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Love Lines #2
Sweet Talk
Listening Length: 5 hours and 42 minutes
Stay up all night with this funny, surprising romantic comedy from Audie Award-nominee Cara Bastone — scripted exclusively for audio!
It’s officially booty o’clock, I’m alone again in my kitchen choking down a slice of terrible chocolate cake…and I’m pretty sure I just got drunk texted by the man I have a ginormous crush on.
I’ve been daydreaming about Eliot Hoffman’s dimples for two months, and even though I’m sure this was a mistake on his end, it doesn’t mean it’s not an opportunity on mine. It’s the middle of the night, and I just wanna talk to him. So I text him back.
And then somehow we keep talking…ALL NIGHT. We’re both insomniacs, so talking all night soon turns into talking EVERY night.
And talking about nothing soon turns into talking about something.
And here we go from in-depth analysis of reality TV to my relationship with my family to his amazing artwork. There’s no topic we don’t cover…
Except for who I really am. It’s the only question of his I won’t answer.
As my crush turns into an avalanche of Eliot, I think of him all the time now. But if he knew who I was, the entire house of cards we’ve built this relationship on would come toppling down. I want him to be mine, but we might never be more than just a sweet dream….
Stay up all night with this funny, surprising romantic comedy from Audie Award-nominee Cara Bastone — scripted exclusively for audio!
It’s officially booty o’clock, I’m alone again in my kitchen choking down a slice of terrible chocolate cake…and I’m pretty sure I just got drunk texted by the man I have a ginormous crush on.
I’ve been daydreaming about Eliot Hoffman’s dimples for two months, and even though I’m sure this was a mistake on his end, it doesn’t mean it’s not an opportunity on mine. It’s the middle of the night, and I just wanna talk to him. So I text him back.
And then somehow we keep talking…ALL NIGHT. We’re both insomniacs, so talking all night soon turns into talking EVERY night.
And talking about nothing soon turns into talking about something.
And here we go from in-depth analysis of reality TV to my relationship with my family to his amazing artwork. There’s no topic we don’t cover…
Except for who I really am. It’s the only question of his I won’t answer.
As my crush turns into an avalanche of Eliot, I think of him all the time now. But if he knew who I was, the entire house of cards we’ve built this relationship on would come toppling down. I want him to be mine, but we might never be more than just a sweet dream….
6 pages, Audible Audio
First published April 22, 2021
About the author
Cara Bastone
12 books2,540 followersHi, I’m Cara!
I’m a full time writer living and writing in Brooklyn with my husband, son, and an almost-goldendoodle. My goal with my work is to find the swoon in ordinary love stories.
I’ve been a fan of the romance genre since I found a grocery bag filled with my grandmother’s old Harlequin Romances when I was in high school. I’m a fangirl for pretzel sticks, long walks through Prospect Park, and love stories featuring men who aren’t crippled by their own masculinity.
I’m a full time writer living and writing in Brooklyn with my husband, son, and an almost-goldendoodle. My goal with my work is to find the swoon in ordinary love stories.
I’ve been a fan of the romance genre since I found a grocery bag filled with my grandmother’s old Harlequin Romances when I was in high school. I’m a fangirl for pretzel sticks, long walks through Prospect Park, and love stories featuring men who aren’t crippled by their own masculinity.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,514 reviews
July 3, 2021
4.5 stars
I really loved the first book in this series, but this one was even better! So much fun, so adorable, and legit the sweetest romance. The audio production is phenomenal and the story is great. Eliot is a cinnamon roll hero and Jessie is such a baddie. I loved them together. This was a great wrong number romance that I couldn’t get enough of! I definitely want to check out more from this author because I’m loving her books!
I really loved the first book in this series, but this one was even better! So much fun, so adorable, and legit the sweetest romance. The audio production is phenomenal and the story is great. Eliot is a cinnamon roll hero and Jessie is such a baddie. I loved them together. This was a great wrong number romance that I couldn’t get enough of! I definitely want to check out more from this author because I’m loving her books!
Audio book source: Audible Plus
Story Rating: 4.5 stars
Narrators: Lidia Dornet and Chris Brinkley
Narration Rating: 5 stars
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: 5h 42m
June 12, 2023
3.5 stars
I enjoyed this one a lot more than the previous book.
First of all, I really liked both characters. Especially Elliot. I'm not sure if someone that sweet and kind and forgiving exists in the real world, but I still loved him. More so because of some of the things we learn about him. And it was interesting to read about a female character like JD.
Second of all, I loved both narrators. They made the characters sound very real and believable. And I cannot express how much I enjoyed listening to Chris Brinkley's voice. So soothing.
Things I enjoyed less:
I enjoyed this one a lot more than the previous book.
First of all, I really liked both characters. Especially Elliot. I'm not sure if someone that sweet and kind and forgiving exists in the real world, but I still loved him. More so because of some of the things we learn about him. And it was interesting to read about a female character like JD.
Second of all, I loved both narrators. They made the characters sound very real and believable. And I cannot express how much I enjoyed listening to Chris Brinkley's voice. So soothing.
Things I enjoyed less:
October 12, 2021
So!!! Cute!!!
August 3, 2024
The absolute cutest! I was so happy for these two! 😭
I’m in love with these short stories Cara Bastone has created with Audible. The production for it is just a treat to the ears.
I’m in love with these short stories Cara Bastone has created with Audible. The production for it is just a treat to the ears.
October 9, 2021
Sweet Talk had me grinning from beginning to end, it was the perfect pick-me-up after a rough week and I’m so glad I gave this new-to-me author a try. The plot basically involves a wrong number and a not-so-unlikely romance between two insomniacs… That’s all I’ll say because you’ll definitely want to delve into the 'mystery' yourself!
