LOVED IT!

Jasmine: I love Jasmine’s resilience, dedication, and endurance. I loved that she accepted no bullshit, stood up for others and stayed true to herself without faking anything. I loved following her journey through her ups and downs. The way she felt about the people she loved and what those sacrifices did to her. I also appreciated the imperfect family dynamics.

Love story: Mariana Zapata is known for her slow burns and this story is no exception. What I loved is that at no point did I wish for the story to speed up or wonder when they’d finally get together. Everything had its reason. I enjoyed following Jasmine’s journey so much that I never wished for anything different. The trust and love built up naturally. And I wouldn’t change a thing.

Ivan: What a man. The way he cared and always paid attention was wonderful. That he was all in for Jas was never in question. We saw everything he’d do for her. We also saw small glimpses of him unrelated to Jas, like caring for animals, which says a lot about him too.

Writing and other things: It took me a few pages to get used to the writing, but once I did, I fully enjoyed it. One thing that bothered me was the constant body shaming. Jas’ family made fun of her, especially when she was younger, which I hated. First of all, she was a teen, and second, I think athletes are already very focused on their bodies; being told things like that by others can easily take a negative turn into body dysmorphia. Then Ivan calling her Meatball annoyed me and felt unnecessary. There definitely could have been other nicknames not related to weight or body and I really wish it had been a different one.

Last words: A satisfying slow burn with strong characters, emotional depth and a fmc I truly loved following. Jasmine’s journey felt real, layered and emotionally rewarding.