Such a quick read! I loved watching these two very different women fall in love. Their story was so sweet and was exactly the light read I needed at this time.

REVIEW | Something To Talk About by Meryl Wilsner, release May 26

First, let me just say I love the premise of this one. It’s a lesbian romance that tackles #MeToo, boss /employee power dynamics, and age gaps so well. Hollywood tropes are always so fun.

This is Wilsner’s debut and I must say, her writing is great! It’s tight, neat, While I liked the writing style, I went into it thinking it was going to be a laugh out loud rom com.

Overall, I’m so pleased this book came out. It’s about time traditional publishing showcases marginalized voices from marginalized writers! I’m here for tough topics too 🙌🏼.

Thank you Berkley and Netgalley for this ARC!

The cover for Something to Talk About by Meryl Wilsner drew me in, and after reading the synopsis, it sounded like the perfect Beach Read to me. And it was!

I really enjoyed getting a peek into the behind the scenes on a television show and also the life of someone famous. And, although I’m not a fashionista, I enjoyed reading about the fancy clothes and events.

The romance itself was super sweet and started off perfectly for me. There was the right amount of tension when it came to Emma first figuring out that she does have feelings for Jo and then the awkwardness that comes once she realizes it. The middle got a bit long for me in regards to if they will be getting together, but Wilsner added enough side stories and other characters that were really well developed, that it was still enjoyable.

And I thought it was wonderful that Wilsner represented lesbians, bisexuals, Chinese-Americans, and Jewish people and cultures. The #metoo movement and the predatory actions of Hollywood are also looked at too. Adding even more layers to Something to Talk About.

If you’re looking for lots of hot lesbian sex scenes, you might be disappointed since you don’t get one until almost the very end. But if you’re looking for a sweet romance, then this book would be perfect.

My two minute book review:
Pros: Something to Talk About is a good introduction to LGBTQ+ romance. It's fun, modern, and G-rated until the last 20 or so pages, depending on your comfort with the subject. The two main characters spend most of the book wondering if they like each other and if they should kiss.

Cons: I felt like the book started too late in the relationship. I wanted to be part of the development of the attraction, but the story starts with the main characters already interested in each other. I actually checked to see if my copy was missing the first couple of chapters. Writing and dialog were choppy at the beginning but smooths out later in the book. I wanted more character development and evolution of the side plots. I felt the book was focused mainly on the “kiss/ no kiss” aspect of the story which made me feel like I was back in Junior High.

Recommended for: Someone who’s looking for a “beach read” LGBTQ first-timer, and isn’t sure how they feel about romance beyond the first kiss.

Triggers: sexual harassment

You'll be rooting for Emma and Jo right from the start. This was such an adorable f/f romance. There were some issues and drama thrown into the plot but I really enjoyed how it was handled. This book was very swoony but with a mix of side characters like friends and family. A must read!!!

Meryl Wilsner is a new to me author and I choose to read this book based on the description alone. Something To Talk About is what I would call a sweet and tender, slow burn romance with lots of feels. You'll be rooting for Emma and Jo right from the start. There are also a number of great friendships and family relationships that will make you smile. Something To Talk About is current and relevant and very worth reading.

I was hooked from the moment they hit the red carpet. I need more stories like this. It has one of the best romance tropes, everyone thinks we're dating but we're definitely not but wait why aren't we? I couldn't stop thinking about it. I was positively giddy by the time I finished it. It was a great read that had me squealing with delight every time something good happened. Absolutely read if you want a slow burn with an excellent ending.

I always hate giving 3 stars to a book that I know other people are going to really love. I don't want to detract people from picking this up, because I think they really will love it, it just didn't work as well for me as I wanted it too.

