Sasha Laurens’s When I Picture You delivers exactly what I crave in romance: a thoughtful blend of friends-to-lovers, second chances, and a romance built on an emotional foundation rather than instant fireworks.

At first glance, neither Renee nor Lola is immediately likable — and that’s part of what makes their story work. Renee is adrift, trying to reconcile her talent and ambition with the stagnation of her present life. Lola, on the surface, seems to have achieved everything she ever wanted, yet her scars from a past relationship shadow even their first night together.

The book is, in many ways, predictable — but it’s also full of tenderness. Laurens excels at capturing quiet moments of connection: late-night conversations, creative breakthroughs, and the nervous joy of falling for someone you thought you’d lost. Even while under the weather, I devoured the story in a single day, drifting in and out of naps and still unwilling to put it down.

I’m grateful to the publisher for the ARC and ALC, which let me enjoy this as an immersive experience. Listening and reading in tandem made it easy to fall for these characters and their journey toward love, self-understanding, and creative renewal.

When I Picture You hit the absolute spot for me. I spoke to a friend recently that I love when romances focus on the individuals growing to become worthy of their counterparts. In other words, get out of their own way and embrace the love they deserve. Lauren’s nails it on the head with this sapphic romance.

When I Picture You follows closeted pop star Lola Gray finally getting the “girl” her childhood best friend/next door neighbor budding filmmaker Renee Feldman. These two are in similar ruts and find solace in a one night stand the night of Lola’s sister’s wedding. Renee “relationship-phobic” Feldman runs as soon as the sun rises and aims to forget the whole encounter until Lola calls her offering the job of a lifetime - directing Lola’s documentary chronicling the process of her new album. Can they keep their feelings under wrap under the scrutiny of the public and expectation or will tensions bubble over without being denied any longer?

I really have to applaud Laurens for its depiction of the film and music world and its intersection. Unfortunately, many authors get these details wrong and pull me out of the world completely. This is not the case at all. Another positive is the deeply flawed characters there is no point where I felt that one character was clearly innocent or to blame for any of the problematic situations. They felt fully realized, motivated individuals overcome with desire for success and each other. It’s a steamy tale, but felt intentional and purposeful for its plot. Can’t express how much I enjoyed this one!

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for this eARC! This book had me from the title to be honest, Chappell references will always get me. And this book really delivered. I was really swept up in this second chance romance/ friends to lovers story. Even when I was frustrated as hell at both of the main characters and just wanted them to TALK TO EACHOTHER! But Lola and Renee's connection and chemistry really helped to keep me rooting for them through all of the trial and error. I also loved each of their support systems having people that would tell them when they were making mistakes. And the spice level is 10/10 truly highly recommend this read all the way around.

I really enjoyed this book. Both characters were likable, and the conflicts felt realistic rather than forced or irrational. At times, I found Lola’s communication style a little immature, but it didn’t take away too much from the story. The romance did move quickly, from something small to true love/life partners almost in a blink and I tend to enjoy more of a slow burn and buildup. Overall though, it worked within the cozy tone of the book. When I Picture You is a comforting, heartwarming read that left me smiling.

ARC Review: When I Picture You by Sasha Laurens
Pub Date: October 28, 2025

Thank you Avon for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Listen, we all here know that I don't really love a celebrity romance. But since this was the Afterlight pick and it was sapphic, I really wanted to check it out and give it a chance. And I am really really glad I did!

Renee Feldman is...well, a little lost. She is supposed to be finishing up her MFA in filmmaking but nothing is sparking joy or creativity for her. She's working as a barista in her home town and really doesn't know what she is going to do next. Lola Gray is now a world famous pop star but in their childhood, she was just the girl who lived next door. When Renee and Lola run into each other at a hometown wedding, their chemistry is undeniable. Though Lola appears to the outside world as a straight woman, she's actually bi, and she and Renee have a one night stand on the night of the wedding. Lola then decides to hire Renee to film a documentary of her that has been in the works. And the forced proximity really does its job because they are rapidly inseparable and sharing truths that neither of them intended to.

I think some people may consider this a "instalove" situation - the characters do say I love you after a few months in the book - but I think the forced proximity really makes the speed of their relationship make sense. They are basically together all day every day and both characters end up being very raw and open with each other. I really loved how both Renee and Lola open up to each other throughout the course of the book and filming the documentary.

The scenes at the cottage were some of my favorite! It was so nice to see the two of them together with very few other influences. They were able to open up even more during that time which I really appreciated. Their relationship is messy, but primarily because of outside influences.

