Cover Image: Yes & I Love You

Yes & I Love You

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

This was an unexpected but delightful surprise! The only thing I knew going into this book was that it was a romance so the disability rep included in here was fantastic to read about! The main character has Tourette’s and the love interest has ADHD! I’m unsure if it is own voices or not and I don’t have either of those disabilities so please do check out own voices reviews for more thoughts on the representation!

Personally, I think it was done well and getting to see these characters deal with these in their own ways was inspiring and I could relate to some of what they had to endure due to my own disabilities. We need more disability rep in media, especially romance!

I got to listen to the audiobook version of this through Netgalley and I loved it. The narrator did a fantastic job with every single character and voice and made this story infinitely better! The experience was 10/10 and I recommend going the audiobook route for sure.

The actual story was so so good. The romance developed in the most perfect way! The friends to lovers with the friends with benefits trope was *chefs kiss* perfection. I was worried at certain points that a few tropes might crop up that I don’t like (miscommunication being one of them) but each situation was handled quickly and maturely, thank the book trope gods!

I just adored every second of this book. The characters each had their own personalities and flaws, their chemistry was stunning, the sex scenes were off the charts fantastic and the overall story and messages about confidence and family and friendship just brought it all together for me. I highly, highly implore you to check this book out if you are a fan of the adult romance genre!! A new favourite for me👀

4.5/5 ⭐️

Was this review helpful?

Roni Loren is a wonderful author. I enjoyed this book and found the characters and plot well developed. I would recommend this author to others without hesitation.

Was this review helpful?

This. Book. Was. Fantastic! Kicking myself for not picking it up sooner. I binge read the majority of it last night and immediately ordered a hard copy when I was done. I NEEDED a copy of it for my shelves.

Hollyn is a writer who lives in NOLA. Under the pen name, Miz Poppy, she checks out trendy venues and restaurants and writes honest reviews. Her snark and honesty coupled with the mystery of her anonymity she has become quite popular. She also runs her own blog. In real life however, Hollyn is quite lonely. She has Tourette’s and peers in her childhood were cruel. Determined to put herself out there and battle some of her anxiety and insecurity, Hollyn has challenged herself to work at a community space and maybe even make some friends.

Here is where we meet Jasper. The new “coffee guy” in the building, Jasper and Hollyn meet quite awkwardly when he walks in her office (to deliver coffee) and catches her looking at some porn spam. They definitely have some good banter from the beginning. Jasper has some baggage of his own. Growing up in the foster system and fresh from a breakup, Jasper is trying to get his life together. A struggling Improv actor, he has some big dreams of owning his own theatre in NOLA. The two of them quickly figure out that they can use each other to accomplish their goals. And also work out some pent up sexual frustration. The steammmm y’all. It’s so dang good. But so are the feels. This book made me laugh and also cry. Highly highly recommend. I love these two.

Was this review helpful?

I really wasn’t sure what to expect from this as I have not previously seen or read anything from this author, but the premise sounded a lil cute and something that I could easily get stuck into.⁣

First of all - a main character with a neurological syndrome... YES PLEASE. So refreshing to have this representation in a book. ⁣

The main protagonist, Hollyn, is such a likeable character. Even though her Tourette’s makes her socially awkward and cold, you cannot help but warm to her. She is at risk of losing her job if she doesn’t overcome all of her biggest fears and anxieties... ⁣

Introducing Jasper. A confident, gorgeous actor to help Hollyn overcome her self doubt and to turn her world round in more ways than one. Let me tell you, there was some STEAM between these pages!! Just the right amount for you to switch between these scenes and back to romance heaven!

There were so many likeable characters in this book, and I loved how the author respectfully writes about Hollyns struggles with Tourette’s, and how this triggers her anxieties but also how it is embraced and used for self development. ⁣

Yes it was a little cringey for me in parts, kind of predictable but overall a great read.

Was this review helpful?

4,5 stars!

First of all, I'd like to mention that I absolutely LOVED this book!
I really liked the main character: Hollyn. She is such a relatable character and Loren did a great job in portraying Hollyn's Tourette syndrome. This was really refreshing to read.
I also really liked the comedy vibe that is part of the story. The whole improv class situation is so much fun to read.
Jasper is the second main character in this book. Sometimes, I didn't fully support the decisions he made, but overall he is a pretty lovely character. He makes his mistakes and has his insecurities, but he seems to make a pretty good duo with Hollyn, in my opinion. Their chemistry is amazing and a joy to read.

