Silly note before jumping into the review: At one point while reading this book I fell asleep (not because the book was boring but because I’m a very sleepy gorl) and I dreamed multiple scenes of this book into a musical with full songs and choreography, and to be quite honest it slayed!! So just putting that into the universe because I’d love to see that when I'm actually conscious! 🙃

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest rating and review.

4.5/5

You know when you're dating somebody new and you catch yourself smiling (or even giggling) at your phone with every new communication with them? That was my relationship with this book. I had a dumb grin on my face half the time I was reading this book because it was all just so cute. I genuinely adored every character in this book. Sure, some of the characters messed up big time (like to the point where I was very mad at them), but they all had such redeeming qualities. The book is filled with a giant cast of mostly queer characters and deals with the importance of finding queer communities, even if today's environment is more accepting than in the past.

I could really just keep gushing about this book. I want to join doggy tinder, watch queer kickball, and eat thai food that has to be paid for in tokens. Overall this book is such a cute sapphic romance that deals just as much (or probably more) with self discovery as it does with falling in love.

Thank you net galley for the free arc in exchange for an honest review.

I had so much fun reading this book. I found Max really relatable and so damn lovable. I also really enjoyed Sadie’s character and could clearly picture her in my mind. The book had a great pace and was so very consumable.

It was so nice reading a funny, witty, light romcom where a vast majority of the characters were queer. Great read, highly recommend. I’m also going to go check out the rest of the ‘out in Hollywood series’!

I loved this, seeing Max navigate her life and career and trying to find herself was very relatable and I feel like the author put into words perfectly how it feels to be in your twenties and going through that. It was a sweet, queer story. I just wish we had seen more of Sadie!

Max is not who she wants to be. She didn't move to LA and instantly gain a found family and a wonderful girlfriend. She moved to LA, found a demanding job and a queer bar with a hot bartender. Max's roommate is an influencer and wants her to try the You Point Oh service for self-actualization and content creation. On a low night, Max says yes. She begins to try new things and heads toward the life she has always wanted. She sets a coffee date with the hot bartender, Sadie, and things seem to be heading in the right direction. Some things start to go great for Max and other things not so much.

The lived experiences in this story are so different from my own, that at first, I wasn't sure if I would be able to get into the story however the character growth and writing are excellent and I found myself rooting for Max to reach her goals. The author does a fantastic job of highlighting the way people often overanalyze how others see them and second-guess every choice they make. I felt like I was learning along with Max to make simple changes in my life to see big benefits. This is the second in a series but can be read as a standalone and has a HEA.

I have enjoyed Amy Spalding’s Out In Hollywood books more than I thought and the moment I had the ability to read an ARC of At Her Service I was hooked just as I was with For Her Consideration.

These books have been more self discovery books with romance aspects to them instead of vise versa with a refreshing modern storytelling. As an early 30 something the theme of thinking we knew everything in our 20s was extremely relatable and refreshing. This book had me cheering on Max and Sadie as well as Jonny’s the entire time!

Thank you Net Galley for the ARC!!!

Max thought her perfect life would start the moment she landed in Los Angeles, but like most of us, she had to work through the fact that location changes very little and it's the person you are that needs to grow and change to have the life you want. When Max met Sadie, she immediately assumed Sadie could never seriously be interested in her. Max assumed her popular, influencer roommate would not want to hang out with her really, even though she kept inviting her. And at work, Max assumed people wouldn't take her seriously because she was small and had a squeaky voice. But when Max's roommate convinces her to participate in a new app meant to help people achieve their dreams, Max actually begins to see how her own beliefs and actions are more of what is holding her back.

Max's situation is one many people can relate to, regardless of it being set in Los Angeles and regardless of it being a queer love story. The internal beliefs that hold Max back, which she begins to overcome, are thoughts that nearly everyone has. I liked Max as a character and was rooting for her as she took steps to make changes in her life. I enjoyed the development of Max and Sadie's relationship and their exploration of Los Angeles. The final hurdle seemed a little forced and the simplicity of the 'grand gesture' felt more simple than grand. But I appreciated that the tension wasn't extremely tense and it was nice to just flow with Max as she became more aware of how to get what she wanted in her life.

2SLGBTQIA+ Steamy Romance about a woman who agrees to use a self-actualization app and sees some positive results professionally but reevaluates when the girl she's fallen for feels she's been used.

