When I Picture You is a fast-paced childhood crushes-to-lovers sapphic romance set in the world of superstardom. I appreciated the queer representation throughout and the truthful commentary about how coming out is so wildly different for each person. Some of the side characters were incredibly intriguing and I found myself wishing we were getting more than occasional text messages and short interactions. However, the main characters seemed to be lacking some depth and I couldn’t quite figure out what they were both really trying to do. I found this began to clear up toward the end of the book, but some of it felt a bit out of nowhere for me.
Additionally, this seemed very much inspired by Taylor Swift, and for some reason that was a bit distracting for me. I’m not sure whether the parallels were intentional, but the distinct similarity was present for me. I did enjoy a lot of the pop star elements, and appreciated the commentary about being queer in the public eye and the blatant homophobia that still exists in the entertainment industry, despite current headlines.
While I think there is definitely an audience for this book and have been so excited to see others enjoy it, it didn’t work for me like I thought it would.

When I Picture You by Sasha Laurens is about mega popstar Lola, who's been dealing with a secret heartbreak for the last year because she's bi but not out publicly and her last relationship was with a woman. When she runs into Renee, the literal girl next door from her childhood, who she wrote most of her breakout hit album about, sparks fly between the two. Renee is a film student who's taken a year off her masters to figure out what she's doing and hasn't really found her direction yet. When Lola needs a director for the documentary her team wants her to make the two women are brought back together and though they try to keep it professional find it impossible to ignore their attraction to one another.
Here's the thing: anyone with a passing knowledge of pop culture will find a lot of touchstones between Lola and a certain blonde pop star, and i can only assume that's intentional. However, Lola is a fully fleshed character here and Laurens does a great job of humanizing her - she's a deep rooted people pleaser who's trying to keep her whole team and the whole world happy at the expense of herself. The relationship with Renee is FULL of connection, Laurens writes these women falling in love in such a steamy and also heartfelt way I was completely sucked in the whole time. And Renee has her own challenges and flaws she's bringing to the table - she's adrift in her masters program and using Lola as an anchor to haul herself back on track. Their third act breakup is completely earned and they both do a good amount of ownership and growing over it. I found their entire arc to be really satisfying.
This is absolutely a coming-out story though. SO if you're looking for happy/easy/cozy sapphic romance this definitely isn't the way to go. And while the coming-out is a big portion of it I loved that Laurens wove commentary about celebrity, not only the expectations that they put on themselves but also the expectations fandoms put on real people and the toll that can take. The expense of sacrificing yourself for the sake of your image. There was a lot of depth in this story that really worked for me. I hope Laurens writes more queer romance, i definitely want to read it.
The main thing that kept this from really being a 5 star for me was that i loved the dual POV but there were times mid chapter where i would lose track of whose POV we were in. The third person got a bit muddy at times and the voices weren't quite distinct enough to easily tell.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the earc in exchange for an honest review.

Although this wasn't a true second chance romance, I loved that it gives a similar vibe. Lola and Renee were childhood friends who grew apart in high school. But unbeknownest to one another, they secretly both had feelings, and Lola's first album included songs that were written about Renee. It was fun getting to see them not only develop these new feelings, but also uncover those old, hidden feelings that still lingered.

The last part of the book focuses heavily on Lola's coming out story, and I loved how raw and honest it felt. Lola experiences signficant growth as she faces what coming out means for not only herself, but also for many of her fans.

My only complaint with this one is that for being a huge pop star and having been in the spotlight for most of her life (between pageants and the music industry), Lola comes off as way more naive and sheltered at times than I would expect. Even with her manager controlling most aspects of her life (and especially with her manager controlling the narrative around Lola's sexuality), I was at times a bit surprised by her decisions.

Read if you like:
Sapphic romance
Pop star FMC
FMC coming out
Childhood friends
Mutual pining
Dual-POV

Ugh how I wanted to like this. I always want to support sapphic love stories and this looked fun, and I was excited a book subscription was going to feature it so I grabbed an arc. But this story is so intensely Taylor swift fanfic that it was honestly really uncomfortable to read. To me if felt lazy because the author (and editor) could have added depth to distance this from invoking the famous celeb, but I barely know anything about Taylor Swift and I could see it everywhere. So please keep supporting sapphic stories, but maybe stop with this fanfic kick that publishing seems to be obsessed with? Or just be better at it? I've read many a book that was fanfic at one time but become a perfectly good standalone world and book.

Really enjoyed this book! It was one of my first times delving into a sapphic romance and it definitely gave me all I could've asked for! Loved Renee and Lola together! I really enjoyed seeing them come together and figure out their feelings for each other. I really like the representation with them both being burnt out with their respective jobs and how they came together to come out of it and come out better than ever! All in all really enjoyed this book.

