If you like second chance romances and workplace romances, this book might be for you!

Gemma, who was recently dumped by her boyfriend of 7 years, unexpectedly reunites with her college girlfriend Celeste, when Celeste is hired for a photography project at the magazine where Gemma works.

This book features a few open-door spicy scenes (including one with a strap).

The book is written in a mix of first person (Gemma’s chapters) and third person (Celeste’s chapters). I personally found it a bit distracting to switch between the two.

The ending felt a bit rushed to me. This book included a third act breakup, and I would have enjoyed seeing more of their relationship after they got back together. I also would have liked to learn more about Gemma and Celeste’s characters.

Overall, I am glad I read this book and I’m hopeful there will be even more sapphic love stories featuring Asian American characters published in the future.

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book!

Highlights:
- second chance romance
- bi x lesbian
- Korean American main characters
- workplace romance
- spicy scenes

Love in Focus by Lyla Lee is a fun quick read. I loved how positive Gemma is throughout the entire book while also being able to balance sticking up for herself and making her own decisions. Gemma's friends play an important role throughout the story and do not fall victim to being scarcely mentioned once the main love interest is introduced. Lyla Lee did a phenomenal job writing a binge-worthy sapphic romance.

Thank you to Forever Publishing and NetGalley for providing me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

this book had me giggling and kicking my feet, yelling into my hands, and close to swooning.

a sweet, sapphic romance about reconnecting and finding who you are. can't wait to suggest this in my store!!

3.5 stars

Overall, would say this is a fun and quick read, and I did truly enjoy the plot and romance between the two leads, though a few things knocked down my rating as they didn't mesh with me completely. The first being Gemma's ever-present need to be in a relationship/be in love, and while I was happy to see this finally dived into plot-wise in the last 20% of the book, it did grate on me the rest of the time. Additionally (and this was a strange stylistic choice I did not understand) the few chapters where we did see Celeste's POV were very short and written in third person, which was super jarring when the other 85% of the book was Gemma's first person narrative. It would've been a lot smoother if it was either all Gemma's POV or more evenly distributed and all in first person.

There is so much to love about this book honestly. I LOVED the late 20’s, second chance romance elements to Gemma & Celeste’s relationship, it was written so well in my opinion! I also absolutely adored the conversations and representation of being a Queer Asian woman, and all that encompasses that.

The only thing I didn’t *love*, was the alternating first & third person POV’s with their chapters, but it didn’t bother me so much that it took away from the story. It just took a bit to get used too!


*huge thanks to the publisher for the arc in exchange for my honest review*

this was a great time! loved the setting & the theme of be gay, do therapy <3 also: strap.

My main gripe with this is that it's occasionally dual pov but the main character is in first person and the other's is in third. it was a weird thing for me to get used to.

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

Love in Focus by Lyla Lee is a quick, bingeable sapphic romance with a lot to appreciate—especially when it comes to representation. I loved the queer Asian rep and how seamlessly it was woven into the story. Both Gemma and Celeste are characters of color, and Celeste’s Korean identity and background added a beautiful layer of authenticity, especially with the inclusion of queer Korean cultural experiences. That level of intimacy in the storytelling was definitely a highlight.

The plot centers on Gemma, who’s reeling from a breakup with her fiancé of seven years, only to be paired on a work project with none other than Celeste—her ex and the one that got away. It’s a setup that promises angst and chemistry, and while the structure was strong (with a clear timeline and satisfying momentum), the execution didn’t always hit the emotional notes I hoped for.

Gemma felt more fleshed out as a protagonist—her friends, work life, and inner growth were well developed. Val and Kiara especially stood out as lovable and dynamic side characters with their own lives beyond just supporting Gemma. The San Francisco setting was vibrant and detailed, which added a nice sense of place. Celeste, on the other hand, often felt like a background character in her own love story. Her chapters were short and sometimes lacked emotional depth, especially considering the major reveal about her past and her move from South Korea. I really wanted more insight into her head and heart, especially given the year-long breakup and emotional weight of their shared history.

As for the romance itself—it was cute, for sure, but not always convincing. At times, the story read younger than the characters’ late-20s ages, leaning into a Gen Z vibe (derogatory lol). Their dynamic often felt more flaky than fated, with a lot of will-they-won’t-they tension that lacked the kind of emotional resolution I was craving. James, Gemma’s ex, was built up to be a villain, but ended up feeling completely irrelevant, which was a missed opportunity for some delicious angst.

Still, there were moments that totally worked—the steam was surprising and fun (there’s a scene that rhymes with trap... enough said 😏) and the pacing made it super easy to fly through. I devoured this in just a few hours. Despite its flaws, it’s a charming read with strong representation, lovable side characters, and a storyline that’s easy to root for—once you get past some of the emotional inconsistencies.