This is one of those rare books where I didn't really mind the third act breakup because I thought it allowed both characters to do a lot of growth and figure out what they wanted as individuals. I really do recommend this one and hope people take a chance on it because I really do think it's worth it!

This sapphic story of second chances has the makings of being a great story. Childhood friends reunite as adults with one of them questioning their own gender identity. While the plot was interesting, the story drags in some parts. I found myself telling it just get on with it! I'm sure this author will refine their craft and become better over time. You can see it's right there.
That said, some of those passages are easy to skim without losing much plot.
I loved how we see what inspired Lola's initial success and how she overcomes writer's block.
Overall, I enjoyed the story, and you would like it too if you are into gender questioning tales with multiple pop culture references and inspiration.

When I Picture You is a queer rom-com that hits like your favorite love song: a little nostalgic, a lot sexy, and totally, unapologetically swoony.
Think: emotionally constipated pop star + broke, brilliant filmmaker + a one-night stand that was absolutely not supposed to mean anything… and yet somehow means everything.
Enter: Renee Feldman, former hometown heartthrob and current barista-with-a-crumbling-MFA-dream. She’s smart, cynical, and one thesis short of losing it all. Then cue Lola Gray—former childhood neighbor, current sapphic superstar with platinum records, emotional baggage, and a full-on creative identity crisis.
They were a footnote in each other’s pasts. A maybe. A crush. A moment.
Now? They’re suddenly thrust into a shared creative project: Renee directing a documentary about Lola’s next album—aka the most personal thing Lola’s ever made. The tension is palpable. The chemistry? Unresolved. The stakes? Off the charts.
And here’s what makes it work:
💖 When I Picture You is tender and sexy without sacrificing the messiness of queer love in the spotlight.
🎬 It’s full of creative longing—the kind of story where romance and art are tangled, and neither feels simple.
🎤 And it genuinely honors what it means to be seen: by fans, by strangers, but most importantly, by the person who knew you before you became a brand.
The book leans all the way into the “famous girl next door” trope and gives it depth. It’s got sapphic yearning, second chances, and that Oh no, we caught feelings energy—but it also doesn’t gloss over the very real pressures of being queer in public.
Vibes checklist:
🎧 Pop star x filmmaker
💫 Reunited after a decade (and it’s charged)
🎥 Forced proximity via one emotionally risky doc project
🫠 “Did that one night mean what I think it did?”
🌈 Big queer feels in an industry built on image
Bottom line? When I Picture You is for the soft but guarded creatives. For the gays who put their feelings into playlists. For anyone who’s ever had to ask, “Is there a version of us that gets to exist in the light?”
Spoiler: There might be.

3.5⭐

LIKED:
- This is another one where I was surprised by my own enjoyment. I don’t think this book is perfect and definitely has its flaws, but I was rooting for the characters in their journeys both in and out of their romantic relationship.
- I can understand why some people would be put off by the first act of this book due to the presentation of the characters and their personalities. However, I think it’s important that the characters start there so that we can appreciate their full arcs at the end of the book, which I very much did. I especially like where Renee ended versus where she started (and she started *rough* to say the least). People can be flawed and grow, y’all (not that either of them are without flaws by the end either).
- Renee's experience with burnout and listlessness are really well done and resonant.
- I think my favorite character in the book is Renee’s mom. I love seeing characters with good relationships with their parents (though Renee’s dad is out of the picture, her step-dad is very much an active, appreciated parent in her life, which is nice to see as well).
- I like the US cover. I think there’s something a bit awkward with Renee’s expression (and the fact that Lola’s dress is purple when it’s based off of a dress that’s green in the book), but overall it’s nice enough. The UK cover is, unfortunately, underwhelming. It’s that very stereotypical ‘cartoon’ cover that everyone complains about because it looks so juvenile.

