I’m pleasantly surprised by Both Things Are True. It’s a novel filled with truth, heart, and the beauty and ugly of this life we’re all living. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

This book has so much potential but I did not find the main character likable which made it a challenging book for me to get into. Towards the end it did tie up nicely with a happy ending.

I liked this but did find it fairly repetitive and the miscommunication was infuriating. I thought that the plot (not about the romance) was interesting and I wish we spent more time with that. The back and forth misunderstanding and literally running away got on my nerves a little bit. I did find myself invested and I wanted to see how it ended. I liked most of the side characters and I did enjoy the writing.
Character rating - 2.
Plot rating - 3.
Setting rating - 2.5.

Both Things Are True by Kathleen Barber has all the ingredients for a great second-chance romance—old flames, unexpected reunions, and plenty of drama. But does it deliver? Eh.

We have Vanessa, a yoga influencer, who is engaged to a crypto bro (red flag!) when he pulls a disappearing act after committing fraud. With her life in shambles, she heads back to Chicago (represent!) where she runs into her college sweetheart, Sam—the guy she impulsively married (and annulled) in Vegas years ago. Sparks fly, but so do a lot of frustrating miscommunications, making you wonder if these two should even try again.

On the one hand, the book is addictive. It’s the kind of story you tear through in a day because you have to know how it all plays out. There are emotional highs and lows, and a moment of self-discovery for Vanessa that really hits. But on the other hand, the characters were kind of a miss. Vanessa is very much unlikable, Sam is just kinda there, and the story has a tendency to run in circles.

If you’re looking for something deep and fresh, this might not be it. But if you just want a light, emotional read that makes you feel—then it’s worth picking up.

This book had a very intriguing premise, and parts of it lived up to the hype, some parts I personally did not enjoy as much. Vanessa was difficult to connect with as our protagonist of the story.
I am not a huge fan of the miscommunication trope, which was the problem originally in Vanessa and Sam's relationship, and I felt it still lingered on in their second time. In second chance romances, which I absolutely DEVOUR, there needs to be a lot of growth and change in the characters in order to make it work in their second chance (hence my mention of the miscommunication between our couple). When they were not
Overall, I enjoyed this book and it was a very easy read once I got into it, but it felt like it was missing some depth and detail to make me truly fall in love with it.

*Thank you to NetGalley & Lake Union Publishing for allowing me to read this ARC*

I thought this book was cute. Vanessa and Sam have a past and can’t stop comparing others to each other. This book is all about second chances. The characters were like-able, I feel like there was a little fluff in this story. Overall cute and a quick read.

I have read and loved Kathleen Barber’s previous novels, so I was eager to dive into her latest book, “Both Things Are True”! Given that her other novels are mystery/thrillers, I was especially excited to explore her first venture into romance and women's fiction. I am happy to say that she did not disappoint!

I enjoy getting lost in second-chance romance novels, but I absolutely devoured this one! Kathleen Barber does a fantastic job of creating believable characters that you can't help but root for. The emotions were abundant, and the chemistry between the characters was off the charts! I truly enjoyed this book and hope that Kathleen will continue to write more romance novels in the future!

Vanessa and Sam’s dynamic felt more frustrating than engaging, and the side characters deserved more development. The plot lacked a clear antagonist, and the cryptocurrency fraud subplot could have added more depth. Repetition also became a major issue—by the halfway point, Vanessa’s lateness and indecisiveness felt overdone.

Overall, this might work for readers looking for a light, predictable romance, but it wasn’t for me.

Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – This book pulled me out of a reading slump. I connected with the main character at times, though she could be frustratingly selfish. Still, her emotions felt raw and relatable.

It’s a second-chance romance with a simple yet engaging plot. The writing is easy to read, the characters feel real, and the emotions hit deep. It dragged a little in places, but overall, the pacing was decent. If you're looking for a heartfelt romance, I’d definitely recommend it!

Plus the cover gives me Bridget Jones vibes which doesn't love?

This was a typical 2nd chance book. While the premise could’ve been good, there were many times that I was just confused how we got to where we were. There was almost no tension where there should’ve been tension. It was a quick read but could have been a little longer so we could have a little more information.

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for this ARC.

Thank you to both NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for this ARC.

The premise of this story had great potential, however I had a hard time connecting with the characters, mainly the FMC, Vanessa. I found her to not be very likeable, and "woe is me". Honestly, I found Jacks character to the most redeeming at the end and I was happy he communicated and decided to do the right thing. The miscommunication trope was too much for me as well, which typically doesn't bother me, but I didn't love the way it was written into the story.

The book is overall a very fast and fluffy read - for a beach day read!

