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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
4.5/5⭐️
🌶️🌶️
I really enjoyed the childhood friends-to-lovers trope in this story. I love when authors give us the details on how their relationship starts and their backstory as friends before they turn to lovers. Watching them come to terms with the fact that the relationship is changing and what that might mean for them. I really thought that Kristen did this really well.
From the beginning the tension between these two friends is off the charts and it only grows from there. I think the fact that they know each other so well but have been dancing around this for so long adds to it.
Ruby, this FMC is a hot mess. She is chaos and excitement and has this larger-than-life personality. Through all this chaos she is still trying to figure out where her place is in the world, and her d-bag parents are, well, d-bags! (Does anyone else get Emily and Richard Gilmore Girl vibes?). There were some parts where I could have been her.
Lorenzo is the complete opposite. He is organized and loyal and steadfast. I mean, the guys on the team call him gramps. Lorenzo is dealing with some guilt from an event that happened when he was a kid and now he has become more cautious. He is Ruby's protector and sounding board and he is there for her in a way that no one else in her life has been and he loves that he gets to play that role.
While this was a slooooow burn, when the spice does hit, oh, boy! it hits! Also the best thing about childhood friends to lovers is the banter between the MCs. They have years worth of ammunition to use against each other and I am here for all of that.
This was a fun second book and hit all the spots!
Thank You Kristen Vail and The Author Agency for the AR in return for an honest review.
🌶️🌶️
I really enjoyed the childhood friends-to-lovers trope in this story. I love when authors give us the details on how their relationship starts and their backstory as friends before they turn to lovers. Watching them come to terms with the fact that the relationship is changing and what that might mean for them. I really thought that Kristen did this really well.
From the beginning the tension between these two friends is off the charts and it only grows from there. I think the fact that they know each other so well but have been dancing around this for so long adds to it.
Ruby, this FMC is a hot mess. She is chaos and excitement and has this larger-than-life personality. Through all this chaos she is still trying to figure out where her place is in the world, and her d-bag parents are, well, d-bags! (Does anyone else get Emily and Richard Gilmore Girl vibes?). There were some parts where I could have been her.
Lorenzo is the complete opposite. He is organized and loyal and steadfast. I mean, the guys on the team call him gramps. Lorenzo is dealing with some guilt from an event that happened when he was a kid and now he has become more cautious. He is Ruby's protector and sounding board and he is there for her in a way that no one else in her life has been and he loves that he gets to play that role.
While this was a slooooow burn, when the spice does hit, oh, boy! it hits! Also the best thing about childhood friends to lovers is the banter between the MCs. They have years worth of ammunition to use against each other and I am here for all of that.
This was a fun second book and hit all the spots!
Thank You Kristen Vail and The Author Agency for the AR in return for an honest review.
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is the second book in the Shafer U series. I haven’t read the first book and each book appears to be a standalone. This book feature Lorenzo and Ruby who are seniors in college but have been friends for years. They really support and care for each other. Lorenzo is a football player hoping to make it in the NFL. He had an injury and although he tried physical therapy, surgery has been recommended. Ruby who appears to be somewhat of flake is all over the place. She has tried just about every club although she only stays on them a few weeks. She chose her major because her friends had chosen th3 same one and it was a major that would annoy her parents. While Ruby is a senior in college she felt more like a high school student to me, so indecisive and unsure about her goals. Now Ruby commits to stays with Lorenzo after his surgery because his mother is unable to stay with him. During this time Lorenzo and Ruby begin to admit to their feelings and explore the possibilities. This book had some great moments but I just felt like the characters didn’t act like they were graduating from college.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Let It Be Me hit me in all the right places. Kristen Vail has a real gift for capturing the messy, vulnerable emotions that make characters feel real, and Lorenzo completely stole the show for me. His emotional depth, the way he processes grief and love, and how raw and open he becomes—it all felt so genuine and human.
This story was incredibly relatable, especially in how it portrayed personal growth, complicated relationships, and the different ways we cope with loss and healing. I found myself nodding along, laughing at the little moments, and tearing up when things got heavy. Nothing felt forced or overdone. It was just honest storytelling at its best.
If you’re looking for a romance that goes beyond surface-level drama and dives into real emotional territory, Let It Be Me absolutely delivers. I couldn’t put it down.
emotional
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
tense
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Let It Be Me follows the friends to lovers couple of Ruby and Lorenzo.
