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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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
Hachette Audio have provided an ALC for this review.
Did you ever wonder about the one who got away? Have someone who you were convinced was the one, only to be dumped with no explanation, never to see them again? What if you did see them again? What would you do if that person just suddenly appeared, like a ghost, after almost a decade? How would you react, what would you say?
This is exactly the dilemma that arises for Gemma Cho, when she and her first girlfriend, her college ex, the woman she thought she was going to spend her life with, Celeste Min, are brought together by the magazine she works for, for a make or break feature project.
Gemma's also been freshly been dumped by her fiancée of 7 years. So, she's staying on her best friend's couch and feeling at her lowest since Celeste left her with no explanation.
Love in Focus deals very deftly with issues of coming out in Korean culture, which traditionally still does not accept same sex partnerships, and marriages not yet legalized in Korea. The book also handled the second chance romance very well, considering the situations of both women since their breakup and during their ensuing relationship with great care and integrity.
While I was not familiar with either narrator prior to listening this audiobook, it seemed that the one voicing Gemma’s chapters seemed more seasoned. As she was the primary point of view in the book, was given the role to be able to lend the more deft vocal performer the larger task.
Overall score 4.25/5 stars
🇬🇧 Review in english and french / 🇫🇷 Avis en anglais et en français
🇬🇧 I completely fell in love with this cozy romance that breaks away from the usual tropes, and the audiobook experience truly elevated my enjoyment. The narrator who voices Gemma is outstanding—she brings each character to life with such subtlety that it feels like every character has their own voice actor. It's immersive, vibrant, and above all, deeply engaging. Gemma herself is an incredibly endearing main character: vulnerable, curious, and on a journey of self-discovery that we follow with real emotion.
Special mention goes to the voice actress for Celeste as well, who brings a refreshing shift in tone and makes the interactions between the two leads even more captivating.
I loved the pop culture references (yes, Jujutsu Kaisen, I saw you 👀) and the way Korean culture is highlighted—both through physical descriptions and cultural traditions.
One small drawback: chapters from Celeste’s point of view are few and always written in third person. Switching from Gemma’s intimate first-person narration to this more distant perspective can be a little jarring, even if it makes sense given the story's strong focus on Gemma.
The plot itself is brilliant—Gemma and Celeste actually take the time to talk, to work through important issues. There are no endless dramatic misunderstandings here—their communication is honest, clear, and creates an emotional tension that’s perfectly balanced. The end genuinely caught me off guard (which rarely happens in romance!), and some of the answers given by the couples interviewed for Gemma’s project moved me deeply—I almost shed a tear…
This is a soft, introspective romance with a lovely blend of tenderness and realism. It may not appeal to everyone, especially those who prefer fast-paced stories, as a large part of the narrative unfolds inside Gemma’s mind as she gets to know herself. But for me, that’s exactly what made this book so special.
💖 A cozy, heartfelt gem—gentle, sensitive, and profoundly human.
🇫🇷 J’ai eu un véritable coup de cœur pour cette romance cozy qui sort des sentiers battus, et l’expérience audio a vraiment sublimé ma lecture. La narratrice qui prête sa voix à Gemma est exceptionnelle : elle donne vie à chaque personnage avec une telle nuance qu’on a presque l’impression que chaque rôle est doublé par une personne différente. C’est immersif, vivant, et surtout, très attachant. Gemma, d’ailleurs, est un personnage principal qu’on ne peut s’empêcher d’aimer : vulnérable, curieuse, en pleine exploration d’elle-même… on suit son cheminement intérieur avec beaucoup d’émotion.
Mention spéciale aussi à la doubleuse de Céleste, qui apporte un vrai changement de ton bienvenu et rend les échanges entre les deux protagonistes encore plus captivants.
J’ai adoré les références pop culture (oui, Jujutsu Kaisen, on t’a vu 👀) et la manière dont la culture coréenne est mise en avant, aussi bien dans les descriptions physiques que dans les traditions évoquées.
Un petit bémol cependant : les chapitres du point de vue de Céleste sont rares, et toujours racontés à la troisième personne. Passer de la première personne très intime de Gemma à cette narration plus distante peut être un peu perturbant, même si cela garde une certaine cohérence avec le fait que l’histoire reste très centrée sur Gemma.
