| Title | : | Just Enough Magic (The \ |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 343 |
| Publication | : | First published April 12, 2022 |
Just Enough Magic (The \ Reviews
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Loved!
I really enjoyed this one! It's my first time reading anything by Ms. Hadley, and I'm now eager to go back and read all her books. I love when a heroine can come in and totally shake up our hero's world, and extroverted Kayla certainly does that with introverted Alexander. Kayla and Alex are pretty opposite, but they fit together so well. I really loved Kayla's fun personality, but also liked that she knew when to pull back. Alex is a bit harder to read, but you can't help but like him as well. There is one point in the story where Kayla tells Alex that she likes him, not in a romantic way, but just as a person and I LOVE that in books. When the couple not only are falling in love, but also falling in like. You just know those are the couples that are going to make it!
This one had me glued to the pages; I couldn't put the book down. I thought it was well written, had an engaging story, likable characters and set in the fun city of Las Vegas!
Content Rated G
Clean romance, just kissing. No language and mild content -
I love Aspen Hadley's books and always eagerly await the next one. I read this in one sitting because I just had to see if Kayla would crack the case that was Alex and how they would end up together. Not to mention I loved seeing Lucy and Daniel again. Now to reread some of my favorites while I wait for her next release.
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Oh. my. word. I seriously did not think I could love an Aspen Hadley book as much as I did her last book, Just Enough Luck, but this book seriously blew me away.
By the third chapter, I was glued to the page. Literally. Didn't even stop to grab a snack though my stomach was telling me I needed one. I lost count of how many times I laughed out loud and I LOVED seeing Lucy and Daniel so much.
Kayla and Drake are adorable together. She is a fireball of energy and the tension and chemistry between the two was so perfect. Watching Drake come out of his shell around her was just, well, it was like magic. Their first kiss was just *sigh. And can we just talk for a minute about how much I loved Kayla's borderline obsession with Drake's car?
This book is the perfect combination of great characters, witty humor, and swoony romance. The only thing I didn't like about it was that it ended, even if the ending was utter perfection.
This is one of my top reads of the year and has undeniably earned a spot on my favorites shelf. Aspen is an auto-read author for me and this book is the perfect example of why! Do not miss this one!!
I received a complimentary copy of this book but a positive review was not required. -
Absolutely magical!
I really loved the first book in this series, & while technically this one can stand alone, I definitely recommend reading Lucy's story before Kayla's because it'll give you a richer understanding of all the characters.
Kayla is a stream of consciousness talker & pretty impulsive; she's also funny & fun. She's Alex's opposite, but in a way that's complementary.
Her attraction to Alex's car is hilarious
And the jetski ride had me laughing so much.
I wanted them to finally be together, but I didn't want the story to end. I thoroughly enjoyed it!!
*Romance level: passionate kisses, nothing graphic -
Dear Aspen,
Holy moly guacamole! This book is so, so good! I smiled, I laughed out loud, I smiled some more. I feel absolutely in love with Kayla and Alexander and could have just started right over when I finished it. It was seriously so delicious and I am in love!
First of all, Kayla is hilarious! Her inner dialogue had me busting up with laughter so many times, my husband finally stopped giving me the questioning-side-eye and just took to shaking his head each time. He knew it was a book and if he asked what was so funny, I’d read multiple pages out loud to him, barely containing my laughter each time. And DANG it was a good book! Anyway, Kayla is hilarious. I also loved her unflappable honesty and genuine desire to be loved and appreciated. The thing is, she is strong without being invincible. She didn’t *need* a man to complete her or “rescue” her, but having friends who lift her up was still important to her. As is the case for so many of us! Kayla and I are not the same, but in that way, I related to her.
I typically favor a dual POV, but you pulled of single, first-person POV so well with this that I didn’t mind ONE SINGLE TIME that I didn’t know what was happening in Alex’s head. Figuring things out along with Kayla made for a delightful experience, even if I could read his signals much better than she could. Ha!
I really love Alexander. I relate to him in a small way (not the super wealthy part) and loved watching Kayla slowly work herself into his heart and trust. I think you wrote his personality so perfectly.
Some other things I loved:
•Kayla’s mom and the scene between them when Kayla finally tells her about her work. So good!
•Every single time Kayla interacts with Alex’s car.
•Rex. I want to hug that man and have him adopt me and bring me baked goods. We’ll start with white chocolate macadamia nut cookies.
•All the country life scenes were fantastic. I laughed out loud over the horseback riding scene!
•Kayla’s honesty. Have I mentioned that? Because I loved it.
•The little scenes with Lucy & Daniel. Ah, young love.
