4/5 Stars

Thank you to Bloom Books, Netgalley, and Lauren Asher for the ARC.

So I got this arc after release day. That's why this review is only now being posted but I was super excited to be approved for this arc. I really liked the Dreamland Billionaires series and I am one of the people that really liked book 3 so I was excited for this new series set at Lake Wisteria and I loved it. I really liked that both the FMC and MMC are rich unlike a lot of billionaire or millionaire romances where just the MMC is rich. I loved the small town vibes yet also you have the fun things that come with a billionaire romance.

Dahlia is returning to her hometown after a bad breakup and the possible destruction of her career but she just needs a break from the emotional abuse she was put through for years. The worst part about coming home is the fact she has to be face to face with Julian Lopez who was her childhood rival and family frenemy but she vows to steer clear from him until he makes an irresistible offer. Julian was in love with Dahlia Muñoz but after his father died he ruined everything and he thinks that finally he is over his feelings for Dahlia. But when his mom asks him to help Dahlia he can’t say no whether it is because he loves his mother or he sees this as a way to get Dahlia out of town sooner. But their feelings start to become less rivals and more romantic and they don’t know what to do about it.

I loved seeing Dahlia heal during this book. She is coming out of a very toxic and emotionally abusive relationship with Julian's ex friend and her sense of self and confidence is in the deepest hole imaginable so she has to figure out how to heal and deal with the fact she is working with a man she hates. Julian is still healing from the death of his father even though it was decades ago so when one of the biggest mistakes he ever made comes back to face him, he actually has to tackle what he feels. Julian is surrounded by family and by love but he can’t figure out why he still feels lonely.

This book handles depression and infertility very well I feel. While I can’t fully say if infertility was handled perfectly, since I haven’t dealt with that. I do have a lot of conditions that will affect my fertility and understand how it feels to learn you shouldn’t have a child at least not biologically. I can talk about depression as I have depression and have for most of my life, and I really related to how Dahlia felt. The lack of interest in what she loved, and the feeling like you just don’t quite fit was really amazing.

I do recommend this book especially if you like other Lauren Asher books. I can not wait for the next book as I think it is featuring Rafa’s book and I think it is a nanny romance which I always eat up.

This BOOK!!! 5 stars. The slow burn build up wears fantastic and the second-chance?! I was eating it up. I loved how their families were best friends and it forced them to be closer to each other. This is probably my favorite Lauren Asher book and she has SO many amazing books. Highly recommend this tension-filled, close proximity enemies to lovers slow burn.

4.5 stars rounded up. Lauren Asher started this new series off with a win for me. I loved this one.

Childhood nemeses to brief-almost-lovers to only-forced-family-interaction-enemies to full-on-lovers was quite the journey for Dahlia and Julian, but what a journey it was. I always gets a little nervous when the childhood nemesis turned grown up enemy storyline is involved because it can read immature and mean-spirited at times but I never felt that way here, likely because it was all done in an effort to redirect the energy of attraction and emotions they were trying to hold back. Dahlia and Julian had both been through life-alternating trauma and loss in different ways. The softness and understanding that Julian gave to Dahlia when he decided he was done running was so lovely. Dahlia’s determination to pick herself up and find her way back to herself was admirable and the bravery she showed in allowing herself to trust again was beautiful. This book was an emotional slow burn even once the spice caught fire. It felt very genuine.

I’m already looking forward to the rest of this series.

I tore through this book in a day! I loved the friends to rivals to enemies to friends to lovers journey we got between Dahlia and Julian.

We love a billionaire that is still living humbly but making sure his family and friends are taken care of.

I really loved the way that Julian was so open and honest finally about his feelings and remained steadfast through Dahlia’s moments where she felt like she couldn’t trust anything.

I’m definitely looking forward to future books in the Lakefront Billionaires series!

Thank you NetGalley for this copy in exchange for my honest review!

billionaire/interior designer romance
- Small town
- Second chance

5⭐️Oh Julian Lopez… you have my WHOLE HEART! That man, was SO HOT. Every single word out of his mouth had me on the floorrrrrr! He was a sweet talker who had me at the first chapter.

Lake Wisteria is the cutest little small town ever that if I could travel anywhere in the universe for one day, it would be there! I adore how close and kind everyone is to one another! Reminds me of my family <3

Side note: I love the very real, and “non-conformative” issues dealt with in this book. I always love and appreciate seeing a couple who knows what they want and won’t always bend to societal norms and speaks their ways for their life. A beautiful love story about self preservation <3

Dahlia and Julian and hands down, one of the hottest, sweetest, funniest couples there is to excited! Lauren Asher KNOWS what she’s doing when she writes a purple book (Love Redesigned & Redeemed)! This book was like coming home in the cold with a warm cup of tea <3

“He stares up at me like one does the sun—in equal parts pain and wonder.”

