After loving For her consideration I was so excited to read Max’ story! I fell in love with the characters in this book again and mostly Max. I loved seeing someone in their mid-twenties that hasn’t figured everything out yet and is still looking for what they want, it felt so refreshing and relatable. I really enjoyed the You Point Oh storyline and Chelsey, as it really added so much to the story. A truly amazing sapphic LA romance, Amy Spalding has done it again!

An amusing novel about Max, a woman who tries using a self actualization app to find herself and change her life which has gone stale but finds, much like Dorothy, it's all inside. Good characters (well I wasn't a fan of Sadie) and relatable situations make this a good read. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Another nice LGBTQI offering set in Hollywood from Spalding

In At Her Service. Max is looking to level up her life and starts a program to achieve her goals.

I read For Her Consideration and loved the characters - I cheered for them and my heart broke for them. The second book in the series is no exception. Amy Spalding’s characters are so relatable that you’re immediately sucked into their lives. I am often not a fan of first person storytelling because I find it hard to enter the world. Amy Spalding’s world is so real and genuine that I easily fell into Max’s world. I felt her awkwardness and insecurity and felt like I grew right alongside her.

Amy Spalding's At Her Service is a delightful second installment of her Out in Hollywood series. Both books stand alone, but if you read For Her Consideration you met Max and this is her book.

Spalding does a great job of letting us really get to know her characters, not just the main ones, but all the fringe folks as well.

Poor Max is really down on her life when we meet her, and fixing up her world doesn’t come easy - but that’s where the richness comes in, right? Max has to work her way through it all, but there’s a very happy HEA which is truly worth working for. Most enjoyable.

I initially DNFd this book, it wasn’t gelling for me. But I decided to give it another chance, and whilst it wasn’t my favourite read, I enjoyed it.

Four stars!

Thank you to Amy Spalding, Kensington Books, and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

After reading For Her Consideration—the first book in the Out in Hollywood series—when it was released at the start of 2023 and absolutely loving it, At Her Service became one of my most anticipated books of 2024, and (even after all that time waiting) it didn't disappoint.

Amy Spalding is back which her particular brand of sapphic magic. At Her Service is as funny as its predecessor, featuring Spalding's signature (and all too relatable) disaster lesbians, sapphic pining, and a diverse cast of distinguished career women, queer friends, and some absolutely wonderful cameos appearances by everyone's favourite For Her Consideration couple and a new furry friend.

I was super excited when Spalding announced that Max Van Doren would be getting her own book. Max was one of my favourite parts of For Her Consideration, from her spectacularly dreadful dating life to the way she had a meme for every situation, and, of course, her blossoming friendship with Nina. It felt so right to me that Max should get a book of her own, and I couldn't wait to read it.

"Goal #1: Get a Promotion or At Least a Mentorship Offer. Make Joyce see the value I could bring to a bigger role here. Get her to take me seriously!!"

Max has been stuck in the same position at Exemplar for a few years now and all she wants—besides a girlfriend—is to move up the ladder from assistant to junior agent. While Max has her goals she doesn't have the confidence to achieve them. Yet.
In comes her influencer roommate Chelsea, who offers to use her platform and a sponsorship with self-actualisation app You Point Oh to help Max get what wants out of life. All Max has to do is make a series of videos baring her deepest desires for Chelsea to post on her socials for hundreds of thousands of followers to see. What could go wrong?

"Goal #2: Fall in Love, Ideally with Sadie. Figure out a way to not just have a crush but to pursue something real with her, or at least find out it something real is worth pursuing, and if not with her, with someone. I want to be in fall-over, swooning, out-of-control, deeply connected love. I want someone to see me for everything I know I can be, and I want that for her too."

Though Max's dating history is pretty abysmal—there was that girl who tried to get her to join a cult, after all—she's had her heart set on one girl since she first walked into her local queer bar, Johnny's. Max has heart-eyes for vintage t-shirt and faded cutoffs wearing Sadie, the hotty-with-a-body and unironic flip-phone user bartender who makes Max a perfect Paloma whenever she stops by. Which is almost every day. Max just can't stay away, and who can blame her when Sadie's so mysterious, gorgeous, friendly, and easy to love.
Soon, Max has committed herself to helping Sadie save the bar—so she can eventually buy it from her late uncle Johnny's partner, Billy—in exchange for Sadie showing her the wonders of off-the-grid LA.
But is there a future in which Sadie could reciprocate Max's feelings for her when Max accidentally admitted an all too embarrassing secret to Sadie when she'd had one too many Palomas? And besides that, Sadie doesn't know about Max's involvement in You Point Oh's campaign, and with her views on the toxicity of social media would she even understand?
Still, there's an undeniable connection between the two, if only the Sadie would let it play out, but can that outweigh Sadie's emotional baggage and Max's sort-of-lie by omission?