If you’re in the mood for a sapphic romance with vibrant setting, solid side characters, and queer POC leads, this is worth a spot on your TBR. Just don’t expect it to be life-changing—and maybe lower your expectations for the third-act breakup length (yes, it’s a whole year). Still, I had fun. I promise.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

—oh no I'm working with my ex

—too many feelings to do communication right (at first)

—the intersection of culture and sexuality

Heat Index: 7/10

The Basics:

Gemma is reeling after the sudden end of her engagement to a man with whom she was with for seven years. And oops, the mysterious photographer working on the new project she's working on about modern love... is the woman who made her realize she was bi in college. Celeste, her ex-girlfriend, who unceremoniously disappeared from Gemma's life after returning to South Korea. Working with Celeste isn't easy, especially since Gemma is still ridiculously attracted to her. Only physically! So, even though Celeste isn't about relationships, it wouldn't be too bad if they did some purely physical things. Right? Riiiiight?

The Review:

A book that's all about the second chance, Love in Focus is a great blend of angst and lighthearted, sexy romance. There are so many things in this novel that could be the point, and might've been in another book. Celeste has suspicions that she was just a phase for Gemma, especially since she's the only woman Gemma has seriously been within; that's not the case, but Gemma's comparative lack of experience with women isn't something the book just ignores. Both Gemma and Celeste are Korean and come from families that are at varying levels of acceptance of their respective sexualities (Gemma is bi, Celeste is a lesbian); that certainly matters, especially for Celeste, but it's not the main point.

The main point is Celeste and Gemma's love story, and the two of them getting to a point where they can be together with actual emotional honesty. Because, uh, the physical aspect of their relationship certainly isn't an issue for either one of them. All of these insecurities, this baggage, contributes to why the two of them, especially Celeste, aren't initially ready for love. But they're not all the book is about, and that made it feel so... real? Like, there aren't a lot of hugely dramatic or traumatic scenes in here, but you still feel the emotional scars.

Another thing that felt super real to me was the fact that their breakup in college is kind of silly, when you think about it. I said "silly". Not "unrealistic". It's exactly the kind of bullshit two people in college in deep love for the first time would break up over! Gemma and Celeste both feel like super real people, to an extent that I honestly especially don't see a lot of in traditionally published sapphic romances. Nobody is too sweet, nobody is too cute. Neither woman intends to hurt the other, but hurt happens anyway. You an feel with Celeste, especially, that there are points when she just wants to drop that baggage and jump into love. But that's not how people work.

The framing device of this modern love project (Gemma writing it, Celeste photographing it) allows Lyla Lee to get into the idea of queer elders, and how important that representation is. Gemma and Celeste haven't had a lot of sapphic elders to look up to, and certainly not a lot of Korean sapphic elders. So in a very real way, these two don't exactly know how to envision a future for themselves. And Gemma in particular can contrast that with the fact that she did very easily have a lot of role models to look up to when she was with a man.

There's a really gentle touch to the way Lee handles Celeste's nagging insecurities about Gemma maybe just ending up with a man anyway someday. It's done in a manner that acknowledges how unfair it is, without making it feel like Celeste is some horrible biphobe. She isn't! She's just a flawed, insecure person. And a talented, sexy, quietly kind and brave person as well. Nuance!

I found both Gemma and Celeste super likable (and hot... and again, especially Celeste) and real. Thats aid, the one thing I could've used more of is Celeste's POV. The book is dual POV, with Gemma's chapters in first person and Celeste's in third (a choice I personally like). You get a good amount from Celeste, but it's not quite equal. Not a deterrent at all, just something to note.

Another thing to note—I can't speak to how the Korean diasporic experience is portrayed here, but it was really lovely to read so many scenes in which Gemma and Celeste connected on that level... while not at all having this like, mirrored history you often see in books written by people who aren't coming from a similar background. It's connection without forgetting our heroines' unique backgrounds.

The Sex:

Celeste and Gemma's chemistry crackles whenever they're around each other. And it's that second chance chemistry I love, full of implications and intensity and "We've had sex before and it was really good" desire. On a technical level, I appreciated that there was more variety in terms of the kind of sex they have than I see in a lot of sapphic tradpub contemporaries? You'd be surprised by how few books I encounter with strap-on scenes. And.... this book has a really good one.

Conclusion:

An excellent mixture of personal drama and reconnection, Love in Focus is my first Lyla Lee read, but it won't be my last. This is what I want to see from sapphic contemporaries!

