There was so much that I loved about this book. I really liked Kaliya and her experience working in film. The racism she experiences from literally everyone, the way she is already steps behind other people because of whiteness and nepotism. Danny bothered me a lot and I think this would’ve done better with a dual pov. Like if we got his pov to understand what’s going on in his head I think it would make him more sympathetic because the choices he makes seem dumb left and right.

Bella was a surprise for me. I was prepared for her to be a stinker and the big barrier for Kaliya but she was fabulous, funny, a true ally, and I want her book. I also want a Neha and Eric story.

Some of this was predictable (Celine sucks). Some I hated (I hate a current girlfriend to ex girlfriend sabotaging careers and Danny was with Celine for far too long). And the ending wrapped up a little too easily. But overall it was a good debut, had some swoony parts, and I can’t wait to see more from Myah.

Thank you to netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group, Berkley for allowing me to read this book. This was such a cute and fun debut romance book.

A stellar debut from Myah Ariel!!!!
Black Romance set in modern Hollywood with a co-current love story was beautiful. One of my favorite books to read this year.

Loved this incredibly sweet and thoughtful second (and third, and fourth) chance romance that takes place in Hollywood between two meant-to-be exes… I especially loved the very endearing heroine who gets dealt some bullshit over and over but rises above it!

I loved this second-chance romance; it's a sweet, fun read. I`m usually not a huge fan of second chance romance, but this I feel did it right; they didn't break for dumb reasons or cheating, but they both were growing and needed to grow in their ways before finding themself together. I will be recomending this to friends and other readers.

Kaliya Wilson has dreamed of making movies, but she’s been stuck in a dead-end job for far too long. She is shocked that an old flame from college pops up at her office. Danny Prescott is working on his next production, and he is sure he wants Kaliya to work with him. Only, Kaliya doesn’t know if she should trust him again. With Hollywood politics and their undeniable chemistry; could things actually go right this time?

First off, the cover of this book is stunning! I could not hit the request button fast enough. The story ended up being just as good. I related to the FMC Kaliya so much! I cheered for her to win in every aspect of her life. As for her relationship with Danny, I wanted to shake them both at times. I was still along for the ride 100 percent!

This book is another reason I love second chance romance so much! The pining and angst sucks you in, and you can’t help falling in love with the characters. However, I also loved the growth Kaliya showed as she learned to trust herself, her abilities, and take a chance when there were naysayers trying to hold her back.

The author also does a fantastic job showcasing the struggles of a black woman as she tries to move up in her career. As well as the depiction of what the struggles of an interracial couple was during Jim Crowe, and how as progressive as the world is; there is still work to be done. Overall, this is a fantastic debut! I’d definitely recommend giving this book a try.

Thank you to Net Galley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC!

First I want to say I picked this book because of the cover and its intriguing cover but then I read the prologue and was like, okay, this is interesting.
Yes, I've read about second-chance romance before, but most of the time, it was because one of them lied or did something stupid or dumb, in this case, I could see how they both needed time apart to grow as individuals, not that this took away from how much they loved each other. One of my favorite quotes from the novel “Does this mean I'm no longer the center of your world?" He places his hand in the middle of my chest, just over my heart. "I was wrong. You were never the center," I say. "You were the gravity." Even though I enjoyed this book, I also thought more communication would have avoided all the conflicts they faced. But then again without the miscommunication added the story would have been completely different.

It was a cute read! I would recommend this to a book friend. I think it’s the perfect romance book for a new reader

* netgalley arc *
* rating 3.5 *

I feel like I can't say that I don't like second chance anymore because I read it so much now lmao. I thought this book was good. I will admit, my favorite part was getting the details about the film that Danny was working on. I will say the romance was okay, I just didn't feel like Danny was great at communicating. There are so many things that happen that put Kaliya either in an awkward position or at a disadvantage. For example, at the beginning when Kaliya and Danny see each other for the 1st time in I believe 12 or 7 years (i can't remember), he offers her the director's assistant position and she accepts. The next time she goes into work and puts in her 2 week notice, she finds out the job was given to a nepo baby (technically neice). Danny knew for who knows how long that someone went over him and gave that position away and YET didn't contact Kaliya to let her know?! Instead she puts in her 2 weeks notice thinking that she had this job lined up.

However, I will say I liked that the niece, Bella, wasn't the stereotypical villain that was glad she took that position. She was very sweet and apologetic because she didn't even want it in the first place. And Kaliya and Bella's friendship was really cute

I enjoyed this book! A lot of romance books out feel similar and for me to get into the story there has to be something different that makes the story unique. For this book it was the film aspect that roped me in. The second chance lovers was great and the drama had me laughing and rolling my eyes. The only suggestion I have is maybe placing Chapter 27 (the flashback chapter about the big breakup) a bit earlier in the book because I felt it interrupted the story and I was eager to know at that point what was going to happen next in the main storyline. I also felt it made me dislike the MMC at a bad time because I was rooting for him hard at that point in the book. I think it fits better when Kaliya is wrestling with her feelings during their earlier interactions. Thank you for sending me this E-ARC, I had great time reading this book!

I LOVED this book so much!

This book was perfectly paced and kept me interested. I am a huge fan when a romance has something more to say. This book spoke on navigating grief, finding yourself, following your dreams and creating new ones in such a beautiful way.

Kaliya is stuck at the front desk as a receptionist at a big time film studio. She wants to move up and eventually help produce movies but her superiors are trash!
A chance run in with Danny (the guy she met in college and had a whirlwind romance with) is mortifying. His career has taken flight and he offers her a way to finally leave the front desk behind.

I loved the growth Kaliya and Danny experienced together but even more so apart. Kaliya realizes her life can’t revolve around Danny and she carves out something for herself. This is definitely a book I will be recommending over and over.

