This is my first Jaycee Lee book but it won't be my last! Booked on a Feeling features two best friends, Jack and Lizzy. Jack has secretly had a crush on Lizzy for the past 20 years (since he was 10). But Lizzy is a big time LA lawyer and Jack lives 3 hours away working at his family's brewery in a small town.

After Lizzy has a panic attack that drops her to the ground during a major trial, she decides she needs a break and takes off for Weldon where Jack lives. For 3 weeks she will be renting an apartment above a struggling bookstore as she enjoys a little R&R. But suddenly she finds herself helping the owner of the struggling bookstore revamp the shop with the help of Jack. But are Jack and Lizzy doing more than revamping a tired bookstore? Will Jack finally profess his love to Lizzy and will Lizzy feel the same way?

This perfect friends to lovers completely captured my little book nerd heart. Jack is sweet, sexy, and can rock a tool belt while Lizzy is cute, caring and is a reader of all the romance.

Lee did and amazing job creating two dynamic characters, their families that have formed them into who they are (good or bad) and a story that will charm you with food, books, love, more food and more books.

I really wanted to love this one. The idea of it was great! It just fell a little flat for me. I just needed more from the characters and plot.

This is the third book in an ongoing romance series. Having not read the first two, I can say that reading this as a stand alone worked well, A light, summery romance.

Best friends since childhood, Lizzy and Jack are so likeable. Neither of them are sure about the career path they’ve taken. I love the many bookstores in the story. This is such a light and funny book! That makes it a great summer read. Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the ARC.

“Booked on a Feeling” by Jayci Lee is a self-aware book made for fellow romance novel enthusiasts.

The story follows Jack and Lizzy, childhood best friends, where Jack is fully infatuated by Lizzy but she is obliviously throwing him in the friend zone. When her job gets overwhelming despite her lawyer career going well, she takes a vacation to Jack’s hometown and gets reunited with her one true love: bookstores.

What I adored about this book is how Lizzy is a lover of romance novel, which makes the book even more relatable and realistic. I think one of the most realistic aspects of it is that both main characters are having a midlife crisis after dedicating their entire lives to pleasing the ones they love and care about. It’s common for Asian families to fully focus on making their family proud, rather than focusing on what their personal goals are. This book is a hopeful reminder that it is never too late to chase after your dreams.

A small critique I do have for the book is that some parts are brushed over and rushed, when it likely could’ve been more drawn out to convey more emotion. Regardless, it was a really cute read and I breezed through it.

Thank you NetGallery and St. Martin’s Press for this eARC!

What an absolutely pleasant surprise this was! I was a little hesitant going in, because I didn’t realize this was the third book in a series until I downloaded it. That said, it read as a stand-alone & I never felt lost. I only want to go back and read the first two in the series now.

This story features Lizzy and Jack, best friends for 20 years. Jack has secretly pined for his best friend, but doesn’t want to risk losing their friendship. When Lizzy comes back to Weldon, the town where she spent the majority of her teen years, she and Jack decide to go beyond just being friends. While they have obstacles they’re up against, you can’t help but feel like they’re going to get their happily-ever-after.

I appreciated the slow burn of this book. The author did a great job building their relationship as friends first, which helped their romance feel more authentic. They valued each other over anything else, which felt mature. Did they have things they struggled through & had to overcome? Yes. It would’ve been a boring book without it. But I really felt their foundation as friends allowed this boom to work as well as it did.

I felt the beginning was a little rushed. You’re dumped right into the heart of the story. I wouldn’t have minded having another chapter or two to build the story a little more from the beginning. I also would have loved the scene where Lizzy and Jack tell his parents they’re dating. We get it with his siblings, but his parents are just so precious and I would have loved to see their reaction.

Food description & scene descriptions, in general, were fantastically written.

Overall, I truly enjoyed it & it felt a lot like a Lifetime or Hallmark movie. Cute, sweet, and a great summer read!

Lizzie and Jack’s story was so sweet and heartwarming. I love a classic friends to lovers trope, and this book is no different. It has a little bit of spice, and a lot of touching moments. Lizzie and Jack’s journey to find themselves, both together and as individuals, is one that I feel like most of us have been through. This is the first book I’ve read by this author, and it certainly won’t be the last!

An adorable story about lifelong friends that start to feel something more. Not only are they both confused about their budding romance, but also about the future of their careers. Will they finally figure out what they want in life? Only time will tell!

"It was hard to accept that she wasn't who she thought she was. But the identity she'd held on to for so long was an ill-fitting mask that hid who she really was." -Booked on a Feeling

3 stars

This is a third book in a series, but having read them all, I can safely say you can go into this without reading the others. If you like a slow building, friends to lovers romance, this book may be for you. I love the representation of two Korean protagonists, and Jack seems like a fully formed character especially with his family there to add some depth. Lizzy was a little thinner, with a heavy negative brush painting the legal field. We get a few handfuls with an unhappy mother, but no resolution certainly, and with no friends also, Lizzy didn't feel real to me. Her supposedly "love" of books didn't come through either, honestly we get more from jack on that front. Her amazement alone that a bookstore would have a romance section was so laughable. I still found certain parts of their relationships cute, and I thought the author did a good job showing Lizzy's anxiety. Also like some of the author's other books, there is a great vivid food and beer descriptions that add to the background.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book is so cute. I loved it. I haven't read the first two books but I'm going to correct that ASAP. This love story is funny and sexy and I liked all the characters (except Lizzy's mom-duh). Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC.

