Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
3.5 stars rounded up

There is a lot to like in this book – I am not going to list what, as you need to read it and find out for yourself, but you can rest assured that there are pesky paparazzi, cute touches, much-loved family get-togethers, and a very well done #metoo scenario. The first and the last of those work really well in contextualising one of the biggest stumbling blocks for this possible pairing. Be ready for a lot of soul searching before these two get anywhere near close, and then some more stumbles along the way.

This is possibly the slowest, slow-burn possibility of a romance that I have ever, ever read. I had faith that it would work out, but really, really needed to be patient. Their friends and family, and let's be frank, the entertainment press seemed to get with the programme months before they could even contemplate it... I didn't mind the buildup, but I did mind not having really very much of the good stuff. I loved that they get to spend time together through their work, but I would have loved a lot more of the early together days.

Well written and whilst we spend a lot of time in each of their heads, they also both have someone that they speak to about their feelings, so it is not quite so frustrating. I now need the next five years please!

I LOVE THIS BOOK. It's sweet and awkward and gay af and I'm here for it. From the reviews I've read, most people were unhappy with the pace of it, but tbh I lived for it. I loved how all these small moments built and built and built and built to a wholesome cute Hollywood ending.

It's awesome. The book is great. I can see why people didn't like it though. It's an EXTREMELY SLOW burn. Like slow slow. Like the book takes place over a year and it's almost an entire year if awkward realizations and pining. Personally, I am 100% in board with this. I didn't need the sex scene at the very end even though most others I've talked to wanted it way earlier. Maybe it's the ace in me but give me slow build over fast sex any day.
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Lesbian Chinese-American MC and Bisexual Jewish MC

Each character is well crafted and complex and there's so many casual conversations about sexism, homophobia, sexual harassment, racism, ect that flow and work into the story instead of feeling like the author was trying to fit in some issues to tackle.
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Can we also chat about how much I love a sapphic love story with women over 25? One of the MC's is in her late 20s/maybe 30 (I can't remember if they ever specify) and the other MC is 41. Something about adult women falling in love is everything for me. So often we get stories of teenagers together forever and its a nice reminder that most people don't fall in love and stay together when they're so young and that having new and awkward relationships is something that can happen at all times in someone's life.
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The boss/employee relationship was also very well done and not overdone. It was clear that they both cared for and respected each other before any romantic ideals started to surface. The dual POVs help a lot in this. And I enjoyed seeing how each woman reacted to the same situation and while yeah, lots could've been avoided if they just talked, sometimes it's not that easy.
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I don't even know how to explain how much I loved it. Emma is Jo's assistant and after a photo is leaked of them smiling at one another, the press decided they are dating and the women have to decide how to fight the false allegation. Jo was a child actor and grew up to be a badass writer and producer of a popular TV show. Her life is constantly documented and that plays a big role in the book.
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Emma's sister, Avery owns a bakery and I really enjoyed Avery as a character. She is described as fat early on and I think that normalizing of the word fat as an adjective is important. Also, Jo's best friend Evelyn is also well written. Both women have this one super close friendship and it helps push the book along.
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It's awesome. The book is great. I can see why people didn't like it though. It's an EXTREMELY SLOW burn. Like slow slow. Like the book takes place over a year and it's almost an entire year if awkward realizations and pining. Personally, I am 100% in board with this. I didn't need the sex scene at the very end even though most others I've talked to wanted it way earlier. Maybe it's the ace in me but give me slow build over fast sex any day.
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Lesbian Chinese-American MC and Bisexual Jewish MC

My ONE flaw is that at one point Emma is at her sisters bakery and describes the mixer as a "commercial kitchenaid" which isn't a thing. The largest size KitchenAid from my knowledge is their professional series which is only 8qt bowl and wouldn't be what was actually being used. I know that this is me finding something to pick apart but my baker brain couldn't let that go. (the most common commerical kitchen mixer is Hobart)

Actual rating: 3.5 stars
(I rate up for half stars)

Something to Talk About is a debut LGBTQ+ contemporary romance novel written by Meryl Wilsner.
(Berkley Publishing Group)

Features: F/F relationship, office romance, slow-burn romance, ice queen, lesbian/bisexual love interests, #metoo moment, and Asian American & Jewish representation.

