while the premise of the book was attractive, the execution was not. this book is lacking in several places, including missing context and plot holes. the friendship in this books had basically no backstory or chemistry, which was really disappointing.

Some solid writing and engaging characters, but the pacing really dragged for me in the middle. I got so tired of Lizzy and Jack not communicating and pining for each other, I wanted them to just get to it already. This book is the best friends to lovers trope, but they both start out as mutually and secretly into each other; I wish we got to see the build up more. Still a cute book overall.

I didn't realize when requesting this book that it was part of a series, but it read as a standalone book so I don't think that had any impact on my ability to enjoy the story. Perhaps some of the background characters featured in previous stories taking place in the same universe, but if they were, no background context was given that made for confusing statements in this story. As for the story itself, I felt like it is part of the new and upcoming rom-com trope of self aware characters who know they are acting out rom-com tropes, similar to Book Lovers by Emily Henry. In these tropes, the characters are big city corporate types who check off their lists of going to a small town to find themselves, having a romance, and leaving their dream job to always run a bookstore. Instead of feeling fresh, like they're doing it with a wink and a nod to the genre, it's already feeling stale and predictable. Such is also the case with the tale of Lizzy and Jack, best friends for 20 years, with Jack pining away for Lizzy in the background and Lizzy just realizing her feelings. The beginning of the story was very slow and felt like nothing was happening with all the scenes in the courtroom and law office, and once the setting changed to Weldon it was still a slow lead up to the romance. For me it fell under the category of a "filler read", something I would read while waiting for other preferred books to become available to pass the downtime, but not something I would seek out again on my own.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4890666774

This book feels like a Hallmark movie! Lizzy is an overachieving lawyer who is suffering from burnout, and decides to take a break where her best friend, Jack lives. Jack works for his family brewery in an idyllic small town, but feels like maybe there is something more out there for him. Both Lizzy and Jack are in love with each other, but don't want to ruin their decades long friendship, but spending more time together pushes them closer and closer together. Lizzy finds purpose in helping a new bookstore owner improve her bookstore, and Jack pitches in, always there for Lizzy. Everyone can see their chemistry, but them! I loved the setting of this book so much! I think it would have been interesting to see Lizzy and Jack be honest with each other a little sooner so that we could see more of their story play out.

I usually enjoy friends to lovers romance books, but this romance just didn't feel right to me. I had a difficult time getting into the book and the storyline. I usually know I am going to love a book when I am invested and can connect with the fmc, and I wasn't really a fan of Lizzy. It just left me then feeling disconnected for the rest of the book.

This book was soooo good it’s the perfect mix of cute romance and some more smutty scenes I loved!
Highly recommend to new adult readers getting into the romance genre 🫶🏼

This book will not disappoint there’s so many cute moments throughout and the ending was just the cherry on top! Perfectly written book and amazing storyline!

Main character Lizzy Chung is an attorney and figuring her life out in Los Angeles at the age of 30. Her best friend lives 4hrs away but came in town on some business as well as to visit Lizzy. Best friend Jack is such a sweetheart and this book won’t leave you hanging long as they discover their more intimate feelings for one another!
But how would they make a distant relationship work? Will this ruin their friendship they’ve spent years building? They’re both still figuring out what they want to do and where they want to live so is a relationship a good idea right now? You’ll go on a rollercoaster ride with our two main characters as they do what they can to figure out a way to love each other and what they do for work.

Lizzy is an attorney in LA. She wants to make partner in 2 years and live up to her mothers standards of working as hard as possible and to be the very best. On her first real case, she has a panic attack and decides that she needs to take some time off from work and to visit her best friend Jack. Jack has been in love with Lizzy for over 20 years and never made his feelings known for her. As she surprises him in his small town of Weldon, they plan to spend as much time together as possible. Lizzy loves books and decided to stay at a place right next to the local bookstore. She decides to help the local owner fix up the store and handyman Jack is always there to help. This story was cute and predictable but sometimes very repetitive. I just couldn’t get super emotionally attached to the main characters as much as I wanted to. Overall it was a cute and fun read with some spice, but I was ready for it to be over. I am giving it a 3 star rating because it had great bones but there was just something missing for me and the main conflicts in this book could have been solved with proper communication between the characters. Thanks netgalley for allowing me to read this ARC!

Thank you Netgalley & St. Martin's Press for the ARC of this book!

I typically like friends to lover tropes (definitely better than enemies to lovers) but I found that this one took me a while to really get into. I really thought I was going to love this one and rate it a little bit higher, but halfway through I was just getting bored. Lizzie and Jack are definitely likable and I appreciate the fact that it's also about the bookstore.

