It Must Be Love by Maya Alden follows Naya, a young woman who struggles with burn scars from a car accident. After years of hiding behind baggy clothes, she faces her insecurities and feelings for Amias, the male lead who initially downplays her worth. The plot explores themes of unrequited love, personal growth, and emotional turmoil as Naya overhears Amias saying hurtful things about her, challenging their casual relationship.

The writing style combines wit and intensity, inviting readers into Naya's painful yet beautiful journey. However, some readers felt the pacing was rushed, particularly towards the end, leaving unresolved plot points, such as Naya's brother and the evolution of her character. Despite this, many enjoyed the engaging characters and the absence of unnecessary drama, highlighting the strong character development and resilience of the heroine.

Characters:

Characters are well-developed, with a focus on personal growth, though some relationships and developments are inadequately explored.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is modern and engaging, combining humor with emotional depth, though it may feel rushed at times.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot involves themes of unrequited love and personal growth, but its resolution is quick and leaves some character arcs unfinished.

Setting:

The contemporary setting enhances the emotional and relational aspects of the story, making it relatable to readers.

Pacing:

The pacing of the story is quick, featuring time skips and a rushed ending that may leave readers wanting more depth.

Notes:

The main character, Naya, has burn scars from a car accident at age 18.

Naya's brother and sister-in-law made her feel ugly about her scars, leading her to avoid intimacy.

The story features a typical unrequited love plot.

The male character, Amias, initially underestimates Naya and is mean to her but eventually helps her accept herself.

Naya overhears Amias saying hurtful things about her to his friends, leading to a turning point in their relationship.

The book lacks significant character development for Naya's brother and their relationship feels unresolved by the end.

Readers appreciate the strong character development of both leads, especially Naya's growth.

Some readers felt the story was rushed and did not have a satisfying conclusion.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings for It Must Be Love include themes of trauma related to a car accident, body image issues, and familial conflicts, which may be distressing for some readers.

Has Romance?

The romance in It Must Be Love is a central focus, characterized by emotional intensity and personal conflict, leading to a strong romantic connection.

implied steam level

From The Publisher:

Can my love erase her scars? Even the ones that I caused…

She's my friend's sister and I know she's always had a crush on me. It makes me uncomfortable. When she came back to Boston to take care of her dying father, I made sure she had a job in my tech company.

According to her boss, she's an introverted software genius. According to my girlfriend, she's plain and boring. According to her brother, she has no social life and is damaged.

The worst part of the story? She overhears me say I think she has no curves, no fashion sense and was hired as a favor to her brother. All true at the time!

But when we are forced to work together on a project, her brilliance, resilience, and hidden depths challenge everything I thought I knew about myself and my feelings for her.

As barriers break and truths emerge, I'm on a mission not just to win her heart but to prove love can transcend past judgments and scars.

This book features:

✔️ He's her brother's best friend

✔️ He's the CEO of the company she works for

✔️ Another woman drama

✔️ She falls first, but he falls harder

✔️ Angst, drama, groveling

✔️ No cheating

It Must Be Love is a standalone billionaire forbidden romance that is A Modern Vintage Romance . It brings back the nostalgia of classic Harlequin and Mills & Boon romances, but with a modern twist. Meet alpha men who know how to wound and how to grovel. Meet strong women who know how to hold their own.

Ratings (2)

Incredible (1)
Liked It (1)

Reader Stats (2):

Read It (2)

What can you read after
It Must Be Love?

Meet New Books is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a way for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to products and services on amazon.com and its subsidiaries.
When you click the Amazon link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commision, at no cost to you.

It Must Be Love

Maya Alden