Love at First
An Uplifting and Unforgettable Story of Love and Second Chances
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4.2 • 168 Ratings
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- $9.99
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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
No thoughts
I really appreciate the sensitivity of this writer when handling the nuances of interpersonal relations-not just the main characters either. This ability makes Kate Clayton very precious, like the subtle expressions of the characters in old movies (and some recent ones). Thank you for the pleasure of your creation. I’m anticipating more.
Beautiful
A beautiful book. So emotional, heartfelt, and sweet. Thank you for such a lovely story 🥰💖❤️
Love at First by Kate Clayborn
Love at First by Kate Clayborn
Contemporary romance. Chicago location. #LoveatFirstNovel
Nora inherited her condo/apartment/unit from her grandmother. It’s a small building with elderly owners that have made themselves into a family unit. Will inherits his uncle’s unit and wants only to rent it out. He’s not interested in living in the unit but he does want to get to know Nora better. Will finds himself drawn into building activities with the shared welcome casseroles and the monthly poem readings.
This is a sweet, almost naive and heartbreaking slow build romance. Not clean but not a lot of sexual tension either. It’s a darling story and I loved the pace and the feeling of beloved self-made family throughout.
Both Will and Nora have childhood issues to overcome. They ignore but finally resolve.
A charming romance feel.
“Two weeks and two days since he had seen her.
Not that he was counting.
But he was counting.”
I received a copy of this book as part of a contest win by the publisher.