I should've just sat down and read it all in a few days but I'm pretty sure this took me like almost a month to get through. Maybe I"m in a reading slump. Overall, cute book but not what I was expecting.

A light read, predictable with no real stand out moments. While it wasn't a memorable favourite, it was fun enough to read and I'd recommend it to people who want a good time for a quick time.

Booked on a Feeling was a feel-good romance with a very interesting premise.
I was super excited to pick this book up because I'd seen and heard such great things, but I didn't really end up falling for it. I've been finding it difficult to read romance recently, so that might have to do with it, but I just couldn't really get into this book.
I found the main character unlikable and deeply flawed. I thought I might be able to relate to her at first, but I just couldn't really connect with her. She took perfectionism to the next level.
The love interest was cute and fun to read about, but he never really pulled me in.
This book was not terrible, and I think I might've been able to enjoy it more if I was more in a romance mood, but I just don't think this book was for me.
Even still, the writing was good and I enjoyed the way Jayci Lee wrote.
Overall, I would give Booked on a Feeling by Jayci Lee 3.5 stars out of 5. I will be rounding up for the sake of this review, so 3-4 stars is what I would really rate it.
Thank you to NetGalley for gifting me this title in exchange for my honest review.

Jack and Lizzie. Unrequited love and being in the friend zone. Is there anything more torcheous?

Lizzie takes a vacation and goes to stay in Weldon, where her best friend and his family live. Lizzie made this life changing decision after suffering an anxiety attack during her opening remarks of her first trial. Knowing she couldn't continue this way she made the decision to take a step back.
The story started off with a lot of pining for a love that could never be but things change drastically for Jack and Lizzie once they start spending more time together.
A really cute story about finding one's own passion and calling and for falling in love.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book!

This book had a cute conceit with classic rom-com careers, which initially drew me in. However, the background of the two main characters wasn't developed enough for me to care about their relationship. The stakes weren't there, the ending was predictable from the first chapter, and it was rather repetitive. There were some cute moments though, and the town the book took place in was described vividly.

5 stars for this adorable bookish romance~

This romance had everything I could have asked for: great character development, a super interesting plotline, some STEAMY moments and books of course~ I'm really starting to appreciate the bookish romance trope, I gotta say.

I love romances where there is this undeniable connection between the main characters. Then they end up trying to fight it or think there's just no way they can make it work with the current circumstances. But love and books conquer all! This was such a cute bookish romance, and yes it WAS quite steamy at times - one of my top favorite romances of 2022.

A big thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing a digital ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Will it be a case of friends to lovers for Lizzie and Jack? He might finally get his chance but until they talk about things they are moving in opposite directions.
Great read.

3.5 stars

Cute friends-to-lovers romance with some nice Korean representation - although Lizzy's mom is a nightmare. It did get a bit repetitive at times "Will he/she ever see me as more than a friend?" "Will this ruin our friendship?" "What if she/he doesn't feel the same way about me? Can we go back to being friends?"

Still, all in all, a cute read. I thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read a digital ARC in return for an honest review.

Jack and Lizzie have been best friends since they were ten years old. When Lizzie has a panic attack while doing a presentation for one of her clients In Los Angeles, she decides it’s time to take a break from being a lawyer. Lizzie heads to Whelan and her best friend, Jack for a few weeks of rest and relaxation. As they spend time together, Lizzie starts to see a different side of Jack that she wants to know better. Jack has been in love with Lizzie for decades, but refuses to act on it because he values their friendship more. Can Lizzie convince Jack to give it a chance?

Booked on A Feeling is a lovely best friends to lovers romance filled with so many emotions - laughs, tears and sweet sighs. A bookstore features prominently in the love story, which made this even more appealing to me!

I love a good friends to lovers rom com and this one delivers!

Lizzy and Jack were cute together, though I wish we got to keep more of their friendship element as the story went on but I liked their growth, I love anything set in a bookshop in a small town, and it was sweet as can be 😁

Cute story. Characters well developed, appreciably steamy. Great summer read.
I received and ARC from NetGalley, and this review is entirely my own.

Booked On A Feeling is the third book in the Sweet Mess series by Jayci Lee. It's a friends-to-lovers rom-com that was a cute escape the last few nights.

While I liked the book and seeing a few friends from the previous two books in Wheldon at times both characters felt a little immature to me. I enjoyed the small town bookstore and the checking things off the to-do list jokes.

While this book is the third in the series, it can be read as a standalone. Thanks to St. Martin's Press for my copy!!

I loved the bookish aspect of this one. However it always left me wanting more. Just when I felt like it was going to get better it let me down. It was slow in the beginning but did pick up about halfway s through