Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this arc of When I Think of You, I really do appreciate this opportunity.

Unfortunately, this read didn't grasp my attention/keep it as I had hoped it would. The author has a lovely way of telling a story and keeping the theme on point, I think for me I just couldn't vibe with this second chance trope. I only reached 30% and just had to stop because it seems like it's taking me ages to continue on.

I did enjoy the banter, hearing about past moments between them and learning about Danny's family story/ his parents relationship. But, that's about all I have to say. Nothing about this book was awful, I just don't think it was for me. With that being said, I'll rate it a 3/5 because it has really great substance and I'm sure so many people will enjoy this read + all of the tropes that are included.

This book does single POV sooo well. Honestly, it is a masterclass in a writer understanding that not every romance book needs dual POV. The author Myah Ariel works in the film industry and she layered this book with so much insider knowledge -- it made a real difference in the world building. I didn't feel like I had to suspend belief. It was also refreshing to see a MMC who was willing to "fight" for the woman he loved and cared for even if she was a runner. This is a must read.

Read this if you like:
•second chance romance
•workplace romance
•debut novels

2024 is the year of second chance romance books and I’m here for it. This gives you a fun behind the scenes look at Hollywood. The audiobook was really well done and I enjoyed it!!

Thank you Berkley for eARC!

I love the story although I would have liked to hear it from Danny’s POV as well. The main character overcame so many obstacles with love, work and society. I enjoyed all of the different topics that were mentioned in this book from different race relationships to woman struggling to make it in Hollywood on an honest level vs sleeping their way to the top, good friendships. This book covered a lot and got better the further I read. I feel some points could have been brought out more but all In all it was a good read. In the end it sounds to me that this is the author’s story with a twist.

If you are looking for a book that gives Jasmine Guillory *vibes* with mixing hard topics with a romance that is more than fluffy feeling, I’d recommend you check out this new debut author Myah Ariel & her book When I Think of You!

Read if you like:
✊🏿 Books that talk about Racism
🖤 Black Love
🥈 Second Chance Romances
🎥 BTS of Hollywood
🔥 Slow-burn Romances
💻 Workplace Romances

If you are looking for a raw and emotional romance with some dabbling in the past and mostly in the present with a second chance romance that burned hot and flamed out just as quickly the first time around, I’d recommend picking this one up.

Second chance romances are inherently messy, but even more so when you reconnect and one is dating another person on the project and clearly neither of them have quite gotten over their romance from college, it’s even more messy when complications arise in the workplace.

All in all, this was a romance with grit and emotion and I think many will love it! Thank you so much Berkley for my ARC and PRHA for my gifted audiobook in exchange for my review!

I really wanted to like this book. The writing is beautiful and I am generally a big fan of second chance romance. The set up of this story also held a lot of promise. But a lack of character development and an over-reliance on an outdated trope contributes to this one falling flat for me.

Danny and Kaliya meet in film school where they work together on Danny’s thesis film. They’re reunited seven years later when the studio where Kaliya is the receptionist is producing Danny’s new blockbuster film. Once back in each other’s orbits, it’s hard for these two not to confront their history and ongoing feelings.

The pattern that Danny and Kaliya repeat over and over again in this book got old quickly. The over reliance on Celine as the evil ex girlfriend also felt tired after a while. It was clear both Danny and Kaliya had a lot of growing up to do, and I really wanted to see them do that on page. Instead the author uses a series of significant time jumps in the last 20% of the book that result in her just telling us about the development and not showing it to us. For the first two thirds of the book, the main characters barely spend any time together on the page so it was just hard to feel invested in their romance.

Content flags: Danny’s father died and his grief is a major theme

I voluntarily read a gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I love Hollywood romance and this one was so fun because I really loved the behind the scenes aspects of it. The second chance romance was rife with tension and I loved watching these two find their way back to each other. A stellar debut!

Kaliya’s feeling of being stuck in a job that you give more to than you get from was one that hit incredibly close to home for me. It’s as though Myah took a conversation I’ve had with my fellow twenty something friends and put a face to it. The idea that this feeling leads to a better opportunity and love was an outcome that made me happy to see as a reader.

That being said, this is a romance that just did not connect with me. I kept waiting for the moment that I’d feel that second chance to grasp love between Kaliya and Danny would come, but it just didn’t. I enjoyed Myah’s easy writing style and will likely revisit this book in the future after I’ve had more time to sit with it.

For this to be a debut, it was done well. I just wish I had the ability to connect to the characters and their story on a deeper level.

*3.5 rounded up to 4*

My jaw (and tissues) are on the floor from how much I enjoyed (and cried over) this book. The emotional depth of Kaliyah and Danny’s relationship was so breathtaking. The way the kept losing then finding and fighting their way back to each other was heartbreaking and mending all at the same time.
The central plot of Danny trying to make a movie about his parents’ story was unique and beautifully told! I was just as sold on their relationship and am desperately seeking a prequel!
Kaliyah as a main character was compelling, relatable, strong, gorgeous, and so so lovable. I was rooting for her like she was my best friend!
When I Think of You is a beautiful, honest, and raw depiction of loving someone when the timing is wrong, right, and all the moments in between. I absolutely loved it!

