This is the heartfelt sapphic rom-com we all needed!!! It has a perfect blend of humour, vulnerability, growth, and romance. If you’re a fan of Ashley Herring Blake books, you will definitely like Love in Focus, the vibes are very similar. I love that. The book has two female main characters and we start by meeting Gemma fresh out of a long-term relationship break up that she was not expecting and now she’s trying to focus on herself again on her care. Then she runs into her old college roommate/former girlfriend. When they broke up, it was on bad terms so when they see each other, it’s pretty awkward and then they find out they’re going to be working together on a project, which brings us to the forced proximity, a favourite trope of mine!

They had great chemistry and the writing was really easy to dive into and imagine this is the first book from Lila Lee that I have read and I really liked it. I will definitely be reading more from her. I also loved that not only is there queer representation in this book, but there is Korean representation because that’s not something I see a lot and I think it’s important to read books with diverse characters so that I can always be learning.

All in all the book was really fun to read, and I definitely recommend picking it up, especially in the summertime where you can read it in the sun and really appreciate the good weather in the book too since it takes place in San Francisco!

When Gemma is assigned to work with a photographer for a work project, and it turns out they one that was hired was the ex who left out of the blue 8 years before, it makes work awkward for Gemma. Working with Celeste brings some answers, and a bunch of unresolved feelings to the surface.

This is a cute, quick read about exs falling back in love through a series of random encounters mixed with the forced proximity of working together. The interviews they conduct together are beautiful.

I recommend this for anyone looking for a cute, cozy romance.

I received a free advance review copy through from Forever Publishing through NetGalley and my review is voluntary.

This book was a pure delight to read. There were so many tender and heartfelt moments and others that had me giggling. I think every lesbian who discovered her sexuality later in life can relate somehow to Gemma (I sure could!) and can also relate to never getting over your sapphic break up. At the root of it all, this story is about trusting the universe and being open to love. I would say that Gemma’s friendship with her best friends is also a love story in itself, which was very sweet to see. There was so much queer representation in this book and that made me so, so happy. This is my first Lyla Lee book but it won’t be the last!

I've only read one other book by Lyla Lee before this one, but she's quickly become a favorite author. Her writing is recognizable from her YA work while still being distinctly different in the adult romance genre. Her books are super cute and comforting and I'm glad her adul debut feels the same way. Despite the angst and emotions of the book, I'd definitely consider this a comfort read. I was rooting for Gemma and Celeste to get back together the entire book, but the will-they-won't-they of it all made for a great ride along the way.

My biggest complaint is Celeste's POV chapters being in a different tense than Gemma's. The first time we get her perspective it took me out a bit. It's jarring to go from 1st person to 3rd person on a character switch. I don't know the reasoning behind that choice, but I wish Celetse would have also been in 1st person.

Love in Focus is a second chance workplace sapphic romance between Celeste and Gemma who are rekindling their relationship after eight years apart from an abrupt end in college. The found family, the exploration of love through the “Modern Love in Focus” project, and the true growth of these characters throughout the whole book was absolutely great. I’m a sucker for a “I love love!” kind of vibe, and that’s exactly what we got through Gemma and her best friends while she was experiencing her long term relationship ending with this new(ish) one beginning. I would recommend anyone this book just for a fun quick read!

Another day, another new author to try and this one had a focus on queer and POC stories. Love in Focus was written for the K-pop sapphics who wanted their own sweet and sexy romance. As a huge K-pop fan myself, I really wanted to love this story more than I did. Love In Focus focuses (haha) on Gemma, a woman who’s love life has come crashing down when her engagement comes to an abrupt end. The worst timing is that her magazine wants her the serve as the write half for their February Valentine’s Day piece. And for the one-two punch, the photographer half of the project is none other than her first girlfriend and bi awakening, Celeste. I ADORED the concept of the magazine feature; different couples, ages, partners, backgrounds, ethnicities all telling their story of love and how they’ve survived their trials and tribulations. I LOVED that these stories awakened memories for both Gemma and Celeste that allow them to revisit and address their past. A fantastic way to metaphorically travel to Gemma and Celeste’s minds as they re-kindle their romance.
My only issue with LIF is that characters besides our FMCs felt like clichés. It sounds so mean but it truly felt that way. The journey for Gemma about her bisexuality was well done; as a bisexual myself I really resonated with Gemma and wanted her to find her HEA through self-discovery. Celeste felt more flushed out but such us the way with some within the queer community; they’ve been through the struggles and may seem to be on the other side; there isn’t a level of self-acceptance for Celeste like there is still lingering for Gemma. Celeste focuses more on taking a second-chance with a woman whom she let slip away; she felt like a classic romance MC. It’s the other characters that felt like characters, generalities of types of people that felt like checking off a box. Whenever they would come into the picture, I felt myself being pulled from the story. While the romance was delightful and love Gemma and Celeste, I would’ve loved only focusing on them.