I'm really excited for the second book in this duology and will definitely read it.

Thank you NetGalley and SourceBooks for the free e-copy. This in no way affected my opinion.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.


Spending a few hours with Hollyn was a great use of my time! On this pandemic, I've been trying to find means to escape reality, and every time I encounter a book that makes my heart melt on the inside it's honestly the most amazing feeling in the world!

The relationship (and how it was built, who doesn't fake dating?) between the main characters felt so natural, I could feel their chemistry through the pages! Also, I loved the representation this book gives to Tourette syndrome, and how it affected Hollyn's life. Yet, it didn't define who she was, it was just another aspect of her as a person.

A cute, light-hearted, emotional and entertaining read, great for winter days, because the book sure is a cozy hug!!

Was this review helpful?

Yes & I Love You is so much more than I was expecting - more emotional, more endearing, more steamy - just everything. I appreciated how both MCs had their own very real and difficult issues and how they were truly like two puzzle pieces that fit together perfectly. I love how the story was about recognizing and EMBRACING your strengths AND weaknesses and not about changing. I love how both Hollyn and Jasper learned from each other and grew because of the others involvement in their lives. I even love their names - Hollyn Darling and Jasper Deares (pronounced like 'dearest" without the t). I can not wait to continue on with the series and dive in to Roni Loren's back catalogue. The writing, pacing, and character development were superb. 4.5 out of 5 wine glasses.

Was this review helpful?

I enjoyed this one so much, y'all...I can't even tell you. Although, I'm gonna try, so here it goes:

Plot overview: Hollyn is an incredibly talented and popular entertainment reviewer who goes by the pen name Miz Poppy, but no one knows the real her--the woman who has Tourette's and social anxiety issues. She meets struggling actor Jasper Deares, and when Hollyn's boss insists she start doing video reviews, he agrees to help overcome her stage fright in order to keep her job. Sweet, sexy, awesome romance ensues.

Trope bingo: This is pretty original, so there aren't a ton of common tropes here, other than opposites attract.

If you've read any of my past reviews, I love this author. Pretty much everything she does is magic for me. This book was no different. I loved that the characters were so REAL. They had real fears and real issues to overcome in order to be together. No manufactured plots or big, stupid misunderstandings--just two real people that you'd find in every day life falling ass-over-elbow in love with each other.

The chemistry between Hollyn and Jasper just jumps right off the page and smacks the reader right in the face--it's that good. And their banter is incredible. This is one of those reads that will appeal to lovers of light hearted rom com, and those who prefer more emotional fare. It straddles the line between standard contemporary romance and romantic comedy beautifully.

I also loved that Jasper wasn't a huge Hollywood star, too. It's not often that you see romantic heroes who are struggling in their chosen profession. In a genre full of under-forty billionaires, it's nice to see a struggling actor who moonlights as a coffee cart guy.

Now, I will say that I saw a few reviews mention that this book isn't a good portrayal of social anxiety, and that it suggests that getting a boyfriend and learning to improv will solve all anxiety issues. I am not and will never claim to be an expert on Tourette's and social anxiety. But, it all felt pretty believable to me. And I never felt like the boyfriend or improv "solved all her problems." Hollyn wasn't magically "all better" at the end of the book. Jasper did help her overcome a few of her fears, but Hollyn did all the heavy lifting on her own. SHE overcame some of her fears. Jasper just helped facilitate it. He gave her a tool to help, but he didn't "fix" her. (And to be super clear, she didn't need fixing because she was just fine as she was) Mostly, in the end, Hollyn accepts who she is, quirks and anxieties and strengths and all, and makes a few changes in her life--not for the guy, but because SHE wants to. But, that said, I will gladly stand corrected if anyone who actually has issues like Hollyn's disagrees, because, I'm not the right person to be speaking out on issues I don't have.

I really loved Hollyn as a heroine. She as smart and hilarious and quick-witted, and she went after exactly what she wanted, even though the idea of doing it scared the crap out of her. We can never have too many strong, brave, resilient heroines in Romancelandia, you know?

But, long-story-short, I really enjoyed this book, just like I've enjoyed every other Roni Loren book I've read, and can't recommend it highly enough.

