A light escape, second chance romance. Vanessa and Sam’s unfolding history and dynamic in their budding second-chance romance storyline was my favorite part of the book. I liked that we learned more about their past that spoke to them individually and collectively.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me a copy of this book to review.

This was a fun romance novel, and I enjoyed it a lot. I am looking forward to reading more by this author.

I've been a fan of Kathleen Barber & her books since the beginning. When I saw her new book would be much different than the first two, I was apprehensive and worried that I would not like it as much. I am happy to report that I was wrong. So wrong!

Vanessa's life falls apart and she moves back to Chicago to regroup. She then runs into her ex, Sam. Their relationship ended in a mess. But the spark is still there, but does it make sense to try again? I couldn't wait to find out if they'd end up together or not. So good!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was a fun read and I generally had a good time with it.

Quick plot recap
Vanessa is engaged to a billionaire CEO of a crypto currency company. When he gets caught and accused of fraud, he flees leaving Vanessa with nothing. When she moves back to Chicago and in with her sister Faith, she runs in to her first love she never got over, Sam. Old feelings show up as they both are trying to redefine themselves and try to rekindle what they once had.

This is an easy read and cute story. There were times in the plot where the miscommunication between the two of them got a little old, or something would of course interrupt them as they were trying to work through something and they would just give up, but overall entertaining. I also really like some of the side characters, but especially her sister Faith. Everyone needs that one person in life that’s there for you no matter what and Faith was that for Vanessa.

If you are looking for an easy, quick, 2nd romance story, this is a good one.

**Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the advanced reader copy of this book!**

I read this almost entirely in one night. I couldn’t wait to see what was going to happen….spoiler alert in case for the rest of the review!

I wanted to see how things would be with Nick and Vanessa. I was worried initially that cryptocurrency not being my forte would be an issue with the book but phew — it was just a bit of a backdrop. I did find myself a little concerned with so much miscommunication between these two is they were destined to be together but I’m choosing to think they’ve earner their happy ending!

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

This was a brilliant book!
As soon as I saw it listed I was hoping I would be accepted! Thank you for the ARC copy of this I really appreciate it!

Both Things Are True by Kathleen Barber is a delightful and engaging read that seamlessly blends humor, heart, and a touch of scandal into a captivating second-chance romance. Barber's writing is both witty and heartfelt, drawing readers into the lives of Vanessa and Sam with remarkable ease.

The novel's strength lies in its relatable characters and their journey of self-discovery and redemption. Vanessa's resilience and determination to rebuild her life after her fiancé's betrayal make her a compelling protagonist, while Sam's own vulnerabilities and unwavering support add depth to his character. Their reconnection is both poignant and humorous, filled with the awkwardness and excitement of rekindling a past love.

Barber expertly weaves together themes of forgiveness, personal growth, and the complexities of modern relationships, all while delivering a satisfying and entertaining story. The inclusion of Dolly Parton as a sort of "patron saint" of the love story adds a unique and charming element to the narrative.

Both Things Are True is a thoroughly enjoyable novel that will leave readers rooting for Vanessa and Sam. It's a perfect blend of lightheartedness and emotional depth, making it an ideal choice for fans of contemporary romance.

I wrote this book and I love it. :) [Sorry if I'm not supposed to be rating it; I clicked open the link to see how the NetGalley copy looked to readers!]

It's more of a 3.5, but I'm rounding up! Two exes, one engaged to someone else but not getting over her first love, whom she hasn't heard from or seen in many years. Quick read and a cute Rom Com with its own challenges and communication issues. Will look for more from this author.

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC!

3.5⭐️ This was a cute romance novel and an easy read with a nice & tidy ending. I also thought the more recent pop culture references were fun. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but I do think some details were glossed over that could have added depth to the plot or character development. Overall though, it was great read for a long flight!

We did not vibe.

FMC & MMC didn’t realize they were in the miscommunication trope until the last 15 pages of the book. Too many TikTok references. FMC got kidnapped to Switzerland. MMC is in therapy but is really bad at it.

They had their cute moments but everytime they met up in the apartment gym I knew it was about to go down. AND the whole thing about him answering the call was insane… 😭 just cuz like… talk about it.

SPOILER: I was initially intrigued by the title of this book, but the reasoning behind the title gave me the ick.

Vanessa is a yoga instructor who is engaged to a successful entrepreneur, but is still hung up on her ex, Sam. When things go south with her fiance, she gets a second chance with Sam. This was cute, but it didn't keep my interest. I didn't feel a connection to any of the characters and wasn't invested in the story. I think the author had written different genres previously, and maybe was less comfortable with romance. Not sure, but this one just wasn't my cup of tea.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

I really enjoyed this book! I’m a sucker for romance. This was a light, easy read. I loved the characters and the second chance romance trope. Miscommunication turned the love lives of Vanessa and Sam upside but a quick chance encounter on a Chicago bus changed started a whirlwind of emotions-passion, pain, anger, sadness, fear, confusion, and joy.

I have mixed feeling about this. It was good but something amazing. I entered in this book with expectations, but its not live upto it.It was light hearted but not something groundbreaking.
It was second chance romance book. This trope doesn't usually work for me. But after reading blurb, I decided to give it chance. The plot has potential, but its not went well.
When I read second chance, I expect growth in characters, working on their relationship or past issues , some angst and a lot of emotions
But their were no characters growth . Characters were messy.
Venessa , she is like mess from beginning to ending. She is lack in self confidence and self esteem department. When I read her character, I expect her to be grow in confidence person. Throughout the book , she never work on herself, she try but not truly. Her character has potential, but it was wasted. She ia a yoga influencer, a famous one , who can be shown as independent women. But through out the book she ia mess. But also a bad communicators. Sometimes I like her , Like everything going on with her , How she trying to put herself together. But sometimes she felt flat.
It was hard to root for her. She was the main focus of the story.
Sam , also a main character who has like very less appearance compare to his role. He just existing not doing anything for to work on their relationship. For till 85% there were no growth in him and his actions.
The story also feels repetitive, circulating around the same path.
Writing style was good.
There is a happy ending.

If you want a light romance with no brainstorming, a beach read vibe. THEN READ IT.

This book is for you if you love second chances in both life and love. The characters are likeable, and hold a history that gives them both a bit of depth. It is the perfect light read with a predictable feel good plot. Worth checking out when it comes out in September!

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to preview this novel. The opinions shared are my own.

sadly it was archived before i could read it. i read till 29 pages and it was going interesting but unfortunately i forgot to check how many days i have left.

If a miscommunication trope isn’t your jam, you may want to pass. Sometimes I struggled with most of the characters being difficult to like and not having enough development from their college years. Overall I’d say good, not great, neutral. 3.5 stars from me.

Thank you to NetGalley, I was able to read this book early. Great story about how true love never dies and if you’re destined to be with someone, you’ll find your way back. Vanessa and Sam’s inability to express themselves and stop assuming things got on my nerves. Vanessa’s “eeyore” syndrome was a bit too much at times. However, the ending was great!

Full review to come on Goodreads and Amazon. Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for a review copy

Sadly this one just wasn’t for me. I didn’t engage much with the characters which is a key during my reading journey of a novel. I’ve read books with miscommunication romance but this one was slightly to much and it became some what frustrating. The writing was elegant and well formed however.