Love at First
An Uplifting and Unforgettable Story of Love and Second Chances
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3.7 • 20 Ratings
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
“The most delightful cast of characters I've met in ages…a modern romance masterpiece.“ —New York Times bestseller Christina Lauren
“Constantly revealing new layers of lyricism…Love at First is poetry, then — sometimes an artful sonnet, other times halting free verse. But it's never anything short of miraculous.” —Entertainment Weekly, Grade A
“At the end I was left with that warm, glowing love for humanity.” —The New York Times
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A sparkling and tender novel from the acclaimed author of Love Lettering, full of bickering neighbors, surprise reunions, and the mysterious power of love that fans of Christina Lauren, Sarah Hogle, and Emily Henry will adore.
Sixteen years ago, a teenaged Will Sterling saw—or rather, heard—the girl of his dreams. Standing beneath an apartment building balcony, he shared a perfect moment with a lovely, warm-voiced stranger. It’s a memory that’s never faded, though he’s put so much of his past behind him. Now an unexpected inheritance has brought Will back to that same address, where he plans to offload his new property and get back to his regular life as an overworked doctor. Instead, he encounters a woman, two balconies above, who’s uncannily familiar . . .
No matter how surprised Nora Clarke is by her reaction to handsome, curious Will, or the whispered pre-dawn conversations they share, she won’t let his plans ruin her quirky, close-knit building. Bound by her loyalty to her adored grandmother, she sets out to foil his efforts with a little light sabotage. But beneath the surface of their feud is an undeniable connection. A balcony, a star-crossed couple, a fateful meeting—maybe it’s the kind of story that can't work out in the end. Or maybe, it’s the perfect second chance . . .
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Clayborn follows Love Lettering with this fun but forgettable take on the enemies-to-lovers trope. When Nora Clarke inherits her Nonna's beloved Chicago apartment, she's determined to preserve the magic of the old building and keep intact the found family the building's residents have formed over the years. But another tenant's death leaves a neighboring apartment in unpredictable hands. Will Sterling is shocked to inherit his estranged uncle's apartment and immediately detests the building for its "musty-smelling hallways, must-avoid light fixtures, and mustard wall paper" and the unpleasant memory it holds of the first and only time he met his uncle. He wants nothing to do with the apartment, but the will states he must keep it for at least a year before he can sell it—so he decides to renovate and list the apartment for short-term rentals, much to the chagrin of the building's other occupants. Nora and her eccentric neighbors scheme to delay Will's progress—and this sabotage often forces Nora across Will's path, making time for their mutual attraction to evolve into a genuine connection. Though the story feels familiar, Will and Nora's chemistry and the quirky side characters keep the pages turning. Clayborn's fans will be pleased.
Customer Reviews
A full heart
Overall it was a story with a hopeful but melancholy undertone that had bright splashes of relief and happiness. The grief and fear the characters experience is so real and so clear to the reader without it being over explained. It was a story that truly fills up your heart. The supporting characters are full and quirky. Nora and Will’s romance is sweet and realistic. The details in the sexy bits are only mildly spicy. 5/5
Heartwarming, Heartbreaking, Wonderful HEA
I received an ARC of this book to read through NetGalley. All opinions are my own. Love at First by Kate Clayborn was such a delight to read. On the day Will Sterlings childhood ended he heard Nora Clarke speak and instantly fell in love and he heard his uncle describe him as rash, reckless and selfish and vowed that he would not be that person. When to his great surprise he inherits his uncles apartment, his first thought is to sell it because it will forever be tied in his mind to that day and those words, however by the terms of his uncle’s will he cannot sell the apartment for a year. Nora Clarke grew up spending summers with her Nona as her parents spent the summers on archeological digs and had no time for her. When her Nona became ill she returned to look after her and her found family in the apartment building. The news that Will intends to turn his apartment into a short term rental unit has the other tenants up in arms and Nora is delegated to resolve the situation. If you are looking for a story with a heartwarming romance, strong supporting characters, cute kittens, and clandestine bathroom renovations, that will make you laugh out loud and utter a sigh when Will puts his glasses on then this is your book. Highly Recommend. Steam Level: Medium. Publishing Date: February 23, 2021. #LoveAtFirst #KateClayborn #KensingtonBooks #ContemporaryRomance #NetGalley #bookstagram #bookstagramer