I saw Neely advertise this on instagram, and was obsessed with her highlights. I have a legal background and love all books that showcase some legal drama. This is a low spice book with a few trigger warnings. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

This was my first novel I’ve read by this author, and I really enjoyed it! The book surrounds a group of jurors that are housed in a secluded location due to the nature of the trial they are apart of which is a murder trial involving a popular reality star. This book not only goes through the jury process, but the FMC and the MMC reconnect ten years later.

Will their friendship bloom into something more, or are they only acquaintances? I highly recommend this second chance, Legally Blonde meets The Real Housewives. This novel had me laughing and rushing through to find out what happens next. Highly recommend this for those that love legal settings, and a good romance!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this ARC opportunity!

The friendship history, plot, romance, all of it perfect. I loved this unique amazing book. It really made me so emotional.

Unfortunately, this book was not for me! I didn't dislike it but I had a very hard time feeling pulled to pick it up. I kept falling asleep because I expected a lot more action.

The courtroom parts were good for me but not GREAT. The drama is almost there but nothing salacious.

I really didn't think the two main characters had that much chemistry. They weren't awful for each other but I wasn't really rooting for them.

I think if you really love Bravo, you can probably get into this one but for me, it was missing something :(

Thank you to Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for this advanced copy of this book! The first thought I had when I read the synopsis is that’s so different! I was intrigued at the courtroom aspect of the plot as it reminded me of Law & Order. The characters are very touch and go. Very will they won’t they type of situation going on. I found them quite unpredictable and nostalgic. It’s clear their past with each other and individually haunts them. I didn’t like how the book focused on the characters’ past SO heavily though. The way the outcome of the case lets the characters as well as readers make their own verdict was a nice touch. Court case decisions are not cut and dry but I would like to gloat a bit because I was right about Margot Kitsch.

Overall, I believe the story incorporated the characters as well as the courtroom drama in the plot in a unique mix.

What an interesting premise for a romance novel!

Imagine being selected to serve on the trial of the decade -- a reality TV star accused of murdering her husband with a tainted smoothie. As a longtime fan of the show, Sydney wants nothing more than to be part of the group of twelve selected for this sequestered jury pool. What she never in a million years expected was for her ex-best friend, Damon, to also be a member of the jury.

This bubble-like existence gives them the opportunity to apologize for the decade-long separation and begin to re-learn one another as adults. Through passed notes and charged glances, they are able to replace feelings of guilt and anger over the last time they spoke with feelings of attraction and admiration. But they cannot get too close, as jury qualifications strictly forbid any kind of relationship to occur between jurors, or else put the proceedings in jeopardy.

Some parts of this were cheesy, some parts were deeply relatable and heartfelt. Sometimes I really liked these characters, other times they felt too one-dimensional to me. But overall, I really enjoyed the setting and the drama of watching this reunion take place through a trial process! Would definitely read more from this author.

This book was such a delightful read! From the very first page, I found myself completely immersed in the story. The writing was so approachable and warm, making it easy to connect with the characters and the plot. I loved how the book felt both inviting and engaging, without ever being too complex or hard to follow. It was just the right mix of comfort and intrigue, and I truly enjoyed every moment of it. It’s a wonderful read that I’d happily recommend to anyone looking for a heartwarming escape!

Sydney and her best friend and Mel met in a very unusual way. They found each other in a Reddit thread for reality tv show, Authentic Moms of Malibu (AMOM). They were instant online friends chatting online during shows and hey became real life roommates within the year,
Sydney hasn’t had a best friend like that in 10 years, not since Damon. The two have faithfully watched (and rewatched) every season of the show together and are enthralled with the scandal when one of the OG cast members from the show is arrested and set to be put on trial for murder.
Sydney happens to be selected for jury duty and when she is chosen, pieces together that is going to be part of the jury for Margot Kitsch, “the Malibu Menace”. Because of the popularity and media frenzy, she and the other jurors will be sequestered for the duration of the trial.
Sydney is happy to be part of such a high profile trial, and has followed the jury instructions to the letter, hoping that she might be elected foreperson so she can convince the others of Margot’s innocence. Sydney is brimming with excited for the trial to begin, that is until Damon, yes that Damon, her childhood neighbor, best friend who just walked out of her life a decade age, steps off the elevator and joins her as a juror. What she thought would be one of the most exciting and memorable times of her life has now been ruined. What is she going to do being sequestered with Damon for all this time?
This book was an absolute joy! It drew me in just like a celebrity trial, and it gave that peek behind the scenes we all want in that situation. While it was just as captivating as watching a trial it was also a story of second chances and redemption. It was easy to lose myself in the story, following the back and forth of the trial, feeling like part of the jury myself, while perfectly balancing everything that was happening with Sydney and Damon. Neely has written a uniquely compelling story that any pop culture fan will love!
Thank you to Harper Perennial for the advanced copy of this book, it will be on shelves May 20th.