Thank you to Lyla Lee and Forever for a review copy.

Lyla Lee's Love in Focus was a very sweet and entertaining adult debut by a prolific middle grade author. I fell hard for this second chance romance, so much I read it in a day. Lee writes with such joy that I was smiling throughout this book. Got get this now! Overwhelmingly enjoyed.

Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) | Forever and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.

Love in Focus was a lot of fun! A cute, sapphic second-chance romance with some very entertaining side characters. I especially adored the dynamic between Gemma and her friends Val and Kiara—honestly, I probably would’ve enjoyed the book even more if it had centered around them.

Celeste, on the other hand… was kind of annoying. Actually, very annoying. She never really took responsibility for her actions, which came off as childish and immature. While the story itself was cute, it definitely left a lot to be desired. That said, I’m looking forward to seeing what Lyla Lee writes next and how her voice continues to grow!

Thank you Forever for the alc/arc of this super story! The dual narration on the audio was spectacular!

Thank you to NetGalley, Forever, Hachette Audio & Lyla Lee for the chance to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is a cute second chance, FF, workplace romance. There was no denying the MCs physical chemistry. The spice spiced nicely. I was a little taken aback by Celeste's biphobia. I find it hard to wrap my mind around how severely Celeste ghosted Gemma, yet Gemma needs to apologize for moving on? In that regard- the long term miscommunication trope is a little distracting. But if you don't overthink it- it's fun tale. The ex fiance infuriated me.. "blow off steam with HER but still in love with you.." MEN!

Dual narration was phenomenal. Both female presenting narrators have distinctly different voices and it was simple to differentiate mentally between the two.

“Love in Focus” by Lyla Lee was a really easy-to-read, bingeable sapphic romance. The story follows Gemma, who’s navigating a tough breakup with her fiancé and boyfriend of seven years. It all get even more crazy when Gemma is assigned a work project where her ex and “the one that got away,” Celeste, is hired as the photographer. I really appreciated the way the story is set up—mostly from Gemma’s POV, but occasionally switching to third person for Celeste’s chapters. I liked getting a glimpse into her mind, but I did want more from her perspective. I think it would have made the story that much better to get a bit more from her point of view. Their connection felt very meant to be and romantic and it was sweet to watch them come back together. They had such good chemistry and the romance between them undeniably yearning for each other. I love how they were there for each during highs and lows and how they learned their priorities and comforts with each other. I appreciated that there weren’t a lot of misunderstandings which I hate, and overall they pretty openly shared what was on their minds. I enjoyed reading about the friendship between Gemma, Kiara and Val. It felt refreshing and genuine with a supportive background. The representation of the LGBTQ community and BIPOC community was something that was very well done. They were also given enough details that it didn't seem they existed in the story solely to support Gemma. They had lives of their own. I look forward to reading Lyla’s next book. Thanks to Lyla Lee, Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and Netgalley for an e-arc in exchange for my thoughts.

Love in Focus, a second chance romance by Lyla Lee, was a fabulous read. The story follows Gemma and Celeste, former college sweethearts. The chemistry between Celeste (who left the country 7 years ago, resulting in the end of their romance), and Gemma (fresh out of the relationship she jumped into after Celeste left), is so delicious. They both clearly still have feelings for each other, and the story has a fun and interesting plot. And, of course, there is a highly enjoyable spicy scene (or three) along the way.

The book is dual POV, but...also not? Out of forty-one chapters, thirty are in first person from Gemma's perspective, and the other eleven are shorter, third person views of Celeste. I think sometimes when you're reading a single POV story, you wonder what's going on in the other character's head (or at least I do), so to me it feels like we're getting Gemma's story with little glimpses of Celeste without it being truly dual POV. I know this might not be to everyone's tastes, but I found it really interesting.

I give Love in Focus 4.5 stars, rounded up.

I received a free ARC from NetGalley, but my review is unbiased and left voluntarily.

Love in Focus by Lyla Lee is a fun sapphic romance that I really enjoyed. Second chance romance is my favorite trope.

I loved the bisexual and Korean representation.

Gemma and Celeste are fantastic characters. I really appreciated that some of the chapters were from Celeste's point of view.

This was such a fun YA spicy romance that I really enjoyed.

The characters were well written and fleshed out.

Love in Focus by Lyla Lee is a sapphic second-chance romance set in present-day San Francisco, featuring two Korean-American heroines reuniting after nearly a decade apart. What should have been an emotional exploration of healing and reconnection between Gemma, a love advice columnist, and Celeste, a world-renowned photographer (and Gemma’s college ex), unfortunately fell flat for me.

