This book was a first time to me author, but boy, I was not impressed. It was apparent from the start that the audiobook would be a slog to get through as the writing was sub-par and went off on irrelevant tangents about side characters that really did not matter. I was not invested in either of the main characters’ lives or whether they got back together in the end. It felt like the author rolled a dice and had to put all these obscure issues that she rolled into one book and the result was super fractured and disjointed. I mean, a book with a miscarriage is one thing, but then cat-fishing, cheating significant others (on both sides), military-level snooping from a parent, falling down stairs, baby-mama drama, gangster activity, it was too much! I would not recommend this book to others as it was a slog to get through for me and I have a huge range of tastes. The writing was sub-par, the narration was very boring, and the main characters were so narcissistic, they really both needed therapy.

Love Delayed is a beautifully layered romance that proves love doesn’t always happen on your terms—and that’s what makes it so special. Anna Black crafts a heartfelt story of second chances, healing, and the unexpected twists life throws your way. With relatable characters, tender moments, and emotional depth, this book captures the bittersweet nature of love and timing. The slow burn between the leads makes their eventual connection all the more satisfying.

Sweet, emotional, and completely captivating—Love Delayed will have you believing in the power of timing and the magic of second chances.

The plot/story in this one was cute. A fun little romance that’s a good palate cleanser between some of your bigger reads. The narration was also pretty good

First things first - if you're a "choosing a book by its cover" type of person, be aware that this one deals with some topics that might surprise you based on the romcom presentation - particularly pregnancy loss, which is a major theme throughout the book. If that's something you're not in the right place to read about, steer clear of this one. There is also a sexual assault by an intimate partner late in the story, so, again, just know whether you're up to it before proceeding.

Now, for those who are ready to proceed - on to the actual story. My experience of the book was via audio, which has three separate narrators, each with their own strengths and weaknesses, for Zamora, Marcus, and Ellie (apologies for not spelling out her full name - it's not clear from the audio whether it's Eleana, Illiana, or some other variation). One thing that both the Marcus and Zamora narrators struggled a bit with was when their characters were quoting others - while their own dialogue flowed naturally, they suddenly seemed to be reading cue cards for the first time when they got to others' voices, which was a bit jarring. That aside, the multi-narrator approach was helpful as it made it immediately clear whose perspective it was.

The overall plot, while not groundbreakingly original, is well done. The characters are three dimensional, which makes some of the more implausible events make sense in the context of their personalities and histories. These are smart people who have lived their lives and their communications struggles come across as genuine, which is (for me, at least), highly unusual in this kind of book. Nobody drops their phone in a river or suddenly decides to take everything literally or any of the usual contrivances - these are the real missed connections of people viewing the world through their own lenses.

The title gives away the ending, and this is the kind of book that you go into knowing that it's the journey rather than the destination - but that's not always a bad thing. As the characters learn, there's nothing wrong with realizing that you don't have to spend your whole life chasing what's new when you've got everything you want right there.

So for anyone not traumatized by pregnancy loss or sexual assault, this is a good one that will make you think more than you might expect.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

I don't like to rate books 2 stars often, but this book was definitely not my cup of tea. I did not find the FMC and MMC relatable due to the fact that they both were walking red flags. I don't really think there was one character in this book that I really thought I liked. They all had a lot of issues they needed to work out and I firmly believe they should have all went their separate ways to do so.

Our MMC was engaged and calling his ex (the FMC) baby and treating her like he was engaged to her?? Big no from me.

Also, for this being called love delayed and having the airport on the cover, I definitely expected that part to have been way more a part of the story and not just a quick scene and never to be discussed again.

I don't really feel like the 3rd POV from our MMC's current fiancé was necessary. It kind of made the book even more confusing. It was just sprinkled in here and there and then I would get confused on the timeline because it would be going "back in time" from the other characters POV of the scene that played out.

This book truly had a lot of potential, but it just fell flat.

I have no complaints regarding the narration. They did a great job bringing this story to life and I feel like they sounded great for their parts.

Love Delayed’s audiobook is a sizzling, drama-filled second-chance romance that keeps you hooked! Malcolm and Amari’s love is intense, messy, and impossible to ignore. The narration is spot-on, bringing every emotion to life. If you love passion, twists, and tension that keeps you guessing, this is a must-listen!