♡ Characters ♡
The Heroine (whose name I won’t refer to ‘cause it’s a little spoiler-y) and Eliot, were so lovable. I won’t say much about The Heroine, other than that she’s incredibly loyal and strong, and her confidence was just so damn cool.
And Eliot!! He was definitely the highlight of the story for me. Eliot was such an interesting hero and I mean, actually interesting. If you need a break from perfectly chiseled man-whores with their obnoxiously extravagant lifestyles, Eliot is totally for you. He felt like a real guy – he didn’t always say the perfect things, and he was kind of (adorably) dorky but he captured my heart with his own unique charm!
♡ The Romance ♡
The romance between Eliot and the heroine was incredibly sweet. The friends to lovers aspect was seamless and one of the best I've read in a while. Everything just flowed so easily between them... even the moments when Eliot said some pretty embarrassing things. I wasn’t exaggerating when I said I couldn’t stop grinning, I genuinely loved every single one of their interactions.
♡ Other thoughts ♡
One thing I was surprised about, was how easily I could relate to Eliot. I rarely ever find myself relating to heroes, so this was really nice. I love how vulnerable and reflective he was… The moment he self-consciously told the heroine he looked nothing like Dwyane ‘The Rock’ Johnson only made me love him more. I just wish there were more heroes like him...
If you’re in the mood for a sweet, feel-good romance with the cutest cinnamon roll hero… you might want to give this book a try!
Note: If you have access to the audiobook version, it’s pretty much perfect.
Extra note: This is book 2 and can be read as a standalone as I have done.
Final note: Should probably mention this is a clean romance too. Sorry to all the smut lovers.
Rating: 4.5/5
♡ Characters ♡
The Heroine (whose name I won’t refer to ‘cause it’s a little spoiler-y) and Eliot, were so lovable. I won’t say much about The Heroine, other than that she’s incredibly loyal and strong, and her confidence was just so damn cool.
And Eliot!! He was definitely the highlight of the story for me. Eliot was such an interesting hero and I mean, actually interesting. If you need a break from perfectly chiseled man-whores with their obnoxiously extravagant lifestyles, Eliot is totally for you. He felt like a real guy – he didn’t always say the perfect things, and he was kind of (adorably) dorky but he captured my heart with his own unique charm!
♡ The Romance ♡
The romance between Eliot and the heroine was incredibly sweet. The friends to lovers aspect was seamless and one of the best I've read in a while. Everything just flowed so easily between them... even the moments when Eliot said some pretty embarrassing things. I wasn’t exaggerating when I said I couldn’t stop grinning, I genuinely loved every single one of their interactions.
♡ Other thoughts ♡
One thing I was surprised about, was how easily I could relate to Eliot. I rarely ever find myself relating to heroes, so this was really nice. I love how vulnerable and reflective he was… The moment he self-consciously told the heroine he looked nothing like Dwyane ‘The Rock’ Johnson only made me love him more. I just wish there were more heroes like him...
If you’re in the mood for a sweet, feel-good romance with the cutest cinnamon roll hero… you might want to give this book a try!
Note: If you have access to the audiobook version, it’s pretty much perfect.
Extra note: This is book 2 and can be read as a standalone as I have done.
Final note: Should probably mention this is a clean romance too. Sorry to all the smut lovers.
Rating: 4.5/5
October 16, 2021
This one has to be done in Audiobook format!
The following ratings are out of 5:
Narration: 🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧
Romance: 💋💋💋💋💋
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙📒
World building: 🌎🌍🌏🌎
Character development: 👩🏻🧑🏼🦱👩🏻🦱👱🏻♂️🦸🏼♂️
The heroine: J.D. - grew up in New York with her father and brother. She boxes at the local gym, rides a motorcycle and has a bunch of Tattoos. She take care of her father who is sick and recently had to move into assisted living or a nursing home. She has a crush on Elliot and has for a while.
The Hero(es): Elliot - a handsome, intelligent man who is clean cut, keeps his apartment in order and sees himself as a pretty big nerd. He is very nice, treats people with respect and loves his younger sister.
The Story: Elliot is suffering from insomnia and late one night when he tries to text his sister to see if she is still up, he accidentally sends the text to J.D. She answers back since she also doesn’t sleep much and from there they start texting back and forth. Elliot has a few learning disabilities and doesn’t like to text much so he changes things up and calls J.D. He doesn’t know who she is since he had her in his phone contacts as a bunch of unrelated characters. Though he calls her J.D. because those characters were in there.
This was probably the best audiobook I have listened to thus far. It was dual narration done by Chris Brinkley and Lidia Dornet and they couldn’t have been more perfect for these two characters. J.D. is wicked cool and has a great New York accent and Elliot is self depreciating, intelligent and a gentleman.
The majority of the book was them talking on the phone and so the audiobook format was absolutely perfect for it. It was much more like acting than just reading the narration. Also there were sound effects like when they were walking outside you could hear outside background noises or when they were inside and someone knocked on the door or something like that you could hear it.
This book was all romance and two people falling for each other while each learned more about the other, including things they never told anyone else. It wasn’t steamy at all and I didn’t mind whatsoever. I think that would have actually wrecked the vibe. I really liked both of these characters and I loved listening in on their phone conversations.
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The following ratings are out of 5:
Narration: 🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧
Romance: 💋💋💋💋💋
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙📒
World building: 🌎🌍🌏🌎
Character development: 👩🏻🧑🏼🦱👩🏻🦱👱🏻♂️🦸🏼♂️
The heroine: J.D. - grew up in New York with her father and brother. She boxes at the local gym, rides a motorcycle and has a bunch of Tattoos. She take care of her father who is sick and recently had to move into assisted living or a nursing home. She has a crush on Elliot and has for a while.
