Book Review of Night For Day by Roselle Lim

Cover Story: Side By Side
BFF Charms: Nay x2
Talky Talk: Understated
Bonus Factors: Kindly Grandfather Figure, Immortal Beings
Relationship Status: Third Wheel

Cover Story: Side By Side
I like the juxtaposition of the two sides of the cover; it goes well with the two sides of the tale, although the silhouettes should be swapped, I think. (The female MC works at night in an antique shop, the male during the day in a jewelry store.) On the whole, it’s pretty, but a bit flat.

And why does the male portrait look so much like Edward Cullen?

The Deal:
Camille and Ward are lovers in every sense of the word, but they haven’t seen each other since their latest breakup a couple of years ago. It’s a surprise to both of them when they end up in London, both with new jobs and new starts in life. They decide to try again to be a part of each other’s lives, but soon come to realize that their jobs are in direct opposition, in every way.

Together, the two must overcome a task of godly proportions, while not being able to see or touch each other for however long it takes. Not only is their relationship on the line, but the fate of the entire world hangs in the literal balance.

BFF Charms: Nay x2
I never really felt good chemistry with either Camille or Ward. They are both supremely wrapped up in the other, even when trying to sort out their unexpected situation or solve the task at hand. I liked them well enough, but don’t feel like I’d be able to really make a connection with either of them, much less both of them.

Swoonworthy Scale: 7
Camille and Ward have been on-again, off-again for ages. They truly love each other, but in this case of opposites attract, the physicality of their relationship works better than the emotional one. (There is some semi-explicit spice in this book; it’s a romance, but not a romance-romance, if you know what I mean.)

Talky Talk: Understated
While there’s an intensity of feeling behind the book, particularly when you think about how much rides on Camille and Ward’s shoulders, Lim’s writing has a calmness to it, and the conversations between characters fall a bit flat. (Yes, even when Camille and Ward are getting spicy.) That said, there are a few gems, including this line from a god talking about humanity:

“I think they have potential. It may take a few more millennia to see the evidence.”

I mean, truth.

Bonus Factor: Kindly Grandfather Figure
Camille’s supervisor is a kindly older gentleman by the name of Mr. Sampson. I had a math teacher in high school named Mr. Sampson, who was also a kindly older gentleman. I couldn’t help but adore either of them.

Bonus Factor: Immortal Beings
Quickly after starting their new jobs, Camille and Ward realize they’ve become players/pawns in an ages-old war between factions of gods. It’s a fascinating idea, even if the gods themselves are frequently jerks. And the other immortal beings they eventually meet are supremely fascinating.

Relationship Status: Third Wheel
As much as I enjoyed your story, Book, I never felt a deep connection. I wish you the best, but I know you won’t really miss me.

Synopsis: Exes Ward and Camille both find themselves in London for new jobs. Camille will be working the night shift at an antique shop and Ward will be working the day shift at a high-end jewelry store. While it seems coincidental that they have ended up in the same city for similar jobs, larger forces seem to be at work behind the scenes. Ward and Camille have been caught in the midst of a war of the gods, and neither can escape their respective places of employment until their roles in the war are finished.
Read this if you like:
modern urban fantasy second chance romance star-crossed lovers atmospheric setting

While I really liked the blurb and thought the idea was quite intriguing, I thought the follow thru was poor. The star-crossed lovers, torn apart by the whims of the gods, forced to play parts in a cruel game where the steaks are more than their hearts -- it all seems to thrilling and definitely something that I could get into, but alas it was not meant to be.

There was just not enough. Not enough character development, world development, backstory. Enough time where the two characters where together to interact and develop believable chemistry together. What was there was too much I was often confused. Jumping between POVs and scenes. It just needed to be clearer and more defined. There is a story here, but it gets lost amongst a quagmire of unnecessary words that in the end don't help me relay to the characters or understanding the world.

** Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to review this advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion **

This was such an interesting book! It was a quick read with magic, gods, and ghosts! I do think it was a bit confusing at first, everything seemed so vague and I was getting kind of annoyed with that. Overall I think it was interesting but not sure if I would actively recommend.


Thank you so much Berkley and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for a review!

