as well and their stories of their lives and the actual stories they've written. It's a beautifully written masterpiece. I was soooo invested in these characters, rooting for SO many people in this book to find their happiness. I cannot believe I loved this so much as this isn't my typical genre, but let me tell you... it's 110% worth the read. You will be so captivated by the characters in the story and MUST keep turning the pages to figure out how everyone's lives take off and what will happen next! Absolutely loved this. Hands down my favorite book I've read in the past few months (and I read 2-3 books a day). Loved this! Can't believe I've only just now found this author and this book! I will absolutely be checking out the author's other books now!
I received this book to review from the publishers and NetGalley. All comments above are solely my true opinion after reading this book.
I received this book to review from the publishers and NetGalley. All comments above are solely my true opinion after reading this book.
September 4, 2021
5☆ An Unputdownable Romance!
Wow oh wow one thing is for sure this book NEEDS to be made into a film!
If you adore cosy, sweet romances with a dash of intrigue then this has it in abundance.
I am not going into the plot with this one as this is a book you most definitely need to read for yourself to truly get the beauty of the story.
What I will say is I was totally swept away with the mystery and warmth of this story and it's a book that not only will make you believe in love, but that there are good people out there.
I wish that someone could plan an mystery adventure like that for me on my birthday!
What I loved most about this story was the ambiance, the characters and the whole will they won't they romance.
It's one of those Uplifting reads that gives you a warm cosy hug!
The Meeting Point truly is a Feel-good, Heartfelt, Inspiring and Heart Warming Romance that once I started reading I couldn't put it down!
Thank you to The Write Reads Blog Tours and Aria Fiction for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
You can Find this Review and all my Other Reviews on My Blog :-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2021/0...
Wow oh wow one thing is for sure this book NEEDS to be made into a film!
If you adore cosy, sweet romances with a dash of intrigue then this has it in abundance.
I am not going into the plot with this one as this is a book you most definitely need to read for yourself to truly get the beauty of the story.
What I will say is I was totally swept away with the mystery and warmth of this story and it's a book that not only will make you believe in love, but that there are good people out there.
I wish that someone could plan an mystery adventure like that for me on my birthday!
What I loved most about this story was the ambiance, the characters and the whole will they won't they romance.
It's one of those Uplifting reads that gives you a warm cosy hug!
The Meeting Point truly is a Feel-good, Heartfelt, Inspiring and Heart Warming Romance that once I started reading I couldn't put it down!
Thank you to The Write Reads Blog Tours and Aria Fiction for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
You can Find this Review and all my Other Reviews on My Blog :-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2021/0...
January 24, 2022
3 stars. A light read, for sure.
At least, that was what our main character, Maya, thought before she definitely had a magical, over-the-top and once-in-a-lifetime encounter which was worthy enough for a book written about it.
Maya was having the worst day of her life. She found out her boyfriend cheated on her right after she got fired from her job and now, she is stranded in California alone with a broken heart. Little does she know what adventure awaits her and how deep of an impression this adventure would leave on her heart.
This book was light, fluffy with just a sprinkle of angst. There was also an attempt at the well-loved enemies-to-lovers trope although, there was definitely more 'lovers' than 'enemies'.
This book had all the elements of a typical adult rom-com. A protagonist that's actually really unhappy and it takes a midlife crisis for her to come out of her shell and have courage for new beginnings; no matter how daunting. Coincidentally, she falls in love and things get way more complicated than they should be.
Although the first 80 pages were pretty slow, things really picked up after that and I must say, I was quite engaged. This story is an adventurous one, taking place across beaches, restaurants, magical winding streets with old buildings. The moments the love interests share are cute and dynamic; there is tension, there are unexplained feelings, there is happiness and also a sort of melancholy that is always present in adult rom-coms.
I really liked Maya. I found her to be likeable and quirky, with a thirst for the world that the love interest definitely saw in her. Ethan, the male protagonist, was also very likeable. He had good charm and his sister, Celine is even better. Celine and all the other supporting characters were such good additions to the story. I really enjoyed reading those little snippets about them.
Although the characters were quite unique, the execution and direction of the story were of a typical rom-com; adorable but predictable, without any interesting tweak or twist.
Two big problems I have with this book was how rushed the ending was and the writing. The ending was so rushed, it felt unrealistic and was all in all, pretty lazy writing. It was not romantic in the least and the pace was so jarring that I really felt like I was stunned into reality. At some point, I forgot I was reading and was really quite engrossed but that ending truly did not match up to what it was building up for, especially that last interaction between Celine and Maya.
The writing was average but the love interest's (who is a writer in the book) writing was, well, not very good. It did not have the magic it should have had, seeing the story told from the perspective of the male love interest. It was truly lacklustre and my heart definitely did not skip a beat while reading from his perspective.
Anywho, it was still an enjoyable light read. I would recommend it for anyone taking a break from heavy genres, perhaps fantasy or non-fiction. Another similarly adventurous adult rom-com that I can recommend if you liked this one, would be The Lucky Escape!
Thank you so much Aria & Aries for providing a free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
〖 Follow me on Instagram (@shashaybooks)! 〗
“Magical, over-the-top, once-in-a-lifetime things are not for me.”
At least, that was what our main character, Maya, thought before she definitely had a magical, over-the-top and once-in-a-lifetime encounter which was worthy enough for a book written about it.
Maya was having the worst day of her life. She found out her boyfriend cheated on her right after she got fired from her job and now, she is stranded in California alone with a broken heart. Little does she know what adventure awaits her and how deep of an impression this adventure would leave on her heart.
This book was light, fluffy with just a sprinkle of angst. There was also an attempt at the well-loved enemies-to-lovers trope although, there was definitely more 'lovers' than 'enemies'.
This book had all the elements of a typical adult rom-com. A protagonist that's actually really unhappy and it takes a midlife crisis for her to come out of her shell and have courage for new beginnings; no matter how daunting. Coincidentally, she falls in love and things get way more complicated than they should be.
Although the first 80 pages were pretty slow, things really picked up after that and I must say, I was quite engaged. This story is an adventurous one, taking place across beaches, restaurants, magical winding streets with old buildings. The moments the love interests share are cute and dynamic; there is tension, there are unexplained feelings, there is happiness and also a sort of melancholy that is always present in adult rom-coms.
I really liked Maya. I found her to be likeable and quirky, with a thirst for the world that the love interest definitely saw in her. Ethan, the male protagonist, was also very likeable. He had good charm and his sister, Celine is even better. Celine and all the other supporting characters were such good additions to the story. I really enjoyed reading those little snippets about them.
Although the characters were quite unique, the execution and direction of the story were of a typical rom-com; adorable but predictable, without any interesting tweak or twist.
Two big problems I have with this book was how rushed the ending was and the writing. The ending was so rushed, it felt unrealistic and was all in all, pretty lazy writing. It was not romantic in the least and the pace was so jarring that I really felt like I was stunned into reality. At some point, I forgot I was reading and was really quite engrossed but that ending truly did not match up to what it was building up for, especially that last interaction between Celine and Maya.
The writing was average but the love interest's (who is a writer in the book) writing was, well, not very good. It did not have the magic it should have had, seeing the story told from the perspective of the male love interest. It was truly lacklustre and my heart definitely did not skip a beat while reading from his perspective.
Anywho, it was still an enjoyable light read. I would recommend it for anyone taking a break from heavy genres, perhaps fantasy or non-fiction. Another similarly adventurous adult rom-com that I can recommend if you liked this one, would be The Lucky Escape!