The Hero(es): Elliot - a handsome, intelligent man who is clean cut, keeps his apartment in order and sees himself as a pretty big nerd. He is very nice, treats people with respect and loves his younger sister.
The Story: Elliot is suffering from insomnia and late one night when he tries to text his sister to see if she is still up, he accidentally sends the text to J.D. She answers back since she also doesn’t sleep much and from there they start texting back and forth. Elliot has a few learning disabilities and doesn’t like to text much so he changes things up and calls J.D. He doesn’t know who she is since he had her in his phone contacts as a bunch of unrelated characters. Though he calls her J.D. because those characters were in there.
This was probably the best audiobook I have listened to thus far. It was dual narration done by Chris Brinkley and Lidia Dornet and they couldn’t have been more perfect for these two characters. J.D. is wicked cool and has a great New York accent and Elliot is self depreciating, intelligent and a gentleman.
The majority of the book was them talking on the phone and so the audiobook format was absolutely perfect for it. It was much more like acting than just reading the narration. Also there were sound effects like when they were walking outside you could hear outside background noises or when they were inside and someone knocked on the door or something like that you could hear it.
This book was all romance and two people falling for each other while each learned more about the other, including things they never told anyone else. It wasn’t steamy at all and I didn’t mind whatsoever. I think that would have actually wrecked the vibe. I really liked both of these characters and I loved listening in on their phone conversations.
Blog|Goodreads|Facebook|Instagram|Twitter|BookBub
May 15, 2021
Only one kiss...and I was still satisfied
Holy Shamoly!! That was bloody awesome!!
I am loving Cara Bastone and her Love Lines series. I was completely engaged and listened with a big goofy smile on my face. Narrators, Lidia Dornet and Chris Brinkley do a marvellous job of bringing the characters to life. The storyline was captivating and I loved the originality and quirkiness of the characters. I admit that I'm a bit of a doofus for not realising until halfway through (or maybe even later) that I knew Eliot. Even worse, I didn't realise that it was a series (slaps palm to my forehead) until I started typing this review.
This story has a slightly dorky hero who you can't help falling in love with, and a heroine carrying the world on her shoulders. They are an unlikely couple who form a friendship that grows stronger every day. But, he doesn't know who she is, and she doesn't want him to know that he's been her secret crush.
What follows is a sweet and funny story that swelled my heart with joy and left me smiling like a loon.
If you are a fan of audiobooks and enjoy listening to a dual narration, I suggest giving Sweet Talk, and the Love Lines series a try. It is a clean story but I love it even more because of it. The storyline and narration are enough without it, which is very unusual for me. I will definitely be listening to more in this series, and if Cara Bastone sees this review ... PLEASE WRITE QUICKLY!!
Holy Shamoly!! That was bloody awesome!!
I am loving Cara Bastone and her Love Lines series. I was completely engaged and listened with a big goofy smile on my face. Narrators, Lidia Dornet and Chris Brinkley do a marvellous job of bringing the characters to life. The storyline was captivating and I loved the originality and quirkiness of the characters. I admit that I'm a bit of a doofus for not realising until halfway through (or maybe even later) that I knew Eliot. Even worse, I didn't realise that it was a series (slaps palm to my forehead) until I started typing this review.
This story has a slightly dorky hero who you can't help falling in love with, and a heroine carrying the world on her shoulders. They are an unlikely couple who form a friendship that grows stronger every day. But, he doesn't know who she is, and she doesn't want him to know that he's been her secret crush.
What follows is a sweet and funny story that swelled my heart with joy and left me smiling like a loon.
If you are a fan of audiobooks and enjoy listening to a dual narration, I suggest giving Sweet Talk, and the Love Lines series a try. It is a clean story but I love it even more because of it. The storyline and narration are enough without it, which is very unusual for me. I will definitely be listening to more in this series, and if Cara Bastone sees this review ... PLEASE WRITE QUICKLY!!
April 25, 2021
4.5/5
You all know I'm a self-proclaimed Cara Bastone fangirl. I love her works so much and she continues to impress me with her sheer talent. I couldn't wait to dive into the audiobook of Sweet Talk. Last year, Call Me Maybe, the first book in this series, charmed my pants off. I had high hopes going into Sweet Talk and as always, Cara delivered for me.
This is a story of a drunk text gone wrong (or right??) which ends up bringing together two people who otherwise may never have gotten together. Both Eliot and Jessie are night owls who struggle with insomnia, so they wind up texting each other, watching TV shows together, and this soon transitions into phone calls. Jessie happens to know exactly who Eliot is (and even has a crush on him) but she keeps him guessing as to her identity because she doesn't think she is his type. What starts off as a playful friendship soon develops into flirtatious banter which then evolves into a much deeper relationship. While, for the most part, the first book remained heavy on the light and fluffy side, Sweet Talk dives a little deeper into some heavier topics. If you've read Cara Bastone's Forever Yours series, the tone here is very similar to the tone there. The author is very skilled at balancing the heavier themes with lighthearted moments and she handles everything with care, so it's an absolute treat to listen to even though your heart is heavy at times.