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the ARC audiobook —loved every minute!

Audiobook Review 🎧

I had to DNF this one! We need more trigger warnings because the summary didn’t give us any indication of cheating, pregnancy loss, infertility and bigotry.
The fair bit that I’ve listened to, the pacing was a bit off. The narration was okay but some of the voice acting in terms of emotion didn’t do it for me and I don’t know if it comes from the writing or voice acting.

Thank you to NetGalley and RBMedia for providing an advanced listener copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Enjoyed this book, but there are definitely harsh language spots for a rom-com. This is about Zee and Marcus and their second chance romance. When the story starts both of them are in relationships with other people. There are two unplanned pregnancies. Not only is this a romance, but also a story of survival and second chances. Family is also a huge part of the story. Of course, there is a happy ending.

"Love Delayed" is a second-chance romance that takes a lot of twists and turns, and while the characters are well-drawn out, I found many parts of this story uncomfortable. While it's positioned as a romance, it's not a feel-good romance. It's a been-through-the-trenches-and-back-again romance that includes a lot of very serious topics that aren't even hinted at in the book description. Things like infidelity, infertility, miscarriage, divorce, manipulation, human trafficking, jealously, rape and more. And these take place in the story itself. They're not off-page events. So, it's far from what I expected when I picked up the book to read.

I also have to admit, I didn't really love any of the characters. So it was hard to feel invested in their story. I wanted to like Zamora and Marcus, but I had issues with each of them and couldn't really see what they saw in each other.

Thank you to Anna Black, RBMedia and NetGalley for an advance review copy.

Thank you NetGalley and RBmedia for the ARC of this audiobook for my honest review

I wouldn’t recommend this book. It was just kind of funny to listen to and that’s how I was able to get through it all cause yeah it’s pretty funny and it’s got some good suprises throughout. I hate that the main storyline is cheating, everyone cheating on everyone, no thanks. I also think that the writing is simple and could do with some more edits. It’s written like how I think of a story, jumping all over the place. I also think that the actions and reactions of the characters just arent realistic and that could just be me but I was like no way would that be how you react to that.

2.5 stars. At times I enjoyed the story line and other times it felt frustrating and how the characters inter mixed with each other.

First, thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia for the audiobook. This was my first experience with Anna Black’s writing and my first time listening to an audiobook with three narrators, which added an interesting layer to the storytelling.

One thing to note is that this audiobook did not provide trigger warnings, though it definitely should have. The story includes infidelity, miscarriage, divorce, rape, religion, and infertility, all of which are on-page events, not just mentioned in passing. What seemed like a light, fluffy romance based on the cover actually went much deeper than expected.

The book starts strong with a “keep you in” storyline. Zamora and Marcus are together, but she wants more out of life and doesn’t want to be held back. However, we don’t get much depth about their actual love story early on, which makes it hard to understand why they’re still stuck on each other ten years later. Marcus is engaged to another woman but constantly compares her to Zamora. Meanwhile, Zamora is married but still fixated on Marcus but why though? We don’t truly get to see the foundation of their relationship until much later, making it hard to feel invested in their second-chance romance from the start.

There are also some moments where the storytelling feels disjointed. The Ellie scheme, Marcus mom not sharing all details of what’s going on, Marcus going behind Ellies back with Z. His mother’s actions come into play, forcing explanations that feel like they should have come much earlier. Some details about this couple just aren’t presented upfront, which makes certain twists feel forced rather than organic.

The title and cover suggest a second-chance romance centered around a missed flight, but while the airport plays a role, it’s not significant enough to justify the book’s branding around that scene. The couple does get their HEA, but the journey there is both interesting and choppy. Some parts of the story feel rushed, while others drag.

Overall, Love Delayed was a good listen, but I found myself wanting more depth in Marcus and Zamora’s initial connection to truly understand why their love was worth fighting for after all those years. Their beginning felt rushed, and before we could settle into their relationship, we were already seeing them apart thrown into their new life drama. While the multiple narrators helped add depth, particularly to Ellie’s storyline, I wish the story had been more balanced.

