Between Here and There by Kyra Ysabel
After reading Between Then and Now, I was really excited for Joshua and Emily’s story, and I was right to be! Between Here and There is filled with tender, heartwarming moments that are so relatable that you can't help but fall in love with the story.
I usually have mixed feelings about slow burn romances because I tend to get a little impatient, but not this time. I didn’t mind the pace at all. I savored every chapter, eager for more of Joshua and Emily. Even though their relationship progressed from strangers to lovers in a matter of weeks, it never felt rushed. It felt natural. From the very beginning, it was clear that they were meant to be together.
I loved how gentle and respectful Joshua and Emily were with each other. They are supportive without being overbearing and always attuned to the other’s boundaries. Their witty, flirty banter really was endearing and I especially enjoyed the dual POV. Getting to see both characters’ inner thoughts and personal dilemmas added depth and made me even more invested in their story.
After reading this book, I feel like I’ve grown more attached to the entire Magnolia Heights gang, and I’m definitely looking forward to the next two installments! Thank you Ms. @kyraysabelwrites for writing such beautiful romance stories with a Filipino heart 🥹❤️
Between Here and There is the second book in the Magnolia Heights Series by Kyra Ysabel. Both books are available now on Kindle Unlimited.
Rating: ★★★★☆
Pretending to date? Simple. Pretending it doesn’t feel real? Impossible.
Emily Rodriguez’s New York dreams crumble when she loses both her career and her boyfriend. Now juggling three part-time jobs, she decides to shake things up with an impulsive date. The catch? Her dreamy mystery man turns out to be Joshua Santiago—her best friend Bon’s annoyingly attractive older brother, whom she hasn’t seen in a decade.
Back in Manila for a wedding, Emily and Joshua are caught in a storm of stressful situations—including her ex-boyfriend showing up with his new date and Joshua’s mother playing matchmaker. As a temporary solution, they hatch a plan to pretend to be a couple until they’re back in New York.
With rules that seem simple enough—no feelings, no messy attachments—they think they have it all figured out. After all, Josh is a serial casual dater, and Emily is just getting over a long relationship.
But as boundaries dissolve and feelings intensify, they must confront the possibility that their staged romance could evolve into something profoundly real.