This book really took me by surprise. Sylvia is a psychic medium who starts every show with her origin story, when she discovered her abilities. However, this story isn’t totally true. What is the truth, though, are her abilities.
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Thomas Holmes is a LA times reporter that is trying to dispute her “gift”. They set off on a trip together for him to prove she’s a fraud and for her to prove she has these abilities. It is a game of cat and mouse and I never quite knew who had the upper hand.
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There is so much more here though than this high stakes game. As secrets are uncovered one by one I became more and more invested in these two.
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Huge thank you to @berkleypub @berittalksbooks @thephdivabooks @dg_reads and @netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
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I received a gifted galley of SOME OF IT WAS REAL by Nan Fischer for an honest review. Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group, PRH Audio, and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review!

SOME OF IT WAS REAL by Nan Fischer is an interesting blend of a contemporary romance with a mix of mystery and mystical vibes. Sylvie is a well known psychic medium who helps people in the audience of her shows find closure by reaching the spirits of those they have lost. Her gift is real, but supplemented by research in the hope of helping those most in need. There may be big things on her horizon, but she has a lot that she holds back from the world with her family and her health.

Thomas has been burned in his life by those claiming true psychic gifts. He’s sure that Sylvie is just like all the rest, a “grief vampire” just out for profit and splashy shows while taking advantage of those who are hurting. He’s planning to expose Sylvie’s lies which will ruin her career. He gives her a chance to prove herself, but only if he can watch her every move before her next show.

Trigger warnings for animal and family illness and death and grief.

This book was not at all what I expected it to be, but I wound up really loving it. There was a romance element to this one, but it was much more about the mystery of the main characters’ past and the hurts both have been through. It raised a lot of good questions about Sylvie’s techniques and the ways she used her skills and her research to help people. I really liked that Thomas had valid reasons for hating people like Sylvie, but that he was willing to open his mind along the way.

This probably isn’t the book for those looking for a cute happily ever after read, but I really enjoyed the different route this one took as Thomas and Sylvie begin at odds and proceed to learn more about each other and gain insights into both of their pasts.

Enjoyed this story about a psychic (or is she?) and her quest to uncover her past while a journalist is trying to prove she is a fraud. A bit of mystery, a bit of romance, an intriguing story overall.

Sylvie is a psychic who is quickly gaining a following. She always seems to know exactly what the person she is talking to wants to hear. At one of her shows, she takes a man up on stage and gives him a reading, but afterwards she finds out he is a reporter and that he planted his false backstory online in order to show that she is a fake. Thomas calls her a "grief vampire" and has an agenda to write a tell-all story a bout her. Sylvie knows that some of what she tells people is real and wants to prove that she is actually a psychic. But there are things about her past that are unclear and Thomas begins to develop feelings for her as they search for the truth.

This book is interesting as it is surprisingly more deep and meaningful than I was expecting. Yes, there's some steamy romance, and yes, there's the mystery of Sylvie's past that is uncovered bit by bit. Yet I was touched and grew to really care about the characters and their growth as people throughout the book. As much as I was rooting for Sylvie to prove herself to Thomas, I was also rooting for him to be successful as well. Do I believe psychics are real? Not really, but it sure makes for an intriguing concept for a book.

A bit of a warning: there's an animal death and it's downright sad. It's not gratuitous or violent, but it did make me cry so keep your tissues handy.

Lovely book, I'm very glad I read it and hope you will too!

why my nose was in this book:
- I love psychic shows, so I was immediately drawn to the synopsis and the story captivated my attention from the first chapter and kept it throughout
- Particularly enjoyed the interactions with the audience in readings
- Thomas's character development and his struggle with mediums was a wonderful subplot and made so much sense with understanding his conflict to understand Sylvie's world
- I appreciated the subplot of Sylvie understanding her abilities, the opportunities to better her career, and finding new clues to her elusive past

This was such an interesting story.

I really like how Sylvie and Thomas’ relationship progressed. Thomas is a non-believer trying to prove Sylvie isn’t a real psychic-medium and is just fraud. They go on a trip where she shares her past and he tried to catch her in the lies. Instead they uncover other secrets if Sylvie’s childhood.

I was very invested in this story. The back and forth between Sylvie and Thomas. How she would seemingly prove things to him but he was so determined to stick to his belief that she was a fraud. I also like how Thomas still worked to help Sylvie uncover the truth behind her childhood despite the purpose of his trip.

I really enjoyed this one and would recommend.

