The romance was cute, but I really didn't like the writing that much. It's hard to tell how much will change from the arc for its final publication, but there was so much telling instead of showing and overly descriptive, unneeded paragraphs. It was also very predictable. I liked the diversity of two Korean love interests written by a Korean author, but the negatives outweigh the positives for me.

(Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change upon final publication.)

Lizzy and Jack were great childhood friends, but fast forward to present day. Lizzy is an attorney out in LA while Jack runs a family business back in their home town with his siblings.

Lizzy is burnt out from work...don't we all get this way...and she decides to take some time off to come home and spend time with Jack. This could be a friends to lovers, second chance love, small town romance, all the best things that make a cute and quirky little romance novel.

Jack becomes nervous to spend so much time with Lizzy since he has been in love with her since they were children.

This book had the set up to be great, but the lack of understanding in the ending was confusing to me. Everyone and everything was ALL over the place and I just didn't enjoy how it turned out or the way it turned out.

After reading (and loving) Jayci Lee’s The Dating Dare last summer, I was really looking forward to her newest book Booked On A Feeling, which follows Lizzy and her best friend Jack.

I really liked both Lizzy and Jack, and how they were both really figuring out what they wanted out of life. The bookstore setting was fantastic, as were the majority of the side characters (minus Lizzy’s mother), I also loved the cameo from Tara (who happens to be Jack’s sister) and Seth!

However, as much as I enjoyed the characters, and the romance between Lizzy and Jack, something fell a little flat for me, and I can’t pinpoint what exactly it was.

Overall, I enjoyed Booked On A Feeling, I just didn’t love it, but I will continue to read what Jayci Lee comes out with next!

Thank you to net galley and st martin's press for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This was such a cute and fun read! I love a good friends to lovers trope. I also love a good hallmark movie and I felt like I was in a hallmark movie!

The story started off a little slow for me, and it took me a bit to really get into the story - hence the 4/5 stars. However, once I got into the story I really enjoyed it.

I related to Lizzie in regards to burn out - it is a real thing that is hard to work with. I thought Lee did a great job with her character! Jack was such a sweetheart, and I loved his character. Together I thought they had great chemistry. I thought the build up was great. The story was able to heat up, without going overboard. It seemed like the perfect amount for this story.

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good friends to lovers storyline!

I loved the tension in this enemies to lovers trope. I thought this was a great romcom with a lot of laughs and chemistry between the characters. Would definitely read more from this author.

📚 Book Review 📚

Y’all. Friends to lovers is one of my favorite tropes, and after I read the description for this involved a bookstore I wanted to read it immediately.

While I loved the premise for this book, and the initial few chapters had me hooked, it really just didn’t hit the right notes for me. A big reason for this is because of constantly being told the MCs were “best friends.” I really wish more had been done to show this instead of just telling about it. And also the constant stream of “we can’t do this. It’ll ruin our friendship” or “they don’t feel the same way” I just got irritated by it.

Now Lee does do an excellent job of building up the tension between the characters and when they eventually get together it’s 🔥.

This wasn’t my favorite friends to lovers, but I do have a different Jayci Lee book on my shelf that I will still try and read sometime.

this was a delight if you are searching a romcommy read for this summer this is a go. what's more delighful that a badass lawyer who take a break to a small town and help her childhood crush revamp a bookstore? books, tension and cuteness is always a fav for me!

READ THIS IMMEDIATELY! Since the moment I started reading it I was hooked and I immediately loved all the characters and THE WAY Jack talked about Lizzy at the beginning I’m telling you AUTOMATICALLY hooked!

I don’t think this was a bad book, but it was definitely a book that just wasn’t for me. It felt formulaic, and I couldn’t connect to the characters. That being said, if you’re someone’s who enjoys hallmark romances & wants something to hit that spot, this could be a good fit!

Thanks so much Netgalley & SMP for the eArc!

4.5/5

CW: panic attacks, fainting, burnout, sexism

I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a free e-ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Up-and-coming lawyer Lizzy Chung books herself a three-week getaway to Weldon, California, to figure out her next steps and address her underlying career burnout. In comes Jack Park, Lizzy’s childhood friend, ready to spend as much time with Lizzy as he can before she has to leave all while harboring a long-time, secret crush on Lizzy. When they both come across the opportunity to revitalize a local bookstore, Lizzy and Jack find out that they may have been meant to be all along.

I am literally obsessed with Booked on a Feeling. Lee is able to create an engaging world of relatable characters that you can’t help but root for and a plot that is easy enough to ease into without getting lost. Jack and Lizzy have an undeniable connection within the first pages of the book and it was great seeing their relationship played out.

My only critique of the book would be that I do think that the third-person POV seems to be a bit off at times. There isn’t much of a transition when we look at Lizzy’s or Jack’s thoughts. One moment you’re reading something from Lizzy’s POV and then you’re just placed into Jack’s POV without warning. I feel that it would have been better if there were chapters solely focused on Lizzy’s or Jack’s POV so that it doesn’t get confusing for the reader, especially if both Lizzy and Jack are in the same scene together.

