A sweet and fun romantic comedy that just hits the spot when you need an escape. This would also make an excellent summer/beach read.

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the digital arc.

From the Jump is a delightful rom-com. Liv is a rule follower and above all else, she is looking for stability and security in her life. When Liv makes the decision to finally take a vacation with her group of friends, everything doesn't go smoothly. When Live is faced with change in her life as a result, she isn't ready for it. This slow-burn romance has terrific banter and snappy chats between comfortable friends. The author takes us to South Africa and paints.a descriptive picture of the surrounding. But it is back in LA that we start to see some real growth from Liv and her friends. The story is about learning to be open and not letting fear and your past hold you back. From the Jump is a quick light read, with a forced proximity trope that was sweet. I was routing for more than just the main characters in this one.

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the arc and the opportunity to provide my honest review.

One of my favorite beach reads last summer was The Layover by @allaboutthat_lace. So you can only imagine how PUMPED I was to receive an early copy of her latest, From the Jump, via @netgalley.

And it did not disappoint! Y’all this was FUN. I could not put it down, and devoured it in one sitting.

Our gal Liv is typeA af, and a real rule follower. Fed up, she finally says no and makes a choice for herself. What follows is a very authentic story of Liv trying to figure her shit out. Some wild shit happens, and she leans on the support of her college friends including the very smolder-y Deiss.

I’m always a sucker for a slow burn, friends to lovers story. And this was all that but so much more! A trip to South Africa! Safari! Fabulous supporting characters that added just enough humor and drama.

This one isn’t out until July 5 - sorry to be such a tease 😈 but add it to your preorder list today!! Cannot wait to see what @allaboutthat_lace writes next.

#scottonreads #goodreads #netgalley #bookstagram #laciewaldon #romance #romancebooks #fromthejump #putnambooks #penguinrandomhouse

This story was fantastic. I loved the friends-to-lovers trope that took its sweet time. Liv was an amazing leading lady. I loved her strength and all her flaws. I loved that Deiss really saw her. They had amazing chemistry and their honesty was so romantic. All of the side characters as well, adding a found family aspect which is always so fun and comforting. I really rooted for all of these characters and will definitely reread in the future. Thank you to Lacie Waldon, Penguin Group Putnam, and Netgalley for allowing me this read in exchange for my honest review.

Reading From the Jump feels very much like taking off on a perfect mini-vacation with friends! Waldon’s second book is a fun, heart-warming read you just can’t put down. It has everything one would dream for in a rom-com novel: characters you love and cheer for (hello swoon-worthy Lucas Deiss!), the slow burn of a friends-to-lovers romance, the loyalty and complexity of an eleven-year group friendship, and a South African vacation escape. Great character development and story, and I-ola loved-ola every-ola detail-ola!

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 ⭐️-This is a fun romcom that introduces us to Liv and her college group of friends. Known as “the ice queen”, Liv guards her past and does everything by the book to create a perfect life. What she doesn’t realize is that her strict rules make it hard for her to actually have a life.

Twelve years after she meets her college friends, Liv reaches a breaking point and starts saying “no” instead of being a “yes” girl and doing what everyone wants and expects from her. For the first time, she joins her friends on their yearly vacation and realizes how much she has been missing, especially “who” she has been missing. What follows is a sweet friends to lovers trope between two people who finally learn to let their guard down.

I knocked off points because I really wished the beginning flowed better and also better established the friend group. This group was supposed to be like family to each other, but at the same time, it didn’t feel like many of the friendships were that close or even fully developed. I get that Liv and Deiss existed on the periphery because they closely guarded their past, but it seems like they hardly knew each other or had many shared experiences after 12 years. Although I loved the four main characters in the end, the 5th friend and odd man out, Simone just didn’t make sense to me. She really had no redeeming qualities and seemed to exist only to provide some tension in the group. It never fully made sense why they were friends with her and why she bothered to be friends with them.

Although I preferred The Layover, this is still a fun read and I would definitely recommend it! I really appreciate the unique storylines the author writes about and look forward to her next book!

Triggers: perfectionism, controlled eating, body image

Thank you to Penguin Group Putnam for allowing me to read this advance copy. From The Jump is a fun book about a group of tight knits friends who have known each other since college, and what happens when years later, attractions surface they make a pact not to sacrifice their friendships for romance. I loved Liv’s perfectionist character and how just one brief conversation with an old friend sparks her to doubt her path and change her mindset about how she’s living her life. Sometimes life is like that and all it takes is the right comment from the right person to change you. The events that unfold take us to South Africa and back to LA, and just when you wonder what else might happen other than what might be inevitable, there are a few twists. I think no matter who reads this, the reader will identify with at least one of the friends in this group and can easily picture a version of the others they’ve met in their lives. The romantic tension flies high throughout and the book kept me reading eagerly until the finish. It was the perfect kick of to 2022 for me!

You know that saying, never judge a book by its cover? Forget that with this book. The cover is SO cute and so is the story within.

From the Jump follows the story of a group of friends… From how they met in college, into adulthood where they’ve all got their own lives and careers.