This is the story of Kaliyah, the female main character and Danny the male main character and how they are able to reunite many years after their first go around to have a second chance romance. Now this being said, there were a lot of topics that the author brought into the book as well there was the relationship issues of Kailiyah's best friend, there was the love story of Danny's parents that he was trying to bring into the big screen with his movie, there was racism due to his father being white and his mom being black and how they were viewed during the Jim Crow times, there was dealing with grief, and there was the inequalities that black women face in Hollywood. I felt with her trying to cover all of these topics it took a little away from the Kaliyah and Danny storyline.

With the way in which the story was written surrounding Kaliyah and Danny's love, I wanted more information at the beginning of the book as to how they were before and how they broke up and then fast forward into the present day but we didn't get that until midway into the book. Also, there was one point where they decided to focus on themselves before being together and I wanted more information or details into what exactly they did to do just that. I also wanted to know how Kaliyah winded up as a receptionist instead of behind the camera like she wanted to in college which is something else we didn't learn until midway in the book.

Overall it was a nice debut book and I would read more from this author but due to my personal preferences on the timelines and how the story was written I gave it 3.5 stars. Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC.

Thanks to Netgallery and Berkley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

“I used to think that falling in love meant risking losing more than I could ever gain. Well, I’ve lost you more than once in my life and still, I wouldn’t change a thing. Because finding you, again and again, makes everything else worth it.”

Read if you like:
- Second Chance Romance
- Pop-culture references (AMAZING ONES, may I add)
- Slow burn (SLOW!)
- Workplace romance
- Forbidden romance

Brief Synopsis:

The story revolves around Kaliya Wilson, who has spent years working behind the reception desk at a film studio, all the while harboring dreams of becoming a filmmaker. A surprise reunion with her college flame, Danny Prescott, presents her with a potential career breakthrough. As they navigate their professional collaboration, they begin to open up to each other, fostering the possibility of rekindling their love.

Amidst the blossoming romance, Hollywood politics and scandal threaten both the production and Kaliya's career, she is faced with a very difficult choice: to stand up for what she believes in, even if it means risking her newfound love and career success.

Review:

Let me start of by saying that I might as well add Myah Ariel to the list of auto-read books, because if this is her debut, I can almost guarantee that her books will keep getting better. This book is an excellent debut, very entertaining and endearing. Not saying this one was perfect, and that there went't things I didn't like in this story, but I truly enjoyed how it was written and the style of story telling. Can't wait to read more from her.

I love the "behind the scenes" aspect of this book. A look into movies/producing them and the politics behind it. The sad truth about many horrible things like racism, misogyny, within that industry is greatly depicted in the book. Grief is another topic of the story, and its also so beautifully presented, in a way that all the emotions, and actions felt real.

Their love develops SLOWLY, but it was so beautiful to see. They clearly had a lot of love for each other, and the chemistry was there but somethings needed to be resolved, some questions needed to be answered in order to get back together. Not going to lie, certain events had me SCARED (I won't give out spoilers, but there is a certain trope I was scared to see here, thankfully there wasn't.) and the back and forth between the main characters was a bit maddening, but at the same time, it was understandable. It also helped that the author explained the why they break up back then, the way it was handled and most importantly, how finding each other again had to take some time, patience and growth on both parts. The love Danny and Kaylia had for each other felt real, and pure, so I didn't mind at all that they took their time to actually get back to each other. It made it all worth it.

I really enjoyed this one, and look forward to more from this author. Thanks to Netgallery and Berkley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

PS: Trigger warnings - Please check triggers. While the story has a HAE, there are some topics that can be difficult to read for some. Talks about racism, sexism, death of a parent, grief, minor insinuation of cheating. And while yes, those topics are heavy, I do believe that the author does a great job presenting them with respect and thoughtfulness.

This was such a steamy, tension-filled, heart-warming journey of both self empowerment and romantic happiness. I love this second-chance romance, and the grounding in Hollywood really made it for me!

Rating: I really liked it!

When I Think of You is a cute second chance romance of college lovers who reunite to work on a film together.

I liked learning about the beginning stages of making a movie, I liked the flashbacks to the past and learning in a dual timeline what happened to Danny and Kaliya. I feel like they had a good partnership, and the type of relationship where you just really know the other person, which is always so beautiful.

I think they were both semi flawed characters, but not in a terrible way. Kaliya had a bit of a chip on her shoulder about Danny’s privilege, and I think in some ways Danny could have treated her better, but I also feel like I understand both of them. I don’t know the entertainment industry well, but I think Kaliya storyline is believable and her feelings are warranted.

4.5 stars
This was one wild ride of emotions that had me hooked from start to finish!

