This story had so many aspects that I adore in second chance romances. The angsty pining from their history is compounded by the marriage of convenience Wouter and Dani enter into and I ate it up. They are both down bad for each other and it was a delight to watch them find a way back to a relationship. There is so much to love about this book. Both Dani and Wouter are allowed to be real people and that made the romance feel all the more real to me. I loved that we got to see a main character with a facial birthmark. Unfortunately the character art in the Barnes and Noble edition didn’t really reflect what was described in the book but I'm happy the story itself didn't shy away from the thoughtless way people can respond to differences. The mental health representation was another lovely part of this book. I personally struggled with the 3rd act conflict. I found it difficult to watch our 30 year old main character still struggling to communicate. It's a common struggle so I know that others will feel very seen by it's inclusion in this story.

SPICY SECOND CHANCE ROMANCE
What Happens in Amsterdam
Rachel Lynn Solomon

Rachel Lynn Solomon combines two popular tropes, Second Chance Romance and Marriage of Convenience, in this spicy story. When the Danika crashes and burns, losing both a boyfriend and a job at the same time, she decides to escape her life and move to Amsterdam to start over. But both the new job and the apartment turn into more disasters. However, while riding a bike, she literally runs into the exchange student who had broken her heart at the age of seventeen. The balding, but buff ex-boyfriend eventually becomes her husband in a marriage of convenience that is supposed to be temporary. But eventually she has to wonder if the relationship is really just pretend.

Solomon offers her readers a virtual tour of Amsterdam and the surrounding area. Her real-life experience there is evident in all the details which help transport the reader. The story provides scenery and steamy sex in equal measure. There are several well written explicit sex scenes that could easily get the reader as hot and bothered as the characters.
The book description may sound like a rom-com, but this novel has depth and plenty of representation. The main character has health issues because she was a premature baby, but at thirty years old, her overprotective parents still treat her like a fragile figurine in bubble wrap. Danika has fought anxiety and depression as well as asthma and the author does a great job of exploring the mental health issues. She also includes LGBT representation with some of the important characters. The main character is Jewish, but her religion is only mentioned briefly.
Read this novel if you like:

🌶️🌶️ SPICY ROMANCE 🌶️🌶️

💞Second Chance Romance
💞Marriage of Convenience
💞Forced Proximity
💞 Starting Over

▪️Mental Health representation (FMC)
▪️Jewish representation (FMC)
▪️LGBT representation

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the advance readers copy of this book.
All opinions are my own.

I found a new author to love! This second chance romance full of mutual pining and steamy moments was a delight from start to finish!

Rachel Lynn Solomon’s character work is so good. The sarcastic humour was exactly my taste and the character dialogue and struggles felt both realistic and relatable. I especially loved the bond between the sisters, and the relationships with both main character’s parents felt authentic and very true to life. Throughout the book Solomon explores themes of chronic illness and mental health which I thought were both handled in a relatable and thoughtful way.

My only note would be that I saw the third act conflict coming and didn’t personally feel it was necessary to the story. But overall I quite enjoyed What Happens In Amsterdam and i’ll be on the look out for more from Rachel Lynn Solomon in the future! 🥰🌷

**Thank you again to BerkleyRomance and NetGalley for providing me an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.**

When Dani moves her entire life to Amsterdam, she is looking for a fresh start- personally and professionally. But when she unexpectedly loses her job (and soon her visa), a chance encounter with her high school ex-boyfriend ultimately leads to a marriage of convenience and a rekindling of their relationship.

Inspired by the author’s own expat journey, this book is a heartfelt love letter to Amsterdam. The city feels like its own character in the book and will easily have you looking into a visit by the time you finish reading.

Even though the premise feels far-fetched at times and I wanted a bit more character growth by the end of the book, this was still a highly enjoyable read and a perfect book for summer. As a woman in her early thirties, Dani’s journey emphasizes that you don’t need to have your life figured out and it’s okay to make decisions for yourself that even your loved ones don’t understand.

