I haven’t been having a lot of luck with contemporary romances lately, but I have to say, Myah Ariel’s debut, When I Think of You, just blew me away. It may not be the steamiest romance I’ve ever read but it had an abundance of longing and tension, making me wait with bated breath to see if Kaliya and Daniel, one-time film school classmates turned lovers, would be able to mend their broken past and find their way to a HEA.

The book gets a lot of things right, making me emotionally invested in both of these characters as individuals and also as a couple. Kaliya works as a receptionist at a film studio, still waiting for her big break in an industry famous for dismissing or just frankly ignoring Black women. Daniel, the classic nepo baby of an acclaimed movie director, has already made his own mark in the industry. Their paths cross seven years after their short-lived relationship imploded, when the studio Kaliya works for buys Danny’s script. Through Danny’s machinations, the two former lovers are thrown into close proximity as they work to bring Danny’s film, about the epic, interracial love story of his own parents, to the big screen.

The book feels big and also feels uniquely suited to be turned into a screenplay, perhaps because the author herself went to film school. I really like books set in Hollywood, giving us an inside look at the entertainment industry. Many of those books usually feature MCs who are both navigating the pitfalls of fame. I appreciated the dichotomy between Kaliya and Daniel’s life experiences. She is struggling to get her big break whereas Daniel, born into a life of wealth and privilege, doesn’t always understand the roadblocks preventing Kaliya from seeking her own success.

I love a second chance romance as well and while I don’t always love books that go back and forth between the present and the past, here it works well in setting up their first meeting, a disastrous meet cute in the middle of New York City involving a broken suitcase, to their growing friendship turned romantic relationship, to how it all fell apart. Sometimes in a second chance romance, it’s one big thing that happened to break the couple up but here, it just feels like two young, emotionally immature people mixed in with bad timing.

Both of these people carry their own set of emotional baggage, Danny dealing with the loss of his father to multiple sclerosis and Kaliya who has her own abandonment issues. If there’s any complaint to be made about this book, I wish that Kaliya’s background, specifically her relationship to her own mom, had been explored further. It’s mentioned that she is primarily raised by her grandparents and clearly, there’s a sense of loss and abandonment that helps guide Kaliya’s choices when it comes to her love life and I think exploring those themes further would have added more context to this story. Secondly, I also wish it was a dual POV story because there are a lot of scenes where Kaliya feels betrayed, and it would have been greatly beneficial to get a little bit of Daniel’s POV. However, I will say that when Daniel professes his love to Kaliya, there is no doubt that he is absolutely for real and that his love is genuine.

I also really loved the side characters in this book. Kaliya lives with her best friend Neha, who is incredibly supportive of her best friend but also, in the grand tradition of excellent best friends everywhere, not afraid to tell Kaliya the cold unvarnished truth. Honestly, I wouldn’t mind if Neha gets her own book. Secondly, there’s also Bella, the young director’s assistant, a nepo baby herself who ends up inadvertently taking Kaliya’s position and then eventually becoming a really good friend and the ultimate tool by which Kaliya is able to right all the wrongs in this book. (I actually wouldn’t mind a book featuring her either, but it would need to come after a significant time jump as Bella is pretty young, celebrating her 21st birthday in this book).

Overall, the writing was really strong, and I adored the 2 MCs. I love a good, messy, angsty, second chance romance and I love watching two people who are absolutely meant to be together, fight to figure their issues out. Both of these characters were flawed and made mistakes, but I never once doubted their love or their HEA. The book evoked a lot of emotions and left me with a contented smile at the end. I honestly can’t wait to see what Myah Ariel has in store for us next.

Content notes: racism, sexism, parental loss, grief

I truly fell in LOVE with this beautiful and inspiring debut. I connected with the FMC, Kaliya, in so many ways. This book is made for the dreamers and those that are not ready to give up on their dreams.

Read if you enjoy:
- Hollywood vibes
- Second Chance
- Supportive Friends
- Workplace Romance
- Books that make you shed a few tears

This book was a five star read for me. I just really connected with the characters and their struggles. There’s something so special about being able to find relatable characters and I am forever thankful to the author for writing this book! The story was engaging from beginning to end. There was no part of the book were I felt something was missing. The romance was just chef’s kiss. I just LOVED it! I will forever recommend this book.

Thank you Berkley, Berkley Romance, and Netgalley for the free galley.

