Heartwarming and humorous, I enjoyed Meet Me on Love Lane from beginning to end. Two of the outstanding features of this book were a great cast of characters ( so interesting it made me glad this is a series) and a warm, inviting small town setting (that made me wish I could move there - or at least visit!)

The story immediately grabbed my interest as Charlotte Bishop, crammed into a seat on a bus traveling from New York City to Hope Lake, PA, gets off miles from her destination in the wee hours of the morning only to discover a closed car rental office. Hope Lake is the place she left twenty some years before and had never been back. When she finally reaches town, she is welcomed with open arms by both family and friends with the possible exception of one person. That would be the deputy who pulled her over and nearly put her in jail as she drove a borrowed car, loaded with her life's belongings, to her grandmother's house after going way too long without sleep.

Overall, this was a very smartly written story. However, there were several aspects of Charlotte's somewhat complex and emotional backstory which were not clear to me. Since they were integral to the plot, I deducted one star. The outcome was a bit obvious but there were still enough details and questions to keep me turning pages. Since I missed it, I will be tracking down the first book in the Hopeless Romantics series to catch up with Emma and her fiancee, Cooper, and have already put Nina Bocci on my list of authors to watch.

Favorite Quotes:

Staring down at him, I could see that he was very well-built, clearly a runner, but I knew he must do more than that. Football? Was there a sport where you needed to be even beefier than that? Something where you tore trees from their roots and tossed them?

His shorts hit a spot on his leg that highlighted calves that looked like he had sewn a softball into each. I admired him for a beat. On a scale of one to ten, what were the chances of hooking up with a guy after you’ve hit him in the business? Probably slim to none, with slim out of town.

“I’m so happy to see you again. I heard you were here and baked cookies for you! Just like I used to do when you were little,” she explained. I looked down at her empty hands, confused. “Oh, I ate them. And then my dog, Whiskey, well, he got the rest. I’ll make more tomorrow.”

I get these brief flashes, but it’s like my brain won’t let the memory train fully back into the station…

I’ll have you know I’m like Santa. I always make my list and check it twice.


My Review:

In continuing my total infatuation with the gifted wordsmith Nina Bocci I gleefully picked up and perused Meet Me on Love Lane, which only further convinced me that I must amass and read all of her clever arrangements of words. All. Of. Them. I adore her endearingly flawed characters, snappy banter, snarky humor, and sassy wit. Her writing style was velvety smooth, unfailingly engaging, hit all the senses, and was so effortless to read it felt as if I were watching a movie. Somewhere on the first page, I was off like Dorothy to OZ, having been instantly sucked into a whirlwind vortex, and, honestly, I was enjoying myself so much I was unwilling to pull myself back out and only did so under duress – while deeply resenting the interruption. Nina Bocci has a rabid fangirl on her hands, and I have a new favorite author.

Received in exchange for a honest review.

OVerall I liked this story. It didn’t really have angst or a love triangle. It was more like okay I like Max but not like like and it just progressed to being only a friendship The sizzle wasn’t there. It’s sad but not sad because you really want Charlotte with Henry. Since they were kids, you can see Henry is the one she should be with. HEre was the sizzle and spark. The you want to tell them everything and just tell them your day and be with them. He was there for her no matter what and she was there for him. Heck he was willing to run away with her. I think Max knew that they were better as friends and I think him and the ice cream lady have something going on. That’s a story I would love to see. After Nick’s of course. So it wasn’t angsty just a sweet romance. We get characters you fell in love with in the first book coming back and a town that just draws you in.

Characters:

Favorite: Gigi. She is a hoot. With her sarcastic quips at times but how she is just a ball of energy and fun. She is so lively and fun. she lives life to the fullest and you can see how much she loves her granddaughter. She has a soft spot for Henry you can see.

Henry: love him. He is so kind and sweet. He has a quiet confidence but you can see that he doesn’t see what others do. He is just himself and that is all he wants to be. You can see he is wary when Charlotte comes back but still kind and there for her even if she is hurting him with some of her comments and her loss of memories. He is patient and just so adorable. You root for him over Max.

Max: hot fun doctor. He is a great guy but we don’t see that much of him. I loved how he put that fire under Henry

Charlotte: at times you love her and at times you want to smack her upside the head. She begins by acting like being in a small town is going to be the worst and only the city is where home is. She slowly learns that there is more to Hope Lake than meets the eye. We see her seeing her dreams come true in a job. Friends that support and love her. guys that show her attention. Her family that love and support her no matter what. And she begins to remember things and feel at home. She finds love with Henry even when she is trying not to.

The romance is a slow burn as is the story itself. It’s entertaining with some fun banter and sweet moments. It’s just a feel good story of a sort of second chance romance but more of a second chance at happiness in a town Charlotte loved and had to rediscover while finding friendships, love, and support.

