Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the arc of this book. All
Opinions are my own.

This was good! I enjoyed it. I read a lot of romance, but I always love new to me authors and this was one. I enjoyed the writing style and think this was super good! Definitely intrigued to read more.

I really wanted to like this book because it has all my favourite elements - celeb romance, fake dating, and a bookstore setting. However, I could not bring myself to root for the romance and was actively rooting against them getting together because of Kat's behaviour for the majority of the story. I understand that she had her own insecurities but the way her first thought when anything happened was to see Jude in a bad light when Jude had never given her reason to think she had anything but the best intentions, when she was actually the one who lied to Jude multiple times really put me off her character.

A smart, heartfelt queer romcom that blends celebrity chaos with quiet emotional truths—The Next Chapter is as tender as it is entertaining.

Camille Kellogg returns with a love story that starts in the spotlight but finds its soul in the quiet moments between the chaos. The setup may sound familiar—a famous actress crosses paths with a reserved bookseller—but what unfolds is anything but formulaic. This isn’t just about sparks flying in a meet-cute; it’s about what happens when two people with very different lives—and very guarded hearts—try to build something real.

Kat, a former child star navigating an industry that has used and discarded her, is refreshingly flawed. She’s sharp, ambitious, and deeply unsure of who she is outside of the roles she’s played. Her decision to fake-date a stranger for the sake of a career revival might seem calculated, but underneath it all is a desire for something authentic—something she isn’t sure she deserves. Jude, on the other hand, is steady and sincere, quietly grieving a loss and clinging to the routines that help her feel safe. Their chemistry crackles from the start, but it’s the emotional tension—the push and pull of vulnerability—that truly drives the romance.

This book is messy in the best way: full of imperfect decisions, stumbling communication, and deeply human moments that make you root for these two women as individuals as much as a couple. The backdrop of a changing bookstore, complete with a colorful friend group and conversations about identity, queerness, and purpose, gives the narrative extra texture without overwhelming the core love story.

While the pacing dips slightly in the middle and a few beats wrap up a touch too smoothly, the story's emotional payoff is well-earned. Kellogg writes with warmth, humor, and a deep sense of empathy, crafting a sapphic romance that never shies away from complexity while still delivering those swoony, joyful beats we come to romance for.

This isn’t just a romcom—it’s a thoughtful reflection on reinvention, self-worth, and the slow, sometimes painful journey of choosing love in a world that often demands performance.

Rounded up to 4 stars for its sincerity, emotional resonance, and quietly powerful romance.

A very huge thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group – Random House | Dial Press Trade Paperback for sharing this sapphic romcom’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

ARC Review: The Next Chapter by Camille Kellogg
Pub Date: June 10, 2025

Thank you to Dial for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I really liked this authors other novel, but unfortunately this one really didn't work for me. In fact, I was actively rooting against the couple in the end and thought they would be better off not together which...for a romance novel really isn't the best.

I didn't like either character much and thought they treated each other terribly and I didn't see any chemistry either. They both acted so young and immature. I thought Kat in particular had a lot of character growth to do and unfortunately did not grow enough. I will say that I typically do not like celebrity romances and this definitely didn't do anything to make me like them more.

Thank you to Random House Publishing, Dial Press, Netgalley, and the author for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review! The book was very well written. I applaud the author for how well the book flowed. I did find the title fitting and the book cover eye-catching. As far as the plot, I did struggle to believe that Kat would be drawn to Jude, considering her behavior. I didn't feel like they belonged together, and that left me conflicted. The characters were really well developed but felt as if the history between them was just too much to be believable. For those reasons I am giving this a 2.5. But I do feel like some people might enjoy the drama. It just wasn't for me

This is a fun celebrity/normal person romance. Especially in the beginning, with more focus on the bookstore, I had a lot of fun with all the bookish references. One of the MCs wasn't likable enough for me so I had a hard time investing in the relationship but overall enjoyed the ride.