I think this debut had a level of nostalgia that was great to see on page. However, I'm not sure if I wanted the couple to end up together (gasp), but maybe that's the point. I look forward to reading more from this author.

(3.5 Rating)

This is a second chance romance novel that follows my almost name-sake, Kaliyah Wilson as she navigates a career in the film industry. One day while at work, her life is turned upside down when her college crush, Danny Prescott comes back into her life. While Kaliyah’s career stalled, Danny’s took off as he became a hot shot director. He offers Kaliyah a job and we go on a journey to see if they’ll regain each other’s frustrations and end up together again.
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One of the reasons why I didn’t bump the rating to a 4 is because this story was written only from Kaliyah’s POV. It would’ve been interesting to get Danny’s side of the story from his POV!

Don’t walk, RUN, and grab a copy of this book right now!!

Just a few things that make WHEN I THINK OF YOU great:

- Second chance romance with a side of self-discovery between old college flames that haven’t seen each other in seven years.
- Story set against the backdrop of glitzy Hollywood at a movie studio in a post #MeToo and #HollywoodSoWhite era, shedding light on an industry that still struggles to practice what it only recently began to preach.
- Gives flowers to every underpaid and overwhelmed entertainment worker doing the damn thing.
- Heavy on the HEA (happily ever after)!!

Two college exes with heated chemistry work together on a budding film (strictly, no, severely off-limits). Kaliya and Danny are an inevitable pair – seven years of no contact and unresolved built up tension – but they pick right back up on where they left off…

As someone who works in entertainment (and continues to fight for a spot at the table every single day) I absolutely adored the plot taking place at a fictional movie studio, all of the production and casting references and spotlighting the importance of those constantly utilized and never valued workers that make it all happen. I think too many of us fall victim to the idea of “paying your dues,” especially in the entertainment industry, and we allow poor working environments / mistreatment slide because we think we’re supposed to endure it before we move up. I loved to see Kaliya’s growth and recognition of her worth in this sense and how her and Danny shatter the glass ceiling that Hollywood has set. It was the best romance I could ask for without being overly cheesy or unrealistic and flowed so easily for start to finish. I didn’t want this to end!!

Special thanks to @berkleyromance for the advanced digital copy! WHEN I THINK OF YOU is out now.

Such a SWEET, sweetie debut! Was not expecting the emotional depth of it. The film plot was so fun with a friends to lovers second chance romance in a way I've never read before. Kaliyah and Danny discovered so much of themselves from college to present day, I loved the throwback moments when they first met. The mirroring of the film being directed to the reality of their life and moments was extremely precious. The way the book was even written, felt like watching a movie of their whirlwind romance. The second chance they deserved. LOVED the audiobook and just obsessed with the cover. I would've loved Danny's POV with Kaliyah! <3

I wasn't sure how I felt about this one because it was such a slow burn. I am an avid second chance romance reader so the fact this dragged for so long really had me feeling some type of way. But, I was so happy when I stuck with it because it was such an inspiring read! There were so many different levels of life lessons in this one. Grief, loss, heartache, just to name a few. I wish we were able to see dual POV because I think it's important in a second chance novel that we see how the other party is feeling. Getting Kaliya's view the entire time, really made it hard for me to relate to how Danny might be feeling throughout the entirety of the book. We were kind of left guessing to how it would all end. But overall, I think it was a great read just a few hiccups for me a long the way!

A second chance romance with a giant heart. The way this incorporates the glamour of the movie world with the mmc's parents real life love story as an interracial couple, alongside the main characters finding each other again and navigating Hollywood- so good.

Myal Ariel's debut novel "When I Think of You" takes readers on an exhilarating rollercoaster of emotions that grips you from the very first page.

In the whirlwind of film school, Kaliyah and Danny fall deeply in love, only to be torn apart by heartbreak. Seven years later, they reunite under unexpected circumstances. Danny, now a prominent film director, and Kaliyah, resigned to a mundane life, find themselves collaborating on a project that reignites old sparks.

As their professional relationship blossoms, so do the unresolved feelings between them, creating a tension-filled atmosphere reminiscent of a real-life rom-com. Amidst the chaos, Kaliyah embarks on a journey of self-discovery, rediscovering her passions and independence, all while navigating the complexities of love.

The authenticity of Danny and Kaliyah's journey is striking, drawing readers in with its rawness and relatability. Myal Ariel crafts characters that feel incredibly real, making it easy to become invested in their story. From Hollywood glamour to heartfelt struggles, the novel presents a compelling blend of romance and self-exploration.

