I’m not reviewing this book because I cannot get into it. I cannot do it. I tried so many times. It’s just not working for me.

I loved the setting of this book so much! The plot and characters were all great too! I thought the marriage of convenience trope was interesting in this book. I was cheering them on the whole way! But, what honestly killed the story a little for me was the third act breakup :’) — if you don’t mind a little bump like that, then I think you will really enjoy this! However, I hated how the FMC acted during this hiccup so it gave me a small ick. But overall it was still a fun read.

What Happens in Amsterdam by Rachel Lynn Solomon
4.5 ⭐

4.5 worldbuilding, 4 character development, 3 plot, 4.5 writing style, 5 vibes, 3 🌶️

We are both big fans of Rachel’s books and What Happens in Amsterdam was no exception! This book made us want to go on a European vacation immediately - we felt like we were walking the streets of Amsterdam as we were reading. The writing really captured the feel of Amsterdam through all the details - it’s obvious Rachel lives in and loves Amsterdam!

The story centers around the second-chance romance of Dani and Wouter who originally met when Wouter was a foreign exchange student hosted in Dani’s home (scandal!). After a dramatic break-up, they haven’t spoken in years until Dani, after accepting a job in Amsterdam, literally runs into him with her bike. When her new job doesn’t work out, Wouter proposes a marriage of convenience. She needs a reason to stay and he needs to be married to meet some family obligations. The agreement seems simple enough, they’ll pretend to be happily married for one year to give Dani time to find another job and Wouter enough credibility to satisfy his grandmother’s old-school requirements.

One of the things we appreciated most about this story was the thoughtful and thorough exploration of mental health - specifically Dani’s depression and anxiety. The discussions Dani and Wouter had have no hint of stigma around therapy and medication. We don’t know if the Netherlands really are just further ahead in their approach to mental health or this was an authorial choice by Rachel - either way, we love to see mental health talked about on the page so honestly and without shame. We especially appreciated the representation of the mental gymnastics people with depression sometimes have. In Dani’s experience, she wrestled honestly with thoughts like “I know I shouldn’t be depressed because my life isn’t as bad as….” and Wouter meeting her in those moments with care, love, and support.

We hope you’ll add What Happens in Amsterdam to your TBR immediately! If you’ve read it, what did you think? Anyone else want to plan a European vacation with us?

A very well-done book from Rachel Lynn Solomon! I really enjoy her writing, and she did a great job with the setting, you can definitely tell that she knows Amsterdam inside and out! I really like Wouter and Dani, and how their history was so relevant. I will say this book did feel a little fast but that's okay!

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review.

Rachel Solomon writes the best characters that have so much depth. She knows how to balance banter and romance with plot. This was such a cute romcom, but had so much more to it! I read it by the pool and absolutely loved it!

It’s always so interesting to see the “marriage of convenience” trope in contemporary romance, and this was such a fun take on it.

Dani takes a job in Amsterdam, desperate to be away from her well-meaning but overbearing parents, and runs into Wouter, a former foreign exchange student who stayed with her family in high school. They were each other’s first loves, and Dani has never gotten over the heartbreak of this sudden breakup after he returned back home. When her apartment floods and she loses her job, Wouter proposes a marriage of convenience - as he can’t inherit his family’s property until he is married.

What follows is a fun if predictable plot of the two falling back in love, overcoming some past issues, and dealing with the inevitable fallout of their deception being revealed - and where they go from that point.

Synopsis:

Dani Dorfman applies and gets a job in Amsterdam, idly dreaming of escaping the mess she’s created. By the end of her first week in Amsterdam, she’s never felt more adrift or alone. Then she crashes her bike into her high school ex-bf—Wouter van Leeuwen was a Dutch exchange student Dani’s family hosted, a forbidden love that ended in a painful breakup. Years later, there’s still sizzling chemistry between them, and okay, maybe a little animosity. Wouter needs to be married to inherit a gorgeous family home on a canal—and when Dani's job falls apart, she needs a visa. As the marriage of convenience pushes them together in unexpected ways, Dani must decide whether her new life is yet another mistake—or if it's worth taking a risk on a second chance.

Review:

OK guys I'm a sucker for second chance romance. Who doesn't love a little character growth and development? I'm not sure why I haven't read romance set in Amsterdam before because it is really such a quaint and romantic city. It stands out in the cities that I've visited with the canals, cozy bookshops and everyone riding around on their bicycles. I found Dani's struggle to finding her path to be super relatable (for most readers I would think!). I also lived and worked abroad for a year so I related to being in a city where you don't know anyone and everything is a discovery. The book was funny and charming, and an absolute delight! Also isn't this cover just gorgeous?!

Thank you Berkley Romance for my finished copy!

Thank you so much to Berkley Romance for an advanced copy of What Happens in Amsterdam! I love Rachel Lynn Solomon books, so I was very excited for this book.