Liv is determined to live a carefully crafted life where she cannot be perceived as weak or needy to anyone, including her closest friends. Following her self-help books and podcasts closely, Liv does everything to portray the perfect facade. That is until she learns to say ‘no’ with the help of an unexpected friend. That one ‘no’ changes the entire course of Liv’s life.

This friends-to-lovers rom-com is the perfect light and sweet read. From the Jump strikes the perfect balance between romance, friendship, and discovering who we truly are.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Liv is what most people would describe as stuffy and calculated, everything she does is to fit a purpose and doesn't really live for the thrills. She stumbled her way into friendships in college and the 5 have been inseparable since. One day, Liv decides she's going to take a chance and meet her friends on their annual trip, this time in Africa. On this trip she sees her friend Lucas in a different light. Will this relationship continue when their back in the States or will this love connection cause an end of their 5-way friendship?

I absolutely love everything Lacie Waldon! I reviewed her first book on Netgalley and enjoyed her second just as much. She's easily becoming one of my go to authors. I love group of misfit characters, misfits as in they may not be a group that would typically be friends but here they are years later, just as close. The relationship between Lucas and Liv is pretty desirable, wouldn't it be nice if we all had good looking best friends with secret crushes on us! Definitely will make a great beach read this summer!

Thank you Lacie Waldon, Netgalley, and Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me a copy of the book in exchange for a review.

This book is tough to right a review for as it’s not the worst romance book I’ve read and it’s not my favorite. I enjoyed the story but simultaneously felt lost in regards to plot and some of the characters. For what it’s worth, I am always going to love a friends to lovers trope.

I expected the trip Liv took with her friends to take up most of the plot when it only was less than a quarter. The development of why Liv never went on a vacation with her friends was understandable but it’s interesting why the friends had little clue to the trauma she endured. I had a difficult time believing they were such good friends because it kind of felt like they were just casual friends. Both Diess and Liv have kept secrets about their past to the friend group. They don’t owe their friends the information, but to me it would’ve formed an emotional connection that shaped their bond to each other. I still don’t know why they all remain friends. Also they forgive way too easily *cough cough I’m looking at you Simone*

I really wanted Liv’s relationship with her mom to be more forefront of the novel. The set up of Liv growing up with her mom struggling financially and in relationships was really interesting and heartbreaking. It obviously affected her as a kid and an adult but she never discusses these things with her mom or her friends despite it obviously still affecting her. She does confide in Deiss but I simply wanted more.

Also, there were a few past scenes labeled “then” which were weirdly placed through the story. It might’ve actually been better to alude to the history of the groups friendships through their interactions.

Overall I enjoyed the friendships and romance, I just wanted more of it all!

I loved The Layover by Lacie Waldon so I’m not shocked I loved From the Jump even more! This story focuses on Liv. Liv follows every “rule” in life in order to achieve “perfection”. In the beginning of the book, we are introduced to Liv’s chosen family, Simone, Phoebe, Mac and Diess. Throughout the story, Liv discovers that her perfect life isn’t making her happy. There’s a lot of flirty and fun banter between Liv and Diess throughout the book. This book combines romantic love, friendship love and most importantly, self love. My only wish is that we were able to dive into Liv’s past a little more.

What a great friends to lovers romance! I enjoyed every moment of this book and wish I had a tight knit friends circle to travel the world with! Deiss was perfect as the male lead but I loved how it wasn't just a story about the two main characters but a story about their entire group of friends from college to adulthood. The flashbacks to college were a nice touch to get to know the characters' connections to one another. I would highly recommend this for any readers of romance and for anyone who loves a good adventure!

Thank you NetGalley for the early copy to review!

This book didn't hold my attention for long. Unfortunately I found myself bored while reading. DNF

**********I received an ARC for my honest opinion from NetGalley.********************

Thank you for a copy of this book!
I enjoyed Some characters but really felt annoyed by Liv. A chronic yes person that finally takes her life in control. The character didn’t sit well with me. I didn’t Feel like there was a lot of growth. The book was honestly pretty boring. I’m super disappointed as I was really excited for this author’s new book. Will look forward to more books from author.

The beginning was a bit rough for me because it felt disconnected which made it hard to read. I didn’t have an instant connection with Liv and it took a while before I started to enjoy and relate to her. After a few rocky chapters, I felt that the story came together once Livs adventure began and she started to let go of all of her preconceived notions about what is proper or right and started living for her.

What the writer did well was the love story aspect of this book. Diess and Liv had great chemistry and their story had the perfect mix of sweetness and steam. Those moments in the book really stood out to me because they were written so well apart from the other parts of the book. I felt invested in their story and kept reading because I wanted to know their outcome.

Overall this book felt messy. There were times where the writing was very good and in sync and I loved where Liv was going, but then there were times where the plot would veer and the story would no longer make sense or the characters actions seemed out of place. Intertwining the past with the present confused me because I wasn’t sure how the memories connect with the present.

Thank you to G. P. Putnam's Sons and NetGalley for this ARc

A light, fun romance about friendships, found family, and discovering yourself along the way. I really enjoyed the characters and the friends to lovers, slow burn between Liv and Deiss.

