i enjoyed reading about spencer and the result of his upbringing. as a vietnamese person, it was very accurate and the family scenes felt as though they happened to me because i could see my own bà ngoại telling me the same things bà bà told spencer. the love felt kind of rushed but for the circumstances, it worked well!

This dual POV, strangers to lovers, interracial romance set in New Orleans. I learned a lot about New Orleans and Vietnamese culture, I got such a clear picture of their food, people, and traditions. But I feel like it was not a romcom. I feel like the characters weren't developed enough, the chemistry between them was alright but there just was so much about everything else and not enough about them. I enjoyed reading it though, just feel like it fell flat on characters.

Being from the New Orleans area, a personal pet peeve of mine is books set in the city that are written by authors with only a passing knowledge of the area. I knew nothing about author Thien-Kim Lam before I started her new novel Full Exposure, a rom com about falling in love in New Orleans over Mardi Gras, but I was hoping that she was at least from Louisiana. When she mentioned in her story that the crowds during Mardi Gras become their own entity and move together as one mass, it gave her credibility. When she inserted the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill into her novel, I became intrigued. When the male main character Spencer gave female main character Josie tips for eating beignets, and both he and I said, “Don’t breathe while eating them,” I was sold on Lam being local. Turns out she is, so that is instantly a plus!

Full Exposure follows Spencer, New Orleans native, and Josie, DC native, as they hook up over Carnival season after Josie hits Spencer in the face with some Mardi Gras beads. According to Spencer, “Such a touristy thing to do.” Josie, a photographer, wants to capture the real side of New Orleans, and Spencer, who is making a documentary about his Vietnam family and the impact of their community on New Orleans, offers to show Josie around. Being that this is a romantic comedy, these two fall in love amid stories of the immigrant struggle in America, trying to find yourself and your craft in a cutthroat world, and looking for inspiration in the everyday.

Full Exposure does some things well, and other things not so well. I really enjoyed when Spencer and Josie were on foot, exploring the city and its people, experiencing the sights and sounds of New Orleans while getting to know each other. However, their actual romance left something to be desired. I never felt the chemistry between them, and I absolutely detested how during the rather explicit sex scenes, their way of talking to each other completely changed. I couldn’t buy that this was the same Spencer and Josie we have been following around the city - they became caricatures of themselves. The writing is uncomplicated and the story is short, perhaps too short for the subject matter it attempts to take on, but I do not think a longer novel would have necessarily worked with this author’s writing style.

2.7

Thanks so much to Netgalley and Avon Books for an ARC of this title! Full Exposure by Thien-Kim Lam was a love letter to both New Orleans and DC. and followed Josie’s journey into her creative passion and finding herself with the help of a handsome stranger her quite literally slams into at a Mardi Gras parade. Although I greatly enjoyed the book’s atmosphere and setting, it often felt like I would have been more interested if I was watching a documentary on the subject. The characters felt more like empty vessels than actually fleshed out people in order to spread awareness about the importance of the Vietnamese-American community in New Orleans. The romance was passable at best but neither character felt particularly real or interesting to me. Parts of the book really dragged and I felt like I was on a tour of New Orleans with a guide that had way too much information to share but too little time. After Josie returns to DC (and Spencer soon follows) the writing still made me feel like the characters hadn’t gone anywhere at all.

I'm withholding this review in solidarity with the HarperCollins Union members currently on strike. I support their right to a fair contract. A review will be posted to the links when their goals are achieved.

3.5⭐️
2.5🌶

There was a lot going on in the opening chapters in this book and it was very confusing.

I had high hopes for this book but I have to say that I did not connect with it at first. It started off flat and laid flat till it picked pace in the middle of the book.

I usually don’t write my reviews like this but this was the only way I could get my thoughts together on this.

What I liked:

I liked the multicultural aspect of it. The exploration of Vietnamese culture. The description of Madi Gras and New Orleans.

I also liked the re-telling of the story immigrants face in the U.S and how they have to prove their ‘Americanness’ over and over again.

I loved the interracial connection and love not just between Spencer and Pham but between the communities in New Orleans.

I enjoyed the familial connection and friendships described in the book. It just warms the heart. I enjoyed reading about all the characters, most especially Ba Ba.

