I guess I have a thing for second chance romances because I sure read a lot of them!

Arlette Adair feels stuck in both her personal and professional life. Her relationship is more for show than for love, and her job on Capitol Hill was never what she wanted.

Brooke Dawson is a freelance artist taking on catering jobs to pay her rent until she becomes more established in the art world. When she runs into Arlette at a high society event, she realizes the crush she had on her in college never went away.

As Arlette and Brooke reconnect, they realize their friendship is (and always has been) more than just platonic love.

I adored this book! One thing I really enjoyed was that both characters are very emotionally mature and reasonable, which is sometimes missing from a lot of romances. I've noticed that I often get irritated when characters place so much stock into what their family wants for them, but I think Arlene was a special case given that her family was heavily involved in politics and pretty intense.I loved that Arlette managed to get “unstuck” from the path she was on, which is definitely a difficult thing to do. And the scenes were Brooke paints Arlette? So perfect

thank you NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for this arc!

This book was a fine romance and had some moments that made it a very good read. I felt like I just needed some angst to pull me into the story. I found the reason for the turmoil between the two characters while they were college roommates to be a bit silly. The rest of the story was just fine - it wasn't a book that I couldn't put down, but it was a pleasant read nevertheless.

I really liked that the story took place in the Maryland/Washington, DC area. Living in the area myself helped set the scene and made me feel like I was part of the story.

Really enjoyed this, it's a second chance romance, I really enjoyed the focus on Arlette growing and changing into who she is and the way Brooklyn grew more confident as an artist. Loved all the painting references, made me want to get my paints out. The characters are well rounded, the gentle grandfather, tricky uncle and supportive sister and friends, all added to the book. You're in good hand with this author, a delightful satisfying read.

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

Brooke Dawson was raised by her single mother after her father took a hike right out of her life. Like many others the divorce led to a whole new world for Brooke. One where her mom worked two jobs , they’d moved from a house to an apartment. The one thing that helped Brooke deal with all the changes was her painting. Beautiful, moving pictures that now help enable Brooke to sell her works. Now if she could just quit her second job, bartending to pursue her passion full time.
Arlette Adair chrome from a family heavily in politics and serving in the navy as was her family tradition. She has so far disappointed her father when she refused to follow the others in her family and then refused to go to the same college. Being small was a perfect fit for her.
Through college was how Brooke and Arlette met each other. Brooke was more invested in their relationship and when they graduated Arlette took off leaving Brooke along with a broken heart. While doing a bartending job the two meet again. Both have grown up but it’s going to take a lot for Brooke to ever trust Arlette again. This is a story that has been told many times by many authors but the real story is making the journey fresh. Ms Miller has done this very nicely. This is a fun, fast paced story that I had a hard time putting down. A very enjoyable read.
ARC via NetGalley/ Bold Stroke Books

I really enjoyed this novel by Morgan Lee Miller. It's a great second chance romance with some great secondary characters. I loved Grampa Harry. The main characters have good chemistry and there is some good sexual tension. I would recommend.

This is a sweet second-chance romance with low angst but lots of chemistry. One comes from a wealthy political dynasty, the other is a freelance artist raised by a single mom, but they becomes best friends in college and find each other again five years later. There was some repetition and inconsistencies that made the book feel unedited, but the story kept me turning pages and I enjoyed both characters. Wish I could see Brooke’s artwork!

Short Summary: When Brooke bartends a fancy, political event, the last person she expects to see is her college roommate who left her heartbroken 5 years ago. And particularly not on the arm of a beautiful blonde. Arlette is lost and has conformed more to her family’s wishes than her own over the years. When she reconnects with Brooke, she quickly realizes the one who got away might well be the one she needs to keep.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 Stars

“The Hues of Me and You” by Morgan Lee Miller is a rich girl/poor girl friends to lovers romance. Some may say it falls under the second-chance trope but that gets a little side-eye from me.

Arlette and Brooklyn used to be college roommates who became best friends. During their last month of college they made out a few times but then went their separate ways. They reconnect five years later when Brooklyn is tending bar at political function Arlette is attending.