So, Kaliyah and Danny meet, fall hard and fast in film school. It’s all sunshine and rainbows until... bam! Heartbreak city hits hard.
Fast forward seven years, they meet again.Danny now a big shot film director and Kaliyah, who’s dreams have gone to die behind a receptionist desk. They end up working together on a film project, and let me tell you, it's like watching a rom-com unfold in real life. There's so tension, drama, and a whole lot of unresolved feelings.

But amidst all the chaos, Kaliyah starts to find herself again. She rediscovers her passions, her worth, and her independence and you can't help but root for her every step of the way.

But, of course, love's never simple and as old flames flicker back to life, Danny and Kaliyah find themselves at crossroads. They are faced with tough choices and even tougher conversations that eventually leads them to give love a second chance and to finally get their happily ever after.

I think overall, this was an excellent debut novel. I loved how real the story felt. The characters were amazing (inserting my favorite Bella here) and relatable (who knew Hollywood folks could be this relatable? Ha!). I loved that Danny and Kaliyah’s journey was so raw and authentic that you can't help but get invested.
So, if you're in the mood for a whirlwind second chance romance with a side of self-discovery, then this book is definitely for you.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6188276135

First, I'd like to thank the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with this ARC!

Things I liked:
- Banter between FMC & her best friend (felt like the way my friends and I chat, which I LOVE)
- FMCs inner monologue (my sister in anxiety, I get you)
- How authentic the FMC's journey felt at the beginning of the book, because life will really give you want SHE thinks you want sometimes and not what you actually want

Things I loved a little less:
- DANNY. My brother in christ I just did not enjoy you, I fear
- Kaliya my sister, sweetie pie, I did need you to stand on business and tell this man to go to hell but...here we are.

Overall, I liked the author's writing style but this couple just wasn't for me. I'd read something by her in the future! This one just didn't do it for me.

Arc provided by NetGalley.
When I first saw the title, all I could think about was Janet Jackson’s song, When I Think Of You 😊.

I love second chance romances and this one did not disappoint. The author did a great job of giving us insight of the past relationship from Kaliya, (FMC). However, I wish that Danny’s (MMC) point of view from the past was shared more.

I loved seeing the vulnerability and the level of comfort from Danny when he expressed his feelings about Kaliya.

We all need a best friend like Neha!

Although Kaliya started out as being unsure about herself, I loved seeing her growth and being able to speak her feelings and choose herself.

This book was a reminder that timing with relationships is everything. Sometimes people need space to grow and then come back together.

When I Think Of You by Myah Ariel is a cute second chance love story between Kaliya and Danny. The two met during Kaliya’s first day at film school, dated a bit during that time and eventually parted ways without speaking much about it. Years later Danny is living the dream as a hot shot movie producer while Kaliya is working front desk at a company. Daniel comes into her job and offers her a job and the story goes on from there. I thought the book was cute and I enjoyed the flashbacks.

I really enjoyed this book I just wish that it was Dual POV. I would have loved to have gotten both perspectives of their relationship. I enjoyed Kaliyah’s character as well. I don’t usually read slow burn romances but this one was really good!

Firstly, thank you to NetGalley, Myah Ariel and Berkeley Pub for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’ll admit, I went into this book with my expectations really high. The cover is stunning and the synopsis sounds like it’s right up my alley. I won’t say I was disappointed, because I enjoyed the book, but this book is a slow burn. Like maybe the slowest slow burn I’ve ever read. And for this reason, the pacing of the book felt a little off.

Things I enjoyed:
- second chance romance
- (kinda) forbidden romance
- strong world building (the supporting cast of characters are just as enjoyable as the mains)

I give the book 3.5/5 stars— rounded up to 4 stars. I don’t know that I’d reread it, but I encourage anyone interested to give the book a chance.

The recent trend in trad. published contemporary romances has failed to impress me as a lifelong reader of the genre, so I’m really happy that Myah Ariel’s debut in my absolutely favorite trope of second chance, knocked it out of the park. Her phenomenal writing immersed me into this wonderful world. I mean LOOK AT THAT COVER. Freakin amazing.

I liked Kaliya as a character and her flaws and fears, and the roadblocks she was facing as a Black girl in Hollywood amid the unchecked privilege of her peers. Though I didn’t feel that connected to Danny’s character, I enjoyed reading about him through her characterization. I wished the issues of the past and the reasoning for their breakup were given more context or nuance to avoid the miscommunication device that quite literally was solved with a single conversation at the guest house. Don’t get me wrong, I like a well-developed miscommunication plot device but I wished Danny and Kaliya’s was given more depth.

I loved their love story and was rooting for them. It was beautiful and touching, but I always felt Kaliya was more far gone for Danny than he, her. I would’ve liked to see the scale of emotions tipped in her favor. While single POV is okay, I think in second chance it needs to be dual POV so we can get the other side as well because the blame falls on both sides. I liked the way the two seem to ‘know’ each other. Oh, I thought the end wrapped up a bit too quickly with a year gap to show-and-tell Kaliya’s growth.

This was a stunning book about flawed characters dealing with setback and privilege and roadblocks. I loved it.

4.5