Thanks to Forever and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

4.5

📸 LOVE IN FOCUS by Lyla Lee 📸

MY RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Gemma’s fiancee just dumped her out of nowhere after 7 years. Living on her best friends couch, she tries to focus on work… and avoid him in the office. She writes a relationship advice column for a magazine, and her and her coworkers jobs might be on the line. To build readership, they’re starting a new article highlighting people’s love stories. Her boss even hired a fancy photographer… who happens to be her ex, Celeste. Celeste was her first love and the reason she realized she’s queer. After leaving the country and basically ghosting Gemma, this is the first time they’ll be seeing each other in years. They have to manage their emotions while collaborating on the project, and confront their past.

I loved this book! I loved the characters, the relationships between Gemma and her friends, the California setting, and the romance. I really enjoyed the writing, and wish I could include quotes in ARC reviews, as there are some I definitely highlighted while reading. The writing made this book so relatable to the vulnerability of being in love and being human.
Love in Focus also does a good job of showing scenes from when they fell for each other first, and talking about the familiarity that I feel is sometimes missing in second chance romances. Lyla Lee makes sure the reader sees those moments of sweetness that explain why they fell for each other in the first place, and why they do again.
The banter was cute, and I liked that in most cases, Celeste and Gemma communicated like adults rather than letting miscommunication control their dynamic.

I definitely recommend this if you’re looking for a sweet sapphic romance!

Read this if you like:
second chance romance
forced proximity
workplace romance
found family

Vibes: 📸👩🏻‍❤️‍💋‍👩🏻🌉🍺☘️🎊🥵

Full review including content warnings on my StoryGraph.

📸 Love In Focus is out May 26, 2025! Thank you NetGalley and Forever for the eARC. 📸

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Forever Publishing, and Lyla Lee for this ARC!

I loved this SF based, sapphic romance with a truly diverse representation throughout the book. I loved the second chance romance between Gemma and Celeste and TRULY ENJOYED THE BOOK. buttttt i really felt that I was just waiting for more *mmph*. I loved the characters and their chemistry in moments but it was sometimes slow or we got moments that didn't necessarily add much to the plot of to their relationship.

However, overall a cute sapphic romance!

Love in Focus is a contemporary romance novel for all the under-represented groups who have never got to read a love story like theirs and it was able to showcase a beautiful, deep connection between two women, two cultural backgrounds, across different societal backgrounds.

Celeste and Gemma meeting in college and being roommates allowed us to see how deeply they bonded as young women, ultimately falling in love. As family problems and life gets in the way of their love, we are aware that Celeste and Gemma each became different women, after graduating college and developing careers for themselves. Once they come together unexpectedly later in life, to work on project, feelings stir up and they find themselves unsure of how to be around one another.

What I loved about this specific circumstance of two people finding one another again in life, is the idea of love finding you when you are ready for it. It was such a realistic representation of heartbreak, being scared to love again, and even choosing to close yourself off from love or serious relationships all together because that seems easier than being hurt again. It was also lovely to see interwoven layers of family and learning how to break generational cycles of what is expected of how to live ones life. Celeste's moment of clarity while working on this project with Gemma and realizing everything she has ever wanted in a relationship, in a woman and for her life is such a heart-warming moment. Overall, a beautiful story and I am so grateful to have read this one.

ARC review
Publication date 27 May 2025

“Love in Focus” by Lyla Lee is a second chance contemporary romance.
I received an advance digital copy from Forever via Netgalley. Opinions from this review are completely my own.
What you can expect:
- second chance romance
- writer/photographer
- dual POV
- sapphic romance
- forced proximity
- cute and a bit spicy

Gemma is a relationship advice columnist and she recently broke up with her fiance. Celeste is a photographer that will work with Gemma on a project about modern love. She is also he ex girlfriend and they did not see each other in the last 8 years.

I like that the story is told in dual POV. But it is a bit strange to move from 1st person in Gemma’s POV to 3rd person in Celeste’s chapters.

From the beginning there is a lot of chemistry between them and the fact that they need to work closely helped them develop a casual relationship first and they slowly manage to clarify what happened when they broke up.

The story is written well and I liked that it was not rushed. There is a slow burn and a good balance between the plot and romance.
The couples interviewed for the project are diverse and their stories contribute in Gemma and Celeste’s story.

I enjoyed reading this book and I want to read more from this author.

Love in Focus is a contemporary romance novel for all the under-represented groups who have never got to read a love story like theirs and it was able to showcase a beautiful, deep connection between two women, two cultural backgrounds, across different societal backgrounds.

Celeste and Gemma meeting in college and being roommates allowed us to see how deeply they bonded as young women, ultimately falling in love. As family problems and life gets in the way of their love, we are aware that Celeste and Gemma each became different women, after graduating college and developing careers for themselves. Once they come together unexpectedly later in life, to work on project, feelings stir up and they find themselves unsure of how to be around one another.

