I love the use of improv as a way to overcome anxiety. This book inspired me to take my own improv lessons. This book was a delight.

Roni was a guest in the podcast, please see attached link for the interview.

Yes & I Love You was so cute! I really enjoyed the audiobook. It truly added to the story!

When I think of Roni Loren I think of incredibly hot and passionate love stories. Her stories are so hot they nearly light my kindle on fire. She’s a true storyteller through and through. Even though this one wasn’t steamy like the others I’ve read, I didn’t love it any less. Such a cute rom com. I loved the banter back and forth and I loved reading a story (my first one) with someone who has Tourette’s. It was nicely done and I loved the representation.

A huge thank you to NetGalley for this book in exchange for an honest review. I truly enjoyed this one.

I adore Roni Loren's writing so I had high hopes for this book. It did not disappoint! I loved it so much. Hollyn and Jasper were both great characters and I had a hard time putting this book down because of it.

This book was a sweet, easy read and as someone who would not regularly pick up a romance novel, I enjoyed it profusely.

Hollyn and Jasper were likable, and you will be rooting for them throughout - no spoilers!

I'll be looking out for number 2 in the series which focuses on the story of Andi, a great support character from this book :)

Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and Netgalley for a copy of the ARC in return for my honest review.

YES & I LOVE YOU is Eleanor Oliphant's sexy younger cousin, and is an absolute must-read!
Hollyn Tate, painfully self-conscious about her Tourette's Syndrome, hides behind an avatar and is an undercover entertainment reviewer in NOLA. Jasper Deares is an actor and comedian who can't get out of his own way long enough to find success. When Hollyn's publication wants to take her public, Jasper agrees to teach her some improv techniques to help her conquer her nerves. Sparks fly and what follows is at once funny, poignant, and delightfully steamy. I cannot recommend it enough!

Yes & I Love You by Roni Loren is a cute romantic comedy were unexpected allies help each other out. Hollyn doesn’t have a lot of confidence and tries to stay away from most people. She has Tourette ’s syndrome which causes her to think that’s all people see when they look at her. Her best friend is always encouraging her to step out of her comfort zone which causes her to make a new and supportive friend. Jasper, an aspiring actor, starts an improv class and gives Hollyn private lessons to help her with confidence. Their friendship could turn into something more, but then Hollyn’s best friend tells her he still loves her. Who will Hollyn pick? This is a really cute story and I liked how it discussed Tourette’s. This is something I don’t know a lot about, so I found it very interesting to see how Hollyn felt in different. It was also interesting to see how different people reacted to her. Some people were awful but most people were supportive. Jasper wants to be an actor and is working on getting funding to start his own Improv club. He ends up with some difficult choices to make. I really enjoyed Hollyn and Jasper’s characters and their friends were also entertaining and supportive. I really enjoyed Yes & I Love You and can’t wait to read the next book in the series.

Thank you Dreamscape Media, Sourcebooks Casablance and NetGalley for Yes & I Love You.

Roni Loren has become one of those authors whose books I dive into without even. stopping by the blurb. She's never afraid of exploring new subjects, bring out unconventional heroines and heroes, embrace their flaws; and in all this complexity, she never sacrifices the fantasy of a good romance or the steaminess. Yes I Love You is the romance between Hollyn and Jasper, who meet at a moment when each is trying to overcome their very real issues and anxieties. It's a realistic story with an optimistic outlook and Loren does a great job conveying their inner struggles. Bonus points for Cal, the best ex-boyfriend I have seen in a romance; I hope he gets his own book.

Online, she's Miz Poppy, popular and sexy reviewer of New Orleans entertainment. But in real life, she's Hollyn, socially awkward and shunned for her disability. Her therapist pushes her to join a rented workspace to help her socialize. It's there that she meets Jasper. A struggling actor and member of an improv group by night, he takes a job in her building as a barista to support his acting passion. When Hollyn is forced to go public with her Miz Poppy persona, Jasper offers to give her private lessons to overcome her anxiety. Can these two misunderstood souls finally find a place to belong?
I love the idea of a rented office space where people in different startup companies can socialize and swap ideas. And I would be at that coffee station all day! Social anxiety can be horrible sometimes and I can relate to having to push myself into awkward social situations. I love how Hollyn was able to overcome her disability once she got comfortable with Jasper.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The views and opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Omg I love this book 😍 It made me smile so hard.
I love that this book covered subjects like tourettes, adhd and anxiety. Tourettes is not a subject matter I've come across in a book before and it was refreshing to read something that's not discussed much. The relationship between Hollyn and Jasper was like a breath of fresh air. I loved the honesty between them. The end part of the book just hit me with the feels I adored the grand gesture. The whole book just left me smiling. I'm looking forward to reading more by Roni Loren I really liked her writing style.

