What Happens in Amsterdam was adorable. It felt like a classic romcom from the 2000’s. It was funny, a little emotional, had banter, centered around a plucky heroine who’s on a journey of self discovery, and featured a heartfelt, sweet, second-chance romance. Dani moves to Amsterdam after her life in LA implodes, and everything goes wrong. Her apartment is a nightmare, she loses her job, and then she crashes her bike into Wouter, the foreign exchange student who broke her heart in high school. He offers her a place to stay and proposes a marriage of convenience that will help them both: he will inherit his family’s house and she can stay in the country while she looks for another job. They both have feelings for each other, but fight to keep things platonic as they spend more time together and get to know each other as adults. I had so much fun with this one, and loved the vibrant descriptions of Amsterdam. It made me want to visit, eat all the delicious food, and wander around seeing the beautiful sights of the city.

Thank you to Berkley Romance, Berkley Publishing, Penguin Random House, Rachel Lynn Solomon, and NetGalley for the ARC.

📔What Happens in Amsterdam
✏️ Rachel Lynn Solomon
📆 May 06, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

READ IF YOU LIKE:
🌷second chance
🌷marriage of convenience
🌷forced proximity
🌷slow burn
🌷mutual pining
🌷it’s always been you

What Happens in Amsterdam is the quintessential Spring romance. It is one of the best settings I’ve read in contemporary romance; the depictions of the Dutch city are so spot-on and atmospheric, it’s impossible not to feel like you’re strolling along canals with Dani and Wouter. Liken also to feelings of Spring, the story is a beautiful depiction of personal growth, and the rekindling of a second-chance romance.

My favorite aspect about this book is how realistic the characters feel. In a genre often filled with fictional characters with unachievable traits and characteristics, Dani and Wouter feel like real people. Dani’s acceptance of her birthmark, and navigating people’s reactions to it, is handled with such care. The choice to make Dani’s premature birth resulting in overprotective parents and a lack of self-fulfillment is a unique perspective that adds more depth to her character’s personal growth.

I’m additionally impressed at the characterization of Wouter. Rachel Lynn Solomon manages to simultaneously craft a swoon-worthy book boyfriend and make him feel like someone you may know. Small, but major, choices such as Wouter’s thinning hair, make him relatable in a physical way that I hardly ever see in romance novels.

This story fulfills some of reader’s favorite romance tropes- second chance, forced proximity, marriage of convivence, but does so backed by strong characterization and an absolutely beautifully described setting.

I absolutely adored this one! I love everything Rachel writes and this was no different. I loved the setting of Amsterdam and the way Wouter and Dani reconnected. This book made me really want to go to Amsterdam.

Easily my favorite book by this author. Emotional, heart wrenching and deeply sexy.
I was fanning myself at how steamy it was while also staying up all night to find out what happened next. I want to visit Amsterdam now!

What Happens in Amsterdam was the perfect blend of steamy romance, second chances, and self-discovery—all set against the dreamy backdrop of Amsterdam’s canals. Dani was a refreshingly messy, relatable protagonist, and her journey from feeling lost to finding purpose (and love) was equal parts hilarious and heartfelt.

Her dynamic with Wouter was everything—full of sizzling tension, unresolved feelings, and the kind of banter that made their fake marriage feel anything but fake. Their history added so much depth to their relationship, making every moment of forced proximity even more delicious.
The book perfectly balanced emotional depth with fun, giving readers a romance that felt both sexy and substantial. Rachel Lynn Solomon’s signature humor and charm were on full display, making What Happens in Amsterdam an absolute must-read for fans of steamy rom-coms and second-chance love stories.

Thank you to Rachel Lynn Solomon, Berkley, and NetGalley for this ARC! All opinions are my own!

Five stars, stroopwafels, tulips, and bicycles! I adore RLS’s writing and knew I would have a great time with this book before I even began, and my suspicions were confirmed. Dani and Wouter’s story is so full of yearning and growth that had me kicking my feet and blushing before we even GOT to how delightfully filthy Wouter’s mouth is. As someone who has lately been struggling, like Dani, over the fact that I haven’t really found myself or my calling at nearly 30, the messages beyond the love story also really stood out to me. I’m definitely going to be recommending this book to everyone! I’ll also be trying to avoid scheduling an IMMEDIATE trip to Amsterdam because this book activated the wanderlust so hard.