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ //5

Love Redesigned
by: Lauren Asher

THOUGHTS:

I want to thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for giving me the opportunity to read this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

Do you love a book that:

- Grumpy x Grumpy
- Small Town
- Childhood Friends To Lovers
- One Bed ;)
- Billionaire

This will be for you and it has even more within!

UM EXCUSE ME. OOOWWEEE this spicy romcom full of spicy hot banter is my favorite! This book though is what’s up! I literally left no crumbs at the end of this. I loved these two main characters, I loved watching their dynamic and watching it grow into something bigger. They were two cute through the entire book throwing all their banter back and forth but the chemistry TOP KNOTCH! I wanted more of this after it was over, I didn’t want to leave this story at all. This book easily stomped its way around all my 2023 books and sat in first place. LOVED THIS and will forever watch for more books by the author to gobble up and devour.

First, I just want to say I didn't realize Julian made a cameo in Final Offer so when I figured that out, it was a pleasant surprise and I was super happy to see some cameos of characters from the Dreamland Billionaires series!

This was a good second chance romance book. There are some heavier topics discussed, especially in the beginning, and while there were some things that were done well, I think we could have gotten a deeper dive with Dahlia's emotions at the end.

The book did feel a tad bit too long but I personally really liked seeing how Julian and Dahlia's relationship came full circle. There was a lot of healing and discovery to do on both sides and it was really wholesome to see how their story was eventually revealed. Since they have so much history, they know exactly how to push each other while also knowing exactly what kind of support is perfect for each other.

I feel like I've read so many books where the fmc will do everything to deny the fact that they should be together, even if she is aware of her feelings, so that part felt a bit overused. However, I adored how attentive Julian was and how much effort he put in to show how secure he is in their relationship. His grand gestures were extremely cute and the revelations about his feelings were done so well. The side characters were fun and I'm really excited to see how Rafa and Ellie will work things out in future books!

i spent the summers at my grandparents, where HGTV plays on a never ending loop between soap operas. so, i like a good home renovation show (and don’t even get me started on the vortex that is house hunters). but i had no idea how ~satisfying~ it would be to combine a home renovation with some romance. mmmMMM!!!

julian and dahlia have been competing since they were teens. but julian always held a secret torch for dahlia (he keeps all these little momentos of their competitions my HEART). he was always too afraid to make a move so it wasn’t until college that they finally kissed. but then a terrible tragedy happened and julian pushed dahlia away… a decade later, dahlia is back, but she’s a shell of herself. julian swore he wouldn’t fall for her again, but the moment he sees her that all flies out the window. he’ll do anything to make her smile, even if it means teaming up to renovate an old house together.

i like it when the enemies are real enemies and then turn into lovers. but you know what i like better? when they aren’t actually enemies at all and one of them has always been desperately in love and trying to cover it up by *hating* the other. it makes for the most delicious banter. and pining. and angst.

julian simps for his girl. and he’s a billionaire. simp 🤝 billionaire… this is the greatest combo of all time. why? because he can be like: oh, you want that 10 million dollar house? let me make a phone call. AND HE DOES.

he literally pays her 100k to THROW HER ENGAGEMENT RING INTO A CONCRETE MIXER. iconic. and inside his little the head the whole time he’s just falling hard and fast for dahlia. my heart was soaring.

another thing i loved! they play little pranks on one another. ADORABLE.

and we get to be back in lake wisteria with some pop-ins from the Kane brothers! there are small-town activities and they are all set during the holiday season, which made the book extra warm and cozy.

there’s ONLY ONE BED.

you pick up the book to read 20 pages and suddenly you’ve read 200?? the best feeling!!

i could go on and on, but just go read this! experience joy!!

This is the second Lauren Asher book I’ve read and she's definitely become one of my favourite authors. I loved the way the relationship between Dahlia and Julian developed and I loved being back in Wisteria Lake. I can’t wait for Rafa’s book.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

@laurenasherauthor has written yet another amazing love story that will have you swooning and giggling. Every single one of her books hit the spot for me, but this has made it to the top 3.

