Reviews with content warning for Sexual content - Behind the Scenes

Obviously, I read this book for the pugs. Who were PERFECT.

This was such a charming story. And not just because of the pugs! The characters were very relatable—idk about you, but I completely relate to characters who play things safe because they’re afraid to do something wrong in life or feel like they have too much baggage for anyone to love them. It was also very refreshing to read about such a healthy couple. So many things that could have turned into a big argument or moment of drama were resolved so healthily and I just 🙌🏻 bask in the glory of that. Super cute and funny, pugs were the best part.

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lunarmagi42's review against another edition

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emotional funny 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

4.5

Genuinely funny and heartwarming in equal turns. Ash and Rose have true chemistry that comes from something much more than "love at first sight': a deep, instinctual understanding of what makes the other person tick, of what keeps their heart pounding and their brain spinning. The jokes are cleverly interwoven and never feel forced or accidentally mean, even when the characters are teasing each other. Even the "third act conflict" that is present in nearly every rom-com felt real and not over done. Ash and Rose had a real disagreement about real things that didn't spin out from miscommunication but instead a real hesitancy to trust someone so new to your heart with something so big.

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jackiepreston's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted medium-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? No

4.0

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nikspandya's review against another edition

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emotional funny 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

5.0

this read has me all in my feels. It really does. I feel that a lot contemporary romance readers are drawn to the word “realistic” to describe whether a book pulls at their heartstrings the correct or incorrect way. But that doesn’t feel right to me. The satisfaction of Behind the Scenes for me lies in its E X E C U T I O N. It was executed to a T.

With only one book under my belt, Karliea Stetz-Waters has become an auto buy author for me. Her method of storytelling is exactly my taste, her pacing is my speed. Her characters Rose and Ash are REAL people, 38 and 40 year olds that have lived a life thus far that was only made full with meeting each other.

I love film. I loved Rose and Ash’s backstories that led them together in such a sweet serendipitous way. The additions of their passions for sight and sound molding their bond closer, making them necessary to one another. This book also touches on healing and sexual dysfunction, which is not something I’ve read before but was happy to read and learn about.

The chapters are short and read like scenes from a movie, the exposition is introduced with care and excitement for what’s to come. I would watch the shit out of this movie (much like I will reread this book later in the year). Behind the Scenes is just so….wonderful from start to finish and I’m going to put Satisfaction Guaranteed on my future library holds list lol. Highly recommend this lovely sapphic romance!

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imstephtacular's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

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patelyne's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

It starts with a quick meet cute over dumpster diving dogs, then a helpful friend’s interference gets them a professional second meeting.

Ash wants to get back into movie directing, after a severe accident then divorce from her producer wife had her shuttled into commercial work.

Rose became a business orientated go getter in order to set herself and siblings up to be financially stable after their parent’s sudden death, and feels like she has to hide away her attempts at artistic expression.

Rose is hired on as business consultant to help Ash as she makes an important pitch for the movie that could be her second chance in the industry. They’re attracted to each other, but there are complications on both sides. Eventually the lines between personal and professional are thinned until they’re more suggestions than boundaries, and they fall for each other (and the idea of an eight-pug-having future)

There’s some heavy themes. Past loss and continuing trauma, physical and mental. But there’s also heart eyes and hope, messy people in love. And the dogs are excellent for comedic relief. All the emotions, really.

ASMR is a fairly big part of the story. I’m more a lofi music person - contrary to what it’s *supposed* to do asmr gives me weird twitchy anxiety type feelings - but it was interesting reading about them connecting over it.

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onemorepagecrew's review against another edition

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4.0

Behind the Scenes by Karelia Stetz-Waters was one of my most anticipated new releases in January and I devoured it in two days. It’s a sapphic romantic comedy with personal growth, laughs, and spice – a favorite combo for me.

In it we meet Rose and Ash, whose careers intersect at pivotal moments in each of their lives. Ash is laying it all on the line to finance her next film and get her career back on track after a devastating break up that challenged her credibility at work. After a chance meeting with sparks, she hires Rose as a business consultant for her big pitch to the financer.

Their arc from initial meeting…to showing flaws…to personal healing…to secret love…to out loud love had me all in. There’s character depth and trauma healing while being witty and entertaining, with dashes of spice. It’s grown-up love with a sugary sweet ending. Bonus… if you enjoy ASMR there is a sub-plot with Rose that is fun!

Thank you to Forever Publishing and NetGalley for providing a digital copy of this book, I appreciate you!

Content warnings: Sexual content (moderate), Grief

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booksdogsandcoffee's review against another edition

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informative inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I highly enjoyed the representation in this book, The fact that we are watching a 38 year old and 40 year old love story in Hollywood. Watching the two of them work through their struggles was magical. I also think that the depiction of consensual sex, sexual disfunction, anxiety and kink was done so well. Waters also showed a fun and strong bond between sisters and the dynamics of that through having to raise your younger siblings.

I did vibe with a bit of the plot points, it just didn't hook me that well. Plus there was a bit of language that was negative around food and a tish fatphobic. I don't think the Waters meant for these lines to come across this way through.

Overall it had a love story based around mutual consent, love and trust that will resonate with so many people.

rep
sapphic, disability, sexual dysfunction

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