Review: The Difference Between Somebody and Someone by Aly Martinez (The Difference #1)

Note: An advance reader copy (ARC) was provided by the author.

"There are two types of people in the world, Remi. There are a million somebodies somebodies on this planet. But there's a huge difference between somebody and someone. From the moment we met, I knew you, my beautiful, crazy woman, were definitely someone."

I've been struggling to put into words all the thoughts and feelings swirling within me after having finished The Difference Between Somebody and Someone, but sadly, I'm not as eloquent as Aly Martinez. Plus this is just the first in her The Difference series! If I'm already this emotionally invested in Remi Grey and Bowen Michaels's story, I can't even imagine how the rest of the trilogy will eviscerate my poor, bruised heart. But hey, that's what the best stories do, right? They make an impact, and not a sudden one--it's the kind that builds with each page turned and chapter passed, and when you get to the end, you want to re-experience each high and low and every single thing in between. And this is an author whose work has taken bits and pieces of my heart, which is why I read anything and everything she pens, and I'm sure I'm not the only one!

But back to the first Difference book! Sigh. I'm still stuck on explaining how it's left me very much gobsmacked. I don't want to give out details, even the teeniest bit. I mean, sure, I've mentioned the main characters, twenty-nine-year-old real estate agent Remi Grey and thirty-two-year-old accountant Bowen Michaels, but that's it. I honestly feel that I'm doing you a favor by not saying anything else. Should you go into this blind? Absolutely. Did I read the blurb prior to reading the book? Yes, I did, but this was when the cover for the books were revealed earlier this month, so by the time I actually read the series starter, I couldn't recall what was in the blurb in the first place. So, my best piece of advice is to skip reading the blurb.

And now, here we are again at the part where I feel like I don't have adequate words to explain the impact this book had on me. Let me just share the three paragraphs I originally had in my notes as I was reading this: Paragraph One: GAH!; Paragraph Two: Le sigh.; Paragraph Three: O. M. G!!! Yep. That's it. If I sat down and spent more time, I could probably come up with a sufficiently acceptable wordy review, but I'm also trying to not post anything spoiler-like. So basically, allow me to leave you with three pieces of advice: 1. Go in blind; 2. Read this book; 3.  Prepare to be awed. Five-plus stars for The Difference Between Somebody and Someone.

Release Date: 27 January 2022

Date Read: 24 January 2022

Learn more about Aly Martinez.

Purchase The Difference Between Somebody and Someone on Amazon.