What I disliked:

Books are intended to open up our experiences, sometimes letting us try new things. It took me a while (+Google) to get that DMV is Washington and not the Department of Motor Vehicle(s). There should have been a way to interject this.

Also the Boss Babes ‘just fell’ into the book. I had to search to find out if I had missed an earlier introduction. When they were first mentioned, a further description of who or what they are would have helped.

I appreciate the author’s literal liberty but Josie was too strait laced and I felt she came across as selfish.


Recommendations

I will certainly recommend this book because everyone appreciates things differently and this book might be just right up someone’s alley.

This dual POV strangers to lovers interracial romance set in New Orleans over Mardi Gras was so much fun with great emotional depth!!

I loved getting to vicariously explore the city through their eyes as local aspiring film artist Spencer shows boudoir photographer Josie around the non-tourist areas. A highly relatable children of immigrants #ownvoices story that was great on audio and had ties to the author's first book.

I loved every minute of this one that was especially good on audio! Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy! Recommended for fans of The accidental pinup by Danielle Jackson or Here for it by Melanie Johnson.

Love this interracial couple and their love story. Would read whatever this author puts out. Slow burn. Well written. Rare to see a black woman with a Asian man in mainstream books and it was very refreshing to see two communities that get the least amount of love, love on each other.

GENERAL INFO

Year Pub/Re Pub: 2/21/23

Book's cover: great depiction of H/h in New Orleans

Format: e-arc

Source: Arc provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Page Count:318

Book's Price: $10.99(kindle)

Price I'd Value: $7.99

Setting: New Orleans and D.C.

Genre: CR, Rom-Com

Tropes: interracial couple, opposites attract

Standalone/Cliffhanger/Part of a Series: standalone

HEA/HFN ending: HEA

Epilogue Included: no

Character(s)POV Spoken: H/h

BOOK DESCRIPTION

Synopsis/Plot Summary:
Josie Parks never ever takes a vacation, but when a wedding photog job in NOLA is cancelled, she decides to stay a week.
Spencer Pham has been in NOLA living with his family for over a month. After 12 years of a dead end in job in D.C., he wants to pursue his passion: making a docu-film on his family’s history as the first Vietnamese Mardi Gras krewe.

Spencer and Josie have a meet cute and connect over their artistic pursuits. He shows her the real New Orleans, while she helps with the camerawork for his film. Opposites attract when Josie’s list making, and organization skills meet Spencer’s "go with flow" attitude. When this fling gets serious, they wonder if they can have the best of both worlds with dream jobs and love?

M/F-M/M-M/M/F-etc: M/F

Contains Cheating: no

Contains Children: no

Flashbacks: yes, how Josie felt guilty about sister Tasha's accident, and what it cost her parents. Spencer working to support his family at a boring desk job, and feeling like he hasn't lived up to his family's expectations.

Jealy/Possy/OTT H/h: Spencer wants to spend as much time as possible with Josie, becomes possessive of her

Amount of Sex In The Book: a little too much

Overall Smex Rating: 4

CHARACTER DESCRIPTION

Hero: Spencer Pham

Hero Description: Moved back to N.O. a month ago unemployed. Lived in D.C. for 12 years working as data analyst sending money to help family. He's a film maker without direction until he is clabbered in the head by Josie's beads. Meeting her ignites his passion physically and professionally.

Hero Likability Rating: 4

Hero loves books/writing: yes to books and great interview skills

Heroine: Josie Parks

Heroine Description: Owns a studio in D.C. as a boudoir photographer. Has a list of 30 by 30 -goals to accomplish by age 30. She stays in N.O. for a much-needed vacation. Always wanted to go to art school, but financially unable. Very organized, has made a lot of sacrifices for her family, forgetting about her own wants and needs.

Heroine Likability Rating: 3

Heroine loves books/writing: yes

Secondary characters:
Tasha-Josie's younger sister. Was in a bad hit and run when she was in high school. Caused a lot of financial issues for their parents.
Rose and Cynthia-Spencer's sisters
Nina-Spencer's youngest sister, very bossy but believes in Spencer's film making.
Jimmy-Spencer's bff from high school. Became a doctor to please his parents. Has a crush on Nina.
Ba` Ba`-Spencer's grandmother turning 100 years old. He is taking care of her while his parents are away. Tells Spencer her story of coming to New Orleans from Vietnam. Her husband (Spencer's grandfather) creating the first krewe of Saigon.

