4.5 Stars

Another day, another Catherine Bybee book I plowed through entirely too fast, because I have absolutely zero chill once I start reading her books.

Chloe D’Angelo has had a thing for her older brother’s best friend since she was old enough to like boys. But Dante Mancuso was always out of reach, even more so now that he no longer lives in the US. Also, he’s a notorious playboy.

When Dante comes home for Luca D’Angelo’s wedding and their whole gang travels to Las Vegas for a bachelor/bachelorette weekend, he’s tormented by Chloe’s presence. When time alone and copious amounts of alcohol land Dante and Chloe at a wedding chapel, what happened in Vegas secretly follows them back to San Diego.

On paper, I shouldn’t have liked this story - older brother’s best friend/best friend’s little sister isn’t a trope I usually enjoy. But I don’t think there’s ever been a book by this author I didn’t like. Throw in a boisterous Italian American family with extended Italian framily, plus a swoony man who travels across the world to declare his love, and you have an utterly delightful story (even if I did think the pseudo-other-man drama at the end was unnecessary).

The thing about Catherine Bybee’s writing is that I’m seldom able to let the characters go. I frequently finish the book and jump back to reread my favorite parts. For a person with over 200 unread books on my Kindle, that says a lot about how much I love her stories! There’s just enough “escapism” so I can feel like I’m getting away from my everyday life (who wouldn’t want to read about an extended visit to Bali?!), but things are never so far-fetched that I can’t see myself in the heroine’s shoes. There’s no ridiculous drama. Just real people falling in love. And Be Your Everything was everything I was hoping it would be.

So once again, I find myself in the middle of a beloved Catherine Bybee series, anxiously awaiting the next book. I guess I’ll just have to reread the first two D’Angelo books if my patience runs short!

* thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review

I loved the first book in the series “When It Falls Apart” and have to say I loved “Be Your Everything” just as much!
Catherine Bybee has become a favorite author for me. Her stories just draw you in and won’t let you go!
This story has so much love, relationships and family drama going on.
I truly loved the characters. They are just so much fun to get to know.
Great series if you enjoy reading friends to lovers stories.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This is a voluntary review of an advanced copy.

I loved Chloe and Dante! It was great to see them open up to each other and work their way through this surprising Vegas wedding. I loved that Dante was willing to show Chloe that she mattered and that Chloe supported Dante over her family.

Along the way, we still see Luca and Brooke and their wedding and their other happy news!

Add in a bit of drama at the end when Chloe starts getting spammed with dick pics and worse and I could not put the book down!

I see book three is not due out until next year and I hope that Gio meets a woman who can handle him!

Great series!

The second book in the D’Angelos series and it’s the story of Chloe. When the family heads off to Vegas on a joint stag & hen party to celebrate the upcoming nuptials of Brooke and Luca it stands to reason that there is going to be a drunken wedding thrown into the mix only its not the prospective bride and groom saying I Do! Chloe has been crushing on Dante, her brother’s best friend ever since she could remember but Dante knowing that her brothers would break his bones if he so much as looked in her direction kept her at arms length…. that is until alcohol messes with his good intentions. An immediate annulment is the only solution or is it? The more he thinks about it, the more this marriage is looking like not such a bad idea to Dante

This is a fantastic contemporary romance with big Italian family dynamics. The characters are well rounded with plenty of chemistry but low on the steam factor. Catherine Bybee is more about developing the relationships between her characters building their friendships into love rather than how many orgasms and positions they can achieve in one night which is a refreshing change. There is minimal angst in the story but it does come with some surprising drama towards the end which adds a little depth. I’ll definitely be interested in reading the next book in this series. Reminder to self, if I ever go to Vegas don’t drink!