This will they won't they story could have been a lot shorter. I felt like some of the instances where these two character argued wasn't necessary. The 'perfect' anything is a thing we usually get. Having someone who is there for us when we need them most (Lorenzo during his recovery from surgery) to them always leaning on one another is what evolving love looks like to me.
The reasons that Ruby gets mad at Lorenzo are often childish but then I have to remember we're dealing with college aged characters so giving them a bit of grace due to their frontal lobe not being fully developed is needed.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and seeing Ruby and Lorenzo find out they've always loved each other in a special way was nice. I just felt like some of the disagreements weren't necessary.
Thank you to The Author Agency and the author for an advance ready copy in exchange for an honest review.
This will they won't they story could have been a lot shorter. I felt like some of the instances where these two character argued wasn't necessary. The 'perfect' anything is a thing we usually get. Having someone who is there for us when we need them most (Lorenzo during his recovery from surgery) to them always leaning on one another is what evolving love looks like to me.
The reasons that Ruby gets mad at Lorenzo are often childish but then I have to remember we're dealing with college aged characters so giving them a bit of grace due to their frontal lobe not being fully developed is needed.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and seeing Ruby and Lorenzo find out they've always loved each other in a special way was nice. I just felt like some of the disagreements weren't necessary.
Thank you to The Author Agency and the author for an advance ready copy in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars
A best friends to lovers story. Lorenzo and Ruby have been best friends forever, had each other's back, and they are each other’s person. They are also secretly in love with each other.
A good story, they support each other even as they struggle with their new romance. The slow burn and the angst were well done. I was disappointed we did not get more of a sports feel, Lorenzo is an injured college football player. The characters were ones I didn't immediately connect with, but not enough to stop me from reading.
Thank you to the Author for the advanced copy; this is my voluntary review.
A best friends to lovers story. Lorenzo and Ruby have been best friends forever, had each other's back, and they are each other’s person. They are also secretly in love with each other.
A good story, they support each other even as they struggle with their new romance. The slow burn and the angst were well done. I was disappointed we did not get more of a sports feel, Lorenzo is an injured college football player. The characters were ones I didn't immediately connect with, but not enough to stop me from reading.
Thank you to the Author for the advanced copy; this is my voluntary review.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Man oh man did Lorenzo and Ruby take us on a roller coaster. In this best friends to lovers romance, the angst was angsty! I felt every single second of their passion and heart break and their need. I was gutted and needed their redemption like my next breath! The epilogue was great and the bonus scene was awesome! So much goodness. Kristen Vail and this Shafer U family is amazing and I need more. I can’t wait for more. I NEED more!
Not a bad second book but I was put off by some things here and there that didn’t make me appreciate Ruby and Lorenzo’s story in full.
I like the base plot where Ruby and Lorenzo, best friends since forever and secretely in love with one another, finally manage to declare their love and give it a try.
What left with a sour taste was the reason for the third act break up, which honestly makes not sense at all. Also, the twist is not necessary it doesn’t add up much to the story. If it’s because Lorenzo needed to realise something, it could have been done another way. Especially since he didn’t spend too much time thinking about this epiphany of his.
#arc #arcreader #arcreview #arcreviewer #letitbeme #kristenvail #bestfriend #closeproximity #contemporaryromance #college #contemporary #doublepov #drama #fiction #forcedproximity #football #friendstolovers #hefallsfirst #newadult #romance #romcom #secretlove #spicy #sports #sportsromance #smalltown #theauthoragency #3rdactbreakup
I like the base plot where Ruby and Lorenzo, best friends since forever and secretely in love with one another, finally manage to declare their love and give it a try.
What left with a sour taste was the reason for the third act break up, which honestly makes not sense at all. Also, the twist is not necessary it doesn’t add up much to the story. If it’s because Lorenzo needed to realise something, it could have been done another way. Especially since he didn’t spend too much time thinking about this epiphany of his.
#arc #arcreader #arcreview #arcreviewer #letitbeme #kristenvail #bestfriend #closeproximity #contemporaryromance #college #contemporary #doublepov #drama #fiction #forcedproximity #football #friendstolovers #hefallsfirst #newadult #romance #romcom #secretlove #spicy #sports #sportsromance #smalltown #theauthoragency #3rdactbreakup
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Oh my gosh this story was so cute, we follow the story of two childhood best friends both secretly pining for each other and you’re left wondering will they or won’t they? It was such a fun time! The characters very realistic and seem to have real flaws and conversations - things some romance books are lacking. Kristen Vail is a pro at writing relatable characters that you just fall in love with over and over. The spice and romance will have you squealing. I hope we get more books from this series!