#NightForDay:
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Thank you @berkleypub @acebookspub and @prhaudio partner for my gifted copies. #BerkleyPartner #berkley ⁣
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“Being alike might bring more harmony, but sites bring electricity, don’t you agree?”⁣
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Night For Day was such an interesting magical realism read. It’s fairly quick, I was able to finish it once I really got into it in about a day. That being said, I did put it down 4-5 times before I got into the thick of it and wanted to know what was going on.⁣
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Basically Ward and Camille are exes and have a second chance now in London, where they both have a job interview. They both get it and rekindle their love. (It’s a spicy reconnection) It’s the start of something great, don’t you agree? No. Because they’re stuck at work with ghosts and gods and immortals and are basically in between a war. They can chat a few moments daily, and it either strengthens or tears apart their rekindling. But their love is on the back burner because 1. They’re trapped and 2. Hello, there’s a god war happening and they are needing to stop it to free themselves.⁣
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The premise was really great. I cried, (I love the older keepers) and the thought that us mere mortals could really stop this war was wild. I loved the different riddles and how they tried to uncover the answer to escape.⁣
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Audio was great. We get dual POV from Ferdelle Capistrano and Will Damron. The audio was amazing, flowed well, gave me all the feels. High recommend.⁣
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Out now! Y’all go grab this for a groundhog/time loop type magical realism.⁣
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Reverse QOTD? Ask me any random question?

I DNF'd this around a 20% in. I just couldn't bring myself to really care about the characters. The feelings that the main pairing had for each other were all expressed through the general narration. The book kept insisting that they had a great romance before they broke up for reasons that the book wasn't getting to fast enough for me. It's hard to root for a second chance when you haven't seen why they ever broke up in the first place. Also, the big frame is the demon bet keeping them away from one another. But again, the reader has no idea what that bet is, who the betting factions are, or why any of this matters. It's like the book is begging us to care but not offering up any reasons to actually do so.

A big thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I can for the vibes, but they were lacking.

Night for Day by Roselle Lim is a fantasy novel about two people destined to be together, but never allowed to see each other. Exes Ward Dunbar and Camille Buhay thought they would never see each other again. They had broken up to pursue their dream jobs on opposite sides of the country—her to New York City, and him to Los Angeles. But years later, they unexpectedly reconnect in London, where they are interviewing for similar jobs. The spark they feel when they meet again is palpable—the attraction comes back like muscle memory, reminding them of what they had lost. When Ward and Camille discover they both got the job working opposing shifts, they vow to give their relationship another try. Ward starts the day shift and finds the immortal clientele unusual and dazzling. When he clocks out at the end of the day, he finds the door locked and himself trapped in the building. After a horrific first night shift contending with restless spirits and ghosts, Camille is also unable to escape. In their respective prisons, they discover that they’re able to talk to each other a few minutes before dawn. This fleeting encounter incites longing for each other, but their promise to be together feels impossible. Because they are caught in the middle of a war of the gods—and their choices will determine the outcome.

I really wanted to love this book, but it was bit of a flop in my opinion. I just don't think that star-crossed lovers are for me. It all just seems too predictable.

I received this eARC from Berkley andI was really looking forward to this one as it has some of my favorite elements (magical realism, warring gods). Unfortunately, it fell short for me. I felt really lost most of the time, especially the beginning. It felt like I jumped into the middle of a story and had no idea how I got there. There just wasn't enough world building and set up for me. This was also a second chance romance and you never really got the back story on that, it just immediately jumped to them falling for each other (I'm not a fan of insta love) towards the end I just did not care what happened. I did enjoy the premise and it did have some fun parts, it just wasn't for me.

I wanted to love this but it was a huge miss for me.. The description made me feel more than the actual book did which was a bummer since I had high hopes. I also had a hard time following the writing style, I felt myself going back a few pages and re-reading to figure out what happened or what was said.

This is probably more of a 1.5-star review because the ideas are compelling, but the execution is...poor. There are plenty of blanket statements about the vicissitudes of love and human existence, but the actual storytelling is scattershot and doesn't make sense. A good fantasy book has solid world-building and balances explanation of magical rules with an assumption that the reader is a (somewhat) intelligent person; this has neither. I wish Roselle Lim had more clearly outlined Camille and Ward's previous relationship and current predicament (and, in fact, the plot in general); I went back to review certain chapters because I thought I had missed something when, in fact, the explanation was never there.

Perhaps this received better editing before final publication, but even so...it needs improvement.

In Night for Day, Roselle Lim creates an intriguing dilemma for her characters to solve, one that tests them to their limits against the gods. Not only do the pair have to figure out the puzzle of why they’re trapped but they must also contend with the reasons they split up and resolve their differences, not just in order to solve the war but also to give themselves a second chance.

I loved how Roselle Lim creates intriguing little clues within the novel to what’s going on, who Ward and Camille are dealing with but also who their employees are. The personalities of both characters make you root for them, especially against the Gods. I also love how their relationship plays into the dilemma and is part of what they need to resolve in order to escape. I did feel like at times the story did tell me how each character was feeling, though, rather than allowing me to experience it for myself. But the ultimate resolution shines.

If you like love stories that are also puzzles, this is one for you. The mystery, the intriguing dilemma and how Ward and Camille solve the issue of being trapped will keep you engaged. It is very cerebral rather than emotional but I found that thought provoking and interesting. It definitely will make you think.