I absolutely LOVED Be Your Everything by Catherine Bybee, the second book in her D’Angelos series. I love that Catherine Bybee continues to author the books that I love to read. I can honestly say that Be Your Everything is one of the most enjoyable books that I have read recently. Be Your Everything is a beautifully written story about perseverance and dealing with all of life's shortcomings. I loved every page, and it was impossible to put it down! Catherine Bybee continues to prove that she is an incredible storyteller. Be Your Everything is a wonderful love story, filling me with a rollercoaster of emotions and I could not put it down. I loved every moment on every page. I love the incredible love story, the setting, and the amazing characters! Catherine Bybee definitely does not disappoint her readers with all the feels in Be Your Everything and has once again delivered an amazing story filled with everything that I have come to love and expect in her books, especially the amazing characters, they feel like family, and the poignant and bittersweet moments that filled this page turner. I love how Catherine develops her characters in such a way that you fall in love with them and care about them like a good friend. Catherine Bybee continues to deliver all that and so much more. I am not sure how she does it, but Catherine Bybee has once again given her readers another remarkable book. I love the lighter moments where I find myself smiling and laughing aloud. My favorite moments are the ones that pull at my heartstrings that cause me to sigh, as I read the heartbreaking moments. Be Your Everything is filled with such moments, and with so much emotion. Be Your Everything is the story of Chloe D’Angelo and her longtime crush and brother’s best friend, Dante Mancuso. Chloe works at her family’s restaurant, D’Angelo’s located in San Diego’s Little Italy, but her real passion is yoga. Dante currently lives in Positano, Italy where he co-owns a small fleet of boats. Luca and Brooke’s wedding party head to Vegas to celebrate their bachelor and bachelorette parties. Dante meets up with Chloe and the rest of wedding party at the hotel before going their separate ways. Dante and Chloe decide to follow each other on the Friend Finder app. When Chloe gets abandoned at a night club with no way to pay the bar tab that the women accumulated, Dante comes to her rescue. They continue to drink, gamble, and spend time together wandering around Vegas. The following morning Chloe wakes up with a ring on her left-hand ring finger that left her finger green when she removed it with no recollection of what happened the night before. Dante and Chloe agree to keep their accidental, drunken Las Vegas marriage to themselves and not let their family know that they got married. Meanwhile, they discuss quietly getting divorced or having their marriage annulled. I love the chemistry between Dante and Chloe. Thing heat up between them on New Year’s Eve, but shortly afterward Chloe leaves alone on her dream of a lifetime trip to Bali for a yoga retreat. With the help of Salena, Chloe’s best friend, Dante heads to Bali to find Chloe and discuss their future. I loved the heart-to-heart conversation between Dante and Chloe, where she reveals everything that about her dreams of doing yoga full-time and Dante reveals the real reason he initially went to Italy and why he stayed. I love the conversations that Dante has with his mother, Rosa, which helps him with his decision regarding his future with Chloe. My favorite part was the advice that Mawar, one of the women who run the retreat, gives to them and Chloe repeats to Dante. A plot twist causes their family to find out the details about their Las Vegas marriage. I love how Dante admits how he took advantage of the situation to marry Chloe and that it was not an accident. Another unexpected plot twist puts Chloe’s life in danger. Be Your Everything is an amazing love story; I am so glad that Dante and Lou got the happily ever after. I loved all the surprises that filled the pages of this love story, especially the significance of Dante’s Valentine’s Day gift to Chloe. I love all the changes that Dante and Chloe willingly make to have a life together. My favorite part was Dante’s proposal and the location of the proposal. I love how the epilogue completes the happily ever after. I love all the characters in this series, I enjoy all the interactions among the D’Angelo siblings, it feels like real family love and makes me laugh at their teasing. I loved catching up with the other characters in the D’Angelo’s series it felt like a family reunion. Be Your Everything it filled with outstanding characters, wonderful descriptions of the setting, and incredible plot twists. Catherine Bybee's descriptions are so real, I was right there with Chloe and Dante in Little Italy and Bali. I love that Catherine Bybee always writes about strong women. Be Your Everything is filled with the bittersweet and poignant moments, that I have come to love and expect in Catherine Bybee's books. I am looking forward to reading the other books in the series. Highly recommend accidental marriage to longtime crush on brother’s best friend love story.