4/5 stars: This is the second 2SLGBTQIA+ romantic entry in Spalding's Out in Hollywood series about a talent agent's assistant who throws cause to the wind and accepts her roommates offer to sponsor her for a new self-actualization app and what happens when the bartender, who's trying to get the bar she works at and one day hopes to buy historical preservation designation, she's falling for finds out and is hurt. Not only is Spalding's writing excellent abut their characters are complex and incredibly likable. Max and Sadie's personal and romantic relationship developments are heartfelt and engaging to read. Additionally, it was nice catching up with Nina and Ari. Oh and the OPS scenes are deliciously steamy. While there are plenty of sweet and humorous moments, Spalding deftly tackles some heavier topics, so take care and check the CWs. This can be read as a stand-alone but to read how Nina and Ari got their HEA start this companion series from the be beginning by picking up book one, For Her Consideration.

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books, Kensington in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

delightful, spalding has a real talent for writing the most annoying girl i know and making me root for her in the end anyway. love the gay bar history as well!!

4⭐️

Amy Spalding did it again. At her service is a beautiful sapphic rom-com that makes you feel all the feels.
What's not to like about Sadie and Max. Max is desperately in love with Sadie, but does everything she can not to talk about feelings.
When Max is allowed to participate in a campaign for an app through Chelsey, her roommate and influencer, the goal is to become her best self. But isn't she already?
Sadie lives off-the-grid and doesn't get to experience the entire campaign. What happens when Sadie finds out.

At your service is an easy-to-read rom-com with many storylines without it becoming confusing. It makes you think and leaves you with a smile. A wonderful book for a dreary weekend.
If you loved For her consideration this is a must read!

I was so excited about the chance to read another romance from Amy Spalding, and 'At Her Service' did not disappoint. I am a voracious romance reader and Amy Spalding does a great job of creating lovable idiots (said affectionately) and then pulling them through circumstances where their idiocy trumps their common sense and affection until things strain and break.

And while this book is a fantastic example of this with Max and Sadie making bad choices for good reasons, what truly sets apart both 'At Her Service' and the previous book 'For Her Consideration' is the delightfully real world of queer friend groups, queer restaurants and middle-aged reality that accompanies the story. I want bars, and brunches, and friends like the ones Amy describes in my own life!

I really enjoyed this book. This is the second novel that I’ve read from this author and I like that she delivers a really solid well-rounded story. I wish I had a book like this when I was in my early 20s.
For me, the romance kind of took a back seat in this story and it focused on self-discovery and letting go of what you think you should be or think you should know and just accepting yourself. The author did a great job with Max’s character evolution both personal and professional. Max was relatable both in her strengths and insecurities- I also really admire how the author has used this medium to get a really good message into the hands of readers. The dangers of listening to our inner critic and the power that we can change our lives by challenging the narrative AND putting in the work. It’s just such a powerful message and I was just so happy to see it come to life in this story.
I loved seeing Nina and Ari throughout this book, I loved For Her Consideration and this just made my heart so happy. I adored the full cast of characters in this novel and while I wish we could have seen more on-page romance with Sadie and Max, the story felt complete and their relationship is just beautiful.
Oh and I would loooove to get a Chelsey and Ava story at some point. I loved them as a couple.

Thank you to Amy Spalding, Kensington Books, and Netgalley for an ARC of this book!

At Her Service was thoroughly enjoyable! I loved that the entire cast of characters was incredibly diverse. As someone who read and loved For Her Consideration, I adored getting to delve more into Max and her story, and getting an extra continuation of Nina and Ari’s story as well! The character development Max goes through is great, and I like that she recognizes her own flaws and owns up to the parts she’s played in her own stagnation. She gets in her own way, and I think that’s something deeply relatable, especially as a queer person. Overall I thought this was an excellent book, and Max and Sadie’s story was wonderful to be privy to.

Spalding does it again with another sweet sapphic romance pulling at the heart strings! I loved Max and Sadie's story, one of them so sure of what she wants to do in life (but nervous about whether she can pull it off), and the other who thinks she knows what she wants, but maybe needs a little nudge in a direction that better suits her skills. And the two of them compliment each other so well! On another note, Spalding always writes about LA with such love, and this one was no different. The city truly is another character in this story, in the best way possible, and I loved how the bar's history was a part of that here. I highly recommend this book!

God, I love Amy Spalding! After reading For Her Consideration, I was really excited for whatever came next. I'm also a lesbian with a particular affinity for fame or Hollywood or performance centered romance, I also love when a great book carries on into a series with another character that we loved- which Max was perfect for. I loved the banter and the build of relationship, it felt natural and authentic. I will say that the miscommunication plot point felt a little awkward and unnatural between the two. I still loved this one though, definitely a new sapphic favorite.