Jo is a Hollywood powerhouse, former child star, and Emma's ice queen boss. Emma is Jo's much younger, but very efficient personal assistant. Emma seems to know how to keep Jo's work and personal life running smoothly....That's how everything was going until the two were photographed sharing a private joke on the red carpet at an awards show.
Suddenly Jo and Emma are battling prolific rumors of a secret romance, but Jo has always treated her private life in the media with one solution: "no comment".
Unfortunately the rumors start affecting Emma's career, reputation, and Jo's upcoming movie. After spending more time together, Jo starts opening up and both women wonder if there might be some true feelings behind those salacious rumors.

Thoughts:
This story was cute, sweet, and refreshing. I was really rooting for Jo and Emma, loved their characters! The author is an excellent writer and looking forward to reading more of her books.

Although I enjoyed reading this story, the slow burn was agonizing and I felt like Jo and Emma's budding relationship had zero spark. That's my personal preference though. If you like a more innocent and slow-build romance, then this is for you....hold on though because things heat up at the very end of the book.

Interest: 4/5
Romance: 2/5
Heat: 1/5
Happy Ending: Yes
Cliff Hanger: No
Triggers: workplace sexual harassment
Would I recommend: Yes


*** I was given a copy of this book for an honest review by the publisher through Net Galley ***

“How novel,” she said. “This is perhaps the first time two women seen together weren’t labeled gal pals.”
★★★★☆

I knew I was either going to love Something to Talk About or hate it, with no in between. On the one hand, as a lesbian in a long term relationship with an older woman, I'm a sucker for age gap romances. I've loved them since I was a teenager printing Miranda/Andy (from The Devil Wears Prada) fanfiction out in my school library and racing to snag it before anyone else could see. On the other hand, I'm too impatient for most slow burns, and extended mutual angst/pining drives me up a wall. Something to Talk About has all of those things, but in the end, everything must have balanced out because I genuinely loved this book!

I binged Something to Talk About within a twenty-four hour period (oops!). To be honest, I think I would have enjoyed this book even if there hadn’t been a romance plotline (though I’m unendingly grateful there was), because I loved Jo and Emma's dynamic from the start, even when it was still purely professional. Once the two leads began to recognize their feelings for each other, the extended, angst-ridden mutual pining was broken up by scenes with two hilarious supporting characters: Avery (Emma's snarky but fiercely supportive older sister) and Evelyn (Jo's pithy lifelong best friend). These scenes also provided a fun contrast between the way our leads behaved around each other vs. how they relaxed when interacting with loved ones. I'm tempted to start a petition for Wilsner to write a spin-off novel where Evelyn and Avery have to plan Jo & Emma's wedding as the brides' respective Maids of Honor, because it would be hilarious.

Something to Talk About was already on my radar, but my friend Dom's Goodreads review is what finally pushed me to read it. Dom did an excellent job of addressing the concern many readers will have about a boss/employee romance novel in the #MeToo era, so rather than trying to reinvent the wheel I'm going to quote that section of their review:
"One thing that stands out to me is how this novel handles power dynamics and consent. [...] This novel does deal with a definite mentor/mentee romance, but Wilsner takes great pains to navigate the situation with the imbalance in mind. At no point did I make the human facial equivalent of the unamused emoji at my pages; in fact, it was so comforting to see an interaction style I love handled in such a graceful way. Jo and Emma are both aware of the complications them deepening their relationship could cause."

Final Thoughts: Something to Talk About by Meryl Wilsner was a fun, easy read that's perfect for Pride or any other month of the year! I would definitely recommend giving it a chance, even if you (like me) aren't usually a fan of slow burn romances!

