First off thank you to St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Griffin and to NetGalley for granted me access to read and review this digital ARC of Booked on a Feeling (book #3 in the Sweet Mess series by Jaci Lee)

I had not read the first 2 books but this sounded like it could stand on its own. I really wanted to like this more than I did. The storyline itself had great potential, but I felt like it was falling short and falling flat. It was almost a DNF, but I finished hoping it would get better by the end. I did not feel like it held my attention well, wasn't very engaging - even though their relationship felt like it had great chemistry. Quick read but just lacking something for me

This was a cute read with a childhood best friends to lovers trope. Some things I enjoyed was both characters were very relatable, and the friendship they had was truly great. It felt like I was reading a hallmark movie. The story is cute, and the romance has a lot of tension. The cozy vibes in the story also make the book a little more enjoyable.

On the other side, some things I didn’t like was the lack of true character connection. I felt like we didn’t get much of a look into the childhood friendship between the two characters to truly understand how they became such great friends. This made me feel a disconnect to the characters. I also felt like there was nothing truly unique to the plot of the story. It’s a cute romance, but nothing new really happens that makes it different from other romances.

Overall the book is good if you’re looking for a cute romance without anything too complicated or heavy.

This latest in a loosely connected series of romances is absolutely adorable and fun.

Fast-tracked to partner Lizzie realizes on her first case as first chair that the law may not be the life for her. Enter a failing bookstore and her lifelong best friend, and Lizzie just may find herself after all.

I loved the dialogue and fun of the relationship as well as the great bookstore setting. I also enjoyed the main characters are Asian, adding a bit of diversity to the romance genre.

Cute and fun.

I've very much enjoyed Jayci Lee's romcom universe and this new addition certainly did not disappoint. It's a bookish romance with a delicious friends to lovers trope that just sucked me in thanks to its compelling first person perspective that read quickly true to Lee's style. It's fun and cute, yes, however, its a slow burn, for sure. While the epilogue was absolutely smile-worthy and precious, I still think her "Sweet Mess" debut was the best book in the Weldon franchise, but that's just me. Suffice it to say, I did still enjoy reading this one. It's cute and light.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and found myself staying up late to finish it, which doesn't happen often. I felt the relationship between Lizzie and Jack was realistic. They were great friends, they respected each other, and they trusted each other. I, too, have a dream of owning a bookstore one day (who doesn't!?) so I really related to Lizzie wanting to spend all of her time at the store even on vacation. There was only one part of the book, in the end, that felt a little "too perfect", but ultimately it didn't take away from how much I enjoyed the story from cover to cover.

Jayci Lee's writing was descriptive but didn't waste space with unnecessary detail. The plot moved at a comfortable pace without the crazy time jumps throughout the story to keep things moving. The weeks of Lizzie's vacation felt like a vacation.

I didn't know that this book was part of a series when I started, but I don't think it mattered other than not knowing the deeper details of some of the side characters.

Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I really wanted to like this more than I did. The story had great potential, but fell flat. It was almost a DNF, but I finished hoping it would get better by the end.

2.5 rounded up

Thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for early access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

Stars: ⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️.5

Booked on a Feeling is the third story in the A Sweet Mess series by Jayci Lee. Lizzy is a successful lawyer living in LA, but after a panic attack during her first major trial she decides to take some time off in her childhood town. While there Lizzy & her best friend Jack spend their free time renovating the local bookstore & quickly realize there is so much more to their friendship.

There wasn't a lot of background given for the main characters and location, and as someone who had not read the previous 2 books in the series I would have appreciated a little more of that. A couple times I felt like I missed information, but it must have been a carryover storyline from the previous books.

I enjoyed the banter between Lizzy & Jack. And between Jack & his siblings. They were both a little awkward but I loved it. I much preferred to read from Jack's POV and I think it's because he had more interactions with other characters.

The main thing I struggled with was the over-description of seemingly useless information. More than once I noticed myself skimming descriptive paragraphs to get to the next scene. It felt like a chunk of each chapter could be removed and we wouldn't be missing anything from the story.

Overall this was a cute story but didn't live up to the potential. It took until ~40% to get into the story and even after that I never really loved it.

I received an eARC from NetGalley & St. Martin's Press for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to receive an arc in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own!


This was SO cute. I didn’t realize there were 2 others before this- but don’t worry, if you’re like me and get hooked on titles and covers- it stands alone very well. I’m adding the others though!

Cute, semi realistic, books, what else can you want?! And that epilogue- ugh, swoon. I’m thinking about it 3 days later.

Great brain candy! Would recommend.

In this book, Lizzy lives every book loving little girl's dream... eventually!

When her high stress job leads her to taking a 3 week vacation from her job, and her life in the big city, she finds herself heading to small town comfort and toward her best friend.

As Lizzy and Jack spend more and more time together, their childhood friendship builds into much more. Lizzy integrates herself seamlessly into this small community and Jack is just a part of that experience for her.

The best part of this book, is Lizzy realizing that it isn't the big city she's running from, and it isn't her high stress job. As she finds herself volunteering to help reinvigorate a new small town bookstore, she not only rekindles a friendship with new sparks, but she also rekindles a love of books. Lizzy is a natural in the bookstore and eventually she realizes that booking criminals isn't what drives her anymore. Instead it is books and love of course!

