I listened to Roni Lorens, Yes and I Love You as an audiobook via Netgalley. I tried so hard to like this book but it just fell short for me. I found the story very clichè and a bit hard to listen to. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This would have been a solid 4 stars for me, but there were a few things that brought it to more of a 3.5 for me. I loved reading a romance centered around two non-neurotypical people, but the character development as to their relationship and personal growth at times felt miraculous and others felt like a step back. I was happy with the resolution of the story, and I will likely read the next book in the series. I saw that it was following another character, but I would love to know more about these two characters.

Yes & I Love You by Roni Loren is a cute romantic comedy and it was really bland. It wasn't hot, it wasn't steamy just bland. I didn't feel anything about the characters but it was interesting and the pacing was great.

Thanks #netgallery. Fun, quick read. A few NSFW sections to be aware of it you are listening to this book but overall a good read.

I absolutely loved this book. I loved the characters - both Hollyn and Jasper were exceptionally written. I really enjoyed the story and how Hollyn and Jasper interacted and how honest the interactions are! I really loved the friends and hope there is more Andi coming out soon!!! The book was witty and funny and STEAMY. Not having read many books where Tourette's and ADHD were part of the story, or knowing much about either, I thought the author did a good job explaining them and not throwing them in our faces. A really lovely book which I would recommend to anyone who needs a good romance in their life.

Wow! I loved this sweet and sexy rom com. I was cheering on the characters as their attraction grew. The narrator did a great job bringing the characters to life and keeping me entertained
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“Life is one big improv stage anyway. You’re only as good as the people standing there with you.”

No one knows that Hollyn Tate is actually popular entertainment reviewer Miz Poppy and she’d like to keep it that way. Living with Tourette’s and social anxiety, Hollyn would prefer to stay anonymous and let her writing speak for itself. When Hollyn’s boss tells her that she needs to add a video component to her work or risk losing her job, Hollyn’s worst fears are about to come to pass. Enter Jasper Deares, a struggling actor who offers to give Hollyn improv lessons. Through improv, Hollyn just might find not only her voice and the courage to step into the spotlight, but the love she's always longed for.

This was my first read by Roni Loren and it totally took me by surprise. Going into the book, I had no idea what to expect from Loren’s writing. Long story short, Yes & I Love You, ended up blowing me away and is now one of my favorite rom-coms.

What I Loved:
✨Tourette’s and Social Anxiety Rep - I thought that both reps were done with great care. I also really appreciated how readers got to see some of the various ways that Tourette’s can manifest (Hollyn experiences facial tics while her best friend Cal experiences verbal tics) and the different manners in which people live with the disorder (Hollyn chooses to live a more introverted life, whereas Cal does the opposite).

✨The Integration of Improv - As a lover of theater (and as someone who was forced to do improv as part of a college course) I really enjoyed how much improv was interwoven into the entire book.

✨The Love Story - Hollyn and Jasper had such a wonderful love story. I loved how honest and open they were with one another (no matter how awkward things got). They also had such great chemistry from the onset - I couldn't help but root for them right from their hilarious first encounter.

There’s literally just so much to love about this book that I could go on forever about it!

I highly recommend reading Yes & I love You via audiobook - it was just so good! I was extremely addicted to it and I thought that Desiree Ketchum did a fabulous job with the narrating! I’ve truly never devoured an audiobook so fast!

Know that if you pick up this book, you won’t regret it - you’ll laugh, cry and feel all things that come with reading a romance that’s brimming with tons of heart.

Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the audiobook!

This is a fun, lighthearted romance about acceptance and realizing your own worth. Not only does it have characters with disabilities, it does not shy away from addressing the real impact they might have on a person. Even for Jasper, the romantic interest, Hollyn’s tics are initially off-putting and confusing rather than ‘cute’ or ‘endearing’. Even after he is aware of her Tourettes, he learns to understand the tics over time rather than treating them like ‘attractive’ features. To me, this was far more realistic and strengthened their overall relationship. The introduction of Cal as another likable character with Tourette Syndrome but with very different tics further encouraged a better understanding of this disorder.

Probably my favorite aspect of this book was how well Jasper and Hollyn’s relationship was characterized. Romance aside, Jasper was a genuine friend to Hollyn, learning how to push her out of her comfort zone while still making her feel safe and in control. He celebrated and admired the strong, confident woman that Hollyn became in the process and supported her growth any way he could. Meanwhile, Hollyn helped Jasper feel worthy of love and encouraged him to pursue his own passion and goals. She respects where Jasper is at when it comes to relationships and is willing to accept what he is able to give. Ultimately, the chemistry between them works and feels authentic because they genuinely support each other and make each other better people.

The only reason I didn’t give this five stars was that despite the strength of the characters, there was nothing that truly stood out about the story. It included all the typical ingredients of a romance novel and was predictable. Admittedly, this is part of what makes the book so easy to enjoy. However, it also prevents it from making a strong and lasting impact.

