This was an interesting book, that dealt with some very timely topics. I think many of us can relate to the fact that our jobs might be affected by IA, same as the books we read. So, it was a good product of its time.

I also like the main characters and their dynamics, I shed a tear or two. Recommend it to people who like well written romance.

I read Life Derailed by Beth Merlin and Danielle Modafferi and also listened to the audiobook—and honestly, I loved both. The story pulls you right in with its raw emotion, relatable chaos, and that feeling of trying to put the pieces back together when life takes an unexpected turn. On the page, it was heartfelt and beautifully written. In audio, the narration brought an extra layer of depth and really made the characters feel real. Whether you read it or listen, this one’s a journey worth taking.

The premise of this book is so unique that I was extremely excited to dig into this book, expecting something exciting and different from other office romances/enemies to lovers I'd read before. And despite my lower rating, I think this book had really great potential. I believe restructuring how the story was told and adding some length to give the characters some more depth would've drastically improved this book. See my more focused notes below:

- Starting this book as a flashback to either the day David died or the day he left for Ukraine would've helped start this book on a stronger note. Creating that instant connection and sympathy for Remi would've made her a more compelling character from the beginning. A three years later being where the story beings would've been much stronger and made the first scene we saw with Remi in the office more compelling.
- Remi's lifestyle did not make sense to me. Being able to afford an Upper West Side flat (also should've been apartment as NYC does not refer to them as flats) and a dogwalker and doormen while working at a dying magazine did not make sense considering her and David's professions.
- Remi had the makings of being a likable character as a widow, working hard for a good cause in a dying/struggling industry and recovering from the grief of losing her dad and husband in a short span of years. However her unprofessionalism in multiple instances, poor care of her dog and immature attitude made me not root and rally behind her the way I wanted to be. While this made her multi-dimensional (because grief does that to you) I would've loved to see growth more well-rounded than these short epiphany like moments at the end.
- Remi using the AI software for her dating profile made me go, oh you must not be a good writer? Why are you at a magazine? in my experience with those in a writing focused profession, they're usually the ones you turn to help with a dating profile? It didn't make sense if she was struggling with it to turn to AI software rather than her friends who actively wanted her to date and both write as well?
- Remi gave Jason such will they/won't they whiplash and it became very intense very fast. I would've loved to see more of a slow burn where they learn more about each other at work and that is what leads to discoveries outside of work.
- Jason's personality was very inconsistent, he'd be a hardass one minute and then joking or asking if it was a joke or being very gentle in the next. I never knew what Jason was going to show up on the next page, I just don't think her character was as well thought out and paced well throughout the book.
- The Noah/AI angle was too obvious. I wish Noah had maybe been someone she was messaging from the beginning or the twist could've been less obvious.

Smaller notes to think about:
- David as her husband and Daniel as her nephew were too similar of names I got them confused at times and thought at one point that Daniel was named after David.
- Molly's dismissiveness of David in pages 8/9 in relation to The Hobbit made her an unlikable friend from the beginning that I never recovered from.
- I mention the unprofessionalism earlier but having an HR jar as a senior editor and referring to Jason as 'assbloome' by page 11 when he asks her to come to meetings on time? That made her come off as a bully more than anything and I don't know why the author thought it would come off as anything otherwise? Then one page later Remi's thinking she's getting fired because her performance 'vacillated over the past three years'? Like yeah, I think you should've been fired by now too?
- Jason saying he watched the Devil Wears Prada as part of his homework (page 17) to starting at the Sophisticate is so wildly off character. Who watches dramatized movies to get a sense of the industry they're about to be in?
- I wish Remi had after three years of grief, gone into therapy and made some of her discoveries and had her growth be fueled by finally dealing with grief. I think that would've been both a positive message and been a way for Remi to have had homework to better herself slowly but surely throughout the book.

And because so much of this was negative, which I don't love, I'd like to focus on the things I liked:
- The premise was strong, I was hooked and very intrigued about this book. Talked about it to friends in advance which I don't usually do because I was excited about it.
- Would've loved a flash forward to how everything turned out a few years from now, just to have a really satisfying conclusion and wrap up. Maybe a hint at who won the Presidential election, how Remi's book is doing, where Jason and the kids are at with Remi, how her mom is doing, etc.
- Jason being a widow too was the twist I didn't see coming that I love, love, loved. Made him a much more compelling character.
- Remi's relationship and love for her nephews was heart-warming and one in which I wish she had loved her dog as much!

Thank you to Montlake and to NetGalley for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

I wasn't sure what I was walking into this one - as a chronic "ooh, pretty cover!" that never reads blurbs - I really had no clue on what to expect.

So, going into this one blind... a romance with AI? I wasn't all that giddy to read, but this book was so much more than that. I really loved how it discussed the nuances of AI as well, as I felt that so many just kind of blows over it all... which, doesn't help! This one is about when a magazine editor is stuck, and then fears about her job being taken over by AI... however, she brings up the points beautifully, on how AI can't showcase real life. AI can't discuss (with emotion) or showcase emotion - and life requires emotion! This life is beautiful, and messy, and complicated - there aren't these fantastic over the top scripted happily ever afters when it comes to reality - instead we wade through it all to get there; we go through all the pain and complications, and that's what makes it all worth it.

