I really liked this book! There were several Ari/Nina interactions that had me smiling as I read. “Tell me you’re an option”….I died 😍 Ari was such a great character. Her vibe, her caring nature, her style…10/10! Obsessed! Nina was fine. It was so baffling to me that she would just ghost her entire life, solely based off the criticism received during a breakup…twice. How did her friends originally not come search her out?! How did she just never talk to them again?! Girl was wayyyy past due for some heavy therapy. I love a good celebrity romance set in LA, and this book made me wish I had a crew of besties livin’ it up together on the east side. It’s been a while since I’ve read a book that had characters I wanted so badly to be friends with in real life. Also, I was living for the plus size character who was simply allowed to be a happy plus size person. The book didn’t do a deep dive into excessive body positivity, fat phobia, weight shame, etc. Nina was a normal girl who just happened to be in a plus size body. Love to see it! I gave this four out of five stars. Took a star off because I just found some of Nina’s insecurities to be too exaggerated and unrealistic. I definitely would recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun and fresh romance! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I enjoyed this book!

Nina was a really good main character. Other than the consistent need for therapy that she doesn't get until late in the book, I liked her and understood her motivations. Her relationships with the people around her were really realistic, I think sometimes books can get either too deep or too shallow when it comes to women and their friendships but this one really nailed it.

Speaking of the friendships, the found family energy in this book was strong. I like found family when it's done right, and this book really did it well. The whole group was strong as a unit, but they all had distinctive personalities and motivations that came together really well. And Aunt Lorna? One of the best characters. I love her. I feel like a vaguely parental but also kind of badass figure is a staple character in a lot of my favorite books, and this one was especially fun and well done.

The romance. Oh, the romance. I think Ari was one of my favorite love interests that I have read so far in 2023. She was funny, honest, and just so well written. The relationship between Ari and Nina made sense and was sweet and enjoyable to read, and Ari as her own person was such a strong character with depth and complexity that I really appreciated.

This was the first book I read by Amy Spalding, and I really liked it! If you want something cute and fun to read, this is definitely a good one to pick up.

Huge thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Setting: Los Angeles, California
Rep: sapphic fat FMC; sapphic love interest; multiple queer/POC side characters

This was ... eh. Okay. Fine. A bit basic. A bit boring. I didn't think the characters had much chemistry to be honest, and the writing left a lot to be desired - there was a lot of cringey unrealistic dialogue. I read a previous Spalding book several years ago and hated it but decided to give her another go, but this will be my last as the writing hasn't improved in 5 years.

This book had some really great, flirty moments, which I'm always eager for, but ultimately it didn't really work for me for a few reasons. One is that I don't know LA well, so I don't know what the implications are of something being in Larchmont Village, for example, without additional info. And then Nina was just not a terribly interesting character to me. You get to write any character in the world, and you write a bland wash of Starbucks and Diet Coke and Grey's Anatomy? I'm begging for something a little more imaginative. The tension in the book didn't draw me in because I didn't care that this relationship but Nina's job in danger because the job was obviously not the most important thing in her life? And then the pacing was off, like breakup came too early, Lastly, the prose was perfectly serviceable but I felt it relied overmuch on things like brands and places to stand in for character details, sensory experiences, etc., instead of using actual language and artistry to convey these things.

I had so much fun reading this book! I love a Hollywood romance, and the one between Nina and Ari was so lovely. I’ve read stories with writers before, but never one like Nina where she writes emails as different celebrities. I loved the “meet cute” of sorts that these two had — coming together for the sake of Nina getting to know Ari’s voice better for said emails.

The romance was lovely, but the thing that I kept going back to was Nina. She isolated herself and her mental health took a bit of a nosedive after a particularly bad breakup. Yes, this book is a romance, but it’s also a story of healing and growth as Nina starts to figure out what she wants her life to be as time has gone by after the breakup that broke her. I could relate to Nina in so many different ways, and watching her grow and struggle through challenges with her platonic and romantic relationships resonated with me so much. Amy Spalding did an incredible job with this one.

Oh my goodness. I loved this book so much. There were several lines where I actually laughed out loud, getting strange looks from strangers in public while doing so. The chemistry between Ari and Nina was so clear, and so infuriating. I often am bothered when the main problem is miscommunication, which Nina OBVIOUSLY needs some practice in, but it actually made sense in this story. I could absolutely see myself as Nina, convincing myself that my exes opinions were wholly true and changing aspects of myself because of it. Being scared to open up to others out of fear of being hurt like that again. And the way that they broke up was realistic for the way that Nina had been feeling - completely ghosting. What surprised me was that Ari didn’t show up at Nina’s house to fight for her.

