This is the second book in Nina Bocci’s Hopeless Romantics series with On the Corner of Love and Hate being the first. While Meet Me on Love Lane can be read as a standalone, the first story does provide more insight into several of the characters who are back for another appearance.

When I first heard that Meet Me on Love Lane was coming out, I was incredibly excited because we were getting Henry’s story. Henry was one of my favorite side characters from On the Corner of Love and Hate as the sensitive and brooding English teacher.

Ten year olds Charlotte and Henry were best friends that couldn’t imagine life without one another. With Charlotte’s homelife collapsing due the poor choices her mentally ill mother made, Charlotte and Henry try to run away so that Charlotte’s mom can’t take her away from Hope Lake. Unfortunately, they are eventually found. Charlotte is forced to move to New York City with her mother leaving behind her father, grandmother (Gigi), and Henry in her wake. The trauma of leaving combined with her mother’s lies forces Charlotte to repress her memories of Hope Lake.

21 years later, Charlotte finds herself fired and blacklisted thanks to a misunderstanding. She can’t afford NYC, so she reluctantly decides to temporarily relocate to Hope Lake just until she can find her feet again. Her dad is still the town doctor. Even though Gigi retired from the practice, she is still beloved by everyone in town. All of Charlotte’s friends are still there, including Henry…but she can’t remember him or what he meant to her. Hope Lake was only meant to be temporary, but what will happen once Charlotte starts remembering her old life again?

Due to the nature of Charlotte’s repressed memories, this is a slow-burn romance that really doesn’t reveal itself until later in the book. The story mainly focuses on Charlotte immersing herself into the town of Hope Lake and reacquainting herself with the area as well as her Gigi and father. There were definitely times that I felt incredibly sorry for Charlotte because it was evident the effect that her mom’s lies had on her even into adulthood. There were also times that I was frustrated with her situation as well. I did love how the community came together to accept her and support her and not judge her for the past.

Overall, this is a truly heartwarming story that is more than a second chance romance. Meet Me on Love Lane is a reminder that we can always return home even in the darkest of times.

Thank you to Gallery Book and NetGalley for providing an eARC for review. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.

3.5 stars. Meet Me on Love Lane is the second book in the Hopeless Romantics series. I enjoyed this book more than the first book, but I still didn't completely love it. This is Charlotte's story. Charlotte grew up in the small town of Hope Lake, but when her parents got divorced, her mentally ill mother took her from the town and she never returned. Now, she is back for the first time in many years, as an adult. She lost her job in NYC and has returned to stay with her father and grandmother. She catches back up with old friends and family, falls in love with the small town, finds her dream job and rekindles a new love with her childhood friend, Henry.

I enjoyed this story in general. I liked Charlotte, as well as the fun side characters. Henry was an okay character, but didn't have much personality. I just felt like the book was more of a women's fiction book than a romance. The story is Charlotte's story of finding herself and finding a home. She has some repressed memories about her old town and friends that she must recover, as well as some amends to make for her long absence. She grew as a person and came into her own there. The romance was very lukewarm and I felt no chemistry between the couple. They were barely even friends for most of the book, with a first kiss at 89% and one fade to black love scene. They get a happy for now ending, but there are no "I love you"s exchanged. Also, the book was also a little slow moving and there were a few scenes skipped, which was confusing at times. Still, I found the book enjoyable in general. I liked the story and found it much better than the first book in the series.

Overall, Meet Me on Love Lane has some sweet moments and a good story. I enjoyed seeing Charlotte find herself and make a happy life for herself in her charming home town. I wished for more romance, but I still found the book entertaining. If you like women's fiction, you will probably really enjoy this book.

This is book #2, in the Hopeless Romantics series. This book can be read as a standalone novel. For reader enjoyment, and understanding of this amazing series, I recommend reading these in the order intended.

Charlotte comes back to Hope Lake after some serious disappointments. She figures spending the summer with her Dad and Gigi, that she will have a brighter future. Then she gets back with most of her childhood friends and finds out that all is not what she thought.

While hot men abound in this small but very active community, she has the hearts of two men somehow intertwined with her unknown future. On one hand, she has Max - who is actively pursuing her. Then there is the sweet Henry, whom she is trying hard to remember from her days of living here before.