L’intrigue en elle-même est brillante : Gemma et Céleste prennent réellement le temps de se parler, de discuter des choses importantes. Ici, pas de malentendus dramatiques à la chaîne – leur communication est fluide, honnête, et ça crée une tension émotionnelle incroyablement bien dosée. Certaines révélations m’ont prise par surprise (ce qui est rare dans une romance !) et certaines réponses que donne les couples interviewés pour le projet de Gemma m’ont profondément touchée – j’ai failli verser une larme…
C’est une romance douce, introspective, avec une belle dose de tendresse et de réalisme. Elle ne plaira peut-être pas à tout le monde, notamment à celles et ceux qui préfèrent les histoires très rythmées, car une grande partie du récit se déroule dans la tête de Gemma pendant qu’elle se découvre peu à peu. Mais pour moi, c’était justement ce qui rendait ce roman aussi spécial.
💖 Une pépite cozy, sensible, et profondément humaine.
🇬🇧 I completely fell in love with this cozy romance that breaks away from the usual tropes, and the audiobook experience truly elevated my enjoyment. The narrator who voices Gemma is outstanding—she brings each character to life with such subtlety that it feels like every character has their own voice actor. It's immersive, vibrant, and above all, deeply engaging. Gemma herself is an incredibly endearing main character: vulnerable, curious, and on a journey of self-discovery that we follow with real emotion.
Special mention goes to the voice actress for Celeste as well, who brings a refreshing shift in tone and makes the interactions between the two leads even more captivating.
I loved the pop culture references (yes, Jujutsu Kaisen, I saw you 👀) and the way Korean culture is highlighted—both through physical descriptions and cultural traditions.
One small drawback: chapters from Celeste’s point of view are few and always written in third person. Switching from Gemma’s intimate first-person narration to this more distant perspective can be a little jarring, even if it makes sense given the story's strong focus on Gemma.
The plot itself is brilliant—Gemma and Celeste actually take the time to talk, to work through important issues. There are no endless dramatic misunderstandings here—their communication is honest, clear, and creates an emotional tension that’s perfectly balanced. The end genuinely caught me off guard (which rarely happens in romance!), and some of the answers given by the couples interviewed for Gemma’s project moved me deeply—I almost shed a tear…
This is a soft, introspective romance with a lovely blend of tenderness and realism. It may not appeal to everyone, especially those who prefer fast-paced stories, as a large part of the narrative unfolds inside Gemma’s mind as she gets to know herself. But for me, that’s exactly what made this book so special.
💖 A cozy, heartfelt gem—gentle, sensitive, and profoundly human.
🇫🇷 J’ai eu un véritable coup de cœur pour cette romance cozy qui sort des sentiers battus, et l’expérience audio a vraiment sublimé ma lecture. La narratrice qui prête sa voix à Gemma est exceptionnelle : elle donne vie à chaque personnage avec une telle nuance qu’on a presque l’impression que chaque rôle est doublé par une personne différente. C’est immersif, vivant, et surtout, très attachant. Gemma, d’ailleurs, est un personnage principal qu’on ne peut s’empêcher d’aimer : vulnérable, curieuse, en pleine exploration d’elle-même… on suit son cheminement intérieur avec beaucoup d’émotion.
Mention spéciale aussi à la doubleuse de Céleste, qui apporte un vrai changement de ton bienvenu et rend les échanges entre les deux protagonistes encore plus captivants.
J’ai adoré les références pop culture (oui, Jujutsu Kaisen, on t’a vu 👀) et la manière dont la culture coréenne est mise en avant, aussi bien dans les descriptions physiques que dans les traditions évoquées.
Un petit bémol cependant : les chapitres du point de vue de Céleste sont rares, et toujours racontés à la troisième personne. Passer de la première personne très intime de Gemma à cette narration plus distante peut être un peu perturbant, même si cela garde une certaine cohérence avec le fait que l’histoire reste très centrée sur Gemma.
L’intrigue en elle-même est brillante : Gemma et Céleste prennent réellement le temps de se parler, de discuter des choses importantes. Ici, pas de malentendus dramatiques à la chaîne – leur communication est fluide, honnête, et ça crée une tension émotionnelle incroyablement bien dosée. Certaines révélations m’ont prise par surprise (ce qui est rare dans une romance !) et certaines réponses que donne les couples interviewés pour le projet de Gemma m’ont profondément touchée – j’ai failli verser une larme…
C’est une romance douce, introspective, avec une belle dose de tendresse et de réalisme. Elle ne plaira peut-être pas à tout le monde, notamment à celles et ceux qui préfèrent les histoires très rythmées, car une grande partie du récit se déroule dans la tête de Gemma pendant qu’elle se découvre peu à peu. Mais pour moi, c’était justement ce qui rendait ce roman aussi spécial.