The premise had potential: exes forced to collaborate on a high-profile project about modern love? Sign me up. Add to that the rich cultural details around Korean food and traditions—which I genuinely appreciated—and there were moments of promise. However, the execution left a lot to be desired.

The biggest struggle? The romance lacked emotional depth. Despite a supposed seven-year relationship in their past, Gemma and Celeste’s reconnection felt superficial and underdeveloped. Their dialogue leaned formulaic, and the emotional beats never quite hit. It often felt like they barely knew each other, both in the past and in the present.

Narrative structure added to the disjointed feeling. The story alternates between first-person present (Gemma) and third-person past (Celeste), a jarring choice that may work for some readers but made it harder for me to stay immersed. The pacing was also uneven—after a slow burn, the story pivots to a rushed third-act breakup followed by a two-year time jump. The resolution lacked payoff, especially considering how much buildup the story aimed for.

The audiobook narration by Natalie Naudus and Catherine Ho was a highlight. Both narrators delivered strong, engaging performances that brought as much warmth and clarity to the characters as possible, even when the script didn’t give them much to work with.

Overall, Love in Focus reads like it was following a strict romance formula without enough originality or emotional nuance to stand out.

4.25/5 stars

Love in Focus by Lyla Lee is a second chance romance between Gemma Cho and Celeste Min. Gemma Cho is a bisexual journalist who’s about ready to give up on romantic love, and Celeste Min is a lesbian and world-renowned photographer who only casually dates. Formerly roommates and girlfriends during their time at UCLA, Gemma and Celeste find themselves working together on a potentially career-changing project in San Francisco about modern love after eight years of silence.

The chemistry between Gemma and Celeste was sizzling despite their near decade apart. Reading their journeys back to each other as they opened up about their time as strangers and especially reading how *proud* they were of their present versions as they learned how the other has grown from their college versions— delicious. Their story is truly one of joy and healing from heartbreak (from each other as well as others). (And also please, special shoutout to the umbrella scene; I’m crying.)

The pacing at the end had me feeling ever so slightly disoriented, simply because of how fast we moved across time, but it also made a lot of sense for their specific story. I appreciate that each woman individually took the time to heal and seek therapy from the issues the other helped them realize they had to work through. On one hand, I am a firm believer that second chance romances shouldn’t have third act breakups (because despite the safety and comfort that comes with a guaranteed HEA within the romance genre, I personally have a hard time with so many chances being taken and given up); however, Gemma and Celeste’s time apart (this second time around) really allowed them the space and time to heal in their own separate journeys before coming back together.

One of the best parts of this book is the emphasis on love in multiple forms— familial, platonic, community, romantic. Familial through the love language of food from Gemma’s parents as well as the portraits of the Amatos and Brent and Aaron. Platonic via Gemma’s found family of Val and Kiara, aka two of the most supportive and understanding friends (like seriously I love them— they are amongst my top favorite parts of this book). Community in the connection between Gemma and her landlady Ms. Chang and her husband as they offered her comfort in food, and she helped decrease their anxieties about their son going to college in LA. And of course the work it took for Gemma and Celeste to grow back towards each other.

The other major highlight of Love in Focus was the plentiful representation of different queer couples across ages and races. Val and Kiara were disgustingly sweet (most affectionately). And the queer elder representation of Brent and Aaron, in light of the explicitly on-page mention of the AIDS crisis, and most *especially* sapphic women of color, Keiko and Nat— *chef’s kiss.* Queer folks have always existed, and it was so comforting meeting these characters of all ages and types be so happily and openly in love.

Gemma and Celeste are so special to me as canonically sapphic Asian American women falling in love. I am frequently looking for Asian American characters written by Asian American authors in adult romance, so reading a bisexual and lesbian Asian American couple of women getting to experience the joy and healing and growth while falling in love feels so significant. This!! is what!! I’m looking for!!! And I am so grateful that this story exists, especially now in traditional publishing. (spectacular, gimme 14 of ‘em)

One more thing that I appreciate about Love in Focus is the Korean/Korean American perspective and the challenge that is coming from a country that’s conservative and largely not as accepting as (generally) California can be. While I personally cannot speak to the specific Korean experience, as the daughter of Filipinx immigrants, I recognize some similarities amongst the Asian diaspora, for while the Philippines seems like it’s generally more open to the queer community, like Korea, same-sex marriage is not legal, and I’m not sure if (like Celeste pointed out for her own home country) I’ve ever seen an elder, happily and openly in love sapphic couple from the Philippines. I loved reading Celeste’s experience of having grown up in Korea and fight her way to moving and living in a place where she feels free to be herself without the heteronormative pressure to marry a man to appease her family. Like Celeste, I have hope that maybe one day our countries will catch up in regards to a cultural shift that embraces identities across the queer spectrum. I also loved the touches of Korean cultures and foods and holidays that round out this book to make this story feel so real. Special mentions: inyeon, the saying for “the film ended,” food as a love language, and keeping to cultural foods during Thanksgiving (especially this one because same but with Filipino food).

