I enjoyed the book, but there were definitely some things that I disliked.

To begin, I really enjoy the concept, the cover art, and the focus of Gemma's work. The title "Love In Focus" had fit the story beautifully, I couldn't imagine a better one. I loved the representation of Asian queers; Celeste had been right, there aren't many of them. As an Asian lesbian myself, I had struggled with my identity, and a book like this would've done wonders for me as a developing teenager. I loved that their heritage wasn't one created for bonus points in inclusivity, but a central focus on their characters. I like that it TRULY felt like a part of the characters.

Additionally, I liked the progression of the storyline. I had been worried about the development of their relationship and how it felt like jumping from a seven year relationship breakup to another (part of the synopsis), so I'm glad that this was resolved. I thought that the growth and understanding that Gemma and Celeste developed throughout the story.

However, I did feel that Gemma took the brunt of the responsibility for the relationship ending when Celeste was equally at fault. I felt that Celeste kept blaming Gemma and avoided that responsibility, which made me dislike her a bit. I understood her reasoning, but I felt that it was just a bad thing to do to someone.

I thoroughly enjoyed Gemma's voice actor, but Celeste's voice actor failed to connect with me. It could be a personal preference, so take it with a grain of salt!

SPOILER:
Also, I thought that their breakup the second time was necessary. Celeste was right about Gemma moving too fast, which had been my initial concern. I'm glad it was addressed. I think it was the right thing to do to have both characters be apart and grow.

I love when books give us representation and it flows naturally instead of feeling like it’s been forcefully injected. Not only do we have various sexualities represented but also culture and background. Our main characters are so relatable in their responses and journeys.

4.5/5 Stars 3/5 Spice

Tropes:
Second Chance
Workplace
Forced Proximity
Has An End Date
Bisexual Rep
Found Family

🎧 Narration: Dual: 2x - Natalie Naudus & Catherine Ho
both narrators were new to me narrators & i have to say they exceeded my expectations. i loveddddd natalie in this & will absolutely be keeping an eye out for more audiobooks from her! overall these two were an excellent casting & really brought gemma & celeste to life!

god i love a spicy sapphic romance & this one was so so so good. gemma & celeste were written beautifully. i loved the emotional range for both characters. the representation in this story was also really well done. the lgbtqia+ & the aapi rep was handled perfectly. as a bi girlie i felt so seen in the representation. these two really go through the ringer for their HEA but gosh i was so invested in them 💕 i did find the switching between 1st person & 3rd person a little off putting but once i got used to the style i didn’t notice it as much. overall this one is a big yes from me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the audiobook ARC!

Giggling and kicking my feet! This was so cute! I love right person, wrong time second chance romances so much.

Liked: Seeing women in their 30s come into their true selves and be more mature in their relationships
Disliked: The third act break up (I knew it had to happen but boooo)

Adored the narrators! I think they both fit the personalities and vibes of the characters. I wish we had more Celeste chapters but this is ultimately Gemma's journey.

Thank you Forever for the ARC and Hachette Audio for the ALC!

There were some things I liked about this but overall it didn’t really work for me. I liked the representation and discussion around not seeing elder queer people who look like you but I wanted to like the relationship more than I did.

Gemma was ok but Celeste annoyed me. She never really took responsibility for how she ended their relationship years ago. Instead she continued to be upset that Gemma moved on after a few months, even though she’s the one who left without a word! And Gemma apologizes for it?? And god forbid she moved on with a man 😱 that line of ‘a lesbians worst nightmare’ really bothered me and felt super biphobic. I just couldn’t get past how caught up Celeste was about Gemma moving on, making it a huge deal when she’s the one who did something wrong, and then using that as an excuse to not pursue things in the present.

I also didn’t love the switching of tenses and point of views between the two women. It felt unnecessary and jarring and honestly with how little we saw from Celeste’s POV it felt like hers could have been cut entirely. They didn’t really add anything to the story.

The narrator for Gemma did a great job but I didn’t love Celeste’s narration. It was too slow and lacked emotional variation. It also didn’t match the tone of the other narrator and because we hear so much more from her, it felt wrong.

Overall, it had some good moments and I liked the concept but it just didn’t execute it well enough.

This is a review of the audiobook.

This was such a cute, second chance, sapphic story. I think Gemma and Celeste were definitely supposed to find each other again so many years later. The first time they dated was a right person, wrong timing kind of thing. But the way they're reunited and are almost forced to work together and reconnect made my heart happy.

