I really enjoyed this book. Before this arc, I had never heard of this author and now I’m glad I know about her! This story was ever evolving and I loved it so much

This was a simple and cute read. It was fun. If you need a breath of fresh air and to cleanse your reading palette, this one is it!

Thank you NetGalley for the preview of this book! Speechless is a easy, modern retelling of Snow White. The story is told from the point of view of Lucy & Henry as their chance encounter in the Boston airport drives them together. While I found this book enjoyable, it was way less realistic than I usually prefer. Nevertheless, I thought it was fun and a great escape.

I like books where the main character is an author or reader. Lucy Gold is a bestselling author and she is looking for a new life. Henry Turner is a famous composer who met Lucy and she is the ray of the sun for him.

I really like this book! Henry and Lucy are strangers who become friends then lovers. Friends-to-lovers trope! I am obsessed with Henry; his thoughts were amazing. I liked his povs, they were perfect! Also, the dog’s name is Rowan! Yes, Rowan from Throne of Glass! Lucy and Henry have their own flaws and imperfections, but it makes them perfect for each other. This book is an amazing slow-burn romance, it made me cry, laugh and all the spectrum of emotions that you can find in it.
The author did a great job to make the characters alive with real feelings and problems. This book is full of music that is more than just music and the writer's life routine. I truly love how Lucy interacted with HAAAM; they are witty. All these characters together are at least something WONDERFUL! This novel shows that there will be people in your life who will love you despite any problems, flaws or illnesses. Dialogues sometimes looked a little awkward but this does not spoil the book. This book is more than just a rom-com, it shows the problems with personal life that can break us, it also takes the issue of chronic illnesses and the book is much deeper. I highly recommend this book to you.

Selfishness sounds the death knell for a character because they are in it for themselves. When it is the heroine, the reader is expected to empathize with her despite her selfishness, and I cannot.

This book started off brilliantly enough. She is a writer who found herself suddenly divorced. She has always felt left behind by the people in her life, and the resulting insecurity and low self-esteem coupled with crippling endometriosis, is sucking the joy out of her life. She survives her chronic illness through the love of her service dog and the glorious music of one composer. When her best friend from college asks her to move to LA to live with her, she jumps at the chance. And guess who is her seatmate? None other than the composer, who is extremely gorgeous and is afflicted with crippling social anxiety. They are so wonderful to and for each other in the first sections of the book. It all sounds good so far, but then it goes pear shaped.

He pours all his love into her and gives her anything that she might possibly need, materially and emotionally. And she blows hot and cold constantly and takes and takes. The worst is after they make love, and it is amazing, she simply runs out of his house and disappears for two days. Yes, she has some emotional stuff to work on, but why doesn't she talk to him?? Instead, she goes to her friend's house and drowns her sorrows in drink and binge-watching for two days without a thought for him even though she knows his feelings are very much engaged. In the meantime, he has been frantic with worry wondering if she had an accident, where she was, etc. When she swans back, she is nowhere near as contrite as she should've been. This is unforgivable.

This review will publish on Cogitations & Meditations at http://keirasoleore.blogspot.com towards the end of October.

This book is amazing! I absolutely loved every second of reading Lucy and Henry's story. The dual POV was exactly what this needed, and I enjoyed following Lucy and Henry's growth, both individually and together.

I loved the bookish references, the shout out to Throne of Glass, and other pop culture mentions. It made the book feel more realistic. The representation of chronic illness and anxiety was fantastic, and it was beautiful to see how Lucy and Henry supported each other. The author note acknowledging her own experiences with chronic illness and how it has shaped her book.

Henry, Graham, Jayce, Preston and Adamma are beyond perfect, and I am obsessed with the found family theme in this book. It's so nice to see characters who are non-judgemental and open to accepting new people.

This is such an incredible debut, and I genuinely cannot wait to see what Lindsey Lanza writes next!

