A Mardi Gras meet-cute is just the beginning for Josie and Spencer. They will spend a few magical days together before going their separate ways, but their connection is deep and will bring them back together.

There is an unexpected emotional depth to this story that goes beyond the surface rom-com tropes. Don’t get me wrong, the usual tropes are there too, but there are beautiful layers to this story. Under the rom-com surface there are community and familial ties that add something special to this story.

The author struck a very nice balance between the humorous and more serious moments. I look forward to reading more from her in the future.

I received a digital ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Full Exposure by Thien-Kim Lam

3.75 stars/5

CW/TW: flashbacks to loss of a loved one + grief

About: This rom-com is set during the divine madness of Mardi Gras as two lovers ask: Can a Big Easy fling become the real thing?

This was an adorable read. It’s giving *all* of the Hallmark, meet cute vibes. Which I love + hate + love to hate in the best way possible. It’s just *too cutsey*- I, personally, need a nice slice of reality thrown in there!

That being said, I loved living vicariously through Josie and Spence as they navigate their instant connection. I also loved the #ownvoices perspective and the inclusion of the lived experiences of immigrants/immigrant families. I am a sucker for grannies, so naturally, Bà Bà was my favorite character.

This is a fun, adorable, humorous, quick read. Thien-Kim Lam's writing is straightforward + uncomplicated and effectively conveys a range of emotional depth. I’d recommend Full Exposure to readers who: love romance, that happenstance/Hallmark type of connection, dual perspective, humor, short chapters, and quick reads! [yes, there is moderate spice 🌶️]

Thank you NetGalley, Avon Books, and Harper Collins for the e-ARC!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This story follows Jodi Parks and Spencer Pham. Jodi is a boudoir photographer who was hired to take pictures for a bridal party. When that get cancels she get the chance to have the vacation she so very needed. Spencer is currently unemployed and has moved in with his family. He is a former data analyst turned film maker who is looking to film about his family’s first Vietnamese Mardi Gras Krewe. The two have a meet cute after Spencer is hit upside the head with Jodi’s Mardi Gras beads.

This was a cute instalove story. I loved the information about Vietnamese culture. I loved that Jodi is her own boss and that although she has her own business currently she is still dreaming to get her artwork shown in a gallery. This was my first read from this author and I enjoyed it.

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

First, thanks to NetGalley, Avon or Harper Voyager and Thien-Kim Lam for this eGalley copy in exchange of my honest review.

This is a 5 stars reading for me. It was so cute and wholesome that I read it in one sitting. Josie and Spencer were amazing together, they just clicked since the beginning. I love how they support each others dreams, and how they valued every step that they make as a individual, and as a couple. Spencer was so sweet, he wants to let her know that what she does matters, is important and change people lives. And Josie just opened a beautiful art world to him and that he can pursued his dreams and do whatever makes him happy. Love their dates, and the spicy here and there. Also I love both of their families and friends, it was wholesome and beautiful. Thanks to the author for this beautiful and sweet story, and everyone who makes this possible.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

In Full Exposure, boudoir photographer, Josie, ends up in New Orleans for a week of unplanned vacation after a client cancels a session. On her first day there she runs into Spencer who has recently left a soul crushing job and is still figuring out what he wants to do next. Josie is hard core type-A and Spencer goes with the flow. The two learn from each others strengths.

I wasn't super impressed with this book. I went into it with high hopes as the description and story sounded like they would be so much fun but the writing was lackluster. I often felt like I was reading a book report instead of the book itself. The characters felt one dimensional and when the author strayed from that one defining character trait, it felt forced.

All that said, the spice scenes were enjoyable enough to keep me wanting more.

If I were going to visit either New Orleans or DC, I'd enjoy this book as a fun little appetizer before the main event. If you do read this and aren't super familiar with Washington, D.C. be aware that DMV does not mean Department of Motor Vehicles here. It stands for DC, Maryland, Virginia, or the greater DC metro area, I guess.

⭐️ ⭐️

🌶 🌶 🌶

Tropes: opposites attract

#FullExposure #NetGalley

Thanks to Netgalley and Avon & Harper Voyager for the ARC of this!

I liked the author’s first book and was excited to see this one. I’ve never been to New Orleans, so it was fun to live through Marci Gras vicariously. And all the food! I love when authors include a lot of food and characters eating. Ba ba was my absolute favorite, I am always soft for a Grandma ❤️ I hope to see more of the Boss Babes in the future!

