Actual rating: 3.5 stars

This one was cute but didn’t quite hit in all the ways I wanted it to, which is totally fine! I bet it hits for the sapphics, which was most likely the goal! I really enjoyed getting to know Gemma and Celeste, and I thought it was an interesting style choice to give Gemma a first person POV while Celeste has a third person POV.

Both of their reservations about starting something up between one another after so long was completely relatable, especially on Celeste’s side. She’s been so jaded and has seen things in her personal life that make her question love in and of itself, but I enjoyed reading that she felt so comfortable around Gem, like nothing bad really changed. I kind of wish we had gone a bit more into Celeste’s reasons for leaving Gemma on a whim. I can totally understand Gemma’s hurt, but I also appreciated that they acted like two grown adults and talked about their feelings openly and honestly.

The spice was good too, and introduced me to things I haven’t come across in contemporary romance. I also got a good laugh that turning 30 almost felt like the end all be all because the expectations Gemma and Celeste had about their lives (marriage, kids, etc.) didn’t come to fruition quite yet. It’s just a nice reassurance in a sense that life isn’t a marathon and things come at your at it’s own pace.

Thank you to the publisher for making this Read Now on NetGalley.
3 stars! This story was just OK for me, and I wish I liked it more! It's my first book by Lyla Lee, and I can see where the writing has potential — diverse characters, queer representation, cultural expectations from being raised in an Asian household — but there is a moment of biphobia, and there is way more telling than showing.
Celeste and Gemma dated eight years ago in college, and their romance had a huge impact on both of their lives, to the point where neither could forget the other despite how much time had passed. Yet, when they're reunited, I wanted a bigger moment of surprise, not a random meeting in a bar that they both happened to be at. Gemma's friends are hinting at a hot photographer who got hired for Gemma's article, and the reveal could have been in their first story meeting! Plus, we're told that this magazine feature will save Gemma's job and her co-workers, but her boss says it's a big opportunity, not that Gemma's job is on the line if this doesn't work. And as a former journo myself, it's unlikely that anyone's career would come down to the performance of one story — it would be an accumulation of a lot of factors to lay people off, so the responsibility for Gemma to put aside her unresolved feelings for Celeste didn't have enough high stakes for me.
I also would have preferred if the author kept the same writing tense for Gemma and Celeste's chapters. Switching from first person to third was odd, and it didn't help me learn more about Celeste, and with Gemma's chapters we're in her head with little dialogue sometimes to move us through the plot.

I live for second chances romances. And make it your first (and only for Celeste!) love I was locked in.

The forced proximity and forced to work together after not seeing each other for nearly a decade was so delicious. These two were soul maaaates and knew they couldn’t help but falling back into it from their first semidrunken kiss. The ease Celeste and Gemma fall back in love was so sweet and tender.

I also loved the project the two of them worked on together. Celeste was photographing couples and Gemma was interviewing them based on their definition of love and it was so sweet.

🎧 the audiobook was so cute! Catherine Ho and Natalie Naudus read for Gemma and Celeste and they both brought distinctive personalities to their characters. I loved Celeste’s portrayal specifically when she was being shut down and closed off. Their performances made the book for me!

what to expect
⟢ second chance romance
⟢ sapphic yearning
⟢ first love
⟢ forced proximity

This was a cute sapphic romance! Parts of the dialogue felt stilted & more tell not show, but I had a fun time with it overall. Gemma’s journey was so important & I loved the interviews with all the couples they did — it very much gave When Harry Met Sally. This would be a perfect beach read, & I’m looking forward to picking up Lyla’s next adult romance!

From the start, this seems like a story about a normal journalist falling in love with a photographer or a story about a second chance romance with a sapphic rep. But no, everything is not what it seems.

I almost DNF’d this at 50%, but I pushed through to the end. It wasn’t terrible, but as a sapphic workplace romance with Asian representation, it didn’t fully land for me. The pacing felt slow, and there wasn’t enough action or tension to keep me engaged.

As an Asian queer woman, I saw parts of my own story in Lyla's characters—especially Celeste's fear of love shaped by cultural expectations, past trauma, and heartbreak from another Asian woman. Those emotional beats felt authentic and personal, which I appreciated.

The premise of a journalist and photographer navigating love had potential, but the narrative switch between first and second person in Celeste and Gemma’s chapters felt jarring. I understand that it might’ve been a stylistic choice—reflecting their professions or perspectives—but it didn’t quite work for me.

Overall, the story just left me feeling heavy because it felt "too much". There’s a breakup before a wedding, themes of loss and emotional fear, and even dying elderly couples. It leaned more into melancholy than romance, and I finished the book feeling more sad than satisfied. All of the asian generational topics and not seeing yourself represented.

