*ARC* Book Review: Keeping the Distance (I Heart Iloilo #1) by Clarisse David

Disclaimer: I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Title: Keeping the Distance
Author: Clarisse David
Release Date: February 6, 2017 

About the Book: 
No bets. No fake relationships. Just a very real one that has to be kept under wraps.

Seventeen-year-old Melissa wants to dye her hair cotton candy pink and focus on her ukulele instead of Physics. But she can't. As the daughter of a Catholic school principal, living up to her model student image 24/7 is a must. Something's about to give under all the pressure. She only hopes it isn't her.

Getting involved with a troublemaking basketball player is the last possible thing she needs...

Lance is used to getting what he wants. With a pretty face he uses to full advantage and his role as co-captain of the basketball team, the easy way is the only way he's ever known. Until the day he notices the prim Melissa he's known forever is actually hot and decides to ask her out. He has no idea he's about to learn the lesson of a lifetime.

Not getting what he wants might exactly be what he needs...

Book Review: 

Warning: this book will give you diabetes!

           The story of Lance and Melissa is so sweet and fun to read. I love the bad enemies to lovers and forbidden love tropes imbibed in this novel. Melissa is a protagonist with many layers. She hides her true self by showing a different character due to the fact his father is the principal in their school and is very strict. Then Lance comes along and helps her break free from the constrains she has on herself. 

             There is so much character development in this story not only with Lance and Melissa but with Melissa's father as well. Furthermore, this story is very relatable because like other people Melissa is a perfectionist and she base her actions on whether her father would approve of it. And here in the Philippines, we know that our parents can get a bit controlling and strict but it is their way of saying that they care about us.  Lastly, I love how the story is set in Iloilo. I have never been there but after reading this book I definitely want to, especially after reading about the food there (e.g the oysters). I hope the next book is about Jace because I am very interested in reading his story. 

           P.S If you like Jenny Han and Morgan Matson books I suggest reading this book. It is a very quick and fun book to read especially since valentine's day is around the corner. 

About the Author: 

Clarisse David is a Young Adult and New Adult author from the land of epic heat waves a.k.a. the Philippines. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Literature and cannot survive without Taylor Swift songs, red lipstick, and books. When not hanging out on Twitter, she can be found working on her latest writing project.

You can find her on Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook. You can also send her an email at clarissedavidwrites[@]yahoo[.]com.


XOXO,
Isabel