I am a fan of Camille Kellogg’s sapphic romcom retellings. I LOVED Just As You Are and was very excited for a Notting Hill retelling

This was cute. A bookseller and a famous actress that isn’t “out” yet but would like to be have a darling meet cute and decide to continue for the cameras until they catch feelings. I liked it a lot and am excited to see what romcom is next (fingies crossed for Return to Me or You’ve Got Mail)

Thanks to netgalley and random house pub for an eARC

The premise of The Next Chapter sounded very fun! Kat, a former child actor trying to come out and restart her career meets - and immediately crushes on - Jude, a bookseller at a queer feminist bookstore. Kat sees this as a perfect opportunity for her rebranding. She can date Jude for a few weeks and then move on without telling Jude that it's all a publicity stunt. Of course, as they both develop real feelings and their relationship is exposed to the media, everything becomes complicated.

Unfortunately, I had a difficult time connecting to and rooting for Kat. At the end I felt that Kat still had a lot more growing to do before I could believe in her and Jude getting back together and having a healthy relationship. Jude was a lot easier to like but she also let Kat walk all over her and forgave her very easily.

Part of the ending also felt so copied from Notting Hill that it was a little ridiculous.

Overall, The Next Chapter was an easy to read and mostly enjoyable book. If you enjoy queer romances and Notting Hill, it will probably be a worthwhile read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House, and Dial Press for the ARC.

The Next Chapter by Camille Kellogg is a charming and heartfelt queer rom-com that blends literary love with second chances. The chemistry between the characters is electric, and the witty dialogue keeps the story light even as it tackles deeper emotional themes. It’s a feel-good read that celebrates both romance and personal growth.

The Next Chapter by Camille Kellogg

Rating: 3/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to Random House Publishing, Dial Press, Netgalley, and the author for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Katrina Kelly might have eight million Instagram followers and a multipage IMDb listing, but she also is feeling stuck and is questioning everything. She decides that rebranding herself is the perfect way to get her career started again. Jude Thacker works at a bookstore, which has been taken over by a boss who’d rather sell branded tote bags than books, and hasn’t been on a date since a broken heart years ago.

When Kat and Jude cross paths in the bookstore, Kat realizes that it could be a great publicity stunt, however feelings quickly emerge. After tons of media scrutiny and all the chatter, they must decide what is real and what is worth pursuing.

Overall, this was an interesting read with some good moments, however the pacing wasn’t ideal at times and the spark wasn’t fully there.

I was waiting for this novel for like two years and it didn’t disappointed me. Camille Kellogg is an amazing writer and she is now one of my comfort author.
This book is clearly inspired by Notting Hill (especially at the start and in the end) but it is an original work (while “Just As You Are”, her debut, was a proper retelling).
This story made me feel lots of emotions. I don’t want to talk about the fact that I found the elaboration of grief even here (is it a surprise? I can tell you it’s not).
The thing I loved most is the way the author handle the fact that the main character is an ex child actor. Kat is a famous ex child actor who is trying to reinvent herself as an adult actress. Unfortunately her career is in an impasse, and she seems capable to do anything to revive it.
Kat started her career as professional actress at 11. She was fortunate: she didn’t get sexually abused but she is fucked up. That life fucked her up. Hollywood fucked her up.
Now, I love celebrity romances. But my favorite are the celebrity romance that denunce how rotten the industry is. This books do that, even if it is the perfect romcom.
I loved so much Jude, the other main character and her chosen family. I’ll take them in my heart for a long time.
Can’t wait for the next chapter, for the the novel of this wonderful author.

Thank you Netgalley and The Dial Press for the arc!

I really wanted to love this more than I ended up loving it. A book about books, and the dynamics in it had me from the first page. I just couldn’t deal with the pace and repetitiveness of it. Sadly was not a favorite read of mine. I really really wanted to love it more than I did.

i love a book about books. so a queer book about queer books is even better!

i enjoyed this book a lot! i loved seeing Kat figure out things about herself and her sexuality. and Jude was so so sweet! such a good book girlfriend!

so the conflict in this book was really messy. but i still rooted for them as a couple! we had fake dating where one doesn’t know it’s fake, but i swear it’s not as bad as it sounds lol!

the chemistry was easy and their meet cute at the book store was so sincere. (like can that happen to me tho?!?)

i liked this book more than this author’s previous. that was a retelling which is never my favorite, but this one also had the celebrity aspect that was fun!

overall, 4/5⭐️

4.25 ⭐️ Thank you NetGalley for the arc! 🦋

This one had me from page one. A former child star trying to reinvent herself and a reserved bookseller quietly grieving? Absolute dynamite pairing. Their chemistry? Sizzling. But it's the emotional depth and personal growth that really carry the story.

