At ten years old Charlotte and Henry were best friends torn apart by Charlotte's parents bitter divorce. Due to her mothers efforts to erase their life in Hope Lake and as a means of coping, Charlotte shuts away memories of her childhood, especially those of Henry who she loved most next to her father and grandmother. Twenty years later after her mother as died, Charlotte finds herself back in Hope Lake living with her grandmother, Memories of her childhood try to make a reappearance as Charlotte looks for her next path in life. Will the path stop in Hope Lake, or will it lead her back to New York?

I enjoyed reading Meet Me on Love Lane. The characters were fun and I loved the homey small town feel the story gave me. The friendship between Emma, Cooper, Nick, Henry and Charlotte was something to admire. A life long bond that was written beautifully with love and humor. There were a few sections that I thought moved a little too slowly, but I was satisfied with the conclusion.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book and offer my unbiased opinion.

I was not able to get through this book.
Shh Moms Reading is a blog about book we enjoy so no review ran for this book.
Thank you for the opportunity

This one was so much better, in my opinion, than the first in the Hope Lake/Hopeless Romantics series. The romance made a lot more sense and the man in question was way more appealing.

Charlotte returns to her hometown jobless after 20 years away and can’t believe how much it’s changed or how different it is from what her now deceased mother told her. She beats herself up about not coming home all that time, especially when her dad and grandmother (who is not in the best of health) have been there and have been a constant support for her all these years. Still, even as she reconnects with her best friends from childhood and everything falls into place, she stubbornly holds on to the idea that Hope Lake is a temporary stopover before she returns to her “real life” in NYC.

Making her rethink that is Henry, the childhood best friend she can’t seem to remember but with whom she clearly still has a strong bond, the perfect job, her family, and her renewed friendship with Emma, who we met in On the Corner of Love and Hate (book 1). I loved Henry, the sweet, bookish, sensitive guy who wears his heart on his sleeve, Charlotte’s feisty grandmother Gigi, and picking up with characters
from the previous book, particularly Emma. Hoping the series keeps on the upswing for the third book!

Meet me on Love Lane was a very sweet story, full of swoony moments. Charlotte is a young woman who is really fighting the idea of coming back to her hometown, but she does not have a choice. Her reticence will begin to fade once she starts remembering what is like to live In Hope Lake and how its people is.
I liked Charlotte; she was determined, awkward and funny. I loved Gigi and I have a huge crush on Henry (can I have one, please?), he was so sweet. It was a nice and easy to read story, it got me distracted from all the terrible news around us nowadays and it was the perfect distraction, a very enjoyable read.
I also liked the way things ended up and now I am curious about Parker.
This is the first book by Nina Bocci that I read and I can definitely say that I will keep an eye on her. I admit I did not read the first book in this series and even when it does not affect the story, I wish I had read it to know the story about Emma and Cooper

This book took me a while to read due to personal reasons so I am EXTREMELY late in posting a review. All that aside...

I was utterly enamored with the first book in the series and thus was excited to get my hands on this book. I wouldn't classify it as a contemporary romance, though there is a romance and the couple does figure things out later on in the book. The focus seems to be on Charlotte and figuring out who she is not that she's back in town after being gone for so long.

I think if we could have seen more evolution between Henry and Charlotte earlier on, I would have been able to give this book a higher rating. Or, if the book were actually a chick lit (the premise being on Charlotte rather than her romance with Henry), that would have made more sense to me.

Regardless, I continue to enjoy Bocci's writing. It is very distinct and she has a knack for details.

Meet Me on Love Lane is the second book in the Hopeless Romantics series by Nina Bocci. It can be read as standalone, however each book is set in the town of Hope Lake. Three best friends finding love in small town, USA. If you read On the Corner of Love and Hate then you will remember Henry, the nerdy-hot high school teacher. Well, this is his story!

Twenty-one years. It’s been twenty one years since Charlotte Bishop was in her hometown. She didn’t consider it as “coming home” when she decided to go to Hope Lake for the summer. She was visiting. She was working out what her next step was before going back to New York. There was no way she was going to be staying, her mom warned her to never go back. That it would suck her in and keep her in a bubble. Well, now her mother was gone and she was broke and desperate. It was time to see the town she called home until she was ten. Except when she got there...she didn’t recognize any of it. The buildings. The homes. The people. She knew three people. Her dad. Her Gigi. And Emma.