LAMENTED:
Listen. I think that we as readers are quick to judge every single pop star romance as being based on Taylor Swift when it is just a female pop singer FMC. However, it is hard to avoid the accusations for this one. Lola writes songs based on exes. She’s got the ‘Gaylor’ rep. There are others that I don’t know well enough because I’m not a Swiftie and honestly, it was hard to suspend disbelief for a good chunk of the book because every time there was a relation to Taylor Swift, I was mentally yanked out of the book into the real world. I think the author was trying to do a bit of a blend between Taylor and Sabrina, which is all fine, but I wish there was just a bit more of Lola as a unique character as opposed to an amalgamation of real world celebrities.
- Boy howdy the Los Angeles representation in this book is god awful. It was like one google search was done and no one who actually lives here (or has lived here in the past decade) was consulted on it. It really put a damper on my reading experience, which I know is a me thing, but come on. It’s frustrating.
- While I appreciated a lot of the more adult aspects of the book (specifically Renee’s burnout and career struggles), I actually really think this would have been better as New or Young Adult in categorization. - This may be in part to it being a coming out story (which, yes, of course that happens later in life, too) but I wish that Lola had another layer to it besides just needing to come out to her fans. It needed some nuance.
- There’s some issues with momentum overall. I know that Lola is struggling against herself and her team, but it felt like it was two steps forward one step back for the majority of the book that got a bit tiring. And the stuff with Lola’s manager was trite and annoying.
- There's something about the way representation is...represented in this book that I found grating. Instead of it being organic to the characters and their introductions, it almost felt like checking boxes. Khadijah is the major example, where instead of us learning through conversations or exposure to the character, it is lore dumped in a single sentence that they're polyamorous and non-binary. Which, again, great for the rep, but also...make them feel like actual people.
- I don’t really get this title for this book. I know it has to do with Renee being a filmmaker, but I don’t think it fits all that well. There’s also something to be said that the way the title is presented on the cover is also disappointing (and not that eye-catching overall).

LONGED FOR:
- Less overt inspiration for Lola.
- Better LA rep, oof.
- Smoother pacing and momentum throughout.

How Long Do I Think They’ll Stay Together? : I think they’ll be together for awhile but will open their relationship after, like a decade or so. Which is fine. I just don’t really see them being enough for each other (but still needing each other also, if that makes sense.)

Will I read the next one? : Maybe. I think if the next book is about Lola’s beard and his coming out, that could be fun (though unfortunately another coming out story). I don’t know if this author is interested in writing non-sapphic stories, however, which is fine.

I really enjoyed this sapphic celebrity romance!

Both characters were well fleshed out and had convincing backgrounds and struggles that reflected each of their respective creative talents! I enjoyed the way they interacted with each other and the familiarity they had from their childhoods with each other.

Some things that I didn't love, I didn't love the way the third-act started. I think it was kinda understandable with the characters and just who they are but it was definitely a little bit frustrating. I am also slightly mixed on the understones/crossover between the our Celeb FMC, Lola, and Taylor Swift. I think the various real life inspirations for a few of the celebrities were pretty obvious and felt a little weird at times.

Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for the ARC!

3.5 stars

This was a cute sapphic romance with GREAT chemistry and heart. I do feel like there were some moments that felt a little like they were thinly veiled Taylor Swift inspired, specifically the Gaylor rumors and that era. However, I do understand that writing about a pop star in the modern world hiding their sexuality is going to be similar to a real pop star in the modern world (sexuality aside).

The conflict in the third act was a little frustrating to read but that was mainly because I just wanted to shake Lola and get her out of her own head. It was handled well and written realistically which I definitely appreciated.

Overall, Renee and Lola have great chemistry and watching them both grow and come out of their shells was a real treat.

4.5 stars rounded up

Overall I really enjoyed this fast paced celebrity sapphic romance. I laughed, I cried, and I kicked my feet as I watched a famous singer-songwriter closeted people pleaser and a down her luck figuring out her life person who holds people at arms length navigate falling in love. I loved watching both Lola and Renee grow both as a couple and importantly as individuals. I also appreciated the nods to mental health rep while navigating career ups and downs as well as its exploration in difficulties of coming out and how a person’s coming out is unique to them.

Other reviewers mentioned the the parallels to Taylor Swift. While I can see it, it didn’t personally distract from the story for me.

Thank you to Sasha Laurens and Avon and Harper Voyager | Avon for providing an ebook. I am voluntarily leaving this honest review.

This reads very Gaylor-coded to me, which with current events means it's going to be wildly appealing to a certain subset of people right now but was a touch distracting to me, especially with the secret model ex-girlfriend and wild internet theories around her.

Read this book if you like: instalust (childhood crushes are mentioned, but the book moves into the physical quickly and does not spend much time developing why these two are into one another outside of that so be prepared to get on board quickly), a lot of discussion about the difficulties of coming out and not feeling "queer" enough from a bisexual character who frankly has not put a lot of thought into the concept of queerness, lots of references to pop culture and fame, mental health representation.

