My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genres:
Contemporary Romance, NA Romance,
NA Fiction, NA Contemporary, Sweet Romance
NA Fiction, NA Contemporary, Sweet Romance
Blurb:
After her stressful childhood, loving and loyal Seraphina Evans is perfectly content living a quiet life with her mother and sisters. She loves co-running the family business, a fairy tale themed café in Chicago, and spending her free time cultivating the rooftop garden on top of her rundown apartment complex.
Clever and cunning, James Campbell has been Seraphina’s best friend since middle school. He has never failed to be there for her over the years, even listening to her ramblings about which flowers or gardening techniques she was obsessed with each week. If it weren’t for his inflated ego, Seraphina would have fallen for him years ago.
But when an unexpected circumstance unearths a past that Seraphina wishes she could just forget, the two are pushed closer than ever. Questions she was never willing to deal with before start filling her mind: Is James really more than the façade he has always paraded around? Are we only the sum of the traumas we’ve suffered in life? Or can we grow from our pasts enough to truly be in full bloom?
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“James Nathan Campbell, you exhaust me.”
He flashed her a smirk. “And yet my winning personality is also why you love me so much.”
This was such a great book! It had strong family and friend ties, which really added to the plot; and even though there were some heavier themes throughout the story, I feel like they were handled very well. Seraphina's need to be in control of everything and her constant struggle with always "keeping it together" was SO relatable, and my heart hurt for her...because I know exactly how that feels. Thankfully she had some really wonderful people help her realize those were burdens that she didn't have to carry.
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| I. WAS. THERE. FOR. IT. |
And one of those people was JAMES. So, James was...amazing. He had such a fun, easygoing, vibrant personality but he was also a loyal, sensitive, caring friend. In short, he was basically perfect lol. Definitely perfect for Sera. Now, normally friends-to-more (or friends-to-lovers, whatever you prefer) isn't my go-to trope--HOWEVER--I adore the trope when it's done right. And Kayla did it right, y'all! Sure, I was frustrated at times because of Sera and James' lack of communication when it came to their feelings...but that's part of romance! As annoying as it might be, lack of communication is common in real life; so, I honestly don't mind reading about it in fiction. It just makes me want the love interests together even MORE! I was mentally begging Seraphina and James to FINALLY talk to each other about what was going on, ohmygoshhh.
I'm not going to spoil anything, but one of the HIGH tension moments had me feeling SO many feels...Kayla NAILED the emotions/energy between Sera and James. ALSO, I lovedddd seeing a few certain people at Sera's family's café. 👀
No spoilerssssss, but they were a reallyyy nice touch to the story.
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| this gif is just SO me |
Ah, yes...let's share some highlights!
“And that’s the story of how we became best friends!” James ended with a flourish.
Note: I already love him lollll
📖
Everything reminded her of James.
Note: Awwwww 😍😍
📖
“Sera. Someday I hope you learn to take care of yourself the way you always take care of others.”
📖
What would it be like to live her life in full bloom? Did she have enough courage to reach out and embrace the possibility of the boy who was living on the other side of her bedroom wall? Did she have enough strength to break her own inner walls?
PURE. POETRY.
📖
All humor was gone from his face as he peeked back up at her. “I said what I said, Ser. I learned how to live without her, but I didn’t know how I was going to live without you.”
📖
“I just want to feel better,” she finally admitted. “I want to stop being afraid.”
And I just felt this so much.
📖
“Why not? What happened? Did that idiot keep you up again with all his study-snacking? I’ve never heard anyone eat chips as loudly as that man does.”
Note: 😂😂😂
📖
Because… James may not like her, but she definitely, stupidly, recklessly liked him. And that was the most terrifying part of all.
📖
“Don’t change the subject. If I’m going to be brave, you need to be brave too.” She gave her a little sad smile. “I believe in you, Mom.
Note: So. Wholesome.
📖
With a dramatic sigh and fluttering eyes, James asked dreamily, “So… are you even more dazzled by me now that you know I’m a triple threat? Smart, handsome, and a whiz around the kitchen?”
Seraphina flopped into one of the chairs at the dining room table. “James,” she sighed, “I am way too tired to deal with your ego today.”
Note: But yes.
📖
Sera gave a weak smile. There was the James she knew. Always trying to solve everything.
“You can’t fix this one, James,” she whispered back. “Because it already happened.”
Note: 😭😭😭
📖
Imani walked out of her and Alysia’s shared bedroom. She peered over her latest fantasy novel just long enough to shoot an exhausted look at her sisters.
“Can you guys please not fight?” She plopped into their old, but sturdy, La-Z-Boy chair. “I’m at a really important chapter, and I really don’t need another one of your arguments ruining another one of my books.”
Note: Lolllll, A QUEEN
📖
James leaned over and softly tugged her braid. “You can’t ignore my birthday wish forever,” he sang-song at her.
He's just too PRECIOUS.
📖
“James,” she began with a longsuffering sigh. “You’re ridiculous. You know that, right? I know you’re trying to be cute—”
“Excuse you. I’m always cute.” He stood up and gestured to his tall, admittedly handsome, frame and Sera hated to admit that he was right. That obnoxious, lanky middle-school boy had really been hit by the gorgeous stick when puberty finally let him out of its talons.
With his dark brown hair expertly styled, light green eyes, towering height, and broad shoulders, James could have definitely been a model, something he liked to point out at any chance he could. Take all of that plus his preppy style get-up, thanks to his frat buddies at college, and James was incredibly cute. Not that she’d ever let him know that.
Note: Loveeeee ittttt
This part is just so special to me. 🥰👀
I can't even tell y'all have many other highlights I have saved...BUT THAT IS ALWAYS A GOOD SIGN. It's honestly the easiest way to tell how much I love a book. 😉
As far as content goes: There is language. Nothing too crazy, but definitely more than a few curse words...so just a warning for those of you that don't prefer language in your reading. Minor college-age drinking did occur. There was joking about reading smut along with some minor suggestive comments. Abusive relationships from the past were talked/thought about. Anxiety, fear, sadness, and anger are some of the major feelings that are experienced and talked about. None of this was triggering for me, but it possibly could be for other readers.
Although I dooooo love the romance in Full Bloom, I just have a huge appreciation for Sera's journey...truly. And James' journey too! I know the book is from Seraphina's POV, and it's essentially about her, but seeing James change his life's plans like he did was flatout inspiring. Absolutely beautiful!
So, I definitely recommend this book! If you enjoy swoony romances that have a little more depth to them, then you should read this book...100%. I also want to point out that I love how both of Kayla's books are new adult romances, we need moreeeee books like this about the 20-26 age range!!
Oh! AND THAT EPILOGUE?! Be. Still. My Heart.
~I received an e-copy of this story from the author, and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.~
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About the Author:
Kayla Morgan has been writing ever since she discovered the wonderful world of fanfiction on the Nickelodeon Message Boards back in the early 2000's. Since that fateful day, she has been happy to live in her little fandom world.
When she's not writing, Kayla spends her days bingeing her latest obsession and dreaming of the day she can eat Tokyo's crepes once again.
Kayla lives in Canton, Ohio with her husband and their three adorable fur-babies.
