Julia and Thomas are brought together as adults after being best friends in school then not talking for years. Their relationship quickly turns sexual and romantic. The book also covers grief, family, and relationship break ups.

This was a fairly enjoyable read. I liked reading about Thomas and his family dynamics and liked the overall premise of the book.

I sometimes found the fairly graphic sex descriptions a little cringy - it’s wasn’t my preferred style/language use. I also at times got a little bored of the story and thought their falling out seemed a little petty and dragged out.

Overall not a bad read though, perhaps just not quite right for me personally.

The author kindly shares an extensive trigger warnings list at the beginning which I thought was a nice touch.

Thomas and Julia both followed the dreams they thought they wanted, a decision that tore them apart as teenagers. Now, twelve years later, they reconnect during a tumultuous time for both of them, only to discover that the feelings they had for (and hid from) each other are still there.

I'm honestly surprised this is a debut novel because it feels polished, well-structured, not too wordy or prone to diving off into irrelevancies. It's told in dual third-person POV, so we get both characters' thoughts; I liked how Julia rediscovers what really makes her happy after years of taking on others' interests, and how Thomas realises that he might need to rethink his priorities. Through it all is the theme of writing, as this is what initially brings the two of them back together, and I enjoyed the glimpse into the world of fan fiction. Hopefully this debut novel leads to more good things for this author.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advance review copy. All opinions are my own.

I wanted to love this so much because I thought it would be similar to beach read or even the roughest draft but it fell so flat. I feel like there was so much sex, too much clinical parts and it also just wasnt for me.

I love a good love story with second chaNces. I think everyone can relate in some way with this book. The characters had a good chemistry and had me wanted to read more. I found that I did not want to put the book down.
Thank you Net Galley for approving a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Think Love & Other Words meets Every Summer After but the main drama that separates teen Julia & Thomas from their adult versions is truly not even on the scale. I liked seeing Julia & Thomas reunite and learn about each other as adults and through that connection really find themselves again. I enjoyed the dual POV but Julia’s decisions were hard to get behind as she was the cause of both “betrayals”. Their mutual love of movies and smut/romance books was fun & relatable.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC

Writing style was good, i just couldn’t get myself into the storyline. There was almost a little too much rehashing the past and learning about too many side characters. Not enough emphasis on main characters.

I can't believe this is a debut novel! There are lots of things I enjoyed about this ex best friends to lovers story. I think the biggest thing is the character development. Throughout the book we get to know Julia and Thomas so well, along with their relationships with their family and friends, which makes all their emotions, thoughts, and actions believable. It even helps explain the third act break up, which can always be hard to read, but was necessary in this case to set up the perfect, heart warming reconciliation.

Also, the pining and then subsequent spice was perfection! The emotional connection in those scenes made them even more enjoyable to read!

Also, I loved all the rom-com and pop culture references! These days I like when characters are in their 30s and closer to my age, because it makes them more relatable and makes for some great references.

This book is a mixture of swoon, heart break, nostalgia, and humor and I loved it all! I read it in 2 sittings because I was so invested in Julia and Thomas's story.

I highly recommend! Preorder now, it's out April 12th! Also, follow @alainarosebooks on Instagram for the best memes!

Thank you to Netgalley and the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I am a sucker for a book about writers, and the writing process, so when I spotted this title, I didn’t mind that the synopsis sounded a lot like “Beach Read” (Emily Henry). It’s the same reason that I downloaded “The Writing Retreat” (Julia Bartz). I wanted to read about writing.

“Beach Read” delivered the friendly competition between writers that it promised, but “The Writing Retreat” seemed more focused on “sexual exploration”.

Unfortunately, THIS title more closely resembles “The Writing Retreat”.

Julia and Thomas were best friends in high school, who both wanted to be writers. She wrote smutty Fan Fiction back then, and he wanted to be a Rom-Com author.

It’s been twelve years since they have seen each other, but both are back in their home town, temporarily living with their parents. He is an author, who was living in N.Y. before coming home to care for his father who is dying from Lung Cancer, and she found out that her fiancé cheated just weeks before they were supposed to marry.

He wagers a friendly bet-rewatch their favorite Classic Rom-Coms, to help him with his writer’s block, and to give her hope that HEA does exist, and reignite her passion for writing. Whoever writes 50,000 words first-wins.

SOUNDS CUTE, right?

But, what LITTLE “writing” ✍🏻 there is occurs off page, and is rarely even mentioned.

What does occur on page is a lot of explicit OPEN DOOR sex, with body parts being referred to in their crudest terms, (which isn’t sexy to me) and a “play by play” of what each character is doing to one another, often in clinical terms.

Chemistry between people for me includes playful banter. Without that component in a relationship-its just great sex.

Not at all what I was hoping for, when I took a chance on this title. And, at 406 pages, way too much of what I wasn’t looking for.

Expected publication date: April 12, 2023.

Thank You to the author and NetGalley for the gifted copy. Alaina Rose is an Indie Author, and thoughtfully provides a list of trigger warnings in the beginning of the book.

Thanks to Alaina Rose, NetGalley, and BooksGoSocial for letting me read this ARC!

I loved the premise of the novel, and how old high school friends (who should’ve been lovers) are both in their hometown at the same time going through life changing events. I really enjoyed the Thomas chapters, and enjoyed his character development. I had a difficult time relating to Julia, and found myself wanting to skip her chapters. However, there was a long stretch in the middle of the novel that I had to push myself through, and ultimately enjoyed the ending.

