A lovely slow burn romance. This is for the readers who enjoy fluffy romance, but it was such a lovely read.

Henry was so charming and his meet-cute with Lucy was adorable. I loved the additional characters and they all flowed well into the story.

This book focuses on some important topics and also explores friendship relationships as well as the romance.

I really enjoyed this book!

I finished this the other day. I was browsing through NetGalley, read the blurb and requested to read it. It started strong. I don't know the author or her writing style and so I went in blind.

Their meet cute wasn't that up there but you can feel the tension and the attraction between the two main characters. The story was like a story about fate or destiny because who would've thought that these two, would wind up together? Like I said, it started strong. It was riveting and exciting... but the momentum slowed down in the somewhere in the middle... but overall it was heartwarming, swoony read.

This book was everything I wanted it to be. It had me turned pages without even realizing. It was so good!

Will they find love? you have to find out. this was a good book and my first from Lindsey Lanza. Love it all Hooked from the start.

This book was so cute and completely took me by surprise. This is Lindsey Lanza’s debut novel and I am so fortunate to have received an ARC from her and Netgalley. This book is 4 stars and I can’t wait to follow along with Lindsey’s career as an author!!
 
Speechless follows recently divorced Lucy as she moves from Boston to California to live with her best friend. When her best friend calls her at the airport bailing on Lucy, Lucy is stuck on her way to a city where she knows absolutely no one. When airport stranger Henry offers to sit next to her on the plan after her previous seat mate had an issue with her support dog, Rowan (yes named after Rowan from Throne of Glass), he offers her a place to stay at his house. It just so happens that Henry is the composer that Lucy always listens to, and his scores have gotten her through many difficult times in her life. While they both struggle with things I don’t want to spoil, their connection and support for each other is amazing to read.
 
If you love forced proximity, the cutest dog ever, great side characters, and music scores as much as I do, this is the book for you. I absolutely loved Lindsey Lanza’s debut novel and can’t wait to see where she goes from here!

Speechless
3.9✨
Yes. yes. yes. yes. I LOVED that this book was dual POV.
I usually like books where the guy main character is a little more rough and dominant so this was a little bit of a change for me but not in a bad way! I feel like there was a good amount of representation, which was nice.
I was so curious to see if Henry was going to make the first move and how he was going to do so and I was not disappointed with how it played out.
Until about 65% in, I was struggling to picture Henry. In my head at first he was sort of nerdy looking and thin. But once I got to the spicy scene, I had no problem picturing him looking like a jacked Ian Somerhalder 😂
This really was such a sweet book!

Spoiler
When Lucy got her surgery and all of the guys homemade her SOUP. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?! My freaking heart.
Okay…Mary saving the day!!! I loved her story so much, it literally brought tears to my eyes. It really made me love this book so much more!!

Fav quotes
“Control the controllable.”

“‘Want me to hum a tune for you?’”

“‘Because you remind me of sunshine.’”

“‘I’d sell my soul to see you smile.’”

“‘You’re my perfect.’”

“‘Please be here when I wake up.’ He whispers.”

“‘You’re my fairy tale, Luzu.’”

“For the first time ever, I’m quite happy to be speechless.”

Thank you so much for the ARC provided by Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op!

This review will be available on Goodreads and Instagram. Posted review to Barnes & Noble

Thank you to Lindsey Lanza and Netgalley for the ARC of this absolute homerun!

I went into this book completely blind, and full disclosure it was because of who did the cover art. Is that cover now the cutest?

This book has so many wonderful things: starting over romance, close proximity, a faithful canine companion, and the most amazing group of found family/male roomies.

I laughed, I cried, and smiled so much whilst reading this book. Speechless is more than a romcom, though it certainly has comedic relief and romance (and a little steam). It also is a story of dealing with chronic illness, the rebuilding of life after divorce, the ever present effects of grief, and the falling out of friendships.

Don’t let this debut pass you by; it’s definitely worth the read!

TW: endometriosis, divorce, loss of a parent

Speechless wasn’t what I expected, but the summary itself didn’t give loads away, so whatever I got would be a pleasant surprise.

I loved Lucy and Henry was charming but also confusing. The way that they met wasn’t exactly unconventional, but being invited immediately to live with him gave them the opportunity to get to know each other.

The book was filled with lovely characters, though I have to admit I was relieved that they weren’t all perfect. By perfect I don’t mean they were ‘all gorgeous’ and ‘quick to love’ but ‘nice’. We had a few duds, including Lucy’s supposed best friend who, when she finally showed up surprised me a great deal.

I really enjoyed this book, the slow-burn love story between Lucy and Henry and the friendships that she built with all his friends, especially Graham, who was anything but cliche and for that I have to thank the author.

Definitely a recommended read.