The amount of unconditional friendship and love shown from the people that Nina had ignored for 3 years was incredible and aspirational. I wish I was as good a person as her friends seem to be. I would also write a TV show about them if I was Nina.

I would have LOVED to read Ari’s side of everything. This story would have changed drastically with her perspective in there.

4.5 stars, thank you for allowing me early access to this book. It is one that will stick with me for a long time to come.

Great sapphic romcom about a celebrity and her email ghost writer.

I love that this wasn’t just a story about Nina and Ari, but also Nina reconnecting with her friends and discovering more about herself along the way. Quirky and supportive secondary characters made the story even better.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Watch for For Her Consideration to come out February 21, 2023!

This was a DNF for me, sadly! The writing and the characters did not engage me enough to want to finish the book and I had to try to convince myself to keep going. I felt like it was quite flat and not very interesting. Maybe people who really enjoy books in this setting will like it more. Thank you for the ARC in exchange for this review.

Fun, romantic story. L.A. is a great setting and nice backdrop. Main characters and friend group are interesting.

A sweet love story about Nina, who shut herself away after a breakup and Ari, the actress she works for. Nina tells her truth- that she's conflicted, confused, unhappy, and in some ways bored but she's got a decent gig working for celebrities. Ari, who is out and proud, takes her breath away but it takes time for the two of them to advance past the work and friendship. Can they be happy together? You bet. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A fun read.

I really really loved this book, the story and the characters!

I found myself really identifying with Nina, and it reminded me of the importance of reading books with characters who aren't exactly like me. Thank you, Amy Spalding for a beautiful love story that included space and time for both characters to grow and change. And not only did I love Nina and Ari, but also their extended friend groups, and of course Lorna and her friends!

Thank you to NetGalley, Amy Spalding and Kensington for the ARC

While I don't often read romance, sometimes I pick one up to read on my breaks at work, or to have something light-hearted to read in between heavier works of fiction. For Her Consideration was the perfect novel for just that.

Amy Spalding has a talent for writing characters who you feel like you know on a personal level, and who know you right back. Her language is funny, intimate, and emotional, and her characters are so three-dimensional that I would often forget that I was reading and wasn't in LA right next to them. The story is coherent and enjoyable, and I had a hard time putting it down at certain points.

My only criticism is that the ending felt a bit rushed, but I think that the epilogue makes up for that.

For Her Consideration is a beautifully written queer romance with relatable characters, a fun setting, and the loveliest little found family. I truly hope that Amy Spalding writes more adult romance in the future.

3.75 stars

Thank you to Kensington and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

CW: toxic relationship (past), brief mentions of homophobia

I would recommend if you're looking for (SPOILERS)

-f/f contemporary romance
-fat rep
-hollywood romance
-workplace romance
-pining
-flirty e-mails
-found family
-an invisible cat

I really enjoyed this book. Nina was just a wonderful protagonist. Queer, full of self-doubt, and entirely herself. In a bit of a rut after a miserable break up. Nina has taken over her elderly aunt's/best friend's house, has a job impersonating celebrities for PR purposes, and gave up her friendships for self-preservation. Enter Ari, the queer acrtress Nina has been crushing over.

Their interactions brings Nina out of her shell, allows her to start writing again and just allow herself to be vulnerable. Their relationship wasn't perfect (I'm still not sure if I believe Steve was real or not lol) but it was very much about supporting each other, enjoying each other, and just beginning to figure out your life because maybe you've found your person. I enjoyed their dynamic so much. They just had fun together, kept each other fed, and went on some fun Lyft rides. And gosh did I adore the supporting characters, just a great solid book.

Steam: 3

I'm in my happiest place when I can tell within the first couple pages of starting a book that I'm not going to want to stop reading, and that's how I felt in the first chapter of this book. I found myself really identifying with Nina, and it reminded me of the importance of reading books with characters who aren't exactly like me (straight/ wow). Thank you, Amy Spalding for a beautiful love story that included space and time for both characters to grow and change. And not only did I love Nina and Ari, but also their extended friend groups, and of course Lorna and her friends! Definitely recommending this one to everyone!

I loved, loved, loved this book! The main character, Nina, was incredibly relatable and endearing, and I as someone who is a sucker for seeing the lead hook the seemingly uncatchable love interest, I was sold. I loved the progression of their romance, and the ending was a wonderful surprise. Nina went through so much growth from beginning to end which was great to see. I'm a sucker for a happy ending!

Thank you NetGalley, Amy Spalding, and Kensington Books for an ARC of FOR HER CONSIDERATION.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a free eARC of this novel.

