Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC. Both Things Are True was an easy romance read (under 300 pages). I am usually a sucker for a second chance romance and I was intrigued by the premise. Overall the story fell a little flat for me. The back and forth between the main characters was exhausting and the lack of communication was puzzling. I would definitely try another book from this author.

Not a book I really enjoyed. Seemed hard to relate to the characters. There was nothing original, and seemed very predictable.

Seems like the book will be a bigger hit with a younger demographic who might relate better to the characters.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.

3.5 stars ⭐️ I liked the plot but didn’t connect with the characters. I don’t like bad communication so this also influenced my feelings towards the book.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

alright i know the star rating seems a bit brutal, but it’s justified. the very beginning of this book was actually super interesting with a captivating and unique plot. at about 35%, it started going downhill. there was definitely not enough dialogue for me (or for most readers for that matter), and the storyline was just dragging on with no direction. the characters were also incredibly unrealistic. both characters were pretty boring and completely lacked personality. this could be a really great book if there were some major revisions to the characters’ developments, plot, and dialogue.

i know how much work goes into writing these stories, so i’m really hesitant when i write a negative review about an arc. i think certain people may like this book, but i needed so much more.

Hm, I wouldn’t say I’m a fan of this.
I found the characters extremely annoying and juvenile, which is a major hit (to me) because understanding and appreciating characterizations and character journeys is the first and most important thing to me in any book. Barring that, I also found the plot very undeveloped and repetitive, which honestly just started boring on my nerves. Sorry. I really did try to like this! The writing in and of itself is okay, funny sometimes, and takes you through the book as smoothly as it can: but the other elements here are just too awful and irredeemable to me, unfortunately. Beautiful cover though, I’m really in love with it, with a very interesting title, I must say. Thank you to the publishers for the advanced copy.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. This was perfectly fine second chance romance. But the characters were kind of meh and the whole thing was kind of predictable. This was the first time I had read this author and I don’t know that I will be rushing to read another one. 2.5 stars rounded up.

What a darling book! I haven’t read one quite like this in a long time. It was just so honest and true and I fell in love with the characters from the start. Well done!

3.5 / 5 Stars
I felt such a rollercoaster of emotions reading this book! First let’s start with the plot. Vanessa is a yoga teacher living in New York who is recently engaged to a crypto-entrepreneur named Jack (I don’t understand crypto but bless anyone who does). However, she still longs for her college sweetheart, Sam. Vanessa and Sam fell hard for each other and even got married in Vegas their senior year. The marriage lasted 72 hours before being annulled but the hole in Vanessa’s heart is still there five years later. She knows her upcoming marriage to Jack isn’t right because he isn’t Sam but she just can’t figure out how to tell Jack. Turns out that she doesn’t have to because Jack commits wire fraud and flees the country causing Vanessa to move back to Chicago where she runs into Sam. Vanessa’s reputation isn’t stellar (it isn’t great that people think she was in on scamming people out of millions of dollars) and she has no clue if Sam even wants anything to do with her. As they continue to bump into each other, Vanessa and Sam see if they have a second chance together amid the chaos.

I find that the second chance trope is a really hard one for me to invest in sometimes because I end up feeling that the two people have to really change in order to make a relationship work a second time. The problem for me was that miscommunication was a key issue in Vanessa and Sam’s relationship the first time and miscommunication remained a huge issue. I felt frustrated reading about their back and forth and the missed chances and misunderstandings and sometimes felt like “maybe these two people just aren’t meant to be.”

But even still, I devoured this book. I read it in under 24 hours because I had to know what happened in their past and I had to know what would happen with them now. And my stomach viscerally dropped when they miscommunicated and my heart sang when they connected and then dropped again and sang again, over and over. And I would so much rather read a book where I feel something intensely whether good or bad or a mix of both than read a book where I dread picking the book up or feel like I am reading something that I have read before with a slightly different plot. And there was a moment when Vanessa came into her power and her sense of self that really made me cry. So all in all, I would recommend this book if you want to feel something intensely too.

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for providing this eARC! All opinions are my own.

This book had an intriguing premise, but unfortunately, it didn’t live up to its potential. Vanessa, the protagonist, was difficult to connect with. Her constant indecisiveness and self-pity made her more frustrating than relatable. She repeated the same mistakes throughout the story, which made it hard to believe in her growth. Sam, the love interest, wasn’t much better—he lacked depth and never seemed to evolve past his past mistakes. Their relationship felt juvenile, with too much focus on their back-and-forth rather than meaningful development or chemistry.

The plot also failed to deliver. There was a clear lack of a well-defined antagonist, and the few attempts to build conflict, like the cryptocurrency fraud subplot, felt underdeveloped. It left the story feeling shallow and incomplete. Additionally, the repetitive nature of Vanessa’s behavior—constantly arriving late, crying, or dealing with her knee injury—became tiresome after a while. The setting was also underutilized, with most of the action taking place in Faith’s apartment instead of exploring more of the vibrant city of Chicago.

While the book was a quick read, it felt rushed and didn’t offer enough emotional depth or satisfying character growth. Ultimately, the story didn’t provide the engagement I was hoping for, and the characters never quite found their footing. That's why it gets 1 ⭐ from me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union for providing an ARC of this novel. I enjoyed the romance and the chemistry between Vanessa and Sam, and certainly Jack played the role of "terrible ex" well. There is a lot of miscommunication, which is to be expected at times in romance, though I did feel it went on a little too long. The situation that Jack puts Vanessa in after his cryptocurrency exchange goes under is definitely upsetting and it seems deeply unfair how she is put through the wringer in spite of having nothing to do with the company. I honestly enjoyed the book; however, I found it hard to believe the ease with which Vanessa repeatedly fell back into lust with Sam although he honestly treats her terribly (almost worse than her ex Jack). If she were my friend or sister, I'd warn her off this kind of relationship for sure.