This story was just bold and lovely. I loved the characters. I love the interaction. I also have come to love the little community in the small town. While this author always takes me places, she also gives me a riveting story about someone who must learn to come into their own. Never fails to bring me to my knees with all the surprises you never see coming.


***This early copy was given in exchange for an honest review only.

I throughly enjoyed reading about the Small town of Hope Lake and Charlotte & Henry's story.
Author Nina Bocci vividly brings us into this world that comes to life off the pages as you read it.
I enjoyed the adventures of getting to know more about these characters and their second chance love they find within one another.
Best friends can be more and this book delivered it.
Great read to cozy up with a good hot cup of cocoa and a warm blanket while reading this book.
This book gave me the feels of falling in love with a good dose of humor.

4.5 🍒🍒🍒🍒popped!

This is the second book in this Hopeless Romantics series from Nina and I have loved it. Whilst this can be read as a standalone why would you not want to read the first book as the characters are seen in that one too so its lovely to see them again.

It took me a while to get into this one but it was totally worth it as once I did I was hooked. I really think Charlotte's grandmother Gigi was my favourite character along with Henry. Honestly this woman was hilarious. I did struggle a bit with Charlotte and I'm not entirely sure why, maybe its because I really adored Henry and I'm slightly jealous.

This was a lovely friends-to-lovers story that will have you smiling and swooning. I am looking forward to Nicks story which is next, I am wanting to see what is going to happen with him and Parker considering the sparks that have been flying around.

4.5 Stars

This book! I'm loving this series by Ms. Bocci. Meet Me on Love Lane is a sweet, romantic read that is all about rekindling relationships, friendships and family. I couldn't get enough of Charlotte and Henry.

Sure, when I first read the synopsis, I thought "NO! No love triangles!" But this story is far from it. It's clear who the real love couple is from the beginning. The characters from main to the side characters all have chemistry. I love the relationships that starts in their small town of Hope Lake -- from Charlotte's sweet Gigi to her childhood friends.

Charlotte Bishop is back years later in her small hometown after leaving with her mother over a nasty separation between her parents. She's been living in NYC and coming back to small town living is only temporarily. Once she figures out her life, she plans on heading back to the big city and leave Hope Lake behind. But when she realizes all the small and heartwarming relationship she rekindles with childhood friends, her grandmother and father and especially her one-time best friend, Henry - Charlotte has a new out look on her future.

When Charlotte had to move away with her mother at the age of ten, Henry was heartbroken. He lost his best friend and almost twenty years later, Charlotte is back and if she doesn't plan on sticking around, it will break him all over again.

Meet Me on Love Lane is a fabulous read and looking forward to more from Ms. Bocci! Can we get Nick's book next?

This will make you smile. Charlotte's life has imploded so she decides to head back to Hope Lake, the town she left (along with her mom) when her parents divorced when she was a child. Luckily for all of us, she stays with her grandmother Gigi, who is a big hearted hoot. Reconnecting with her childhood friends brings more than she expects in the form of Henry, once her bestie, now a teacher. Emma and Nick, her other pals, have strong opinions about Henry and Dr Max, a good looking doctor. This is as much about Charlotte rethinking her priorities and creating a new life, including a new interest in flowers as it is about romance. There's a good friendship and family vibe. You'll root for Henry too. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I'm looking forward to the next story in the series.

4.5⭐️! I just adored Meet Me on Love Lane (Hopeless Romantics #2). Loved the story, loved the characters, loved the writing style. It’s a deliciously funny RomCom set in picturesque small town Hope Lake, Pennsylvania. This lovely little place has a lot going on, and it’s also the place Charlotte Bishop grew up thinking wasn’t somewhere she ever wanted to go back to. Even though two of her favourite people live there, her dad and her granny Gigi, it’s a place she’s been avoiding at all costs, until now... Fired from her job, and blacklisted in her field, she comes crawling back to Hope Lake to figure out what her next step in life will be but she’s go absolutely no intention of staying. She reconnects with her childhood friends Emma, Nick and Henry, and she ends up with two very different love interests to contend with. She’s been avoiding Hope Lake at all costs for years, but when she gets back it’s absolutely nothing like she remembers or imagined. She just assumed it was somewhere she didn’t want to be, somewhere she wouldn’t truly fit in, but boy was she wrong. The fact is Hope Lake is full of family and friends who will love her no matter what...