POV: single first person

You can expect: second chance, marriage of convenience, starting over, only one bed in only one hotel room, forced proximity, roomance, second first times, physiotherapist MMC.

Rep: Jewish FMC, asthma, port wine stain, antidepressant use, anxiety, depression, asthma attack.

Spice: 3/5

CW: cheating (former partner), premature infant, on page asthma attack, death of a parent (past)

Pub Day Pick and Book Blog Tour
What Happens in Amsterdam
@rlynn_solomon
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to @berkleyromance for the free book and to @prhaudio for the ALC.

Review:
Rachel Lynn Solomon never fails to get me, and What Happens in Amsterdam is no exception. This second chance, marriage of convenience romance set against the history and beauty of Amsterdam made me want to go there and experience this city myself. While the plotting definitely relies on some coincidence (Dani moves to Amsterdam to find herself and literally runs into her foreign exchange student ex high school boyfriend) Dani and Wouter are likable, complicated characters. Add to this family dynamics on both sides that come to a head, and you have a delightful spring romance that will capture your heart. I love having both the physical book and the audio to use together or switch back and forth with.

I really enjoyed this book! It’s a second chance romance combined with a marriage of convenience, which brought out all of the emotions from the main characters, Dani and Wouter. The book effortlessly switches between present day (where Dani has found herself in Amsterdam for work) and the past (when Wouter was a high school exchange student with Dani’s family in California). I loved getting to know their history while simultaneously watching their current story play out. They had a magnetic chemistry that was obvious from the start!

The Amsterdam setting could really be considered its own character. The author did an amazing job describing it in a way that spoke to all of my senses. I especially loved the use of Dutch words and the food descriptions. I definitely recommend this book, especially for anyone looking for a romance that feels like it takes you on a vacation!

Thank you to Rachel Lynn Solomon and Berkley for the gifted e-ARC. All opinions are my own.

Read if you like:
💕 Second chance romance
💕 Marriage of convenience
💕 Forced proximity
💕 Depression and anxiety rep
💕 Picturesque settings

A 48 hour read is one for me! What Happens in Amsterdam is a fabulous second chance romance for the ages. It’s giving “flights not feelings” except there were a LOT of feelings that came about here!

Dani is relatable, funny, a bit of a disaster, but just like the rest of us- trying to figure it all out, so cut her some slack, alright?! And her relationship with Wouter is- while maybe partially fake to start (not really at, let’s get real) rooted in a past that made it all the more steamy as things began to unfold. I enjoyed their relationship immensely, and I really need to get my booty up on over to those Amsterdam canals myself, ASAP!

Also fully in support of girlies starting over in their thirties 🫡

Thank you so so much Berkley Romance and NetGalley for the free eARC! Simply the best!

What Happens In Amsterdam is a second chance, marriage of convenience romance that follows Danika as she uproots her life from LA to Amsterdam. While learning the ropes of her new home, she bumps into (literally) her ex-boyfriend, Wouter. We get to join Dani on her journey of fresh starts and figuring out where this unplanned rekindling fits into her life.

Rachel Lynn Solomon does an incredible job with her descriptive writing in this one! I've never been to Amsterdam, but after reading this I feel like I was practically there. I loved the setting, the embracing of their culture, the incorporation of the Dutch language, and the beauty of it all.

I truly wanted to love this one, but unfortunately it fell a little flat for me. Dani and Wouter are two multi-layered characters, but I couldn't find myself connecting with either one of them throughout the story. Some of Dani's decisions were a bit frustrating, although I do understand the meaning behind some of them. That being said, these were two characters I enjoyed reading about & getting to know!

I adored the romance in this one & thought it was a beautiful depiction of how love can trascend time. It was clear from the very start that, even after thirteen years of complete separation, these two were so obsessed with each other. It's obvious that these two see and understand each other in a way that no one else had, and I loved seeing them reconnect!

While this one wasn't entirely for me, I did have a good time overall! I definitely recommend giving it a shot yourself!

I love this book so much! It's only my second by Rachel Lynn Solomon and is a reminder that I need to read her backlist. I absolutely love her writing style - it's both fresh and cozy feeling. She has me laughing and feeling all the things.

I really related to Dani and didn't expect that. She's more impulsive than me (hello moving to Amsterdam on a whim!), but she's just so real in her struggles. I wanted her to succeed in the best way for her right from the start! And then we have Wouter (still not sure how to pronounce that lol) and he is just ultimately cinnamon roll golden retriever perfection from the first time he's on the page. He may be my new favorite book boyfriend - he is considerate and funny and a caretaker and and and...I could just keep going!