3.5 stars
This was a pretty fun book. I started it a while ago and put it down. I really thought maybe this one wasn't for me, but I think maybe I just started it at the wrong time. I picked it up again last night and slayed up late reading it. I really liked the story. I liked that the one of the characters was a famous actress. I find myself drawn to romances centered around actors/actresses. I thought this book was so cute and funny. I loved the friendships. I didn't really find this book super memorable though. This was a very quick and fun read. I did enjoy it overall and would definitely recommend it to friends.

Thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for this eArc of <i>For Her Consideration</i>. All opinions are my own.

Do we stan a body-positive plus-sized sapphic? Yes we do. Do we stan an incredibly hot and visibly queer actor trying to trailblaze her way through Hollywood on her own terms? Naturally. If you do too, please read <i>For Her Consideration</i> by Amy Spalding as soon as you can! This book was incredibly sweet with just the right amount of spice, main characters to love, and the kind of rom-com ending that we expect and want for our queer main characters.

Do I have some quibbles about this story, despite its incredible rep and, I will admit, fun storyline? Sure. The writing is—look, to quote <i>Love Actually</i>, "it's not bloody Shakespeare." Sometimes the prose just felt forced, and as much as I loved the characters, I actually think that hearing this in a third-person voice would've made it a stronger book from a writing standpoint. Nina's internal monologue is really important to the narration, but her constant ragging on herself and abrupt and poor decision making is actually a huge detractor for me. I know that is very much the point of Nina, but it often comes off as annoying instead of self-searching. And, as per many rom-coms, some things just happen too fast—not the main romantic relationship, which I actually think was timed perfectly, but some important plot points are so incredibly abrupt that you're left asking yourself, wait a sec? Did that just happen and why???

However, if you're looking for a queer found-family (and some actual supportive family) and a Once Upon a Time in Hollywood feel, this is a great, quick, sweet read.

A cute and quick Hollywood romance centered around second chances.

Plot: 3/5
The foundation of the plot felt a little unbelievable because Nina ghosted all her friends over a break up three years ago? But once things got going, it was a quick and fun read.
We know that basically every romance has a third act break up but this one was so anticlimactic...?

Characters: 3/5
Nina was really frustrating to read. She reached new levels of denial that I could barely tolerate her. But she has so much character growth by the end, the change is insane.
Ari was really the saving character here because she was so much more fun to read and more direct in how she was feeling. I think I would have liked the book so much more if it had been from Ari's POV. Even though she's posed as a control freak, it didn't really seem like she was.
The side characters also pulled a lot of weight here, they were so beneficial to the enjoyment of the story.

Writing: 2/5
I found the writing style to be extremely repetitive in a way that really took me out of the flow of the story.

Overall: 2.5/5

In general I loved For Her Consideration. Even though both Ari and Nina bothered me for different reasons.

By the time the list of reasons Nina was dumped was shown I was about to throw this book. She continually referenced it and trashed her own life because of it but all you really know is that she wasn’t punctual and was “toxic” according to her ex

Ari bothered me because she was repeatedly told not to do things and then would do them anyways.

Even tho I disliked the characters for different reasons I still overall really enjoyed this book and the found family that they were able to develop with each other.

3.5/5 For Her Consideration is the queer, Hollywood romance I never knew I needed. We have Nina, who was dumped three years ago by her ex and it really messed her up. She withdrew from society, including her friends, taking a job where she doesn't have to see, or even really interact with people. In enters Ari, a breath of fresh air and someone she enjoys spending time with. Nina is afraid to really give all of herself though, as she doesn't want to become the "to much" her ex described.

Nina and Ari definitely had some great chemistry. They seemed to work well together and mesh with each other. I loved how Ari seemed to ease into Nina's life, like she was always there. I also like that we saw some growth in Nina when she started going to the city more, going out with friends and even going out with Ari. It was hard to read the doubt and worry she still had about being bad for the people she cared about.

Celebrity romances are usually a tough read for me, because they are big and extravagant. What I loved about this book was that it was down to earth and read more as a romance and personal discovery, than anything celebrity. There were some pretty big issues talked about in this book, especially with Nina and her insecurities, but I overall felt this was a light story.

I did find that Nina was a little tiresome with all her insecurities. We know that her ex really took her for a run, and she really felt like she was bad for her friends, but I would have thought someone (or even Nina herself) would have realized in the three years since the end of the relationship that she may need some therapy.

If you like a sapphic love story, with a touch of drama and a touch of celebrity this will be the book for you! Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for a copy of this book. All opinions are 100% mine.