Thank you so much Aria & Aries for providing a free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
〖 Follow me on Instagram (@shashaybooks)! 〗
September 22, 2021
Addictive, charming, predictable, adventuresome, engaging, page-turner!!
This novel is so lovable!
I had never heard of the artist or the book till I landed myself an e-ARC thanks to Love Book Tours, who presented me a place on this book's tour. I couldn't be more fortunate. This swoon-worthy romantic book is something I was looking for. I enjoyed reading it! The love tale is super attractive & I hold this grin on my face reminiscing long after I have finished reading it. The story had me in its grip immediately from the beginning. I liked how the author included all the book-related thoughts & features that delivered more connection.
All the adventure lovers out there, grab your copy right now!
This novel is so lovable!
I had never heard of the artist or the book till I landed myself an e-ARC thanks to Love Book Tours, who presented me a place on this book's tour. I couldn't be more fortunate. This swoon-worthy romantic book is something I was looking for. I enjoyed reading it! The love tale is super attractive & I hold this grin on my face reminiscing long after I have finished reading it. The story had me in its grip immediately from the beginning. I liked how the author included all the book-related thoughts & features that delivered more connection.
All the adventure lovers out there, grab your copy right now!
September 1, 2021
I loved almost everything about this adorable story.
The only blip for me was Maya's over reactions and her naivety.
I found myself yelling at the book when she didn't see what I saw.
Much love to NetGalley and Aria & Aries for my DRC.
The only blip for me was Maya's over reactions and her naivety.
I found myself yelling at the book when she didn't see what I saw.
Much love to NetGalley and Aria & Aries for my DRC.
August 21, 2021
Meh. This somehow managed to drag and feel rushed at the same time.
I felt like the relationship development was weak - because even thought the love interest isn't revealed on page until later in the story, we know who it is as soon as the character is introduced and I honestly didn't feel any chemistry between the couple. But as soon as we find out the identity on page they are together and overcome their hurdles. It just didn't really work for me.
I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
I felt like the relationship development was weak - because even thought the love interest isn't revealed on page until later in the story, we know who it is as soon as the character is introduced and I honestly didn't feel any chemistry between the couple. But as soon as we find out the identity on page they are together and overcome their hurdles. It just didn't really work for me.
I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
September 22, 2021
I received an advance reader copy of this book to read as part of the book tour hosted by Lovebookstours.
The meeting point follows Maya who decides to surprise her boyfriend whilst he is on a business trip because it is her birthday. When she messages him,it's not him who replies but a Lift driver. Maya discovers her boyfriend has been being unfaithful.
Maya and the Lift driver strike up a conversation and he suggests things she should do to celebrate her birthday. Maya plays along, however she's puzzledby why she's not as upset about her cheating boyfriend as she thinks she should be.
I thoroughly enjoyed this light,fun read and found it quite a refreshing change of genres for me.
The meeting point follows Maya who decides to surprise her boyfriend whilst he is on a business trip because it is her birthday. When she messages him,it's not him who replies but a Lift driver. Maya discovers her boyfriend has been being unfaithful.
Maya and the Lift driver strike up a conversation and he suggests things she should do to celebrate her birthday. Maya plays along, however she's puzzledby why she's not as upset about her cheating boyfriend as she thinks she should be.
I thoroughly enjoyed this light,fun read and found it quite a refreshing change of genres for me.
September 1, 2021
Review published in: https://diagnosisbookaholic.blogspot....
4,5 ⭐️
I had never heard about this book or author until Lisa from TLC Book Tours offered me an eARC and a spot in “The Meeting Point” Blog Tour, and I’m so glad she did. This was exactly what I needed right now! I LOVED IT! It was so darn cute that I still haven’t wiped off the smile from my face three days after finishing it.
I was completely in from the get go. If there’s a writer character or a book subplot involved I will probably love it and that was the case here. I loved Maya so much that when the first half finished I actually yelled at my Kindle so against her decision I was.
I’m not usually a fan of insta-love stories but I adored this one. The fact they hadn’t even met made it even cuter. Let’s be honest, that was a better “first date” than many real life face to face ones we’ve all had, so I can’t fault her for falling in love with Max (I would have too!).
Once she went back to Carmel-by-the-Sea she met lots of fantastic characters that added to the level of adorableness of the story.
I loved Maya’s journey of self-discovery, taking risks to try and find out what she really wanted in life. The love story was predictable (which rom-com isn’t?) but I still enjoyed the journey there.
Who went and googled Carmel-by-the-Sea the minute he finished the book and it’s ready to book some flights there to go and visit? What a gorgeous place! All the vivid descriptions of the streets, the ocean, the cottages…made the town another character in the story.
Fun and heartwarming story with a great cast of characters and a love story that had one of the most enchanting first dates I’ve ever read. Absolutely recommended it! Now I can’t wait to read the author’s first book.
Thanks to NetGalley, Aria & Aries, TLC Book Tours and the author for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
4,5 ⭐️
I had never heard about this book or author until Lisa from TLC Book Tours offered me an eARC and a spot in “The Meeting Point” Blog Tour, and I’m so glad she did. This was exactly what I needed right now! I LOVED IT! It was so darn cute that I still haven’t wiped off the smile from my face three days after finishing it.
I was completely in from the get go. If there’s a writer character or a book subplot involved I will probably love it and that was the case here. I loved Maya so much that when the first half finished I actually yelled at my Kindle so against her decision I was.
I’m not usually a fan of insta-love stories but I adored this one. The fact they hadn’t even met made it even cuter. Let’s be honest, that was a better “first date” than many real life face to face ones we’ve all had, so I can’t fault her for falling in love with Max (I would have too!).
Once she went back to Carmel-by-the-Sea she met lots of fantastic characters that added to the level of adorableness of the story.
I loved Maya’s journey of self-discovery, taking risks to try and find out what she really wanted in life. The love story was predictable (which rom-com isn’t?) but I still enjoyed the journey there.
Who went and googled Carmel-by-the-Sea the minute he finished the book and it’s ready to book some flights there to go and visit? What a gorgeous place! All the vivid descriptions of the streets, the ocean, the cottages…made the town another character in the story.
Fun and heartwarming story with a great cast of characters and a love story that had one of the most enchanting first dates I’ve ever read. Absolutely recommended it! Now I can’t wait to read the author’s first book.
Thanks to NetGalley, Aria & Aries, TLC Book Tours and the author for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 28, 2022
(Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for a honest review)
Publication date: 01 April 2022
Publisher: Aria and Aries
3.5 ⭐
This book is one of the fastest ARC I've read.
Plot
Maya Maas is an aspiring writer who works as a journalist, with many of her drafts inspired by the people she meet on the streets. Maya despises her job and is in a deteriorating relationship with her long-term lover, David. Her life then falls apart when she receives a text message from a Mystery Man, the Lift driver. When the mystery texter suggests a spontaneous schedule to celebrate her birthday, Maya finds herself enjoying the connection through their texts which makes her think of the chances of having more.
Thoughts
I loved the plot because of how refreshing it sounded. It was a very light and quick read.
The entire plot is predictable but the book was written in such a way that it is hard for you to put it down. I guess this book would fit into the insta-love and slow burn trope even though it was pretty much one sided initially. I liked the imagery the book gave: the beaches or the sunsets, the bonfire and everything was beautiful to imagine as I read the book. With how the book was going, I did think it could become a thriller suddenly (because of the anonymity and the planning by the mystery man) but it is truly a romance book. Maya had this cute habit of people watching and matchmaking those she know which gave her the inspiration to write. There's also no spice in this book at all so if you're a lover of clean romances, this is for you.