Ultimately, "When I Think of You" is a stellar debut, offering readers a captivating second-chance romance intertwined with themes of personal growth. If you're craving a whirlwind of emotions coupled with moments of self-discovery, this book is an absolute must-read.

📣 a second chance romance featuring leads who also get a second chance to work together on movies that matter

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

📖 what’s one of your Wednesday numbers? Mine are: 5:46 wake-up; 1 run I’m planning on taking later; 5 baby chicks.

Kaliya is a front desk person at the film production studio where she’s always hoped to get her big producing break when she encounters the director genius who also broke her heart in film school.

Though Danny Prescott’s arrival back in her life brings lots of emotions, particularly since he broke her heart, remains smolderingly attractive, and now has a girlfriend, it also presents the opportunity for Kaliya to get that big break she’s been wanting.

When I Think of You brings a charismatic heroine who has twists of phrase that often made me smile, a strong sense of emotional adeptness & understanding of people, & a thoughtful consideration of biracial lead Danny’s challenges but also privileges in Hollywood as the son of a Hollywood legend.

I loved the personal nature of the movie that Kaliya & Danny are working on, & how interviews with his mother & other bits of his family history are included in the book.

Though When I Think of You starts off so strongly for me, it gradually wears down some under the weight of the back & forth between the leads. Their romantic trajectory isn’t as straightforward as I would like, & Danny’s consistently poor communication & overall behavior while in a relationship—whether with Kaliya or his previous girlfriend—doesn’t inspire the warm & fuzzies from me.

This is one of those novels that has so many pieces of a great romance—I adored the writing voice. But unfortunately, the actual romance arc doesn’t work for me, & I didn’t love their love story.

3.5 ⭐️. Out now!

CWs: reference to interracial marriage & the challenges associated with that; MS; racism including reference to racial slur; privilege & challenges in Hollywood; grief.

[ID: Jess’s hand holds the ebook in front of a yellow & green mural.]

First, I have to applaud the cover! It's absolutely stunning!

I really enjoyed my time with this story. I liked learning more about their lives, what led to their split, and how they feel about each other today. Their story is sweet and it's clear that they both are still in love with each other.

The drama that happens on set was messy and I loved it. It added to the tension between our two love interests and kept this story interesting.

Spoiler Thought Below
The only thing I wish was done differently was the third act break up. There was so much drama happening with the production and on set that the breakup didn't feel necessary. But even with that I still found myself smiling and giddy at the end of this story.

Congrats to the author on a fantastic debut and I'm excited to see what she'll be releasing next.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Romance for the advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you @BerkleyRomance #Berkley #BerkleyPartner for the free book and @PRHAudio for the complimentary audiobook. These opinions are my own.

This was a wonderful debut romance. It focuses on Kaliyah and Danny. They met in college as aspiring filmmakers. He was the son of a well known director, and his career immediately took off. In contrast, she has been getting turned down and stuck in front desk jobs with no chance for advancement for years. After seven years of not seeing each other, he asks her to work on his next film.

In many ways, this felt like we got a bonus story. Not only was there the second chance romance of Kaliyah and Danny. But we also got to read about the film he wrote as a tribute to his parents' love story. They were an interracial couple in the Jim Crow south, and the scenes with his mother were incredibly moving.

Throughout, I was so impressed by the beautiful prose of this book. It's the kind that made me re-read and re-listen to sentences just to appreciate them. I found the balance of the romance, tension, and many different plot elements superbly done. But the ending lost me a bit and felt overly complicated.

This is a book as much about Kaliyah's journey as it is about her love story. And I loved seeing such a strong Black woman at the heart of the story.

Dewanda Wise was a phenomenal narrator, and she made the audiobook come alive.

CW: infidelity

If you look for second chance romances specifically for the angst this one is for you. Honestly the first 30% I was reading with my figurative eyes between my fingers because with the time these two had between them once they are reunited it is so tense and somehow sad and steamy at the same time?? Also, this is a book full of suppressed feminine rage. I wanted to yell at how frustrating these (very real) moments were when Kaliya was passed over for nepo babies, when her trust was broken. But more importantly I wanted Kaliya to have the chance to just scream it all out but of course that is impossible when you have to accept things out of your control with grace when others aren't required to do the same.