Something to Talk About At a Glance:
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Themes/Tropes: Slow Burn, Mistaken for Dating, Mutual Pining, Age Gap (> 10 years), Mentor/Mentee (with care taken re: power imbalances)
LGBT Rep? Yep! Our two leads are Emma, who is bisexual, and Jo, a closeted older lesbian.
OwnVoices? Yes, OwnVoices queer
Content Warnings (CW): Sexual harassment

Oh how I enjoyed this slow burn celebrity romance. It was quite charming with it's sweet love story and characters you cannot help but root for. Something to talk about has relevant feminism themes that are powerful as well as lovely and I read this book in one sitting. This debut novel is one that I am going to keep on the shelves and will eagerly wait for anything else from this author.

This was a DNF at 73%
This book is a sapphic romance about a Hollywood powerhouse named Jo whose experiences in the spotlight for years have cause her to became very jaded about sharing her love life with the public. As an asian american lesbian Jo refuses to give the tabloids Something to Talk About other than her many career achievements. One day at a red carpet event with her assistant Emma, the two are photographed in an intimate moment of shared laughter. The tabloids and rumor mill explode over the presumed relationship between Jo and Emma and that's were the story takes off.

Sounds pretty cool right? Wrong.

This book was so so boring to me and while i do understand the concept of the slow burn I truly do not feel like these two characters had even one iota of chemistry, every scene between the two just read in a very bland way to me. I simply was not drawn into this supposed romantic dynamic between them. In the beginning I was liking the mild mutual pining but it failed to be enough to sustain me because literally nothing happens during most of this book besides the two going about their regular work routine, and I never became attached to the characters individually or as a couple. Every scene between them mostly seemed like the intereactions of a worker who greatly admires their boss and a kind, understanding boss. I didn't feel romantic chemistry, I didn't feel sexual chemistry, the writing simply failed to make me feel anything. Actually that's a lie, I didn't feel anything other than a growing sense of annoyance over the absolutely absurd conflicts that arise in this story. For 15% of the book Emma is seethingly angry with Jo simply because Jo has befriended her sister, I fail to see what the big deal was and since we spent ages dealing with that I completely lost interest in this story as whole. I'm so saddened that I didn't love this one because it was one of my most anticipated reads of the year but it truly did not work for me. I can't bring myself to give this a one star rating because it wasn't complete trash, but it was definitely more disappointing than it was enjoyable. So two stars.

I received an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

cw: workplace sexual harassment

What it's about (via publisher): 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. 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?

What I loved:
-Emma and Jo. They both had this quiet, gentle personality that I absolutely adored. Individually they were both sweet and enduring.
-Talking about Me too. I loved that the story doesn't shy away from the Me Too Movement and Hollywood. I also love how Jo and Emma respond to their experiences as women in Hollywood.

What I didn't connect with:
-The slow burn. Now to be fair, this is more of a personal preference that I've recently discovered about myself. I'm not a huge fan of the slow burn and this was had a VERY slow burn. So if you're a fan of this trope then definitely consider reading this one.
-The chemistry. For me, Jo and Emma's relationship never felt like it reached beyond a friendship. There was a sweet quietness to their interactions that just never quite reached past platonic to me.

Rating: 3/5
For fans of slow burn romance & badass female protagonists
*I received an arc courtesy of the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Loved this f/f office romance set in the film industry. Be warned though that it’s ALL about the build up! Also appreciated the strong #metoo and consent messages.

Oh how I wanted to love this book. I had high hopes for Berkley’s first F/F romance and the buzz around this book before release was high. While the start was strong, the middle dragged, and the ending felt rushed. What could have been a sweet, sexy romance fell flat.

What I Liked:
The idea behind this book is great and the start of this book is fantastic. The set up and build up of the relationship between Jo and Emma was a great example of slow burn….until it wasn’t. I thought the side characters were well done and added to the story in a good way, especially Avery and Evelyn. It was also refreshing to have LGBTQ characters readily accepted and loved by their family and friends.

What I Didn’t Like:
I can appreciate a slow burn romance but moved at a snail’s pace Nothing happened. Not only that but there was a lot of repetitiveness between the scenes, so much so that I found myself having déjà vu. Have you ever read or watched something where the whole plot could be resolved if the characters just sat down and had a conversation with each other? That’s what I felt the entire second half of this book. There were so many opportunities for Jo and Emma to tell each other how they felt but didn’t. It was frustrating. And the ending seemed very rushed, especially for a book that took so long to get there.

