i write this review whilst SOBBING. i am not someone who cries easily at books (maybe maximum 2 a year?) and this one GOT me. not even in a sad way, but in an ‘oh my god i love these people so much aren’t they the cutest i wish them the best’ kinda way.

this was so, so beautiful at the same time as being incredibly frustrating (in the best way possible). i adored the characters in this, and the chemistry is some of the best i’ve ever seen. our characters slotted together so perfectly, and they connected on a deeper emotional level before we moved onto the romance, which was really refreshing to see. their banter was AMAZING, and our mmc was absolutely besotted (which is my fave brand of mmc). we have a lot of tough conversations in this, and i will confidently say that some of the decisions of our fmc irked me SO BADLY, but they came across as very natural and realistic and understandable. i think this is why it worked so well for me - it didn’t feel like she was making poor decisions for the sake of the plot, but more so because that’s what a person with her history and her mindset would naturally do.

if you have similar taste in romance to me at all (lots of witty banter, kinda being rude to each other in an endearing way, boy obsessed, MUSICAL THEATRE!!!!) you will love this. it almost felt like london sperry created this for me with all my lil obsessions in one gorgeous package.

i fear this review will never do my feelings justice, but please, please read this when you can.

I truly loved this book. If you loved her debut, Passion Project, you will love this novel. It was poignant and went beyond just a love story. The book touches on family dynamics and trauma and love of family, as well as as romance. The characters were dynamic and adorable. I highly recommend this novel.

5 magnificent ⭐️

“𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙡𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙜𝙤, 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙤𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙖𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚, 𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙘𝙝. 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙛 𝙢𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙘𝙝 𝙗𝙤𝙩𝙩𝙤𝙢𝙨 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙤𝙥 𝙤𝙛 𝙖 𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙡. 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙢𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙯𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜. 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙜. 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙘𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙨𝙚, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙛𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙤 𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠.”

london sperry… girl, what are you putting in these books besides your entire heart and soul???? because once again, I am emotionally wrecked in the best possible way. 😭

city people literally felt like a big warm hug. the amount of comfort this book gave me??? I fear she is sitting RIGHT up there with passion project, and if you know me, you know how much that book means to me. london has somehow created another story that feels like it found me exactly when I needed it.

this book made me feel so incredibly seen. especially in the way it explores how easy it is to let the fear of the unknown keep you stuck. sometimes there is comfort in living the same familiar, mundane life because stepping outside of it means risking something. trying something new. letting people in. choosing something different even when you have no idea what’s waiting for you on the other side. and whew… the way I cried because that felt a little TOO real. 🥹

teddi and reid have my whole entire heart. two people carrying their own hurt, finding each other and slowly learning how to pick up the pieces together. I loved reid’s patience with teddi, but I also loved watching teddi realize that there is so much more waiting for her beyond the life she’s convinced herself she has to stay inside of. their love felt tender, comforting, and so deeply human.

and of course, the love woven throughout this book goes beyond romance, the complicated family relationships, friendship, finding yourself, and learning when to hold on and when to let go. it truly felt like a love letter to new york, but also to anyone who has ever been afraid of what comes next.

yeah… london got me AGAIN. 🥹 city people is warm, emotional, comforting, romantic, and so full of heart. another masterpiece and another book I already know I’ll be thinking about for a very long time. 💌

thank you so much to netgalley, penguin books, and of course london sperry for allowing me to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review. 🤍

5 stars!! I haven't read a book that has truly moved me this much in so long! Reading City People reminded me why I love reading and specifically why I love reading romance- when it's done well, it literally grabs me by the hand and pulls me into the story and the connection between the characters. I loved Teddi and Reid so much. The connection between them had me constantly oscillating between laughter and tears. They were so real, so funny and sweet but it was the individual exploration of self that Teddi did along with her family that made the romantic relationship actually have amazing payoff. London Sperry you have done it again and I hope you never stop writing!! I can't wait to reread this one on audio when it releases.