I had such anticipation for What Happens in Amsterdam, and I was ultimately disappointed. This book just didn't land with me. I don't know if I didn't enjoy the characters, the plotline, etc, but I just felt let down by the whole experience. I did not buy into the relationships between the two main characters, and I also felt like their backstory was full of gaps/holes. I wanted more from why they parted ways, maybe someone getting in between them? Instead, it was just a lot of miscommunication. I also found myself getting frustrated with the FMC's parents, and not in the way where I am putting myself in the main character's shoes. More, I was frustrated in that it was just ridiculous to allow someone else that much control over your life and it was unrealisitc.

Overall, this book just wasn't for me. It had fun moments, and the spice was spicing (IYKYK), but overall, just a letdown.

Rating: 3⭐️

𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚛𝚎: 𝚁𝚘𝚖-𝙲𝚘𝚖

𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬💭:
This book was screaming spring so much that i had to pick it up right away! Thank you Berkley Romance for my copy and PRH Audio for the audiobook which i read in tandem.

𝐁𝐥𝐮𝐫𝐛📝:
Dani packs her bags for a job in Amsterdam after years of not knowing what she wants in life. By the end of her first week, she already feels alone and lost. Until she crashes her bike into her ex-boyfriend, and suddenly life is blooming with new opportunities.

𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.💫/5. This book had such a great premise. A woman in her 30’s starting fresh in a new country? What could possibly go wrong? Or right! Bumping into an old flame in a fun new country, it was just bursting with so much fun and adventure. However, i didn’t vibe with the main character very well and i was not a fan of the reason why they broke up in the first place. This was also spicier than her other books, yet the story was fun to follow. Because I’m an immigrant myself, i could relate to Dani in a sense. I’m always looking up to and cheering for people starting anew after leaving your old life behind. It’s never easy leaving family and your customs. This was definitely a love letter to Amsterdam, how charming it is, and to immigrants just wanting a fresh start and i loved that about it.

𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚: 𝘈𝘮𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘥𝘢𝘮, 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘢𝘥, 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦, 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦

ɴᴇᴛɢᴀʟʟᴇʏ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ || WHAT HAPPENS IN AMSTERDAM [thank you to Berkley Romance and @netgalley for my #gifted copy!]

Title: What Happens in Amsterdam
Author: Rachel Lynn Solomon
Genre: Romance
Format: Audio + Digital
Star Rating: ★★★☆☆

ᴍʏ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛꜱ:
I think I just need to accept that despite the love of the book community and the ridiculously cute covers, that this author just isn’t for me. I never feel overly invested in the romance and parts of the spice feel a little icky to me to read.

But if you love RLS’s other books, I think this would be right up your alley!

I will say that this one DEFINITELY made me want to travel to Europe (but not ride a bike, because I would probably die a horrific death traveling that way in Amsterdam).

🎧 I wanted to do this one on audio, but I just could NOT take the Dutch accent seriously and it really took me out of the story to do it tha way.

ʀᴇᴀᴅ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋᴇ:
Second Chance Romance
Marriage of Convenience
Wanderlust

ᴅᴇᴛᴀɪʟꜱ:
GR: 3.67
# of Pages: 384
Pub Date: May 6, 2025

I was so bored the entire time I'm so sorry. This wanted to give something but ended up giving nothing.

The setting is the only good thing about this book. As someone who has been to Amsterdam many times, this made me feel like I was back there. Other than that I have no good things to say.

Thank you Berkley for the ARC.

a super cute read - i loved how relatable dani is and how alive amsterdam felt! i was actually vacationing vicariously through this book! it was pretty predictable most of the time but i was so invested in seeing dani and wouter’s relationship grow cause im a sucker for a second chance romance 😭

I enjoyed reading this book, because there were elements that aren't common in adult romances I've read. Dani's 1st love is Wouter, a live-in foreign exchange student from the Netherlands. They lose touch, as young lovers do, but SOMEHOW they run into each other 15 years later in AMSTERDAM when Dani decides to move there for a job. (I find myself asking How big is Amsterdam exactly? It has 860,000 people.) Anyway, they rekindle their feels, and it is kind of nice. (not EXPLOSIVE, but nice) I especially like Wouter's family and the very cool friend Dani makes who does cruise tours.

eARC from Netgalley

3.75 ⭐️

First and foremost I thought this was super cute & I really liked it!! I loved Dani & Wouter’s relationship I got butterflies just reading it!! I had a slight issue with the second chance romance especially when they said their relationship from high school was the best they’ve had. I can’t see how if you’re an adult the relationship you had as a young teenager is the best, but I digress. I think the pacing was a bit off especially in the middle of the book.

Thank you to Berkley & NetGalley for giving me a free copy of this book to review!!