This was quite a surprise read for me. I wan't expecting to become so emotionally invested in the outcome of the story as I did, especially since this was my first book by this author. But the characters felt so real and their struggles so relatable that I was soon engrossed in the story.

I loved that the author was inclusive in her characters, I've only read a few stories that involved individuals with Tourette's, but none of them were written in a way that I could relate to. True, I don't have Tourette's or know anyone that lives with the disorder, but the way Roni Loren portrayed Hollyn made it easier for me to understand her struggles simply because Hollyn's story didn't just revolve around Tourette's. Granted, it did have a big impact in her life, but ultimately, she was simply a young woman trying to made something of herself in a new city while and putting herself out there both personally and professionally.. She had the same struggles most women have--making friends, overcoming obstacles, finding a connection with someone special.

I also enjoyed the range in emotions brought to the page. I think that the story was well-balanced, providing both funny, laugh-out loud moments and emotionally-charged, somber moments. This kept the momentum going and helped me become more invested in the characters' journey.

It helped a lot that Jasper was such a great character too. He was charming and funny yet struggled with his own insecurities. I liked that Hollyn and Jasper were opposites, yet complemented each other. The author took great care in establishing their connection and developing it as the story progressed. Their camaraderie jumped off the page and their slow-burn chemistry worked to keep me interested in what would be coming next.

As the first book in as series, I think that YES & I LOVE YOU worked very well. The characters were well-developed and their interactions with the secondary characters allowed the reader to get a sense of what to expect from the series.

All in all, a cute, emotionally-charged romance with the right mix of elements to make it worthwhile.

Being familiar with Roni Loren’s work, I went into Yes & I Love You with high expectations. She did not disappoint. Loren delivered a sweet, but passionate romance served with a helping of humour. She captivated me with her writing, witty dialogue and wonderful, but flawed characters.

Hollyn’s witty and sassy attitude won me over in no time. I admired her strength and her drive to step out of her comfort zone despite the challenge it presented. She expressed herself well in writing, but had difficulty making friends and socializing. Her Tourette’s Syndrome which manifested at a young age made her self-conscious. She lived most of her life in isolation, due to bullying, which led to social awkwardness and anxiety. As a result, she avoided making friends. However, when the opportunity of a lifetime came knocking, she had two choices, take the steps needed to achieve her goals or remain in her little box and face the possibility of losing her job. Watching her grow throughout the story proved a delightful experience.

Jasper is a skilled improv actor, and he wants to make his mark in the world of theatre. Getting involved in a committed relationship was not on his agenda. However, meeting Hollyn shook his world in ways he never expected. Jasper was a delightful character, although I have to admit some of his actions made me want to knock him upside his head. The deeper I got into the story, the more I understood the reason behind his actions. The changes he made throughout had me falling hopelessly in love with him.

Their initial meeting though awkward revealed an attraction that would slowly develop throughout the story. I loved them as a couple and couldn’t help rooting for them. I so wanted them to work out their issues and achieve all their goals.

Overall, Yes & I Love You was a wonderful story which showed the benefits of leaving one’s comfort zone. Tough at the start, but in the end, it introduces you to a whole new world.

Not all heroes wear capes, some get your coffee order right and have it waiting for you.

Jasper is the new barista saving the day one cup at a time!
When he sees Hollyn his spidey senses were tingling, but by the faces that Hollyn makes when she is by him, he thinks that she doesn’t like him. Hollyn decides to go to a new improv show that is new in town to review it for her Miz Poppy blog. Who does she see on the stage? The coffee hero himself, Jasper. That’s right ladies he’s a triple threat: coffee slinger, makes you laugh, and hubba hubba his body isn’t anything to ignore either. But when Jasper uses her faces for his show’s material she couldn’t care less about her perfect morning cup by the handsome barista and goes running out of the show crying.
Jasper runs after her and she tells him off and basically says “I have Tourettes you idiot. I make faces when I’m nervous, and you make me nervous.” She also tells him that’s the reason that she’s only had 1 boyfriend and doesn’t date. He proposes to teach her how to be comfortable with dating and take lessons from him.
What happens when fake feelings start feeling real?