"I'm picturing her face while my fingers start to dance over the keys.
Not her face, her eyes.
I saw an entire symphony in those eyes. There was so much sadness, maybe even despair, swimming through her irises. But there was also her smile. The way her entire face lit up while talking about Rowan. I hear the notes instantly change."

Lucy Gold's life is coming apart and the only things she can count on are her service dog, Rowan, Henry Turner's music. Lucy finds herself on a flight to California, recently divorced, suddenly without a place to live, and being harassed by an angry flyer when a stranger swoops in to save her.

Lucy's airport hero is non other than her actual hero, Henry Turner. He not only saves her from the dog-hating flyer, but also offers her a place to stay in Malibu. In a house with multiple other people that all work with Henry, she rarely sees him. But the times she does? There's not denying they're attracted to each other and that there's a lot more to be discovered.

Lucy and Henry both have secrets and reasons why a relationship wouldn't work but it's hard to ignore that they're better when they're together. Lucy soothes Henry's anxiety and Lucy's pain flair ups have been far and few in between since arriving at the Malibu house.

This was a wonderful debut book for Lindsey Lanza! I picked it up to read a couple chapters before bed and suddenly it was 2am and I was finishing the book. Lanza's storytelling is captivating and the book was demanding to be read.

Lucy's dealt a shit hand in life, but she's still able to bring sunshine to those around her, and lets happiness into her life. Lanza did a fantastic job of writing about Lucy's experience living with chronic pain. There were good days, bad days, and everything in between. There was honesty in the way it negatively effected her life, relationships, and self worth. Her personal journey was such a highlight of this book and I loved her character.

Henry is so freaking soft. I just wanted to wrap him up in a hug. As someone who is no stranger to anxiety, I could really connect with him. Like Lucy, he also went through so much in his life. Despite what he went through, and continuously goes through, he has such a big heart. From inviting a struggling stranger like Lucy to live with him, to giving his friends a space to not only live, but create music and thrive, he is so endearing. Him and Lucy are so well matched.

One of my favorite parts of the book is the found family. Henry's friends (aka HAAM), especially Graham, were so much fun to read about. A group of broken/struggling people that managed to find a home and family with each other is ALWAYS something I want to read about.

I wish the end of the book was wrapped up a little better. I felt like a huge part of their relationship we were waiting for them to have honest conversations with each other and be honest about their history. I think the way it played out was a bit unsatisfying (I won't say how so I wont spoil it). There was so much more potential for it to have gone another way based on their character development. Regardless of this, I still had a great time reading this. Lanza does a good job of writing a story that keeps you engaged and connected.

Thank you so much Netgalley, Lindsey Lanza, and Victory Editing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

↠ 4 stars

You know a book is good when it gets the alliteration going, because this love story is sweet and steamy and oh-so-swoony! Not only does Speechless have a hilarious found family, an adorable dog and a Malibu mansion to die for, but it also tackles big issues with even bigger heart. I don't read many slow burns worth the wait, but Speechless is aptly titled, because it will take your breath away!

Thank you, NetGalley for an early copy of Speechless by Lindsey Lanza in exchange for an honest review.

If you enjoy books that have:
-a memorable meet-cute
-men’s mental health rep (social anxiety/ selective mutism)
-chronic illness rep (endometriosis)
-a lovable service dog
-found family storyline
-slow-burn romance
-cheesy songs

Or if you’re a fan of
-The Friend Zone/Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez
-the TV show New Girl

… then this is the book for you!

I loved that we not only got the development of Lucy and Henry’s relationship, but also of Lucy’s relationships with Henry’s roommates. This is a slow burn romance, where you get more development of the characters and friendships in the beginning than you do the romance.

At times, the dialogue and interactions between Lucy and Henry were a little cringey and awkward. I’m wondering if that may have been intentional, though, to really make the reader feel Henry’s social anxiety. In a way, that cringey/ awkward component also shows the reader that these two can love and be loved by each other just as they are. And it was really special that they bonded over the healing power of music, and that they wholeheartedly supported one another.

