This is, hands down, an absolute favorite read of the year. The exploration of what it means to give up your religion really hit home for me. It's so raw, beautiful, and inspiring at the same time. I love Ely's journey, and I think it's so important to have this story and all of its bumps along the way.

As soon as I heard Victoria Lee was writing an adult romance, I knew I needed to get my hands on it. A Shot in the Dark is an extremely emotional story full of yearning and community. It didn’t wholly feel like a romance because so much of the book is focused on Ely’s journey rather than her relationship with Wyatt, but I did love the romance arc between them. I also really appreciated the messy, complex feelings and relationships. At times this was a hard book to read, but also it was impossible to put down. I really loved the Jewish experiences and the traditions; in many ways, the Shabbos scenes often felt like a warm hug, even was Ely struggled with her place in the community.

A Shot in the Dark is a slow-burn romance by Victoria Lee. The book starts with the main character, Ely, moving to New York and going out to a gay club with her new roommates. She ends up hooking up with a guy she meets, only to find out the next day that he’s her new professor. They struggle throughout the book to keep things professional between them, and fail miserably, bonding over their past struggles with addiction and family issues, as well as their passion for photography.

The first thing I loved about this book was the characters. Ely is deeply flawed, messy, and so real. Her past as a child growing up in an Orthodox Jewish community and her unhealthy relationship with a childhood best friend was fleshed out and interesting. Meanwhile, Wyatt is a realistic depiction of a trans man (yay!) whose identity is only a small part of the story. The themes of self-forgiveness for things done in the past, specifically in regards to addiction, is beautifully written.

In addition, I loved the romance between these two. It felt organic and I could 100% believe these characters would fall in love. They were adorable and awkward around each other, which I can relate to. I always worry about professor/student books, as it can feel creepy sometimes, but this one felt very respectful all the way through. The push-and-pull of whether or not they’ll finally get together did feel a bit old by the end, and it did drive me a little crazy, but books of this genre tend to do that.

I do wish that Wyatt had a little more going on before the last ten percent of the book. I loved his character and, while Ely gets a deep dive into her past, he does not get the same treatment. His struggle felt a bit rushed, and the ending between the two characters did as well.

Romance is always a hit or miss for me, as I’m not a big fan of the swoony, over-the-top novels. I like my books to have substance, I want the relationship to not be the only interesting thing, and this novel delivered.

Overall, I really liked this book, and I highly recommend it to any fans of contemporary romance that don’t want just another piece of lighthearted, cutesy fluff.

A Shot in the Dark was a very pleasant surprise and a delightful introduction to Victoria Lee’s writing

I was apprehensive about starting this due to the substance abuse theme, however—with my very limited knowledge and exposure to the issue itself—it was done very tastefully to tie its importance to the story. While not totally comfortable reading the more intense parts, I didn’t shy away from understanding why it was there to begin with.

Ely and Wyatt were such a delight to read about and I found their love story full of tenderness. Something about Wyatt crawled inside of me and carved a precious space for itself. I genuinely adored reading about them individually as well as together; I personally loved how forward and confident Ely was from Wyatt’s perspective while he was a constant through both lenses: kind and loving and so enamoured with Ely.

I also genuinely loved reading about Ely’s Jewish background and practices. There was something beautiful about experiencing some of the rituals through this story and feeling a sense of peace through her community.

The only thing I wasn’t super into was the writing style. I found some of the internal monologues a little cringey. It was nothing overt and it didn’t necessarily take anything away from the story itself; it simply wasn’t my favourite style.

Overall A Shot in the Dark was really good and I can’t wait to read the published version.

Thank you NetGalley, Random House Publishing, and Victoria Lee for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

I wasn’t sure what to expect with this book but it took me a whirlwind trip and I could not put it down. I am not familiar with the Jewish religion and culture so some of the words were very foreign to me but I loved how the traditions translated well and we got the back story of both Ely and Wyatt.

Wow. I honestly didn’t know what to expect when I requested an arc from NetGallery. This book is so special, so delicate, and so well written. Victoria Lee is a new to me author and I am so happy I was approved to experience this book.

A Shot in the Dark tells the story of Ely and Wyatt and their struggles in life as they overcome hardships relating to family, sobriety, substance abuse, acceptance and religion. The novel primarily focuses on Ely’s point of view and narrative with a few insights from Wyatt. While I would have wanted more of Wyatt’s narrative, the entire story and the way it was written felt complete.

