Such a sweet and fun story of love, being true to yourself, facing your fears and self-discovery. This is my first LGBT book and I appreciate the sweet romance in contrast to the masculine protective energy that usually characterize MMC in romance books.

This book was fine - the dialogue was a bit clunky in places, but it’s a good story. I felt that there were too many times there was concern over a mother who never ever reacted badly and never gave any indication she would react badly, which jarred me out of the story. I also really struggled with one of the narrators, who just didn’t work for me at all.

Mesmerizing, passionate, and inspiring are all words to describe this book.

It was a beautiful story that had a lot of potential, but I felt that some details and explanations were lacking. There were a lot of things I really liked about this book such as the characters, conflict, and ending. What I did not like about this book was it often felt repetitive and predictable. There were so many times I wanted more about a character or more dialogue explaining what was happening. There were a few plots holes that I wish we had gotten answers to, but it did not completely ruin the story for me.

I also wish I had read this instead of listened to it. The narrator did a wonderful job, but since there was a lot going on I found it hard to keep track of what was going on when listening.

Really enjoyed this story and would love to read more from this author!

The Gravity Between Us dives into the emotionally charged journey of two best friends, Kendall, a rising Hollywood actress, and Payton, a college student, as they navigate the complexities of evolving from friends to romantic partners. The book excels in portraying the nuances of friendship, celebrity life, and the struggles of self-discovery in sexuality, making it a compelling read for those new to lesbian romance. However, the transition from platonic friendship to romantic feelings could have been explored with more depth to enhance believability.

While the novel touches on serious issues such as career challenges related to sexual orientation and difficult family dynamics, these themes are not fully developed. (view spoiler)

Despite some shortcomings in character development and plot execution, The Gravity Between Us offers a captivating glimpse into the glitzy yet challenging world of celebrity and personal identity. The dual first-person perspective provides intimate insights into the protagonists' thoughts and emotions, enriching the reader's engagement with their romantic turmoil and ultimate growth. This debut novel, with its mix of entertainment industry insights and personal exploration, is a unique new adult romance.

I listened to the new version of the audiobook, narrated by Kelly Burke and Madeline Pell. The narrators did a great job at narrating both characters throughout.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture Audio for a copy of this audiobook. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

The Gravity Between Us by Kristen Zimmer (audiobook narrated by Kelly Burke, Madeline Pell)
2.25/5

A queer romance that had potential to be short and sweet, but lacklustre writing and almost no plot left not much to like.

The conflict of the novel lies solely in the transition of friends to lovers, to the extent that we aren't really given subplots or exploration of Kendall or Peyton's lives that don't end up relating directly back to their relationship. Lacking that makes both characters feel two-dimensional and also too codependent to connect with for me.

The writing itself is pedestrian. The dialogue is quite hit or miss, and the inner voices of each character often veered too much towards the dramatic to be anything but eye roll-worthy. The biphobia is really difficult to read, and there is also deeply inappropriate use of the r-word a handful of times.

The narrators both did a good job with the content they had, and it was definitely better for having two narrators for the dual POV, but that couldn't save the book itself.

I can see how this book might have spoken to me a bit differently if I read it ten years ago, but I was let down by the lack of empathy or creativity for the main characters and their experiences.

"I guess it doesn’t matter how well you think you know someone, there’s always a fear that they’ll abandon you. After all, it’s the people you care about the most who can cut you the deepest."

First off, the narration was great! I suspected going into this book that it was going to be full of NA drama. That didn’t bother me as much as I thought it would as it was mostly around each character’s journey of self-discovery and identifying/embracing their sexuality. I liked Kendall and Taylor’s friendship so that bought a lot of grace when things got rocky between them towards the end. Is it too much for me to hope that there might be another book to let us check in with them and see how things are going with everyone?

The Gravity Between Us is a super sweet new adult romance about childhood best friends who are both navigating the transition into adulthood and coming out to themselves and those around them. The fact that one of them is a rising celebrity makes everything more complicated. I really enjoyed how authentic the characters felt and how natural the progression of their relationship felt. The audio narrator did a great job with the material, giving life to both characters equally.

New adulting in Hollywood with your best friend is confusing and daunting. Especially when you have a lifelong crush on said friend. But is she sending you signals that it might not be an unrequited crush after all?