•The chemistry and fireworks between Kayla and Alex. There could not be two more perfectly suited opposites.
•The kissing scenes. Thank you for including more than one. Every romance should have at least two—and yours were *chef’s kiss* fantastique!
You do know that you’ve set this up for some more stories to come, correct? All the cowboys and Willow and Daphne. You have a treasure trove and I really want a share. Please write more in this world? Please please??
Loved your book more than I can say. You’ve earned my forever fandom.
With love, Jessica
**Many thanks to the author for an advanced copy of the book. I voluntarily wrote this honest review, which opinion belongs only to myself.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ -
Aspen Hadley’s books just make me want to crawl into the book and live there. This book made me so happy. I loved the first one, Just Enough Luck. But I may have loved this one even more!
Kayla…she’s the type of girl who knows what she wants and goes after it. That is fine with certain guys. But with Alexander Drake, who she really likes, that approach just doesn’t seem to work. So Kayla becomes all about being friends with him. To the point of driving herself nuts. I really liked that Kayla’s was the only point of view we got with this one. It made it seem almost like I was her. And I enjoyed that with this book!
I loved Alexander. I wasn’t sure what to make of him in the first book. And the beginning of this one too. He just seemed really reserved. But as Kayla worked her magic, the magic she didn’t even know she was working, he really opened up. There were so many times that the reader got to see just a glimpse of who he really was. And that was beautiful.
I loved this book from start to finish! Such a great romantic comedy.
I was sent an e-copy of Just Enough Magic as a gift from the author. All opinions are my own. -
Where have Aspen Hadley books been all of my life? If you’re not reading every book she has ever published… You. Are. Missing. Out.
BIG TIME!
Just when I think she can’t out-do her last book, she does! This latest from Aspen is funny, swoony and has so many laugh-out-loud funny parts that you will finish with the happiest sigh and want to live in its book coma forever! I love the opposite characters in this one SO MUCH! Kayla and her zero-filter personality rock Alexander’s world in the best possible way. I loved watching their romance develop. I loved seeing Lucy and Daniel again. I loved the setting. I LOVED IT ALL!!
Be sure to grab this one, friends! It’s amazing and I highly recommend it to everyone!
Thanks to the author for the copy. All thoughts in this review are my own. -
I’m sorry, but I strongly disliked the main character. She acted like an airhead and really a flighty “bimbo” (with a lack of a better word). I couldn’t take her seriously. If you were trying to get some guy’s attention who was not the flirty type, she seemed to be doing the opposite to achieve that. Because of that, I found the story too unbelievable and I am glad it wasn’t the first book I read by this author.
However, I do love her style of writing and the nostalgia of losing a best friend and changes in life, but I just felt like I was reading about the annoying high school girl that was always so pretty and flirted with every guy she could and just thought it was fun, no strings attached! Really?! No thanks! -
Okay! I read the first book before reading this one and I loved both stories!! I think it would be helpful to read book one before reading this one otherwise you have some major spoilers. 😅
I loooved Alex! Kayla was a tornado who came into Alex’s life. She’s definitely a character. I wish I had her honesty and humor. 😂 It was sweet to see Alex’s business facade come down for Kayla. Like…super adorable.
I’m really glad I read this book and was in the best mood after finishing it. I might have to go back and read my favorite scenes again. Like their first kiss. And their second. 😍😍 Gah! It was all good! -
Round of applause please!!!! This author nailed this one. Wow. Talk about actually writing a perfect rom com. I have not read one this good in a long time. The pacing was great. Kayla was the perfect leading lady and I could not stop laughing at her boldness and saying everything she thinks. You fall in love with her. Alex was a great leading man that was not driven by lust or played with her heart the whole book. You watched two people that didn’t know each other well, become friends and have an honest conversation about their feelings. There was no lame attempt the rip them apart or have some dramatic misunderstanding. No. There was funny moments, great characters and so many butterflies in the tummy moments. Yummo!
Well done!!! -
This is such a fun and flirty romantic comedy with that beloved grumpy/sunshine opposites attract trope! Aspen has this ability to make me want to be best friends with her characters. Kayla tends to do everything full throttle, in your face, and pretty loud almost all the time. On the other hand, Alexander is quiet, reserved, and keeps his emotions firmly in check. When their best friends get ready to tie the knot, these two are thrown into so many wonderful situations together that just slowly build great chemistry!
Thank you to the author for my e-arc of this book. All opinions here are my own. -
Warning: don't start this series if you have anything important to do. It'll suck you in, and you'll have a hard time tearing yourself away.
