ARC reading for Net Galley: such a cute romance!! Especially since being an avid reader, I loved how Lizzy figured out her life and ended up owning her own book store!

While the romance was the majority of the novel and you could tell from the beginning that they would end up together, the author does it in such a good way that doesn’t make it too cheesy! It flows beautifully and has such a good turmoil and ending!

I can’t wait to read more by her!

Sweet heartfelt romance. Loved the characters, the mage behind the story and the swoom worthy love story. I loved the anxiety aspect of the book as i suffer with anxiety and live to see it portrayed well in a book. Overall a great second chance romance with loveable characters

A sweet friends-to-lovers romance, Lizzy Chung is burned out after years in a high powered law firm. She takes a vacation and goes to Weldon where her best friend Jack helps run the family brewery, planning to recharge and then go back to LA. But she discovers things about herself on vacation, including how much she loves helping her neighbor and friend spruce up Weldon's indie bookstore (side note, can I just say, I loved the ode to small indie bookstores that was a part of "Booked on a Feeling"? All so true!), and she comes to appreciate Jack as much more than her best friend. Jack has always felt like the odd one out in his family since his dream isn't to run the family brewery, but he doesn't know what else to do and drifts along. He knows he has loved Lizzy forever but done nothing about it to keep from ruining their friendship- but 3 weeks together could put that to the test. Can he work the feeling out of his system or convince Lizzy to give their relationship a different kind of a chance?

This was as much about figuring out who you are and what you want out of life for both Lizzie and Jack as it was their changing relationship, and I really liked that. Part of me was frustrated that they never talked to each other about all their problems but partly I understood- you want to stand on your own and know your life and what makes you happy without anyone else. Both have families with expectations that have made them unhappy, so I guess they swung more the other way and kept things to themselves as a reaction to that. The natural chemistry between them once they take their relationship to the next level was great, and shows how well friends to lovers can work when done right. After all, shouldn't the person you love also be your best friend?

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Good book!
I am very fond of the best friends to lovers trope and this did not disappoint. It was a very heartfelt book with a bit of a slower pace. Overall I loved the characters and it was a great rom-com!

This was a sweet friends to lovers romance between Lizzy and Jack. I love that it was Jack that was pinning for Lizzy since he was 10. I wished we got to see more of their younger days to see why Jack loved Lizzy so much.

I enjoyed the slow burn and Jack was just the sweetest. I enjoying seeing their individual journey to do what makes them happy and how that created the rift and how it turned out.

That narration was good but at parts a bit monotone for me.

Thank you @smpromance @netgalley for ALC.

I really enjoyed this book. There was no big draw in for me but it was so cute and heartfelt that I really liked it. It was just the kind of book I needed.

Lizzy is a go getter, over achiever that just goes and goes and goes . She needs to make sure she hits her goals or what she thinks are her goals and “her” goal is to make partner at her law firm. Things change for her when she has an anxiety attack during court and she takes a much needed leave from work and decides to spend 3 weeks with her best friend Jack, who has been secretly in love with her for like 20 years, and together they save the small town book store.

What Lizzy discovers on her leave is herself. I love that journey for her. I love the journey she takes to realize what she needs, what she wants, and what she wants does not need to be defined by other people’s wants/goals for her. I love her journey in finding herself and I love that Jack recognizes that and let’s her. Then there is Jack who has figured what he wants or really has figured out the first part of his journey to figure out what he wants and spread his wings. I love his journey on discovering that he is enough and recognizing that in himself and finding his self confidence.

Lizzy and Jack are both so cute and lovable. I love how this author showed us how their relationship unfolded and recognizing what the other needed whether it was giving space to figure themselves or pushing each other.

I did like how the book explores how we/people view ourselves and coming to grips that we/ourselves are enough and don’t need to live up to someone else’s ideals. I think that is something most people struggle with and I like how it is tackled in such a heartwarming way.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and to Jayci Lee for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion and review.

3-3.5
This was pretty cute; it was kinda predictable and a bit cheesy but it was a good 'brain off' read. The beginning had more promise then how it ended but it was still a very cozy romance book.

Ok... I by no means hate this book but there are also quite a few things especially towards the end that kinda irritated me;
the weird 4th wall breaking because that happens especially towards the end isn't my favourite because it took me out of the story too much, she kept saying oh well it's like x trope and stuff to like analyze their relationship and it bothered me quite a bit
<spoiler> it ended with her saying she was pregnant and it just felt like abrupt </spoiler>
the ending felt rushed

*i got the e book arc as well as the audio arc so, thank you netgalley, dreamscape media, and st martins press for the arc in exchange for an honest review*

This book was enjoyable but a bit slow paced at the start! It took a bit for the plot to pick up and though I really enjoyed the heartfelt romance between the two characters, the lack of plot development in the first half made it a bit tedious to continue reading. The romance did however feel very authentic and a very good version of the friends to lovers trope.