Olivia hasn’t had an easy life. The one constant in her life for the past 11 years was her tight-knit group of college friends. This story embraces true friendship and what a gift it is. The main character, Olivia, has kept her past hidden from her friends and the world. She is a strict rule follower who has spent her whole life doing all the “right” things. In an uncharacteristic moment, Oliva says, “no” to her boss and sets into motion a whirlwind of change. She books a last-minute ticket and treks across the globe to meet up with her friends for a South African vacation. Olivia realizes how much she has been missing out on. When she returns home, her life is unexpectedly turned upside down. When she is down and out, her good friend, Deiss, steps in to help. After years of pent-up attraction, Liv and Deiss struggle to come to terms with the intense feelings they have for each other. Could succumbing to their desires ruin a decade of friendship? Would their group of friends withstand the change in dynamic?

I love a good friends-to-lovers story and From the Jump by Lacie Waldon did not disappoint. The characters in this story were well developed and their story was enjoyable to read. The storyline was a little unrealistic at points, but not enough to make me dislike it. This was my first Lacie Waldon novel and I will definitely read more of her work. I enjoyed Liv, Deiss and all their friends. I recommend this entertaining contemporary romance.

5 out of 5 stars!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Books for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review! As always, all opinions are my own.

Lacie Waldon has done it again with a charming rom-com that I could not put down. The characters were relatable and just the right amount of flawed to add drama to this light-hearted story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc. This was a joy to read. I absolutely adored Lucas Deiss, and while it took me a bit to warm up to the main character, Liv, I loved her by the end and I couldn’t help but root for her. This book truly exemplifies the human capability for change, and it really inspired me. Liv’s growing friendship/relationship with Deiss really helped shape her new journey, but it was ultimately her determination that allowed her to succeed and find happiness. I love friends-to-lovers and this certainly didn’t disappoint. Liv and Deiss have a slow-burning romance with a massive amount of tension that builds over time. However, my biggest issue with this book is it’s view of years’ long friendships. I feel that it falsely portrayed forgiveness and implied that you owe something to friends that you’ve known for a long time. I was hesitant about the group dynamic for the majority of the book, but by the end I was ready for the group as a whole to move on from the people that hurt them. It displayed a level of unhealthiness that I’ve experienced in my real-life friendships and I’d hate it if the situation in the last few chapters influenced someone to wrongly forgive a friend that’s done irrevocable damage. College friendships are very important but you’re not required to remain in them once you’ve outgrown each other. Even so, I thoroughly enjoyed Liv and Deiss’s relationship and I’d have loved to read a time jump epilogue about them.

From the Jump is a contemporary romance between two long-time friends Olivia and Deiss. This is a slow-burn, friends to lovers contemporary romance but oh was it fun!

The book begins with Olivia, a pristine, perfect businesswoman who seems to have everything in place. Behind closed doors however, we learn that Liv struggles deeply with her self image, which can be attributed to being raised by a mother who insisted Olivia always look perfect. We are also witness to Liv’s fear of abandonment, as demonstrated by the way nearly all of her decisions regarding her friends come back to not wanting to break up the group.

Liv’s friends are as eclectic as the city this story takes place in. You have your typical wealthy LA influencer Simone, Phoebe the fashion obsessed, the male model Mac, and the mysterious record-store owner Deiss. Despite having been friends for 11 years, Liv is very closed off and her friends don’t know much, if anything, about her past. Interestingly, her friends see her as being quite frugal, but they don’t understand that this comes from having been raised poor and, at times, homeless.

This is likely why Liv insists on being so well put together, because it is something in her life that she can control. Of course, she also struggles with relinquishing this control, and has never been on a trip with all of her friends, something that the rest of the group seem to do quite annually.

While most of this book takes place in California, a brief part of it takes place in South Africa. This is arguably my favorite part of the book, as Waldon does a fantastic job of bringing the scenery to life, making you feel a if you’re right there with them. Despite it being such a short part of the book, what happens during this trip changes the relationship between Liv and Deiss forever.

Without giving too much away, the tropes you can expect to see in this book are: one bed, forced proximity, and friends to lovers.

The biggest frustration with this book actually came from Simone. Simone is established as being an uber-wealthy influencer who is quite tone deaf to the rest of her friends (namely Liv) struggles. That, or she just doesn’t care. Quite frankly, knowing her character I might be tempted to say it’s the latter. Simone constantly make little quips at Liv and frequently toes the line of rude vs sarcastic. Personally, I wouldn’t have tolerated for Simone as long as Liv did, but I could see this being because of her fear of abandonment. Towards the end of the book, Simone ends up finding out The Secret, and rather than support her friend (like a good person would), she decides to rat them out. I could not understand how someone so catty would be welcome back into a friend group after this stunt, but as Liv goes on to say, “I choose my friends”.


Overall a fun, refreshing read about two people deciding if love is worth the risk. In fact, Liv says it best: “He tastes like safaris and concerts and all the things I’m only just discovering are right for me.” From the Jump is perfect for those who need to escape from their daily routine and who dream of being elsewhere. Thank you to NetGalley for the free arc in exchange for an honest review!