Conclusion:
This wasn’t the worst romance I’ve ever read. The writing was fairly good, I liked most of the characters, and the concept was clever. However, I need more plot in my romances and I don’t like a rushed ending. I’m happy publishing companies are starting to publish more LGBGTQ+ books but I know there are better ones out there.

3.75 stars

Trigger warning:: sexual harassmet

The setting of Meryl Wilsner’s
debut novel, a contemporary romance titled Something to Talk About, was one of the first things that brought the book to my attention. Entertainment industry settings interest me, but I’m a little leery of reading about show business in romances because I’ve seen it handled poorly in the past (Heaven, Texas, I’m looking at you). A friend told me she enjoyed the book, though, so I took a chance on it.

Told in third person past tense in the two main characters’ alternating viewpoints, Something to Talk About is a romance about two women, Hollywood ex-star / now showrunner Jo Jones (nee Jo Cheung) and Emma Kaplan, her assistant on her television show, Innocents. Emma is bisexual and Jo is a semi-closeted lesbian, but neither knows this about the other. In addition to being the showrunner, Jo is also Emma’s direct supervisor.

Emma and Jo have a great working relationship and like each other, but when Jo asks (in her professional capacity) Emma to be her plus one at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, Emma is shocked. There have been racist and sexist speculations that Jo isn’t qualified for a job she is under consideration for, writing and producing for the next movie in the action franchise Agent Silver. Jo’s reasoning is that if she goes to the SAG Awards alone, she will inevitably be asked intrusive questions by people she dislikes. If she takes Emma, Emma can serve as a buffer. Emma hesitates at first but then agrees.

Jo takes Emma dress shopping and pays for her gown, since Emma cannot afford it. Emma is conflicted about this, and about the priceless jewelry on loan that she will wear to the show. As Jo’s hair stylist and makeup artist get them ready, Emma becomes aware of how attractive Jo is. And as it turns out, there’s an unexpected consequence to Emma’s attendance at the award show—paparazzi immortalize their closeness and the photo of them laughing together sets off a flurry of rumors that Jo is dating Emma.

Jo decides not to comment. She has never commented on her personal life in the past and she feels that doing that now would make this particular bit of gossip stand out, and might call more attention to it and lead to greater speculation about the nature of their relationship.

Despite her decision, the paparazzi don’t let up, and the situation is exacerbated by a leak. Someone on the set of Innocents is dropping seemingly juicy tidbits to the media, such as that Emma was the one who decided to put together a press release with testimonials from the cast and crew to combat the racist, sexist and snide opinions about Jo’s qualifications for her upcoming job.

The constant scrutiny makes Emma and Jo more self-conscious. They question their behavior with one another, and things that were matter-of-fact before, like a casual touch on the arm, now seem like fodder for gossip. But the media’s attention also serves as a crucible, intensifying their awareness of each other’s attractive qualities.

In summertime, while the show is on hiatus, Jo and Emma work alone, and without the leaker around, they relax, get looser, and come to know each other better. Jo even trusts Emma with her work on the top-secret script she is drafting for Agent Silver.

But a significant conflict crops up when Jo runs into Emma’s sister, Avery, at her nephew’s Little League game. Jo and Avery sit together for several of these games, and neither of them mentions it to Emma, each leaving it to the other. As time goes on, it gets harder and harder for Jo to bring it up. At some point, Jo decides to “invest” in Avery’s baking business by providing a loan that will allow Avery to hire more people. Emma finds out and is devastated. She thought she was Jo’s friend, but apparently not, since Jo didn’t even tell her.

Will Jo find a way to make it up to Emma? Will Emma and Jo articulate their desires? And how can they possibly date with the bonfire of rumors that their friendship is a #metoo situation? Can a relationship between them work, given that Jo is Emma’s boss?

Something to Talk About was a highly enjoyable book, first and foremost because the characters are endearing and their mistakes are human. Jo and Emma are a study in contrasts. Emma is bubbly where Jo is reserved. Jo is in her early forties; Emma is twenty-seven. Emma is tall and Jo is small. Emma is enthusiastic and even still a little starstruck, while Jo has seen a lot and takes most things in stride. But both excel at their roles and they like working together.