I really liked the Hollywood setting. It's just something I think works easily and is a good setting for both fantastical and grounded moments. I thought the slowburn build between Emma and Jo was well done. It is very slow, but I appreciate really getting to spend time with the characters as their feelings developed. And I always live getting to spend time with people in the main characters lives - Emma's sister Avery, and Jo's best friend Evelyn were great additions and added levity and a realness to the characters lives. I can't speak to any of the rep in the book (Jo is Chinese American and a lesbian, Emma is bisexual and Jewish), but I thought everything was very well written: Jo talking about her Chinese American identity and the racism she faces as a member of Hollywood, sexual harassment in the workplace.

While there were things I liked, I just really didn't like the power dynamics involved in the whole situation. I didn't like that everyone around them (friends and family) were encouraging it and making light of the situation. I thought some moments were genuinely awkward instead of cute awkward and it did not endear me to the budding relationship as early as I'd have liked. While Jo helping Avery's bakery monetarily showed what a kind, generous person she it, it added to the power imbalance again and made me feel weird. I also thought Emma had moments of true naivety toward the beginning of the story that made the age gap seem larger than it was. (She's 27, Jo is 42).

This isn't a bad book by any means, and I think the writing was well done. If you're looking for a very slow burn romance, I don't think you'll be disappointed, but this just wasn't the one for me.

Something to Talk About is such a fun read! Wilsner does a fantastic job of creating a slow burn romance set against a Hollywood backdrop, including the inevitable paparazzi pictures. This book is absolutely full of “will they or won’t they” moments. I really enjoyed watching Jo and Emma realize that they might just have feelings for each other (plus the drama/misunderstandings that ensue as they start looking for signs from the other). Emma’s family was adorable and I loved how both her sister and her parents supported her. Plus Jo’s friendship with Evelyn was perfect. This book also deals with sexual harassment in Hollywood and I loved seeing how fiercely Jo stood up for her people.

If you’re looking for a slow burn romance set with all the fun of Hollywood tabloids, absolutely check this one out!

Delightful contemporary, age gap, f/f romance between a Hollywood showrunner and her assistant. This one is a sweet sloooooooow burn of a read. There's also a lot of talking about and eating food, so have snacks handy.

Jo is a 41-year old former child actress turned showrunner with a successful production company. Emma is her 27-year old Jewish assistant.

The story avoids feeling like the power-imbalanced boss/secretary trope because Jo spends so much time worried about even the hint of a relationship that could be seen as exploitative.

There's a whole lot of pining in this one (A LOT), and I really wanted to make them sit down and talk with each other, because a lot of the plot depended on miscommunication.

This book is a really good pick for anyone looking to try an f/f romance that doesn't have a lot of sex.

I got a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for a review.

This is the sapphic “The Proposal” of my dreams and I will shove this at every person I speak to for the next 100 years. Seriously such good characters and a fun take on the fake dating trope.

In Something to Talk About, Jo is a former child star turned writer/producer, and Emma is her assistant. When they're caught laughing on a red carpet, rumors begin swirling about them, much to their dismay. The rumors aren't true, but the two start spending even more time together and realize that there might be something there... While I usually stay away from boss/employee romances, this one worked for me because Jo is very aware of the power dynamic between the two, and nothing happens while Emma works for Jo. This book also addresses workplace sexual harassment in a thoughtful way (which I've seen handled really poorly in other romances recently). Both Jo and Emma were great characters, and I particularly liked their friends - especially Emma's sister and the way her relationship with Jo developed. While I wish there was more of Jo and Emma once they were finally together I had a good time reading this book and I'm looking forward to Meryl Wilsner's next book. I also hope Berkley publishes lots more queer romance.

love me some ice queens and slow burn romances, and I love me some Hollywood drama. I love them when they're in the same book. This one didn't do it for me, though, which is a bit of a disappointment. I think the thing that frustrates me the most is that both our leads are so competent and brilliant, yet so, so conveniently stupid at the same time. Of course, in the name of that slow burn, it does need for one or the other to be slightly oblivious of their feelings for it to work, yet there are times where the women's dense observations were so badly off the mark, it made me wonder if that was convenient or if I missed something earlier in the book.