I really hoped to enjoy this book more, but it felt like it was dragging at times. When Sam and Vanessa were together, I just craved more from their interactions. Although it’s a second-chance romance, I found myself wanting deeper development between them when the reconnected. They just kept making it so difficult. I understand the story focused on the mixed signals between the characters, but I felt it could have delved into that dynamic more. That said, the ending was satisfying.

I really enjoy reading this book. I always believe in second chances in the life; they either come out god or bad in the ending.

I really did enjoy this book! It is the first book I have read by Kathleen Barber and it definitely won’t be my last! At the beginning I did feel like the story was dragging and I had a hard time liking the main female character. And I really don’t about cryptocurrency so I wasn’t a fan of that. I was a fan of the second chance romance with Vanessa and Sam! You could feel their tension with each other. They had good banter and I loved the Dolly Parton parts. I did start to like Vanessa more when she lived with her sister and was becoming her true self. A part of the book that I didn’t like was when Sam had an issue with something Vanessa would do something sexual to almost take his mind off of it, that gave me the ick. I would definitely recommend this book if you love a second chance and an easy read.
 
 
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing For the advanced copy of this book!

Now Both Things Are True by Kathleen Barber was an intriguing and emotionally charged read that explored the complexities of relationships, ambition, and personal growth. The story follows Nina, a woman who has built a successful career managing a small-town ballet studio. She prides herself on her work ethic and control, but when a new instructor, Cooper, challenges her methods, tensions rise. At the same time, Nina’s longtime friend and colleague, Marie, faces personal struggles that test their bond.

I appreciated how the book delved into the intricacies of workplace dynamics, friendships, and the expectations women face in both their careers and personal lives. The characters were well-developed, flawed yet relatable, and their conflicts felt authentic. The writing was engaging, and the shifts in perspective added depth to the story. While it wasn’t always a fast-paced read, the emotional layers and character-driven narrative kept me invested.

Overall, Now Both Things Are True was a thought-provoking and well-written novel that offered a realistic portrayal of ambition, relationships, and the gray areas in between.

this was a really good book! I love the way this was a light playful read. I like the way the characters developed, and loved how this was a fun romance but it wasn't too cheesy or cringey!

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

3.5 Stars rounded up to 4 Stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

✨ Perception vs. Reality
💔 Grief & Loss
⚠️ Triggering Themes of Guilt & Betrayal
🔍 Mystery & Suspense
🌪️ Twists & Turns
🤔 Unreliable Narrators
💭 Emotional Manipulation
😶 Hidden Secrets

There were good and bad aspects to this book.

𝘉𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘈𝘳𝘦 𝘛𝘳𝘶𝘦 relies almost solely on the miscommunication trope, although in the case of this story, it’s more of a NON-communication. Honestly this drove me nuts. I can’t even say how many times one of our main characters would begin to say something, only to briefly flinch and mask it with a milquetoast smile and “I’m fine” response (sometimes metaphorically, sometimes literally). I realize that without this trope, there wouldn’t even be a story, but wow.

I also wasn’t quite fully pulled into the supposed romance of this book. It honestly felt very bland and had a “first teen love” vibe that was kind of off-putting as a second chance romance. I feel as though the backstory of Vanessa and Sam needs more fleshing out, so we can better understand not only what drew them together, but kept their hearts together after so many years.

Overall, it wasn’t a terrible book, and I plowed through it pretty quickly (a good sign), but it could use at least another 100 pages with more detail and maybe an actual definitive answer on what, exactly, Jack did.

•𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘓𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘗𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸.•

3/5 stars

Look, I love a good second-chance romance. Exes running into each other, old sparks flying, some fun banter—sign me up. But Both Things Are True by Kathleen Barber, it kinda just was. Not bad, not amazing, just… there.

Vanessa is a yoga influencer whose life takes a nosedive when her scammer fiancé pulls a disappearing act. So she does the classic "my life is in shambles, let me go home"move and lands back in Chicago. Enter Sam, the ex she once accidentally married in Vegas (as one does). He’s all put-together now, and she maybe wants back in.

Sounds fun, right? It should be.

But the characters? They didn’t do it for me. Vanessa was hard to root for, and Sam… well, he existed.

The story felt repetitive, like it was running in circles instead of actually getting anywhere. The premise had potential, but it never really went all in.

That said, the happy ending was nice, and if you just want a light, brain-off, beach read, it’s fine. Just don’t expect anything groundbreaking.

Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC!

Fresh, smart, and full of second-chance charm, this story is a whirlwind of reinvention, romance, and the unexpected twists life throws your way. Vanessa’s journey is both messy and magnetic, and her chemistry with Sam crackles with history and unfinished business. With sharp writing, witty dialogue, and a heroine you can’t help but root for, this is a love story about resilience, reputation, and the courage to start over.