2.5 stars.

I have liked all of Kayla Grosse's books up until this point, but "I Like You Like That" unfortunately didn't do it for me. The story starts out fine. Grayson Owens and Angelina Rocca provide excellent dual audiobook narration. The pacing is okay (until the last 10-15%), and the book isn't overly long, but many parts of the plot and characters rubbed me the wrong way or didn't work for me. I tried over and over, but I did not like the main male character, Liam. Like, not at all. He is wholly unlikable throughout the book and does very little to endear himself. I kept thinking I was going to feel differently, but nope, he kept getting worse. The main plot revolves around how Liam becomes Birdie's (FMC) bodyguard ten years after they were friends in high school and had a falling out. Birdie has a stalker, and to please her record label, Liam gets hired, unbeknownst to her. On several occasions, when Birdie is having a moment of drunkenness, or stress, or panic, and Liam just so happens to be there (early on in the story), he is centering himself, is constantly talking about/thinking internally about his "member" and how the situations impact him and his libido. Even if Birdie is wearing something revealing, the creepiness factor felt very icky to me, especially from someone who is supposed to be protecting her. Birdie deserved so much better, in my opinion. Both of the characters felt juvenile at times. The way they act ten years after their falling out felt silly. They are supposed to be in their late 20s (26 and 28), but feel like they are still in high school, even in the present. There is a mystery element running throughout the story that felt flat when all is said and done. A lot more could have been done with the stalker element, but what happens in the story feels very contrived and expected. The third-act break-up is frivolous, rushed all, and unnecessary. It starts in at around the 90~% mark of the book, and didn't need to be there in the first place. Like I said, I have read multiple books by Kayla Grosse. She is, in fact, one of my favorite authors. I love how she unapologetically writes about fat women owning and enjoying their pleasure. This one simply didn't hit its mark. That's ok, I still love her and will read all of her other books!

Thank you to NetGalley, Kalya Grosse, Dreamscape Select, and Fat Babe Publishing INC. for the complimentary ALC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

This rockstar, second chance romance has all the things. The bodyguard, ex-best friend, love of her life who she hates for breaking her heart and the curvy, tries to make everyone happy, rockstar go on a wild ride and find each other on the other side. There is drama, romance, spice, and characters that totally get the love of music. I identified with Birdie as the plus size girl who wants what everyone else has and (in the end of this story) gets what she deserves.
The narrators did a great job and their voices get like the characters. The vocal inflections and pacing were on point and the duet was done perfectly.

Thank you to Dreamscape Select, Fat Babe Publishing Inc./Kayla Grosse and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to I Like You Like That audiobook; it's published today!

Grayson Owens was a new narrator for me until I listened to [book:Change of Pace|224065885], and I've listened to a few audiobooks narrated by Angelina Rocca. Between the two of them, they brought Liam and Birdie to life in front of my <s>eyes</s> ears!

I enjoy the characters that Kayla writes, and these two were no exception! Between the story and the narration, I couldn't stop listening; I ended up finishing this audiobook in one sitting. I'm enjoying slowly working my way through the entire back catalogue. Three down, many more to go! ✌🏻

This emotional and heartwarming romance brings together all the right tropes—plus-size representation, ex-best friends turned enemies, a high-stakes bodyguard/pop-star dynamic, and authentic mental health themes.

Birdie, a pop sensation with a vibrant voice and a bruised heart, finds herself under threat from a persistent stalker. Enter Liam, her new bodyguard—and the boy who used to be her best friend. Their reunion is anything but smooth. Years of silence, heartbreak, and miscommunication sit heavy between them. But as they’re forced back into each other’s orbit, tension quickly builds—not just from the danger circling Birdie, but from the unresolved feelings that still linger beneath their anger.

Birdie is a standout heroine: confident, flawed, vulnerable, and beautifully human. Her plus-size identity is treated with refreshing respect and realism, and her struggles with anxiety and trauma are handled with care and depth. Liam is the perfect counterpart—gruff, protective, and fighting his own demons. Their slow-burn journey back to each other is packed with longing, biting banter, and emotional breakthroughs.