I loved this book so much!
At first I thought this would be a cutesy, reconnected friends, courtroom romance but it was SO MUCH MORE.
I was obsessed with the case, Margot and trying to figure out if she was or wasn't guilty. The last chapters when the jury finally goes into deliberation had also had me thinking of what side I would've chosen had I been another member on the jury. AND THE ENDING, gurllll, why would you do that to me?!?!
(Also loved Stanley and all the side characters, it was so random but added something to the general vibe of a courtroom jury setting, it really did feel like the show Jury Duty)

On the romance sideee, the tension was everything. The random touches during court, the looks, nightly escapades. THIS IS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT when I saw I miss books with a slowburn. It made it believable when they finally got together because we saw it slowly play out in front of us.

Overall, I think this book was such a good read. My one con was the length of some of Sydney's monologues but there were so much positive that more than made up for it.

This book was so fun and so intriguing! I truly had such a fun time reading this while learning about Sydney, Damon, and their history, the actual case they were jury members for, and Sydney’s complicated family relationship. I did have to suspend my belief a little for the actual courtroom proceedings but it wasn’t too bad because I was immersed in the drama and parasocial relationships. I loved the sneaking around and the little intimacy moments Sydney and Damon go while being jurors. The side characters were so amazing too and the friend group they made amongst the jurors was so sweet to see. This was such a good read and I’m so glad I got the chance for an ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Perennial, and the author for an ARC :) This book is expected to be published on May 20, 2025

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for giving me this ARC. I really enjoyed this book. I was so invested in the romance AND the case. I loved how well the two were balanced. I felt like Sydney and Damon were fully developed characters while also being able to focus on all of the details of the case. I found the case so interesting. I still don’t know if she did it and I reallyyy want to know. I was coming to my own conclusions and making guesses as to what happened. On the romance side, Sydney and Damon were so cute together. I love a good estranged childhood best friend trope. The way they overcame the difficulties surrounding their relationship and came together in the end was so beautiful. 5 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

I overall liked this book, but as someone who has a background working in a court system, the court process and differences from reality were tough for me at times. People without that background probably won’t be bothered by it. I liked the couple for each other but had moments where their love felt far fetched since the last time they saw each other was at age 16. All things considered though, I enjoyed this read.

First book I read by Neely! Her writing is interesting and unique. I love how funny her characters are and I think it definitely gave me the emotions and energy I was expecting.

4.5/5 stars
I appreciate when authors have fresh takes to the same romance lifecycle we know and love. This one especially checked some unexpected boxes for me as it blends my love of Bravo and reality tv with my other love for true crime.

You see, for many of us, being called to jury duty is a nightmare - not for our FMC, Sarah, though! As an arbitrator for large corporations, she's not only looking forward to her career vacation, but also having a first-row seat to the trial of the century. The infamous reality tv star of her favorite show has been accused of murdering her husband, and nothing can deter her excitement to perform her civic duty. Well, maybe not anything... There's just one problem - her childhood bff, Damon, who had disappeared from her life ten years ago has also been selected for the sequestered jury. And just like that, all of the emotions Sarah so carefully buried are finding their way to the surface.

Let me tell you - the second chance, childhood bff romcom is my top tier troupe, and goodness, was the forced proximity tension laid on THICK. There were so many times where I questioned exactly how this story - both in the trial and between Sarah and Damon - would end. Neely Tubati Alexander was so clever in weaving the story of what ultimately tore their friendship apart with the indirect context of the trial proceedings. I did not expect the complex issues and the emotional depth we saw from both of the main characters, but I most certainly enjoyed the ride.

Many thanks to HarperCollins Publishers, NetGalley, and Neely Tubati Alexander for providing me with a digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

I’m absolutely obsessed with everything Neely Tubati Alexander writes! There is something about her unique style and character development that I love! She consistently writes relatable and funny characters. So, when I learned her new book was centered around jury duty and courtroom drama, I knew I had to be among the first to get my hands on an early copy!

In her book description, it promises an exciting blend of "Legally Blonde and Jury Duty meet The Real Housewives in this high-stakes courtroom love story!"