I was really surprised at the level of depth I found in this book and am so grateful that I kept reading.

this book put my heart in a chokehold & whispered, “grief is weird, love is weirder, and oh yeah, here’s some AI to mess with your emotions.”

we follow remi- a writer still grieving the loss of her husband when her job gets ambushed by a new exec and his shiny AI program. cue existential dread—because this thing is good. Like... terrifyingly good. So when she uses said program (named MAUDE, of all things) to level up her dating profile and get her mom off her back, things get messy. especially since MAUDE was created by jason—her work nemesis who might be a little too charming for his own good.

this story isn’t just about romance—it’s about living again. about laughing when you didn’t think you could. about letting people in even when your heart feels duct-taped together. the side characters? absolute gems. the emotions? raw in the best, quietest way. the romance? A little messy, kind of unconventional, but nonetheless I adored it.

Huge thanks to netgalley for the arc <3

This is my first book by this author and i absolutely loved it! Great flow, character development. I just wanted to keep reading it! Thanks for the ARC!

Widow Remi, an editor at The Sophisticate magazine, is tired of fending off redundancy rounds. Then along comes new chief digital officer Jason who believes his AI program, MAUDE, can take over much of the editorial work.
Remi wants to prove Jason wrong – that AI can never replace the soul of a workplace. He wants her to give MAUDE a chance.
Her first test is asking it to improve her dating profile and she is soon matched with the perfect guy - humanitarian doctor Noah, who is working in the Congo. Then she gets MAUDE to help her prepare for a career-defining interview with the senator she blames for her husband’s death in Ukraine.
The concept of machine vs magazine crew was what made me instantly pick up this book. It didn’t quite deliver the story I was hoping for but it was still a timely reminder of how technology can both assist and deceive.

LIFE DERAILED is a sweet and feel-good romance centered around AI and how it can play a part in dating. Though it's a lighter and easy read, it does involve some dramatic elements that enriches the story and characters. Still overcoming the grief of losing her husband, Remi finds love where she least expected it. I love how the story speaks to finding ourselves down paths we'd never imagined and how it can be for the better.

Thank you to Montlake and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

As a self proclaimed nerd and period drama enthusiast, I love the LOTR, Bridgerton, Pride & Prejudice, and GOT references. Remi’s story of healing through grief and finding love again was refreshing, and as a trauma and grief survivor under slightly different circumstances than losing a spouse, was somewhat relatable to me. I loved the diversity of the characters and the descriptive imagery in the food scenes. My stomach definitely started growling and my mouth started watering at some of the concoctions. Also a great tale of forgiveness and redemption/second chances. If you prefer romances without smut, this is a clean romance, and was a really lovely and gentle story.

I loved reading this book! So much of the writing felt like how my own internal monologue sounds, which really helped me relate to the main character and care more about her struggles with work, grief, and the looming AI takeover. I was really curious how the story would handle the AI elements, especially with the main love interest being so entrenched in AI as a career.

The only times I felt myself being yanked back out of the immersion and escape into this book were in some of the very specific references to modern pop culture (e.g. Lea Michelle in funny girl, season 3 of Bridgerton). I think part of this is that I am not used to writers referencing things like this so specifically, which distracted me and reminded me that I am reading a book and not just immersed in an escape.

Ultimately I'd give this a 4.5 star review, rounding up to 5!

The book was ok. A feel good love story ending. I struggled to get through the first chapter, as it was overloaded with pop culture referenced, a fat joke, slang, the reference to her dead husband, and an over explanation of an "HR Jar." It was quite predictable that the first potential love interest ended up being the AI itself, since she very clearly asked it to create someone just like her husband. I did however enjoy the love story that ended with the HEA, especially since I have a soft spot for single dads.

Remi.. The love I have for you, the tears I wept. The dog! I absolutely loved every single thing about Life Derailed and I am going to go back and read every single book by these authors. Thanks to Netgally, the authors and the publishers the the eARC!

This book might not age super well because there are some fairly specific details like she drank from her Stanley quencher. It really takes the reader out of the story and puts a time frame on it especially when you throw in things like covid. We read to escape reality and those details throw you right back in.

That being said, I really did enjoy this book, so much that I finished it in one day.

This was a nice, light read with a good bit of humor peppered in. I liked how we incorporated current events and the looming threat of advancements in AI going too far.

Here are my highlights:

-Ruth is everything. Between her constantly throwing shade at Lea Michele and thinking DTF means "down to fiesta" she is pure chaos.

-Jason and his social anxiety. We love it. He feels like he’s a hottie tiptoeing the spectrum and it’s very endearing.

-FMC has two of the best friends. I love seeing healthy female friendships.