RLS really captured what I love in second chance romances - sometimes they feel very unrealistic, but somehow this worked incredibly well. I loved the learning their history and feeling the teen yearning leap off the page while they tried to deny themselves in present day.

And this review wouldn't be complete without mentioning the magic of Amsterdam and learning about expat life! I love that this comes from Rachel's lived experience and found her characterization of Amsterdam utterly charming.

I definitely recommend this book! 4.5 stars rounded up!

3.5/5 stars

What Happens in Amsterdam is a fun, lighthearted contemporary romance set in the charming backdrop of Amsterdam. Dani has run off to the Netherlands after an office romance blew up in her face and she was fired from her job. She is starting with a new company in Amsterdam that is turning out to be a bit of a disaster on it’s own. The charming garden apartment rented out by her company is a bit more of a dungeon, and because bad things happen in threes, she literally runs into her ex-boyfriend while out biking. But it turns out their kismet reunion might benefit them both, and a marriage of convenience is born.

The setting of this book was GLORIOUS. My heritage is Dutch, so I will always love anything centered on their culture and location. This book had me wanting to pack my bags and immediately get on a flight to Amsterdam! She did a great job in setting the scene and really capturing the beauty of the Netherlands.

There were a lot of cute moments throughout the book that I enjoyed as well! Dani is learning Dutch, and there were some cute post-it note lessons that had me grinning like a fool. I also am obsessed with Wouter’s dog and he stole the stage every time he was mentioned!

While the setting was gorgeous, the characters have me feeling more of a mixed bag. Dani was pretty immature throughout the book, and I struggled to connect with her character. She has overprotective parents and it felt like she never really grew up or had a backbone when it came to them. She also behaved in certain ways towards Wouter throughout the book that had me struggling to sympathize with her. She does end up havin a lot of growth and self-discovery by the end, but I had a hard time with her before this point. I really liked his character, and wish we had some of his POV. We saw a lot of pining and angst on her end, but I would have loved to be inside his head because I know that man was down bad since high school.

I also have to mention, her height and his going bald was mentioned too many times for me. I don’t know why, but it really started to irritate me how often they were brought up to poke fun at the characters. The first few times it was funny, but it got old reading about her being so short in a tall country and him losing his hair.

Having read a few other RLS books, I think she falls into the category of books for me to read when I want something that I can just sit and enjoy without too much emotional investment or drama. They’re light, they’re fun, they have a little bit of angst, a dash of some spice, I’ll probably laugh a few times and are overall just a pleasant time. It is something I will probably personally like but not love, although I can see others falling in love with these stories (which I will wholeheartedly cheer on).

I did this one on audio and it was mostly good. She did a Dutch accent for Wouter and for the most part had correct pronunciation, but there were a few times that she would say the word wrong (stroopwafel, for example). I thought it might be a stylistic thing where she had Dani saying Dutch words wrong and then learning them later, but she would say other words correctly. So I think there were just a few words that she used a more American pronunciation of terms instead of the actual Dutch way to pronounce them. Overall, I would still recommend the audio though!

I enjoyed What Happens in Amsterdam so so much! Second chance romances are not a favorite of mine, but this one was done well. We get glimpses of their past but not a complete rehashing while watching their romance come together in their current life. The characters, the setting, the romance, it was all so lovely.

What Happens in Amsterdam is a triple love story, about a place, yourself, and a romantic partner. Danika is in her 30s, she is a bit lost, never found her passion and aspires to it, she has overprotective parents and sometimes it feels like it's too much. After breaking up with her boyfriend and getting fired from her job she makes an impulsive decision to move to Amsterdam, a city she hopes will change her life. 

The blurb says is a Love Letter to Amsterdam and it's right, the city is almost like a third character. It's easy to empathize with Love Danika, her journey is so realistic, she doesn't arrive in Amsterdam as a new person and it doesn't instantly change her life, actually at first she has a few stumbles, (which makes her wonder if she should go back to the US). 

Change doesn't simply happen and you have to do your part, I love that Danika has stepped out of her comfort zone, is in a foreign city, taking classes to learn the language, and exploring. The more time she spends in Amsterdam and soaks up the culture, the more she begins to feel like she belongs, and of course, it helps that she ran into her ex-teen boyfriend and first love. Things are not going as expected, and she will have a fake marriage with his ex.

