How to Survive a Modern-Day Fairy Tale

I wanted to love this one. I love that its ownvoices, I love retellings/fantasy, and I'm a sucker for some good romance and smut. But this book felt...ridiculous. What was advertised was not present hardly at all in the book and the writing itself was....cringe. No steaminess, just awkwardness. Not for me, dnf around 80% (and I got so far!)

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I would be lying if I said I didn't sob my eyes out on certain moments with Lola.

I utterly enjoyed the book but, to be honest, I did have a though time in the beginning to get thru some tropes: not like the other girls, gay best friend with no character development, rich but kind love interest. What saved the story for me, its the fact that the tropes felt minor introductions to the cast and faded away once we got more into the story. 

Even during the (several) conflicts along the story, they always felt true to them, even if most of the resolutions came too quickly.

This book will always have a special place in my heart on showing grandmother-granddaughter relationship once half of it is consumed by the Alzheimer's disease. It was loving and heartbreaking to see on the pages something that feels so personal to your life.

Don't be fooled, this is a fanfic, but a quite enjoyable and well written fanfic.

There were several themes in the novel that I felt a connection to, almost too close in the case of Lola struggling with Alzheimer's, balancing “tang na loob” (debt of gratitude in the filipino culture) while navigating life as a young adult, all the while standing stubbornly against stereotypical and family expectations (ex: chose a medical profession, date respectable and marry early, find a wealthy/established match).
I enjoyed meeting the family and identifying with traditions, dishes, family dynamics and liked the 2 MCs with their down to earth personalities. Which i had my own Todd to talk sense into me when needed. lol.
Personally I found it interesting to see Claires perspective on the Tech world from an outsiders perspective as I myself am apart of that industry. I can see how intimidating that could be to an outsider. But what really got me, and not in a good way, was the theme that Claire would leave a relationship over fear and not communicate with him to forge a path forward together then to ultimately chase after him like a stalker (wth) and put her entrepreneurial passion aside to be the dutiful Mrs?!
I was hoping they would find a way to have home bases on both coasts where she could still fulfill orders or maybe did online decorating workshops since Nate has the resources. There were so many possibilities that Claire could still end up having her own identity/life/career and Nate. The necessity of communication was a theme that reoccured in the novel, from Nates side (both professionally and romantically) but frustratingly, Claire didn't seem to catch on and allowed her anxiety to get the best of her.
I felt if the novel ended in a whirlwind, with a rushed summation. Like we're running outta air time gotta wrap it up quick! Overall I would have given more stars if the story ended on a more positive note, in that women can have both; love and success, simultaneously. Now that would be a HEA I'd gladly give 5 stars for.