My complaints:

-Without spoiling anything, THE big bad thing that happened on Spark was predictable to a degree. As someone who did online dating (over a decade ago, before AI was readily available) I could sniff a suspicious match almost immediately.

-Everything felt so rushed. I would have loved a deeper dive into our main relationship… I could have gotten so deeply invested into those two

A story about love and loss, the changes that AI is bringing to the world, and second chances. Elements were predictable but there were a few twists that made it more enjoyable. Overall, a really enjoyable ready, especially if you enjoy authors like Abby Jimenez and Emily Henry.

This story was not what I was expecting, but pleasantly so. The journey that Remi takes throughout this book is inspiring. I feel that more than just a romance, this book explores Remi's journey through overcoming grief and discovering who she is after losing the person who was everything to her. I laughed, I teared up, and I was even surprised at times while reading this book. Those expecting a full-on romance may be disappointed. Still, I felt that the story was very moving, and the character development of Remi throughout the book is relatable and believable. I thought the ending was perfect, and I will highly recommend this book to others.

I enjoyed this book it blends grief, motherhood, female friendships, and AI in a way that works well. The slow burn kept me hooked, and the twist was a nice surprise.

Overall, it was a good read. Not sure I’ll rush to read more by the authors, but I liked the emotional depth.

#LifeDerailed #NetGalley

Life Derailed by Beth Merlin and Danielle Modafferi is a story that intertwines grief, romance, and the ethical dilemmas of artificial intelligence. The story follows Remi Russell, a widow navigating personal loss and professional upheaval at a struggling women’s magazine. When an AI program is introduced to revitalize the publication, Remi’s life takes unexpected turns, especially after she uses the AI to revamp her dating profile, leading to a connection with Noah.

The novel explores modern themes, particularly the intersection of technology and human emotion. Remi’s journey is both relatable and thought-provoking, capturing the complexities of moving forward after loss. However, some readers might find the pacing uneven, with certain plot developments feeling rushed or underexplored.

Overall, Life Derailed is a commendable read that delves into contemporary issues with heart and insight. It offers a fresh perspective on love and resilience in the digital age.

i predicted where one part of this might go from the off and was almost heartbroken in anticipation waiting for it to be found out! it truly measures and shows where Ai can and truly cannot go.
there are alot of relevant themes here to do with Ai. and i know it can barely touch the surface of it but i think within the theme of this book it does what it can and covers it well within the pages it has to do so. i do hope books like this can be serious enough to people to be the cautionary tale they should be. i fear the way we are going it wont and people arent taking note quick enough. so for now i shall keep reading and bury my head in the words of real people(although even that,our books by people, is now under threat!)
in this book we have Remi. Remi isnt doing so well. her work and home life feel a bit de-railed lately. she is still dealing or not dealing with grief after she lost her love a few year back. at work she is threatened by the slowing down of her magazines reach and so the entered idea that Ai might be what the magazine needs to thrive again. not only that but the person behind it is a thorn in her side too! this is a woman's magazine it cant work via a robot! so whilst Remi is fighting for the very soul of her woman's magazine, Jason is fighting for his program Maude to be the answer they need.
to test things out Remi decides to ask the Ai for help. she desperate one night asks it to find the love of her life. or should we say the love just like she lost.(really you can already see the issues here, dear Remi?) an of course it manages to give her someone. someone she actually feels herself getting close to. but...wont spoil it but " oh!" is all i will say to this part. and it leads Remi in the end to really need to get to grips with her real grief and her real loss.
at the same time her relationship with Jason is changing. Did she give him the chance he deserved. the relationship development to these two felt very sweet. and it was a nice read to watch them do so. when you bring out the best in someone it can feel magical to both feel and read.
there's also the dynamic between mother and daughter which are particularly well written in this book.
everything in this book felt very real and relatable. its not always romcom and pretty. life can be gorgeous but also can be a big whole lot of mess. but there is still the time for this when those surrounding you can be there to be in it with you and help you out. Remis friendships really provide that loving side to friendship and support. and the biggest success is when you can learn to help yourself.

Life Derailed tells the story of Remi Russell, editor of a struggling woman’s magazine who is grieving the unexpected loss of her husband. When the attractive new Chief Digital Officer of the magazine brings in an AI tool to increase efficiency, Remi must decide if she wants to keep living in the past or embrace the future and open herself to a new chance at love. Along the way she navigates her grief and professional ambition with the support of her two of best friends, her chubby dog Fitz, and her meddling mother.

The book is more of a journey through the other side of grief than a romance novel, but it doesn’t feel heavy. The cute dynamic between Remi and her two best friends offsets the sadness with lighthearted and funny moments and there is vivid detail throughout that adds texture and vibrancy to the story. While the romance is there, it builds very slowly and gently - which is probably the right approach for a young widow’s early forays into dating again. It’s a quick read that feels very “of the moment” with pop culture references, AI, and the Ukraine conflict. It didn’t blow me away but it was entertaining enough.

Thank you to the publisher Montlake and NetGalley for the ARC exchange for my honest review.