Nope, this wasn't for me. While it was okay, I just couldn't get over the thinly veiled Taylor Swift fanfiction. The premise itself is fairly straightforward and could have stood on its own, but that layer made it hard to fully enjoy. Without that connection, I think I would’ve appreciated other elements of the book a lot more.

I absolutely loved this book! It kept me hooked the whole time. It was great to see Lola come to terms with her true self!

I struggle with my review for this one because I liked the main characters, Lola and Renee, but I didn't love one of the major plot points of the book. Renee and Lola were next door neighbors and friends growing up. Lola is now a huge pop star, and Renee is a struggling film major in an MFA program. Renee has moved home to take a break and find inspiration for her thesis project. While home, she runs into Lola at Lola's sister's wedding. Lola has always had a crush on Renee, and when she invites Renee to her room after the wedding, they have a steamy one night stand.

Lola is making a documentary about her next album, and she hires Renee to be the director. As they spend time together, their feelings grow as Renee gets Lola to break down her walls and be her real self. Both characters are interesting, and I loved the two of them as a couple too.

The part of the book that I didn't enjoy was that Lola is closeted. This because a huge part of the story, and I didn't like that it causes the third act breakup. It causes so much tension in the story, and it didn't feel authentic to me.

This was such a cute sapphic story! 4.5 stars! One of the FMCs is a Taylor Swift style rock star and the other is a wannabe director that has taken a break from her MFA. The popstar needs to film a documentary and needs to hire someone quickly so the other FMC becomes the director (and is also her ex-best friend and crush from high school). This book is a great take on a sapphic romance where one half of the couple is in the closet while the other is out. It addresses coming out when you are constantly in public view and what that is like. I really enjoyed the MCs and their love story. Also, great representation in general all around!

Renee was such an interesting character and I loved that she wanted to stay true to her creative ideals. I loved the use of childhood best friends as there are not nearly enough second chance Sapphic stories out there. I highly recommend and loved all of the side characters as well! I'm definitely interested in reading more from this author in the future!

I absolutely loved everything about When I Picture You. Lola and Renee’s story had so many aspects that I could relate to. They learned so much from each other without realizing it. Their love story was so cozy and this was an amazing sapphic story.

This was a sweet romance story, even though it's HEAVY with Taylor Swift comparisons. I could have done without them, but I went along with it. Next door neighbors to lovers, just with a ten-year interruption. It had fun spicy scenes and good conversations about coming out. A good portion of it revolves around being in the closet, which I wasn't expecting or loved, but there were good conversations around it. If you love Taylor Swift and you're also gay, this will check all of your boxes. If you're not, it's still a fun read.

This was another book I found out about because it will be a monthly book in one of my subs. The story intrigued me, however, I wasn’t ready for so much in the closet trope in the plot. The description mentions a secret relationship and putting off coming out but I didn’t realize that set the tone for borderline the entire book. In the closet tropes in queer books are so overplayed - couple that with yes, feeling like a Taylor swift fanfic I’d find on Wattpad, it was overall just okay. Thank you Avon and Harper voyager and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

When I Picture You is a tender, emotionally-charged romance that thrives in the grey areas—between art and identity, past and present, fear and desire. At its heart, it’s a story about reconnection, not just with another person, but with your own self, your truth, and the courage to live it aloud.

Renee and Lola’s dynamic isn’t the kind of instant, uncomplicated love story that wraps itself up neatly. Their one-night stand is electric and magnetic, yes, but what follows is the real story: tension, longing, self-doubt, and two very different women navigating the high-wire act of public life and private emotion. Renee, filming a documentary on Lola, becomes a catalyst not just for reconnection, but for reflection and that’s where the beauty of this book lies.

Renee is funny, transparent, and refreshingly vulnerable. Her burnout and anxiety feel painfully real. She’s the kind of character who says the wrong thing at the wrong time but also shows up when it matters. Lola is a masterclass in contradiction, fiercely composed, media-savvy, and yet quietly unraveling under the weight of expectations. Watching her wrestle with her own image, trying to make peace with the parts of herself she’s hidden, is powerful and deeply relatable.

Their relationship isn’t painted as some fix-all solution—it’s messy, slow to build, and complicated by past mistakes and external pressures. There’s always someone watching, judging, interfering. But they still try.

The backdrop of the music industry adds weight to the narrative—the way fame flattens identities, especially for queer women, and how carefully constructed images often leave no space for real messiness or vulnerability. And while the internet-slang-laced dialogue and pop culture references might age fast, they make the story feel vivid and of-the-moment.

For readers who like:
-Sapphic love stories
-Mental health representation
-Creative professionals navigating art and identity

Final Verdict
When I Picture You is a warm, introspective love story filled with vulnerability, heat, and healing. It celebrates queerness not as a conflict, but as a source of joy, art, and resilience. If you’re into stories that allow their characters to be messy, flawed, and real—and still find their way back to one another—this book will speak to you.