This is Lindsey Lanza’s debut novel and I will definitely be reading whatever she writes next! Speechless comes out January 17, 2023. Make sure to preorder today :)

PS: Make sure to also read the author’s note at the end!

This review will be posted on my bookstagram at a later date (@bookishlee_kaci), and is currently posted on my Goodreads account (Kaci.)

THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING omg, Henry is a love interest if I've ever met one.

Dual POV
He falls First
Found Family

Lindsey is going through a rough time, between losing her mother, her marriage ending, struggling with a chronic illness, and her friend blowing her off as she was waiting for the plane to move to LA she is struggling and in comes Henry.

Henry struggles with chronic anxiety and selective mutism but something about Lindsey makes him step out of his comfort zone and speak to her. Once he finds out she is stuck without a home he offers up his and she ends up finding a family she never expected.

This read was AMAZING, I can't even say it enough. It was one of my favorite ARC reads I've received this year.

Speechless by Lindsey Lanza gave me major fanfic vibes. You get found family ALL in this book and I am here for it. It was such a cute book to read and I wanted to jump into these pages and drop kick her friend for ditching her at the very beginning of the book. Like, who does that? Having Henry and Lucy’s store written with such care warmed my heart. Henry with his crippling anxiety and Lucy with her Endometriosis.

It was a slow burn with a happy ever after. I appreciated the friendship before the romance. This book was a very fast read and would recommend it to anyone who wants something light and fluffy. Also, Graham is the best character in this entire book and he deserves the world.

Thank you Netgalley and the author for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Complex main characters with real life issues to work through! Social anxiety. Chronic pain. Trauma from childhood. I loved watching these characters come to know each other and walk with each other through their struggles. Their support and empathy for one another was fantastic. I also loved the supporting characters! The relationships that grew between them all was also delightful and added some joy to a lot of serious struggles.

Lucy has hit a rough patch and decides to move to Malibu to live with her best friend. She wants a fresh start after her divorce and thinks it is a great place to start. On the plane, she meets a guy who offers for her to come stay with him when her plan to live with her best friend does not work out. She finds out after the offer that the guy who is taking her in is no other than Henry Turner, a famous composer that she has admired and listed to his music for years. She moves into his house where he lives with the people he works with and she fits right in. They take her in and treat her like family. As time goes on, she learns that Henry is working all the time and quiet, but she can not ignore the attraction she has for him. She tries to avoid it for a while, but after a trip with him to London, she finally gives in. She is scared to trust him and let him in after her divorce and she is scared that if he finds out her secret that he will not want her.

I absolutely loveddddd Speechless. I connected with this book more than I have any other. I am on a different side being adopted, but I love that Lucy learned that there are other ways to have a family even though her thoughts and fears are valid.

I loved everything about this book! Everything was incredible. The characters, the mystery, the love. It was one of the best books I’ve ever read.

I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC of this book, and I'm so happy I did.

As a huge lover of Rom Coms and also as someone who suffers from endometriosis, it was amazing to see a character in my favorite genre representing this disease and the struggles you face with it in a realistic way.

Also, Throne of Glass AND Taylor Swift references? Yes, please.

I truly loved the characters in this story. The main characters, as well as all of the roommates, were very likable and easy to be invested in. Plus, who doesn't love when a dog is a character! It gave me Abby Jimenez vibes.

I did feel the beginning was unrealistic. Henry and Lucy are strangers and barely talk before she agrees to move in with him. But, easy to overlook as it is fiction, and let's be honest - do we really read these books for their realistic takes on how people meet?

I'd also like to add that as someone who advocates for endometriosis, I'd like it to be known that hysterectomies do not actually cure endometriosis nor do they guarantee any relief of symptoms. However, each person's journey with endometriosis is different, and many with endo do seek out hysterectomies. So this really isn't a criticism of the book or author, just something I'd like people to be aware of!

I truly did enjoy this book and can't wait to see what else the author does!

