True Love Story by Willow Aster
Publisher: Self
Genre: New Adult; Contemporary Romance
Format: ebook
Source: After begging author, I received ARC from her for an honest review
Purchase: Link
Author Website
Rating: 5 STARS
Summary from Good Reads:
Sparrow Fisher is transforming. No longer dressed up in antiquated clothes and ideals, she is finally trying on her freedom.
Before she moves to New York City, she meets Ian Sterling, a musician Sparrow has dreamed about since she first saw him. The attraction is instant, but their relationship isn’t so simple.
Over a five year span, Sparrow and Ian run into each other in unusual places. Each time, Sparrow has to decide if she can trust him, if he feels the same for her, and finally, if love is really enough.
First Impression: I have heard so much about this book and have been looking forward to getting my hands on it. I first heard about it at the end of Dirty Red by Tarryn Fisher. Readers of Dirty Red were teased with the first chapter of True Love Story at the end of Dirty Red. Once I read the first chapter I marked it as a TBR on Goodreads and began to beg the author for an ARC. Finally, I got a message from the author’s assistant along with an ARC of the book. I screamed with joy, quickly finished the book I was reading and immediately jumped into this one. I was not disappointed. This is a must-read.
What I loved: I needed this book. I have been reading so many mediocre reads lately, or they all end in a cliffhanger and I do not get my HEA ending, it feels very stressful to have to keep track of all these books I need to watch out for.
I started True Love Story book two days ago and finished it last night. It was such a beautiful read that I wished it could have lasted longer.
First of all lets talk about Ian Sterling. He is yummy in all ways. He is a very handsome musician who has serious flaws. He is also older than Sparrowe by over ten years. He has been damaged and is pretty nonchalant about a true commitment with Sparrowe. Once she asks him, he says he will give it a try. And he does.
Sparrowe is a female character that I love from the beginning. She is flawed like we all are. She is not that confident and some insecurities. At first I wasn’t quite sure why she dressed the way she did at the beginning but once she moved to NYC to go to college with her best friend she bought new much sexier wardrobe. Apparently she is very tall, dark hair, long legs, perfect breasts and beautiful.
When she first meets Ian, she is not that strong. She basically takes what she can get without asking difficult questions or by trying to pin him down about if he is seeing other women while they are not together. She also forgives him for something early in the book that I would have been much madder about (a forgotten weekend). But she gets tougher as the years go by and she develops more self-confidence. By the end she is a very strong young woman.
I loved Sparrowe and Ian’s relationship. It was like they truly were made for each other. They fit each other perfectly. Also, they “got” each other. They laughed at the same jokes and they both had a great sense of humor.
And if you want angst, this book is for you! That is all I will say about this but this book did make me cry. I loved it so much.
What I didn’t care for: There was nothing in the book I did not care for. The book made me mad and sad but that is part of a good book, I would not change anything about the book.
I loved the angst the author put me through, I loved that this was not a series, that is right people, no cliffhanger! I loved every part of this book and actually slowed down so that I could savor the author’s writing style and spend more time in the relationship. I loved the letters from Ian to Sparrowe; they were absolutely beautiful. The last chapter had me crying like a baby.
Final Impression: After reading True Love Story, I am going through my 200 TBR pile on my Kindle and nothing compares. How can I find something that will come close? I think the solution is to go for a whole different genre. Maybe it is time to start the Dex stories everyone has been talking about.
In the meantime, I will cherish True Love Story, it will go on my TBR pile again, as this is one I will definitely be revisiting.
Great job Willow Aster. As far as I know this is her first book and I can hardly wait to read more from her. Thank you for the ARC, the story was perfect. Five solid stars!!!
Fav Quotes: It isn’t necessarily a quote but I love when Ian calls Sparrowe “Little Bird.”
