This was my first book by this author and I wasn’t disappointed. It was the kind of romance book that takes you into its bubble and gets you quickly to the point you don’t want to put it down. Great characters with relatable insecurities who you want to succeed. The right balance of romance, sexiness and reality leading to the perfect ending, exactly what you want from a Romance story. A lovely escape from real life that leaves you just feeling happy.

Received as an arc from Netgally I loved the premise of this book, I loved the characters Jake and Freya, I thought they had great chemistry together and didn’t want it to end

Jake is an author who’s been overheard by a reporter saying that he hates romance which is what his books are all about. Freya is assistant to Hayley who is his agent.

Hayley manages to get Jake a place on at the Romance conference in New York, but she’s unable to go as her sister is getting married so suggests that Freya goes instead

Jake shows Freya around New York where things start to hot up between them. Unfortunately things come to an end when someone sees them and some misunderstandings happen. But will they get back to each other before it’s too late …

Long Story Short was such a cute read! While the explosive chemistry between Freya and Jake starts as dislike, it doesn’t take too long before it morphs into something else. It makes perfect sense to me for two people with writing brains to eventually see all that they do have in common & the power that those shared interests hold.

One of the things I loved in this story was watching Jake soften. He’s cold on the exterior at the beginning but it was so sweet seeing him warm up towards Freya as the story went on. That softer side really makes him a fantastic romantic character.

Victoria Walters has delivered another brilliant cutesy romance story! It was so easy to cheer for Freya and watching Freya find her voice was wonderful to see. This book is so very British in the most charming of ways!

Thank you to Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read and review this book! I received a free advance copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This was my first Victoria Walters book, and it completely sucked me in—the kind of romance that wraps you in a cozy blanket of tropes and doesn’t let go. Long Story Short delivers everything you want from a grumpy-sunshine rom-com: sizzling tension, laugh-out-loud banter, and a redemption arc so satisfying you’ll cheer out loud.

Freya, an ambitious but insecure literary assistant, is tasked with babysitting Jake Richards, a bestselling romance author who’s just torpedoed his career by trash-talking the genre and his fans. Cue the enemies-to-lovers sparks as they navigate a high-stakes New York conference, forced proximity, and a deliciously slow burn that had me flipping pages way past bedtime.

What I loved:
The chemistry—Jake’s grumpy exterior vs. Freya’s sunshine optimism is chef’s kiss, especially as their walls start to crumble.
The growth—Freya finding her voice and Jake confronting his cynicism.
The spice—Just the right amount of steamy to balance the emotional depth.

This is a rom-com that nails the balance between witty and heartfelt. The New York setting adds glamour, the publishing-world drama keeps stakes high, and the ending? Pure serotonin.

5/5 stars– A feel-good escape with all the tropes done right.

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC!

A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.