I received an advance copy from Netgalley for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Payton Taylor has been best friends with Kendall Bettencourt for years. They’ve supported each other through everything, and Payton always held Kendall’s feet firmly on the ground while her acting career took off. She would never ruin their friendship, not even to confess her undying love for Kendall. When Kendall asks Payton to move to L.A. with her, of course she goes. She’ll get to live her dreams and attend the world’s best school to become the world’s best film score composer. And she can see Kendall every day, not every few months.

Kendall wants Payton with her. Hollywood demands her to be the glittering star actress all the time and only Payton will keep her sane. Payton, her best friend in the whole world. Payton, the most gorgeous girl she knows. Payton, the one that stirs feelings inside of her that she must ignore. Can she though?

I’ve first read this book and I couldn’t wait to dive back into Payton’s and Kendall’s world. I loved that the story is narrated by two voices. They each give a distinct characterization to both young women. Sometimes the tempo was a little slow, but nothing a 1.2 speed setting can’t fix 😉.

Of course the narrators had a great story to work with, but more than once, I’ve been disappointed by the voices that interpreted the characters I’ve built in my head. Not this time, Payton was exactly the down to earth voice of reason I believed she was while reading. Kendall sounded exactly like a young woman struggling with expectations and being her authentic self. Even when the actors had to speak like the other characters, the voices were very distinct and similar between the POV’s.

All in all a great example of good narration that I will happily listen to again!

This book is cute but if I have to be honest, I was expected a little more. The romance between the two mcs is adorabile, I loved the slow burn, the pining, the friends to lovers. They are all tropes are genuinely like. And I like them in this book either.
But I was expected Payton to be a little more… well, she doesn’t really have a personality. She’s not very well written, and I was a little pissed about it. However, the Hollywood setting is well represented and I am quite happy to have read this book.

The Gravity Between Us is a friends to lovers sapphic romance. Kendall is a young movie star and her best friend since childhood is Payton. Payton is gay and has feelings fro Kendall, but tries to keep them to herself. Of course it is the age old question is the risk worth it to potentially ruin the friendship? Kendall moves Payton to LA with her, gets her into an elite music school, and ships her car there. All of this arrangement was done without consulting Payton, so I found that a bit off putting. I wouldn’t like it if someone did that to me, but it’s a book so I let it slide. Kendall starts to realize she has more than friendship feelings for Payton. There is a lot of drama with coming to terms with it, daring to be your true self, etc. Overall, I liked this book. It’s technically not YA but the characters are 19 and some of it felt immature to this 35 year old, but it’s probably true to that age. I enjoyed the narrators and thought they brought the characters to life really well.

I really enjoyed the book, The Gravity Between Us, by Kristen Zimmer. I had the opportunity to listen to this book and the narrators were able to relay the words on the page in such a beautiful way, it made me want to continue listening. The overall plot of the story was good and I appreciated the author telling the story of two girls who turned into women together and realized they were so much more than best friends. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance reader audio copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

A very sweet young love sapphic romance. This one just wasn't for me.
Payton and Kendall have been close friends forever. Payton keeps her massive crush to herself while Kendall builds her Hollywood career.
I just felt like Payton had no "self" - she just seemed to go along; did not work for me.

Cute!!! I had to call all my friends and give them updates every 20 minutes because I got so excited. I really saw myself in the characters. Compulsory heteronormity is so real and you never even realize you're doing it until you stop. Kendall and Peyton were so cute together and I absolutely loved seeing them grow together. I would have liked more if they delved into Kendall's emerging substance issues more but there did not seem to be enough time in the book. I really enjoyed the narrators of the book. I think both women did an amazing job portraying their characters. I felt so connected to the characters from listening to the narrators. Overall, this was a super cute and fun friends to lovers WxW story with a HEA.

"The Gravity Between Us" by Kristen Zimmer is a romance about two young ladies, best friends Payton and Kendall. This book was originally published in 2013. This audiobook version came out in April 2024.

I think that it must have been a bit dated even in 2013. They use Blackberrys and iPods in this book, but I recall having a smart cellphone before 2013. My Blackberry had to retire several years before that. Also, the fear of coming out as far for an actress was so dramatically horrifying, but this has become much more acceptable over time.

The main characters are just out of high school, about 19 years old. Kendall is a movie star. Payton was her best friend from her hometown in New Jersey. Kendall talks Payton into moving to Hollywood, where she can continue her schooling in a music college and live with her. They seem pretty mature for their age, but they are so much younger than I am, that it all seemed very immature.

This book is apparently one of the first sapphic romance novels. Unfortunately, it missed out on the opportunity of a great spicy scene or two. It was there but glossed over very fast.

