I don’t think this was a bad book, but it was definitely a book that just wasn’t for me. It felt formulaic, and I couldn’t connect to the characters. That being said, if you’re someone’s who enjoys hallmark romances & wants something to hit that spot, this could be a good fit!

Thanks so much Netgalley & SMP for the eArc!

4.5/5

CW: panic attacks, fainting, burnout, sexism

I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a free e-ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Up-and-coming lawyer Lizzy Chung books herself a three-week getaway to Weldon, California, to figure out her next steps and address her underlying career burnout. In comes Jack Park, Lizzy’s childhood friend, ready to spend as much time with Lizzy as he can before she has to leave all while harboring a long-time, secret crush on Lizzy. When they both come across the opportunity to revitalize a local bookstore, Lizzy and Jack find out that they may have been meant to be all along.

I am literally obsessed with Booked on a Feeling. Lee is able to create an engaging world of relatable characters that you can’t help but root for and a plot that is easy enough to ease into without getting lost. Jack and Lizzy have an undeniable connection within the first pages of the book and it was great seeing their relationship played out.

My only critique of the book would be that I do think that the third-person POV seems to be a bit off at times. There isn’t much of a transition when we look at Lizzy’s or Jack’s thoughts. One moment you’re reading something from Lizzy’s POV and then you’re just placed into Jack’s POV without warning. I feel that it would have been better if there were chapters solely focused on Lizzy’s or Jack’s POV so that it doesn’t get confusing for the reader, especially if both Lizzy and Jack are in the same scene together.

Other than that, this book is totally worth it and perfect for readers who love a medium-paced burn friends-to-lovers romance with MCs that have always been meant to be.

Preface: unfinished

Ive tried picking this up over half a dozen times but I don't know what is turning me off...the writing is fine, characters are goos. Perhaps it is just not the right time for me.

Will attempt again in the future and provide a fuller review.

Thanks to NetGalley, St Martin’s Press, and Jayci Lee for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for a review.

Booked On A Feeling was such a cute read. It did start off slow for me to establish the background of one of our MCs, Lizzy. She is a lawyer in LA and suffers from anxiety and panic attacks. As someone who also suffers from anxiety, I totally got how she felt. After a horrible attack on the opening statements on her first big trial, she decides to take some time away in her best friend’s hometown to decompress. Her best friend, Jack, has been in love with her for years and has never told her. I love friends to lovers tropes. The one friend being hopelessly in love and then the other person realizing that they feel the same way

Jack is such a fun, sweet character. He is kind and cares about everyone. This is his downfall because he stays working at his family’s brewery even though he knows there is more he can do with his life. Watching Lizzy and Jack’s relationship grow was beautiful. There was a clear story between them, and the heat was, well, hot. Not too graphic but just enough heat. Even the conflict that every romance needs is understandable.

Not many cons to this book. I have seen complaints from other reviewers about how easy it was for her just to walk away but Lizzy seems like someone who is just doing what will make her parents happy. The pacing was a little slow in the beginning but picked up once the two MCs were in the same place.

Booked On A Feeling is a definite read. I had never read anything by Jayci Lee but saw that some of the side characters from this book have their own books. I will be picking those up to read for sure.

. . . ⭑ ⭑ ⭑ ⭒ ⭒
I wanted to like this one so much. I generally adore books about people who love books - it’s like a pass go, collect immediate kinship dollars situation - but for some reason, this one just wasn’t it for me.

Before I get into the nitty-gritty of this, let me first say that Jayci Lee is deeply skillful in the blending of sweet and spicy, and this book is no exception.

Now normally, the friends-to-lovers trope is usually my preferred one, but unfortunately the shift here felt a little implausible to me. It wasn’t the change in dynamic that gave me pause - I often find the shared history between the characters lays a solid groundwork for the emotional and physical connection that inevitably ensues - it was that Lizzy and Jack definitely had all of this going for them, so the “lightbulb moment” for Lizzy felt a bit last minute for me. I felt like the character as she was written ( intelligent and intuitive ) would have been a bit more in-tune with both her feelings as well as Jack’s.

Now, with that being said, there was stuff in here that I enjoyed: the good ol’ return-to-small-town-and-realize-the-big-city-ain’t-it vibes, the revamping the small business, the journey of self-discovery, the navigation of family dynamics, and the spotlight on anxiety - all of these things were *chef’s kiss* well done and I was into it.

So ultimately, while it wasn’t quite what I hoped, I still walk away with a fairly balanced read, and will happily read another by this author.

