I’ve read From Lukov With Love by Mariana Zapata, and I have a lot to say. It’s a slow-burn romance set in the world of figure skating. The book focuses on Jasmine Santos, a struggling skater, and Ivan Lukov, her rival turned skating partner. While it has its moments, it’s not a book I’d recommend to everyone. Let’s explore why!
From Lukov With Love Book Summary
The story is about Jasmine Santos, a figure skater who feels like her career is slipping away. She’s tough, stubborn, and honestly, not the easiest person to like. Jasmine has been skating solo for years, but things haven’t been going well for her. She’s frustrated, tired, and running out of options.
Enter Ivan Lukov, her longtime rival and one of the best skaters in the world. He’s everything Jasmine isn’t—calm, charming, and wildly successful. They’ve always had a love-hate relationship, with more hate than love. So when Ivan offers Jasmine a chance to partner with him in pairs skating, she’s shocked. She doesn’t trust him, but she knows this might be her last shot at making it big.
Their partnership is rough at first. They argue, throw insults, and struggle to work together. Jasmine’s pride and Ivan’s patience clash constantly. Over time, their dynamic shifts in subtle ways, and the tension between them softens. Ivan becomes someone Jasmine can lean on, and Jasmine begins to see a softer, more caring side of him.
The romance is slow—really slow. It takes almost the entire book for their relationship to shift from skating partners to something more. Along the way, Jasmine learns to deal with her insecurities, and Ivan shows that he’s been rooting for her all along. By the end, their bond is strong, both on and off the ice.
Why I Wouldn’t Recommend It to Everyone
I’ll be honest—this book tested my patience. I went into it hoping for an exciting romance with a unique backdrop of figure skating, but I came out feeling drained. There were moments where I literally put the book down, stared at the wall, and wondered why I was still reading. Here’s why:
1. It’s Painfully Slow
When people say this is a slow-burn romance, they aren’t kidding. It’s slow. So slow that by the time something finally happens, I wasn’t excited—I was just relieved. The first half of the book is mostly Jasmine’s endless inner monologues, her skating routines, and her bickering with Ivan. I kept flipping pages, hoping for the pace to pick up, but it never really did. If you enjoy books that move quickly or keep you on edge, this one will feel like a marathon.
2. The Trope Feels Too Cliché
Enemies-to-lovers can be fun when done right. But here, it felt like I was reading a romance formula on autopilot. The predictable bickering-turns-to-bonding arc didn’t surprise me, and I could see every twist coming a mile away. I wanted something fresh, something memorable—but instead, it felt like I’d read this story before.
3. Jasmine is Exhausting
I tried to like Jasmine. I really did. But her personality made it so hard. She’s defensive, constantly angry, and always ready with a sarcastic comment. At first, I thought her tough exterior would soften as the story progressed, but even by the end, she felt exhausting to read. Her inner monologues—oh my God, they never stopped. Half the time, I wanted to shout, “Jasmine, just stop overthinking and move on!”
4. Where’s the Skating?
For a book about figure skating, the skating itself felt like a side note. I was expecting the story to take me deep into the competitive world of the sport, with high-stakes competitions, stunning routines, or at least a sense of tension. But most of the time, it felt like the skating was just an excuse to throw Jasmine and Ivan together. I finished the book still craving a story that celebrated the sport.
5. Too Much Filler, Not Enough Punch
Zapata’s writing style in From Lukov With Love isn’t for everyone, and it definitely wasn’t for me. She dives deep into every little detail—Jasmine’s thoughts, Ivan’s smirks, random conversations that don’t add much to the story. At first, I tried to soak it all in, but by the middle of the book, I was skimming entire paragraphs. I often found myself wondering if certain scenes or conversations added any real value to the story. It felt bloated, and the constant repetition made the book feel longer than it needed to be.
Conclusion
By the time I finished From Lukov With Love, I felt more frustrated than fulfilled. It’s not that the book is terrible—there are moments of genuine emotion and some sweet scenes near the end—but getting there felt like a slog. I found myself wishing I’d spent those hours reading something else. If you have the patience of a saint and love slow, detailed romances, maybe you’ll enjoy it. In the end, however, it left me feeling underwhelmed and disappointed.