Quick read although a bit too slow for my taste. It's about a famous author but seemed to have a lot of "spare parts" that didn't really work for me.

A little TOO slow burn for me. The author is one of my favorites and this book is consistent with the writing style. I love books about authors and their narratives. This book will have you interested from the beginning to the end if you don't mind waiting a little bit.

This was a good book. I like Ali Vali and hav dread every book she has written. I think that’s part of the problem after a while all her books bleed into one another. This was an interesting premise, but not unique. Overall this was a good Ali Vali book.

This is the story of a famous author (Wyatt Whitlock) who is battling a bad case of writer’s block after a traumatic event. In an attempt to overcome this, Wyatt decides to make some drastic changes in her life. I find Vali a bit hit and miss and this was more of a miss. There were just too many weird elements to this book and none of them gelled together.

Ahhh the neighbors who peek, it was a fun read that had some tense moments, but i enjoyed the play between these two characters with different personalities and the touch of intrigue/drama from outside forces.

This was a quick and enjoyable read. We get laugh out loud moments, amazing New Orleans vibes, slow burn romance, and lost journals found, telling a secondary story from the 1900's.

I liked how Hayley helped Wyatt come to terms with her grief and find her way back to writing again. But wish they connected and talked earlier on in the book.

Thanks to NetGalley for sending me a copy to read and review.

3.5/5

Wyatt is a well-known author who is dealing with a case of writers block. In order to help with this she impulsively buys a house in New Orleans to renovate. She meets her neighbor Hayley, who is an editor for a small publisher. During her renovation she finds some old journals that lead her to figuring out her next moves. Overall it was a great and I enjoyed it. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy.

This is a quick read about a famous author, Wyatt who is having a terrible case of, you guessed it, writer's block. She buys a house sight unseen in New Orleans in hopes of vacationing there to give her inspiration.
Her next door neighbor Hayley is very interested in who just moved in. Wyatt does not venture out and Hayley only catches glimpses of her through the window.
When Hayley does meet her she feels an immediate connection. The women begin spending more time in Wyatt's new home discussing what needs to be done with this house that needs so much renovation. Wyatt finds something in the walls that draws the women even closer.
A fun read that I would recommend.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Plenty of fun, adventures, and chemistry between the main characters. This was a great read, keeping you turning the pages. Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book

I enjoyed this book! It had a great premise and I loved Wyatt’s ‘pranks’ on the neighbors and how it all backfired on her. I would’ve liked for her and Hayley to have formally met sooner, but I did enjoy the writing aspect of their relationship. (If you know you know.) The journals were also very interesting and I really liked Sam and Lydia’s story! I definitely did not see that one coming!

So happy I took a chance on this new Vali book. I really did love it. I would give it 4.5 if I could but rounded up.

My joy with Ali Vali books over the years has been hit and miss so, while I usually grab galleys of her books when I see them, I always go into them with, well, not the highest expectations. Writer's Block was a definite hit. And it'll for sure go on my re-read pile and likely my funk reading list.

What I loved: the humor, the chemistry, the peripheral characters, and the journals. What I didn't love: the way the conflict between the protagonists was handled. I can't really say more without giving spoilers but I'm not a fan of lack of communication as conflict. But I loved everything else enough to just go with the flow.

Wyatt and Hayley were great together and I actually was a little sad when I finished the book because I had a fun time hanging out with everyone. I forgot to mention that this book is smoking hot with the sex scenes. this is one of those that you probably don't want to read in public. Lordy.

Big thanks to Bold Strokes and NetGalley for the ARC!

I absolutely loved the concept of this book. And whilst the sapphic love story and very spicy writing peaked my interest I was just not enthralled by this at all.
The writing style was not bad at all just I felt the story was just quite repetitive and the journals were not represented enough. I do love a book within a book but wish more of it was put in. I would read more by Ali Vali though.

Well, this one was different.

Lots of voyeurism, albeit mutual. But the fact there is a creepy neighbour always around felt very reckless from the main characters.

Besides that, the book is a hilarious read with some angst. Wyatt is her own worst enemy in my opinion. While she is still dealing with her parents' loss, she just creates problems for herself. The habitants of that little corner in New Orleans are certainly a colourful bunch.

The side plot with the letters in the wall was entertaining and somehow I did not see the story of the letters end like it did.

