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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
funny
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
Love in Focus by Lyla Lewis a fun, Sapphic romcom with forced proximity, second chance, friends to lovers, and workplace romance tropes. I really enjoyed so much about this story, including both FMCs. Three elements did bother me: This is dual POV, in both first and third person. I didn’t really feel like enough of the story focused on establishing the couple’s chemistry and relationship together. And most egregious to me was that Gemma moving on after the sudden unexplained departure and 6 months of silence from Celeste is treated as an equivalent or greater offense, leading to Celeste repeatedly using it as an excuse not to trust Gemma. Still a very good story, and I look forward to more from this author.
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
I enjoyed this one but also wasn’t blown away. It’s a second chance romance and nicely the drama about the original break up is addressed early and maturely.
I did like seeing the progression of the relationship. And appreciated that the breakup wasn’t due to miscommunication.
I think my favorite aspect was the interviews with the couples.
Overall good.
Thanks Hachette Audio for the early copy.
I did like seeing the progression of the relationship. And appreciated that the breakup wasn’t due to miscommunication.
I think my favorite aspect was the interviews with the couples.
Overall good.
Thanks Hachette Audio for the early copy.
emotional
funny
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
When interviewing couples in love is it possible to not obsess over your own feelings? Of course not. This second chance Sapphic romance is roommates-to-lovers, then estranged-exes-to-colleagues, colleagues-to-FWB, FWB to-what’s-next?
The chemistry between Gemma and Celeste is heard in the narration and the story itself. Communication was a problem at the end of their college days, 8 years later they know how to communicate, but they have to figure out how to trust.
As an avid audiobook listener I was surprised by the long pauses between chapters, but enjoyed all other aspects of the narration and production. As a sucker for Sapphic romances and found families, I wish we had seen more of Celeste’s chosen family.
The chemistry between Gemma and Celeste is heard in the narration and the story itself. Communication was a problem at the end of their college days, 8 years later they know how to communicate, but they have to figure out how to trust.
As an avid audiobook listener I was surprised by the long pauses between chapters, but enjoyed all other aspects of the narration and production. As a sucker for Sapphic romances and found families, I wish we had seen more of Celeste’s chosen family.
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
I'm a huge fan of second chance romances, forced working together-ness, and anything inspired by Chappell Roan! Love in Focus has all of those and more! What I really loved about this book is that it examines how few representation certain ethnicities have of queer elders. It's so important to have older role models because when we can't see it, it becomes difficult to believe we have a future. It's also touched upon in the book the queerphobia within Korean Culture and the struggles this brings to the conceptualization of relationships and the future.
I'm a huge fan of second chance romances, forced working together-ness, and anything inspired by Chappell Roan! Love in Focus has all of those and more! What I really loved about this book is that it examines how few representation certain ethnicities have of queer elders. It's so important to have older role models because when we can't see it, it becomes difficult to believe we have a future. It's also touched upon in the book the queerphobia within Korean Culture and the struggles this brings to the conceptualization of relationships and the future.
MY RATING 3,75/5 STARS
If you are looking for a sweet and lovely sapphic romance, this is definitely one to keep your eye on!
This was such a quick and wonderful read, and I was even more excited when I learned that the audiobook was narrated by Natalie Naudus, who did a wonderful job!
I enjoyed so many aspects of this book, but one of my favourite things was seeing Gemma and her friend group being there and always supporting each other!
Another thing I appreciated was seeing Gemma and Celeste reconnect after being broken up for so many years. I also found it interesting to see the two of them working together on the Love in Focus article, and hearing about so many different people's perspectives on love.
While I did love the book, I still had one thing that ended up bothering me. In Celeste's first chapter, she ends up saying it's a lesbian's worst nightmare to have her bi ex-girlfriend end up with a man.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
If you are looking for a sweet and lovely sapphic romance, this is definitely one to keep your eye on!
This was such a quick and wonderful read, and I was even more excited when I learned that the audiobook was narrated by Natalie Naudus, who did a wonderful job!
I enjoyed so many aspects of this book, but one of my favourite things was seeing Gemma and her friend group being there and always supporting each other!
Another thing I appreciated was seeing Gemma and Celeste reconnect after being broken up for so many years. I also found it interesting to see the two of them working together on the Love in Focus article, and hearing about so many different people's perspectives on love.
While I did love the book, I still had one thing that ended up bothering me. In Celeste's first chapter, she ends up saying it's a lesbian's worst nightmare to have her bi ex-girlfriend end up with a man.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
emotional
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:
Complicated
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
I really enjoyed this book! I liked Gemma as a character and really felt for her when it came to romantic heartbreaks. Both breakups sound so painful. I also liked the forced proximity and Gemma and Celeste’s reconnection.
I listened to an Advanced Listening Copy and think the narrators did an excellent job bringing the characters to life.
There is a comment that Celeste makes in her head about being upset Gemma moved on (so quickly) after their breakup and with a man. She calls it a “lesbian’s worst nightmare.” In my experience, the only lesbians who fear their ex moving on with a man are biphobic. And I know the author themself is bi, so I’m not sure why this was included. The comment was never addressed or challenged.
Pub Date: May 27th, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley, Forever, and Hachette Audio for a copy of this eARC/ALC.
emotional
funny
inspiring
sad
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:
No
hopeful
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:
Yes
Love in Focus is a sapphic romance about two exes who were roommates and are now working together. Can they keep their relationship casual? *cue Chappell Roan*
Love In Focus was a light-hearted romance that was very sapphic. I loved it and ate all the tropes up. It was insanely cute and so fun. Not only all of that, but there was a surprising amount of emotional depth. They might be messy saphics, but they GROW.
I also loved the job the narrators did. Gemma and Celeste had two different narrators, which highlighted the different writing styles of their POV chapters. If they already have an established relationship, that is not good. Getting both points of view tends to help me bond with both characters and not hold a grudge against one the whole time. Based on what others are saying, Cleleste's POV was not for everyone, but it made me like her more. Something about seeing Gemma through her eyes had me kicking my feet. There were things about Cleleste that rubbed me the wrong way (specifically relating to Gemma's Bisexuality and the end of their relationship), but the addition of her POV helped me like her way more than if it had been left out. They both did a fabulous job of capturing both characters.
I genuinely loved this book! It's full of sapphic love! HOT DAM that SPICE!!! I had to give myself a second after some of those chapters. I just love a messy saphic relationship, so this was for me.
Love In Focus was a light-hearted romance that was very sapphic. I loved it and ate all the tropes up. It was insanely cute and so fun. Not only all of that, but there was a surprising amount of emotional depth. They might be messy saphics, but they GROW.
I also loved the job the narrators did. Gemma and Celeste had two different narrators, which highlighted the different writing styles of their POV chapters. If they already have an established relationship, that is not good. Getting both points of view tends to help me bond with both characters and not hold a grudge against one the whole time. Based on what others are saying, Cleleste's POV was not for everyone, but it made me like her more. Something about seeing Gemma through her eyes had me kicking my feet. There were things about Cleleste that rubbed me the wrong way (specifically relating to Gemma's Bisexuality and the end of their relationship), but the addition of her POV helped me like her way more than if it had been left out. They both did a fabulous job of capturing both characters.
I genuinely loved this book! It's full of sapphic love! HOT DAM that SPICE!!! I had to give myself a second after some of those chapters. I just love a messy saphic relationship, so this was for me.