I had SUCH a good time reading this book!! What I realized after finishing it was it was the third in a series; however, that did not impact my enjoyment of it. In fact, it made me more excited to read the others because it means more from the author.

I really resonated with the main characters having lost myself professionally last year. I found myself rooting for them and I am so happy they are together.

This was a fun bookish book. Can’t get enough stories about bookstores! The main characters were frustrating and the plot was a little predictable, but overall and enjoyable read

Thank you @netgalley and @stmartinspress for this eARC in exchange of my honest review.

Lizzy Chung has been working towards becoming partner in her law firm for the past five years. She’s just hit a pivotal point in her career, but she just cannot seem to enjoy it. What she needs is a break. A break in a small town that she loves with her best friend, Jack Park.

Jack is surprised to find Lizzy in his hometown, but couldn’t be happier that she chose Weldon as the place to recharge her batteries. After all, what could be better than three weeks with the woman of his dreams? Too bad she has no idea that he’s been pining after her for two decades.

I really had higher hopes for this one, but it just didn’t hold my attention like I thought it would. I love the concept, but there were too many times that I felt like what I was reading had no real purpose to furthering the story. Like I had to push through filler to get to the good stuff. The relationship and chemistry were definitely there, but the book just didn’t have a great flow for me.

This one gets 3⭐️‘s from me!

I like the friends to lovers trope and I love books written about books/bookstores. I liked how both Jack and Lizzy felt pressure relating to their current jobs and wanted better for themselves even though they were 30. The buildup was good but once they get together and have their fight, it fell for me. The ending felt rushed.

Thank you netgalley for this copy. It’s 3.5/5🌟

When I say Booked on a Feeling is one of my MOST anticipated reads of the year, I’m not joking. The story follows our main girl Lizzy as she becomes overwhelmed with the pressures the life of a lawyer piles on her, and decides there’s nothing she needs more than to escape. And don’t we all sometimes? She rents a small flat in the picturesque town of Weldon, where she is once again reconnected with Jack (the epitome of Dream Book Boyfriend). The catch? He’s been in love with her for as long as he can remember. The two band together to save Sparrow Bookstore, and it’s through a slower pace of life that Lizzy learns, not just what she wants in life, but what she wants in love as well. Is Jack the One? More importantly, is he the one she’ll be risking her future to have a chance at happily ever after with? Booked on a Feeling hits shelves this June, and I couldn’t be more excited! Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to preview this amazing story early!

3.5/5

This was a really cute friends-to-lovers story. It has pining and tension and a solid friendship that slowly builds to more. I enjoyed that they were able to spend time together and bond over fixing up the small-town bookstore. It was nice to see Lizzy rediscover herself in the process of fixing up the bookstore. We get to see some Korean representation and different family dynamics which was lovely as well. I wish the conflict at the end could have been avoided altogether, but I'm glad things worked out. This was a lighthearted, fun romance read, and I would recommend it.

3.5 Rounded up to 4 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Overall a very cute romance book!. And who wouldn't want to read a romance book about a bookstore?

Liked:
Friends to lovers trope (one of my favs)
Quick read
BOOKS

The writing felt very juvenile and stilted. There were many, many examples of the author simply saying the characters were happy, sad, etc. without bringing forth any emotion from the reader. It was also a bit dull. I powered through because the premise was promising, but, ultimately, am not glad I did.

I thought this book was cute, overall. It was a smidge boring at times, but overall it was a cozy quick read. If you like books and dream of slowing down and reconnecting with old friends and new, this will be perfect for you.

Thank you NetGalley & St. Martin’s Press for the gifted ARC.
Wow I really, really wanted to love this but it just… fell so flat. The book dragged on and I found myself skim reading and skipping whole pages to get to the good stuff. Miscommunication tropes aren’t my favorite so that could be why I didn’t enjoy it as much.
I loved Lizzy and Jack and their individual conflicts, but my God were they boring together.
And that epilogue?! Holy heck that dropped it down a whole star.
Really though, I loved learning about Korean culture through these characters and the sweet setting of a bookshop. This one just wasn’t for me.

Booked on a Feeling by Jayci Lee is a great read. It tells the story of Elizabeth "Lizzy" Chung and Jack Park who have been best friends for twenty years. A high-powered attorney in LA, Lizzy suffers a panic attack at work and decides to take a vacation and visit Jack in the small town of Weldon, California. Jack decides to use their time together to get over his decades long crush while Lizzy soon discovers there may be more to their relationship than just friendship.

The story is very entertaining. Both characters are relatable and fun to read as they navigate their relationship and project of reviving the local bookstore. They are both equal parts awkward and adorable and watching their friendship change into something more was sweet and rewarding. It was also great to see characters from Lee's previous books to find out how their stories have evolved with time as well, and while I think reading her previous books adds to the richness of this one, it isn't necessary. I would love to see her next book tackle Jack's twin brother Alex as there definitely seems to be more to his character than we see here.

My one complaint about the book is that the solution to Lizzy's problems seemed to be staring her in the face from so early on I wanted to smack her upside the head to get her to see it sooner, but that probably wouldn't have made for as entertaining a read. I highly recommend this book to anyone, but especially readers of romance, women's fiction, and general fiction as well.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.