I loved both Jessie and Eliot. They both have charming personalities. Jessie, with her combat boots-wearing badass exterior, but soft and vulnerable interior, is a joy to get to know throughout Sweet Talk. I feel like my love for her only grew more and more as the story progressed. While Cara's characterization is definitely why Jessie was a fantastic character, Lidia Dornet's narration also is to be commended. Without Lidia, there would be no Jessie. Her voice embodies Jessie's characteristics and she does a beautiful job at showing all the nuances of Jessie's personality through voice modulation. She especially nails Jessie's sadder moments. One thing I really liked Jessie is her relationship with her father. They share a loving bond and she clearly looks up to him and wants to make him proud. She's also grappling with the grief of his impending death from cancer. It's a lot of burden on someone so young so my heart ached for her. She's very strong though but Eliot teaches her that it's okay to be vulnerable.
Eliot is an equally endearing character and I couldn't have imagined a better fit for Jessie. He is a sweet, slightly nerdy man with a big heart. If you listened to Call Me Maybe, you may remember him as Vera's brother. I already liked him a lot there and he somehow only got more lovable here. I loved hearing him nerd out over his uber-popular webcomic, but most of all I liked how kind and attentive he is. Once again, I think the Audible team nailed it with the voice casting for Eliot. Chris Brinkley has a fun and soothing voice, exactly how I imagine Eliot's voice to be, and he absolutely brings Eliot's boyish charms to life.
The chemistry between Jessie and Eliot is palpable from the very beginning. It's hard not to be entirely wooed by these two and I promise, they will leave your heart feeling 1000% lighter and with a gigantic grin on your face. I love how Cara Bastone writes romantic relationships. There's something very real about them and ugh, guys, they just make me swoon so hard. Jessie and Eliot are definitely one of my top OTPs. I will be melting into a puddle of goo every time I think about them and I will be screaming about them to everyone at the top of my lungs. Also, this book has one of THE BEST couple conflict resolution at the end. Be prepared to gush nonstop - you've been warned!
Final thoughts: Sweet Talk was incredible. Not only is the story itself charming, full of life, and exceptionally romantic, but the audiobook production itself is a work of art. The excellent narration, the chemistry between the narrators, and the use of fun sounds such as incoming text pings and background noise, all make for a memorable listening experience. I can't recommend Sweet Talk enough.
CWs: robbery, use of a gun on the hero by an intruder, parent dying of cancer
Relationship disclosure: Cara Bastone and I are mutuals on social media.
You all know I'm a self-proclaimed Cara Bastone fangirl. I love her works so much and she continues to impress me with her sheer talent. I couldn't wait to dive into the audiobook of Sweet Talk. Last year, Call Me Maybe, the first book in this series, charmed my pants off. I had high hopes going into Sweet Talk and as always, Cara delivered for me.
This is a story of a drunk text gone wrong (or right??) which ends up bringing together two people who otherwise may never have gotten together. Both Eliot and Jessie are night owls who struggle with insomnia, so they wind up texting each other, watching TV shows together, and this soon transitions into phone calls. Jessie happens to know exactly who Eliot is (and even has a crush on him) but she keeps him guessing as to her identity because she doesn't think she is his type. What starts off as a playful friendship soon develops into flirtatious banter which then evolves into a much deeper relationship. While, for the most part, the first book remained heavy on the light and fluffy side, Sweet Talk dives a little deeper into some heavier topics. If you've read Cara Bastone's Forever Yours series, the tone here is very similar to the tone there. The author is very skilled at balancing the heavier themes with lighthearted moments and she handles everything with care, so it's an absolute treat to listen to even though your heart is heavy at times.
I loved both Jessie and Eliot. They both have charming personalities. Jessie, with her combat boots-wearing badass exterior, but soft and vulnerable interior, is a joy to get to know throughout Sweet Talk. I feel like my love for her only grew more and more as the story progressed. While Cara's characterization is definitely why Jessie was a fantastic character, Lidia Dornet's narration also is to be commended. Without Lidia, there would be no Jessie. Her voice embodies Jessie's characteristics and she does a beautiful job at showing all the nuances of Jessie's personality through voice modulation. She especially nails Jessie's sadder moments. One thing I really liked Jessie is her relationship with her father. They share a loving bond and she clearly looks up to him and wants to make him proud. She's also grappling with the grief of his impending death from cancer. It's a lot of burden on someone so young so my heart ached for her. She's very strong though but Eliot teaches her that it's okay to be vulnerable.
Eliot is an equally endearing character and I couldn't have imagined a better fit for Jessie. He is a sweet, slightly nerdy man with a big heart. If you listened to Call Me Maybe, you may remember him as Vera's brother. I already liked him a lot there and he somehow only got more lovable here. I loved hearing him nerd out over his uber-popular webcomic, but most of all I liked how kind and attentive he is. Once again, I think the Audible team nailed it with the voice casting for Eliot. Chris Brinkley has a fun and soothing voice, exactly how I imagine Eliot's voice to be, and he absolutely brings Eliot's boyish charms to life.
The chemistry between Jessie and Eliot is palpable from the very beginning. It's hard not to be entirely wooed by these two and I promise, they will leave your heart feeling 1000% lighter and with a gigantic grin on your face. I love how Cara Bastone writes romantic relationships. There's something very real about them and ugh, guys, they just make me swoon so hard. Jessie and Eliot are definitely one of my top OTPs. I will be melting into a puddle of goo every time I think about them and I will be screaming about them to everyone at the top of my lungs. Also, this book has one of THE BEST couple conflict resolution at the end. Be prepared to gush nonstop - you've been warned!
Final thoughts: Sweet Talk was incredible. Not only is the story itself charming, full of life, and exceptionally romantic, but the audiobook production itself is a work of art. The excellent narration, the chemistry between the narrators, and the use of fun sounds such as incoming text pings and background noise, all make for a memorable listening experience. I can't recommend Sweet Talk enough.
