Sweet Thing: A Novel

by Renee Carlino

Mia Kelly thinks she has it all figured out. She's an Ivy League graduate, a classically trained pianist, and the beloved daughter of a sensible mother and offbeat father. Yet Mia has been stalling since graduation, torn between putting her business degree to use and exploring music, her true love.

When her father unexpectedly dies, she decides to pick up the threads of his life while she figures out her own. Uprooting herself from Ann Arbor to New York City, Mia takes over her father's café, a treasured neighbourhood institution that plays host to undiscovered musicians and artists. She's denied herself the thrilling and unpredictable life of a musician, but a chance encounter with Will, a sweet, gorgeous, and charming guitarist, offers her a glimpse of what could be. When Will becomes her friend and then her roommate, she does everything in her power to suppress her passions-for him, for music-but her father's legacy slowly opens her heart to the possibility of something more.

A "heart-breaking and romantic" (Aestas Book Blog) debut, Sweet Thing explores the intensity and complexities of first love and self-discovery.

• ISBN10: 1476763933
• ISBN13: 9781476763934
• Publish Date: 16 January 2014 (first published 1 March 2013)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Atria Books
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 320
• Language: English

Reviews

[Bianca]

It’s the only way to know you’re really in love, when you ask the question would it be harder to watch him die, or to know he’ll watch me die? Is there more mercy in being the one who does the watching or in being the one who does the dying? It’s when you realize what mercy-killing actually means, it’s when you actually care to the point of tormenting worry. It’s not roses and white horses, it’s fucking brutal and it can send a person running for the hills. To love is brave and he was the bravest person I knew.

— Hardest book to rate ever ugh I get the message but it's badly executed and the heroine was so annoying.

[Cocktails and Books]

4.5 stars.

A very charming read that was witty, funny, and at times heartbreaking.

review to come

[limabean74]

I was asked to give an honest review.

I honestly loved it. I wasn’t sure about it when I was first asked because I read contemporary romance, but not a lot. Reading the synopsis I thought it was a cute story.

Holy crap this story flipped me all around and by the time I was finished reading I was emotionally drained. I was on the verge of tears and didn’t think I could ever read another book again LOL.

It was like first they were, then they didn’t, then I wanted to smack her, then I wanted to tell him to stop being so nice, then it almost happened, then it didn’t, then he was gone, then she was acting like a bitch, then it was ok, then I thought it was over, then the bathtub (where the hell did that come from) then they didn’t, then they almost, then it was like WHAT, then it seemed like forever and I wanted to smack her again, then etc.………See why I was screaming just typing that was making me exhausted again :)

Mia was such a great character I really adored her. Having just lost her father she moves to New York to take over his apartment and café to try find herself an figure out what she wants in life. At times I want to shake her silly and smack her around – but I really liked her.

Will Ryan was a handsome, funny, very kind hearted and WAY to understanding of a man. At times he seems unbelievable. I really felt bad for him how Mia was treating him hence the smacking and shaking of her. He broke my heart a few times but I loved his determination and how he kept fighting for her even when she pushed him away. Also didn’t hurt that he was a sexy musician with an amazing voice.

Will and Mia had amazing sexual tension. I got butterflies in my stomach when they almost would kiss. When they would fight it really broke my heart. I really wanted everything to work out for them. The other characters in the book were awesome I loved reading about them and also seeing their reactions to what was going on with Will and Mia.

I really enjoyed the story. I admire authors who can make you feel when reading a book. I laughed, cried, screamed and felt the loss along with each character in the book. It was written so well. I can honestly say I can’t wait to read more from Renee Carlino she is a fantastic writer!!

Totally recommend this book. It really pulls at your heartstrings and you will totally fall in love with Will and Mia’s story. A really great read. Loved It.