Oh, be still my heart! This was such a sweet story. I loved everything about it. I felt so bad for Charlotte, but absolutely adored her story about finding her way back home. This is such a complex, heartfelt and slightly angsty story. It was perfection and I can’t wait for more Hope Lane!!

The second in a series that I highly suggest starting at the beginning. This book centers around a different character than book one, but the characters from book one make many appearances and it is more fun knowing what happened in book one before reading this one.

Charlotte Bishop has had a tough time in New York and decides to move back to a small town that she barely remembers from the few years she lived there in her childhood. She has always had a dream to open her floral shop and this dream becomes a reality through some interesting twists and turns. She is also able to reconnect to her grandmother and her dad and start making new memories in a town that had a negative space in her mind.

I loved the romance in this book, it had just the right amount of ups and downs and I was along for the ride! As the same in the first book, I enjoyed that the story had quite a bit of moments on the job and characters actually showed up and worked!

The writing in these books is just effortless and easy. I loved that it was just easy to sit down and enjoy this story - I think I read it two short sittings. These books would be just perfect for any time of year, from a winter weekend or some time on the beach.

There are two more books coming out in this series in this year and I will definitely be reading them both!

The second book in the Hopeless Romantic series by Nina Bocci is a sweet coming home story, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I kinda fell for Henry in book one and although Maxwell definitely had his merits, Henry had my heart. Charlotte returns to town down on her luck with no intention of staying and finds herself caught between the two. Two cities she loves, and two desirable suitors. Somewhere in the middle she finds herself, literally and figuratively. Funny how coming home can put all the pieces back together.

The story is full of family, friends, and small town charm. Gigi is kinda everything, I laughed out loud. I smiled a handful of times. The slow burn of friends to lovers set in the small town of Hope Lake Pennsylvania can be read as a stand alone, but I recommend spending the time with book one for the back story if nothing else. The beginning was a bit slow for me, but the end left my black heart with feels and a bit softer.

Overall, a cute read, and I'm looking forward to the next installment.

Meet Me on Love Lane is the second book in a new series by Nina Bocci. Charlotte, the childhood friend of Emma from the first book, returns to Hope Lake after leaving as a child when her parents divorced. This traumatic event led Charlotte to have virtually no memories of her childhood, including her closest friend, Henry. I loved how the story focused a lot on Charlotte coming to terms with her past and reconnecting with the town she left behind. There is a little bit of a love triangle between Charlotte, Henry, and young doctor Max, which I thought was nice. I really enjoyed this book, although the first book remains my favorite. A third entry is coming out in the spring and I am looking forward to it.

4.5 Stars for Meet Me on Love Lane book 2 in the Hopeless Romantics Series.
I was excited to see where this author was going to take us with Charlotte Bishop and I wasn’t disappointed this book drew me in and captivated me from the first page to the last line.
This book had me on the edge of my seat wondering who Charlotte was going to find her HEA with because this girl really deserved to find happiness.....but who would she find it with !!!
Small town romances are one of my favourite reads and I love my visits to Hope Lake PA because Nina Bocci has a way with her stories and her words paint pictures making you feel part of the small town this series is set in. This book ticked a lot of boxes for me, it’s about coming home and finding lost friendships, it’s about second chance romance and it has characters I loved. I really felt a connection with the residents and this group of friends who call Hope Lake home and I’m looking forward to catching up with them again in the next book from this very talented author.

While I truly did enjoy On the Corner of Love and Hate, that pales in comparison to this. While I was a tiny bit leery about the possibility of a love triangle and then the person that I liked better NOT being chosen, you don't have to worry about any of that. I knew it from the prologue and was so excited to see how things were going to pan out. You see, I am constantly changing what romance trope I love best. Is it friends to lovers? Is it hate to love? It really depends on the exact situation and the specific writing and characters. While hate to love always seems to be more steamy and explosive once the couple FINALLY gets together, there is something about friends to lovers that ALWAYS takes my breath away and has my heart pounding deep within my chest. And what could make that situation even better? Um, obviously those friends having been childhood best friends, that's what.