I really really enjoyed this story!! Lucy and Henry are flawed, but so honest and earnest… you’re rooting for them the entire time! Obsessed with Henry’s housemates, especially Graham. The way that anxiety and chronic illness were both woven into the story was really special and added an added element of “realness”. The conflict felt authentic and I loved the addition of music!! Love Rowan forever, he’s a national treasure

I really enjoyed this book. Before this arc, I had never heard of this author and now I’m glad I know about her! This story was ever evolving and I loved it so much

This was a simple and cute read. It was fun. If you need a breath of fresh air and to cleanse your reading palette, this one is it!

Thank you NetGalley for the preview of this book! Speechless is a easy, modern retelling of Snow White. The story is told from the point of view of Lucy & Henry as their chance encounter in the Boston airport drives them together. While I found this book enjoyable, it was way less realistic than I usually prefer. Nevertheless, I thought it was fun and a great escape.

I like books where the main character is an author or reader. Lucy Gold is a bestselling author and she is looking for a new life. Henry Turner is a famous composer who met Lucy and she is the ray of the sun for him.

I really like this book! Henry and Lucy are strangers who become friends then lovers. Friends-to-lovers trope! I am obsessed with Henry; his thoughts were amazing. I liked his povs, they were perfect! Also, the dog’s name is Rowan! Yes, Rowan from Throne of Glass! Lucy and Henry have their own flaws and imperfections, but it makes them perfect for each other. This book is an amazing slow-burn romance, it made me cry, laugh and all the spectrum of emotions that you can find in it.
The author did a great job to make the characters alive with real feelings and problems. This book is full of music that is more than just music and the writer's life routine. I truly love how Lucy interacted with HAAAM; they are witty. All these characters together are at least something WONDERFUL! This novel shows that there will be people in your life who will love you despite any problems, flaws or illnesses. Dialogues sometimes looked a little awkward but this does not spoil the book. This book is more than just a rom-com, it shows the problems with personal life that can break us, it also takes the issue of chronic illnesses and the book is much deeper. I highly recommend this book to you.

Selfishness sounds the death knell for a character because they are in it for themselves. When it is the heroine, the reader is expected to empathize with her despite her selfishness, and I cannot.

This book started off brilliantly enough. She is a writer who found herself suddenly divorced. She has always felt left behind by the people in her life, and the resulting insecurity and low self-esteem coupled with crippling endometriosis, is sucking the joy out of her life. She survives her chronic illness through the love of her service dog and the glorious music of one composer. When her best friend from college asks her to move to LA to live with her, she jumps at the chance. And guess who is her seatmate? None other than the composer, who is extremely gorgeous and is afflicted with crippling social anxiety. They are so wonderful to and for each other in the first sections of the book. It all sounds good so far, but then it goes pear shaped.

He pours all his love into her and gives her anything that she might possibly need, materially and emotionally. And she blows hot and cold constantly and takes and takes. The worst is after they make love, and it is amazing, she simply runs out of his house and disappears for two days. Yes, she has some emotional stuff to work on, but why doesn't she talk to him?? Instead, she goes to her friend's house and drowns her sorrows in drink and binge-watching for two days without a thought for him even though she knows his feelings are very much engaged. In the meantime, he has been frantic with worry wondering if she had an accident, where she was, etc. When she swans back, she is nowhere near as contrite as she should've been. This is unforgivable.

This review will publish on Cogitations & Meditations at http://keirasoleore.blogspot.com towards the end of October.

This book is amazing! I absolutely loved every second of reading Lucy and Henry's story. The dual POV was exactly what this needed, and I enjoyed following Lucy and Henry's growth, both individually and together.

I loved the bookish references, the shout out to Throne of Glass, and other pop culture mentions. It made the book feel more realistic. The representation of chronic illness and anxiety was fantastic, and it was beautiful to see how Lucy and Henry supported each other. The author note acknowledging her own experiences with chronic illness and how it has shaped her book.

Henry, Graham, Jayce, Preston and Adamma are beyond perfect, and I am obsessed with the found family theme in this book. It's so nice to see characters who are non-judgemental and open to accepting new people.

This is such an incredible debut, and I genuinely cannot wait to see what Lindsey Lanza writes next!

"I'm picturing her face while my fingers start to dance over the keys.
Not her face, her eyes.
I saw an entire symphony in those eyes. There was so much sadness, maybe even despair, swimming through her irises. But there was also her smile. The way her entire face lit up while talking about Rowan. I hear the notes instantly change."

Lucy Gold's life is coming apart and the only things she can count on are her service dog, Rowan, Henry Turner's music. Lucy finds herself on a flight to California, recently divorced, suddenly without a place to live, and being harassed by an angry flyer when a stranger swoops in to save her.

Lucy's airport hero is non other than her actual hero, Henry Turner. He not only saves her from the dog-hating flyer, but also offers her a place to stay in Malibu. In a house with multiple other people that all work with Henry, she rarely sees him. But the times she does? There's not denying they're attracted to each other and that there's a lot more to be discovered.

