You had me at "Michigan". As a Michigander, once I saw that our main character was heading to MI from CA for law school, I knew I would have to pick up a copy of this book. Despite being a U of M fan (Go Blue!), I was intrigued by the setting of MI State in East Lansing. Plenty of local places abound in this book, and much of it centers on the trials and tribulations of a new law student. The romance definitely seemed to take a backseat to all of the other things going on in Simone's life...classes, grades, friendships, etc. Silas was that good friend that she was attracted to, but never seemed to fit into her life at just the right time.

This read extremely young to me. Clearly, I am outside of the age range of the characters in this book, and it was so apparent throughout this read. They seemed like they were more like YA characters then those in Law School. It was a quick, fun read, but unfortunately, I doubt I will remember much of this book in the future.

If you are looking for a light, quick romance about law school with no spice, this would be a good choice for you. Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled: Amara for this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

QOTD: If you could pursue any career, which would you pick?

I found the subject matter of You’ve Been Served by Kristen Alicia (which will be released on 6/27) so fitting as I’ve been pondering this question quite a bit lately. I have always wanted to work for a nonprofit and I’m trying to take steps to make that dream a reality!

Our female protagonist in this romcom decides to switch careers from the California restaurant industry and dive head first into law school in Michigan! I love a FMC who is focused on finding out what they want in life, and Simone is doing just that…with a little help from a magic 8 ball.

I hybrid read this one since @netgalley was kind enough to gift me the arc in both ebook and audio formats! I really thought the narrator did a tremendous job bringing Kristen Alicia’s debut to life!

All in all this is a pretty cute romantic comedy with some fun banter, low spice, and lovable characters. Some parts of it felt a little random/disconnected, but I thought it was a solid debut. Will definitely check out books from this author in the future!

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

#netgalley #newrelease #rbmedia

*4.5

This was so cute. I loved that they took the time to be friends first before they ever made a move. Silas is such a sweetheart and he took a step back as soon as Simone said she wanted to be friends. It was adorable how she was so blind to how he feels when it was so obvious to everyone around them.

It could be five stars but there was this weird thing twice in the book where she presumed to know if someone was a POC based on how they looked which was strange.

I received an arc through netgalley.

3 stars

You can read all of my reviews at Nerd Girl Loves Books.

This was a cute contemporary romance set during the first year of a Michigan law school. Simone worked as a chef at an up-scale restaurant in California when she reached her breaking point and quit on the spot. Using the childhood tool she used to make decisions, she asked the magic 8 ball if she should go to law school. Imagine her surprise when it told her yes.

Simone finds herself in Michigan woefully unprepared to start her first year of law school. There she meets neighbor, and fellow classmate, Silas. He immediately sets off to charm her, but she gets mixed signals when he's a total kiss-ass during class. Add in a tough-as-nails Contracts professor who seems to be out to get her, and Simone is wondering if she made a mistake.

This book was ok, but it didn't wow me. The writing was fine and it was paced evenly. Because it was set during the first year of law school, I was expecting more angst. Unfortunately, the book was one-note throughout. None of the bumps in the road or problems seemed urgent. I was also expecting to see more sparks between the main characters, but honestly, I wasn't really sure why they were together. Silas was such a charmer and very sociable, while Simone was not. They spent most of the book as friends, and it was kind of anti-climatic when they finally got together. I also feel like the side characters were wasted and could have added so much extra spark to the book if used better.

I think the reason this book was more of a miss than hit for me is because I attended law school and know what it's like. I think people that have not experienced law school would enjoy this book a lot more. It's a sweet, steady, closed door romance that will most likely appeal to other readers, so definitely check it out.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Entangled Publishing, LLC. All opinions are my own.