With a plot that weaves personal growth, suspense, and steamy chemistry, this story will keep readers rooting for Birdie and Liam every step of the way. It’s a romance that doesn’t shy away from the messy parts of love, making the eventual payoff all the more satisfying.

A must-read for fans of second chances, bodyguard romances, and characters with rich emotional arcs. I also give extra points when the characters are from my home state!

A rockstar FMC and bodyguard romance. This second chance Rom-com was super cute. What a sweet little fun read.

This one was so good. I really loved the suspense aspects and i definitely didn’t see the ending coming. This is a perfect second chance romance there is a miscommunication from the past, but it was something from teenage years. Plus truly a body guard romance hits just about every time! Yet another amazing story written by Kayla!

ILikeItLikeThat by KaylaGrosse is a 4.5 ⭐️ read.

This standalone Rockstar Romance is exactly what I needed, I I didn’t even know it. I devoured the story in one day, and then went right back to chapter one and started again!

Haven’t read a book in a little while now where a plus size FMC is badarse, while still vulnerable and working to strengthen her personal relationships with herself!

Just be warned, there will be times where you will want to have a choice few words for Liam, and that is okay!

Favourite Quote: “Let’s Kevin Costner this Shit!”

Spicy Level - 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Note: Please read and review all trigger warnings before reading any recommended book. We love to read for our pleasure, so keep your mind, and emotions safe!

Audio Book Available
Publisher: Dreamscape
Narrator: AngelinaRocca & GraysonOwens
Publication date: 28JUL2025

I know I'm always in for a treat with a Kayla Grosse romance! I love the bodyguard and second chance childhood friends to lovers trope so this was right up my alley.

The romance here was fantastic! I loved Liam and Birdie. Watching them reconnect after a miscommunication ruined their friendship was lovely to read. I liked that they actually worked to mend their issues in a healthy way. It felt realistic. They had an undeniable connection which made the steamy scenes extra hot.

I loved the angst here. Grosse wrote it so well. The yearning was so good. I thought the miscommunication trope was well executed and it made sense.

Grayson Owens' voice was great for Liam. Angelina Rocca did awesome for Birdie. I especially liked her breathy voice. I thought these two sounded fantastic together.

Thank you to NetGalley for this Audiobook ARC.

I love all of Kayla Grosses books -She knows how to write strong, curvy FMC.

This follows Birdie Wilder and Liam Miller in a second-chance romance with a RockStar and a Bodyguard trope/

I loved this and gave me 'The Word' vibes.

Short, sweet, spicyyy. I loved this. I am usually not a fan of the enemies to lovers / friends to lovers, but the forced proximity of him being her body guard really did it for me. I did find him hooking up with someone else before working for her kinda icky, but over all, the book was wonderful. I was hooked. A strong and confident FMC, YASSSS. We love to see it.

Thank you for this arc!

First of all I found the voice acting very great! Grayson Owens and Angelina Rocca did a fantastic job!

I found the bodyguard x singer trope enjoyable but I felt like the couple had so many issues throughout the plot…from insecurities and miscommunications, part of me wishes they developed more before getting together but it’s alright.

3.5

I love Kayla Grosse and I’ve been looking forward to this new book!

I Like You Like That is a second chance rockstar x bodyguard romance but she is the badass musician and he is the guy who broke her heart when they were teenagers.

As such, while being a comfortable read overall, it comes with angst and anxiety that mostly originate in the character’s past and I think Kayla Grosse did an amazing job reconciling strong. independent characters with resurfacing vulnerability from past pain.


While the overall story line was predictable (although I did not see THAT coming), I generally liked the second chance twist and the way it evolved.