Lucy and Henry both have secrets and reasons why a relationship wouldn't work but it's hard to ignore that they're better when they're together. Lucy soothes Henry's anxiety and Lucy's pain flair ups have been far and few in between since arriving at the Malibu house.

This was a wonderful debut book for Lindsey Lanza! I picked it up to read a couple chapters before bed and suddenly it was 2am and I was finishing the book. Lanza's storytelling is captivating and the book was demanding to be read.

Lucy's dealt a shit hand in life, but she's still able to bring sunshine to those around her, and lets happiness into her life. Lanza did a fantastic job of writing about Lucy's experience living with chronic pain. There were good days, bad days, and everything in between. There was honesty in the way it negatively effected her life, relationships, and self worth. Her personal journey was such a highlight of this book and I loved her character.

Henry is so freaking soft. I just wanted to wrap him up in a hug. As someone who is no stranger to anxiety, I could really connect with him. Like Lucy, he also went through so much in his life. Despite what he went through, and continuously goes through, he has such a big heart. From inviting a struggling stranger like Lucy to live with him, to giving his friends a space to not only live, but create music and thrive, he is so endearing. Him and Lucy are so well matched.

One of my favorite parts of the book is the found family. Henry's friends (aka HAAM), especially Graham, were so much fun to read about. A group of broken/struggling people that managed to find a home and family with each other is ALWAYS something I want to read about.

I wish the end of the book was wrapped up a little better. I felt like a huge part of their relationship we were waiting for them to have honest conversations with each other and be honest about their history. I think the way it played out was a bit unsatisfying (I won't say how so I wont spoil it). There was so much more potential for it to have gone another way based on their character development. Regardless of this, I still had a great time reading this. Lanza does a good job of writing a story that keeps you engaged and connected.

Thank you so much Netgalley, Lindsey Lanza, and Victory Editing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

↠ 4 stars

You know a book is good when it gets the alliteration going, because this love story is sweet and steamy and oh-so-swoony! Not only does Speechless have a hilarious found family, an adorable dog and a Malibu mansion to die for, but it also tackles big issues with even bigger heart. I don't read many slow burns worth the wait, but Speechless is aptly titled, because it will take your breath away!

Thank you, NetGalley for an early copy of Speechless by Lindsey Lanza in exchange for an honest review.

If you enjoy books that have:
-a memorable meet-cute
-men’s mental health rep (social anxiety/ selective mutism)
-chronic illness rep (endometriosis)
-a lovable service dog
-found family storyline
-slow-burn romance
-cheesy songs

Or if you’re a fan of
-The Friend Zone/Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez
-the TV show New Girl

… then this is the book for you!

I loved that we not only got the development of Lucy and Henry’s relationship, but also of Lucy’s relationships with Henry’s roommates. This is a slow burn romance, where you get more development of the characters and friendships in the beginning than you do the romance.

At times, the dialogue and interactions between Lucy and Henry were a little cringey and awkward. I’m wondering if that may have been intentional, though, to really make the reader feel Henry’s social anxiety. In a way, that cringey/ awkward component also shows the reader that these two can love and be loved by each other just as they are. And it was really special that they bonded over the healing power of music, and that they wholeheartedly supported one another.

This is Lindsey Lanza’s debut novel and I will definitely be reading whatever she writes next! Speechless comes out January 17, 2023. Make sure to preorder today :)

PS: Make sure to also read the author’s note at the end!

This review will be posted on my bookstagram at a later date (@bookishlee_kaci), and is currently posted on my Goodreads account (Kaci.)

THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING omg, Henry is a love interest if I've ever met one.

Dual POV
He falls First
Found Family

Lindsey is going through a rough time, between losing her mother, her marriage ending, struggling with a chronic illness, and her friend blowing her off as she was waiting for the plane to move to LA she is struggling and in comes Henry.

Henry struggles with chronic anxiety and selective mutism but something about Lindsey makes him step out of his comfort zone and speak to her. Once he finds out she is stuck without a home he offers up his and she ends up finding a family she never expected.

This read was AMAZING, I can't even say it enough. It was one of my favorite ARC reads I've received this year.

Speechless by Lindsey Lanza gave me major fanfic vibes. You get found family ALL in this book and I am here for it. It was such a cute book to read and I wanted to jump into these pages and drop kick her friend for ditching her at the very beginning of the book. Like, who does that? Having Henry and Lucy’s store written with such care warmed my heart. Henry with his crippling anxiety and Lucy with her Endometriosis.

It was a slow burn with a happy ever after. I appreciated the friendship before the romance. This book was a very fast read and would recommend it to anyone who wants something light and fluffy. Also, Graham is the best character in this entire book and he deserves the world.

Thank you Netgalley and the author for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!