A review by marym2215
Lean in to Love by Catherine Lane

funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

3.5

Rory Hatten, a behind-the-scenes cook on a tv cooking show, is just trying to stay out of the limelight and find a way to make a living in Hollywood while pursuing her passion of baking. But, when her roommate Maya literally walks out on her job one night upon meeting the gorgeous and talented up-and-coming actress London, Rory’s life is quickly turned upside-down. Now, Rory somehow finds herself entangled in Maya and London’s very quickly and very passionately budding romance while butting heads upon first meeting London’s talent agent, Ellis Turner. But, as London and Maya become more and more public with their romance, not all might be as it seems. With questions about Maya’s true motives for being with London, Rory and Ellis find themselves working together to get to the bottom of what seems like an insta-love story. While their first encounter may have left much to be desired, Rory and Ellis slowly start to realize that they each might have more to offer each other than they first believed. 

There were many things I liked about this book. I really enjoyed reading about Rory and Ellis’ relationship and watching it develop throughout the story. I also really loved seeing how each of them grew individually by the end of the book and supported one another in that growth. But, I felt like the London and Maya storyline was a bit over the top. I realize that without the their storyline we wouldn’t really be able to have Rory and Ellis’ journey, but I just felt like it took away from the actual sweet, slow growth of Rory and Ellis’ relationship. I also found it a bit ridiculous that London would walk into a bar and within thirty seconds of meeting Maya basically say she wants to take her home AND that Maya would literally just walk out of her job with that offer, essentially allowing herself to be fired (no spoiler here as this happens in the first chapter). I’ve never really understood the insta-love storyline so I think that might be why Maya and London’s relationship was so hard for me not to raise my eyebrows at. I honestly think that if London and Maya’s initial meeting had been handled just a little differently (like London staying at the bar talking to Maya until closing and then asking Maya home with her) I would have found it more believable. But in the end, their antics gave me Rory and Ellis, so I am overall happy about that.

Thank you to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an electronic ARC of Lean in to Love in return for my honest review.