It lacked action and conflict. The ending felt rushed. The sex and smut also felt like it wasn't needed in this relationship

This was a second chance romance with plenty of queer and Asian representation that I thoroughly appreciated. I feel like we got more of Gemma's story even though it was dual POV and I would have appreciated more of Celeste's POV. It seemed to me more of Gemma's journey throughout her 10 year relationship with Celeste and her growth which was great to see more than just a romance in my opinion. San Francisco as a backdrop played a huge role in this book and I love when authors use their settings as a character.

Thanks to Net Galley and Forever for the ARC copy in exchange for an honest review, as always, all words are my own.

Thank you Forever for the opportunity to read my second most anticipated release of the year (after rose in chains) as an ARC!
5⭐️
Love in Focus by Lyla Lee is a heartwarming, sapphic second-chance romance that will leave readers teary-eyed, smiling, and completely in love. It follows Gemma, a woman whose life is upended after her fiancé of seven years breaks up with her—only for her college ex, Celeste, to unexpectedly reenter her life as a photographer on a magazine assignment about love.

What follows is a story that feels both intimate and universal. Gemma’s vulnerability and humor comes alive on the pages. She’s a character you instantly root for—someone who makes you laugh, cry, and reflect on the meaning of love right alongside her. Celeste adds a grounded warmth to the narrative. The chemistry between them is undeniable, and their shared history brings both aching tension and tender nostalgia to the story.

Lee’s writing is evocative yet gentle, crafting a romance that is equal parts steamy and wholesome. The duality of Gemma and Celeste’s love—messy and beautiful, familiar and new—is what makes it so special.

Love in Focus is not just a romance—it’s a celebration of rediscovery, of second chances, and of learning to love again after heartbreak. It’s about the ways love can surprise us, the importance of telling our stories, and how the people we least expect can bring out the best in us. And yes, even the cat Burrito will steal your heart.

A must-read for fans of emotional, character-driven queer romance with a hopeful, glowing finish.

Two college exes reunite for a work project about couples... and begin to realize that maybe they were always meant to be. When her boyfriend of seven years and breaks their engagement and dumps her with zero reason, Gemma Cho ( relationship advice columnist) is shocked... and to make matters worse she catches shim making out with her coworker 2 weeks later. Then Gemma is informed that she has a new work project with a talented gorgeous photographer... who also happens to be her college ex who disappeared and ghosted her... the same college ex who was her bi awakening and that Gemma was convinced was her true love. Gemma is shocked to be running into Celeste, let alone working with her on a project where the interview couples.... but in order to work together they have to address what happened in their relationship all those years ago. Gemma and Celeste still have feelings for each other but can they trust each other enough to open their hearts up again or are some wounds too big to recover from? I absolutely adored this second chance romance. I loved how both Celeste and Gemma are still in love with one another but have grown and worked out talking to each other about their issues. I love that these characters really grew and worked at their second chance, that they put in the effort and actually changed. It's a gorgeous story and one I'd absolutely recommend.

Release Date: May 27, 2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) | Forever for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

I love a good sapphic romance, and this one totally delivered. Full of heartfelt moments, fantastic chemistry, and just an all-around great read!

I absolutely loved this second chance romance between a recently-dumped magazine writer and her ex-roommate girlfriend photographer who totally disappeared on her eight years ago. The tension between Gemma and Celeste was so good and I loved seeing them interact and talk through what happened all those years ago. Gemma’s besties are absolutely amazing in the face of Gemma’s recent break-up with longtime partner and fiance. And a new work project that brings Gemma and Celeste together built up so much opportunity for communication. I liked the structure of the story being mostly from Gemma’s POV, with bits of Celeste’s POV sprinkled in. Definitely spicy throughout, but with so much emotional work as well. Loved it.

I wish to convey my sincere appreciation to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

To commence this review, I would like to note that this book may not appeal to everyone. For instance, my wife and I read it together and hold quite different perspectives. To begin with the aspects we both concurred on, we adored the cover and found it to be exceptionally charming. The cover effectively showcased character art that truly encapsulates the essence of the characters depicted in the book, all while being presented in a very attractive manner. However, when it comes to other elements, our opinions diverge. Regarding the plot, my wife believed that the gradual beginning provided an excellent opportunity for the narrative to evolve into an engaging and delightful storyline, whereas I felt that the story's slow start rendered it tedious at times. Concerning the characters, we both agreed that they were realistic and relatable, which fostered a connection that evoked emotions and encouraged us to root for them. Another point of divergence was our views on the ending; my wife considered it a fitting conclusion, yet we both acknowledged that it felt hurried and could have been developed further to enhance reader satisfaction. A significant difference in our opinions arose regarding the steamy scenes; my wife found them to be perfect, while I sensed a disconnect between the characters' actions and their descriptions. Before concluding, we both wish to highlight our appreciation for the sapphic and Korean representation, which is rarely encountered. In summary, we both found enjoyment in this book for different reasons, yet we agreed on the overall rating.