I loved the movie set and producing behind the scenes side plots and aspects of this book. I was able to see a conversation with the author and it makes total sense that this is based on her lived experience because it felt so real AND was genuinely interesting.

One thing I will say about the angsty romance is that the tension did break earlier than I expected, in a good way. You only have one POV, Kaliya's. And I was nervous what the MMC's true thoughts and intentions would be and this really did give the chance for him to share them, to clear up any miscommunications. This is also one of those second chance romances where it makes sense why they did need time apart. I loved the little vignettes to the past and at times they did feel like a punch to the gut with how good it once was, but who they both grew into it makes sense the kind of power imbalance they initially had to balance that out. I loved how in present time Kaliya had experience and education to share instead.

Thank you to Berkley for the eARC, this was really good!

This was a pretty good debut release. I liked the second-chance romance and the way the characters rekindled their love. I appreciated the way the author intertwined references on the film industry, the politics and culture that men and women of color face. I think it was clear early on that Danny wanted more for Kaliyah, including having her as his own. I look forward to reading more of this authors work.

A modern romance that takes me back to those 90's- early 2000's black romance movies. All the feels of Love and Basketball, Love Jones and Brown Sugar, and the short-lived TV Show Love Is! I would love this to be a movie/streamer, and if done right, could hold its own with those romantic classics!

I thoroughly enjoyed this slow-burn, second-chance romance! It has just the right of spice and passion! This romance is intelligent and does not include any frivolous fluff. Instead, there is an interesting storyline, which is modern and supports themes of love, family, friendship, finding yourself, second chances, and starting anew.

Kayla had a beautiful college romance with Danny, that was cut short, but had a long-lasting impact. Years later he walks back into her life, with a beautiful girlfriend in tow. He invites her to work with him on his new film. Can she work with him, knowing the past, without thinking of a future with him? Interweaved into the tension of their past, is the story of Hollywood politics, and scandal.
A great read, that will touch your heart. Make your 90s R&B playlist to go with this fun read!
4.5 Stars!

What a second chance romance this is! Kaliya living her life as a receptionist but has dreams of making movies one day. Then her old flame Danny who is a big film director resurfaces right in her workplace. He’s there to work on a film which is near and dear to his heart as it is about how his parents’ meeting and love story and struggles as an interracial couple. With Danny and Kaliya now being back in each other’s space, it brings up their past with one another and how their miscommunication was the breakdown of their relationship.

This one was cute and had a real life feel to it. While Danny and Kaliya have to rehash what happened between them seven years ago, they also decide to give love a chance again when those flames start to rekindle. Their story shows how sometimes right now may not be the time. It seemed they both had some growing up to do to understand one another better. Sometimes a relationship may need some time apart. I loved how we see Kaliya find herself at the same time and make decisions for herself after being lost.

This debut novel was a great read! It's a heartwarming second-chance romance with characters who grow apart before finding their way back to each other. The supporting characters are fantastic too. Overall, I really enjoyed it!

4.5 stars!

I loved it! I usually enjoy dual POV in romances, but Ariel did a fantastic job with just our FMC POV. The premise was intriguing and, overall, a bingable story that had me smiling so hard at the end.

I also enjoyed the themes that were discussed throughout the story.

Thank you Netgalley and Berkley for the ARC.

Thanks to Berkley for an advanced copy of When I Think of You by Myah Ariel.

I really enjoyed this second-chance romance set in Hollywood. Kaliya dreams of being a producer but she's been stuck working in reception for a film studio when a surprise reunion with her college sweetheart who is the biggest name in directing offers her a chance to work on his next project. As they work together, they start to break down the wall they each put up after their relationship went up in flames 7 years earlier.

I loved the behind-the-scenes of film making and I feel like the author shared a lot of her personal life experiences for this story! I was rooting for Kaliya and Danny, especially as we find out more about what's happened to them in the last few years and how real their relationship felt. The background of the film being about Danny's parents helped add to why I really enjoyed this book. I loved Bella and while I'm not a third-act breakup fan, I thought this one was handled well.

When I Think of You comes out Tuesday - April 16th!

Thanks so much to Berkley for the ARC! I really loved this one. I love reading a debut author, especially when it's a diverse voice. I also love a Hollywood romance, especially when one person is more famous than the other! While I'm not usually a big second chance girl, this worked for me. Looking forward to reading more by Myah Ariel in the future!