Kat’s messy relationship with fame and identity, paired with Jude’s quiet, steady resilience, creates a push-pull dynamic that’s both heart-warming and loaded with tension. The fake dating trope is done right; fun but with real emotional stakes. And yes, there's a bit of miscommunication, but it’s handled thoughtfully and never derails the plot (bless).

The side characters, especially the bookstore crew, bring charm and balance to the heavier moments. Mental health themes, like anxiety and disordered eating, are woven in with care, adding depth without making the story feel heavy.

The writing? Sharp, sincere, and just the right amount of funny. The romance builds in soft, vulnerable moments that feel earned and genuinely swoony. If you’re into character-driven sapphic romance with heart, humour, and a slow burn that pays off, you’ll want this one on your shelf.!

I really wanted to love this. Notting Hill is such a cute movie and I wanted to see it done queer.

However, I found the spark between Kat and Jude lacking. Plus add in the lying and it just wasn’t doing it for me.

A huge point for my DNF was when one of Jude’s friends was complaining about how Demi they are. As a Demi person I found this way out of touch. And maybe I’m looking at this scene the wrong way. But as difficult as it is to see Demi characters in books, I didn’t like this.

A charming sophomore novel to Camille Kellogg’s first, both inspired by a much-beloved romance story. I’m partial to P&P over Notting Hill so maybe it’s some implicit bias coming in, but this seemed much more loosely inspired. Kat Kelly, for example, is giving more Kathleen Kelly than Anna Scott. I also just really loved the first book.

This one is both messier and steamier than the first. Which kind of work against each other when you’re not convinced you’re rooting for the main couple. There were sweet moments and a happily ever after (definitely pulling from the Notting Hill source material), but I would’ve liked to see a little more of both of them putting in the work to get to where we are at the end.

Overall, definitely still enjoyed this and I’m looking forward to more from this author in the future.

4⭐️
The Next Chapter had so much going for it and really kept me engaged with the pacing and story line. The only thing that kept it from being a 5 star for me was the dialogue felt a little juvenile sometimes. Or even a little exposition-y. Overall though, I very much enjoyed this sapphic romance and would love to read more from this author!!

Thanks NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for a digital advanced copy of this book!

*I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.*

Great LGBTQ romance! love the famous person-normal person romance, but this was my first LGBTQ version of that trope! I also really enjoyed the depth of Kat and how she was figuring out her identity and how to define it.

The next chapter by Camille Kellogg is about a fake relationship, put on as a publicity stunt, except only one of them knows it.

Katrina Kelly has 8 million instagram followers and due to being a former child star, a multi page IMDB. Her career has stalled out and she is questioning her sexuality. A relationship with a woman is exactly what she needs both personally and for her career.

Jude Thacker works at a queer bookstore. She hasn't been on a date since her heart was broken 2 years ago. When Kat and Jude cross paths in the bookstore, Kat realizes it might just be the opportunity that she was looking for.

What was supposed to be a temporary publicity stunt quickly turns into feelings for both women. As the media scrutiny intensifies, each must decide what's real, and what's not. Is it worth losing everything for love?

Thank you Camille for partnering with NetGalley. I received an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion and review.

You can find this book in bookstores June 10 2025

3.5/5!!

This book was so fun. The premise alone sounded like something I would enjoy, and I definitely did. I liked the writing and enjoyed the plot for the most part. I wasn't hugely connected to the characters, which was unfortunate, but that's okay! I had mixed feelings on whether or not I actually wanted them together or just wanted them to have one long talk and get everything out.

The side characters did a lot for me and one reason I kept going!


Thank you Netgalley and Dial Delights for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.