(SPOILERS AHEAD)
I didn't love the way Celeste handled the original break up. I get that she was stressed and preoccupied but there's no way she just "forgot" to tell Gemma what was going on and just went no contact for no reason. And then to get upset when she found out Gemma had moved on and was dating a man also didn't seem fair. I think this could have maybe gone in a different direction but I understand why it was part of the story.

This was a really sweet sapphic novel about second chances. Gemma reconnects with the girlfriend she had in college that made her realize she is bisexual. Sparks fly as they collaborate together on a work project.

I liked the relationship she had with her friends / roommates, the reflection on Korean culture and homophobia, and the inclusion of elderly queer love / representation. I loved that the two leads were both Asian women and, selfishly, that this story was set in my hometown of San Francisco.

The two narrators, Natalie Naudus and Catherine Ho, did such a good job bringing these two characters to life. I liked that the story, told in two POVs, had two narrators.

This was a cute sapphic romance and had so much potential but unfortunately, this one fell flat for me.

I loved the second chance romance aspect of their love story! After Gemma’s relationship of 6 years ends, she runs into the girl that got away, Celeste. Not only is Celeste in the same town now, Gemma learns they are both put on the same work project and will need to work together. Unfortunately, their love story fell flat and I felt like it left alot to be desired. I felt like it was just ok and there were no wow moments for me. There was so much potential with this one but it just wasn’t for me!

Thank you Lyla Lee, Netgalley, and Hackett Audio for letting me read the ARC for Love In Focus!

This is a very cute and touching second chance sapphic romance. We have Gemma who is Bi and just got out of a 7 year relationship where they were engaged, and Celeste lesbian who doesn’t do dating after (spoiler spoiler spoiler). There was such diverse representation, and a lot of education on the intersectionality of Korean culture and being LGBTQIA+. I always love when romance books bring light to things that are not often talked about but are SO IMPORTANT. The representation for those populations is so appreciated and valued.

Loved: The emotionality intertwined within this story and the found family. I loved the interviews and how they not only had diverse romance stories, but also touched on platonic and familial love. My heart was gushing at all of the beautiful things said in these interviews.

Not a Fan: (SPOILER) Celeste ghosting Gemma and months later being pissed she moved on. Celeste’s lowkey biphobia (even though I know this is a real thing in the community I did not like the way she approached it with Gemma. Also miscommunication/third act break up: BUT this is just a personal preference. It definetly made sense with the story line and how their relationship strengthens.

Overall this book was delightful and I looked forward to picking it up and listening to it! I am excited to read more from her.

***i received this ARC audiobook through netgalley***

3/5 ⭐️
2.5/5 🌶️
3/5 🎧

Tropes:
⭐️ second chance romance
⭐️ forced proximity
⭐️ sapphic romance


Overall this was a sweet sapphic romance novel. This was a second chance romance for two women that hadn’t seen each other since college 7 years ago. A mutual job brought them back together, and they soon realized they should have never been apart. The author did a great job representing both lgbtq+ and also Korean characters. You were able to see the cultural struggles for both women.

I found myself wanting more from their relationship. There just seemed to be something missing. Not enough chemistry or angst maybe? All of Gemma’s chapters were written in 1st person POV, while Celeste’s chapters were written in 3rd person POV. I didn’t like the back and forth POV.

I loved the narrator for Gemma, however, the narrator for Celeste came off as more robotic than genuine. This could be partly because of the 3rd person POV.

This is an especially sweet second chance romance. It spans finding your way in life and finding out what really matters.

First of all thank you to Lyla Lee, the publisher and NetGalley for giving me "early" access to this audiobook! All opinions in this review are my own.

This was a good book!
Its about gemma who finally sees her college ex-girlfriend celeste again.
She just broke up with her boyfriend of 7 years and has to work with her ex-gf.

They end up rekindeling their love.

I love me some good sapphic love story!
It wasnt mindblowing but was a good story very sweet! I just got a bit tired of Celeste her chapters and conversation. it feels extremely repetitive. I did love the voice acting. they were quite expressive and just overall lovely!

4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Love in Focus
Author: Lyla Lee

Thank you Netgalley and Hachette Audio for this ALC! I loved it. This book is a second chance sapphic romance. Gemma is a journalist and also is suffering from a recent break up… of her engagement. She ends up getting a piece on modern love, and to her surprise, the photographer her company hired ends up being her ex girlfriend from college. Celeste and Gemma’s relationship fell apart, for what to me seemed like a bunch of miscommunication and bad timing, and being forced back together again in this work situation they are given an opportunity to finally address what happened between each other. As they navigate working together and facing their old feelings, both women must decide if they’re willing to risk their hearts again. This book had a lot of secret gems in it that I resonated with (gaming and watching JJK on the couch). It’s dual pov so we get to see inside both characters heads. Also Natalie Naudus and Catherine Ho did such an amazing job narrating. The audiobook was remarkable. 🥰. I hope we get more sapphic romance reads from Lyla in the future.