I think both characters have some preconceived notions of sexuality and the performance of it in the public eye that show to me that the author did put some thought into that whole discussion, though I could see some people not enjoying the way the conversation is implemented. Renee's somewhat exclusionary and occasionally biphobic view of Lola is challenged, somewhat. I found Renee quite immature throughout most of the book, but also, the way she talks is very true to many MFA students so maybe that's just authenticity. I did think the way her burnout was portrayed was great. I particularly appreciated the moment in which Lola sees a teen who has been disowned and made homeless due to her coming out defending Lola online in a "queerbaiting" conversation and thinking to herself, "what am I actually doing here, I am unbelievably wealthy and already out to my family, how is she defending me instead of me defending her?" I wish there was a lot more acknowledgement of Lola's unbelievable privilege throughout the book (she pops on a private jet whenever and yet the biggest villain is her own employee, who she pays and can fire whenever she wants?) but the author does at least toss a few bones in that direction.

Overall, I am not a huge fan of a romance where a lot of the story is struggling to come out, nor did I enjoy the interludes from the internet forums that sounded EXACTLY like Gaylor discourse. I just personally prefer sapphic romance that focuses on the romance rather than the struggle, where the characters can just be happy. BUT, that doesn't mean stories involving struggle aren't important and valid, and someone will surely really appreciate it.

I loved every second of this book! I had so much fun reading and I love popstar romances! If you're looking for something sweet and sapphic, check this book out!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC! All opinions in this review are my own.

.25 stars, would give it none if I could. DNF'd at 33%/C13.

This novel is full of biphobia and hate towards anyone that is not lesbian which all stems from one of the FMC's Renee. Not only did Renee have CONSTANT negative thoughts and feelings about literally anyone that wasn't an out, proud, and a "cool" lesbian like herself, she was also absolutely insufferable. She was constantly negative about every. single. thing. The wedding? She hates love and doesn't wanna be there despite it being for a childhood friend whom she is supposedly happy for. Also, why is her mum even happy being at this wedding, she's a divorcee! Her mum's boyfriend of 4 years? They haven't dated long enough for him to really know her mum. These Sweet Sixteens I film for my interim job? It doesn't matter what the client wants, who wants to watch this and why do I need to make edit it to be "fun" and happy? The schedule and expectations of a pop star? So stupid, I am going to rage against the system at all times despite getting a gig that I am completely unqualified for and incompetent at. Walls? I am going to reminisce about how I used to punch them because I have no emotional regulation. My career? I am going to constantly cry about how no one likes my art and it's not because I didn't bother to take critiques and improve, its because everyone else's tastes suck. I make "real" art.

As for Lola? I don't have much to say. She was just there (which kind of was her character's "flaw") but Renee literally sucked all the air out of the room so there was no room for Lola to actually shine despite being the pop star in question.

Besides the FMCs, there was also the token diversity checklist POC, non-binary, and poly best friend. It was also spilled out in one sentence instead of staggered naturally throughout the novel who they were. IIRC, they might've been the only POC mentioned.

It's upsetting because the premise itself could be really fun and make for a cute love story but Renee is such a terrible character that I can't stand reading about her and her phobia against others in the queer community and anyone cis/heterosexual. Hate isn't cute.

THIS BOOK! THIS BOOK BOTH GAVE ME LIFE AND DESTROYED ME!

Sasha Laurens crafted a BEAUTIFUL story of queer love that has me dying at how stunning it was. The chemistry, the plot, and the writing had me hooked from page one. This book could have easily been a generic pop-sensation love story but it had so much depth, character, and it explored our Renee and Lola's lives, their insecurities, and how they both made each other better.

Our main character Lola (definitely Taylor Swift coded) is struggling to manage the expectations and image that she has curated with her management and fans while also wanting to life some of the curtain into who she is. Enter Renee (MFA student and former childhood neighbor) who is struggling to break free of the criticisms and imposter syndrome she gained while dealing with the academia culture and critiques she endured before taking a pause on her degree and her passion for film. When the two former childhood friends meet up at Lola's sister's wedding, a spark hits and we follow their journey as they both help each other grow and have them rethink what they are capable of.

Lola and Renee have so much chemistry and they had me hooked on their love story and I was rooting for them with every obstacle that came their way. Gloriana, Lola's manager, is a grade-A gaslighter and I felt like Laurens did such a good job showing how others see her compared to Lola. The side characters were also such a pleasure! I loved Lola's friend group and I could have read a whole book about the friends. Everyone felt so real and I just adored every moment of this!

I will definitely be recommending this to our queer student organization and to all of my Sapphic reader patrons when this releases.

Renee and Lola grew up together, only to grow apart as they pursued their different dreams in the entertainment industry. With Lola growing to be the biggest pop star in the world and Renee abandoning her dreams of finishing her film degree, their chance encounter at a hometown wedding turns into a whirlwind one night stand both struggle to forget. When Lola is looking for a director she trusts for a tell-all documentary about writing her new album, she puts her feelings aside to bring on a director she trusts to tell her story. Feelings evolve and both women must face their fears in order to be together in the way they want to be.