Dahlia Muñoz is recovering from a broken engagement, and has returned to her childhood home at Lake Wisteria. Unfortunately for her, she bumps into Julian Lopez - her childhood rival and family frenemy. She vows to steer clear of him but what she doesn’t know is that Julian’s mother has exploited his savior complex, and tasked him to help Dahlia recover emotionally. Julian then came up with an irresistible offer to renovate a historic house together and help Dahlia find her creative spark. But both of them overlooked one potential issue - their truce would mean facing years’ worth of denied attraction and mixed emotions.

If you’ve read the Dreamland Billionaires series, Lake Wisteria should ring a bell for you as this was the same location where Final Offer took place (and with that we get cameos! Iykyk). If you have not read the series, fret not - this is a complete standalone.

The mutual pining and slow burn in the first half was so delicious. I loved how Dahlia’s and Julian’s occupation is weaved into their love story, with the project creating many cute interactions and character development moments. The banter kept me engaged and the tension had me rooting for them - communication is 💯(no 3rd act breakup 💃). The family dynamics was top notch, with many laugh out loud moments. The story was also balanced out with heavier themes like grief, depression, and infertility which was handled with care, making the story more real but not too sombre for a romance.

Don’t even get me started on the spice - LOVED all the scenes (2🌶️). For my girlies who love to be praised, Julian’s got you 😉

I highly recommend you pick this read up if you love:
💜 Billionaire Romance
💜 Enemies to Lovers
💜 Childhood Rivals to lovers
💜 Slow Burn
💜 Small Town Romance
💜 Forced Proximity

This series is off to an awesome start and I cannot wait for the next!

4.5⭐️ If I'm a sucker for anything it's a spicy romcom with loads of witty banter 💜 This book singlehandedly proves my theory that the better the banter is between two characters, the better the chemistry, the better the romance, and the better the spice. These two are roasting each other aliveeeee on every single page and it translates to SO much heat and tension! There is such a perfect balance between trusting playfulness and grumpy rivalry between these two and it just makes for the perfect sweet and funny romcom.

🏡 grumpy x grumpy
🏡 HGTV inspired
🏡 small town romance
🏡 childhood friends to lovers
🏡 one bed
🏡 billionaire

I had such a blast reading this. Lauren Asher has come such a long way from her first published book and this was a delight to read. Julian and Dahlia had great chemistry. I loved their banter and every interaction. These two characters really carried the book for me. I also enjoyed the way they always wanted each other. They served rivals to lovers so well. Cant wait for the next book!

OH MY GOODNESS LAUREN ASHER DOES IT ONCE AGAIN!!

Love Redesigned was everything and more. Especially with this book surrounding Mexican characters, it is even more special to me. You don’t read too many books about Mexicans and this was absolutely perfect. So, thank you Lauren for writing and giving us Mexicans representation in a romance book because you don’t get that very much. It filled me with so much happiness to be represented in a book by such an iconic author. The Spanish and the family in this book made me feel right at home. I loved every second.

But seriously, Julian and Dahlia having that rivals to lovers romance was all consuming!! It was so beautiful, and so entertaining!!! I loved their tension and banter and the way they mended together so perfectly. I will never get over these two wanting each other for years and just finally waiting for that moment where they could give in. I am forever obsessed with this book!!!

What you can expect to find in Love Redesigned
-friends to enemies to lovers
-second chance romance
-small town romance
-one bed
-billionaire hero

Dahlia and Julian have countless memories together growing up. But it's the last bitter memory of them together that Dahlia remembers the most. Dahlia needs a chance of pace after her fiance dumps her and their interior design show. Needing some time away from the limelight, Dahlia decides to come home to Lake Wisteria. Dahlia does not expect to literally run into Julian on her first day back. Soon these two find themselves working together to renovate an older home in Lake Wisteria. Will they be able to mend their relationship and try at a second chance?

Love Redesigned was such a sweet romance! There was minimum drama, no third act breakup and both Dahlia and Julian had so much history between them. The banter between Julian and Dahlia was always so fun. I loved that Julian tried to be a grump, but he would literally do anything to make Dahlia happy 😍. I enjoyed the mystery surrounding the house they were renovating and liked how it was woven throughout the story.

If you're looking for a small town, second chance romance pick up Love Redesigned!

LAUREN ASHER NEVER LETS US DOWN. oh my gosh this book was phenomenal. the childhood friends to rivals with forced proximity!! such a fun combo and she delivered on all of it. the banter and bickering had me actually laughing out loud. the mutual pining that neither wanted to admit to!! Dahlia’s healing journey was so sweet. i loved their families so much, the moms were the stars of the show sometimes honestly. i already love this new cast of characters and i am just so excited for the rest of the series!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloom Books for providing the ARC.