Overall, this was a casual and enjoyable read that I definitely recommend to those looking for a good romance.

The narration of this sweet romantic story was perfect ! I love that this story highlights the personal difficulties of both Hollyn and Jasper. Both have decisions to make that will affect their happiness. And Hollyn? An imperfect heroine that one can't help but love.

I went to open the file today and it was archived. I didn’t get notice that I would lose access to the title. I was looking forward to listening to it and hope to hear it one day.

4.25 Stars!
Friends with benefits is probably my least favorite trope. It’s not that I haven’t read or even enjoyed this trope in the past, but in reality, I don't believe there is such a thing as sex without strings. There's always a physical, emotional, or psychological element that can’t be dismissed, unless in denial. Therefore, it inevitably makes the story predictable for me. I know, I know, the romance genre as a whole is generally the definition of predictable. Regardless, if I'm reading this trope, I absolutely need to have a lot more going on besides the romantic arc.

Well, guess what? Roni Loren delivered. Similar to The Ones Who Got Away Series, the author gave us two characters who are dealing with deeply rooted issues from their past that have manifested emotionally and/or physically in their present. At one point or another, ADHD, anxiety, Tourette's, and abandonment issues were all addressed with wisdom, sensitivity, and acceptance. Not only that, but the characterizations of the H/h were wonderfully fleshed out and realistic as they intuitively understood and supported each other. There were also a few well-developed secondary characters that greatly enhanced the main characters' story arc.

Another unique and fun element was the inclusion of improv as Jasper's part-time vocation. It was used as a therapeutic vehicle for Jasper growing up and then as he tutored Hollyn for her vlogger reveal. The author did a great job with the different improv set-ups and quick-witted responses.

*Audio Notes:
The narrator did a fabulous job overall, but especially with Cal’s character (Hollyn's best friend) and his verbal tics. She relayed his confidence, as well as occasional frustration very well. I’ll admit, I wasn’t sure of this narrator after listening to the sample, but in the end, I was impressed by her performance. (This is my voluntary and unbiased review of a complimentary audio copy of Yes and I Love You from the publisher via Netgalley.)

Hollyn, the main character, suffers from Tourette’s syndrome and severe anxiety. When she confides this to Jasper, the new office barista, he offers to give her one-on-one improv lessons to help her manage her anxiety for an upcoming work project. But when by accident he discovers that she is a popular reviewer, whose identity has been kept secret, he ends up trading a review at his improv show for Hollyn’s lessons.

The story started out quite interesting, but the more I listened to the audiobook, the more I was worried that it was heading way off track for me. For me, the plot swerved off course when it headed straight toward the bedroom. After all, wouldn’t it also help Hollyn’s anxiety if Jasper helped her with having sex too? No, this isn’t Jasper coercing the distressed lady. This request comes from the anxiety-ridden lady herself.

Steamy sex thrown into a story may be fine for some who are expecting and even happy to have it show up. But for me the sex immediately starting down-playing two serious issues. I began to wonder if those issues were possibly thrown in so Hollyn would be a little more needy of Jasper's attention, who I might add has problems of his own.

Anyway, from that point on I wasn't really sure where the story was headed. I had been excited to see a relationship blossom, but this felt wrong. Sex and the improv were just used as more or less teaching tools. At least that was how it started out.

I'm very sorry to say that what started as a fun book, in the end, just didn't work for me.

My Concerns
Perhaps I should have done my homework and known that this author was more of a steamy romance writer. So that part's on me. Many readers are just fine with that, but it's not for me.

What I really was disappointed about was adding in rather glibly two very serious issues and not treating them with enough respect. I would have felt much happier had the author tagged her heroine as shy or even an out-and-out extreme introvert.

My Conclusion
If you find yourself on the side of steamy romances (which many are and that’s okay) and you take everything about the book lightly and don’t over analyze, I think this is a story you’ll really like. If on the other hand, you read my review and found my issues things that might concern you too, I would give a pass to this book/audiobook.

Though I haven’t mentioned the narrator, I felt the reading was very good. In fact, her reflections and various voices added to the story.

My thanks to #NetGalley for the ability to listen to this book and post a review without any stipulations. This review is nothing more than one person’s honest opinion.

Yes & I Love You by Roni Loren was a fabulous rom com audiobook! This one is steamier than New Orleans in August! Hollyn is a witty reviewer hiding behind her avatar. Jasper is the leader of a stand up comedy group and pours coffee by day while trying to get his life together. I loved seeing these characters play off each other this book was so fun and well narrated I wanted to listen to ten more hours of it!