Why I gave this 3.5⭐ is because I felt like Maya wasn't taking responsibility to fix her own solutions. She was so ignorant and instead was happy uniting others' around her instead. It kind of showed her in an immature light. It also felt pretty one sided because most of the POVs from were Maya and when I compared the chapter to the previous, the settings and timeline didn't seem to match which was a little confusing at times. I honestly think 88 chapters are not necessary for this book when some of the chapters were only 1-2 pages long. The ending also felt a little rushed which decreased the charm of the book.
Overall, a cute and soft read. I like the illustrated cover too.
Publication date: 01 April 2022
Publisher: Aria and Aries
3.5 ⭐
This book is one of the fastest ARC I've read.
Plot
Maya Maas is an aspiring writer who works as a journalist, with many of her drafts inspired by the people she meet on the streets. Maya despises her job and is in a deteriorating relationship with her long-term lover, David. Her life then falls apart when she receives a text message from a Mystery Man, the Lift driver. When the mystery texter suggests a spontaneous schedule to celebrate her birthday, Maya finds herself enjoying the connection through their texts which makes her think of the chances of having more.
Thoughts
I loved the plot because of how refreshing it sounded. It was a very light and quick read.
The entire plot is predictable but the book was written in such a way that it is hard for you to put it down. I guess this book would fit into the insta-love and slow burn trope even though it was pretty much one sided initially. I liked the imagery the book gave: the beaches or the sunsets, the bonfire and everything was beautiful to imagine as I read the book. With how the book was going, I did think it could become a thriller suddenly (because of the anonymity and the planning by the mystery man) but it is truly a romance book. Maya had this cute habit of people watching and matchmaking those she know which gave her the inspiration to write. There's also no spice in this book at all so if you're a lover of clean romances, this is for you.
Why I gave this 3.5⭐ is because I felt like Maya wasn't taking responsibility to fix her own solutions. She was so ignorant and instead was happy uniting others' around her instead. It kind of showed her in an immature light. It also felt pretty one sided because most of the POVs from were Maya and when I compared the chapter to the previous, the settings and timeline didn't seem to match which was a little confusing at times. I honestly think 88 chapters are not necessary for this book when some of the chapters were only 1-2 pages long. The ending also felt a little rushed which decreased the charm of the book.
Overall, a cute and soft read. I like the illustrated cover too.
July 28, 2021
our and a half Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭒
The Meeting Point By Olivia Lara is a whole lot of fun. It definitely has “You’ve Got Mail” vibes but in an updated and cool way. It’s full of humor and heart, and I enjoyed this very much.
Maya decides to surprise her boyfriend by traveling from New York City to San Fransisco for her birthday. When she arrives at the airport in San Fransico, she can’t get a hold of her boyfriend on the phone, and instead, she reaches his Lyft driver who inadvertently spills that her boyfriend was cheating on her in a text.
Ethan, the Lyft driver, feels sorry for her, and sorry he was the one to let her know about her boyfriend’s cheating. With a day left in the Bay Area, he takes her on an adventure in Carmel on Sea by text. They decide to leave out any personal information and they never meet face to face as they explore the coastal town together.
The humor and heart in this book are evident throughout the entire book. I loved Maya and Ethan and couldn’t wait for them to be together, but it took some time! I loved the old movie “You’ve Got Mail” and this book has a similar story, but updated.
The author did an excellent job of describing the town of Carmel by Sea, and I felt like I was there. At the old victorian houses, the lovely cafe, and the bonfire on the beach. This is a perfect summer book, full of fun, and sunshine. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
The Meeting Point By Olivia Lara is a whole lot of fun. It definitely has “You’ve Got Mail” vibes but in an updated and cool way. It’s full of humor and heart, and I enjoyed this very much.
Maya decides to surprise her boyfriend by traveling from New York City to San Fransisco for her birthday. When she arrives at the airport in San Fransico, she can’t get a hold of her boyfriend on the phone, and instead, she reaches his Lyft driver who inadvertently spills that her boyfriend was cheating on her in a text.
Ethan, the Lyft driver, feels sorry for her, and sorry he was the one to let her know about her boyfriend’s cheating. With a day left in the Bay Area, he takes her on an adventure in Carmel on Sea by text. They decide to leave out any personal information and they never meet face to face as they explore the coastal town together.
The humor and heart in this book are evident throughout the entire book. I loved Maya and Ethan and couldn’t wait for them to be together, but it took some time! I loved the old movie “You’ve Got Mail” and this book has a similar story, but updated.
The author did an excellent job of describing the town of Carmel by Sea, and I felt like I was there. At the old victorian houses, the lovely cafe, and the bonfire on the beach. This is a perfect summer book, full of fun, and sunshine. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
July 23, 2021
thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the arc.
oof, I had a lot of trouble getting through this book - i almost dnf at 30%, but pushed through and ended up skimreading a lot of it instead.
first of all, i really enjoyed the descriptions of Carmel-by-the-Sea, they were extremely gripping and made me want to visit this picturesque seaside town, and i loved the text directions given to Maya from the Lyft driver - it was fun and very easy to read.
as someone who is not a fan of insta-love, things started to go downhill quickly for me and i rapidly started losing interest. i struggled with the writing (it has a slight immature tone?) and found the pacing of events quite odd, especially with the ex-boyfriend drama (for lack of a better word).
as a whole, this was extremely predictable, lending to a dragging of events (who is this mysterious Lyft driver?), subsequently leaving me bored and uninterested in the rest of the story. i didn’t enjoy many of the interactions between Maya and Ethan - i thought a lot of their dialogue was quite over dramatic and unrealistic, and it just wasn’t a romantic pairing i was rooting for.
overall, a very easy and quick summer read, but not one I would recommend or come back to.
oof, I had a lot of trouble getting through this book - i almost dnf at 30%, but pushed through and ended up skimreading a lot of it instead.
first of all, i really enjoyed the descriptions of Carmel-by-the-Sea, they were extremely gripping and made me want to visit this picturesque seaside town, and i loved the text directions given to Maya from the Lyft driver - it was fun and very easy to read.
as someone who is not a fan of insta-love, things started to go downhill quickly for me and i rapidly started losing interest. i struggled with the writing (it has a slight immature tone?) and found the pacing of events quite odd, especially with the ex-boyfriend drama (for lack of a better word).
as a whole, this was extremely predictable, lending to a dragging of events (who is this mysterious Lyft driver?), subsequently leaving me bored and uninterested in the rest of the story. i didn’t enjoy many of the interactions between Maya and Ethan - i thought a lot of their dialogue was quite over dramatic and unrealistic, and it just wasn’t a romantic pairing i was rooting for.
overall, a very easy and quick summer read, but not one I would recommend or come back to.
November 13, 2021
I was attracted initially by the premise of this book, but the heroine was such a nitwit, I lost all patience with her!!
This went on way too long and how stupid do you have to be to not realize that Ethan was Max?
Also completely unbelievable that a waitress would be paid $25 an hour, even in a place like Carmel! If I could make $25 as a waitress I’d quit my phlebotomy job and do it!
All in all a very disappointing read.
This went on way too long and how stupid do you have to be to not realize that Ethan was Max?