Super cute with some really good BIPOC representation, but the MC's "fell in love" in the most awkward sense of the phrase, and also WAY too fast, and it just didn't make sense. It was really cute with some really good moments, and Mardi Gras is magical so it makes sense, and I would recommend reading it, but just be prepared to potentially smile a little smirk and roll your eyes a few times.

A wedding photographer travels to New Orleans only to have the wedding party cancel. Deciding to stay and turn it into a vacation, Josie resolves to spend the week differently than she normally would, being spontaneous instead of meticulously planning everything out. In her unplanned outing to catch a Mardi Gras parade, she smacks a gorgeous stranger in the head with her hard won beads, and the rest is history. Hunter is between jobs, having recently moved home from DC to live with his parents. He is instantly smitten with Josie, and somehow convinces her to spend the rest of the day with him. As the week passes, they get to know each other and their dreams for the future, and agree to work together on their respective projects. But what will happen at the end of the week, when Josie is set to go home? Will they part ways, or stay together?

I really enjoyed a lot of things about this book. Spencer is Vietnamese-American, and there was a lot of information from his culture sprinkled through the story. I liked the way his family interacted with each other, and learning about their family history. Josie is a strong BIPOC woman, running her own photography business and hoping to break into the art gallery world with her artwork. I liked her friend group and family, and how they all took care of each other. It was a really enjoyable read, full of spice and sweetness, but also character growth and depth.

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
There's a lot to love about this story. I love the look at Vietnamese culture in New Orleans, the fun vibes of a chance meeting at Mardi Gras, the close knit family and friends dynamics present for both MCs, the goals of both MCs and how that planned out, the descriptions of all the food!
But, overall, the love story itself just didn't do it for me. I didn't really believe these two characters fell in love so quickly, and I'm not opposed to an insta-love trope, those one just didn't fully capture my heart. I wanted more from them, and honestly, I wanted more about the art and the film, that part was the most interesting for me.
All in all, a worthy read.

2.5/5 stars! The premise of this book sounded like a fun contemporary romance with some great BIPOC representation. However, it felt like the author didn't understand how love, even insta-love, comes across naturally. Everything felt forced and rushed between the main characters, which took me out of the story. Readers that can suspend reality in this area, may still enjoy this story. It wasn't very enjoyable for me.

I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

This was so adorable and I loved it so much. They were so cute from their first interaction. I liked that it was fast paced because it really worked for their relationship. They made each other better people and I loved seeing them grow. This book just made me so happy.

I received an arc through netgalley.

The HarperCollins strike is over! Congrats to the Union 🎉

When it comes to contemporary regular life books, I’m not a fan of the characters falling in love almost instantly. Maybe it’s because I’m aroace but I just don’t get it. It doesn’t make sense to me.

Spencer was ready to uproot his entire life for Josie within hours of meeting her. They were entwining their lives by agreeing to collaborate on a project within one day of barely knowing each other. The story wasn’t bad but I do think it needed to take place over a longer timeline than it did (which I’m pretty sure was less than a month).

On another note, this is not the first book I’ve read this year that took place (partly) in New Orleans. The more I keep reading about it, the more I want to move there 😅 (time to start heavily researching potentially moving there?)

I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

This is a well intentioned book, with a great exploration of both New Orleans and Vietnamese culture. But it’s held back by the fact that the romance doesn’t feel super compelling, lacking real stakes after their first meeting and instant connection.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing access to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Im going to start with the reason for an okay rating. The insta love was way too much for me. The main character Spencer almost drops the L word but hesitates because he doesn't want to scare the women he met four days ago.
I loved that the author shared information about the New Orleans Vietnamese community that I never knew about. Lam should continue making stories based on the same neighborhood and share more history.

Josie Parks never has an off day! When a client cancels a New Orleans photoshoot last minute, Josie decides a vacation could be exactly what she needs. As much as she loves doing boudoir photoshoots, she’s needs some new inspiration.

Spencer Pham left the corporate lifestyle, and he’s not looking back! He wants to make a documentary of his family’s history and tell the world about the first Vietnamese Mardi Gras krewe. So, when he gets whacked in the head by parade beads, it’s definitely not what he expected.

Josie and Spencer soon connect and have to decide if this fling is worth chasing long term.