I love stories that have family, small town vibes and friendships.
If you like a slow burn kinda romance then Meet Me on Love Lane is definitely for you!!!!

4 stars from me.

*Recv'd a copy via Gallery in exchange for an honest review*

The relationship between Henry and Charlotte was absolutely adorable.

Charlotte was such a hard go-getter, I fell in love with her immediately. Henry and Charlotte had undeniable chemistry from the start. Maxwell and Charlotte were explosive too but nothing like Henry. The love triangle was a little tiresome but it wasn’t a terrible read.

The small town aspect gets better with each book and that tiny town in Pennsylvania grows bigger and bigger. The friendships were the best part of Meet Me on Love Lane.

Nina Bocci is turning into one of my favorite authors for this small town love stories. The descriptions were epic.

3.5 stars
I really wanted to adore this book and it ended up being pretty good but not as great as I’d hoped. I don’t want to spoil the plot so unfortunately this review will end up being pretty short.

I liked Charlotte quite a bit but the whole plot revolving around her ‘amnesia’ just seemed a bit lame to me. I don’t know why but I found myself super frustrated at times with that aspect. A lot of you might wonder if this is a love triangle. In my opinion, it is not. There are technically two potential love interest but it’s extremely obvious right away which guy Charlotte belongs with. There’s no cheating or anything, either.

I felt the story had such potential and just felt a bit flat. That being said, I loved both the guys and many of the side characters. There are some cute, fun moments and some pretty emotional ones as well. I’ll definitely read Nina again as I have a feeling a slight change to storyline would have made this a five star book. Can’t wait to see what she comes up with next!

I have to say the synopsis is slightly misleading because there really is no choice between two different men – NO CHOICE – it is Henry all the way #TeamHenry. OH MY GOSH could he get any more irresistible – I WANT ONE

Charlotte was best friends with the gang of awesomeness we have come to know through On the Corner of Love and Hate. However, Charlotte’s mother had her own demons to fight and unfortunately, dragged Charlotte into the battle; forcing her to leave behind her friends, father and grandmother to move to New York when she was at a vulnerable age. From there Charlotte’s mother did everything in her power to isolate Charlotte from everything Hope Lake and going so far as to brainwash her into perceiving Hope Lake as a completely different place to its reality.

So when Charlotte’s life in New York implodes following her mother’s death, Charlotte is sceptical about returning to Hope Lake in order to lick her wounds and recoup.

It is instantly apparent that the vision of Hope Lake Charlotte has been fed has been greatly misleading, yet, Charlotte is unable to immediately move past the years of brainwashing she endured; convincing herself the move to Hope Lake is temporary.

My heart hurt for Charlotte and the life she missed out on in Hope Lake. As the pieces of her new life fall into place, it re-enforces the belief of everything happening for a reason, Charlotte’s return to Hope Lake is at the perfect time for her career and family.

Getting to know Henry along Charlotte’s journey is just the icing on the cake. He really is PERFECT *swoon*

Meet Me on Love Lane is a wonderful feel-good story which will make you want to pack up your belongings and move to Hope Lake.

After being pulled away from her childhood home at the age of ten, Charlotte is forced to return home to Hope Lake after financial struggles hit her while living in New York City. At first she only intends to stay for a short while until she can get back to the Big Apple, but Charlotte begins to remember the reasons why she loved her childhood home. She also finds herself pursued by the town doctor, as well as a childhood friend who she can't remember as well as she'd like to. Her journey began in financial turmoil, but it's her inner turmoil that Hope Lake begins to help the most.

Meet Me on Love Lane is written by Nina Bocci, and is a story of healing, rediscovery, and love kindled anew. While reading this book, I felt vibes similar to what I felt watching Gilmore Girls just because of some of the character interactions. If you're looking for a heartwarming read, Meet Me on Love Lane will feel like a cup of hot cocoa next to the fireplace, and sometimes that's exactly what you need.

This was not my favorite book. The characters did not keep me interested in their stories and I felt like the love story was not very believable.

Sweet story. Read almost like a Hallmark movie, which I’m a huge fan of. I love the characters and the small town life. Well told story with a sweet, although somewhat predictable, ending.

3 1/2 stars

At the end of my review of Nina Bocci’s first novel in the Hopeless Romantics series, On the Corner of Love and Hate (see my review here), I said: “I am anxious to read the next novel in the series, especially if it includes sweet, sensitive Henry.” My wish was granted! The “hero” in Meet Me on Love Lane is Henry. Unfortunately, Henry didn’t get the kind of story I was hoping for him.

