Dear Aaron

"Such a cute read. Typical MZ slow burn. Actually, the first 25% is slower than usual because they’re writing each other - but the build up and friendship is worth it. I was smiling through the whole book. "

"This book is sooo amazing! I absolutely love it. "

"Unique format for first half of book. Excellent character development and well told story."

"YO! F*CK THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! <P><img src="https://media1.giphy.com/media/4qx6IRdg26uZ3MTtRn/giphy.gif?cid=ecf05e47qx989ab9mbn7hth789oahhs2vlqlyqot2uvw4i8m&rid=giphy.gif&ct=g "/> <p> I have such a love/hate relationship to Mariana at this point, call us enemies-to-lovers-to-enemies if you will. <p> I fell into the Mariana rabbit hole after I read both Wall of Winnipeg and All Rhodes Lead Here and absolutely fell in love with BOTH of them. Five stars, and then I decided to read the rest of her blacklist. <p> <i> worst mistake of my life</i> <p> IT DOES NOT COMPUTE IN MY BRAIN HOW THE WOMAN WHO WROTE WINNIPEG AND RHODES ALSO WROTE THIS and Lukov. <p>(Yes, I also absolutely despise Lukov) <p> But I can LIVE WITH Lukov, <b>I CANNOT LIVE WITH DEAR AARON. </b> <p> <img src="https://media0.giphy.com/media/BgPz1edf5ByF2/giphy.gif?cid=ecf05e47ye1tb1d6wi7qsbl0cyvsn701o0q84p72lpkjhbju&rid=giphy.gif&ct=g"/> <p> THIS GOT ME ABSOLUTELY STRESSED THE F*CK OUT. <p> Okay, Okay, let's get on with this so I never have to think about this book <b> ever again.</b> <p> This is supposed to be a pen-pal romance. He is stationed somewhere in the army and she works for a company that assigns people to military men who are far away from home (so they won't feel as lonely and someone will check in with them weekly). Totally cool, right? <p> There is nothing I love more than texting and long distance slow-burns. I love the whole pen-pal trope and I thought: well this should be pretty easy to love... <p> <img src="https://media0.giphy.com/media/wYyTHMm50f4Dm/giphy.gif?cid=ecf05e47hixj38xb1w629pghknlh3zsktgaluaxjt0jyldd7&rid=giphy.gif&ct=g"/> <p> It took only 3 letters from her for me to want to <i>shoot </i>myself. Listen, if you love this book, I am deeply, deeply sorry. I just can't keep this inside me. It burns. <p> He doesn't reply to her first five letters because he is busy, so the first 20 pages are just: <i>Hey, checking in with you again. No worries if you can't respond, but I'd love to chat when you can. Heyyyy, sorry, don't mean to bother you, checking in again. Heyyyy, I hope this finds you well. It's okay if you can't respond, just checking in with you again... </i> when she finally gave up at the last letter I almost cried with relief...<p> but guess what HE DID????? HE RESPONDED. <p> <img src="https://media4.giphy.com/media/l1KVaj5UcbHwrBMqI/giphy.gif?cid=ecf05e478mtug0f89nogupvwnj8qn1nse4zdvd64j58xw9g8&rid=giphy.gif&ct=g"/> <p> It was like reading about two four year olds exchanging letters. She would make fart jokes, dad jokes and he would respond with: wow, you are so funny, you made me spit my coffee, no one makes me laugh like you do. <p> HOMIE I JUST THINK BEING IN THE ARMY without talking to women for so long has <b>seriously</b> affected you. <p> She literally shares in the earlier letters that the last army guy she was e-mailing sent her pictures of his and I QUOTE <B>"TRICK"</b> because this female main character is such a ******* prude that she can't even say DICK (she does it multiple times, she can't type the word dick because it would be too much) And once Aaron asks her, did you send anything back to him? Do you know WHAT SHE SAID? <p> THAT SHE DOESN'T SEND PICTURES OF HER <b> NO NO ZONES</b>. <p> <img src="https://media2.giphy.com/media/YFHXGaVjHL08w37ckz/giphy.gif?cid=ecf05e47zaskblqcpr3o9kpfhae5la88y5ibm8xv3053rs04&rid=giphy.gif&ct=g "/> <p> How in the WORLD am I supposed to cheer for these two characters to end up together and want to **** each other, when you both talk like the most pathetic/under developed adults I HAVE EVER SEEN? <p> She also is a NERDY GIRLLL and spends tons of e-mails talking about how she plays video-games, and watches lord of the rings, and plays world of warcraft. <p> SHE'S NOT LIKE OTHER GIRLS AND AARON HAS NEVER MET A GIRL WHO'S INTO VIDEO GAMES OK???? <p> <img src="https://media4.giphy.com/media/cV77C9t9lbKE/giphy.gif?cid=ecf05e4746dwjjrboay6dw9z6kx0jzkl8jco5fgc6ba9bze8&rid=giphy.gif&ct=g "/> <p> I've had video-game consoles since I was five and I know plenty of girls who did too. I've been playing MOBA and RPG games for YEARS. YOU'RE NOT SPECIAL. <p> Not to mention, she did it again. They talk about poops, shits, farts, burps, having someone piss on you... Mariana has this uncanny obsession with bodily fluids and I honestly CAN'T. I PHISICALLY CAN'T. <p> Romances are supposed to be sexy, even when they're wholesome. Mariana focused so so so so so hard on the wholesome that now I can read this to a newborn and they will probably have a great time. <p> NO CONNECTION, no chemistry, no sparks, nothing redeemable about the most boring characters I've ever read in my life. <p> Also why do ALL OF HER FEMALES FORGET TO CARRY THE MOST IMPORTANT THING: A PERSONALITY???? All of them are meek, and perfect, they are so good and caring and they don't have a single drop of darkness or duality or SEASONING. <P>I just can't stand reading about ANOTHER female who helps the elderly cross the sidewalk, and gives flowers to the old lady down the street, who never drinks and loves her family more than anything and has the personality of a ten year old boy. <p><img src="https://media3.giphy.com/media/1lAOemoi0KhPMzxczT/giphy.gif?cid=ecf05e47qsunnl3zy8d9fmdhwn4i1s0svnq6482f5dq4rcmt&rid=giphy.gif&ct=g "/><p> I want/<b>need</b> FLAWED FEMALES, REAL FEMALES. Who have trust issues, women who won't forgive everyone who hurts them because they don’t have some <b>******* snow white complex. </b> Women who are not constantly trying to be the “bigger person”. I want REAL WOMEN.<p> I really am beginning to think Mariana is a two hit wonder, I wish I enjoyed her other books. I guess two really GREAT ones is enough for a lifetime and I will give her that. <P> It just ****** me off because I know she can do better. Anyways, this is the end of my rant. The most boring book I have ever read in my life. I can finally move on. <p>Thank you for reading."

"<strong>Sugary sweet...some spoilers</strong><br/><br/>A nice cute read about a naive insecure girl and a man trying to prove himself by paving his own way and serve his country. They are paired through a pen pals for soldiers and over time become friends and more. I loved the concept and I loved the characters. However I felt as much as I live a good slow burn this is on the extreme end of slow burn and then we don’t really see any conclusion. Yes it is assumed they obv live together in the end and they plan on kids but are they married what did she end up doing with her aspirations? All in all the one sex scene is fairly well done but if you like a lot of heated exchanges this is not the book for you. But if you need a book that’s not too hard on the heart it’s a lovely sweet read."

"Very cute! "

"This book was so sweet. Mariana Zapata always does a great job of building believable characters. Can you say #slowburnromance #swoon "

"Slow burn romance"

"SLOW BURN but also one of my favorites by mariana zapata "

"Loved the writing in the book. Getting to read emails throughout the first half of the book is a different in the best way. Mariana Zapata is the best at slow burns. Loved it!"