Life got in the way and I could not finish the book. Thanks to the publishers for the chance to read the book.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers and the authors for this book, I actually didn't finish it on here and had to get my own copy to finish. but I have to say that it was worth it completely. the slow burn in this book was amazing and I really loved to see the progression of the relationship between the two characters.

Witty and wonderful debut! Porter gets a glimpse of Ari and it's game over for him from the word "go." This book manages to touch on serious issues such as sexism, colorism, fat shaming all while still managing to be light and side-splittingly funny. The spark between Ari and Porter burns bright in this slow-burn, low angst office romance that I only put down once because deadlines got in the way and couldn't wait to get back to reading. Richardson's prose is full of zingers that you want to put in your pocket and keep for future use. And that ending was soooooo satisfying! Fun, fresh and modern, I cannot wait to see what else Richardson has in store for us.

"The Build-Up" is an emotionally charged tale that takes a deep dive into the complexities of relationships and the power of persistence, guaranteed to capture your heart. I loved the character development in the story, particularly Ari, who I found myself relating to more than any other character l've read. Her unwavering strength and defensiveness are offset by her deep compassion and nurturing nature. When she meets Porter, it becomes challenging for her to keep her guard up as he exhibits some of the same remarkable qualities

The Build Up starts with a hilariously awkward meeting between Ari and Porter but it gets even more awkward when they discover they will actually be working together. The two of them have hot hot chemistry but their coming together as more than work partners is a slow burn. Thankfully even though it is a slow burn, the book is fast paced and kept me engaged the whole time.

The character of Ari is so badass. She's confident and knows her worth. This is why she is fighting so hard for a promotion in a male dominated field. She is a professional and honestly a little over dedicated to her work. I could completely relate to this and enjoyed watching her take a step back to actually live her life. Porter brings out the fun side of her and I loved watching it happen.

Porter is also a bit of a workaholic but, from the moment they are introduced Ari throws him for a loop. At first he isn't sure what it is about her that draws him in but he knows he's having a really hard time ignoring it. He treated Ari so good even when they were simply co-workers/friends. He is a sweetheart and it annoyed me whenever Ari lashed out at him. He didn't deserve it and while he called her out on it, I don't think she showed enough remorse for it. Especially since it continued to happen.

To me, The Build Up has a duel meaning in it's title. The first meaning was the way Ari and Porters relationship grew and changed through the book. There was a really strong tension between them that just kept growing. The second meaning was the way that Ari and Porter both hold themselves in high esteem and are confident in what they do. Whatever they don't believe they are confident in, the other helps build them up and reassure them. Overall, I really enjoyed this and the way everything was brought forward in their dynamic, not only with each other but with the other people in their lives.

I thoroughly enjoyed this debut from Tati Richardson. It’s rare that books that take place in Atlanta actually feel like home. I appreciate her attention to detail in that. Ari and Porter were so cute and they felt right together. I liked that Ari was a fat black woman who wasn’t on a journey to change her looks, there was something about her confidence that I really connected with. Porter is top tier book bae material, that man wanted him some Ari and he was gonna get it. The workplace romance was like a little cherry on top for me. Excited to see what else we get from this author!!

I really LOVE the cover and this was a really sweet and well-written book. I can't wait to read more from Richardson in the future.

This debut novel by Tati Richardson is well written and captivating. Ari and Porter's characters are well developed and the writing even paced. There is an intense built up from the beginning of the book all the way to their HEA. Looking forward to the next book by Tati. #TheBuildUp #NetGalley

I adored this romance! From the moment I started until the very end it was a battle between savoring it and eating up as fast as I could. love that they built a friendship, that he asked to kiss her, that he told her he would wait forever if she let him. Their love scenes. His family loving her, her mother’s excitement. Fuck Greer! Final act big moment at the airport, be still my heart
And that epilogue!

This is a very sweet and charming romance. There isn't a ton of angst or tension, but there is a lot of swooning and mutual pining which I rather enjoyed. Ari is a creative, highly-skilled, and super likable female main character. Porter gives off biiiiiiiiiiiiig cinnamon-roll vibes. I really appreciated the plus-size rep. All in all, this was a delightful debut. (3.5 rounded up to 4 stars)

DNF.