I have super mixed feelings about this book!

I loved the plot of this book. I am a huge fan of the friends-to-lovers and second-chance tropes. They are among some of my favorites. Add in a bookstore as the backdrop for all of this and it should be a recipe for perfection. However, I found there to be too much spice. Don’t get me wrong, I am fine with having a steamy scene every now and again, especially if it progresses the storyline, but I felt that it was a little excessive.

With all of that said, I still loved the heart of the story. Jack and Lizzy were lovable, relatable characters. I enjoyed reading about them discover their paths in life. It is so important to find what makes you happy!

The representation of anxiety was top notch. It is truly difficult to describe anxiety in a realistic way. Lee must be a fellow sufferer or know someone who is, because she captured how difficult it is to deal with anxiety on a daily basis perfectly.

Be aware that this is book number 3 in the series A Sweet Mess. However, it can work as a stand- alone book. I was not privy to this prior to reading it. Lee does a great job of filling in the reader with important information they need to know from the two previous books. I only really cared because I am a type-a personality and hate starting something in the middle.

Special thanks to NetGalley.com and St. Martin’s Press Griffin for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest feedback.

Reviews Posted: July 13, 2022
Goodreads
Stroygraph

OMG, THIS WAS SO CUTE!!! I thought both characters were really interesting to read about, and I loved that we got the story from both of their perspectives. The romance was cute and fun, and friends to lovers is just superior.

While romance is the focus of this book, I think the author did an excellent job of highlighting the characters’ lives outside of the romance. As someone who had to step away from the path I was once on and reevaluate my life, I retailed to Lizzy a lot. The pressures of living up to what everyone else thinks you are doing can make things confusing, and it can take a few wrong tries before figuring out what you actually want. And that is exactly what I felt when reading about Lizzy. Jack had his own struggles throughout the book as well, and leaving the family without leaving the family can be hard too. I found parts of myself in both characters.

The romance itself was cute, and I had a good time reading about it. I do wish the development of Lizzy’s feelings was fleshed out a little more. Especially since we know a lot about how Jack got to the point of loving her.

I also think the ending was a little rushed and could have been played out more. It just didn’t fit with the rest of the book.

Overall, I had a fun time reading this; it just made me feel warm and fuzzy.

I might be in the minority here, but I loved this book. I recommended this book to someone when I was only 13% in, because I could feel where the story was going and I knew I was going to love it. I was hooked from page one although it did take a little bit before anything significant started happening, but once it did I was for sure all in. I didn't think I enjoyed the friends to lovers trope, however Jack and Lizzy have forever changed my mind.
Life long friends of twenty years, one that loves the other since childhood, but keeps getting put squarely in the friend zone, one that's oblivious to how the other feels, one that is knee deep in an anxiety ridden profession trying to make parents proud and the other feels lost in a profession that isn't really suiting their dreams for their own life...all they need to do is figure out what they want in life, what they want to do as a profession, and who they want to be with.
This book has the happy, the messy, the hard, & the swoon worthy moments of falling in love with your best friend, but like all life choices it comes at a cost. Things that couples should discuss and decide together aren't discussed, which further complicates the lives of Lizzy and Jack.
Thank you Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

The main character, Lizzy, hopes to lead a fulfilled life in L.A., but has a panic attack during an important career opportunity. She goes to her childhood summer town to spend time with her friend Jack, who might have a decades long crush on her. They work together to bring a bookstore back to life, but romance sparks among the dusty shelves. Really enjoyed this book; lots of relatable characters and an interesting setting. I also loved watching the duo repair the bookstore, and bring life into a space that gives joy to many.

Lizzy is a lawyer at a big time law firm in LA. She wins her first trial and then she realizes she should be happier than she is. This leads to her taking a leave of absence to go to the town her best friend Jack lives. Weldon is a small knit community town. Lizzy rents an apartment above a bookstore and she decides to help the bookstore revamp itself with the help of Jack. Being so close with her best friend again she is realizing some feelings she has toward him. Meanwhile, Jack has had feelings for Lizzy since he is was ten.
Watching their friendship “cannonball” was really nice. You will be rooting for the two of them to work out in the end. The comfort level they had toward one another was so real.
Each character is so lovable from the bookstore owner Shannon, to Jack’s mom.
The aniexty issues Lizzy felt was also very real in the story. I felt the aniexty wash away from her while she was checking off her to do list in the bookstore. She seemed to be truly happy there.
Throughout the book you just want Lizzy to be happy doing what she truly wants to do in life.
This was a very easy to read cute romance novel with such lovely characters. It is a perfect “friends to lovers” story.

A big thank you to Netgalley & St Martins Press/St Martins Griffin for an eARC.