Yes & I Love You, by Roni Loren

Hollyn writes an entertainment column with a large following under the pseudonym of Miz Poppy, but behind the scenes she has Tourette Syndrome, anxiety and panic attacks. Her therapist has convinced her to rent an office rather than working from home, and there she meets the new barista Jasper, an aspiring improv actor who grew up in foster care and with ADHD … what could possibly go wrong?

Yes & I Love You is a heartwarming contemporary romance with likeable, ability diverse characters. It does contain some strong language, and sexual activity, but is a fun read. This is book 1 of the “Say Everything” series, and I look forward to reading the coming titles.

'Im all about having inclusive characters in stories and a romance book with a tourettes lead is pretty great and inclusive. The way they deal with her anxiety and how she overcomes a lot of her obstacles is really sweetly written and the development of the relationship between the two of them I enjoyed. One of the things I liked the most, is that I really Loved some of the Miz Poppy columns in the book. Some of them seemed really close to what i do here, and some are just things that i might need to do, or follow her advice. for example I loved her movie lists of best fake romances, love triangles etc - they were all movies I love! It is another fake relationship story within the same review blog, but I stick to this one over The Dating Plan. It was way more steamy than i expected given the cover, but it was still a very enjoyable book. Side note, it made me want to take improv classes again!

Whew! Hollyn is a totally different person than her entertainment persona. Jasper is a talented improv artist and he is able to bring Hollyn out of her shell! This book was fun and super sexy.

I flew through this audiobook this week! Anyone else enjoy just switching the medium up to get you back into reading after a slump?

Yes & I Love You is a romcom about a quiet introverted girl with anxiety breaking out of her shell while meeting her love. I enjoyed Miz Poppy’s character and her creativity. Jasper was a little too cliche for me at parts. The ending speech was a perfect Marty of Miz Poppy and Hollyn. 3.5⭐️

AudioBook Review:
Stars: Overall 4 Narration 4 Story 4

This was a different title from this author from what I’ve come to know: a bit of a lighter romantic comedy with a couple who both have their own issues and plenty to overcome with a connection that starts out as friends and moves to the ever-wanted HEA, Miz Poppy is a reviewer – not of books or music – but of the New Orleans nightlife, and is more popular than one may expect. What no one knows however is that Miz Poppy is actually the shy and retiring Hollyn, and she’s about to be put into a ‘situation’ that will test her. Her boss wants the Miz Poppy reviews to start featuring video – and Hollyn – shy, anxious and dealing with her own issues isn’t ready to make that leap.

Jasper is a barista at the coffee shop Hollyn frequents on her daily rounds. He’s an aspiring actor who’s not caught his ‘break’ and he’s learned from Hollyn that she’s Miz Poppy –and there is a change to her routine. Jasper knows that he can help Hollyn step out of the shadows and stop worrying about what everyone thinks, and that her Tourette’s - where she’s prone to speak what she feels is out of turn is what hampers her.

Oh the banter and the humor here was wonderful, and we get to see how the self-conscious anxitey eats at Hollyn, until Jasper helps her with his own revelations and his solid friendship. Of course sparks develop –and both characters get a great opportunity to move past their issues, put them into proper perspective and allow the banter, their connection and the laughter roll on. Narrated by Desiree Ketchum she uses the very deft phrasing and timing of the author’s words, as well as an ability to ‘become’ the characters to allow us to enjoy the fast-paced dialogue, appreciate the struggles and get the jokes – all while cheering on the characters. Loren’s deft handling of Tourette’s, its influence on Hollyn and her own impulses to hide away rather than risk being embarrassed or shamed for her difficulty is wonderful – and allows the relationship between she and Jasper, as well as her own self-confidence grow throughout the story. A wonderful listen.

I received an AudioBook copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at <a href=” https://wp.me/p3OmRo-aTp /” > <a> I am, Indeed </a>

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. The narrator also did a phenomenal job giving each character their own distinct voice and that made the listening experience super enjoyable as well. 4.5 out of 5 wine glasses.

I am totally obsessed with this new romance novel from Roni Loren! Hollyn and Jasper were both very relatable characters with some serious depth. Jasper has moved from home to home and has always looked for a place to belong and Hollyn is an intelligent, yet shy writer who has turrets. I didn’t know much about turrets and loved how Loren was able to explain this syndrome in a way that was understandable, but not too technical. I appreciated the growth that each character experienced and how they were able to grow as individuals from the help of each other and from their own friends.
One of the things I loved most was that there was loads of times where I was cracking up at the improv group’s performances, which kept the book light. Definitely take note, there is plenty of s t e a m to be found here, which is what I think of when I hear Roni Loren. Done in such a tasteful and loving way, you can only root for the couple to find their way to each other in the end.
I had the opportunity to listen to the audiobook which I highly recommend. The narrator’s voice was soothing and easy to listen to.
Thank you Roni Loren for this amazing book and I can’t wait for the next one!