⭐️ 3.25 stars
*Love in Focus* by Lyla Lee is an emotionally layered second-chance sapphic romance that blends workplace tension, cultural nuance, and personal growth into one unputdownable read.

We follow Gemma Park, a Korean American romance columnist, whose life falls apart after her fiancé abruptly calls off their engagement. Her job is hanging by a thread, and the magazine she writes for is at risk of losing its identity unless she can create a powerful new feature. The twist? She’s paired with a new photographer to help craft this project—and that photographer turns out to be *Celeste*, her college girlfriend who ghosted her years ago.

From the start, this story balances angst with charm. The romantic tension between Gemma and Celeste crackles with unresolved feelings, misunderstandings, and the ache of what-could-have-been. Their history is complicated: Celeste had to leave suddenly due to a family emergency and Gemma, feeling abandoned, moved on—only to now be face-to-face with the very person she once blocked out of her life.

Lyla Lee masterfully weaves in Asian American family dynamics with depth and care. Gemma’s parents—especially her mother—are written with quiet tenderness, showing love in subtle, deeply familiar ways. Asking if she’s eaten, picking her up from the airport without judgment… these small acts carry so much emotional weight. It’s a refreshing and necessary portrayal of Asian parenting that doesn’t fall into stereotypes.

There’s a strong supporting cast too. Gemma’s two best friends (a loving lesbian couple) provide both levity and heart. Their grounded friendship helps Gemma reflect on what she wants—not just in love, but in life. As Celeste and Gemma’s relationship grows, it becomes clear that their feelings are real—but so are their fears. Both women have to reckon with the idea of whether they’re ready for a serious, committed relationship, especially after their shared past and personal insecurities.

What I especially loved was how *Love in Focus* doesn't fall into the trope of “love fixes everything.” Both Gemma and Celeste choose to go to therapy, take time to reflect, and *work on themselves* before jumping into something permanent. It’s not just about rekindling romance—it’s about healing old wounds and showing up for each other in healthy, mature ways.

By the end, this book left me with a full heart. There’s so much growth packed into these pages—Gemma’s realization that she deserves effort in a relationship, Celeste’s fear of being left behind again, and the beautiful decision they make to be whole on their own *before* coming together as a couple.

"One romance novel moment at a time."

Thank you to Hachette Audio and NetGalley for the early access to this audiobook!
I found the narration really easy to listen to and liked the dual narrators for the POV switches! The side characters' voices tended to be too cartoonishly differentiated for me to focus on the more emotional aspects at times but these instances were minimal so I didn't mind too much.

The novel itself was a bit hard for me to enjoy; none of the plots seemed to have enough depth to be central but some of the core narrative pieces (especially the recent breakup plot) were only relevant in a couple scenes. There was a lot in the character dynamics I was interested in, especially in the complex relationship between Gemma and Celeste, but a lot of the change was quite forced.

In general, I wasn't quite captivated but there was a lot of elements that I appreciated!

Romance advice columnist Gemma Cho is devastated when her fiancé breaks up with her after seven years. James told her abruptly that he just didn’t love her anymore, so Gemma gave back the ring, packed up some clothes, and moved in with her best friends Val and Kiara until she figured out what to do next. Crashing on her friends’ sofa, a comfortable orange couch named Clementine, helped Gemma to feel better. But James works at the same magazine she does, so when she stumbles on him making out with another woman at the office just weeks after he had broken up with her, she is feeling especially low.

But she has to focus. She has been given a big story to work on, and with the right interviews and photos, it could potentially be a cover story. The project is about love, the interviews on couples who have been together for a while. Gemma will be asking each couple about their backstory, how they met, how they make it work, and what love means to them. Personally, it’s a hard time for Gemma to be around so many happy couples, but she wants to be on this project, so she tries to put her personal feelings aside. And the magazine has hired a photographer to take pictures and videos of the couples.

