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3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
lighthearted
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I truly enjoyed this book. As the book started I thought it would be a bit of a "basic" second chance romance but as the story progressed I felt drawn in to the characters. The pace was great and I loved the way the author used other couples/love stories to build up the story.
I listened to the audiobook. The voice actors were great! I did have to speed the book up significantly more than I have with other books and I noticed that the two voice actors were reading at differnet paces.
I listened to the audiobook. The voice actors were great! I did have to speed the book up significantly more than I have with other books and I noticed that the two voice actors were reading at differnet paces.
Not invested in either main character and the writing is a bit on the nose. The main characters kissed and I was annoyed, not excited.
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-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
"Love in Focus" is one of the biggest gut punches I have had in a long time, even though I often say that. I'm certain, however, that this one has been the most brutal gut punch of 2025 yet.
The story tracks the reunion of two unlikely former lovers, Gemma and Celeste. Gemma is a writer who has maintained her stay on the West Coast after attending college. She was engaged to be married, but that all fell apart, and her former fiancé immediately took up with someone new. At the worst possible time, Celeste was assigned to be the photographer accompanying Gemma's piece. The two had not seen each other in almost ten years since Celeste abruptly left college to return home. Gemma never really bounced back after their breakup. Celeste didn't address ending the relationship at all; she just disappeared.
As they navigate working together after being estranged for so long and without closure, sparks fly again. However, Celeste has adamantly made it known that she isn't a relationship person, and Gemma isn't sure she can be just friends with Celeste.
This story resonated with me deeply, as it is so relatable. As a person who has gone through a second chance, and the story is more like a third chance, it puts you on pins and needles, hoping that they will clear everything up and be able to move on. The way that Kayla Lee told the story, where we could hear the thoughts of both Gemma and Celeste, and yearning for them to make it work, was absolutely fantastic. As we go through the third act breakup, which gets too much negative focus, we witness tremendous growth and maturity in the decisions made. It made my heart burst for these two fictional characters in ways I cannot explain. It had me relive those tender moments in my own life when I walked the tightrope, unsure if the relationship would make it.
Beyond the emotionally heavy stuff that this author presented to us in a much lighter way than I have described here, she also added a kind of spice that I can only describe as being tender. Even though these two were lovers in college, there was still room for some “firsts.” And those firsts were handled with tact and tenderness.
This audiobook is narrated by Natalie Naudus and Catherine Ho. Naudus, of course, knocked this out of the ballpark. She did a beautiful job portraying Gemma, allowing us to experience the pain, frustration, and confusion that this young woman was going through. The character that Lee wrote that goes through such substantial maturity, Naudus truly embodies and projects for the listener to not only hear but also feel and experience.
I wish I could say the same for Catherine Ho. First off, there is a MASSIVE difference between the stylings of Naudus and Ho. It’s not just voices, it’s HOW they do their craft. Naudus EMBODIES her characters like so many of my favorites (Angela Dawe, Anastasia Watley, Jeremy Carlisle Parker, Lori Prince, Jenn Lee, Andi Arndt, Jakobi Diem, just to name a few). Ho does not narrate that way. She READS. She does NOT perform. Ho would be great for nonfiction stories but NOT fiction.
Only because of this gorgeous story and Naudus’s exquisite performance was I able to move past Ho’s voicings.
Not only is this a beautiful sapphic love story about a variety of topics, but it also includes the experience many of us don't have, which is having to deal with one’s sexuality, where not only a family may shun you, but an entire community or culture might frown upon you. I especially loved the character of Celeste, who is stronger beyond her years, dealing with things one shouldn't have to at her age, let alone the added pressure of trying to live life as one's true self in a society where that is not applauded.
I cannot recommend this story enough. Despite my age, I still love young adult and new adult stories because if we're not constantly growing and changing to experience life, we might as well be dead. I value the opportunities to listen to stories and experience lives beyond my little bubble of the world. I am grateful that we have authors and narrators who create these spaces for us to explore. This is a story I will revisit in the future.