Was this review helpful?

Yes & I Love You is about two different and yet similar individuals who decide to work together to help each other get what they want. Hollyn has tourette's syndrome, and she also suffers from anxiety due to the stresses of socializing and interacting with people who are unaware of her condition. Hollyn works with her therapist to help her get out there, so to speak, and to learn how to establish relationships. Jasper, meanwhile, fresh from a breakup and getting so-close-but-not-there-yet towards his dream career, is deciding where to go from here. I have to admit that I related and rooted more for Hollyn than Jasper (she deserves the world, okay), but I adored how their growing relationship was explored.

I enjoyed how neurodiverse Yes & I Love You was, and how the characters' pain and struggles were treated with care. I also appreciated the importance placed on therapy,

Yes & I Love You is somehow my first Roni Loren book (to be honest I have no idea how and why) but it definitely won't be the last!

Was this review helpful?

This had everything I love in a contemporary romance: quirky characters, an interesting setting, and lots of tension. This checked all the boxes for me with some added surprises like the improv acting, which I loved. I do wish the author had played more into the New Orleans setting, most times it felt like this could be taking place in any city, which is a disservice to such a unique place. Hollyn and Jasper made this book for me with their flaws and quirks, they seemed like real people. I also loved learning more about Tourette's and how Hollyn came out of her shell with Jasper's help. Fake dating is one of my favorite tropes in romance, and I loved how the author put her own spin on it. Looking forward to reading Andi's book this summer!

Was this review helpful?

The cover of this book is terrible, but don’t judge the book by it’s cover! I really enjoyed this book about Hollyn (an shy introvert who has a super popular entertainment Blog and Turrets) and Jasper (an aspiring Improv actor working as a coffee barista). I laughed out loud at points!

Thanks to @NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for my ARC!

Was this review helpful?

I struggled to connect to this one it ended up being a DNF. But I know a lot of people loved it so I’d still recommend it

Was this review helpful?

This was my first Roni Loren book, and colour me impressed. Loren has crafted a rom-com that's light and easy to get into, while still being very well-written, sensitive, and devoid of the cringeyness that often plagues this kind of novel. Don't get me wrong, I cringed A LOT at all the improv, but that's just my natural reaction to people putting themselves out there like that, and like the main character, Hollyn, it's something I need to come to terms with at some point in my life. I really enjoyed Hollyn and Jasper, and their interactions felt honest and well-rounded, even if I felt like there could have been more some more variation in the tone between the two points of view to highlight the main characters' differences a bit more.

Not being able to comfortably comment in any depth on the book's major reps myself, I'll just say that from an outsider reader's perspective, it felt like Loren did the characters justice by writing them as whole, multifaceted human beings that are not defined by their diagnoses, but instead find ways to embrace and love them - in themselves and in one another.

Aaaaand the bonus piece of joy: there's a second book, and it's from the perspective of one of the better side characters in Yes & I Love you, so I. Am. In.

Was this review helpful?

« Logically, I know that my coworkers aren’t going to burst out laughing or make fun of me. But my body doesn’t get that message. If I get pulled into conversation with someone, my words just freeze up and I panic. »

Hollyn has Tourettes. She’s quiet with strangers because of her anxiety but behind the surface, she’s this strong and
funny girl, full of wit. I loved getting to know her ! I knew behind that quietness was an interesting girl and it was inspiring to follow the journey of this brave girl who’s neither afraid to ask for what she wants nor to trust people when it feels right.

Andi the co-worker/new friend and Jasper are great characters too ! They’re just the friends Hollyn needed to feel hopeful again and to convince her to face her fears, one baby step at a time. I think everyone deserves supportive people like them !

The romance was so good ! The fake dating trope really did it for me here ! The chemistry and all the jokes between the two characters feels so natural ! And isn’t Jasper the perfect book boyfriend ? He’s very kind, attentive, supportive and full of ideas to help her ! I love that she’s comfortable with her best friend Cal but that Jasper makes her want to get out of her comfort zone. He gives her the energy and the motivation she needs to try new things.

Suffering from anxiety myself, I identified to Hollyn in numerous situations and I was very glad to read about a character like her as I feel such mental health issues are not represented enough in books. Also, it was a meaningful portrayal of a life many readers might not know about.