Wyatt. How I love this man. He tried his hardest to stay away from Ely after meeting her at a queer club and spending one night together only to find out the next day that she’s his student at the class he’ll be teaching at. And Ely. She knows what she wants in life and she’s ambitious and driven. Although she have made a lot of mistakes in the past that she have atoned for, she constantly tries to become a better version of herself and acknowledges when she needs help. And she finds help in Wyatt. Wyatt and Ely’s relationship is so sweet and wholesome. They accept each other for their flaws and shortcomings and they both try to help each other become the better people.

Art, religion, sexuality, forgiveness and acceptance along with the mention of family and substance abuse are all major themes found throughout the novel. Lee writes with such precision and delicacy when addressing these intricate topics and it’s evident through the reading. I love the friendships and found family Ely acquired along the way from her new journey in LA. This novel is so heartwarming however it is not entirely lighthearted or cozy due to its theme of substance abuse. Despite the heaviness of certain topics, this book is definitely one to make you root for the characters and perhaps even see yourself in part of them. I really can’t recommend this book enough and I will be looking forward to reading more of Lee’s future work.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group Dell for an arc in exchange for an honest review!

This one just didn't land for me, but it's absolutely not the book's fault; this one delves into some flavors of trauma that I personally struggle with and unfortunately I was not ready to encounter them in a fictional form. That said, it's a lovely piece of work and I'm so glad to see that other readers are enjoying it very much.

I took a chance on this romance and wow, it blew me away. It was honest and unflinching while at the same time managing to be romantic and filled with yearning. Ely and Wyatt are not your standard romance couple. Both are clean and sober after addiction almost destroyed them, Wyatt for 10 yrs, Ely for 4 yrs, but both still have cravings that they must face and conquer. Wyatt is trans and has fully transitioned. He was discharged from the Marines as a result and was disowned by his family at the urging of his homophobic father. As a result, he spiraled downward, but then pulled himself back out and is now a celebrated photographer who closely guards his personal life. Ely became addicted to drugs as a teenager, did irreparable damage to her relationships with her friends, family and her extremely Orthodox Jewish religious community and ultimately was shunned. After reaching absolute rock bottom in her addiction, she also clawed her way back out and is just now embarking on her own journey in the art world.

When these two meet, it's like their souls recognize a kindred spirit and they have an instantaneous connection. Of course, the real world gets in the way and they have challenges to face, but that spark cannot be denied. I loved so many things about this book. It really is mainly about Ely's journey to reclaim her joy, and her dreams in spite of the mistakes she has made. She faces her past with unflinching honesty and doesn't back down from what she wants. Wyatt is farther along in his own recovery, so his story arc is not as compelling, but he was sweet, sensitive and supportive. One of the things I loved most about this book is that the ever present threat of backsliding is not glossed over, but rather is depicted honestly and openly in the book, just as so many addicts have to face it IRL. These characters are flawed and messy, but still fully deserving of happiness. My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

I didn’t expect to love this so much 😭 I read it soo quickly, I couldn’t put it down! The reflections on sobriety & addiction, religion, queerness, and art were so moving. the author handled it all with so much grace.

i loved wyatt + ely’s romance and growth together 💗 it felt like one of the more authentic connections i’ve read in a while. i just really loved this overall!!

rep: trans man MC, pansexual MC, judaism/orthodox judaism, addiction

thank you to netgalley & the publisher for a free eARC in exchange for my honest review :)

This book was truly everything I could have wanted or expected and more. A deeply passionate romance where I truly believed in the connection between the two main characters, and also an exploration of some deeply personal and heavy topics. A SHOT IN THE DARK is not a swoony, lighthearted romance, but that doesn’t make it any less romantic. The characters are so messy and real, and I couldn’t put the book down. Truly could not recommend reading this book enough.

In some ways, it’s hard to put my feelings about this book into words. It was hard to read at times, with all the reality of two characters who have been rejected by the families that they grew up in and subsequently dealt with intense substance abuse. The topics this book looks at are handled with this incredibly genuine and heartfelt care, nuanced because they are in real life. Yes it is a romance and things do end well, but that doesn’t mean that the hard things should be glossed over, and this book never falls prey to the idyllic romance being more attractive than the harsh reality of the characters.

I think what truly made me fall for Ely and Wyatt as characters but also as a couple, is the exploration of their own identities and their art. They share the common thread of substance abuse and photography, but their journeys before that, Ely growing up in Orthodox Judaism, and Wyatt as a trans man (seriously, the way transness is looked at/explored in this book alone makes it worth it), are so interesting and given so much depth. A SHOT IN THE DARK is as much a character exploration as it is a romance, and it’s such a stronger romance for it. Even the tropier elements are given depth, though sometimes they are just funny.