Also completely unbelievable that a waitress would be paid $25 an hour, even in a place like Carmel! If I could make $25 as a waitress I’d quit my phlebotomy job and do it!
All in all a very disappointing read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 19, 2021
When Maya gets fired from her job and travels to California to surprise her long-time boyfriend on her birthday, she didn’t expect to find out from a Lift driver that her boyfriend was cheating. The Lift driver, who Maya names Max, encourages Maya to make the best of her day by traveling to a charming beach town. With a fabulous itinerary and an even better series of text messages, Max gives Maya the most wonderful experience of her life. However, when they finally agree to meet, Maya’s mystery man doesn’t show. Instead, her boyfriend does.
A year later, Maya is fed up and longing for the connection she felt with a man she never met. When Ethan, an author friend of Max, writes about Maya’s magical day, Maya decides to head back to the small beach town and find out who Max is. She gets a job working for Ethan’s sister in the hopes of uncovering Max’s identity. However, what she finds is more than she ever expected.
The Meeting Point is a sweet story about two strangers who fall in love before they even meet. It’s also about finding yourself, taking risks, and never giving up on your dreams. I love the characters and the gorgeous setting, as well as the messages about love and friendship.
The setting is beautiful, and it definitely sounds like a place I’d love to visit. It has that charming, quirky small-town feel that really speaks to Maya, and I can see why. The author gives such vivid descriptions of the homes, the ocean, and other charming and unique places, and it really made this idyllic coastal setting come alive.
The characters are charming as well. I love Maya! She’s on such a journey of self-discovery and is really finding out who she is and what she wants in life. She grows a lot throughout the story, and I enjoyed her journey. Ethan, the writer who wrote the story of her day with Max, is so thoughtful and fun. I liked his sense of humor and his strong relationship with his sister. I also like that some of the minor characters also find their happy endings. There are so many charming characters in the story, and to see them find happiness too is lovely.
The love story is charming and fun. It begins in such an unusual way and initially develops through texts. They have such chemistry, and their banter is so fun and witty. I love how he slowly woos Maya and shows her how he feels. It’s romantic and sweet, and so very charming.
This is a fun and heartwarming story with a wonderful setting and characters. I think readers who enjoy quick and light contemporary romance or rom-coms will enjoy this read, and I’m so thankful to The Write Reads, the author, and the publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
A year later, Maya is fed up and longing for the connection she felt with a man she never met. When Ethan, an author friend of Max, writes about Maya’s magical day, Maya decides to head back to the small beach town and find out who Max is. She gets a job working for Ethan’s sister in the hopes of uncovering Max’s identity. However, what she finds is more than she ever expected.
The Meeting Point is a sweet story about two strangers who fall in love before they even meet. It’s also about finding yourself, taking risks, and never giving up on your dreams. I love the characters and the gorgeous setting, as well as the messages about love and friendship.
The setting is beautiful, and it definitely sounds like a place I’d love to visit. It has that charming, quirky small-town feel that really speaks to Maya, and I can see why. The author gives such vivid descriptions of the homes, the ocean, and other charming and unique places, and it really made this idyllic coastal setting come alive.
The characters are charming as well. I love Maya! She’s on such a journey of self-discovery and is really finding out who she is and what she wants in life. She grows a lot throughout the story, and I enjoyed her journey. Ethan, the writer who wrote the story of her day with Max, is so thoughtful and fun. I liked his sense of humor and his strong relationship with his sister. I also like that some of the minor characters also find their happy endings. There are so many charming characters in the story, and to see them find happiness too is lovely.
The love story is charming and fun. It begins in such an unusual way and initially develops through texts. They have such chemistry, and their banter is so fun and witty. I love how he slowly woos Maya and shows her how he feels. It’s romantic and sweet, and so very charming.
This is a fun and heartwarming story with a wonderful setting and characters. I think readers who enjoy quick and light contemporary romance or rom-coms will enjoy this read, and I’m so thankful to The Write Reads, the author, and the publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
October 22, 2021
I knew I would love The Meeting Point when I read its blurb, and I was right. It is one of the three contemporary romances I’ve read last week. Let me just say that all three of them are set in small towns. I love small town romances. I think it’s more intimate and homely, if that makes sense. There’s something about a romance in a small town that makes me feel at home.
Anyway, The Meeting Point is more of a Chick Lit than regular contemporary romance. Maya Maas, the main character finds her life turned upside down when she went to surprise her boyfriend, only to find out that he’s cheating on her, the information given to her by the driver who dropped his boyfriend off. She then found herself in a mini tour, thanks again to the suggestion of the driver.
I love the set up of this novel, from the concept to the execution. The concept of having two strangers seemingly fated to meet. I love that so much because that doesn’t happen often in real life, or actually they happen but we’re too busy to acknowledge fate. Call me romantic or idealistic much, but I do believe in fate or destiny. 🥰
Right from the start I know Maya will have her own happy ending in romance but it’s such an enjoyable journey to see her get her life back together. That’s why I said this is more chick lit for me. The Meeting Point is said to be perfect for the fans of Mhairi McFarlane, Josie Silver and Sally Thorne. I can see why, especially how it started. It’s reminded me of McFarlane’s novel, If I Never Met You. But I didn’t really think of another book while reading it. This book ha sts own charm and I love Maya. Maya had been in a rough patch but she grew as a character in all aspect. I was rooting for her since the beginning and I really wished I was with her in Carmel-by-the-Sea.
Speaking of Carmel-by-the-Sea. Gosh!!! I was so focused on the setting. This book featured a little town in California called Carmel-by-the-Sea. It’s the first time I’ve heard or read the name of this town and I was so happy when it turned out to be real. I am a big fan of stories set in small towns, as I already mentioned. And this book checked all the boxes. I already listed Carmel-by-the-Sea in my bucket list.
Finally, I can say that The Meeting Point, wrapped up well. I love the twists and turns the story takes, even though some parts are predictable, I was okay with it.
If you love romantic stories with a unique concept and amazing characters, this one is for you.
Anyway, The Meeting Point is more of a Chick Lit than regular contemporary romance. Maya Maas, the main character finds her life turned upside down when she went to surprise her boyfriend, only to find out that he’s cheating on her, the information given to her by the driver who dropped his boyfriend off. She then found herself in a mini tour, thanks again to the suggestion of the driver.
I love the set up of this novel, from the concept to the execution. The concept of having two strangers seemingly fated to meet. I love that so much because that doesn’t happen often in real life, or actually they happen but we’re too busy to acknowledge fate. Call me romantic or idealistic much, but I do believe in fate or destiny. 🥰
Right from the start I know Maya will have her own happy ending in romance but it’s such an enjoyable journey to see her get her life back together. That’s why I said this is more chick lit for me. The Meeting Point is said to be perfect for the fans of Mhairi McFarlane, Josie Silver and Sally Thorne. I can see why, especially how it started. It’s reminded me of McFarlane’s novel, If I Never Met You. But I didn’t really think of another book while reading it. This book ha sts own charm and I love Maya. Maya had been in a rough patch but she grew as a character in all aspect. I was rooting for her since the beginning and I really wished I was with her in Carmel-by-the-Sea.
Speaking of Carmel-by-the-Sea. Gosh!!! I was so focused on the setting. This book featured a little town in California called Carmel-by-the-Sea. It’s the first time I’ve heard or read the name of this town and I was so happy when it turned out to be real. I am a big fan of stories set in small towns, as I already mentioned. And this book checked all the boxes. I already listed Carmel-by-the-Sea in my bucket list.