I’m glad to have followed Lyla Lee from her YA books into her debut adult romance. I’m excited for whatever she writes next! Thank you, Netgalley and Forever, for the ARC!

This book is a love letter to friendships, but since it’s a romance novel, the romance being secondary to the main friendships is not ideal. Overall, I felt that the ‘second chance’ of this romance was difficult to really get into – Gemma and Celeste both seem to not have really forgiven each other, even over the seven years since they ended things, and that years-long contempt for each other, on BOTH sides, leads to the romance feeling entirely based on physical attributes. The book spends a lot of time trying to build a forbidden romance feeling, but it’s fabricated between the characters as there aren’t any real stakes to them being in a relationship, other than each of them saying that they can’t be in a relationship. Then, when they finally do decide to start a relationship again, they each say it's physical only, but proceed to just have a normal romantic relationship. The third act conflict and breakup feels out of the blue, and out of character for the point that the characters have been shown to be at by this point in the plot. Then when they get back together in the conclusion, the only proof that they’ll handle a relationship now (after two breakups) is that they each say that they’re in therapy.
Additionally, I found the writing style to be amateurish. There was an excessive use of exclamation points, especially with Kiara, Gemma’s friend. The conversations between Kiara and Val felt a lot like they were written from the point of view of someone who doesn’t know anyone in a long term healthy relationship in real life, or someone who isn’t mature enough to understand how real individuals in a couple talk to each other. The lack of realism in their relationship, as well as the fabricated drama between the main characters (which literally included multiple scenes of each character running out of the room crying) pulled me out of the story.
If you’re looking for a quick read and LGBTQ and Asian representation, this might be the book for you. Unfortunately I do think there are a lot of other novels that I would reach for before this one, but it did have a sweet ending. Thank you for the advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review!

I really enjoyed this dual POV, second chance Sapphic adult romance debut from Lyla Lee that sees two queer Korean American former college girlfriends reunited when a work project at bisexual Gemma's magazine brings her back into lesbian photographer Celeste's orbit. Set in San Francisco, this book had emotional depth, great therapy rep (both women explore feelings about not feeling worthy of love or not believing lasting love was possible). It was also fantastic on audio narrated by Natalie Naudus and Catherine Ho. Highly recommended for fans of the L Word show and authors like Ashley Herring Blake or Sarah Echavarre Smith. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

Steam level: open door, lots of explicit, consensual sex

I wasn't sure about this one at first, starting off strong with a breakup and all the bummer energy that comes with but I stuck with it and I'm so glad that I did! This ended up being a really great story about second chances, the growth between college romance and revisiting romance as an adult, what different types of love looks like, and a refreshing take on the need to see older, happy, queer folks to give the rest of us hope. I really related to Gem and Celeste's story from some of my own experiences and that made this book all that much better!

3.5

This was fine. I didn't love it and definitely didn't hate it but I mostly wanted to check this book out prior to it being released in a book box later this summer and I don't think it would have been worth the expensive price point that comes with book boxes.

There is a biphobic comment made by one of the MCs but I don't think its based in biphobia and rather her disappointment and frustration that her ex had moved on so fast. It happens early on in the book but only the one time. The comment is made by Celeste about Gemma. I think my personal frustrations with this line, especially coming from Celeste, is that we get minimal POVs from her compared to Gemma, and the POV chapters we do get, don't super endear me to her or make me understand more of the "why" around the reasoning and her feelings about bi people.

I don't really have much to say about this story. I did like that there were two narrators for this story, however I don't think the audiobook was anything spectacular.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for the e-arc!

This is my first novel by this author and I know I will be reading more from her. This book was short but a good time. I liked both Gemma and Celeste and enjoyed having chapters with both their POVs. I also think this book had good discussion on love and being in your late twenties. I can see some not liking Gemma as she can be a bit all over the place but I think the author did a good job developing her character. The only thing I did not care for was the fact that Celeste kept harping on Gemma moving on after she ghosted her first, I thought that was a bit immature. Besides that, I had a good time with this book and would recommend it. I also listened to this in tandem with the audiobook and it was probably the better reading experience.

I didn’t really like this book. There’s an unnecessary biphobic comment about 15% into the book. Even if I ignored that though, it was just okay. I didn’t really think it was paced well or like the way the POVs were written.

I didn’t hate it but I didn’t love it.