☁️☁️☁️☁️ My Thoughts ☁️☁️☁️☁️
1. I loved the Tourettes aspect! I haven’t seen that in many books and loved it!
2. I loved all the improv! I love improv and this did not disappoint!
3. Their private lesson games! 👌

Everyone knows Miz Poppy, the vibrant reviewer whose commentary brightens the New Orleans nightlife. But no one knows Hollyn, the real face behind the media star...or the fear that keeps her isolated. When her boss tells her she needs to add video to her blog or lose her job, she's forced to rely on an unexpected source to help her face her fears.

When aspiring actor Jasper Deares finds out the shy woman who orders coffee every day is actually Miz Poppy, he realizes he has a golden opportunity to get the media attention his acting career needs. All he has to do is help Hollyn come out of her shell...and through their growing connection, finally find her voice.

I am a huge fan of this author. Unfortunately this particular book fell a bit flat for me. Overall enjoyable but the pacing was a bit slow at times. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

Well, if you’re looking for an easy fluffy romance, this will fit just fine. It was predictable and for me somewhat forgettable, but it was cute. I wanted more from it. Either depth or laughs, but more. But it was a good way to spend a day sitting by the fire.

I fun contemporary romance with a love of self reflection and self growth at it's heart. I think that Hollyn and Jasper have a great relationship and loved seeing it develop over the course of the novel. This was a more personal journey focused story than I was expecting but I was pleasantly surprised.

3.75 stars--YES & I LOVE YOU is the first instalment in Roni Loren’s contemporary, adult SAY ANYTHING erotic, romance series. This is online movie and television reviewer Hollyn Darling Tate aka Miz Poppy, and improv actor / barista Jasper Deares story line.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Hollyn and Jasper) YES & I LOVE YOU follows the building relationship and romance between twenty-five year old improv actor and barista Jasper Deares, and online movie and television reviewer Hollyn Tate. Hollyn works in the four-story WorkAround building, a converted New Orleans’ warehouse where podcasters and social media influencers rent space and hone their crafts. Jasper Deares, a new barista at the on-site coffee café catches Hollyn’s immediate attention but our heroine suffers with facial tics, a form of Tourette’s, and doesn’t leave a very good first impression with Jasper Deares, the man with whom Hollyn will fall in love. Hoping to apologize for their awkward introduction, Hollyn reveals the truth about her struggles with Tourettes, and in doing so sets into motion the start of a relationship that will spiral out of control. While neither one was in a place for a permanent relationship, Hollyn offers a friends with benefits affair, that will quickly turn into something more, when Hollyn asks Jasper to be her ‘pretend boyfriend’ when her rock star ex Cal, another man who struggles with Tourette’s, returns to town. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Hollyn and Jasper, and the potential fall-out as Hollyn’s past comes looking for a second chances, and Jasper’s past offers our hero the role of a life-time.

Hollyn Tate struggles with facial tics, a form of Tourette’s in which, nerves and stress result in facial twinges and twitching that constantly draw attention when she would otherwise want to be left alone. Hollyn’s current line of work is the mysterious online reviewer known as Miz Poppy, a position that affords our heroine anonymity but her relationship with Jasper is about to expose the truth. Jasper Deares is a struggling actor who grew up in the foster care system, works as a barista during the day. An opportunity to invest in his own improv company finds our hero offering Hollyn the freedom to experiment with her public persona, an experiment that pushes our couple together.

The relationship between Jasper and Hollyn begins as a friends to a friends with benefits turned fake boyfriend/ girlfriend relationship that quickly turns into something more but the potential for a love triangle with the return of Hollyn’s ex, finds our hero walking away in an effort to protect the woman he loves. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful and dynamic secondary and supporting characters including serial murder podcaster Andi Lockley; Hollyn’s best friend / former lover and guitar player Cal; online therapist Mary Leigh; Jasper’s ex-girlfriend Kenzie, as well as several members of the improv troupe known as Hail Yes-Antonio, Monique, Leah and Barry. Andi Lockley’s story line is next in WHAT IF YOU & ME.

YES & I LOVE YOU is a story of friendships, relationships, struggles and acceptance. Roni Loren brings to the forefront several neurodevelopmental disorders including Tourette Syndrome, ADHD and anxiety disorders, of which, a number of her characters currently struggle. The slow building premise is emotional and encouraging but idealistic ; the characters are inspiring, quirky and spirited; the romance is tender and intimate.