Kelly Burke and Madeline Pell narrated the audiobook. Chapters alternate points of view between the main characters. They did a good job acting the roles.

Characters - 4/5
Writing - 3/5
Plot - 3/5
Pacing - 3/5
Unputdownability - 2/5
Enjoyment - 3/5
Narration - 4/5
Cover - 4/5
Overall - 3.25

Thank you to Netgalley, Bookouture Audio, and Kristin Zimmer for providing this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Young Adult / New Adult story that ticks all the Young Adult New Adult boxes. Remember the early to late college aged years? They’ve got stories to tell and this one is right up there.

A cute little love story that has you rooting for the main character the whole time. Not the most unique story maybe. But still loved reading it and read it all in one sitting

Exploring timeless themes of love, friendship, and self-discovery, The Gravity Between Us by Kristen Zimmer has captivated sapphic readers since it was first published in October of 2013. Payton Taylor and Kendall Bettencourt, the novel’s central figures, embody these themes beautifully. Zimmer combines their friendship, passion and heartache in such a way that it resonates deeply with readers. The personal experiences and emotions of these young women are echoed honestly and reverently, striking something inside readers that rings true even ten years later.

Payton and Kendall are two enchanting and captivating characters, individuals that readers can understand and care about. Crafted with relatability and depth, readers not only see reflections of themselves in these women but they are able to taste their vulnerability and desire as well. The swirl of emotion and confusion draws readers further into the story and sets the stage for an authentic portrayal of sapphic love and friendship, making this story stand the test of time.

Because Zimmer does such a great job developing Payton and Kendall, readers are easily able to fall into their story world. Zimmer’s authentic representation resonates strongly with readers. However, it is her exploration of Hollywood’s fame and fortune that really adds texture. Zimmer uses Hollywood effectively and thoughtfully, giving readers something to chew on. This backdrop provides a layer of interest to the story arc, making Payton and Kendall’s journeys more dynamic. Ultimately, the character development and narrative is enriched by all of this, ensuring that readers are engaged and invested until the end.

It is no wonder readers have loved Zimmer’s debut book for many years; there’s much to appreciate it. However, one of the most noteworthy aspects of The Gravity Between Us is its positive and nuanced portrayal of young love. Written during a time when such stories were still scarce publications, Zimmer’s depiction of Payton and Kendall’s love is pure and lovely. She addresses the complexities and challenges faced by young women questioning their sexuality and desire with a raw truth that still grabs audiences by “the feels” today. These women are on the cusp of self discovery and womanhood, and their journey is filled with an innocence readers can’t deny. Timeless and touching, this memorable love story will leave a lasting mark on all that experience it.

Final remarks…

The Gravity Between Us is a must read classic for the sapphic romance lover. It is a compelling narrative filled with relatable characters and meaningful themes. Once you read it, you won’t forget it, or wonder why it’s become one of the most cherished young adult novels of our time.

A word about the audiobook…

Kelly Burke and Madeline Pell give a fantastic performance in the audio version of The Gravity Between Us. They breathe life into Zimmer’s narrative and add an energy and depth that listeners find easy to appreciate. Their portrayal of each character is distinct and consistent. Listeners are easily drawn into the story world with their steady pacing and professionalism. This was an enjoyable and entertaining audio; I would easily listen to them again.

Strengths…

Entertaining storyline
Engaging romance
Likable characters
Enjoyable audio performance

A couple of years back, I read "The Gravity Between Us" by Kristen Zimmer and found myself enjoying the characters and their journey towards love. While revisiting the story through an audiobook recently, there were moments where it became a tad unclear who was speaking. Nonetheless, the charm of the narrative shone through, and I relished every moment of the retelling.

Even though "The Gravity between us" has been published a decade ago I think we still miss stories like this - about discovering who you are, falling fall your best friend, about unrequited love, especially about lesbians/WLW.
It's a sweet new adult story about two 19 year olds, discovering themselves, their identity and love. It's an easy read with a not overly complicated plot. I think one of the story arcs to keep characters apart is a bit too much and though potentially believable, didn't make sense at that point of the story.
Overall I think that it was a pleasant read and I especially recommend it to young queer women looking for a heartwarming, relatable story.

Lovely romance- I didn’t realize that this was an audiobook of a previously published novel and wondered why the world seemed a bit behind on the times. I realize that there are many more steps needed for equality but it’s not that big of a deal to see a girl dating a girl in 2024.

But the romance felt real and it was a lovely coming of age story. Well performed and lovely story.