For Glory Hopkins, inheriting her Aunt Lucille’s Harlem brownstone feels more like a curse than a blessing. As a restless artist struggling to find gallery representation, Glory doesn’t have the money, time, or patience to look after the aging house of an aunt she barely knew. But when she stumbles into Parkie de Groot, a savvy, ambitious auction house appraiser on the verge of a coveted promotion, her unexpected inheritance begins to look more promising. Glory and Parkie form an unlikely alliance and work to unearth the origins of a rare manuscript hidden in the brownstone’s attic. In doing so, they uncover not only the well-kept secrets of Lucille’s life but also the complex relationships between Harlem and its distinguished residents.


Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of "Lush Lives" by J. Vanessa Lyon. All opinions are my own. This was a beautiful book and I enjoyed it.

Set against the vibrant backdrop of NYC’s art and auction scene, Lush Lives sparkles with diversity, queerness, and a richly painted Harlem setting. The chemistry between Glory, an artist, and Parkie, an up-and-coming auction appraiser, is genuinely magnetic, and their joint quest through family legacy and hidden histories keeps things emotionally engaging. Yet, the story often slows under the weight of too many details, prolonged miscommunications, and occasionally meanders into preachiness. It’s an appealing and sexy read—though it could benefit from tighter pacing and sharper narrative focus.

A vibrant, sexy novel about art, ambition, and love among Manhattan’s elite. Stylish, smart, and full of emotional surprises. Great for fans of literary romance.

Had been really excited about this one but ended up just not being for me. I struggled to get into it and it felt forced to me.

Genre: Fiction, Romance
Actual Rating: 3.5 stars
Spicy Meter: 1 fire emoji
Content Warnings: Touches on racism, gentrification, and navigating power dynamics in relationships.

“Lush Lives” follows Glory Hopkins is an artist who is quietly craving connection (and gallery representation). She recently inherited a brownstone in Harlem after her aunt passes away and she isn’t quite sure what to do of this or her life.

This book was too much of a slowburn for me. The writing was intriguing at times but by the time the romance aspect sparkled, it had already lost my attention. I did love the art aspects of this book and I really did feel for Glory.

If you’re into introspective romances with a side of smart commentary on societal dynamics, then “Lush Lives” is for you. This isn’t your typical romance—it’s richer, deeper, and full of imperfectly human characters, so if you’re into slowburns then you’ll be into this book.

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ARC provided by NetGalley and Glove Atlantic in exchange for an honest review.

Publication Date: August 1, 2023

Hmmm this one’s a bit of a contradiction, it needed a bit more guidance in its edits as I do think there is a raw talent here but was far to muddled for me.

This book wasn’t really for me, might have been the time I read it or just the book but found it a little slow and hard to get through

Premise was good just fell short in my opinion

J. Vanessa Lyon's debut novel is a captivating tale set in the vibrant New York art scene.

Glory Hopkins, a talented queer Black artist, finds herself unexpectedly inheriting her great-aunt Lucille's Harlem brownstone along with its contents. As Glory navigates this newfound responsibility, she encounters Parkie de Groot, a charming redhead with whom she shares an instant and mutual attraction. However, their budding relationship faces obstacles from the start, as Parkie's casual attitude toward Lucille's possessions clashes with Glory's reverence for her great-aunt's legacy. The tension between Glory and Parkie escalates as they become entangled in the cutthroat world of art auctions, where ethical dilemmas and personal ambitions collide. Meanwhile, the arrival of Manya Shah, a formidable British art powerhouse, adds another layer of complexity as she vies for Glory's representation and affection. Amidst these dynamics, a mysterious scrapbook belonging to Lucille holds the key to uncovering secrets from Harlem's past, but not without interference from the enigmatic Madeline Cuthbert.

Lyon skillfully delves into the intricacies of her characters' lives, exploring themes of intersectionality and personal transformation. However, the narrative occasionally struggles to find its footing, oscillating between introspective moments, behind-the-scenes glimpses of the art world, and melodramatic twists. Readers may find themselves simultaneously immersed in its charm while also grappling with its occasional frustrations. Like the intricate relationships depicted within its pages, Lyon's debut is both enjoyable and challenging, offering a multifaceted glimpse into the lives of its characters.

This took me a really long time to read. I am having a hard time discerning honestly if thats because I really liked it or not. I did find I would get engrossed in the book for long periods and then it would fully lose my attention. I found the some of the relationship dynamics to be lacking or irritating. I did enjoy that it was highlighted much in the book about the power white folks yield- how harmful it is and the disregard for people of color. Glory was a character I really enjoyed.

My my my, as dry as sandpaper. I thought this was going to be GREAT, but it was so boring. It was also very predictable but that wasn't necessarily the reason that it was boring. The writing never came to life and it was a shame. I rounded it up because all of the "ingredients" are there, but the final dish just didn't taste good.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this eArc in exchange for my honest review! I found the concept of this novel to be more interesting than the execution and found it to be a little slow. Overall, the pacing made this hard for me to enjoy.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I found the writing awkward and forced. Halfway through and I didn’t feel any attachment to the characters or their romance. Sadly, this wasn't for me.

While I enjoyed the aspects of queerdom and complex relationships, this novel was so slow and difficult to get through. The setting was great, and I was almost completely absorbed in the story (which was a bit too derivative for me). Would definitely check out other work by Lyon, though, as I think they have promise as a writer.

Lush Lives is romance novel that thinks highly of itself. There are tons of tedious details about the auction world.

This was a tough read. I can only take so much miscommunication in a book before it becomes frustrating and frankly hard to get through. Not enough elements of interest to hold my attention beyond that

This was requested when I first found out about NetGalley and I had requested so many ARCs that I could not get to all of them before they were archived. I really wanted to get to this one, as it seemed interesting. If I can find this somewhere for a reasonable price, I will try to get it!

"Lush Lives" by J. Vanessa Lyon offers a moderate reading experience. The plot unfolds with a mix of drama and introspection, providing some moments of engagement. The characters are adequately developed, though the pacing may feel uneven. Lyon's work is a decent choice for those seeking a middle-of-the-road contemporary novel.

"Lush Lives" has a lot going for it, including an interesting setting (present-day NYC art world) and a diverse set of characters (lots of queer, Black and disability representation). The sex scenes are successfully steamy, for sure. All that said, however, there are times when the book feels more like a manifesto or a political essay than a story. Don't tell me that queer people of color deserve love and money and professional accolades; just show us how this one person is going to get what she deserves and let us draw our own conclusions.

I requested this for consideration for Book Riot's All the Books podcast for its release date. After sampling several books out this week, I decided to go with a different book for my review.

Unfortunately this book didn’t work for me and was a DNF but I am sure other readers will feel differently! Thank you for the ARC!