One of the things I really enjoy the most about Lauren Asher's books is how she is able to weave a romance together with just enough drama to make the story interesting. The conflicts don't feel forced or silly, but rather the result of very real situations that manifest themselves in hard ways.

I enjoyed Julian and Dahlia's story as a rivals-turned-lovers second chance romance. Julian is a very reticent character who has a tendency to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders. Dahlia is reeling from a failed engagement to the man she ended up with after Julian broke her heart ten years ago. This results in relationship built on distrust, competitive rivalry, and animosity right from the start that they then have to overcome.

I loved seeing Julian's vulnerability as he tackles the demons from his past and Dahlia regaining the trust she had in herseld when dealing the demons of her present. As a result, you get a soft, emotional story of two people who just want to find love with each other after so many years of being apart.

If I had have one criticism, it would be that some of the arguments that happened earlier in the book felt a little too much for two people who would end up together, but it does also serve as a way to illustrate how messed up things were and how they were able to come together and move past all of the animosity.

Very enjoyable read. I'm eager to read the next in this series.

I was super intrigued to dive into a new series from Lauren Asher. Once I had the ARC in my hands I was worried about the length. but I am here to tell you don’t dismay! Lauren Asher is so damn good at writing a quick, compelling yet chunky book.

Check out my more detailed thoughts below…
Characters: Dahlia and Julian are the lead characters of Love Redesigned. Let’s start with Dahlia who I found intriguing from the first few pages. She had this quiet tenacity about her, no wonder she went from small-town girl to designer with an HGTV-like show. I loved how determined she was, which is what made Julian her perfect match. He puts the billionaire in Lakefront Billionaires and has done mighty well for himself while sacrificing his wants and desires. Both the characters lost their fathers and it shaped who they are as people, and Lauren did such a good job showcasing how that can affect people in two very different ways. Another character that stood out to me almost right away was Julian’s brother, Rafa who I clocked as the hero of the next instalment the minute he walked on the page as a single dad, with a new nanny.
Setting: Lake Wisteria is the setting for this book and it felt one part gossipy small town with both the Muñoz and Lopez families playing a large role in cheering on the romance. This was balanced with the whimsical nature of the founders’ homes and the renovation of such historic houses. If you’ve read the Dreamland Billionaires then Lake Wisteria will ring a bell, and do not fret Lauren found some great ways to weave a few cameos. I like this town and I cannot wait to read future books set in it.
Pacing: I read most of this book in about a day as within just the first few chapters I found myself hooked and had no desire to let go. I alluded to just how terrifyingly a brick this book looks but everyone who I have talked to who has read it had a similar experience where it just flew by. I have never seen a romance novel with footnotes before and I loved this! It was awesome to include lots of bits of Spanish, from the terms of endearment to the insults I loved this little touch.
Romance: Yes this is childhood friends to rivals to lovers, and yes I ate up every second of tension. Most of this book is filled with our couple pranking each other and getting into tizzies but then it just makes those heartwarming quiet moments so impactful. It is a slow burn but I loved every second from the early embers to when the spark burst and the characters could not keep away from each other.

SO fun! lauren asher has cemented herself as THE billionaire romance writer and i cannot WAIT to read more of this series! julian and dahlia were so spirited and hilarious to watch and their tension and chemistry was off the charts! I'm forever a fan!

LOVE REDESIGNED is the first book in Lauren Asher’s Lakefront Billionaires series. Dahlia Muñoz returns to Lake Wisteria where she is begrudgingly reunited with her childhood rival and family frenemy, Julian Lopez. Dahlia and Julian team up to renovate a historic house together, and being in close proximity makes it all the more difficult to deny their feelings for each other.

The cast of side characters was truly delightful! Who doesn’t love some meddling, matchmaking mothers? I loved the lake town vibes & this book truly covered all of my very favorite tropes 🥹

🩵 small town romance
💜 childhood enemies to lovers
🩵 second chance romance, my favorite trope 🫶
💜 dual POVs
🩵 forced proximity
💜 only one bed
🩵 home renovations

Some difficult topics were discussed but each was handled with so much care. The characters’ fears & struggles weren’t just glossed over, which led to such strong character development.

I can’t wait for book two!!

This was too good! Lauren Asher has done it again! I loved Julian so much! I cannot wait to read more of this series!