American Love Story

By: Adriana Herrera

Narrated by: Sean Crisden

Length: 8 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's summary

Winner of a 2019 Ripped Bodice Award for Excellence in Romance

“Herrera serves up high heat, serious social commentary, and laughs in perfect measure.” (Book Riot)

“Adriana Herrera writes family - all kinds of family - better than anyone else writing today. American Love Story is a sweet and sexy slow burn and I devoured it.” (Cat Sebastian, author of The Soldier’s Scoundrel)

“Herrera continues to prove that she is a fresh voice ushering in the kind of inclusive storytelling this genre so desperately needs.” (RITA Award-winning author Kennedy Ryan)

No one should have to choose between love and justice.

Haitian-born professor and activist Patrice Denis is not here for anything that will veer him off the path he’s worked so hard for. One particularly dangerous distraction: Easton Archer, the assistant district attorney who last summer gave Patrice some of the most intense nights of his life and still makes him all but forget they’re from two completely different worlds.

All-around golden boy Easton forged his own path to success, choosing public service over the comforts of his family’s wealth. With local law enforcement unfairly targeting young men of color, and his career - and conscience - on the line, now is hardly the time to be thirsting after Patrice again. Even if their nights together have turned into so much more.

For the first time, Patrice is tempted to open up and embrace the happiness he’s always denied himself. But as tensions between the community and the sheriff’s office grow by the day, Easton’s personal and professional lives collide. And when the issue at hand hits closer to home than either could imagine, they’ll have to work to forge a path forward...together. 

Dreamers:

1. American Dreamer
2. American Fairytale
3. American Love Story
4. American Sweethearts
5. American Christmas 

©2019 Adriana Herrera (P)2019 HarperAudio

One of my new favorite authors

Adriana Herrera is amazing. She is one of my favorites, and this story is why. The characters are so real and relatable. Patrice has such conviction and such a moral compass. Easton has that as well. These two characters are from different worlds, but that doesn’t mean they can’t and shouldn’t co-exist.

These themes are so pressing. This love story is so layered. How do you fight for your community without the fight becoming all that you are? How do you be an ally, but still feel like you can be all of who you are and not apologize for your privilege? How do you make a life with someone you love when the outside world makes it harder for you to simply be happy?

This is elevated writing. These are thought-provoking plots. These are whole, perfectly imperfect characters. I loved Patrice and Easton just as I have loved the others in this series. I think this is my favorite book series I have read.

Can’t wait to read what Adriana Herrera gives us in the future.

Lastly, Sean Crisden brings her words to life beautifully.

A Real World Romance

It’s really hard for me to put into words how truly enjoyable this book is…

This story, along with the others in the series, really touch on what it means to bring two different people together — culturally, background, etc. — and I appreciate the offer for it. This particular book in the series really hit home for me. As a black man, you’re often told that “you’re not enough“ in one way or another. I’ve often felt that in my 40 years of life. It was good to see the struggle that many of us go through when trying to embrace love but at the same time hold everything together and how it sometimes makes us miss out on things. I love how this was not papered over in any form or fashion. Please, please read not only this book but the entire series. You won’t be disappointed…

Not her best

My least favorite book by this author. I felt a little disappointed because the Mc in this is Haitian and he was coded black in a way the characters before him weren’t.

I had hopes even though I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about someone dr writing someone Haitian. There are blind spots; Patrice was hardened and was never allowed to be soft unless he was for social justice and s*x.

It felt awkward that so much of Patrice’s narrative was focused on his pain and harsh experiences that none of the other characters faced. There’s a lot of care the white characters get that he doesn’t and I noticed this in every book in this series. Brown/black ppl get shamed for calling out privilege.

His friends before him use the term Afro latinx, but it felt weird they never used black like Patrice did(made me feel like Afro latinx didn’t mean black).

I love Haitian and Dominican culture but I know they have a long and hard history. No one addresses this. Many times Caribbean was conflated as though we all get along(I’m a black Cuban)without dialogue about our histories with one another.

I think i overall enjoyed but as a dark skinned black man, I didn’t think he got the care his friends did(he’s the only dark skinned one). He didn’t remind me of Haitian ppl(especially men) I know and it sucks because his friends felt more nuanced while he felt one dimensional.

I was hoping this would be a love letter to Haiti but it felt like a dear john letter. I was just disappointed more than anything.

Great M/M love story

When I finished this book I was sad because I finished a trilogy of books I loved. This story is the final one in this series and I freakin loved it. (I think it’s my fav!) Patrice and Easton are a couple I rooted for from the beginning! Haitian Patrice and Wasp-with- a- heart- of- gold Easton couldn’t be more different. Yet they are drawn to one another. Both men are at once swoon-worthy and sweetly tender with each other. Thank you, Adriana Herrera, for creating such wonderful characters. And thank you for using Patrice to voice the epidemic of police pulling over black and brown skin drivers or "driving while black." For anyone who wasn't sure the situation was unfair and racist, Patrice shines a light on the problem. You wrote a hard storyline with grace and heart.
Thank you Sean Crisden for adding such beautifully nuanced voices to the men in this story. I’m going to miss all of the men in this series so much!
You wouldn’t hurt my feelings, Adriana, if there was a novella with all of these characters later on! And yeah, I know I'm being extra.