Dear Aaron
Easy read
Light hearted
Sweet

Dear Aaron

Mariana Zapata — 2017
Some days, all you need is a message from a stranger. Ruby Santos knew exactly what she was getting herself into when she signed up to write a soldier overseas. The guidelines were simple: one letter or email a week for the length of his or her deployment. Care packages were optional. Been there, done that. She thought she knew what to expect. What she didn't count on was falling in love with the guy.
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Reviews

Photo of Lynn Braden
Lynn Braden@ftbooklover
3 stars
May 11, 2024

Just as Ruby Santos is about to give up on her pairing with Aaron Hall, the man assigned to her by the Help a Soldier Foundation, he finally writes back to her. They continue communicating and getting to know one another for months before Aaron comes home on leave. Aaron invites her to spend time with him and his friends in Florida, but she is not sure about meeting a man who is essentially a stranger in a strange place but decides that she needs to take the chance.

The first half of Dear Aaron is structured as emails, letters, and messages between the protagonists. The last half is when they meet face to face. As well as these two characters work as friends, they just don't have any romantic chemistry. The conflicts are minimal and the plot is low angst. Aaron's perspective in never included in the book, so we really don't know what he is thinking or feeling unless he says something to someone else. Not much really ever happens in the story, making it move very slowly. Since this is by Mariana Zapata, I expected it to be slow burn, but actually, it is no burn. Overall, Dear Aaron is a cute story that feels like it goes nowhere.

+5
Photo of Amira BEN
Amira BEN@amirasreading
5 stars
Apr 8, 2024

Now I get the Mariana Zapata hype. Omg i have never enjoyed a slow burn this much. It really hit and i went skeptical about because honestly romance with a military person is a turn off somehow. But nope the focus wasn't on it and the MCs share so many things together it was so nice and so cute to see their friendship flourish. And i just got obsessed and was rooting for them so hard. So well done.
The way the MCs felt and every little subjects felt so relatable as well. It's been in a while since i felt the need to annotate in a romance book.
Also, the love story was so beautiful it just reminded me how single I am lmao but ok. There was no way my standards could go any higher but here we are lol.
Guys this is why i mostly read dark romances at least when i read those i won't wish something similar will happen to me 😂
Here two of my favourite quotes, you're welcome:

“The way he hugged me the hell out of me would be something that sickness and death could never take away.”

"There was nothing worse than comparing yourself to another woman because there was always going to be something that they had that you didn’t."

And honorable mention because I could never:
“You’re gorgeous,” I said to him almost painfully, prying the words out. “Like
 the army should put you on thei recruitment ads or put you as the face of their website. I feel like I can’t look you in the eye or I’ll turn into stone, and they’ll need to add my statues to a garden of other women who have made eye contact with you before and lost their lives.”

+3
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aleksandra@aleksandrareading
2 stars
Apr 2, 2024

2/5 Sadly my least favorite Mariana Zapata book. I dnfed it two times, then decide to finish it, and yeah it was not the best decision as I pretty much hated it. The quotes are cute though. "The smile that came over his face at my last word was worth
 everything. Everything in my kingdom for that smile. I’d never felt more powerful in my life than I did in that moment." "You’re so damn beautiful, Ru,” “I can’t think when I’m looking at you like this." “You are so goddamn special, Ruby. I’ll tell you every day if I have to."

Photo of Isabella
Isabella @iscbella
2 stars
Mar 13, 2024

This book gave me serotonin boost. This is such a cute and easy read!! It was just too much of the emails/text which I understand why it was written that way given their circumstance, but I wished we got to see more of the characters. I got bored at some point because of the amount of emails/text, and I wasn't a fan of the epilogue because I wanted to see more of them; I didn't think it was enough of a conclusion. The fluff was everything!! I love reading fluff stories, so I'm all here for that. Nevertheless, I still enjoyed it. I liked it, but I would say it isn't really my favorite MZ book.

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Stacey Nicole@staysea
5 stars
Nov 28, 2023

Reread I love Mariana Zapatas books even more the second or tenth time I read them. This book always brings a smile to my face and has me laughing out loud multiple times

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Ms. Mint@iread4fun
5 stars
May 22, 2023

4.8 Ruron ⭐ Ruron forever!!! Some readers might not be too crazy about this book due to its partial epistolary form, but me? I LOVE LOVE LOVE this book. There's just something so utterly romantic about a slow-paced love story between a sweet, shy, insecure girl and a gallant soldier that started off as penpals. I stayed up all night to finish it simply because I couldn't put it down. I've read Winnniepeg before this, and I loved that one. But after this book, MZ has definitely carved her place in my heart as one of my favorite romance authors. I took off 0.2 stars from the rating simply because I'm craving for more Ruron in that epilogue! It's simply not enough! I know we'll be reunited with Ruron through Jaz's story in FLWL, but since that book will, of course and righteously so, focus on Jaz, we'll only be getting glimpses of Ruron. And as their shipper, I'm just that greedy and wish to have more...

