ARC Book Review: Love Radio by Ebony LaDelle

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Contemporary Romance
Length: 320 pages
Author: Ebony LaDelle
Publisher: Simon Schuster Books
Release Date: May 31st, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Hitch meets The Sun Is Also a Star in this witty and romantic teen novel about a self-professed teen love doctor with a popular radio segment who believes he can get a girl who hates all things romance to fall in love with him in only three dates.

Prince Jones is the guy with all the answers—or so it seems. After all, at seventeen, he has his own segment on Detroit’s popular hip-hop show, Love Radio, where he dishes out advice to the brokenhearted.

Prince has always dreamed of becoming a DJ and falling in love. But being the main caretaker for his mother, who has multiple sclerosis, and his little brother means his dreams will stay just that and the only romances in his life are the ones he hears about from his listeners.

Until he meets Dani Ford.

Dani isn’t checking for anybody. She’s focused on her plan: ace senior year, score a scholarship, and move to New York City to become a famous author. But her college essay keeps tripping her up and acknowledging what’s blocking her means dealing with what happened at that party a few months ago.

And that’s one thing Dani can’t do.

When the romantic DJ meets the ambitious writer, sparks fly. Prince is smitten, but Dani’s not looking to get derailed. She gives Prince just three dates to convince her that he’s worth falling for.

Three dates for the love expert to take his own advice, and just maybe change two lives forever.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an eARC.

AMAZING DEBUT.

I adored this book y’all! A beautiful coming of age story filled with moments of growing up, overcoming trials, and finding the best foot forward to the big world after high school. Not to mention, a super sweet and swoony romance thrown in too.

I LOVE that this was dual POV. Prince was amazing. I loved how kind he was, and the fierce loyalty he had towards his family and friends. I enjoyed hearing his story and how he learned to take his own advice in forming a relationship with Danielle.

Danielle is a recluse by choice and watching her come back out of her shell made me so happy. While I didn’t love the way she approached her issues, it felt authentic. Especially because of the support around her (from family and friends) she was able to make safe steps forward in overcoming trauma from her past. I thought there were great discussions on processing sexual assault and grief. How it’s okay to lean on others and to find a road back to yourself.

I loved the full body essence of Black joy and the passion filled pages of culture and love for Detroit. The way this entire group of characters made my heart swell had me bursting.

I thought the ending was a bit abrupt and occasionally the pacing felt a little off, but those are minor thoughts towards a fantastic book. Highly recommend!!

Overall audience notes:

YA Contemporary Romance
Language: a little
Romance: kisses
Trigger/Content Warnings: discussions of racism and appropriation, sexual assault (on page), mother with a degenerative disease