Unfortunately, this book was really disappointing. I had issues with the writing, the characters and the romance.

My first issue was the writing style. I couldn't connect with it; it felt flat and awkward. There was also quite a bit of telling without it being backed by any showing through the characters' behaviour. I also had issues with some small scattered things throughout the portion of the book that I read, but when you add that up with everything else it impacted my enjoyment. There were multiple times when a character would describe something as funny or laugh at a "joke" that wasn't funny at all. Also, in the first chapter, a character said they expected the FMC to be a man because of her name, but her name is Ari. Which to me is a feminine name.

Next the characters. I'm always up for reading romances that have plus-sized MCs but in this book, the author would frequently bring up Ari's size and I believe the intention was to show how comfortable Ari was with her body while other people had issues or how smaller people could take accommodations for granted but after a while, it just started to feel there was too much focus on her body and the other was showing a neon saying saying "remember Ari is fat". Also one of the partners at the firm came off as a cartoonish antagonist to contrast the other nicer partner and it just felt ridiculous.

Finally the relationship. It was very Insta- lusty and to me, the connections that the characters kept referring to was just not shown.

I really enjoyed The Build Up by Tati Richardson. A great love story -- a romance novel -- between two Black architects in Atlanta.

Ari and Porter were co-workers who discovered they had a shared history, specifically that they both went to Hampton University and they both do architectural design. This is a slow burn and I am not really a fan of this. But I did enjoy this book.

A quick romance read set in Atlanta with a main character who is smart, full-figured, and ambitious. Were there some situations that were far-fetched? Sure. (Atlanta without traffic, an airport scene where the characters got through TSA in time...in Atlanta? Pssh). But we can suspend disbelief for a fun workplace romance with charming main characters and a villain who gets their comeuppance. Richardson's debut novel and truly a fun read as I was flying back to ATL!

3.5 stars rounded up

This was a cute book, and I loved that the MC (Ari) was a black plus-size woman who was not only loved but *desired* by the male MC. She was sexy as hell and it was great. Some of the plot wasn't really up my street, and Ari sometimes came across a bit 'girlboss' which isn't really my vibe, but overall this was a sweet, steamy read.

First I have to start this off by saying I love Ari. I can relate to her in a few areas so it made me excited to finish the book, I would have liked it even if it was a bit longer.


Thank you so much for the opportunity to review this book.

Aw! I love Ari and Porter! And I’m a sucker for an office romance. It’s the thrill of nobody knowing 🫠🥰😂 I laughed, cried and related so well with this book! Great debut for Tati! This book was light and quick and I would recommend if you’re in need of a palette cleanser

4.5⭐️

i loved the premise and i loved the narcissistic and enigmatic narrator. the narrative was quick and snappy, which is exactly what makes a thriller so enticing and fast paced. i really loved the flashbacks as well, and how it built up more and more of a background for our narrator (who literally hides everything in the present day narrative). i literally could not put this book down and finished it in a day.

but i just thought the payoff was just a bit too anticlimactic and rushed at times. i feel like this could have been a five star and now i'm a tiny bit sad.

Ari James is on a mission to design a soccer stadium in Atlanta, GA, collaborating closely with the captivating Porter. Their chemistry is electric from the get-go, culminating in undeniable passion.

This debut novel delves deep into the journey of rediscovery after an unexpected career setback. Ari grapples with self-doubt, wondering if she'll ever overcome the stain on her reputation. Additionally, the narrative shines a light on the challenges she faces as a plus-sized Black woman. Ari's character is commendable; her resilience and self-assuredness, in the face of persistent prejudice from male colleagues and some seemingly benign females, is truly inspiring. Through her sheer determination, she finds both love and professional triumph.

What a great debut from Author Tati Richardson! Ari, a female black architects takes on colorism, sexism, and more, when dealing with the her counterparts at a all male firm. She meets Porter, whom she starts to share feels for but doesn't want a repeat of the past. The author tackles all of this and still manages to make the book fun and a light read! Loved this book!