Henry couldn’t believe she was back. Even if only for a day. A week. A year. They were best friends from the moment they held hands into kindergarten until the day she left. It should had been an exciting reunion except she didn’t remember him. At all. He didn’t want to push her. He wanted her to remember their times together on her own. Not just his side of the past. He also didn’t want to be hurt all over again when she walked away. And he really didn’t enjoy the looks Dr. Max was giving her.

Max had heard of Charlotte of course since her father was his partner in their practice but he had no idea how beautiful she really was. And funny. And spunky. He was smitten from the moment he saw her. He wanted to get to know her. If only, she had a minute of two to relax after Emma offered her a deal she couldn’t refuse. A flower shop to run.

Charlotte was overwhelmed. She had no idea how much she would enjoy the small town life and the people in it. She was torn between her past and her present. She didn’t even think she would date while she was figuring out what was up next. And now, two men were vying for her attention. Will she fall for the one she grew up with or the one she is just learning about? And will she stay past August?

I thought this was an absolutely treat. I do love small town romances and this was an adorable and inspirational one. I loved the characters. All of them. Friendship is amazing, isn’t it? Even after going two decades without speaking. I am excited about The Ingredients of You and Me. It’s going to be a crazy-fun ride.

P.S. I ♥️ Gigi!!

Quotes:

“You sound more like a hipster than a grandma,” I teased, brushing some of her icy-white hair from her forehead.
“I’m not a fan of the almond milk, so they took my hipster badge away,” she said quickly.
I was glad that her wit and wits were still sharp as a tack.

“You keep doubting the power of Hope Lake. I can’t wait to prove you wrong.”

Gigi was waiting in the foyer for us. “I made dinner,” she announced just as we crossed the threshold.
“Oh God, Mother, why?”
“Dad!” I yelled. “Not nice.”
“You’ll say the same thing once you eat it.”
“For that comment, Andrew, you’ll get seconds and like it.” “Shit.”

Back in October, I read On the Corner of Love and Hate, the first in Nina Bocci’s Hopeless Romantics series. Unfortunately, I just wasn’t crazy about it. But when I saw this new novel in the series, Meet Me on Love Lane, I just knew I wanted to read it – and I’m so glad! Once again, we are back in the adorable, yet progressive small town of Hope Lake where we first met Emma, Cooper, Henry, and Nick. This story is about their childhood friend Charlotte that moved away when they were ten years old. After her career taking a nose-dive in NYC, Charlotte returns to Hope Lake to stay with her Dad and her grandmother, Gigi in order to save money, regroup and get back to the city to start again. When she gets to Hope Lake, she not only doesn’t recognize anything but realizes she has very few memories of her best friends and her time spent growing up there. Although she plans on returning to New York and her best friend Parker as soon as possible, she soon finds herself torn between two men, running a new flower shop, and falling in love with her home town.

Like On the Corner of Love and Hate, this is a long book. However, I really loved reading this one. Charlotte is a likable and relatable protagonist and I found myself very quickly invested in her story. Her grandmother Gigi is one of the best characters that I have encountered while reading in quite some time. Dear Lord, please let me be just like her when I’m ninety! Then there is the absolutely wonderful, hot, sexy specimen of perfection – Henry. I fell in love with him instantly and it did nothing but deepen throughout the novel. The other love interest, Dr. Max, was great too, but oh my goodness – Henry…

Anyway, the plot and subplots to this novel held my interest, were entertaining, and kept me engaged. I was rooting for Charlotte the entire time, although, like Charlotte, I wasn’t quite sure what I was rooting for at first. But about halfway through I thought to myself, “how wonderful would it be to return to such an amazing home town and start over with friends and family from your childhood?”

This ended up being a 4-star read for me and there was only one reason that I am not rating this 5-stars. Like the previous book in the series, I found it to be too long. It definitely was not as long and tedious as On the Corner of Love and Hate, but there were several times I found myself starting to skim over the pages when things became yawn-worthy and arduous. One minute everything would be exciting, interesting, and so on. But then there would be pages of a conversation that seemed very unimportant or pages of situations that could have been resolved much earlier. It reminded me of when I used to be grading essays by my high-school English students and I would realize that they used every word possible to meet the word-count and/or page requirement, regardless of whether it was relevant or enriched the paper in any way. If not for that, this would be a perfect, 5-star read.