This was such a fun story! I really enjoyed how relatable these characters are, and it feels like Josie and I are kindred spirits. I could see myself a lot in her, and I am definitely struggling with the need to accomplish all my tasks by 30, but life never goes according to plan! This story depicts it well, and I was even more drawn in by the differences in the characters’ paths. Spencer was brave to leave a secure job for his passion. Once again, it shows that not having your life figured out by 30 is not the end of the world.

It impressed me this story tackles the typical standards of beauty and struggles Spencer faced as an Asian male. As well as racism by other POCs towards black families.

Although, a lighthearted romance; this read does a great job covering relatable topics, has lots of diverse characters, and throws in some spice! The only thing I was disappointed with was not getting a reaction to Spencer’s film; I need an extended epilogue ASAP!

Overall, I really enjoyed this read and I’m looking forward to adding the finished version to my shelf!

Thank you to Net Galley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC!

2/5

I hate being over-critical of books but I could just not get into this one. The two things that really got to me was the insta love and the overall pacing of the story. Things happened all at once, way too fast and I found myself very annoyed with the two main characters who are supposed to be grown adults but instead come across as lovestruck teenagers. The author also has a nasty habit of telling and not showing. At the end I did not enjoy Full Exposure at all and it's seemingly forced romance. If you're a fan of insta love I would recommend but if, like me, you find it grating then this book is not for you.

i enjoyed reading about spencer and the result of his upbringing. as a vietnamese person, it was very accurate and the family scenes felt as though they happened to me because i could see my own bà ngoại telling me the same things bà bà told spencer. the love felt kind of rushed but for the circumstances, it worked well!

This dual POV, strangers to lovers, interracial romance set in New Orleans. I learned a lot about New Orleans and Vietnamese culture, I got such a clear picture of their food, people, and traditions. But I feel like it was not a romcom. I feel like the characters weren't developed enough, the chemistry between them was alright but there just was so much about everything else and not enough about them. I enjoyed reading it though, just feel like it fell flat on characters.

Being from the New Orleans area, a personal pet peeve of mine is books set in the city that are written by authors with only a passing knowledge of the area. I knew nothing about author Thien-Kim Lam before I started her new novel Full Exposure, a rom com about falling in love in New Orleans over Mardi Gras, but I was hoping that she was at least from Louisiana. When she mentioned in her story that the crowds during Mardi Gras become their own entity and move together as one mass, it gave her credibility. When she inserted the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill into her novel, I became intrigued. When the male main character Spencer gave female main character Josie tips for eating beignets, and both he and I said, “Don’t breathe while eating them,” I was sold on Lam being local. Turns out she is, so that is instantly a plus!

Full Exposure follows Spencer, New Orleans native, and Josie, DC native, as they hook up over Carnival season after Josie hits Spencer in the face with some Mardi Gras beads. According to Spencer, “Such a touristy thing to do.” Josie, a photographer, wants to capture the real side of New Orleans, and Spencer, who is making a documentary about his Vietnam family and the impact of their community on New Orleans, offers to show Josie around. Being that this is a romantic comedy, these two fall in love amid stories of the immigrant struggle in America, trying to find yourself and your craft in a cutthroat world, and looking for inspiration in the everyday.

Full Exposure does some things well, and other things not so well. I really enjoyed when Spencer and Josie were on foot, exploring the city and its people, experiencing the sights and sounds of New Orleans while getting to know each other. However, their actual romance left something to be desired. I never felt the chemistry between them, and I absolutely detested how during the rather explicit sex scenes, their way of talking to each other completely changed. I couldn’t buy that this was the same Spencer and Josie we have been following around the city - they became caricatures of themselves. The writing is uncomplicated and the story is short, perhaps too short for the subject matter it attempts to take on, but I do not think a longer novel would have necessarily worked with this author’s writing style.

2.7

Thanks so much to Netgalley and Avon Books for an ARC of this title! Full Exposure by Thien-Kim Lam was a love letter to both New Orleans and DC. and followed Josie’s journey into her creative passion and finding herself with the help of a handsome stranger her quite literally slams into at a Mardi Gras parade. Although I greatly enjoyed the book’s atmosphere and setting, it often felt like I would have been more interested if I was watching a documentary on the subject. The characters felt more like empty vessels than actually fleshed out people in order to spread awareness about the importance of the Vietnamese-American community in New Orleans. The romance was passable at best but neither character felt particularly real or interesting to me. Parts of the book really dragged and I felt like I was on a tour of New Orleans with a guide that had way too much information to share but too little time. After Josie returns to DC (and Spencer soon follows) the writing still made me feel like the characters hadn’t gone anywhere at all.