First off... I was hooked when main character Henry was described as "Ben Barnes type" (yeah, Ian Somerhalder was mentioned too... But it's all about Ben for me!). But this is not my main point. I was hooked for so many reasons. These characters are suffering from real life struggles that aren't spoken about enough in today's society. I love finding books that shed light on issues that shouldn't be hidden. Anxiety, Social Paralysis, Endometriosis, Depression... These things should be talked about - not hidden. I am so happy to see books with these topics in them.
I fell in love with Lucy, Henry and HAAAM instantly. And I can't leave out Rowan the most adorable service doggie ever! Getting to know each of these characters through the eyes of Lucy and Henry was so heart warming. Watching how much they all needed each other was even better. Giving Lucy a new best girlfriend (Adamma) was a bonus - every girl needs that type BFFL! I loved seeing Lucy and Henry grow not only as friends and then something more, but watching the whole group grow together - sticking up for each other, helping each other... It made the story of Lucy and Henry that much more special.
Both Lucy and Henry grew in their own way. Seeing Lucy stand up to her stupid ex-husband and super fake former bestie showed strength that I wish for every one! Seeing Lucy struggle with sharing details of her Endo was heartbreaking, it's not something that a woman should be shamed for or need to feel embarrassed about (our bodies hate us sometimes - it's a curse we need to live with). Seeing how much none of this bothered or even mattered to Henry made my heart crack. Hearing Henry's story... This is when it shattered.
SO MUCH EMOTION in one book!
More than once did I have to stop reading and remind myself to BREATHE. My heart ached, it pounded. It broke into a million pieces and then glued it's self back together again. Both Henry and Lucy have such rich, broken and complicated histories. Nothing was missed, every detail you would want was written into the story perfectly.
Speechless left me well... Speechless!
Lindsey Lanza's breakout novel is a masterpiece and one that I will re-read whenever I'm feeling down. The story had it's sad moments, but it still somehow made me fell good. This wonderful author included a playlist that fits the book so perfectly - side note, I'm currently listening to it as I write this review because it's so feel-good. I cannot wait to see what Lindsey has in store next! Girl, you've gained a fan for life!

Bestselling author Lucy Gold may write fairy tales for a living, but her own happily ever after is looking bleak. Seeking a fresh start after a sudden divorce on the eve of her thirtieth birthday, she decides to make a new life for herself and her service dog in Los Angeles. But when her living arrangements fall through just before takeoff, a handsome stranger offers to let her stay with him and his motley crew of musicians in Malibu. Her gallant hero? None other than Henry Turner, the award-winning composer whose music has held Lucy together while her life's been crumbling apart.
Henry might be at the peak of his creative career, but his crippling anxiety throws his personal life completely out of tune. Yet all of that changes the longer Lucy stays with him and his housemates, swiftly becoming one of their own and offering Henry a glimpse of happiness he never thought possible. As their relationship deepens, Lucy's attraction to Henry cannot be denied, but as she works through the aftermath of her divorce, she's resigned to give up on love. Henry plays all the right notes and says all the right words. Will Lucy be able to hear them over her fear of the past repeating itself?
Speechless is a swoony saga about finding your people, overcoming your deepest insecurities, and choosing happiness no matter what life throws at you.
Really enjoyed this book totally recommend
Thank You NetGalley and ARC Provided By Victory Editing NetGalley and Co-op
I just reviewed Speechless by Lindsey Lanza. #SpeechlesstheNovel #NetGalley

speechless by lindsey lanza book review (arc)

★★★★★

okay let me begin by stating my absolute love for the cover, it is absolutely stunning, right? this book was beautifully written and you should definitely snatch a copy when it comes out on january 17th 2023! save this post, write it down, you definitely cannot forget to read this book, it’s absolutely amazing. I promise, it’s definitely worth the wait. this review might be a long one so get ready!