So it starts off fine, with Hollywood superstar Jo and her assistant Emma are photographed on the red carpet looking like they are more than close at work. They slowly go through denials and some revelations and setbacks for the drama of it all, then realize that they are in love with each other and have been since that photo was taken. It should have been worth the drama, but Emma, in particular, has some bad moments that actually frustrated me more than ever caring if Jo realizes her feelings too. I actually liked the idea of the mentor and student slowly coming to terms with their feelings as they realize the student must move on - and while there was some of that, Emma's constant pouting at what she perceives to be Jo's inattentiveness was grating. There was one scene that I felt Emma's complaints were warranted, but that was after she basically threw a temper tantrum for like 20 pages about Jo "lying" to her ( she wasn't and it sucked that Jo felt like she was really in the wrong, when it was just a simple misunderstanding) so the emotional payoff of that scene was lessened because of that.

I was really hoping for a better book, but there are a lot of strengths in here that Wilsner can build on. I really liked the dive into systematic problems of sexual harassment in the workplace, and how smoothly it was placed in with the problems of the perceived romantic connection between a supervisor and subordinate. I also loved Jo's growth, especially with her connecting with Emma's sister. I just had some problems with Emma's character, especially since her bouts of insecurity were so intense, it felt out of character. It was amazing to see Emma stand up for herself in the scene I mentioned above (and her confidence in her work and dealing with Jo's icy nature), so it just made some of the decisions for her character a little questionable.

This is a decent debut and I do know that fans of ice queens and office romance will find stuff to like about this, but I do wish that some of the character decisions were a little more polished. I will still grab Wilsner's next book, because I am curious to see what she would do for her follow up.

Review will be posted by Shelf Awareness around publication date.

Part of the review follows:

Something to Talk About is primarily a slow-burning romance, but Wilsner keeps readers invested through strong characterization, a cast of endearing secondary characters and a healthy dose of humor. Readers looking for two smart, ambitious and big-hearted women will find a lot to talk about in this sapphic story.

SIGH- I wish I enjoyed this book more. It's a well written debut, by an #ownvoices author, which we need more of. I went into it thinking it was a contemporary f/f romance, which we also need more of. In actuality, it was a story about a lot of other things with a side of slow burn romance. Had I known going in that the romance would be so secondary I probably would have enjoyed it more. I am here for a slow burn romance, but this one barely maintained a tepid, rolling boil for nearly 90% of the book. When the heat finally boiled over it was too little way too late.

Something to Talk About was just what I was hoping for when I requested it, which was some much-needed light escapist reading during lockdown, but I was also looking forward to it because I'm happy mainstream trade imprints are finally publishing f/f romance (and hope that trend continues). Overall, I enjoyed it and would recommend to readers looking for a fun queer romcom or who enjoy boss/assistant romances! While not a perfect book--my biggest complaint being that various big misunderstandings occasionally feel unrealistic and contrived and unnecessarily slow the pacing--the two heroines are likable and their love story is emotionally engaging, and I certainly plan to read whatever the author writes next.

As many reviewers said, this was a little too slow for me. I definitely prefer romances where the folks get together and then work out how to be together, so it probably comes down to personal taste. I LOVE how the individual characters are portrayed, though!

This was a nice read. I did hate all of the build up and it was a very slow burn, that just felt slow. I loved the way that Jo handles needs in various situations and they touch on a lot of important issues.

This review will go live on my blog, The Library Lane, on May 19, 2020.

Something to Talk About was such an enjoyable story and a fantastic debut! This F/F romance was sweet, lighthearted and an all around fun time.

Jo Jones is a writer and showrunner for a hit show. Emma Kaplan is her assistant. When Jo invites Emma to an award show, things do not go as planned. Rumors start flying that the two are a couple. While trying to navigate through the paparazzi and headlines, Jo and Emma start to wonder if maybe the rumors aren’t wrong…

I really loved both of the main characters. We spend a good portion of this book just getting to know them as individuals. Jo is very focused and serious. She is super passionate about her career and her family. She has such a big heart and will do everything in her power to help someone out. Emma is thoughtful and hardworking. She loves her job and she goes above and beyond to make sure things are perfect. I could definitely read another 300 pages about their separate lives!