In short, I really enjoyed reading this book and I highly recommend picking it up. It’s a complex romance but also one that is fun to watch as two messy but loveable characters fall for each other. It is undeniably and incredibly queer, and puts two characters that you don’t often see in contemporary romance at the forefront. I truly hope this isn’t the last romance we see from Victoria Lee.

I was given a ARC by Netgalley and Random House in exchange for an honest review.

Y'ALL THIS BOOK IS SO GOOD!
This book was one of my favorite books I read this year. No joke! It follows the story of Wyatt and Ely as they attempt to navigate sober life and life circumstances such as strained family relationships and the fact the Wyatt is her art instructor.

I thought the Jewish rep was wonderfully done as Lee herself is Jewish and brought a new appreciation to me for how heritage and modern day living can entwine in one and become a whole new way of carrying out traditions. I also loved the queer rep in this book with Wyatt being trans and Ely being pan!

Watching the romance between Ely and Wyatt blossom was beautiful and this book felt so, so human to me- not the writing that was flawed but the characters felt so human. I loved the way the characters were allowed to fail and make mistakes but were still able to love each other and work through things. I will say for people who have experienced alcohol or narcotics abuse, you may want to be cautious when reading this for triggers.

Altogether I loved Ely and Wyatt and their love of photography and pamplemousse La Croix, and I would highly recommend this book! Definitely check it out September 5th!
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TW: on page narcotics and alcohol usage, death of a friend, estranged family relationships, overdose

A Shot in the Dark by Victoria Lee is a wonderfully woven story about Elisheva (Ely) and Wyatt, two addicts navigating sobriety and the art scene of New York City.

10 years after leaving her Orthodox family, Ely returns from a life of drugs and alcohol in Los Angeles to the familiarity of New York City. On her first night back in the city, she meets a handsome stranger in a bar and goes to a hotel to spend a hot night together. When Ely wakes up late for the first class of her art program she moved back to NYC for, she rushes to school and makes it just in time to see her professor walk in - the handsome stranger she slept with the night before, Wyatt.

A Shot in the Dark is a beautiful portrayal of struggle, the difficulties of falling in love, and navigating the world as an addict. Ely and Wyatt both have trauma and raw edges, which makes them so Human.

Thank you NetGalley and Dell Publishing for the ARC of A Shot in the Dark.

I tried this book on a whim and the style wasn’t for me but I would recommend it to the right audience. I’m more into romance/fantasy right now so definitely not the authors fault!

This book was fantastic. It was so well written and the characters were so good, that I was thinking about them long after I finished reading.

This is a sweet meet-cute book that details the relationship of Ely, an up-and-coming art student and Wyatt, her teacher. As they first meet at a bar and are immediately attracted to each other, of course the inevitable happens and it's only on the first day of class they realize they are not "meant'" to be together! Both have deep-seated secrets about addiction that they must work through alone...and together. So it's often heartbreaking and at he same time, heartwarming! TW for drug use.
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

I absouletely loved this book, such a sweet and cute read! I really loved the complexity of the characters and how they interacted with each other. It hard to find LGBTQ+ romance novels and this one was amazing. highly recommend!

This is a fabulous book featuring 2 main characters, Ely & Wyatt, who had a one night stand before they discovered that Wyatt is Ely's professor at Art School. Wyatt tries to distance himself, but it isn't easy to do. The subsequent connection and tension between the main characters feel so real. Meanwhile, each character is struggling with their own worries and often similar worries: staying sober, rejection by family members, and their ability to maintain healthy relationships. Ely also is beginning to seek a religious identity and community after having been shunned by her Orthodox Jewish Family. I would have liked for a few of the scenes to be given more time, Overall, this is a great story. Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy in return for my honest opinion.

I’ve sat on this one for awhile but I’m really having a hard time coming up with the words and review that do this book justice. I loved it so, so much. Ely & Wyatt’s relationship was so beautiful but I really loved following along on their separate journeys with recovery and their complex relationships with family and religion. Ely was kicked out of her Orthodox community and moved to California but is back in NY for a scholarship program and is dealing with all the emotions and memories being in NY brings back. All the characters felt fully fleshed out and were so perfectly complex. I was rooting for every character like they were my own friends. I loved the found family in this one and while this book was funny and made me laugh, there were many moments that were very emotional or difficult to read. It was so good that I think I finished it in less than 24 hours and I didn’t want it to end. Definitely a must read but check the content warnings before you do.