Nevertheless, I certainly recommend Meet Me on Love Lane to fans of small-town romance and friends-to lover romance. The setting is amazing and the characters are well-developed and extremely likable. Now I just have to muster the patience to wait for the 3rd in the series about Parker and Nick!

*Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for providing this review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

While I didn't love On the Corner of Love and Hate, this book was a bit more enjoyable. I felt like this book was marketed as a contemporary romance but it is pretty light on the romance. I liked the town and cast of characters, especially Charlotte's grandma, GiGi. She was hysterical and a really fun character. There was a light love triangle with Max, Henry, and Charlotte which was ok, but Max felt a little bit like an afterthought. Not really relevant and didn't add anything. I liked the relationship between Henry and Charlotte and enjoyed reading their story. I wish there was a bit more development faster, it seemed too slow in the middle. Overall, I liked it.

I really enjoyed the first book in this series, but I absolutely LOVED this addition! I was hooked right from the very start, but as Charlotte’s story unfolded I didn’t completely know what to expect. After an unfortunate career setback, Charlotte returns to her hometown, a place she can’t seem to remember aside from how much her mother disliked it. When she arrives, it’s nothing like the run-down misery she had pictured, no it’s a cute, thriving community. As I said, the prologue totally hooked me, I wanted more about that…it would definitely come but not quite how I thought it would.

As Charlotte spends more time in Hope Lake and rebuilds friendships there are two men who seem to capture her attention. The local doctor, who happens to work with her father, Max and then there’s Henry, an English teacher, who seems to know her. The thing here is Charlotte doesn’t seem to remember anything from her childhood, this includes the majority of her friends and experiences. There’s something about Henry but it’s elusive and Max seems like the easy choice. As the relationships develop, Charlotte really has to start examining what choices she is going to make.

Again, I LOVED this book. I fell so hard into this story I felt like I was a part of it. I admit that I struggled at times when I knew what I wanted her to do, I knew where my heart was! The journey is emotional and it brought me to tears more than once, there is a lot that is revealed, but it is beautiful and so very worth it. This is definitely my favorite from Nina (so far) and I am truly looking forward to the next book and I’m pretty sure I want to move to Hope Lake!

Not quite a second-chance romance, this was a cute story, but my lord, I think this was the slowest slow-burn I've read in a long time. Henry was absolutely adorable and while the chemistry between him and Charlotte was amazing, it took quite some time for things to "get going". I liked how Charlotte didn't ultimately let her situation get/keep her down and the small town setting (like the first book) was almost as much of a character in itself as any of the actual citizens we meet throughout the book.

Although this is the second in the series, you can easily read this as a standalone. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.

Charlotte is out of options in New York and takes the only path open – return to her childhood home of Hope Lake in Pennsylvania, and fester there until she’s able to make her big return to the city. Leaving the small town after her parents’ divorces, Charlotte’s mother never had a good word to spare for the town or its residents. But, Charlotte still has childhood friends and a grandmother there – so she won’t be without some sort of company. Even if she’s determined not to enjoy the town, her time there or stray from her plans to leave.

And it is the characters that will keep you invested in this story: from Charlotte’s initial wishy-washy indecisiveness that made her the focus of many a solid “shake her silly” fantasy I had while reading. It’s not that she’s unlikable – quite the opposite – she’s shook and that had undermined her confidence and self-direction. It will take some seriously clever moments from her grandmother GiGi – who is one of the best characters with her don’t give a toss, hippie-isms, apple product addicted self who is able to dole out support and sarcasm in a matter of seconds. Her best friend from childhood, Emma, hasn’t changed much and is still fiercely protective and supportive. Nick, the bad boy with a heart of gold and an eye for seeing Charlotte matched up and staying about – but could that mean people think she’s playing two men? Because there is Henry – the perfect book boyfriend and friend anyone could hope for – and his attraction that he’s too shy to speak of – to Charlotte.

