BOOK REVIEW ALERT – Review, Recommendation, Rating & Opinion are my own.

This book is a delightful contemporary romance that explores the intricacies of fate, love, and serendipity. The story centers around Maya’s journey which begins when she lands in San Francisco, expecting to surprise her boyfriend, David, on his birthday. Instead, she finds herself alone and confused in a picturesque town. As she follows the advice of a mysterious texter, she discovers the hidden gems of Carmel-by-the-Sea and meets new people who change her perspective on life and love. The plot thickens as she begins to question her relationship with David and grows increasingly curious about the identity of her enigmatic guide.

Rating – 4.0/5 Stars
Recommendation – High

Olivia Lara’s writing is engaging and evocative, capturing the enchanting essence of Carmel-by-the-Sea. Her ability to blend humor, romance, and introspection creates a balanced and immersive reading experience. The dialogue is witty and natural, and the descriptive passages vividly bring the setting to life.

This read is a heartwarming and captivating romance that beautifully intertwines love, fate, and self-discovery. With its charming setting, well-developed characters, and engaging storyline, it is a perfect read for those who believe in the magic of serendipity. Whether you’re a fan of contemporary romance or simply looking for an uplifting and delightful read, Meeting Point is sure to leave you with a smile.

Oh this book. Yall I have words. So this one took me awhile to finish. It started off SO STRONG! The story is great! The tropes are my favorite. The whole You've Got Mail modern spin. I'm sold! But then. THEN! We have to watch her go back to this awful gross human dumpster of a boyfriend! WHYYYYY. I understand this can happen and even have friends who've done this, but I also roll my eyes when they do it so.. 🤦🏻‍♀️ This book had a wonderful concept and I truly adored it, but goodness don't go back to the ex!

I received an advanced copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you to NetGalley, Aria & Aries, and Olivia Lara. 🫶

Oh my goodness, this book! It was both cute and deep. I got fairly emotional at some of the points, but it's a fantastic reminder that life does, in fact, go on. I was surprised at the emotional depth of the story and applaud Olivia Lara for pulling it off. Will definitely read her stories again. In fact, I think I'll be re-reading this one before too long.

Incredibly cute - I love a "You've Got Mail"-esque romance novel, but this one took that trope and put a unique spin on it, with lovable characters and a fun setting.

Thanks NetGalley for the preview!

This book was so detailed and I could not put it down. I loved the characters, Ethan sounded so dreamy. The town of Carmel was such a romantic and quirky place to set the story. I could picture the little cafe and the locals so well. It was all so sweet!

DNF'd. Unfortunately the writing style was not my favorite. The timeline kept jumping and it felt like I was being explained events after the fact rather than just following what was happening one step to the other. DNF'd.

It started strong and it seemed like one I would devour in no time...but then when the heroine went back to her shitty ex and then it turns out she stayed with him another full year started to tank it for me. Then the whole 'Ethan stole "my" story' angle got tiring and also annoying after seeing it a couple of times. The ending also felt a little abrupt... All in all, had potential, but it did not gel with me the way the story went after the initial Carmel bit

Sometimes I just need a light and fun romance read and this one was it for me. I loved Maya and Max's characters as well as the small town setting. I highly recommend this book!

I must firstly apologise for the amount of time it has taken me to provide a review of this book, my health was rather bad for quite some time, something that had me in hospital on numerous occasions and simply didnt leave me with the time I once had to do what I love most.

Unfortunately that does mean I have missed the archive date for many of these books, so It would feel unjust throwing any review together without being able to pay attention to each novel properly.

However, I am now back to reading as before and look forward to sharing my honest reviews as always going forward. I thank you f0r the patience and understanding throughout x

This was such a cute book! Maybe it's not "laugh-out-loud" material, but I found myself smiling all throughout. I breezed through it in just a day, which is always a good sign for me! It's entirely unputdownable. If you're looking for a pick-me-up, this is a great one to pick. :)

I think this book was just okay.
It was way too long and the story dragged on forever!
I think we all knew immediately who the love interest was except for the MC.
I also found her so frustrating and that took away from the book.

This was a fun light read that I devoured. The premise was an interesting one and the story was engaging. The main character was a little flat but the new romance was fun and captivating.

I loved this story and the characters, the book is so beautifully written, this is my first read by the author but definitely won’t be my last

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy in return for an honest opinion

When Maya decides to surprise her boyfriend for HER birthday, she gets a big surprise when his lyft driver informs her he's a cheater, which leads to a whirlwind celebration day in Carmel-By-The-Sea and one of the most spontaneous, wonderful days of her life.

I love how Maya finally wakes up and pretty much chases her hopes and dreams, at the expense of all she's known. Starting over in a beautiful coastal town offers her many experiences that cause her to grow and examine herself, while she desperately tries to find that lyft driver who rocked her world.

The way this story came together was magical and I really enjoyed the characters. While slightly predictable and angsty, it was a fun literary journal in one of the most alluring places I've visited.

Content: mild language; mild romance

Addictive, charming, predictable, but enjoyable!
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.
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.

Maya Maas goes to San Francisco to meet her boyfriend for her birthday and finds out her boyfriend is cheating on her. But she doesn't believe it. Meanwhile, she spends her birthday being directed by a lift driver, that she ends up falling in love with. I loved this story.

Many thanks to Net Galley and Aria & Aries for a copy for an honest review.

A cute story about how the unexpected can happen and how it can change your life. Maya's having one heck of a day and gets hit with a curveball she didn't see coming. From there, she unexpectedly changes course and has an adventure. Will she end up following through with the mystery man who helped her find her new path? A bit cliché at times, but a fun read.

I really enjoyed this book. I cheered for the characters and felt for them. I definitely would recommend this book. I would have read it in one day if I didn't have to go to bed!

This was such a light and delightful read! The synopsis of the story immediately hooked me, and reading the book it did live up to my expectations. At times, I couldn't put this book down! The only thing I didn't like is that the ending was quite rushed.
Overall this was a really great story and I loved reading it.

4.5 stars

The description takes you to the first 15% of the book. Super cute intro though.

Confusing for a bit and hard to justify because she’s sort of lying in her plot to uncover the truth, and you figure when that all comes out it’ll blow up in her face. And how did she never consider that Max was right in front of her? Kind of stupid.

But very cute, a brand new premise.