CWs: robbery, use of a gun on the hero by an intruder, parent dying of cancer
Relationship disclosure: Cara Bastone and I are mutuals on social media.
August 30, 2024
Another adorable one for the series
This was a bit more emotional and I didn’t love all the lying, but I guess they made sense in the end. Super cute and well done audiobook. Tough girl/ soft guy is a great combo that we don’t see much of. This author does a great job showing different , non toxic kinds of heroes. This one had an epilogue which I appreciated. I might bump it to five because it made me happy. The connection wasn’t quite as good as the previous book though. Too much avoiding attachment on her part.
This was a bit more emotional and I didn’t love all the lying, but I guess they made sense in the end. Super cute and well done audiobook. Tough girl/ soft guy is a great combo that we don’t see much of. This author does a great job showing different , non toxic kinds of heroes. This one had an epilogue which I appreciated. I might bump it to five because it made me happy. The connection wasn’t quite as good as the previous book though. Too much avoiding attachment on her part.
October 8, 2024
It's about the brother of the fmc from the 1st book.
They start talking through texts and a wrong number situation.
The mmc is an adorable man with ADHD!
The fmc is an independent woman.
Fun story, love the audio.
They start talking through texts and a wrong number situation.
The mmc is an adorable man with ADHD!
The fmc is an independent woman.
Fun story, love the audio.
February 17, 2022
I loved Call Me Maybe (Book 1) last year, so I was happy to try Book 2. This story isn't as funny Book 1, but it's still pretty entertaining. The characters are quirky, witty, and vulnerable. They each have issues they're trying to overcome, so there as a lot more depth to this story.
Same as Book 1, the audio performance is fantastic. It's like listening to a play. The narrators for this book are different from Book 1, but they did a great job bringing the story to life.
Should you listen to Book 1 before this one? You don't need to, but it'd be helpful if you want to know the background on Vera and Cal's relationship. Of course, I really liked Book 1 so I say don't skip it 😁.
This is my second book by this author, and now I'm looking forward to catching up on her other books. I really enjoy her fun and witty writing style.
Same as Book 1, the audio performance is fantastic. It's like listening to a play. The narrators for this book are different from Book 1, but they did a great job bringing the story to life.
Should you listen to Book 1 before this one? You don't need to, but it'd be helpful if you want to know the background on Vera and Cal's relationship. Of course, I really liked Book 1 so I say don't skip it 😁.
This is my second book by this author, and now I'm looking forward to catching up on her other books. I really enjoy her fun and witty writing style.
May 2, 2024
3,5 ⭐
Awwww that one was sooo cuuuteee. I like it more than the first one even. Jessie and Elliot are the cutest ever! ❤️🩹❤️🩹
Awwww that one was sooo cuuuteee. I like it more than the first one even. Jessie and Elliot are the cutest ever! ❤️🩹❤️🩹
August 22, 2022
2021 Spring Bingo (#SpringIntoLoveBingo🌷): Favorite Trope
Content Notes:
SWEET TALK is... surprising. I loved CALL ME MAYBE (featuring Eliot’s sister Vera and his best friend Cal) and expected the sequel to have a similar light/fluffy tone.
It does not. It really does not. Don’t get me wrong — the first half is laugh-out-loud shenanigans as Eliot and Jessie send each other flirty voice memos. But as the reader starts to understand why Jessie can’t reveal her identity to Eliot, the tone shifts darker and tips over into angst territory (not a lot, but enough so that it felt different from CALL ME MAYBE). It’s difficult to review SWEET TALK because what I really want to talk about are gigantic spoilers (so I won’t talk about it, alas). I did include the darker themes in the spoilery CWs, if you’re curious or in need of advance warning.
I love, love, love the relationship between Eliot and Jessie. I have cartoonish heart eyes when I think about them. 😍 Eliot’s dyslexia and learning disabilities are beautifully handled, and I adored his artistic hobby (especially the grand gesture toward the end!). He’s a sensitive, considerate, golden retriever of a hero and perfectly paired with Jessie. She’s been crushing on him for months and her vulnerable interior is masked by a badass/competent front.
What I didn’t like: I’m still thinking over the ending. I have no idea how to feel (it’s not about the romance, it’s about something unrelated to the main couple). This is not a good critique because I just have a bunch of question marks about how this subplot was resolved. My issue isn’t even about the end result, but more... how did it happen so fast? I needed more relationship time after the Big Tense Confession (it ends super abruptly, even with an epilogue). So... I don’t know. Lolsob. I’m curious to see what others think.
I’m still four-starring SWEET TALK because the central romance is wonderful and the audiobook production is A+. Seriously, kudos to whoever casted SWEET TALK because I love the narrators Lidia Dornet and Chris Brinkley. I know there’s one book left in the series, and I hope it’s about Jessie’s friend Tasha (host of a relationship advice podcast!). I have a pretty good radar for these things, so let’s see if I’m right. 😅
Read via audio (narrated by Lidia Dornet and Chris Brinkley).
Disclaimer: I received a free audiobook from the publisher (Audible) in exchange for an honest review.
Content Notes:
SWEET TALK is... surprising. I loved CALL ME MAYBE (featuring Eliot’s sister Vera and his best friend Cal) and expected the sequel to have a similar light/fluffy tone.
It does not. It really does not. Don’t get me wrong — the first half is laugh-out-loud shenanigans as Eliot and Jessie send each other flirty voice memos. But as the reader starts to understand why Jessie can’t reveal her identity to Eliot, the tone shifts darker and tips over into angst territory (not a lot, but enough so that it felt different from CALL ME MAYBE). It’s difficult to review SWEET TALK because what I really want to talk about are gigantic spoilers (so I won’t talk about it, alas). I did include the darker themes in the spoilery CWs, if you’re curious or in need of advance warning.