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Yes & I Love You is a contemporary romance featuring the fantastic Miz Poppy, an online reviewer whose real name is Hollyn. She has Tourette's and social anxiety, which proves to be a challenge when her boss offers her a promotion: She'll have to find a way to be comfortable in front of the camera, making vlogs (and so, no longer writing under a pseudonym), or find a new job.

I also like author Roni Loren's writing - it wasn't at all a challenge to get into this one. However, I am not a fan of the main character opposite Hollyn.

(Mild spoilers appear in this graf) He, Jasper, is immature and has a tendency to make things about himself rather than those around him. For example, he literally says to her, "I know you're having a freak-out and I'm sorry about that, but this is the best news I've heard all day." She's sharing her insecurities and career concerns with him. And he can't even be supportive for a minute before he's making it about *him* and how it would've been good for *him* had she, as Miz Poppy, reviewed his show. I'm just not seeing why someone as cool and great as Hollyn would be hung up on this guy - we're told she finds him hot, but otherwise?

I read on and even at the halfway point, am just not rooting for this couple to get together. I do think Hollyn and her new friend Andi are great characters, though - which means I'll be interested in the next book in this series. Hope the next love interest is more worthy of our main character!

DNF at 50%.

I love when an author takes a condition not commonly used in books and writes a story around it. So far I've read this authors THE ONES WHO'VE GOT AWAY series. YES & I LOVE YOU is very different from that series.
Fear is there to protect us, but fear is also what gets us stuck.

Hollyn, a mystery reviewer writing as Miz Poppy, has Tourette's. Past bad experience made her withdraw from the world and only now she's, albeit fearfully, stepping back into it. A huge challenge is talking to people. Best case scenario is that she makes it to her office in the office building without being talked to. Andi, a true crime podcaster (and heroine of book 2), doesn't let Hollyn's tics and her closed-off-ness scare her away. For the first time in a long time Hollyn has a new friend.
There is also the new barista, Jasper, who thinks Hollyn hates him without realizing at first that scrunching her nose are her tics. Jasper is also an improv actor and I really loved to learn more about how they work. Hollyn's professional challenge to review on camera eventually brings these two together.
“Just be you. Because you are pretty damn spectacular, Hollyn Darling."

She is so brave, giving herself pep talks, gathering courage and coming out of her shell, step by step. Ultimately, Hollyn learns through her new experiences, with the help of her new friends and by taking a risk that her condition doesn't have to define her, that she has the power to define her new comfort zone.
People always saw Jasper as a little flighty, head in the clouds, going for the impossible without a proper plan and being too impulsive. Meeting Hollyn, spending time with her, falling in love with her he learned that this isn't necessarily a bad thing but he also learned that following an impulse isn't the same as listening to what your heart tells you. He made some major progress and I was happy how he passed his final test.
"Life is one big improv stage anyway. You’re only as good as the people standing there with you. And you, Hollyn Darling, are the very best.”

If there is one thing I had a niggle with, it's the introduction of a love triangle that didn't really add anything necessary to the story. I'd loved Hollyn's best friend because he was always there for her and after that I didn't like him much anymore. I also didn't feel any chemistry beyond friendship from either side so why the author introduced it...your guess is as good as mine. I thought it was a shame to make a perfectly good character look bad for no good reason.

Overall, this was a very cute story with quirky characters that'll grow on you fast. The tenderness between Hollyn and Jasper made my heart gooey - I marked so many beautiful quotes, I wish I could share them all. Niggle notwithstanding, I whole-heartedly recommend this first installment of Roni Loren's new series.
“Love isn’t rational. It’s a risk. It’s always a risk."

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for an opportunity to read Yes & I Love You

Book rating : ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 💫
Cover rating: 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟
Smutty smut rating : 💋💋💋💋

A successful entertainment blogger who suffers from an anxiety disorder as a result of having Tourette’s syndrome ... a former foster child who has recently been dumped by the love of is his life and trying to make it as an improv artist ... coffee ... and the sparks start to fly

What I liked

✔️ a sweet love story
✔️ the supporting characters / friends - everyone needs an Andi and a Fitz in their life ! I’m all about great friendships
✔️ The ABC game was funny and totally smutty smut hot 😂
✔️ I enjoy romances where the characters have direct and open conversations