Overall, I thought this was a pretty sweet romance. I really enjoyed all the scenes of them reconnecting and becoming friends again. They were made even more interesting with some of the background given on some of the famous spots in DC. Miller was great with establishing the mutual feelings they had, even if both thought it was unrequited. Arlette and Brooklyn are both likable and I was really convinced of their feelings and relationship by the end. They’re pretty opposite of one another but they worked well together.

The reason this doesn’t get a higher rating is because the beginning was pretty slow and repetitive. I also found it hard to believe Brooklyn was so quick to forgive Arlette given her initial feelings when they see each other again and Arlette’s reasoning for her hesitancy in the past to be lackluster.

In the end I think most fans of romance will like this, especially if you’re looking for a sweeter romance.

I received an ARC from Bold Strokes Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

𝕋ℍ𝔼𝕄𝔼𝕊: 𝕊𝔸ℙℙℍ𝕀ℂ. ℂ𝕆ℕ𝕋𝔼𝕄ℙ𝕆ℝ𝔸ℝ𝕐. ℝ𝕆𝕄𝔸ℕℂ𝔼. 𝔽ℝ𝕀𝔼ℕ𝔻𝕊 𝕋𝕆 𝕃𝕆𝕍𝔼ℝ𝕊. 𝕊𝔼ℂ𝕆ℕ𝔻-ℂℍ𝔸ℕℂ𝔼? 𝔸ℝ𝕋𝕀𝕊𝕋. 🎨

📚ᴀʀᴄ📖⁠

𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘:⁠
This took me a while to finish. I remember that "negroni" reel I made and that seems like ages ago. The story is very romance. The art was there and the struggles of an upcoming artist and having a rich and public family. The main point was on Arlette and Brooklyn. I love angst but I find second chance romance angst inadequate and not my cup of tea. Now you might wonder why did I ask for the book when I know I felt that way? Well, their love wasn't really second chance, more like unrequited love but also based on fear. Now that's something I know quite a bit and I was curious on how they could overcome that, given that there was now a third-party.

How they got over that to their HEA is why I liked this book. Grandpa Harry, God bless your soul. I always find it beautiful when there is that one family member that always connects to the MCs.


🎨 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞: It was a sweet book and the connection between Arlette and Brooklyn felt really genuine. Morgan did bring out even those small details that made me really happy. To have someone that knows you like that, beautiful art indeed.

𝙄 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙣 𝘼𝙍𝘾 𝙘𝙤𝙥𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙫𝙞𝙖 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙜𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙫𝙤𝙡𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙡𝙮 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙮 𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬.

2.5/5 stars.

"sometimes, people never got closure, and this was just one of those times." the hues of me and you is a rich girl, poor girl meets second chance romance. although things started slow, the latter half of the book shone and the relationship was a sweet, lovely one to follow. this was very close to being a DNF.

my critiques would be that the first half of the book was packed with filler and overly specific throwbacks in an attempt to showcase the characters' past. unfortunately, this was executed in a clumsy writing style and dialogue that was interchangeable between characters; neither of the leads had their own distinctive voice, and were it not for the content of their words, it'd be impossible to distinguish the two. i found myself skimming large sections that felt irrelevant and disconnected from the reader. it was hard to relate or feel for either of the two, especially when arlette's reason for leaving so many years ago was weak and anticlimatic, and brooke forgave her instantly despite how much trauma it had allegedly caused.. i feel like the author's strengths were much more towards the actual relationship as opposed to showcasing the history that'd taken place offscreen. another aspect i disliked was the predictability, notably with the grandfather's death; he was exuding death flags from the first time he spoke, and it was only a matter of time before that 'twist' happened.

overall, this was a highly predictable read that didn't end up being overly impactful or memorable, but i didn't hate it.

i received an ARC in exchange for an an honest review.

Nice little read to kick off the new year. Arlette and Brooke were roommates who turned FWB before things turned sour. Some years later Brooke is bartending at an event for Arlette's father and they get to know each other all over again. I enjoyed the second chance romance. I liked Arlette standing up for her own interests instead of giving in to family pressure and being supported by her family in return, and Brooke succeeding as an artist.

