Kat likes her morning coffees extra sweet, popcorn dinners by the TV, and curling up with her sketchpad. She can also be bribed with donuts. Her steady life of routines has no surprises around the corner, no landmines to step on, and that suits her just fine. But then comes Jules with his dark eyes and beckoning smile, wild and devastating as the sea. And she finds herself reaching forth, daring … forth, daring to drench in his aftermath.
Suddenly Kat is adding brown eyes and dimples to her favorites list.
But as Jules sweeps into Kat’s life, she finds herself struggling to gain footing in the currents of their attraction. What does it mean to love in the face of self-doubts? And as her walls crumble in his wake, can she find steady ground in the storm that is him?
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What a wonderful debut novel by the talented Ellie Penn!
Jules is a beautifully written contemporary romance about a young woman named Kat – who, to me, is a kindred spirit. She is an introverted artist that sticks to a strict day-to-day routine. Until one day a handsome stranger joins her at her table in a cafe and disrupts overly-organized life.
“But what if you were to change that routine, just for a day? Instead of taking your normal trek to work, choose the longer one. Pass by a different street, one that you’ve never explored before”
“Why though? I’ve already figured the most efficient route.”
“Stop and smell the roses, as they say. Maybe you’ll even stumble on a new flower for your garden.”
Kat is so smitten by her handsome stranger, Jules, that her best friend is amused by it all. Did I mention that Kat and Nelly’s friendship is pure comical gold?
Nelly: Did you do the deed?
Nelly: Should we go with three tiers or five, for your wedding cake?
Nelly: Answer the phone or I will eat all the marshmallows in your Lucky Charms.
And as for Jules, he is a man of many ventures. I loved discovering all the different sides of him along with Kat. Girls, we all need a man that will snuggle in a blanket fort.
4 stars!
A special thanks to Ellie for providing me with an advance readers copy for in exchange for an honest review!
Visit my blog for more shenanigans! See you at Sincerely, Whitney.
This read is a perfect balance between sweet/fluff and steamy. A quick read, if I must say.
I love how the author presented the heroine, Kat. She’s both shy and an introvert. She has the tendency to over-analyze things and thoughts until she gives her self validation to not fully enjoy moments as they are. But what I love the most is that all these insecurities and complexities, they are not a product of her troubled past or something along those lines.
I mean, for once in a blue moon, I appreciate how the author brought up this mortal flaws out of just as mortal flaws. That all these characteristics of the heroine are just as they are. That one needs not to have a rocky relationship in the past that burned her for all future relationships or that she’s jaded from a broken family. There’s is absolutely nothing wrong with those scenarios, per se.
It’s just that…it’s Kat’s personality. Period. And I have brought this point up because some people think there must be enough reasons (e.g. difficult history or environment) to validate their emotional messes. But sometimes, people like Kat (that is, people who are fundamentally shy and afraid) just needs someone patient by their side.
Aaand this is where Jules comes in. First of all, let me swoon in all his hero glory. Everyone needs a Jules in their mundane lives. He’s light, bold, warm, patient…and just so freaking delightful to read. In short, he’s every hopeless romantic, every book nerd…every woman’s wet dream in the flesh. /LeSigh
Although I thoroughly enjoy devouring this read, I have left one star off the rating because there is actually little to no plot development. In this read’s defense, Kat and Jules are a done deal so it’s just a matter of how the two will roll. True, they have had a major struggle – but it is mostly a character development for the heroine. Not counting Martha, the miserable hag.
Jules was a cute and quick read that was very descriptive which draws you in. I enjoyed Kat and understood her need for routine because everyday we all develop the same routine whether we realize it or not. Jules was amazing and made Kat step out of her comfort zones and try to enjoy the now, stop and smell the roses. I also loved Jules he was such a nice change in character because he was such a contradiction, yes he was a rich and sexy businessman but he also enjoyed the small things in life and smiled nonstop, not too much brooding going on with him. It was refreshing to see. Overall I enjoyed it, Kat got a little frustrating towards the end by worrying so much that she was out of Jules league but I could totally understand why. I also want to read a story about Nelly.