I've been highly anticipating this release and I was no disappointed.

Catherine Bybee's books have always been favorites of mine and this series is no different.

This is a wonderfully written borther's best friend, accidental marriage story. What happens in Vegas is supposed to stay in Vegas, unless it's a late night alcohol fueled quickie marriage. The problem with this particular marriage (other than their families will not be happy) is that they really do have feelings for each other. They just don't realize the other feels the same.

Thoroughly enjoyed this and cannot wait for the next book.

I received an advanced reader copy of this book to leave an honest review. This is the second book in the series by Bybee and it was an excellent read. Bybee has a great writing style and the book flows smoothly. This was an enjoyable quick romance.

This book follows Chloe and Dante. The two have known each other for years as their mother's are best friends and Dante is best friends with Chloe's brother. She has always had a crush on him but he has never seemed to notice her. When the two are thrown together at Chloe's eldest brother's combined bachelor/bachelorette party, the two end up sharing a lot together. Add in a couple of drinks and the Las Vegas atmosphere and some inevitable "I Dos" happen. The next morning, it all becomes real and the two have to figure out where to go from there. Especially when Dante lives in Italy and Chloe plans to leave for Bali for work.

Can the two find their happiness while trying to keep it from their meddling Italian families? Can they find love through all the craziness?

An excellent second book to the series. Love the entire family and their antics. Also some good drama to be had while still having that romantic feel you love.

Be Your Everything by Catherine Bybee

This is the second book in the D'Angelos series. We where introduced to the family in book one. Chloe is Luca's sister. In this book we learn about Dante which is Luca's friend. Chloe and Dante have chemistry between each other but Chloe's brothers are overbearing. Chloe and Dante during a trip to Las Vegas decide to do the unthinkable and get hitched. This is bad for both of them there families want to do the Italian wedding. Anyways things do not go well with the two.

Will Chloe and Dante survive and stay married? How will the parents take it? How will Chloe's brother feel about it? If you like the answer to these questions then you need to read this book to see what happens to Chloe and Dante. Is it all roses and sunshine for them.

I felt this book pacing was slower and it took me longer to get into it. I can't put my finger into why I felt that way. As the story progressed it got better. So be prepared for a slow burn romance.
I recommend this series it is a pretty decent one. If you are a kindle unlimited member it is on there to read and listen to so go pick it up.

Thank You to Netgalley and Montlake for a free copy of this book for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the second book in the series, and it was lovely to catch up with this wonderful family and get the next sibling's journey to a happily ever after! I would definitely suggest that you read them in order, as there are lots of family dynamics which are richer with that background, but you could dive in here and always read back!

We join the gang on their way to Vegas for Brooke and Luca's (joint) bachelor parties. Family friend Dante is over from Italy, where he spends a lot of his time running a boat charter business. He has a bit of a reputation as a player, but really no one knows the true him as he is away so much. Chloe has had a crush on him as a youngster, but doesn't want to be another notch, nor ruin the friendship he has with her brothers, so when they end up doing that rashest of things and marrying in Vegas... well, the fallout – if anyone knew – would be huge.

I have to admit I love the not exactly intentional marriage storyline, and the tension here is both very real, and yet also, there is no unnecessary drama. We get to know what both of them think, what both of them think the other thinks, and what they both think everyone else will think – it is like being in on all the very best gossip and having to hold in the knowledge with no one to tell!

Perfectly executed, humour, love, passion, and a future that we could only dream for them. Thank you, Catherine Bybee, for another delicious read.

A*R*C for honest review with no compensation Received from NetGalley, Montlake

Be Your Everything is book 2 in the D’Angelos series by Catherine Bybee. This is Chloe and Dante’s story.

Chloe has had a crush on Dante Mancuso, her brother’s best friend since she figured out boys aren’t yucky. Dante, Chloe and the rest of the wedding party head to Vegas to celebrate. As the saying goes “what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas” but does it?