I also really enjoyed the second chance romance. The writing perfectly captures how it feels to reconnect with a past love, and it’s a joy to watch Dani and Wouter grow together.

And on top of all that, there’s even a cute little dog named George Costanza- yes, like the Seinfeld character. 😂

So if you’re looking for a fun and toasty summer read with lovable characters in a gorgeous city, then this is your kind of read!

Rachel Lynn Solomon is one of my favorite romance authors, so I was absolutely thrilled and honored to receive an eARC from @netgalley and @berkleyromance.

BOOK REVIEW: WHAT HAPPENS IN AMSTERDAM🌷

I am a hugeee @rachellynnsoloman fan so I couldn’t wait to pick this one up! It pulled me out of my reading slump! Thank you @berkleyromance for my gifted copy! #berkleypartner

Dani was fired from her job due to an office romance gone wrong, so she applies to a new job in Amsterdam to escape the mess. While there, she crashes her bike into her high school boyfriend and they end up reconnecting.

I loved Dani’s character so much and found her to be so relatable, especially in terms of being in her 30s and still trying to discover what her true passion is career-wise. Dani was so realistic and multi-faceted and I felt like I could be friends with her🤣 also LOVED the Amsterdam setting - I’ve never been but am now dying to go!

I’m not usually a second chance romance or fake marriage trope fan but thought both were done SO well in this story! I loved how Dani and Wouter rediscovered each other as adults and reflected on their young romance.

If you’re looking for a romance that has a perfect mix of character development, funny moments, spice, and amazing scenery def check this one out!

Second chance romance, Marriage of convenience, One bed trope

Rachel Lynn Solomon's "What Happens in Amsterdam" is such a fun read with all the feels. When Dani crashes her bike into her high school ex-boyfriend Wouter in Amsterdam (talk about awkward!), I was immediately hooked.
Dani is super relatable - 30 years old and still trying to figure out her career path while dealing with high functioning anxiety & depression and overbearing parents. After her job at a startup falls apart, she's desperate for a visa to stay in Amsterdam. Enter Wouter, who needs a marriage to inherit his family's gorgeous canal house. Convenient arrangement? Check. Lingering feelings and chemistry? Double check!

I loved how Wouter is this subtle caretaker - not in an overbearing way, but just genuinely considerate. He's processing grief over his dad while Dani's finally figuring out what she wants in life. Their romance rekindling feels natural and the Amsterdam setting makes everything more magical.
The steamy scenes definitely deliver, but it's the emotional journey that really got me. If you're looking for a romance that balances fun tropes with genuine emotion and character growth, definitely pick this one up!

Thanks to Berkely Underrepresented Voices for an eARC of this book!

What Happens in Amsterdam by Rachel Lynn Solomon is a delightful, heartwarming romance that blends witty banter, emotional depth, and irresistible chemistry against the charming backdrop of Amsterdam. The characters feel refreshingly real, and their journey is as much about personal growth as it is about love. If you’re looking for a feel-good, emotionally satisfying read with a touch of wanderlust, this book is a must-add to your TBR list.

This felt like a love letter to Amsterdam and after reading I felt like I took a vacation. This marriage of convenience was sooo sweet and had such wonderful characters. I appreciated having older MCs but but felt the FMC was a tad bit immature, however I still enjoyed reading and consider myself a huge fan of the author

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing the ARC.

Man, oh man. I absolutely love Rachel Lynn Solomon.

This book is perfection. A second-chance romance with a marriage of convenience plot? Sign me up. On top of that, Dani and Wouter are such fantastically written characters that it was hard not to fall in love with them the second they were on the page. Solomon is an excellent writer and it shows in her deeply meaningful prose.

I absolutely loved this book. Hands down, no notes. Nothing but perfection. And I absolutely loved the little cameo from Chandler and Finn from Business or Pleasure. This book made me fall in love with Amsterdam almost as much as I fell in love with Dani and Wouter. Truly exceptional.