The romance was sweet (and hot), and it was hilarious too, there's a lot of banter between them and a cute dog. Dani and Woulter are figuring out their life and their relationship, it’s realistic, he is patient, stable, and a green forest, she is authentic, and at last, she is giving priority to herself, she will finally be thriving and healing, it doesn't sound like a bad idea to take a plane to Amsterdam and eat all the sweets you can find, visit the museums, and enjoy the tulips. 

Thanks so much to @berkleypub @berkleyromance and @acebookspub for the free book!

Read it if you like:
Characters in their 30s
Personal growth
It’s always been you
Mental health rep

Amsterdam, ik hou van jou!

Thanks Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC!


Synopsis-

Dani Dorfman is newly single and recently fired from her job in LA. While wanting an escape and a fresh start, her new startup job takes her to Amsterdam. Little does she know that she will literally bump into her teenage crush Wouter Van Leeuwen, her family’s foreign exchange student from 13 years ago, who rudely broke it off with her after he got back home. With Wouter’s borderline crazy idea, he and Dani enter into a marriage of convenience for mutual benefits. 


Review-

The Netherlands is one of the world’s happiest countries for a reason! The author made me fall in love with the beautiful city of Amsterdam 😍It's innumerable picturesque canals, bikes, stroopwafels, mouth watering pastries,windmills, museums and those gorgeous tulips! I soaked up the city’s vibes, sights, delicacies and rich history.

Next, the sweetest meet cute ever of Dani and Wouter will sweep us off our feet. Their teenage history rekindled, I loved how the chemistry is gradually redeveloped between them - slow burn to start with, but builds to a crescendo that sizzles hot 🔥 and explodes like fireworks later on🎆🥵.

Solomon’s novels are more than just swoon worthy romances with spice 🌶️. Dani’s characterisation is drawn in depth- exploring themes of anxiety, asthma, depression and facial birth marks. We get to know her closely as we learn about her yearning for freedom, quest for a career she is passionate about, hobby hopping, the long term effects of her teenage infatuation with Wouter and the eventual breakup. I was so glad she had her sister Phoebe, like a rock by her side.

With Dani moving to Amsterdam, the author also delves into the challenges and joys of expat living. I cheered for her as she grows personally, breaking free of her former shackles, finding her independence and footing in a new country, making friends, building a community, discovering her passion and of course her one true love. Wouter of course, was an absolute sweetheart and obviously impossible not to fall for!

Highly recommend if you love tropes of fake dating, expat living, meet cute & second chance romance!

Thank you SO much to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC of What Happens in Amsterdam!

4.75 stars, rounded up to 5 ⭐️
3/5 🌶️

I have had my eye on this book for at least a few months now. The cover and title intrigued me and I loved that it was set in Amsterdam. I’ve also recently acquired quite the taste for second chance romances. They never used to appeal to me, but now I can’t get enough. I’ve said it a million times before but I’ll say it again - I LOVE a man who yearns. And second chance romances set the perfect scene for yearning, pining, and longing that is unmatched.

This novel follows Danika - a 30 year old woman who has always felt a bit lost. She can’t seem to find her purpose in life and is always feeling a bit behind all of her friends who are already married with kids (which is probably why I felt such a kinship with Danika). She decides to uproot her life and move to Amsterdam, which is quite a ways away from her hometown of Los Angelos. Her parents are overbearing at times and baby her, since she has had some health scares through her life. But Danika is sick of being coddled and wants to start fresh. She picks Amsterdam because many years ago, she fell in love with a dutch boy named Wouter. She has always had a curiosity about Amsterdam as a result, but never imagines that she would run into him again.

Wouter is a bit lost as well, albeit in a different way than Danika. He’s still reeling after the death of his father a few years prior. He has a good job that he’s passionate about, but he’s feeling less than inspired in regular life. He doesn’t have the same joy in his day to day that he used to have - like when he was living in America for a year over a decade ago, across the hall from Danika.

Danika and Wouter fell in love when they were 17, and then the relationship abruptly ended when Wouter had to move back to Amsterdam at the end of his year living abroad. Danika never quite recovered from the heartbreak of this and always assumed Wouter forgot about her. Until they, quite literally, run into each other while biking through the city. I was absolutely obsessed with this story and the way that they found their way back to each other. This book had some of my absolute favorite tropes in it which made it such a winner for me.