Sparks, drunken marriage, regrets, friendships, chemistry, twists, turns and more keep you reading to see where it takes Chloe and Dante in the ride of life!

What’s not to love about forbidden love??
Chloe and Dante have know each other their whole lives. But he is the best friend of her brother, she is the sister of his best friend so off limits.
Until one bachelorette/bachelor party in Vegas. What happened in Vegas stays in Vegas right??
Only this is just the beginning. This secret wedding can’t get out especially to her family.

Chloe has loved Dante from afar as long as she can remember but knows he has never felt the same. Now what can she do but get out of this marriage?
Dante has always known Chloe has been off limits. Now what can he do to make her see they are made for one another??

I loved this story! So many moments that make this love story come to life! Catherine Bybee at her finest once again! Can’t wait for the next one!

Chloe D'Angelo has been trying to make an impression on her brothers best friend since she first started noticing boys. But Dante Mancuso never gave her the time of day any further than treated her as if he was a third brother.

But while Dante has been growing his business in Italy, Chloe has grown into a strong, confident woman - and though she has never seen it, he has most definitely noticed.

When the two find themselves alone on the Las Vegas strip, Dante has the brilliant idea to get married. When Chloe wakes up with a raging hangover and a ring on her finger, she knows this is something the two of them absolutely must fix before the rest of the group discovers what they've done.

While Chloe is scrambling to keep her poker face on during the celebration of her brothers wedding, Dante becomes more convinced with each passing day that Chloe is exactly who he wants to spend his life with. But convincing Chloe, and her brothers, that his feelings are genuine is a very real hurdle he has to face.

I absolutely loved Chloe and Dante's story. Unconventional - but completely true to the characters. You can feel how much these two are meant to be together. Chloe and Dante bring the heat, and the very real danger that Chloe finds herself in heightens the emotions between the two. Jump into Be Your Everything - you won't want to put the book down once you start.

Good but not as good as the first book. Still a great read. Anything that Catherine Bybee writes is great.

This book had me hooked from the first page. I'm happy it was my day off, read in two sittings. Dante had one rule to live by, Chloe was off limits! This was a rule that Chloe's brothers had put into effect years ago but one night in Vegas may change everything. Now Dante and Chloe need to decide what to do with their future.

I'm in love with this tight Italian catholic family, even though the brothers might be a little overbearing on their little sister. Loved Dante and Chloe, they both have had feeling for each other since they were young but didn't tell anyone. Love all of the family drama. I can't wait to read Geo's story!!

What happens when you are with someone you've had a crush on forever, you have lots of alcohol and are feeling no pain? For Chloe and Dante, it resulted in the tie that binds! Now they're trying to figure out how to annul the marriage and not let either of their families-their Italian families-know that it happened in the first place. That's a hard thing to accomplish.

I loved this story as much as I loved the first in the series. The family is fantastic and in everybody's business, but there's lots of love going around too. I loved the relationship of Chloe and Dante. They were one of those "meant to be together from the beginning" couples.

I can't wait for the next family member to be knocked to their knees by love!

Thanks to Montlake and NetGalley for the gifted copy. All thoughts are my own.

Charming!
Dante is a known player. Chloe is his best friend’s little sister, who is not so little anymore. A protective big brother and family who does what they think is best for Chloe.
When Dante and Chloe “get married” in Vegas they do only what they can - get an annulment.
As life goes on being “unmarried” we see the appearance of the geeen eyed monster which made me swoon because it was so sweet.
Take a chance, give it a try, you never know.

Be your everything is the second book in D’Angelos family series that I enjoyed a lot. What’s not to love about a traditional Italian family and a beautiful romance story?

Chloe and Dante have known each other for their whole life. He is her brother’s best friend and she’s the youngest one of the family. It’s bound for things to catch fire when it comes to them.

A family trip to Vegas before one of her brother’s wedding, is exactly what sets the story started. And what a start!