I love, love, love the relationship between Eliot and Jessie. I have cartoonish heart eyes when I think about them. 😍 Eliot’s dyslexia and learning disabilities are beautifully handled, and I adored his artistic hobby (especially the grand gesture toward the end!). He’s a sensitive, considerate, golden retriever of a hero and perfectly paired with Jessie. She’s been crushing on him for months and her vulnerable interior is masked by a badass/competent front.
What I didn’t like: I’m still thinking over the ending. I have no idea how to feel (it’s not about the romance, it’s about something unrelated to the main couple). This is not a good critique because I just have a bunch of question marks about how this subplot was resolved. My issue isn’t even about the end result, but more... how did it happen so fast? I needed more relationship time after the Big Tense Confession (it ends super abruptly, even with an epilogue). So... I don’t know. Lolsob. I’m curious to see what others think.
I’m still four-starring SWEET TALK because the central romance is wonderful and the audiobook production is A+. Seriously, kudos to whoever casted SWEET TALK because I love the narrators Lidia Dornet and Chris Brinkley. I know there’s one book left in the series, and I hope it’s about Jessie’s friend Tasha (host of a relationship advice podcast!). I have a pretty good radar for these things, so let’s see if I’m right. 😅
Read via audio (narrated by Lidia Dornet and Chris Brinkley).
Disclaimer: I received a free audiobook from the publisher (Audible) in exchange for an honest review.
July 15, 2022
Reread 7/2022
5⭐️
The heroine's identity was blaringly obvious from the start, I was just really dumb the first time I listened to this audiobook 🤦🏻♀️
~~~~~~~~~
4.5⭐️
This had no reason being this good 😩
✨ Wrong-number/ texting plot
✨ Hero is dyslexic, very much a cinnamon roll, nerdy, maybe neurodiverse? (not explicitly stated)
✨ Heroine's identity is a secret from hero, but she's badass and tough-looking, ie. tattoos, piercings, muscles
H has met h before, saved her number but not her name, so he doesn’t know who she is, but she does know who he is. The plot twist was AMAZING, the tie-in storyline to book 1 was IMMACULATE, and I am IN LOVE.
I need to get into Bastone’s backlist!
5⭐️
The heroine's identity was blaringly obvious from the start, I was just really dumb the first time I listened to this audiobook 🤦🏻♀️
~~~~~~~~~
4.5⭐️
This had no reason being this good 😩
✨ Wrong-number/ texting plot
✨ Hero is dyslexic, very much a cinnamon roll, nerdy, maybe neurodiverse? (not explicitly stated)
✨ Heroine's identity is a secret from hero, but she's badass and tough-looking, ie. tattoos, piercings, muscles
H has met h before, saved her number but not her name, so he doesn’t know who she is, but she does know who he is. The plot twist was AMAZING, the tie-in storyline to book 1 was IMMACULATE, and I am IN LOVE.
I need to get into Bastone’s backlist!
August 30, 2024
Not as cute as the first one but still cute 🥰
October 25, 2023
Oh I just adored this audio! I love everything Cara Bastone touches. It was a throwback to Call Me Maybe, and i loved seeing those stories intertwine! This one was sweet and fun! Simply loved it!
October 10, 2024
Eliot Hoffman hasn't been able to sleep for the past few months.
He keeps waking up at a certain time each night, and he can't seem to fall back asleep.
After another sleepless night, he sends out a late night text.
Apparently to the wrong person, he keeps texting her because he feels a connection.
J.D. knew the text wasn't meant for her.
She knew she shouldn't respond because of who she is and her brother, but she did. Continuing to text him without revealing who she is.
A late night text links the two of them as their feelings for each other grow deeper as they become closer and closer.
------------------
I have mixed feelings about this book. At first, I enjoyed it, but as the minor plot slowly revealed itself, it ruined the book for me.
The description of this book sounded like something I would enjoy.
A late night text from an acquaintance results in a romance. But the minor plot made me so uncomfortable.
It wasn't the only thing I didn't like about this book. The power dynamics between the two were slightly unbalanced.
What made me deeply uncomfortable was the minor plot.
Honestly, if I knew about the minor plot, I wouldn't have picked this audiobook up.
I expected a sweet romcom, and it was until that reveal which soured the whole thing for me because of how unethical the romance was.
He keeps waking up at a certain time each night, and he can't seem to fall back asleep.
After another sleepless night, he sends out a late night text.
Apparently to the wrong person, he keeps texting her because he feels a connection.
J.D. knew the text wasn't meant for her.
She knew she shouldn't respond because of who she is and her brother, but she did. Continuing to text him without revealing who she is.
A late night text links the two of them as their feelings for each other grow deeper as they become closer and closer.
------------------
I have mixed feelings about this book. At first, I enjoyed it, but as the minor plot slowly revealed itself, it ruined the book for me.
The description of this book sounded like something I would enjoy.
A late night text from an acquaintance results in a romance. But the minor plot made me so uncomfortable.
It wasn't the only thing I didn't like about this book. The power dynamics between the two were slightly unbalanced.
What made me deeply uncomfortable was the minor plot.
Honestly, if I knew about the minor plot, I wouldn't have picked this audiobook up.
I expected a sweet romcom, and it was until that reveal which soured the whole thing for me because of how unethical the romance was.
February 28, 2022
This is second in an audible production and happens more-or-less concurrent with the first. There's a scene that plays in both, just from the perspective of the different siblings (Eliot is Vera's brother). You really don't need to read them in order, but it does enhance the experience somewhat knowing Vera's story while experiencing this one.