I loved how Wouter helped support Danika in her journey to find herself again throughout the story. As much as this was a love story, I also felt like it was a realistic story about Danika learning a lot about herself, breaking out of her shell (and breaking free from the constraints her parents have put on her), and forcing herself out of her comfort zone.

What you can expect from this book:
- second chance romance
- marriage of convenience
- forced proximity
- expat living in amsterdam
- YEARNING
- tension!!

And I simply cannot talk about how much I loved this book without mentioning how much I enjoyed the spice. The end of Chapter 14 had me in SHAMBLES. I was actually sweating, it was so hot, okay? This was truly top tier tension and longing from both of them and I was so beyond invested at this point. Every subsequent steamy scene more than delivered and I absolutely ATE UP every single one.

At first, I was bummed about this being only from Danika’s POV. But, throughout the story, I actually think it made it even better. While we couldn’t hear what was going through Wouter’s mind exactly, he wore all of his emotions on his sleeve and it was so obvious how he felt about Danika, even though she was unable to recognize it. And while I typically hate a 3rd act break up, this one made sense for the story and I didn’t mind it one bit. It felt necessary to the story line and it was done well.

I truly could keep going, but this is already a short essay so I will stop here - TLDR; I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH.

Rachel Lynn Solomon is one of my favorite romance authors by far!!

Let me start off by saying I really want to go to Amsterdamn now. All those charming cobblestone streets!!

One of the reasons I love Solomon so much is her characterization and depth to her books. This one is extra spicy, sassy, sexy, and romantic.

A beautiful tale of fighting for yourself and realizing as you get older life looks so differently. Life is ever changing and I love how we continue to grow and find those hidden special gems we can't live without.

Such a beautiful romance Solomon delivers with such masterful storytelling.

The only. minor issues I had with this one was wanting more with Dani and Wouter. Just discovering more about both of their personal journey's.

Also.... The main character Dani has a port wine stain on her face. I've never seen this representation in a book let alone a romance. I wish this was shown on the cover of the book. It would be a wonderful opportunity to showcase this on our shelves!!

4/5 stars

Thank you so much to netgalley and berkley for the arc.

Thank you Berkley for a physical and eARC!!

This is gonna sound so mean. But I just didn’t care for this book 😭😭😭

At first I was so excited bc the Netherlands (I’ve never been!) and they’re in their 30s. Rekindling of an old flame, marriage of convenience. ALL SOUNDING SO GOOOD. But Danika girl. STAND THE HECK UP.

Like I get it. Not communicating with your parents, expectations.. but dang girl. They really just spoke to you like you’re 8. (I’m Latina and know all about overbearing parents - but PLEASE.)

Then the whole third act… 🫥🫥 YA LOST ME THERE.

The star of the show: the dog. George Costanza. HAHA. Some parts were cute and funny. OVERALL. Just know what you’re getting into! Solid 3 stars. Not a favorite. But readable. Haha. Ok bye

Dani Dorfman does not have her life figured out. After losing her boyfriend and her job, she decides to make a change and accept a job in Amsterdam. A week in, things aren’t going great until Dani literally crashes her bike into Wouter. Back in high school, Wouter was the Dorfman’s foreign exchange student and also Dani’s secret boyfriend. Things didn’t end well back then but maybe this could be a second chance.

I loved the Amsterdam setting so much. I felt completely immersed in their world with the food and the sightseeing and the Dutch words.

Everytime I read a book by Rachel Lynn Solomon, I know it’ll be more than just a romance. Dani has dealt with a lot in her life and she felt so authentic to me. I love that RLS writes characters dealing with real things. Between her asthma and her very noticeable port wine stain (which is something I’ve never seen a character have), Dani has never felt on par with her peers. Now she’s finally living life for herself after a lifetime of feeling pressured to be perfect.

I love Wouter so much and I love a second chance romance. They once knew each other so well but now there’s so much to relearn.

Read this book for
-Jewish rep
-Second chance romance
-Marriage of convenience
-Only one bed
-Open door, multiple scenes (The scene with the wall 🥵)

This was my second book by Rachel Lynn Solomon and it was very cute! I absolutely adored the Amsterdam setting and the backstory for the main character.

Second chance romance is my very favorite trope, so I have high expectations. This was an adorable romance, but it won't necessarily be one that I remember down the road. I love the angst in second chance books, but this one didn't have as much as I wanted. I loved the setting and character development, but wanted more from the romance in order to be hooked by the marriage of convenience.