i thought this was a really cute book! i loved seeing Gemma & Celeste rekindle what they once had while they navigated their new phases in life. i believe in fate and truthfully that’s what brought them back together! i do wish there was more of a background with Gemma and her ex fiance bc we met after the engagement ended & he was only talked about in a negative way making me wonder what Gemma ever saw in him for the 7 years they were together. i did like how this book touched on how being queer in the Asian community affects family dynamics and just an individual themself. the workplace setting added an extra layer of cuteness, especially with them collaborating on a piece about love in relationships.

*4.25 Stars*

I liked this. I really liked the main character and I felt for her and I enjoyed getting to know her throughout the book. I liked how this was a romance but it was also about friendship and the main character's job. I was fully invested into her life really and I wanted everything to work out. It was quite an enthralling read. it really pulled me in from the start. I still cannot believe the audacity of her ex. I was also quite invested in the interviews the mc and the li did together. It was a good romance and I hope to read more books by this author.

Love in Focus was a fun, sweet and at times heart achey novel that really captured how it feels to navigate love while also coming to terms with the things you need to face and cope with within yourself .

I really loved how imperfect our main characters were, and I loved how their relationship blossomed. Everything felt really real and relatable, and I found the ending to be super happy and satisfying! Another excellent read from Lyla Lee.

BESTIESSSS, run, not walk to buy Love In Focus, if you love second-chance romance set in the workplace.

Gemma and Celeste have so much chemistry, their romance is so believable and filled with yearning. I read this book in a day and will definitely reread sometime next year. This is how much I loved LIF.

The story is medium paced, although the ending is a little too fast for me. But I can overlook that because of how much I liked everything else. Found family, romance, sapphic and Korean rep were immaculate and I will shout about this from the rooftops. GET THIS BOOK. YOU NEED IT.

And the character growth? They go to therapy? Recognize they weren't ready for a relationship and get back together when they are? SIGN ME UP.

Overall this book was fine. I loved the queer Asian representation in this book. There was also some much-needed character growth in this book that I appreciated.

I felt that Gemma and Celeste’s connection was described as almost entirely physical and not emotional at all. They dated for a few months in college and reconnect 8 years later, but there’s little conversation about how they may have changed during that time.

There’s a weird time jump after they decide they need time apart to focus on their individual growth. During that time, Celeste can’t stop thinking about being with Gemma. However, Gemma hasn’t really thought about Celeste in a year. They end up together shortly after. It’s confusing.

The book was dual POV, but Gemma’s chapters were written in first person and Celeste’s were written in third person. It made for a really weird and choppy reading experience.

Thank you to Forever Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC.

This book was super cute!!!

So easy and a quick read! Although... I had some issues with the miscommunication trope. It was definitely hard for me to get past this.

But, overall such a cute rom com!!

ALSO... love that cover!!!!!

3 stars.

I love second-chance romance when it’s done well, but I genuinely don’t think it was executed correctly in this case. I mean, you’re telling me Celeste ended their relationship abruptly, without any explanation or communication, and that was it? How could Gemma possibly have felt about that?

Not only that but let’s throw her now current ex James, who also abruptly left her, confessed to cheating, and expects Gemma to accept that?

Too much was going on for me that the feeling between Gemma and Celeste throughout the book didn’t even feel genuine.

I'm a huge fan of second chance romances, forced working together-ness, and anything inspired by Chappell Roan! Love in Focus has all of those and more! What I really loved about this book is that it examines how few representation certain ethnicities have of queer elders. It's so important to have older role models because when we can't see it, it becomes difficult to believe we have a future. It's also touched upon in the book the queerphobia within Korean Culture and the struggles this brings to the conceptualization of relationships and the future.

First, thank you to Forever Pub and Lyla Lee for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

How do you define love?! My heart guys! Gemma and Celeste meet in college, they’re roommates who become more than just friends. But when Celeste leaves for South Korea, she ends up ghosting Gemma. Years go by and Gemma is fresh off the heels of her broken engagement, feeling like life is falling apart. She gets a new assignment at work and lo and behold who does she end up working with?! That’s right. Her ex, Celeste. You follow the two of them trying to navigate life and work and that inexplicable pull they have towards each other. This story was beautiful and funny and just shows you that there are a lot of different types of love and ways to show love. In a lot of ways, love was really the focus in this one! The narrators also did an amazing job bringing this story to life!