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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The book started off great but a little overwhelmingly sad when literally everything goes wrong for Gemma. It all made me feel sorry for Gemma and question her choice in all her romantic and professional endeavors. I did enjoy the premise of the book and the project that brought the women together but really could have done without the beginning and the inclusion of her fiance.
There was a Bi-phobic flashback from Celeste pretty early on and the general sentiment seemed to follow her character throughout the novel with a sprinkling of lesbian male hatred which wasn't a great look. The book flipped back and forth between cute moments and weird misogyny/heteronormative roles up until about midway through. Big miscommunication trope throughout. Like girl!!! How hard is it to send a single text!
The end of the book leaned way more into women's fiction than romance. It felt like an appropriate ending and I enjoyed it but it just wasn't a romance novel ending. If was an AAPI women's fiction novel and fully leaned into that then it could have easily been a 5 but as a romance it didn't reach that bar. The romance felt forced into the "romance novel format" at times.
I did enjoy that it was a dual POV and enjoyed even more that there were two narrators. I don't think I've ever seen this in a WLW book but please, more of this!! The narrator both did an amazing job portraying the emotion of the book.
-Dual pov
-Second chance romance
-Dual pov
-Second chance romance
challenging
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
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
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
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
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
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
⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
By far one of my favorite 2025 releases and sapphic romance. In this novel, we follow Grace's and Celeste's second chance while having to work together on a work project around love. This excels in an area in which a lot of second-chance romances lack, which is making the reason for the breakup valid at the moment without making the couple seem incompatible in the present. Every aspect of this felt real, which gave more dimension to the book. It's also essential to mention how funny the novel is (partly because of the amazing side characters). Also have to mention how good and vivid the duet narration was; it gave the FMCs more character. Overall, required reading for fans of cute yet steamy sapphic books.
By far one of my favorite 2025 releases and sapphic romance. In this novel, we follow Grace's and Celeste's second chance while having to work together on a work project around love. This excels in an area in which a lot of second-chance romances lack, which is making the reason for the breakup valid at the moment without making the couple seem incompatible in the present. Every aspect of this felt real, which gave more dimension to the book. It's also essential to mention how funny the novel is (partly because of the amazing side characters). Also have to mention how good and vivid the duet narration was; it gave the FMCs more character. Overall, required reading for fans of cute yet steamy sapphic books.
Thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Cute sapphic romance story and with some self reflection. Nothing too deep.
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I absolutely LOVED this audiobook! The narrators had such distinct voices and tone for Gemma and Celeste, and I loved how each woman felt so personalized in their writing and narration. Beyond that, each side character that was featured was read with attention to detail and their own voice. Both narrators took great care in making sure that all characters voiced felt fresh and different to one another.
I loved this story and I'm so glad I got to experience it through audio because I feel like it amplified every tender and heartfelt moment between the women. Lyla Lee wrote such a healing story that centered queer Asian love and while still acknowledging the traumas that may come with it. I truly enjoyed this story and cannot thank Lyla enough for writing a warm and joyful love story like this.
Thank you NetGalley and Forever for the ALC and ARC!
I loved this story and I'm so glad I got to experience it through audio because I feel like it amplified every tender and heartfelt moment between the women. Lyla Lee wrote such a healing story that centered queer Asian love and while still acknowledging the traumas that may come with it. I truly enjoyed this story and cannot thank Lyla enough for writing a warm and joyful love story like this.
Thank you NetGalley and Forever for the ALC and ARC!
lighthearted
medium-paced
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
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