This was such a cute book with an adorable setting and storyline. I love a good second chance first love romance, and I will eat up a marriage of convenience every time!! I really liked both our main characters together and separately. Dani just felt very real because of her struggles with not knowing what she really wants to do in life. I love how she is eventually able to find herself and what she enjoys😊 Also the post-it note scene was so cute🥹💗

Thank you so much NetGalley for the arc!!

ust when I think Rachel Lynn Solomon cannot do it again... she goes and does it again. Honestly, I shouldn't doubt. The woman is ten for ten , for goodness sake! Yeah, she's written ten books, I've devoured every last one, simple as that. And while I absolutely adored the romance in this one, oh how I swooned over Amsterdam! And my other love, Bruges, makes an appearance! Look, I have insatiable wanderlust, and Dani appreciating the charm in these beautiful cities just makes me love her all the more. There is so much of it too- the city genuinely feels like its own character in this lovely story.

I also felt a connection with Dani, she feels like a late bloomer, like she's behind the life curve. And her deference to her parents hit home for me in a big (and uncomfy) way. Her making this (insanely huge) life move was so cool, especially knowing that she wasn't usually that adventurous. And Wouter? Oh, he is amazing. As is his family! Legit, I don't think I have ever been as jealous of a fictional character than I was of Dani during so much of this book!

I also loved how we got to see so many relationships outside of just the romance. Dani has to navigate new friendships, fake (but very awesome) in-laws, and family back in the US, while Wouter has to navigate much of the same, including the loss of his father. There is just so much good, emotional stuff packed into these pages. As always, it is super supportive of mental health (and very therapy and treatment positive), and steamy, of course!

There's not much else to say except that you need this book! I went and bought my own copy as soon as it went on sale, because I fell so in love. And now, I am jonesing to head back to Amsterdam, ASAP.


Bottom Line: As long as RLS is writing, I'm reading, buying, and gushing.

Oh the overwhelming feeling to book a trip to Amsterdam after reading this book. I really enjoyed this book, it was cute, adventurous and spicy. It did get a bit slow in the middle and I felt myself not focusing, but overall it was a really good read

This was a delicious slow burn of a book. I found it very cute and was happy every time I was reading.
I loved the chance encounter/second chance trope of it all. That makes for an ooey gooey, sweet read.
Overall the pacing was slow for me, and caused me to read it slower than normal, because I had a hard time staying engaged. I also wished that the female MC had…less going on with her? There were so many things she struggled with that it was hard to empathize because one thing wasn’t ever really built on.
The big winner for me was the setting. Amsterdam was painted so well and the descriptions made me want to immediately board a plane to get there!
If you don’t mind a slow burn, and are a big fan of substance before schmexy time 🤣 this book will definitely be a winner!

I fell hard for this book. As someone who reads primarily romance books, I love it when I read one that feel fresh and a bit unique.

What happens in Amsterdam is hot, sexy, and takes the fake marriage trope to a whole new level! I will be rereading this one for sure... it's that good.

Add it to your summer reading. You won't regret it.

If you love
- Second chance romance
- Fake Marriage
- He falls first (for the second time)
- Spicy that is spicing!
this is the book for you!

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for an arc. All opinions expressed are my own.

I am obsessed with everything Rachel Lynn Solomon writes! She hooked me with The Ex Talk and has not let me down since! I love how she adds emotional depth, but still manages for the read to be lighthearted and fun! I absolutely adored the Amsterdam setting of this one– I now must plan a trip ASAP! I am normally not a second chance romance girlie, but I absolutely ate this one up! Dani and Wouter forever!

Thank you Berkley Romance and NetGalley for the arc of What Happens in Amsterdam by Rachel Lynn Solomon.

In this book, we follow Dani as she struggles in a new country with a new job, a new home, and an old ex-boyfriend. Everything seems to be falling apart, but her ex sweeps in to help with a few complications. The book has a heartfelt second chance romance, marriage of convenience, and a rich setting that made the book very enjoyable.