Boss Babes: Zoe, Trixie, Keisha, and Reina-Josie's bffs

H /h RELATIONSHIP INFO

OW/OM/Exes: none mentioned.

Cheating Before/During/Outside H/h Relationship: no

CONTENT WARNINGS/TRIGGERS: racism mentioned

AUTHOR OVERVIEW: Thien-Kim Lam

New or read before & any favorites: new author for me

PERSONAL OVERVIEW

Overall Rating: 3.5/4

Do You Recommend This Book: yes

Will You Re-read This Book: no

Would You Read More Books by this Author: yes

COMMENTS/NOTES: I learned a lot about New Orleans and Vietnamese culture. I've never been to NOLA or Vietnam, but I got such a clear picture of their food, people, and traditions. I could go without 1 or 2 of the sex scenes, but I understand Josie and Spencer were only supposed to be a vacation fling. My favorite character is Ba`Ba` of course. I can't help but think of my own grandmother telling stories about the family, remembering all her signature dishes, and just living as an African American woman with a biracial husband in the 1920s.

New Vocabulary/beautiful words:
Marigny- Area in New Orleans known for Cajun bistros, jazz clubs, and sidewalk musicians.
busker-a person who performs music and other entertainment in the street or another public place for monetary donations.
krewe-organization or association that stages a parade or other event at Mardi Gras in New Orleans.
Te`t (Nguyen Dan)-celebration in Vietnamese culture indicating the arrival of spring based on the Vietnamese calendar.

Favorite quote: "Look for the unusual but capture the everyday." Josie and Spencer's mantras working on their project for the exhibition.

I think I liked Thein Kim's first book better than the follow up. Something about the plot stalled out in the second half but I still enjoyed it. Def love that she represents the vibrant Vietnamese and Black communities of New Orleans in her work

This is an insta-love romance between a vacationing Black woman and a native New Orleans resident from Viet descent. After a comedic meet cute, they combine interests and spend time with each other: in the sheets and in the streets. Thie world created here could easily be expanded to each member of the heroine's girlfriend group, and I wouldn't mind revisited them. All told, this was a cute, quick read. Rounded up from 3.5 stars.

Feedback is being withheld until Harper Collins signs a fair contract with their striking workers. The unionized workers at Harper Collins has asked readers to not post reviews on books under Harper Collins imprints. In solidarity with those workers I will not cross the picket line.

Thank you NetGalley for the Arc. All opinions expressed are my own.

My first read of Thein-Kim Lam's and I can't say that I was underwhelmed or overwhelmed. So just....whelmed? The story was easy to get through, but the writing and some conversation felt a bit basic.
I love the geographic locations, New Orleans during Mardi Gras and DC! All the food that is brought and the different cuisines had my mouth-watering! A lot of people don't think about NOLA and also think of the amazing Vietnamese food there too!

I enjoyed the parallels between the MMC & FMC around burnout and needing a new inspiration, spark or muse. The diverse representation of the leading couple was lovely. I liked getting to experience a bit of each of their cultures Their romance, while cute, was too rapid for me. I wish we could have organically developed it a bit more. We love a woman who knows what she wants in bed & we love a king who knows how to listen and puts her orgasms before his!

I hated that her group of friends is known as the Boss Babes. It sounds like they are all strong, powerful, smart beautiful women and super sex-positive. But the name should be in 2013, not 2023.

The story does contain conversations surrounding racisms and sexism. Both leading characters experience some self-doubt & panic in regards to self-worth and previous life-experiences (including familial trauma).

Full Exposure takes us into the heart of Mardi Gras with all of its glitter and pageantry. Two lovers find romance unexpectedly, but is what they have real enough to last?