Miller has consistently written books I’ve enjoyed, this one isn’t an exception.

In this second chance romance we meet Brooke and Arlette. I feel a but of reluctance towards using the second chance stamp for this one, yes these characters kissed for a month or two while in college, but that’s it. They were best friends for 4 years, and that ended after the months of kissing. So I feel like second chance isn’t really fitting. When a chance encounter brings the women back in each others lives they easily fall back into their old habits as best friends.
For people approaching 30 I find them to be mature and acting their age one minute, and the next they very much resemble the college students they were when they met. Somehow it didn’t really bother me.

It takes a while for them to get together in the book, when they finally do there isn’t much left in the book for them to really be a couple. I like that there isn’t a black moment in the relationship, just other drama. The I love yous come a bit soon and overall I feel the second half or at least the third act seems rushed, like the author wasn’t allowed to use any more pages. I think a chapter or 2 more would definitely benefited the story.

I did enjoy it because it’s an easy and comfortable read, but it could have been a little better at some point.

I love second chance romances when couples have the opportunity to make up for their mistakes and find their way back to the person they were meant to be with. Brooke Dawson and Arlette Adair were best friends throughout college. The last month their relationship had shifted, and Brooke found out her crush wasn't so one-sided after all. Her happiness didn't last, however, as the expectations placed on Arlette were too much.
Five years later, Brooke is a freelance artist and bartender. It's during one of her bartending jobs that she finds herself in the presence of Arlette. The two women live very different lives. Arlette has had her life filled with the expectations of her father, while Brooke has received endless encouragement from her mother to pursue her dreams of being an artist. The expectations placed on Arlette are at the center of who she is and have held her back from the woman she wants to be.
I have read several of Miller's books and have been impressed with them all, but she goes to the next level with this book. The main characters found their way into my heart and the supporting characters, especially Arlette's grandfather and Brooke's friends, provide laughs and wisdom that both characters need. Everything works to make this a beautifully written second chance romance.

An ARC was received from Bold Strokes Books via NetGalley for an honest review.

The Hues of Me and You
Author: Morgan Lee Miller



I think the book touched me from the very beginning. The feeling both characters had about questions about their life choices at certain point really connected with me. Sometimes, when you get to a certain age in life, you look back and wonder how you could have made different choices, and if it would have impacted your life differently, for the better or for the worse, you just never know.

Uncle Henry was very unkind to Arlette and he gave her a hard time. I love how Brook was able to forgive and find love again with Arlette .


I have to say my favorite character was Grandpa Harry. His love and support for Arlene gave her the strength that she needed to be brave and make those hard decisions in her life.



When Brooke gave Arlette her business card the realization of what she did to their relationship really hit home. I did enjoy this book. We were able to see both characters come full circle, forgive one another for past mistakes, find the love and happiness together that they always want it. Make peace with themselves and their families . This was my first book by the author, and I have to say I was very impressed and I will definitely check out more of her work.

I would like to thank Bold Strokes and NetGalley for the Arc 5 stars.

Right person, wrong time.

Thank you to Bold Strokes Books. Inc for this Arc from Netgalley!

This was a lovely wholesome romance, I did struggle to feel any spark between Arlette and Brook for the first half of the book or so but in the second half I did see a lot better of a connection between the two of them and was much more involved in their love story. This is one of those books that I think would have benefitted a dual timeline so we were able to see them fall in love for the first time and then come back together, as I didn’t really get a romantic connection vibe from them to start with.

I loved the plot of the story and the characters were very good.

I gave this book a 3.5 ⭐️

The Hues of Me and You is the kind of feel-good, comforting book I’d want to read by the fireplace with a mug of hot chocolate—or maybe with a flute of champagne and a bag of Hot Cheetos. Brooklyn and Arlette were both likable and had depth, and their chemistry felt real and not forced or rushed. I’m glad the tension from the beginning quickly dissolved as the two clearly have strong positive feelings for each other and I would’ve hated to have had to read through pages of negative feelings to get to the good stuff. I appreciated the alternating perspective, Grandpa Harry is an absolute icon, and the whole painting scene was giving Portrait of a Lady on Fire (I say as someone who’s never seen the movie).