I liked that this book was not a dual point of view. I liked the mystery of not knowing everything going on Alex's side of things. It was such a sweet story, an opposites attract trope. -
This was a good story! I don't know how this author does it but she really pulls me in. I like her characters. I like there story. I like the very slow moving romance. Normally
books like this put me off but there is just something about her writing. She is also pretty funny.
This is a clean romance. No religion -
Super cute and light read. Fun relationship between characters with a believable romance.
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5 stars.
“Don’t date the life of the party. Date the guy who makes sure the life of the party gets home alright.”
🚘 summary:
Alexander Drake - the serious, broody businessman boss in Vegas. Kayla - the outgoing, silly interior designer. He’s quiet. She’s loud. He’s introverted. She’s extroverted. When Kayla meets Alexander, she’s instantly drawn to him and tries everything thing to get him to notice her. When all of her attempts to reel him in fail completely- she tells him she will back off and be just his friend. As Kayla and Alexander become actual friends, he starts lowering his walls and letting her get to know the real him. Which is fine and all, until he realizes that the girl that he pushed away into the friend zone is now the girl that he’s now falling for.
🚘 my thoughts:
I just love Aspen’s writing. I think she does rom coms so perfectly. They are cute, funny, and so romantic. Her characters are lovely. The settings of her books are beautiful, and the way she describes everything makes me SEE it while reading.
This book was just precious. I loved seeing Kayla grow. She started out as a man chaser and a bit of a flirt. She chased after Alex hard and had to back up and figure herself out. I liked her evolution. I also loved Alexander. I’m a sucker for a quiet, broody guy- and he did not disappoint. The chemistry was golden and their friendship was so sweet.
(As a side note: I loved Lucy in the first book, but I did not enjoy her in this one. She was in la la land, completely absorbed in herself and Daniel. And I did not like how she treated Kayla for most of the book. But I digress.).
PS: yes- this can be read as a standalone - however please, please, PLEASE read the first book in the duology first (Just Enough Luck).
⚠️ TW: sexual harassment -
If there was an “awww” button on my keyboard, this book would receive all the button presses.
It’s one of those light hearted, low angst, lovely romances that will give you all the butterflies. I’ll be honest, I didn’t read the first book in the series before reading this one and I’m looking forward to snagging it now. I need to know Lucy’s story after spending so much time getting to know her. The main character, Kayla, took a little to grow on me in this story and I think it’s because I didn’t read the first. But she and I bonded and I could see a BFF future with her. What matters is that I’m not mad she ended up with the guy in the end, she earned that perfectly written male (women really know how to write a man, amiright?)
And Alexander. Y’all. Grumpy rich man? Or I guess aloof, I should say. A bit cold to everyone else and warms up to our heroine. Yessssss please. AND the fancy car on the front cover is his. Kayla has a very healthy attachment to it that I 100% support and laughed
What you need to know: I loved it. I devoured it on Saturday, definitely couldn’t put it down. It was the perfect romantic comedy that I needed. And it was very much clean. A few kisses and that’s it. Do yourself a favor, grab this book. I’m feeling major vacation vibes, you should grab it for your next trip. -
After finishing the first I immediately wanted the second. I was more than looking forward to this story. I was anticipating all the fun directions the author could go with Alex and Kayla.
I was a little hesitant when Kayla started working for Alex. I didn't want a repeat of the first book. Luckily I didn't have to worry about that, this story was so uniquely its own. With its own set of unique and fun characters while still giving you glimpses of the characters you fell in love with in the first book.
I loved watching Alex's walls come down. I loved how Kayla worms her way into his life. I loved how well Aspen wrote the foundation of friendship with the slow burning chemistry in the background. So we’ll done!
I felt a little bit of a double standard at the beginning of the book. With the struggles Kayla experienced in the work place, for her to turn around and try and throw herself at her boss left me feeling a little uncomfortable. I think it was more of a personal thing, than how Aspen wrote it. I may or may not have a little bit of a soap box when it comes to those kinds of things. I feel like there should be respect going both ways regardless of gender.
I loved how Aspen had Kayla recognize her own ridiculousness and apologize. I love the honesty between them and the barefoot scene and the conversations about flirting. I really loved so much about this book. -
Here is another FANTASTIC RomCom that is exactly what every reader needs!
This has so much in it, and I loved finally getting Kayla and Alexander’s story! Here’s a few things about their magical story that I just fell in love with:
• hilarious best friend conversations
• text messages with your coworker
• the pitfalls of friend-zoning yourself
• grump and sunshine trope
• the reality of growing up
• the power of friendship, no matter the stage of life you’re in
• flirting vs. not flirting
• the magic of finding the person who fits and completes you
Basically Aspen Hadley is quickly becoming my top favorite RomCom writer because her books are pure gold. They have that perfect balance of comedic relief with real life problems, combined with her lovable and genuine characters and you’ve got yourself a piece of literary art.