I really wanted to like this book. I put it off for so long and finally got it and I was disappointed. I just don't think the writing styles is for me. I felt kinda bored throughout the entire story and just disconnected from the characters.

This was a really sweet read. I really enjoyed watching Max's journey to "self actualization". My only wish for this book is that we got more Sadie. I feel like I didn't get to spend enough time together with them as a couple, but I loved their connection and wanted more!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGallery for this copy. I fell in love this book. the charaters chemistry was so good. I love everything the author puts out and can't wait to read more in the future.

Max Van Doren is stuck in every area of her life and she’s tired of it. Tired of being unsure of her next career move despite being a great assistant to a huge Hollywood talent agent. Tired of hiding in her bedroom while her queer influencer roommate hangs out with her cool group of friends. Tired of being hopelessly head over heels for her favorite bartender Sadie, who she’ll never have a chance with. And the worst part of it all? Max knows exactly what she wants but is completely clueless about how to get there.

So she can’t resist agreeing when her roommate offers her the chance to have a complete life overhaul for free through a new self-actualization app. The only catch? Completely exposing herself and documenting every step of the journey. However, despite the entire internet knowing Max’s inadequacies the app does seem to be helping. And stepping out of her comfort zone is starting to pay off. That is until a video is posted that twists Max’s good intentions into selfish wants and sends her spiraling. Can Max salvage her relationship with Sadie, save her job, and fix her friendships before her fairy god-app vanishes? Or will her life turn back into nights alone with microwaved burritos at midnight?

I enjoyed this book. I had read the sister book to this one, For Her Consideration, last year so I jumped at the chance to pick up At Her Service early. And I was not disappointed at all. Something about Amy Spalding’s writing hooks me instantly and I find myself just blowing through her books. This was a mix of relatable characters, great writing and an ever-shifting plot perfectly blended into a fun, flirty, and layered rom-com.

Max’s mix of nihilism and optimism highlights being a queer 20-something in today’s wild world. She is somehow completely contradictory yet perfectly complimentary to herself and it leads to a character that feels like she has stolen the thoughts from your head. Not to mention the short masc rep which is so needed in sapphic books. As a short person, I felt very, very seen and yes that does make me a little biased but I’ll take it.

Her plight of seeking romantic and platonic connections felt very true to her character and the struggles of so many new adults. In my opinion, finding romance is easier than finding family through friendships so to see the book give a lot of attention to that aspect felt all too real. And the masc for masc representation? Sheer perfection.

The plot was spot-on, as expected. The book never stalled or dragged in any place because there were so many different subplots going on. There is Max and Sadie’s friendship turned to romance as the main focal point. But there was also Max’s roommate Chelsea who sponsored her for the app and their dysfunctional dynamics. There was Max’s weird relationship with her coworkers and feeling unseen in her work environment. There was Max’s internal battle for self-confidence and believing in her abilities. There was Max’s struggle to find friends and feeling lonely. And to top it off trying to save a historic queer bar!! All of these plot points may sound overwhelming at first glance but they were woven together in a way that was layered and human rather than jumbled and random.

All in all, I highly recommend this book if you are generally a fan of sapphic rom-coms. I think this read is exactly what it looks like in the best of ways. You know the general idea of what you’re getting and it does follow a typical romance guide. However, it still finds ways to surprise and enthrall you that are unique to the story and characters. If you like heartwarming and relatable stories about sapphic love then you are in the right place. Happy reading!

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for sending this eARC for review consideration. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

For more sapphic reviews follow @the.lebian.library on Instagram, Goodreads, and Tiktok.

This wasn’t too bad. Definitely cute in some ways! For once I would like to see someone stay with Joyce and so good and get a promotion without having to leave.

I feel like there was some information that was missing from the narrative and some that was in the book that might not have been needed.

I definitely feel that people will be able to relate to the characters. I will openly admit that I glanced over the sex scenes but only because I was more interested in finding out what happened next. I most likely will reread those scenes.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC

I was happily surprised to enjoy At Her Service significantly more than the first book in the series. Max was a sympathetic main character, and I loved following the personal growth journey she went on. I did get a little frustrated with the ending as it related to her roommate, who I wished had got more of a comeuppance, and the storyline about getting the bar heritage listed didn't make a lot of sense to me - they didn't seem to acknowledge that by doing that, they were screwing over the owner of the bar who now wouldn't be able to so readily sell it. (Don't get me wrong, I'm all for heritage listing, but since they were both close to the owner this seemed a little strange to me).