I really wanted to like this book. I loved the premise and it was giving me POC Legally Blonde vibes. But the writing style just wasn’t my favorite. A lot of “this happened, and then this happened. After that, this happened”. Also I felt like a lot of time was spent on the beginning of the story, but the end was rushed through because there wasn’t enough time left. I didn’t find myself rooting for, or even really liking too much, the main character. I think Tiffany was probably my favorite of the book. This one just missed the mark for me. Still a good book, but not one I would read again.

I've been on a roll lately, reading all of my arcs. Unfortunately, this book fell flat for me. The premise sounded fun and cheesy; when you have a summary line of "law school’s nothing like the romantic comedies said it was", you expect to be in for a rom-com vibe in the style of Legally Blonde.

This was not like Legally Blonde. Even with a cute premise, the execution of this was just... a mess. The plot was all over and didn't really feel like it had a true direction. And the characters themselves didn't really read as lovers to me? They work fine as friends, but there is no real spark between them, which then make the romance absolutely unbelievable. Also the fact that all of the "problems" hinge on miscommunication bothers me. These are adults. LAW SCHOOL adults. And they can't communicate? Have fun being lawyers.

I can appreciate what Kristen Alicia was trying to do with this, and it's always nice to see female characters in high-power careers and such, but this just didn't work.

You've Been Served is set to be published on June 27, 2023. Thank you to Entangled Publishing LLC, NetGalley, and the author for the digital advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

"You've Been Served" is a whimsical and lighthearted romance novel about Simone's decision to rely on a Magic 8 ball for guidance, which leads her to quit her job as a chef and pursue law. This story is entertaining and enjoyable, even though the premise is unrealistic and filled with random occurrences.

This debut novel shows readers what it's like to be a law student and the challenges she faces. As Simone navigates the unfamiliar territory of academia and tries to find her place amid the competitive and demanding environment, the book captures the essence of her journey. There's something lighthearted about the portrayal of law school that's reminiscent of "Legally Blonde."

The romance between Simone and Silas, her fellow law student and neighbor, adds sweetness to the story. However, Simone's indecisiveness and the back-and-forth nature of their relationship can be frustrating at times, leaving readers wanting more clarity. Despite the lack of deep character development, there are some comedic moments and witty banter between the characters to make up for it.

While it has its flaws, "You've Been Served" is fluffy and entertaining. Despite the abrupt ending and loose ends, the overall light-hearted nature of the story makes it an enjoyable and easy read.

DNF @ 47%

I tried. I really did. I had been looking forward to this one too! The synopsis sounded so fun and promising but sadly, I couldn’t get into it. Everything happening felt really random, I didn’t really feel any chemistry between the characters, and there’s was so. much. inner monologue. Ugh!

I hate that I couldn’t get into this. The cover is gorgeous and like I said, I had been looking forward to it but I won’t force myself to read something that I am not enjoying.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGally for this eARC! Much appreciated

Simone and Silas meet at law school. It's harder than Simone though after changing careers from being a chef, so.Will she have the time and space for a new relationship too? A great read.

A mid twenties young lady uproots her life from California to go to law school in Michigan. There she meets her classmates who are a great mixture of characters. Simone struggles to settle back in school but is determined to be successful. Silas becomes an important part of her life as he helps her to become acclimated. This is a romance that develops over this first semester in school.

2.75 stars

Kristen Alicia’s You’ve Got Served certainly has an “Elle Woods in Legally Blonde” feel to it, though thankfully it’s not a guy this time that has our heroine, Simone, heading off to law school. Instead, after walking out of her restaurant job, Simone decides to leave her next step to a Magic 8 ball, which leads to her spontaneously taking the LSAT and applying to law school…

Full review can be found at the attached link.

Thank you to the author, Kristen Alicia, Entangled Publishing, and NetGalley for giving me an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. This book will be published on June 27, 2023.

Unfortunately, I DNF’d @ 24%. There was too much inner dialogue to my liking, especially since it’s the beginning of the book. I just prefer more actual dialogue because I get bored if there’s not and start skimming.