🏈 Best Friends to Lovers
💔 Hidden Feelings
💉 Medical Drama
🔥 Summer Romance
🤫 Secret Keeping
💋 Steamy Romance
💔 Emotional Conflict
👩❤️👨 Slow Burn
🌞 Sun-kissed Moments
Star: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Kristen Vail’s Let It Be Me continues her Shafer U series with a heartfelt and steamy friends-to-lovers romance that dives into the complex territory of hidden feelings, emotional risk, and deep-seated vulnerability. The story follows MCs Ruby and Lorenzo—childhood best friends whose relationship walks the fine line between platonic closeness and a love unspoken.
From the outset, readers are drawn into Ruby’s internal struggle. Lorenzo Rossi, campus football star and Ruby’s unwavering rock, is not just her best friend—he's her quiet, constant love. The novel excels at portraying the tension of that emotional paradox: being someone’s safe place while hiding the depth of your feelings. Ruby’s voice is tender and self-aware, laced with a mixture of longing and resignation that makes her instantly relatable.
What sets Let It Be Me apart from your typical college romance is the emotional intimacy. When Lorenzo’s medical scare becomes a catalyst for confession, the story pivots from yearning to passionate reality. Their transition from friends to lovers is portrayed with sizzling chemistry but also with emotional sincerity. The summer romance that follows is dreamy, sun-soaked, and laced with both heat and heart.
Yet, true to genre form, there's a shadow hanging over their bliss. The reveal that Lorenzo is hiding something injects tension into the narrative, forcing readers to wonder whether love built on decades of friendship can withstand a revelation capable of shaking that foundation. This central conflict feels authentic and poignant, rather than manufactured for drama’s sake.
Kristen Vail’s prose is evocative, her character work grounded, and her pacing brisk but thoughtful. She lets the romance simmer before igniting, allowing readers to feel the stakes. Supporting characters and campus culture flesh out the world without distracting from the central romance.
Let It Be Me is a compelling, emotional ride for fans of slow burn, best-friend romances. With a blend of summer heat and heartfelt honesty, it delivers not just romantic payoff, but an exploration of how deep love is often built on a lifetime of quiet moments. Perfect for readers who want more than just spice—they want a story that stays with them.
💔 Hidden Feelings
💉 Medical Drama
🔥 Summer Romance
🤫 Secret Keeping
💋 Steamy Romance
💔 Emotional Conflict
👩❤️👨 Slow Burn
🌞 Sun-kissed Moments
Star: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Kristen Vail’s Let It Be Me continues her Shafer U series with a heartfelt and steamy friends-to-lovers romance that dives into the complex territory of hidden feelings, emotional risk, and deep-seated vulnerability. The story follows MCs Ruby and Lorenzo—childhood best friends whose relationship walks the fine line between platonic closeness and a love unspoken.
From the outset, readers are drawn into Ruby’s internal struggle. Lorenzo Rossi, campus football star and Ruby’s unwavering rock, is not just her best friend—he's her quiet, constant love. The novel excels at portraying the tension of that emotional paradox: being someone’s safe place while hiding the depth of your feelings. Ruby’s voice is tender and self-aware, laced with a mixture of longing and resignation that makes her instantly relatable.
What sets Let It Be Me apart from your typical college romance is the emotional intimacy. When Lorenzo’s medical scare becomes a catalyst for confession, the story pivots from yearning to passionate reality. Their transition from friends to lovers is portrayed with sizzling chemistry but also with emotional sincerity. The summer romance that follows is dreamy, sun-soaked, and laced with both heat and heart.
Yet, true to genre form, there's a shadow hanging over their bliss. The reveal that Lorenzo is hiding something injects tension into the narrative, forcing readers to wonder whether love built on decades of friendship can withstand a revelation capable of shaking that foundation. This central conflict feels authentic and poignant, rather than manufactured for drama’s sake.
Kristen Vail’s prose is evocative, her character work grounded, and her pacing brisk but thoughtful. She lets the romance simmer before igniting, allowing readers to feel the stakes. Supporting characters and campus culture flesh out the world without distracting from the central romance.
Let It Be Me is a compelling, emotional ride for fans of slow burn, best-friend romances. With a blend of summer heat and heartfelt honesty, it delivers not just romantic payoff, but an exploration of how deep love is often built on a lifetime of quiet moments. Perfect for readers who want more than just spice—they want a story that stays with them.