Fantasies and dreams can come true!

Synopsis

Can two strangers dreams lead to their destiny?

American Star Mendoza is living in her dream location, Edinburgh, a place she discovered in British novels while growing up.

Employed at a trendy city centre coffee shop, quirky, pink-haired Star spends her days fantasising about a handsome businessman she serves daily.

He’s totally out of her league but a girl can dream, right?

Fin Hunter is exhausted from striving for his father’s elusive love and approval, and of following a life path of his family’s making.

When things go drastically wrong Fin decides it’s time to stand on his own two feet and follow his own dream.

Star is bereft when her handsome stranger stops coming to her coffee shop, but a chance encounter in the most unlikely of places leaves her wondering if her fantasy could now become a reality?

Can opposites attract over their love of a city and music or is their story simply doomed to fail?

My review

Star Mendoza is an American girl, but she lost her heart to Edinburgh. She enjoys working in the centre coffee shop and shares a place with her boss and gay best friend Alec. Her highlight of her working day is surely whenever that handsome businessman enters the shop daily to get his shot of caffeine. Of course he is way of her league, but doesn’t everyone fantasies about the impossible?
What she doesn’t know however is that Fin Hunter is tired of trying to please his parents. No matter what he does, it’s never enough. And when he is being left at the altar by the woman chosen by his parents, it’s obviously his fault…
Fin has had enough after the disastrously non – wedding and decides to stand on his own two feet and wants to do what HE wants and not what his parents want him to do.
When Star and Fin meet again, it’s not at the coffee shop, as Fin has not been in for a while. But it’s at the most unlikely place they would think of meeting, and could this be the start of something unlikely yet wonderful?
Can opposite characters fall in love? Or will their differences overrule love?

I think I have found my favourite Lisa Hobman book until now!

There may be many differences between Star and Fin, but on so many things, they are also so alike!
And one of those things is, they don’t believe in themselves.
Yes, Star enjoys working in the coffee shop, but her real passion is photography. But she doesn’t believe that her passion can take her somewhere and she surely doesn’t want to stand on the spotlight.

Star may seem a bit odd, with her pink hair, tattoos, own fashion style and even maybe an inexplicable passion for Edinburgh. But she is a kind person, she always has a smile on her face and sees more than anyone else.
And she has secretly a crush on Fin, but doesn’t act on it, especially when she hears he’s getting married!
However, when they meet again at the most improbable place, sparks fly around. And while it’s obvious she is not that kind of girl, she follows her heart for once. Because she empathizes with Fin and his story and because at that moment it seems right.
And when Fin does just everything he shouldn’t be doing, Star makes it clear that forgiveness won’t be given easily! That’s my kind of girl! Shame on you if you fool me once!

And Fin… that is surely a character that broke my heart… every one of us wants to be loved by our parents and make them proud of us. But poor Fin may have the most horrible parents ever. Because no matter what he does, it’s never good enough…  I cannot understand how parents can be so terrible and selfish! And ever later on the story, they keep on being horrendous, doing even unthinkable things!
However, I felt so proud when Fin FINALLY had enough and just steps away from his toxic parents! Of course, if he wouldn’t be struggling, it would be not normal. So we see how Fin goes from a strict businessman to a more rougher, yet realer version of Fin. And when he finds a passion at the most unexpected place and unexpected activity, we see more and more Fin and his true form.

What I loved about this story is that the main characters may seems so different, having different backgrounds, but are so alike in many things, and most important in the things that matter. And I even loved more how Fin doesn’t want Star to change anything about her, so that she could at least fit in a little bit.
And how Star makes Fin see that following your passions is never the wrong thing to do, how odd it may seem.
Star and Fin elevate each other to their best versions, believing in each other. And even when things are seemingly over and out, their love doesn’t disappear just over time.
They have always each other’s best interest in mind, pushing a little bit when necessary but also backing away when needed.

This was an amazing story to read, about how strong yet vulnerable love can be. Differences aren’t something that weaken a relationship, but the right and perfect relationship will strengthen with the differences!
And it may take several hurdles to overcome, but love will always prevail, even when it all starts with a simple yet meaningful kiss!