If you love slow burn romances, then this book is perfect for you. As the reader, it was crazy obvious that the two had feelings for each other, but for Jo & Emma it took a while to realize and come to terms with that. I do think that it was a little bit too slow burn for my tastes, but it was absolutely worth it in the end. The chemistry between Jo & Emma was literal fire and the respect they had for each other made me so happy. They were perfect for each other, you can’t even deny it. I do wish we could have had a little more time with them once their relationship was established though. With Jo being Emma’s boss, there is a power imbalance, but the author does a fantastic job addressing it!

I loved the Hollywood setting! I am a nerd for all things TV and with this story we really got to see behind the scenes of how shows are made. Something to Talk About takes on a huge issue that the entertainment industry (and the world in general) faces…sexual harassment. When I read the scene I was not expecting it at al, but I appreciate that the author chose to write about it. Sexual harassment, especially in the workplace, is something that happens way too often and there always needs to be a conversation to spread awareness .The way the situation was handled was fantastic. It made a huge impact on Jo and I love that she decided to take action and create a safe space to help those who need it.

Overall, Something to Talk About was a dream read! I was completely lost in the pages and with everything going on in the world, that is exactly what I needed! I highly recommend picking this title up as soon as it releases on May 26. Trust me, you won’t regret it!

Something to Talk About It is a delightful slow burn romance from a new author that I fell hard for. I think you will, too.

[su_quote style="modern-orange" cite="Goodreads" url=”GOODREADS LINK TO YOUR BOOK"]

A showrunner and her assistant give the world something to talk about when they accidentally fuel a ridiculous rumor in this debut romance.

Hollywood powerhouse Jo is photographed making her assistant Emma laugh on the red carpet, and just like that, the tabloids declare them a couple. The so-called scandal couldn't come at a worse time--threatening Emma's promotion and Jo's new movie.

As the gossip spreads, it starts to affect all areas of their lives. Paparazzi are following them outside the office, coworkers are treating them differently, and a "source" is feeding information to the media. But their only comment is "no comment".

With the launch of Jo's film project fast approaching, the two women begin to spend even more time together, getting along famously. Emma seems to have a sixth sense for knowing what Jo needs. And Jo, known for being aloof and outwardly cold, opens up to Emma in a way neither of them expects. They begin to realize the rumor might not be so off base after all...but is acting on the spark between them worth fanning the gossip flames? (Goodreads) [/su_quote]

I received an eARC of Something to Talk About via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I also won a physical ARC through Goodreads.

Something to Talk About needs content warnings for sexual harassment, blackmail, paparazzi invasions of privacy, discussions of racism in media, discussions of racism, an off-page parental death from cancer (years before book starts), an on-page asthma attack that requires medical attention, and an on-page fight between the main character and her toxic father.

Something to Talk About balanced the line between high tension and low tension really well for me. There was the natural pull of tension between our two heroines as well as the high tension of the tension from the #metoo plot, but it was never overwhelming for me to read.

Both heroines had communities around them to support them, which I enjoyed especially because they were both members of marginalized communities - Emma is Jewish and Jo is Chinese-American.

It features a boss/employee romance which leans a bit to the taboo, but Wilsner handled it really well. Nothing officially happens between them until after they are no longer working together, but readers will get to see them falling in love with each other and trying to figure out how to make it work. I loved the slow burn in this book, but it might not be for you if you're looking for insta lust or a more fast-paced book.

I personally highly recommend this book. You can pick up a copy through Amazon, Bookshop, Book Depository or The Ripped Bodice through our affiliate links.

[su_box title="ABOUT SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT" style="default" box_color="#ff4400" title_color="#f2f2f2" radius="3" class=""]

Title: Something to Talk About

Author: Meryl Wilsner

Publisher: Berkley Books

Length: 336 Pages

Release Date: May 26, 2020

Rating: Highly Recommended

Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance

Representation: white jewish female main character, Chinese American female main character

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