I gave this book a 3/5. I am a fan of second chance love, and overall enjoyed the characters and was rooting for them. The pacing and timing of things fell flat unfortunately, and took it down a notch for me despite having a few of my favorite romance themes. I would be willing to read another book by this author tho!

⅘ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Love Delayed
Author: Anna Black

Thank you so much Netgalley and RB Media for the ALC! This was an interesting read. I’m a little shocked it has such negative reviews. My only issues with the book are personal preference issues and not with the writing style and storyline at all. There were multiple POVs thrown in, that I was not expecting. It was a little all over the place, but the book was captivating enough that I couldn’t put it down. My only issue really was the cheating because that is a trope I cannot get with no matter what! Also, I still am not really sure if this was supposed to be romance, suspense, or contemporary? A mixture of all? The narrator’s did a good job on the audiobook though. I would read more by this author. The short summary is that two lovers get a second chance, however when their paths cross again the FMC is going through a divorce, and the MC is about to get married; and we get the two main characters POVs, but also the Fiancee of the MCs POV which is where we get a little disorganized. Overall it was a good read though?

For me, this could have been better, but this may be a perfect fit for readers who adore second-chance romance stories, are drawn to tales of love rekindled, and enjoy emotional, humorous, and adventurous journeys that explore the complexities of relationships, personal growth, and the power of true love.

Anna Black’s Love Delayed is a captivating romance that explores the challenges of timing, resilience, and second chances. The story follows two lovers whose connection is undeniable but repeatedly tested by life’s obstacles. With relatable characters and heartfelt moments, Black’s storytelling shines as she delves into themes of patience, forgiveness, and the enduring power of love. A beautifully emotional read that reminds us love is worth the wait.

The characters in this second chance romance couldn’t catch a break-their stories were kind of a train wreck but I wanted to finish listening just to know that they DID get their HEA. The audiobook did not offer trigger warnings, but there were several in the plot not mentioned in the blurb-had I known about them I probably would have passed on reading and listening. The beginning was fine, the middle was okay and the ending was a bit rushed, but again-I wanted to know if Z and Marcus and Ellie got their HEAs. I thought the dual narration was a good choice and the narrators were great with their emotions. Thanks to the author, NetGalley and RB Media for the opportunity to listen.

The audiobook for Love Delayed is a duet, which is something I always enjoy in audiobooks. Eden Lafon and Geneva Mitchell did a good job. I enjoyed the dual POV every other chapter or so.

The story itself, I had a hard time connecting too. As a book that is marketed as a second chance romance, which is one of my favorite kinds of romance novels, I truly believe this should be marketed as contemporary fiction instead. I got as far as 40% of the way through before I made the hard decision to DNF this title. The beginning and middle of this is full of trauma and heartbreak (which there should be a content warning for those readers who could be triggered). This far into a romance, I would expect that the two MC would drawn to each other, and possibly sharing their first kiss, and it was missing.

Content or Trigger warnings I would suggest would be for Divorce, Cheating, Infertility, and Miscarriage.

Thank you Netgalley and RBmedia for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook.

This book caught me off guard. I was expecting a stereotypical meet cute, little “Hallmark” romance story. But this was not it. There was betrayal, deceit, and some triggers that I wasn’t warned about—rape, abuse, miscarriage.

The story flowed well and the characters intertwined well. There were some significant plot holes—what happened to the sister’s open relationship?! How did the main characters businesses transition?

I rarely give one-star reviews, but *Love Delayed* by Anna Black just didn’t work for me. Cheating, a central theme in this novel, is a dealbreaker for my enjoyment of any romance story. If you’re interested in a romance novel where cheating plays a significant role, this book might suit your tastes. However, for me, it was hard to connect with the story.

The synopsis and cover promised so much but delivered very little. The title and aesthetic gave the impression of a narrative thread that turned out to be minor and lacked meaningful impact on the overall story. While it had the potential to be an engaging second-chance romance, it ultimately missed the mark for me.

The storyline felt confusing, the characters lacked depth, and the unnecessary subplots bogged the pacing down rather than enriching the plot. As a result, I couldn’t fully invest in the story or its characters. While *Love Delayed* didn’t align with my preferences, I can see how some readers might enjoy its drama-filled narrative. It simply wasn’t for me.

A big thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the audiobook ARC!