The only problem I had with this book is I feel like it took a long time to realize how Alexander felt. I know he’s quiet and more reserved, but I was hoping for more earlier in the book. The last 25% of this book is the abolsute best part and it made it all worth it!
This is the best book for readers looking for a lighthearted, romantic, and hilarious story to get lost in. -
Fun, Sweet & Romance
Just Enough Magic (The "Just Enough" Duology and Other Contemporary Romances by Aspen Hadley Book 2)
◇Fun
◇Easy Read
◇Clean Romance
Book Synopsis:
"The first time I saw Alexander Drake, I was looking at his picture on the cover of a Financial Life magazine. I’d have to have been blind not to notice what a total catch he was. Rich, handsome, and completely make believe. Only, he wasn’t some fake cover model. He was a real person, soon-to-be brother-in-law of my best friend Lucy, and when she introduced us for the first time, I swooned. Hard. Me. Kayla Benson. Master of male-female relationships, strong, independent, and the one usually being swooned over. The worst part? While I was busy catching my breath – my eyes so dazed they might as well have been crossed - he hadn’t even bothered to look my way. Suddenly I wanted nothing more than to ruffle his feathers and see what could happen if I became a force in his life’s bubble. So . . . I did." -
I like Aspen Hadley’s writing style. Her books are fun and cute. I’ll read more from her for sure!
I didn’t love this one as much as I loved the first in the series and I’m glad I didn’t start with this one. Kayla annoyed me and was immature at the beginning, but she did get better toward the middle. There were a couple scenes where I didn’t understand the purpose they served in the book (pretty much all the scenes with her twin brother and then the bus hostage situation, especially. Maybe the bus scene added a dramatic moment like the first book had?… but it didn’t work for me here. Alexander coming to the police station was nice, but right after he came she left with her mom, so it didn’t add a ton of romantic elements or really show his feelings for her in a way that made the entire scene worth it to me) It just seemed like some scenes were there to make the story longer and it dragged on for me in the middle.
I liked that Alexander was the one to break the friend zone boundary. The scenes with them actually together were adorable and I wanted more of them! -
CW: very slight sexual harassment in the opening chapter
Just Enough Luck made me laugh a LOT. This book might have made me laugh even more?? If a clean romcom with humor is what you're in the mood for, this book is a fantastic choice. Kayla's initial infatuation with Alex is morphed in the early chapters into an agreed-upon platonic friendship, sprinkled with plenty of time together since Kayla's best friend and Alex's brother are getting married soon and they're the top tier of the wedding party & responsible for assorted wedding duties and a joint bachelor/bachelorette party. I appreciated how a small friend circle was mentioned several times as a reality for some people instead of a sign of an innate deficiency! The way this built from infatuation to genuine friends to more was fun to watch unfold, especially getting to know Alex better after his cool presence in the first book in this duology. -
Once upon a time, there was an author and she created a world. A world you could hold in your reader's hands and gush about so many different things. So many things. So many! But I am gonna just name 5 things because you have a life outside of my review.
1) The way Aspen Hadley writes about friendship is like the best kind of ice cream (sweet, something to cherish, and melts your heart)
2) me like quiet man and me like flirty, outspoken woman. Me talking like caveman because me stupid about their relationship.
3) favorite side character is the man who knows his treats and where do I find someone like him in my life?
4) The fact that fast cars are a fun thing in this book. Not just boy toys
5) and the joking date/proposals ughh!!! 💕 Love!
This gorgeous read comes out April 12th!!! And Aspen thank you for your wonderful gifted #arc. -
Aspen Hadley has a way with contemporary romance. She'll put these one line zingers in that make me pause, smile, usually giggle and think "that was a genius sentence!"
Just Enough Magic picks up where Just Enough Luck left off, so it would be a good idea to read that book before picking up this one (but both are 100% worth your time, so it's a gift and not an obligation). I felt for main character Kayla. Much of this book takes place while she's helping her BFF Lucy prepare for a wedding, and any girl who has ever lost a bestie to true love will understand the bittersweet heartache that entails. IYKYK.
Luckily, Alexander Drake was there to unwittingly step in and be a friend to Kayla instead of just her boss. This was a sweet and slightly slow romance with one "full steam ahead" character (Kayla) and one "you'll have to drag me along until I figure myself out" man (Alexander).
Also, the epilogue was adorable, so there's that!