[cw - death of a pet, child abuse, death of a parent and sibling]

For some reason, when I picked up Some of If Was Real, I thought it was a rom-com, but it actually is more of a paranormal mystery. There is a love story, but it's not a central plot of the book. The main heroine Sylvie is a psychic medium who helps people connect with their loved ones on the other side. Thomas is a journalist writing an exposé about mediums, including Sylvie.

Sylvie doesn't remember the first six years of her life until she was adopted. She wants to learn about her biological family, but her adoptive parents are keeping the truth surrounding the adoption from her. And even though Thomas aims to expose Sylvie as a fraud, they end up working together to uncover the mystery of Sylvie's early childhood. In the process, they also learn more about themselves and each other.

I like mysteries and books about psychics, so I really enjoyed Some Of It Was Real. It's a compelling story about family, grief, and acceptance. I highly recommend it.

TW: death of a family member, death of a pet, childhood trauma.

Whether you believe in psychic abilities or think it’s all a scam, I predict you’ll find something to enjoy in this book!

Psychic-medium Sylvie uses her gifts at shows and is on the verge of stardom. Journalist Thomas is doubting of her abilities and determined to expose her as a fraud. Together, with his cat and her dog, they embark on a journey to prove each other wrong AND solve the mystery of Sylvie’s past.

I love books about psychics, even though there aren’t a lot out there! This one was really interesting because it had a lot going on to it: a romance sub-plot, character development, family drama, and even a mystery that gets pretty wild towards the end. There are also some really lovable animals that are a big part of the story.

“The truth has two edges. Make sure you’re prepared for the answers you seek.”

Some of it was Real comes out 7/26.

This is one of those books where I was intrigued by so many aspects. The paranormal aspect, the doubter, the secret past and two unlikely people working together to find the truth.
Sylvie is a psychic medium and Thomas is a reporter working on a story to out psychics as frauds. He has planted several dummies in her audience and the results have been inconclusive. He has a proposal for her and if she doesn't follow his terms, he will out her as a fraud.
Sylvie knows she is a sideshow act, but her visions are real and she helps people. The stress eats away at her everyday. When Thomas questions her background, she has no choice but to go home and learn what really happend to her as a kid.
As Thomas and Sylvie get closer, he starts to question her abilities and his fear becomes real as she is able to tell him more and more things about him and his family. He is afraid of things he doesn't understand and the whole book he is back and forth with his feelings about Sylvie, but one thing is for sure, he is falling for her and fast. 4.5 stars.
Sylvie has dreams and visions of her past but her mind has blocked out all of the horrible things that have happened. She is determined to get to the bottom of this mystery once and for all.
This book packed an emotional punch. I was tearing up at the end and I gobbled up all these words and was invested in this story.
Thank you to Berkley, Netgalley and Nan Fischer for an early copy.

Thank you so much for an advanced copy of Some Of It Was Real! This book took me by surprise, and I loved it!

Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Contemporary Romance/Fiction
Pub Date: July 26, 2022

I wasn't sure what to expect with Some of It Was Real, but I got everything I needed from this story. I was truly fascinated by the characters in this book, and the way they wove fact and fiction together to make the story that suited them at the time. Sylvie and Thomas were not always likable characters, they were not always honest characters, but they were always interesting characters. I wondered what "game" they would play with each other next because the book has a fair amount of mind games as they try to figure each other out.

I thought the subject matter was really unique, though, and I enjoyed learning more about Sylvie's true abilities as a medium. I think if you don't believe in a medium's ability, though, this story is. a hard sell because of the cynicism around the field. I don't know if I believe, but I know I liked Sylvie by the end of the book! And, I was rooting for her and Thomas so hard!

I really liked the way Nan Fischer wove Sylvie's story from her past into her present, and she made me stay up way to late reading this one to find the answers I needed! I also liked the way Thomas' story came full circle. And, truly? Sylvie's adoptive parents can kick rocks because they were awful.

This book made me feel so many emotions. If I gave half stars, I would probably rate it 4.5 stars honestly. But, I don't give half stars and something is holding me back from rating this one five stars. I think I had a problem believing Sylvie would just jump on a road trip with someone she hardly knew? I don't know. I feel like this story, though, is really close to being a five star read when you factor in the characters, the emotion, and the twists/turns.

Overall, I loved it, and I'm so happy I read this book.

