This book was incredibly predictable—and honestly, that’s part of what made it so enjoyable. It’s the kind of cozy, low-stakes read that feels like curling up with a rom-com you’ve seen a dozen times but still love.

The real charm came from Lola, who felt like a queer, slightly dreamy version of Taylor Swift (in the best way). Reading from her perspective was delightful, and I found myself smiling at her inner thoughts and how she navigated the story. Renee, on the other hand, came off a bit whiny and grated on me at times. Both characters, in fact, leaned heavily into naivety that felt more frustrating than endearing, especially in moments where a bit of common sense might have gone a long way.

That said, despite the eye-rolls and predictability, I thoroughly enjoyed the journey. The book was easy to read, cute, and had a lightness that made it a perfect escape for a weekend afternoon.

Huge thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC!

When I Picture You by Sasha Laurens hooked me from page one with its heartfelt, swoon‑worthy romance between aspiring documentary filmmaker Renee Feldman and global pop star Lola Gray. The childhood best friends reconnect after a decade apart to document Lola’s next album, and as emotions simmer, sparks fly against the backdrop of stardom’s spotlight.

I swooned and swooned over the way Renee supported Lola, gave her so much patience, and had such a deep level of care during their intimate moments. Some of the sex scenes were my favorites that I’ve ever read, both in the way they were written and the parallels between my own relationship and theirs.

Although the third-act breakup was a bit predictable and frustrating to witness, I appreciated that each character worked through and recognized their flaws without immediately jumping back to one another. Their eventual reunion felt earned and genuine, not contrived.

All in all, When I Picture You is a tender, emotionally honest romance that had me rooting (and swooning) the entire time.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

thank you so much for the approval- i cannot wait to dive in, this is one of my most anticipated reads of the year! i will be sure to leave a review on GR/retailers to come! 💞

This was a sweet read. However, the reflection on the media and how they represent women and sexuality did get a little repetitive and redundant at times, and I felt we could have dived in deeper. The romance was nice, but it did feel too instantaneous, and I would have preferred the romance to start later in the book. Thank you, NetGalley and Avon, for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A swoon-worthy, sapphic romance between two childhood friends who reconnect after years of not speaking to each other on a chance encounter.

I liked basically everything about this book, but there is one aspect I loved so much: Lola's coming-out journey. I do not relate to the celebrity part, still it was so engrossing. Read it and thank Sasha Laurens after.

thank you netgalley & the publisher for the eARC :)

3.75 ⭐️ rounded up

this was a very cute sapphic romance!! i really liked how it talked about how it can be hard for people to come out. i also adored the childhood friends to lovers trope in this as well as renee & lola’s banter!

i did however find that it read a bit like a fanfic, particularly with the interstitials. i do understand that social media can play a part when writing a novel that has a character that is a celebrity, however it was a little off-putting seeing emojis and fans arguing in an actual novel.

overall, it was a fun read! i would recommend it to those who are looking for a quick sapphic romance read

4⭐

Summary:

This book follows Renee and Lola. Renee is currently taking time off from her MFA in documentary film and working as a barista while trying to get out of a creative slump so she can finish her thesis project before the deadline and finally graduate. Lola is THE popstar of her generation. She recently got out of a secret relationship with a woman, which sent her into a deep case of writer's block and she hasn't written a new song in over a year. She's also currently hiding her sexuality from the world. 

Lola and Renee grew up together. They haven't spoken in years, but when they cross paths at Lola's sister's wedding, sparks fly and they spend one hot night in each other's company.

Not long after, Lola calls up Renee because she needs a director to produce a documentary that's coming out as promo for her next album (an album that Lola still hasn't written). Renee sees this as her chance, she can use this as her thesis and finally graduate.

As Lola and Renee work together to create the documentary, they reconnect and there's no denying the growing teelings they have for each other. However, neither realizes how hard it will be to tell their love story in an industry that sets a narrative of its own.

Review:

This was so cute!! I loved the romance between Lola and Renee, and their chemistry was . Their relationship was also very realistic, neither of them were perfect but they each tried to be the best versions of themselves for each other. I also enjoyed seeing Lola's struggle with coming out to the public. I really empathized with her struggle of trying to keep her private life private, but also wanting to be her authentic self.
Now, I have seen a lot of reviews saying this is "thinly disguised Taylor Swift fanfic", and while I don't know if that's what the author intended, I definitely understand why people saw the comparison. I definitely think the public speculation towards Lola's sexuality was most likely inspired by the "gaylor" rumors, but I don't know if it was necessarily meant to be fanfic about her. Despite whether or not it is, I really enjoyed that aspect of the book. I don't know if they'll be in the finished copy, but this book included occasional breaks from the storyline that included comments online from Lola's fans commenting on her sexuality. Seeing all the differing opinions her fans had about her sexuality, despite knowing absolutely nothing about Lola herself, was intriguing and I really liked how it was shown.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend trying it out when it's released!

Tropes/Vibes:
- Sapphic Relationship
- Bisexual x Lesbian
- Childhood Friends to Lovers
- Famous Popstar

When I Picture You was such a sweet and swoony read, and I absolutely devoured it. Definitely a new favorite!

Renee has no fucks to give, and Lola gives too many, what could go wrong? “Walk Away Renee” does not do relationships, but exceptions are made for the girl next door, who, yes, happens to be a mega star.