Finally, I can say that The Meeting Point, wrapped up well. I love the twists and turns the story takes, even though some parts are predictable, I was okay with it.
If you love romantic stories with a unique concept and amazing characters, this one is for you.
October 4, 2023
I actually adored this sweet romantic audio. It was super fun to listen to. Seriously though, the naievete and lack of the obvious, common sense thinking of the main character(s) and everyone around her/them, was just about too much to bear, and by the end I was completely done with her refusal to see what is clearly before her.... But I was so swept up in the romance of the ending, that I could tolerate its last hour or two/three. I just had to see this through, and watch the romantic ending we had been waiting for. And it was well worth it, I might add. Great as an audio. I love these cheesy romances to be my car companions.
August 7, 2021
The Meeting Point is a cute and delicious romantic story that is quickly devoured. I read it in one sitting, because the writing is fluid, but above all because I needed to know how the plot was ending.
Maya accumulates disappointments, she clings to a slight hope: her boyfriend. She decides to go to California to find him to celebrate her birthday with him, but without warning him beforehand.
At the airport, she calls him, but he's not the one answering, it's a lift driver who does. She discovers thanks to this stranger that her wonderful boyfriend is cheating on her. The stranger on the phone feels sorry for her and generously decides to help her overcome her disappointment and have a wonderful day. The two of them text each other, he advises her on places to visit, where to eat, where to relax ... Olivia Lara offers us a sublime postcard from Carmel-on-the-Sea, a small town very popular with writers, full of charms that she describes wonderfully, she makes us want to visit it.
Thanks to a man whose identity she does not know, she has a magical day, the best she has had since a very long time, a day that will change her life. Over the text messages, they get to know each other, they make each other laugh, exchange their feelings ... They therefore decide to meet but ... For unclear reasons, this meeting does not take place. And it is soooo frustrating !
A year later, Maya can no longer bear her disappointing life, especially after having lived an exceptional day several months before. She decides to give up everything and go in search of the lift driver. So she returns to California, to the city where her life has changed ... Conducting her investigation, she meets wonderful and generous people, she can finally let her heart express itself by helping others, by bringing them a smile...
In a way, looking for the man who changed her life, she finds herself, she becomes the real Maya again, a happy Maya.
She meets a writer who can help her find the lift driver but between them the mood is electric, she is angry with him, and he seems perplexed by her. It creates funny and enjoyable to read scenes. The situation of our heroine is more and more complicated.
It's hard to explain what I liked about this book without saying too much. The charm of the small town with its adorable inhabitants offers a very beautiful setting and a familiar and special atmosphere. The secondary characters all bring an additional charm.
Maya is a woman who got lost over the years, her day of discovering Carmel was a trigger, as much by the city as by the exchanges with the stranger of the texts. This day has shown her everything she misses by continuing to live a life that does not suit her. As for the lift driver ... he made me melt with his messages, he helps a woman he doesn't know, he offers her the keys to happiness without expecting anything in return, he has a sense of humor...
Maya falls in love, at the same time as us, with an exceptional man who will know how to make her happy.
There is a lot of magic in this love story, a lot of sweetness and energy too.
I loved discovering the first day from the point of view of the lift driver. Although it wasn't a big surprise, it was still super cute.
We quickly guess the end of the story but despite everything, we find ourselves impatiently waiting for the moment when Maya will understand. And the end does not disappoint at all !
No sex scene here, just seduction, tenderness, humor ... The birth of love, the discovery of the loved one.
In short, this novel is a little gold nugget that will make you smile!
Maya accumulates disappointments, she clings to a slight hope: her boyfriend. She decides to go to California to find him to celebrate her birthday with him, but without warning him beforehand.
At the airport, she calls him, but he's not the one answering, it's a lift driver who does. She discovers thanks to this stranger that her wonderful boyfriend is cheating on her. The stranger on the phone feels sorry for her and generously decides to help her overcome her disappointment and have a wonderful day. The two of them text each other, he advises her on places to visit, where to eat, where to relax ... Olivia Lara offers us a sublime postcard from Carmel-on-the-Sea, a small town very popular with writers, full of charms that she describes wonderfully, she makes us want to visit it.
Thanks to a man whose identity she does not know, she has a magical day, the best she has had since a very long time, a day that will change her life. Over the text messages, they get to know each other, they make each other laugh, exchange their feelings ... They therefore decide to meet but ... For unclear reasons, this meeting does not take place. And it is soooo frustrating !
A year later, Maya can no longer bear her disappointing life, especially after having lived an exceptional day several months before. She decides to give up everything and go in search of the lift driver. So she returns to California, to the city where her life has changed ... Conducting her investigation, she meets wonderful and generous people, she can finally let her heart express itself by helping others, by bringing them a smile...
In a way, looking for the man who changed her life, she finds herself, she becomes the real Maya again, a happy Maya.
She meets a writer who can help her find the lift driver but between them the mood is electric, she is angry with him, and he seems perplexed by her. It creates funny and enjoyable to read scenes. The situation of our heroine is more and more complicated.
It's hard to explain what I liked about this book without saying too much. The charm of the small town with its adorable inhabitants offers a very beautiful setting and a familiar and special atmosphere. The secondary characters all bring an additional charm.
Maya is a woman who got lost over the years, her day of discovering Carmel was a trigger, as much by the city as by the exchanges with the stranger of the texts. This day has shown her everything she misses by continuing to live a life that does not suit her. As for the lift driver ... he made me melt with his messages, he helps a woman he doesn't know, he offers her the keys to happiness without expecting anything in return, he has a sense of humor...
Maya falls in love, at the same time as us, with an exceptional man who will know how to make her happy.
There is a lot of magic in this love story, a lot of sweetness and energy too.
I loved discovering the first day from the point of view of the lift driver. Although it wasn't a big surprise, it was still super cute.
We quickly guess the end of the story but despite everything, we find ourselves impatiently waiting for the moment when Maya will understand. And the end does not disappoint at all !
No sex scene here, just seduction, tenderness, humor ... The birth of love, the discovery of the loved one.
In short, this novel is a little gold nugget that will make you smile!
March 15, 2024
A big thank you to Netgalley and Aria & Aries for providing me with an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review
3.5/5 ⭐
What if the Lift driver who finds your cheating boyfriend's phone holds the directions to true love?
'Who are you and why do you have my boyfriend's phone?'
'He left it in my car. You must be the blonde in the red dress? I'm the Lift driver who dropped you two off earlier.'
And with these words, the life of the brunette and t-shirt wearing Maya Maas is turned upside down. Having planned to surprise her boyfriend, she finds herself single and stranded in an unknown city on her birthday.
So when the mystery driver rescues Maya with the suggestion that she cheers herself up at a nearby beach town, she jumps at the chance to get things back on track. She wasn't expecting a personalised itinerary or the easy companionship that comes from opening up to a stranger via text, let alone the possibility it might grow into something more...
The concept of the book was really interesting and I was really excited to start reading it! I enjoyed the wrting style and the plot a lot :) My only complaint is that it was too predictable. I personally figured out the plot twist immediately!
~The setting of the book was incredible!! I just found out Carmel by the sea is a real place and it is as beautiful as described in the book 💖
~I loved the friendship between Maya and Celine! She was honestly such a sweet person and i liked her a lot for letting Maya stay with her.