💖 Une pépite cozy, sensible, et profondément humaine.
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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:
Yes
When Gemma is assigned to work with a photographer for a work project, and it turns out they one that was hired was the ex who left out of the blue 8 years before, it makes work awkward for Gemma. Working with Celeste brings some answers, and a bunch of unresolved feelings to the surface.
This is a cute, quick read about exs falling back in love through a series of random encounters mixed with the forced proximity of working together. The interviews they conduct together are beautiful.
I recommend this for anyone looking for a cute, cozy romance.
I received a free advance review copy through from Forever Publishing through NetGalley and my review is voluntary.
This is a cute, quick read about exs falling back in love through a series of random encounters mixed with the forced proximity of working together. The interviews they conduct together are beautiful.
I recommend this for anyone looking for a cute, cozy romance.
I received a free advance review copy through from Forever Publishing through NetGalley and my review is voluntary.
4.5 stars!!!! so good and sexy!!!!!
queer asian main leads (bi + lesbian) written by an asian author and such good steamy scenes! i also deeply appreciated their layers as characters, both separate and together! it didn't feel like an easy out without putting in the work separately to be stronger and i really appreciated that. i know a lot of people don't like a third act breakup but it really is needed sometimes.
the narrators did wonderful but i thought it was an interesting choice to make gemma's pov in 1st person and celest's pov in 3rd. i don't know how i really felt about it tbh.
overall really wonderful and the scene with the strap... chefs kiss!
queer asian main leads (bi + lesbian) written by an asian author and such good steamy scenes! i also deeply appreciated their layers as characters, both separate and together! it didn't feel like an easy out without putting in the work separately to be stronger and i really appreciated that. i know a lot of people don't like a third act breakup but it really is needed sometimes.
the narrators did wonderful but i thought it was an interesting choice to make gemma's pov in 1st person and celest's pov in 3rd. i don't know how i really felt about it tbh.
overall really wonderful and the scene with the strap... chefs kiss!
emotional
hopeful
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Love in Focus by Lyla Lee
Contemporary sapphic romance. Diverse, own voice. Second chance troupe.
Gemma Cho and Celeste Min are set up to collaborate on an article. The only problem is that they have a past unresolved relationship they’ll need to talk about to be able to effectively work together. There are still sparks between them but is that good or bad?
🎧 I listened to an audiobook of this story narrated by Natalie Naudus and Catherine Ho. Both did a good job with the performance but the second didn’t convert well to a higher speed. Her voice became robotic and unemotional at 1.5. If playing it slower, the emotional came through. Since I read much faster than I can listen, this made the audiobook a second choice over reading a print copy.
I enjoyed the romance but found it hard to believe that the two would fall back into a relationship so quickly. It made sense since they had history that was never really resolved. Celeste’s not wanting a longterm relationship came as a bit of a surprise after they had been together for a time. I liked the San Francisco setting and that they felt the freedom to go out safely anywhere. And it was great they included the older couples in the article and discussed the hidden aspect in some countries and the legal ability to marry in the States.
Gemma and Celeste are late 20’s. The story reads more as new adult.
Angst and spice with a happy ending.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley and Hachette Audio.
Love in Focus was a lot of fun! A cute, sapphic second-chance romance with some very entertaining side characters. I especially adored the dynamic between Gemma and her friends Val and Kiara—honestly, I probably would’ve enjoyed the book even more if it had centered around them.
Celeste, on the other hand… was kind of annoying. Actually, very annoying. She never really took responsibility for her actions, which came off as childish and immature. While the story itself was cute, it definitely left a lot to be desired. That said, I’m looking forward to seeing what Lyla Lee writes next and how her voice continues to grow!
Thank you Forever for the alc/arc of this super story! The dual narration on the audio was spectacular!
emotional
funny
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
Gemma hasn't seen or heard from her ex Celeste in eight years, after Celeste moved to Korea and broke up with her via text with no explanation. And now Gemma, a columnist, has been assigned to work with Celeste, a photographer, on an important project about love.
I loved the setting of this book. I have traveled to the bay area so it was easier to visualize it for me, but the author did well describing the setting and it made me want to go back. It took me a while to want to root for the characters and a second chance for them. The initial reason behind the break-up and miscommunication that happened could have been so easily solved. BUT once they started communicating and realizing their mistakes when they were younger, things really started to develop. I liked that they were in their later 20s so those conversations and realizations could be had. I also liked the focus on older queer couples for their project, especially an older sapphic couple. As for the spice, please, I beg, more strap-ons for the sapphics! Well done on that one!