I have so many questions…
The story was really cute and had so many laugh out loud moments - but the window scenes…It felt creepy? Is that something that happens?
*makes mental note to check all blinds and curtains.*
All in all I liked then book minus the window scenes lol.


Thank you NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is the Ali Vali we know and love dearly! Ali did her her thing with this one, I wasn't sure what to expect after reading Calumet and not being taken with it like I normally am with anything Ali writes, but reading Writer's Block felt like coming home it had everything: tragedy, romance, comedy, suspense, and sexiness! I loved reading about Wyatt, Hayley, Marlo, Lucy, DJ, Lydia and Sam! I honestly hope Ali revisits this universe and we learn a little bit more about some of the characters that could possibly headline a book or two (*coughs* Marlo and Lucy *coughs) all on their own.

Even Better Than I Thought It Would Be!
Wyatt is an author who has a big case of writer’s block. She decides a change in her life is needed and might get her over the block so she buys a house in NOLA. Its more rundown than she expected but lucky for her, help is available, odd as they are. She has decided to lay low and tells everyone her name is Jo. Hayley is in the publishing industry and is swamped by new authors, an overly religious coworker who cant handle the erotic anthology she’s been assigned, a chain smoking boss who relies on her and is more than just her boss, she is her friend and sounding board. When the sexy new butch moves in next door, life just gets more interesting! As the pair get to know each other, life and the crazy historical society keeps them apart and when Wyatt is injured it looks like things might be over before they even really began…

I wanted to read this story so much but had no time so I bought the audio version so I could listen in the car. I am SO glad I did!!! I LOVED this story! It was heartwarming, sweet, gentle, sexy and HILARIOUS! I liked Wyatt’s “Company” (You’ll see) It was wonderful that they were there to help guide her. Hayley was a sexy girl next door who had no window coverings in her bathroom or bedroom…and she gave Wyatt quite the shows, LUCKY Wyatt!!! Watching them get to know each other was a comedy of errors thanks to the quirky and downright strange residents of the area. Thankfully they overcame all the obstacles. I ADORED the renovation crew, and was so glad they stayed in Wyatt’s life. She needs them as much as they need her. Heck, I would gladly take over Wyatt’s life if I could!!! The diaries were a WONDERFUL part of this tale. I loved learning about the original owner of the house and how she lived and loved. It was a great side story that kept me really invested, as if I needed another reason, lol. I now have this book on my kindle and cannot wait to read it too. Trust me, this is a MUST READ (or listen) that you will NOT want to miss!!!!

I really enjoyed this book, it was fun and playful. Starting with a writer who is struggling with her last book and so begins to write erotica, perhaps mirroring Vali. She also buys a house in New Orleans as a way of processing the loss of her parents, when she gets there it is completely run down and she begins repairing it. Whilst doing this she discovers that she can see her attractive neighbour as she showers and so begins the romance. As typical to the genre there are challenges to be overcome and that is where the book goes a bit bonkers, bringing more humour and warmth to the book. A light fun book.

With thanks to Netgalley and to the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was not what I expected. An enjoyable read nonetheless. Recommended.

This is a sweet and lighthearted (if at times lacklustre) f/f romance set in New Orleans, where Wyatt the author has gone to escape her grief and Hayley works as an editor. It’s slow-paced (the main characters don’t actually meet until over half way through) although there’s some steamy voyeuristic stuff in the first half.

It is a dual POV, but Wyatt’s chapters are interspersed with excerpts from memoirs/diaries she found in the walls of the old house she’s doing up. I became frustrated with these excerpts because I found they didn’t quite gel right - they’re written in the style of 3rd person fiction rather than like memoir, and it became repetitive that there’d be an excerpt and then Wyatt would reflect for a paragraph or two on what an interesting life the person had led. It just wasn’t for me.

I’m struggling to think of much else to say about this book because, despite the potential, I couldn’t vibe with it. The romance didn’t hit the way I like romances to hit, and the rest of the story didn’t make up for it.

What an interesting read and totally different from this author. The read was light, fun, goofy, and entertaining. As I read, I was chuckling and laughing out loud at the absurdity. As the read unfolds, the reader is introduced to Wyatt Whitlock, successful mystery writer and Hayley Fox, book editor. Both women are likeable and talented at what they do. How they meet is quite what shall I say, sexy maybe? This messy story with wacky and busy body characters just gets funny and weirder until clarity appears. Though different, unusal and a head shaker at times it was still enjoyable.