TW/CW: parental death, verbal abuse, animal death, gas lighting

Sylvie Young is a psychic-medium whose career is on the rise, but she has her secrets: the panic attacks and anxiety she suffers, the estrangement from her adoptive parents and mystery surrounding her birth parents. Thomas Holmes, a reporter whose job is on the line, is writing an exposé about psychics – “grief vampires,” as he calls them – and Sylvie is one of his targets. If she can prove beyond any doubt that she’s not a scammer – that she does, in fact, have psychic abilities – Thomas will leave her out of his exposé. But they’ll need to spend all their time together for the next week, in part so he can keep an eye on her, and in part to learn more about her potentially sordid past. What really happened to her birth parents? What’s so horrific in her past that everyone is covering it up? And why might Thomas and Sylvie not quite be the enemies they think they are?

Some of It Was Real may be the most surprising book I’ve read this year. I went into it without any real expectations; I wasn’t sure where it fit genre-wise, I didn’t know what kind of tone it would have, and I wasn’t prepared for the journey it would take me on. But from the first chapters I was hooked, and it only got better as it went.

To be fair with my first point of confusion, Some of It Was Real doesn’t fit neatly into one genre, instead combining elements of a few. At its heart, this is a drama about Sylvie’s personal and family history and what kind of person she is now. But there’s also a big mystery, giving this a thrilling, page-turner energy. On the other hand, it could be seen as a romance, at least partially, and it features some common romance tropes: fake dating and enemies to lovers.

The story follows Thomas and Sylvie’s separate points of view, each chapter told from one of their perspectives. As different as they may think they are, they’re actually quite similar. Both of them are excellent at reading people and drawing out hidden meanings, both in a person’s verbal and nonverbal cues. Similarly, each is adept at subtly manipulating people, asking leading questions in order to mine for certain answers. Sylvie, in particular, recognizes this similarity; Thomas is much more reluctant to accept such a comparison. Indeed, he abhors what Sylvie does as a medium-psychic. In his view, she’s a con-artist.

Despite his initial distrust of Sylvie, Thomas must remain objective and open-minded as he studies her. Can he recognize and overcome his own prejudices and presuppositions? And in terms of a potential romance, can he and Sylvie ever have a good relationship if the foundation is so flimsy? Even though they have a lot of work to do if they want to pursue a relationship, I was rooting for them.

I loved getting to know the world of psychic-mediums and Sylvie’s own unexplained abilities. Whether you believe it in real life or not, it’s fascinating to watch Sylvie here and get inside her mind as she hears a departed loved one’s message, has a vision of a past scene, or foresees something that’s impossible to know.

The mystery surrounding Sylvie’s past is beautifully done, and I was very invested in it. Even as Sylvie and Thomas come up upon one dead end after another, my curiosity and care for Sylvie kept me hoping they’d finally unearth the truth. What really happened to Sylvie’s birth parents? Why won’t anyone give her any answers? Her adoptive parents, her foster care case worker, everyone shuts the door in her face at the slightest mention of the long-buried truth. As we near the end of the novel, it becomes clear that something horrific happened, and the final reveal is shocking and heartbreaking.

I love the examination of mental health, too. Sylvie suffers from anxiety, panic attacks, and a constantly roiling stomach. She’s cycled through therapists but never stayed with one for very long. Although Thomas doesn’t quite trust or respect Sylvie at first, he does begin to care about her and wants to help her out with her mental health struggles. I greatly appreciated this aspect of the novel, and it gave Thomas a chance to show his better side.

One final note for the pet lovers out there: Furry companions play a big role in Some of It Was Real. Sylvie has a big dog named Moose; Thomas has an elderly cat named Christopher Robins – Chris for short; she’s a girl. In regards to the cat, get ready for some tears along the way. Perhaps the best thing about Thomas is his deep love for this sweet old cat.

Some of It Was Real is a beautiful and enchanting novel that hits on so many notes and combines genres perfectly. It’s magical and funny, yet emotional, tragic, and haunting. It’s filled with love and grief, mystery and hope. Even though I had no idea what I was getting into when I started it, this has risen up to be one of my favorite reads of this year. I look forward to reading more from Nan Fischer, because her writing his captivating.

* Special thanks to the publicists at Penguin Random House and to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book!

* Full review will be live on my blog starting July 26, 2022. I will update this review with a link to it at that time.

I was really impressed by this book. I wasn’t sure what to expect going by the cover and summary, but I absolutely adored it.

The story definitely didn’t go the way I thought it would, but that made it even better. It’s not a silly, fun romcom kind of book. It’s a touching story about grief, acceptance, and learning to believe in yourself despite all the doubters. There are lots of twists, and I really didn’t expect to end up where we did when it was over.