My main issue with the book was that I never really felt that I understood why Arlette didn’t allow herself to have feelings for Brooke back in college. I was expecting them to have a real conversation about their falling out and, despite their otherwise great communication, they never actually fully addressed the elephant in the room. Otherwise, this was a delightful read and proof that you don’t need to include a fight scene between the main characters in a rom com just because it’s part of the usual formula.

Thank you to NetGalley and to Bold Strokes Books for providing me with an ARC of The Hues of Me and You in exchange for an honest review.

second chances books are one of my favorite reads, This was such a sweet. I did not like Arlette but as general chemistry I liked them together.

The Hues of Me and You is a second chance, friends to lovers romance. Arlette and Brooke were best friends who reconnect five years later. Recommend if you enjoy second chance/friends to lovers romance. The plot and characters were well developed.





I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a sweet and heartwarming read. It definitely took me through a range of emotions in the best way.

The Hues of Me and You is an enjoyable second chance romance. Miller is known for them and those that like this type of trope will find that she easily nails their nuances. She understands the basics of a good second chance: She gets the main characters right. Arlette and Brooke are both compelling and likable. More than that though, they’re interesting. They have a complicated and layered backstory that neither woman can seem to forget. Once college best friends too unsure and afraid to ask for more, they now find themselves looking at an opportunity to reconnect. The prospect of something more has readers falling hook, line and sinker; the tried but true storyline is too enticing to resist.

This story reminded me of KL Hughes’s The Art of Us. In both stories, art, young love and heartbreak are central to its themes. However, Miller takes it a step further and adds politics to the narrative. This compelling dynamic not only makes the storytelling stand out, but it makes it intriguing as well. Miller paints modern Washington with irresistible power and persuasion, bringing real relevance to the page.

Arlette is an interesting character. She’s nicely developed, stirring emotions and garnering sympathy as any good lead should. Miller does a nice job with her. Be that as it may, what I find most endearing about her is her relationship with her grandfather. It’s a special bond and nicely captured on the page. Moreover, Miller uses it to flesh Arlette out and to drive her arc forward in steady measures. Unerringly, it plays perfectly on the page, making for some entertaining reading.

As far as Brooke, she’s an easy sell. There’s nothing to not like about her. She brings a softness to the story that’s heartwarming. Readers like her as much as they do Arlette. Furthermore, they can feel the affection she has for Arlette, underscoring the romance and chemistry between the women. Ultimately Arlette and Brooke work well together, bringing a sense of believability to the storytelling that’s needed for a true HEA.

Final remarks….

The Hues of Me and You is a solid story and a good second chance romance. Miller has stated that she’s a sucker for this trope because they are not only entertaining, but relatable. Well, this one certainly is, and I hope she makes good on her promise to write more of them.

Strengths…

Tenderly written
Likable, engaging leading ladies
Interesting secondary characters
Interesting sub-plot
Engaging story world
Entertaining romance

3.5 stars rounded up!

<b>Synopsis</b>
Arlette and Brooklyn met and separated during their college days. Now that they're older and supposedly wiser, they met again. Brooklyn is still a broke artist who catered on the weekend, and Arlette is still and Addair, a prominent family in politics who tries to wiggle her way into a bill that is dear for her. When sparks fly for the second time, Arlette must right the wrong to get the girl of her dream.

What I like about it
It was a no-nonsense plot, straight up, no will they won't they because it was still clear as a day that Arlette and Brooklyn are meant to be. At first, I thought it's gonna be a melancholy reading, more reflective, and sad. That wasn't the case. It had a pretty funny first chapter that made me instantly liking it.

What I don't like about it
Sometimes (most of the times), the way Miller cut the scenes is weird. Like Arlette and Theresa would have a heart to heart moment then Miller switched from showing to telling and suddenly Arlette was walking home. The transitions felt jarring. Also, although it dwelt with Brooklyn at the beginning, the real protagonist would be Arlette because we read about her again and again. Not a bad thing, I just wish it'd be more balanced.

Final thought
It certainly is a great sapphic read for me. Would also recommend this to like-minded readers!