~👩🏻‍🦰

• review •
booked on a feeling | jayci lee

★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

my thoughts on this book had more back and forth than a ping pong tournament. I wanted to rate the first half 2 stars, and the second half 4 stars. but goodreads said no.

it’s a friends-to-lovers story straight out of a hallmark movie. which I love.
that being said, I was able to predict the entire outcome of the book while still on the first chapter.

there was a ton of repetition as well. lizzy is surprised that winning the trial didn’t make her happy. jack is upset about his inability to stick with option two. noted. move on.

a lot of lizzy’s inner dialogue was unnecessary. do I need an entire monologue about you not remembering where you parked? also,
just tell me that the store is empty. there’s no need for the ‘hm, maybe everyone is hidden behind the large bookcases, and are just staying very, very quiet’
we all know that’s not what’s happening.

also, a lot of the conversations were awkward. it was stiff, like every other word was ran through a thesaurus. I made a note that said “have you never talked to a human before?”
so, that.

moving on to what I enjoyed..
I actually really liked the plot itself. it definitely could have been dressed up a bit. but it was a cute story. no doubt about it. there was also a decent amount of 🌶 mixed in there.

jack. he was such a sweetheart. idk man, apparently I have a thing for the guy that has been secretly pining his entire life.
the karaoke scene? please 🥰
gangnam style had me in the knots.

lizzy’s story was very relatable. realizing you modelled your entire life around what other people want from you? lol, same.
the anxiety, panic, and burnout representation was spot on.
I will say, there was no buildup to her developing feelings. she always saw him as her best friend, then one day she wanted to jump his bones and start a life with him? ok.

also, the miscommunication trope is not for me. just talk to each other for goodness sake.

that being said, I am dying to run away and open up a bookstore now. so if you want to join me, lemme know

thank you to netgalley and st. martin’s press for the advanced copy

3.5 stars

This was a cute childhood best friends to lovers book.

I loved both the main characters (mostly lol Jack annoyed me at times) and felt that they were very relatable and real, and I love that the author touches on anxiety, family issues, and self-growth and discovery. I also loved the aspects of Korean culture infused into the book (it made me very hungry lol).

While their love story is cute, I felt that we didn’t truly get a great glimpse into their childhood friendship. The book would have benefited from flashbacks to when they were younger to further explore their friendship and how Jack came to realize his feelings for his best friend.

While I will say that the story and romance is very cute, I felt that nothing really made it stand apart from other childhood best friends to lovers and also, again, it lacks in background development of the characters and their friendship.

Overall, I would recommend this if you’re looking for a sweet, easy to read romance with relatable and likeable characters.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is perfect for anyone who loves Emily Henry. It’s like a wonderful combination of the tropes in beach read, people we meet on vacation and book lovers. But the tension building is immaculate.

The first chapter was a little bleh to me and I didn’t feel intrigued right away. But as it kept going and picking up I couldn’t wait to read more.

For a few Lizzy felt a little insufferable for me. Something about her I just didn’t love in the beginning. But she really grew on me.

I love the cast and characters. And all the events. I think it was paced well, the plot was well developed. It was everything that I wanted for a fun rom com.

You know a books going to be good when the main characters are book lovers.

Booked on a Feeling by Jayci Lee was a cute fun read. There wasn't too much drama or angst. The perfect lighthearted beach read. I did find myself constantly frustrated with both Lizzy and Jack. I can't decide who was more of an idiot--Jack for not opening up about his true feelings sooner, or Lizzy for being too blind to see it on her own.

If you're looking for something emotionally moving with a lot of substance, maybe skip this one. This is perfect if a fun, simple read is more your style.

I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Jayci Lee for the ARC!

3/5 stars ⭐⭐⭐

Thank you NetGalley & the publisher for my eARC in exchange for my honest review.

👉Full disclosure: I read about 65% then skimmed the rest. I can't bring myself to DNF an ARC.

Where to start....
I have books 1&2 of this trilogy on my shelf, still unread. I purchased them, and requested this ARC, at the recommendation of a friend (I'm looking at you, Tammy 😆) who absolutely loves Jayci Lee! Unfortunately this wasn't my cup of tea. I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it.

First, what I didn't enjoy:

I didn't feel a connection to the characters -- like at ALL. As other reviewers have mentioned, the writing and dialogue is very juvenile, like the characters come off as being18-21 versus grown ass adults in their 30s. I think it read more like a YA and perhaps that's a good direction for the author to take. Her writing just naturally has that YA vibe to it. And that's not necessarily a bad thing -- especially for folks who love YA.

