I didn’t love it but I didn’t hate it. It did take me a bit to get into the story but once I got into the story it was hard to put down. The characters are compelling, dealing with relatable issues of love, alcoholism, relationships and all three combined while trying to find out who they are and who they could be together. It’s a cute story about love, plot twists at every turn (hello one bed trope), family and protecting your peace and happiness.

Thank you Netgalley and Erin La Rosa for the ARC!

This book took me out of my reading slump! I loved the openness of Sophie’s dating life and her journey meeting up with them. Dash and his own healing journey definitely had me in all of my feels. The amount of times I felt the characters pain or happiness was too many to count. You definitely need a box of tissues next to you for this one!

It is written in the third person POV, which is different than what I normally read. But we were still given plenty of inner thoughts and feelings through out. I definitely recommend this book when it comes out!

Thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing, Canary Street Press and NetGalley for the advanced readers copy.

TW: alcoholism, sobriety, relapse.

Sophie is a romance author with writers block. She's also never been in love. After an embarrassing night that goes viral, she decides to lean in and go visit each of exes to see if she can figure out what went wrong and why she wouldn't allow herself to fall in love.

Dash is a former actor who is white knuckling his sobriety by isolating himself from the world and secretly making pottery.

After some time in forced proximity and sharing one bed, Dash and Sophie feel electricity. Just when they think everything will work out, all hell breaks loose.

I was so looking forward to this book but I just didn't connect as much as I hoped. I had trouble connecting with the main characters and actually found myself hoping they wouldn't end up together in the end because they both had a ton of work to do to love themselves, let alone someone else.

I am a huge Erin La Rosa fan! I loved her first book and this book was just the same calibre! I love the fact that this book was so unique. I don't know if I've ever read a plot for a romance novel quite like this and I am obsessed! I this that anyone loves a good romance novel that is funny, charming and full of STEAM then this is for you!

Also can I just say love the title!!!!! If you're looking for your next beach read, look no further!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC!

**TW: alcoholism, sobriety, addiction**
This was a fun, easy read with characters that you can easily get attached to. A little grumpy-sunshine at first but the main male character does not give off "I hate you" vibes which was honestly nice and refreshing.

TikTok is very prevalent in this book, which can be annoying to some but I found it very well fitting with the story line and not overly used.
There is some spice as well, which adds to the fun of this book.

The subject matter did become a bit more serious as the book developed but still a good read.

Preface: I am not usually a romance reader. I typically like reading a fantasy or thriller or mystery novel that INCLUDES romance. However, I really liked this book way more than I thought I would.

The plot was charming and light. It was a cute love story, a nice easy read for a day at the beach or for those times you want something cozy and sweet. Easy book to curl up on the couch with a cup of tea and indulge in.

It wasn't anything particularly special though. The storyline was unique but not the most memorable. I'm not suffering from a book hangover where I'm stuck on this book and neeeeeed more from this couple. It is tied up pretty well, I'm satisfied by the ending and enjoyed my time reading it.

I recommend romance lovers and pessimists alike to read this one.

I received this as an ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.

I was really excited about this one, but didn’t connect with the story or characters at all. It felt jumpy somehow? I think this story wasn’t for me.

I really wanted to like this rom-com but I just couldn't get into it. The wriitng was confusing at times and I had a lot of trouble relating to Sophie, the main character. I appreciated how the book approached some more serious themes like addiction and alcoholism but balanced against the rest of the story, sometimes the heavier scenes seemed more out of place. The book touched on a solid few tropes such as friends/casual hookup to lovers, and best-friends brother, but I didn't find anything especially unique or gripping about this book. The spicy scenes weren't quite *spicy* enough and I wasn't attached to the outcome of Sophie and Dash's story.

Dont let the cover fool you, this book is smut central. Overall this is a super sweet rom com and the perfect one to get you out of a reading slump if you ever find yourself in one.

Although I did feel the steamy scenes a bit repetitive and I did not need them to describe it so much. While I liked romance between Sophie and Dash, there was a real missed opportunity to let them stew in that mutual pinning a little bit more. But by 50% I wanted to just get to the point.

I enjoyed this quick, easy read. Sophie and Dash are lovable characters who both see themselves as screw ups. I liked their relationship and how they accepted one another. For a book called Plot Twist, it was pretty predictable.

Thank you @harlequinbooks and @netgalley for the ARC in exchange for this honest review.

I found the book to be very cheesy and the repetitive discussion about Tik Tok and strategizing on how to go viral to be annoying. I would not want to be friends with any of these people in real life.
I did find Sophie’s dating journey to be relatable, but the way she went about trying to solve her issues was very immature and I got second-hand embarrassment reading about it!