"Goal #4: Get a Group of Friends. I watched The L Word a lot when it was still on Netflix and I thought for sure that when I arrived in LA I'd find my queer chosen family. Instead I found out the original series was mainly shot in Canada and it is much harder to connect with people than I thought."

Something I really enjoyed in For Her Consideration was Nina's found family, and while Max doesn't have something quite like that in At Her Service, I think that Spalding set up the foundations of one for Max wonderfully throughout the book. Showing how Max actively seeks community and starts to find that for herself during the course of the book sends a really hopeful message to readers who relate to Max's situation.
I do wish that that kickball had come into the narrative earlier on though. I'd have loved more time with Max's teammates, and I'm really hoping that the next book is about Paige so that there can be more of Secret Weapon Max and the But I'm A Kickballer team. Also, I just really love Paige. The way that Max and Paige patched things up after their terrible date was a nice way to show solidarity and community between queer people, and queer women in particular. A really nice inclusion.

If you enjoyed For Her Consideration you'll enjoy At Her Service, and maybe even more. For me, Max and Sadie are far more relatable characters than Nina and Ari (though they're both goddesses and Dr. Cristina Yang Fox-Rice is a fantastic name for a dog), but this book has all the same humour and wit as the first in the series. It's just as angsty and adorable, as well.
I loved getting to know Max better. She's such a fantastic and well written character. Max is sincere, caring, a little awkward, and though she isn't totally sure about who she is, she knows what she wants and she fights hard for it. For me she's as aspirational as she is loveable—which is very!

I highly recommend that you pick up a copy of At Her Service on publication day, put your phone far enough out of reach that Sadie would be satisfied, and enjoy.
And if there's only one thing you take away from this book make it this: you can spill food on your crush in a busy restaurant and still be the one to make them weak in the knees.

"'Sometimes I feel like I've loved you since whenever it was you first walked into my bar and ordered a Paloma. The way you looked at me_'
'Oh my god, I'm sure I seemed embarrassingly thirsty!'
'You seemed like you wanted to get to know me,' she said. 'And when a cute girl wants to get to know me, it could make me pretty weak in the knees. You made me pretty weak in the knees.'"

I enjoyed this book a bit more than its previous book. It wrapped up a bit better than the first one, and the main character had more of an arch. I don’t agree with one aspect of the ending but I’ll look past it. Besides all of that, I think my biggest issue was how boring the 2 main characters were. Our narrator, Max, is definitely more developed and slightly more interesting - but I thought Sadie was extremely unlikable and not ready for a relationship.

Regardless, I enjoyed reading this book. A huge thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

Now why did the summary for this book tell me about the third act breakup and hint at the fact that the love interest might be less-than-stellar ("But when one of Chelsey’s posts reveals Sadie’s part in the app’s campaign, Max is poised for heartbreak on all fronts") just for it to turn out to be a video by the influencer roommate that simply SHOWS THE LOVE INTEREST walking out of the main character's room...... and that was enough for the third act breakup..... Sadie's "part" in this whole campaign? Yeah it was literally just being the love interest..... Be so serious actually.

At Your Service by Amy Spaulding
3.5/5

Sometimes you wanna go where everyone knows your name.

Max Van Doren is coasting through life. Everyday seems like the same— the job she’s both good at but dearly wanting to advance from, no friends, a roommate she wants to be friends with but doesn’t think the other feels the same. But everything fades away when she goes to her local neighborhood bar to get work done on a nightly basis and sees the hot bartender, Sadie.

But one night, Max reaches her breaking point and agrees to be the test subject for a new self-actualization app, You Point Oh, who wants to sponsor her influencer roommate. Max’s life will never be the same.

Mex has a very relatable life. When working a 9 to 5, it is hard to prioritize other things in your life besides work and it is easy to fall into stagnancy. This book emulates the reality that while an app is helpful, it is your choices that determine your life and your future. As with Max, it is easy to be complacent and accept things as they are.

You Point Oh gives basic advice but sometimes the most basic and to the point advice is what you need. This book definitely got me thinking about my life and things I like to change. Wanting to change is easier said than done, but maybe it is time to just say yes, be bold and make that big move.

#netgalley #atherservice #kensingtonbooks

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!