Photo of Faith Kitowski
Faith Kitowski@faithkitowski
4 stars
Mar 20, 2023

4.5/5. BAGUDHQFUDV i wasn’t sure if i’d like this book BUT I’M SO GLAD I READ IT

Photo of Samaa
Samaa@samaash
3.5 stars
Feb 10, 2023

I have to be clear here that this book is loved by a lot of other readers and even though It’s good The letters trope and email thing is really not for me because I didn’t think any of it was real I don’t think someone might be able to fall in love over texting or Emailing each other. Yeah sharing and being there for each other is very good way to start but I thought It would be different. Aaron and Ruby didn’t meet til the middle of the book and I didn’t see a relationship growing it was mostly flirting and taking a really good vacation together. Anyone would thing they were in love. Most Mariana’s books are very good for they show how a relationship gets stronger passing by hardships. This one wasn’t the same. But it was okay.

Photo of 🧾
🧾@lamiaa
2 stars
Feb 1, 2023

the ending????? helloooo????? tf?? that was the shortest epilogue I've ever read :// this is the first mz book where I hated the fl sm I wanted her to get lost somewhere and disappear.. she really ruined the story. Aaron is literally perfect and has been treating her well since the start but she's always assuming he doesn't like her or he's babysitting her or some shit like stfu!!!!!!! I see why no one dated her or like why hunter dumped her 🙄 (yeah not sorry) she's so unlikable and I don't think an existing human being thinks the way she does. anyways Aaron 😍💞💕💓💖💝💌💋 also I feel like mz just wanted to end this quickly cuz she fell sick or smtn... I'm so mad ugh.

Photo of Marcie Allen
Marcie Allen@mallentumbler03
3.5 stars
Jan 15, 2023

This book was cute but nothing special

+1
Photo of Catarina Vieira
Catarina Vieira@umlivroduplicado
4 stars
Sep 11, 2022

So, so, so cute!!!! Adorei o facto de metade do livro ser apenas emails e mensagens sem qualquer ponto de vista de ambos, isso faz com que o leitor mergulhe na relação dos protagonistas da mesma forma que ambos fazem e apenas nos faz querer ainda mais que eles falem dos sentimentos que possivelmente estĂŁo a desenvolver uns com os outros. Senti que acabava por interpretar as mensagens dos dois como os prĂłprios estariam a pensar “o que Ă© ela quererĂĄ dizer com isto?” “Sera que ele estĂĄ com ciĂșmes” e isso foi o que tornou o livro tĂŁo diferente dos outros da Mariana, para mim. Apesar disso, quando finalmente temos os pensamentos da protagonista vale muito a pena e a histĂłria ainda melhor. Super querido e fĂĄcil de ler. Mal posso esperar por From Lukov With Love para saber mais sobre a Jasmine e pelos cameos da Ruby e do Aaron.

Photo of Demi
Demi@pagesofchapters
3 stars
Sep 5, 2022

3.5/5 This was definitely a very VERY slow burn romance. I would say 3/4 of this book is just about Aaron and Ruby’s friendship they had been building through email and text, but things definitely started to speed up once the two main characters had finally met. This definitely wasn’t my favorite Mariana Zapata book but I still really enjoyed it. I did really like the relationship between Aaron and Ruby, and I did like that they opened up to each other about things they felt they couldn’t tell anyone else. There wasn’t really to much of a plot, as in my opinion, the book was mainly building up to Ruby and Aaron eventually meeting but I didn’t mind it to much. Overall, I did enjoy my time reading this book but I did feel like I was reading they same thing over and over again at times.