This book is a wonderful rom-com that not only makes the reader swoon with delight but also shows how anything is possible when people believe in you so much that you end up deciding that it is okay to believe in yourself as well. It also shows that sometimes you need to try a little more with people because you don’t know what they struggle with on a daily basis. I’m sure many people can identify to Hollyn’s need to socialize with her co-workers without the ability to make the first move. Let’s remember to be friendly with everyone.

Thank you to @Netgalley and the publishers for granting me access to this ARC !

Was this review helpful?

YES & I LOVE YOU is, hands down, one of my most anticipated books of 2021. I’ve loved every word I’ve read by Roni Loren for years. She was a wonderful way of sweeping you off your feet and into the lives of these characters that truly come alive in these pages. And I’ve been waiting for this series to start now for some time. The expectations were certainly high, but nothing to fear here, Roni Loren always delivers.

Hollyn moved to New Orleans on her own to conquer the city and live out her dream. She writes a popular nightlife blog under an online persona. But she’s battling her own demons and those keep her quite isolated. Tourettes and social anxiety. She overcame bullying but she’s not ready to show her face in public and the online anonymity of her character is what has kept her working. Social interactions are at a minimum while she goes into her “office” in a coworking space. Until there’s a new barista in the building and he’s determined to get under that harsh exterior.

Friendship plays such an important role in this story in terms of plot and character development. I loved seeing that especially through our heroines eyes. Her and Jasper are friends first and he challenges her to come out of her safe space. And there’s also the bond of female friendships with some of our side characters.

It explores some emotional issues and also has great character growth and development. I loved getting to know these characters and I’m also looking forward to explore more from the rest of the cast we were introduced to. While this book has less steam that I’m used to from Ms. Loren, when it comes to quantity it certainly delivers when it counts. I think that is because there’s a vibe of women’s fiction to this story. Yes, even though this is a contemporary romance and has an HEA.

This is the perfect book to sit outside and enjoy the nicer weather with. Such a sweet story with an endearing romance and lovable characters. It was just a breeze to read and I didn’t want to put it down. I can’t wait for the next one!

Was this review helpful?

Loved this book! Such a feel good story packed with humor. This book was such a treat! A fantastic book that I cannot recommend highly enough.

Was this review helpful?

Hollyn writes a popular review column as Miz Poppy. She has Tourette's that leads to severe social anxiety. As part of her therapy she has rented office space and gets out of her home to write her column. There is a new coffee barista that is over friendly and their first meeting is a disaster. Jasper is interested in Hollyn and takes the time to get to know her and about her. He is an improv actor looking to have his own theater and teach. Hollyn learns that her boss wants her to begin to vlog her reviews. This is absolutely the worst for her, but she doesn't want to give up her Miz Poppy personality. Jasper offers to help her overcome her anxiety by giving her private improv lessons. Cute, quirky, plenty of laughs that tug the heartstrings.

Was this review helpful?

I couldn't put this book down, especially in the first half. I gobbled it up and loved all the side characters and the setting too. The improv stuff was really fun. Loved the TS and ADHD rep Hollyn and Jasper had fabulous chemistry and Andi was a delight. So excited for her book!

Was this review helpful?

I breezed through this steamy rom-com in just a couple of days, as it was a nice break from more “weighty” reading. I loved how there were serious topics underlying a lot of the action. The female main character, Hollyn, has Tourette’s syndrome, which in her case shows up as facial tics, and it’s the source of her social anxiety. The male main character, Jasper, is a product of the foster care system and describes himself as impulsive and as having ADHD. Their interactions were believable and often hilarious, as was the whole “improv” scene. It was also refreshing that the main location of the story was New Orleans, rather than (say) New York or some other really big city.

I bounced between the ebook version and the audiobook version. The audio narrator, Desiree Ketchum, did a fine job with both the female voices and the male voices.

This is my first book by Roni Loren and it won’t be my last. I see that there’s another book in this series to look forward to later this year! Can’t wait.

(Warning: plenty of descriptive sex scenes, so if that’s not for you, I’d avoid this book.)

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book and to Dreamscape Media for an advance listeners copy of the audiobook. All opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

Thanks Netgalley for the oportunity to read this book, I really enjoyed it!
The representation was amazing, and I really liked both characters and their dinamic and stories, it was sweet and cute.

Was this review helpful?