The 1st person POV for Gemma and 3rd person POV for Celeste was a little hard to get used to at first. I would have loved to have more chapters for Celeste. Her chapters almost seemed like an afterthought.
The audiobook was okay. Natalie Naudus always does a fantastic job. She has a very pleasant voice and brings the range of emotions needed to her character. Catherine Ho almost sounded robotic at times and didn't have as much emotional depth.
~Thank you to Hachette Audio, Lyla Lee and NetGalley for this complimentary ALC. All opinions are my own~
I loved the setting of this book. I have traveled to the bay area so it was easier to visualize it for me, but the author did well describing the setting and it made me want to go back. It took me a while to want to root for the characters and a second chance for them. The initial reason behind the break-up and miscommunication that happened could have been so easily solved. BUT once they started communicating and realizing their mistakes when they were younger, things really started to develop. I liked that they were in their later 20s so those conversations and realizations could be had. I also liked the focus on older queer couples for their project, especially an older sapphic couple. As for the spice, please, I beg, more strap-ons for the sapphics! Well done on that one!
The 1st person POV for Gemma and 3rd person POV for Celeste was a little hard to get used to at first. I would have loved to have more chapters for Celeste. Her chapters almost seemed like an afterthought.
The audiobook was okay. Natalie Naudus always does a fantastic job. She has a very pleasant voice and brings the range of emotions needed to her character. Catherine Ho almost sounded robotic at times and didn't have as much emotional depth.
~Thank you to Hachette Audio, Lyla Lee and NetGalley for this complimentary ALC. All opinions are my own~
Thank you to NetGalley, Forever, Hachette Audio & Lyla Lee for the chance to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
This is a cute second chance, FF, workplace romance. There was no denying the MCs physical chemistry. The spice spiced nicely. I was a little taken aback by Celeste's biphobia. I find it hard to wrap my mind around how severely Celeste ghosted Gemma, yet Gemma needs to apologize for moving on? In that regard- the long term miscommunication trope is a little distracting. But if you don't overthink it- it's fun tale. The ex fiance infuriated me.. "blow off steam with HER but still in love with you.." MEN!
Dual narration was phenomenal. Both female presenting narrators have distinctly different voices and it was simple to differentiate mentally between the two.
Okay, I really enjoyed the setting! San Francisco was such a vibrant backdrop, and I loved how much the characters were connected to the city—it gave the whole story a cozy, grounded vibe.
The premise was adorable: revisiting old wounds while interviewing couples about their own love stories? That structure worked really well. It allowed for a lot of reflection, tension, and some truly touching moments. I also really liked the second chance angle—there was real chemistry and emotional weight between Gemma and Celeste. The sexual tension? Yep, it was there, and it worked.
That said, I never felt fully connected to them. I think the story leaned too much into telling instead of showing, especially in the emotional beats. It felt a little too polished, not quite raw enough for me to be fully invested.
Still, it was sweet, full of heart, and made for a great listen—the audiobook narrators were excellent. Definitely a soft, pleasant read.
Love in Focus, a second chance romance by Lyla Lee, was a fabulous read. The story follows Gemma and Celeste, former college sweethearts. The chemistry between Celeste (who left the country 7 years ago, resulting in the end of their romance), and Gemma (fresh out of the relationship she jumped into after Celeste left), is so delicious. They both clearly still have feelings for each other, and the story has a fun and interesting plot. And, of course, there is a highly enjoyable spicy scene (or three) along the way.
The book is dual POV, but...also not? Out of forty-one chapters, thirty are in first person from Gemma's perspective, and the other eleven are shorter, third person views of Celeste. I think sometimes when you're reading a single POV story, you wonder what's going on in the other character's head (or at least I do), so to me it feels like we're getting Gemma's story with little glimpses of Celeste without it being truly dual POV. I know this might not be to everyone's tastes, but I found it really interesting.
I received a free ARC from NetGalley, but my review is unbiased and left voluntarily.
The book is dual POV, but...also not? Out of forty-one chapters, thirty are in first person from Gemma's perspective, and the other eleven are shorter, third person views of Celeste. I think sometimes when you're reading a single POV story, you wonder what's going on in the other character's head (or at least I do), so to me it feels like we're getting Gemma's story with little glimpses of Celeste without it being truly dual POV. I know this might not be to everyone's tastes, but I found it really interesting.
I received a free ARC from NetGalley, but my review is unbiased and left voluntarily.