What a unique story. Ward and Camille didn’t think they were meant to be, they took dream jobs, one in LA the other in New York and said goodbye. Somehow they find themselves back together in London, sort of. One works the night shift and the other works the day shift. They are only able to talk a few minutes in between shifts. What makes this one exceptionally unique is its set in a world with gods, spirits and ghosts. This was a story about love and second chances set as a fantasy novel.
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Thank you #ace and #NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks so much to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group and the author for my gifted physical copy and eARC to read and review!

I’m not usually a romantasy girl, but I actually really enjoyed this one! It is the perfect second chance romance set in a magical, greek god fueled escape room. Camille and Ward are as different as night and day and that’s been their downfall in the past. Now their opposite strengths will be their saving grace as they work together through notes and clues to escape the clutches of their supernatural captors and find their way back to each other and their happily ever after.

The greek god characters are witty, sinister, unlikable, untrustworthy and cringy and all the way through I didn’t know who to believe and what clues were going to help or hurt.

If you like greek mythology and escape room scenarios, I think you will find this one highly entertaining!

"Night for Day" was not at all what I was expecting (mostly because I don't think the description actually describes the book). However, I loved it for what it was.

What this book isn't: A romance novel with fantasy elements where two people decide to be together through limited interactions each day.

What this book is: A very clever fantasy novel with escape-room vibes with romantic themes.

I think this is one of those books where if you're normally a romance reader, then you'll think that it was light on romance, but if you're normally not a romance reader you'll think it was primarily a romance. Don't get me wrong, this book was about Camille and Ward and their relationship, but they decide to give their relationship a second shot very very early in the book before being trapped in the shop.

So while this book did not feel like a romance to me, it worked fantastically as a fantasy. First, the writing was beautiful, especially for a book this heavy on plot. This book had me hooked from the outset, and I loved seeing Camille and Ward work together to unravel the mystery of where they were trapped and how to get out. I loved all of the characters who visited them in the stores and seeing how they acted with Ward verses Camille. While the plot was predictable at times, I still loved the twists and turns.

Once choice I'm curious about was the decision to tell Camille's portions in first person and Ward's portions in third person. While I can think of a few symbolic reasons for this choice, it felt like a bit of a jarring shift at times. However, it did keep me wondering who was telling Ward's story, if it wasn't him.

4 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

This started off strong and compelling, but I got a little lost on the way. I love the idea of star crossed lovers and second changes and fighting for each other, but I could’ve used more romance time together, and again felt too lost at times. The writing is well done and it was an adventure

I really enjoyed the premise but didn't love the execution. I thought the writing was poorly structured and too simple for a fantasy. It made the world-building feel boring. The characters became more lovable as the story progressed but because i wasn't bought into them at the beginning, I wasn't invested in their outcome. Also, the spice felt very random and as if it was just shoved in quickly to be a spicy book.

2 Stars
I really wanted to love this, more so when I found out the FMC was Filipina (and so is the author! - how did I not know this before reading it? lol if you're Filipino then IYKYK) but I couldn't get into this book. I didn't really like how the romance was done, it felt abrupt to me and I would've loved more character development from our MCs and a bigger build up to their relationship. The premise for this book sounded so good but the pace was so slow and the story felt a bit disjointed to me and ultimately, I struggled to connect to the story and the characters.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC!

Lim writes a very unique love story imbued with gods and magic and it was quite a fascinating adventure. The story is confusing at first but Lim manages to get readers to agree to the lack of information and keep going to unravel the story and Camille and Ward's relationship. Definitely looking forward to more of Lim's books!

The premise of this book and the blurb had me really excited to read this!

Warring Gods? ✔️
Magical store that's actually an escape room sort of thing? ✔️
Star crossed lovers? ✔️
A mystery to solve? ✔️

Doesn't this sound so good??? Even the first couple of chapters had me thinking this was going to be a 5 star read...unfortunately that's not what ended up happening. I quickly realized that I did not buy into or care about their relationship, and I think that's because we are told that they are immediately in love in the book from basically chapter 1. This is a second chance romance, but we don't have details on their first go around (besides the repeating of "sex was always the easy part"). There's spice, but without any character or relationship development it just falls really flat and a little uncomfy. Also, how often their inner monologue veers towards lusty thoughts felt weird considering their circumstances.

I did think this story had a lot of promise, and I found aspects of it really cool but ultimately it just didn't work for me.

Thanks to Berkley for this ARC!

The story had a great start and the main characters had amazing chemistry. The concept was unique, but there was so much more that could’ve been done with it. In a universe of many gods, we’re being limited to only a handful. It became a bit repetitive towards the middle and somewhat confusing and nothing was really cleared up in the end.