I like Samantha Young but this book was just Ok for me. I liked the two main characters but I feel like nothing really happened. There were storylines but it seemed like it was just little issues that popped up but I never felt like there was a clear main storyline.

I would say this is about a 3.75 for me, the premise of this book is what really snagged my attention. I have yet to read a book like this so needless to say I was super excited going into it.

~Definite spoiler below~

Overall I would say I enjoyed the book but there were quite a few things that I found I didn’t care for, one (and the biggest) thing being Hallie’s body image insecurities which I do get, we all have them but it felt super displaced right in the beginning of their first time being together and killed the entire build up for me. Chris taking until 64% into the book to confess to Hallie about him seeing her videos was also pretty agonizing to say the least. There was also entirely too much family drama through out where I feel could have definitely given us more time to get invested into their relationship.

The ending completely made up for those dislikes though, I absolutely adored the “cliche” airport chase, it felt very “I got off the plane.” To me and it was very sweet 🥰

Samantha Young has given me so many loves that I was SURE one that looked this pretty and sounded this unique was going to be a hit. It was okay. I still love her but A Cosmic Kind of Love was mostly frustrating. Less cosmic and more like those glow-in-the-dark ceiling stars you get from the dollar store.

This is a direct quote:

“I wasn’t perfect like him.
My belly was soft, not toned, and it had a slight roundness to it, which I could probably eliminate with some sit-ups, but the very thought bored me to tears.”

I would love nothing more than for lines like this to stop existing. What… what purpose does this serve? Why can’t we just be a little round and not have to back it up with maybe eliminating this softness? I’m actually so uninterested in the dialogue this creates, it’s not even funny. We made it 200 pages and in all that time it took the intimate moment they’re about to share for this to come forward as if it offers anything to what’s to come. This moment of insecurity could’ve been tackled by literally saying “I wasn’t perfect like him. My belly was soft, not toned” and he PROMPTLY CUTS OFF HER SELF DEPRECATING INNER MONOLOGUE BY SAYING HOW BEAUTIFUL HE THOUGHT SHE WAS. Reassuring her without her needing to even let those thoughts be released into the universe. I feel like the quote doesn’t even need to change but the intention behind it could’ve been shifted so that we are not saying that a little bit of roundness needs to be acknowledged like this. “Yeah I could do sit-ups but I’m not gonna” kinda energy not “I know I could fix this about myself and I wish I could because everyone in my life made me feel undervalued and I’m insecure”.

Anyways, I need to move on because I am mad. This part tore this book down a whole star, just so we all know.

This story was just not what I hoped it would be. Chris and Hallie had potential but the fact is that Hallie was too insecure and desperately needed therapy and Chris had the emotional development and availability of a teenager. He was a grown man completely unaware of the deception going on around him despite Hallie really laying it out for him like she’s laying out clothes for him to wear to school tomorrow. Their pairing to start was bizarre and I feel like it was different enough to pique my interest but I don’t know, I feel like these videos were a non-issue and yet Chris dragged it out for much longer when really.. the main conflict ended up being Darcy and both of their parents. As I said, I feel like we had potential but the journey was just… subpar.

The author had a unique premise for this love story although it frustrated me when the hero waited too long to tell the heroine important information. Still, it was a quick, lovely romance perfect for the summer.

This was a cute story that gets extra points for being about an astronaut. It starts with some light lying/concealing between the main characters, but they're respectable enough to not deepen their relationship until the lies are revealed.

Pros: likable main characters; pretty healthy relationship between the hero and heroine; interesting backstories and side characters; main characters don't lie to each other

Cons: almost *too* much going on in the background -- both characters have super toxic families and it was just a lot to process while they're also juggling their newfound relationship and what they want to do with their futures.

The premise was really interesting for this one but ultimately it didn't work for me. I felt like it was trying to do too much The FMC was much too "quirky silly girl" for me.

This book is not only sweet, lighthearted, feelgood romance, it’s so emotional, poignant, a little angsty and powerful. Deeply layered characterization made me fall in love with both MCs. There are so many trigging subjects like verbal and psychological parental abuse, cheating that the author approach with care. You are not getting overwhelmed after you’re reading about both main characters’ dysfunctional family stories, on the contrary, you are respecting and feeling for them a lot.

Hallie Goodman: people pleaser, negotiator, sweetest woman who doesn’t like to deal with conflicts. You may get pissed off when you witness how her relatives take advantage of her good heart selfishly including the last douchebag she’s dating.

She’s a successful event planner and her new client Darcy, environmental lawyer, coming from a powerful, wealthy family is about to marry with a French artist. She sends some files to Hallie including her opinions about her wedding ceremony but accidentally she sends Hallie her ex boyfriend Captain Christopher Ortiz’s video letters specifically filmed for Darcy.

Hallie can’t resist to watch them all even though she feels so bad to intrude his privacy. She realizes she slowly develops a crush on him and for being fair she films her own video letters about her daily life, her struggles with her family, her demanding job, her humiliating experiences and sends him.

Chris already returns back from his last mission at space, planning to resign, hiding at Hamptons house of his painter aunt, rejecting to communicate with his father about his retirement plans. He feels lost and the video letters he gets from Hallie turns into the highlights of his dark days.

When Darcy invites him to her wedding, he decides to attend to meet this mysterious, pink haired, kind woman he secretly lusts for.

What will happen when they meet? Are they going to be friends? Could they become more than that as real life keeps throwing curveballs?

Overall: I love this beautifully written, smart, heartfelt romance story a lot! I enjoyed to see how both Chris and Hallie’s characterizations evolved. How they learn to deal with their family problems and life choices by putting themselves first!

Highly absolutely recommend! One of my best romance readings of the year!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.

I became a fan of Samantha Young after Much Ado About You. This romance was so different, but brilliant just the same. I connected to Hallie and her people pleasing ways and Chris being at a point in his life where he wasn’t sure of his next step. Family dynamics and mental health were also highlighted and appreciated. I have to say I’m tempted to start a video diary of my own after reading this! I absolutely loved this book and it is definitely a highlight in my reading this year. Thank you so much Berkley for this opportunity!