how its this book such a banger and a lot of people dont talk about it more? it feel like my little gem than I want to gatekeeper forever

The pacing was off, and this was too insta-lovey. Insta-love isn’t my favorite, but I do still enjoy it from time to time, just not in this case. I also didn’t feel the chemistry between the characters, so it just wasn’t believable.

This was a very cute story but I wanted a little more. Overall, it’s a solid read but the pacing and the dialogue threw me off from time to time. I liked it though! Bring me to New Orleans!

Josie and Spencer meet in New Orleans during Mardi Gras season. Josie has come to New Orleans on her own and when she and Spencer bond over beignets it leads to not only romance but clashing of their differing personalities. This was a sweet cute enemy to lover book that any romcom fan is sure to enjoy.

This book did such a great job with exploration of culture. I loved how Vietnamese culture was presented in the story. It felt so heartwarming to see such good representation. But sadly, the romance itself felt a little lackluster to me. I would definitely read it for the diverse rep though. That's rlly well done!

A sweet story that explores Vietnamese culture and NOLA! An enjoyable read!
Tropes: Dual POV, Strangers to lovers, Interracial romance

I expected more from this book. I thought that I was getting a spicy romance read instead of meh romance. I love the diversity of the characters but their connection wasn't there. I didn't see any sparks between them. I found their interaction awkward at best. And it felt a bit rushed toward the end of the book in my opinion.

This story has the makings for amazement: photography, New Orleans, and love! I thought it was a sweet story and found the MCs to be palatable.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to review this book.

Beautiful story! I loved every second of it and have since gotten myself a physical copy so I can reread!

This was sweet and cute. I felt like the book did a lot of telling and almost no showing. I felt the need to skim and skip around to find engaging bits that kept me hooked which made it difficult to care about the story. The main characters were adorable and I liked them but the book as a whole was a struggle.

Full Exposure by Thien-Kim Lam was fun, full of emotion, and a truly great story. I loved Josie and Spencer. Highly recommend.

Thank you to Netgalley for this Advanced Readers Copy of Full Exposure by Thien-Kim Lam. While the writing was not my favorite, I really appreciated the exploration of the Vietnamese population and culture in New Orleans.

Full exposure was such a gem. I felt like I was in Mardi Gras. The characters were fun to keep tabs on and I was rooting for them to stay together

Full Exposure follows the story of Spencer and Josie, two individuals from different backgrounds who connect during Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Their initial encounter involves Josie accidentally hitting Spencer with Mardi Gras beads, and from there, they embark on a journey of exploring the city together. The book explores themes of immigration, personal growth, and finding inspiration in everyday life.

While Full Exposure has its strengths, it also has some drawbacks. The moments where Spencer and Josie explore the city on foot and immerse themselves in the local culture are enjoyable. However, their romantic relationship falls short. I am not a huge fan of insta-love stories one bit. They seem forced. The chemistry between them feels lacking, and the shift in their manner of speaking during intimate scenes feels forced and unnatural. It's as if they become different people, which detracts from the authenticity of the characters.

The writing style of the book is straightforward, and the story is relatively short. It could be argued that the subject matter it attempts to tackle would have benefited from a longer novel, but extending the length may not have been suitable for the author's writing style.

3,5 stars rounded off to 4.

An adorable meet-cute, a fantastic sense of place, fascinating history of Vietnamese Americans in New Orleans, and an interesting multicultural pairing. I loved that both main characters have tight bonds with their families and they have lifelong friendships.

A much-improved hero compared to the previous book. Being the eldest child, I related to both MCs' overdeveloped sense of responsibility towards their families. With my Carpe Diem motto, I am not too bothered by their insta-lust and quick attainment of a deep connection after only a few days together. When you know, you know.

I found it odd that there was no interconnection between Spencer's family and Trixie's (the heroine of the previous book who is also Vietnamese American).

I loved the two leads and their friends and family. And loved the New Oreleans location. I've loved the others in this series.

This book felt very boring and I didn't end up finishing the first chapter because of it. I don't recommending this book to anyone at all.

When Josie’s client cancels a boudoir photography session in New Orleans, she decides to go ahead and take the trip anyway. Spencer has spent the past 12 years in the corporate world and has finally left and come home to New Orleans to pursue his real passions and create a documentary on his family history. Their worlds collide when Josie accidentally hits Spencer in the head with her beads at a Mardi Grad parade and decide to team up. Spencer will show her New Orleans and she will help with the camera work on the documentary. As they work together the fling they’ve started begins to feel like something more, but they both have big dreams they want to pursue.

This book is such a quick and easy read - I went through it in one day! I found myself wanting to explore New Orleans throughout reading it. And the food descriptions were phenomenal. Josie and Spencer’s adventures throughout the city were so fun and I enjoyed the process of getting to know each other. Unfortunately their romantic connection was not as strong as their friendship for me. The pacing was a bit fast and choppy at times, and it was very insta-love, which made their attraction and chemistry a little harder to believe.

Thank you to Avon Books and NetGalley for the advance copy.

I want to go to New Orleans after reading this! The excitement of getting beads, the interactions between tourists, and the food is so well written. She really enjoys photography and capturing candid moments. I had the feeling I was right there with them, applying for the program. Such a sweet story.

3.5

This was a fun contemporary romance with an opposites attract vacation fling that may turn out to be more.

I liked Josie and Spencer and thought the way they challenged one another was cute, though this boom definitely suffers from instalove. I thought it was sweet as fiction but there was a corner of my brain going, you’ve known each other for three days please do not move across the country for her. And while I appreciate Thien-Kim Lam writing sex-positive stories, I could have maybe done without one or two of the sex scenes.

That being said, I loved the descriptions of New Orleans and of the food. This book had me craving Vietnamese food in the worst way. I also loved the little tidbits of history Lam sprinkled throughout. Bà Bà stoles the show in every scene she was in, and I loved hearing about her story and about the immigrant community in New Orleans.

Overall, I had a good time with this book and would recommend it, but I could see why it might not work for everyone.