Thank you very much to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this as an a-ARC! Overall I found the concept very interesting! I’m not a huge fan of miscommunication (which there is a lot of) and had a difficult time relating to Vanessa or even Sam, her love interest. A lot of different things happened, and I am still VERY concerned about Vanessa’s knee injury. I appreciated how supportive Vanessa’s friends and sister were though, that was very heartwarming. Ultimately, I just had a difficult time getting into this book but the last 50 pages or so went by relatively quickly.

Vanessa’s life goes boom when her crypto-bro fiancé flees the country, forcing her to crash with her sister in Chicago. Just as she’s rebuilding, she runs into Sam—her ex, who she once accidentally married in Vegas before a quick annulment. Now he’s a responsible solar company co-owner, and she’s still a chaotic queen trying to outrun scandal. Their chemistry? Undeniable. Their banter? Top-tier. Vanessa’s inner monologue is hilarious, the side characters are gold, and the whole book is rom-com perfection. Beneath the humor, it’s a heartfelt story about second chances, owning your past, and embracing the mess. If you love witty, fast-paced romances with just the right amount of chaos, Both Things Are True is a must-read.

I had fun with this book and the plot. The blurb intrigued me immediately and that's why I chose it. The first part was a bit flat, but this explained the relationship that Vanessa had with Jack, I guess. After the action picked up, it got way better.
What I didn't like is the fact that at one point the lack of communication between the two main characters was really annoying and they were avoiding to talk about the important things, while also saying that it would not work out. The ending felt a bit rushed, lots of things happened in the last 20% of the book. Still, I enjoyed the overall story and narrative.
My favorite character is Faith, one of the most supportive and reliable persons from this story, but the entire "village" that Vanessa had around was awesome, I am a sucker for these moments.

I have highly mixed feelings about this book. On one hand, I loved the overall concept—a second-chance romance reignited by a cryptocurrency scandal caused by the FMC’s fiancé. Kathleen Barber’s writing style is engaging, and she delivers a unique plot infused with humor that kept the dialogue sharp and witty.

However, the execution of the plot and character development didn’t quite hit the mark for me. Miscommunication as a trope is tricky to pull off, and in this case, it left me deeply frustrated. The flashbacks to the characters’ initial romance failed to establish enough chemistry to make me invested in their reconciliation—it actually felt more like a toxic and depressing relationship rather than one worth rooting for.

The characters themselves were also difficult to connect with. Vanessa, the main protagonist, often came across as unlikable, selfish, and detached from reality. Her repeated self-inflicted knee injuries, despite relying on her physical health as a yoga instructor, only added to my frustration. Meanwhile, the love interest, Sam, was unfortunately bland and lacked depth.

That said, I did appreciate the fresh and timely plot, the intriguing look into the influencer world, and the innovative solar company aspect. Despite the messiness, I liked how everything wrapped up neatly with a happy ending. While this book didn’t completely work for me, I can still see its appeal for readers who enjoy a unique take on second-chance romance derived from miscommunication.

4 🧘 instructors for Kathleen Barber’s new book!

Firstly: these characters are deeply flawed but mostly in a lovable way. They can’t communicate to save their lives and I often find that a completely unbearable trope in a romance, but it feels believable for Vanessa.

Secondly: Vanessa feels like a real and very person. At times I would read about something she was doing and think “I’ve been there” or “I’d say that”. Sam is a mixed bag, flashback Sam is pretty sexy and Sam when they initially rekindle… oh boy. But then he has some serious missteps. I still like the lovable goof.

Thirdly: this boy is set in pretty close quarters, most things taking place in Vanessa, Faith and Sam’s apartment building. This setting worked really well for the story the author wanted to tell.

There isn’t much spice if you are here for that. And at times I thought maybe this book was more drama than romance. But I’m here for it. It was a bumpy road, but honestly that’s life.

I enjoyed this book overall. It was an easy read,, with an interesting plot.

Vanessa, the main female character, is interesting, but at times annoying. She makes decisions that derail her plans at every turn.

The main male character is likeable, but when he's with his business partner he, and the partner, are trying to launch a business. It seems like they literally don't know how to launch the business.

#BothThingsAreTrue #NetGalley #KathleenBarber #LakeUnionPublishing

Both Things Are True by new to me author Kathleen Barber, published by Lake Uniuon Publishing is a stand alone romance novel.
Vanessa is a yoga influencer from New York. But after her fiancé kind of breaks up their lives Vanessa has to start over, going home to Chicago and moving in with her sister.
I read the blurb and was intrigued, but imo sadly the book couldn't hold what was promised. It was dry like 10 days old toast and hurt my brain. An ok read, 3,5 stars.

An easy beach read for the year - I didn’t feel that the characters were fully developed and at times I found myself annoyed with them. However, definitely a light and easy read.

I enjoyed this book and the characters with all their flaws and missteps. It reminded me that this is how real life can be. But, it can also have romance and hope. I think Barber did a good job exploring these themes with her characters. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Enjoyed this overall but just wish Vanessa would communicate better throughout. Loved the fated mates of her and Sam, but I wish she would’ve just even more open.