Other than that, this book is totally worth it and perfect for readers who love a medium-paced burn friends-to-lovers romance with MCs that have always been meant to be.

Preface: unfinished

Ive tried picking this up over half a dozen times but I don't know what is turning me off...the writing is fine, characters are goos. Perhaps it is just not the right time for me.

Will attempt again in the future and provide a fuller review.

Thanks to NetGalley, St Martin’s Press, and Jayci Lee for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for a review.

Booked On A Feeling was such a cute read. It did start off slow for me to establish the background of one of our MCs, Lizzy. She is a lawyer in LA and suffers from anxiety and panic attacks. As someone who also suffers from anxiety, I totally got how she felt. After a horrible attack on the opening statements on her first big trial, she decides to take some time away in her best friend’s hometown to decompress. Her best friend, Jack, has been in love with her for years and has never told her. I love friends to lovers tropes. The one friend being hopelessly in love and then the other person realizing that they feel the same way

Jack is such a fun, sweet character. He is kind and cares about everyone. This is his downfall because he stays working at his family’s brewery even though he knows there is more he can do with his life. Watching Lizzy and Jack’s relationship grow was beautiful. There was a clear story between them, and the heat was, well, hot. Not too graphic but just enough heat. Even the conflict that every romance needs is understandable.

Not many cons to this book. I have seen complaints from other reviewers about how easy it was for her just to walk away but Lizzy seems like someone who is just doing what will make her parents happy. The pacing was a little slow in the beginning but picked up once the two MCs were in the same place.

Booked On A Feeling is a definite read. I had never read anything by Jayci Lee but saw that some of the side characters from this book have their own books. I will be picking those up to read for sure.

. . . ⭑ ⭑ ⭑ ⭒ ⭒
I wanted to like this one so much. I generally adore books about people who love books - it’s like a pass go, collect immediate kinship dollars situation - but for some reason, this one just wasn’t it for me.

Before I get into the nitty-gritty of this, let me first say that Jayci Lee is deeply skillful in the blending of sweet and spicy, and this book is no exception.

Now normally, the friends-to-lovers trope is usually my preferred one, but unfortunately the shift here felt a little implausible to me. It wasn’t the change in dynamic that gave me pause - I often find the shared history between the characters lays a solid groundwork for the emotional and physical connection that inevitably ensues - it was that Lizzy and Jack definitely had all of this going for them, so the “lightbulb moment” for Lizzy felt a bit last minute for me. I felt like the character as she was written ( intelligent and intuitive ) would have been a bit more in-tune with both her feelings as well as Jack’s.

Now, with that being said, there was stuff in here that I enjoyed: the good ol’ return-to-small-town-and-realize-the-big-city-ain’t-it vibes, the revamping the small business, the journey of self-discovery, the navigation of family dynamics, and the spotlight on anxiety - all of these things were *chef’s kiss* well done and I was into it.

So ultimately, while it wasn’t quite what I hoped, I still walk away with a fairly balanced read, and will happily read another by this author.

~👩🏻‍🦰

• review •
booked on a feeling | jayci lee

★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

my thoughts on this book had more back and forth than a ping pong tournament. I wanted to rate the first half 2 stars, and the second half 4 stars. but goodreads said no.

it’s a friends-to-lovers story straight out of a hallmark movie. which I love.
that being said, I was able to predict the entire outcome of the book while still on the first chapter.

there was a ton of repetition as well. lizzy is surprised that winning the trial didn’t make her happy. jack is upset about his inability to stick with option two. noted. move on.

a lot of lizzy’s inner dialogue was unnecessary. do I need an entire monologue about you not remembering where you parked? also,
just tell me that the store is empty. there’s no need for the ‘hm, maybe everyone is hidden behind the large bookcases, and are just staying very, very quiet’
we all know that’s not what’s happening.

also, a lot of the conversations were awkward. it was stiff, like every other word was ran through a thesaurus. I made a note that said “have you never talked to a human before?”
so, that.

moving on to what I enjoyed..
I actually really liked the plot itself. it definitely could have been dressed up a bit. but it was a cute story. no doubt about it. there was also a decent amount of 🌶 mixed in there.

jack. he was such a sweetheart. idk man, apparently I have a thing for the guy that has been secretly pining his entire life.
the karaoke scene? please 🥰
gangnam style had me in the knots.

lizzy’s story was very relatable. realizing you modelled your entire life around what other people want from you? lol, same.
the anxiety, panic, and burnout representation was spot on.
I will say, there was no buildup to her developing feelings. she always saw him as her best friend, then one day she wanted to jump his bones and start a life with him? ok.

also, the miscommunication trope is not for me. just talk to each other for goodness sake.

that being said, I am dying to run away and open up a bookstore now. so if you want to join me, lemme know

thank you to netgalley and st. martin’s press for the advanced copy

3.5 stars

This was a cute childhood best friends to lovers book.