Josie Parks and Spencer Pham meet in a New Orleans urgent care center and strike up a banter-filled conversation after she whacks him in the head by mistake after trying to grab some Mardi Gras beads. Josie is a boudoir photographer who’s without a gig after her client cancels on her; she decides not to get a refund for her trip and heads into town hoping to find inspiration. Spencer is in town making a documentary about his family; they were the first Vietnamese Krewe members in the history of New Orleans. Hoping to break out of their old corporate hellholes, Spencer and Josie make a deal: Josie will help Spencer with his documentary if he’ll show her around town. Love follows, but what happens when Josie has to go back to Washington D.C.?

This is a warm, sweet contemporary that’s touched with the sweetness of New Orleans and the golden glow of possible romance. Josie is good at her job but wants to be better, wants to get to make a different kind of art. Spencer has rejected a whole corporate ethos to be where he is now. They are both likable, they both adore their families - Spencer’s relationship with his sister and mom is particularly touching.

The romance makes sense, builds slowly and utterly captivates the reader by the time it’s over. There’s a sense of beauty to their bonding and how they figure out how to build a future together.

New Orleans springs to life under Lam’s pen – there’s a great sense of the city and how it ticks in the writing and I appreciated how much detail goes into each description of Mardi Gras and the world beyond it.

It’s a book that absolutely knows how to pop to life with attitude and spirit. Full Exposure is a great little romance, and one of the best reads of early spring.

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Read this ARC via NetGalley

I like the dynamic between Spencer and Josie and how they balanced each other while encouraging each other’s passions.

I loved the premise of the book and how it tackled many themes like racism and sexism without it being too heavy. I can definitely identify with the immigrant experience and that filial bond and expectations. I wish the author addressed the mental health issues that both of these characters need to work on though.

Josie has an awesome girl squad who are all sex-positive and body-positive. They are #WomenSupportingWomen. I’m excited to read more books in this series and read about each of the women’s love stories.

There are moments of brilliance in Thien-Kim Lam's Full Exposure. Both main characters have strong, warm relationships with friends and family. Spencer's relationship with his Grandmother and sisters is fun to read even when touching on difficult topics and Josie's group of friends is supportive and caring. New Orleans is also lovingly portrayed. The food, culture, and local landmarks are described in detail. However, the romance between Josie and Spencer is rapid, and some readers may not find the development of their relationship to be fully believable.

DNF @ 38%. Definitely more telling (sometimes repetitively so) than showing, and a first sex scene that went from 0 to 100 unbelievably quickly AND held enough contradictory actions that I gave up.

I wouldn't give any stars, out of fairness for not reading the whole book, but I guess I have to give it 1.

One heck of a Mardi Gras Festival, a boudoir photography on vacation who accidentally hits an up and coming film director while catching beads, and the beginning of a very cute romance. Josie Parks is a boudoir photographer who dreams about her working being in an art gallery. She never goes on vacation but when a client cancels last minute she finds herself in New Orleans on vacation... and decides to stay to find some inspiration for her work. Deciding to take in the festivities she wants to catch Mardi Gras beads... but ends up smacking a man with them instead. Cue, Spencer Pham, recently left his job at a soul crushing corporate place in order to pursue his passions of making films and he is going to make a docu-film about his family’s history as the first Vietnamese eMardi Gras krewe, unfortunately, or rather fortunately for him, he is then whacked in the head by the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen. Now Spencer and Josie find themselves bonding over the unlikeliest meet cute and their passion for art. Soon they are spending time together, eating, flirting, taking photos, and even meeting his family. But Josie’s stay has a deadline and things back at home in D.C. are calling for her, will Josie and Spencer make the big leap or is this a vacation only thing? Will their deep connection and passion survive? This was such a cute rom com read and as a Vietnamese person, it was so refreshing to have a Vietnamese male lead, and have so many Vietnamese elements and cultural aspects ( I adored Spencer’s grandmother, and they really hit it on the nail). Seriously, this was a sweet read and I would definitely recommend it!


*Thanks Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager, Avon for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Full Exposure by Thien-Kim Lam was a really sweet romance that I enjoyed reading.
Thien-Kim Lam writes vivid, believable characters you can root for as you read.
It was such a delight to spend time with Spencer and Josie.
Achingly sweet and wonderful I enjoyed every minute.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Avon,
Thank You for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this eARC!