Jo has a long history in the industry; she grew up in front of television viewers in her eight years as a star of The Johnsons Dynasty. In her early twenties Jo graduated to acting in movies; all four were blockbusters. But when she called out the industry’s racism in a column, it got harder for her to find work, so she started writing and producing her own projects.

Continued here:

https://dearauthor.com/book-reviews/overall-b-reviews/b-minus-reviews/review-something-to-talk-about-by-meryl-wilsner/

Meryl Wilsner debut novel Something to Talk About is a wonderful workplace romance that is wonderfully romantic with a Hollywood setting.

Jo Jones is a powerhouse in TV as the force behind a successful TV show. She’s looking to make the move into features by taking on the next Agent Silver film–a job some in the biz don’t think she’s qualified for. Jo’s determined though, she started as a child actress–an outspoken one having taken on how her Asain character was treated on her TV show. These days she doesn’t take crap from anyone.

Emma is Jo’s long time assistant, on the cusp of moving on from the assistant job and on to a larger production role on Jo’s show. She enjoys her job, her boss and her life. When Jo invites Emma to the Screen Actors Guild awards, Emma says yes since Jo wants her to be a shield against unwanted questions surrounding the Agent Silver film.

When Emma plays the buffer role on the red carpet and her and Jo share a laugh, the paparazzi snap away and a rumor is born. Since Jo’s never commented on her relationships, she doesn’t start and that means the story continues drawing the attention of friends, family and far too many others.

The thing is, Jo and Emma are attracted to each other. It’s a wonderful slow burn romance as they battle their internal fears about being a couple all the while ending up showing affection for each in random ways that make them happy in the moment but then freak them out and make them reconsider everything their doing. The slow burn is so very good. It kept me very engaged rooting for Emma and Jo get to their happy place.

I loved the Hollywood setting too. The producer slash writer and her assistant was a great setup. The ins and out of Jo transitioning from TV to movie was enjoyable and provided a great backdrop for her move into a relationship too. There’s also a ripped-from-the-headlines plot too involving some sexual harassment when a visiting director to Jo’s TV show makes inappropriate moves on Emma.

The romantic overtures small and large between these two are swoon-worthy. Jo totally goes into caring mode when Emma has a minor medical emergency. Emma takes care of Jo beyond her assistant duties, making sure she eats and has when she needs to make her days easier. Then there’s the more hardcore romantic moments, like a call from Jo over Hannukah.

Emma’s got a wonderful family too with her parents and sister. It’s a stark contrast to Jo’s controlling and judgemental father. I really wanted to punch him for behaving terribly to her but I may have cheered out loud with the way she dealt with it. Jo’s got a great longtime friend though, who just happens to be an attorney which you can bet comes in handy when there’s a snitch that keeps feeding the press tidbits about Emma and Jo.

This is a terrific debut novel and I can’t wait to see what comes next. I loved how Meryl captured Emma and Jo’s doubts. It’s not just about disrupting their working relationship, it’s about being able to give their heart and wanting to do the right things for the other person. The internal back and forth both women have struck exactly the right chord. But then there are the looks, gestures the worry over if they’re doing the right thing. It was all the feels.

The audiobook is a great way to read Something to Talk About too. Narrators Jorjeana Marie and Xe Sands do a sublime job giving life to Emma and Jo. I was glad I read the book with them reading because it just added to an already excellent story.

When I found out Berkley was publishing a contemporary f/f romance, I was over the moon. Something to Talk About was one of my most anticipated books of 2020, and I had such high hopes for it. Unfortunately, it fell flat in just about every way.

The characters were very one-dimensional; we didn’t get to know much about them outside of work, and they had no real personality or defining characteristics other than the fact Jo was 40-something, Chinese-American, and lesbian, and Emma was 20-something, Jewish, and bisexual. I applaud the diversity, but there was absolutely nothing interesting about either of them.