I felt this odd juxtaposition here... Like the book was super wholesome and clean 95% of the time. Think "Leave it to Beaver" vibes... Somewhat cheesy and overly "good." Yet there are the occasional curse words and sexy scenes, which felt somewhat forced. It's almost like someone wrote a wholesome Hallmark style romance novel and someone else came in and said "Let's dirty this up a bit!" and proceeded to sprinkle the occasional S#!t and F@$# and steamy scene.

I also felt like we were lacking background information. I wanted to know more about Jack and Lizzy! What's their story? What's their history? Give us some background, maybe some flashbacks to the past. Help us feel more connected.

Things I did enjoy:
⭐The Cover 😍
⭐The bookstore setting 🙌
⭐The Korean American rep
⭐The food! 🍜
⭐The small town vibes

I'm not going to say this was a "bad" book because there's nothing inherently wrong with it. It just wasn't for me, and that's OK! We can't all like the same books. And clearly many people have read this and loved it. So definitely give it a try! You might be one who really enjoys it! ☺️

*Note: I will not be posting this review on Bookstagram, but will instead post a Pub Day post tomorrow. 💕

The book was really a mixed bag for me. I love certain aspects and didn't enjoy others. The overall romance for me was just very "meh" and sometimes felt very juvenile for the female MC. She ran very hot and then immediately cold. The setting was superb - I love a book about books and bookstores. The food writing was great as well! Overall, it was good...but not memorable for me.

Books like Booked on a Feeling can be tricky to review. On the one hand, there was nothing objectively wrong with it. The story was cute and sweet, the writing was solid, and it had those "girl goes to a small town to find herself" Hallmark vibes. And yet, I struggled to get invested - in the story, the characters, in the book itself. As the book went on, the cuteness and sweetness slid towards saccharine predictability. The characters, who apparently had been friends for ages, seemed to barely know each other at all and their references to their shared past left me more confused than enlightened. I found myself skimming through the second half because I knew exactly where things were going and I mostly just wanted to be finished with it.

It's possible this just wasn't the book for me, and that others might find it a light and breezy read. But unfortunately, it didn't quite work for me.

2.75/5

Thank you to NetGalley, Jayci Lee and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This one just screams Hallmark or Netflix rom-com. It’s cheesy where it’ll make your cheeks hurt, it’s full of lovable and flawed characters, set in a small town, and a budding romance of course.

This was angsty. And these characters were so stubborn with their feelings for another, and I almost had to check myself - because I kept thinking “is this book about me?”

Anywho, this was a cute and quirky friends to lovers rom-com, oh and I forgot to tell you the best part. There’s a bookshop in need of saving. Like can it get any stinkin cuter.

Read if you like: friends to lovers, decades long secret crush, childhood friends, it’s always been you, second chance romance, small town vibes, lovable side characters, craft beer and cupcakes, bookstores

Links:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58724787

First I wanted to thank St. Martins for providing an ARC in exchange for a honest review. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I was going through NetGalley and came across this book and KNEW I wanted to read it. I didn’t even realize it was part of a series until I finished it and log it into my Goodreads. After reading this book I can’t WAIT to read the others in this series.

Booked on a Feeling
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Release Date: 7/26
What I loved:
📚Series, this is part of the A Sweet Mess series and I’m so excited to dive into the other books
👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻Jack, I’m a sucker for when the guy falls first and they try to keep it “cool”
📖Bookstores, there are two bookstores that are important to the story and I want to visit both ASAP
👫🏻Childhood friends, this is one of my favorite tropes and Lizzy/Jake are friend and couple goals

Overall this book had everything I love to see in a friends to lovers romance with extras like bookstores, breweries and a small town. Even without reading the others I didn’t feel like I was missing anything but I’m excited to read the others cause I can’t wait to get to know the other characters from this book. If you are looking for a sweet romance with a little spice and other goodness please check this book out!