Solomon’s newest book is a right person wrong time romantic comedy that succeeds in making grand tropes feel genuine. Its authenticity — from cozy moments thought the bustling city to realistic insecurities held by both Dani and Wouter — makes it much more than just a feel-good read.

RLS’s writing has me itching to back my bag for Amsterdam, hoping to fall in love with the city and culture the way Dani did!

Side note: this may be Rachel’s spiciest book yet 👀 There’s a scene that absolutely stopped me in my tracks — okay, Dani Bear, I see you 😆

Rachel Lynn Solomon does marriage of convenience and second chance romance? A sure winner for me, and ‘What Happens in Amsterdam’ delivered. I loved being immersed in Amsterdam through Dani’s eyes (and getting to experience Wouter’s Amsterdam through her). The story was well paced and felt believable (in romance adjusted terms) and their banter and dialogue was a delight. The storyline with Dani’s family was a bit much, and accordingly I didn’t like the writing or the characters as much at that point. I will say, Dani’s behavior during the 3rd act breakup (not a spoiler, I think, but a predicted part of a romance) was fairly inexcusable, but Wouter was far more understanding than I would have been, and accordingly I was able to feel more kindly towards her. Was delighted to get to know these characters and the city and RLS will continue to be a must read for me!

Unfortunately, I didn’t get far into this book before deciding to DNF it. The plot felt tired and predictable, and I struggled to connect with the characters. Dani came across as helpless, constantly relying on others to navigate her life, which made it hard to root for her. Wouter, on the other hand, was just uncomfortable to read. His behavior and dialogue consistently gave me the ick and secondhand embarrassment.

The story also tried to pack in every romance trope imaginable—marriage of convenience, childhood friends to lovers, slow burn, second chance romance, forced proximity, even the infamous one-bed scenario. It was trope overload, making the plot feel more like a checklist than an actual story being told.

I listened to the audiobook version, and that unfortunately added to the issues. The narrator’s heavy accent for Wouter made his dialogue almost unintelligible, which only increased my frustration and was a big reason I chose to stop listening.

Overall, this book just wasn’t for me. Between the flat characters, overused tropes, and difficult narration, I couldn’t find much to enjoy.

I loved this story! Rachel Lynn Solomon really nailed the environment of a European city, which makes sense, given she lives there. I really liked their love story and Dani’s self-journey in particular. It was very cute and had a lot of beautiful details. I also found the writing really enjoyable and easy to read! The only thing I wished is that he’d had a slightly better explanation for their initial breakup and his callousness. Something about that it was his biggest regret needed more for me. Even with that, Wouter was very likable and I enjoyed being in their love story!

What Happens in Amsterdam by Rachel Lynn Solomon

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3.5/5

This book was so cute!! It had all of the best spring vibes, and suffice it to say, I am OBSESSED with the cover art! Like seriously, have you seen a cuter cover? It’s actually adorable 💐 and is the literal embodiment of the tulip bouquet emoji. 🥺

What Happens in Amsterdam is the story of Wouter Van Leeuwen and Dani Dorfman, former high school sweethearts. When Dani unexpectedly loses her job and boyfriend all in one fell swoop, she decides it’s time for a change. She packs up her life and moves to Amsterdam … where she promptly manages to wreck her bike into none other than her high school sweetheart and her family’s foreign exchange student, Wouter. After reconnecting, Wouter and Dani discover that they might just be the solution to each other’s problems. Because a green card marriage of convenience is always the right answer, right? 👀

This book is like a love letter to Amsterdam! I swear after reading this, I’m also ready to pack my bags and go start a new life in a picturesque European country. Throw in a hot to go husband, and I’m set. I loved getting to explore and fall in love with Amsterdam with Dani and Wouter. It was the sweetest backdrop for a love story!

There were some really great characters in this book. I loved Wouter’s family so much, especially Roos. Iulia was also a shining light. My heart just melted when the girls took Dani dress shopping. And Wouter is the epitome of green flags. I really enjoyed reading about the dynamics between Dani and her family. Her struggle for them to see her as an independent adult who can make her own decisions and is confident in herself and her world was super relatable.

For some reason, I got stuck about halfway through and struggled to pick it back up and finish it. Once I did, though, I loved how the story wrapped up. I think Dani frustrated me a bit, too, as she was the architect of some of her own biggest issues, but I do think she had a lot of character growth and really came into her own by the end.

Thank you to Rachel Lynn Solomon, Berkley Publishing Group, and NetGalley for the eARC! All opinions stated are my own.

I love RLS books so much and this one was no different. Dani and Wouther's second meet cute was perfect and their messy history made enough sense that I didn't hate them getting back together (despite how I generally feel about second chance romances!). Plus, this felt like a love letter to Amsterdam that made me want to visit or at least eat a stroopwafel. Loved it.