Erin La Rosa back at it again with another swoon-worthy romance! ✧˚ ༘ ⋆｡♡˚ Hollywood x romance books? Perfect combination. Especially if you have a former Hollywood teen star and a romance writer currently with writer's block who happen to be neighbors and she is his sister's best friend! *giggles* Isn't that the best plot?

Hope you all read it when it's out!

La Rosa has written a number of rom-coms, but this is the first I’ve read, and it was both well written and a lot more thoughty than many of its ilk. In fact (as I discovered after finishing it), it’s actually a sequel, but it reads just fine all by itself. The protagonist of this one is Sophie Lyon of Los Angeles, who has published her own first rom-com but is having a hell of a time finishing her second one, and she’s already spent the publisher’s advance. All she ever wanted to do is write. She lives in a cottage behind the larger home of the guy she rents it from -- Dash Montrose, an ex-child star from a big-time Hollywood dynasty. (His father is English, a major action star on the order of Sean Connery, his brother is the rising big star of the next generation, his Scottish mother is one of the most powerful agents in the business, and his sister, Poppy, who passed on acting to own and operate a very popular and successful high-end spa, is Sophie’s best friend.)

Sophie has trust issues (among other problems) and has never been in love, and she decides that she needs to reconnect with her several exes of both sexes (she’s pan-sexual, which makes things interesting) to try to understand why she can’t seem to fall for anyone, which she really wants to do. And maybe that will help her to finish the book before the six-week deadline is up.

Dash has his own problems, of course, foremost among them the fact that he hates acting, which he only got into because his family expected it, and the stress from which (he believes) pushed him into alcoholism. Now he;s been sober for eighteen months and he intends to stay that way. And until he’s absolutely sure he’s got it under control, he’s not going to get romantically involved with anyone. Being in a still uncertain recovery is not something he wants to dump on a woman he cares about. But he also can’t ignore his growing interest in Sophie next door, no matter how hard he tries.

So there are three plotlines here: Sophie, struggling to finish her book and trying to deal with her unsatisfying past relationships; Dash, trying to deal with his alcoholism and with his family, none of whom know what’s going on with him; and Sophie and Dash together, as each of them tries hard not to become emotionally involved with the other -- and for good reasons, too. The author gets into some heavy psychology without it taking over the story entirely, and the characters come off as reasonably believable. There’s a fair amount of tongue in cheek as Sophie, who knows all there is to know about rom-com tropes, realizes she’s actually living some of them -- even including the old “two people, one bed” shtick. And to say the very explicit sex scenes are steamy would be a great understatement. (This is not going to be one you will pass on to your fifteen-year-old daughter.) It’s all a lot of fun and I’ll hunting up the previous book, in which the protagonist is Sophie’s older sister.

This was cute! a little cheesy and cringy in some areas but all around an enjoyable read. and if a novel is going to have a male love interest, they’d better be emotionally mature, so this fit that very low bar, which is somehow so rare to find.

3.5 stars!
Overall I enjoyed this, but it did drag a little in some parts and I felt there was maybe so much drama (ie: the stalker, the issue that arises with one of the exes, etc) that it kind of all became too much. And if I had a dollar for every time Sophie wore a caftan or a sundress I’d be rich.

PLOT TWIST! I was lucky enough to get an ARC from NetGalley for this book, official pub date of November 14, 2023. I haven't read the author's first one yet (FOR BUTTER OR WORSE) but I definitely want to after reading this one!

It's about a romance author with writer's block, who goes viral on T!kT0k for her drunken moment of truth where she confesses she has never been in love. Cue her handsome landlord/neighbor, who has some secrets of his own.

The writing was very fun! I enjoyed it, other than the propensity for "smirking." Insert meme of Inigo Montoya saying, "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means." The "High Fidelity" plotline of revisiting exes to ask what went wrong was not my favorite, but thankfully not a huge part of the story. And props for making the main character pansexual and not making a big deal out of it! The two main characters were what drove it for me.

Might need a trigger warning for alcohol abuse -- somehow unintentionally a running theme in my books lately (HOW TO FAKE IT IN HOLLYWOOD and PARTNERS IN CRIME).

3
I enjoyed the plot of this book, but I also got really annoyed with both Dash and Sophie. It was very hot and cold and I felt a bit of whiplash. I was in love with how they grew as characters though and by the end I forgave their flames and ice bath relationship. And Kitty can go buh-bye. I loved to hate her.

Movie Star, teen heartthrob, landlord, Best Friends Brother, Writer, Author, Netgalley, ARC for Honest Review, off limits, recovery, self-discovery

I am able to read an ARC of this book thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing, with the request of a review. If you don't want play-by-play thoughts then skip to the bottom for my overall opinion.