This was unexpected in a lot of ways. Not least is that the power dynamic is opposite to how it usually is when one character knows the other's identity. Jessie knows full-well who she's texting, but Eliot does not. She's up front about it, so they both know that he doesn't know and she does, and I really liked how that plays out in the story. Not least because they're both such fundamentally kind people and Eliot wears that on his sleeve while Jessie keeps her heart buried under her, deliberately, rough exterior.
Indeed, as funny as their interactions are, it doesn't obscure the heart of tragedy the story contains. Eliot is having a hard time coping with the trauma of a robbery in his home and that's providing him sleepless nights and a lot of inner turmoil. And I loved that he doesn't just get over it and that he really is the cinnamon roll he projects. He's kind and gentle and struggling with a cultural expectation of "manning up" that he can mostly handle, but not without a bit of identity crisis.
And I loved Jessie's care for him, even if it is from afar. She engages with him, knowing that their differences are only really external, taking the opportunity to show a side of herself she otherwise keeps deeply hidden. So she inverts the power position she is in (by knowing his identity without him knowing hers) by using it to be vulnerable because deep down, she knows she is a caretaker at heart and struggling in her own way to be true to herself.
And I even came to appreciate the secret she harbors. It's a huge coincidence that turns out not to be coincidence at all and is a dagger pointed at the heart of their burgeoning relationship. I loved how that played out, too, and Jessie's coming to terms with her screwed up family was more powerful than I had expected.
I keep wanting to find an excuse to downgrade this to four stars, but I have no idea why. So five stars it is. I thoroughly enjoyed the story. The characters were interesting and I've come to really like the audio choice where each narrator voices their own character's dialogue even when it isn't their PoV. It works so well because it means the voice and tone are consistent regardless of which PoV currently has the narration.
A note about Chaste: Their relationship happens while they're separated by phone. So they gain emotional intimacy before Eliot learns who Jessie really is. So there isn't really any point where they can engage in sexy times. And that worked very well for this story.
This was unexpected in a lot of ways. Not least is that the power dynamic is opposite to how it usually is when one character knows the other's identity. Jessie knows full-well who she's texting, but Eliot does not. She's up front about it, so they both know that he doesn't know and she does, and I really liked how that plays out in the story. Not least because they're both such fundamentally kind people and Eliot wears that on his sleeve while Jessie keeps her heart buried under her, deliberately, rough exterior.
Indeed, as funny as their interactions are, it doesn't obscure the heart of tragedy the story contains. Eliot is having a hard time coping with the trauma of a robbery in his home and that's providing him sleepless nights and a lot of inner turmoil. And I loved that he doesn't just get over it and that he really is the cinnamon roll he projects. He's kind and gentle and struggling with a cultural expectation of "manning up" that he can mostly handle, but not without a bit of identity crisis.
And I loved Jessie's care for him, even if it is from afar. She engages with him, knowing that their differences are only really external, taking the opportunity to show a side of herself she otherwise keeps deeply hidden. So she inverts the power position she is in (by knowing his identity without him knowing hers) by using it to be vulnerable because deep down, she knows she is a caretaker at heart and struggling in her own way to be true to herself.
And I even came to appreciate the secret she harbors. It's a huge coincidence that turns out not to be coincidence at all and is a dagger pointed at the heart of their burgeoning relationship. I loved how that played out, too, and Jessie's coming to terms with her screwed up family was more powerful than I had expected.
I keep wanting to find an excuse to downgrade this to four stars, but I have no idea why. So five stars it is. I thoroughly enjoyed the story. The characters were interesting and I've come to really like the audio choice where each narrator voices their own character's dialogue even when it isn't their PoV. It works so well because it means the voice and tone are consistent regardless of which PoV currently has the narration.
A note about Chaste: Their relationship happens while they're separated by phone. So they gain emotional intimacy before Eliot learns who Jessie really is. So there isn't really any point where they can engage in sexy times. And that worked very well for this story.
April 22, 2021
I can’t believe that my dumbass didn’t see the plot twist coming. 💀😩
Anyways, Sweet Talk was such an adorable read and I can’t wait for the next book in the series. I shall binge-read Bastone’s backlist while I wait!
Anyways, Sweet Talk was such an adorable read and I can’t wait for the next book in the series. I shall binge-read Bastone’s backlist while I wait!
March 10, 2022
A slow read, that definitely wasn’t for me! I need more than one kiss and a few phone calls to feel the romance. When Jessie receives a late night text from a number, she knows exactly who it is. She has been dreaming of him ever since they met. He's kind, charming, and handsome...
*record scratch*
Except Eliot doesn't know who he is texting... He unfortunately saved her number under random letters and accidentally texted her instead of his intended booty call. Deciding to talk over the phone, they realize they share multiple similarities. They are both insomniacs and love baking shows. Finding comfort in each other, they become secret friends, without truly knowing each other's identity. If Eliot were to discover who Jessie was, he might never want to talk to her again. Without realizing it, Eliot is slowly falling in love with the woman behind the late night phone calls," JD" (Jessie). Is she the cute bartender down the street? One of his sister's friends? Or could she be right under his nose without even knowing? The only option they have is to learn to trust and love.
tropes: strangers to friends to lovers, clean romance, disability rep (dyslexia), and reverse grumpy sunshine
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my opinion.