In the beginning of this book we see Charlotte coming back to Hope Lake after a series of very unfortunate events back in NYC. She moved away when she was really young after her mom and dad's tumultuous divorce and hasn't been back since so in her mind, this homecoming is going to be short-lived and last only throughout the summer while she can get back on her feet. She ends up staying with her Gigi (who, is obviously one of my favorite characters because she's so darn sassy and scandalous and made me miss my grandma something fierce) and immediately falls back into a fast friendship with Emma. One of the most interesting parts about this book was Charlotte's memory. When she gets back to Hope Lake, she basically remembers NOTHING about her childhood there because being forced to leave had been so traumatic on her. That includes Henry. Sweet Henry. Fuck, characters like him are what keep me going back to romance time and time again. He's an ENGLISH TEACHER, sweet, caring, wears tight shirts, and does nice things for Gigi (like gets her secret binge-purchases sent to his house so she won't get in trouble with Charlotte's dad, lol).

Every interaction that they had together had me on the edge of my seat and had my heart in my throat. He was so tentative at first and basically heartbroken at the thought of her not remembering him or leaving him again. *sobs* And then I lost it at the end when Charlotte finds a certain something and realizes stuff because of that certain something. Seriously, tears just ah-streaming down my face the entire time. Basically all you need to know is that this book is really good and will grab you by the heart and not let go. I am so glad I got my hands on it and I can't wait for Parker and Nick's book!

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the eARC! ♥

This past summer I read On the Corner of Love and Hate, a sweet romance novel by Nina Bocci. (My review here) It is set in the small tourist town of Hope Lake, Pennsylvania, and tells the story of Emma Peroni, who works in the Ecomonic Development Office of the town and is the daughter of the long-serving and popular mayor.



Emma is terrific at her job, and resents her coworker Cooper, the handsome ladies' man her father is grooming to become the town's next mayor. I loved the small town setting of Hope Lake, and coming from a small town, I felt the characters to be realistic portrayals.



So I was happy to find that Bocci has a second novel in what she calls her Hopeless Romantics series, Meet Me On Love Lane. Charlotte Bishop returns to her hometown of Hope Lake after having left with her mother when she was ten years old.



They moved to New York City after her parents' divorce, and 21 years later she comes home after her mother's death and her career as an events planner falls apart. She shows up unannounced at her doctor-father's office, much to his delight and surprise.



Charlotte moves in with her elderly grandmother Imogen, a retired doctor and popular figure in town. People are constantly stopping by Imogen's house to drop off food, run errands, or pick her up for her one of four book club meetings. One of her many visitors is Henry, the high school English teacher.



Henry also works at the town's bookstore, and runs several book clubs. He is popular with town's residents, from the very young to the more mature. He is single, and seems to be keeping his eye on Charlotte from a distance, yet always there when she needs a ride or a helping hand.



Charlotte reconnects with her best friend Emma, and Nick and Cooper, her other childhood friends. She doesn't recall Henry at all, even though as children they were all thick as thieves. She also meets the hunky Dr. Max, who works with her father and would like to become better acquainted with Charlotte.



With no plan in sight (or money), Emma convinces Charlotte to stay in town and temporarily run a new florist shop. Charlotte is still trying to sort out her conflicted feelings about being back in Hope Lake, her attraction to Dr. Max, and why she can't remember Henry from years ago.



Meet Me On Love Lane is a strong second novel in the Hopeless Romantics series, beautifully picking up where On the Corner of Love and Hate left off. It made me happy to be back in Hope Lake and to meet more of the town's residents. The way Bocci describes the lovely town square, I can picture it clearly in my mind's eye.



I enjoyed that Emma and Cooper also played a prominent role in Charlotte's story, it felt like catching up with old friends, and I liked meeting more of the town. I want to shop at the bookstore, grab some lunch at Casey's, and stop by Late Bloomers to pick up a bouquet of flowers. Give me a terrific love story in a small town, with a local business owner in it and I am all in!



I went to Nina Bocci's website and was overjoyed to see that there is a third novel in the series due in April 2020. I cannot wait to return to Hope Lake then.



If you are a Hallmark Channel fan, Meet Me On Love Lane is the novel for you. I highly recommend it.

