#Review ~ Love, in English by Karina Halle

He’s thirty-eight. I’m twenty-three.

He speaks Spanish. I speak English.

He lives in Spain. I live in Canada.

He dresses in thousand-dollar suits. I’m covered in tattoos.

He’s married and has a five-year old daughter. I’m single and can’t commit to anyone or anything.

Until now.Because when they say you can’t choose who you fall in love with, boy ain’t that the f*#king truth.

***

To a restless dreamer like Vera Miles, it sounded like the experience of a lifetime. Instead of spending her summer interning for her astronomy major, she would fly to Spain where she’d spend a few weeks teaching conversational English to businessmen and women, all while enjoying free room and board at an isolated resort. But while Vera expected to get a tan, meet new people and stuff herself with wine and paella, she never expected to fall in love.

Mateo Casalles is unlike anyone Vera has ever known, let alone anyone she’s usually attracted to. While Vera is a pierced and tatted free spirit with a love for music and freedom, Mateo is a successful businessman from Madrid, all sharp suits and cocky Latino charm. Yet, as the weeks go on, the two grow increasingly close and their relationship changes from purely platonic to something…more.

Something that makes Vera feel alive for the first time.

Something that can never, ever be.

Or so she thinks.

 

4.75-5 Stars

He slowly turned around. “What is love? In English?”

I raised my brows. “Love, in English, is love?”

“What is it in Spanish?”

I was so enthralled by his hypnotic eyes, I could barely remember. “Amore?”

He shook his head ever so slightly. “No. Love in Spanish is you.”

I am utterly FLOORED by this book. This was STUNNING! As I sit here trying to write this review, I’ve had a few hours to reflect. I’m having trouble finding the adequate words to describe this story. The first words that come to mind are immediately: Beautiful, heartbreaking, conflicting & sweet. Sorry for the unoriginality, but meh! I suck at trying to paint a picture. All I know is that this one made me a swoony, hot mess.

Love, that ultimate villainess. She makes examples of us all.

And yet we still come back for more.

We keep playing the role she gives us.

For one more chance to feel alive.

Love has made me a villain. But at least now, I don’t have to be misunderstood.

This is my story…

Vera has a reputation. Her tattoos, her promiscuity has followed her around since she was teenager. At twenty-three years old, she’s a bit…lost; she’s kind of stuck in a rut, of sorts. So she decides to go to Spain and join this program to help Spaniards with their English. It is because of this program that she will have a free room for the next month. This is where she eventually meets the handsome Mateo.

I liked the calm Mateo, the witty Mateo, the lusty Mateo, and the hot-tempered Mateo.

I liked all of him.

No. I loved all of him.

I loved Mateo Casalles.

Mateo is thirty-eight, married and has a young daughter. He is also a former pro football (soccer) star who is now co-owns restaurants in Spain, but wants to expand internationally, hence why he’s in this program. Mateo and Vera hit it off immediately. They seemed so at ease with each other, their conversations constantly flowing. There was a definite connection. Vera, being Vera, knew instantly she was in deep trouble with Mateo.

“You’re married!” I yelled. “I cannot be the other woman!”

“You already are the other woman!” he yelled right back. His words smashed into me, blowing me to smithereens. He cupped my face in his hands. “You already are, whether you want to be or not. You’ve bewitched me, Vera. You’ve blinded me. You’ve made me forget my vows. And all you had to do was shine.”

Although I loved this book, part of me was torn. I love Vera & Mateo together, but the fact was that he is married. Yes, it does become quite obvious that he is in a loveless marriage, but like I said, he is still legally with his wife. I can completely understand why Vera felt so much guilt because honestly, I felt them too. You really felt all the struggles she went through – both physically and mentally. Only phenomenal storytelling can make you feel that.

My Estrella.

Overall, this was just one beautiful read. Karina Halle did a extraordinary job of writing this. The story flowed nicely, it kept my interest and it’s the type of story that will stick with you for a very long time. Bravo, Karina! Bravo.