*record scratch*
Except Eliot doesn't know who he is texting... He unfortunately saved her number under random letters and accidentally texted her instead of his intended booty call. Deciding to talk over the phone, they realize they share multiple similarities. They are both insomniacs and love baking shows. Finding comfort in each other, they become secret friends, without truly knowing each other's identity. If Eliot were to discover who Jessie was, he might never want to talk to her again. Without realizing it, Eliot is slowly falling in love with the woman behind the late night phone calls," JD" (Jessie). Is she the cute bartender down the street? One of his sister's friends? Or could she be right under his nose without even knowing? The only option they have is to learn to trust and love.
tropes: strangers to friends to lovers, clean romance, disability rep (dyslexia), and reverse grumpy sunshine
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my opinion.
December 13, 2021
1.25 stars ☆
that's it. I'm taking a break from reading.
that's it. I'm taking a break from reading.
November 12, 2021
This was a lovely surprise!
Super cute, clean romance.
Book 1 and 2 are free on audible, and can be read as stand alone's.
Super cute, clean romance.
Book 1 and 2 are free on audible, and can be read as stand alone's.
May 18, 2022
I listened the audiobook. 😊
February 6, 2022
*** 3.44 ***
Another very adorable and candy-sweet short rom-com, totally worth the time to read and enjoy as a pallet cleanser:) 😃👍👍🏼
Another very adorable and candy-sweet short rom-com, totally worth the time to read and enjoy as a pallet cleanser:) 😃👍👍🏼
November 4, 2024
2.5 ⭐️ Eh, it was okay. Just not my cup of tea so this rating has more to do with personal preferences.
WHAT TO EXPECT:
✨ contemporary rom-com
✨ NYC setting
✨ she's the supervisor for an apartment building
✨ he's a tenant in her building
✨ wrong number
✨ hidden identity
✨ texting/phone call friendship
✨ friends to lovers
✨ fun banter
✨ TW: PTSD, robbery with a gun, family with addiction issues, terminally ill parent
My Thoughts:
Ready or Not by Cara Bastone is one of my favorite rom-coms of all time. And since a few of her earlier books are free with my Audible subscription, I thought I'd give them a go. Unfortunately, Sweet Talk was not for me.
While I didn't really love the story, it was sweet. Elliot is so cute but too innocent and 'hot but doesn't know it' for my taste. And Jessie is supportive of those in her life, but also too lenient when it comes to her addict brother. Their phone call and text interactions were entertaining at times, but also frustrating since this is for the entire story. I am glad though that in the end, Jessie's reason for not wanting to share her identity makes sense.
I also wasn't a huge fan of the narrators. I'm writing this review a few days after listening and I honestly don't remember why I made a note of this but I did. Sorry I can't give specifics about what I didn't like.
WHAT TO EXPECT:
✨ contemporary rom-com
✨ NYC setting
✨ she's the supervisor for an apartment building
✨ he's a tenant in her building
✨ wrong number
✨ hidden identity
✨ texting/phone call friendship
✨ friends to lovers
✨ fun banter
✨ TW: PTSD, robbery with a gun, family with addiction issues, terminally ill parent
My Thoughts:
Ready or Not by Cara Bastone is one of my favorite rom-coms of all time. And since a few of her earlier books are free with my Audible subscription, I thought I'd give them a go. Unfortunately, Sweet Talk was not for me.
While I didn't really love the story, it was sweet. Elliot is so cute but too innocent and 'hot but doesn't know it' for my taste. And Jessie is supportive of those in her life, but also too lenient when it comes to her addict brother. Their phone call and text interactions were entertaining at times, but also frustrating since this is for the entire story. I am glad though that in the end, Jessie's reason for not wanting to share her identity makes sense.
I also wasn't a huge fan of the narrators. I'm writing this review a few days after listening and I honestly don't remember why I made a note of this but I did. Sorry I can't give specifics about what I didn't like.
September 16, 2022
The weakest in the trilogy for me. Even though the premise is nice the main couple's storyline wasn't that intersting, especially if I compare this to the others in the series.
June 3, 2021
4 1/2 to 5 stars
March 26, 2023
Sweet Talk by Cara Bastone is the second book in the Love Lines series, and after listening to book 1 (Call Me Maybe) I think I was expecting this to be a lot funnier than it actually was. The storyline felt much more serious to me, and there were a few topics explored that I wasn't expecting. The romance itself was sweet and heartwarming, and once again the audiobook is filled with all the sound effects to make you feel like you're listening to a movie. The audio for this book is even shorter than the first of the series, and at under 6 hours it goes by so fast, and I was able to finish it in one sitting. There is an air of mystery surrounding who the woman that Eliot is speaking to is, and even though I was able to figure that out before the reveal, I thought it was such a cute idea.
I didn't love Sweet Talk quite as much as Call Me Maybe, and I think the only reason for that is I was expecting it to make me laugh more than it did which is obviously a personal preference and not the book's fault. The humor was still there, but definitely not as much and I wish there had been more of it. I did like the topics that Bastone tackled though, and it really gave this book a lot of substance. I also loved how the characters tied together from book 1 and we actually got more of Vera and Cal than I thought we would which was nice. Our leading lady was a total badass and Eliot was endearing as well. Overall, this is definitely another win for me with this series and author, and I am already listening to book 3!
I didn't love Sweet Talk quite as much as Call Me Maybe, and I think the only reason for that is I was expecting it to make me laugh more than it did which is obviously a personal preference and not the book's fault. The humor was still there, but definitely not as much and I wish there had been more of it. I did like the topics that Bastone tackled though, and it really gave this book a lot of substance. I also loved how the characters tied together from book 1 and we actually got more of Vera and Cal than I thought we would which was nice. Our leading lady was a total badass and Eliot was endearing as well. Overall, this is definitely another win for me with this series and author, and I am already listening to book 3!
October 19, 2024
4.3 good twist. not sure if the title really fits
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