The way they cross paths and how their banter made me laugh and swoon. Nothing unexpected when it comes to two young adults that get married in Vegas only to realise in the morning that both their families will go crazy about their reckless behaviour.

Not everything stays in Vegas as some may wish unfortunately. But the road for them to say it out loud and deciding what’s more important; following their dreams or their hearts, it’s not an easy one.

I enjoyed this book a lot and if you’re looking for a great world building, compelling characters and a beautiful romance story, look no further than this one.


📖NetGalley arc

BE YOUR EVERYTHING (The D’Angelos Book #2) by Catherine Bybee is another wonderful contemporary romance about members of the D’Angelo family who are a traditional Italian family. This story features Chloe who is the baby of the family and her brother’s best-friend, Dante. While this is the second book in the series, you can easily read it as a standalone, but you will love this family so much, I know you will want to go back and read the first book When It Falls Apart.

Chloe D’Angelo loves working at her family’s restaurant, but she has bigger dreams. Her dream trip to Bali must wait until after her oldest brother’s wedding. The entire bridal party is off for a Las Vegas weekend to celebrate before the wedding. Chloe has always had a crush on her middle brother’s best friend and now in Vegas, she is ready to show Dante what he has been missing by avoiding her as they grew up together.

Dante Mancuso is like a third brother to the D’Angelo brothers. While growing up, he was known as a player, and he has kept the reputation even as he works in Italy and only returns to visit his family and the D’Angelo’s. Now, home for the wedding and looking to set up a branch of his business at home, Dante is finding Chloe difficult to resist even as he knows he is breaking the brothers’ code of not dating their sister.

But crazy things happen in Las Vegas and Dante goes all in and he and Chloe run into a Vegas wedding chapel. The next morning, they know they are going to cause family upheaval, so they decide to keep the marriage a secret. As their attraction grows, Chloe flees to Bali and Dante is going to have to prove to her they are meant to be together.

I loved this story and the entire series to-date is entertaining and fun. I lived in an Italian neighborhood for many years and the traditions and family bonds are very accurately portrayed in this series. From the nonnas keeping an eye on everyone and the close-knit families and Sunday mass, these stories take me back to this neighborhood. Chloe and Dante are fully drawn characters and their relationship is believable and the sex scenes were not gratuitous. All the characters are realistic and make me want to be a member of their family and community. This book has everything I am looking for in a contemporary romance and I did not want it to end.

I highly recommend this contemporary romance, this series, and this author!

This was an okay romance novel. Chloe has been in love with Dante (her elder brothers' best friend) for the longest time and one crazy night in Vegas, things turn out of hand and they find themselves married. The book then explores what happens after.

I liked it, I think it was an okay romance. I liked the 2 leads and their families. Chloe's brother annoyed me a bit with how far he took the over protective/bearing elder brother situation, and the climax plot was very weird. But overall, it was an okay book.

Thanks to the Publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Escaping restrictive family ties or tightening them?🤔

4-4.5🌟 stars

A good romance with so much family interlaced in their story. Close Italian family friends make for problems when Chloe and Dante break out of the friend zone and take advantage of a wild night in Las Vegas. This is the second in Bybee's series that I've read; both were eminently enjoyable and the pages just flew by, but I think I slightly preferred the earlier story about Luca, Chloe's older brother, and Brooke, a non-Italian outsider warmly welcomed into the D'Angelo family.

Bybee includes a subplot that adds some suspense and danger, but most of the story is focused on the big secret Dante and Chloe are attempting to keep. With close family, who are they kidding, it's going to come out and in a way they don't anticipate. Meanwhile the romancing is not too explicit; this story depends as much on the two getting on the same page and trusting each other enough to confide their worries, hopes and true feelings. I only wish the plot could have included more action in Italy, Dante's home base in recent years.

Trigger warning: Be advised that the story includes an attempted rape.

A satisfying ending has me ready for the next D'Angelo sibling taking Cupid's arrow💘. Bybee has me caught up in the D'Angelo family web.

Thanks to Montlake and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.