lucy is an author who writes books inspired by fairytales for a living but her life isn’t exactly one. when lucy wants to start over, she decides to move to LA but when her plans fall through, it all starts going down. well, until a handsome stranger offers to let her stay with him and his crew of musicians in his house in malibu and her life is starting to appear more like the fairytale she is supposed to live.

henry, oh my god!!! he is absolutely perfect, i love how awkward he was during their first meeting. i loved how lucy was fangirling the entire time they met. this book was so fucking sweet, i couldn’t help but to smile while reading! I don’t think I ever fell in love with a book that quickly, this was love at first sight 100%

i devoured this book in less than 24 hours and oh my god!! the amazing friends to lovers trope appeared in this book and i’m here for it. well, strangers to friends to lovers but same thing! oh my god how i love the friends to lovers trope, perfection. i laughed so many times while reading this book, i swear to god, it’s amazing!!

i’m totally here for the taylor swift mention, i absolutely screamed in happiness. also fuck lucy’s ex husband, he’s trash. henry is better than him 100%. I loved how the book ended, the whole book was genuinely so good!

Even with its Rom-Com type appeal, Speechless by Lindsay Lanza left me emotionally impacted and contemplative.

As a prospective Music Therapy student, this book caught my eye due to its connection with music and how it tackled the therapeutic properties of music. Throughout the novel and even before the story picks up, the protagonist, Lucy, talked about how music helped her through her divorce and through the hardest times of her life. I can sympathize with her because I too struggle with anxiety and it isn’t easy to overcome. So I rely on music to calm me down sometimes, especially when a stressful situation is inescapable.

It’s easy to say this book had me hooked very fast, which doesn’t happen often.

With allusions to popular BookTok books like Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas and a playlist to show the love story, I felt like this book was destined to find me.

The love interest, Henry, is a composer who struggles with anxiety as well. I feel like men’s mental health is a topic that isn’t talked about a lot or represented in books. In most of my recent reads, the men have been the ones who are the strong female protagonists’ rock, the ones who never falter. I feel like this makes men feel like they can’t have anxiety or acknowledge that they have feelings. I think this was a bold and brave choice for Lindsay Lanza and I appreciate it.

But with every fantastic story line, there are downfalls to be had. For example, dialogue at times seemed a little awkward (which could have been the point) and forced. I felt as though there should have been more of a relationship developed before Lucy agreed to live with Henry upon moving to L.A., even though she had nowhere to go. I felt as though that was a very unrealistic event with really unrealistic dialogue leading up to it. But it’s fine because he’s rich and his house is very aesthetically pleasing, apparently. Let’s just say it wouldn’t be a chore for me to live with a handsome composer and his five handsome friends in a beach house in Malibu, however unrealistic it may be.

I really loved how this story is presented as a feel-good rom com (and it will make you feel good, even though it is at times bittersweet), but it ends up about mental health and chronic illness and love.

Also a music nerd moment I had: the “sections” of the book were called movements, which I thought was really cool.

What a wonderful debut from Lindsey Lanza!

This was heartwarming tale of love-- both romantic late and self-love.

Lucy deserves all the great big hugs. She was a terrific lead, she felt fleshed out, engaging, and real. Her past is holding her back from taking risks in the future, and throughout her story I just rooted for her to be able to recognize her self-worth and also believe in others seeing it too.

Henry was a lovely co-lead. His social anxiety is something I found very relatable, and I loved seeing how he blossomed, especially around Lucy. Sometimes you just find that person where the words don't get stuck, they flow right out.

Speaking of flowing, I loved the steady, beautiful stream of music throughout the book. Music played a big part without every distracting or overwhelming. It was all very well placed!

I think my only hang out was feeling at times the dialogue wasn't very believable, there were moments were it made me disengage from the story, not convinced in certain exchanges in conversation. But I truly would consider this a minor hangup. Lindsey Lanza has a terrific hold in storytelling and she's absolutely deserving of reaching grand heights. I'm excited to see what she does next!

Thank you NetGalley for providing me an arc in exchange for an honest review. This was such a delightful read!