As someone who’s always been captivated by the idea of love, I find myself drawn to stories that explore romance in ways that go beyond the typical poetic declarations and grand gestures. Mayumi Cruz's novels, It's Not Just Semantics, Escape to Love, and Hunted Honeymoon, offer a love that can be raw, unpredictable, and even away from the safe-pure paradigm of love. Each book elucidates what we should not expect in a love story.
It's Not Just Semantics featured Alex and Rome, whose love did not progress or deepen in a big way through extravagant declarations of love or moments of play or dramatics. It developed in a decidedly quieter and deeper manner. Throughout, they love each other through little everyday behaviors and small everyday decisions, everyday acts of love that build intimacy and trust. I relate to this dynamic because I am someone who believes love is not always about saying, and is often just as important, if not more, in how we show it to each other. It reminds us that sometimes the simplest and most meaningful expression of love does not involve verbal, spoken communication. They love each other in the way that Alex stands up for Rome when it matters, in the smallest gestures, and in the way that they respect each other's boundaries and the times that their love is expressed in silent presence. Their love is unfiltered, messy, flawed, and imperfect, but it is love and not just a concept. This is the beauty of love, right? It is the raw, unfiltered version of love, not perfection's prettiness and shine.
Love, after all, is about showing up, even when it’s tough. And Cruz’s portrayal of Alex and Rome demonstrates this perfectly. Their journey together is a beautiful reminder that true love is not defined by the idealized version of romance we see in movies or read about in fairy tales, but by the quiet, steadfast commitment we make to each other through our actions.
Escape to Love, which offers a fast-paced, thrilling adventure with Megan and Richard. When we meet Megan, she is a rich socialite living in wealth and privilege. Attempting to escape an alarming and dangerous situation completely uproots her life. Richard enters her life—he seems like the perfect bad boy at first, but he doesn't take long to prove that he is her savior. Their escape quickly escalates into a chase packed with suspense, tension, speed, and passion. Throughout the course of the chase, they come to terms with the fact that love doesn't need to be slow and predictable to be real; it is defined by trust, shared vulnerability, and pushing the limits of danger together.
What I found so captivating about this book was Mayumi Cruz's ability to combine the unexpected elements of love: how it can flourish in the most disordered of circumstances. Initially, Megan happens to be reluctant to embrace her budding feelings for Richard. After all, how can you fall for someone when you're literally running for your life? But the beauty of the narrative is Cruz's ability to convey that love does not always unfold in the time frame that we think it does; love can also develop in the midst of chaos, action, and uncertainty. There is something so powerful about love that begins not when you are safe, but when you are in tension and danger in real-life heightened situations. That Megan and Richard grow together after life-threatening circumstances speaks to the resiliency of the heart, and the power of connection during emotional, upward times, when everything around us is ablaze.
And finally, there’s Hunted Honeymoon, which brings the intensity to a whole new level. This book picks up with Megan and Richard again, but their honeymoon takes a dangerous turn this time. When a misunderstanding causes Megan to storm off, she ends up being chased by kidnappers in the dark alleys of Tokyo. Suddenly, their honeymoon isn’t about luxury and romance anymore, but survival. As they navigate this dangerous world together, Richard becomes more than just her husband—he becomes her protector, her partner in a fight for their lives. It’s not just about romantic attraction anymore—it’s about trust, loyalty, and the deep bond that forms when two people face life-or-death situations together.
What I find most interesting about Hunted Honeymoon is how it emphasizes the development of their relationship. Megan, who historically has run away or avoided conflict, has to confront not only the external forces pursuing them, but also her own internal fears and insecurities. The ultimate test of survival then pushes their relationship to more than just epistemic trust and dependency; it grows into some deeper level of love. Love forged in the fire of danger; partnership grounded on mutual trust and loyalty. As someone who aligns closer to the stance that true love is not just an abundance of moments filled with great passion, romance, or swooning moments, it is committing yourself to one another (through thick and thin), this novel hits all the points. Love is not about romance, but staying committed to one another while the world is falling apart.
These three novels by Mayumi Cruz have absolutely changed my definition of love in fiction. These characters don't fall in love in the typical convention, "fairy tale," or stereotypical way. Their relationships grow through forgiveness, survival, trust, and respect. This mirrors the "love" in real life, where most of the time, it's not full of perfect cinematic scenes. Sometimes, love happens unexpectedly, in the messiness and chaos of the moments.
Love is a commitment to stay, show up for each other, and support each other through the highs and lows. It’s about the quiet moments where words aren’t needed and the loud moments where actions speak for themselves. Cruz’s books prove that love doesn’t need to be perfect to be powerful. It just needs to be real.
By Amormia M. Vicoy