I loved Sylvie and Thomas. They’re not perfect and sometimes they’re frustrating, but you always get where they’re coming from. They felt real. Thomas definitely annoyed me sometimes, but you come to understand why he is the way he is. I love Sylvie’s nickname for him. Also, the fact that Sylvie has an eidetic memory was a really cool detail. And I can’t forget about the pets! They were a wonderful addition to the story, and I love Moose and Chris to pieces.

Don’t go into this book expecting a romance story, or you’ll be disappointed. It’s much more about the relationships we have with our families, grief, and the difficulties and scars that come from that. There is a little romance and a few open-door scenes, but not enough for me to classify it as a romance novel. It’s more of a mystery novel as Sylvie tries to uncover her past with the help of Thomas.

The relationship between them is a really nice progression from enemies to friends to maybe something more. I loved the hopeful ending, but be aware that it’s not a conclusive HEA.

The writing was great. There was a lot going on, but I never felt like the story had too much happening or that things were crammed in for the sake of it. It was really tight, and every scene felt like it had a purpose.

I also really loved the ending and the way the story came full circle. There was also the most perfect touch at the end. No spoilers, though.

I definitely recommend this book; it’s going to be one of my favorites of the year.

Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy. My opinions are my own.

This book surprised the heck out of me. Psychics and Mediums are not in my general interest for storytime, but having a rapport with the author through Bookstagram, and trusting her writing, I gave it a shot. I didn’t expect to get sucked in at all, let alone as quick as I did. I finished it in a day.

This story is deep. It’s not a rom-com, it’s a glorious exploration of emotion, with mystery and heart and broken people. Sylvie and Thomas are battling each other in games of judgement and wisdom and love. It’s facing traumas together and alone, learning truths and separating lies from insecurities. It’s understanding the past and reclaiming the self. Like I said, it surprised me, it’s so much more than you think it would be.

Where it did fall a little short was also where it continued to shine. It’s a true enemies to lovers set-up and the enemies element stays in effect for a majority of the book. I loved that it was a slow-burn coupling and Nan kept it going. The romance is almost secondary to all the discovery going on, but the interplay between the leads is fantastic. BUT, with as much as they butt heads and are diametrically opposed, the forgiveness for slights and offenses come around too often and too easy for me. That’s where I dinged it.

Still, this is one of my highlights of the summer. I definitely recommend.

I'd like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for reaching out to see if I'd enjoy this book.

I found the book quite dull - character and story wise. I only made it 20% in before I had to stop. I expected something a bit more than what was being written and I'm not that big of a fan when an author hints (or openly hints) at a mystery that the one character is withholding and that we have to journey with them to get them to tell it. I also found the chemistry little to none with the main character and the male (possible?) love interest.

This book is a perfect example of, "I didn't see that coming." And in this case, it was absolutely a good thing. I never knew that reading a book about a psychic-medium (Sylvie) that is chasing down the truth of her past would keep me so engaged, but here we are.

What I love about Fischer's writing is the way she crafts her characters. This dual POV story gave us the ability to get inside the minds of both Thomas and Sylvie, in turn giving us the unique perspective of two people trying to find out the details of a story - but for totally different reasons. Sylvie is seeking self discovery while Thomas is trying to fulfill an agenda, but both are equally driven and straightforward. They contain flaws, they own them, and they converse like real adults - not like book adults, if you know what I mean. The conversations didn't feel forced or unrealistic, and that made Sylvie and Thomas very believable characters.

Secondly, this entire story was incredibly unique. While classified right now on Goodreads as a romance, it really read more to me like a mystery through the bulk of it. It was a well paced mystery, though, with lots of character development that had me WANTING to find everything out. By pacing it the way that she did, Fischer made it compelling. Instead of a mystery jumping off the page at the very start, there was time to get invested and curious before really digging into the nitty gritty,

This was the second book I've read by this author and the second one I've given 5 stars to. I look forward to reading more from her in the future!

Despite the already-stellar reviews by the time I read this book, its excellence still snuck up on me while reading. Featuring up-and-coming psychic-medium Sylvie and Thomas, the reporter hell-set on taking her down as a fraud, this unlikely duo bring a charm to story that isn't quite mystery, isn't quite romance, and certainly has something for everyone. With both an enthralling plot and layered characters, there's so much going on in this book--in the best way. I went in not quite knowing what to expect, but whatever expectations I had were blown out of the water. This will undoubtedly be one of my favorite reads of the year and I'm so glad I picked it up!