I loved both the main characters (mostly lol Jack annoyed me at times) and felt that they were very relatable and real, and I love that the author touches on anxiety, family issues, and self-growth and discovery. I also loved the aspects of Korean culture infused into the book (it made me very hungry lol).

While their love story is cute, I felt that we didn’t truly get a great glimpse into their childhood friendship. The book would have benefited from flashbacks to when they were younger to further explore their friendship and how Jack came to realize his feelings for his best friend.

While I will say that the story and romance is very cute, I felt that nothing really made it stand apart from other childhood best friends to lovers and also, again, it lacks in background development of the characters and their friendship.

Overall, I would recommend this if you’re looking for a sweet, easy to read romance with relatable and likeable characters.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is perfect for anyone who loves Emily Henry. It’s like a wonderful combination of the tropes in beach read, people we meet on vacation and book lovers. But the tension building is immaculate.

The first chapter was a little bleh to me and I didn’t feel intrigued right away. But as it kept going and picking up I couldn’t wait to read more.

For a few Lizzy felt a little insufferable for me. Something about her I just didn’t love in the beginning. But she really grew on me.

I love the cast and characters. And all the events. I think it was paced well, the plot was well developed. It was everything that I wanted for a fun rom com.

You know a books going to be good when the main characters are book lovers.

Booked on a Feeling by Jayci Lee was a cute fun read. There wasn't too much drama or angst. The perfect lighthearted beach read. I did find myself constantly frustrated with both Lizzy and Jack. I can't decide who was more of an idiot--Jack for not opening up about his true feelings sooner, or Lizzy for being too blind to see it on her own.

If you're looking for something emotionally moving with a lot of substance, maybe skip this one. This is perfect if a fun, simple read is more your style.

I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Jayci Lee for the ARC!

3/5 stars ⭐⭐⭐

Thank you NetGalley & the publisher for my eARC in exchange for my honest review.

👉Full disclosure: I read about 65% then skimmed the rest. I can't bring myself to DNF an ARC.

Where to start....
I have books 1&2 of this trilogy on my shelf, still unread. I purchased them, and requested this ARC, at the recommendation of a friend (I'm looking at you, Tammy 😆) who absolutely loves Jayci Lee! Unfortunately this wasn't my cup of tea. I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it.

First, what I didn't enjoy:

I didn't feel a connection to the characters -- like at ALL. As other reviewers have mentioned, the writing and dialogue is very juvenile, like the characters come off as being18-21 versus grown ass adults in their 30s. I think it read more like a YA and perhaps that's a good direction for the author to take. Her writing just naturally has that YA vibe to it. And that's not necessarily a bad thing -- especially for folks who love YA.

I felt this odd juxtaposition here... Like the book was super wholesome and clean 95% of the time. Think "Leave it to Beaver" vibes... Somewhat cheesy and overly "good." Yet there are the occasional curse words and sexy scenes, which felt somewhat forced. It's almost like someone wrote a wholesome Hallmark style romance novel and someone else came in and said "Let's dirty this up a bit!" and proceeded to sprinkle the occasional S#!t and F@$# and steamy scene.

I also felt like we were lacking background information. I wanted to know more about Jack and Lizzy! What's their story? What's their history? Give us some background, maybe some flashbacks to the past. Help us feel more connected.

Things I did enjoy:
⭐The Cover 😍
⭐The bookstore setting 🙌
⭐The Korean American rep
⭐The food! 🍜
⭐The small town vibes

I'm not going to say this was a "bad" book because there's nothing inherently wrong with it. It just wasn't for me, and that's OK! We can't all like the same books. And clearly many people have read this and loved it. So definitely give it a try! You might be one who really enjoys it! ☺️

*Note: I will not be posting this review on Bookstagram, but will instead post a Pub Day post tomorrow. 💕

The book was really a mixed bag for me. I love certain aspects and didn't enjoy others. The overall romance for me was just very "meh" and sometimes felt very juvenile for the female MC. She ran very hot and then immediately cold. The setting was superb - I love a book about books and bookstores. The food writing was great as well! Overall, it was good...but not memorable for me.

Books like Booked on a Feeling can be tricky to review. On the one hand, there was nothing objectively wrong with it. The story was cute and sweet, the writing was solid, and it had those "girl goes to a small town to find herself" Hallmark vibes. And yet, I struggled to get invested - in the story, the characters, in the book itself. As the book went on, the cuteness and sweetness slid towards saccharine predictability. The characters, who apparently had been friends for ages, seemed to barely know each other at all and their references to their shared past left me more confused than enlightened. I found myself skimming through the second half because I knew exactly where things were going and I mostly just wanted to be finished with it.

It's possible this just wasn't the book for me, and that others might find it a light and breezy read. But unfortunately, it didn't quite work for me.

2.75/5