This romantic comedy is about Lizzy Chung and Jack Park. She had a list of things she planned on accomplishing in her career as an attorney. Jack is a bookkeeper for his family's brewery in Weldon. Lizzy is really stressed and decides to go to the small town of Weldon to decompress for 3 weeks. Jack and Lizzy spent their childhood summers together and were best friends.
Jack is waiting to hear if he will be offered the job he applied for in L.A. He would be living where Lizzy lives. Lizzy is deciding if she should go against her strict Korean mother and give up her career and move to Weldon. She would be living where Jack lives.
I enjoyed parts of the book, but found myself skimming through other parts.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is a slow burn and friends to lovers that I really wanted to like, but found myself pushing through the first 40% and the last 20%. The story is good, but for me it was too wordy.

Lizzy is an adorable overachiever - always a checklist in hand and glad to have a job to do. As a lawyer in L.A., she is rising quickly through the ranks and solidified her plans of making partner in just a few short years. However an anxiety attack urges her to go on vacation and she can’t think of anywhere she’d want to be more than with someone who appreciates her.

Jack has a lot of titles. He’s a bookkeeper, waiter, handyman, and (the one he hates most of all) the best friend. As the ultimate nice guy, he plans to spend every waking minute helping Lizzy have the best vacation she can. But he also has a secret agenda: find a way out of his decades long crush with her.

The way he saw it, he had three choices here.
One: Maintain the status quo.
Two: Get over his crush on Lizzy.
Three: Make her fall in love with him.

While really cute, if not a bit awkward, and endearingly realistic, this book just wasn’t for me. I didn’t vibe with the writing style due to the amount of time in the character’s heads. I enjoyed the insight we see into these characters, but it was too much for me. I think if there was more showing of emotions rather than telling, I would have been more invested.

The other big thing I didn’t connect with was the amount of conflict and lack of resolution. Whether it was coworkers, family, or friends, arguments would arise but nothing ever came from it. I was confused why it was there at all. I know that’s a real part of life, but personally I read romance books to escape rather than delve into someone else’s problems.

There were some great quotes in this and I liked the story once they progressed past their inner thoughts, but it took almost half the book to get to that point. Jack and Lizzy were great and even the supporting characters were a blast to read. I just wish there had been more of these moments:

“If we do this, I can’t go back to being friends with you. I won’t be able to let you go.”

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for giving me this book in exchange for my honest review.

Booked on a Feeling was a cute rom-com following Lizzy and Jack. These two are best friends with Jack living in Weldon working at his families brewery, and Lizzy living in LA as a successful lawyer on her way to becoming a partner.

Let's talk about what I loved. Jack, the Hero, falls first, but struggles with his confidence in the decision to become more than friends with Lizzy. Lizzy is Korean American and has anxiety. I love the diversity and the mental health rep. The scene of them posing like one of the historical romance covers had be cackling.

Things I struggled with: The friends to lovers trope isn't one of my faves. Its gotta be done right, and the mutual pining in this one made me cringe a bit. Lastly, the spice scale is pretty low for me in this novel. I wish there was more spice. We would get the beginning and the middle but nothing in the middle. 😔

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When I requested this book I did not realize it was apart of a series. I wish I had realized that before reading because I would have read the first two books prior to diving into this one. With that being said I did enjoy this RomCom but found it a bit underwhelming. I really liked the concept behind the story and the characters were very sweet and lovable. However, I did struggle to connect to them. I wish there had been a bit more of a background, which again if I had read the 2 previous ones maybe I would have been able to understand it all a bit more.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC and this will be published July 26, 2022.

When I requested this book I didn’t realize that it was part of a series so when I first started reading I was confused since you just get pushed into the story. This book you would have had to read the first two books I think not the beginning to not feel as weird. This story took me a bit to get into but once I did I couldn’t put it down. The romance is really cute and I love both of the main characters.
Lizzy is a stressed out lawyer who decides to take three weeks off of work to visit her childhood best friend Jack in his small home town. While she’s there she starts helping a failing bookstore and Jack is right with her to help out The Sparrow.
Also the way that this Author describes the food in her books actually makes your mouth water. She really takes her time to explain every little step which makes it’s really powerful.
Overall I enjoyed this book and I’m thinking I might go back and read the other two books and see how I like them.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book struggled to captivate me, I wasn't loving the friends to lovers as the characters weren't very well developed. DNF before 50%

Well to be honest, i didn't really like this book. IT did not catch my attention early on and it wasn't my cup of tea.

The cover is beautiful but I wasn't expecting not to like the book. I read and skip almost everything..

The read was boring. The characters didn't have the friends to lovers romance, passion and angst that it usually a books of this trope gives me. Very disappointed of this book.

I do want to thank St.Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me a ARC of this book and of course the Author. <3