Thanks to Berkley for my eARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

5 stars - 10/10

Some of It Was Real tells a beautiful story about a psychic who’s not entirely sure she’s really a psychic and the investigative journalist who assumes she’s a fraud and dedicates himself to exposing her.  The book straddles the border between Women’s Fiction and Romance, taking a deep dive into the psyche of each character as they try to foster a connection with one another.  Our hero is hard to like, but the heroine is vulnerable, smart, and easy to love. 

Sylvie Young has become a Sylvia Browne-style sensation through her psychic readings.  No one knows that her readings aren’t cold calls; her agent has her research the backgrounds of the people she’s supposed to meet.  No wonder she suffers from panic attacks.  

Thomas Holmes, reporter at large for the L.A. Times, is determined to take Sylvie down.  He hates psychics down to the very core of his being, mostly because his mom bankrupted herself after spending thousands on them.  When he learns Sylvie is about to get her own TV show, he finds himself an in with her, his career riding on the line. 

Sylvie and Thomas ultimately end up teaming up to help Sylvie remember her pre-adoption childhood. But how real are Sylvie’s visions, and can Thomas salvage his career? 

Nan Fischer knows people.  That’s what really makes Some of It Was Real such a great read.  Sylvie is immediately sympathetic, struggling to apply her gift, to do right by her clients and her adoptive parents.  She has to learn to believe in herself, and that is the gift the narrative gives her eventually. 

Thomas is harder to like because he jumps to the worst possible conclusion about Sylvie’s motivations, and the world that surrounds them each and every single time. He comes around eventually, and in a relatable way - and that’s a relief. 

This isn’t really a full-out romance; consider it a happy for now ending. There’s much more in the story about Thomas and Sylvie’s trip to the past and into Sylvie’s childhood, and what that means for her gift.  But if you’re willing to be patient with it Some of It Was Real it will definitely pay off. 

Buy it at: Amazon, Audible or your local independent retailer 
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Sylvie is a psychic medium whose world is about to be turned upside down. Thomas is a reporter with a reputation to save. He confronts her with his plans to write a story about her so-called gift, which he believes is her way of scamming grieving people. Is there ever a good time for an article to be written that exposes you as a fraud? Nope. But this is a particularly bad time as Sylvie's career is about to truly take off.
Thomas offers her a deal. Follow up on some information he has about her past and prove to him that she is indeed the real thing. If he believes her, he will drop her from his story. She has few options, so she agrees and a game of cat and mouse begins.
Throughout the story, from Sylvie's estrangement from her adoptive parents to the mystery of her biological parents, I was never quite sure if she was a skilled liar or someone who has a remarkable gift. Thomas comes with his own set of heavy baggage and soon these two damaged people seem destined to make a real connection. That is if doubting Thomas can believe in Sylvie and if she can handle the truth about her origins. I don't want to spoil anything, but Thomas had an elderly cat he loved and I was moved by how his experience mirrored my own.
This book alternated chapters between these two characters and the story kept me reading just one more chapter until I was done.4.5 stars.

This was unlike anything I’ve read before. Sylvie is a psychic-medium that hosts live shows to connect audience members to their loved ones on the “other side”. When Thomas catches wind that Sylvie researches some of her clients to ensure success, he sets out to expose her as a fraud in an exposé that would certainly secure his career. After attending one of her shows and asking her to participate in an interview, the two set off on a weeklong trip to her next show venue that involves discovering secrets of both of their pasts and figuring out what is real.

While I really enjoyed this story, I will say that this wouldn’t have considered this to be a romance. Instead, it’s more of a contemporary fiction book with a little bit of romance in it. Once I realized the focus wasn’t entirely on the romance and more on the mystery of it all, I couldn’t put it down. I loved the progression of both Sylvie and Thomas’ character arcs and was anxiously waiting to discover all of their familial histories. I wish the ending would’ve gone further about what happened between Sylvie and Thomas since this was technically a romance, but this was overall a great read!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Berkley for an advanced copy of this ebook!

3.5 stars, rounded up. There are parts of this book that I really loved: hunting down Sylvie's past, Thomas's relationship with his cat, how kind Sylvie was at every turn, and especially Moose. But there are also a few things I wish were different. I really didn't get a lot of romance like the cover led me to believe there would be. Yes, there's some open door scenes, but that doesn't always equal romance in my opinion. I also had a tricky time relating to either of our MC's. But I will say that Fischer's writing style is well done and flows beautifully, which is probably why I finished this one!

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for my e-arc of this book. All opinions here are my own.