Photo of Turtle lover
Turtle lover@turtle05
1 star
Aug 25, 2022

reading this bore me out :/

Photo of val
val@goaskval
4 stars
Aug 24, 2022

** spoiler alert ** pues creo que me siento ligeramente decepcionada tras terminar este libro. a ver, al principio me estaba encantado, o sea
 literalmente el 45% de esta historia estĂĄ redactado en forma de mensaje/correo electrĂłnico. y me mal acostumbrĂ© a eso, porque cada vez que la historia pasaba a primera persona y MZ se lanzaba esos tremendos pĂĄrrafos de monĂłlogo interno, como que desconectaba de todo. luego me puse a pensar, bueno esto parece mĂĄs un insta love que cualquier otra cosa, porque aunque hayan estado que si nueve meses hablando por internet, estos dos no se habĂ­an visto ni tenĂ­an idea de cĂłmo lucian. Y solo tardaron un par de dĂ­as en Florida para poner las cosas en orden, y decirse mutuamente que se amaban. O sea
 estoy MUY mal acostumbrada al forced proximity de la Mariana Zapata y acĂĄ aunque lo hubo un poco, como que no me gustĂł o sencillamente no lo sentĂ­ natural (dios quĂ© exigente salĂ­ pero las cosas como son) si hablamos de Aaron, por alguna razĂłn me dio vibes tanto de Zac (hands down) como de Ripley (Luna and the Lie). Creo que a Zac porque como que ambos tienen esa vibra carismĂĄtica y juguetona que los vuelve juveniles; pero a su vez Ripley por esa faceta estoica que a veces parecĂ­a tener, y como hablaba de manera encriptada, o tenia esos cambios de ĂĄnimos confusos o volĂĄtiles. De igual manera fue un MC encantador, pero no lo amĂ© y siento que no conocimos mucho de Aaron realmente đŸ€·đŸ»â€â™€ïž (y si fue asĂ­, como que no fue suficiente para mĂ­ jeje) con ruby si sentĂ­ una gran afinidad, literalmente es mi personaje fav de MZ (junto con Luna) porque me he identificado con ella de una forma sin igual y creo que nunca podrĂ­a haber explicado algunas cosas de mi ansiedad, o cĂłmo se siente, o lo rĂĄpido que va mi cabeza en ciertos momentos, o sencillamente aquella incomodidad de ciertas situaciones, y con ruby estaba todo el rato en plan “oh sis, te sĂșper entiendo. aguanta un poco mĂĄs. no dejes que la ansiedad te gane”. AdemĂĄs, un fun fact es que ruby fue operada del corazĂłn de niña
 al igual que yo; y aunque eso sea intrascendente y no hayan sido por el mismo diagnĂłstico, eso me hizo sentir un gran amor por el personaje en sĂ­, mĂĄs que nada a nivel de compresiĂłn. No lo sĂ©, mejor ignoren eso Ășltimo, pero siento que esa gente hater de Ruby estĂĄ super desubicada y me provoca hacerles un crimen de odio. ÂżPor quĂ© el final fue tan atropellado? Yo que pensaba que no habĂ­a nada peor que el primer epĂ­logo de kulti, pero esto ???? una falta de respeto, en quĂ© pensaba MZ ??? sinceramente me dejĂł descolocada y es por eso que este libro no tiene cinco estrellas para mĂ­ (entre otras cosas) en fin, algo que me derritiĂł de amor fue todo el asunto de «Ruron» đŸ«¶đŸ»đŸ«¶đŸ»đŸ«¶đŸ»

Photo of shar
shar@judeccardan
5 stars
Aug 19, 2022

AARONRUBY MY BELOVEDS

Photo of InĂȘs Filipa
InĂȘs Filipa@inesfilipa6
4 stars
Aug 18, 2022

i adored this. however, I felt like I needed more in the end, a more elaborate epilogue, an explanation of how they managed to make it work, what are their jobs, etc etc. i feel like something is missing and for that reason it’s a 4-4,5 star read 4-4,5-ruron-stars ✹

Photo of sydney
sydney@sydneyd05
5 stars
Aug 17, 2022

i absolutely loved that the first half of the book is told in email/messaging format. i feel like that let me get into both of their heads

Photo of nory
nory@tristanmorana
4 stars
Aug 16, 2022

honestly not my favorite book by mariana zapata and it felt kind of underwhelming but aaron and ruby are so adorable i still enjoyed it. can’t wait to reread from lukov with love and appreciate all the ruron crumbs this time

Photo of meha
meha @santischloe
5 stars
Aug 16, 2022

5 stars!! mariana zapata, BEST AUTHOR!!! i finally got around to finishing this and im so glad i did!! ruby and aaron were nothing but the cutest things ever from the text messages to them meeting person
 I LOVED IT!! them calling each other their ship name, come on isnt that just so cute?? love this so much, highly recommend!

Photo of h
h@shannonlynch
4 stars
Aug 16, 2022

this was so very sweet ruron my bffs

Photo of lalitha
lalitha@lalitha
4 stars
Aug 15, 2022

such a slowburn mariana zapata is an icon

Photo of catia
catia@catiaslibrary
5 stars
Aug 14, 2022

“I love you, Rubes, and I know you love me too,” he whispered. “You’re the one who told me a few thousand miles wouldn’t really matter in the grand scheme of life, remember?” This was such a beautiful freaking story that I need a minute to process!! Ruby and Aaron mean the world to me omg, I knew I was going to love them but damn I really really am obsessed! So damn beautiful I can't even express how much this book means to me! Mariana Zapata did it again like always just so perfect. Go read this book now please go and fell in love with Ruby and Aaron, they deserve more love!! “Maybe this is the wrong time, but I don’t care. I love you, stalker.”

Photo of anessa lawrence
anessa lawrence @anessa-lawrence24
5 stars
Aug 13, 2022

“I was a goner from the first time you gave me hell. Maybe even before then” Aaron is
 everything.

Photo of Beth
Beth@strawberrybeth
4 stars
Aug 12, 2022

absolutely loved ruby & aaron!! just wanted to see more of them together irl :(

Highlights

Photo of Christina
Christina@christina99

Anything can happen any time, Aaron. You have to take what you can get when you can get it.

Page 349
Photo of Julia S
Julia S@julsi99

You are my Ruby and you have been for a long time.

This highlight contains a spoiler
Photo of Julia S
Julia S@julsi99

Loving Aaron wasn't something I could keep to myself. It burst out, stretching every seam in my soul and body.

This highlight contains a spoiler
Photo of Avery
Avery@averypowers

“How the hell could I let anything happen to the one person who’s made me laugh when it was the last thing I wanted to do?”

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