This also felt more of a slice of life rather than a romance, which I don’t mind that type of book. I was just expecting at least a decent amount of romance since I was a quarter through the book.

You’ve Been Served was a whimsical and entertaining quality that keeps readers engaged.

The entire plot revolves around the protagonist relying on a magic 8 ball to shape and dictate her future. It's undeniably unrealistic and filled with random occurrences.

This book wins on the fluffy light side of reading. The sheer entertainment value of the book was its redeeming quality.

All in all, as a debut novel, this book offers a welcome escape from reality and delivers an enjoyable reading experience for me. I think the nature of a rom com can make it hard to see deep character growth. I did encounter some instances where I had to backtrack a few pages, feeling like I may have missed something due to inconsistencies in the narrative. Additionally, the ending felt abrupt, leaving me longing for more details and closure. I would read this simply for the whimsy and the fun of the story.

A super fun read about first year law students in Michigan.
First, Silas was a huge sweetheart for the whole book and I’m glad he hung in even after Simone fed him the just friends tripe.
Second, the supporting characters added depth from Keith to Tiffany along with crusty Professor Patton.
I loved how Simone consulted her Magic 8 ball because I had one of those and took its predictions seriously. I thought it was very foolish of Simone to be so blasé about law school and was glad when her friends set her straight.
Law school is not for the weak.

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

Simone Alexander quits her job and allows her magic 8 ball to help her decide if she should enroll in law school. Unprepared and unsure are the things that Simone struggles with in the beginning of the book. Meeting Silas the attraction is instant. But Simone’s struggles in school and the fact that Silas is what’s known as a sharpshooter she struggles to control her grades and her budding relationship with him.

At the beginning I did find Simone as irritating. Silas was clearly feeling her from the first meet and she just kept friend zoning him. I loved Silas. Hey was supportive, smart, funny, and when he let his little jealousy show I ate it up. The man flew across country because he felt like she need a hug. What else could you want. Pure swoon worthy actions only. 4.5/5 ⭐️ only because Simone was irking in the beginning.

Thank you Entangled Publishing, Entangled: Amara and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Overall really fun coming of age/starting over story. I really loved the banter between Solar and Simone. I think the middle dragged a little bit and this read more like contemporary fiction more than romance.

2.5 stars

a funny and charming contemporary romance about letting fate decide your path. i thought the characters were likeable enough but didn’t have enough depth beyond just likability. the plot was relaxed in a way that didn’t make anything that happened in the book seem like it was really high stakes, but it’s good if you’re looking for a quick read that’s too serious and has some enjoyable characters and witty banter.

I really wanted to love this book more than I did. The chemistry between Simone and Silas was … off. They don’t have sense together in the way they needed to. The whole premise of the novel also relied on its similarities to Legally Blonde and it just doesn’t make sense for someone to throw the fate of their life into a magic 8 ball. It was quirky and not in the best way.

In You’ve Been Served by Kristen Alicia, Simone finds herself at the crossroads of her career choice. She has worked in her dream job as a chef but is increasingly finding that she is no longer passionate about this work path. After whimsically consulting a magic ball, she quits her job as a chef and starts law school across the country. The execution of this decision leaves a lot to be desired but, on this journey, she meets an array of diverse and charismatic characters, including Silas, her friend and eventual love interest. Simone initially sees Silas as her rival in class but through friendship and shared experiences finds that he has the qualities of a true friend and more. The story is told solely from Simone’s POV which at points in time made the narrative somewhat narrow in terms of what the reader experiences. Even with this perspective, the story is quirky and cute AND well worth the read!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. Thank you to Entangled Publishing and Netgalley for a chance to read this book!

This book was a lot of fun. Simone was a really great main character, I loved watching her journey going back to law school and living in a totally new environment. I also really liked Silas, he was a perfect quirky hero. My only complaint about this book is there isn't one real conflict. Like I found myself wondering why they weren't just getting together? But this was a fun and fluffy read if you want something entertaining!