I will be picking up a physical copy of A Shot In The Dark when it’s released on September 5. Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing - Ballantine for the review.

thank you netgalley for the arc !

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ 4/5 stars *ੈ✩‧₊˚

read if you like:
♡ there is only one bed
♡ accidental one-night stand between professor x student (but make it clumsily and cutely respectful)
♡ lgbtqia and trans rep
♡ orthodox judaism rep
♡ beautiful story of recovery from drug abuse and self-forgiveness

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booked in with my dentist after this one for the cavities i could feel forming; so sweet. well worth the health of my teeth though!!

brimming with tenderness, a shot in the dark paints a portrait of two broken individuals whose sharp edges come together perfectly just like in kintsugi.

after almost a decade following her getaway from new york and disgraced exile from the orthodox community she grew up in - elisheva cohen is finally back. having returned to brooklyn for the sake of an auspicious scholarship and opportunity to study under the tutelage of the mythologized wyatt cole, she finds herself juggling with the effort of keeping the past under wraps. even if it seems to come at her from every quarter, manifested in relics from a religious history she still surreptitiously guards close to her heart. no sooner has ely’s first night ended than in a comedic stroke of fate, she’s stumbled into a chance encounter at a queer club, an ensuing one-night and then the next morning verging on being late to her very first class with… the very man she just had a one night stand with - the wyatt cole. cue the queer grey’s anatomy drama and so much more.

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this is my very first victoria lee novel and colour me wildly impressed. whilst the inciting event of two strangers going for a romp, insensible to the fact that come morning they’re in for a nasty surprise and oh hey student x professor (partial as I am to this) - is tropey if not a little tired, lee deftly turns every prepossession on its head almost immediately. this is a gorgeous, hilarious and intimate character study of two kindred spirits holding each other’s hands through the warfare of abuse, being disowned by family and their fear of who exactly they each are beneath the carapaces they’ve built between themselves and vulnerability. this was lee annexing a trope and breathing new life into it, revitalising it as a character study between a trans man (wyatt) and queer woman (ely). their struggles as recovering addicts suffused with heart-wrenching self-loathing are far more raw and - at the risk of sounding trite - real than most romance novels will have the chutzpah to even attempt to portray. let me just confess this now too because i’m desperate to get it off my chest… i am irrevocably in love with wyatt. he’s so sensitive and swoon-worthy; there’s my two-pence no one asked for!! also, lee’s comedic timing in wyatt and ely’s banter and internal monologuing is absolutely unparalleled, i was incorrigibly snorting with every page-turn. as for why i haven’t bestowed my elusive 5 star rating? much as i loved wyatt and ely, their push and pull, more notably wyatt’s caprice towards their relationship (though motivated most nobly) exhausted even me. i applaud but also castigate ely for putting up with it because we left that no self-respect back pre-wollstonecraft’s a vindication of women’s rights sister. get up!!! but also good for you get it girl.

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conclusion:
amidst themes of religion, dynamic familial bonds weighted in turns with disappointments and hopes - and dogged by pasts they can’t outrun, ely and wyatt tangle up in more than just their bedsheets. a uniquely sweet, masterfully written and tender-like-a-bruise queer love story, a shot in the dark has burrowed its way into my heart and hopefully it will yours too.

A hot one night stand?
Turns out he’s your teacher. 🤭🫠
We have pansexual rep.
Trans male main character rep.
A beautiful romance between two people who are sober and through their recovery, with a passion for the arts. Strong friendship support systems.
I truly loved this story so much! I didn’t want to leave the characters, I wanted more.
As someone who’s pansexual and married to a trans man this was life changing to read. I enjoyed seeing my relationship aspects 🌶️ specifically because it’s something I’ve never personally read before.
I truly appreciated the authors note at the very beginning about substance abuse and addiction.
Ely is a recovering addict who’s been sober for four years, who is going through a stage of life when she’s trying to discover who she is. What her faith is, and if she’s going to be accepted into the community or not still. Ely is Jewish and left the community, but is now back in New York City not far from where she grew up.
Wyatt is a recluse, famous photographer and really ever seen in public. Maybe even one of the most eligible bachelors.
These two work through their own struggles with family dynamics, work life, and relationships. At times this book felt raw, and truthful in the experiences you can face.
I love, and loved people with addiction this story shows you a little bit of each side.
I definitely had some moments where I teared up. I’m excited to read more from Victoria Lee and can’t wait to get the final copy of this!
Oh and I’ll be referring to myself as a pansexual icon now 💁🏻‍♀️
#AShotintheDark #NetGalley

Review will be posted on insta by 8/22