~The romance was cute, ever though it felt a bit like insta-love!! However, i really liked the person "Max" turned out to be and i loved what he did for Maya in the end ❤
~I loved how both main characters were writers 😂
I recommend reading this book when it's published, especially if you don't mind insta-love, predictable plot-twists and you just want a fun, uplifting contemporary romance!!
----------------------------------------------
Buddy reading this with Shayy<3
I'm so excited!
3.5/5 ⭐
What if the Lift driver who finds your cheating boyfriend's phone holds the directions to true love?
'Who are you and why do you have my boyfriend's phone?'
'He left it in my car. You must be the blonde in the red dress? I'm the Lift driver who dropped you two off earlier.'
And with these words, the life of the brunette and t-shirt wearing Maya Maas is turned upside down. Having planned to surprise her boyfriend, she finds herself single and stranded in an unknown city on her birthday.
So when the mystery driver rescues Maya with the suggestion that she cheers herself up at a nearby beach town, she jumps at the chance to get things back on track. She wasn't expecting a personalised itinerary or the easy companionship that comes from opening up to a stranger via text, let alone the possibility it might grow into something more...
The concept of the book was really interesting and I was really excited to start reading it! I enjoyed the wrting style and the plot a lot :) My only complaint is that it was too predictable. I personally figured out the plot twist immediately!
~The setting of the book was incredible!! I just found out Carmel by the sea is a real place and it is as beautiful as described in the book 💖
~I loved the friendship between Maya and Celine! She was honestly such a sweet person and i liked her a lot for letting Maya stay with her.
~The romance was cute, ever though it felt a bit like insta-love!! However, i really liked the person "Max" turned out to be and i loved what he did for Maya in the end ❤
~I loved how both main characters were writers 😂
I recommend reading this book when it's published, especially if you don't mind insta-love, predictable plot-twists and you just want a fun, uplifting contemporary romance!!
----------------------------------------------
Buddy reading this with Shayy<3
I'm so excited!
September 12, 2021
I read this book as part of the blog tour hosted by The Write Reads. Special thanks to Aria Fiction for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 2.5 stars
So it turns out my opinion about this book is going to be quite an unpopular one, at least based on all the reviews I've seen of others who've read it. I read Olivia Lara's debut last year and I enjoyed it well enough to want to read more of her books, and I think I had very high expectations, especially after seeing how much everyone has loved it. Sadly, this one really didn't work out for me! I'm definitely in the minority with my feelings so I would encourage you to check out other reviews and also to try the book for yourself if you're really curious because it does have a cute concept!
The majority of the book is set in Carmel by the Sea, which sounds like a really charming and picturesque little coast town and reading this book made me want to visit it ASAP! I would love to retrace Maya's steps in the town and of course, to Big Sur and all the other places in between. It wasn't hard to picture the story and locations come to life! I wouldn't necessarily say this was a small town romance but it had the vibes and it leant the story some comfort and charm that I think (generally) worked well with the concept.
I don't think I've ever read a romance involving a Lyft driver and I thought that it was quite a romantic and serendipitous sort of idea that, as a hopeless romantic, I was completely sold on! They also played a game of 50 questions, which I love the idea of and it reminded me of the experiment where couples ask 36 questions that can potentially lead to love. I thought there were some really sweet and funny moments in their banter while they played the game and Maya explored Carmel by the Sea for the first time. That said, even though this started well, it only took a few questions for Maya to already start feeling strongly for our mysterious driver and it rapidly became 'instalove'— a trope that I'm not fond of. It just never feels realistic to me and sadly, it was no different here. I also thought the romance itself wasn't helped by the characters or the somewhat plodding storyline.
Despite being almost 400 pages, not a lot happens and the story moves along at a crawl because of the repetitive nature of Maya's monologue. I often found myself feeling bored and I started skimming pages towards the middle of the book. Having read the author's debut last year, I found that the same issues I had then were also the same now. There's a lot of telling and not enough showing and that made it harder to connect to the characters and their emotions, and to feel invested in the romance. Ultimately though, it was the characters themselves that I had the most trouble with, and particularly with our heroine, Maya.
I don't like to say negative things about heroines in romances because they're always judged the harshest, and over the years I've come to appreciate flawed but realistic characters. However, I really struggled to like Maya! She's judgmental, entitled and so bitter. She didn't have the smoothest path over the last few years but I just didn't understand her thought process and reaction to things. She hated Ethan before even meeting him because he wrote a story that she felt was hers. As he's a popular romance author this story got published and she's extremely bitter about it because it was "her story first". Her reaction to the whole thing was so petty and immature and… W H Y? I also didn't like how she refused to take responsibility for the decisions she made whether that was in her past and her present. She also becomes a 'fairy godmother/saviour' type of character as she pushes people together through various situations and credits herself for giving them a 'happy ever after' that she has created in her head. It was a bit much? Suffice to say, her character made it very difficult for me to enjoy the story.
While I wish I could say that our hero was a lot better, we didn't really get to know him. He's a famous author, twin to Celine and is divorced but we don't get much depth from him. I guess he seemed like a nice enough bloke, but what we do learn of him is from Maya’s POV and again it’s a lot of telling and not showing. We're told "he can be silly and funny" but his expressions are always blank or severe, and Maya can’t even tell what he’s thinking or feeling 90% of the time. It made it difficult to care about him and to understand his motives or what drives him.
Overall, I guess you can say I was pretty disappointed that I didn’t enjoy this as much as I thought I would! The idea sounded really fun and cute, plus, I loved the coastal small town setting, but the writing wasn’t compelling and I cared very little for the characters, and as a result, I wasn't sold on their romance.
So it turns out my opinion about this book is going to be quite an unpopular one, at least based on all the reviews I've seen of others who've read it. I read Olivia Lara's debut last year and I enjoyed it well enough to want to read more of her books, and I think I had very high expectations, especially after seeing how much everyone has loved it. Sadly, this one really didn't work out for me! I'm definitely in the minority with my feelings so I would encourage you to check out other reviews and also to try the book for yourself if you're really curious because it does have a cute concept!
The majority of the book is set in Carmel by the Sea, which sounds like a really charming and picturesque little coast town and reading this book made me want to visit it ASAP! I would love to retrace Maya's steps in the town and of course, to Big Sur and all the other places in between. It wasn't hard to picture the story and locations come to life! I wouldn't necessarily say this was a small town romance but it had the vibes and it leant the story some comfort and charm that I think (generally) worked well with the concept.
I don't think I've ever read a romance involving a Lyft driver and I thought that it was quite a romantic and serendipitous sort of idea that, as a hopeless romantic, I was completely sold on! They also played a game of 50 questions, which I love the idea of and it reminded me of the experiment where couples ask 36 questions that can potentially lead to love. I thought there were some really sweet and funny moments in their banter while they played the game and Maya explored Carmel by the Sea for the first time. That said, even though this started well, it only took a few questions for Maya to already start feeling strongly for our mysterious driver and it rapidly became 'instalove'— a trope that I'm not fond of. It just never feels realistic to me and sadly, it was no different here. I also thought the romance itself wasn't helped by the characters or the somewhat plodding storyline.
Despite being almost 400 pages, not a lot happens and the story moves along at a crawl because of the repetitive nature of Maya's monologue. I often found myself feeling bored and I started skimming pages towards the middle of the book. Having read the author's debut last year, I found that the same issues I had then were also the same now. There's a lot of telling and not enough showing and that made it harder to connect to the characters and their emotions, and to feel invested in the romance. Ultimately though, it was the characters themselves that I had the most trouble with, and particularly with our heroine, Maya.