While I enjoyed reading Meet Me on Love Lane for the most part, the story never came together for me the way On the Corner of Love and Hate did. This was due to the indecisiveness of Charlotte, slow pacing, and the fact that the book couldn’t decide whether it wanted to be a romance or women’s fiction. A love triangle was introduced (see blurb), which just fizzled out, and lovely, sweet Henry was not involved enough. Charlotte was a likable enough character, but the indecisiveness in a situation where it wasn’t warranted made her seem clueless.

All in all Meet Me on Love Lane is not a bad read. The novel has a sense of humor and sweetness that partly mitigate the pacing. If you’re a fan of small (ish) town stories and quirky characters, you should give the Hopeless Romantics series a try.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the definition of a slow burn. The first book focused on the politics, this is all about the small businesses and the not so small town characters. Think Star Hollow, where a gang of senior citizens are always causing some sort of ruckus and town halls really do happen. The second book in the series really brings it to life. But, no worries, these can be read as standalones. While some parts were a little far fetched, this is the perfect December romance to read where romance is everywhere. The chemistry is there between the two main characters and so is the character growth.

Charlotte returns to her hometown of Hope Lake after being gone for over 20 years. When Charlotte was a young girl, she left town with her mother. Unfortunately, Charlotte's mother was always negative about Hope Lake, and Charlotte has largely lost memory of her childhood in the small town.

Charlotte doesn't expect much of Hope Lake when she returns to the town. She's surprised to find the community has prospered, and has plenty to keep her busy. Her stay in Hope Lake is supposed to be temporary, but with family, old friends (Emma, Cooper, Henry, and Nick), a job offer, and the handsome single men in town, it's hard to leave. Charlotte's main problem is she doesn't remember much about the town or her old friends. As everyone welcomes her back into their lives, she slowly starts to remember.

This is the second book in the Hopeless Romantics series by Nina Bocci, but it can be read as a standalone. The first book, On the Corner of Love and Hate features the same group of friends (Emma, Cooper, Henry, and Nick).

A lighthearted romance. I enjoy the setting of this series more than the characters, though the characters are growing on me. Charming and sweet.

I received a free digital copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Meet Me on Love Lane is the second book in Nina Bocci's Hopeless Romantics series. It is a bit of a love triangle with a mix of second-chance romance. I love the small town of Hope Lake because of the community and of course the gossip.

In this book, Charlotte finds herself out of a job and straight towards Hope Lake. She hasn't been back in so long and doesn't really remember much. When she sees her dad and grandmother, she is eager to build a relationship with them.

The description of the book had me thinking that the book was going to be strictly about a love triangle but it was more about Charlotte and Henry figuring out their friendship and relationship. Henry and Charlotte were basically best friends when they were younger but she can't seem to remember their time together.

As they spend more time together, their chemistry becomes apparent. The only problem is is that Charlotte doesn't know how long she is staying in Hope Lake. Henry wants a relationship with commitment and a long-distance relationship is not an option.

As the book goes on, we see how their feelings are growing stronger and have to make a decision about their future.

I give Meet Me on Love Lane 4 stars. I really enjoyed reading Charlotte and Henry's story. I thought the supporting characters were great and helped the story as it progressed.

A solid romance novel with relatable characters. I absolutely loved Emma and Cooper’s story, so I was worried that Charlotte and Henry’s wouldn't live up to my prior experience. But they did.

Meet Me on Love Lane is the second book in Nina Bocci’s ‘Hopeless Romantics’ series, and since finishing the first book I was looking forward to reading Henry’s story. This book can absolutely be read as a standalone but I totally recommend you to read the first book On the Corner of Love and Hate, which is Emma and Cooper’s story as well.

After getting blacklisted and unable to find a new job in New York, Charlotte doesn’t have any other choice than to go back to Hope Lake, where she once called home. She hasn’t been back to Hope Lake since she was 10, when her parents got divorce. Her plan is to go back, get her life together and get out. She doesn’t want to create any roots that will bound her to Hope Lake and reconnecting with her childhood friends is also part of this. However, Hope Lake being small-town with an amazingly fast communication network, the moment she steps in town, everyone knows Dr. Bishop’s daughter is back home. Ohhh and in addition to her being in town she creates another gossip wave by assaulting poor Henry :) (Be Aware: you will be cracking up while reading this). Henry Mercer is honest, loyal, caring, sweet, smart, hot, and the list can go on forever. He is the best book boyfriend ever. He is a high school English teacher and golden boy, who is loved and adored by everyone. Henry and Charlotte were inseparable as kids but now she doesn’t have any memories of Henry and only has some negative Hope Lake memories thanks to her mother’s remarks. Even though Charlotte is not happy being back in town, both Charlotte’s father and grandmother, a.k.a. Dr. Bishops :), is super excited to have Charlotte back, even if it is just a bit. Her grandmother, town’s infamous Dr. Bishop, her beloved Gigi is now bound to mobilized chair and Charlotte feels guilty that she waited this long to come and visit her. Now that she will be her roommate till she leaves for NY, she decides to spend every spare time she has with her. Gigi and Mrs. Manchini is the best. Gigi is funny, crazy and full of life. I wish my grandmas were just a bit like her and I am hoping I will be like her when I am her age :)