I picked this book solely on the title and the cover photo, I have no idea what it's about and look forward to reading it.

Play-by-play thoughts 👇🏻

My initial thoughts are that this is the perfect time for me to read this book because I just started writing my first book.

Oh gross 🤢 the vomit. Poor girl, her life is a mess.

Do we find out the backstory of her pacemaker?

Oh. Okay. Right into the nitty gritty with Dash talking about his shower fun..

I hate when you ask someone if they can talk and then they FaceTime you. Like, I didn't say I wanted you to see me when we talk..

Sophie is going to help him write the speech for his father's walk of Fame star and that's going to start their romance.

A man with a baby *swoon*

So, I feel like Sophie and Dash will end up together with Sophie pregnant by the end of the book. Dash keeps thinking about how he wants kids but can't be a father..

Is Dash's family so judgemental that they would make comments about how the entertainment industry caused his alcohol problem?

Ahh. Road trip!

I feel like his feelings for her came on super quick. They went from conversing a few times, to 3x in a couple of days and now he's hot for her? IDK. I guess it could happen.

I too and Team Spike for who Buffy should have ended up with.

Is she going to fall for @TokCrafty2Me before she knows it's Dash?

"Lurve ya, Homeskillet!" In a Valentine's card doesn't count as telling someone "I love you" 🤦🏼‍♀️

Is this going to be a one-bed in the hotel trope??? It's an unexpected overnight..

😂😂 Called it!

A kiss!!

I don't know if I would hate my best friend getting together with my brother, if my brother was someone I thought was good enough for my best friend. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Wtf! Ned using information that Sophie shared to sell to Us Weekly!

I know they don't actually hook up until the end of chapter 14, but it feels rushed to me.

Mmk! Right in the backyard!

I love that Dash comments on her posts. Even though she doesn't know it's him. So cute.

Oh no! Does Dash have a stalker?

I'm worried that Dash is going to relapse.

Things feel different with Carla because she's interested in Dash now.

He shared a lot with the CraftyCindy before he knew she knows who he is. She can spill all the information, even if his page is anonymous.

Ooo his mom! I wanna smack her!

Yay! Nina is going to be a mom!

I LOVE that Abby Jimenez is mentioned, I literally just emailed her publicist the other day to ask if I could mention her in my book. That just goes to show how incredible of an author she is.

I don't think Poppy would hate that they like each other. I think what will upset her is them keeping it from her.

Oh boy, that massage scene. I think in her *book* she should take her time and not just go straight for the happy ending.

That 180 flip from them basically hooking up, to them ending any sexual relationship happened so fast it has me having whiplash.

I 1000% relate to Sophie in disliking confrontation. It legitimately makes me sick to my stomach. I am such a people pleaser because I'm so worried to cause conflict. I know it's unhealthy, but it's who I am.

Could the person who spilled Dash's addiction problems be Chris? Or someone from AA if it wasn't Cindy?

OMG! I'm going to die of secondhand embarrassment that she hugged the waiter because she thought he was Kyle 😂

Wow.. Kyle is a dick.

Besides being grossed out that her best friend is hooking up with her brother, I think that Poppy would have been okay with it if they had told her the truth..

OMG, Cindy is crazy!

IDK how she didn't piece it together they Dash was TokCrafty2Me when he called her Soph in one of his comments..

I absolutely hate when people think they aren't good enough for someone and don't give that someone the chance to decide for themselves.

What!! His own mother leaked that he had been in rehab?? What a bitch!

Nooo 😩 he just threw away his sobriety. His fucking mom.

He said I love you!

I'm glad she didn't say it back, the relationship felt rushed to me the whole time, and she's been talking about her issues with saying it the whole book, so I'm glad that she didn't say it.

I'm glad Sophie and Poppy made up.

Hmm. Will get tattoo be a book or one to match one of Dash's??

Dash running from the hen is hilarious 😂

The ending was a little abrupt, but all in all, very good book.



*Overall thoughts*
I really enjoyed this book. I didn't find out until after I started reading it that it's technically the second book in this series, even though the main characters aren't the same. So I will have to request the first book and read about Nina. I enjoyed reading about Sophie as she tried to discover what went wrong in her past relationships and why she didn't fall in love with any of her exes. And I liked reading about Dash and his struggle to stay sober. I could have gone for a slow burn romance, but I did enjoy their relationship. 4/5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Canary Street Press for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

The cover and the beginning were the best parts of the book. I feel like I lost interest as the book went on because it felt as if it were repeating. The journey of self discovery was great and I liked the highlight of men’s mental health, but overall it just didn’t work for me.

Unfortunately, this was a book I couldn't finish. I managed to push myself to go 25% and just couldn't do it any more. I disliked the main characters and hard a very hard time connecting with them.