I loved the descriptions of Amsterdam and could visualize everything Dani experienced. I also enjoyed the romance when it came to the spice, however the romance in terms of build-up and chemistry fell flat for me. I didn't particularly like Dani's inner dialogue due to the fact that there was so much of it. The girl droned on about every little thing and I felt this held the pacing down and didn't have me invested in her as a character.

Overall, if you're looking for a second chance romance done right with forced proximity and several swoony moments, this is the book for you.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for an advanced copy for my honest review.

Solomon’s word building of her beloved new home captivated me. Just like Dani can’t forget her painted picture of Amsterdam I’d love to go vacation there and see for myself. This story captures unrequited first loves, high school crushes, second chances, and recovering from a midlife crisis.

We begin with Dani and Water’s ‘second’ meet cute…a decade later. Literal perfection as fate destined this reunion. These two have great banter, electric pull to one another, and maturity. Now as adults they can look back and build something new.

If you like close proximity, second changes, ‘fake’ marriage, moving to another country for a fresh start, and breaking character flaws you’ll enjoy this new romance book.

Trigger Warnings: Graphic: sexual content, chronic illness and mental illness; moderate: panic attacks/disorders

5/5 stars

Thank you Berkley Romance and PRH audio for this gifted book!

I could not have loved this book more!! I was so invested in the story and Soloman's descriptions of Amsterdam makes me want to book a trip there. This book was wonderfully unique, filled with great spicy scenes and left me wanting to visit these characters again. Dani is such a fun character and I saw so much of myself in her with the mental health representation, and how she wants to have things figured out. I loved the side characters, family and overall, this book was such a fun ride!

Second chance romance is one of my favs and this one was so well done!

Read this if you like:
-forced proximity
-Amsterdam setting
-Mental Health Representation
-Second chance romance
-marriage of convenience

⭐️ 5/5
🌶️ 3/5

The way I was instantly transported to Amsterdam through this story was something truly special. Through every misstep on her journey towards self-rediscovery, I rooted for Dani every step, hoping she could find her footing and her community as an expat in Amsterdam.

One thing about me is that I am obsessed with the marriage of convenience trope, and this second chance romance hit the spot! When Wouter proposed to Dani as a way to solve both of their problems (his inheritance hurdle and her impending visa retraction), I knew this was going to be exactly the slow burn I needed!

Seeing these two learn to be around each other again, despite how their relationship ended when they were teenagers, and watching them slowly open up to one another in their present, made me so happy! I felt like their problems were SO REAL and they handled them in a very authentic way.

I loved to see Dani’s community slowly grow the longer she stayed in Amsterdam. By stepping outside her comfort zone, she was able to form some great friendships, despite the whole fake marriage thing.

Being truly independent for the first time in her life, I was so proud when Dani was finally able to stand up to her parents about her choices being her own. And the third act! I was so happy it played out the way that it did. Wouter and Dani communicated, and it wasn’t an (entirely) messy thing! The relief I felt!

I really enjoyed this romance and I know so many of you will too! I loved getting to see Amsterdam through Dani and Wouter’s eyes and cannot wait to make a trip there one day!

Thank you again to Berkley Romance for the advanced copy!

🌷Book Review🌷
*
My thoughts- thank you so much @prhaudio for an advanced copy of What Happens in Amsterdam. This one released this week (I think every book did 😅) and it is just such a sweet romance! I loved this one as much as the weather girl! Dani was a lovable mess and Wouter was just a dream boat. I highly recommend the audio for some next level Danish accents. It definitely added to my love of this sweet romance!
*
Rating- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
*
Summary- Dani Dorfman has somehow made it to her thirties without knowing what she wants to do with her life. So when an office romance ends poorly and gets her fired, she applies for a job in Amsterdam, idly dreaming of escaping the mess she’s created, but never imagining she'll actually get it.

Except she does. 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-boyfriend—and suddenly life is blooming with new opportunities.

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. More importantly, 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.
*
QOTD- what is the setting of your current read?! Mine is set on an abandoned boat