I don't like to say negative things about heroines in romances because they're always judged the harshest, and over the years I've come to appreciate flawed but realistic characters. However, I really struggled to like Maya! She's judgmental, entitled and so bitter. She didn't have the smoothest path over the last few years but I just didn't understand her thought process and reaction to things. She hated Ethan before even meeting him because he wrote a story that she felt was hers. As he's a popular romance author this story got published and she's extremely bitter about it because it was "her story first". Her reaction to the whole thing was so petty and immature and… W H Y? I also didn't like how she refused to take responsibility for the decisions she made whether that was in her past and her present. She also becomes a 'fairy godmother/saviour' type of character as she pushes people together through various situations and credits herself for giving them a 'happy ever after' that she has created in her head. It was a bit much? Suffice to say, her character made it very difficult for me to enjoy the story.
While I wish I could say that our hero was a lot better, we didn't really get to know him. He's a famous author, twin to Celine and is divorced but we don't get much depth from him. I guess he seemed like a nice enough bloke, but what we do learn of him is from Maya’s POV and again it’s a lot of telling and not showing. We're told "he can be silly and funny" but his expressions are always blank or severe, and Maya can’t even tell what he’s thinking or feeling 90% of the time. It made it difficult to care about him and to understand his motives or what drives him.
Overall, I guess you can say I was pretty disappointed that I didn’t enjoy this as much as I thought I would! The idea sounded really fun and cute, plus, I loved the coastal small town setting, but the writing wasn’t compelling and I cared very little for the characters, and as a result, I wasn't sold on their romance.
August 12, 2021
I received a copy of this book for my participation in an upcoming book tour hosted by The Write Reads with thanks to them and the published.
This is my second time typing this review, so I'm not very happy @ Goodreads.
Maya tells stories, she writes them about people in the street, her coworkers, people she meets in Starbucks. Any one. And they are always love stories. When she has tried to get them published, publishers have said they're too soft, too sappy, why do they always have a happy ending? But Maya thinks the world is harsh enough, why shouldn't they have happy endings? Because her career never took off the way she wanted, she is working as a junior reporter in a dead-end underground magazine and when her big break comes on the one weekend she is supposed to be reigniting her own love story with her longterm boyfriend, she has to go. When it gets botched by an uptight author, she loses her job and still decides to go to California to surprise her boyfriend. However when she gets there she can't contact him and is told by a taxi driver accidentally that he is cheating on her. When she discloses it's her birthday and she is devastated, the taxi driver, Max, feels awful so decides he wants to try and make it up to her by sending her on her own adventure in the Bay Area. Throughout they day, they text and they feel connected through the screen. Maya is convinced this is her love story. When they agree to meet at sunrise, she shows but Max isn't there. David is however and he promises her that everything is lies. He loves her. So she goes home. But she is never the same. Almost exactly a year later, she finds out a book is being published telling HER STORY. From Max's point of view. Apparently, Max's friend is a somewhat well known author and he wanted to tell the world. Can Maya go back to California to convince Ethan to tell her who Max is?
I really enjoyed this story which I'm shocked about, I usually don't like romance stories. Although I found the ending of this overly predictable and Maya's hallmark way of becoming everyone's fairy god mother a little cheesy, I still really enjoyed reading this book. This was the type of book I could imagine sitting beside the beach and chilling out with a cold drink and enjoying. This story is nice, the characters are good and seemingly well developed and it lacks that weird energy that most romance novels have where the woman is powerless without a man. Overall I would recommend this book.
This is my second time typing this review, so I'm not very happy @ Goodreads.
Maya tells stories, she writes them about people in the street, her coworkers, people she meets in Starbucks. Any one. And they are always love stories. When she has tried to get them published, publishers have said they're too soft, too sappy, why do they always have a happy ending? But Maya thinks the world is harsh enough, why shouldn't they have happy endings? Because her career never took off the way she wanted, she is working as a junior reporter in a dead-end underground magazine and when her big break comes on the one weekend she is supposed to be reigniting her own love story with her longterm boyfriend, she has to go. When it gets botched by an uptight author, she loses her job and still decides to go to California to surprise her boyfriend. However when she gets there she can't contact him and is told by a taxi driver accidentally that he is cheating on her. When she discloses it's her birthday and she is devastated, the taxi driver, Max, feels awful so decides he wants to try and make it up to her by sending her on her own adventure in the Bay Area. Throughout they day, they text and they feel connected through the screen. Maya is convinced this is her love story. When they agree to meet at sunrise, she shows but Max isn't there. David is however and he promises her that everything is lies. He loves her. So she goes home. But she is never the same. Almost exactly a year later, she finds out a book is being published telling HER STORY. From Max's point of view. Apparently, Max's friend is a somewhat well known author and he wanted to tell the world. Can Maya go back to California to convince Ethan to tell her who Max is?
I really enjoyed this story which I'm shocked about, I usually don't like romance stories. Although I found the ending of this overly predictable and Maya's hallmark way of becoming everyone's fairy god mother a little cheesy, I still really enjoyed reading this book. This was the type of book I could imagine sitting beside the beach and chilling out with a cold drink and enjoying. This story is nice, the characters are good and seemingly well developed and it lacks that weird energy that most romance novels have where the woman is powerless without a man. Overall I would recommend this book.
April 12, 2022
I started off loving this. More than love it, honestly. Opening with a series of twists and turns, it was the type of story that completely consumed my life while reading.
Unable to reach her boyfriend after landing for a surprise trip, Maya's day takes an unexpected detour when a Lyft driver texts back from the cheating boyfriend's phone. Beginning a wonderful adventure in Carmel-by-the-Sea solely via text messages, it was a dreamy connection between two strangers that made my heart so warm.
I really liked Maya, an aspiring writer who is constantly creating happily-ever-afters through the people she encounters. Her desperation to find the mysterious Lyft driver created such an awkward but hilarious predicament for herself. I will say, the mystery becomes glaringly obvious, but I enjoyed seeing Maya piece everything together.
It's difficult to explain where my enjoyment went downhill. Without spoilers, there's a reveal towards the end regarding the initial day of text messages that really didn't sit well with me. And that's all I can say. Eek!
Unable to reach her boyfriend after landing for a surprise trip, Maya's day takes an unexpected detour when a Lyft driver texts back from the cheating boyfriend's phone. Beginning a wonderful adventure in Carmel-by-the-Sea solely via text messages, it was a dreamy connection between two strangers that made my heart so warm.
I really liked Maya, an aspiring writer who is constantly creating happily-ever-afters through the people she encounters. Her desperation to find the mysterious Lyft driver created such an awkward but hilarious predicament for herself. I will say, the mystery becomes glaringly obvious, but I enjoyed seeing Maya piece everything together.
It's difficult to explain where my enjoyment went downhill. Without spoilers, there's a reveal towards the end regarding the initial day of text messages that really didn't sit well with me. And that's all I can say. Eek!
June 30, 2021
So I totally requested for this because I loved the premise of the story plus I'm not sure I've read a book that involves a Lift driver so there was that.
The beginning was nice and I loved the whole texting thing and it totally gave me One Day in December vibes and I liked that book. Anyways I felt like shaking the main character Maya all through out the book because it was just so obvious. Matter of fact it was so obvious I started wondering if I started wondering if I was actually wrong. I felt like it could have shorter than it was and still be a good read. I really started enjoying it somewhere from the middle towards the end of it. Once we finally got to the romance bits, that was also a cute. So if you're looking for a cute and easy read, this is it.