Charlotte’s plan of not reconnecting with people goes down the drain because the moment Emma knows she is back, she pushes her to socialize and rekindle with everyone. Charlotte also has some admirers. One being Dr. Maxwell Reese, who is the town’s most eligible bachelor. He is sexy, smart and polite but in my eyes he is not even comparable to Henry’s awesomeness :) Being back in Hope Lake, Charlotte realizes that the town is not what she expected and it is nothing like her mother described. With time and rekindling with her friends, she starts regaining some of her memories back. The problem is she still cannot remember Henry. It was heartbreaking and cute to see Charlotte and Henry’s interactions. One remembers everything but for the other it is a new friendship. After a while I start getting frustrated because it took them forever to figure things out and start moving forward.

Meet Me on Love Lane is a sweet, funny, heartbreaking, swoony romance that will make you laugh and swoon one minute, cry and get pissed the next. I couldn’t let go of it until I was done. It was great to catch up with the gang, Emma, Cooper, Nick. Also, Parker definitely brought a new taste to our little group. The series gets better and better with each book and I cannot wait for the next book in the series, which will be Nick and Parker’s story :)

Would I recommend this book: Yes
Would I re-read this book: Yes
Would I read future books by this author: Yes

e-ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Meet me on Love Lane is the second book in the Hopeless Romantics series by the talented Nina Bocci. I'm really enjoying this series! The characters are fun and witty and the writing is great. I really loved Henry in the last book and I was excited to see him get a chance at happily ever after. Charlotte's back in town after years away with a memory fill of holes and no idea what she's going to do with herself. She reconnects with childhood friends, spends time with her grandma and her dad and starts to finally feel happy. Her journey is hard at times, but sweet, romantic and funny. This small town is full of solid friendships and family who just made me want to call everyone I love just to say hi! I'm invested in these characters and can't wait to see what happens next. I'm also excited for The Ingredients of You and Me!

This book was sweet and amazing and bit unexpected. The writing was engaging and the story refreshing - I can’t wait for another one

Meet Me on Love Lane is the second book in the Hopeless Romantics series. In this book we see characters from the previous book (On the Corner of Love and Hate), but we also meet Charlotte. Charlotte left Hope Lake at ten years old, only to return to the small town years later after life let her down to reconnect with the town and people she loved in the past.

I really enjoyed this book! The Town of Hope Lake is so adorable, and I love the small town, everyone knows everyone vibes. I really enjoyed the characters and reading as Charlotte worked her way through a love triangle to end up with her Happy Ever After! I also liked seeing Charlotte rediscover herself and learn to like herself again.

This was such a fun and enjoyable read! Thank you so much to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the advanced copy and the opportunity to offer a review!

The second installment in Nina Bocci’s <i>Hopeless Romantics</i> series did not disappoint! Once again, Bocci has offered readers a small-town story with characters you’ll adore, and that you’ll wish were real.

Charlotte Bishop hasn’t been back to Hope Lake in twenty years. And she doesn’t want to go back. Her memories of the small-town where she grew up are muddied, and her mother never had good things to say about it. Now, she has no choice but to return. She’s out of a job, and desperate to figure out what to do next. Just for the summer. Just until she can make a plan for getting back to her home in New York.

What Charlotte doesn’t expect is to find that she has serious history with the town of Hope Lake, and its people…

When an opportunity to do what she loves falls into her lap, and her memories start to unfold of the childhood she spent in Hope Lake, reminding her of the bonds she created with a group of friends that haven’t been broken by time or distance, Charlotte starts to realize maybe Hope Lake—and a certain man who calls it home—just might be the answer to all of her problems.

This one burned slow, and it burned <i>hot</i>. MY GOODNESS, HENRY. Sweet, shy and quiet on the outside, but naughty when the time was right? He was pretty perfect, and seriously, sometimes I am the pickiest and most annoyed when it comes to a slow burn, but I did not mind this one at all. The journey was just so good. I’ve been in bit of a reading slump lately, and boy did this book pull me out of it. I have been looking forward to all of Nina’s words for a long time, and I’m kicking myself for waiting to start this for so long; because Henry…
If you are a Hallmark Movie lover, and want it in book form? This series is for you. Add it to your list, because you won’t be disappointed!