Probably because I am a swiftie and chronically online, hard to not notices the big time Taylor influences here: Lola lore, Easter eggs, and per chance a closeted queer (where my gaylor gals at?). At times the comparison felt so commonplace it was almost boring, but Lola’s character is definitely unique and her growth and coming into herself throughout this book made you cheer her on along the way. I hard to relate to navigating bisexuality—people think you’re making it up, being greedy, or trying to hop on a trend. I adored Lolas coming out story, from her introspection and hesitancy to finally just not giving a F.

This book is in third person, which I don’t usually mind, however there was a (smexy) scene where the names felt receptive and it was distracting.

Thank you Net Galley for the ARC, truly adorable story 🥰

The narrative was skillfully crafted and captivating, with remarkable character development that unfolded beautifully and it draws you in from the very first page.

It has quickly secured a place among my favorite reads of 2025, leaving me thoroughly captivated throughout.

As a member of the queer community, I found a deep connection with Lola's journey. The struggles she faces resonate with my own experiences, making it a truly affirming read that allowed me to feel understood and represented.

From the very first page, I was completely captivated and found it impossible to set aside. The emotions conveyed were authentic, allowing readers to connect deeply with the experiences portrayed. Highly recommend.

I extend my gratitude to Netgalley and Harper/Avon for providing the Earc in exchange for my honest review.

This was good! Some parts dragged a little bit and some of the characters were annoying at times but overall it was solid.

Review also on goodreads.

A moment for the Chappel title, please. Thank you for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! I am working through my backlog, and will be momentarily posting reviews for the stories I have yet to get posted but have finished reading.

This was adorable and sexy and cute and so much fun! I had a great time with this book!! I loved these two women and their relationship together

Lola, a famous pop star, is home for her sister’s wedding when she runs into Renee, her childhood next door neighbor and high school crush. What starts as a one night stand becomes so much more for both of them.

This was a fun and sweet sapphic love story that also explores the dynamics of coming out while famous. I really enjoyed the character development and growth throughout the story and rooted for both of them throughout the book. I also appreciated the significant roles of other characters within the book, the discussion surrounding the importance of privilege and influence.

While one could draw some similarities between Lola and Taylor Swift, the focus of the story was on Lola and Renee’s love story, its complexities and trying to find a way to make it work.

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager and Sasha Laurens for the advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 ⭐️

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

This was a fun, very light, sapphic romance that touched on the struggles of being closeted when you’re a public figure.

I loved Renee’s storyline as she struggles with her own future and what it means for her. Being in school, dropping out, living at home, all of these things I think are so relatable and really capture being in your late 20s.

Unfortunately, what made this a 3.5 and not more was the not so subtle Taylor Swift fanfic vibe. I wish I felt like Lola had more of a unique story, but it felt a lot like she was heavily inspired by Taylor in a “what if she’s secretly bisexual” sort of way. I can see how it can work for others, it just didn’t work for me.

Overall, I think that the book has a great core that explores the struggles of coming out while also figuring out who you are and where you want your life to go.

This book is more or less Taylor Swift fan fiction, so if that isn’t your vibe you likely won’t love it. I found it quite lovely. Right from the gate I felt that Renee was exactly who Lola needed - someone who not only saw past her fame but also through the hyper-pleasant mask she wore. The entire progression of their relationship felt natural and well paced. Above all else I love when characters are wrong, and both Lola and Renee are wrong plenty in this book. It adds a layer of depth and realism to have them have the best intentions and still miss the mark. The addition of fan reactions/internet discourse throughout the book was a really neat touch and made Lola’s struggle/anxiety all the more believable. Overall I found When I Picture You to be a sweet and fun read! Huge thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC.

When I first saw the title! I was so excited at the prospect of getting to read this. Thanks to NetGalley for my ARC! The book was swoon worthy as it was sweeping. Global pop star Lola Gray is trying to desperately get back into her creative process when she reconnects with childhood friend and struggling grad student, Renee. The story follows the two of them as they try to break through barriers in their respective fields. A cozy romance to wrap yourself up in with a cup of coffee in the fall, I’d highly recommend When I Picture You for fans of Ashley Herring Blake and Karmen Lee.

Also can we get some noise for that gorgeous cover?!?! This will definitely be a book I beg my partner to let me buy when it comes out!

An achingly sweet sapphic romance, When I Picture You is the love story of a pop icon and a graduate school almost-drop-out. As they navigate the process of making a documentary and all of the external opinions involved, the two fall in love and grow as people because of it. So so sweet and an absolute must-read!

Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for access to this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

2.5 ⭐️

I’d like to start by saying that the insta-love and immediate hookup tropes are not for me - and that is a me thing! I need some build up to really get into w couple’s attraction, so the fact that Lola and Renee hook up VERY early on in the story turned me off. I need some banter and flirting to really buy the love story - but this is a personal preference!
The spice in this story was very sexy and I really enjoyed those scenes. I love that Lola is pretty femme, as I identify that way and it made me feel seen as a femme queer person.
I do not personally enjoy a huge emphasis on coming out in a queer love story about adults so that was also a bit of an adjustment for me but I can appreciate that Lola is super famous and thus afraid to be honest about her identity (society sucks). Some of the side characters are a bit homophonic at times, (Gloriana) and I understand the need for that in the plot (I guess) but also it’s 2025…. Let’s stop making queer stories so “different” and “alternative”.
I didn’t totally understand how well Lola and Renee were supposed to have known each other prior to working together on Lola’s documentary and I think it would have been good to have more context/backstory on their history.
Overall this was decent and sexy!

if you’re a swiftie, you’re gonna love this one! the alleged queerbaiting, the easter eggs in lyrics, the passionate fanbase- it’s all there. I enjoyed seeing Lola and Renee come into themselves and become more confident in themselves as the story progresses, even if it is a romance.