The story dragged on and on and nothing ever really happened. Jo and Emma would have a misunderstanding, Emma’s feelings would be hurt, and then whoever’s POV it was would spend an entire chapter mentally rehashing what happened. This was basically the entire book. Chapter after chapter of a misunderstanding and then repetitive internal dialogue. I also got really annoyed at the incessant teasing from their family and friends. I get that siblings and close friends tease each other, but there came a point where it was obvious it made both Jo and Emma angry, and yet it continued through the entire book.

There was so little actual romance in this book, it feels like a stretch to categorize it as a romance. I’m all for slow burn when done well, but this was painfully slow and then when things finally did happen, the story abruptly ended. The characters had no chemistry, there was no passion or intensity. I was so bored, and I didn’t care enough about the characters to root for them. This book could have been great and I was so hopeful it would be, but it was just disappointing in so many ways.

3.5* Stars

I'm always a sucker for a RomCom, but for some reason haven't ever actively sought out any LGBTQ fiction. Deciding to broaden my horizons and this one landing in my collections as an advanced copy, I went with it.
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Overall, I thought it was a cute read, but it was super slow burning. Slower than what I really like in a book like this. Character development was great, and we get to learn about what has made the main characters who they are from looks into the past, current actions, and internal struggles. I enjoyed the juxtaposition of someone who knows who they are sexually but still discovering themself career wise, and then someone who is successful in a career but still uneasy with where their heart leads them.
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There might have been a little too much pushed into the story, as far as trying to show off career changes AND a developing love story. Personally I would have liked a little less career and more of the romantic comedy side show through more a better dynamic.

First things first: I surprised myself when I requested this book, since it’s not usually the type of romance I read - and the whole boss/employee trope doesn’t usually do it for me. So, I was pleasantly surprised when I raced through it in just a few days, and I have to say, I enjoyed myself immensely.

Jo Jones is a 41-year-old Chinese-American showrunner, who has been in the industry for decades, and know what’s like to have to prove herself over and over again. Emma Kaplan is her 27-year-old assistant, who excels at her job but also has bigger dreams in the film industry. When Jo invites Emma to an awards show and the women are photographed together, the tabloids immediately label them a couple. Rumors of their (nonexistent) relationship threaten both Jo’s new movie script and Emma’s promotion to a better position ... and it’s all made worse when Emma realizes she actually does have a crush on her boss.

This book was heartfelt and sweet, but also dealt with some important issues, like sexual harassment and the #metoo movement, as well as race, gender, and sexuality in Hollywood. It was also the slooooowest of slow burns, which was actually delightful and made the ending very satisfying!

A quick, compelling read, one that made me smile and think and want to watch a Bond movie (it makes sense if you read the book).

Something to Talk About is modern take on a Hollywood and LA romance. Meet Jo. A powerful, single respected female in Hollywood TV and movie in early her 40s. She has always stood firm on her resolve to not discuss her love life. Meet Emma. Jo's driven, attractive, competent, and generally happy mid 20s young assistant. One red carpet outing. One photograph gets the media talking....are they really a couple?

I loved the female relationship take on the romance novel which is not often portrayed in books even in 2020. The characters, while the book is not heavy or literary, are developed and feel like people you know and are friends with. I could not put this one down.

I loved this! We need more wlw books and this one is a prime example of why. It was well-written and I was chomping at the bit by the end because it was such a good slow burn. I love Jo and Emma and the secondary characters were great, too. I love books about people who are on/work on TV shows and this one didn't disappoint.
I really love Emma- she's smart and hard-working and kind and she's also a little insecure and has feelings of doubt about her future. She's very relatable and likable and I loved her scenes with her family and their dynamic..
We need more Jo's in fiction (and in real life.) I like seeing the so-called cold bitch character turn out to not actually be a cold bitch. We get to see that just because that's the image people have made for her, she's so much more than that. Jo is a real person who stands up for herself and the people she cares about.
I like the alternating POVs. Sometimes it can be too much, but in this case I liked hearing the about the events of the book from both character because they have such differing points of view, what with the age difference, the differing experience, etc.
I definitely recommend this and I hope we hear more from Meryl Wilsner in the future!