4.5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫

Lizzy Chung and Jack Park have been best friends for 20 years. Lizzy works as a lawyer in LA at a prestigious law firm and is on her way to making partner while Jack lives in the small California town of Weldon and works as the bookkeeper of his family's brewery. Following a pivotal career moment, Lizzy realizes just how burnt out and stressed she is, so she decides to escape the bustling city and surprise her best friend. Now they have three weeks to spend together before she must return to reality. However, Jack must manage to continue to squash his decade-long crush on Lizzy (yes you heard that right 🤭) all while spending every day with her helping to update a local bookstore. As the two spend more time together, they are forced to figure out their feelings as well as what they want for their future...

guys this book was so fun and cute! I haven't read a friends to lovers book in so long but this reminded me of how much I enjoy them 💖

The relationship between Lizzy and Jack was so wholesome and I just loved seeing their connection, even with Lizzy and Jack's family! I also liked how this book didn't just focus on their relationship but also their individual stories and decisions about their futures and careers as they figured out what they wanted for themselves. Plus this book included a bookstore and what is not to love about a book about books 🥰

The only thing that kept me from giving this a 5 star (although I was so close) was that I wish I had read the first two books in the series first because characters from those books reappeared in this one which I think I would have appreciated more having known their backstories as well 😊

If you are a fan of friends to lovers stories, I highly recommend this book because it was so well done!

Thank you to St, Martin's Press and Netgalley for the opportunity to read Booked on a Feeling!
I feel this novel is a cute, friends-to-lover story with dual POVs. Our MMC carried a torch for the FMC for over two decades! It absolutely adorable, but the pace of the story is a tiny, bit too slow for my taste. I'm over halfway into the book and the main characters have only shared a kiss.
I tried the audiobook, but to no fault of the narrators', I zoned out several times just because the pacing of this book is too slow.
Again, the concept of this book is good. I loved that it was about a burned-out lawyer who loves needs a moment to recuperate. But the beginning of the book was a tiny bit to long, like a little too much emphasis on the courtroom incident. I enjoyed reading about a high-powered attorney have a panic attack, but I thought the legal jargon may be a bit for anyone unfamiliar with the legal system However, the author's writing is good and there are solid context clues for assistance.
But to summarize, the book is cute, but too wordy and stagnant in certain areas. There is no "take-off" of the story, so it falls a bit flat at times. I found myself bored, and unable to preserve through around 56%. This book has potential. There are just a few elements missing from this rom-com.

This was cute. I liked the friendship turned romance. I think the conflict could have been done better but overall I liked the book

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Griffin for the opportunity to read an early copy of Booked on a Feeling. I was so excited to read this book after reading the first two books in this series. I absolutely loved Lizzy's and Jack's story! I cannot wait to read what Jayci Lee publishes next.

3/5✨

Thank you to St. Martin’s Griffin for the ARC of Booked on a Feeling!

Lizzy is an attorney in LA working her way up to partner but she has a problem. She kinda hates it. Her childhood best friend Jack has dreams to go off on his own and leave his family’s brewery but he’s scared to fail and disappoint everyone around him. He’s also super in love with Lizzy and she has no idea. When Lizzy takes time off from work and spends 3 weeks in Jack’s small town, sparks and dreams fly and they have to decide what matters in life and what they need to be happy.

This was a cute and predictable contemporary romcom. Lizzy is a book lover and so we have some callouts to the romance tropes throughout which was a fun touch. Jack is hopelessly in love with Lizzy and it was just the right amount of pining from his POV.

My biggest complaint for this book was how straightforward it was. You knew exactly where it was going and you even knew how the characters were going to get there. Miscommunication was the key to the fallout and it bothered me because of how good of a communicator Lizzy had been shown to be with literally everyone else. Even Jack before things became romantic! He’s even not bad at communicating.

This was a steady contemporary romance full of friends to lovers, he fell first, pining, miscommunication, and a lil second chance romance. Also Korean food!!! I’m so hungry now. Happy reading!

A childhood best friends-to-lovers book that is absolutely adorable. Lizzy is a headstrong lawyer in LA trying to make a partner, and her best friend Jack is living in his small town while working at his family's brewery. As Lizzy gets closer and closer to her, or should you say her mother's career goal, she starts to panic and looks at her life in a different light after winning her first case. Lizzy decides to vacation for three weeks in Jack's hometown, spending time with him and helping out a local bookstore owner revamp her store. Jack is also making big life-changing moves under the noses of Lizzy and his family. The two quickly transform their relationship into something more while they keep essential details about their plans from each other.

I found this such a cute and easy romance to get through. Jack's pining for Lizzy was so sweet to watch as his inner dialogue showed just how much he truly loved and cared for her inside and out. While I loved the plot and characters, I felt their turn from best friends to being in a relationship was sudden. There wasn't much slow burn or build-up to them elevating their relationship, making it hard to connect at some points. While it did seem rushed, I still thought it was a super sweet story with a great epilogue.