Review by louisekf - Love in Focus

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louisekf 's review for:

Love in Focus by Lyla Lee

2.5

emotional lighthearted reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Love in Focus is a second chance sapphic romance featuring two Korean-American young women, Gemma and Celeste. They were roommates in college and became much more than friends. Celeste suddenly left to go back to Korea to help her mother who was very ill and she wound up ghosting Gemma. Fast-forward eight years and Gemma is a writer for a local magazine - her pieces focus on love advice. Celeste, back in the US, is hired to do the photography for a Valentine’s Day piece which will feature a number of loving couples. Gemma doesn’t know how to handle working with her ex. Complicating things is the presence of Gemma’s more recent ex, James (Gemma is bi.) who also works at the same magazine.

All of this takes place in current day San Francisco. The story is told with two points of view. It was a bit jarring because Gemma’s chapters are told in first person present, while Celeste’s chapters are told in third person past.

This book didn’t wow me. I had a hard time relating to the two FMCs. Why would Celeste complain about Gemma moving on, when she ghosted Gemma, and it’s eight years later?! And then she does it again!

I enjoyed the “focus” on Korean traditions and foods, which is why I’m rounding my rating up.

I listened to the audiobook version, which was well narrated by two narrators: Natalie Naudus and Catherine Ho.

Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.

Content Warnings