Courtroom Drama follows Sydney Parks, a devoted fan of the reality TV show "Authentic Moms." She and her best friend have a weekly standing date to watch the show together, especially drawn in by the news that one of the cast members, Margot Kitsch, has been arrested following the death of her husband, Joe.

Imagine Sydney’s surprise when she discovers a jury summons and prays it could possibly be for the highly publicized trial of Margot Kitsch! The thought of participating in such a high-profile case, possibly as a sequestered juror, excites her. Luckily, she is selected as a juror, and on the first day in court, to her surprise, she sees her childhood best friend, Damon, whom she hasn't seen in like 10 years!

So, without giving away too much of the story, all I'm going to say is this book truly delivers all the emotions and energy I was wanting! It's fast-paced and keeps you wanting more!

If you love second-chance romances, childhood friends to lovers, drama, mystery, humor, and heartwarming moments, then this is the perfect read for you. A big thank you to Neely and NetGalley for sharing this gem! It’s bound to be a hit!

Everybody wins when I find a second chance romance that I actually root for!

This was such an interesting and fun read from start to finish, I genuinely enjoyed the legal/mystery aspect a lot, especially towards to the end and I thought the other jurors were fun side characters. Sydney and Damon were lovely and had such a well-written and dynamic which was a great change of pace from the usual endless rolling of my eyes throughout reading a second chance romance

I will say there was some obvious suspension of disbelief needed at parts of the story but IMO all the moments worked well in tandem to really give Courtroom Drama so I didn’t mind things like the implications of a superfan on a jury or the way I was genuinely routing for them to cause a mistrial at certain points but hey I had a blast!

Another thing I thought was a little funny was that despite the very contemporary topics, I did find some of the pop-culture parallels and references to be a little unnecessary or flat like the sugar gummy bear Amazon thing? Idk it was fine bc it kinda makes sense for the characters, I just personally cant not cringe sometimes at those

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Harper Perennial for a copy of this ARC to review!

Tldr: forced proximity at its finest. A little reality TV drama, a little legally blonde, a whole lot of fun!

Sydney Parks is a reality show super-fan who is given the opportunity to serve Jury Duty on the most high profile case in years! Her excitement dwindles, however, when her childhood ex-best friend, Damon, steps onto the jury as well. Will they keep it civil or will they cause a mistrial?

Is this book technically perfect? No. But is this book perfect vibe wise? Absolutely! The few things that I might take issue with are over shadowed by all the things I’m obsessed with. I love Sydney as a character. She is a whole person! I know her, I feel her, I get her. She has faults and then realizes those faults. She has regrets and fears and ambitions and then she doesn’t get those ambitions sometimes. She is a realistic person and I can’t get over her. Damon is good too, although less dynamic, but we’re not in his head so it’s fine. The trial takes after the title of the book. DRAMA! The tension is palpable between the love interests and in the trial and everywhere. This book is a page turner that I couldn’t help but stay up too late to read.

Also spoilers, but she definitely did it right? Like she killed her husband? Neely please confirm. Also the disappearance at sixteen? Please I need to know!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Perennial for the ARC! So excited for release day for this one ☺️

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I had previously read this author’s debut, Love Buzz, and really enjoyed it. So when I saw the blurb for this book I was intrigued. This book dealt with some weighty issues including parental neglect, infidelity, death of a child, and murder so it wasn’t a fluff read for sure. This was a second chance, friends to lovers book which are two tropes I am drawn to. I have to say that I haven’t read a book quite like this before. The premise that our MCs reconnect as sequestered jurors in a high profile murder trial was not one that I have ever read. I felt like it was a great device for moving the plot along and making you want to keep reading to find out what would happen in the case as well as with our main characters. This was an emotional story considering the traumatic experiences they had experienced both together and apart. And it really wasn’t completely clear what would happen due to the baggage of their shared history and how it would affect any attempt at a relationship. I will definitely be reading more from this author.

Courtroom Drama is a fun story for fans of courtroom drama procedurals, reality TV, or romance novels. I really emotional story with a kind of silly backdrop of a court case. I didn't think I would enjoy this one as much as I did, but I found myself very involved in the story. I thought the balance of court itself with the rest of the story was good, I think it would have been challenging to read if there was only a focus on one more than the other. Overall, I just really enjoyed this one, I laughed I cried and I felt like I wanted to have jury duty myself.

I LOVED THIS BOOK. It's giving Jury Duty, and I adored every page. What a fascinating concept for a romance novel. Sheer joy.