This is book two in the hopeless romantics series, we follow Charlotte who left Hope Town with her mother, when she was 10 years old to leave in New York. In the years away she slowly forgets her friends (Emma from book 1, and Henry) it does not help that in the intervening years her mother fills her head with negative ideas about the small town and its people and tries hard to get Charlotte to leave the memories behind. We join Charlotte as she returns to Hope Town some 21 years later due to her old boss (unjustly but hilariously none the less!) blaming her of an unfortunate incident! But first let me say I am sucker for a good prologue; the best are the ones that give you just enough to get you curious, intrigued, even invested. This book had that. I also love a good second chance romance and this kind of had that feel, but only really because the characters knew each other when they were young. I was a bit hesitant going in thinking there was a love triangle, and I am not keen on those at all. But I needn't have worried, Nina Bocci writes down to earth, realistic characters that are not dramatic for the sake of it. So yes there may be interest from more than one quarter but it is dealt in a common sense manner, like mature adults. The storyline was interesting, it felt like you were reading a slice of someone's life, nothing too dramatic, just small town living, with a slow burn romance.
I loved so many of the characters; Gigi, Charlotte's Grandmother being one of them. There was one conversation that takes place between her and Charlotte, that starts of funny and then becomes really sweet and poignant. It really summed up their relationship. It was a lovely moment. It was also great seeing Emma and Cooper again, while having new characters introduced, I hope Nick gets his own book soon, I want to know more about him!
Overall this was a quick, easy read, slow paced with a slow burn romance, with little angst, the biggest dilemma was Charlotte deciding whether or not she would stay in Hope Town for the long haul. Sometimes I need a nice easy read where I know I will be entertained and not put through the ringer with my emotions! This was perfect for that. Would definitely recommend!

Another win from Nina Bocci in her Hope Lake series! If you loved Hart of Dixie, you will probably love Meet Me on Love Lane. Though it's set in Pennsylvania, not the South, Meet Me on Love Lane is chock full of small-town antics and quirky characters who all know each other's business.

It takes on some heavier subject matter, as Charlotte was traumatized by her parents divorce and her mother taking her out of Hope Lake when she was 10. Bad enough to the point that memories of the town are fuzzy.
The good news is, there are plenty of people in Hope Lake who love and remember her, including Emma and Cooper from On the Corner of Love and Hate, book 1 in the series. Bocci's humor and cast of characters keep the story from being all doom and gloom.

Charlotte's romance with childhood friend Henry is secondary to the story, but when they finally get together, it's 1000% worth it.

Eekk Henry & Charlotte are too cute for words.
This story got me in the feels real bad...Henry...just sighhhhhhhh sooooo hard for his poor little heart.
Fate pushed these two together again, but it was up to each of them to fight for their second chance. This story was very heartwarming and it def pulled at the old heart strings. It was sweet and romantic and all the things a small town, second chance romance should be. Great characters that kept me enthralled and wanting to read 'just one more page'...Nina has def captured my heart with her sweet writing and romantic heart. Do yourself a favor and grab this book as well as book 1 in this Hopeless Romantics series.
#HopeLake #Ruckusy #LateBloomers #LoveLane #Memories #Gigi

Let me start off by saying I liked this book so much more that I did the first book in this series. With that being said, there were things I didn't like/understand. I enjoyed the story, but the romance part in my opinion took a backseat. It was more like an added bonus. I was not a fan of Max. It seemed his character was just put in to make a "love triangle" that I didn't feel necessary. I thought there was enough drama going on with her blocking out parts of her childhood. This was also a super, super, SUPER slow burn. I would have loved to have been able to get to know them as a couple, instead of them getting together basically toward the end. To be honest, what I loved most about this story was the grandma! I couldn't get enough of her. She definitely made this whole story for me!

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

This is the second book in the Hopeless Romantics series but you don't have to read the first one to read Meet Me on Love Lane. I do recommend you read it though because it's a sweet and funny love story and it'll introduce you to the town and it's people.

This book is Henry and Charlotte. A sweet friends to lovers romance that will warm your heart and possibly make you a bit teary eyed.

Charlotte returns to her home town after being away for 20 years. Her childhood friends are excited she's returned as well as her dad and grandmother. It's a different experience for Charlotte though. Her whole life her mother put down the town and made sure Charlotte didn't want to have anything to do with it.

Emma, Nick, and Henry (her childhood friends) are more than happy to help convince her to stay long term. The chemistry between Charlotte and Henry will give the July 4th fireworks a run for their money.

Charlotte had no expectations when she returned to Hope Lake but she ultimately finds her half full glass being completely full. As only Hope Lake, her friends, family, and Henry could do.