Grateful to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager and Sasha Laurens for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.

Really enjoyed this cute sapphic rom-com of a pop star and their childhood crush. Was it possibly a story that I might have read before, yes, but I still ate it up. My fav parts are the stolen moments of when Lo was with Renee, those were the moments that the story came alive and we saw how authentic Lola was being thanks to Renee.

This was a light, slightly angsty fun sapphic rom-com in a book, and if it was not for the open door scenes, it would have worked as a YA novel.

Despite the insta or rather not so insta since it was a childhood crush, their love story was a bit of a slow burn.

File this under FF romance, 2 pepper spice, popstar/childhood crush/hired director, secret relationship and HEA.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this ARC. 

This wasn't bad, but it also wasn't great. It felt a bit like fanfiction at times. 

The romance was cute, but we spent a lot of time on the coming out story. Coming out stories are important to tell, but I wasn't in the mood to read about it in a fun romcom. I prefer gay romance books that focus on joy instead of the struggle of being gay. If I want to read about that I'm going to pick up a different genre. But this is just a personal preference.

This story follow pop super star, Lola Gray, and her journey reuniting with her childhood neighbor and exploring her sexuality in relation to her fame/public image.

Overall this was a cute and easy read, it touched on LGBTQ issues in a way that still allowed the reader to to learn about the main characters as a whole. I did appreciate that in the end Lola realized she has so many resources that she could put to great use and her story was not as unique as she thought.

As everyone said, this could be read as a take on a current public figure with a lot of similarities but honestly unless you’re deep in the weeds of the Reddit conspiracies, you’ll get through this book just fine without thinking too much about the “real world” singer.

As a romance novel, this is a perfectly fine one, but I have a personal struggle with romance where one of the main characters is very obviously based on a real celebrity. That being said, at least I doubt that celebrity will probably ever read this.

A huge thank you to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager and author Sasha Laurens for providing me with the eARC of “When I Picture You”, in exchange for my honest review!
Publication date: October 28th, 2025
Reviewed on Goodreads: July 3rd, 2025

Yet another stunning Sapphic romance that I just could not get enough of!

I think this is perfect if you like:
- Sapphic romance
- Friends-to-lovers
- Celebrity romance
- Self-discovery/coming out stories

Lola is a closeted bisexual woman, and a famous popstar that has been struggling with writer’s block and hasn’t been producing any new music. Her team decides to film a documentary about her to maintain her relevance in the media.
Luckily, Lola has recently reconnected with her childhood best friend (who she also had a massive crush on), Renee. Renee happens to be a film student, who is on a break from her problem and desperately needs ideas for a project.
They start working together and get closer and closer each day.
The two women must make hard choices for their futures, their relationship, and their public image.

I thought this was great!
There were several things about this story that I truly appreciated.

One is the way it highlighted how coming out is different for everyone, and that you shouldn’t have to feel pressured or rushed to do it if you aren’t ready. Lola accepted her sexuality as a teenager but did not come out until adulthood. Something that is not super uncommon but can sometimes feel that way- especially when surrounded by people who came out at a much younger age.
I was really happy with Renee giving her the space to do it on her own terms!

It was also really beautiful to read about Renee’s commitment to making sure Lola was comfortable and satisfied with their intimacy. Previously, Lola had been so focused on making her partners happy that her own satisfaction had gone unrecognized- and needs had gone unmet. Renee noticed this immediately and wanted to provide her nice experiences that she hadn’t had before- while also taking things slowly and making sure that she was relaxed, calm and not feeling overwhelmed with the new feelings.

Really fantastic story overall! I enjoyed it, and really did not have any negative opinions about it!
Fun, cute, interesting and emotional.
I will definitely be looking into more of Sasha Laurens work now!

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review ✨️💝

A sweet sapphic story to make your heart sing 🎶 Renee and Lola's romance was layered. What first seems like lust-at-first-sight turned out to be a long-harbored crush come true. I loved the second-chance aspect of them reuniting after so long and the forced proximity of working on Lola's film. It was endearing to watch them grow together - Lola opening up about her sexuality, Renee letting her guard down, and both FMCs getting out of their creative slumps. The pacing felt a bit slow overall, and it was painful to watch Lola make the same mistakes with Renee after everything she went through with her ex. But the ending was wholesome and satisfying. Encore!

I have mixed feelings on this one. I saw it was sapphic and thought how perfect to read during pride month, but when I started reading it I was getting Taylor Swift fan fic vibes. Which I don't really know how to feel about it. If you take out those vibes, I thought was a fun, friends to lovers read. The conflict slightly bothered me, but I get there needed to be a third act breakup. Overall I enjoyed it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books for an arc!