Birdie is such a cool character and I loved to see a plus-size FMC who is both confident in her body and allowed to acknowledge that sometimes, trauma can come out of nowhere and throw you back in time.
Generally, I love a differentiated character that is strong and independent, yet unapologetically soft, that has worked through her trauma and can still admit that healing isn’t linear and old patterns can resurface, that can fight her own battles and still need help.

Sadly, I didn’t really feel the connection to the MMC. Between him and Birdie, yes, but I couldn’t really fall in love with him.
I think it might have to do with his interactions with other women in the beginning, which are valid but something I don’t do so well with, personally.
More than that, however, I think I struggled with understanding his behavior in the past and it is difficult for me to forgive when I don’t understand.

So, while I rooted for Birdie to get her HEA, I wasn’t super involved.

As for the writing, I find Kayla’s style very comfortable, especially as an audiobook. Which was also done well, the narrators did amazing.

Thank you Net Galley, Dreamscape Select and Kayla Grosse for an ALC of this book

3.5 stars! I enjoyed this, it was a fast paced rockstar/bodyguard romance with a twist, second chance ex best friends reconnecting after 10 years! I enjoyed the mystery twist that was an underlying part of the plot. Really enjoyed the audio narrators and would like to read more from this author!

I usually like Kayla but this was a miss for me. The teenage drama was overblown and didn't make sense, Liam was flat and unlikable, the stalker storyline was dull, then we get a silly 90% break-up thats totally rushed.

Gosse has had some absolute phenomenal releases recently, and I will always appreciate her positive representation of body image; the narrators did a great job with this one too, both of which I have listened to numerous occasions and they absolutely delivered!

The plot fell a little short for me, I thought I was going to enjoy the forced proximity, work related romance tropes etc, but unfortunately the singer X bodyguard dynamic coupled.with the 'he rejected me when we were younger but neither of us got over it' plot just didn't deliver to the same level as some of the authors previous works had.

Ten years ago they best friend. Now she a famous and curvy rock star and he is her bodyguard. Can Liam keep Birdie save from the people threatening her without breaking her heart again? This second chance romance is spicy, emotional, and powerful. The audiobook with Angelina Rocca and Grayson Owen bring Liam, Birdie and the side characters to live making for a great listen. Thanks to NetGalley for the ALC
. This is my honest review.

Every time I read a Kayla Grosse book, she cements herself even more as one of my go-to comfort authors. I’ve loved every single one I’ve picked up, and I Like You Like That is no exception.

This story follows Birdie, a rockstar dealing with a dangerous stalker, which means she needs a bodyguard. Her new protector turns out to be her high school best friend, aka the guy who broke her heart years ago.

This is such a fun and swoony bodyguard romance, with just the right amount of forced proximity and emotional baggage. The stalker subplot adds a good dose of suspense without overshadowing the romance.

I really enjoyed the audiobook. Grayson Owens and Angelina Rocca did an amazing job bringing Birdie and Liam to life.

I Like you Like That by Kayla Grosse
Narrators, Grayson Owens, Angelina Rocca
Where to begin? I know, with the fact that this couple badly needed therapy both as a couple and separately. So many issues, insecurities, and misunderstandings. They were in their late twenties but their behavior and conversations were still like the teens they were when they met.
They had great sex and a lot of it but the rest of their relationship was a mess. They did work on it towards the end but too little too late for me.
Plus that third act split was ridiculous. After all those complaints the story was compelling enough to keep me reading till the end. It helped that the narrators were both good. Not fabulous but good considering what they had to work with. I wouldn’t likely read this author again.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4
Thanks to NetGalley

This was an enjoyable listen, and the narrators did a good job.

There were a few plot points and moments that didn’t quite hit for me, which contributed to the rating—it felt like all of the elements were there, but it didn’t quite come together cohesively.

This was a great second chance romance! Love a plus size curvy heroine with a sexy MMC. I wish we could’ve seen more of the trauma the MMC experienced but it was interesting to see if play into the relationship with the fmc.

The narrators are great. Loved their performance!