Gemma is shocked when she meets the photographer. It’s Celeste Min. Celeste is a world-class photographer and her work could put their project over the top for Gemma and for the magazine. But more importantly, Celeste is the woman in college who made Gemma understand she was bisexual, and she was Gemma’s first love. They had talked about spending the rest of their lives together. And then Celeste disappeared suddenly, leaving Gemma alone and confused. Gemma tried to get ahold of her, but Celeste didn’t answer any of her calls or emails. Gemma was devastated and ended up blocking Celeste on social media. She finished school and started working at the magazine, where she had met James.

Now it’s seven years later. Gemma is newly single. And she’s spending time with her ex-girlfriend as people talk about their love stories. Will they be able to keep things professional, or will the benefits in their friendship become more than just what HR has to offer?

Love in Focus is a charming sapphic love story about broken hearts and the work it takes to find healing. With the feel of an old-fashioned rom com, these women figure out what works best for them as they decide whether to put their hearts back on the line or not. Both of these women are Korean, and the culture adds more drama as they try to live up to the expectations of their families and their communities. Set in San Francisco, this love story has layers of sweetness and heartache, acceptance and rejection. But it’s truly a sweet sapphic love story with some genuinely funny moments.

I listened to the audio book of Love in Focus, narrated by Natalie Naudus and Catherine Ho. Most of the chapters are told from Gemma’s point of view, but Celeste has her own chapters as well, so we do get to find out what had happened that caused her to leave school so suddenly and not reach out to Gemma for all that time. I thought both narrators did an excellent job bringing these characters to life, and there was no hesitation in those spicy scenes either. Listening to Love in Focus was a lot of fun, and following the love story of these Korean women made for a special read.

Egalleys for Love in Focus were provided by Forever, and a copy of the audio book was provided by Hachette Audio, both through NetGalley, with many thanks, but the opinions are mine.

Love in Focus by Lyla Lee
Contemporary sapphic romance. Diverse, own voice. Second chance troupe.
Gemma Cho and Celeste Min are set up to collaborate on an article. The only problem is that they have a past unresolved relationship they’ll need to talk about to be able to effectively work together. There are still sparks between them but is that good or bad?

🎧 I listened to an audiobook of this story narrated by Natalie Naudus and Catherine Ho. Both did a good job with the performance but the second didn’t convert well to a higher speed. Her voice became robotic and unemotional at 1.5. If playing it slower, the emotional came through. Since I read much faster than I can listen, this made the audiobook a second choice over reading a print copy.

I enjoyed the romance but found it hard to believe that the two would fall back into a relationship so quickly. It made sense since they had history that was never really resolved. Celeste’s not wanting a longterm relationship came as a bit of a surprise after they had been together for a time. I liked the San Francisco setting and that they felt the freedom to go out safely anywhere. And it was great they included the older couples in the article and discussed the hidden aspect in some countries and the legal ability to marry in the States.
Gemma and Celeste are late 20’s. The story reads more as new adult.

Angst and spice with a happy ending.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley and Hachette Audio.

https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/bf01071f-c54c-4b94-9c12-9f06244b3e38

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7601866921

https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/4142242347

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/love-in-focus-lyla-lee/1146241862?ean=9781538767559&bvnotificationId=d9383ec7-3c99-11f0-a9c8-0affd057be0f&bvmessageType=REVIEW_APPROVED&bvrecipientDomain=aol.com#review/347564276

This book is about a romance advice writer named Gemma who’s healing from the recent end of a 8 year relationship with a man.
That’s when she finds out her that she’ll be working with her ex, Celeste during her next project. Celeste was her first love, who broken her heart a decade ago and moved out of the country without an explanation.
Gemma wants to get to the bottom of what happened all those years ago and decide if she’ll be able to work so closely with Celeste.

I loved this book, second chance romances are with forced proximity are one of my favorites! I was so excited to receive it as an ARC. There are spicy scenes and I actually enjoyed all the characters ( minus James of course.) I loved that this book was mainly set in Sandra Francisco, this setting really added to the story.

Second chances
Bisexual fmc
Workplace romance
Forced proximity
First love


I loved the audiobook! The narrator Natalie Naudus was phenomenal she really brought the story to life. The other narrator, Catherine Ho was alright but she did sound robotic at times. Still was a great story to listen to.

Thanks so much to NetGalley, Hachette audio and Forever Publishing for this ALC

This was my first sapphic romance and I loved Gemma and Celeste’s story! I love a good second chance romance.

I was not a fan of the narrator for Celeste’s POV and the fact it switched to 3rd person for just her POV but honestly that was the only downfall.

Overall, such a cute story!

This is such an amazing book! The story between the two strong female leads is priceless. This book had me in a hold front start to finish! My only issue is I wish it had more of an ending.