All that aside, I really loved the town it was set in and Celine was an awesome supporting character.
ARC provided by Netgalley I exchange for an honest review
The beginning was nice and I loved the whole texting thing and it totally gave me One Day in December vibes and I liked that book. Anyways I felt like shaking the main character Maya all through out the book because it was just so obvious. Matter of fact it was so obvious I started wondering if I started wondering if I was actually wrong. I felt like it could have shorter than it was and still be a good read. I really started enjoying it somewhere from the middle towards the end of it. Once we finally got to the romance bits, that was also a cute. So if you're looking for a cute and easy read, this is it.
All that aside, I really loved the town it was set in and Celine was an awesome supporting character.
ARC provided by Netgalley I exchange for an honest review
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 9, 2022
The Meeting Point struck me as being quite endearing. I'll be honest, it took me a little while to get into the tale. However, once I did, the book really took off.
With its setting of beaches, eateries, and enchanted, meandering lanes lined with historic houses, I would describe this book as adventurous. The interactions between the love characters are endearing and exciting; there is suspense, mystery, happiness, and a certain amount of sorrow that permeates all adult rom-coms.
This book has some sweet friendships that developed. The main character, Maya, comes out as such a nice person who puts everything into trying to see the best in others, even though it wasn't always successful for her. It was really sweet how she made up stories about the people she witnessed.
plus, her two closest friends! I think my favorite character is Celine. I'm dying to read more about her after reading these tiny tidbits of her own tale. Such a helpful individual who never had a bad day. She always put everyone else's needs first, and I really hope she keeps acting independently.
Whereas the characters were extremely distinctive, the story's execution and direction were conventional rom-coms; it was cute but predictable and lacked any fascinating alterations or twists.
I noticed that things were becoming worse. The writing was generally quite sloppy, and the hurried conclusion felt unbelievable. The speed was so abrupt that I actually felt as like I had been shocked back to reality, and it was not the least bit romantic. It eventually fell short of the expectations that had been set up, especially during that final exchange between Celine and Maya.
I had the impression that the instant they were mentioned, the love interest was obvious from a great distance away. Maybe it was deliberate, but it took a long time to get anything to actually happen, and it didn't even happen till late in the book. almost as if the last pages were merely to quickly get to the reveal and do no further exploration. It's a clever way to make readers want more, but I didn't like that.
Overall, I did still like this book.
Even so, it was a fun quick read. I would absolutely suggest this book if you typically enjoy this genre of fiction or if you are in the mood for a light, fluffy contemporary romance.
With its setting of beaches, eateries, and enchanted, meandering lanes lined with historic houses, I would describe this book as adventurous. The interactions between the love characters are endearing and exciting; there is suspense, mystery, happiness, and a certain amount of sorrow that permeates all adult rom-coms.
This book has some sweet friendships that developed. The main character, Maya, comes out as such a nice person who puts everything into trying to see the best in others, even though it wasn't always successful for her. It was really sweet how she made up stories about the people she witnessed.
plus, her two closest friends! I think my favorite character is Celine. I'm dying to read more about her after reading these tiny tidbits of her own tale. Such a helpful individual who never had a bad day. She always put everyone else's needs first, and I really hope she keeps acting independently.
Whereas the characters were extremely distinctive, the story's execution and direction were conventional rom-coms; it was cute but predictable and lacked any fascinating alterations or twists.
I noticed that things were becoming worse. The writing was generally quite sloppy, and the hurried conclusion felt unbelievable. The speed was so abrupt that I actually felt as like I had been shocked back to reality, and it was not the least bit romantic. It eventually fell short of the expectations that had been set up, especially during that final exchange between Celine and Maya.
I had the impression that the instant they were mentioned, the love interest was obvious from a great distance away. Maybe it was deliberate, but it took a long time to get anything to actually happen, and it didn't even happen till late in the book. almost as if the last pages were merely to quickly get to the reveal and do no further exploration. It's a clever way to make readers want more, but I didn't like that.
Overall, I did still like this book.
Even so, it was a fun quick read. I would absolutely suggest this book if you typically enjoy this genre of fiction or if you are in the mood for a light, fluffy contemporary romance.
September 1, 2023
LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVED IT!!!!!!!!
August 31, 2021
The Meeting Point is a clever meet cute that blossoms into a beautiful and sweet love story.
Maya decides to surprise her boyfriend, David, by showing up in California to celebrate her birthday with him....but, she's the one who gets the surprise. When she messages his phone, someone else responds. Apparently, he left it in a Lyft....because he was "occupied" with someone else and Maya is messaging with the Lyft driver. What appears to be the worst day ever may surprise her and become one of her best. Maya just has to step out of her safe zone and go on a small adventure with the Lyft driver as her guide.
Can you fall in love without every seeing or speaking to someone? Is it a truer connection because you've gotten to know one another without the physical aspects coming into play? Will you know that person when you finally meet them? Or were you just caught up in the moment for one day and it really wasn't anything special? These are only a few of the questions that are floating around when she decides to return to Carmel, California a year later to try and find the mysterious Lyft driver that acted as her tour guide. Unfortunately, they opted not to exchange names that day so she only knows him as "Max" which wasn't his real name. How will she find him?
While trying to find Max, Maya is given a chance to "find herself." She's played it safe in life. She stayed in bad relationships and jobs because it was the easier option. She finally starts to realize that she has more to give and deserves more herself. She meets people and makes friends in California that help her to uncover who she wants to be and encourage her to follow her passion for writing. Along the way, she might find love after all - - but will it be with Max? Or someone else that she's met along the way?
The Meeting Point has a lovely storyline and well developed characters. I'll continue to read anything Ms. Lara writes. She's proven that she has a knack for storytelling and connecting the reader to the characters. Most importantly, she always delivers a sweet and swoony romance.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.
Maya decides to surprise her boyfriend, David, by showing up in California to celebrate her birthday with him....but, she's the one who gets the surprise. When she messages his phone, someone else responds. Apparently, he left it in a Lyft....because he was "occupied" with someone else and Maya is messaging with the Lyft driver. What appears to be the worst day ever may surprise her and become one of her best. Maya just has to step out of her safe zone and go on a small adventure with the Lyft driver as her guide.
Can you fall in love without every seeing or speaking to someone? Is it a truer connection because you've gotten to know one another without the physical aspects coming into play? Will you know that person when you finally meet them? Or were you just caught up in the moment for one day and it really wasn't anything special? These are only a few of the questions that are floating around when she decides to return to Carmel, California a year later to try and find the mysterious Lyft driver that acted as her tour guide. Unfortunately, they opted not to exchange names that day so she only knows him as "Max" which wasn't his real name. How will she find him?
While trying to find Max, Maya is given a chance to "find herself." She's played it safe in life. She stayed in bad relationships and jobs because it was the easier option. She finally starts to realize that she has more to give and deserves more herself. She meets people and makes friends in California that help her to uncover who she wants to be and encourage her to follow her passion for writing. Along the way, she might find love after all - - but will it be with Max? Or someone else that she's met along the way?
The Meeting Point has a lovely storyline and well developed characters. I'll continue to read anything Ms. Lara writes. She's proven that she has a knack for storytelling and connecting the reader to the characters. Most importantly, she always delivers a sweet and swoony romance.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.
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