Overall it was a good book, though the pacing was off in some places, I really enjoyed some of the scenes though, it was overall a really cute book.

“”You are good enough for me”
“Never too good for you. But I know now that I am good enough for you, because no one knows you like I do. No one can ever love you as much as I do”.

Liz and Jack are the cutest! This best friends to lovers romance is so sweet and tackles issues of self worth and discovery. A perfectly bookish summer romance!

The writing style of this book just wasn't for me. I was too distracted by how cheesy the writing was to really be able to pay attention to the plot. However, for someone who is more focused on plot than writing style, this book could be fun.

I had a difficult time connecting to the characters in this story. I felt like Lizzy was all over the place personality-wise and I had a hard time empathizing and connecting with her.

This was a cute quick read. At times I felt the story went a little slower paced than needed but overall a book I would recommend to those that love a good rom-com.

This. Book.

The name was too cute, but I've been burned before. But this one was actually so sweet and wonderful. I'm so glad I read it.

This is how you write friends to lovers. This is a trope I've been reading a lot and I don't think it's an easy one to make believable. We need the right amount of build up and pining. They can't just suddenly decide they are in love.

In this book, Jack has been in love with Lizzy forever, but Lizzy has no clue. Even though all of Jack's family says it's obvious. Lizzy stays in town and spends more time with Jack and starts seeing him in a new light. She constantly questions whether it's just infatuation or real.

Jack is already worried it won't work out and they won't be able to go back to friends so he holds himself back at first. I thought both of their fears and feelings were realistic. They didn't want to jump into anything and ruin the friendship.

I loved the dual narration (as usual.) I love being in both of their heads and knowing what they are thinking.

I thought the ending was realistic and sweet. Love a good HEA!

I love a good contemporary romance.

The friends-to-lovers trope is one of my favorite and this whole book was spicy and swoon worthy. It started off a little slow, but I pushed through it and I'm glad that I did!

I recommend this. 100%. I don't want to give too much away but i enjoyed it A LOT.

4/5 this looks so good and i absolutely love the title and the mc seems super cool but yk got a lot going on so i can't read it rn best of luck x

This was a cute read!
I am a huge fan of friends to lovers tropes! This did a good job! It was a bit slow to start but picked up quickly when it did. I loved the burn and it definitely got spicy! Great story

Booked on a Feeling is such a wonderful contemporary romance! I loved the characters, the messages, and, of course, the swoon-worthy love story. Lizzie and Jack have a decades-long friendship. They know each other better than anyone else, though Jack has a secret. He’s loved Lizzie since they were kids, but he is afraid to tell her and lose their precious friendship.

When Lizzie takes a leave from work, she stays in Jack’s hometown to spend time with him and reevaluate her life. After all, he’s been her best friend since they were kids, and he has always been a great support to her. But when Lizzie realizes that her feelings for Jack have grown into more than friendship, they both have to decide what and who they want in their future.

I loved Lizzie and Jack’s friends-to-lovers romance! They have amazing chemistry, and the yearning, the angst, and the spice are all fantastic. It’s pretty obvious from the start that their feelings are more than friendly, but both are afraid to admit their feelings have changed because they don’t want to ruin what they already have.

In addition to their relationship woes, Lizzie and Jack are both going through personal and professional struggles, including changing careers, living up to family expectations, and more. I found their relationship and struggles really relatable. Lizzie, for example, doesn’t love her job and feels like she’s going through the motions because of the immense pressure her mother puts on her, and she’s at a breaking point. Helping at a local bookstore might just be the push she needs to live her truth.

Jack works in the family business and is content but not happy. However, he struggles to take the step and work elsewhere for fear of upsetting his family. Both characters have hard, life-changing decisions to make, and those are never easy. I find it interesting that Jack and Lizzie both fear upsetting their family but for different reasons. I think there are some great messages here about following your dreams and being true to yourself.

There are also some strong messages about family and acceptance, especially in Jack’s dynamic family. They are so supportive and welcoming, and they are very close. I love this tight-knit group but can see why Jack struggles so much to find his own path. His family stands in stark contrast to Lizzie’s family, who are distant and unsupportive. The food love is also on point, and there are so many scenes that made me hungry! From mouth-watering bakery cupcakes to delicious home-cooked meals, everything sounded delectable, and I would especially love to try some of Jack’s chili.

A heartwarming story about friendship, love, and following one’s dreams, Booked on a Feeling is a charming contemporary romance. Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.