I received an advanced listening copy of the audiobook from the publisher through Netgalley and am leaving a voluntary review. 
The story tracks the reunion of two unlikely former lovers, Gemma and Celeste. Gemma is a writer who has maintained her stay on the West Coast after attending college. She was engaged to be married, but that all fell apart, and her former fiancé immediately took up with someone new. At the worst possible time, Celeste was assigned to be the photographer accompanying Gemma's piece. The two had not seen each other in almost ten years since Celeste abruptly left college to return home. Gemma never really bounced back after their breakup. Celeste didn't address ending the relationship at all; she just disappeared.
As they navigate working together after being estranged for so long and without closure, sparks fly again. However, Celeste has adamantly made it known that she isn't a relationship person, and Gemma isn't sure she can be just friends with Celeste.
This story resonated with me deeply, as it is so relatable. As a person who has gone through a second chance, and the story is more like a third chance, it puts you on pins and needles, hoping that they will clear everything up and be able to move on. The way that Kayla Lee told the story, where we could hear the thoughts of both Gemma and Celeste, and yearning for them to make it work, was absolutely fantastic. As we go through the third act breakup, which gets too much negative focus, we witness tremendous growth and maturity in the decisions made. It made my heart burst for these two fictional characters in ways I cannot explain. It had me relive those tender moments in my own life when I walked the tightrope, unsure if the relationship would make it.
Beyond the emotionally heavy stuff that this author presented to us in a much lighter way than I have described here, she also added a kind of spice that I can only describe as being tender. Even though these two were lovers in college, there was still room for some “firsts.” And those firsts were handled with tact and tenderness.
This audiobook is narrated by Natalie Naudus and Catherine Ho. Naudus, of course, knocked this out of the ballpark. She did a beautiful job portraying Gemma, allowing us to experience the pain, frustration, and confusion that this young woman was going through. The character that Lee wrote that goes through such substantial maturity, Naudus truly embodies and projects for the listener to not only hear but also feel and experience.
I wish I could say the same for Catherine Ho. First off, there is a MASSIVE difference between the stylings of Naudus and Ho. It’s not just voices, it’s HOW they do their craft. Naudus EMBODIES her characters like so many of my favorites (Angela Dawe, Anastasia Watley, Jeremy Carlisle Parker, Lori Prince, Jenn Lee, Andi Arndt, Jakobi Diem, just to name a few). Ho does not narrate that way. She READS. She does NOT perform. Ho would be great for nonfiction stories but NOT fiction.
Only because of this gorgeous story and Naudus’s exquisite performance was I able to move past Ho’s voicings.
Not only is this a beautiful sapphic love story about a variety of topics, but it also includes the experience many of us don't have, which is having to deal with one’s sexuality, where not only a family may shun you, but an entire community or culture might frown upon you. I especially loved the character of Celeste, who is stronger beyond her years, dealing with things one shouldn't have to at her age, let alone the added pressure of trying to live life as one's true self in a society where that is not applauded.
I cannot recommend this story enough. Despite my age, I still love young adult and new adult stories because if we're not constantly growing and changing to experience life, we might as well be dead. I value the opportunities to listen to stories and experience lives beyond my little bubble of the world. I am grateful that we have authors and narrators who create these spaces for us to explore. This is a story I will revisit in the future.
I received an advanced listening copy of the audiobook from the publisher through Netgalley and am leaving a voluntary review. 
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Rating: 3.5⭐️
This was definitely cute and had a lot of charm. I really appreciated that there wasn’t a miscommunication that lead to the third act breakup. The interview format and the incorporation of Korean culture added a nice little touch that I really enjoyed.
That said, I found myself wanting a bit more from the characters and their story. It felt like something was just missing to really make it stand out. Overall, it was a very quick, enjoyable read, even if I wished it dug a little deeper.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
inspiring
reflective
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
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes