The writing and story were both incredibly engaging. I kept wanting to read what would happen next. I found it interesting that "Max's" viewpoint was only given through the book that Maya was reading. But it made sense to focus on Maya since this story was really her journey and her sorting her life out.

The setting was wonderful and makes me want to hop on a plane to California immediately. I loved the sweet little matchmaking stories for the side characters and that Maya rediscovered the joy in writing. I like that she discovered happiness in working at the cafe instead of having the plot get derailed by her finding a new reporting job in California.

My one major irk with the story was that it got drawn out a bit too much. Eventually I wanted to just shake Maya and be like "YOU IDIOT MAX IS CLEARLY ETHAN" and yet it still went on for what felt like forever of her being like "well, he's just a really good friend protecting Max"; UGH. Also, I wish there would have been more to their HEA. It just felt like it took forever to get them together and then it was abruptly done. I wanted more!

DNF @35%

This book has a very interesting premise and a great start but after a while the plot seemed to fray a bit which made me lose interest in the story plus Maya as a main character isn’t someone I was really liking and after a while I noticed I was skim reading the book which isn’t a good sign for me

So unfortunately I have decided to DNF it, however it has a great premise and if you are in the mood for something light and easy to read I think this will be the perfect read and will also work a great summer time story

3.2 Stars. If you love yourself some lifetime or hallmark movies.. or you just have to read the newest and greatest romcom, look no further as this is the next book you need to read. This is a little bit of a predictable storyline, but overall it was a cute, somewhat funny, fast read. It reminds me of a better modern-day You Got Mail. This would be a great weekend read or something to read on a plane ride. Super easy, lighthearted, and should give you a couple of good laughs. You gotta love a cheating boyfriend to find true love troupe.

Thank you Netgalley and Head of Zeus for this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley, Aria & Aries and Olivia Lara for gifting me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
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QOTD: Are you caught up on your NetGalley reviews?
My A: Clearly, NO!
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I read Olivia Lara’s book The Meeting point back in September and I’m somehow just now getting around to sitting down and writing this review. This is for a few reasons. One, my birthday is in September which happened to also be the month we were planning a shotgun wedding in a month. But it was also because I just don’t have much to say about this book. It was good, but not great. The relationship was sweet, but almost too sweet and the ending was predictable. I call these kinds of books palate cleansers. Solid reads that keep you reading, but don’t leave a mark!

The perfect romance to end your summer reading!

The book follows the story of two characters who meet after Maya finds out that her boyfriend was cheating on her because he left his phone in the Lyft share riding in. I love a good romcom and this was exactly it’s

Definitely a must to read! It is a fast read but the story is really great, it starts of with Maya’s boyfriend cheating however it turns around and that seems to be the best thing happening to her for she finds someone perfectly fit for her! I really loved the characters and just the read in general!

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

This was a really cute adorable story. The humour was really really good, and the descriptions were great. Perfect summery read with some real feel good vibes. Very much enjoyed reading this.

The meeting point was a sweet romantic story. A very modernized sleepless in Seattle feel to it. When Mayas life goes haywire she returns back to California to find her Max. Very light and fun read. The meeting point would make a very cute movie

What a Joy this book was to read. I loved it when Maya finds some bad news about her boyfriend from stranger she ends up having the most wonderful day and ends up questioning her life! Such a good book and the ending was magical.

The Meeting Point by Olivia Lara
Publisher: Aria & Aries
Genre: Romance
Publication Date: September 2, 2021

The Meeting Point by Olivia Lara is a feel good romance. A little bit like "You've Got Mail" with a modern flare. I enjoyed reading The Meeting Point! It has a great story with relatable characters!

The book is tons of fun with laugh-out-loud moments, as well as many "give you all the feels" moments too!

If you're looking for a pick-me-up book, you should check this one out!!!

I'm so grateful to Olivia Lara, Aria & Aries, and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this ARC ebook in exchange for my honest review.

A great read, the story of Maya, whose birthday turns out totally different than she expected. Finding out that her boyfriend is cheating on her, she spends a day in a random town visiting places recommended by a stranger she calls Max. By the end of the day they have connected and she is going to meet him, but then her boyfriend turns up to win her back.
Nearly a year later, she finds out that someone else is writing her story and sets off to find the writer and track down Max. She leaves her boyfriend, setting out on a new life.
But everything is not as it seems when she gets there, and will she ever track down Max?

Loved this book!

The ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I found the pacing of the start to be much slower than I expected, which honestly made me put off reading this for a long time but I stomached it through. As a person in a LDR, I enjoyed that this relationship sparked without actually meeting face-to-face first. I enjoyed this journey that Lara brought in her novel and wished that there were more twists so it wouldn't be very predictable. Regardless, it's a good read.

This book was a good read! It just wasn't for me at the time when I read this.

This read was cute and sweet! Absolutely love the story. The pace in the beginning was fast but it slowed down after. Not really my cup of tea as I couldn't click with the writing, but overall it was a nice simple romantic read which I had fun reading.

What do you do when you find out your boyfriend is cheating on you and you're stranded in an unknown city airport? Play tourist in a dreamy seaside town as directed by the Lyft driver who has the cheater's phone.

The Meeting Point is full of wanderlust, mistaken identity, and finding yourself.

The storyline was unique, with a bit of a homage to You've Got Mail, and I enjoyed it. I think the only frustrating aspect was the Max/Ethan of it all. It took waaaaaay too long for Maya to figure out Max's identity, and so the ending dragged on as the reader understood while Maya caught up.

🌟Review Post🌟
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The Meeting Point by Olivia Lara
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Maya, an aspiring writer and journalist, loses her job after an assignment gone wrong. On the same weekend, she travels to California to surprise her boyfriend, David, while he is on a work trip. What she doesn’t expect is to form a friendship with a Lift driver who finds David’s phone and reveals that David has been cheating on her. The Life Driver, who Maya names Max, gives her a day to remember as he guides her through a charming small town named Carmel. Maya decides she wants to meet the man behind the text messages, but David comes and “rescues” her before she can. A year later, Maya returns to Carmel to find Max’s true identity, but ends up finding Ethan, a local writer and friend of Max’s. However, what she finds is so much more.
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I really liked this one by the end, but the beginning felt a little slow for me! Also, I felt like Maya was missing so many clues about Max’s true identity. However, I still really enjoyed this novel and look forward to reading more by ! I enjoyed the descriptions of Carmel and really liked Ethan as a character!
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Thank you to for this advanced e-arc! The Meeting Point is out now!
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Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I absolutely adored this book!

The tour through Carmel was wonderful. I felt like I had a get-away to the California coast just by reading this book.

The premise of the story was unique and fun. I was frequently frustrated with Maya and her choices, but I had hope in her.

I really enjoyed the characters getting to know each other via text. Even though it was a whirlwind of an introduction, the romance was definitely a slow burn in The Meeting Point.

I absolutely loved this book, a real page turner! The characters were lovely people and their stories told beautifully. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

I LOVED this story! The journey Maya takes allows us to see her grow as a person, in confidence and strength. I totally called the twist, but I wasn't mad about it. A beautiful romantic adventure!

This was a nice and easy chic lit read. The story line wasn’t unique or ground breaking but I liked the characterisation and the ending.