I think Alaina has an amazing writing style, and I can’t wait to read more from her.

This is a wonderful steamy and swoony romance about second chances and revisiting the longing and yearning of the teen years. Thomas and Julia reconnect in their thirties, and navigate family tragedy, work and creative challenges and distance. It’s a bit sad and heartfelt and I loved both main characters, who get their HEA. New York has a strong sense of place for Thomas, which is bittersweet, when he returns to Starling Hills in Michigan - and Julia. The author is ambitious with many inclusive elements (not all of which are persuasively resolved) and she works hard to normalise Thomas’ bisexuality and anxiety. Reminded me of Emily Henry’s Beach Read. It’s a nicely open door. Strong recommend!

this book gave me the feels. i was drawn by the title of the book and then i was sucked in completely. really liked this and want to find more of her books.

This was a good book! I enjoyed both the male and female leads! I like that there were flashbacks included in the book and just overall a fast and fun read! X

Twelve years ago, Thomas and Julia's high school friendship fell apart in the small town of Starling Hills, Michigan. They once dreamed of being writers in New York City together, but that vision never materialized. And now that Thomas has come home to handle a dire family situation, old feelings don't stay buried for long. Thanks to some loaded text exchanges and a bet between them, Relative Fiction had a strong start but began to show some cracks about halfway through. Though I enjoyed Thomas and Julia's characters and how they slowly came back to each other after so long, some of the decisions they made in the back half of the book felt childish and frustrating. Now, don't get me wrong, I did enjoy the read overall since the characters were relatable, as were the struggles they faced as individuals facing uncertainty in their personal and professional lives. My main struggle had to do with the conflict they face since I didn't see it being worth all the pain and grief it caused them. A quick conversation could have shaved a few chapters off the book, creating a stronger foundation for the future romance they hoped to have.

Thanks to NetGalley, BooksGoSocial and Alaina Rose for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is passionate and keeps you wanting more, Thomas and Julia’s relationship is filled with happiness, hope and so much more, this book is filled with every type of emotion

This was bittersweet and raw and the descriptions of the different kinds of grief as Julia and Thomas both experienced them were gut-wrenching. I liked the time jumps to show their friendship as teenagers, but it also felt like they fell apart too easily for how close they had been up until that point. To go from constant contact to a decade apart because of one argument seems so out of character for them, especially with how quickly they fall back together when their respective lives lead them to the same place at the same time.

I really enjoyed this and liked that it dealt with heavier topics than you initially expect it to, but in a genuine and well-worded way.

Thomas!! Julia! What sweet, deep, thoughtful characters. I couldn't help but root for them to find their HEA together, but also in their own lives. I was so drawn in by Julia's relatable struggle to make meaning of her life after her ex, and WOW was Thomas's story line powerful!

Overall, a thoughtful and romantic look at millennial ennui and the fulfillment of ever-evolving dreams. And the spice was spicy!!

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and BooksGoSocial for the ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book.
This didn't immediately engage me and I was easily bored in the first half but it definitely got better in the second half. I didn't particularly care for Julia, no more so than toward the end when she basically blamed Thomas for what happened in her life. She was the one at fault for ruining their friendship in the first place - when they were in high school, for goodness sake - but she never really owned up to it at the end and I felt he forgave her a little too quickly for that, and for breaking his trust later in the book (no spoilers). Random question - why is she 30 years old, has lived in this town her whole life, but doesn't seem to have friends?

I really liked Thomas and how he worked through "meaning of life" issues. There was growth in his character. The dynamic between him and his father was relatable and so well written. And the side character of Susan was great - Julia needed someone like her who could tell her like it is.

I really loved this book and these characters. They were such real people, with relatable insecurities. I think the blurb needs to be redone a bit, as the focus of the blurb made me expect a lot more about their romcom research. While I did not think the story matched the blurb, I wholeheartedly loved this story, and would happily read more from this author.

I really liked this book and couldn’t put it down! It is a wonderful story about best friends and how we look back on those relationships years down the road. The characters were lovable and quickly won my heart. There is spice in this book so be prepared for that if you pick it up, however, I don’t feel that it over powered the story. Overall, I would recommend this book for anyone who wants to read a book that feels like a hallmark movie with a side of spice.

title: Relative Fiction

author: Alaina Rose

publisher: self-published

publication date: April 12, 2023

pages: 255

peppers: 3 (on this scale)

warnings: lots, she gives a long list at the beginning of the book including vomit, a nasal cannula, lots of drinking, and a dying parent

summary: Julia recently got an anonymous email informing her that her longtime boyfriend/fiancé had been cheating on her the whole time. As she drinks too much and returns shower gifts, she gets a text from her high school bestie, Thomas, to say that he's back in town. He has returned to spend time with his dying father and help at the family's restaurant. The two pined for each other in high school, but both assumed the other wasn't interested.

tropes:

friends to lovers
returning home
big promotion on the line
failed engagement recovery
the one that got away
back from the big city to small town
people in their thirties living with parents

what I liked:

both main characters are writers

what I didn’t like:

The main characters are supposed to be in their early thirties, but they mostly talk like unconvincing teens. They haven't grown on changed since high school.
The author doesn't successfully maintain her chapters' points of view. In each characters' chapters, there are thoughts that don't make sense coming from them.
The main character drinks way too much

overall rating: 2 (of 5 stars)

I would not have finished this book had I not needed to write a NetGalley review. I'm glad I finished it, as it definitely grew on me.