What I loved about this specific circumstance of two people finding one another again in life, is the idea of love finding you when you are ready for it. It was such a realistic representation of heartbreak, being scared to love again, and even choosing to close yourself off from love or serious relationships all together because that seems easier than being hurt again. It was also lovely to see interwoven layers of family and learning how to break generational cycles of what is expected of how to live ones life. Celeste's moment of clarity while working on this project with Gemma and realizing everything she has ever wanted in a relationship, in a woman and for her life is such a heart-warming moment. Overall, a beautiful story and I am so grateful to have read this one.

Love in Focus by Lyla Lee is a bubbly second-chance sapphic romance that bursts with heart and humor. The story blends deep emotions, career ambitions, and a playful nod to Korean culture with a fully realized Korean FMC, adding a fun twist to every page. Our clever lead, Gemma, pairs up with Celeste ( her ex )to kick off a modern love project (that is meant to save her career) that feels as refreshing as a coffee catch-up with friends. If you’re into slow-burn romances packed with tension and genuine second chances, this book is your next lighthearted escape. I loved every minute it only took me about 4 hours to read although I spread it out between a few days. I rated this 4 ⭐️.5 stars and I think it’s a great book to pick up when you need a cozy and funny read. This book releases on May 27, 2025 add this one to your TBR. Thank you to NetGalley , Lyla Lee, and Forever Publishing for allowing me to enjoy this eARC in exchange for an honest review

I was so excited to read Love in Focus especially because of its sapphic Asian representation, but within the first few chapters, it felt like the author leaned too heavily into stereotypes, spelling them out in a way that almost made this feel like it was written for the white heterosexual romance reader who had never heard these concepts before. This, coupled with the bouncing back and forth between first and third POV, took me out of the story and eventually led to a DNF. I might pick this up again upon release, but for now, I couldn't get through it. (Though I hope it does find the readers that will enjoy it more!)

4⭐

Thank you Lyla Lee and Forever Publishing for the ARC!

LOVE IS FOCUS was an amazing book. The tension between the two FMCs was undeniable and the second change romance had them yearning for each other so much that they couldn't not stop falling for each other again.

I loved the sapphic and Asian representation in this book so much which made it so much more relatable. I really loved the overall themes of this story, the ups and downs of Celeste and Gemma's relationship and Gemma finding time for herself after break-ups. Gemma's friendships! We love a woman with friends that are more than a MMC's side-kick. As a woman, I also enjoyed reading about women doing things they loved and spending time with people that they loved.

Overall, I'd say this would be a quick and amazing read filled with tension, angst and yearning with brilliant representation.

Lyla Lee's Love in Focus is a sapphic second chance romance between our two main characters Gemma and Celeste. After a huge lack of communication these two have gone years resenting one another. Gemma and Celeste have a second chance at love after Celeste walks out on their year long relationship without explanation and after 8 years of separation, our FMCs are forced to work together and try to hash out their past in order to do so.

This book was so relatable a fun and fast paced. Perfect to get out of any book slump because you wont be able to put it down. I read this in about a day! You find yourself rooting for these characters to find their way back to one another and each chapter leaves you wanting more. The banter, and tension is so good and the writing style is top tier. I love that we are following Gemma but we still get narrative in Celeste's perspective after each run in.

Solid storyline and lol funny supporting cast! 4/5 star read.

*Love in Focus* by Lyla Lee is a beautifully crafted New Adult novel that explores the intricacies of love, career aspirations, and personal growth. The story follows Gemma, an aspiring writer for a lifestyle magazine, and Celeste, a talented photographer. As they work together on a project, their professional relationship starts to blur into something more personal, challenging both their hearts and careers.

The dynamic between Gemma and Celeste is both compelling and complex. Gemma’s internal struggles about her own self-worth and future are relatable, and her budding feelings for Celeste create an emotionally charged tension throughout the story. Celeste, on the other hand, is a deeply introspective character whose passion for photography and the art of capturing moments is beautifully depicted. The romance between the two unfolds gradually, with moments of tenderness and vulnerability that make it all the more rewarding.

While the pacing slows in some parts, particularly in the middle, *Love in Focus* still offers a refreshing take on a love story that is as much about discovering oneself as it is about discovering love. The chemistry between Gemma and Celeste is palpable, and the way their individual journeys intersect feels genuine. Though the supporting characters could have been more fleshed out, the central romance and emotional growth make it a worthwhile read.

If you’re a fan of New Adult novels that mix career aspirations, love, and self-discovery, *Love in Focus* is definitely a book to check out.

BISEXUAL FMC! I just adored this story. I'm always looking for more stories with good bi rep and Love in Focus is a 5 star delight. The romance sizzles, but above all our FMCS just grow together as people which is always what I'm looking for in any story, but especially a romance. Don't miss this one. It's just incredible!