Sure – this is a familiar trope of ‘returning home’ to find what you were looking for all along, and Bocci does it so well. Characters are complete people with dimension, missteps, and plenty of heart and humor, and there are laugh out loud moments to contrast with the heart-melting moments – keeping the story an engaging read that doesn’t get mired down in the issues that are sorting themselves out as each page turns. I read the first book in this series – but you’ll never felt like you are missing information if you haven’t, and if you want a quick, fun, read that brings a happy ending – this is the book for you.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at <a href=” https://wp.me/p3OmRo-aB1/” > <a> I am, Indeed </a>

What more can I say, I’m adoring this Hopeless Romantics series... and Meet Me on Love Lane made the perfect addition to it. Here are a few of the reasons this book was so enjoyable: The characters in it leave their mark on you in the best way (they’re unique and loveable), it has one of those fictional small towns that you wish you lived in, and the story was so sweet, uplifting, heartwarming, witty, and just plain delightful. It’s basically everything to love about contemporary romance rolled into one. And while romance was definitely a big part, I appreciated how it almost equally went into themes of friendship, family, community, self-discovery, and even touches a bit mental health, as well. I just genuinely love this author’s writing and the combination of heart and humor her books are filled with.

Lastly, because I know it’s always something I always wonder about myself when it comes to series... I suppose this book could be read as a standalone. BUT in this case, I really would suggest reading the first book prior because many of the characters from that book are also secondary in this one, which makes it so much fun to see them again and continue to follow along with where they’re at in their lives.

Definitely recommend for romance, rom-com, and chick-lit fans, or simply anybody looking for a charming, refreshing read!

Thank you NetGalley and Gallery Books for the complimentary copy.

This book was great, I thoroughly enjoyed the story. Lots of slow build with romance which is always good, and lots of character building as well, which is something that a lot of romance books fall down on.

While I do like the Hope Lake setting a lot and was interested to see more of it. This had a sort of triangle but more like unsure of who she really feels for in her situation. Charlotte seemed nice enough and while she was gone from Hope Lake things changed. Now she's sort of shocked in how much it changed and can't seem to remember things. While getting reacquainted with everything she bumps in to her childhood best friend Henry. Only she can't place him or anything, he's also grown up a lot.

So this whole she blacked out her childhood and everything and can't remember certain people or the town was a bit odd for me. I mean I get she was gone a long time and didn't keep in touch but that was bit hard to believe. Henry was a champ about but I get why it was hard for him. That whole bit waa awkward and was lot of ouch. But it got better after a while on run ins and a unexpected pull.

Charlotte can have these flashbacks of memories but doesn't know where they fit. As she gets to know Henry she has inklings of a crush but they are at different places one unsure and temporary and one permanent. I get Henry's hesitance Charlotte leaves again and he's broken hearted. It's complicated enough without the doctor she's also interested in.
I'm missing that chemistry between the leads. I liked the scenes with the other friends and family more. The chemistry was there but a later on. Though we see Charlotte learning slowly about things she missed and needed to pay attention to more.

I have to say though the little secret love notes was very romantic. That was well done that mystery was probably my favorite part of this. It's a lot of slow burn in a way when everything happens later on and all is revealed about the missing pieces between Henry and Charlotte. It's pretty touching their whole history and how it relates to their present. The positive message of therapy and realizing where you're meant to be is a good point jn this. Although at times I felt the flow a bit jumpy it all worked out in the end. It was a pleasant read I liked it better than the first and makes me want to visit Hope Lake again.

Honestly, I really enjoyed this novel! While it is the second in a series, it stood well completely on its own so I did not feel like a missed anything by not reading the first book. That being said I 100% want to go back now and read One the Corner of Love and Hate.

What kept me reading this novel was watching Charlotte discover her love for her hometown and reconnecting with friends and family after many years apart. It’s clear that Charlotte had a difficult childhood but I loved seeing how she regained her confidence and attempted to embrace life wholeheartedly. There’s something so wonderful about watching a female character believing in herself and accepting the love and happiness she deserves. Plus many of the other female characters are hysterical, where’s GiGi I need that grandma in my life!