This books had the ability to be sooooo amazing!

There were many great lessons to take away from this book based on the topics discussed.!

I feel like where it fell short was the whole book was told from Kaliya’s (The FMC) POV. I feel that I had a hard time connecting with the other characters because of that. Especially, Danny (The MMC)! I feel for a second chance romance, it’s very important to tell the the story from both perspectives since there isn’t just one person getting a second chance! I would have loved getting Danny’s POV.!

Other than that part, the overall story & message that the author was trying to get out was received! 👏🏾👏🏾

[Advanced readers copy provided by NetGalley] I have a lot of mixed feelings about this book. The idea and intention (from my assumptions) are really great. When I was reading it, it kind of brought me back to the movie ‘The Photograph’ and the book ‘Seven Days in June’ in terms of the second chance romance while working to fulfill a creative/ career goal.

I really loved getting to know the characters background and the film industry setting. I also really liked the way social issues were written in and discussed throughout the book.

I didn’t really like the writing style for this type of story. I feel like readers would have connected with and understood the characters more had it been written in 3rd person or dual pov.
It felt like there was so much back and forth or chasing and running when it came to the love story of the main characters which was kind of frustrating when it continued to happen past the 85% mark

Overall not a bad book, it’s a fun read if you’re into romance and film.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the arc. I really enjoyed this read. It didn’t take long to get into thangs. The book moved at a nice pace and could understand. It was especially easy to keep up when the story would go into a memory.

-Second chance romance.
-Film/tv industry.
-Black female lead with the hopes of changing Hollywood along with their racist antics.
-Not only did the story revolve around the second chance but also the telling of an interracial relationship thru the eyes of their son (Danny).
-Loved the way Danny stood up for Kaliya and plus it was his film.
-The ex plotting with the film company. Smh. Just evil. No matter what never let anyone tell your story.
-The gossip site and how they don’t do their work to tell the full story. However, they did what a lot of gossip/blog sites need to take heed to.
-Visiting Danny’s mom was such a sweet moment.
-The ending was so perfect.
-Please read the authors note.
-Kaliyah’s friend had her own stuff going on too. Their friendship was how real good girlfriends should be to and for each other.

3.5/5 stars

Thank you, Netgalley and Myah Ariel, for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I wanted to fall in love with this book, and I definitely did with some aspects but not as a whole.

I had a really hard time connecting to the characters in the story, and although I love a second chance romance, it seemed like too much back and forth. I also didn't like that from chapter one, the MMC is introduced. I really wanted to love the FMC on her own before the story turned into them. The story always seemed slow for it being a short book.

I did, however, love the way she navigated grief and how she put a spot lot on the lack of diversity in the workplace/movie industry and the struggles of being a black woman in both areas.

Janet is my girl so this song played in my head the whole book. Overall, I thought the book was cute, but I didn't fall in love. I did LOVE her acknowledgements at the end!!

I want to thank Myah Ariel for helping me get this Netgalley approval. Once I saw the cover, I knew I wanted to read this book!

This is a story of broken hearts, friends to lovers, unrequited love, and second chances. But, it's also a story about big dreams deferred, sexism, and race, and having the strength to believe in oneself!

They met in film school, fell in love until he broke her heart. Fast-forward years later, the closet Kaliya Wilson has gotten to a film set is as a receptionist at a major studio. "That is, until a surprise reunion presents an opportunity that could make her career, or break her heart...a second time.

I was really looking forward to this book, but it just did not land for me. I couldn’t connect with any of the characters, so it took me a long time to get through the book. I like the fact that it was a second chance romance, but that was one of the only things I liked about the book. I wish I could be more positive about this book and I’m sure others would enjoy it, but it just wasn’t for me.

As soon as I saw this book I had to read it and I’m so glad that I did because I was so intrigued by the story and the characters! Loved Kaliya, she’s such a strong and independent person as well as an amazing friend while still being vulnerable. I loved bow both her and Danny bonded over each other’s passion for movies. Reading about them falling in love again and exploring their relationship as the people they are now was such a great experience!

This story is a second-chance romance story. It features black FMC and a biracial MMC. They met during film school and the story narrates how they navigate the love they have for each other.
Reading stories that are heavily centered on our experiences as black women can sometimes be overwhelming and difficult, but reading Kaliya’s story resonated with me. It was breathtaking to see Kaliya navigate barriers that are placed on her by virtue of being a woman and black. It was refreshing seeing her work through adversity that was meant to sink her. Kudos to the author for writing a story for black girls but also telling a story that affirms that we can move above adversities.
Kaliya and Danny’s story was honest. It elicited real emotions that comes with loving someone. I enjoyed reading the ups and downs of Kaliya and Danny’s love story. You realize that love is not straightforward- it can look differently for everyone. We tend to think that love has a guidebook or some sort of manual when truly it entails listening to the heartbeats of one another.
I enjoyed their mutual love of films. Seeing that it was how they met and how that’s how they reconnected. I enjoyed the connection that Minnie and Kaliya shared at the house. It was mutual love as they are both black ladies and are connected by their love for the same man.
Thank you to Myah for a heartwarming story. Thank you for writing a story for all the black girls. Thank you for letting us dream again. Thank you for the opportunity to read the advanced copy.

I unfortunately didn’t really like this one, but by other early reviews it seems I’m very much in the minority. I actually was really moved by the themes of loss and grief, so that and the family relationship were my favorite part of the book. However the romance wasn’t my favorite— I didn’t like dealing with Danny’s girlfriend (and then ex) throughout the book, and Danny and Kaliya went back on forth on being together too many times for me to not become annoyed. I ended up skimming most of the second half because there was so much stalling.