This book is meant for the pop culture aficionados and lovers of celebrity romances. The parallels to a certain pop star's rumored relationship with her best friend had me laughing in disbelief as the story progressed, and honestly contributed to my enjoyment of the story!

Book review: When I Picture You by Sasha Laurens.
Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for my gifted ARC.

This book wraps around you like your favorite hoodie on a cloudy afternoon—soft, familiar, a little bit sexy, and not afraid to make you feel something real. Renee is a stalled-out filmmaker-slash-barista whose only creative momentum comes from panicking over her unfinished thesis. Lola is a closeted pop star in the middle of a glittering implosion. When these two childhood friends reconnect at a wedding (cue every sapphic fantasy ever), they tumble into each other—literally and emotionally—sparking not just a one-night stand but a slow-burning, full-bodied reckoning with who they are, what they want, and what they’ve been too afraid to say out loud.

This isn’t just a love story—it’s a coming-of-identity story layered with queer longing, music-industry politics, and the kind of creative hunger that can ruin or rescue you. If you’re looking for a neat rom-com with a few jokes and a tidy bow, this book will politely slam the door in your face. But if you’re here for tension that simmers beneath fame and fear, for two flawed women who dare to fall hard in the public eye, you’ll find yourself hooked.

Laurens writes with a deceptively chill confidence—sharp dialogue, perfectly timed flashbacks, and lyrics that actually feel like something you’d cry to on your bedroom floor. The pacing is smart; the chemistry, undeniable. And the emotional arcs? They don’t shortcut anything. These women work for their peace.

My favorite line? “She’s not a person, she’s an industry.” It hit like a lyric, a truth, and a warning all at once.
A delicious mix of vulnerability, defiance, and queer joy that refuses to apologize for any of it.

Alright, you know that feeling when you read a book and think, “This is adorable, but also kind of familiar?” That’s exactly what When I Picture You is. It’s basically a sapphic Taylor Swift fanfic with just enough angst, chemistry, and industry drama to keep you hooked. Renee is stuck in a creative rut, drowning in student debt, and desperately trying to finish her MFA—classic existential college crisis, right? Then there’s Lola, a pop star who was basically the inspiration behind her genre, but who’s painfully struggling with her own heartbreak and the fear of coming out. When they reconnect at a wedding, sparks fly—and not just from the alcohol. Their chemistry feels very real, imperfect but genuine, and I loved watching them stumble and try to be better for each other.
Now, let’s talk about the elephant in the room: it feels like a love letter to all the “Gaylor” conspiracy theories—mega famous singer hiding her queerness, secret crushes, the public scrutiny, you get the picture. It’s almost uncanny how much it mirrors fan theories about Taylor, right down to fan comments about her sexuality sprinkled throughout the story. I can see why some people are calling it “Taylor Swift fanfiction”—and if you’re into all that lore, you might find it a bit distracting or feel like you’re reading an homage rather than an original story. Personally, I thought it added a fun layer of meta-joy, but I totally get how it might pull some folks out of the story if they’re not familiar with the fan theories.
Overall, I really enjoyed the writing, the relatable characters, and the honest exploration of love, fame, and self-identity. It’s got all the classic tropes—childhood friends to lovers, sapphic love, and a famous girl, you know, the usual—but wrapped in a well-paced, heartfelt package. If you’re in the mood for a fun, emotional, and slightly meta read about two girls trying to find their way in love and life, give this one a shot. Just don’t expect it to be super original—it’s more like a love letter to the fandoms and theories we all love to obsess over.

The premise for this book was so much better than the execution. I found it to be clunky and I could not stand Lola. I found her back and forth to be really frustrating and weird in the story.
It didn't feel like the characters were fleshed out and I was wanting more while I was reading it. Almost a DNF a few different times.
This just missed the mark for me.

I didn’t expect to love this book so much. I honestly couldn’t put it down and finished it in one day.

Lola and Renee were everything, their lives crashing into each other at a point where they were both lost and directionless.

Lola is heartbroken, with a white page syndrome and looming deadlines, Renee needs to finish her directing school with a project with no inspiration and a lot of anxiety. Somehow, their worlds collide into a one night stand and then collaborating, and they found a way to help each other move forward for much more than the sake of just their careers. They help each other resolve their career problems, but it goes much beyond this - they see each other, and Renee helps Lola figure out who she is and how to assert herself and what she wants in life, whereas Lola makes Renee face the things she’s been afraid of, instead of running away from them like she has a bad habit of doing. And all throughout the book, I found the topics of being queer, coming out, and public perception, all very well written.