My only draw back with this book is that the synopsis sets up a love triangle that never fully develops in the book so I went into it with certain expectations that weren’t met. Additionally, this is definitely a slow burn romance, so if that’s not your thing, know that going in. However, as mentioned above I was more interested in seeing how Charlotte figured out her life regardless of whether that included a romance.

I would definitely recommend this quick contemporary romance read!

Such a lovely story about a girl who comes home again to find that it is very different from what she expected it to be. When reading the book it is easy to fall in love with the little town and its residents.

Meet Me on Love Lane by Nina Bocci is a sweet, endearing novel reminiscent of a Hallmark Movie or a clever Rom Com. While it's not chock full of big surprises or mind-bending plot points, it is full of wonderful characters and feel-good moments!

This is one of the books I describe as balm for a hurting heart! Have a rough week, see something sad in the news, struggling with life and want a feel-good escape? Meet Me on Love Lane (and the Hopeless Romantics Series) is just the right answer.

Meet Me on Love Lane is a charming delight and I can't wait for Bocci to take us along on her next trip to Hope Lake!

An advance copy of this book was received. The reviewer purchased the audiobook copy. Receipt of the advance copy did not impact the content or independence of this review. This book received a 4.5 overall rating. BFF Book Blog also uses a set of icon ratings. This book received additional icons for: character development, romance, tension, sweet, heroine, supporting characters, butterflies, happily ever after.

Billed as a love triangle set in the small, charming town of Hope Lake, PA, this 2nd book in the Hopeless Romantics series reads more like chick lit with a mild attraction for the new young doctor (which is really a non-starter) and a slow-burn romance with a childhood friend that doesn’t really heat up until three-quarters of the way through the book. Charlotte leaves the New York City after being fired and blacklisted and returns to the hometown she left over 20 years before. When she was 10 years old, her parents divorced and her mentally ill mother got custody. For some unknown reason, she hated the town and poisoned Charlotte’s memories. As a result, she has temporary, selective amnesia, not remembering some of her old friends, especially her best friend Henry. Her plan is to stay with her father, Dr. Bishop, until she can figure out her next move. However, she is surprised by how vibrant and busy the town has become, so when the opportunity arises to open and manage a new florist shop, she accepts the position temporarily. In the meantime, a strong attraction to Henry builds, even as her memories remain stubbornly hidden.

Fans of Henry’s from the first book in the series may be disappointed that his love story doesn’t get the full attention it deserves considering he’s such a kind, caring, sexy man, but there’s so much else to recommend this book. Charlotte’s grandmother Gigi is a hot ticket, her friendships with Emma and Parker are supportive, and the descriptions of the town conjure up a Norman Rockwell painting. Recommend this to fans of Susan Mallery, Jill Shalvis and Samantha Chase.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Gallery Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

This book was just so so charming. I loved seeing how Charlotte's memories came back to her in pieces and the story of her childhood came into view and worked with her return to Hope Lake as an adult. I want to live in Hope Lake. This town is so cute and I love how everyone knows each other. The friendships in this book were amazing and I think everyone wants a Gigi in their lives. I can't wait for the sequel featuring Parker and to see more of this lovely town.

Heartwarming and humorous, I enjoyed Meet Me on Love Lane from beginning to end. Two of the outstanding features of this book were a great cast of characters ( so interesting it made me glad this is a series) and a warm, inviting small town setting (that made me wish I could move there - or at least visit!)

The story immediately grabbed my interest as Charlotte Bishop, crammed into a seat on a bus traveling from New York City to Hope Lake, PA, gets off miles from her destination in the wee hours of the morning only to discover a closed car rental office. Hope Lake is the place she left twenty some years before and had never been back. When she finally reaches town, she is welcomed with open arms by both family and friends with the possible exception of one person. That would be the deputy who pulled her over and nearly put her in jail as she drove a borrowed car, loaded with her life's belongings, to her grandmother's house after going way too long without sleep.

Overall, this was a very smartly written story. However, there were several aspects of Charlotte's somewhat complex and emotional backstory which were not clear to me. Since they were integral to the plot, I deducted one star. The outcome was a bit obvious but there were still enough details and questions to keep me turning pages. Since I missed it, I will be tracking down the first book in the Hopeless Romantics series to catch up with Emma and her fiancee, Cooper, and have already put Nina Bocci on my list of authors to watch.