This book was sweet and swoony and everything I didn’t know I needed. I’m so happy for the LGBTQ+ and diversity rep this book presented. I also thoroughly enjoyed the plot and though at some moments I thought both of the character were a bit whiny, they felt thought out and their inner dialogue just made sense. It was a slow burn in the best way and I can’t wait to read more by this author.

Emma loves her job assisting the incredible showrunner of a hit TV show. When her boss, Jo, invites Emma to join her at an award show, a photo taken of the two of them sets off rumors that Emma and Jo are romantically involved. Jo hates that this has become a story; since rising to fame in her teens, she’s never been one to comment on her love life and the rumors are undermining her reputation right as a her new movie is taking off. Emma is horrified anyone may think she is sleeping her way to the top. While the world begins treating them different, Emma and Jo find comfort in each other bringing each of them to wonder how far off the rumors really were.

There is so much to love about this book. First, this cover! I am so excited to show this book face out in my library. I also loved the pacing of story; nothing felt contrived to fit a standard rom com plot, and I felt refreshed and truly excited to see where each chapter would take us. I enjoyed getting to know Jo and Emma as individual characters through their own perspectives, and I was impressed by the range of topics Wilsner was able to bring into the fold without seeming preachy: #MeTo, representation and stereotypes in television, family dynamics, and even faith. I am excited to give this to fans of The Hating Game and Red, White, and Royal Blue, and. I am just so thrilled to see Something to Talk About in our library.

3.5/5
Very excited to see a wlw romance from Berkley! The romance was too slow burn for my tastes. Jo's blatant disregard for Emma's feelings prior to her sexual harassment meant I wasn't able to connect with her character until their romance was in full swing. This wasn't quite my cup of tea but I'm excited to see more from the author and imprint in the future!

4.5/5 Stars

Did you all know that this book is Berkley's first ever queer female romance?!? AND that it's written by a queer author!?! That in of itself put this book on my radar. Then I heard about the plot and I was sold. My expectations kept rising for this story the more I heard about it and the praise it was getting. Add in that gorgeous cover and I needed this book in my hands ASAP!

And OMG! I devoured this book! It met each and every one of my expectations and blew several more out of the water. I loved it so much that I immediately went and ordered a copy for curbside pickup so I could have it for my personal library. I sometimes struggle with slow burn romances but this one was the good kind of slow burn that had me shouting “Just kiss already!” at the characters! It being a f/f romance was just the cherry on top!

I'm kind of a sucker for the "icy and distant businessperson falls in love with a sweet cinnamon roll love interest" trope and this story tackled that romance trope in such a way that I wasn't icked out by the fact that it was an boss/employee love story. It was so well done!

I loved Emma and Jo and the Hollywood setting so much! I didn't realize I needed this book in my life until I read it. It checked all of the boxes for me. I loved that Emma is Jewish for more than just Hanukah and that we get a peek into what it's like to be Chinese-American from Jo. I also loved that we get to see a part of what it is to be a woman in Hollywood. I will warn you that there is some sexual harassment in this book so be careful if that's a trigger for you.

I loved that there is so much women supporting women in this book. I almost loved the relationship between Emma and her sister, Avery, as well as Jo's relationship with her best friend, Evelyn, more than the romance. Almost. What I really adored was seeing Jo and Avery become friends. The family dynamics in this book were intriguing and awesome for the most part.

The story is a slow, slow burn romance. I was invested from the get go but I could see people being turned off because of it too. I loved the chemistry that developed between Emma and Jo. I would have liked to see more of an epilogue or just more pages of them being officially together though.

This book is filled with a lot of good tension but some of it's also the kind of tension that would have been made unnecessary with some simple communication between the characters. I enjoyed the story as is but I may have been frustrated enough in a few parts that I shouted at the main characters to just talk to each other already. I loved getting the story from both Emma and Jo's perspectives but it got annoying how much they assumed they knew the other's answers without asking them.

Overall, I think Berkley chose a home run for their first female queer romance to publish. It was almost perfect, in my opinion. So if you're looking for a f/f romance to read during Pride this year, I can't recommend picking this one up enough!